In the second of our series of previews on the five-year plan and policy address, to be announced on September 16, Elizabeth Cheung and Vivian Au drill down on what’s holding back the Northern Metropolis. Read part one here. For employees of surgical robotics company Yuanhua Tech, travelling between their Shenzhen base in Nanshan district…
Hong Kong will introduce standardised cigarette packaging from March next year, with a nine-month transition period before full enforcement in December, as the city strips all branding and decorative design from packs and updates health warnings to reduce smoking rates. The Department of Health announced on Thursday that the new rules for smoking products will…
When Hong Kong’s leader John Lee Ka-chiu steps up to the Legislative Council podium next Wednesday, he will break from decades of political tradition. Lee’s coming policy address will summarise his four years in office while setting out what is expected to be his most ambitious and forward-looking governance agenda to date, as it will…
Former Hong Kong lawmaker William Wong Kam-fai, who resigned after an alleged drink-driving incident, has been given two months to consider his plea on four traffic offences. Wong, 66, was not required to enter a plea during his first appearance at Sha Tin Court on Wednesday. Defence lawyer Paul Tse Wai-chun, also a former legislator,…
Hong Kong’s medical watchdog has said a target time frame for handling complaints will not be necessary as it presented its rebuttal against a government proposal that includes major reforms to its operations, disciplinary sentencing, internal supervision and membership make-up. The Medical Council on Tuesday presented its views on the government’s proposed amendments, which were…
Former Hong Kong lawmaker William Wong Kam-fai, who allegedly drove and crashed his vehicle while in an intoxicated state two months ago, will appear in court next week to face four criminal charges, including dangerous driving. Police on Thursday confirmed that Wong was set to appear in Sha Tin Court next Wednesday morning to face…
The long-standing rivalry between Asia’s two leading financial centres is heating up. As Hong Kong and Singapore compete harder for investment talent, tax incentives for fund managers have emerged as the new battleground. A government bill working its way through Hong Kong’s Legislative Council would result in sweeping changes to tax rules on carried interest….
Property-ownership complications and low public awareness have slowed landlords’ registration of Hong Kong subdivided flats under new housing regulations, industry observers have said, after the government received only 42.5 per cent of the applications expected in the first phase. Monday marked the deadline for the initial six-month “early bird” registration phase under the Basic Housing…
Hong Kong will unveil its first five-year plan and annual policy address on September 16, the city’s leader has announced, as he visited grass-roots residents and inspected community services to gather public views. “The five-year plan draws the eyes of a dragon, while the policy address draws the entire dragon,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu…
Hong Kong should make safety design a part of all building development plans and address the culture of rushing work at construction sites, industry leaders have said after the city recorded 15 fatal industrial accidents earlier this year. Their calls followed the warning by Construction Industry Council chairman Thomas Ho On-sing on Monday that the…