China mandates 30% EVs in government fleets in boost for carmakers, decarbonisation
By Daniel Ren
Chinese government departments have been told to prioritise electric vehicle (EVs) purchases for official use, as Beijing ramps up efforts to promote the use of environmentally friendly vehicles while providing another boost for the industry.
A circular from the Ministry of Finance on Monday said that ministry-level authorities and their units across the country should make sure that EVs account for at least 30 per cent of their total annual purchases. The minimum requirement will be raised in the coming years.
“The circular has been released to better regulate government procurement of new-energy vehicles [NEVs],” the statement said. “The goal is to promote the use of electric cars.”
Sales of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in China, the world’s largest automotive and EV market, account for more than 60 per cent of the global total. Since July, demand for EVs has outpaced that for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
“Government departments at different levels will be able to meet the requirement easily now that the market abounds with EV models that are seen as value for money,” said Gao Shen, an independent analyst in Shanghai. With charging infrastructure rapidly expanding, EVs will grow in popularity on the mainland, he added.
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By Daniel Ren
Chinese government departments have been told to prioritise electric vehicle (EVs) purchases for official use, as Beijing ramps up efforts to promote the use of environmentally friendly vehicles while providing another boost for the industry.
A circular from the Ministry of Finance on Monday said that ministry-level authorities and their units across the country should make sure that EVs account for at least 30 per cent of their total annual purchases. The minimum requirement will be raised in the coming years.
“The circular has been released to better regulate government procurement of new-energy vehicles [NEVs],” the statement said. “The goal is to promote the use of electric cars.”
Sales of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in China, the world’s largest automotive and EV market, account for more than 60 per cent of the global total. Since July, demand for EVs has outpaced that for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
“Government departments at different levels will be able to meet the requirement easily now that the market abounds with EV models that are seen as value for money,” said Gao Shen, an independent analyst in Shanghai. With charging infrastructure rapidly expanding, EVs will grow in popularity on the mainland, he added.
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Hong Kong earmarks Sha Tin site for self-financing institution’s campus expansion
By William Yiu
Hong Kong education authorities have reserved a 1,210-square metre land site in Sha Tin for a self-financing institution to expand its campus in early 2026.
The site, which is now a public car park, is located next to a former campus owned by the operator of Hong Kong’s first Catholic university.
The Education Bureau said on Monday it was offering the Sha Tin site and an interest-free loan scheme for the development of a university campus and student hostels, as part of plans to support the sector.
“To further support the capacity expansion and quality enhancement of the self-financing sector, the government has launched a series of support measures for self-financing institutions in developing and enhancing their campuses, and developing their niche areas,” the bureau said.
The site is currently leased as a fee-paying public car park under a short-term tenancy agreement that could be terminated with a three calendar months’ notice, according to the government.
Located along Man Lai Road in Sha Tin, the site is next to a former campus of the Caritas Institute of Community Education and the Caritas Shatin Marden Foundation Secondary School before they closed in 2020 and 2008, respectively.
The operator of the former campus, Caritas Hong Kong, obtained the government approval to turn its self-financing institution – Caritas Institute of Higher Education – early this year, into Hong Kong’s first Catholic university, Saint Francis University (SFU).
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By William Yiu
Hong Kong education authorities have reserved a 1,210-square metre land site in Sha Tin for a self-financing institution to expand its campus in early 2026.
The site, which is now a public car park, is located next to a former campus owned by the operator of Hong Kong’s first Catholic university.
The Education Bureau said on Monday it was offering the Sha Tin site and an interest-free loan scheme for the development of a university campus and student hostels, as part of plans to support the sector.
“To further support the capacity expansion and quality enhancement of the self-financing sector, the government has launched a series of support measures for self-financing institutions in developing and enhancing their campuses, and developing their niche areas,” the bureau said.
The site is currently leased as a fee-paying public car park under a short-term tenancy agreement that could be terminated with a three calendar months’ notice, according to the government.
Located along Man Lai Road in Sha Tin, the site is next to a former campus of the Caritas Institute of Community Education and the Caritas Shatin Marden Foundation Secondary School before they closed in 2020 and 2008, respectively.
The operator of the former campus, Caritas Hong Kong, obtained the government approval to turn its self-financing institution – Caritas Institute of Higher Education – early this year, into Hong Kong’s first Catholic university, Saint Francis University (SFU).
