66 h. ago Death toll from Hong Kong fire rises to 168 after more remains identified

The death toll of Hong Kong’s worst fire in decades has risen to 168 from 161 after the remains of more victims were identified, the city’s security chief has said. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung updated the figures for the Wang Fuk Court inferno in Tai Po, saying that all the victims had now been identified following dental examinations and DNA testing of remains. “We have notified the families of all 168 victims, and they have since confirmed the identities of the deceased,” Tang...

Events

6 d. ago Foreign, Hong Kong retailers close stores in mainland China amid changing dynamics

Mainland China’s retail and retail property sectors have suffered another blow amid a fresh wave of store closures by foreign and Hong Kong brands. “The series of closures come as a combined result of their outdated business models and profound changes in the macroeconomic environment,” said Wang Tianshi, an analyst at Shanghai-based LeadLeo Research Institute. “Compared with emerging mainland retailers, Hong Kong and foreign brands often remain under a ‘selling on the mainland’ phase, rather...

Politics

8 d. ago What does HSBC’s buyout of Hang Seng Bank mean for its future and investors?

Following the January 8 shareholder vote that overwhelmingly approved the largest privatisation deal in Hong Kong’s history, many questions remain about the future of Hang Seng Bank, its stakeholders and the broader financial landscape. For Hang Seng Bank’s shareholders, the immediate question is what to do with the HK$106.16 billion (US$13.6 billion) windfall from HSBC Holdings for acquiring the remaining 37 per cent it does not own. “I invested in Hang Seng Bank for the long term because of...

Economics

1 week ago Hong Kong office leasing rebound lifts outlook for 2026, but rents remain under pressure

Hong Kong’s battered office sector showed cautious signs of life in 2025, supported by improved take-up in core districts and a slower pace of rental declines and –. while analysts said that trend was set to continue into 2026 – rents were unlikely to rise over the next six months. The coming year was expected to build on the market’s momentum, with stabilisation emerging as the dominant theme, analysts said. Vacancy rates in prime assets in core districts were likely to steady further, but...

Society

1 week ago Hongkongers flock to say goodbye as landmark Sha Shui Po department store closes

Loyal customers and bargain hunters crowded a landmark department store in Hong Kong on Sunday as it closed its doors after three decades of operations. The closure of Sincere Department Store’s Sham Shui Po branch, a neighbourhood fixture for 30 years, leaves the chain with only two remaining outlets. Founded in 1900, Sincere was the first Chinese-owned department store in Hong Kong and remains one of the city’s oldest retail groups. Its branches in Mong Kok and Central continued to operate. On...

Politics

1 week ago Hongkongers flock to say goodbye as landmark Sham Shui Po department store closes

Loyal customers and bargain hunters crowded a landmark department store in Hong Kong on Sunday as it closed its doors after three decades of operations. The closure of Sincere Department Store’s Sham Shui Po branch, a neighbourhood fixture for 30 years, leaves the chain with only two remaining outlets. Founded in 1900, Sincere was the first Chinese-owned department store in Hong Kong and remains one of the city’s oldest retail groups. Its branches in Mong Kok and Central continued to operate. On...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong remains a top countdown city as 200,000 visit on New Year’s Eve: minister

Tourist numbers on New Year’s Eve have shown that Hong Kong remains an attractive destination for countdowns, according to the tourism minister, with sector representatives underscoring the need to direct visitors to different parts of the city. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said on Saturday that close to 200,000 visitors arrived in Hong Kong on December 31 alone, contributing to a 12 per cent year-on-year increase in tourist figures between Christmas and the end...

Politics

2 w. ago Why investors should remain bullish on Hong Kong, mainland stocks in 2026

Judging by investor sentiment in the final quarter of last year, the spectacular rally in mainland Chinese and Hong Kong equities is over. The CSI 300 index of Shanghai- and Shenzhen-listed stocks declined 0.2 per cent while the MSCI China Index fell by over 7 per cent. The Hang Seng Index, meanwhile, lost 4.5 per cent. While most Wall Street banks remain bullish on Chinese stocks, some have turned more cautious. Morgan Stanley believes 2026 will be “a year of stabilization after 2025’s high...

Economics

2 w. ago Hong Kong authorities question World Bank’s ‘unfair’ business

Hong Kong authorities have questioned a World Bank report giving the city lower grades for business readiness, saying outdated data has led to unfair comparisons. The digital policy office said early on Tuesday that Hong Kong remained among the top 20 for “operational efficiency” and in the second quintile for “regulatory framework” and “public services” in the World Bank Group’s Business Ready 2025 report. “Some of the report’s assessment results, such as those for ‘international trade’,...

Economics

3 w. ago Japan still popular with Hong Kong travellers over Christmas, Harbin gaining appeal

More Hongkongers are travelling over the Christmas holiday period compared with last year, with traditional destinations in Japan remaining popular despite geopolitical tensions, and mainland cities such as Harbin and Yunnan gaining appeal. Some industry insiders said Japan remained a popular destination among Hong Kong travellers despite recent news of earthquakes and a geopolitical row between Beijing and Tokyo, which earlier saw mainland visitors cancelling their trips in droves. Relations...

Politics