Crowds gather for Hong Kong’s first pyrotechnics drone show
By Jiang Chuqin
Hundreds of residents and tourists packed the West Kowloon Cultural District arts hub hours before Hong Kong’s first pyrotechnics drone show on Saturday night, with the organiser pressing ahead despite concerns over strong winds.
Design-studio AllRightsReserved said on social media at 5pm the panda-themed show over Victoria Harbour would go ahead at 8.15pm, even though the drones loaded with the pyrotechnics had a decreased ability to resist stronger winds.
In the crowd was Abbie Lee, an 18-year-old student, accompanied by her father, a photography enthusiast.
“My dad and I took pictures of the Christmas fireworks a few days ago, and we want to capture this first pyrotechnic drone show,” Lee said.
They arrived at around 4pm and set up their tripod and camera in the front row, ensuring they had an ideal view to capture the event.
Marius Wilters and Marina Wilters, a South Africa couple in their early 60s who are visiting their child working in the city, arrived four hours early to see their second drone show in the city during the holidays.
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By Jiang Chuqin
Hundreds of residents and tourists packed the West Kowloon Cultural District arts hub hours before Hong Kong’s first pyrotechnics drone show on Saturday night, with the organiser pressing ahead despite concerns over strong winds.
Design-studio AllRightsReserved said on social media at 5pm the panda-themed show over Victoria Harbour would go ahead at 8.15pm, even though the drones loaded with the pyrotechnics had a decreased ability to resist stronger winds.
In the crowd was Abbie Lee, an 18-year-old student, accompanied by her father, a photography enthusiast.
“My dad and I took pictures of the Christmas fireworks a few days ago, and we want to capture this first pyrotechnic drone show,” Lee said.
They arrived at around 4pm and set up their tripod and camera in the front row, ensuring they had an ideal view to capture the event.
Marius Wilters and Marina Wilters, a South Africa couple in their early 60s who are visiting their child working in the city, arrived four hours early to see their second drone show in the city during the holidays.
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Hong Kong’s year in sports: Olympic success and readying Kai Tak complex
By Harvey Kong
Hong Kong athletes pulled off a stellar performance in 2024 with their biggest Olympic gold medal haul, analysts have said as they highlight the smooth opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park as the top priority for the sector in the coming year.
But some misses, such as Lionel Messi’s failure to play at an exhibition game in February, have prompted some observers to urge authorities to step up efforts in scrutinising funding requests from event organisers.
“In terms of elite sports, I think this year was a bumper harvest – we have very good results in the Olympics and the Paralympics games,” said Lobo Louie Hung-tak, associate head of the Education University of Hong Kong’s health and physical education department.
Hong Kong athletes delivered the city’s best sporting performances in recent years, with foilist Cheung Ka-long and epeeist Vivian Kong Man-wai each winning gold in the Paris Olympics, while swimmer Siobhan Haughey came away with two bronze medals.
The city’s Paralympic athletes also came home with the best results since the 2012 London Games with a total of eight medals including three gold.
Lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun highlighted that athletes in sports that were not supported by the government’s elite sports programme, such as basketball and football, had also achieved good results.
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By Harvey Kong
Hong Kong athletes pulled off a stellar performance in 2024 with their biggest Olympic gold medal haul, analysts have said as they highlight the smooth opening of the Kai Tak Sports Park as the top priority for the sector in the coming year.
But some misses, such as Lionel Messi’s failure to play at an exhibition game in February, have prompted some observers to urge authorities to step up efforts in scrutinising funding requests from event organisers.
“In terms of elite sports, I think this year was a bumper harvest – we have very good results in the Olympics and the Paralympics games,” said Lobo Louie Hung-tak, associate head of the Education University of Hong Kong’s health and physical education department.
Hong Kong athletes delivered the city’s best sporting performances in recent years, with foilist Cheung Ka-long and epeeist Vivian Kong Man-wai each winning gold in the Paris Olympics, while swimmer Siobhan Haughey came away with two bronze medals.
The city’s Paralympic athletes also came home with the best results since the 2012 London Games with a total of eight medals including three gold.
Lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun highlighted that athletes in sports that were not supported by the government’s elite sports programme, such as basketball and football, had also achieved good results.
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Aid reaches south Khartoum in Sudan civil war amid humanitarian crisis
By Agence France-Presse
Civilians in a besieged area south of Sudan’s war-torn capital received their first aid convoy this week since the war began 20 months ago, local volunteers said.