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India’s BJP accuses the US ‘deep state’ of meddling – is it a ploy to cover its flaws?
By Vasudevan Sridharan
Allegations by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the US “deep state” is interfering in India’s affairs are seen by analysts as a move by the ruling party to bolster domestic support even if it risks worsening bilateral ties.
The American “deep state” is accused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP of wrongdoings ranging from helping to disrupt parliamentary proceedings and manipulating stock markets to undermining the judiciary.
At a press conference on December 6, BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said the US State Department was “behind this agenda”.
A deep state refers to a secretive and powerful network that carries out unauthorised activities in the pursuit of its agenda without the involvement of a state’s leaders or agencies.
The accusations come even as India and the US have undertaken steps in recent months to improve relations on several fronts.
Modi was one of the first world leaders to congratulate US president-elect Donald Trump following the Republican’s election victory last month while Trump reciprocated by praising him and India as “a true friend” in a phone call. Both leaders had also met to discuss closer bilateral ties during Trump’s first term in the White House.
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By Vasudevan Sridharan
Allegations by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that the US “deep state” is interfering in India’s affairs are seen by analysts as a move by the ruling party to bolster domestic support even if it risks worsening bilateral ties.
The American “deep state” is accused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP of wrongdoings ranging from helping to disrupt parliamentary proceedings and manipulating stock markets to undermining the judiciary.
At a press conference on December 6, BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said the US State Department was “behind this agenda”.
A deep state refers to a secretive and powerful network that carries out unauthorised activities in the pursuit of its agenda without the involvement of a state’s leaders or agencies.
The accusations come even as India and the US have undertaken steps in recent months to improve relations on several fronts.
Modi was one of the first world leaders to congratulate US president-elect Donald Trump following the Republican’s election victory last month while Trump reciprocated by praising him and India as “a true friend” in a phone call. Both leaders had also met to discuss closer bilateral ties during Trump’s first term in the White House.
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China charges Myanmar Golden Triangle syndicate suspects with murder and telecoms fraud
By Sylvie Zhuang
Chinese authorities have charged 16 Myanmar citizens with crimes including murder and telecoms fraud as part of a crackdown on cross-border cybercrime.
Criminal gangs are accused of luring hundreds of thousands of people to cross the border into Myanmar and then forcing them to take part in telecoms scams in the so-called Golden Triangle.
Myanmar authorities have handed over more than 31,000 telecoms fraud suspects to China since law enforcement officers from both countries started targeting cross-border gangs last September.
Crime syndicates are believed to have made millions of US dollars a day from the scams, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Last year Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the authorities believe that up to 100,000 people in one city alone – Myawaddy on the border between Myanmar and Thailand – were involved in telecoms fraud.
The latest charges, filed in the eastern province of Zhejiang, involve 39 people, 16 of whom are citizens of Myanmar. They are accused of offences that include murder, fraud, unlawful detention, organised gambling and prostitution, and drug trafficking
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By Sylvie Zhuang
Chinese authorities have charged 16 Myanmar citizens with crimes including murder and telecoms fraud as part of a crackdown on cross-border cybercrime.
Criminal gangs are accused of luring hundreds of thousands of people to cross the border into Myanmar and then forcing them to take part in telecoms scams in the so-called Golden Triangle.
Myanmar authorities have handed over more than 31,000 telecoms fraud suspects to China since law enforcement officers from both countries started targeting cross-border gangs last September.
Crime syndicates are believed to have made millions of US dollars a day from the scams, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Last year Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the authorities believe that up to 100,000 people in one city alone – Myawaddy on the border between Myanmar and Thailand – were involved in telecoms fraud.
The latest charges, filed in the eastern province of Zhejiang, involve 39 people, 16 of whom are citizens of Myanmar. They are accused of offences that include murder, fraud, unlawful detention, organised gambling and prostitution, and drug trafficking
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Elderly Hongkongers struggle with dental bookings as online system launches
By Winnie Wong
Some elderly Hongkongers have expressed frustration over a new online booking system for appointments at public dental clinics on the first day of its launch, despite it replacing an arrangement in which residents had to queue for hours to secure a slot.
The Post spoke to several residents at one of 11 public dental clinics on Monday morning and found they were aware of the new online arrangement but stymied by a lack of staff to help them use the new platform.
A 67-year-old man surnamed Wong said he had spent about HK$80 (US$10) on a taxi and arrived at the clinic in Kowloon City at 4am to secure one of the last remaining physical tokens for an appointment before the Department of Health transitioned to the online system.
