South Korea’s Jeju Air crash: Muan airport had only 1 worker to fend off birds during mishap
By The Korea Times
A suspected bird strike, identified as one of the causes of the Jeju Air crash on Sunday, has raised concerns about the adequacy of bird control operations at Muan International Airport in South Korea.
At the time of the incident, only one Bird Alert Team (BAT), commonly referred to as “Batman,” was on duty, prompting questions about whether staffing levels and operational protocols were sufficient.
BAT units typically use firearms and other deterrents to drive birds away from airport grounds and communicate directly with the control tower when bird flocks are spotted.
According to sources compiled by the Hankook Ilbo, only one BAT member was working during the suspected bird strike, which likely occurred between 8:57am and 8:59am. This contradicts earlier statements by the government’s Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, which said two members were present that day.
The discrepancy may stem from the airport’s staffing structure. Muan airport’s BAT operates with a team of four members divided into two shifts: two on duty during the day (9am to 6pm) and one at night (6pm to 9am.).
As the incident occurred just before the morning shift began, the lone staff member on duty may have been delayed in identifying the situation due to shift change procedures. When asked, an airport official confirmed that only one BAT member was active during the bird strike.
Muan airport’s BAT workforce has long been smaller compared to similar-sized airports. For instance, Cheongju and Daegu airports, major hubs in central and southeastern South Korea, respectively, each have eight BAT members, twice the number at Muan.
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By The Korea Times
A suspected bird strike, identified as one of the causes of the Jeju Air crash on Sunday, has raised concerns about the adequacy of bird control operations at Muan International Airport in South Korea.
At the time of the incident, only one Bird Alert Team (BAT), commonly referred to as “Batman,” was on duty, prompting questions about whether staffing levels and operational protocols were sufficient.
BAT units typically use firearms and other deterrents to drive birds away from airport grounds and communicate directly with the control tower when bird flocks are spotted.
According to sources compiled by the Hankook Ilbo, only one BAT member was working during the suspected bird strike, which likely occurred between 8:57am and 8:59am. This contradicts earlier statements by the government’s Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, which said two members were present that day.
The discrepancy may stem from the airport’s staffing structure. Muan airport’s BAT operates with a team of four members divided into two shifts: two on duty during the day (9am to 6pm) and one at night (6pm to 9am.).
As the incident occurred just before the morning shift began, the lone staff member on duty may have been delayed in identifying the situation due to shift change procedures. When asked, an airport official confirmed that only one BAT member was active during the bird strike.
Muan airport’s BAT workforce has long been smaller compared to similar-sized airports. For instance, Cheongju and Daegu airports, major hubs in central and southeastern South Korea, respectively, each have eight BAT members, twice the number at Muan.
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Hong Kong logs more than 24,000 arrivals on New Year’s Eve
By Harvey KongWilla Wu
More than 24,000 visitors arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday morning for New Year’s Eve celebrations, with some from mainland China saying they would not stay overnight after the countdown due to steep hotel prices and the extended border opening hours.
By 10am on Tuesday, Hong Kong received 24,351 tourists, with 73.7 per cent, or 17,948, coming from the mainland.
Among mainland tourists, 3,772 entered the city via high-speed trains, contributing to the steady stream of people at West Kowloon station’s arrival hall. By contrast, the departure area was emptier.
Many arriving visitors the Post spoke to said they opted for a day trip in Hong Kong, including Huang Qahang, a 29-year-old entrepreneur from Chengdu.
“Some of the hotel rooms in Hong Kong are fairly expensive and it is difficult to book them during the New Year’s period. If you don’t book the rooms very early on, you won’t be able to get a room,” he said.
Huang added that this was his first trip to Hong Kong since the 1997 handover, and his main goal on Tuesday was to experience the city’s New Year’s Eve countdown celebrations, including the midnight fireworks.
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By Harvey KongWilla Wu
More than 24,000 visitors arrived in Hong Kong on Tuesday morning for New Year’s Eve celebrations, with some from mainland China saying they would not stay overnight after the countdown due to steep hotel prices and the extended border opening hours.