A total of 28 trucks arrived in the Jebel Awliya area, just south of Khartoum, the state’s emergency response room (ERR), part of a volunteer network coordinating frontline aid across Sudan, said on Friday.
The convoy included 22 trucks carrying food from the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), one truck from Medecins Sans Frontieres, and five trucks loaded with medicine from the UN children’s agency, Unicef.
The local group and Unicef said the supplies would help meet the “urgent health and nutrition needs of an estimated 200,000 children and families”.
Jebel Awliya is one of many areas across Sudan facing mass starvation after warring parties cut off access.
Since the war began in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, nothing has gone in or out without both parties’ approval.
ERR volunteers endured months of negotiations, constant suspicion and threats of violence to secure even limited access.
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By Agence France-Presse
Civilians in a besieged area south of Sudan’s war-torn capital received their first aid convoy this week since the war began 20 months ago, local volunteers said.
A total of 28 trucks arrived in the Jebel Awliya area, just south of Khartoum, the state’s emergency response room (ERR), part of a volunteer network coordinating frontline aid across Sudan, said on Friday.
The convoy included 22 trucks carrying food from the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), one truck from Medecins Sans Frontieres, and five trucks loaded with medicine from the UN children’s agency, Unicef.
The local group and Unicef said the supplies would help meet the “urgent health and nutrition needs of an estimated 200,000 children and families”.
Jebel Awliya is one of many areas across Sudan facing mass starvation after warring parties cut off access.
Since the war began in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, nothing has gone in or out without both parties’ approval.
ERR volunteers endured months of negotiations, constant suspicion and threats of violence to secure even limited access.
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China names senior UN envoy Dai Bing as new South Korean ambassador
By Vanessa Cai
China has appointed Dai Bing, its former deputy representative to the United Nations, as the new ambassador to South Korea.
The appointment, announced by the Chinese embassy in Seoul on Friday, fills a vacancy of more than five months since the previous ambassador departed.
Dai takes over at a time of growing geopolitical complexity, and some observers believe that his insight into broader international trends would give him an edge in tackling challenges.
“This is the first time I have been stationed in South Korea,” Dai said upon his arrival in Seoul on Friday. “I’m willing to strengthen communication with all sectors in South Korea, make new friends and good friends.”
Dai, 57, has had a quite different career path to most of his predecessors, who specialised in East Asian affairs. He is only the second Chinese ambassador to Seoul not to have spent time in the Korean peninsula or in Japan before.
He began in 1995 at the foreign ministry’s African affairs department, with spells at the embassies in South Africa and Singapore before becoming director general of the same department in 2017. He was assigned the UN role in 2020.
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By Vanessa Cai
China has appointed Dai Bing, its former deputy representative to the United Nations, as the new ambassador to South Korea.
The appointment, announced by the Chinese embassy in Seoul on Friday, fills a vacancy of more than five months since the previous ambassador departed.
Dai takes over at a time of growing geopolitical complexity, and some observers believe that his insight into broader international trends would give him an edge in tackling challenges.
“This is the first time I have been stationed in South Korea,” Dai said upon his arrival in Seoul on Friday. “I’m willing to strengthen communication with all sectors in South Korea, make new friends and good friends.”
Dai, 57, has had a quite different career path to most of his predecessors, who specialised in East Asian affairs. He is only the second Chinese ambassador to Seoul not to have spent time in the Korean peninsula or in Japan before.
He began in 1995 at the foreign ministry’s African affairs department, with spells at the embassies in South Africa and Singapore before becoming director general of the same department in 2017. He was assigned the UN role in 2020.
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Pakistan warns Taliban of air strikes over future attacks as Afghanistan vows revenge
By Tom Hussain
Pakistan has warned the Taliban that it will bomb insurgents who have taken safe haven in Afghanistan in retaliation for any future lethal attacks against its security forces, sparking revenge threats from the neighbour, even as the two sides pursue talks to defuse tensions.
Four Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province were hit by Pakistani warplanes and armed drones on Tuesday night.
Islamabad has not directly commented on the strikes but its foreign ministry said the armed forces conducted “operations in border areas to protect the people of Pakistan from terrorist groups”.
“These counterterrorism operations are carefully selected and based on accurate intelligence,” the Dawn newspaper quoted the ministry as saying on Thursday.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government’s spokesman, said at least 46 Afghan and Pakistani nationals, including women and children, were killed.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan also said on Wednesday that dozens of civilians died in the attacks, citing “credible reports” it received on the incident, which drew angry reactions from Kabul.
