https://www.scmp.com/rss/321777/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Hong Kong needs authenticity, fresh blood, technology, Victoria Harbour and some “disruptions” to reinvent its flagging inbound tourism, according to industry veterans. To attract the growing demographic of millennial travellers who prefer cultural experience over luxury, Hong Kong government officials should think out of the box, and even break some rules, they urged on Friday. “Disruption needs to take place in Hong Kong ... The government itself needs to be disrupted,” leading businessman... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2116354/disruption-needs-take-place-hong-kong-tourism-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2116354/disruption-needs-take-place-hong-kong-tourism-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Oct 2017 14:00:30 +0000 A local Chinese candidate has been shortlisted as the head of Hong Kong’s showcase centre for Cantonese opera at the West Kowloon arts hub amid a row over the appointment of an expatriate as director of performing arts. The new candidate will report to Alison Friedman, the Irish-American whose appointment has been questioned by Cantonese opera performers who prefer home-grown talent to be used. A source at the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, which runs the hub, said on Thursday that an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2116199/hong-kong-local-line-chinese-opera-role-amid-expat-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2116199/hong-kong-local-line-chinese-opera-role-amid-expat-row?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Oct 2017 01:06:44 +0000 Cantonese opera performers in Hong Kong said they were “extremely disappointed” after the job of running the city’s new showcase for the traditional art form went to an American. A stalwart of the local opera industry said Beijing-based consultant Alison Friedman’s appointment to the post contradicted promises by the arts chief that the West Kowloon Cultural District, where the Xiqu Centre will stand, would nurture local talent. The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong, which represents more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2115975/hong-kongs-new-chinese-opera-centre-will-be-run-american-and-local?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2115975/hong-kongs-new-chinese-opera-centre-will-be-run-american-and-local?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Oct 2017 00:02:18 +0000 Hong Kong property prices rose at a slower pace in July and August as government cooling measures launched a year ago showed signs of taking effect, according to the latest official data. But the runaway prices, which are among the highest in the world, still hit a record high in August despite several rounds of so-called “spicy measures” implemented by the government to try to cool the overheated market. Month-on-month growth in prices tapered off to 0.3 per cent in July and 0.4 per cent in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115939/growth-hong-kong-home-prices-slows-after-spicy-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115939/growth-hong-kong-home-prices-slows-after-spicy-market?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Oct 2017 11:05:32 +0000 The salaries of Hong Kong’s construction workers will rise for the ninth year in a row, with an increase of 7.8 per cent to kick in next month, according to new figures. But union members were still unsatisfied, with many complaining of not getting regular work due to delays on new projects – which they blame on filibustering in the Legislative Council. The Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union asked 7,568 people in the industry about their pay, and their upcoming raise. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115707/hk2600-day-hong-kong-construction-workers-get-pay-rise-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115707/hk2600-day-hong-kong-construction-workers-get-pay-rise-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Oct 2017 07:11:38 +0000 A government review of the amount of infant formula a person can legally carry out of Hong Kong has triggered a backlash from local lawmakers and district councillors. Restrictions were introduced in 2013 that banned travellers transporting more than two tins of milk powder, or 1.8kg, per person out of the city. The policy was aimed at easing a shortage of the product experienced by local parents, who found themselves competing with parallel traders snapping up supplies for resale across the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115384/lawmakers-district-councillors-rally-against-review-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115384/lawmakers-district-councillors-rally-against-review-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Oct 2017 13:32:22 +0000 Hong Kong residents can expect to be issued with a new “electronic identification” within the next two years as part of plans to build a “smart city” and boost data security, according to the government’s technology chief. Secretary for Innovation and Technology Nicholas Yang Wei-hsiung said the “e-ID” would allow Hongkongers easier access to online services offered by the government and stronger safeguards of their personal data. The proposal comes amid mounting concerns over cybersecurity in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115365/hong-kong-launch-new-electronic-identification-part-smart?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115365/hong-kong-launch-new-electronic-identification-part-smart?