~hong-kong-free-pres | Bookmarks (758)

China missed a key climate target in 2024 and emissions in the world’s second-largest economy rose slightly as coal remained dominant despite record renewable additions, official data showed Friday. The figures mean the world’s biggest emitter is off-track on a key commitment under the Paris climate agreement, analysts said. Beijing’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) […]

The potential legalisation of basketball betting – which according to the Hong Kong government can tackle illegal gambling and raise tax revenue, will be a “disastrous move,” a children’s rights group has said. In a statement released on Thursday, the Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights criticised the government’s plan to seek a proposal on […]

Hong Kong’s culture chief has said authorities are striving to bring “different” events to the city amid word that Singapore will be hosting singer Lady Gaga’s concerts in May. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law said in response to a reporter at a Friday press conference that she was aware of reports that […]

Patterned poop bags, frilly dog dresses and exotic animals including minks and meerkats were on display at a bustling pet expo in Beijing, where the industry continues to thrive despite a sluggish economy. China is battling slowing growth as a real-estate crisis, persistently low consumption and high youth unemployment plague the world’s second-biggest economy. Yet […]

Two ex-employees of Hong Kong Unison, an NGO dedicated to serving the city’s ethnic minorities, have accused the organisation of making an “irresponsible decision” to disband after over two decades of operation. Unison passed a motion on Friday to begin the process of winding up after 24 years of service, saying “its historical mission has […]

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would impose an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese imports while moving ahead with levies on Canada and Mexico next week, citing “unacceptable” drug smuggling. Trump had announced — then halted — sweeping 25 percent levies on Canadian and Mexican imports this month over illegal immigration and deadly […]

Only around 360 people eligible for the HK$2 transport subsidy take more than 240 trips each month, Hong Kong’s welfare chief has said, following the government’s plan to limit the concessionary fare. Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced in his 2025 budget speech a series of cost-cutting measures as the city logged an estimated HK$87.2 billion […]

Hong Kong has condemned “baseless allegations” and “smearing” of its two security laws after US politicians introduced a resolution on Thursday criticising perceived rights abuses in the city. Idaho Senator Jim Risch, chair of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a committee member, introduced the resolution to “condemn […]

Hong Kong’s finance chief has defended the government’s plan to cancel the HK$2,500 student subsidy after being quizzed by lawmakers over the lack of consultation. The non-means-tested student grant – provided to all students enrolled in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools – will no longer be available in the upcoming academic year, Financial Secretary Paul […]

By Matthew Walsh Thailand deported dozens of Uyghurs to China on Thursday despite warnings from human rights groups that they would face persecution on their return, drawing swift condemnation from the United Nations. Beijing is accused of committing human rights abuses in its northwestern Xinjiang region, including the incarceration of around one million Uyghurs and […]

A man charged with sedition under Hong Kong’s homegrown security law has had his case adjourned again to May, as a top court verdict that the defence says could inform how his client pleads has still not been delivered. Wearing a black windbreaker, Chow Kim-ho appeared at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. His […]

Taiwan said Thursday it detected 45 Chinese aircraft near the self-ruled island, the highest number this year and a tally that comes a day after Taipei condemned China’s “live-fire” drills off the south. China insists democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. […]

Former Hong Kong opposition lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting has been sentenced to three years and one month in prison after being convicted of rioting in the 2019 Yuen Long mob attack. District Judge Stanley Chan on Thursday handed Lam, formerly a lawmaker for the Democratic Party, the prison term after earlier finding him and six others […]

Hong Kong’s new budget does not do enough to support the city’s underprivileged, an NGO has said, citing meagre subsidy allowances and the scrapping of a HK$2,500 grant for students. The Society of Community Organization (SoCO) said in a press statement on Wednesday afternoon that most of the livelihood measures in the budget were existing […]

A seven-vehicle collision on Yuen Long Highway has killed one truck driver and injured six other people, including a young boy. At around 7.24 am on Thursday, police received reports of the pileup near Shap Pat Heung Interchange on the highway. The accident involved four private cars, two light-duty trucks, and a heavy-duty truck, the […]

Additional reporting: Hans Tse. Hong Kong’s Democratic Party has criticised the financial secretary’s new budget, saying senior officials’ salaries should be cut, not just frozen – in contrast to a thumbs up given by many pro-Beijing lawmakers. At a press conference held shortly after Financial Secretary Paul Chan’s budget speech on Wednesday, the embattled pro-democracy […]

A total of HK$1 billion will be earmarked to set up an Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and development institute, Hong Kong’s finance chief has announced. The government’s Digital Policy Office, established last July under the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, will be in charge of setting up the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute, […]

Hong Kong’s finance chief Paul Chan has announced reductions in both salary and profits tax cuts in his latest budget speech. In the coming fiscal year, salaries tax, as well as tax under personal assessment, will still be reduced by 100 per cent, but the cap will be halved to HK$1,500, Chan said during his […]

The government will allocate over HK$1.23 billion to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) to promote the industry as the city seeks to attract “high-end visitors” from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, Financial Secretary Paul Chan has said. The budget – up from HK$1.09 billion earmarked to the HKTB in the previous fiscal year […]

Chinese President Xi Jinping told top officials on Wednesday that Beijing should address domestic and international difficulties “calmly”, one week before the country’s biggest annual political gathering. The world’s second largest economy is facing down sluggish internal demand and a protracted property sector crisis, as well as the possibility of a deepening trade war with […]

Chinese authorities appear to have censored a document showing plans to spend more than US$6.6 million this year on training for two American-born winter sport athletes, including double-Olympic gold medallist Eileen Gu. Freestyle skier Gu and figure skater Beverly Zhu were both born and raised in the United States, but switched allegiance to China. At […]

Hong Kong will raise fines for traffic-related offences and increase fees for parking meters, Financial Secretary Paul Chan has said. The new penalty rates have not been set, and the matter will be discussed by lawmakers, a government source told HKFP. Chan also announced increased fees for electric car licences during his 2025 Budget speech […]

Hong Kong will put commercial land sales on hold in the coming fiscal year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan has announced, citing high vacancy rates and a struggling property market. “In view of the high vacancy rates of offices in recent years and the relatively ample supply in the next few years, the government will not […]

The Hong Kong government will freeze salaries of public servants – including the chief executive, political appointees, judges, lawmakers, district councillors and the entire civil service – in the coming fiscal year, the city’s finance chief Paul Chan has said. “The government puts forward that for 2025-26, the executive authorities, the legislature, the judiciary and members of […]