‘Hong Kong has little to offer,’ residents staying home for Christmas say
By Willa Wu
Some Hongkongers have said they are only staying home for Christmas to avoid peak pricing, stressing the city still has ample room for improvement to attract tourists and locals.
As of 10am on Wednesday, the first day of the Christmas holiday, more than 170,000 residents already left the city, with close to 27,000 others coming back. Nearly 477,500 residents departed the city the day before.
Young families were among those who queued up at the West Kowloon Cultural District on Christmas Day for activities such as the Big Bounce Hong Kong, the world’s largest touring inflatable event.
The four restaurants along the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade were almost packed with customers waiting their turn to secure a coveted table.
Stephanie Lee, who spent Wednesday morning walking her dog along the promenade, said she stayed in the city because it was “too expensive” to travel during the peak season.
The 30-year-old said she would go to Japan after the two-day public holiday and return before the New Year.
“I think the festive vibes this year are much better than those of last year. There are more people and more events held,” she said.
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By Willa Wu
Some Hongkongers have said they are only staying home for Christmas to avoid peak pricing, stressing the city still has ample room for improvement to attract tourists and locals.
As of 10am on Wednesday, the first day of the Christmas holiday, more than 170,000 residents already left the city, with close to 27,000 others coming back. Nearly 477,500 residents departed the city the day before.
Young families were among those who queued up at the West Kowloon Cultural District on Christmas Day for activities such as the Big Bounce Hong Kong, the world’s largest touring inflatable event.
The four restaurants along the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade were almost packed with customers waiting their turn to secure a coveted table.
Stephanie Lee, who spent Wednesday morning walking her dog along the promenade, said she stayed in the city because it was “too expensive” to travel during the peak season.
The 30-year-old said she would go to Japan after the two-day public holiday and return before the New Year.
“I think the festive vibes this year are much better than those of last year. There are more people and more events held,” she said.
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Temperatures to fall in Hong Kong over weekend
By Jiang Chuqin
Temperatures in Hong Kong are expected to dip over the weekend to as low as 14 degrees Celsius (57.2 Fahrenheit) as a monsoon approaches.
The Observatory said on Wednesday the weather was expected to become colder over the weekend, as a dry replenishment of the monsoon was due to reach the coast of southern China on Friday.
The minimum temperature on the weekend was forecast to be 14 degrees, down slightly down from the 18 degrees and 16 degrees predicted for Thursday and Friday, respectively.
With the monsoon moderating early next week, temperatures are due to climb back up to between 16 and 21 degrees.
The Observatory noted the city was under the effects of a northeast monsoon, which was forecast to continue for another day, while a broad cloud band was covering the northern part of the South China Sea.
One or two light patches of rain are expected on Wednesday night.
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By Jiang Chuqin
Temperatures in Hong Kong are expected to dip over the weekend to as low as 14 degrees Celsius (57.2 Fahrenheit) as a monsoon approaches.
The Observatory said on Wednesday the weather was expected to become colder over the weekend, as a dry replenishment of the monsoon was due to reach the coast of southern China on Friday.
The minimum temperature on the weekend was forecast to be 14 degrees, down slightly down from the 18 degrees and 16 degrees predicted for Thursday and Friday, respectively.
With the monsoon moderating early next week, temperatures are due to climb back up to between 16 and 21 degrees.
The Observatory noted the city was under the effects of a northeast monsoon, which was forecast to continue for another day, while a broad cloud band was covering the northern part of the South China Sea.
One or two light patches of rain are expected on Wednesday night.
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Paralysed Hong Kong Mirror dancer shares Christmas memories in Instagram post
By Lo Hoi-ying
Hong Kong dancer Mo Li Kai-yin has made his second social media post in a week, reminiscing about Christmas with his girlfriend before he was left paralysed after being hit by a giant screen at a concert by popular Cantopop boy band Mirror in 2022.
