45 h. ago Beijing confident of Hong Kong’s ability to handle Legco election, fire aftermath

A Beijing official in Hong Kong has voiced confidence in the city’s ability to handle both the coming Legislative Council election and the aftermath of the deadly Tai Po fire, calling local authorities’ decision to proceed with the poll respectful of the constitutional order. Liu Guangyuan, deputy director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong, said on Thursday that the local government had adopted the “most responsible attitude” by holding the election on Sunday as scheduled, even after last...

Politics

7 d. ago Failure of fire alarms could have delayed rescue, cost lives, expert says

The failure of fire alarms in the deadly Tai Po blaze could have delayed the response and evacuation of residents, according to a leading Hong Kong fire safety specialist. Anthony Lam Chun-man, a former director of the city’s Fire Services Department (FSD), also said the extreme heat and intense flames both inside and outside made it almost impossible for firefighters to enter to fight the blaze and rescue survivors. On Friday, officials said the alarms in all eight blocks of Wang Fuk Court did...

Events

9 d. ago ‘No acne’ salon boss snaps up US$19.58 million Ho Man Tin luxury duplex

A director at Jackeline Beauty Salon – the Hong Kong chain made famous by its “no acne” ads – has bought a HK$152.27 million (US$19.58 million) Ho Man Tin duplex, underscoring renewed appetite for prime homes among the city’s wealthy. The executive, Huang Yating, took possession of a 25th- and 26th-floor duplex unit in Tower 3 of Phase 2 of the Ultima development on Fat Kwong Street on Tuesday, according to Land Registry records. Measuring 2,681 sq ft, the duplex has five bedrooms, according to...

Economics

1 week ago ‘Real investments’ reflect global community’s ‘confidence’ in Hong Kong: Zhou Ji

The international community has cast “a vote of confidence” on Hong Kong’s prospects with their investments, with achievements attained through the proper implementation of the “one country, two systems” principle, Beijing’s top representative in the city has said. Zhou Ji, director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong, also said that, having “filled the gaps” in national security, now was the “best time” for the city to focus on the economy, push for development and construction – including...

Politics

1 week ago Wang Huning attends closing ceremony of China's 15th National Games

Wang Huning attends closing ceremony of China's 15th National Games  CPPCC National Committee

Politics

1 week ago Director Andrew Lau talks about National Games opening ceremony

Acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau Wai-keung, chief director of the National Games opening ceremony in Guangzhou on November 9, has revealed the event was designed not just for mainland viewers, but as a heartfelt showcase of Chinese culture and unity for the global Chinese diaspora, many of whom were grappling with their own post-1997 stories. Lau is famous for directing classic Hong Kong films such as the Infernal Affairs trilogy, Legend of the Fist, the Young and Dangerous series and...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong director Andrew Lau talks about National Games opening ceremony

Acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau Wai-keung, chief director of the National Games opening ceremony in Guangzhou on November 9, has revealed the event was designed not just for mainland viewers, but as a heartfelt showcase of Chinese culture and unity for the global Chinese diaspora, many of whom were grappling with their own post-1997 stories. Lau is famous for directing classic Hong Kong films such as the Infernal Affairs trilogy, Legend of the Fist, the Young and Dangerous series and...

Politics

2 w. ago Games closing ceremony marks more of a beginning than end for Greater Bay Area

The curtain came down on the National Games on Friday, wrapping up a two-week sporting celebration with a closing ceremony that felt much more like a beginning than the end of an occasion steeped in historic achievement. After a gold, silver and bronze-fuelled build-up, this was the Greater Bay Area’s coming out party as a region ready to host the biggest of sporting events. And in the new Happy Theatre, where water was its stage and the eponymous harbour in Shenzhen its spectacular backdrop,...

Politics

2 w. ago Hiring outlook improves for Hong Kong’s financial sector, recruiters say

Hong Kong’s financial services sector could boost hiring by as much as 15 per cent next year, fuelled by buoyant capital markets and growth in assets under management, according to a global recruitment agency. The surging equity markets in Hong Kong and mainland China had boosted revenues and budgets for hiring investment professionals and traders, said John Mullally, managing director for Hong Kong at Robert Walters. The jobs market would be “more functional”, with hiring across the financial...

