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WORLD1d agoHong Kong police arrest 20 over prostitution syndicate that trapped women in debtHong Kong police have arrested 20 people in connection with a cross-border prostitution syndicate that allegedly recruited women from Southeast Asia and required them to provide unpaid sexual services to repay travel debts. Police said on Tuesday that the syndicate paid for the women’s travel and accommodation but required them to provide sexual services 30 to 45 times without payment before they could earn money from prostitution. The women then had to hand over half their earnings. “This...South China Morning Post
WORLD1d agoHong Kong group aims to cultivate a lasting future for rural Lantau communitiesMany rural projects in Hong Kong start with funding, run for a year or two, then disappear when the money runs out. Good Old Soil, a community organisation, is trying to take a different approach on Lantau. Supported by the non-profit Land Education Foundation, the organisation works with farmers, young people, restaurants, craftspeople and businesses to build a local economy that can sustain itself after individual grants end. Founded in 2022, Good Old Soil opened a shop in Mui Wo that same...South China Morning Post
WORLD1d agoHong Kong police ramp up investigation into Anita Mui’s missing ashes with unit upgradeHong Kong police have stepped up their investigation into the disappearance of the ashes of late Cantopop diva Anita Mui Yim-fong by committing more resources and manpower to the case. Mui’s family had revealed over the weekend that the urn containing the singer’s remains was discovered to be missing from Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island three months ago, complaining that police had made “no progress” in their investigation and that the incident had caused “immense distress”. A police spokesman...South China Morning Post
HEALTH1d agoTherapy dogs in high demand: Hong Kong programme booked out until February 2027A Hong Kong therapy-dog programme run by one staff member and 65 volunteers with their dogs is fully booked until February 2027, as demand from schools, hospitals and elderly homes continues to outstrip the available visiting slots. Animals Asia’s Dr Dog and Professor Paws programmes rely on volunteers who give up their time, shoulder much of the cost of transporting their dogs and return regularly to venues across the city. “None of it would be possible without the volunteers,” said Karina...South China Morning Post
BUSINESS1d agoApec a chance for Hong Kong to earn its place in China’s tourism boomOver the coming weeks, Hong Kong and Shenzhen will host two major gatherings of Asia-Pacific decision-makers. Hong Kong’s first Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting takes place on October 20-21, with around 500 visitors expected, while Shenzhen hosts the Apec Economic Leaders’ Week next month. These Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meetings will bring international visitors to two neighbouring cities at the centre of China’s Apec year. For Hong Kong’s tourism industry, they offer a timely...South China Morning Post
BUSINESS1d agoChina finance minister to deliver opening speech at Apec meeting in Hong KongChina’s finance minister, Lan Foan, will deliver a keynote speech, while presentations by three prominent financial institutions will be among the highlights of next week’s Apec meeting in Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post has learned. A draft agenda obtained by the SCMP on Monday listed a series of programmes for finance ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s 21 member economies on October 20 and 21 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Sources...South China Morning Post
POLITICS1d agoHong Kong can boost regional prosperity through ‘soft connectivity’, adviser saysHong Kong’s institutional advantages and close ties with mainland China and the wider world can contribute to the Asia-Pacific region’s prosperity, a key adviser to the city’s leader has told a conference. Stephen Wong Yuen-shan, head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, said on Monday that Hong Kong was transforming itself into the region’s institutional “harbour” – where trade from regional markets could converge and take advantage of the city’s “soft connectivity” advantages. He said such...South China Morning Post
SCI & TECH2d agoHong Kong electronics fairs to showcase 120 robots as firms aim to expand AI useMore than 120 robots, including humanoid machines designed for factory work and elderly care, will be showcased at two major Hong Kong electronics fairs, as mainland Chinese manufacturers seek to expand the commercial applications of AI and tap overseas markets. The Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia will open on Tuesday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, bringing together more than 3,200 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions for four...South China Morning Post