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By Tom Hussain
Pakistan has warned the Taliban that it will bomb insurgents who have taken safe haven in Afghanistan in retaliation for any future lethal attacks against its security forces, sparking revenge threats from the neighbour, even as the two sides pursue talks to defuse tensions.
Four Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province were hit by Pakistani warplanes and armed drones on Tuesday night.
Islamabad has not directly commented on the strikes but its foreign ministry said the armed forces conducted “operations in border areas to protect the people of Pakistan from terrorist groups”.
“These counterterrorism operations are carefully selected and based on accurate intelligence,” the Dawn newspaper quoted the ministry as saying on Thursday.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban government’s spokesman, said at least 46 Afghan and Pakistani nationals, including women and children, were killed.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan also said on Wednesday that dozens of civilians died in the attacks, citing “credible reports” it received on the incident, which drew angry reactions from Kabul.
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China lottery man loses US$1.4 million jackpot after shop boss claims cousin bought tickets
By Alice Yan
A man in China whose 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million) lottery jackpot was falsely claimed by another person has won a lawsuit demanding the money back.
However, the man, surnamed Yao, has still not received his winnings after a five-year battle to secure his rights.
The case has attracted huge attention on mainland social media after it was reported by the Yangtze Evening News in mid-December.
The controversy involving Yao, who regularly buys lottery tickets, unfolded in Xian, northwestern China.
On July 17, 2019, Yao transferred 20 yuan (US$2.8) to a lottery shop owner, surnamed Wang, trusting him to buy two tickets for him.
Wang randomly chose two tickets for Yao before sending photos of the tickets to him via a social media platform to confirm Yao’s purchase.
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By Alice Yan
A man in China whose 10 million yuan (US$1.4 million) lottery jackpot was falsely claimed by another person has won a lawsuit demanding the money back.
However, the man, surnamed Yao, has still not received his winnings after a five-year battle to secure his rights.
The case has attracted huge attention on mainland social media after it was reported by the Yangtze Evening News in mid-December.
The controversy involving Yao, who regularly buys lottery tickets, unfolded in Xian, northwestern China.
On July 17, 2019, Yao transferred 20 yuan (US$2.8) to a lottery shop owner, surnamed Wang, trusting him to buy two tickets for him.
Wang randomly chose two tickets for Yao before sending photos of the tickets to him via a social media platform to confirm Yao’s purchase.
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Hong Kong’s premium taxi fleets could be in line for quality service logo
By Kahon Chan
Premium taxis may be eligible to receive a stamp of approval under a quality service scheme, the head of a Hong Kong body that promotes better standards in the tourist sector has said, adding that Halal-friendly restaurants may also be included next year in a bid to improve the city’s appeal to Muslim visitors.
Simon Wong Kit-lung, chairman of the Quality Tourism Services Association, also suggested that a further increase in mainland Chinese tourists was unlikely to drive a sharp rise in local retail sales as their spending patterns had “normalised”.
Transport authorities granted five premium taxi fleet licences in July in a bid to promote service quality across the trade, and operators have until the end of July next year to launch their services.
Hong Kong’s taxis have a poor reputation among locals and tourists with complaints mostly about cherry-picking passengers and overcharging fares.
Wong said following the introduction of the new taxi category, there were plans to bring it under the Quality Tourism Services Scheme, of which his association is a partner.
“For several years, people have been asking us whether the quality stamp can be extended to taxis. In the past, the biggest problem was that people hailed taxis whenever they saw one, and they wouldn’t only catch a taxi when they spotted the quality stamp,” he said on a pre-recorded television show aired on Saturday.
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By Kahon Chan
Premium taxis may be eligible to receive a stamp of approval under a quality service scheme, the head of a Hong Kong body that promotes better standards in the tourist sector has said, adding that Halal-friendly restaurants may also be included next year in a bid to improve the city’s appeal to Muslim visitors.
Simon Wong Kit-lung, chairman of the Quality Tourism Services Association, also suggested that a further increase in mainland Chinese tourists was unlikely to drive a sharp rise in local retail sales as their spending patterns had “normalised”.
Transport authorities granted five premium taxi fleet licences in July in a bid to promote service quality across the trade, and operators have until the end of July next year to launch their services.
