https://www.scmp.com/rss/514006/feed As Hong Kong’s “0+3” scheme ends mandatory hotel quarantine and the city starts rolling out the welcome mat for major international events such as the Hong Kong Sevens and Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit in November, all eyes are on how the financial hub will navigate its full reopening to the world. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Is the tide turning for Hong Kong’s ailing property market? When second-hand home prices are down almost 30 per cent from their peak in August 2021 and rents for grade A offices are more than 40 per cent lower than in the second quarter of 2019, talk of a recovery seems wildly premature. But expectations, sentiment and the prism through which the performance and outlook for the sector are viewed are important. Since the beginning of this year, the mood in Hong Kong has improved markedly. Much of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3317195/hong-kongs-equity-market-revival-helps-lift-property-sector-sentiment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3317195/hong-kongs-equity-market-revival-helps-lift-property-sector-sentiment?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 08:30:10 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Timing is everything in politics, and Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has good timing on his side. Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office Xia Baolong’s fact-finding trip could not have come at a more perfect time for Lee because school is out and the report cards are rolling in. The day before Beijing’s point man for Hong Kong and Macau affairs arrived for his third fact-finding trip, the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development released its latest World... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315253/hong-kong-aviations-revival-perfectly-timed-john-lees-report-card?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3315253/hong-kong-aviations-revival-perfectly-timed-john-lees-report-card?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Jun 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu The news of Ocean Empire, a 33-year-old congee restaurant chain, suddenly shutting down is not surprising. The catering industry has struggled mightily since Hong Kong reopened its borders after the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, and many local restaurants have bitten the dust. The disrupter of the century so far, the pandemic has permanently changed so much in our lives – and not just in terms of people falling ill. We can see the effects of Covid-19 in every closed shop and struggling... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3309745/what-33-year-old-congee-chains-closure-says-about-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3309745/what-33-year-old-congee-chains-closure-says-about-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 May 2025 08:30:08 +0000 In the Year of the Snake, Hong Kong enters a world that is more perilous than ever, with US President Donald Trump threatening tariffs against key trading partners and intensifying technological competition with China. Comments from Chinese officials that there are “no winners” in a trade war drop strong hints that China would not hesitate to retaliate if it is targeted. Hong Kong is powerless to put brakes on a trade or tech war, but when it comes to the troubles roiling Hong Kong, the worst... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3296884/why-worst-may-be-over-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3296884/why-worst-may-be-over-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Feb 2025 01:30:08 +0000 In this series of stories to mark five years since Hong Kong recorded its first Covid-19 case on January 22, 2020, the Post looks at how some residents’ lives changed and examines the city’s readiness for the next global pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic is over, but Hongkonger Eunice To continues to cope with a severe skin condition and health issues she is convinced were triggered by vaccines. The 26-year-old has no proof, and doctors she saw were divided on whether the vaccines could be blamed.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3295378/hongkongers-worsening-eczema-food-allergies-fuel-her-doubts-over-covid-jabs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3295378/hongkongers-worsening-eczema-food-allergies-fuel-her-doubts-over-covid-jabs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Jan 2025 09:33:37 +0000 The recently published Hong Kong government accounts show that, after eight months of the current financial year, the Treasury’s expenditure was HK$471.6 billion (US$60.6 billion), with HK$248.2 billion in revenue. That means our public finances incurred a deficit of HK$223.4 billion. After taking into account net cash of HK$80.2 billion received from new bond sales, less partial redemption of existing ones, the adjusted cash flow was minus HK$143.2 billion. In his speech introducing the 2024... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3294257/hong-kong-faces-hard-choices-spending-fix-its-budget-deficit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3294257/hong-kong-faces-hard-choices-spending-fix-its-budget-deficit?