• Monday
  • December 29, 2014
  • Last updated: 2:40pm
Hong Kong

Humidity 

UV 

Pollution 

Missing AirAsia plane likely 'at the bottom of the sea', says search chief

Bracing for the worst, a relative of a QZ 8501 passenger weeps at the Surabaya airport as the second day of search operations for the missing jet yields little answers. Photo: Reuters

A massive sea search resumed this morning for an AirAsia passenger jet that disappeared with 162 on board while flying from Indonesia to Singapore through airspace thick with storm clouds, strong winds and lightning.

Monday, 29 December, 2014, 2:31pm 4 comments

Police bust prostitution rings offering 'breastfeeding for adults' services

A photograph published by The Beijing News of one of the women allegedly involved in the websites.

Fifteen people have been arrested on prostitution charges over their alleged involvement in websites that hired mothers with newborn babies to breast feed adults.

29 Dec 2014 - 1:46pm 4 comments

China faces crucial year as President Xi Jinping's pushes ahead with reform plans

President Xi Jinping (centre) at APEC. Photo: Simon Song

As President Xi Jinping heads into 2015 - the Communist Party chief's third year in the top office - he should be more comfortable with his status, having emerged as the most powerful leader in the post-Mao era.

29 Dec 2014 - 8:42am 4 comments More on Xi Jinping's anti-graft campaign

Hong Kong government to release 10-year plan to cut energy consumption in buildings

Green Building Council chairman Conrad Wong hopes the government will adopt its target set two years ago for reducing energy consumption. Photo: Nora Tam

The Environment Bureau is expected to release a 10-year energy-saving roadmap early next year, including an official target to cut buildings' electricity consumption, a government source said.

29 Dec 2014 - 8:36am 5 comments

10 die in building accident at Beijing school

The emergency services at the scene of the accident in the capital. Photo: SCMP Pictures Update

Workers constructing a sports stadium at the site died after scaffolding collapsed

29 Dec 2014 - 2:03pm

Relatives of Flight 370 passengers still pressing for answers

Relatives of passengers from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 speak to a policeman as he makes a phone call outside the Foreign Ministry in Beijing. Photo: AFP

More than 290 days have passed since Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished from civilian radar, one hour into a journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8.

29 Dec 2014 - 8:55am More on Malaysia Airlines flight 370

China to list legal places of worship, ‘root out’ illegal activities: state media

Wang Zuoan says names and addresses for "all Buddhist and Taoist venues" would be published within two years. Photo: SCMP

China is to publish online details of legal religious venues, the official Xinhua news agency reported, apparently in an effort to identify unsanctioned groups as part of an effort to "root out illegal religious activities".

28 Dec 2014 - 1:13am 9 comments

INFOGRAPHIC: The 1,234 satellites orbiting earth

INFOGRAPHIC: The 1,234 satellites orbiting earth

Satellites are fundamental to our daily lives. Take a closer look at the man-made constellation of hi-tech machinery hovering above the earth.

29 Dec 2014 - 12:20pm

Fewer people take Beijing subway on first day of fare increase

Beijing's public transport system cost 20 billion yuan (HK$25.25 billion) to operate last year.

The Beijing subway saw a 10 per cent drop in passenger numbers on the first day of a fare hike on Sunday.

29 Dec 2014 - 8:45am 1 comment

Beijing names new culture chief to drive soft-power push

Zhang Dejiang (third from left), chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, takes part in a panel discussion on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua

Beijing appointed a senior propaganda official as its culture minister, making him one of the spearheads of the government's drive to project China's soft power abroad.

29 Dec 2014 - 5:50am 2 comments

Eight officials sacked after pork from diseased pigs sold for food in China

Eight officials in Gaoan in the eastern province of Jiangxi in China have been sacked after a state media report that pork from diseased pigs was sold by traders.

29 Dec 2014 - 1:50pm More on China Food Scandals

China's leaders 'fear Hong Kong will be a base for subversion'

State leaders' fear that Hong Kong will become a 'base for subversion' is driving their push for a stronger understanding of 'one country, two systems', an academic at a Beijing-backed think tank says.

29 Dec 2014 - 9:32am 25 comments
Japan's Yosuke Takagi (left) and China's Xie Zhenhua at the eighth Japan-China Energy Conservation Forum in Beijing. Photo: Kyodo

China and Japan find common ground on the environment

29 Dec 2014 - 5:50am
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government plan to draw bills aimed at facilitating the administrative processes needed to deploy Japanese troops abroad.

