Hong Kong
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Hong Kong graduates prefer careers in finance, survey finds
Hong Kong graduates believe the city’s finance industry is its most attractive and stable sector, making them more optimistic about career opportunities than their global peers, according to a study by the CFA Institute, which trains investment managers. The New York-based institute’s “2026 Graduate Outlook Survey”, released on Wednesday, found that 71 per cent of Hong Kong graduates rated their career prospects between eight and 10 out of 10. The global average for that level of optimism was 59...
18 Jun 2026
Hong Kong, Macau not rivals for tourist trade, industry leaders say
Hong Kong and Macau can complement rather than compete with each other in tourism development, officials and industry leaders in the gaming hub have said, as it continues its decades-long push for economic diversification. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, director of the Macau Government Tourism Office, said that the two cities had long worked together to attract overseas visitors and should continue building on that relationship rather than viewing each other as rivals. Speaking ahead of an...
18 Jun 2026
Top Beijing official opted for Shenzhen stay during two-day Hong Kong visit, local media report
Beijing’s top official on Hong Kong affairs spent a night over the border in Shenzhen during his two-day inspection tour of Hong Kong this week. HK01 and Sing Tao Daily reported on Wednesday that Xia Baolong, who arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday, did not stay in the city that night but returned through the Huanggang border checkpoint the following morning Xia Baolong visited Kwu Tung North, a new development district in the New Territories, on June 16, 2026. Photo: GovHK. The arrangement differs from previous visits when Xia “usually stayed in Hong Kong,” Sing Tao reported. Citing anonymous government sources, local media said the new arrangement aimed “to promote the seamless connectivity of the infrastructure between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.” “Xia Baolong’s decision to return to Shenzhen for overnight stay was a ‘live test’ of the current border clearing procedures and transportation infrastructure, ” the Chinese-language report said. Shipping terminals, border checkpoint Xia completed his inspection tour on Wednesday evening after visiting the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals in the afternoon. Hong Kong’s transport and logistic minister Mable Chan briefed Xia on the the development of the city’s shipping industry. Earlier in the day, he visited the new facilities at the Huanggang checkpoint . Hong Kong authorities reconstructed the border crossing and is about to introduce a “joint-clearance” policy with mainland authorities. An aerial view of Lok Mak Chau check point on the Hong Kong border near the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Xia visited eight sites in Hong Kong on the first day of his trip, with a focus of the development of Northern Metropolis – a massive tech hub development in the New Territories . Xia is director of the Hong Kong and Macau work office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. The 73-year-old official started to pay annual visits to Hong Kong in 2023, when Beijing formed a new Hong Kong and Macau work office directly under Communist Party. Formerly, the Hong Kong and Macau affairs office was under the State Council of the Chinese government. Government statements relating to Xia’s previous visits did not mention where Xia stayed the night. In 2025, HK01 citing sources in saying that Xia stayed at the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong (OCMFA) during his visits between 2023 and 2025.
18 Jun 2026
2 universities, HKU and CUHK, rank among world’s top 20 – a first for Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have been ranked among the top 20 in a global league table – the first time two of the city’s universities have achieved this simultaneously – with CUHK making significant gains in its reputation among employers. The UK-based education information firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) also pointed out on Thursday that Hong Kong had Asia’s most improved higher education system for the second consecutive year, with seven of...
17 Jun 2026
Sexual abuse against children up 20% in 2025 as security chief vows tighter laws
Sexual abuse cases against children under 17 jumped 20 per cent in 2025 from the previous year in Hong Kong, with the security minister vowing to tighten laws that will better protect victims by next June. Police figures presented to legislators on Wednesday showed that there were 797 cases of sexual offences against children last year, up from 663 cases in 2024. In 2021, there were 599 such cases. The figure fell to 578 the following year but rose to 696 in 2023. Statistics for 2025 also showed...
17 Jun 2026
Hong Kong police arrest man, 36, over sexual assaults on 4 male victims
Hong Kong police have arrested a 36‑year‑old man on suspicion of forcing three men and a teenager to engage in sexual acts while recording the activity. The suspect is alleged to have committed non-consensual buggery against four victims, aged between 19 and 23, between May 2024 and this month. He has also been accused of offences including unlawful recording of intimate parts, drug possession and gross indecency during the course of the case. A person who commits buggery is liable to life...
17 Jun 2026
Hong Kong’s John lee pledges 10-fold expansion of new university town
Hong Kong’s leader has vowed to expand its proposed university town near the border by tenfold to 1,000 hectares from its current size, after Beijing’s point man on local affairs endorsed the concept of linking education with industry, while recognising the city’s economic and innovation and technology (I&T) development. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Wednesday that Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, had pointed out that the Northern Metropolis...
17 Jun 2026
HK$1.4 billion given to parents with newborns, but Hong Kong birth rate fell to record low in 2025
The Hong Kong government has awarded more than HK$1.4 billion to parents with newborns since it implemented a cash handout scheme three years ago. Although it was aimed at boosting the city’s birth rate, there was a record-low number of births last year. A newborn baby. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Welfare minister Chris Sun, in a written reply to lawmaker Roy Chu, said on Wednesday that HK$20,000 bonuses have been distributed to 71,886 applicants. Parents of each baby born after the Newborn Baby Bonus scheme began are eligible for the pay-out. Of the 87,377 births registered since the scheme first took effect in October 2023, there were 72,267 applications for the bonus. In addition to the cash award, applicants are also prioritised for public housing and enjoy tax benefits. The three-year programme, set to end this October, was implemented as part of Chief Executive John Lee’s 2023 Policy Address, after the city logged a record-low birth rate. Hong Kong saw 33,232 births in 2023, and 36,723 the following year. Last year, the figure dropped to 31,072 registered births, according to official census data – below the record-low of 32,501 set in 2022. The bonus scheme is currently under review, Sun said. Housing, taxes Under the Families with Newborns Allocation Priority Scheme, implemented about half a year after the initial cash handout policy was proposed, around 7,400 eligible applicants for a public rental flat had their wait time reduced by a year. Among those, 1,300 families were allocated an apartment in a public housing development. And under a scheme giving families with newborns priority to buy a government-subsidised flat, more than 800 families successfully purchased a home in 2024. In 2025, 4,000 of the 100,000 applications received were submitted under the priority scheme. “The two schemes aim at reducing the obstacles arising from housing needs to childbearing, thereby achieving the objective of encouraging fertility,” Sun said. Having considered the need to balance incentives for families and the “negative impact” a priority mechanism would have on other applicants, the government deemed the current arrangements appropriate, he added. According to official figures, 3,200 people with newborns renting a flat or paying off a mortgage benefitted from a higher tax deduction ceiling, while a HK$280,000 tax allowance for having a child will take effect in the 2026-27 assessment year. Assisted fertility quotas Alongside handouts, tax breaks, and priority schemes to “promote fertility,” Sun said the Hospital Authority has been working to increase annual quotas for in-vitro fertilisation from the current 1,100 to 1,800 over the course of five years from 2024-25. Assisted Reproductive Technology Unit, (IVFHK) at Prince of Wales Hospital. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. After additional quotas were provided at Kwong Wah Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, and Queen Mary Hospital, the total number of places available citywide is set to reach 1,600 in 2026-27.