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:30:08 +0000 In his New Year’s message, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu wrapped up 2024 with a good deal of self-congratulatory pats on the back for his team. He rang in the new year with a very positive outlook, announcing that “Hong Kong has recovered from the pandemic and successfully restored its economic vitality.” Evidently the Hang Seng Index disagrees. The index fell 2.2 per cent on the first trading day of 2025, closing below 20,000 points. Remember that it closed at more than 28,000 on the last... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3293294/hongkongers-deserve-credit-getting-through-tough-2024?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3293294/hongkongers-deserve-credit-getting-through-tough-2024?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Jan 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Since Covid-19 travel and quarantine restrictions were lifted in Hong Kong in early 2023, visitors from traditional medium- and long-haul tourist markets – Australasia, North America and Japan, in particular – have largely given Hong Kong a miss. While an interlocking series of understandable-yet-unfortunate overseas perceptions and local realities are partially responsible, the simple truth remains; despite various “relaunch” campaigns, visitor numbers from these places have not recovered to... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3286245/what-actually-matters-hong-kongs-push-muslim-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3286245/what-actually-matters-hong-kongs-push-muslim-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Nov 2024 09:00:12 +0000 Subdivided flats and cage homes are Hong Kong’s shame. With our financial discipline, land sale premiums, tax revenue and sound investments, the government has built up substantial fiscal reserves over the years and invested in expensive infrastructure. This includes a world-class international airport, an expanding mass transit and high-speed rail system, the world’s longest sea bridge, a cultural district, a cruise terminal, theme parks, a new sports park and stadium, a third airport runway... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3281392/hongkongers-living-squalor-crisis-its-time-treat-it-such?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3281392/hongkongers-living-squalor-crisis-its-time-treat-it-such?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Oct 2024 01:30:09 +0000 Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will deliver the third of his scheduled five policy addresses next month. Given the time needed to turn new initiatives into completed actions, it is probably the last chance for him to make his mark in history for something other than enactment of national security legislation. I have a suggestion about what Lee’s next major target should be – tackling subdivided flats. But before we get into that, I will urge Lee to first be completely frank about Hong Kong’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3279251/how-john-lee-can-secure-his-legacy-beyond-national-security-legislation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3279251/how-john-lee-can-secure-his-legacy-beyond-national-security-legislation?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Sep 2024 08:30:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Nina Hospitality, the hotel unit of Hong Kong-based private developer Chinachem Group, is looking to expand into mainland China and overseas markets such as the UK, Australia and Singapore within two years. The company is setting the goal following a 2021 rebranding effort helmed by its new managing director Simon Manning, who joined the company the same year. “Our goal in the short term is to be a leading hospitality group within Hong Kong,” Manning said in an interview with the Post. “But... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3277647/chinachems-nina-hospitality-eyes-uk-singapore-markets-while-hong-kong-regains-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3277647/chinachems-nina-hospitality-eyes-uk-singapore-markets-while-hong-kong-regains-momentum?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Sep 2024 04:30:12 +0000 In an interview with the Post last month, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Lam Sai-hung basically threw Cathay Pacific Airways, the city’s flag carrier, under the bus. Insiders are suggesting that the government will not wait any longer for Cathay to recover and will instead push ahead with looking for other carriers to fill the extra capacity created by the opening of the third runway. Releasing its interim report last week, Cathay announced plans to invest more than HK$100 billion... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3273904/cathay-pacific-should-not-be-scapegoat-hong-kongs-aviation-woes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3273904/cathay-pacific-should-not-be-scapegoat-hong-kongs-aviation-woes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Aug 2024 01:30:11 +0000 When will Hong Kong catch a break? Ever since the trade war between the United States and China erupted in 2018, the city has faced a succession of domestic and external shocks that have inflicted grave damage on the economy, undermined confidence and exacerbated concerns about Hong Kong’s future as a financial hub. A resilient recovery, let alone a sustainable one, has proved elusive. In the real estate industry, the downturn has deepened in parts of the market, resulting in some of the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3272262/why-hong-kongs-property-market-isnt-all-doom-and-gloom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3272262/why-hong-kongs-property-market-isnt-all-doom-and-gloom?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Jul 2024 08:30:09 +0000 The tentative findings of a pay trend survey suggest that salary increases of up to 5.47 per cent could be on the cards for Hong Kong’s civil servants. This is going to be a tough sell to the public. The survey of data concerning more than 130,000 employees in 113 private-sector companies points to pay rises of 4.01 per cent for high-ranking civil servants, 4.32 per cent for mid-ranking ones and 5.47 per cent for junior civil servants. Should the government approve the latest round of pay... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3263039/hong-kong-civil-service-pay-rise-will-be-tough-sell-weary-public?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3263039/hong-kong-civil-service-pay-rise-will-be-tough-sell-weary-public?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 May 2024 01:30:09 +0000 The schedule of events at Hong Kong’s Convention and Exhibition Centre is filling up nearly to pre-pandemic levels, with a busy slate in 2024 and a large cryptocurrency gathering coming on board for early 2025, according to a top executive. The total number of events in the second half of last year hit 84 per cent of the level before the Covid-19 pandemic, and the outlook is promising, said Monica Lee-Müller, managing director of Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Management). “Some... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3254976/hong-kongs-exhibition-centre-nears-pre-covid-numbers-trade-fairs-return-singapore-and-new-crypto?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3254976/hong-kongs-exhibition-centre-nears-pre-covid-numbers-trade-fairs-return-singapore-and-new-crypto?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Mar 2024 10:58:41 +0000 It is noon and there are only three customers in HoKo Beauty, a cosmetics shop in Sheung Shui, a town just one train stop into the Hong Kong side of the border with mainland China. Over about 30 minutes, each spent less than HK$100 (US$18). Owner Yau Man, 40, sighed as she recalled better days before the Covid-19 pandemic, when her shop was packed with mainland Chinese visitors and bulk-buying agents, and the daily turnover could hit HK$100,000 on a good day. Yau said sales were down by almost... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3249242/10-days-sell-just-1-box-businesses-hong-kong-side-border-struggle-mainland-chinese-shoppers-parallel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3249242/10-days-sell-just-1-box-businesses-hong-kong-side-border-struggle-mainland-chinese-shoppers-parallel?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jan 2024 12:30:11 +0000 With the “Hello Hong Kong” campaign failing to lift off and tourism numbers sagging, the search is continuing for answers. Blaming the Covid-19 pandemic has been a regular feature of this exercise, but it does not explain why cities such as Bangkok, Tokyo and Macau – all emerging from their own pandemic woes – are packed with visitors. Copying the approach of other destinations would be like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, but that is a common bureaucratic response when ideas are... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3248499/time-showcase-real-hong-kong-draw-tourists-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3248499/time-showcase-real-hong-kong-draw-tourists-back?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Jan 2024 01:30:16 +0000 Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific is cancelling an average of 12 flights per day until February to ensure normal operation for the Lunar New Year period. In early 2023, Cathay executives said the airline aimed to resume 70 per cent of its flight capacity by the end of the year and fully restore capacity by the end of 2024. However, the recent surge in cancelled flights not only threatens Cathay’s 2024 flight capacity goal but has also sparked concern among Transport and Logistics... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3248380/cathay-pacific-travel-chaos-shows-need-revisit-tourism-recovery-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3248380/cathay-pacific-travel-chaos-shows-need-revisit-tourism-recovery-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jan 2024 08:30:12 +0000 With tens of thousands of people crossing the border to or from Hong Kong during the holiday season, people in Hong Kong have been enjoying post-pandemic life for almost 10 months since the mask mandate was finally lifted at the beginning of March 2023. The city government has launched a series of campaigns such as “Hello Hong Kong” to boost tourism and “Happy Hong Kong” to lighten residents’ hearts as part of efforts to boost the city’s economy. Hong Kong is rising from the sickbed of Covid-19... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3246856/rising-liveability-doesnt-herald-hong-kongs-return-pre-covid-normal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3246856/rising-liveability-doesnt-herald-hong-kongs-return-pre-covid-normal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jan 2024 01:30:21 +0000 A Hong Kong start-up is offering personalised hair care solutions with an artificial intelligence (AI) powered platform that can detect and prevent hair loss. HairCoSys’ team of data analysts and hair experts have designed an app using proprietary AI algorithms that analyses photos of users’ heads to identify hair and scalp conditions, before suggesting possible ways to treat it. “The idea for HairCoSys came during the Covid-19 outbreak when I discovered my friend’s hair loss problem after... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3245851/hair-you-go-hong-kong-start-haircosys-uses-ai-bring-personalised-care-masses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3245851/hair-you-go-hong-kong-start-haircosys-uses-ai-bring-personalised-care-masses?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Dec 2023 07:00:24 +0000 Thousands of Hongkongers thronged one of the city’s largest annual bazaars on its opening day on Saturday, with bigger crowds compared with pandemic times although vendors said shoppers were keeping their purse strings tight. The 57th edition of the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo, organised by the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, opened at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay and will run until January 8. Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu was among the first customers, dropping by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3245340/visitors-flock-hong-kong-brands-and-products-expo-food-plaza-making-welcome-return-after-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3245340/visitors-flock-hong-kong-brands-and-products-expo-food-plaza-making-welcome-return-after-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Dec 2023 14:54:42 +0000 Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will offer its pilots a 3.8 per cent rise in their basic salary next year, the Post has learned, but a union has complained that some will have to fly more hours to qualify for the increase. According to an internal Cathay Pacific memo seen by the Post, an entry-level second officer will be offered HK$34,158 (US$4,382) a month in basic salary starting in January, while top-level captains will get up to HK$114,924. But the Cathay pilots’ union argued... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3242390/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-offer-pilots-38-rise-basic-salary-union-says-crews-will-need-fly-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3242390/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-offer-pilots-38-rise-basic-salary-union-says-crews-will-need-fly-more?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Nov 2023 03:00:11 +0000 Hong Kong’s tourist hotspot of Tsim Sha Tsui retained its ranking as the most expensive retail destination in Asia-Pacific, but slipped to third place globally due to pandemic-related curbs that brought tourism to a standstill, according to a survey by Cushman & Wakefield. Annual rents in Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon declined by 39 per cent before the onset of the pandemic – at a time the city had been brought to a standstill by a period of civil unrest that often turned violent – to US$$1,493 per... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3242302/worlds-priciest-retail-streets-hong-kongs-tsim-sha-tsui-slips-third-place-after-new-yorks-fifth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3242302/worlds-priciest-retail-streets-hong-kongs-tsim-sha-tsui-slips-third-place-after-new-yorks-fifth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Nov 2023 08:14:28 +0000 Travellers crossing the Hong Kong-mainland Chinese border enjoyed shorter journeys after authorities in the north lifted a mandatory health declaration on Wednesday, the final pandemic curb to be axed. Business groups in the city welcomed the move, which they said would help their members cross the border, with the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce CEO Patrick Yeung Wai-tim praising it as a positive step for improving connectivity. “This, together with the recent move to issue multiple-entry... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3239903/travellers-crossing-hong-kong-mainland-chinese-border-enjoy-smoother-journeys-after-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3239903/travellers-crossing-hong-kong-mainland-chinese-border-enjoy-smoother-journeys-after-health?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:46 +0000 Mainland China lifting its health declaration policy is unlikely to increase the number of Hongkongers spending their cash up north, a city official and industry leaders have said, but catering and retail representatives have called for more government measures to woo visitors to the city and keep residents spending at home. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung on Monday said he believed the decision to no longer require the health declaration form allowing travellers... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3239653/hong-kong-tourism-chief-says-lifting-health-declaration-unlikely-create-dramatic-surge-cross-border?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3239653/hong-kong-tourism-chief-says-lifting-health-declaration-unlikely-create-dramatic-surge-cross-border?