“I can’t even remember my own phone number, how will I know how to register online?” Wong said.
He struggled to register online and suggested the government reserve half of the appointments for those who preferred in-person queuing.
The Post observed during a visit to the clinic that no staff members were deployed to the queueing area to guide patients with using the online systems, nor were there signs to tell the public about the changes.
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By Winnie Wong
Some elderly Hongkongers have expressed frustration over a new online booking system for appointments at public dental clinics on the first day of its launch, despite it replacing an arrangement in which residents had to queue for hours to secure a slot.
The Post spoke to several residents at one of 11 public dental clinics on Monday morning and found they were aware of the new online arrangement but stymied by a lack of staff to help them use the new platform.
A 67-year-old man surnamed Wong said he had spent about HK$80 (US$10) on a taxi and arrived at the clinic in Kowloon City at 4am to secure one of the last remaining physical tokens for an appointment before the Department of Health transitioned to the online system.
“I can’t even remember my own phone number, how will I know how to register online?” Wong said.
He struggled to register online and suggested the government reserve half of the appointments for those who preferred in-person queuing.
The Post observed during a visit to the clinic that no staff members were deployed to the queueing area to guide patients with using the online systems, nor were there signs to tell the public about the changes.
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Chinese tunnel crews punch through Xinjiang mountains for record-setting expressway
By Leopold Chen
More than four years after they started, construction crews in western China have bored through more than 22km of mountain rock to complete a milestone in the world’s longest expressway tunnel.
The crews working on the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel punched through the final section of rock in the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Monday morning, more than a year and a half ahead of schedule, state media reported.
The 22.1km (13.7-mile) expressway tunnel is expected to be the longest of its kind, and improve links within the region and with neighbouring countries.
The mountain range divides Xinjiang into north and south, and the tunnel will cut travel time between the two areas from about three hours to just 20 minutes.
Work started on the project in April 2020, with crews deploying boring machines built specifically for the job.
The project comprises two traffic tunnels and a service tunnel running between them.
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By Leopold Chen
More than four years after they started, construction crews in western China have bored through more than 22km of mountain rock to complete a milestone in the world’s longest expressway tunnel.
The crews working on the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel punched through the final section of rock in the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Monday morning, more than a year and a half ahead of schedule, state media reported.
The 22.1km (13.7-mile) expressway tunnel is expected to be the longest of its kind, and improve links within the region and with neighbouring countries.
The mountain range divides Xinjiang into north and south, and the tunnel will cut travel time between the two areas from about three hours to just 20 minutes.
Work started on the project in April 2020, with crews deploying boring machines built specifically for the job.
The project comprises two traffic tunnels and a service tunnel running between them.
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Woman jumps off building in Hong Kong, injures man below in suspected suicide
By Danny Mok
A man was injured when a woman who jumped off a building in Hong Kong landed on him in a suspected suicide.
The incident occurred around 2.30pm near Kimberland Centre on Wing Hong Street, close to Yee Kuk West Street in Cheung Sha Wan.
The woman fell onto the man before she hit the ground. A pedestrian immediately called an ambulance, but arriving paramedics confirmed her dead at the scene.
The man, who was delivering an item with a trolley at the time, lost consciousness briefly and sustained head and limb injuries.
He was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung for treatment.
Police are investigating the incident.
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By Danny Mok
A man was injured when a woman who jumped off a building in Hong Kong landed on him in a suspected suicide.
The incident occurred around 2.30pm near Kimberland Centre on Wing Hong Street, close to Yee Kuk West Street in Cheung Sha Wan.
The woman fell onto the man before she hit the ground. A pedestrian immediately called an ambulance, but arriving paramedics confirmed her dead at the scene.
The man, who was delivering an item with a trolley at the time, lost consciousness briefly and sustained head and limb injuries.
He was taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung for treatment.
Police are investigating the incident.
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Counting down to 2025: how to celebrate Hong Kong’s biggest New Year’s Eve event
By Jiang Chuqin
Hong Kong will ring in 2025 with a New Year’s Eve countdown line-up of activities including fireworks, a star-studded concert and dance performances.
Event organiser, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, called the countdown the largest ever in the city.
The Post shares how to make the best of New Year’s Eve, whether you are a regular reveller or watching the fireworks display for the first time.