The 30-year-old posted on Instagram a pre-accident timelapse video of himself decorating a Christmas tree with his girlfriend So Tsz-ching.
“My only wish for every Christmas [with So],” the dancer said on Christmas Eve on Tuesday.
The social media post has attracted 39,244 likes and 1,700 shares so far.
On Thursday last week, Li posted on Instagram for the first time since the accident on July 28, 2022, expressing gratitude to his father Reverend Derek Li Shing-lam.
In his caption, Li wrote that his father was “probably the only human being” who loved him so much and cared about every slight improvement he made.
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By Lo Hoi-ying
Hong Kong dancer Mo Li Kai-yin has made his second social media post in a week, reminiscing about Christmas with his girlfriend before he was left paralysed after being hit by a giant screen at a concert by popular Cantopop boy band Mirror in 2022.
The 30-year-old posted on Instagram a pre-accident timelapse video of himself decorating a Christmas tree with his girlfriend So Tsz-ching.
“My only wish for every Christmas [with So],” the dancer said on Christmas Eve on Tuesday.
The social media post has attracted 39,244 likes and 1,700 shares so far.
On Thursday last week, Li posted on Instagram for the first time since the accident on July 28, 2022, expressing gratitude to his father Reverend Derek Li Shing-lam.
In his caption, Li wrote that his father was “probably the only human being” who loved him so much and cared about every slight improvement he made.
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Cambodia’s approval of Japanese naval visits signals policy of ‘balancing interests’
By Maria Siow
Cambodia is navigating a balancing act between major powers by allowing Japan to make naval visits at a China-linked base, according to observers who expect Phnom Penh to extend similar invitations to the United States.
Last Friday, Cambodia’s former prime minister and President of the Senate Hun Sen said Japan would be granted visitation rights to the Ream Naval Base, a facility the US is concerned could become a military outpost for China.
Just days earlier, an American warship docked at the southern port city of Cambodia’s Sihanoukville, just several kilometres away from Ream, in the first American military port call to one of Beijing’s closest regional allies in eight years.
USS Savannah commanding officer Daniel A. Sledz said the Americans were pleased to return and be hosted by Cambodia. The warship departed from Cambodia last Friday.
Sophal Ear, an associate professor at Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management, said the two developments suggested that Cambodia wanted to have a more balanced foreign policy and reduce its overdependence on China.
“Granting visitation rights to Japan, while still maintaining strong ties to Beijing, demonstrates a nuanced approach to balancing interests,” Ear said. Cambodia’s ability to navigate great power competition would depend on whether it could develop its overall capabilities and enhance cooperation with middle-power partners such as Japan and Australia.
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By Maria Siow
Cambodia is navigating a balancing act between major powers by allowing Japan to make naval visits at a China-linked base, according to observers who expect Phnom Penh to extend similar invitations to the United States.
Last Friday, Cambodia’s former prime minister and President of the Senate Hun Sen said Japan would be granted visitation rights to the Ream Naval Base, a facility the US is concerned could become a military outpost for China.
Just days earlier, an American warship docked at the southern port city of Cambodia’s Sihanoukville, just several kilometres away from Ream, in the first American military port call to one of Beijing’s closest regional allies in eight years.
USS Savannah commanding officer Daniel A. Sledz said the Americans were pleased to return and be hosted by Cambodia. The warship departed from Cambodia last Friday.
Sophal Ear, an associate professor at Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management, said the two developments suggested that Cambodia wanted to have a more balanced foreign policy and reduce its overdependence on China.
“Granting visitation rights to Japan, while still maintaining strong ties to Beijing, demonstrates a nuanced approach to balancing interests,” Ear said. Cambodia’s ability to navigate great power competition would depend on whether it could develop its overall capabilities and enhance cooperation with middle-power partners such as Japan and Australia.