Politics

2 w. ago Wind chill to make 14 degrees Celsius feel even colder: Hong Kong Observatory

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hongkongers will feel even colder than the actual temperature due to a “wind chill effect” as the mercury is expected to drop to around 14 degrees Celsius (57.2 Fahrenheit) over the next few days, the weather forecaster has warned. Tse Shuk-mei, acting assistant director of the Hong Kong Observatory, said on Tuesday that a cold front had passed the coast of...

Politics

2 w. ago Weather in Hong Kong will feel colder than 14 degrees Celsius due to wind chill

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The weather in Hong Kong will feel colder than the actual temperature due to a “wind chill effect”, with the mercury expected to drop to around 14 degrees Celsius (57 Fahrenheit) over the next few days, according to the forecaster. Tse Shuk-mei, acting assistant director of the Hong Kong Observatory, said on Tuesday that a cold front had passed the coast of...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong school principal, director arrested over unauthorised HK$1.8 million fees

Hong Kong police have arrested the principal and a director of a now-suspended private school for allegedly collecting HK$1.8 million (US$231,624) in fees from several parents without approval last year. Police said they had previously received multiple reports from parents alleging that Inno Secondary School in Kowloon Tong had collected capital levies – payments made by students to fund long-term projects such as facility upgrades and redevelopment – with the promise these would be refunded if...

Politics

3 w. ago IOC President Coventry welcomed by China’s President Xi – together they witness spectacular Opening Ceremony for China’s National Games

IOC President Coventry welcomed by China’s President Xi – together they witness spectacular Opening Ceremony for China’s National Games  Olympics.com

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Magical’ mythical fish puppet steals show at National Games opening ceremony

A giant, floating, mythical fish puppet at the National Games’ opening ceremony on Sunday captured the hearts of the live audience and those watching on television, in a show that also featured performances by Hong Kong pop stars, the lighting of the game’s cauldron and more. Spectators of the ceremony, which kick-started the 13-day quadrennial event at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre, rushed to the social media platform RedNote to share close-up clips of the luminous, colourful puppet...

Events

3 w. ago Crowds gather on perfect night in Guangzhou ahead of National Games opening ceremony

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. It feels as though we’ve been talking about this moment for months, but the opening ceremony for the National Games is finally here and Sunday promises to be a celebration to remember. Organisers have been teasing an event they say will blend cutting-edge technology and the rich...

Politics

3 w. ago Crowds gather in Guangzhou ahead of National Games opening ceremony

Crowds gather in Guangzhou ahead of National Games opening ceremony  South China Morning Post

Politics

3 w. ago National Games opening ceremony begins after Xi meets IOC chiefs Coventry, Bach

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. It feels as though we’ve been talking about this moment for months, but the opening ceremony for the National Games is finally here and Sunday promises to be a celebration to remember. Organisers have been teasing an event they say will blend cutting-edge technology and the rich...

Politics

3 w. ago Xi declares Games open after Hong Kong’s Lee says hosting ‘an immense honour’

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. It feels as though we’ve been talking about this moment for months, but the opening ceremony for the National Games is finally here and Sunday promises to be a celebration to remember. Organisers have been teasing an event they say will blend cutting-edge technology and the rich...

Politics

3 w. ago Xi declares National Games open, Hong Kong’s Lee hails hosting ‘honour’ – as it happened

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. It feels as though we’ve been talking about this moment for months, but the opening ceremony for the National Games finally arrived and served up a celebration to remember. Organisers had vowed to blend cutting-edge technology with the rich cultural heritage of southern China’s Lingnan...

Politics

3 w. ago Xi opens National Games, Hong Kong’s Lee says hosting ‘honour’ – as it happened

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. It feels as though we’ve been talking about this moment for months, but the opening ceremony for the National Games finally arrived and served up a celebration to remember. Organisers had vowed to blend cutting-edge technology with the rich cultural heritage of southern China’s Lingnan...

Politics