Hong Kong’s taxis have a poor reputation among locals and tourists with complaints mostly about cherry-picking passengers and overcharging fares.
Wong said following the introduction of the new taxi category, there were plans to bring it under the Quality Tourism Services Scheme, of which his association is a partner.
“For several years, people have been asking us whether the quality stamp can be extended to taxis. In the past, the biggest problem was that people hailed taxis whenever they saw one, and they wouldn’t only catch a taxi when they spotted the quality stamp,” he said on a pre-recorded television show aired on Saturday.
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Former Indian Prime Minister cremated in New Delhi, mourned worldwide
By Associated Press
Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform programme, was cremated after a state funeral on Saturday as politicians and the public mourned his death.
The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late on Thursday at age 92.
Singh’s body was taken to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi on Saturday morning, where party leaders and activists paid tribute to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.”
Abhishek Bishnoi, a party leader, said Singh’s death was big loss for the country. “He used to speak little, but his talent and his actions spoke louder than his words,” he said.
Later, Singh’s body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums.
Government officials, politicians and family members paid their last respects to Singh, whose casket was adorned with flowers and wrapped in the Indian flag. Security personnel honoured him with a ceremonial gun salute.
Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called Singh one of the country’s “most distinguished leaders,” and several cabinet ministers took part in the funeral ceremony.
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By Associated Press
Manmohan Singh, the former Indian prime minister widely regarded as the architect of the country’s economic reform programme, was cremated after a state funeral on Saturday as politicians and the public mourned his death.
The veteran leader, who was also credited for a landmark nuclear deal with the United States, died late on Thursday at age 92.
Singh’s body was taken to the headquarters of his Congress party in New Delhi on Saturday morning, where party leaders and activists paid tribute to him and chanted “Manmohan Singh lives forever.”
Abhishek Bishnoi, a party leader, said Singh’s death was big loss for the country. “He used to speak little, but his talent and his actions spoke louder than his words,” he said.
Later, Singh’s body was transported to a crematorium ground for his last rites as soldiers beat drums.
Government officials, politicians and family members paid their last respects to Singh, whose casket was adorned with flowers and wrapped in the Indian flag. Security personnel honoured him with a ceremonial gun salute.
Indian President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called Singh one of the country’s “most distinguished leaders,” and several cabinet ministers took part in the funeral ceremony.
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South Korean prosecutors: Yoon authorised ‘shooting’ during martial law bid
By Agence France-Presse
South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk-yeol authorised the military to fire their weapons if needed to enter parliament during his failed bid to impose martial law, according to a prosecutors’ report seen by journalists on Saturday.
The 10-page summary from former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun’s prosecution indictment report, which was provided to the media, also says Yoon vowed on December 3 to declare martial law three times if necessary.
Yoon, who was stripped of his duties by the National Assembly this month, is under investigation for his short-lived attempt to scrap civilian rule, which plunged the country into political turmoil and led to his impeachment.
Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Kab-keun dismissed the prosecutors’ report, telling reporters it was “a one-sided account that neither corresponds to objective circumstances nor common sense”.
As lawmakers rushed to parliament on December 3 to vote down Yoon’s martial law declaration, heavily armed troops stormed the building, scaling fences, smashing windows and landing by helicopter.
According to the prosecution indictment report, Yoon told the chief of the capital defence command, Lee Jin-woo, that military forces could shoot if necessary to enter the National Assembly.
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By Agence France-Presse
South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk-yeol authorised the military to fire their weapons if needed to enter parliament during his failed bid to impose martial law, according to a prosecutors’ report seen by journalists on Saturday.
The 10-page summary from former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun’s prosecution indictment report, which was provided to the media, also says Yoon vowed on December 3 to declare martial law three times if necessary.
Yoon, who was stripped of his duties by the National Assembly this month, is under investigation for his short-lived attempt to scrap civilian rule, which plunged the country into political turmoil and led to his impeachment.
Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Kab-keun dismissed the prosecutors’ report, telling reporters it was “a one-sided account that neither corresponds to objective circumstances nor common sense”.
As lawmakers rushed to parliament on December 3 to vote down Yoon’s martial law declaration, heavily armed troops stormed the building, scaling fences, smashing windows and landing by helicopter.
According to the prosecution indictment report, Yoon told the chief of the capital defence command, Lee Jin-woo, that military forces could shoot if necessary to enter the National Assembly.
