5 h. ago Should Hong Kong hit luxury homeowners with heavier fines for illegal works?

Hong Kong authorities should appeal against the “light” penalties imposed on two property owners for erecting illegal structures at their luxury Redhill Peninsula homes, experts have said, warning that the fines are not hefty enough to deter offenders. The specialists weighed in after the two property owners were told to pay more than HK$110,000 (US$14,015) in total after admitting to carrying out unauthorised building works. Their convictions are the first among 30 prosecutions made against...

Events

3 d. ago T1 warning to remain in force as tropical depression brings rain to Hong Kong

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The No 1 typhoon warning signal issued in the early hours of Wednesday will remain in effect throughout the day, the Hong Kong Observatory has said, as showers hit the city. The weather forecaster issued the standby signal at 12.40am and said it would assess whether to raise it to No 3 in the...

Events

3 d. ago T1 signal to remain in force as Tropical Depression Wutip brings rain to Hong Kong

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The No 1 typhoon warning signal issued in the early hours of Wednesday will remain in effect throughout the day, the Hong Kong Observatory has said, as showers hit the city. The weather forecaster issued the standby signal at 12.40am and said it would assess whether to raise it to No 3 in the...

Politics

3 d. ago Hong Kong T1 signal to remain in force on Thursday morning as Wutip brings rain

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The No 1 typhoon warning signal issued early on Wednesday will remain in force overnight and on Thursday morning, the Hong Kong Observatory has said, as showers hit the city. The weather forecaster issued the signal at 12.40am and said it would assess whether to raise it to No 3 on Friday. It...

Politics

5 d. ago 30 Hong Kong workers complain as King Parrot Group debt hits HK$5 million

More than 30 of about 120 employees affected by the sudden closure of nine restaurants operated by a giant Hong Kong catering group have sought help from labour authorities, with a representative saying the debt involved has increased to HK$5 million (US$637,155). The workers have sought help after 33-year-old restaurant chain King Parrot Group closed its nine eateries on Friday. It ran over 20 brands and more than 30 themed restaurants at its peak. The manager of a China House restaurant in Mei...

Economics

5 d. ago Hongkongers to swelter in coming days as mercury to hit 34 degrees Celsius

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong will experience very hot weather over the next few days under the influence of a high-pressure area, with temperatures expected to hit 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, according to the forecaster. “An anticyclone aloft [area of high pressure] is bringing generally...

Events

5 d. ago Hong Kong to issue No 1 typhoon warning signal as early as Tuesday night

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster will issue the No 1 typhoon warning signal as early as Tuesday night, as an area of low pressure is expected to develop into a tropical cyclone and move towards the city amid sweltering heat. The Observatory said on Monday the tropical cyclone was expected to...

Events

1 week ago Hong Kong’s Link takes rental hits amid fight to retain retail tenants

Hong Kong-based Link Asset Management expects more tenants to negotiate lower rents in the near term as it prioritises keeping its properties occupied, according to top executives at the company that manages Link Reit, Asia’s largest real estate investment trust. While Hong Kong continued to suffer a retail slump, assets in Singapore and Australia performed better than expected, the company said on Tuesday as it reported revenue and profit increases for the financial year ended in March. Link is...

Events

1 week ago ‘Credible’ new global mediation body will draw investors to Hong Kong: Paul Chan

The new International Organisation for Mediation launched in Hong Kong will be an efficient, fair and credible mechanism for dispute resolution and attract investors from the Global South as the economy shifts towards these developing countries, the city’s finance minister has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday the inauguration of the China-led body on Friday established Hong Kong’s role as the global legal and mediation centre for the Asia-Pacific region. “An efficient,...

Economics

2 w. ago Hong Kong hits a high with global legal body, but now comes the hard part

Hong Kong made a groundbreaking move on Friday when it became the headquarters for a new intergovernmental mediation body but the unit’s real tests will be in the types of substantive cases it handles and whether more countries will join the convention, experts have said. While the China-led International Organisation for Mediation launched on Friday with 33 signatories, and the conspicuous absence of major Western countries, leading lawyers said they expected more nations would join once the...

