12 h. ago Hong Kong can chart path for growth in the space economy: Regina Ip

A top adviser to Hong Kong has called for the local government to aim for the space economy as the city’s answer to stimulating high-quality economic growth, while seeking to host top-tier international events such as the Apec finance ministers’ meeting to enhance global ties and boost local consumption. Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of the key decision-making Executive Council and chairwoman of the New People’s Party, also proposed a HK$50 million (US$6.4 million) fund on Wednesday to support...

Politics

21 h. ago Talent Engage chief reappointed as executive director of Hong Kong Tourism Board

Anthony Lau Chun-hon, the head of a government office for attracting global talent, will return to the Hong Kong Tourism Board next month as its new executive director. Lau, who held the same position from 2007 to 2019, will succeed Dane Cheng Ting-yat starting August 4, according to the board. “Lau brings with him extensive experience in tourism and marketing, along with excellent leadership and governance capabilities, making him an ideal candidate for the role of executive director,” board...

Politics

65 h. ago HKSAR Government civil servants attend thematic seminar on Hong Kong National Security Law in Beijing (with photo)

HKSAR Government civil servants attend thematic seminar on Hong Kong National Security Law in Beijing (with photo)  info.gov.hk

Politics

2 d. ago Hong Kong maintains ban on seafood from 10 Japanese prefectures

Hong Kong has underscored the need for prudence in allowing Japanese seafood imports after Beijing partially lifted its own ban on such products, which had been put in place over concerns about waste water discharged from the decommissioned Fukushima nuclear power plant. In a statement issued in the early hours of Monday, a Hong Kong government spokesman stopped short of saying whether the city would reconsider import restrictions on Japanese seafood, which had been in place since August...

Politics

2 d. ago Hong Kong may lift Japanese seafood ban from 10 prefectures in the ‘near future’

Hong Kong may soon lift its ban on Japanese seafood imports from 10 prefectures, according to an industry leader, but a restaurateur has said the move will not offset the damage from the growing trend of residents spending abroad. The industry insiders spoke on Monday after the Hong Kong government underscored the need for prudence in allowing Japanese seafood imports without shedding any light on a potential lifting of the ban. On Sunday, Beijing partially lifted its own ban on such products,...

Politics

4 d. ago Angel Chong’s Miss Hong Kong bid ‘angered’ Beijing’s liaison office: sources

Officials from Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong were “angered” by a young district councillor’s brief attempt to compete in a beauty pageant and cautioned her political party over it, according to sources who viewed her move as falling short of the expected conduct of a public officeholder. The Post also learned that the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and the government chose to downplay the saga while resisting any investigation into whether Angel...

Politics

4 d. ago DAB unlikely to review Angel Chong’s Miss Hong Kong bid to avoid escalation: sources

The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) and the city’s government chose to downplay a young district councillor’s brief attempt to compete in a beauty pageant while resisting any investigation into whether Angel Chong Nga-ting’s actions constituted misconduct so as to avoid “renewing the public’s attention” on the incident, the Post has learned. Beijing also cautioned her political party over it, according to sources who viewed Chong’s move as falling short of...

Politics

5 d. ago 1,000 premium taxis to operate in Hong Kong in July, half the intended number

About 1,000 premium taxis will hit the streets of Hong Kong in July, falling short of the government’s target by about 50 per cent, despite the positive responses received during the trial, according to an official. Commissioner for Transport Angela Lee Chung-yan said on Friday that the Transport Department would grant official licences to five taxi fleets by the end of July and that the progress made on both the hardware and software of the fleets was satisfactory. “Most of the taxi fleets have...

Politics

5 d. ago 1,000 premium taxis to operate in Hong Kong from July, half the intended number

About 1,000 premium taxis will hit the streets of Hong Kong next month, about 50 per cent fewer than the government planned, despite the positive responses received during a trial run, according to an official. Commissioner for Transport Angela Lee Chung-yan said on Friday the Transport Department would grant official licences to five taxi fleets by the end of July and the progress made on both the hardware and software of the fleets was satisfactory. “Most of the taxi fleets have reached the 60...

Politics

6 d. ago Hong Kong civil servants have duty to identify security breaches: Chris Tang

Civil servants, from cleaners to policymakers, will need to fulfil their duty to identify national security breaches under new guidelines that will soon be released, Hong Kong’s security chief has said. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said that even though Hong Kong had returned to stability after the 2019 anti-government protests, national security risks remained as Western countries continued to use the city as an avenue to blockade China. “External forces, like the West, in a bid...