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What Hong Kong’s 2023 waste data tells us, and what it doesn’t
By Edwin Lau
Hong Kong finally published last year’s waste statistics on December 19, nearly a month after Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan shared some of the more positive developments in his blog on November 24. Why hold up the release of the full monitoring report until almost the end of the year? The sooner lawmakers and stakeholders have a full picture of the city’s waste situation, the quicker they can come up with the needed solutions.
One positive finding is that the quantity of municipal solid waste going to landfill has fallen – by 2.2 per cent to a daily average of 10,884 tonnes, from 11,128 tonnes in 2022. Easing the pressure to expand Hong Kong’s landfill capacity is one of the government’s main waste management objectives.
On a daily average, the quantity of solid waste we threw away last year fell by 10.5 per cent for plastics, 3.2 per cent for paper and 3.4 per cent for food. But given that food makes up the largest part of solid waste at nearly a third, we still need to urgently find ways to handle the 3,191 tonnes of food discarded every day. Hong Kong’s existing food waste treatment facilities can only handle 600 tonnes a day.
The city’s first waste-to-energy incinerator, I·PARK1, is due to begin operations next year but sending thousands of tonnes of food waste to it every day is counterproductive if Hong Kong’s aim is to reduce carbon emissions. Fossil fuels would still be needed to dehydrate the food waste before combustion.
Households have done well in cutting their food waste, which went down by 291 tonnes a day last year – but the same went up by 179 tonnes for the commercial sector. Clearly, the authorities need to put in more effort and resources to help businesses slash their food waste.
When it comes to disposable plastic tableware, despite years of government efforts to discourage their use, the city threw away 243 tonnes of it last year, an increase of 7 per cent. With hope, Hong Kong’s ban on single-use plastics, introduced in April, will reverse the trend – although the worry is that businesses will simply switch to using non-plastic disposables, rather than reusables.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Edwin Lau
Hong Kong finally published last year’s waste statistics on December 19, nearly a month after Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan shared some of the more positive developments in his blog on November 24. Why hold up the release of the full monitoring report until almost the end of the year? The sooner lawmakers and stakeholders have a full picture of the city’s waste situation, the quicker they can come up with the needed solutions.
One positive finding is that the quantity of municipal solid waste going to landfill has fallen – by 2.2 per cent to a daily average of 10,884 tonnes, from 11,128 tonnes in 2022. Easing the pressure to expand Hong Kong’s landfill capacity is one of the government’s main waste management objectives.
On a daily average, the quantity of solid waste we threw away last year fell by 10.5 per cent for plastics, 3.2 per cent for paper and 3.4 per cent for food. But given that food makes up the largest part of solid waste at nearly a third, we still need to urgently find ways to handle the 3,191 tonnes of food discarded every day. Hong Kong’s existing food waste treatment facilities can only handle 600 tonnes a day.
The city’s first waste-to-energy incinerator, I·PARK1, is due to begin operations next year but sending thousands of tonnes of food waste to it every day is counterproductive if Hong Kong’s aim is to reduce carbon emissions. Fossil fuels would still be needed to dehydrate the food waste before combustion.
Households have done well in cutting their food waste, which went down by 291 tonnes a day last year – but the same went up by 179 tonnes for the commercial sector. Clearly, the authorities need to put in more effort and resources to help businesses slash their food waste.
When it comes to disposable plastic tableware, despite years of government efforts to discourage their use, the city threw away 243 tonnes of it last year, an increase of 7 per cent. With hope, Hong Kong’s ban on single-use plastics, introduced in April, will reverse the trend – although the worry is that businesses will simply switch to using non-plastic disposables, rather than reusables.
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Chinese and South Korean foreign ministers hold first call since Seoul martial law crisis
By Zhao Ziwen
Beijing has pledged to continue to promote close communication “in various fields” with Seoul despite its current political turmoil, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yeol on Tuesday.
The 30-minute call marks the first publicly acknowledged ministerial conversation between Beijing and Seoul after President Yoon Suk-yeol imposed martial law earlier this month, a crisis that continues to destabilise South Korean politics.
