Hong Kong’s largest international school group plans to raise tuition fees by about 4.8 per cent on average – or as much as HK$750 (US$96.40) per month – for most of its primary and secondary sections in the next academic year, pending authorities’ approval. The proposed increase by the English Schools Foundation (ESF) is higher…
Sir Keir Starmer has refused to rule out tax rises in the autumn budget but said the decision not to increase tax in the spring statement indicated the “mindset” of the government. “We did have manifesto commitments in relation to tax and what taxes we wouldn’t raise — and we kept good to those promises,”…
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes On Wednesday, 26 February, the Hong Kong government presented its new budget, an ambitious plan to cut spending, boost the technology sector, and revitalise a slowing economy. Hong Kong’s GDP grew by 2.5% last year, a decrease from 2023’s 3.2%, and is forecasted to grow by a similar amount this…
As federal funding cuts put the US at risk of losing its long-held scientific leadership, China launched an all-out innovation offensive – turbocharging its R&D budget to unprecedented levels, attracting top-tier global talent, and executing a systematic strategy to dominate the technologies of the future. These disruptive technologies include AI, humanoid robotics, and 6G-enabled communication…
Some of the commercial sites of the Northern Metropolis could be rezoned for residential and other purposes according to the changing market situation, to give the megaproject more flexibility, Hong Kong’s financial chief has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po made the remarks on Sunday, two days after Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said…
Amid the flurry of measures announced in the budget by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po it was good to see the pledge to transform Hong Kong into a hub for international exchange and cooperation for artificial intelligence (AI). The plan to leverage technology to create a new economic driver would come with HK$1 billion (US$128.6…
Storm ahead There is still time for Starmer to become either of them. He left the White House under dark clouds — literally — and unanswered questions. Aides later clarified that despite Trump speaking of a trade deal, they were not prioritizing a full-fat free-trade agreement, long coveted in London after Brexit. Starmer, on the…
Hong Kong’s finance chief has crossed swords with lawmakers over the decision to axe a HK$2,500 (US$320) grant given annually to nearly 800,000 students, with the legislator for the educational functional constituency refuting the government’s claims the sector had been consulted over the move. At least four lawmakers expressed disapproval over the decision to scrap…
Hong Kong authorities can only apply a new pricing model for the HK$2 (25 US cent) transport fare scheme by September of next year because they need time to organise updates, checks and tests covering 17,000 Octopus card readers on vehicles and ferries, the welfare chief has said. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun…