3 d. ago Beyond Siobhan: Hong Kong’s best bets, China’s top threats at National Games

Beyond Siobhan: Hong Kong’s best bets, China’s top threats at National Games  South China Morning Post

Events

4 d. ago Hong Kong to showcase 4,000 years of ancient Egypt, reinforcing belt and road ties

A nearly three-metre-tall (9.8-foot) statue of Tutankhamun, ancient Egyptian jewellery and other historical artefacts covering 4,000 years of history will be exhibited in Hong Kong next month, as ties between China and the African nation deepen under the Belt and Road Initiative. The exhibition, titled “Ancient Egypt Unveiled: Treasures from Egyptian Museums”, will be held at the Hong Kong Palace Museum from November for nine months. It is also organised in anticipation of the 70th anniversary...

Politics

5 d. ago US ‘overstretching’ national security fears by threatening HKT, Hong Kong says

The United States is “overstretching the concept of national security” with its threat to oust HKT International from the country’s telecommunication network, Hong Kong authorities have said. Political commentators also warned on Thursday that Beijing would interpret the move as Washington using the city as a “chess piece against China”. Hong Kong’s Office of the Communications Authority said the government “strongly disapproves of the United States’ overstretching the concept of national...

Events

7 d. ago National Games torch relay in Hong Kong to highlight city’s culture: John Lee

Hong Kong’s leader has revealed that a torch relay route for the coming National Games is being planned to showcase the city’s culture, while authorities have said that a section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge will be sealed off for a cross-border cycling race. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced on Tuesday that he had brought back the National Games’ torch after attending a flame-lighting ceremony in Nansha of Guangzhou on October 9. “Early next month, the torch relay will be held...

Politics

1 week ago 1.4 million mainland passenger trips made to Hong Kong over ‘golden week’ break

More than 1.4 million mainland Chinese passenger trips were made to Hong Kong during the country’s National Day “golden week” holiday, official data has shown, but a sector representative said tourists’ spending power remained weak despite the increased numbers. According to the latest figures from the Immigration Department, the number of inbound trips made by mainland visitors during the eight-day break, which coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, marked a 15 per cent increase from...

Politics

1 week ago 1.4 million mainland Chinese passenger trips made to Hong Kong over ‘golden week’

More than 1.4 million mainland Chinese passenger trips were made to Hong Kong during the National Day “golden week” holiday, official data has shown, but the number still fell short of the city government’s expectations of nearly reaching pre-pandemic levels of 1.52 million. While Hong Kong retailers and caterers reported business growth of up to 20 per cent year on year during the break, a sector representative said on Thursday that tourists’ spending power had remained weak. According to the...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong retailers, caterers enjoy ‘golden week’ business growth of up to 20%

Hong Kong retailers and caterers have reported business growth of up to 20 per cent year on year during mainland China’s National Day “golden week” break, with one tourist spending a whopping HK$1 million (US$128,500) on international brands, business leaders have said. Industry leaders said stores selling gold, jewellery and cosmetic products emerged as the big winners as the eight-day break wrapped up on Wednesday, while cha chaan teng were the top dining choice, followed by Chinese...

Politics

2 w. ago Which Hong Kong businesses came out on top over National Day break?

The number of mainland Chinese visitors coming to Hong Kong for the first five days of the National Day “golden week” break rose by 5.1 per cent from last year, while business leaders have said cosmetics sellers and cha chaan teng enjoyed a boost in customers. Maurice Kong Chi-hang, chairman of the Institute of Dining Professionals, said that the National Day fireworks on October 1 served as a draw for visitors, helping to prompt a 10 to 25 per cent increase in business for restaurants. But he...

Politics

2 w. ago Crowds on outlying Hong Kong island won’t have major ‘impact’ on reefs: official

The overcrowding at a Unesco-listed geopark in Hong Kong during the National Day “golden week” holiday is not expected to have a “significant impact” on coral colonies, authorities have said, stressing that they will assess the health of the reefs near an outlying island and review crowd control measures. Patrick Lai Chuen-chi, deputy director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, said on Monday that staff would conduct an assessment of the coral reefs off Sharp Island in...

Politics

2 w. ago Crowds on Hong Kong’s Sharp Island won’t have major ‘impact’ on corals: official

The overcrowding at a Unesco-listed geopark in Hong Kong during the National Day “golden week” holiday is not expected to have a “significant impact” on coral colonies, authorities have said, stressing that they will assess the health of the reefs near an outlying island and review crowd control measures. Patrick Lai Chuen-chi, deputy director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, said on Monday that staff would conduct an assessment of the coral reefs off Sharp Island in...

