Vanuatu is seeking closer ties with Hong Kong to support its ambitions in digital finance and economic diversification as the South Pacific island nation positions itself as a gateway for collaboration between the Global South and Asia. The country is entering a new era of economic stability with a renewed focus on infrastructure, digital transformation…
As many as one-third of about 50 students to be admitted initially to Hong Kong’s third medical school will be non-local, the city’s health minister has said, adding that a proposal on its establishment will be submitted to the chief executive before his coming policy address. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Saturday that…
So, here we are, it’s time for the business end of the Hong Kong Football Festival, the latest in an increasingly long line of mega-events driving an economic and tourism boom. On Saturday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu revealed there had been a 17 per cent jump in overseas visitors compared to the first six…
An overseas non-permanent judge of Hong Kong’s top court has extended his term of office for another three years, following a number of resignations from other foreign justices in recent years. The judiciary announced on Friday that Justice William Gummow, an Australian who joined the Court of Final Appeal in 2013, and two other local…
Hong Kong will build more subsidised homes in its new I&T hub near the border with mainland China to cater to the increasing needs of middle-class families and align with the city’s strategy to attract top talent, the housing minister has said. Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin also outlined her plans to make public…
Poised to deliver his fourth policy address in September, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu is gearing up to show that his administration is delivering on his “result-oriented” leadership. This may be the reason he revealed last month that the government was considering a new accountability system for senior officials. Lee seems to have started paving…
The idea that Hong Kong could play a leading role in the global space economy was greeted with scepticism when I raised the possibility with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu earlier this month. However, critics fail to realise that space technologies have permeated many aspects of our lives – from checking the weather and ordering…
Hong Kong will roll out the first stage of a pilot scheme in the next few weeks that will use data from more than 10,000 households caring for the elderly or those with disabilities to identify high-risk cases in need of extra support. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han also said on Saturday…
A top adviser to Hong Kong has called for the local government to aim for the space economy as the city’s answer to stimulating high-quality economic growth, while seeking to host top-tier international events such as the Apec finance ministers’ meeting to enhance global ties and boost local consumption. Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of…
Hong Kong’s retail sales in May jumped by 2.4 per cent year on year, reversing a 14-month contraction, with the uptick boosted by a surge in visitors during several “golden week” holidays. Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Wednesday showed total retail sales in May reached HK$31.3 billion (US$3.9 billion). The…