17 Jun 2026
Hong Kong van driver arrested over deaths of firefighter and wife in crash
Hong Kong police have arrested a van driver after his vehicle collided with a taxi on a highway, killing two passengers, including an off-duty firefighter. The Fire Services Department said on Wednesday it was “deeply saddened” by the deaths of the 38-year-old from Kwun Tong fire station and his 35-year-old wife. The department extended its “deepest condolences” to their families and said it would offer help where possible. The crash on the eastbound Tsing Sha Highway near Hoi Lai Estate was...
17 Jun 2026
Hong Kong’s top court rejects challenge to law banning calls for election boycotts
Hong Kong’s top court has dismissed a legal challenge against a law barring calls to boycott the city’s “patriots-only” elections, ruling that the prohibition is necessary to counter “organised campaigns” seeking to undermine the establishment following the enactment of the national security law. In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, five Court of Final Appeal judges unanimously found that criminalising incitement to undermine elections was essential to further Beijing’s objective of ensuring...
17 Jun 2026
Hong Kong to mandate health checks for commercial drivers aged 65 and above
Hong Kong plans to introduce mandatory health checks for commercial vehicle drivers aged 65 or above by the middle of next year, tightening both the age threshold and the frequency of assessments to improve road safety. Undersecretary for Transport and Logistics Liu Chun-san told the Legislative Council on Wednesday that authorities would also establish a register of doctors, providing guidance to help drivers choose an appropriate practitioner. Liu said the government planned to lower the age...
17 Jun 2026
Filmmaker Raymond Wong begins jail sentence, giving up bail as he awaits appeal
Veteran Hong Kong filmmaker and actor Raymond Wong Pak-ming has begun serving his five-month prison sentence for insider trading after relinquishing his bail. The 80-year-old told West Kowloon Court on Wednesday that he would spend time behind bars while awaiting an appeal in the High Court. Wong, a prominent figure in Hong Kong’s film industry for decades, was convicted last month of sharing insider information regarding Transmit Entertainment, a television series production company formerly...
17 Jun 2026
China warns next phase of US-Iran talks will be ‘more difficult’
China’s top diplomat told his Pakistani counterpart on Tuesday that the next phase of negotiations between the United States and Iran — which Pakistan has helped mediate — will be “more difficult”. Tehran, Iran. File photo: Tom Grundy/HKFP. In a phone conversation ahead of the planned signing on Friday of a US-Iran memorandum of understanding to end their war, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar that “it is foreseeable that, compared with the first stage, the second stage of negotiations will be more difficult”. Wang added that the United Nations Security Council “should also play a greater role” in supporting these talks, according to a statement from Beijing’s foreign ministry. “The current consensus is far from the final destination, rather it is a new starting point,” Wang said. “Achieving lasting peace in the Middle East and Gulf region still requires unremitting efforts from all parties,” Wang said, adding that China was willing to work with Pakistan to promote peace. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing on May 6, 2026. Photo: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Pakistani officials have previously said China, Islamabad’s close ally and Iran’s top trading partner, played a key role in supporting its mediation efforts. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said Wang and Dar agreed during their call to continue “engagement for the peaceful settlement of all outstanding issues”, including the Strait of Hormuz maritime oil route that is subject to competing blockades that have roiled energy markets. “They noted the importance of opening of the Strait of Hormuz for the global economy, energy security, and international trade,” a ministry statement said.
17 Jun 2026
China detains 2 leaders of prominent underground church in Sichuan as SWAT team raids service – rights group
Chinese authorities are holding two leaders of a prominent Protestant church in detention after police raided a service over the weekend, a rights group told AFP Tuesday, the latest incident in a crackdown on unofficial Christian organisations. Early Rain Covenant Church, based in southwestern Sichuan province. File photo: ChinaAid.net Early Rain Covenant Church, based in southwestern Sichuan province, is one of China’s unregistered “house” or “underground” churches that some Christians choose to worship at instead of state-sanctioned ones regulated by the government. On Sunday, dozens of police and government officials raided a gathering in the city of Jiangyou, according to a church statement shared Monday to its Telegram channel. More than 30 members were taken to a local detention centre for questioning before most were released Sunday night, the church said. However, two church elders, Wu Wuqing and Yan Hong, were given 15 and 14 days respectively of “administrative detention”, rights group ChinaAid told AFP on Tuesday, citing family members. Relatives have not received any “formal notice on charges”, added Bob Fu, the founder of the US-based group. Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 20, 2026. Photo: The Kremlin. China’s ruling Communist Party has historically regarded organised religion with suspicion, and under President Xi Jinping, has tightened scrutiny of unofficial groups. Early Rain has drawn the ire of authorities previously. In 2019, its leader Wang Yi was sentenced to nine years in jail for “incitement to subvert state power”, drawing condemnation from the United States. This year, Chinese authorities have interrupted gatherings or detained the leaders of multiple unregistered churches across the country, rights groups say. Asked about this on Monday, China’s foreign ministry defended the country’s laws on religion. “The Chinese government lawfully handles religious affairs and protects citizens’ freedom of religious belief and normal religious activities,” spokesman Lin Jian told a news briefing. “We resolutely oppose using so-called religious issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs,” he said. SWAT-interrupted service At Early Rain’s service on Sunday, police wearing SWAT uniforms surrounded dozens of congregants, including children, footage shared by the church showed. Authorities, including local police and religious affairs officials, held people who were not taken to the detention centre at the hotel where the gathering had taken place until around 6:00 pm, the church said in its statement. It is not the first time this year Early Rain has come into conflict with the authorities. In January, the church said nine of its members, including senior leaders, had been detained in a “concerted operation”, with two others unaccounted for. The same week, Yayang church in eastern Zhejiang province was scaffolded and had its cross removed, AFP reporters saw, before it was demolished in May, according to ChinaAid. Last October the United States condemned the detention of almost 30 leaders of another prominent underground church, Zion Church. In May, Zion said 18 people were still being held. Following a visit to Beijing in May, US President Donald Trump told reporters he had brought up the Zion case with Xi during talks, and said the Chinese leader would “strongly consider” the release of its pastor.
