https://www.scmp.com/rss/314759/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com When Chinese shipping giant Cosco pledged to stop carrying shark fin in July, it was hailed as a huge blow to the controversial international trade that has shrunk the species’ population. Cosco is the world’s fourth largest container firm, with 7.7 per cent of market share, and its policy change meant 68 per cent of shipping firms had committed to stop carrying shark fins. The shift is the result of ongoing campaigning against the now notorious trade, though activists say more work is needed to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2020985/why-politics-stubborn-tastes-and-resilient?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2020985/why-politics-stubborn-tastes-and-resilient?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Sep 2016 09:30:00 +0000 Among those taking in the serene swirls of late American artist Sam Francis yesterday was an octogenarian in a cowboy hat. “In the past five years, Chinese people have become more attracted to abstract art,” said 81-year-old artist and expert Robert Chen Cheng-hsiung, who flew in from his native Taiwan for the first solo exhibition of Francis’ works in Hong Kong. “The Chinese are getting richer and their minds are getting more open,” he added, arguing that with a sense of freedom comes a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2018291/abstract-western-art-gains-firmer-following-among-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2018291/abstract-western-art-gains-firmer-following-among-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Sep 2016 13:59:51 +0000 Tsinghua University welcomed its first cohort of high-flying students under the prestigious Schwarzman scholarship on Saturday amid a fanfare of praise from world leaders. The scholarship is the product of China’s largest single philanthropic effort, with over US$430 million raised from donors worldwide to put 110 next-generation leaders through a one-year Master’s degree in Global Affairs at the renowned university in Beijing. Leaders across the world, including Chinese president Xi Jinping and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2018241/world-leaders-send-congratulations-tsinghua-university?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2018241/world-leaders-send-congratulations-tsinghua-university?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Sep 2016 06:45:00 +0000 The largest seal used by Chinese emperor Qianlong may potentially fetch a record-breaking HK$120 million at Sotheby’s 2016 autumn auction in the city as demand for artefacts of exceptional quality remains impervious to the economic downturn. The imperial Khotan-green jade seal is expected to appeal to mainland buyers drawn to its symbolism as an object of status and power, with the auction house anticipating interest from new buyers alongside established antique collectors from across the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2017706/why-seal-chinese-emperor-qianlong-expected-fetch-hk120?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2017706/why-seal-chinese-emperor-qianlong-expected-fetch-hk120?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Sep 2016 13:13:52 +0000 A porcelain Bruce Lee statuette fetched HK$89,000 at auction on Saturday just a day before the city’s only fan club dedicated to the martial arts icon closes its flagship store in Yau Ma Tei. With rent for the property rising to more than HK$10,000 a month coupled with flagging interest in the late kung fu movie star, who died more than 40 years ago, maintaining the 200 sq ft Bruce Lee Club store had become inviable, according to its chairman, who expressed regret more wasn’t being done in Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2014251/bruce-lee-fan-clubs-yau-ma-tei-shop-set-final?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2014251/bruce-lee-fan-clubs-yau-ma-tei-shop-set-final?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Sep 2016 13:58:51 +0000 Soaring hotel room rates and a strong currency have catapulted Hong Kong six places in the last year to become the region’s most expensive destination for business travellers, according to a human resources consultancy firm. Hong Kong’s steep property prices and relatively low supply of business-class hotel rooms led the city to the top spot in Asia Pacific in an annual survey by ECA International. Dhaka came second, followed by Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Busan and Macau. Experts warned more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2011786/hong-kong-leaps-six-spots-become-most-expensive-city-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2011786/hong-kong-leaps-six-spots-become-most-expensive-city-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Aug 2016 10:00:30 +0000 Low turnout, complaints of messy changing rooms and a rather slow slide have made the giant water park installed on the Central Harbourfront less than a roaring success so far. After Slide the City suffered a delayed opening on the first day on Wednesday, it struggled to draw crowds on Thursday, leading to complaints from “very disappointed” game and food stall operators nearby. Licensing slip-up: Hong Kong water slide event finally opens after five-hour delay “Business is not great at all. I... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2009107/thrill-ride-or-damp-squib-hong-kong-water-slide-fails-impress-second?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2009107/thrill-ride-or-damp-squib-hong-kong-water-slide-fails-impress-second?