1 hour ago Encourage employees to vote in Hong Kong’s coming Legco election: John Lee

Hong Kong’s leader has called on the public and private sectors to encourage employees to vote in the coming Legislative Council election, describing it as their social responsibility. At the ceremony to launch the election on Thursday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu urged both public institutions and businesses to encourage employees to take part in the poll, emphasising that voting was both a right and a civic duty. “I strongly urge all sectors of society, including various institutions,...

Politics

2 h. ago Hong Kong Ocean Park ‘not ruling out’ Water World closure to cut losses

Hong Kong Ocean Park does not rule out shutting down its Water World facility to prevent further deficit and will “actively consider” if the government is willing to take over operating rights, its chairman has revealed. Paulo Pong Kin-yee admitted on Thursday that the theme park’s HK$274.7 million (US$31.8 million) deficit over the past year was primarily driven by its water attraction. When asked whether the park would close the facility to balance the books, Pong said the option was not off...

Politics

5 h. ago Hong Kong airport closes runway as clearing of plane crash wreckage set to begin

Hong Kong airport’s north runway has been temporarily closed as two salvage vessels with an 80-member crew are set to arrive in the city to lift a crashed cargo plane that veered off its path and killed two people. The Airport Authority said that the north runway would be closed starting from 8am on Thursday, with the operation to salvage the aircraft, which broke into two sections, expected to “last for a few days”. “With the support of Guangzhou Salvage Bureau, Chu Kong Passenger Transport...

Events

7 h. ago US clamp on critical software could cripple Hong Kong aviation, experts warn

Hong Kong’s aviation industry will suffer greatly if the United States slaps export curbs on American-made critical software to the city, experts have warned. The sector relied heavily on this technology, making it nearly impossible to find alternative solutions, they said. US President Donald Trump earlier threatened to curb the export of “any and all critical software” to China amid escalating trade tensions between the two superpowers. Trump’s threat to impose restrictions followed Beijing’s...

Events

8 h. ago New Phnom Penh airport opens with fanfare as Cambodia touts regional, China ties

With an eye to transforming Cambodia into a Southeast Asian travel and cargo hub, a new US$2.3 billion airport – developed by a venture affiliated with one of the country’s wealthiest men – was opened at a grand ceremony near Phnom Penh, where officials and business leaders praised the project for enhancing regional connectivity and deepening links with Hong Kong and mainland China. Techo International Airport (TIA), which has replaced the Cambodian capital’s previous facility, has been forecast...

Politics

18 h. ago HKEX vets 300 listing applications after city ascends as world’s top IPO market

Bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), which topped this year’s global rankings as the largest initial public offering (IPO) market, said the city continued to see strong momentum, as it vets hundreds of new listing applications. Bonnie Chan Yiting, CEO of HKEX, on Wednesday said at an event in Shanghai that Hong Kong has more than 300 companies in the listing pipeline, which would ensure another strong quarter for fundraising in the city. “International investors have been...

Economics

21 h. ago Hong Kong court orders authorities to review murderer’s life sentence anew

A Hong Kong court has ordered authorities to review a murder convict’s life sentence anew after finding it wrong in law for them to oppose his early release just because he has not served enough time. Lo Hon-hing on Wednesday won a judicial challenge in the High Court that compels the Long-term Prison Sentences Review Board to adopt a “holistic” approach in assessing his suitability for early release, also taking into account his rehabilitation and the risk he poses to society. The ruling does...

Events

21 h. ago Rethink ‘repetitive’ handling of murderer’s early release review: Hong Kong court

A Hong Kong court has found that authorities were wrong in law to oppose the early release of a convicted murderer on the grounds that he has not served enough time, ordering them to take into consideration all relevant factors for his next review. Lo Hon-hing on Wednesday won a judicial challenge in the High Court that compels the Long-term Prison Sentences Review Board to adopt a “holistic” approach in assessing his suitability for early release, taking into account his rehabilitation and the...

Events

21 h. ago Beijing boss out to turn things around, starting with Hong Kong champions Tai Po

Beijing boss out to turn things around, starting with Hong Kong champions Tai Po  South China Morning Post

Politics

22 h. ago Hong Kong customs seize HK$10 million of bogus Nike, Adidas shoes

Hong Kong customs officers have seized HK$10 million (US$1.29 million) worth of suspected counterfeit sports and luxury shoes such as Nike, Adidas, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, believed to be intended for overseas markets to capitalise on a demand driven by global mega-events. “At mega-events such as sports shoes exhibitions, many collectors and enthusiasts will trade items on site, driving up demand for high-quality counterfeit sports shoes,” said Inspector Yeung Tit-fung of the Customs and Excise...

