International Edition | South China Morning Post

China launches its first free-trade zone in Shanghai

Operations formally kicked off on Sunday at a new free trade zone in Shanghai that China’s government has billed as a major step for financial reforms and economic experimentation, but significant changes look to be years away.

Sunday, 29 September, 2013, 6:54pm 3 comments More on Shanghai Free-trade Zone

U.S. concerned about Turkey’s choice of Chinese missile system

Update

The United States said on Saturday it had expressed serious concerns to Turkey over its decision to co-produce a long-range air and missile defense system with a Chinese firm under U.S. sanctions.

29 Sep 2013 - 1:13pm 2 comments

Thousands rally for Taiwan leader’s resignation

Thousands of people took to the streets of Taipei in a series of protests on Sunday, hurling shoes at the portrait of the beleaguered President Ma Ying-jeou and demanding he step down.

29 Sep 2013 - 7:18pm

Air strike kills 12 in Syria high school, says NGO

An air strike on a high school in a rebel-held city of northern Syria killed 12 people, most of them pupils, on Sunday, a monitoring group said.

29 Sep 2013 - 5:32pm More on Syrian conflict

Line, WeChat: Asian social networks move to conquer Europe

Move aside Facebook and Skype. Asian social networks, already hugely popular on their continent, have set their sights on Europe where they could prove stiff competition for their US rivals.

29 Sep 2013 - 1:33pm 1 comment More on WeChat

Britain seeks radical reform of EU ties

Prime Minister David Cameron ratcheted up the rhetoric against Europe on Sunday by demanding a radical change to Britain’s ties with the European Union and offering the prospect of an exit from the continent’s principal treaty on human rights.

29 Sep 2013 - 8:52pm

Paris fashion tiptoes around lack of black models

Paris fashion this week tiptoed around the scarcity of black models on the catwalk with reaction reflecting the growing controversy surrounding the issue highlighted by models Naomi Campbell and Iman.

29 Sep 2013 - 1:39pm

Live from the catwalk: Chloe at Paris Fashion Week

Live

French fashion house Chloe's Spring Summer 2014 collection will be live streamed from the catwalk in Paris on SCMP.com. Watch here from 16:00 CET (22:00 HKT).

29 Sep 2013 - 9:01pm

India PM warns Pakistan to stop being ‘epicentre of terrorism’ ahead of summit

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warned on Saturday that Pakistan must stop being “the epicentre of terrorism” if it wants better ties ahead of his first meeting with Nawaz Sharif.

29 Sep 2013 - 2:32pm

Scores of children saved as police bust huge China trafficking ring

29 Sep 2013 - 9:58am

Obama and Iran's Rowhani in historic phone call

29 Sep 2013 - 8:22am

Philippine troops kill seven rebels after hostage crisis

29 Sep 2013 - 8:29pm

Miss Philippines is crowned Miss World for the first time after weeks of Muslim protest

29 Sep 2013 - 9:33am 2 comments

Cartoon weibo highlights Western artists

29 Sep 2013 - 4:24am

Israel warned Kenyan officials of impending attack before mall incident

29 Sep 2013 - 4:50am

More Headlines

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International Property

Celebrities Bedtime Secrets

Watches & Wonders 2013

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Editor's Pick

Shenyang hawker's execution stokes debate on urban management officers

The execution last week of a street hawker who stabbed two urban management officers to death caused a huge public uproar over the fairness of the sentence and deepened the longstanding animosity between the street law enforcers and hawkers.

Sunday, 29 September, 2013, 1:22am

Today's Poll

Should Hong Kong increase welfare payments substantially after a new poverty line marks 1.3m people as poor?

Yes: 71%
No: 29%

29 Sep 2013

Yes
No

Total number of votes recorded: 361

Opinion

Alex Lo

Jumping up and down about poverty

30 Sep 2013 - 3:32am

Tom Holland

What Shanghai's brand new free-trade zone won't offer

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:00am

George Chen

Reform showcase becomes part of intensifying political struggle

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:00am

Alice Wu

A friendly reminder to Wang Guangya after criticism of milk powder policy

30 Sep 2013 - 2:48am 9 comments

Insight

Sizing up poverty in Hong Kong

Carrie Lam

Publication of Hong Kong's first official poverty line at the Commission on Poverty summit on Saturday marked a significant step forward in poverty-alleviation work. As chairwoman of the commission, I am indebted to members for their hard work in the past 10 months.