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Aug 2016 23:01:44 +0000 About 100 visitors to a giant water slide were turned away on the day of its opening with organisers blaming licensing issues for the five-hour delay. It finally opened at 2pm yesterday, and the company responsible said disappointed visitors could exchange their tickets for later time slots. Karen Kwok Ka-yan, project director of event organiser Dreams Salon Entertainment Culture, conceded that the company underestimated the time it needed to get approval from the government, which caused the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2008278/licensing-slip-hong-kong-water-slide-visitors-turned-away-event-fails?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2008278/licensing-slip-hong-kong-water-slide-visitors-turned-away-event-fails?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Aug 2016 04:30:45 +0000 Hongkongers wanting to see off the sweltering summer heat with a big splash can head down to the Central Harbourfront where a giant slide will be in operation from Wednesday until next Monday. Local celebrities slid down the slide overlooking the harbour on Tuesday as part of the kick-off ceremony for the final summer family-friendly event of the year before school starts. Landing in Hong Kong for the second consecutive year, Slide the City is an American entertainment initiative that has seen... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2007954/cool-hongkongers-get-ready-super-slide-ease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2007954/cool-hongkongers-get-ready-super-slide-ease?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Aug 2016 10:30:15 +0000 Hong Kong dog lovers can breathe more easily now a much campaigned-for amendment to animal trading laws is set to be put in place. The campaign to close a legal loophole enabling puppy milling in Hong Kong has finally been put through, meaning unscrupulous pedigree breeders in the city face higher penalties and more ­stringent licensing laws. Puppy love unleashed: a boom in dog ownership in Hong Kong poses challenges for lawmakers and urban planners The city has seen a boom in the pedigree pup... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2006612/no-more-puppy-mills-tighter-animal-welfare-laws-will-clamp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/2006612/no-more-puppy-mills-tighter-animal-welfare-laws-will-clamp?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Aug 2016 10:22:50 +0000 A miniature Mong Kok built with thousands of plastic blocks graces Hong Kong’s first official Lego store, which opened its doors in Langham Place on Thursday despite the city’s flagging retail climate. The Danish toy manufacturer’s local flagship is targeting adult enthusiasts as well as children, with management hoping its strong brand will keep footfall high despite the economic downturn. Dr William Lo Wing-yan of Kidsland Holdings, which runs the Lego store, said there were plans to open... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2005521/little-bit-mong-kok-appears-legos-first-hong-kong-store?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2005521/little-bit-mong-kok-appears-legos-first-hong-kong-store?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Aug 2016 03:56:50 +0000 Cathay Pacific and its sister airline Dragonair have expanded their luggage limit for travellers of all classes, with both now offering an additional 10kg allowance for check-in baggage. The new policy will apply to tickets issued or exchanged on or after September 15, meaning holidaymakers with a tendency to over pack will soon enjoy lower excess baggage charges than before. Dragonair will also increase its carry-on baggage allowance, which is currently 5kg, to match that of Cathay Pacific. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2004736/passengers-get-extra-10kg-cathay-pacific-and-dragonair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2004736/passengers-get-extra-10kg-cathay-pacific-and-dragonair?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Aug 2016 11:45:30 +0000 The city’s litter bugs were put on notice on Saturday, starting with the south side of Hong Kong Island, where environmental activists and artists adorned pavements with colourful tiles reminding people not to dump their rubbish in drains. They installed more than 100 ornate tiles at drain openings across Aberdeen, Ap Lei Chau and Stanley in a bid to discourage Hongkongers from throwing litter down gutters that lead straight to the sea. Collaborating with seven artists, environmentalists at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2003384/hong-kong-environmentalists-go-extra-tile-keep-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2003384/hong-kong-environmentalists-go-extra-tile-keep-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Aug 2016 13:00:14 +0000 A highly sought-after classical music manuscript will be on display in Hong Kong next week before it goes on auction in London, where it is expected to fetch around HK$35 million. The complete manuscript of Gustav Mahler’s Second Symphony – known as the Resurrection Symphony – will be open for public viewing at Sotheby’s Hong Kong Gallery from August 17–19, allowing music lovers to get a closer look at the monumental 232-page work by the Austrian late-Romantic composer. “No complete symphony by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2002780/coveted-mahler-manuscript-estimated-fetch-hk35m-display-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2002780/coveted-mahler-manuscript-estimated-fetch-hk35m-display-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Aug 2016 04:38:37 +0000 Ocean Park’s female panda Ying Ying was missing from her mate’s birthday party photo on Monday, sparking suspicions that she might again be pregnant, a year after her miscarriage left Hong Kong animal lovers devastated. The Sichuan-born, ten-year-old giant panda has been mating since April with Le Le, and is showing signs of pregnancy. But the park’s officials said it was too early to confirm. “Ying Ying likes to sleep more at the moment and is showing hormonal changes,” said the park’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2001311/ocean-parks-female-giant-panda-ying-ying-pregnant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2001311/ocean-parks-female-giant-panda-ying-ying-pregnant?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Aug 2016 05:46:19 +0000 Inspired by sultry cyborgs stalking early cinema to the love-making androids that pepper modern ­science fiction shows, mechanical lady friends have long played cameos in the fantasies of the lonely and frustrated. But a Hongkonger who recently built his own ­robot woman and plans to teach others to do the same could help make the widespread availability of gadget girlfriends a reality. Robotics hobbyist Ricky Ma Wai-kay, 42, who this year completed his first prototype robot – a busty Scarlett... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1997056/sex-and-robots-how-mechanical-dolls-may-press-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1997056/sex-and-robots-how-mechanical-dolls-may-press-all?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Jul 2016 15:00:15 +0000 When she was an art student Christine Cappio sold tripe in a Parisian market to save up for a trip to her boyfriend’s far-flung hometown. The gig paid for self-professed country girl Cappio’s first flight to Hong Kong – which would ignite a love affair with the Cantonese world. Cappio moved to the city in 1986 with then boyfriend, now husband Stephen Cheung, and never looked back. Professor Cheung rose the ranks to become president of the Education University while Cappio ­immersed herself in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1994094/french-artists-illustrated-love-affair-cantonese-life-be-showcased?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1994094/french-artists-illustrated-love-affair-cantonese-life-be-showcased?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Jul 2016 09:19:59 +0000 The scourge of dripping air conditioners across Hong Kong continues unabated as the city swelters through a scorching summer, with the government making only two prosecutions despite receiving almost 10,000 complaints this year. In the first six months, 9,765 complaints about the spewing nuisances were made to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, with the department serving 416 notices, but only prosecuting 0.02 per cent of those responsible for the problem machines. Concerned... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1993786/leaky-and-pesky-dripping-air-cons-continue-plague?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1993786/leaky-and-pesky-dripping-air-cons-continue-plague?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Jul 2016 12:30:00 +0000 The Marine Department has updated vessel-tracking technology to improve safety in the harbour four years after the Lamma ferry disaster in a move which experts have decried as too little too late. The recent reform work made to the department’s vessel traffic system announced on Thursday widens the scope of its coverage to 10,000 marine targets, meaning ferries the size of the one that sank on National Day in 2012 can now come under their radars, according to a consultant. With thirteen radars... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1992933/new-radar-technology-boost-hong-kong-boat-safety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1992933/new-radar-technology-boost-hong-kong-boat-safety?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Jul 2016 13:42:30 +0000 Conspiracy theorists the world over may feel vindicated to learn that the disappearance of MH370 was a cover-up, according to a two-year investigation by the Hong Kong-based author of a new book. Accusing officials responsible for the ongoing search missions of the missing Malaysia Airlines plane of misdirection, journalist Florence de Changy is convinced that researchers have been deliberately put off course and are looking in the wrong place for the wreckage. “The official narrative on MH370... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1992860/mh370-conspiracy-author-florence-de-changy-says-officials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1992860/mh370-conspiracy-author-florence-de-changy-says-officials?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Jul 2016 09:35:12 +0000 One of Australia’s top art gallery directors looks set to take over the helm at Hong Kong’s hotly anticipated museum of visual culture months after the shock departure of its former director. Suhanya Raffel, deputy director of Sydney’s flagship public gallery, is reported to be taking over M+, according to the Australian press, though a spokesman for the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA) would not confirm the appointment. “We will not comment on the appointment until the Board of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1990672/australian-deputy-museum-director-tipped-top-m?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1990672/australian-deputy-museum-director-tipped-top-m?