Japan to draw up law to speed the deployment of troops

29 Dec 2014 - 6:09am 2 comments
Annette Lu goes on a hunger strike.

Taiwan's former vice-president Annette Lu embarks on hunger strike

29 Dec 2014 - 5:50am
A sign directs relatives of passengers on the missing AirAsia flight to a holding area at the Changi Airport in Singapore. Photo: EPA

Disappearance of AirAsia plane adds to Malaysia's year of flight horrors

29 Dec 2014 - 8:56am
More than 200 Muslims converted to Hinduism at a ceremony earlier this month, but some now claim they were misled. Photo: AFP

India's Christians and Muslims cry foul over Hindu crusade for converts

28 Dec 2014 - 10:43pm
The Greek coastguard said 150 people had been saved from the Italian-registered Norman Atlantic, pictured here on fire. Photo: Reuters

One dead and hundreds trapped on blazing ferry off Greece

29 Dec 2014 - 11:26am
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (centre) leaves the funeral of New York Police Officer Rafael Ramos at the Christ Tabernacle Church in New York. Photo: EPA

Police at funeral for slain officer turn their backs on New York mayor

28 Dec 2014 - 3:08pm
Vehicles move slowly on way to the French Alps. Photo: AFP

15,000 drivers stranded overnight due to heavy snowfall in the French Alps

29 Dec 2014 - 1:23am
Up to 5,000 Afghan security forces - here inspecting the scene of a Kabul suicide attack - have died fighting the Taliban this year. Photo: AP

Record number of Afghan police deaths in 13-year war as international combat mission prepares to leave

28 Dec 2014 - 10:46pm
Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish man who tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, holds flowers, meant for his tomb, in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Photo: AFP

Turkish gunman who shot and wounded Pope John Paul II places flowers on his tomb

28 Dec 2014 - 10:50pm

More Headlines

SCMP Brand Post

Experts believe vertical gardens naturalise the air. Photo: Thinskstock

Life givers

Overlooking the sandbar-linked islet Ap Lei Pai from Yuk Kwai Shan. Photo by C.H. Lau

Hiking on Ap Lei Chau

Incubating innovation in Shenzhen

Incubating innovation in Shenzhen

SCMP ePaper Edition

29 Dec 2014
  • AirAsia jet vanishes with 162 aboard on flight from Indonesia to Singapore
  • Smooth start as first passengers try out MTR's new Kennedy Town link
  • China's leaders fear...
View

To access the SCMP ePaper Edition you will need a Digital Premium Subscription.

Leader

With the elderly expected to account for a third of the population by 2041, recurrent government expenditure to maintain the same service quality is estimated to increase by 6.5 per cent every year, from HK$52.4 billion to HK$285 billion. Photo: Sam Tsang

Public must be persuaded to pay for private health insurance

29 Dec 2014 - 7:48am
Fathers play an important role in the emotional nurturing and raising of children from an early age.

Hong Kong's improved paternity leave law doesn't go far enough

29 Dec 2014 - 11:01am

Today's Poll

  • Yes: 63%
  • No: 37%
29 Dec 2014
  • Yes
  • No
Total number of votes recorded: 183

Insight

China is not quite ready to rewire global finance

Although China is the world's second-largest economy, the "quality" of its economy does not match those of the US, Japan and Germany. G BIN ZHAO

A recent Financial Times commentary titled "China: Turning Away From the Dollar" has led to many heated discussions. It is interesting that the Chinese edition of the paper translated the title as "China Will Rewire Global Finance", based on the main theme of the article.

29 Dec 2014 - 7:09am 1 comment

Focus

Kennedy Town MTR station opens but not everyone is happy with the pace of change

Passengers rush into Kennedy Town MTR station during the opening yesterday of the West Island Line, connecting Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town. Journey times for commuters should be drastically reduced. Photo: Dickson Lee TIMMY SUNG

This morning, Kennedy Town commuters will troop onto the MTR's new West Island Line, ready to enjoy a smooth, seamless ride to their offices in the city.

29 Dec 2014 - 8:46am

Harry's View

Business

Citic Securities is the mainland’s top listed broker by market capitalisation. Photo: Reuters FUND RAISING

Citic Securities to issue 1.5 billion new shares to boost capital

New

The mainland’s biggest stock brokerage, Citic Securities, said it plans a new public issue of up to 1.5 billion Hong Kong-listed H shares to supplement capital to help expand businesses including margin trading.

29 Dec 2014 - 8:31am
CHINA

China likely to miss trade and investment targets

The mainland looks set to miss its five-year targets for the first time in decades as policymakers switch their focus to quality rather than the pace of growth for the world's second-largest economy.

29 Dec 2014 - 6:59am More on Chinese Economy

Property

Potential buyers at a residential sales event. Property prices are seen falling in the event of interest rate rises. Photo: David Wong PROPERTY

Hong Kong home prices hit record, outlook cloudy pending rate rise

Hong Kong home prices surged to a record high this year, ignoring the government's introduction of tough measures designed to cool the red-hot property market, as the rally extended for a fifth straight year.