Politics

2 w. ago Crowds on Hong Kong’s Sharp Island won’t have major impact on corals: government

The overcrowding at a Unesco-listed geopark in Hong Kong during the National Day “golden week” holiday is not expected to have a “significant impact” on coral colonies, the city’s environment chief has said, stressing that authorities will assess the health of the reefs near an outlying island and review crowd control measures. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan on Monday said that the damage to coral reefs off Sharp Island in Sai Kung was not extensive, after tourists were seen...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong hotels packed for National Day break. So why is the industry worried?

Hong Kong’s hotels recorded occupancy rates of more than 80 per cent in the first three days of the National Day “golden week” holiday amid a 6.3 per cent rise in visitor arrivals, but industry leaders have warned that the city’s success in managing mega-event crowds could create a new hurdle for tourism. They warned that the government’s focus on ensuring major events ended earlier at night to help with cross-border travel was undercutting demand for extended stays. “There has been a noticeable...

Politics

2 w. ago How are mainland Chinese visitors enjoying Hong Kong during ‘golden week’?

Mainland Chinese visitors have continued to stream into Hong Kong for the National Day “golden week” holiday, with many heading to the horse races and enjoying discounts on delicacies as well as movies in the past few days. According to the Immigration Department, 454,778 cross-border trips were made on the first two days of the eight-day holiday. A check of mainland social media and interviews with tourists showed which activities, events and places were proving to be popular. High on the...

Politics

2 w. ago Crowds at Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour bid farewell to PLA naval ships

Military enthusiasts have gathered on both sides of Victoria Harbour to bid farewell to two People’s Liberation Army naval ships at the end of their four-day port call in Hong Kong as part of the National Day celebrations. Some fans, many of them from mainland China, arrived as early as 7.30am at the Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront to secure a good spot to view training vessel Qi Jiguang and amphibious assault ship Yimeng Shan as they departed on Friday. As the ships passed through the harbour, there...

Politics

2 w. ago Crowds gather at Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour to bid farewell to PLA Navy ships

Military enthusiasts have gathered on both sides of Victoria Harbour to bid farewell to two People’s Liberation Army naval ships at the end of their four-day port call in Hong Kong as part of the National Day celebrations. Some fans, many of them from mainland China, arrived as early as 7am at the Tsim Sha Tsui harbourfront to secure a good spot to view training vessel Qi Jiguang and amphibious assault ship Yimeng Shan as they departed on Friday. As the ships passed through the harbour, there...

Politics

2 w. ago From Stephen Chow films to Beyond hits: PLA sailors share Hong Kong affinity

Chinese navy sailors from two People’s Liberation Army vessels have shown their softer side by sharing their experiences touring Hong Kong on National Day and revealing how the city’s pop culture influenced them. Thousands of residents on Thursday also took advantage of the final opportunity to board the two military vessels harboured in the city, which wrapped up its two-day open house. As training vessel Qi Jiguang and amphibious landing ship Yimeng Shan of the People’s Liberation Army made a...

Events

2 w. ago Hong Kong police confident National Games will go off without a hitch

Hong Kong police say they are armed with enough personnel and resources, including 600 drones and 200 trained dogs, to ensure the coming National Games go off without a hitch. And while there was no specific intelligence suggesting terrorists would target the city during the Games, contingency plans were in place to deal with emergent situations, the force told the media this week. The National Games will run between November 9 and 21 across 11 cities in the Greater Bay Area. “Police will...

Events

2 w. ago Editorial | Hong Kong marks National Day with hope amid challenges

Editorial | Hong Kong marks National Day with hope amid challenges  South China Morning Post

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong marks National Day with fireworks, naval ship tours and horse races

Hundreds of thousands of spectators packed Hong Kong’s harbourfront for a fireworks display on National Day, capping off celebrations that included an open day at PLA naval ships and visitors descending upon the city for shopping, sightseeing and hiking. Police said 344,000 people packed both sides of Victoria Harbour to watch the 23-minute display on Wednesday, the local highlight of the first day of mainland China’s “golden week” holiday. The Immigration Department recorded a net inflow of...

Events

2 w. ago Mainland Chinese tourists loosen purse strings in Hong Kong amid ‘golden week’

Mainland Chinese tourists are loosening their purse strings as they flock to Hong Kong on the first day of their National Day holiday, with many opting to stay for a few days to enjoy the fireworks, outdoor attractions and urban vibes. Hong Kong’s authorities have estimated that as many as 1.54 million mainland visitors, including 1,200 tour groups, would come over the eight-day “golden week” holiday, which coincides with National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival. The estimate marked an increase...

Politics