30 Sep 2013 - 3:32am 4 comments

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Polls & Debates

29 Sep 2013

Should Hong Kong increase welfare payments substantially after a new poverty line marks 1.3m people as poor?

Do you agree with C.Y. Leung that Shanghai free-trade zone will not threaten Hong Kong's position as a financial hub?

28 Sep

Is a 10-year jail term a fair sentence for the PLA singers' son found guilty of gang rape?

27 Sep

Jake van der Kamp versus Tom Holland: who is right on Hong Kong consumer debt risk?

6 Sep 2013

Focus

Investment-linked insurance schemes a trap for unwary investors

Benjamin Robertson

It started with a referral from a friend. For Connie Choi Shuk-mei, it ended in claims of fraud, a police investigation and the founding of Hong Kong's first anti-insurance-product activist group.

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:00am

Harry's View

30 Sep 2013

Celebrating Hong Kong

Spirit of Hong Kong

Humble hero of Sars crisis: 'I was just doing my job'

DANNY LEE

Despite all his training at police school, Sergeant Ko Wing-cheung could never have envisaged the epidemic that brought Hong Kong to a standstill in 2003. All eyes had been on the invasion of Saddam Hussein's Iraq, then suddenly the world's media turned its attention to Kowloon Bay - the epicentre of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak a decade ago.

Sutherland’s passion – to solve the problem of poverty

Guide runner helps blind and deaf athletes enjoy team spirit

Star Ferry captain serves harbour travellers for three decades

Uniquely Hong Kong

When words are not enough: The dying art of professional letter writing

Hedy Bok

Professional letter writers were once a common sight on Hong Kong’s streets, but today only a few survive. In the latest episode of our Uniquely Hong Kong series, we talk to Pun Tse-ching about the dying art

How calorie-counting and supermarkets are hitting Hong Kong's rice shops where it hurts

Dim Sum: A tradition that's anything but dim

Talking to the dead: the art of making Taoist paper effigies

Neighbourhood Sounds

Tai O: The Venice of Hong Kong is stilt standing

Kowloon City: from 'den of evil' to lush gardens

Skyscrapers of Victoria Harbour - built to display wealth and power

Hongkongers cherish shoreline memories of Victoria Harbour (video)

Videos

Hong Kong Knitting in plain sight: the art of Movana Chen Sep 28, 2013|3:10
Asia Gulf dreams turn to dust for Nepal migrant workers Sep 29, 2013|0:54
China What children study in China's red school Sep 25, 2013|1:00
Asia At least 25 dead, dozens feared trapped in Mumbai building collapse Sep 28, 2013|0:28
Asia Methane gas rises from island created by Pakistan quake Sep 27, 2013|0:43
World Nairobi video shows Westgate Mall wreckage Sep 27, 2013|0:38
China 14 artificially-bred giant panda cubs make debut in China Sep 26, 2013|0:43
Technology US Air Force converts F-16 fighters into drones Sep 26, 2013|1:04
World FBI releases video of Navy Yard gunman movements during shooting Sep 26, 2013|0:36
World Pakistan earthquake survivors make their way to hospitals Sep 26, 2013|1:35
Hong Kong A dying art: the story of a Hong Kong chopping board maker Sep 9, 2013|1:58
Asia Japan's ama divers: still fishing after all these years Sep 25, 2013|1:58
Crime After final mall siege, Kenya declares national mourning Sep 25, 2013|0:49
Hong Kong Typhoon Usagi brings flight chaos to Hong Kong Sep 24, 2013|1:18
Asia Typhoon Usagi Timelapse Sep 23, 2013|1:03
Hong Kong Typhoon surfers: Brave souls hit the beach during Typhoon Usagi Sep 22, 2013|1:36
World Suicide bombers kill more than 70 at Pakistan church Sep 23, 2013|1:04
Lifestyle Collection of Renoir personal items sold at NY auction Sep 21, 2013|1:05
Offbeat Fire Dragon Dance - Hong Kong Sep 19, 2013|1:58

Hong Kong

POVERTY

Carrie Lam proposes one-stop agency to take stigma out of claiming benefits

The government is studying how people can overcome the stigma they experience by claiming social security allowances, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said.

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:53am More on Poverty line

ENVIRONMENT

Hundreds hike at Tai Tam Country Park to oppose development

About 1,000 people joined a protest hike in Tai Tam Country Park to oppose developing country parks into housing sites after the government floated the idea earlier this month.