27 Dec 2014 - 3:55am 3 comments
Transformers: Age of Extinction

The top arts stories of 2014

FILM

Michael Bay's Transformers: Age of Extinction had its world premiere in Hong Kong on June 19; the movie went on to be a mega box office hit worldwide.

27 Dec 2014 - 12:08pm More on LIFE

Top five films of 2014, as chosen by South China Morning Post reviewers

27 Dec 2014

Comic-book heroes tops with film fans

29 Dec 2014
Wuyi Da Hong Pao Rock tea (2005), which had an estimated value of  HK$250,000 in this year's Hong Kong tea auction

China's premium-tea prices have cooled, but it's still boom time for some

Hong Kong's first auction of premium teas captured imaginations far and wide last year, when interest was piqued by the sky-high asking prices. One 20kg box of narcissus oolong tea was valued at nearly HK$1 million.

29 Dec 2014 - 11:09am More on LIFE

Stop talking Turkey: Susan Jung's Christmas recipe for deep-fried Cornish hens

21 Dec 2014

How to spice up Christmas dinner: top chefs offer their tips

23 Dec 2014 1 comment
Illustration: Sarenen Chan

From ransomware to cyberwar, 2015 will be a perilous year for Internet security

Online security companies have been making predictions for 2015, from the malware that will be trying to weasel into our gadgets to the prospect of cyberwar involving state-sponsored hackers.

28 Dec 2014 - 10:29am More on Focus

Taking the slow food life to space, Italian style

28 Dec 2014

Periodic table still poses puzzles while offering cures for researchers

28 Dec 2014

Magazines

Sport

Green Bay Packers' Eddie Lacy (27) and Mike Daniels (76) celebrate. Photo: AP AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Baltimore and Carolina grab last two NFL playoff spots

Baltimore and Carolina captured the last two National Football League playoff spots with victories Sunday while Aaron Rodgers shook off a calf injury to spark a crucial Green Bay triumph.

29 Dec 2014 - 1:05pm

Magazines

Photos: Apple Daily; EPA; AP; AFP; Raymond Aghion; Reuters; Corbis; Xinhua; Imaginechina

Test your knowledge of 2014 events in Post year-end quiz

We were paying attention in 2014, the question is, were you? You'll find the answers to our 2014 quiz at the bottom of the page. No peeking!

22 Dec 2014 - 10:14am

In Pictures

Hong Kong Weather

Current Weather

Humidity

UV

Air Pollution

Sheung Shui
Tai Po
Sha Tin
Wong Tai Sin
Kowloon City
Sham Shui Po
Hong Kong Observatory
Kwun Tong
Shau Kei Wan
Sai Kung
Tsing Yi
Tuen Mun
Chek Lap Kok
Ngong Ping
Peng Chau
Hong Kong Park
Happy Valley
Wong Chuk Hang
Stanley
Cheung Chau

In Case You Missed It

British Fashion Awards Winners 2014 Magazines

British Fashion Awards Winners 2014

3 Dec 2014
Closing time: How Hong Kong’s street hawkers struggle to survive News

Closing time: How Hong Kong’s street hawkers struggle to survive

8 Dec 2014 4 comments
Adolfo's Umbrellas - a sketch diary of the Occupy movement Infographics

Adolfo's Umbrellas - a sketch diary of the Occupy movement

12 Nov 2014
Style Takes Paris PART IV: Neo Romanticist Magazines

Style Takes Paris PART IV: Neo Romanticist

12 Nov 2014
Tigers and Flies: the Chinese Communist Party's anti-corruption campaign News

Tigers and Flies: the Chinese Communist Party's anti-corruption campaign

22 Dec 2014 6 comments
Show us the money: How corrupt Chinese official's 200m yuan stash might look Infographics

Show us the money: How corrupt Chinese official's 200m yuan stash might look

3 Nov 2014 12 comments
Nathan Road in the 1910s with two lines of trees. Photo: SCMP Pictures News

Mong Kok: 50 vibrant years in Hong Kong's crowded corner

31 Oct 2014 2 comments
Getting high: Hong Kong skyscrapers a magnet for daredevil rooftop photographers News

Getting high: Hong Kong skyscrapers a magnet for daredevil rooftop photographers

28 Oct 2014 1 comment
Cardboard dreams: a day with an elderly Hong Kong woman who must scavenge to survive News

Cardboard dreams: a day with an elderly Hong Kong woman who must scavenge to survive

27 Oct 2014 59 comments
Port-au-Prince, in Haiti, after the January 12, 2010 earthquake. Photo: AFP Magazines

Uncharted territory: mapping the world’s forgotten cities

27 Oct 2014