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BUSINESSOct 4Hong Kong set to begin importing hundreds of carers from second half of 2027Hong Kong will begin importing hundreds of foreign domestic carers as early as the second half of 2027 under a new pilot scheme, with their pay up to 20 per cent higher than that of domestic helpers, the city’s labour minister has said. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Sunday that the carers would be equipped with both specialised elderly care skills and general domestic capabilities, and would first need to complete a 150-hour course in their home country. “We now need...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 4More Hong Kong homes sell at a loss despite signs prices have bottomed: agentsDespite signs that Hong Kong property prices could have bottomed out and begun rebounding in August, market sources said at least 100 secondary residential homes were sold at a loss in September, up from at least 81 the previous month. Hong Kong’s property market dodged an immediate setback from the US Federal Reserve’s rate increase in September, and agents estimated that home prices could end the year 15 per cent higher than a year earlier. The positive trend, however, did not generally apply...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 4Hong Kong’s IPO haul more than doubles to HK$388b in first 9 months: Paul ChanFunds raised through initial public offerings in Hong Kong more than doubled year on year to over HK$388 billion (US$49.4 billion) in the first nine months of 2026, already surpassing the total amount for the whole of last year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has said. Adding to the positive outlook, Clara Chan Ka-chai, CEO of the government-owned Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), noted on Sunday that more than 30 of its portfolio firms were preparing to apply for Hong Kong listings...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 4New Mong Kok bookshop opens amid harsh winter for indie bookstores in Hong KongSmall independent bookstores tucked away in walk-up tenement buildings above neon-lit streets have long made Mong Kok a sanctuary for Hong Kong book lovers, until recently when one after another was forced to close due to economic headwinds or political uncertainty. Defying the trend, 41-year-old bibliophile Grace Lau invested a six-figure sum to launch New Year Bookshop, a move driven by passion and lower rents that some in the community regarded as a bold gamble on the neighbourhood’s literary...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 3Hong Kong Airport Authority to reshape 11 Skies as a high-end tourism landmarkThe Airport Authority will reposition the 11 Skies commercial project after taking it over next April, with the government expecting it to become a high-end tourism landmark with minimal public investment, the transport chief has said. After developer New World Development (NWD) announced on Wednesday that it would return the 11 Skies project to the authority next April, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Saturday that the two sides had reached an agreement on commercial...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 3Hong Kong to relax ad rules for broadcasters to boost business edge, minister saysHong Kong authorities plan to relax restrictions on indirect advertising for broadcasters amid fierce competition from online and streaming media, the commerce minister has told the South China Morning Post. In a wide-ranging exclusive interview, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah said many broadcast operators had requested to review the Generic Codes of Practice for Television to improve the business environment, and the government had responded. “They’re...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 2Hong Kong could overtake London as top arbitration hub in decade: Bar Association headHong Kong could dethrone London as the top choice for arbitration within the next decade given the Asian city’s status as a global fundraising capital for businesses in mainland China and beyond, the head of the Bar Association has said. Jose-Antonio Maurellet, chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, told the South China Morning Post on Friday that the city had enjoyed rapid growth in arbitration work, with high-stakes cases attracting elite international legal talent. Hong Kong tied with...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 2McDonald’s sells Hong Kong shop for US$15.3 million as ‘old money’ returns to retailAs “long-dormant old money” steps back into Hong Kong’s retail property market, McDonald’s has sold the property housing its first New Territories restaurant for HK$120 million (US$15.3 million), extending its year-long sell-down of self-owned shops. The property at 10-22 Tsuen Wan Market Street, spanning the ground floor to the second floor, was sold to Keen Charm Holdings (HK) Limited, with the agreement for sale signed on August 31, according to the Land Registry. Company Registry listed Ngan...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 2Hong Kong IPOs falter, China aids homebuyers, EU trade talksHong Kong stock debuts are losing steam as a deluge of initial public offerings (IPOs) overwhelms investor appetite. Seven of September’s 12 IPOs fell on the first day of trading, raising the third-quarter total to 15 flops out of 31, based on Bloomberg data. By contrast, there were only 14 declines among 77 debuts in the first half of the year. Medcaptain Medical Technology led September’s first-day flops, plunging 43 per cent. Fast-fashion giant Shein tumbled as much as 10 per cent on its...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 2Consumer spending picks up in Hong Kong, with retail sales rising 5.6% in AugustHong Kong’s retail sales rose by 5.6 per cent year on year in August, with the latest figures showing consumer spending picking up after growth eased for two consecutive months. Retail sales value reached HK$32 billion (US$4.1 billion), according to provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Friday. Sales in the first eight months of the year rose by 8.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. “Growth was seen across many types of retail outlets, while online...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 2Hong Kong ranks 7th globally in drawing next wealthy class – trailing Singapore: studyHong Kong ranked seventh globally as a destination for attracting and retaining the next generation of high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), trailing traditional rival Singapore in sixth place, according to a Savills study. The two top finance hubs in the Asia-Pacific region have been stepping up efforts to strengthen their positions as regional wealth-management hubs amid an unprecedented global transfer of wealth between generations. “Hong Kong offers many incentives similar to Singapore,”...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 2Mainland Chinese visitors pack Hong Kong shopping centres on day 2 of National Day breakMainland Chinese visitors have flocked to Hong Kong’s shops and malls on the second day of the National Day “golden week” holiday, with some looking for outdoor gear and others browsing the city’s bookstores. Hong Kong recorded over 277,300 mainland arrivals on Thursday – the first day of the week-long break – representing about 47 per cent of total inbound passengers for the day, according to immigration figures. The city welcomed over 68,800 mainland arrivals on Friday as of 10am. By then,...