Hong Kong authorities have slashed the time required for environmental impact assessments by up to half using artificial intelligence (AI), as part of flagship initiatives in the first batch of projects aimed at enhancing efficiency. The first batch of 30 projects, involving 13 government departments, was announced on Monday, covering transport and food business licensing,…
The uprooting of numerous trees across Hong Kong during Typhoon Noul last weekend has sparked safety concerns among residents, with an expert warning that restrictive planting methods had left some unable to withstand strong winds. Two government hotlines received a total of 331 reports of fallen trees during the typhoon, which triggered No 8 and…
A Hong Kong coach has been accused of assaulting and abusing an eight-year-old boy, slapping his face and forcing him to stand outside in the blazing sun at a training camp for children. Eastern Court on Wednesday heard that Zhao Yiqun allegedly ill-treated and assaulted the boy during a training programme at the Jockey Club…
A Hong Kong migrant workers’ group has urged authorities to expand a pedestrian area in Central on Sundays, as a section of a landmark garden that serves as a popular gathering spot for domestic helpers will temporarily close for the construction of a pedestrian underpass. The subway is part of the tender requirements for a…
Tung vows to make library a world-class cultural centre By Shirley Lau This article was first published on May 17, 2001 After years of controversy and months of delay, the $690 million Central Library opened yesterday (May 16, 2001) with a commitment from Tung Chee-hwa to make it a world-class cultural centre. The 12-storey building…
Hongkongers and visitors will be able to enjoy large-scale events such as beer and barbecue festivals at three public beaches under a pilot scheme that will allow private-sector operators to upgrade facilities, a district councillor has suggested, with a top administrator saying fees must be kept affordable. Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Manda Chan…
A world-class fencing hall and stand-alone swimming complex will be built in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis megaproject, authorities have revealed, in a move that experts said must be accompanied by good transport and support services for elite athletes. Sports industry experts raised their suggestions on Tuesday after the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) updated…
A newly restored 4K film featuring the late Hong Kong superstar Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing will be part of this year’s Pop Culture Festival, but the government expects a 25 per cent drop in attendance over last year due to a shorter programme. Pat Wong Kit-yi, a chief manager at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department,…
Hong Kong has launched its first action plan on weight management, aiming to reduce the proportion of people who are overweight or obese to less than half the population in three years from the current 51.3 per cent of adults. On Wednesday, World Obesity Day, the Department of Health announced more than 40 measures, ranging…
Hong Kong authorities have uncovered robot-operated accounts booking public indoor sports venues just a week after a new anti-touting policy took effect, prompting experts to call for stronger measures against scalping. A Leisure and Cultural Services Department spokesman told the South China Morning Post that authorities had detected bots being used to book public indoor…