HEALTH2d agoHong Kong steps up Russia arrival checks after Siberian lab worker’s deathHong Kong will step up health surveillance measures for arrivals after a laboratory worker at an anti-plague research institute in Russia died from pneumonia, but authorities have stressed the risk to residents remains low. According to World Health Organization (WHO) information provided by Russian authorities, there was no evidence of ongoing transmission, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Monday. Russian authorities previously stated ‌that the worker at the Irkutsk Antiplague...South China Morning Post
BUSINESS2d agoHong Kong to expand indices, derivatives and yuan-denominated products: HKEX CEOHong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) is planning further measures to boost market liquidity, attract more international investors and expand the use of China’s currency, including through yuan-denominated gold futures and stock trading, according to a blog post by its CEO on Monday. The plans come as the city steps up efforts to reinforce its position as a leading international financial centre, following priorities outlined in the government’s policy address and the city’s five-year...South China Morning Post
BUSINESS2d agoFew Hong Kong investors take interest in listing by Africa’s top phone maker TranssionShenzhen Transsion Holdings drew a lukewarm response for its HK$3.36 billion (US$428 million) Hong Kong share offering, heightening worries over market sentiment for new listings in the fourth quarter. The maker of Africa’s bestselling phones closed its bookbuilding on Monday, with preliminary figures showing the offering attracted about 14,000 applications and was oversubscribed roughly 3.5 times, according to people familiar with the matter. Retail participation in Hong Kong initial public...South China Morning Post
POLITICS2d agoEx-US FDA official to lead Hong Kong’s new medical products regulatorA Beijing-educated former official at the US federal drug regulator has been appointed to lead Hong Kong’s new medical products body, tasked with accelerating the clinical use of medicines and medical devices as part of a regulatory overhaul. Li Zili, who previously worked at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), would take up the post of controller for medical products regulation under the Department of Health on a three-year term beginning October 20, the government said on Monday. He...South China Morning Post
WORLD2d agoHong Kong domestic helper arrested for alleged murder of 93-year-old employerHong Kong police have arrested a domestic helper on suspicion of murdering her 93-year-old employer, a widowed cancer survivor, with an investigation suggesting she was repeatedly assaulted in the hours before her death. The elderly woman was found unresponsive in her flat in Long Yiu House at Tak Long Estate in Kowloon Bay on Sunday morning, police said. The 52-year-old helper, hired to provide round-the-clock care for the woman, sought help from building security staff at about 8.20am, saying...South China Morning Post
WORLD2d agoTrump’s China-savvy spokeswoman, Hong Kong trail emergencies: 5 weekend reads you missedWe have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump’s new spokeswoman is a ‘devoted fan’ who lived in Beijing and speaks Chinese 2. Hong Kong hiker dies, Singaporean teen discharged after 2 trail emergencies 3. How a museum masterpiece’s life-size replica sparked rare US-China collaboration 4. Why Malaysian doctors are turning down...South China Morning Post
WORLD2d ago‘Just a little spark’: disability advocate on inclusion, belonging in Hong KongGreater awareness of disability in Hong Kong has not necessarily made it easier for people with disabilities to find work, according to advocate Faride Shroff, who says tighter corporate budgets and a difficult job market have made the next stage of inclusion more challenging. Shroff, founder of SENsational Foundation, said employers that recruit people with disabilities also need to provide guidance, suitable workplace arrangements and roles that match individual strengths. “Every person has...South China Morning Post
SCI & TECH2d agoHong Kong’s ‘AI city brain’ could undergo testing next typhoon season: Eric ChanHong Kong’s artificial intelligence management system could take shape and be tested as early as the typhoon season next year, the government’s No 2 official has said, adding that the project will give authorities a “full picture” of the city once it is in full swing. In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said the “AI city brain” system aimed to connect independent databases maintained by different government bodies. “With the invention of...South China Morning Post
