In a Trump 2.0 trade war against China, Vietnam stands to benefit again
By James Borton
April 30 will mark 50 years since the fall of Saigon, effectively ending the Vietnam war. Since then, US-Vietnam relations have evolved into a strong, multifaceted partnership, defined by shared economic interests, strategic alignment and mutual respect.
Once adversaries, the two nations now collaborate on a wide range of issues, from trade and investment to regional security and climate change. With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Vietnam, as a burgeoning manufacturing centre and vital US trading partner, could benefit significantly from US-China tensions.
As the US-China geopolitical and economic competition intensifies, Vietnam stands out as a strategic and economic ally in the Indo-Pacific, leveraging its dynamic economy and strategic location to balance China’s influence while maintaining its independence.
This deepened cooperation reflects the transformation of a historically fraught relationship into a forward-looking partnership, underscoring the resilience of diplomacy and shared commitment to regional stability.
US-China tensions have escalated over the past decade, marked by trade wars, disputes over intellectual property and military stand-offs in the South China Sea. Under Trump’s presidency from 2017-2021, the US implemented tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods, prompting American companies to rethink their reliance on China-based supply chains.
The incoming White House administration has emphasised its commitment to punitive trade policies targeting China, signalling a continuation and intensification of its decoupling from Beijing.
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By James Borton
April 30 will mark 50 years since the fall of Saigon, effectively ending the Vietnam war. Since then, US-Vietnam relations have evolved into a strong, multifaceted partnership, defined by shared economic interests, strategic alignment and mutual respect.
Once adversaries, the two nations now collaborate on a wide range of issues, from trade and investment to regional security and climate change. With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, Vietnam, as a burgeoning manufacturing centre and vital US trading partner, could benefit significantly from US-China tensions.
As the US-China geopolitical and economic competition intensifies, Vietnam stands out as a strategic and economic ally in the Indo-Pacific, leveraging its dynamic economy and strategic location to balance China’s influence while maintaining its independence.
This deepened cooperation reflects the transformation of a historically fraught relationship into a forward-looking partnership, underscoring the resilience of diplomacy and shared commitment to regional stability.
US-China tensions have escalated over the past decade, marked by trade wars, disputes over intellectual property and military stand-offs in the South China Sea. Under Trump’s presidency from 2017-2021, the US implemented tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods, prompting American companies to rethink their reliance on China-based supply chains.
The incoming White House administration has emphasised its commitment to punitive trade policies targeting China, signalling a continuation and intensification of its decoupling from Beijing.
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Russia’s uncovered secret war plans target 160 sites in Japan and South Korea
By Julian Ryall
The Russian military has identified 160 priority targets in Japan and South Korea in the event of a conflict with Nato expanding into East Asia, according to secret documents obtained by the Financial Times.
While many targets include legitimate military sites like airfields, radar installations and naval installations, the list also features civilian infrastructure such as nuclear power plants, factories, and transport tunnels.
Deliberately attacking such civilian sites, in the same way Russian forces have done in Ukraine, would constitute a war crime, one analyst said.
In a story published on Tuesday, the British paper reported on 29 leaked Russian military documents used for training officers for potential conflicts in northeastern Asia, shared by “Western sources.”
Although the documents are dated from 2008 to 2014, James Brown, an international relations professor at Temple University in Tokyo, who specialises in Russian affairs, told This Week in Asia that the core elements of Russian strategy and targeting data are likely to remain relevant, albeit updated and enhanced with more recent information.
“Of course, the Russians will have plans for targets in the event of a war breaking out because they need to know what they have to hit,” Brown said.
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By Julian Ryall
The Russian military has identified 160 priority targets in Japan and South Korea in the event of a conflict with Nato expanding into East Asia, according to secret documents obtained by the Financial Times.
While many targets include legitimate military sites like airfields, radar installations and naval installations, the list also features civilian infrastructure such as nuclear power plants, factories, and transport tunnels.
Deliberately attacking such civilian sites, in the same way Russian forces have done in Ukraine, would constitute a war crime, one analyst said.
In a story published on Tuesday, the British paper reported on 29 leaked Russian military documents used for training officers for potential conflicts in northeastern Asia, shared by “Western sources.”