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:53am

COMMERCE

Lampe Berger boss says Hong Kong laws 'too lax' for it to sue ex-distributor in brand row

Updated 30 Sep 2013

More Hong Kong news

China

China launches its first free-trade zone in Shanghai

Operations formally kicked off on Sunday at a new free trade zone in Shanghai that China’s government has billed as a major step for financial reforms and economic experimentation, but significant changes look to be years away.

29 Sep 2013 - 6:54pm 3 comments More on Shanghai Free-trade Zone

TAIWAN

Thousands rally for Taiwan leader’s resignation

Thousands of people took to the streets of Taipei in a series of protests on Sunday, hurling shoes at the portrait of the beleaguered President Ma Ying-jeou and demanding he step down.

29 Sep 2013 - 7:18pm

China tries man who planned Tiananmen protest

29 Sep 2013

More China news

Asia

MYANMAR

Myanmar's old guard keeps grip on US$8b jade trade

Tin Tun picked all night through teetering heaps of rubble to find the palm-sized lump of jade he now holds in his hand. He hopes it will make him a fortune. It's happened before.

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:05am

PAKISTAN

Third bombing in a week in Peshawar, Pakistan, leaves at least 33 dead

A car bomb killed at least 33 people yesterday in the third blast in a week to hit the troubled northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar. The explosion appeared to have been caused by a bomb in a parked car and detonated by remote control, police said.

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:37am

BANGLADESH

Bangladesh garment factories agree wage rise, ending protest

30 Sep 2013

More Asia news

World

US POLITICS

United States House vote brings government shutdown closer

The US House approved early yesterday a Republican plan that keeps the government open, but its attempt to delay President Barack Obama's health care law means the measure is likely dead on arrival.

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:42am

BRITAIN

Cameron's war against internet porn angers free-speech advocates

In a land whose uptight reputation is belied by its wicked ways, the Conservative-led British government is in midst of a crusade to enact some of the strictest curbs on pornography in the Western world.

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:49am

SECURITY

Journalists team up to disclose NSA role in 'assassination programme'

Updated 30 Sep 2013

More World news

China Insider

Anti-rumour campaign

'Environmental expert' arrested in anti-rumour campaign

29 Sep 2013

CULTURE

Chinese cartoon blogger's funny take on Western art captures imaginations

29 Sep 2013

PATRIOTISM

Chinese hotel accused of flying Japanese military flag issues apology

28 Sep 2013

CRIMES

Chinese student in US accused of slaying ex-girlfriend

28 Sep 2013 1 comment

APPLE

Gilded iPhone case sellers offer Chinese fans a cheap upgrade

28 Sep 2013 2 comments

POLITICS

Xi Jinping's 'criticism campaign' triggers online parody and sex jokes

28 Sep 2013 3 comments

ETHNIC RELATIONS

The strangers: blood and fear in Xinjiang

27 Sep 2013 1 comment

NATURAL DISASTER

Wave of hornet attacks kills 28 in southern Shaanxi

26 Sep 2013 1 comment

CELEBRITY

Taiwanese celebrity Annie Yi adopts executed hawker’s son as godson

26 Sep 2013

LEADERSHIP

What books do Chinese leaders read?

27 Sep 2013 9 comments

CRIME

Son of famed Chinese PLA singers jailed for 10 years for gang rape

27 Sep 2013 24 comments

MEDIA

Media heavyweights to launch new financial news outlet

25 Sep 2013

INTERNET FREEDOM

Report on internet freedom distracts from China's economic reforms: Global Times

25 Sep 2013 1 comment

CRIME

Street hawker at heart of controversial chengguan homicide case executed

25 Sep 2013

Business

FINANCE

Beijing reassures Hong Kong on Shanghai free-trade zone

Beijing was quick to soothe concerns in Hong Kong about its rivalry with Shanghai after the mainland's commercial capital officially launched its free-trade zone yesterday.

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:04am More on Shanghai Free-trade Zone

TOURISM

Shoppers hit Hong Kong early before tour prices rise

Golden week has come early for favoured haunts of mainland shoppers as some of the more price-conscious visitors have been taking to their tour buses to get in before a jump in prices for organised trips to Hong Kong.

