https://www.scmp.com/rss/322886/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com On Saturday, Hong Kong will for the first time meet with all 10 Asean members to discuss a long-anticipated free trade agreement, which is expected to be passed within a year, according to commerce minister Greg So Kam-leung. So will join his Asean counterparts in Laos, where they will go over the progress and targets for negotiations on the pact. Describing the talks as bearing “huge significance”, the secretary for commerce and economic development added that seven rounds of negotiations on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1999589/huge-significance-hong-kong-have-first-discussion-free-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1999589/huge-significance-hong-kong-have-first-discussion-free-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Aug 2016 07:31:51 +0000 Restaurant industry analysts remain sceptical about the sector’s growth prospects despite promising year-on-year figures. Census and Statistics Department figures show restaurant receipts in Hong Kong increased 3.1 per cent year on year, at the end of the second quarter 2016. Fast food and bars did the best while Chinese restaurants saw fewer diners and lower spending, according to the figures. Fast food receipts increased 6.4 per cent year on year, bar sales increased 4.3 per cent, other... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1998331/burgers-and-beers-lead-hong-kong-restaurant-industry-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1998331/burgers-and-beers-lead-hong-kong-restaurant-industry-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Aug 2016 14:31:57 +0000 A few of the people who joined this year’s march explained what motivated them. Carman Lai, 33, a service industry employee, said anger over what happened to Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee – who vanished in October upon crossing the mainland border at Shenzhen and returned last month to the city claiming he had been abducted – propelled her to march. “I was really angry,” she said of Lam’s fears over his personal safety at the march Friday, leading him not to attend. “This is not the Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1984152/voices-july-1-protesters-explain-why-they-marched?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1984152/voices-july-1-protesters-explain-why-they-marched?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Jul 2016 12:58:30 +0000 This was the Post’s real-time coverage of the July 1 march. 7.17pm: Organiser announces turnout Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, announced that 110,000 people attended today. He thanked Hongkongers for attending the protest despite the hot weather. He also urged protesters to continue to pay attention to the case of bookseller Lam Wing-kee to ensure his safety. Police, however, estimated turnout was only 19,300 at its peak – down from the 19,650 participants the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1984006/july-1-march-organiser-claims-turnout-110000-far-above?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1984006/july-1-march-organiser-claims-turnout-110000-far-above?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Jul 2016 07:15:00 +0000