17 Jun 2026
Tai Po fire: 150% surge in building renovation corruption complaints after deadly blaze
Complaints of suspected corruption in major renovation projects surged by 150 per cent in the first four months of 2026 following the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire , Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog has said. (Left to right) Simon Ho, Kelvin Wong and Bernard Chan, chairmen of the ICAC advisory committees, on June 17, 2026. At a press conference on Tuesday, four advisory committees overseeing the work of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) reported the latest complaints figures. While overall corruption complaints in Hong Kong registered a year-on-year decrease last year, complaints about suspected corruption in major renovation projects increased more than 1.5 times in the first four months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, the commission said . Kelvin Wong, Acting Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Corruption, said that the reports could help the ICAC prevent corruption at an early stage: “Following the Wang Fuk Court fire, public concern over building maintenance works surged, leading to a significant rise in related complaints.” Last November’s blaze at Wang Fuk Court, a government-subsidised housing estate in Tai Po, killed 168 people and displaced thousands of residents. Last week, the ICAC and the police charged seven people linked to the consultancy and construction firms that oversaw renovation works at Wang Fuk Court with 25 offences, including manslaughter, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, attempting to pervert the course of public justice, and tax evasion. ‘Problematic industry’ Wong also said that the issues that led to the Tai Po fire were not “isolated,” adding that it was a structural problem affecting the entire sector. But even with extensive work to prevent corruption, “this does not mean it can be eradicated forever, just as people still get sick despite advancements in modern medicine,” he said. Wang Fuk Court on May 4, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Also speaking at the press conference, Chairman of the Operations Review Committee Bernard Chan denied that the ICAC only became aware of the problems plaguing the sector after the fire. “Having participated in these discussions for all these years, I can say that the building maintenance sector has always been a problematic industry, one that the ICAC has consistently focused on,” he said. Chan added that he expected the government’s report on the fire to include recommendations on how the authorities and all stakeholders can confront issues in the sector. Bernard Chan. File Photo: RTHK screenshot. Chan also said that the watchdog would align with the government’s proposed reforms, including assisting the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) in reviewing its “Smart Tender” platform. It will also help the URA conduct background checks to formulate a whitelist of legitimate companies and bar firms or individuals with corruption or bid-rigging records from entering the market. The ICAC received 1,780 corruption complaints in 2025, excluding election-related complaints, representing a decrease of 14 per cent from the previous year, a statement read.
17 Jun 2026
Hong Kong teachers to undergo 30-hour digital training amid AI push in schools
Hong Kong teachers will have to complete at least 30 hours of digital education training every three years, as authorities unveil a blueprint to boost the use of technology in schools. As part of the initiative, primary and secondary schools will also be required to incorporate digital elements into their annual school development plans, while an innovation and technology curriculum will be rolled out for pupils. The move came as the Curriculum Development Council released the Blueprint for...
17 Jun 2026
Data leak fears after ransomware attack hits Hong Kong’s Kee Wah Bakery
A major bakery chain has been hit by a ransomware attack on its internal network, prompting Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog to seek details to assess the risk of a potential data leak. Kee Wah Bakery, known for its local and Chinese pastries, revealed the incident on Tuesday, after its internal network malfunctioned on Friday last week. A preliminary investigation found that a ransomware attack had targeted its system, which contains employees’ personal data as well as information related to...
17 Jun 2026
BREAKING: Top court upholds law criminalising calls to boycott Hong Kong elections
Hong Kong’s top court has rejected an appeal by a former student leader against a law which criminalises calls to boycott local elections by casting a blank vote. Hong Kong officials open a ballot box at the Election Committee by-elections counting station on September 7, 2025. Photo: GovHK. Five Court of Final Appeal judges on Wednesday unanimously dismissed the appeal by So Tsun-fung, a former head of the now-disbanded student union of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Chief Justice Andrew Cheung said in a judgement that the section in the city’s Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance, which outlaws calls to boycott an election, does not infringe upon fundamental rights such as freedom of expression. Although casting a blank ballot or not voting is legal, encouraging others to do either remains unlawful. Top court upholds law criminalising calls to boycott Hong Kong elections by HKFP Anyone found to have violated the ordinance could face a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of HK$200,000 upon conviction. In March 2021, Beijing passed legislation to ensure “patriots” govern Hong Kong . The move reduced democratic representation in the legislature, tightened control of elections and introduced a pro-Beijing vetting panel to select candidates. Authorities say the overhaul ensures the city’s stability and prosperity . But the changes also prompted international condemnation , as much of the traditional opposition remains behind bars , in self-exile or has quit politics. Explainer: Beijing’s electoral overhaul Explainer: New electoral rules Breaking story – refresh for updates.
17 Jun 2026
Beijing’s top official on Hong Kong visits temporary housing project
Beijing’s top official on Hong Kong affairs has visited a temporary housing project and a community centre in the New Territories during his first day of inspections, housing chief Winnie Ho has said. Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office Xia Baolong (second right) visited a family at the Light Public Housing complex on Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long on June 16, 2026. Photo: GovHK. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office, inspected the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area Community Liaison Centre and the site of a planned university town on the first day of his visit. He also inspected a Light Public Housing project on Yau Pok Road in Yuen Long with Ho and Chief Executive John Lee. Inspections Xia will be in the city until Wednesday to asses the city’s alignment with China’s five-year blueprint, as well as examine progress on the Northern Metropolis, a tech hub development in the New Territories. The Yau Pok Road Light Public Housing project. Photo: GovHK. “It was an honour for Director Xia to inspect the Yau Pok Road project and to show him that the project has reached full occupancy after a year in operation,” housing chief Ho told reporters. On a 2021 visit to Hong Kong, Xia said he hoped the city would eradicate its infamous sub-divided flats and cage homes by 2049, echoing Beijing’s characterisation of Hong Kong’s housing crisis as a “deep-rooted problem.” In addition to the temporary housing estates, which will only be operational for a set duration, Ho said that other projects will supply about 20,000 units in the second half of the year to meet the 2026-27 target. Ho added that the housing projects were made possible by a modular prefabrication process undertaken in the Greater Bay Area. Hong Kong Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho addresses the Legislative Council on January 14, 2026. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Xia also visited the first residents to move into the project, the housing chief said. Moving into the temporary estate improved their living conditions and rental burden, and they will be able to move into a conventional public housing estate in six months, Ho said. The Beijing official’s visit comes a day after the Hong Kong government launched a public consultation on its first five-year plan, aligning with Beijing’s practice. Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office Xia Baolong (front row, centre) visited the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area Community Liaison Centre on June 16, 2026. Photo: GovHK. At a press conference to announce the launch of a two-month public consultation for the city’s five-year plan, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse said Hong Kong would “follow [China’s] lead” and roll out the city’s own plan. “Through this, we will better align ourselves with and serve national development as well as seize the new opportunities,” Tse said. “We will strive to speed up progress on our international innovation and technology centre and the Northern Metropolis. We will also help drive growth for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,” she added. The plan will also look at livelihood issues such as healthcare, education, and housing, she added.
17 Jun 2026
Can Hong Kong make a giant leap to commercial space insurance?
Some may feel a lump in their throats as they watch Hong Kong’s first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, make history, but few see it as anything more than an inspirational story for our youth. In reality, space, which can feel lofty and far away to pragmatic Hongkongers, could hold the key to our city’s economic future. In my previous column, we discussed why Hong Kong represents China’s best chance to build an alternative global maritime insurance system, but also why that remains mission impossible for...