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Why world should agree to hand nominal leadership to Trump’s America
By Anthony Rowley
This is the time for making New Year’s resolutions, but preferably only if these are well-intentioned. This cannot be said of US president-elect Donald Trump’s determination, expressed as he prepares to enter office in 2025, to ensure “peace through strength” because that implies the use of US force in a new iteration of Pax Americana.
A US-enforced global order is not where the world is at now. Primus inter pares, or first among equals, it may be, but only in the context of an order which respects the legitimacy of other ideologies to arrive at a viable form of modus vivendi, or living together.
Trump is unlikely to be the first to propose such a mutually respectful alliance among world leaders. It is incumbent upon leaders of the Group of 7 gathering of advanced nations – or preferably those of the Group of 20, which also includes emerging nations – to do so. Can one of them show sufficient statesmanship and true leadership to propose a joint alliance of world leaders? Someone has to take the lead, and we can count out the incoming occupant of the White House in this regard.
How can those leaders persuade people driven by the “Make America Great Again” mindset – someone possessed of the notion of American exceptionalism and superiority – to accept anything less than the idea of world domination? By appealing to their vanity and convincing them that they will accept their nominal leadership in the context of a form of constitutional monarchy.
Why should other G7 or G20 leaders accept the idea of existing under even the nominal leadership of the United States when their own countries and cultures date back much further than that of a former British colony?
Asians are more pragmatic by nature compared to Westerners and take a longer-term view of life. A Pax Americana cannot be expected to last any longer than, or maybe not as long, the Pax Britannica – a period of relative peace in Europe which lasted from 1815 to 1914. This was the time when the British Empire was the world’s dominant power and Britain adopted the role of a global police force.
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By Anthony Rowley
This is the time for making New Year’s resolutions, but preferably only if these are well-intentioned. This cannot be said of US president-elect Donald Trump’s determination, expressed as he prepares to enter office in 2025, to ensure “peace through strength” because that implies the use of US force in a new iteration of Pax Americana.
A US-enforced global order is not where the world is at now. Primus inter pares, or first among equals, it may be, but only in the context of an order which respects the legitimacy of other ideologies to arrive at a viable form of modus vivendi, or living together.
Trump is unlikely to be the first to propose such a mutually respectful alliance among world leaders. It is incumbent upon leaders of the Group of 7 gathering of advanced nations – or preferably those of the Group of 20, which also includes emerging nations – to do so. Can one of them show sufficient statesmanship and true leadership to propose a joint alliance of world leaders? Someone has to take the lead, and we can count out the incoming occupant of the White House in this regard.
How can those leaders persuade people driven by the “Make America Great Again” mindset – someone possessed of the notion of American exceptionalism and superiority – to accept anything less than the idea of world domination? By appealing to their vanity and convincing them that they will accept their nominal leadership in the context of a form of constitutional monarchy.
Why should other G7 or G20 leaders accept the idea of existing under even the nominal leadership of the United States when their own countries and cultures date back much further than that of a former British colony?
Asians are more pragmatic by nature compared to Westerners and take a longer-term view of life. A Pax Americana cannot be expected to last any longer than, or maybe not as long, the Pax Britannica – a period of relative peace in Europe which lasted from 1815 to 1914. This was the time when the British Empire was the world’s dominant power and Britain adopted the role of a global police force.
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Former Singapore tycoon Lim Oon Kuin declared bankrupt after oil empire crumbled
By Bloomberg
Former tycoon Lim Oon Kuin has been declared bankrupt in Singapore, following the collapse of his oil trading empire.
The name of the founder of Hin Leong Trading Pte. and his children Lim Huey Ching and Lim Chee Meng were listed as having been issued a bankruptcy order on December 19, the government gazette showed. The younger Lims were both directors at the company.
Leow Quek Shiong and Seah Roh Lin of BDO Advisory Pte. Ltd. are the trustees, according to the gazette.
At its peak, Hin Leong traded a range of oil products, made lubricants and operated loading terminals and storage facilities. But the downfall of the man widely known as OK Lim came in 2020, as Covid-19 sent oil prices into free fall.
Hin Leong was accused of hiding more than US$800 million in losses and leaving more than 20 banks with huge liabilities.
Singapore’s High Court in September approved the Lims’ agreements to pay US$3.59 billion to the liquidators of his collapsed firm and creditor HSBC Holdings Plc, ending the civil case against him. Lim, 82, was quoted as saying at the time that he did not have enough assets to pay all of them and would apply for bankruptcy.
