About 11.38 million Hong Kong residents and visitors are expected to travel through the city’s border crossings during the Lunar New Year holiday, marking a projected 16 per cent rise from last year. The Immigration Department released the 10-day estimate, covering the period from the 27th day of the last month of the Lunar calendar…
Japan’s representative to Hong Kong has said his consulate is making “steady progress” in developing ties with the city, while noting the absence of top local officials at a celebration of the emperor’s birthday amid tensions between Tokyo and Beijing. Jun Miura, the country’s consul general to the city, on Thursday expressed his thanks for…
Hong Kong authorities may remove building maintenance contractors from a government-recommended list if homeowners are dissatisfied with their performance, as part of measures to combat bid-rigging following the deadly Tai Po fire, the city’s No 2 official has said. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok‑ki said on Saturday that the government aimed to improve the Urban…
Hong Kong’s new Legislative Council held its first meeting on Wednesday, with lawmakers focusing on follow-up work after last November’s deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which claimed the lives of 161 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and government officials outlined priorities including rehousing the displaced…
Hong Kong’s new Legislative Council president has formed a group of lawmakers to act as coordinators in a bid to make the body more efficient and effective. The 12-member group will have fellow lawmakers Ronick Chan Chun-ying, who represents the finance sector, and Stanley Ng Chau-pei of the Federation of Trade Unions as its “chief…
Hong Kong’s newly elected lawmakers will discuss a government motion to strengthen support for Wang Fuk Court fire victims at their first chamber meeting next Wednesday, but will skip a regular question session for officials. The Legislative Council chamber meeting for legislators, who assumed their posts on January 1, will also debate a lawmaker’s motion…
A Beijing official in Hong Kong has voiced confidence in the city’s ability to handle both the coming Legislative Council election and the aftermath of the deadly Tai Po fire, calling local authorities’ decision to proceed with the poll respectful of the constitutional order. Liu Guangyuan, deputy director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong,…
A Beijing official in Hong Kong has voiced confidence in the city’s ability to handle both the coming Legislative Council election and the aftermath of the deadly Tai Po fire, calling local authorities’ decision to proceed with the poll respectful of the constitutional order. Liu Guangyuan, deputy director of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong,…
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. Substandard protective nets with defective fire retardant properties have been found at the residential estate where Hong Kong’s worst inferno in seven decades…
The death toll in Hong Kong’s worst fire in seven decades climbed to 83 on Thursday as many remained missing and a grief-stricken city rallied as one with authorities, private companies, charities and ordinary folks donating hundreds of millions to the victims and their families. The towering inferno that tore through seven blocks at a…