17 Jun 2026
Eternal ‘star’: asteroid named after firefighter killed in Hong Kong blaze
An asteroid discovered by a Hong Kong-born astronomer has been named after a firefighter who died in the city’s deadliest blaze in decades, with his fiancée expressing gratitude for a move that turned him into an eternal “star”. Ho Wai‑ho, 37, was killed in the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po last November while helping to evacuate residents. To honour his sacrifice, amateur astronomer William Yeung Kwong-yu, a former president of the Hong Kong Astronomical Society, has named asteroid 34871...
17 Jun 2026
2 passengers killed as truck collides with taxi on Hong Kong road
Two passengers were killed late on Tuesday when a truck slammed into their taxi on a wet highway in Hong Kong, with the cab flipping at least six times and tossing one of the victims onto the road. Police said the collision occurred at about 10pm on Tsing Sha Highway in Cheung Sha Wan as both vehicles were heading eastbound. The taxi was struck by the light goods truck near Hoi Lai Estate. The taxi’s two passengers, a man and a woman, suffered multiple injuries and were pronounced dead at the...
16 Jun 2026
Corporate leaders turn to new doctorate to strategise AI adoption
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] For modern-day businesses, effective AI adoption is increasingly seen as make or break if they are to stay competitive. Executives do see this potential but frequently reduce it to little more than a tool for drafting reports or creating slides. And this digital divide is what the Doctor of Business Artificial Intelligence (DBAI) at PolyU Business School of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University sets out to address. As...
16 Jun 2026
Man ‘mistakenly beat girlfriend to death while trying to help her lose weight’
A jobless man accused of killing his girlfriend in a Hong Kong village house and illegally disposing of her body four years ago has claimed he mistakenly beat her to death while trying to help her lose weight by keeping her awake at night. Ng Ka-sing, 29, is standing trial at the High Court for allegedly murdering his 30-year-old partner Yip Tsz-ching at their 700 sq ft flat in Galore Garden in Hung Shui Kiu between April 28 and 29, 2022. The defendant had offered to plead guilty to the lesser...
16 Jun 2026
Hong Kong court rejects HK$12m claim against Cecilia Cheung over contract dispute
A Hong Kong court has dismissed a HK$12 million (US$1.53 million) claim against actress Cecilia Cheung Pak-chi by her former agent, finding that she had never signed an agency contract she allegedly breached nor received advance payment for her services. Cheung, 46, was involved in a legal battle with Asia Entertainment Group (AEG) president Samuel Yu Yuk-hing for allegedly reneging on her promise to appear in several films produced by the now-liquidated company between 2011 and 2019, pursuant...
16 Jun 2026
Hong Kong must stay outward-looking and a free port to thrive, trader leaders say
Hong Kong must remain an outward-looking economy and a free port to thrive, current and former leaders of the city’s trade promotion body have said, stressing the importance of working with mainland China and tackling challenges creatively. Hong Kong Trade Development Council chairman Frederick Ma Si-hang and four of his predecessors spoke on Tuesday at a panel discussion marking the organisation’s 60th anniversary. “Hong Kong has to maintain its outward-looking society and economy … The council...
16 Jun 2026
Building renovation graft complaints spike 1.5 times after Tai Po fire: ICAC
Hong Kong’s graft buster has received more than 1.5 times as many corruption complaints concerning building renovation in the first four months of this year compared with the same period last year, following heightened public concern over bid-rigging after the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire. In response to the surge in complaints, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Tuesday that it had doubled the number of investigators to 100 to handle these cases. But Bernard Charnwut...
16 Jun 2026
Hong Kong police arrest 150 over HK$320 million illegal online betting syndicate
Hong Kong police have arrested 150 people in a three-day crackdown on an illegal bookmaking syndicate that handled more than HK$320 million (US$40.8 million) in wagers, as officers warned against unlawful betting during the Fifa World Cup. About 600 officers carried out raids across the city between Friday and Sunday, targeting factory units in Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Sha Tin, Kwun Tong and Kowloon City, the organised crime and triad bureau said on Tuesday. The operation shut down four...
16 Jun 2026
Hong Kong Science Park, SenseTime partner to build home-grown AI data centre
The Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP) and SenseTime, a Chinese artificial intelligence firm headquartered and listed in the city, have partnered to build a home-grown AI data centre by 2030 to support the sector’s industrialisation. The data centre will be built in three stages, with phase one expected for completion by the end of this year, targeting 40,000 petaflops – a measure of computing power used to train AI models – by 2030, the HKSTP said on Tuesday. Terry Wong Ping-sau,...
16 Jun 2026
More downpours expected as Hong Kong Observatory issues amber rainstorm warning
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The Hong Kong Observatory issued an amber rainstorm warning at 6.15pm on Tuesday, signalling that more than 30mm (1.2 inches) of rain had fallen or was expected to fall across the city within an hour. The forecaster said downpours were likely to continue, with unsettled weather expected over the next few days. “Heavy showers and squally thunderstorms...
16 Jun 2026
Hong Kong tutor admits molesting 5 boys, filming abuse as ‘mementos’
An owner of a Hong Kong private tutorial centre has admitted molesting five boys and filming some of the offences, claiming he did so out of curiosity. Yu Hey-tsit, 46, pleaded guilty at the High Court on Tuesday to 15 counts of indecent assault and four of making child pornography. The crimes came to light on August 24, 2023, after a 12-year-old boy confided in his grandmother that Yu had kissed and groped him on multiple occasions at the now-closed Prime Solid Learning Education Centre in Mei...
16 Jun 2026
China’s NPC to discuss Hong Kong’s shared control over upgraded Shenzhen port
China’s top legislative body will discuss a bill next week to authorise Hong Kong’s jurisdiction over part of the redeveloped Huanggang Port in Shenzhen that will adopt a “co-location” arrangement when it opens next month. The meetings to be hosted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) between June 23 and 26 in Beijing were announced on Tuesday after its chairman, Zhao Leji, chaired a discussion at the Great Hall of the People in the capital on the same day. According...
16 Jun 2026
Int’l Domestic Workers Day: NGO calls for HK$6,172 min. wage and scrapping of compulsory ‘live-in’ arrangement
Hong Kong’s Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body (AMCB) has urged the government to ensure a living wage, standardised working hours, better living conditions and the abolition of live-in arrangements for the city’s foreign domestic workers. Photo: Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body. With Wednesday marking International Domestic Workers Day, the NGO also called for a scrapping of the two-week rule, which forces domestic workers to leave the territory within a fortnight if a contract ends. See also: Investigation: Illegal firings, cancelled visas and lack of healthcare – how domestic workers facing critical illness are left in limbo “Abolish the mandatory live-in arrangement, the restrictive two-week visa rule, and malicious accusations of ‘job-hopping’ that trap workers in unsafe environments and escalate the violence. These restrictive and discriminatory policies leave workers highly vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse,” the AMCB said. ‘Equal, fair, and decent treatment’ The current Minimum Allowable Wage for foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong is HK$5,100 per month. By law, they must live with their employers, who are also obliged to provide food or an allowance for food. File photo: Robert Godden. The NGO urged the government to increase the wage to HK$6,172: “Under the economic and political crisis migrant domestic workers have to survive under the sub-liveable wages and the food allowances that fail to cover basic costs of living in Hong Kong and support families back home.” In a Wednesday press release, they said that the law only loosely defines “suitable” accommodation and a food allowance, but “some workers are forced to sleep on kitchen floors, in corridors, or in modified closets, severely exacerbating mental fatigue and a lack of privacy and developing physical ailments or psychological distress.” The group said that domestic workers are often “denied dignity, equal, fair, and decent treatment as workers and human beings,” as they warned of “modern-day slavery hiding behind closed doors.” The AMCB is a coalition of a dozen domestic worker groups, and is a member of the International Migrants Alliance. Last month, a spokesperson for the Labour Department told HKFP that the “government is firmly committed to protecting the rights and benefits of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong.” They added that there is a 24-hour hotline available to domestic workers, and that they may seek free advice from the department’s branches across the city. Hong Kong hosts over 360,000 migrant domestic workers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka and other countries.
16 Jun 2026
HK$6.29m in compensation for Mirror dancer left with ‘catastrophic’ disabilities after stage accident
A Hong Kong court has granted HK$6.29 million in compensation to a dancer who suffered “catastrophic” disabilities and permanent, total incapacity after he was hit by a giant falling screen during a concert by the popular boy band Mirror nearly four years ago. Hong Kong dancer Mo Li. File photo: Derek Li, via Facebook. In a written judgement on Monday, District Judge Phillis Loh ordered Studiodanz Company to pay 31-year-old Li Kai-yin, better known as Mo, the maximum sums under the city’s Employees’ Compensation Ordinance. The work accident occurred on July 28, 2022 , when a hanging LED display panel fell and struck Li, leaving him with life-threatening injuries. Calling the accident “a catastrophe to a young energetic person,” Loh assessed Li’s claim for damages using the maximum statutory caps across several categories. They included his total incapacity, the attention required for his condition, loss of earnings during temporary leave, and his medical expenses. Evidence before the court supported “the predicaments of [Li] in his permanently disabled condition, the need for constant lifetime attention and assistance in personal care and daily living activities, and the requirement of the current 3-carer regime, together with the medical staff and his parents,” the judge wrote. “He is incapable of ever leading or appreciating an independent adult life,” Loh wrote. Honest witness The judge found Li to be a “frank and honest” witness and accepted his claim that he made an average of HK$66,857 per month, including HK$3,200 in cash payments, in the year prior to the accident. Li testified via a video link at a hearing last month. She also accepted the written testimony of Li’s father, pastor Li Shing-lam, who passed away on April 25, shortly before the hearing. Li’s father was employed as an interim senior pastor with the Scarborough Chinese Baptist Church in Canada with an annual income of CA$89,441 (HK$500,165) prior to the accident. He returned to Hong Kong and had to resign from his job to take care of his son full-time. “Since the Accident, as parents, the Father and his wife had devoted all their time in accompanying [Li] in treatments and taking care of him round the clock,” the judge wrote. Round-the-clock care Li was 27 at the time of the accident and currently needs three carers to provide round-the-clock assistance, according to the judgement. His lawyer submitted to the court that, based on the official projection of life expectancy for males in Hong Kong, a 31-year-old like Li could live for another 53.29 years. Li’s long future life span warranted the maximum amount of compensation for the medical attention required under the city’s law, Loh said. A task force led by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department conducts an inspection at Hong Kong Coliseum, where the Mirror concert was held, on August 1, 2022. Photo: GovHK. Loh ordered Studiodanz Company to pay HK$3.4 million for Li’s total incapacity, HK$644,710 for the attention he requires, HK$1.97 million to cover work leave, and HK$254,400 for medical expenses, totalling HK$6.29 million. The judge also ordered the company, which was absent throughout the proceedings, to pay interest and legal costs. Studiodanz was fined HK$132,000 in 2023 after it pleaded guilty to five offences relating to the incident. Two other firms, Engineering Impact and Hip Hing Loong , were fined HK$220,000 and HK$420,000, respectively, for occupational safety offences. Li has also filed claims in the High Court against 11 companies as well as the Leisure and Cultural Services Department in connection with the accident. A hearing has yet to be scheduled.
16 Jun 2026
EU says it verified China trained Russians fighting in Ukraine; Beijing denounces ‘slander’
China denounced on Tuesday European Union claims that Beijing had trained Russian troops sent to Ukraine as “pure slander”, after the bloc’s top diplomat became the latest to raise the issue. Ukrainian and European Union flags in front of the European Commission headquarters in Brussels in February 2026. Photo: European Commission. China has presented itself as a neutral party since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, although Kyiv’s allies have long accused Beijing of secretly helping its close partner Moscow. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday the bloc had now “verified reports that the Chinese military has been training Russian military personnel to fight in Ukraine”, calling Beijing a “decisive enabler” of the war. Asked about the comments at a regular news briefing, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said: “The relevant claims have no factual basis. It is pure slander and smearing.” Several media outlets reported last month that European intelligence agencies believed China had conducted the training. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in January 2025. Photo: Kaja Kallas, via Facebook. A senior EU official confirmed the reports on Friday, saying the training was happening in several locations in China and that “hundreds” of troops were involved. Kallas said on Monday the EU had sanctioned several Chinese entities in response. The allegations bolster suspicions that Beijing has offered more material support to Moscow than publicly disclosed. Ties between China and Russia have strengthened since the war began, with Beijing providing an economic lifeline to diplomatically isolated Moscow.
16 Jun 2026
Hong Kong watchdog launches data privacy academy to develop top talent in sector
Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has launched a data privacy academy as part of efforts to align with the national strategy of developing the city into an international high-calibre talent hub. Announcing the news at the 30th Anniversary Privacy Protection Summit on Tuesday, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data Ada Chung Lai-ling said the office would also strive to implement and support the city’s first five-year plan. “As an educator and reformer, I am delighted to announce the launch of the...
16 Jun 2026
Hong Kong poultry stall suspended for disinfection after bird flu trace detected
A poultry stall at a Hong Kong market has been disinfected after an environmental sample tested positive for the H9 bird flu virus, with shoppers remaining largely unfazed despite a recent infection involving a two-year-old boy. The affected stall, the only live poultry shop operating inside Sha Tin’s Wo Che Market, temporarily suspended operations on Tuesday morning for cleaning. The shop owner and three staff members were seen scrubbing live chicken cages and wiping down price tags while...
16 Jun 2026
China says growing its military helps world peace, rejects report on threat to Australia
China said on Monday that strengthening its military is beneficial to world peace, slamming a think tank report that warned the threat of a direct strike by Beijing on Australia was increasing. People’s Liberation Army officers and the Dong-Feng (DF) 15B missile join the military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2015, to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Photo: Kremlin. A Lowy Institute report said on Sunday that China is capable of a direct missile strike on Australia and the threat of such a move is growing as Beijing amasses long-range and hypersonic weapons and builds islands in the South China Sea. China’s capacity to strike Australia would grow over the next decade as “the DF-27 intermediate-range ballistic missile, and potentially a conventionally armed intercontinental ballistic missile, grow in service numbers”, the Sydney-based group said. China condemned the report’s “serious strategic misjudgement” on Monday, saying it was committed to “a path of peaceful development”. “The growth of China’s military strength represents an increase in the forces for world peace,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters at a news briefing. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian during a press conference on March 20, 2026. Photo: China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “China’s development of military strength is intended to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests and is not directed at any specific country,” he added. The report found the main threat to Australia was from Chinese missiles fired from ships, submarines and a new intermediate-range ballistic missile that could reach the island continent from China. The DF-27 missile has a range of 5,000 to 8,000 kilometres (3,100 to 5,000 miles), the US military said in December. The report said it was assessing Beijing’s capability and not its intentions. Lin urged the “relevant institutions” on Monday to “stop hyping up the so-called China threat” and to view the country’s development in an objective, fair and rational manner. Australia reshaped its military strategy three years ago in response to China’s rapid navy build-up and rising friction between Beijing and Washington, focusing on deterring an adversary from its northern approaches.
16 Jun 2026
H9 bird flu detected at Hong Kong wet market after 2-year-old boy infected
A sample collected at Sha Tin’s Wo Che Market has tested positive for H9 avian flu after a two-year-old boy, who visited the wet market twice, contracted the virus. The Department of Health. File photo: HKGOV. Hong Kong’s health authority said at a press conference on Monday that they were following the toddler’s infection. The boy was diagnosed with the H9N2 bird flu virus last week after visiting the Wo Che Market twice in early June. The Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said that they collected 17 samples from the boy’s residence, a park he had visited, and the wet market. Only one of the samples – collected from a shop at Wo Che Market – tested positive for bird flu. It was collected from a metal tray used to collect droppings, which was placed at the bottom of a live chicken cage inside the store. The health authority said it was most likely that the boy contracted the virus by touching a contaminated surface at the market, the health authority said. CHP staff collect samples at a live poultry shop in Wo Che Market on June 12, 2026. Photo: GovHK. The risk of a local avian flu pandemic is low as the H9N2 bird flu virus involved in the boy’s case did not show evidence of human-to-human transmission or significant genetic variation, the CHP said. The boy’s symptoms remain mild. He is currently hospitalised and in a stable condition. “During our on-site inspection of the poultry stall, we found the environmental hygiene to be acceptable. However, when live chickens are within the premises, their excrement and faeces frequently drop to the floor,” Albert Au, a doctor and head of the communicable disease branch of the CHP said in Cantonese. “Since young children are shorter in height, they can easily touch these contaminated areas when exploring their surroundings,” Au added. The live poultry shop in Wo Che Market has been thoroughly cleaned. 11 cases in 27 years The health authority said that avian flu viruses, which mainly affect birds and poultry, were generally classified as “highly” or “low” pathogenic. Compared to other highly pathogenic avian flu strains such as H5N1 and H7N9, the H9 virus – which the toddler was infected with – is a low-pathogenic strain that causes milder illness. Hong Kong has recorded 11 cases of H9N2 infections since 1999, with five local cases and six imported cases. No fatal cases have been recorded. The CHP said last Friday that the boy lives in Sha Tin. He developed a fever and mild diarrhoea last Tuesday and was admitted to the Prince of Wales Hospital for treatment last Wednesday.
16 Jun 2026
Xia Baolong begins Hong Kong visit with housing, Northern Metropolis tours
Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs began a two-day visit on Tuesday with inspections of key projects across the city, focusing on housing, technology and Northern Metropolis developments. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, greeted residents at a light public housing project on Yau Pok Road in Yuen Long in the morning, accompanied by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin. The project falls under a scheme providing 30,000...
16 Jun 2026
Hong Kong official urges vaccinations as early summer flu season and peak likely
Hong Kong may enter its summer flu season earlier than usual this year, with a peak likely to occur later this month, health authorities have said, urging unvaccinated residents to receive jabs for protection. Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin, controller of the Centre for Health Protection, said on Tuesday that influenza activity in the city had increased since May. He noted that the last summer flu season extended from September to January, and with no winter flu season earlier this year, this summer’s...
16 Jun 2026
Ex-head of CUHK rehab centre charged with fraud over false service claims
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog has charged a former senior staff member at the Chinese University Medical Centre over alleged fraud. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Monday that it was accusing Lau Mun-cheung, 65, former head and consultant physiotherapist of the institution’s Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Centre, of falsely claiming that he had personally provided professional services, including consultations and procedures, to patients to obtain fees...
16 Jun 2026
Hong Kong appoints ex-deputy police commissioner to top food safety role
The Hong Kong government has appointed a former top police officer to head the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. Food and Environmental Hygiene Department. File photo: GovHK. The government said in a Monday statement that Albert Yuen, who served as Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) from 2021 to 2023, was “identified as the most suitable candidate.” His appointment took effect on Tuesday. Yuen was previously appointed as an advisor to the FEHD for a year in November 2023. Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung was quoted as saying that Yuen has “extensive experience in public administration and law enforcement, and possesses outstanding leadership and management capabilities.” “I am confident that under his leadership, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will continue with its reforms to provide public services, perform regulatory functions and meet future challenges with innovation and excellence,” Yeung added. ‘Political acumen’ The government said during its February recruitment exercise that the head of the FEHD should have “ strong political acumen to manage political sensitivities adeptly,” with knowledge and experience in law enforcement work preferred. Albert Yuen, Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene. Photo: GovHK. Yuen’s appointment comes about a year after the FEHD began including national security-related clauses under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance. Restaurant licences can now be revoked if licence holders and “related persons” engage in “offending conduct” against national security or the public interest. Three other senior appointments were also announced on Monday. Maisie Chan, formerly Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will take up the post of Director-General of Communications on July 2. Ann Chan, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, will take up the post of Commissioner for Tourism on June 25. Deputy Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene Arsene Yiu will take up the directorship of the Hong Kong government’s Beijing Office on June 29. Top cops Yuen is the latest in a line of former police officers to take up office in government departments. In May, John Tse, who served as chief superintendent of the police force’s public relations branch, took up office as head of the Information Services Department (ISD). The position, also advertised in February, called for “strong intellectual ability, political acumen, interpersonal and communication skills, strategic thinking and leadership skills, [and] the acumen to embrace changes and challenges.” The most prominent example is city leader John Lee, an ex-police officer who served as security minister during the 2019 protests and unrest. He became chief secretary in 2021, and was later elected unopposed as chief executive in a single-candidate poll the following year. Hong Kong officials including Chief Executive John Lee and Secretary for Security Chris Tang leave the Legislative Council after the passage of Article 23 legislation on March 19, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Secretary for Security Chris Tang entered government directly after serving as head of the police force. He remains in the position after replacing Lee in 2021. Meanwhile, Michael Cheuk was in the police force for 38 years before retiring in 2020 – but he was brought back from retirement to serve as under secretary for security a year later. And Warner Cheuk, the deputy chief secretary for administration, also had a brief career in the police force in the 1980s.