Events

6 d. ago Hong Kong repositions venues in a bid to boost development of performing arts

Sha Tin Town Hall will be reserved for Cantonese Opera while the Hong Kong Coliseum will be positioned as a concert venue, the government said on Thursday. The reform of the hiring policy of the city’s performance venues is part of a wider effort to promote the mega-event development of the performing arts in Hong Kong, following the official opening of Kai Tak Stadium in March. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said the latest move could provide more performance slots for use by...

Politics

6 d. ago HKMC explores Greater Bay Area retirement options for senior residents

The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation (HKMC), which has seen a surge in popularity for its retirement-related products, is exploring tie-ups with retirement homes in the Greater Bay Area to support residents planning to retire in the region. Executives of HKMC, which is owned by the Hong Kong government, visited the Greater Bay Area cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou recently to study retirement home operations, said Daniel Leong Ling-chi, CEO of HKMC Annuity, on Thursday. “We are exploring...

Politics

6 d. ago Hong Kong makes public stablecoin adoption a top priority in digital asset push

The Hong Kong government has pledged to promote the public adoption of licensed stablecoins, unveiling a broad set of new digital asset (DA) policies as the city seeks to cement its role as a global cryptocurrency hub while serving as a test bed for Beijing’s fintech aspirations. In the “Policy Statement 2.0 on the Development of Digital Assets in Hong Kong” released on Thursday, the government called for market proposals to test stablecoin applications in public scenarios and a legislative...

Politics

7 d. ago Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation to promote managing director Jeny Yeung to CEO

The MTR Corporation has promoted managing director Jeny Yeung Mei-chun to CEO from January next year and tasked her with leading the Hong Kong rail giant through a transformation. The corporation, which is nearly 75 per cent owned by the Hong Kong government, said on Wednesday that Yeung would succeed CEO Jacob Kam Chak-pui on January 1 next year for a three-year term following a global selection process. Kam, 63, was made chief executive officer in April 2019 and had his contract renewed...

Politics

7 d. ago 15 suspicious cases uncovered in Hong Kong tech voucher programme

Hong Kong authorities have referred 15 suspicious cases under a government subsidy scheme to law enforcement in the past three years, while also conducting random checks on 1,860 projects funded by the programme. Sun Dong, the secretary for innovation, technology and industry, in a written reply to questions by a lawmaker on Wednesday regarding the suspected abuse of the Technology Voucher Programme, said authorities would recover funding from applicants who were convicted in cases. The...

Politics

8 d. ago US condemns ‘repression’ of Independence Day celebrations in Hong Kong

The US has strongly criticised the Hong Kong government for what it described as a “repression” of Independence Day celebrations after city authorities reminded schools to remain vigilant against any attempts to promote the event on campus. The US response on Tuesday was made days after reports emerged that authorities had told schools to discourage students from attending July 4 events at the country’s consulate in the city. “We condemn the Hong Kong government’s repression of US Independence...

Politics

8 d. ago US hits back at Hong Kong over reminder to avoid Independence Day celebrations

The US has strongly criticised the Hong Kong government for what it described as a “repression” of Independence Day celebrations after city authorities reminded schools to remain vigilant against any attempts to promote the event on campus. The US response on Tuesday was made days after reports emerged that authorities had told schools to discourage students from attending July 4 events at the country’s consulate in the city. “We condemn the Hong Kong government’s repression of US Independence...

Events

9 d. ago Embrace AI in teaching to survive ‘tsunami’, University of Hong Kong head says

Universities should embrace the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching if they want to survive, the president of Hong Kong’s oldest tertiary education institution has said, as he expects the sector to be reshaped in the coming decade. Xiang Zhang from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) also said it would establish a school of government and public policy to attract young leaders to Hong Kong. In an exclusive interview with the Post, Zhang said AI presented a huge opportunity and a...

Events

9 d. ago Elderly Hongkongers can use vouchers at 2 Zhuhai hospitals from Thursday

Elderly Hongkongers will be able to use healthcare vouchers for medical services at two hospitals in mainland China’s Zhuhai later this week under a government subsidy scheme, part of a plan to expand the coverage of the project across the border. The Hong Kong government on Monday announced that the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme would be launched at Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and Zhuhai People’s Hospital on Thursday. The latest additions will...

Politics

9 d. ago Safety of driverless buses questioned after 2 collide at Hong Kong airport

Hong Kong’s airport has suspended part of its driverless bus operation to carry out an inspection after two unmanned vehicles collided in a restricted area, prompting experts to call for scrutiny over whether current technical solutions meet international standards Some experts said on Monday the incident was not only a “wake-up” call for authorities to review the supplier’s technology but also to step up the use of roadside obstacle detection equipment that could help prevent accidents. An...

Transport