Updated 30 Sep 2013 - 4:57am More on Golden Week

Markets

Anna Healy Fenton

Anna Healy Fenton

Wealth Blog: How to get yourself a good meal

16 Jan 2013 - 1:54pm

More Business news

Property

High building costs to limit price falls

Rising construction costs will act as a brake on falling property prices, limiting any declines to about 10 per cent, says New World Development chairman Henry Cheng Kar-shun.

27 Sep 2013 - 12:07pm 6 comments More on New World Development

Luxury flats still a big draw for developers

Higher profit margins are encouraging some developers to continue to build luxury flats even though the high-end residential market has been hardest hit by the government's market-cooling measures.

27 Sep 2013 - 2:32am

New World China core profit rises 64pc, eyes conservative sales next year

26 Sep 2013

More Property news

Lifestyle

Arts & Culture

Changing the culture

If a contemporary classical music scene exists in Hong Kong, William Lane is undoubtedly its master.

29 Sep 2013 - 6:36pm

No pain no gain

29 Sep 2013

The Inkmen cometh

29 Sep 2013

Food & Wine

WINE

French vines taken by storm

This summer brought hailstorms that destroyed thousands of hectares of vines in just about every region of France. Two masses of air clashing into each another, one cold, one hot, were the cause.

27 Sep 2013 - 10:26am

Ravenous rivals: Hong Kong and Shanghai an influence for good

27 Sep 2013

25+ restaurants: Yung Kee

26 Sep 2013

Technology

SHAW PRIZE

The discovery that defied the pull of the black hole

We all know what most people do with e-mails telling them they've won a million dollars; Professor Steven Balbus wasn't far from doing the same with the one he found in his inbox in May.

29 Sep 2013 - 1:09am 1 comment

Resistance to antibiotics prompts new health threats

29 Sep 2013

Chinese military scientists develop secret, octopus-mimicking computer

29 Sep 2013

Movies and shakers: cinema meets couture at Milan fashion week

27 Sep 2013

Paris Fashion Week: Moon Young Kee, Anthony Vaccarello and Aganovich

27 Sep 2013

Realism loses meaning in age of internet and conspiracy mania

29 Sep 2013

Travelling in the hoofprints of the great Mongol empire

29 Sep 2013

Want fries with that? Why not a salad instead, McDonald's says

27 Sep 2013 1 comment

Consumers feel that certain foods can enhance beauty

24 Sep 2013

Heaven scent: Boutique perfumes are this season's obsession

26 Sep 2013

Consumers feel that certain foods can enhance beauty

24 Sep 2013

Family & Education

Married to a cause, Rachel Pang Hoi-yan and Hui Fai promote environmental issues

24 Sep 2013

Taiwan author's modern fables teach kids to be themselves

27 Sep 2013

Interiors & Living

Style with David Roden, September 25, 2013

27 Sep 2013

Industrial look for homes thrives as antidote to an excess of luxury

25 Sep 2013 1 comment

Magazines

Post Magazine: September 29
29 Sep 2013
The future is bleak at Henan’s little red school
48 Hours: September 26
26 Sep 2013
Coco Lee is back in the spotlight and telling modern women they can have it all
Money: September 2013
23 Sep 2013
Stephen Hung wants to give rich mainlanders the excess they crave
Post Magazine: September 22
22 Sep 2013
Hong Kong solo sailor facing his toughest challenge yet
48 Hours: September 19
19 Sep 2013
Stadium-filling rockers ready to raise the roof
Post Magazine: September 15
15 Sep 2013
Supercars in the SAR
48 Hours: September 12
12 Sep 2013
Top model Cara G reveals the new season's trends
Post Magazine: September 8
8 Sep 2013
The man liberal America loves to hate
Style: September 6
September 2013
Young designers stand behind 'Made in China'
Good Eating: September 2013
Autumn 2013
Sunday's the best
Faces: August 2013
Autumn 2013
The season's hottest looks are not for the faint-hearted
Style: August 2013
2 Aug 2013
Force for good
Style: July 2013
5 Jul 2013
Food for thought
Money:June 2013
27 Jun 2013
Six Hong Kong personalities discuss what's in their portfolio

Sport

MOTOR RACING

Formula E electric motor racing coming to Hong Kong streets after all

Hong Kong has been confirmed by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) as a venue for the new Formula E electric racing series which will begin in Beijing next September.