By 10am on Tuesday, Hong Kong received 24,351 tourists, with 73.7 per cent, or 17,948, coming from the mainland.
Among mainland tourists, 3,772 entered the city via high-speed trains, contributing to the steady stream of people at West Kowloon station’s arrival hall. By contrast, the departure area was emptier.
Many arriving visitors the Post spoke to said they opted for a day trip in Hong Kong, including Huang Qahang, a 29-year-old entrepreneur from Chengdu.
“Some of the hotel rooms in Hong Kong are fairly expensive and it is difficult to book them during the New Year’s period. If you don’t book the rooms very early on, you won’t be able to get a room,” he said.
Huang added that this was his first trip to Hong Kong since the 1997 handover, and his main goal on Tuesday was to experience the city’s New Year’s Eve countdown celebrations, including the midnight fireworks.
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Xi Jinping says China’s 2024 GDP growth expected to be around 5%
By SCMP Reporter
China’s economy is expected to have grown around 5 per cent this year, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Xi also pledged to take more proactive measures to support the economy next year.
He made the comments while delivering a speech at a New Year’s reception held by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body.
China will deepen its reform, expand opening up, and coordinate development and security, Xi added.
More to follow …
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By SCMP Reporter
China’s economy is expected to have grown around 5 per cent this year, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Xi also pledged to take more proactive measures to support the economy next year.
He made the comments while delivering a speech at a New Year’s reception held by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body.
China will deepen its reform, expand opening up, and coordinate development and security, Xi added.
More to follow …
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Chinese influencer teaches cleaning bloodstains, dissolving bones, sparks crime fears
By Zoey Zhang
An influencer in China who teaches people how to clean bloodstains and bone residue has sparked concerns about the crime-related implications of his work.
The man, who uses the pseudonym Hua, hails from Guangdong province in southern China and claims to be a senior researcher at a biotechnology institute.
He shares household cleaning tutorials on a mainland Chinese short-video sharing platform, where he has attracted more than 350,000 followers.
In one video, Hua demonstrates how to clean bloodstains from a bathroom floor.
He pours hydrogen peroxide and toilet cleaner on the bloodstains, scrubs the area and successfully removes the stains, before telling viewers: “The internet is not a lawless place.”
In another video, Hua shows how toothpaste can be applied to bloodstains on pants, which can then be rinsed off with water.
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By Zoey Zhang
An influencer in China who teaches people how to clean bloodstains and bone residue has sparked concerns about the crime-related implications of his work.
The man, who uses the pseudonym Hua, hails from Guangdong province in southern China and claims to be a senior researcher at a biotechnology institute.
He shares household cleaning tutorials on a mainland Chinese short-video sharing platform, where he has attracted more than 350,000 followers.
In one video, Hua demonstrates how to clean bloodstains from a bathroom floor.
He pours hydrogen peroxide and toilet cleaner on the bloodstains, scrubs the area and successfully removes the stains, before telling viewers: “The internet is not a lawless place.”
In another video, Hua shows how toothpaste can be applied to bloodstains on pants, which can then be rinsed off with water.
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Here are 9 major Hong Kong laws that took effect in 2024
By Lo Hoi-ying
From lifting property cooling measures to banning single-use plastics, a number of policies and laws were introduced in Hong Kong in 2024.
The Post takes a look at nine significant changes this year.
Authorities announced in January that journalists would need permission from the city’s transport commissioner to access the personal information of vehicle owners, saying applications might be rejected on national security grounds or if a case was not in the public interest.
Commissioner for Transport Angela Lee Chung-yan said she would personally review any applications from media outlets to access the government’s vehicle registry to determine whether the “benefits to public interest outweighed the owner’s rights to privacy”.
In June 2023, the Court of Final Appeal ruled in favour of freelance producer Bao Choy Yuk-ling and said that journalistic work was a valid reason for accessing official records, with the data used for a documentary critical of police action during the 2019 anti-government protests.
In his February budget blueprint, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced the scrapping of all property cooling measures, hoping to revive Hong Kong’s property market.