WORLD2d agoSpirit of Hong Kong Awards: educator who removes death’s stigma through cultureJoseph Lau Yui-yip has taken students to cemeteries, funeral parlours and heritage exhibitions because he believes some parts of Hong Kong culture are best understood outside the classroom. Lau heads the student affairs department of Polytechnic University’s college of professional and continuing education and has spent years researching subjects ranging from funeral customs to a little-known Hakka animal dance. His work has put him among the finalists in the culture category of this year’s...South China Morning Post
BUSINESS2d agoThe game changer in Hong Kong’s gold ambition? Shenzhen’s jewellery hubBeijing is building a gold-backed monetary architecture to accelerate yuan internationalisation. In this three-part series, Part 1 traces China’s path as a gold superpower, while Part 2 explores the crucial role of Hong Kong’s offshore vaulting infrastructure. Hong Kong’s ambition to become an international gold trading centre rests not only on serving the nation’s financial needs, but also on China’s booming consumer market for gold. As the world’s largest gold producer and importer, China...South China Morning Post
BUSINESS2d agoHong Kong must ease listing rules to attract more angel funds and start-ups: HKEIAHong Kong would need to ease its listing rules and transaction requirements to attract more angel funds and become a hub for start-ups to go global, according to a leading industry body in the city. The city has only around 100 active angel funds – private investment vehicles targeting very early-stage innovative enterprises. This was far fewer than Shenzhen, which had about 400 such institutions, according to Samson Tam Wai-ho, honorary chairman of the Hong Kong Electronic Industries...South China Morning Post
BUSINESS2d agoLaopu Gold deepens Hong Kong footprint with entire-floor lease at Central tower: sourcesBeijing-based jeweller Laopu Gold has leased an entire mid-floor at One Exchange Square in Central to support its global expansion, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The brand was taking around 13,000 square feet at the flagship Central tower, which houses Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), one source said. The deal comes as mainland consumer firms and financial institutions increasingly anchor their presence in Hong Kong’s core business district. Recent transactions on...South China Morning Post
WORLD3d agoHong Kong hiker dies, Singaporean teen discharged after 2 trail emergenciesAt least two people were airlifted to hospital in the past two days after falling ill while hiking in Hong Kong, with a middle-aged man dying and a 17-year-old Singaporean girl discharged. The teenager was flown to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai on Saturday morning after vomiting and experiencing chills while hiking on Lion Rock, a 495-metre (1,624-foot) peak. In a separate incident, a 66-year-old man suddenly felt unwell and collapsed while hiking with his nephew in Plover Cove Country Park in...South China Morning Post
WORLD3d agoFrom Abby Choi to the ‘Hello Kitty’ killing: Hong Kong’s most shocking crimesThe alleged murder and dismemberment of Abby Choi Tin-fung in 2023, which prosecutors say was linked to a dispute over a luxury flat, has once again gripped Hong Kong as the trial over the 28-year-old socialite’s death entered its second week. Choi’s ex-husband, Alex Kwong Kong-chi, 31, and his elder brother, Anthony Kwong Kong-kit, 35, have pleaded guilty to preventing the lawful burial of her body. Their father, Kwong Kau, 68, has pleaded not guilty to the same charge. All three men deny...South China Morning Post
BUSINESS3d agoWhy are mainland China’s tax officials suddenly so interested in my Hong Kong MPF?For the past few months, this newspaper has extensively covered China’s ongoing clampdown on tax avoidance, especially its push to tax the income of super-rich families held in offshore trusts. We never expected to become targets of the campaign ourselves. But there have been signs in recent weeks that officials are starting to take an interest even in the incomes of South China Morning Post journalists, with several of us being contacted by the tax man. First, a colleague with our Beijing...South China Morning Post
WORLD3d agoSpirit of Hong Kong Awards: Gaza nurse’s obstacle-laden road to becoming a professorOn six occasions, Hammoda Abu-Odah, a Gaza nurse-turned Hong Kong scholar was offered an opportunity to study overseas. But each time, border closures and travel restrictions prevented him from taking them up. Abu-Odah had obtained a nursing degree in his native Gaza but set his sights on an academic career abroad. He kept working, teaching and conducting research, despite the many challenges that prevented him from leaving. Finally, on the seventh attempt, he made it to Hong Kong, where he...South China Morning Post