The celebration, themed “The Symphony of Happiness,” includes four sets of opening fireworks from several prominent buildings, a series of song and dance performances, and a 12-minute fireworks display.
It will kick off at 11pm on New Year’s Eve with a four-segment series of “Shooting Stars” launching every 15 minutes from three buildings on Hong Kong Island.
A giant countdown clock will be displayed on the wall of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, while revellers can enjoy musicians performing along the Cultural Centre’s viewing deck over in Tsim Sha Tsui.
The 12-minute fireworks show will start at midnight and feature several new elements previously unseen in Hong Kong before.
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By Jiang Chuqin
Hong Kong will ring in 2025 with a New Year’s Eve countdown line-up of activities including fireworks, a star-studded concert and dance performances.
Event organiser, the Hong Kong Tourism Board, called the countdown the largest ever in the city.
The Post shares how to make the best of New Year’s Eve, whether you are a regular reveller or watching the fireworks display for the first time.
The celebration, themed “The Symphony of Happiness,” includes four sets of opening fireworks from several prominent buildings, a series of song and dance performances, and a 12-minute fireworks display.
It will kick off at 11pm on New Year’s Eve with a four-segment series of “Shooting Stars” launching every 15 minutes from three buildings on Hong Kong Island.
A giant countdown clock will be displayed on the wall of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, while revellers can enjoy musicians performing along the Cultural Centre’s viewing deck over in Tsim Sha Tsui.
The 12-minute fireworks show will start at midnight and feature several new elements previously unseen in Hong Kong before.
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Vietnam’s birth rate slumps to record low despite propaganda push
By Bloomberg
Vietnam’s birth rate has sunk to a record low with the total fertility rate falling to 1.91 children per woman, marking the third consecutive year it has dropped below the replacement level.
The trend is forecast to continue in the next few years. One reason is that the resources invested by central and local governments are insufficient for the population task at hand, according to a post on the health ministry’s website citing Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong.
Like many countries across Asia seeing falling fertility rates, Vietnam is increasingly concerned about the long-term impact of declining births and an aging society.
It has even taken to using dating shows and propaganda posters to help encourage young people to have more babies as changing demographics and financial demands fuel a shift toward people choosing to have smaller families.
Prolonged low birth rates could lead to labor shortages, a rapidly aging population and strains on social security. Vietnam has one of the fastest-aging populations in the world, according to the United Nations Population Fund. People aged 60 and over accounted for 11.9 per cent of the total population in 2019 and this figure will increase to more than 25 per cent by 2050, the UNFPA says.
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By Bloomberg
Vietnam’s birth rate has sunk to a record low with the total fertility rate falling to 1.91 children per woman, marking the third consecutive year it has dropped below the replacement level.
The trend is forecast to continue in the next few years. One reason is that the resources invested by central and local governments are insufficient for the population task at hand, according to a post on the health ministry’s website citing Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong.
Like many countries across Asia seeing falling fertility rates, Vietnam is increasingly concerned about the long-term impact of declining births and an aging society.
It has even taken to using dating shows and propaganda posters to help encourage young people to have more babies as changing demographics and financial demands fuel a shift toward people choosing to have smaller families.
Prolonged low birth rates could lead to labor shortages, a rapidly aging population and strains on social security. Vietnam has one of the fastest-aging populations in the world, according to the United Nations Population Fund. People aged 60 and over accounted for 11.9 per cent of the total population in 2019 and this figure will increase to more than 25 per cent by 2050, the UNFPA says.
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Is Australia taking myopic approach in wooing Pacific nations to counter China?
By Maria Siow
Australia’s recent courtship of several Pacific island nations signals Canberra’s commitment to the region, but it is not expected to gain any lasting benefits from the outreach amid its competition with China over short-term deals, according to analysts.
On December 20, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country would spend A$190 million (US$118 million) over four years to boost the Solomon Islands’ police force and create a police training centre in its capital Honiara.
Albanese and his Solomons counterpart Jeremiah Manele said in a joint statement the package would help the South Pacific nation to build “enduring” security capabilities, “thereby reducing its reliance on external partners over time”.
China’s law enforcement instructors are already based in the Solomons Islands after both countries signed a security pact in 2022, which spurred the United States and Australia to pitch deals to Pacific island nations to limit Beijing’s security ambitions in the region.
Alan Tidwell, director at the Centre for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies at Georgetown University, said Australia has shown its commitment to the Pacific by making pledges to the Solomon Islands, Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
“Canberra’s deals highlight efforts to counter [China] as well as maintain its role as the West’s primary shaper of the region,” Tidwell added.
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By Maria Siow
Australia’s recent courtship of several Pacific island nations signals Canberra’s commitment to the region, but it is not expected to gain any lasting benefits from the outreach amid its competition with China over short-term deals, according to analysts.
On December 20, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country would spend A$190 million (US$118 million) over four years to boost the Solomon Islands’ police force and create a police training centre in its capital Honiara.
Albanese and his Solomons counterpart Jeremiah Manele said in a joint statement the package would help the South Pacific nation to build “enduring” security capabilities, “thereby reducing its reliance on external partners over time”.
China’s law enforcement instructors are already based in the Solomons Islands after both countries signed a security pact in 2022, which spurred the United States and Australia to pitch deals to Pacific island nations to limit Beijing’s security ambitions in the region.
Alan Tidwell, director at the Centre for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies at Georgetown University, said Australia has shown its commitment to the Pacific by making pledges to the Solomon Islands, Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
“Canberra’s deals highlight efforts to counter [China] as well as maintain its role as the West’s primary shaper of the region,” Tidwell added.
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Trump-fuelled bitcoin rally loses steam as year draws to a close
By Bloomberg
The bitcoin rally sparked by Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory in early November is stalling, as 2024 draws to a close.
The digital asset wavered at US$93,085 as of 5:25am on Monday in London, about US$15,000 below the record high set in mid-December.
Smaller tokens like ether and meme-crowd favourite dogecoin also struggled for traction.
Trump’s preference for crypto-friendly regulations and support for the idea of a national bitcoin reserve lifted digital assets. But scaled back expectations for interest-rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve have cooled the speculative frenzy.
More clarity on the US cryptocurrency regime is likely to emerge after Trump assumes power on January 20.
The Republican’s stance contrasts with President Joe Biden’s administration, which cracked down on the scandal-prone sector.
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By Bloomberg
The bitcoin rally sparked by Donald Trump’s US presidential election victory in early November is stalling, as 2024 draws to a close.
The digital asset wavered at US$93,085 as of 5:25am on Monday in London, about US$15,000 below the record high set in mid-December.
Smaller tokens like ether and meme-crowd favourite dogecoin also struggled for traction.
Trump’s preference for crypto-friendly regulations and support for the idea of a national bitcoin reserve lifted digital assets. But scaled back expectations for interest-rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve have cooled the speculative frenzy.
More clarity on the US cryptocurrency regime is likely to emerge after Trump assumes power on January 20.
The Republican’s stance contrasts with President Joe Biden’s administration, which cracked down on the scandal-prone sector.
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China’s cattle farmers, in beef with importers, lobby for trade probe as prices drop
By Mia NulimaimaitiHe Huifeng
China’s beef farmers, struggling with steep losses as domestic prices plunge to an 11-year low, have successfully petitioned for the country to look into what they term a market-distorting surge of inexpensive imports.
An official investigation into shipments of the meat began on Friday after numerous industry associations called for action to guarantee the security of domestic agriculture.
The average wholesale price of beef in China dropped to 59.8 yuan (US$8.19) per kilogram last week, down 16.4 per cent for December year on year. This was the lowest recorded price since September 2013, according to data released by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Meanwhile, the retail price of boneless beef fell to 65.5 yuan (US$8.98) per kilogram in November, down 18.6 per cent year on year and reaching its lowest level since October 2018, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The China Animal Agriculture Association (CAAA) attributed the slump to a surfeit of imported beef, noting inbound shipments have grown eightfold over the 10 years leading up to 2023.
These imports have surmounted one-third of domestic production in terms of scale, with their proportion of the country’s supply continuing to rise this year.
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By Mia NulimaimaitiHe Huifeng
China’s beef farmers, struggling with steep losses as domestic prices plunge to an 11-year low, have successfully petitioned for the country to look into what they term a market-distorting surge of inexpensive imports.
An official investigation into shipments of the meat began on Friday after numerous industry associations called for action to guarantee the security of domestic agriculture.