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 2Rain dampens visitor numbers at Hong Kong attractions on day 2 of ‘golden week’Rain dampened visitor numbers at some of Hong Kong’s popular attractions on Friday morning, the second day of the National Day “golden week” holiday. Queues at the Peak Tram terminus in Central remained short, with passengers waiting less than an hour to board. Among them was Jasper Huang, a mechanical engineer in his twenties from Xiamen, Fujian province, who was visiting Hong Kong with friends for four days. “We plan to visit some famous spots like Victoria Harbour and the streets of Central,...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 2‘Money is money’: US, UK firms still coming to Hong Kong, commerce chief saysCompanies from the United States, Britain and Singapore have been among the leading sources of inbound foreign capital in Hong Kong so far this year, the city’s commerce minister has said, insisting that “money is money” despite geopolitical instability. In an exclusive, wide-ranging interview with the South China Morning Post, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah described 2026 as a very challenging year because of the geopolitical situation. Nevertheless, the...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 2Investing in Hong Kong’s mental health makes good economic senseChief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s recent policy address set out an ambitious reform agenda designed to sharpen Hong Kong’s competitive edge while enhancing people’s livelihoods. As we enter Mental Health Awareness Month, we should reflect on the role mental well-being can play in the city’s fortunes. Lee’s address mentioned an integrated approach featuring 11 measures as part of efforts to promote mental health. These include extending the Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism, expanding...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 2Could Northern Metropolis draw educational leasing from Hong Kong’s Grade A office sector?As education sector demand supports Hong Kong’s Grade A office leasing activity, analysts said infrastructure that will serve the Northern Metropolis could decide whether schools and universities move their administrative and other services to this potential new centre of the city. “Over the medium to long term, the Northern Metropolis could be a viable option for institutions seeking to expand their teaching, research and administrative facilities,” said Kelvin Lee, director at property agency...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 1Hundreds of customers affected as Hong Kong yoga chain Hotstone abruptly closesHong Kong yoga chain Hotstone has suddenly ceased operations, sparking anger among members who claimed the company continued selling class packages just days before the shutdown. A resident who identified herself as Chan told the South China Morning Post on Thursday that she received the closure notice from Hotstone Yoga’s WhatsApp number only an hour before her scheduled class at the Kwun Tong studio the night before. According to the notice issued by law firm Cheung & Co, Hotstone said it was...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 1Hong Kong needs new funding model to draw investment from global drug makers: AstraZenecaHong Kong can attract more global biotech investments if the city builds up a new healthcare financial model, according to AstraZeneca, a Cambridge-based multinational pharmaceutical giant. While global drug makers have been doubling down on investments in mainland China in recent years, AstraZeneca brought over 60 clinical trials to the city and invested over HK$200 million (US$25.5 million) over the past three years. Hong Kong was still a key research and development hub for the firm, David...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 1Hong Kong’s 5-year-plan underlines ‘DNA’ as a global city, market economy: John LeeHong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan highlighted its DNA as an international city while emphasising the market economy, the chief executive has said. Speaking at a National Day reception on Thursday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the city needed a blueprint with strategic vision amid the rapidly changing geopolitical landscape and accelerated growth of AI, as he highlighted three features of the plan that was unveiled last month. “[It] adheres to the ‘one country, two systems’ principle....South China Morning Post
BUSINESSOct 1Strong Hong Kong Evening Sales Total a Combined $184 . 6 M . Evening sales in Hong Kong reached a combined total of $184.6 million. This indicates a significant financial performance in the region's market.artnews.com · United States
BUSINESSSep 30IDEA Colloquium: Advice from the Formosan who was head of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to compete with China's "hyper-competitive and almost wild" capitalismNicolás Aguzín mentioned the speed of learning and work ethic of the Chinese. He suggested the path of Japan or Australia, which are US allies and have China as their main commercial partner. The importance of not demonizing entrepreneurs.Clarín
BUSINESSSep 30Hong Kong route linking Yau Ma Tei and Tseung Kwan O to fully open in DecemberA new route connecting Yau Ma Tei and Tseung Kwan O in Hong Kong will fully open in December this year with the completion of a key section of the long-awaited Central Kowloon Route, the city’s transport chief has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Wednesday at a Legislative Council meeting that the Kowloon Bay section of the Central Kowloon Route would open to traffic on December 6. The Central Kowloon Route is a key part of Route 6, with construction beginning in...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSSep 30Singapore beefs up rivalry with Hong Kong by picking 5 firms to boost equity marketSingapore’s central bank has selected five international asset managers to handle S$1.45 billion (US$1.3 billion) in locally focused equity strategies, making its latest effort to revive the city state’s stock market amid sharpening rivalry with regional financial hub Hong Kong. Amundi, Franklin Templeton, HSBC Asset Management, M&G Investments and Natixis Investment Managers were named on Tuesday as part of the third batch of mandates awarded under the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS)...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSSep 30Hong Kong’s IPO haul in first 9 months smashes record despite Nasdaq’s fundraising leadFunds raised through Hong Kong initial public offerings (IPOs) doubled in the first nine months of 2026, reaching the highest level for the period since records began in 1980. A total of 112 companies raised US$48.4 billion on Hong Kong’s main board during the first nine months, according to data released by LSEG Data & Analytics on Wednesday. A further two companies listed on the city’s Growth Enterprise Market (GEM). By deal count, the combined total of 114 new listings on the main board and...South China Morning Post