36 h. ago Business leaders call for efforts to combat ‘Hong Kong equals China’ perception

Hong Kong must work harder to be as international as possible under the “one country, two systems” framework to combat a growing perception in Western capitals that it is no different from any other mainland Chinese city, business leaders have urged. The city also maintains a significant lead over regional rival Singapore in key financial metrics, panellists at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference said on Tuesday. “The problem is that many of them feel that Hong Kong equals China,”...

Politics

36 h. ago Efforts needed to combat view ‘Hong Kong equals mainland China’: business leaders

Hong Kong must work harder to be as international as possible under the “one country, two systems” framework to combat a growing perception in Western capitals that it is no different from mainland Chinese cities, business leaders have urged. The city also maintains a significant lead over regional rival Singapore in key financial metrics, panellists at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference 2025 said on Tuesday. “The problem is that many of them feel that Hong Kong equals China,” said...

Politics

39 h. ago Hong Kong leaders say city is good place for investors to seek stability

Hong Kong is an ideal place for investors to seek stability and move resources away from riskier parts of the world, according to Alpha Lau Hai-suen, the director general of InvestHK. Speaking at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference on Tuesday, Lau said that since the Covid-19 pandemic, Hong Kong’s investment flows have not returned to previous levels due to global trade and tariff challenges. InvestHK is a government agency tasked with promoting the city overseas. “Despite all that,...

Politics

43 h. ago Hong Kong is vital link to world, where China anchors its trust, John Lee says

Hong Kong is a vital link that the world can rely on for security and development under the shifting geopolitical landscape as it connects the globe with China’s growth certainty and investible stability, the city leader has said. “Hong Kong is the ‘superconnector’ and ‘super value-adder’ that links the world with opportunities from China’s growth certainties. A link you can always bank on,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in a keynote speech at the South China Morning Post’s China...

Politics

43 h. ago Hong Kong vital link to world, where China anchors its trust, John Lee says

Hong Kong is a vital link that the world can rely on for security and development under the shifting geopolitical landscape as it connects the globe with China’s growth certainty and investible stability, the city leader has said. “Hong Kong is the ‘superconnector’ and ‘super value-adder’ that links the world with opportunities from China’s growth certainties. A link you can always bank on,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in a keynote speech at the South China Morning Post’s China...

Politics

43 h. ago Hong Kong is vital link to world, where China anchors its trust: John Lee

Hong Kong is a vital link that the world can rely on for security and development amid a shifting geopolitical landscape, as it connects the globe with China’s growth certainty and investible stability, the city’s leader has said. “Hong Kong is the ‘superconnector’ and ‘super value-adder’ that links the world with opportunities from China’s growth certainties. A link you can always bank on,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in a keynote speech at the South China Morning Post’s China...

Politics

4 d. ago ‘Sheer delusion’ for Hong Kong landlords to refuse to cut rents: CY Leung

Former Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying has challenged landlords to “adjust their mentality” over rental yields as he renewed his call for price cuts to stem a 40-year-high vacancy rate for commercial properties from rising further amid a slackening economy. Leung, now a top political adviser to the country, also warned that landlords would be harmed in the end if they refused to budge on lowering rents. “It is sheer self-delusion if landlords think they can get the rent level they want by...

Politics

6 d. ago Hong Kong crowds welcome aircraft carrier Shandong as city leader hails visit

China’s first independently designed aircraft carrier, the Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong waters on Thursday morning, with thousands of people flocking to the coast and hilltops and even renting water taxis to welcome the vessel and three other warships to the city. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu inspected a guard of honour on the deck of the 70,000-tonne carrier, accompanied by two senior naval officers, and was given a tour of the ship in the late afternoon. He attended a welcoming ceremony...

Politics

8 d. ago On anniversary of Hong Kong handover, John Lee vows to be a ‘reformer’

Hong Kong’s leader has vowed to be a “reformer” that rises to challenges rather than becoming a “complacent idler” in the face of the economic restructuring and geopolitical tensions, as he enters his fourth year in office. In a speech to mark the 28th anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also laid down three priorities in his governance: boosting development backed by security; expediting the Northern Metropolis megaproject near the...