“China has taken note of recent changes in the domestic situation in South Korea … China adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and believes that South Korean people have the wisdom and ability to properly handle domestic issues,” a Chinese foreign ministry statement said.
“China is also willing to continue to make good use of bilateral dialogue and cooperation mechanisms in various fields, strengthen interactions at all levels and people-to-people exchanges, and enhance mutual understanding and trust with South Korea.”
Cho told Wang, “there is no change in our government’s position of continuing to develop the [South] Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership, even under the acting presidential system”, according to the South Korean foreign ministry.
The ministry said Beijing and Seoul would conduct further diplomatic communication through “director-level consultations”.
They also touched on three-way cooperation between Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo. The ministers agreed that “China-Japan-South Korea cooperation is conducive to the respective development of the three countries and regional peace, stability and prosperity”, according to the Chinese side.
Wang and Cho discussed the situation involving North Korea and agreed to maintain strategic communications.
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By Zhao Ziwen
Beijing has pledged to continue to promote close communication “in various fields” with Seoul despite its current political turmoil, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yeol on Tuesday.
The 30-minute call marks the first publicly acknowledged ministerial conversation between Beijing and Seoul after President Yoon Suk-yeol imposed martial law earlier this month, a crisis that continues to destabilise South Korean politics.
“China has taken note of recent changes in the domestic situation in South Korea … China adheres to the principle of non-interference in internal affairs and believes that South Korean people have the wisdom and ability to properly handle domestic issues,” a Chinese foreign ministry statement said.
“China is also willing to continue to make good use of bilateral dialogue and cooperation mechanisms in various fields, strengthen interactions at all levels and people-to-people exchanges, and enhance mutual understanding and trust with South Korea.”
Cho told Wang, “there is no change in our government’s position of continuing to develop the [South] Korea-China strategic cooperative partnership, even under the acting presidential system”, according to the South Korean foreign ministry.
The ministry said Beijing and Seoul would conduct further diplomatic communication through “director-level consultations”.
They also touched on three-way cooperation between Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo. The ministers agreed that “China-Japan-South Korea cooperation is conducive to the respective development of the three countries and regional peace, stability and prosperity”, according to the Chinese side.
Wang and Cho discussed the situation involving North Korea and agreed to maintain strategic communications.
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Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes in Kazakhstan
By Agence France-Presse
An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet flying from the capital Baku to Grozny in Russia crashed on Wednesday in western Kazakhstan, the Kazakh transport ministry said on Wednesday.
“A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines,” the ministry said on Telegram.
Azerbaijan Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, said the Embraer 190 had “made an emergency landing” around three kilometres from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.
The Kazakh transport ministry said there were 62 passengers and five crew members on the plane.
The country’s emergency situations ministry said its personnel were putting out a fire at the site.
“Information about casualties is currently being clarified but, according to preliminary information, there are survivors,” it said.
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By Agence France-Presse
An Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet flying from the capital Baku to Grozny in Russia crashed on Wednesday in western Kazakhstan, the Kazakh transport ministry said on Wednesday.
“A plane doing the Baku-Grozny route crashed near the city of Aktau. It belongs to Azerbaijan Airlines,” the ministry said on Telegram.
Azerbaijan Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, said the Embraer 190 had “made an emergency landing” around three kilometres from Aktau, an oil and gas hub on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea.
The Kazakh transport ministry said there were 62 passengers and five crew members on the plane.
The country’s emergency situations ministry said its personnel were putting out a fire at the site.
“Information about casualties is currently being clarified but, according to preliminary information, there are survivors,” it said.
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Russia pummels Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with missiles on Christmas Day
By Agence France-Presse
Russian missiles killed at least one person and damaged energy infrastructure across Ukraine, according to officials, who reported a massive Christmas attack.