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By Bloomberg
Former tycoon Lim Oon Kuin has been declared bankrupt in Singapore, following the collapse of his oil trading empire.
The name of the founder of Hin Leong Trading Pte. and his children Lim Huey Ching and Lim Chee Meng were listed as having been issued a bankruptcy order on December 19, the government gazette showed. The younger Lims were both directors at the company.
Leow Quek Shiong and Seah Roh Lin of BDO Advisory Pte. Ltd. are the trustees, according to the gazette.
At its peak, Hin Leong traded a range of oil products, made lubricants and operated loading terminals and storage facilities. But the downfall of the man widely known as OK Lim came in 2020, as Covid-19 sent oil prices into free fall.
Hin Leong was accused of hiding more than US$800 million in losses and leaving more than 20 banks with huge liabilities.
Singapore’s High Court in September approved the Lims’ agreements to pay US$3.59 billion to the liquidators of his collapsed firm and creditor HSBC Holdings Plc, ending the civil case against him. Lim, 82, was quoted as saying at the time that he did not have enough assets to pay all of them and would apply for bankruptcy.
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Hong Kong’s year in medical blunders, from unneeded surgery to detached tubes
By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong public hospitals suffered a series of medical incidents this year, with the health minister pointing to a “systemic issue” and ordering the Hospital Authority to conduct a comprehensive review.
In response, the authority put forward 31 recommendations in November to strengthen accountability and governance, with most of them expected to be implemented by June 30 next year.
The Post lists out the medical incidents that have unfolded in 2024.
A 51-year-old tuberculosis patient, who was admitted to Kwong Wah Hospital last December, was in critical condition after suffering from septic shock and respiratory failure.
He needed ventilator support and was transferred to the isolation ward on February 5.
But it was later found that the ventilator tube became detached from the patient, who was unresponsive with no pulse. The tube was immediately reconnected and resuscitation was successfully performed on the patient.
The Root Cause Analysis Panel believed that the patient’s body movement had caused the dislodgement. When the double doors of the ward were closed, staff could not detect the visual and audible alarms of the ventilator and the bedside monitor.
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By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong public hospitals suffered a series of medical incidents this year, with the health minister pointing to a “systemic issue” and ordering the Hospital Authority to conduct a comprehensive review.
In response, the authority put forward 31 recommendations in November to strengthen accountability and governance, with most of them expected to be implemented by June 30 next year.
The Post lists out the medical incidents that have unfolded in 2024.
A 51-year-old tuberculosis patient, who was admitted to Kwong Wah Hospital last December, was in critical condition after suffering from septic shock and respiratory failure.
He needed ventilator support and was transferred to the isolation ward on February 5.
But it was later found that the ventilator tube became detached from the patient, who was unresponsive with no pulse. The tube was immediately reconnected and resuscitation was successfully performed on the patient.
The Root Cause Analysis Panel believed that the patient’s body movement had caused the dislodgement. When the double doors of the ward were closed, staff could not detect the visual and audible alarms of the ventilator and the bedside monitor.
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Number of Hongkongers leaving city over Christmas holiday rose by 50%
By Sammy HeungKahon Chan
The number of local residents leaving Hong Kong between December 25 and 26 increased by about 50 per cent from last year, while the city also recorded a slight uptick in incoming mainland Chinese tourists over the Christmas holiday.
Immigration Department data showed that 905,035 local residents had left Hong Kong on Christmas Day and Boxing Day of this year, a 50.7 per cent increase from the 599,083 who departed from the city over the same period in 2023.
While many residents departed the city over the holiday, the Post observed crowds at Christmas markets in Stanley and West Kowloon Cultural District, as well as shoppers flocking to commercial spaces such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay.
“Some people were worried before the holiday whether Hong Kong would become a dead city as many Hongkongers would travel during the break,” Simon Wong Kit-lung, chairman of the Quality Tourism Services Association, told a TV programme that aired on Saturday.
“Now you can clearly see that such fears have absolutely not materialised in the past few days. There are many Hongkongers travelling, but those who stay here are actually willing to spend and want to have fun.”
Wong, who is also executive director of restaurant chain LH Group, said that while business in the catering sector had increased by up to a fifth this month compared with November, overall receipts remained about 5 to 10 per cent lower than last December.
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By Sammy HeungKahon Chan
The number of local residents leaving Hong Kong between December 25 and 26 increased by about 50 per cent from last year, while the city also recorded a slight uptick in incoming mainland Chinese tourists over the Christmas holiday.