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By Lo Hoi-ying
From lifting property cooling measures to banning single-use plastics, a number of policies and laws were introduced in Hong Kong in 2024.
The Post takes a look at nine significant changes this year.
Authorities announced in January that journalists would need permission from the city’s transport commissioner to access the personal information of vehicle owners, saying applications might be rejected on national security grounds or if a case was not in the public interest.
Commissioner for Transport Angela Lee Chung-yan said she would personally review any applications from media outlets to access the government’s vehicle registry to determine whether the “benefits to public interest outweighed the owner’s rights to privacy”.
In June 2023, the Court of Final Appeal ruled in favour of freelance producer Bao Choy Yuk-ling and said that journalistic work was a valid reason for accessing official records, with the data used for a documentary critical of police action during the 2019 anti-government protests.
In his February budget blueprint, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced the scrapping of all property cooling measures, hoping to revive Hong Kong’s property market.
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Who made Hong Kong’s headlines in 2024? The Post takes a look
By Cannix Yau
This year saw a wide range of newsmakers catching the public eye in Hong Kong, including former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Argentinian football superstar Lionel Messi, a Dubai prince who backtracked on an investment deal and the latest additions to the city’s giant panda family.
The Post looks back at the newsmakers who made the headlines in 2024.
Tens of thousands of Messi fans who paid premium prices or even spent exorbitant sums on scalped tickets were left outraged after the footballer refused to play in a friendly match between Inter Miami and a local team at Hong Kong Stadium on February 4.
Messi and Inter Miami later blamed his absence on an injury, but the backlash, both locally and in mainland China, only intensified when the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner jogged onto the pitch three days later in Japan.
Organiser Tatler Asia has since issued two apologies, and later announced a 50 per cent refund to all ticket holders.
It also withdrew its application for HK$16 million (US$2.04 million) in government sponsorship from a mega-event fund seeking to raise Hong Kong’s international profile.
In an online video, the footballer later explained that an inflamed adductor muscle had prevented him from playing. He also stressed his affection for China and his wish to see his fans there again.
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By Cannix Yau
This year saw a wide range of newsmakers catching the public eye in Hong Kong, including former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Argentinian football superstar Lionel Messi, a Dubai prince who backtracked on an investment deal and the latest additions to the city’s giant panda family.
The Post looks back at the newsmakers who made the headlines in 2024.
Tens of thousands of Messi fans who paid premium prices or even spent exorbitant sums on scalped tickets were left outraged after the footballer refused to play in a friendly match between Inter Miami and a local team at Hong Kong Stadium on February 4.
Messi and Inter Miami later blamed his absence on an injury, but the backlash, both locally and in mainland China, only intensified when the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner jogged onto the pitch three days later in Japan.
Organiser Tatler Asia has since issued two apologies, and later announced a 50 per cent refund to all ticket holders.
It also withdrew its application for HK$16 million (US$2.04 million) in government sponsorship from a mega-event fund seeking to raise Hong Kong’s international profile.
In an online video, the footballer later explained that an inflamed adductor muscle had prevented him from playing. He also stressed his affection for China and his wish to see his fans there again.
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Hongkonger dies after suspected charcoal-burning suicide
By Sammy Heung
A Hong Kong man has died after a fire broke out in his public housing flat, in what is suspected to be a suicide.
Twenty-four residents of the Ying Lai House in Yau Lai Estate self-evacuated after the fire on Tuesday.
Police said they received a report of the fire at 8.18am.
The man in his “40s to 50s” was transported to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong after he was found unconscious in his flat, according to a force spokesman. He was declared dead in hospital.
Based on its initial investigations, the force said it believed the man burned charcoal inside the flat.
Earlier this month, a 62-year-old man died after smoke filled his flat in Kowloon Bay. Food was being cooked in his kitchen when the smoke was spotted.
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By Sammy Heung
A Hong Kong man has died after a fire broke out in his public housing flat, in what is suspected to be a suicide.
Twenty-four residents of the Ying Lai House in Yau Lai Estate self-evacuated after the fire on Tuesday.