Events

2 w. ago 3 backstage staff of Hong Kong boy band Mirror concert acquitted after accident

Three backstage staff of a 2022 concert by Hong Kong boy band Mirror have been acquitted of a conspiracy to defraud authorities by understating the weight of stage equipment, including a giant screen that collapsed and injured two dancers during the show. The District Court on Friday announced its verdict on the case implicating the trio after a four-by-four-metre (13-by-13-foot) screen fell and hit two dancers at Hong Kong Coliseum on July 28, 2022. Engineering Impact project managers Ng...

Culture

2 w. ago Hong Kong’s global legal ambitions get a boost with a new world body

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to attend a signing ceremony in Hong Kong on Friday morning to mark the establishment of the world’s first intergovernmental legal body focused on mediation. Police have deployed about 100 officers, including some from their counterterrorism unit, for the event. High-level representatives from nearly 60 countries and about 20 global organisations will attend the ceremony at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Wan Chai. Renovation works are being carried out at the...

Politics

2 w. ago Changing mindsets: global legal body set up in Hong Kong – as it happened

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a signing ceremony in Hong Kong on Friday morning to mark the establishment of the world’s first intergovernmental legal body focused on mediation. Police deployed about 100 officers, including some from their counterterrorism unit, for the event....

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Rising star’ to shine with Hong Kong: global legal body set up – as it happened

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a signing ceremony in Hong Kong on Friday morning to mark the establishment of the world’s first intergovernmental legal body focused on mediation. Police deployed about 100 officers, including some from their counterterrorism unit, for the event....

Politics

2 w. ago Pedestrian, 60, dies after being hit by Hong Kong policeman’s private car

A 60-year-old man has died after being knocked down by a private car driven by a Hong Kong policeman in Mong Kok, prompting an official investigation. Police said the officer, 46, was travelling along Nathan Road towards Yau Ma Tei at 3.16am on Thursday when he hit the man, who was crossing the street near the junction of Nathan Road and Prince Edward Road West. The victim, a foreign man, became trapped under the car and was subsequently rescued. He sustained multiple injuries and was rushed to...

Events

2 w. ago Hong Kong police officer arrested in connection with fatal road accident

A Hong Kong police officer has been arrested after the private car he was driving knocked down a pedestrian who later died in hospital, the Post has learned. Police said the officer, 46, was travelling along Nathan Road towards Yau Ma Tei at 3.16am on Thursday when he hit the man, who was crossing the street near the junction of Nathan Road and Prince Edward Road West. The victim, whom the force only described as a foreign man, became trapped under the car and was subsequently rescued. He...

Events

2 w. ago Hong Kong leader welcomes students hit by ‘discriminatory’ US ban on foreigners

Students who faced “discriminatory and unfair treatment” under the United States’ attempted ban on Harvard University’s international student enrolment are welcome to Hong Kong, the city leader has said, adding he would consider further raising the quota for non-local applicants if the need arose. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday said Hong Kong would welcome any student who had been “discriminated by US policy” to continue their studies here. “So I want this message to go out to any...

Events

2 w. ago Hong Kong will welcome students hit by ‘discriminatory’ US ban: John Lee

Students who face “discriminatory and unfair treatment” under the United States’ attempted ban on Harvard University’s international student enrolment are welcome in Hong Kong, the city leader has said, adding he will consider further raising the quota for non-local applicants if the need arises. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that Hong Kong would welcome any students who had been “discriminated by US policy” to continue their studies in the city. “So, I want this message to go...

Events

3 w. ago Hong Kong police arrest minibus driver, 78, after vehicle hits and kills man

Minibus strikes 75-year-old on Ngau Tau Kok Road at section between traffic lights and pedestrian island, source says.

Events

4 w. ago 5 Hong Kong ferry services cancelled after vessel with 300 aboard hits pier

Macau-bound TurboJet vessel strikes pier at ferry terminal in Sheung Wan after suffering ‘mechanical failure’; no injuries reported.

Events