2 w. ago Hong Kong’s hawkers could ‘disappear’ by 2033 unless rules are eased: lawmaker

Hong Kong should relax hawker licensing rules so assistants who are not family members can take over stalls, a lawmaker and district councillor have urged, as the city has recorded an 80 per cent drop since 2000 in the number of itinerant street sellers, and the sector could disappear entirely by 2033. The plea came after research by the Legislative Council found that the number of fixed-pitch hawkers in Hong Kong had decreased by 40 per cent since 2000 to 4,848 in 2024, while itinerant street...

Events

2 w. ago Hong Kong’s hawkers could disappear by 2033 unless rules eased, lawmaker says

Hong Kong should relax hawker licensing rules so assistants who are not family members can take over stalls, a lawmaker and a district councillor have said, as the city recorded an 80 per cent drop since 2000 in the number of itinerant street sellers. The trade could disappear entirely by 2033, the legislator warned on Wednesday. The plea came after research by the Legislative Council found the number of fixed-pitch hawkers had decreased by 40 per cent since 2000 to 4,848 in 2024, while...

Events

2 w. ago China lifts total ban on Japanese seafood, opening imports for certain prefectures

China lifts total ban on Japanese seafood, opening imports for certain prefectures  SeafoodSource

Politics

2 w. 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 w. 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

2 w. 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

2 w. 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

2 w. ago Can China’s partial lifting of Japanese seafood ban aid a post

China has partially lifted its two-year ban on Japanese seafood imports in the latest step by Beijing to remove a diplomatic roadblock that has strained ties between the two neighbours. According to a Chinese customs notice issued on Sunday, shipments of seafood originating from “certain regions” of Japan would resume “conditionally” with immediate effect. The decision was made “under the premise of ongoing long-term international monitoring and independent Chinese sampling of Japan’s Fukushima...

Politics

2 w. ago China partially lifts Japan seafood ban but Fukushima import block remains

China has partially lifted its two-year ban on Japanese seafood imports in the latest step by Beijing to remove a diplomatic roadblock that has strained ties between the two neighbours. According to a Chinese customs notice issued on Sunday, shipments of seafood originating from “certain regions” of Japan would resume “conditionally” with immediate effect. The decision was made “under the premise of ongoing long-term international monitoring and independent Chinese sampling of Japan’s Fukushima...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong to relax rules for converting hotels into university student hostels

Hong Kong authorities will relax rules for converting hotels into university student accommodation to ease a supply shortage under a pilot scheme to be launched next month. In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Friday, the Development Bureau said it would expand the definition of “hotels” to include student hostels, waive planning procedures and simplify applications, allowing private operators to build the dormitories on commercial land more easily. “Under the latest plan,...

Society