Police said they received a report of the fire at 8.18am.
The man in his “40s to 50s” was transported to United Christian Hospital in Kwun Tong after he was found unconscious in his flat, according to a force spokesman. He was declared dead in hospital.
Based on its initial investigations, the force said it believed the man burned charcoal inside the flat.
Earlier this month, a 62-year-old man died after smoke filled his flat in Kowloon Bay. Food was being cooked in his kitchen when the smoke was spotted.
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South Korea’s Jeju Air crash: flight data recorder loses critical component
By Bloomberg
A device that could shed light on South Korea’s deadliest plane crash is missing a critical component, authorities have revealed, potentially delaying the investigation into the cause of the accident that killed 179 people.
The flight data recorder, which tracks aircraft parameters such as altitude and airspeed among others, is one of the two “black boxes” that South Korean investigators retrieved from the wreckage of Jeju Air Co. plane that exploded at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning.
The FDR lost a connector that links the data storage unit to the power storage unit, a senior transport ministry official said.
“An expert is continuously looking for ways to restore the data inside the recorder,” Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan said at a briefing on Tuesday. The ministry will try to resolve the issue “as soon as possible,” Joo said, without clarifying how long it would take.
Authorities secured another piece of evidence, called the cockpit voice recorder, which records radio transmissions and pilot’s voices, as well as engine noises.
The two devices will be checked by a joint investigation group starting on Tuesday, comprising of US aviation authorities and officials from Boeing Co., the manufacturer of the 737-800 plane, Joo said.
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By Bloomberg
A device that could shed light on South Korea’s deadliest plane crash is missing a critical component, authorities have revealed, potentially delaying the investigation into the cause of the accident that killed 179 people.
The flight data recorder, which tracks aircraft parameters such as altitude and airspeed among others, is one of the two “black boxes” that South Korean investigators retrieved from the wreckage of Jeju Air Co. plane that exploded at Muan International Airport on Sunday morning.
The FDR lost a connector that links the data storage unit to the power storage unit, a senior transport ministry official said.
“An expert is continuously looking for ways to restore the data inside the recorder,” Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation Joo Jong-wan said at a briefing on Tuesday. The ministry will try to resolve the issue “as soon as possible,” Joo said, without clarifying how long it would take.
Authorities secured another piece of evidence, called the cockpit voice recorder, which records radio transmissions and pilot’s voices, as well as engine noises.
The two devices will be checked by a joint investigation group starting on Tuesday, comprising of US aviation authorities and officials from Boeing Co., the manufacturer of the 737-800 plane, Joo said.
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Malaysian satirist Fahmi Reza arrested for sedition in Sabah
By Hadi Azmi
Prominent Malaysian satirist Fahmi Reza was arrested late on Monday on sedition charges in Sabah after he lampooned the state’s corruption-tainted former chief Minister Musa Aman with a caricature depicting the politician with a ringgit note instead of a tongue.
The 47-year-old graphic designer turned social commentator was questioned earlier in December over his original social media post, but still flew to Sabah on Friday to pose with copies of 3-metre-long drawings of Musa across the state capital Kota Kinabalu.
Musa was appointed as Sabah’s new governor on December 17 by Sultan Ibrahim, the king of Malaysia.
Fahmi’s arrest was confirmed by Sabah state police commissioner Jauteh Dikun, who said that the satirist was being investigated for sedition.
“It is still under investigation,” Jauteh told national news agency Bernama, adding that the police received over 30 complaints against Fahmi.
One petition came from local NGO Sabah Five Generations Association which accused him of insulting the incoming governor and Sultan Ibrahim.
“We ask the state government to stop Fahmi Reza from entering Sabah because he is causing chaos and trying to undermine our unity,” the group’s secretary Mohd Syarezan Abdul Samat said in a press conference last Friday.
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By Hadi Azmi
Prominent Malaysian satirist Fahmi Reza was arrested late on Monday on sedition charges in Sabah after he lampooned the state’s corruption-tainted former chief Minister Musa Aman with a caricature depicting the politician with a ringgit note instead of a tongue.