30 Sep 2013 - 3:37am

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

David Moyes rues Manchester United's inability to score goals

Manchester United manager David Moyes admits his team's lack of cutting edge is giving him serious grounds for concern following their shock home defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

30 Sep 2013 - 3:38am

RUGBY UNION

Pumas scare All Blacks ahead of title showdown

30 Sep 2013

More Sport news

Magazines

SEE/HEAR

Divine inspiration: Indian singer Sonu Nigam lives to play live

It is the symbiosis between performer and audience that makes live shows so special, Indian vocalist Sonu Nigam tells P. Ramakrishnan.

25 Sep 2013 - 10:26pm

LUXURY SPENDING

Excess for success

Stephen Hung sees the future of consumption, designing his new Macau hotel with ultra-rich mainlanders - and their opulent tastes - in mind, writes Nick Edwards.

22 Sep 2013 - 6:45pm

WEALTH INDUSTRY

Rise of the regionals

22 Sep 2013

More Magazines news

Blogs

Style Blog

Jacqueline Tsang

Looking up as the world becomes more exciting

Jacqueline Tsang 27 Sep 2013 - 3:43pm

Stylecheck

Live from the catwalk: Chloe at Paris Fashion Week

Jing Zhang 29 Sep 2013 - 9:01pm

Wealth Blog

Anna Healy Fenton

Free the Discovery Bay six – or charge employers too

Anna Healy Fenton 27 Sep 2013 - 8:08pm

Happy Lucky Dragon Win

Zeroing in on the unfortunate few

Michael Cox 26 Sep 2013 - 7:33pm

Corporate China

Search wars begin as Sogou sues Qihoo

Doug Young 27 Sep 2013 - 5:21pm

Corporate China

Search wars begin as Sogou sues Qihoo

Chris Luo 26 Sep 2013 - 6:51pm

Stylecheck

Paris Fashion Week: Moon Young Kee, Anthony Vaccarello and Aganovich

Jing Zhang 27 Sep 2013 - 4:14pm

In Pictures

Today in Photos, September 28

28 Sep 2013

Sport in Pictures, September 28

27 Sep 2013

Today in Photos, September 27

A gibbon named Lele looks out of a window on a bus en route to the Yunnan Wildlife Park in Kunming, Yunnan ...

27 Sep 2013

Wings of desire, September 27

Aviation manufacturers from around the world are vying for a part of the burgeoning market in China at the 15th Aviation Expo in Beijing.

27 Sep 2013

Today in Photos, September 26

A look at today's pictures from around the world, leading with the stunning image of a skydiver freefalling over Lompoc, Calif., during a rocket launch.

25 Sep 2013

28 Sep 2013

28 Sep 2013

A gibbon named Lele looks out of a window on a bus en route to the Yunnan Wildlife

27 Sep 2013

Aviation manufacturers from around the world are vying for a part of the burgeonin

27 Sep 2013

A look at today's pictures from around the world, leading with the stunning image

26 Sep 2013

Infographics

Fukushima

Radiation block: Fukushima's battle to prevent sea contamination

16 Sep 2013 - 11:17am

ITALY

US$800m operation to raise Costa Concordia

16 Sep 2013

PREMIER LEAGUE

English Premier League - the Big Picture

12 Sep 2013

Korean War

The battles, weapons and casualties of the Korean War

12 Sep 2013

CHINA

Sky's the limit for China's building plans

12 Sep 2013

CHINA

The dead zone

12 Sep 2013

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee's best moves

12 Sep 2013

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

More detail

Full Hong Kong Weather Report | International Weather

In Case You Missed It

News

Fast & Furious in China: Beijing's underground racing scene

24 Sep 2013 4 comments

News

Is a 16-year-old boy's release a victory for netizens in China’s internet crackdown?

25 Sep 2013 2 comments

News

New Chinese romantic comedy offers hope to 'leftover women'

13 Sep 2013 4 comments

News

Is anti-rumour crackdown silencing voices of online dissent at Weibo?

13 Sep 2013 2 comments

News

Betel nut chewers with oral cancer say risks of habit need publicising

7 Sep 2013 2 comments

Comment

Too many turning a blind eye towards sexual harassment

5 Sep 2013 2 comments

Comment

How much longer can the world support our way of life?

6 Sep 2013 19 comments

Comment

Hong Kong's Claire Price runner-up at French ultra-trail race

31 Aug 2013 11 comments

Business

Microsoft: The insiders who could be boss

28 Aug 2013 3 comments

News

Anime characters fuel interest in Japan's military amid territorial dispute with China

26 Aug 2013 5 comments

Magazines/Lifestyle

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