Economics

22 h. ago Hong Kong customs seizes HK$10 million of bogus Nike, Adidas shoes

Hong Kong customs officers have seized HK$10 million (US$1.29 million) worth of suspected counterfeit sports and luxury shoes such as Nike, Adidas, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, believed to be intended for overseas markets to capitalise on a demand driven by global mega-events. “At mega-events such as sports shoes exhibitions, many collectors and enthusiasts will trade items on site, driving up demand for high-quality counterfeit sports shoes,” said Inspector Yeung Tit-fung of the Customs and Excise...

Economics

22 h. ago 37,000 workers imported into Hong Kong since start of labour scheme in 2023

Hong Kong has imported more than 37,000 workers since the government’s introduction of a labour scheme two years ago, while a construction union has announced a wage freeze for most of the major trades in the industry. The Labour and Welfare Bureau on Wednesday revealed that it had received applications to import more than 62,000 workers in the catering and hospitality industries since the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme was launched in 2023. Between September 4, 2023, and September 30 this...

Politics

23 h. ago Can the Philippines regain its tourism edge with revival of China e

The Philippines will revive its electronic visa programme for Chinese tourists next month, nearly two years after its abrupt suspension, as part of a broader push to boost lagging visitor arrivals and regain lost ground in the regional tourism race. The Philippine embassy in Beijing confirmed in a statement issued on October 15 that Chinese citizens – including those from Hong Kong and Macau – would again be able to apply for short-stay e-visas online for up to 14 days of travel for tourism or...

Politics

24 h. ago US safety agency investigators to assist Hong Kong with fatal plane crash probe

A United States’ transport safety agency is deploying five investigators to Hong Kong to assist with the city’s probe into the cargo plane crash that killed two security workers, while the four aircrew involved have met with local authorities. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an independent US government agency responsible for investigating civil transport accidents, said on social media that it would send its team to Hong Kong to assist with the probe into the plane crash. “The...

Events

24 h. ago US investigators, Turkish experts to help Hong Kong with fatal plane crash probe

A US transport safety agency is sending five investigators to Hong Kong to help with a local probe into a cargo plane crash that killed two security workers, while experts from the Turkish civil aviation authority will also provide assistance. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an independent US government agency responsible for investigating civil transport accidents, said on social media on Wednesday that it would send five people to the city. “The NTSB is sending a team of five...

Events

24 h. ago Hong Kong’s Wine and Dine Festival: how to taste the best of all worlds

The Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival is back this year with the promise of more exclusive events, award-winning food, finer wines, and longer hours, to help attract about 150,000 visitors. Here, the Post unpacks what is on offer so you can make the most of your visit. 1. What’s new at the Wine and Dine Festival? The 2025 edition, themed “Remix – Best of All Worlds”, features several updates to elevate the visitor experience, with the return of a special dinner featuring Michelin-starred chefs...

Politics

25 h. ago 12 Hong Kong children hospitalised with flu prompt urgent vaccination calls

Twelve children have been admitted to intensive care with influenza since September, Hong Kong’s health minister has said, urging parents to arrange vaccinations as soon as possible. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau renewed calls for flu vaccination on Wednesday after two more severe paediatric cases were reported on consecutive days, both involving two-year-old children. Lo said the summer flu season begun unusually late, in early September, and warned of a possible overlap between the summer...

Science

25 h. ago Severe flu cases among Hong Kong children prompt urgent vaccination calls

Twelve children have been hospitalised with severe influenza since September, Hong Kong’s health minister has said, urging parents to arrange vaccinations as soon as possible. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau renewed calls for flu vaccination on Wednesday after two more severe paediatric cases were reported on consecutive days, both involving two-year-old children. Lo said the summer flu season has started unusually late, in early September. He warned of a possible overlap between the summer...

Politics

25 h. ago Sixfold surge in flu outbreaks at Hong Kong schools as 13 severe cases reported

Hong Kong schools have reported a more than sixfold surge in influenza outbreaks since the start of the academic year compared with the winter flu season earlier this year, with 13 children hospitalised since September. The government renewed its calls on Wednesday for children to receive flu jabs after another three severe paediatric cases were reported on consecutive days. The Centre for Health Protection said the latest severe case involved an 11-year-old girl who had previously been in good...

Science

26 h. ago Outspoken Hong Kong lawmaker Doreen Kong, 55, will not seek second term in Legco

Hong Kong lawmaker Doreen Kong Yuk-foon, known for her outspoken views, has announced that she will not seek a second term in the coming Legislative Council election, saying she wants to shift her focus back to her legal practice. Her decision, revealed on Wednesday, brings the number of incumbent legislators who are stepping down to 22 – nearly a quarter of the current 89 members. Kong, 55, also said she was preparing an online platform which would allow her to analyse public affairs and...

Politics