16 Jun 2026
Will Sam’s Club in Shenzhen lose Hong Kong shoppers over food safety concerns?
Many Hong Kong shoppers remain undaunted by a mainland Chinese investigation into the food safety practices of popular supermarket Sam’s Club in neighbouring Shenzhen, saying they will still shop for bargains – but more selectively. Despite reports that Chinese regulators had summoned the warehouse retailer over “frequent food safety issues” on Monday morning, the superstore remained busy in the afternoon even with rainy weather. Some Hongkongers who crossed the border to shop were unaware of...
16 Jun 2026
Court throws out Hong Kong couple’s challenge to daughter’s guardianship in Sweden
The custody of a Hong Kong couple’s four-year-old daughter remains in the balance after a Swedish court threw out their attempted appeal against the local social welfare administration’s application to transfer her legal guardianship to a foster family. The Swedish Social Welfare Committee said in a report dated June 3 that the child, Lily, had to be protected from a “rootless and insecure existence” under the care of her biological parents Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin, according to documents...
16 Jun 2026
Will Beijing’s tighter capital-control rules dampen Hong Kong’s housing rebound?
New homes that Hong Kong developers will launch in the coming days and weeks will serve as a crucial test of the impact of Beijing’s latest capital-control measures, amid signs of recovery in the city’s residential property market. “Seemingly, a number of developers have turned more cautious in launching primary projects of late,” said Jack Tong, director of research and consultancy at Savills Hong Kong. Mainland Chinese buyers had accounted for about a third of all home purchases in Hong Kong...
16 Jun 2026
Hong Kong tightens labour import scheme rules for catering industry
The Hong Kong government has tightened the rules for the non-local labour scheme, targeting the food and beverage (F&B) sector, which has the highest number of imported workers in the city. Restaurant workers in Hong Kong. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Starting Tuesday, employers in the catering industry must observe a stricter staffing ratio of three local employees for every imported worker, the government said on Monday. Affected roles include cooks, junior cooks, waiters, receptionists, drink makers, and bar supervisors. F&B businesses seeking to import labour must also undergo a six-week local recruitment period – up from the current four-week requirement. During the six weeks, employers are required to attend a job fair assigned by the Labour Department once every two weeks. Currently, employers only need to maintain a 2:1 ratio of full-time local employees to imported workers. Monday’s revamp follows a government review of the “Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme,” which was rolled out in September 2023 to address a manpower crunch driven by an ageing population and economic shifts. The revamped scheme will not affect other types of jobs permitted to import workers, which will retain the current 2:1 ratio and the four-week local recruitment window. The update also seeks to incentivise the employment of local workers with disabilities. To encourage this, employers will be granted a 1:1 manning ratio between local disabled employees and imported workers. Hong Kong’s Labour Department. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. To protect the local workforce, employers are still required to pay imported labourers a wage no less than the median monthly salary for their respective positions. As of February, the latest period for which data is available, authorities had approved a total of more than 102,000 non-local workers under the scheme. The F&B sector comprised the biggest share, with nearly 42,000 workers. The Labour Department (LD) had received close to 1,000 complaints regarding the scheme as of February, with many levelled against F&B employers and some leading to official sanctions. For example, in August last year, a Chinese restaurant was barred from importing workers for two years after authorities found that the company fired local employees to hire non-local workers. “The LD will strengthen administrative sanctions imposed on employers with serious breaches,” the government said on Monday. Businesses with multiple breaches will be barred from the labour scheme for up to five years, the government said. “To strengthen deterrence, the LD will also publish the identity of all employers who have been subject to administrative sanctions,” it added.
15 Jun 2026
HKMU holds Groundbreaking Ceremony for new campus, marking a new milestone towards “A Hub for Community Health and Wellness”
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Last Tuesday (9 June), Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new campus on a slope site at the junction of Sheung Shing Street and Fat Kwong Street in Ho Man Tin, marking the official commencement of the new campus development project and a new chapter for both the University and the surrounding community. Positioned as “A Hub for Community Health and Wellness”, the new campus...
15 Jun 2026
Hong Kong market sample tests positive for H9 bird flu after boy infected
A sample collected from a market in Hong Kong has tested positive for bird flu H9, days after a two-year-old boy who visited the venue contracted a mild strain of the infectious disease. But the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Monday that the risk of a serious bird flu outbreak was low. The boy, who lives in Sha Tin, became ill after visiting Wo Che Market in the district and was later confirmed to be infected with H9N2 avian influenza, the centre said. He was now in a stable...
15 Jun 2026
Myanmar’s ex-junta chief makes first China trip as civilian president
Myanmar’s coup-commander turned President Min Aung Hlaing touched down in China on Monday for talks with Xi Jinping, his first visit since taking over as civilian leader after Beijing-backed elections rejected by democracy monitors. Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing (left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 9, 2025, on the sidelines of Russia’s 80th Victory Day Parade in Moscow. Photo: MyanmarGov. Min Aung Hlaing is hoping to expand trade and security ties with China, a rare enduring partner for Myanmar after his 2021 coup ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and diplomatically isolated the country on the world stage. Relations have frayed in recent years over mushrooming internet scam centres along the countries’ shared border areas which both enlist and target Chinese citizens in lucrative cryptocurrency fraud, analysts say. China has emerged as a key power-broker in the civil war sparked by the coup — variously backing the military, rebels and truces between them according to its security and economic interests, analysts say. The one-party state also vocally backed recent polls excluding Suu Kyi’s party, punishing dissent with prison time and returning a walk-over win for pro-military MPs — who elected Min Aung Hlaing as president. Democracy watchdogs described the transition as a charade to launder the reputation of the leadership, campaigning to recover from the pariah status many nations branded it with since the putsch. Min Aung Hlaing landed in China to a red carpet welcome, according to images shared by his office, and spent the first hours of his five-day trip touring Beijing Aerospace City — the centre of China’s space programme. Supply and demand During his half-decade ruling Myanmar as military chief, Min Aung Hlaing made trips to China only for regional summits — meeting Beijing officials on the sidelines. China hopes his first visit as civilian president will deepen “comprehensive strategic cooperation”, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on Friday. In addition to Xi, Min Aung Hlaing is also set to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang and top legislator Zhao Leji. Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2023 in Tianjin, China, on June 27, 2023. Photo: World Economic Forum, via Flickr. Beijing is a key provider of materiel to the Myanmar military and has also brokered a pair of landmark truces with two of the most powerful rebel factions that once challenged it in the borderlands with China. While Myanmar has been massively impoverished by the civil war, it has also emerged as a major global supplier of mined rare earth minerals — vital for China’s production of renewable energy technology. The first bill announced by Myanmar’s new crop of lawmakers proposes the death penalty for those who detain or violently coerce victims into working in scam centres, signalling the country’s intention to crack down. Attention has also been drawn to the bilateral relationship between Myanmar and China by Beijing’s detention of a US scholar who studies Myanmar and stands accused of spying. Min Zin, founder of the Institute for Strategy and Policy Myanmar (ISP-M), “has been subjected to criminal compulsory measures”, foreign ministry spokesman Lin told reporters on Friday. Authorities are holding him “on suspicion of engaging in espionage activities that endanger China’s national security”, Lin said. Min Zin was detained in the capital of China’s border province of Yunnan, a person with professional ties to the ISP-M told AFP anonymously because of the case’s sensitivity.