Politics

8 d. ago John Lee vows to be ‘reformer’ as Hong Kong shows benefits of security to world

Hong Kong’s leader has vowed his team will be “reformers” who rise to challenges rather than become “complacent idlers”, pledging to seize development opportunities to let the city showcase “the certainties of safety and stability” the world needs in the face of geopolitical tensions, as he enters his fourth year in office. In a speech to mark the 28th anniversary of the city’s handover to Chinese rule on Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu laid down three governance priorities: boosting...

Events

9 d. ago Medical excellence to Olympic glory: Hong Kong honours outstanding contributions

A former chairman of Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority, a media mogul and a business leader have been awarded the city’s highest honour this year, while Olympic gold medal fencer Vivian Kong Man-wai was also recognised for her sporting achievements. Two Hongkongers who helped save residents from a deadly fire were also among the 427 individuals recognised on the 2025 Honours List on Tuesday for their contributions to society. Also honoured were a Hong Kong rescue team that had been deployed to...

Politics

9 d. ago Hong Kong may relax Japanese seafood ban soon: industry leader

Hong Kong may soon relax 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 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, which had...

Politics

9 d. ago Hong Kong may relax Japanese seafood ban soon: catering industry leader

Hong Kong may soon relax its ban on Japanese seafood imports from 10 prefectures, according to a catering 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 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

1 week ago Hong Kong’s John Lee vows to ‘confront challenges’, shun complacency

Hong Kong’s leader has said his administration is committed to being a “reformer who confronts challenges rather than a complacent person who avoids improvement”, while pledging to seek change and explore new markets to take the city to new heights. In the latest video posted on his social media accounts on Sunday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also elaborated on the themes behind a series of videos marking each year of his administration, indicating a change in governance focus. The first of...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong’s John Lee pledges team will ‘confront challenges’, shun complacency

Hong Kong’s leader has said he and his administration are committed to being “reformers who confront challenges, rather than those who complacently avoid improvement”, while pledging to pursue change and explore new markets to take the city to fresh heights. In a video posted on his social media accounts on Sunday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also elaborated on the themes behind a series of annual clips marking the anniversary of his administration and setting the tone for each coming year,...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong leader taps 2 tech heads from Hangzhou’s ‘Little Dragons’ as advisers

The Hong Kong chief executive’s Council of Advisers has welcomed three new members, including two tech bosses from Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons” and a mainland Chinese economist who was a senior official with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The government on Friday announced the appointment of 34 members to the second term of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s Council of Advisers, with the two-year appointment to start on Tuesday. Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, chairman of CK Hutchison Holdings,...

Politics

1 week ago Cut rents now or miss out, CY Leung tells Hong Kong landlords

Former Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying has urged landlords to lower rents as the city’s commercial property vacancy rate hit a 40-year high and retailers cried foul over being forced to close businesses to stem losses. In his social media post on Thursday, Leung pointed to the rate of vacant commercial buildings in the city, which reached a record high of 11.8 per cent by the end of 2024. He said that soaring rents had forced restaurants to have extremely cramped washrooms and to store...

Politics

2 w. ago Cause of driverless bus crash at Hong Kong airport must be found: John Lee

Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to find out the cause of a crash involving a pair of unmanned buses at the city’s airport, as he reassured residents that authorities will closely supervise companies testing driverless technologies. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also said that autonomous transport systems were becoming a trend globally and that authorities would work hard to ensure they were safe for use in Hong Kong. On Sunday, a pair of driverless buses used to transport staff...

Events

2 w. ago 20 of 21 Hongkongers in Israel and Iran have left those countries: John Lee

All but one of the 21 Hongkongers who were in Israel or Iran have left those countries safely, Hong Kong’s leader has said, adding that escalating tensions in the Middle East will not affect the city’s efforts to develop markets there. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the Immigration Department had received inquiries from 21 Hong Kong residents who were in Israel or Iran as of Monday. “Twenty of them have already departed safely. The department will continue to maintain...

Politics

2 w. ago 20 of 21 Hongkongers in Israel and Iran have left the countries: John Lee

All but one of the 21 Hongkongers who were in Israel or Iran have left the countries safely, Hong Kong’s leader has said, adding that escalating tensions in the Middle East will not affect the city’s efforts to develop markets there. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the Immigration Department had received inquiries from 21 Hong Kong residents who were in Israel or Iran as of Monday. “Twenty of them have already departed safely. The department will continue to maintain close...

Politics