The 47-year-old graphic designer turned social commentator was questioned earlier in December over his original social media post, but still flew to Sabah on Friday to pose with copies of 3-metre-long drawings of Musa across the state capital Kota Kinabalu.
Musa was appointed as Sabah’s new governor on December 17 by Sultan Ibrahim, the king of Malaysia.
Fahmi’s arrest was confirmed by Sabah state police commissioner Jauteh Dikun, who said that the satirist was being investigated for sedition.
“It is still under investigation,” Jauteh told national news agency Bernama, adding that the police received over 30 complaints against Fahmi.
One petition came from local NGO Sabah Five Generations Association which accused him of insulting the incoming governor and Sultan Ibrahim.
“We ask the state government to stop Fahmi Reza from entering Sabah because he is causing chaos and trying to undermine our unity,” the group’s secretary Mohd Syarezan Abdul Samat said in a press conference last Friday.
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Trump’s return gives China and Japan ‘strong interest in building better ties’
By Alyssa Chen
China and Japan have stepped up engagement in recent months, but analysts say the trajectory of relations will largely come down to Tokyo’s political situation and its ties with the incoming Donald Trump administration.
Last week, when Takeshi Iwaya made his first visit to China as Japanese foreign minister, the two sides agreed to increase exchanges, to make it easier for Chinese to visit Japan, and to restart dialogue on security and diplomacy as well as talks on Japanese beef and milled rice imports.
It followed a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Peru last month, when they agreed to work on “constructive and stable” ties, and talks between Ishiba and Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Asean summit in Laos in October.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also said to be planning a Japan trip in February for an economic dialogue last held in 2019 and could extend an invitation for Ishiba to visit China, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported, citing diplomatic sources.
Ishiba told Japanese media over the weekend that frequent engagement was needed to build trust between the two nations.
While security remains a stumbling block, analysts say Tokyo’s recent engagement with Beijing is a response to uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to allies and the potential harm to Japanese interests when Trump returns to the White House next month.
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By Alyssa Chen
China and Japan have stepped up engagement in recent months, but analysts say the trajectory of relations will largely come down to Tokyo’s political situation and its ties with the incoming Donald Trump administration.
Last week, when Takeshi Iwaya made his first visit to China as Japanese foreign minister, the two sides agreed to increase exchanges, to make it easier for Chinese to visit Japan, and to restart dialogue on security and diplomacy as well as talks on Japanese beef and milled rice imports.
It followed a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Apec summit in Peru last month, when they agreed to work on “constructive and stable” ties, and talks between Ishiba and Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Asean summit in Laos in October.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also said to be planning a Japan trip in February for an economic dialogue last held in 2019 and could extend an invitation for Ishiba to visit China, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported, citing diplomatic sources.
Ishiba told Japanese media over the weekend that frequent engagement was needed to build trust between the two nations.
While security remains a stumbling block, analysts say Tokyo’s recent engagement with Beijing is a response to uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to allies and the potential harm to Japanese interests when Trump returns to the White House next month.
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Hong Kong cinema scores 2 box office hits in 2024, but outlook still uncertain
By Ambrose Li
Hong Kong cinema delivered an impressive report card in 2024 with two local films surpassing the HK$100 million (US$12.9 million) mark at the box office for the first time in a single year, but industry players said it was premature to speak of a full recovery for the sector.
While box office takings over the Christmas holiday period rose almost seven per cent from last year’s 20-year-low of HK$19.6 million to HK$21 million, overall year-on-year revenue declined and at least eight cinemas have ceased operations in the past year.
Among the three dozen odd Hong Kong films released this year, The Last Dance stole the show. The poignant drama about the local funeral trade and family traditions became the highest-grossing Chinese language film in Hong Kong history, with box office figures hitting HK$134 million as of December 22.
The film bagged four awards at the 61st Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Malaysia earlier this month, and its lead actress Michelle Wai Si-nga also clinched a best actress prize at the Huading Awards in Macau in October.
The Last Dance, featuring Hong Kong comedians Michael Hui Kwun-man and Dayo Wong Tze-wah and set within the backdrop of the funeral business, conveys a message about honouring the dead while not neglecting the living.