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Oct 2023 05:46:46 +0000 Travellers between Hong Kong and mainland China will no longer be required to fill in a health declaration form after the transport industry was told that the last Covid-19 restriction measure would be dropped on Wednesday. A Post reporter who crossed the border at the West Kowloon high-speed railway station on Sunday afternoon did not have to fill in the online health declaration to get a QR code – often referred to as the “black code” – to continue on to the mainland. The code scanners at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3239590/last-coronavirus-restriction-travel-between-hong-kong-and-mainland-china-dropped?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3239590/last-coronavirus-restriction-travel-between-hong-kong-and-mainland-china-dropped?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Oct 2023 11:00:33 +0000 Hong Kong’s lived-in home prices fell by nearly 1.75 per cent month on month in September to their lowest since April 2017, as elevated interest rates have dampened sentiment and pushed buyers to the sidelines, according to the latest official data. The widely tracked index compiled by the Rating and Valuation Department slipped to 332.1 last month, erasing this year’s gains. The gauge’s plunge in September was also the deepest of the year. The index has lost 16.58 per cent from its peak of... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3239397/hong-kong-home-prices-lowest-level-2017-high-interest-rates-deter-buyers-weigh-transactions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3239397/hong-kong-home-prices-lowest-level-2017-high-interest-rates-deter-buyers-weigh-transactions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Oct 2023 06:47:40 +0000 Scores of Hongkongers flocked to mainland China to sweep the tombs of their ancestors and loved ones on Monday for the first Chung Yeung Festival since the full reopening of the border, with many expressing joy at being able to take part in the tradition again. Thousands of residents arrived at the Lo Wu checkpoint as early as 9am to cross the border into Shenzhen, with an average 10-minute wait on the Hong Kong side. Visitors in groups of two to 12 were seen carrying flowers and offerings for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3238860/thousands-hongkongers-flock-mainland-china-chung-yeung-festival-sweep-tombs-ancestors-border?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3238860/thousands-hongkongers-flock-mainland-china-chung-yeung-festival-sweep-tombs-ancestors-border?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Oct 2023 06:03:55 +0000 Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority chief has warned of an impending surge in flu cases, noting it will be the city’s first winter without the mandatory mask-wearing policy enacted during the Covid-19 pandemic and residents’ immunity has weakened. Authority chief executive Tony Ko Pat-sing made the prediction on Sunday after the Department of Health said it was investigating two cases of severe influenza A infection, including one involving a 16-year-old boy who was found unconscious two days after... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3238800/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-chief-warns-surge-flu-cases-city-enters-first-winter-season-without?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3238800/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-chief-warns-surge-flu-cases-city-enters-first-winter-season-without?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Oct 2023 09:46:07 +0000 The National Day holiday weekend is expected to dish up a massive HK$1.2 billion (US$153 million) boost to Hong Kong’s struggling restaurant sector – a 50 per cent increase compared with last year. Industry experts predicted business at dining spots along Victoria Harbour and at Chinese restaurants would be especially brisk for the return of the National Day fireworks on Sunday. But some warned that cost-conscious tourists from mainland China would be looking out for special offers or decide to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3236314/national-day-long-weekend-expected-put-hk12-billion-sparkle-back-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3236314/national-day-long-weekend-expected-put-hk12-billion-sparkle-back-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Sep 2023 01:00:30 +0000 On a balmy September evening, a dozen people stepped off their ride on the Ferris wheel on Hong Kong’s harbourfront and shuffled past snack vendors on their way to the exit. It was 8.45pm but two of the three shops had already wrapped up business for the day, ignoring their own listed closing time of 9pm. It made little sense to stay open anyway – the eye-popping lights along the massive Observation Wheel would soon go dark for the night, and no one was expecting the last ride to carry anywhere... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3236037/hong-kongs-night-scene-tour-citys-evening-hotspots-reveals-whats-hot-and-whats-not-consumers-weigh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3236037/hong-kongs-night-scene-tour-citys-evening-hotspots-reveals-whats-hot-and-whats-not-consumers-weigh?