Air raid sirens rang out over Ukraine on Wednesday morning, while the air force reported Russian Kalibr cruise missiles had been launched from the Black Sea.
Ukraine faces its toughest winter of the almost three-year war as Moscow steps up its aerial bombardment and its troops advance on the front lines in the east.
On Wednesday morning, the governor of Kherson region reported that one person had been killed three others injured over the last 24 hours.
In Dnipropetrovsk region, where winter temperatures have hovered around the freezing point, the governor said Russia was taking aim at the power grid.
“The enemy is trying to destroy the region’s power system,” Lysak wrote on Telegram. “Stay in a safe place until the air alert is lifted. Take care of yourself!”
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By Agence France-Presse
Russian missiles killed at least one person and damaged energy infrastructure across Ukraine, according to officials, who reported a massive Christmas attack.
Air raid sirens rang out over Ukraine on Wednesday morning, while the air force reported Russian Kalibr cruise missiles had been launched from the Black Sea.
Ukraine faces its toughest winter of the almost three-year war as Moscow steps up its aerial bombardment and its troops advance on the front lines in the east.
On Wednesday morning, the governor of Kherson region reported that one person had been killed three others injured over the last 24 hours.
In Dnipropetrovsk region, where winter temperatures have hovered around the freezing point, the governor said Russia was taking aim at the power grid.
“The enemy is trying to destroy the region’s power system,” Lysak wrote on Telegram. “Stay in a safe place until the air alert is lifted. Take care of yourself!”
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Singaporean tycoon Saiful Alam Masud investigated over financial crimes in Bangladesh
By Bloomberg
Bangladesh authorities are investigating Singaporean billionaire Saiful Alam Masud for alleged financial crimes, including money laundering, The Straits Times reported on Wednesday. He denied wrongdoing.
Lawyers representing the 64-year-old tycoon, who was born in Bangladesh, stated that allegations of money laundering involving Alam, his family, and his businesses in Bangladesh were made by local private media outlets and are part of a targeted smear campaign, according to the newspaper.
Alam is confident he has conducted his businesses in “a proper and legitimate manner,” the lawyers said.
Alam is the founder and chairman of the S. Alam Group, a conglomerate operating business including steel, cement, food, polypropylene, power, transport and real estate.
The newspaper said he is under investigation by the country’s central bank, the Criminal Investigation Department (Bangladesh), Anti-Corruption Commission and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission. Alam’s wife and their sons are the subject of several ongoing probes as well, it added.
The CID probe is of the alleged laundering of 1.13 trillion Bangladeshi taka (US$9.5 billion), including through Singapore, the report said.
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By Bloomberg
Bangladesh authorities are investigating Singaporean billionaire Saiful Alam Masud for alleged financial crimes, including money laundering, The Straits Times reported on Wednesday. He denied wrongdoing.
Lawyers representing the 64-year-old tycoon, who was born in Bangladesh, stated that allegations of money laundering involving Alam, his family, and his businesses in Bangladesh were made by local private media outlets and are part of a targeted smear campaign, according to the newspaper.
Alam is confident he has conducted his businesses in “a proper and legitimate manner,” the lawyers said.
Alam is the founder and chairman of the S. Alam Group, a conglomerate operating business including steel, cement, food, polypropylene, power, transport and real estate.
The newspaper said he is under investigation by the country’s central bank, the Criminal Investigation Department (Bangladesh), Anti-Corruption Commission and the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission. Alam’s wife and their sons are the subject of several ongoing probes as well, it added.
The CID probe is of the alleged laundering of 1.13 trillion Bangladeshi taka (US$9.5 billion), including through Singapore, the report said.
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North Korea opens new beer bar and restaurant in Pyongyang suburb
By Ayman Ragab
North Korea has opened up a new landmark beer bar and restaurant in its capital, Pyongyang.
The Hwasong Taedonggang Beer Restaurant serves Taedonggang beer, which comes in several varieties, as well as a range of international brands.