The average wholesale price of beef in China dropped to 59.8 yuan (US$8.19) per kilogram last week, down 16.4 per cent for December year on year. This was the lowest recorded price since September 2013, according to data released by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Meanwhile, the retail price of boneless beef fell to 65.5 yuan (US$8.98) per kilogram in November, down 18.6 per cent year on year and reaching its lowest level since October 2018, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
The China Animal Agriculture Association (CAAA) attributed the slump to a surfeit of imported beef, noting inbound shipments have grown eightfold over the 10 years leading up to 2023.
These imports have surmounted one-third of domestic production in terms of scale, with their proportion of the country’s supply continuing to rise this year.
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Hong Kong car owners no longer required to renew vehicle licences annually
By Fiona Chow
Car owners in Hong Kong are no longer required to renew their vehicle licences annually after transport authorities launched a new permit with no expiry date for automobiles that were in their original condition when first registered.
The initiative is part of the Transport Department’s efforts to simplify licence renewal procedures and provide drivers with convenience, following the passage of legislative amendments earlier this month.
Starting Monday, vehicle owners who successfully renewed their licences will start receiving notices from the department issuing the latest validity period of their permits, with no expiry date being printed on it.
“Upon the enhancement of the vehicle licence, vehicle owners do not need to replace the vehicle licences displayed on the windscreen of their vehicles,” the department said.
“If the vehicle particulars such as the registration mark, body colour, etc remain unchanged, the vehicle owner can continue to use the same vehicle licence after each subsequent renewal.”
For car owners who still have not yet applied for a renewal, the department has streamlined the required documents and will remind them to make the application before the permits expire.
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By Fiona Chow
Car owners in Hong Kong are no longer required to renew their vehicle licences annually after transport authorities launched a new permit with no expiry date for automobiles that were in their original condition when first registered.
The initiative is part of the Transport Department’s efforts to simplify licence renewal procedures and provide drivers with convenience, following the passage of legislative amendments earlier this month.
Starting Monday, vehicle owners who successfully renewed their licences will start receiving notices from the department issuing the latest validity period of their permits, with no expiry date being printed on it.
“Upon the enhancement of the vehicle licence, vehicle owners do not need to replace the vehicle licences displayed on the windscreen of their vehicles,” the department said.
“If the vehicle particulars such as the registration mark, body colour, etc remain unchanged, the vehicle owner can continue to use the same vehicle licence after each subsequent renewal.”
For car owners who still have not yet applied for a renewal, the department has streamlined the required documents and will remind them to make the application before the permits expire.
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Hong Kong launches tourism blueprint set to boost economy by HK$120 billion
By Denise Tsang
Hong Kong has rolled out a much-awaited blueprint for tourism, which highlights themes such as pandas, racing, mega-events and smart initiatives as updated strategies expected to boost the economy by HK$120 billion (US$15.5 billion) and create 210,000 jobs in five years.
The blueprint proposes four-pronged development strategies, 16 implementation directions, 59 action plans and 133 measures, with an aim to reinforce the city’s role as an international tourism hub, a zone for multi-destination tourism and an East-meets-West centre.
Upon implementation, the tourism industry could generate HK$120 billion in economic value, after it accounted for 5 per cent of Hong Kong’s gross domestic product in 2018 and 2.6 per cent in 2023.
“Tourism was paralysed during the pandemic. After the pandemic, tourists’ travel patterns have changed, and we have to reform the industry,” Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said on Monday.
Following sheer changes over the three years of the pandemic, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stipulated in his 2023 policy address that the development blueprint, first unveiled in 2017, needed to be updated.
The much-awaited road map was intended to provide up-to-date action plans to push the development ahead in the near, short and long term.
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By Denise Tsang
Hong Kong has rolled out a much-awaited blueprint for tourism, which highlights themes such as pandas, racing, mega-events and smart initiatives as updated strategies expected to boost the economy by HK$120 billion (US$15.5 billion) and create 210,000 jobs in five years.
The blueprint proposes four-pronged development strategies, 16 implementation directions, 59 action plans and 133 measures, with an aim to reinforce the city’s role as an international tourism hub, a zone for multi-destination tourism and an East-meets-West centre.
Upon implementation, the tourism industry could generate HK$120 billion in economic value, after it accounted for 5 per cent of Hong Kong’s gross domestic product in 2018 and 2.6 per cent in 2023.
“Tourism was paralysed during the pandemic. After the pandemic, tourists’ travel patterns have changed, and we have to reform the industry,” Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said on Monday.
Following sheer changes over the three years of the pandemic, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu stipulated in his 2023 policy address that the development blueprint, first unveiled in 2017, needed to be updated.