Immigration Department data showed that 905,035 local residents had left Hong Kong on Christmas Day and Boxing Day of this year, a 50.7 per cent increase from the 599,083 who departed from the city over the same period in 2023.
While many residents departed the city over the holiday, the Post observed crowds at Christmas markets in Stanley and West Kowloon Cultural District, as well as shoppers flocking to commercial spaces such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay.
“Some people were worried before the holiday whether Hong Kong would become a dead city as many Hongkongers would travel during the break,” Simon Wong Kit-lung, chairman of the Quality Tourism Services Association, told a TV programme that aired on Saturday.
“Now you can clearly see that such fears have absolutely not materialised in the past few days. There are many Hongkongers travelling, but those who stay here are actually willing to spend and want to have fun.”
Wong, who is also executive director of restaurant chain LH Group, said that while business in the catering sector had increased by up to a fifth this month compared with November, overall receipts remained about 5 to 10 per cent lower than last December.
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Yoon’s ‘crazy’ actions rattle South Korea’s currency and economy
By Agence France-Presse
After South Korea’s president and his replacement were both deposed over a failed bid to impose martial law, deepening political turmoil is threatening the country’s currency and shaking confidence in its economy.
The won, which plunged on Friday to its lowest level against the US dollar since 2009, has been in near-constant decline since President Yoon Suk-yeol’s attempt to scrap civilian rule in early December.
Business and consumer confidence in Asia’s fourth-largest economy have also taken their biggest hit since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to figures released by the Bank of Korea.
Lawmakers impeached Yoon in mid-December on charges of insurrection, and on Friday they impeached his successor, acting president and prime minister Han Duck-soo, arguing that he refused demands to complete Yoon’s removal from office and bring him to justice.
That thrust Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok into the additional roles of acting president and prime minister.
Choi has pledged to do all he can to end “this period of turmoil” and resolve the political crisis gripping the country.
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By Agence France-Presse
After South Korea’s president and his replacement were both deposed over a failed bid to impose martial law, deepening political turmoil is threatening the country’s currency and shaking confidence in its economy.
The won, which plunged on Friday to its lowest level against the US dollar since 2009, has been in near-constant decline since President Yoon Suk-yeol’s attempt to scrap civilian rule in early December.
Business and consumer confidence in Asia’s fourth-largest economy have also taken their biggest hit since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to figures released by the Bank of Korea.
Lawmakers impeached Yoon in mid-December on charges of insurrection, and on Friday they impeached his successor, acting president and prime minister Han Duck-soo, arguing that he refused demands to complete Yoon’s removal from office and bring him to justice.
That thrust Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok into the additional roles of acting president and prime minister.
Choi has pledged to do all he can to end “this period of turmoil” and resolve the political crisis gripping the country.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hongkongers can now book self-service kiosks for international driving permits
By Harvey Kong
Hong Kong’s Transport Department launched online bookings on Saturday for a new initiative allowing residents to apply for international driving permits at self-service kiosks, expecting about 10,000 users a year.
The two kiosks, which have a daily quota of 32 people each, will serve the public from January 13 onwards as part of a pilot operation and successful applicants will be able to obtain the permit on the same day.
“The purpose of this kiosk is to provide an additional means of submission of the international driving permit applications, to provide more convenience to the public,” said Chow Wai, a CEO with the department’s licensing section.
“We are always encouraging members of the public to use online applications. If they use our kiosk, one of the benefits is that they can get the permit within the same day or within an hour after submitting their applications.”
Applicants for international driving permits currently have several options to submit their application, including an in-person submission at the licensing office, using a drop-in box, through the post or doing so online.
While the in-person application also allows for the same-day collection of the document, other methods would see drivers receive their permit within 10 working days.
One kiosk each will be placed at the Transport Department’s licensing office in Admiralty and Cheung Sha Wan, and prior booking is required to use the service.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Harvey Kong
Hong Kong’s Transport Department launched online bookings on Saturday for a new initiative allowing residents to apply for international driving permits at self-service kiosks, expecting about 10,000 users a year.
The two kiosks, which have a daily quota of 32 people each, will serve the public from January 13 onwards as part of a pilot operation and successful applicants will be able to obtain the permit on the same day.
“The purpose of this kiosk is to provide an additional means of submission of the international driving permit applications, to provide more convenience to the public,” said Chow Wai, a CEO with the department’s licensing section.