The beer restaurant is in Hwasong, an eastern suburb of Pyongyang.
It is among three new suburbs built in the past year in a renewed attempt to provide more housing in the capital.
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By Ayman Ragab
North Korea has opened up a new landmark beer bar and restaurant in its capital, Pyongyang.
The Hwasong Taedonggang Beer Restaurant serves Taedonggang beer, which comes in several varieties, as well as a range of international brands.
The beer restaurant is in Hwasong, an eastern suburb of Pyongyang.
It is among three new suburbs built in the past year in a renewed attempt to provide more housing in the capital.
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Beijing lashes out at Western criticism of Hong Kong bounties for 6 activists
By Fiona Sun
Beijing has hit out at the US, UK, EU and Canada for “openly smearing” Hong Kong’s rule of law and interfering in its judicial processes after their governments slammed city authorities for placing new bounties on six activists wanted for allegedly violating the national security law and cancelling the passports of seven others.
The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong issued a strongly worded statement on Wednesday following the chorus of criticism triggered by Hong Kong police’s move to issue HK$1 million (US$128,690) bounties for six more activists a day earlier. The number of opposition figures on the list of people wanted for allegedly contravening the Beijing-imposed law now stands at 19.
The city government also issued a gazette on Tuesday announcing that Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung had revoked the passports of seven activists who had fled Hong Kong and barred anyone from funding them, in the second such instance under the city’s domestic security law.
A spokesman for the office said: “Under the guise of ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights’, these people were willing to be the ‘vanguard’ of certain countries to disrupt Hong Kong and contain China.
“Their illegal and evil deeds have seriously endangered national security, damaged the fundamental interests of Hong Kong, and impacted the bottom line of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. Their actions were shameful and their crimes were unforgivable.
“We solemnly demand that relevant countries, organisations and politicians abide by the principles of international law and basic norms of international relations, earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, immediately stop making groundless accusations and interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong and China.”
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By Fiona Sun
Beijing has hit out at the US, UK, EU and Canada for “openly smearing” Hong Kong’s rule of law and interfering in its judicial processes after their governments slammed city authorities for placing new bounties on six activists wanted for allegedly violating the national security law and cancelling the passports of seven others.
The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong issued a strongly worded statement on Wednesday following the chorus of criticism triggered by Hong Kong police’s move to issue HK$1 million (US$128,690) bounties for six more activists a day earlier. The number of opposition figures on the list of people wanted for allegedly contravening the Beijing-imposed law now stands at 19.
The city government also issued a gazette on Tuesday announcing that Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung had revoked the passports of seven activists who had fled Hong Kong and barred anyone from funding them, in the second such instance under the city’s domestic security law.
A spokesman for the office said: “Under the guise of ‘democracy’ and ‘human rights’, these people were willing to be the ‘vanguard’ of certain countries to disrupt Hong Kong and contain China.
“Their illegal and evil deeds have seriously endangered national security, damaged the fundamental interests of Hong Kong, and impacted the bottom line of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. Their actions were shameful and their crimes were unforgivable.
“We solemnly demand that relevant countries, organisations and politicians abide by the principles of international law and basic norms of international relations, earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, immediately stop making groundless accusations and interfering in the affairs of Hong Kong and China.”
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Hong Kong hospital throws party for sick children, offering Christmas hope
By Lo Hoi-ying
Two-year-old Nathan Chiu Sheung-lai is spending Christmas outside a Hong Kong hospital ward for the first time with his parents on Wednesday.
Chiu, who is diagnosed with the genetic disease CHARGE syndrome, has spent most of his life so far in the neonatal intensive care unit. He had his first surgery to unblock his nasal passages just 10 days after his birth.
Those with the disease are affected in many parts of the body, including the heart, nerves, genitals, eyes and ears.