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Jul 2016 13:15:01 +0000 Imperial artefacts proved highly sought after among mainland Chinese bidders at a Bonhams auction in Hong Kong, with the auction house posting strong revenues that signalled the rebounding health of the art market after last year’s anti-corruption drive. With 80 per cent of lots sold and a total of HK$51 million in sales, the auction house attributed the “highly successful” result to the robustness of the Chinese art market, particularly for rare imperial porcelain. The majority of buyers from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1990606/art-comeback-chinese-art-market-rebound-robust-auction-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1990606/art-comeback-chinese-art-market-rebound-robust-auction-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Jul 2016 09:15:06 +0000 A Tesla of the seas could be coming to Hong Kong if the Norwegians can convince local ferry operators to snap up the world’s first fully electric vessel. With Hong Kong ferries responsible for the lion’s share of Victoria Harbour’s pollution, according to the Environmental Protection Department, the move to replace diesel-chugging engines with a zero-emission battery-run equivalent is a solution touted by the Norwegian consulate – who believed the Star Ferry would be the best to first undergo... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1990575/norwegian-made-electric-ferries-could-reduce?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1990575/norwegian-made-electric-ferries-could-reduce?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Jul 2016 07:39:56 +0000 Former banker and now art gallery owner Mark Peaker attributes the success of both his careers to his jovial nature. But there’s one group of people to whom the British-born Hongkonger shows no mercy – the city’s perennial engine idlers. “It’s my biggest bugbear about Hong Kong – these belligerent drivers who clog up the roads and won’t turn their engines off,” Peaker, who owns gallery 3812 in Sai Ying Pun, says. “It has caused a lot of ill will in Hong Kong but it would be such an easy problem... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1990214/british-gallery-owner-mark-peaker-makes-art-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1990214/british-gallery-owner-mark-peaker-makes-art-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Jul 2016 01:00:21 +0000 Security has tightened at several toxic electronic waste sites after a Post report sparked a week of rancour ­between the Environmental Protection Department and a US watchdog. The open-air sites, where old computers and digital devices are stored and dismantled, are still in operation, and some operators have boarded up holes in walls and ramped up surveillance. Workers at the sites in poverty-stricken Yuen Long were seen and heard tearing digital detritus apart on Saturday morning, though an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1987687/hong-kong-e-waste-dumping-grounds-lockdown-amid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1987687/hong-kong-e-waste-dumping-grounds-lockdown-amid?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Jul 2016 13:29:40 +0000 A human-sized wing forged from steel and wrapped in white bandages lies on a wheeled hospital bed in the centre of a low lit room. The work of art called Rescusitation first appeared as an image in Zhang Yanzi’s mind the day she began her artist’s residency at the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences. Contemporary artist Zhang’s solo exhibit, which opens this week, marks the 20th anniversary of the museum, which has come to symbolise love, devotion, and sacrifice to the Beijing-based artist, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1987377/art-meets-science-hong-kong-medical-museum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1987377/art-meets-science-hong-kong-medical-museum?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Jul 2016 00:03:34 +0000 For up-and-coming fashion darling Anais Mak Ting-chung, Hong Kong has been a great place to launch her four-year-old brand, Jourden. But for the creative designer behind one of the city’s most successful rising labels, there are a lot of challenges facing independent designers trying to make it big in the Fragrant Harbour, despite the considerable windfall of government funding the industry has received. To 27-year-old Mak – who is starting to make waves worldwide with her collections – what the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1986777/fashion-faux-pas-why-hong-kong-designers-struggle-make-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1986777/fashion-faux-pas-why-hong-kong-designers-struggle-make-global?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Jul 2016 11:48:37 +0000 A war of words has broken out over claims by the government that a major US watchdog had failed to alert the environmental protection department of a number of toxic electronic waste sites in the New Territories. Hong Kong’s environmental protection department has come under fire for failing to enforce transboundary laws preventing the import of electronic waste, following a report by watchdog Basel Action Network that used GPS trackers to expose Hong Kong as a “pollution haven” for US... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1986362/hong-kongs-illegal-e-waste-dumps-whose-fault-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1986362/hong-kongs-illegal-e-waste-dumps-whose-fault-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Jul 2016 00:03:31 +0000 Environmental officials in Hong Kong and the United States are coming under increasing pressure to stem a growing tide of potentially lethal electronic waste entering the city amid fears it could replace Guangdong province as the dumping ground of choice for the global digital economy. Months after campaigners against electronic waste handed the Environmental Protection Department a list of dump sites in the New Territories, the Sunday Morning Post has discovered that most of them are still... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1984537/turn-back-e-waste-tide-pressure-stop-flood-toxic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1984537/turn-back-e-waste-tide-pressure-stop-flood-toxic?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Jul 2016 13:00:45 +0000 The acrid stench of overheating plastic fills the air as a grime-covered worker perched on a bench surrounded by old printers nonchalantly tosses a cigarette to the ground. It’s dirty work disembowelling the detritus of the digital economy. Welcome to the New Territories district of Yuen Long, which if environmental campaigners are to be believed, threatens to become ground-zero for the world’s electronic waste. In recent years a cluster of legally questionable work sites have sprung up to store... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1984534/revealed-toxic-trail-e-waste-leads-us-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1984534/revealed-toxic-trail-e-waste-leads-us-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Jul 2016 13:00:15 +0000 Friends of Dick Kaufman paid tribute to the big-hearted bar and event manager on Saturday by doing what he loved best: throwing a party. The flamboyant New Yorker, who died in May, helped to put Lan Kwai Fong on the map in the late 70s and 80s during the transformation of an old garbage collection area in Central into an entertainment hub. Kaufman was remembered for his joie de vivre by the party set. “Dick was a character, a fun, warm and caring guy who loved to party,” said business magnate... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1984532/hong-kong-party-set-pay-tribute-heart-and-soul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1984532/hong-kong-party-set-pay-tribute-heart-and-soul?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Jul 2016 12:16:54 +0000 Hong Kong’s lonely hearts are among the world’s most desperate to find love, according to data from a popular US dating app, showing that users in the city are using it more often than people in any other place in the world. According to Coffee Meets Bagel, which claims to help singles look for meaningful relationships rather than one-night stands, 66 per cent of Hongkongers who have downloaded the app log on every day. That’s the highest rate of all the app’s markets. The smartphone app,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1984436/hong-kong-singles-worlds-most-desperate-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1984436/hong-kong-singles-worlds-most-desperate-suggests?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Jul 2016 07:45:00 +0000 For ex-senior Hong Kong police officer turned fishing aficionado Mike Sharp, angling has a lot to ­offer. But there’s one thing that’s not exactly ideal about the local experience: the smell. “The area stinks, the smell comes off the water ... it’s a muddy smell of rotting vegetables,” says the English-born author a new book about fishing in the SAR. Fishing is popular among ­locals, who have learnt to stake out freshwater spots along the deep man-made rivers in the New Territories, which are... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1981532/former-hong-kong-police-officer-writes-guide-best-fishing-spots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1981532/former-hong-kong-police-officer-writes-guide-best-fishing-spots?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jun 2016 15:04:58 +0000 Animal rights activists have hit out at the death of another newborn dolphin at Ocean Park this week, repeating calls for the theme park to stop keeping captive marine animals. It was the second death of a newborn calf for its 15-year-old mother, Maya, who also lost a calf last year, a few weeks after the death of 22-year-old dolphin Ester’s newborn calf. “It’s like these people have a licence to kill,” said campaigner Zoe Ng, who added that thousands in Hong Kong had signed petitions over the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1981458/outrage-newborn-dolphin-dies-hong-kongs-ocean-park?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1981458/outrage-newborn-dolphin-dies-hong-kongs-ocean-park?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jun 2016 10:44:19 +0000 With contact-less payment methods becoming ever more prevalent the world over and inflation rendering some coins in places like Hong Kong almost worthless, the argument for the city to withdraw its lowest-value money from circulation is gaining traction Some say Hong Kong should follow countries like Norway, Australia, Denmark and New Zealand, which have phased out their lowest-denomination coins. But one woman is convinced that Hong Kong’s coins are worth clinging to – even the very smallest... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1980788/hong-kong-woman-whos-rolling-money?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1980788/hong-kong-woman-whos-rolling-money?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jun 2016 04:03:28 +0000 As Victoria Harbour plays host to an almost century-old Norwegian tall ship, experts at a summit on clean shipping are preparing to address how Hong Kong can best handle its maritime pollution. With vast white sails stretching out of the 89-year-old vessel, Sorlandet berthed near the Maritime Museum amid fanfare from shipping enthusiasts and the Norwegian expat community. It was originally built as a school ship to train seafarers for the merchant navy and now serves as a special academy for 14... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1978877/norwegian-sailing-ship-offers-hong-kong-green?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1978877/norwegian-sailing-ship-offers-hong-kong-green?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jun 2016 12:26:08 +0000 A US watchdog has slammed Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD) for failing to uphold international law following its two-year investigation tracking the illegal import of electronic waste into the city. Hong Kong has replaced mainland China to become “ground zero” for exporters of hazardous e-waste, according to Basel Action Network (BAN), whose research using GPS trackers revealed how 37 of the 65 electronics items exported from the US ended up in junkyards in the New... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1978082/hong-kong-government-accused-failing-uphold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1978082/hong-kong-government-accused-failing-uphold?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Jun 2016 09:12:08 +0000 Real estate and superstition – you’d be hard pressed to find a place on the planet more ­obsessed with either than Hong Kong – and this weekend the two collided in a perfect storm of spookiness on one of the world’s most ­expensive plots of real estate. Yesterday marked the 44th anniversary of one of the worst natural disasters in Hong Kong’s history – the 1972 Kotewall Road landslide which claimed the lives of 68 people and wreaked havoc through a swathe of Mid-Levels. The tragedy’s ground zero... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1977147/hong-kongs-mid-levels-site-haunted-deadly-landslide-past?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1977147/hong-kongs-mid-levels-site-haunted-deadly-landslide-past?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Jun 2016 03:02:28 +0000 Hong Kong has become a haven for exporters of electronic waste in the United States, according to an environmental group that claims the SAR has replaced the mainland to become “ground zero” for toxic electronic materials. A two-year investigation by ­Seattle environmental group ­Basel Action Network, attached 200 GPS trackers on broken electronic items in the US, and found many ended up in dumping grounds in the New Territories. Of the 200 trackers, 65 were found to have been exported out of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1977148/hong-kong-becomes-dumping-ground-us-e-waste?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1977148/hong-kong-becomes-dumping-ground-us-e-waste?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Jun 2016 02:00:45 +0000 Hongkongers bracing for the sweltering summer months might take solace in the news that a giant water slide will be installed along Victoria Harbour in two months’ time. Returning to the city for a second consecutive year, the 10-metre-tall slide is to be installed at Central Harbourfront Event Space from August 24 to 29, with organisers expecting high numbers of both tourists and local residents to flock to the attraction. Tourist arrivals in the city were down 8.8 per cent in the first four... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1976201/giant-water-slide-heart-hong-kong-meant-help-halt-slipping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1976201/giant-water-slide-heart-hong-kong-meant-help-halt-slipping?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Jun 2016 06:15:08 +0000 Almost 90 per cent of Hong Kong credit card holders pay their bills on time, exercising a high level of debt avoidance discipline that belies the fact that most own on average four credit cards. Hong Kong cardholders rank higher than those in the US, Australia, and Singapore when it comes to keeping up with monthly payments, according to market research company J. D. Power, which polled almost 2,900 Hongkongers. 86 per cent of Hongkongers kept up payments, while only 57 per cent of US citizens... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1975017/hongkongers-best-world-keeping-credit-card-bills-survey-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1975017/hongkongers-best-world-keeping-credit-card-bills-survey-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Jun 2016 05:34:25 +0000 A decision to tear down railings on steep slopes in SoHo’s Peel Street has angered bar owners, who say elderly people and customers will be at risk of falling. The move by the Lands Department comes a month after it ordered the removal of ramps allowing easier access into bars and restaurants in the popular Central district that it said were illegal structures, even though they had been there for years. “We’re outraged,” said Sam Weil, who runs popular music lounge Peel Fresco and was speaking... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1973725/ripping-railings-steep-peel-street-will-create?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1973725/ripping-railings-steep-peel-street-will-create?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Jun 2016 00:01:08 +0000 A fledgling aid organisation putting the city’s ethnic minorities and migrants front and centre has won the backing of consulates amid a sustained attack by the authorities and local officials. Move4Migrants founded by Hong Kong-born Indian teen Pradyumn Dayal, designed to help boost the welfare of the city’s migrants and minorities in a push to allow them to make a better contribution to the city and society. Consuls general and other diplomatic representatives are expected to turn out to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1973131/diplomats-applaud-group-speaking-out-migrants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1973131/diplomats-applaud-group-speaking-out-migrants?