The much-awaited road map was intended to provide up-to-date action plans to push the development ahead in the near, short and long term.
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Global economy must reckon with protectionism in 2025: Hong Kong leader
By Willa Wu
Hong Kong’s leader has said the global economy in 2025 is set to face challenges because of geopolitical tensions and protectionism, while pledging to spearhead efforts in reform and innovation to help the city thrive.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Monday also highlighted the importance of drawing up a medium to long-term development plan to cultivate new industries and grow the city into an international innovation and technology hub.
“Looking forward to 2025, the global economy will continue to face challenges such as geopolitics and protectionism. The government will lead all sectors of Hong Kong society to jointly reform and innovate,” Lee said in a pre-recorded video shown at a financial forum organised by China Central Television.
“I am confident that Hong Kong will scale new heights, as long as society stays united to seize timely opportunities”
The city leader added his administration was actively building an efficient fintech ecosystem and promoting the growth of digital industries.
Lee highlighted the government’s HK$10 billion (US$1.28 billion) I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, which would enhance the city’s tech start-up ecosystem.
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By Willa Wu
Hong Kong’s leader has said the global economy in 2025 is set to face challenges because of geopolitical tensions and protectionism, while pledging to spearhead efforts in reform and innovation to help the city thrive.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Monday also highlighted the importance of drawing up a medium to long-term development plan to cultivate new industries and grow the city into an international innovation and technology hub.
“Looking forward to 2025, the global economy will continue to face challenges such as geopolitics and protectionism. The government will lead all sectors of Hong Kong society to jointly reform and innovate,” Lee said in a pre-recorded video shown at a financial forum organised by China Central Television.
“I am confident that Hong Kong will scale new heights, as long as society stays united to seize timely opportunities”
The city leader added his administration was actively building an efficient fintech ecosystem and promoting the growth of digital industries.
Lee highlighted the government’s HK$10 billion (US$1.28 billion) I&T Industry-Oriented Fund, which would enhance the city’s tech start-up ecosystem.
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China Future Tech webinar | Chinese carmakers in a changing landscape
By SCMP
Bookmark this article and join the live stream on Thursday, January 9, at 10.30am HKT
Chinese makers of electric vehicles had an eventful 2024, marked by new production and sales records as well as fierce competition that left some upstarts by the wayside and few EV manufacturers with profits to match their industriousness.
Since July, the EV penetration rate has exceeded 50 per cent in China, buttressed by government consumption subsidies. Meanwhile, as domestic EV sales rise, some foreign carmakers are facing an existential challenge in China, which has been responsible for a significant proportion of their global sales over the past couple of decades.
Meanwhile, Chinese EV exports weakened in 2024 as the European Union, the United States and Canada all erected significant tariff barriers to EVs that are made in China.
South China Morning Post Shanghai bureau chief Daniel Ren recently summarised some of these trends in a China Future Tech industry briefing (exclusively for SCMP Plus subscribers – click here for a free trial), and he’ll take part in a panel moderated by SCMP Plus editor Jacques van Wersch.
Join Jacques, Daniel, SCMP technology editor Zhou Xin as well as special guest Paul Gong, UBS head of China Autos Research, for a discussion of the following topics, among others:
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By SCMP
Bookmark this article and join the live stream on Thursday, January 9, at 10.30am HKT
Chinese makers of electric vehicles had an eventful 2024, marked by new production and sales records as well as fierce competition that left some upstarts by the wayside and few EV manufacturers with profits to match their industriousness.
Since July, the EV penetration rate has exceeded 50 per cent in China, buttressed by government consumption subsidies. Meanwhile, as domestic EV sales rise, some foreign carmakers are facing an existential challenge in China, which has been responsible for a significant proportion of their global sales over the past couple of decades.
Meanwhile, Chinese EV exports weakened in 2024 as the European Union, the United States and Canada all erected significant tariff barriers to EVs that are made in China.
South China Morning Post Shanghai bureau chief Daniel Ren recently summarised some of these trends in a China Future Tech industry briefing (exclusively for SCMP Plus subscribers – click here for a free trial), and he’ll take part in a panel moderated by SCMP Plus editor Jacques van Wersch.
Join Jacques, Daniel, SCMP technology editor Zhou Xin as well as special guest Paul Gong, UBS head of China Autos Research, for a discussion of the following topics, among others:
via SCMP Full Text Feed
