Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
Victoria Park's annual shopping spree winds up
The 46th Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo Fair in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, winds up after 24 days. All eyes are on whether it has drawn a record number of shoppers and sales. The annual spending spree saw 2.4 million local and mainland shoppers last year, up from 2.29 million in 2010. Sales passed HK$500 million last year, the organiser, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, estimated. The expo, which began on December 10, had more than 400 exhibitors and 880 booths.
Mainland banks allowed piece of Taiwanese action
Mainland banks will be allowed to apply to purchase stakes in Taiwanese banks and financial holding companies from today, but they can only buy shares in a single bank or financial holding company, and their maximum stake will be limited to 5 per cent. The combined stake of these banks and mainland qualified domestic institutional investors can't exceed 10 per cent.
Changchun kicks off its ice and snow festival
The 2012 China Ice and Snow Festival opens in Changchun , the capital of Jilin province. More than 50 activities and events related to ice and snow tourism, snow sports and snow culture will be held, including ice fishing competitions (left). The festival has attracted more than 68 million domestic and foreign tourists in the 14 years since its launch in 1998.