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Oct 2017 09:25:23 +0000 Crossing the Victoria Harbour may just be a taxi ride away, if a Hong Kong government proposal to boost flagging tourism by reviving “water taxi” services gains approval, almost 50 years after the smaller boats ended their run. Under the plan, the boats, which will offer passengers more flexibility, would take them to popular areas such as Central, West Kowloon, Kai Tak and Tsim Sha Tsui, according to the latest tourism development plan released by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115319/water-taxi-idea-floated-boost-hong-kong-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115319/water-taxi-idea-floated-boost-hong-kong-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Oct 2017 03:00:36 +0000 Initial jubilation over saving the Wan Chai Sports Ground from demolition was muted on Thursday after Hong Kong’s leader said the land the iconic venue sits on was too valuable not to be developed. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor surprised the sports community on Wednesday during her maiden policy speech when she said the Wan Chai Sports Ground would be spared demolition. Instead, she announced plans to redevelop three government buildings next to the Hong Kong Convention and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115140/carrie-lam-says-wan-chai-sports-ground-will-be-demolished?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2115140/carrie-lam-says-wan-chai-sports-ground-will-be-demolished?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Oct 2017 12:30:30 +0000 About two years ago, Raymond Chu Wan-man left a stable job as a chef in Britain and returned to Hong Kong in the hope of running one of the city’s first food trucks. His dream came true last July after his signature grilled cheese sandwich took him through two rounds of selections to become one of 16 winners who would kick off a government-led programme designed to promote tourism. But now, the Hong Kong-born chef is calling it quits, selling the vehicle and returning to the UK to find another... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114531/another-hong-kong-food-truck-bites-dust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114531/another-hong-kong-food-truck-bites-dust?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Oct 2017 01:03:41 +0000 Hong Kong will double its expenditure on research and development to 1.5 per cent in the next five years to boost innovation, a bold target set by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in her maiden policy address. In her 88-page blueprint delivered on Wednesday, Lam detailed her ambition to nurture new businesses and retain talents, rolling out initiatives including an enhanced tax deduction on R&D expenditure, additional university research funds and a plan to build a “smart city”. Lam... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114942/eyeing-innovation-hong-kong-leader-doubles-rd-expenditure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114942/eyeing-innovation-hong-kong-leader-doubles-rd-expenditure?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Oct 2017 11:04:09 +0000 Hong Kong’s public transport commuters will be given a monthly travel subsidy of as much as HK$300 in an initiative set to be announced on Wednesday morning in Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s maiden policy address, the Post has learned. Local business operators will also benefit, with the profits tax rate for their first HK$2 million in profits set to be halved to 8.25 per cent. For the new travel subsidy scheme, the government will use part of the dividends from the MTR Corporation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2114799/subsidies-commuters-huge-cuts-profits-tax-set-be-announced?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/2114799/subsidies-commuters-huge-cuts-profits-tax-set-be-announced?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Oct 2017 16:00:00 +0000 A senior Beijing official with a rank of vice-premier or above should be appointed to coordinate a development strategy for a city cluster, including Hong Kong and Macau, in southern China following a key reshuffle of the Communist Party’s leadership, heavyweight scholars have said. The 19th party congress next Wednesday is likely to see a more detailed plan for the development of a collective of 11 cities surrounding the Pearl River Delta, known as the “Greater Bay Area”, followed by the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114598/high-ranked-beijing-official-needed-parent-11-cities-if?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114598/high-ranked-beijing-official-needed-parent-11-cities-if?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Oct 2017 14:45:15 +0000 Hong Kong’s rail service provider, MTR Corp, is pressing ahead with tests of its first batch of high-speed trains amid an ongoing controversy to house a joint cross-border checkpoint at the terminus in West Kowloon. The HK$84.4 billion project is now more than 95 per cent complete and is on track to meet its original commission deadline of the third quarter next year, Simon Tang, general manager of the project at the MTR said before allowing the public to see the new trains at a Shek Kong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114378/hong-kongs-high-speed-cross-border-trains-unveiled-public?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114378/hong-kongs-high-speed-cross-border-trains-unveiled-public?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Oct 2017 13:45:15 +0000 Hong Kong’s struggling tourism industry is about to get a comprehensive development plan, aimed at creating new attractions and offering better protection for tourists, according to commerce minister Edward Yau Tang-wah. Yau gave no details of the plan, but the city’s tourism workers called for more resources, more industry supervision and better infrastructure ahead of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s maiden policy address, due on Wednesday. “As a small city, we need to develop... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114323/hong-kongs-tourism-industry-about-get-revamp-commerce-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114323/hong-kongs-tourism-industry-about-get-revamp-commerce-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Oct 2017 14:45:00 +0000 The food truck scheme in Hong Kong was dealt another blow with a third operator confirming its decision to bow out on Friday, prompting calls for the government to step in to save the embattled tourism plan. Creative Yummy, which serves grilled cheese sandwiches, said it had earlier told the Tourism Commission under the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of its decision. The move comes less than four months after the launch of its business. The food truck was run by Raymond Chu Wan-man, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114224/possible-exit-third-hong-kong-food-truck-can-tourism-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114224/possible-exit-third-hong-kong-food-truck-can-tourism-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Oct 2017 03:45:15 +0000 The recent Hong Kong Express cancellations, which hit last week and threatened the travel plans of thousands over the “golden week” holiday, have exposed some fundamental operation and management weaknesses at the airline. It has also pushed staff to organise, with workers urging the company to improve conditions and open talks about industrial issues. How many local budget airlines are there in Hong Kong? Launched in October 2013, Hong Kong Express is the city’s sole budget airline, with a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114003/what-fallout-hong-kong-express-golden-week-cancellations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2114003/what-fallout-hong-kong-express-golden-week-cancellations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Oct 2017 02:00:30 +0000 Hong Kong’s retail sector is on track for a steady recovery, with sales rising 2.7 per cent year on year for August, boosted by a strong local jobs market and improved tourist numbers, according to official figures. The latest numbers confirmed the sector’s sixth consecutive month of growth, but expansion was smaller than the previous month. Sales added 4 per cent in July, year on year. And analysts said they expected the sector’s recovery, after a two-year slump, to continue for the rest of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113852/hong-kong-retail-sector-marks-sixth-consecutive-month-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113852/hong-kong-retail-sector-marks-sixth-consecutive-month-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Oct 2017 10:10:37 +0000 Eric Hotung, of Hong Kong’s prominent Hotung family, has died at age 91, concluding an eventful life that began with a tough childhood and was eventually pushed into the public eye thanks to business successes, humanitarian works and a messy love affair. A private family mass will be held on Tuesday at St. Joseph’s Church, followed by a burial at Chiu Yuen Cemetery. In an obituary published in the South China Morning Post last Friday, the tycoon’s family highlighted his philanthropic works, as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2113761/tycoon-philanthropist-lover-many-sides-late-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/community/article/2113761/tycoon-philanthropist-lover-many-sides-late-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Oct 2017 03:04:12 +0000 A dozen silkworms whose parents took a spin around the planet have been donated to a Hong Kong secondary school. Last October, six of the insects were taken on-board the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft, China’s sixth manned space mission and its longest to date, which saw two astronauts, Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong, spend 30 days orbiting in the Tiangong-2 space laboratory. The out-of-this-world experiment to study how the silkworms transformed in a weightless environment had been suggested by pupils at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113714/their-parents-went-space-these-silkworms-are-settling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113714/their-parents-went-space-these-silkworms-are-settling?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Oct 2017 12:03:33 +0000 Hong Kong permanent residents, forming one of the largest groups of visitors to Taiwan, are now eligible to apply online for multiple-entry visas to visit the island, its authorities announced on Monday. The simpler application procedures are expected to prompt Hongkongers make even more trips to Taiwan and boost the island’s tourism sector, which has been hit hard by the sharp decline in mainland visitors recently. Why are so many Hongkongers moving to Taiwan? But Hong Kong permanent residents... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113702/multiple-entry-visas-taiwan-available-hong-kong-permanent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113702/multiple-entry-visas-taiwan-available-hong-kong-permanent?