Chiu, who had difficulty breathing, was reliant on a ventilator until he underwent a tracheotomy in March, allowing him to breathe independently and be discharged.
“We are very happy that he can spend Christmas at home this year and enjoy the festivities across the city,” said Chiu’s mother May Wong.
Chiu and his parents are among the participants of a Christmas party organised by Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital at Sandy Bay in Pok Fu Lam on Wednesday.
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By Lo Hoi-ying
Two-year-old Nathan Chiu Sheung-lai is spending Christmas outside a Hong Kong hospital ward for the first time with his parents on Wednesday.
Chiu, who is diagnosed with the genetic disease CHARGE syndrome, has spent most of his life so far in the neonatal intensive care unit. He had his first surgery to unblock his nasal passages just 10 days after his birth.
Those with the disease are affected in many parts of the body, including the heart, nerves, genitals, eyes and ears.
Chiu, who had difficulty breathing, was reliant on a ventilator until he underwent a tracheotomy in March, allowing him to breathe independently and be discharged.
“We are very happy that he can spend Christmas at home this year and enjoy the festivities across the city,” said Chiu’s mother May Wong.
Chiu and his parents are among the participants of a Christmas party organised by Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital at Sandy Bay in Pok Fu Lam on Wednesday.
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China sets dates for ‘two sessions’ as investors await 2025 economic growth target
By William Zheng
China’s top legislature will begin its annual parliamentary meeting on March 5 next year – a session that will be closely watched by investors as Beijing will announce its growth target and decide on ways to stimulate the country’s stalled economy.
The start date of the third annual session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing was announced by the NPC Standing Committee on Wednesday.
On the same day, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top political advisory body, announced March 4 as its tentative start date for its annual session.
China typically holds its annual parliamentary meetings, known as the “two sessions”, in early March.
During the meetings, the Chinese government is expected to reveal its annual policy plans for the economy, military, trade, diplomacy, the environment and other areas to the NPC and CPPCC for deliberation and approval.
The meeting is expected to last about a week, with President Xi Jinping and other top Communist Party leaders joining the group discussions to chart China’s path forward. Xi’s speeches during these deliberation sessions are usually regarded as important signs of China’s priorities and direction.
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By William Zheng
China’s top legislature will begin its annual parliamentary meeting on March 5 next year – a session that will be closely watched by investors as Beijing will announce its growth target and decide on ways to stimulate the country’s stalled economy.
The start date of the third annual session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing was announced by the NPC Standing Committee on Wednesday.
On the same day, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top political advisory body, announced March 4 as its tentative start date for its annual session.
China typically holds its annual parliamentary meetings, known as the “two sessions”, in early March.
During the meetings, the Chinese government is expected to reveal its annual policy plans for the economy, military, trade, diplomacy, the environment and other areas to the NPC and CPPCC for deliberation and approval.
The meeting is expected to last about a week, with President Xi Jinping and other top Communist Party leaders joining the group discussions to chart China’s path forward. Xi’s speeches during these deliberation sessions are usually regarded as important signs of China’s priorities and direction.
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Coastguard plane in Japan airport crash mistook taxi instruction for runway clearance
By Kyodo
Flight voice recordings from a Japan coastguard plane involved in a fatal collision were released on Wednesday, reinforcing the view that its crew likely erroneously believed the aircraft was allowed to enter the runway when it was hit by a Japan Airlines jetliner at Tokyo’s Haneda airport in January.
The co-pilot correctly repeated the airport traffic controller’s instruction to taxi to a holding point where it would await clearance to enter the runway. But subsequent exchanges among the crew suggest they believed they had been given permission to enter, according to a Japan Transport Safety Board report.
According to the report, a traffic controller told the coastguard plane that it was “No 1” in the order of take-off and instructed it to “taxi to holding point C5.” The co-pilot responded, “Taxi to holding point C5,” and it was “No 1.”
