No separate inquiry needed to probe Hong Kong water scandal, treasury chief says

No separate inquiry needed to probe Hong Kong water scandal, treasury chief says

Hong Kong’s treasury chief has dismissed calls to set up a separate commission of inquiry to investigate officials’ roles in a bottled water procurement scandal, arguing that the government’s auditors will be able to identify lapses in a “professional and independent” manner. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu, the head of…

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Explainer | Pouring over the facts: what is behind Hong Kong’s water procurement scandal?

Explainer | Pouring over the facts: what is behind Hong Kong’s water procurement scandal?

Hong Kong police have arrested a married couple suspected of being at the centre of a rapidly unfolding controversy surrounding a HK$52.9 million (US$6.8 million) contract to supply drinking water to some government offices. The pair allegedly defrauded the government and are suspected of breaching the Trade Descriptions Ordinance by providing false information about the…

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Does Hong Kong’s loan shark law proposal lack bite needed to tame debt collectors?

Does Hong Kong’s loan shark law proposal lack bite needed to tame debt collectors?

A proposal to tighten regulations over Hong Kong’s notorious loan sharks is too narrowly focused and will not tackle the root problem of unruly debt collectors, according to lawmakers and legal experts. The legislators and specialists criticised the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau’s plan to set a cap on borrowing activity for low-income earners…

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Hong Kong striving to create favourable environment for stablecoins: Paul Chan

Hong Kong striving to create favourable environment for stablecoins: Paul Chan

Hong Kong authorities will strive to create a conducive environment for the wide-ranging application of stablecoins in a bid to provide practical help for businesses to resolve cross-border payment issues, the city’s finance chief has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Sunday reaffirmed the government’s efforts in applying fintech to resolve long-standing “pain points”…

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The electronic display board at the Connect Hall in the Hong Kong stock exchange building on May 20, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong to act as launch pad for Chinese companies’ global push in pact with Shanghai

Mainland Chinese companies will use Hong Kong’s capital market as the launch pad for their global growth, according to an action plan signed on Wednesday with Shanghai to connect the premier onshore commercial city with the nation’s offshore financial hub. The two cities will expand the decade-old connect programme linking the stock markets of Shanghai…

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The electronic display board at the Connect Hall in the Hong Kong stock exchange building on May 20, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong to act as launch pad for Chinese companies’ global push in pact with Shanghai

Mainland Chinese companies will use Hong Kong’s capital market as the launch pad for their global growth, according to an action plan signed on Wednesday with Shanghai to connect the premier onshore commercial city with the nation’s offshore financial hub. The two cities will expand the decade-old connect programme linking the stock markets of Shanghai…

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