73 m. ago Hundreds of mainland visitors in Hong Kong enjoy July 1 celebrations, deals

Hundreds of mainland visitors have made the most of Hong Kong’s holiday marking the city’s return to Chinese rule by flocking to popular tourist sites and enjoying discounts, free museum visits, ferry and tram rides, and cheap tickets at several major attractions. Undeterred by the cloudy and rainy weather on Tuesday, they gathered at popular locations across the city, including Central, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, with many planning to spend good money on the 3,800 restaurants...

Politics

2 h. ago Beijing slams US official, EU body for attack on Hong Kong national security law

Beijing has hit out at a United States official and the European Union’s diplomatic wing for attacking Hong Kong’s national security legislation, criticising their “hypocrisy” and “malicious intention” of containing China by going after the city. The statement from China’s foreign ministry arm in Hong Kong on Tuesday was in response to remarks by Jim Risch, the chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and the European External Action Service. Risch said that Hong Kong had become...

Events

3 h. ago Woman, 45, arrested in Hong Kong after brandishing knife at City University

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon after brandishing a knife while looking for her husband at City University of Hong Kong in Kowloon Tong. Police said a security guard reported that the wife of a colleague was seen holding a knife on a campus bridge at around 9.53am on Tuesday. A spokesman for the force said the 45-year-old woman had first arrived at the bridge claiming that she could not find her husband. She left the campus and bought a 21cm-long (8.2...

Events

3 h. ago For Hongkongers, a skip and a hop to Shenzhen via Heung Yuen Wai checkpoint

Hundreds of Hongkongers have crossed the border for the July 1 holiday, with many favouring the Heung Yuen Wai crossing due to its convenient transport links and easy access to shopping centres in Shenzhen’s Liantang district. Residents streamed into Shenzhen via the Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point on the 28th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule on Tuesday. Among them was security guard Cheung Ming-fung, 68, who relished the cheap commute between his home in Sheung Shui and...

Politics

4 h. ago Hong Kong train driver’s antics have passengers laughing as MTR clips go viral

A video clip in which a Hong Kong train driver can be heard imitating a recorded passenger announcement in an MTR carriage has gone viral online, along with two others involving the rail giant’s staff, with internet users applauding the workers’ creative and personal approaches. In one video, the East Rail line driver can be heard mimicking the standard announcement telling passengers to “please step back from the train doors” and then adding, “Du du du du du du duuu”, the warning sound that...

Politics

4 h. ago Hong Kong residents and tourists revel in handover anniversary festivities

From free museum visits and tram rides to discounted meals and fun runs, residents and tourists took full advantage of offers by thousands of businesses, braving the frequent showers to revel in the celebrations of the city’s 28th anniversary of its handover to Beijing. Rows of bright red national and Hong Kong flags adorned the streets and tourist attractions on Tuesday, as around 3,800 restaurants offered special discounts, hoping to attract diners and boost spending. A parade of about 30...

Politics

4 h. ago From free rides and museum visits to cheap meals, Hong Kong laps up July 1 deals

From free museum visits and tram rides to discounted meals and fun runs, residents and tourists took full advantage of offers by thousands of businesses, braving the frequent showers to revel in the celebrations of the city’s 28th anniversary of its handover to Beijing. Rows of bright red national and Hong Kong flags adorned the streets and tourist attractions on Tuesday, as around 3,800 restaurants offered special discounts, hoping to attract diners and boost spending. A parade of about 30...

Politics

5 h. ago Hong Kong needs more cybersecurity professionals as threats increase: report

Hong Kong needs more professionals focused on cybersecurity due to persistent threats and a limited talent pool, according to a recent report from the Hong Kong China Network Security Association. The group said demand for cybersecurity professionals in Hong Kong was expected to grow steadily over the next three to five years, with a particular focus on skills related to cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) security. The report said attackers, armed with AI, drove the number of security...

Events

5 h. ago 2 men arrested over HK$30,000 construction site theft in Hong Kong

Two men issued with two-way exit permits have been arrested for allegedly stealing 32 bags of copper wire and tools worth HK$30,000 (US$3,820) from a construction site in Hong Kong’s Kwun Tong. Police said on Tuesday that a security guard at a construction site located at 11-15 On Yu Road in Sau Mau Ping discovered the men, aged 47 and 49, at around 3.48am and suspected them of stealing building materials and tools. Officers arrived at the scene and located the two individuals, but they fled,...

Events

6 h. ago Rolex, Patek Philippe watches stolen in HK$2.1 million Hong Kong burglary

Hong Kong police are investigating a burglary where luxury goods and cash worth about HK$2.14 million in total, including 10 Rolex, Cartier and Patek Philippe watches, were stolen from a flat in Tuen Mun. Police said that they received a report at around 1.30am on Tuesday from a man, 28, who discovered the living room window in his flat at 28 Castle Peak Road had been opened. The man suspected there had been a burglary as there were signs of ransacking, a police spokesman said. Officers arrived...

Economics

6 h. ago Certain ferry services in Hong Kong to be suspended during Chinese naval fleet visit

Hongkongers will have to make changes to their transport plans during the visit of a naval fleet led by the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong from Thursday as certain ferry services will be temporarily suspended, with authorities also implementing restrictions in some flying zones. The Transport Department on Monday evening announced the adjustments, with nine outlying island licensed ferry service routes operating on the western fairway to be suspended gradually between about 7.20am and 9.50am...

Politics

7 h. 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 h. ago Beijing sanctions Manila’s South China Sea legal claim architect Francis Tolentino

China has announced sanctions on former Philippine Senate leader Francis Tolentino, a key ally of the Southeast Asian country’s President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on South China Sea issues. Beijing accused Tolentino of “egregious conduct on China-related issues” and will bar the former Philippine lawmaker – whose term ended yesterday – from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. “For some time now, individual anti-China politicians in the Philippines...

Events

8 h. ago Beijing sanctions South China Sea legal claim architect Francis Tolentino

China has sanctioned the former Senate leader of the Philippines Francis Tolentino, a key ally of the Southeast Asian country’s President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr on South China Sea issues. Beijing accused Tolentino of “egregious conduct on China-related issues” and will bar the former Philippine lawmaker – whose term ended on Monday – from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. “For some time now, individual anti-China politicians in the Philippines...

Events

9 h. ago Hong Kong rights record under fire as it marks China handover anniversary

Hong Kong rights record under fire as it marks China handover anniversary  Wyoming News Now

Events

10 h. ago Smaller Hong Kong developers face defaults amid mounting debts: analysts

Hong Kong developer Emperor International Holdings’ inability to repay HK$16.6 billion (US$2.1 billion) in loans highlights a growing debt crisis among small and medium-sized developers in the city, prompting analysts to warn of more defaults. “High debt ratios have become a mainstream condition among Hong Kong developers, particularly mid-sized developers” amid dropping valuations, low demand, high vacancy rates, falling rental income and high interest rates, said Glen Ho, national turnaround...

Politics

10 h. ago Emperor’s US$2 billion debt woes reflect Hong Kong’s property market risks

Hong Kong developer Emperor International Holdings’ inability to repay HK$16.6 billion (US$2.1 billion) in loans highlights a growing debt crisis among small and medium-sized developers in the city, prompting analysts to warn of more defaults. “High debt ratios have become a mainstream condition among Hong Kong developers, particularly mid-sized developers” amid dropping valuations, low demand, high vacancy rates, falling rental income and high interest rates, said Glen Ho, national turnaround...

Economics

11 h. ago ‘I’d rather be an arduous reformer than complacent idler’: Hong Kong’s John Lee

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 marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events start with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will...

Politics

11 h. ago Hongkongers, visitors enjoy discounts, freebies as city marks July 1 anniversary

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 marks the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu...

Politics

11 h. ago Hongkongers, visitors enjoy discounts, freebies as city marks July 1 anniversary – 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. Hong Kong marked the 28th anniversary of its return to Chinese sovereignty on Tuesday. The day’s events started with a flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai and a reception at the nearby Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu...

Politics