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In emerged as the city’s most-watched local film by audience numbers in the summer, bringing in a total of HK$107 million at the box office as of July.
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By Ambrose Li
Hong Kong cinema delivered an impressive report card in 2024 with two local films surpassing the HK$100 million (US$12.9 million) mark at the box office for the first time in a single year, but industry players said it was premature to speak of a full recovery for the sector.
While box office takings over the Christmas holiday period rose almost seven per cent from last year’s 20-year-low of HK$19.6 million to HK$21 million, overall year-on-year revenue declined and at least eight cinemas have ceased operations in the past year.
Among the three dozen odd Hong Kong films released this year, The Last Dance stole the show. The poignant drama about the local funeral trade and family traditions became the highest-grossing Chinese language film in Hong Kong history, with box office figures hitting HK$134 million as of December 22.
The film bagged four awards at the 61st Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Malaysia earlier this month, and its lead actress Michelle Wai Si-nga also clinched a best actress prize at the Huading Awards in Macau in October.
The Last Dance, featuring Hong Kong comedians Michael Hui Kwun-man and Dayo Wong Tze-wah and set within the backdrop of the funeral business, conveys a message about honouring the dead while not neglecting the living.
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In emerged as the city’s most-watched local film by audience numbers in the summer, bringing in a total of HK$107 million at the box office as of July.
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Banks fined big as China’s bond yields plunge, reflecting resolve of central bank
By Mia Nulimaimaiti
China’s central bank has imposed heavy fines on three financial institutions for bond-trading irregularities – the first of such punitive actions after it warned about plunging government bond yields from May.
In circulars released on its website on Monday, the People’s Bank of China said that the institutions – Shanghai East Asia Futures, Hunan Xupu Rural Commercial Bank and Tianjin Xintang Money Brokerage – were involved in misconduct designed to bypass regulatory and internal control requirements.
Three institutions were fined 36.07 million yuan (US$4.94 million), 13.1 million yuan and 11.03 million yuan, respectively. Meanwhile, 13 employees involved in these cases were penalised a total of 2.53 million yuan, while illegal gains of 8.57 million yuan from East Asia Futures were confiscated.
The three institutions were the first to be punished as the central bank has taken a zero-tolerance stance on such trading.
Amid declining returns from traditional assets such as stocks and real estate, investors are increasingly turning to low-risk options, such as government bonds, to diversify their portfolios.
Aggressive trading drove China’s 10-year bond yield down to an all-time low of 1.6981 per cent last week, down from 2.0253 per cent at the end of November. It stood at 1.7136 per cent as of Monday.
Meanwhile, the 30-year yield reached 1.955 per cent on Monday, down from 2.16 per cent earlier this month.
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By Mia Nulimaimaiti
China’s central bank has imposed heavy fines on three financial institutions for bond-trading irregularities – the first of such punitive actions after it warned about plunging government bond yields from May.
In circulars released on its website on Monday, the People’s Bank of China said that the institutions – Shanghai East Asia Futures, Hunan Xupu Rural Commercial Bank and Tianjin Xintang Money Brokerage – were involved in misconduct designed to bypass regulatory and internal control requirements.
Three institutions were fined 36.07 million yuan (US$4.94 million), 13.1 million yuan and 11.03 million yuan, respectively. Meanwhile, 13 employees involved in these cases were penalised a total of 2.53 million yuan, while illegal gains of 8.57 million yuan from East Asia Futures were confiscated.
The three institutions were the first to be punished as the central bank has taken a zero-tolerance stance on such trading.
Amid declining returns from traditional assets such as stocks and real estate, investors are increasingly turning to low-risk options, such as government bonds, to diversify their portfolios.
Aggressive trading drove China’s 10-year bond yield down to an all-time low of 1.6981 per cent last week, down from 2.0253 per cent at the end of November. It stood at 1.7136 per cent as of Monday.
Meanwhile, the 30-year yield reached 1.955 per cent on Monday, down from 2.16 per cent earlier this month.
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