13 h. ago Ballooning crisis: 200 customers plan legal action over Hong Kong fest fiasco

More than 200 angry customers are planning to take legal action against a trouble-plagued hot-air balloon festival in Hong Kong, with grievances mounting over deflated displays, a singer pulling out of a related concert and the event potentially being cancelled because of an approaching storm. Visitors to the AIA International Hot Air Balloon Fest Hong Kong at the Central harbourfront faced disappointment for a third day on Saturday, as the organiser deflated displays again for part of the...

Economics

13 h. ago Ballooning crisis: 300 customers plan legal action over Hong Kong fest fiasco

More than 300 angry customers are planning to take legal action against a trouble-plagued hot-air balloon festival in Hong Kong, with grievances mounting over deflated displays, a singer pulling out of a related concert and the event potentially being cancelled because of an approaching storm. Visitors to the AIA International Hot Air Balloon Fest Hong Kong at the Central harbourfront faced disappointment for a third day on Saturday, as the organiser deflated displays again for part of the...

Economics

4 d. ago 96 arrested, HK$479 million in drugs seized in Hong Kong police, customs effort

Hong Kong police and customs have arrested 96 people and seized more than HK$479 million (US$61 million) worth of drugs in a months-long joint effort, with authorities warning that an increasing number of mainland Chinese and foreign air passengers are being lured into smuggling narcotics. Authorities said on Tuesday that the recruitment of non-local air travellers was part of attempts to confuse investigators, with other tactics including arranging convoluted flight routes to target...

Events

9 d. ago Hong Kong customs officer unconditionally released over fatal motorbike crash

Hong Kong police have unconditionally released a customs officer who was arrested in January after he tried to intercept a motorcyclist who later crashed and died. The police force announced the decision on Thursday almost eight months after the off-duty officer’s action became the subject of widespread debate over its appropriateness and legality. “After further investigation and seeking legal advice, police were informed by the Department of Justice that no criminal prosecution would be...

Events

1 week ago Hong Kong residents to pay up to 6.7% less for electricity in September

Hong Kong residents will pay a smaller electricity bill in September, with some having prices cut by up to 6.7 per cent compared with January, after the city’s two power companies adjusted fuel costs in response to global geopolitical tensions. HK Electric, which supplies electricity to users on Hong Kong and Lamma islands, said on Monday that its customers would pay a bill in September with an average net tariff per kilowatt-hour that was 6.7 per cent lower than in January. By comparison,...

Politics

1 week ago British Airways committed to Hong Kong, mainland China routes: customer chief

British Airways remains committed to the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese markets despite reducing its service to the city and halting flights to Beijing, its customer chief has said, stressing that the carrier will revisit its schedules once geopolitical issues change. In an interview with the Post, chief customer officer Calum Laming emphasised that the airline had no intention of scaling back its presence in Hong Kong and on the mainland despite reduced services due to Russian airspace...

Economics

2 w. ago Hong Kong customs seizes 278 million cigarettes in tobacco smuggling crackdown

Hong Kong customs seized 278 million illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of HK$1.25 billion (US$160.3 million) in more than 80 cases in the first half of the year as part of a cross-regional tobacco smuggling crackdown. The Customs and Excise Department said on Thursday that it had strengthened cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region to curb the inflow of illicit cigarettes since November last year. The 278 million contraband cigarettes seized in 84 large-scale cases during the...

Politics

3 w. ago Singaporean chip equipment maker ASMPT to close Shenzhen plant, axe 950 workers

Singapore-based ASMPT, which makes semiconductor assembly and packaging equipment, will close its factory in Shenzhen and lay off 950 workers to streamline its operations in mainland China, the company’s largest market. Shutting down ASMPT Equipment (Shenzhen), which falls under the company’s semiconductor solutions segment, “was a tough but necessary decision” to better align the company “with evolving market dynamics and customer needs”, according to the Hong Kong-listed firm’s statement on...

Economics

last month Man arrested in Hong Kong over smoking products, 30kg of drugs found in luggage

Hong Kong customs officers have arrested a man who flew in from the Netherlands after 30kg (66lbs) of suspected ketamine and smoking products worth about HK$12 million (US$152,870) were found in his luggage. The 37-year-old man arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday on a flight from Amsterdam. During clearance, officers from the Customs and Excise Department discovered what they believed were 30kg of ketamine, nine boxes of nicotine pouches containing Part I poison nicotine, and four alternative...

Events

last month Fake Hermes, Chanel, LV and Gucci goods seized in HK$44 million Hong Kong bust

Hong Kong customs has seized a haul of counterfeit luxury goods worth an estimated HK$44 million (US$5.6 million), including fake Hermes and Chanel handbags and Louis Vuitton and Gucci shoes, which were destined for US and European markets, among others. The Customs and Excise Department said on Thursday that its officers detected 25 cases and confiscated about 67,000 counterfeit items in a joint operation with mainland Chinese and Macau counterparts from July 18 to 31. The seized goods included...

Economics