15 Jun 2026
Mirror dancer left with ‘catastrophic disabilities’ awarded HK$6.29m in damages
A Hong Kong court has awarded HK$6.29 million (US$802,698) in damages to a dancer left paralysed after being struck by a falling giant screen during a concert by Cantopop boy band Mirror four years ago. In a written judgment on Monday, the District Court ruled that Mo Li Kai-yin was entitled to substantial damages from his employer, Studiodanz, under the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance after suffering from “catastrophic” injuries in the accident at Hong Kong Coliseum on July 28, 2022. Judge...
15 Jun 2026
Hong Kong consumer watchdog urges greater transparency amid surge in claw machine complaints
Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has urged claw machine operators to exercise greater transparency amid a surge in complaints over the past two years. The Consumer Council said on Monday that the number of complaints related to claw machines had surged nearly nine times over two years, from 16 cases in 2023 to 138 in 2025. A claw machine loaded with panda dolls in Tsim Sha Tsui on December 11, 2024. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. “The complaints revealed that some machines displayed or positioned prizes in a way that was prone to misunderstanding; machine settings and gameplay explanations were unclear; and prize quality varied significantly,” the watchdog said. Citing a complaint, the watchdog said a customer successfully grabbed a box after attempting 40 times and spending around HK$200 – only to discover it was empty. The shop owner refused to provide a refund, saying the box was displayed only for decorative purposes and was not a prize. After the customer complained to the council, the owner apologised to the complainant and fully refunded the HK$200. At another shop, a player reported that the claw machine automatically dropped the toy when it reached the top of the machine, preventing it from being delivered to the prize chute. Suspecting that the company had rigged the machines, he lodged a complaint. “The Council urges claw machine operators to enhance transparency by clearly displaying, on the machine or in a conspicuous location, the charges, gameplay, mechanisms and winning conditions, as well as the contact details of the responsible person,” it said. The Consumer Council. Photo: Consumer Council. It also called on operators to avoid setting an excessive or unreasonable level of difficulty, “which could undermine consumer rights or create negative perceptions.” The watchdog also advised customers to read the rules carefully and to carefully check the quality of prizes. They should stop playing and contact staff members if they observe any abnormal settings, it added. If no employees are on site, customers can take videos of gameplay as evidence. “Whether a prize can be clawed out is influenced not only by machine settings and prize placement, but also by skill and luck. Consumers should weigh expected expenditure against the value of the prize to avoid over‑consumption or addiction,” it added. The council’s statement comes as the government moves to regulate claw and pinball machines by implementing a licensing regime. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau said in a proposal to the Legislative Council last month that the low-maintenance business opportunity, which involves gambling elements or addiction risks , may need to be subject to restrictions to protect players.
15 Jun 2026
HK$2,000 bind-over for helper who slapped employer’s 8-year-old child during meal
A domestic helper who admitted to slapping her employer’s eight-year-old daughter while serving dinner was given a three-year bind-over order by a Hong Kong court on condition of good behaviour after an assault charge against her was dropped. Eastern Court on Monday heard that Linne Pramis Pesimo, 48, slapped the girl once as she refused to eat her meal on March 20. The girl’s mother, a single parent, was resting in a bedroom at their Wan Chai home at the time of the assault. After being hit,...
15 Jun 2026
Hong Kong eyes secure storage of ride-hailing data for national security
Hong Kong transport authorities will “actively explore” the secure storage of ride-hailing data ahead of new regulations for the industry due to take effect in August, as part of efforts to ensure compliance with national security. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan on Monday stopped short of revealing whether data about users collected by ride-hailing platforms in Hong Kong would be required to be kept in the city, but stressed the importance of privacy and security. “Our...
15 Jun 2026
Ex-Hong Kong police deputy commissioner Albert Yuen set for hygiene chief role
The Hong Kong government has appointed a former deputy commissioner of the city’s police force to lead the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD). Albert Yuen Yuk-kin, a former deputy commissioner of operations with the Hong Kong police, will lead the FEHD after retiring from his 37-year police career, the government said on Monday. The post is among two high-level official positions filled through open recruitment. Along with the director of information services role, both...
15 Jun 2026
British tourist wanted after jumping bail over Hong Kong airport vandalism
A Hong Kong court has issued an arrest warrant for a British tourist who allegedly jumped bail after being charged with vandalising self-check-in kiosks at the city’s airport earlier this year. Youcef Bennoui, 35, failed to appear at West Kowloon Court on Monday to answer charges of criminal damage and possession of a Part 1 poison in connection with the ruckus that he allegedly caused at Hong Kong International Airport in the early hours of February 16. Prosecutors told the court that Bennoui,...
15 Jun 2026
Hong Kong’s five-year plan must boost governance to ensure results
Why do some governments consistently turn long-term goals into visible results while others struggle to move beyond policy announcements? The answer often lies not in ideology and planning but in governance: the ability to identify priorities, coordinate action and sustain implementation. As the Hong Kong government begins a public consultation on its first five-year plan, that question deserves careful attention. The city is not short of ideas, research and innovative policy proposals. Yet some...
15 Jun 2026
Hong Kong tightens labour importation scheme with tougher hiring rules, penalties
Hong Kong authorities will tighten the regulations governing a labour importation scheme by introducing a two-tier vetting system and raising the maximum penalty for non-compliant employers, with the new arrangements taking effect on Tuesday. Following a review of the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS), the Labour Department announced on Monday that the system would distinguish between general applications and sectors with shortages. The long-awaited move to amend the legal regime...
15 Jun 2026
Hotels, online platforms urged to clearly outline refund, booking change policies
Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has urged hotels and online booking platforms to clearly outline their responsibilities in cases of reservation changes or refunds, after general complaints reached up to 1,050 annually over the past three years. The Consumer Council also said on Monday that it had received 3,346 complaints about lodgings in the city since 2023, with 2,670 coming from non-local travellers. For the larger figure, about 58 per cent involved the termination and amendment of contracts,...
15 Jun 2026
New shelter for Filipino helpers in Hong Kong ready, pending government approval
A Tai Po villa serving as a new shelter for distressed Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong is ready but must receive the green light from local authorities before it can open, with the Philippines’ top labour minister saying the facility is bigger, better and more comfortable. Hans Leo J. Cacdac, Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, told the South China Morning Post that the new shelter was ready, while his labour attache at the Philippine consulate, Cesar L. Chavez Jnr, provided...
15 Jun 2026