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jun 2016 17:15:50 +0000 Thousands of students across Hong Kong and in South Korea were turned away from college admission tests early on Saturday after the testing firm ACT reported it had “credible evidence” of a leak. With around 5,500 test takers told to return home at the last minute and offered refunds, the Iowa-based non-profit organisation said it had received “credible” evidence that test materials ­intended for use in the region had been compromised. College entrance SAT exams cancelled in China and Macau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1973032/leak-fear-prompts-united-states-college-admission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1973032/leak-fear-prompts-united-states-college-admission?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jun 2016 15:09:36 +0000 An influx of alternative birds to feed a gastronomic gap in the Hong Kong market left by a ban on live chicken imports increases the risk of a deadly bird flu outbreak, an expert has warned. The concern was raised after it emerged that of the 5,643 birds that were slaughtered in a cull at Cheung Sha Wan wholesale market last week, only 48 were chickens. The rest were silkie fowl, pigeons, chukars, pheasants and quail. It’s a mistake to import these birds from China – no other country would take... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1972990/selective-ban-live-poultry-imports-puts-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/1972990/selective-ban-live-poultry-imports-puts-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jun 2016 13:30:45 +0000 On the strength of its dollar, Hong Kong has surpassed Shanghai to become the second most expensive city in Asia Pacific, trailing only Tokyo, according to a survey comparing the cost of living worldwide. Living expenses rose in Hong Kong relative to those of Shanghai owing to a stronger Hong Kong dollar, which is pegged to the US dollar, while the yuan weakened amid the national economic slowdown, according to analysts at human capital consultant ECA. “Hong Kong’s rise up the rankings is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1969403/hong-kong-now-second-most-expensive-city-asia-pacific-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1969403/hong-kong-now-second-most-expensive-city-asia-pacific-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jun 2016 09:45:15 +0000 Schools doling out places for the this year’s intake of primary school students have complained the number of classes has ­decreased, despite a rise in demand. Primary One students were ­allocated to 1,813 classes in 2016-2017, down from 1,822 classes in the previous year. But the number of primary school students has risen from 28,483 last year to 29,243, according to education legislator Ip Kin-yuen, responding to the release of this year’s allocation results. “There have been complaints about... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1964944/hong-kong-schools-hit-out-drop-number-primary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1964944/hong-kong-schools-hit-out-drop-number-primary?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Jun 2016 11:35:55 +0000 The declining economic health of Hong Kong’s private sector eased in May, with a leading indicator showing the slowest contraction in 10 months. The Nikkei Hong Kong Purchasing Managers’ Index, a survey of purchasing executives from more than 300 local companies, improved to 47.2 in May – up from 45.3 in April – though it remained below the crucial 50.0 mark for the 15th month in a row, it continues in contraction mode. A score ­below the threshold means ­contraction, while one above means... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1963550/silver-lining-key-indicator-shows-hong-kong-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1963550/silver-lining-key-indicator-shows-hong-kong-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jun 2016 04:49:43 +0000 High flyers hoping to move their competitive streak out of the office and into a charitable endeavour can now register to take part in Hong Kong’s 11th Rat Race. Hundreds of participants are expected to gather in Central’s business district on October 16 to take part in a relay race to raise funds for local mental health charity Mindset. Colourful characters hit Central Rat Race in support of Hong Kong mental illness patients “Over the past 10 years, the Central Rat Race has become one of Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1962637/hong-kong-rat-race-charity-runners-raise-money?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/1962637/hong-kong-rat-race-charity-runners-raise-money?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Jun 2016 09:02:23 +0000 Hong Kong is set to extend the welcome it gives to the world’s private jet set with a package of measures to boost business aviation in the city. The plans – which include more take-off and landing slots for the growing number of high-flying business executives and ­tycoons for whom normal air travel isn’t an option – follow a row over abuse of the current system for booking runway slots. The number of private jets using Hong Kong International Airport has risen steadily in recent years, with a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1961540/more-slots-smoother-service-hong-kong-rolls-out-red-carpet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1961540/more-slots-smoother-service-hong-kong-rolls-out-red-carpet?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jun 2016 08:30:15 +0000