The plane’s captain also repeated “No 1” and “C5” and instructed the co-pilot to proceed with preparations for departure. The aircraft then entered the runway.
Based on the content of voice recorders retrieved from the January 2 accident, the only talk on board the plane was about their mission to help the people affected by the magnitude-7.6 earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula and surrounding areas on the Sea of Japan coast the previous day, it said.
The collision killed five of the six people aboard the coastguard’s Bombardier DHC8-300, while all 379 people aboard the JAL Airbus A350 escaped despite flames engulfing the plane.
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By Kyodo
Flight voice recordings from a Japan coastguard plane involved in a fatal collision were released on Wednesday, reinforcing the view that its crew likely erroneously believed the aircraft was allowed to enter the runway when it was hit by a Japan Airlines jetliner at Tokyo’s Haneda airport in January.
The co-pilot correctly repeated the airport traffic controller’s instruction to taxi to a holding point where it would await clearance to enter the runway. But subsequent exchanges among the crew suggest they believed they had been given permission to enter, according to a Japan Transport Safety Board report.
According to the report, a traffic controller told the coastguard plane that it was “No 1” in the order of take-off and instructed it to “taxi to holding point C5.” The co-pilot responded, “Taxi to holding point C5,” and it was “No 1.”
The plane’s captain also repeated “No 1” and “C5” and instructed the co-pilot to proceed with preparations for departure. The aircraft then entered the runway.
Based on the content of voice recorders retrieved from the January 2 accident, the only talk on board the plane was about their mission to help the people affected by the magnitude-7.6 earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula and surrounding areas on the Sea of Japan coast the previous day, it said.
The collision killed five of the six people aboard the coastguard’s Bombardier DHC8-300, while all 379 people aboard the JAL Airbus A350 escaped despite flames engulfing the plane.
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Disruptions, mid-air blunders highlighted the year for Hong Kong aviation
By Oscar Liu
Hong Kong’s aviation sector navigated a turbulent year in 2024 as it tried to recuperate from the pandemic and underwent a series of dramas mid-air.
From a broken toilet door during a flight to an Airbus A350 engine fire and a global Microsoft outage disrupting operations at Hong Kong International Airport, the Post looks back at the downs in 2024.
Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled almost 800 flights between December 2023 and February 2024 due to pilot illnesses and recruitment challenges. It drew backlash from authorities for poor crew planning, causing frustration for travellers attempting to reschedule flights and for pilots navigating what they perceived as chaotic roster arrangements.
The city’s flag carrier also cancelled 90 flights and conducted inspections and repairs on its 48-strong Airbus A350 aircraft after the engine of a Zurich-bound flight caught fire in September. The issue stemmed from a fuel nozzle failure in a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine.
Cathay’s budget carrier HK Express told two visually impaired passengers to deboard a Tokyo-bound flight in May, triggering criticism from the Hong Kong Blind Union which called the move “insulting”.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Oscar Liu
Hong Kong’s aviation sector navigated a turbulent year in 2024 as it tried to recuperate from the pandemic and underwent a series of dramas mid-air.
From a broken toilet door during a flight to an Airbus A350 engine fire and a global Microsoft outage disrupting operations at Hong Kong International Airport, the Post looks back at the downs in 2024.
Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled almost 800 flights between December 2023 and February 2024 due to pilot illnesses and recruitment challenges. It drew backlash from authorities for poor crew planning, causing frustration for travellers attempting to reschedule flights and for pilots navigating what they perceived as chaotic roster arrangements.
The city’s flag carrier also cancelled 90 flights and conducted inspections and repairs on its 48-strong Airbus A350 aircraft after the engine of a Zurich-bound flight caught fire in September. The issue stemmed from a fuel nozzle failure in a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine.
Cathay’s budget carrier HK Express told two visually impaired passengers to deboard a Tokyo-bound flight in May, triggering criticism from the Hong Kong Blind Union which called the move “insulting”.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