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Sep 2023 01:00:23 +0000 Hong Kong business leaders have urged the government to work harder to ensure residents spend their money locally after neighbouring Shenzhen stepped up its efforts to target visitors from the city and Macau. The Development and Reform Commission of Shenzhen Municipality on Friday issued a new document with a raft of measures to boost consumption, including a section dedicated to luring Hong Kong and Macau visitors to the city. Wondering what to do after dark? The Post unpacks ‘Night Vibes Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3234816/business-leaders-urge-hong-kong-authorities-step-efforts-get-people-spend-locally-after-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3234816/business-leaders-urge-hong-kong-authorities-step-efforts-get-people-spend-locally-after-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Sep 2023 14:46:13 +0000 Wynna Wong,Harvey Kong,Ezra Cheung Wynna Wong,Harvey Kong,Ezra Cheung A string of events under the “Night Vibes Hong Kong” campaign to revive the evening economy may encourage residents to come out after dark but uncertainty remains on whether the drive will boost spending, according to lawmakers and business leaders. Speaking on the effectiveness of the campaign, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun on Friday said authorities did not find it best to “quantify” how the drive would boost the economy. “We think it may not be appropriate to quantify, but... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3234606/night-vibes-hong-kong-may-attract-residents-stay-out-longer-will-they-open-purses-and-boost-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3234606/night-vibes-hong-kong-may-attract-residents-stay-out-longer-will-they-open-purses-and-boost-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Sep 2023 01:59:33 +0000 The number of Hong Kong children aged six to eight suffering from myopia hit a record high during the Covid-19 pandemic as youngsters became more reliant on screens and stayed indoors, a Chinese University study released on Wednesday found. Associate Professor Jason Yam Cheuk-sing, of the university’s department of ophthalmology and visual sciences, also warned the pandemic trends of children spending less time outdoors and using electronic products more had continued even after the city lifted... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3232820/number-hong-kong-children-myopia-reached-record-high-during-covid-pandemic-amid-greater-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3232820/number-hong-kong-children-myopia-reached-record-high-during-covid-pandemic-amid-greater-reliance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Aug 2023 08:51:52 +0000 A group of businesses kicked off a night bazaar on Friday in a bid to give Hong Kong’s evening economy a lift by rebranding a computer festival in Sham Shui Po, but vendors said sales had yet to see much of a boost. Lawmaker Peter Shiu Ka-fai on Friday night said the annual Golden Computer Festival, involving the popular Golden Computer Arcade on Fuk Wa Street and local restaurants, had been rebranded as a night bazaar, with shops opening 90 minutes later than previous editions, until... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3232255/hong-kong-businesses-strongly-reject-city-bid-extend-mall-hours-amid-manpower-crunch-consumers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3232255/hong-kong-businesses-strongly-reject-city-bid-extend-mall-hours-amid-manpower-crunch-consumers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Aug 2023 04:10:12 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. As Hong Kong promotes green transport, the electric vehicle industry, including Hong Kong International Electric Vehicles (Holdings) Limited, has been dedicated to investing in and introducing... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3232188/how-hong-kong-can-get-more-electric-buses-road?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3232188/how-hong-kong-can-get-more-electric-buses-road?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Aug 2023 03:30:17 +0000 Mainland Chinese visitors have returned to Hong Kong, but their tastes have changed noticeably. In the second of a two-part series, the Post finds out where they are going, and what they are spending on now. Read part one here. Business is booming at Hong Kong eatery Two Greens, a small Malaysian-Cantonese fusion restaurant in Mong Kok, and the place is often packed with mainland Chinese visitors. They have been heading there ever since Xiaohongshu – the mainland’s Instagram-like social media... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3232176/shop-till-you-drop-dead-mainland-chinese-tourists-hong-kong-chase-instagram-worthy-photo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3232176/shop-till-you-drop-dead-mainland-chinese-tourists-hong-kong-chase-instagram-worthy-photo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Aug 2023 01:00:23 +0000 Hundreds of pupils are expected to sit Hong Kong’s university entrance exams in mainland China after at least four schools across the border applied to serve as assessment centres, according to sector leaders. Two heads of mainland-based schools catering to Hong Kong pupils on Monday said education authorities on both sides of the border had visited their campuses earlier in the year to review their suitability for hosting the tests. “They gave us some concrete suggestions on the lighting in an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3231836/hundreds-pupils-mainland-china-expected-sit-dse-university-entrance-exams-hong-kong-without-crossing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3231836/hundreds-pupils-mainland-china-expected-sit-dse-university-entrance-exams-hong-kong-without-crossing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Aug 2023 13:17:42 +0000 Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s result-oriented administration appears to be delivering, at least looking at some of the latest figures released by the Census and Statistics Department. Hong Kong’s population saw a net one-year rise of more than 150,000 people in the year to mid-2023. Lee vowed during his policy address last October to deploy a series of measures including tax breaks and looser visa rules as part of efforts to scour the world for talent. Reopening the border with the mainland... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3231569/population-growth-not-enough-john-lee-declare-happy-hong-kong-job-done?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3231569/population-growth-not-enough-john-lee-declare-happy-hong-kong-job-done?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Aug 2023 06:30:09 +0000 More than 4,500 cruise ship passengers had a smooth arrival in Hong Kong on Saturday thanks to new transport and logistics measures, with the tourism chief saying he expected terminal operators to help share the costs of the arrangements. The Spectrum of the Seas ship docked at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal at 7am that day, two weeks after the vessel returned to the city for the first time in nearly two years. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said logistics were largely... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3231634/smooth-hong-kong-arrival-cruise-ship-passengers-use-new-transport-set-tourism-chief-expects-terminal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3231634/smooth-hong-kong-arrival-cruise-ship-passengers-use-new-transport-set-tourism-chief-expects-terminal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Aug 2023 05:08:25 +0000 Tourist Lydia Shen stood in line at well-known Hong Kong cafe Lan Fong Yuen and ordered its famous milk tea, French toast, a pork chop sandwich and instant noodles. “I read about this place on Xiaohongshu,” said the 37-year-old businesswoman from Zhejiang province. In fact, most of the itinerary for her three-day holiday with her 11-year-old daughter was inspired by posts on mainland China’s popular Instagram-like social media platform. Despite the blazing summer heat, they queued at the milk... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3231407/can-hong-kong-showcase-its-soul-lure-mainland-chinese-tourists-shopping-makes-way-retro-milk-tea-old?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3231407/can-hong-kong-showcase-its-soul-lure-mainland-chinese-tourists-shopping-makes-way-retro-milk-tea-old?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Aug 2023 01:00:20 +0000 Hong Kong authorities have expressed confidence in their ability to ensure the smooth return of cruise ship Spectrum of the Seas on Saturday, two weeks after its docking caused a logistics fiasco affecting more than 5,000 passengers. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing earlier held a second meeting with tourism authorities, transport officials and the terminal operators to devise plans for the ship’s return to the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, the government on Wednesday said. “The Tourism... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3231328/hong-kong-prepares-arrival-4500-passengers-aboard-spectrum-seas-authorities-vow-transport-chaos-will?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3231328/hong-kong-prepares-arrival-4500-passengers-aboard-spectrum-seas-authorities-vow-transport-chaos-will?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Aug 2023 14:11:11 +0000 Cathay Pacific Airways will offer 50,000 discounted economy-class return tickets to cities around the world starting on Thursday, Hong Kong’s flag carrier has said, while also revealing it has paid the government nearly HK$293 million (US$37.45 million) in dividends owed on preference shares acquired during the pandemic. The discounted tickets would cover 34 destinations, including Kaohsiung in Taiwan, Tokyo, Seoul, London, Sydney and Chicago, for travel between January and June next year, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3231306/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-offer-100000-discounted-tickets-reveals-nearly-hk293-million-dividends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3231306/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-offer-100000-discounted-tickets-reveals-nearly-hk293-million-dividends?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Aug 2023 10:54:05 +0000 Barcelona, Toronto and Beijing have been named the top three cities for hybrid work, while Hong Kong ranked 22nd, according to a study by workspace operator IWG. The Switzerland-based company conducted a survey of about 1,000 hybrid offices in August last year, and compared 26 leading cities on nine criteria: climate, culture, accommodation, transport, food and drink, happiness, broadband speed and availability of flexible workspace. “For an increasing number of workers, hybrid working offers... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3231164/beijing-among-top-3-cities-hybrid-work-while-high-cost-accommodation-and-coffee-weighs-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3231164/beijing-among-top-3-cities-hybrid-work-while-high-cost-accommodation-and-coffee-weighs-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Aug 2023 23:00:11 +0000 Staff shortages and the slow resumption of flights have remained problems for Hong Kong Disneyland as it battles back from the Covid-19 pandemic, the theme park has said while promising to bring in 500 extra workers to boost competitiveness. Tim Sypko, the resort’s senior vice-president of operations, on Monday said the hundreds of staff it planned to hire in the next quarter were partly for a new “World of Frozen” zone, with a job fair for the attraction scheduled for Thursday and Friday. But... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3231042/no-magic-recovery-hong-kong-disneyland-labour-shortage-slow-flight-resumption-slow-parks-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3231042/no-magic-recovery-hong-kong-disneyland-labour-shortage-slow-flight-resumption-slow-parks-post?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Aug 2023 10:38:32 +0000 Hong Kong’s food and catering sector is suffering a summer slump in business as locals head across the border and mainland Chinese tourists watch their spending, industry representatives have said. “Business has been brutally quiet,” said Australian chef Shane Osborn, who runs three restaurants in the city, including the one-Michelin-starred Arcane. Osborn said revenue was down about 40 per cent from normal summer trading. “We’ve had days where we have done zero covers on a Saturday night, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3230929/summer-slump-bites-hard-hong-kongs-restaurants-residents-head-across-border-and-mainland-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3230929/summer-slump-bites-hard-hong-kongs-restaurants-residents-head-across-border-and-mainland-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Aug 2023 10:00:12 +0000 Hong Kong has revised its forecast for the city’s full-year economic growth to between 4 per cent and 5 per cent, with a weakened global trade environment expected to further weigh on exports. Tourism served as a bright spot for the city, with visitors returning to Hong Kong in droves during the summer. The government on Friday also confirmed that the economy grew 1.5 per cent year on year in the second quarter as tourism and private spending continued to drive the city’s recovery. Year-on-year... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3230744/hong-kong-records-359-million-arrivals-july-number-mainland-chinese-tourists-returns-72-cent-pre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3230744/hong-kong-records-359-million-arrivals-july-number-mainland-chinese-tourists-returns-72-cent-pre?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Aug 2023 06:13:32 +0000 The operator of Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal has rejected suggestions to revitalise the site as a shopping centre, after lawmakers and industry players proposed revamping the underused facility to attract more tourism. Worldwide Cruise Terminals managing director Jeff Bent on Thursday evening stressed that the site’s main purposes were as a home port for ships and a temporary stop before passengers boarded or disembarked. “People are travelling with their families and suitcases, they are... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3230680/hong-kong-cruise-terminal-operator-rejects-shopper-friendly-revamp-stresses-role-home-port-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3230680/hong-kong-cruise-terminal-operator-rejects-shopper-friendly-revamp-stresses-role-home-port-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Aug 2023 01:00:26 +0000 Hong Kong Airlines apologised for technical issues with its website after hundreds of travel hopefuls vying for 9,800 tickets in a second giveaway round launched by the carrier on Monday complained of long waits and error messages. The travel hopefuls were jockeying for tickets to Bangkok, Sanya, Beijing, Hangzhou, Nagoya, Nanjing and Seoul. “Our campaign webpage experienced high traffic issues initially, but it quickly recovered and is now up and running,” the carrier said in a statement. “We... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3230201/tens-thousands-travel-hopefuls-vie-9800-plane-tickets-second-round-hong-kong-airlines-giveaway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3230201/tens-thousands-travel-hopefuls-vie-9800-plane-tickets-second-round-hong-kong-airlines-giveaway?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Aug 2023 04:44:21 +0000 More than 25 top businesses have pledged to invest over HK$17 billion (US$2.2 billion) in Hong Kong and create at least 4,000 jobs, the city’s finance minister has said. Writing in his weekly blog on Sunday, Paul Chan Mo-po said he expected more companies to expand their operations in the city this year and that the government was in “deep discussions” with mainland Chinese and overseas firms. “By bringing together companies that are leading and have high potential, it can drive the development... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3230147/hk17-billion-hong-kong-business-boost-and-4000-new-jobs-trumpeted-finance-secretary-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3230147/hk17-billion-hong-kong-business-boost-and-4000-new-jobs-trumpeted-finance-secretary-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Aug 2023 09:07:01 +0000