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Oct 2017 10:00:00 +0000 Throngs of Hong Kong tourists and coach operators were held back in the city due to serious traffic jams clogging up a key motorway linking neighbouring Guangdong province at the start of the country’s “super golden week” holiday over the weekend. The Hong Kong Guangdong Boundary Crossing Bus Association on Sunday morning said that up to 90 per cent of coach services had to be halted due to heavy congestion along the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Expressway, which connects Guangzhou, Dongguan and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113588/hongkongers-face-most-serious-traffic-delays-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113588/hongkongers-face-most-serious-traffic-delays-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Oct 2017 12:45:17 +0000 More mainlanders are spending their National Day holidays in Hong Kong this year, fuelled by recent political tension between Beijing and neighbouring countries, and celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the city’s handover to China. But that does not mean they are staying long. Some younger tourists plan to fly elsewhere, to places like Taiwan and Southeast Asia, after just a day or two in the city. Rather than shopping and visiting renowned attractions, some millennial travellers say... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113577/political-rancour-and-handover-events-boost-hong-kongs-golden?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113577/political-rancour-and-handover-events-boost-hong-kongs-golden?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Oct 2017 09:45:45 +0000 Hong Kong once again ranked as the world’s the freest economy, but a Canadian institute warned its long-held position at the top could be threatened by Beijing’s perceived interference in the city’s affairs that could undermine the rule of law. The Fraser Institute of Canada ranked Hong Kong first in its Economic Freedom of the World report on Thursday. The report carried an ominous warning, a day after the World Economic Forum downgraded the city’s judicial independence score, heightening... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113329/chinese-interference-threat-hong-kongs-ranking-top-free?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113329/chinese-interference-threat-hong-kongs-ranking-top-free?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Sep 2017 03:54:05 +0000 Senior business executives in China’s Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area have expressed concern over protectionism of individual cities which share similar business functions, a survey conducted by accounting firm KPMG and Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce has shown. Out of the 614 business leaders surveyed, about 60 per cent considered the greatest challenge to the development of the city cluster was “protectionism”, followed by “silos between and within government”. China’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113286/protectionism-greatest-challenge-greater-bay-area-plan-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113286/protectionism-greatest-challenge-greater-bay-area-plan-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Sep 2017 01:00:45 +0000 In a move marking its largest ever release of new notes, the Bank of China (Hong Kong) unveiled a total of HK$5 million in special edition HK$100 bills for sale on Thursday to celebrate its centenary. But while collectors were enthusiastic about the freshly minted banknotes, resellers were less upbeat about making huge profits, amid the slowdown in market demand in mainland China for stamp, coins and banknotes over the past year. Buyers from across the border formed the bulk of customers for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113225/better-gold-hong-kong-collectors-eye-hk100-special-edition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2113225/better-gold-hong-kong-collectors-eye-hk100-special-edition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Sep 2017 08:00:45 +0000 Cruise line president Kent Zhu Fuming can hardly be blamed for not wanting to talk about typhoons. He was still reeling from an usually powerful typhoon season in Hong Kong that cost his industry millions of dollars of loss. “Don’t ask me about typhoons. I haven’t rested for the past four weeks,” Zhu said. Hong Kong has issued four consecutive typhoon No 8 signals this year, bringing diversions, delays or cancellations for tens of thousands of travellers in the city and region. While it is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2112579/cruise-lines-bear-extra-costs-and-anger-turbulent-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2112579/cruise-lines-bear-extra-costs-and-anger-turbulent-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Sep 2017 04:28:24 +0000 Hong Kong is teaming up with British partners to boost its financial technology (fintech) sector as two deals were cut in London to strengthen the city’s role as a fintech hub in Asia. A delegation of more than 70 participants – including top government officials and fintech industry players – were sent to London on a three-day mission that will end on Thursday to learn the experience of their British counterparts and explore areas for cooperation. The high-profile mission, organised by the Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2112065/european-fintech-deals-indicate-change-stance-toward-booming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2112065/european-fintech-deals-indicate-change-stance-toward-booming?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Sep 2017 23:31:55 +0000 The Hong Kong consumer watchdog publicly named and shamed a local marketing agent of a South Korean resort on Tuesday over misleading and high-pressure sales tactics. The Consumer Council said it received 48 complaints against Great Time Universal (HK) in the first eight months of the year – a surge of more than four times the number of cases reported against the same company last year. Great Time Universal claimed to be the authorised agent of Vistacay Vacation Club in South Korea. ‘Beware... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2111849/loud-music-no-phone-no-id-card-hong-kong-buyers-report-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2111849/loud-music-no-phone-no-id-card-hong-kong-buyers-report-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Sep 2017 07:28:12 +0000 Singapore-based bicycle-sharing operator oBike rode into Hong Kong on Friday with 1,000 bikes ready to go across the suburban New Territories and Lantau Island. It is the first overseas player to tackle the nascent bike-sharing business in the city, and intensifies local competition as the largest operator in Southeast Asia. In response, home-grown brand Hoba Bike vowed to increase the number of its shared bikes from 100 to 5,000 in the next three months, while Gobee.bike, the first entrant to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2111463/singapore-operator-obike-rides-hong-kong-1000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2111463/singapore-operator-obike-rides-hong-kong-1000?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Sep 2017 03:25:33 +0000 Tour agencies have urged travellers to take precautions including sufficient insurance when visiting the popular tourist spot of Hokkaido in Japan, as Hongkongers head there undaunted despite a North Korean missile test over the island. The reclusive communist state fired a missile into the Pacific Ocean over the northerly island on Friday, its second such test in weeks. The provocative move intensified political tensions in a region already at odds over the North’s nuclear programme. ‘Missile... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2111326/hongkongers-undaunted-north-korean-missiles-they-head-japans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2111326/hongkongers-undaunted-north-korean-missiles-they-head-japans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Sep 2017 04:59:17 +0000 A proposal that would give Hongkongers working on the mainland the same privileges as locals is likely to encourage mainland workers living in the city to return to their homeland once they qualify as permanent residents. And that could put further pressure on the city’s efforts to retain good workers, as mainland migrants have been a key labour source. Winnie Sun, a Nanjing native who came to Hong Kong seven years ago as a student, said the policy would help her when she moved to Shenzhen one... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2111255/mainland-born-hongkongers-may-be-tempted-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2111255/mainland-born-hongkongers-may-be-tempted-home?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Sep 2017 00:34:10 +0000 Cathay Pacific Airways is poised to extend the retirement age of its 9,000 Hong Kong-based cabin crew from 55 to 60 as early as next year, as a proposal won majority support in an internal ballot. Some 5,007 of 9,032 cabin crew – or 55 per cent – voted to raise the retirement age,according to an internal memo the Post obtained. About 3,000 people did not cast a ballot and 1,000 opposed the plan, a union said. This means Asia’s largest airline must fashion a deal with its labour unions such that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2111067/cathay-pacific-cabin-crew-back-extending-retirement-age-55-60?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2111067/cathay-pacific-cabin-crew-back-extending-retirement-age-55-60?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Sep 2017 13:15:30 +0000 Apple has barely unveiled its newest and most expensive iPhone model, boasting of an arsenal of features such as facial recognition, and many Hongkongers are already planning to cash in by scalping them across the border to mainland buyers. Hong Kong, mainland China and Taiwan are among the first of 55 countries and jurisdictions where Apple fans can pre-order “the future of the smartphone”, the iPhone X (with X being the Roman numeral for 10), from October 27 at a minimum price of HK$8,588 in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2110923/hong-kong-resellers-poised-profit-apple-unveils-iphone-x?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2110923/hong-kong-resellers-poised-profit-apple-unveils-iphone-x?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Sep 2017 01:30:15 +0000 China Mobile, one of the four major mobile operators in Hong Kong, cut its monthly package fee by 25 per cent on Tuesday – the last one to jump into the price war ahead of the latest iPhone launch. CSL fired the first shot last week by offering discounts, aiming to poach customers from SmarTone and Hong Kong Broadband network. Before China Mobile joined the fray, the other two major operators – SmarTone and 3HK – followed suit and rolled out aggressive promotions to retain customers at risk of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2110871/game-phones-price-war-breaks-out-hong-kong-mobile-operators?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2110871/game-phones-price-war-breaks-out-hong-kong-mobile-operators?