“We are always encouraging members of the public to use online applications. If they use our kiosk, one of the benefits is that they can get the permit within the same day or within an hour after submitting their applications.”
Applicants for international driving permits currently have several options to submit their application, including an in-person submission at the licensing office, using a drop-in box, through the post or doing so online.
While the in-person application also allows for the same-day collection of the document, other methods would see drivers receive their permit within 10 working days.
One kiosk each will be placed at the Transport Department’s licensing office in Admiralty and Cheung Sha Wan, and prior booking is required to use the service.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong ‘highly concerned’ over pace of rail link works for I&T centre
By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong authorities are “highly concerned” about ensuring that a railway link’s development keeps pace with the opening of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology (I&T) Park, a minister has said in response to concerns from lawmakers.
Lawmakers earlier expressed concerns that the Northern Link, which will connect the Tuen Ma line with the Lok Ma Chau Spur route branch on the East Rail line, would only be fully completed nine years after the park opened in 2025.
Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said on Saturday that Kwu Tung station, a stop on the coming rail link and located near the proposed park in Lok Ma Chau Loop, would only be completed in 2027, adding there were other ways to commute there.
“I have noticed the relevant media reports on this topic. We are highly concerned about it. In fact, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau has been conducting intensive consultations with the relevant government departments,” he told a radio programme.
“Aside from the park’s own planning and development, the surrounding facilities, especially transport infrastructure, are very important.”
The park is expected to be completed in two phases, with the first stage involving the construction of three buildings set to be finished by the end of 2024. The site will start operating next year.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong authorities are “highly concerned” about ensuring that a railway link’s development keeps pace with the opening of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology (I&T) Park, a minister has said in response to concerns from lawmakers.
Lawmakers earlier expressed concerns that the Northern Link, which will connect the Tuen Ma line with the Lok Ma Chau Spur route branch on the East Rail line, would only be fully completed nine years after the park opened in 2025.
Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said on Saturday that Kwu Tung station, a stop on the coming rail link and located near the proposed park in Lok Ma Chau Loop, would only be completed in 2027, adding there were other ways to commute there.
“I have noticed the relevant media reports on this topic. We are highly concerned about it. In fact, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau has been conducting intensive consultations with the relevant government departments,” he told a radio programme.
“Aside from the park’s own planning and development, the surrounding facilities, especially transport infrastructure, are very important.”
The park is expected to be completed in two phases, with the first stage involving the construction of three buildings set to be finished by the end of 2024. The site will start operating next year.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Chinese woman wrapped in large plastic bag after hospital discharge post-childbirth – but why?
By Alice Yan
A woman in China was seen wrapped in a large plastic bag after being discharged from the hospital following childbirth, a sight that quickly gained traction on mainland social media.
Her story has reignited a debate about traditional health practices for post-partum women.
On December 10, a woman, already dressed in a long and thick down jacket, was filmed by a passer-by as she covered her body from head to legs with a huge plastic bag while walking outside to shield herself from the wind, as reported by Tide News.
The hospital, located in Dalian in northeastern Liaoning province, was experiencing temperatures below 5 degrees earlier this month.
“I just gave birth to a baby and I am quite weak. I don’t want to be blown by the wind,” the woman was quoted as saying.
“My mother thought of this idea of using the plastic bag to keep out the wind. It is such a good choice because it is cheap while it works well in shielding the wind,” she added.
Preventing new mothers from being exposed to the wind is one of the traditional caring practices in China during the one-month-long post-partum period.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Alice Yan
A woman in China was seen wrapped in a large plastic bag after being discharged from the hospital following childbirth, a sight that quickly gained traction on mainland social media.
Her story has reignited a debate about traditional health practices for post-partum women.
On December 10, a woman, already dressed in a long and thick down jacket, was filmed by a passer-by as she covered her body from head to legs with a huge plastic bag while walking outside to shield herself from the wind, as reported by Tide News.
The hospital, located in Dalian in northeastern Liaoning province, was experiencing temperatures below 5 degrees earlier this month.
“I just gave birth to a baby and I am quite weak. I don’t want to be blown by the wind,” the woman was quoted as saying.
“My mother thought of this idea of using the plastic bag to keep out the wind. It is such a good choice because it is cheap while it works well in shielding the wind,” she added.
Preventing new mothers from being exposed to the wind is one of the traditional caring practices in China during the one-month-long post-partum period.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