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Sep 2017 13:00:00 +0000 Five years ago, Nicholas Ho Lik-chi, the second-generation owner of a Hong Kong-based architecture consultancy, returned from abroad to run a family business that was pretty much confined to mainland China and Hong Kong. Now the 30-year-old is building “smart cities”, where technology is the critical infrastructure behind essential services, across Southeast Asia. Some of those cities are along the old Silk Road economic belt from the north of China and the 21st century maritime silk road from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2110723/younger-business-leaders-taking-risks-along-chinas-belt-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2110723/younger-business-leaders-taking-risks-along-chinas-belt-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Sep 2017 15:09:38 +0000 State-run China Railway Group said they plan to “work closely” with Hong Kong’s MTR to jointly develop rail projects in countries included in Beijing’s ambitious plan to improve connectivity and enhance physical infrastructure, known as the “Belt and Road” initiative. “While we own advanced technology, Hong Kong’s rail company is more international than us. It also has advantages in management and financing, and a better understanding of overseas rules and regulations,” China Railway’s chairman... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2110704/china-railway-plans-team-mtr-jointly-develop-rail-projects-along-new-silk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/2110704/china-railway-plans-team-mtr-jointly-develop-rail-projects-along-new-silk?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Sep 2017 12:00:15 +0000 Chinese blockbuster Wolf Warrior 2 may not be able to replicate its mainland success when it is released in Hong Kong on Thursday, as its patriotism will not resonate with the city’s viewers, film critics and industry insiders have said. The US$30 million military-themed action film, directed by martial artist Wu Jing, took the mainland by storm, raking in more than 5 billion yuan (US$765 million) at the domestic box office in just one month. It has also grabbed international headlines by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2109830/mainland-blockbuster-wolf-warrior-2-unlikely-impress-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2109830/mainland-blockbuster-wolf-warrior-2-unlikely-impress-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Sep 2017 07:13:14 +0000 A lawmaker has rounded on the “irresponsible and chaotic handling” of a major tourist attraction in Hong Kong, saying it has hurt the city’s image as an international travel destination. The Hong Kong Observation Wheel, a popular spot among tourists in Central Harbourfront since 2014, was closed without warning on Wednesday. The attraction’s future remains hanging in the balance as the new operators have not decided whether to keep the Ferris wheel. “The poor arrangement could leave visitors the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2109376/sudden-closure-hong-kong-ferris-wheel-hurt-citys-image?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2109376/sudden-closure-hong-kong-ferris-wheel-hurt-citys-image?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Sep 2017 10:45:06 +0000 Tropical depression Mawar, which is threatening to bring Hong Kong its third typhoon in only two weeks, is expected to be closest to the city on Sunday afternoon when it makes landfall in Shantou, eastern Guangdong, according to weather officials. Senior science officer Cheng Yuen-chung from the Hong Kong Observatory said the depression might intensify into a typhoon over the weekend, but whether it would trigger the signal No 8 warning depended on its strength as it edged closer to land. If... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2109261/hong-kong-set-typhoon-standby-third-time-two-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2109261/hong-kong-set-typhoon-standby-third-time-two-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Sep 2017 02:30:00 +0000 Hong Kong’s struggling tourism sector has shown signs of recovery, as visitor numbers jumped 2.4 per cent in the first seven months of the year, according to the Tourism Board. In July, the number of visitors also increased 2.4 per cent on a year on year basis, with those from the mainland up 5.7 per cent, as more travellers visited the city to attend events for the 20th anniversary of the return of Hong Kong sovereignty to the mainland. The positive July figure – compared to a 1.9 per cent drop... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2109211/hong-kong-sees-tourism-bump-thanks-handover-celebrations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2109211/hong-kong-sees-tourism-bump-thanks-handover-celebrations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Aug 2017 11:55:55 +0000 Another tropical storm is brewing near the South China Sea but it is still too early to tell whether it will hit Hong Kong head-on, forecasters say. What is clear however is that Hongkongers can expect another weekend of poor weather due to the storm, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. Last week, Hong Kong Observatory issued a No 10 signal for Typhoon Hato – the strongest in the city’s typhoon warning system – bringing the city to a standstill. In nearby casino hub Macau, 10 people were... https://www.scmp.com/weather/article/2108827/more-bad-weather-way-another-tropical-storm-threatens-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/weather/article/2108827/more-bad-weather-way-another-tropical-storm-threatens-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Aug 2017 15:00:00 +0000 A stock market boom and rising property prices in July prompted Hong Kong retail sales to grow at their fastest rate in more than two years, potentially spelling the end of a years-long downturn. July sales jumped 4 per cent compared with the same period last year, significantly higher than the 0.1 per cent growth in the previous month, government statistics revealed on Tuesday. Industry insiders attributed the stronger-than-expected growth to robust local consumption and improved inbound... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2108798/retail-sales-hong-kong-see-highest-rise-over-two-years-thanks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2108798/retail-sales-hong-kong-see-highest-rise-over-two-years-thanks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Aug 2017 09:02:06 +0000 A rocky section of trail in Hong Kong dubbed “suicide cliff”, where two mainland Chinese tourists were stranded in a tropical storm over the weekend, is increasingly popular with travellers who underestimate the risks involved, according to hiking experts. The pair, aged 31 and 47, ran into trouble on Kowloon Peak on Saturday, and were rescued after an extensive operation involving 160 firefighters on Sunday. They had gone hiking after the Hong Kong Observatory issued a tropical cyclone warning... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2108611/hikers-underestimate-danger-suicide-cliff-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/2108611/hikers-underestimate-danger-suicide-cliff-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Aug 2017 07:30:15 +0000 Two of Hong Kong’s major bus operators plan to raise fares by 12 per cent in January 2018 citing rising operational costs. Citybus and New World First Bus, which collectively operate 169 bus routes and own about 3,000 buses across the city, said the proposed increases meant 85 per cent of non cross-harbour routes will see passengers pay less than HK$1 extra per trip and 70 per cent of cross-harbour routes will be less than HK$2 extra. If approved by the government, it will be the first fare rise... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2108358/two-major-bus-operators-hong-kong-raise-fares-12-cent-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2108358/two-major-bus-operators-hong-kong-raise-fares-12-cent-next?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Aug 2017 13:11:36 +0000 A paralysed stock market, business closures, flight cancellations and the suspension of public transport were some of the disruptions caused by Typhoon Hato on Wednesday as market analysts put the economic cost to the city at anywhere between HK$4 billion and HK$8 billion. A typhoon signal No 10 – the highest in Hong Kong’s storm warning system – was issued in the morning, and later downgraded throughout the day. It was only the 15th No 10 signal since 1946, with the last being Typhoon Vicente... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2107994/typhoon-hato-could-cause-hk8-billion-losses-after-no-10?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2107994/typhoon-hato-could-cause-hk8-billion-losses-after-no-10?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Aug 2017 12:30:45 +0000 Hong Kong businesses signed agreements worth HK$159 billion on Tuesday with companies in the southwestern province of Sichuan, as part of efforts to boost cooperation under Chinese President Xi Jinping’s “belt and road” global trade strategy. Big names such as property developer Shui On Group and Standard Chartered Hong Kong were among deal makers involved in 26 projects set out at a signing ceremony in the city. More than 90 per cent of the money will be invested in Sichuan. Covering a range of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2107811/hong-kong-firms-sign-agreements-worth-hk159-billion-companies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2107811/hong-kong-firms-sign-agreements-worth-hk159-billion-companies?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Aug 2017 08:46:39 +0000 Media tycoon Ricky Wong Wai-kay is considering scrapping plans to run TV stations in the city, saying that the market had dramatically changed during his long battle to secure a free-to-air TV licence. Wong said in a statement on Friday, when his Hong Kong Television Network announced its interim results, that the company will “review the commercial viability” of operating free TV and mobile TV channels and will come to a decision in the next few months. Victory for Hong Kong media maverick... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2107423/hong-kong-media-mogul-ricky-wong-may-give-free-air-tv-dream?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2107423/hong-kong-media-mogul-ricky-wong-may-give-free-air-tv-dream?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Aug 2017 01:02:13 +0000 The operator of Hong Kong’s iconic trams plans to raise fares by up to 13 per cent, its first increase in six years. Adults will be charged HK$2.60 from the current HK$2.30 per trip, while children and senior citizens will see an increase of HK$0.10, to HK$1.30 and HK$1.20 respectively, according to Hong Kong Tramways. The 113-year-old company added that monthly fares for the trams, affectionately known as “ding dings”, will go up to HK$220 from HK$200 now. Happy happy ding ding? Hong Kong’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2107410/hong-kong-tram-riders-set-pay-13-cent-more-operators-first?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2107410/hong-kong-tram-riders-set-pay-13-cent-more-operators-first?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Aug 2017 12:00:49 +0000 Hong Kong could see its first major profits tax reform aimed at easing the burden on smaller businesses take effect in the second half of next year, the financial services and treasury bureau chief said on Wednesday. James Lau said the overall economic benefits would outweigh the lost tax revenues – estimated to be about HK$5 billion annually – as the money would be better used in the market than in government coffers. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor proposed a two-tier tax system in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2107086/hong-kong-profits-tax-reform-go-legco-second-half-2018?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/2107086/hong-kong-profits-tax-reform-go-legco-second-half-2018?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Aug 2017 12:01:37 +0000