Although the documents are dated from 2008 to 2014, James Brown, an international relations professor at Temple University in Tokyo, who specialises in Russian affairs, told This Week in Asia that the core elements of Russian strategy and targeting data are likely to remain relevant, albeit updated and enhanced with more recent information.
“Of course, the Russians will have plans for targets in the event of a war breaking out because they need to know what they have to hit,” Brown said.
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Hong Kong customs arrests 6, seizes illicit cigarettes worth HK$114 million
By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong authorities have arrested six mainland Chinese men and seized HK$114 million (US$14.7 million) worth of suspected illicit cigarettes in two large-scale smuggling cases.
The Customs and Excise Department said on Wednesday that about 25 million suspected illicit cigarettes with a potential duty of HK$84 million had been confiscated.
“In the early hours of December 31, customs officers conducted anti-smuggling patrols in the southwestern waters of Hong Kong, specifically in the waters off Cyberport and Sai Wan,” said Matthew Shum, acting senior investigator at the department’s revenue investigation division.
“Six mainland Chinese seamen, aged between 35 and 41, were arrested. The investigation of the two cases is ongoing. We will look into the source of the suspected illicit cigarettes and will not rule out further arrests.”
Shum added that criminal syndicates were attempting to stockpile a large amount of illicit cigarettes to supply the local market as the Lunar New Year approached.
Senior Inspector Tang Ka-chun of the department’s marine enforcement division said officers intercepted the two fishing vessels manned by the six men and asked them if they had anything to declare.
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By Sammy Heung
Hong Kong authorities have arrested six mainland Chinese men and seized HK$114 million (US$14.7 million) worth of suspected illicit cigarettes in two large-scale smuggling cases.
The Customs and Excise Department said on Wednesday that about 25 million suspected illicit cigarettes with a potential duty of HK$84 million had been confiscated.
“In the early hours of December 31, customs officers conducted anti-smuggling patrols in the southwestern waters of Hong Kong, specifically in the waters off Cyberport and Sai Wan,” said Matthew Shum, acting senior investigator at the department’s revenue investigation division.
“Six mainland Chinese seamen, aged between 35 and 41, were arrested. The investigation of the two cases is ongoing. We will look into the source of the suspected illicit cigarettes and will not rule out further arrests.”
Shum added that criminal syndicates were attempting to stockpile a large amount of illicit cigarettes to supply the local market as the Lunar New Year approached.
Senior Inspector Tang Ka-chun of the department’s marine enforcement division said officers intercepted the two fishing vessels manned by the six men and asked them if they had anything to declare.
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Fanfare as first C919 commercial flight leaves Hong Kong for Shanghai
By Oscar Liu
The first commercial flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai by China’s home-grown C919 aircraft took off on Wednesday, with fans buying tickets to enjoy the experience.
The single-aisle C919, manufactured by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), began operations between Hong Kong and Shanghai on New Year’s Day, marking the airliner’s first regular route outside mainland China.
Flight MU722 of China Eastern Airlines landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 3pm, with passengers praising the comfort and amenities on board.
Hong Kong entrepreneur Eric Huang Tiande, 64, deliberately chose the single-trip maiden flight due to his passion for the C919 and business.
“I am an aviation enthusiast and I also have business cooperation with Comac manufacturing its souvenirs. I’m celebrating the maiden voyage in Hong Kong and Comac,” Huang said.
He said his only problems were the overhead television screen on the window seat, which could hit his head when he stood up, and the luggage compartment design that prevented suitcases from lying flat, resulting in reduced storage space.
“Other than that, I feel very comfortable with more than enough legroom for me as a 1.74m tall man. It’s not difficult for me to reach the power outlet with USB charging ports. And I love the in-flight entertainment,” Huang said, referring to the captive Wi-fi on board.
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By Oscar Liu
The first commercial flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai by China’s home-grown C919 aircraft took off on Wednesday, with fans buying tickets to enjoy the experience.
The single-aisle C919, manufactured by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), began operations between Hong Kong and Shanghai on New Year’s Day, marking the airliner’s first regular route outside mainland China.
Flight MU722 of China Eastern Airlines landed at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 3pm, with passengers praising the comfort and amenities on board.
Hong Kong entrepreneur Eric Huang Tiande, 64, deliberately chose the single-trip maiden flight due to his passion for the C919 and business.
“I am an aviation enthusiast and I also have business cooperation with Comac manufacturing its souvenirs. I’m celebrating the maiden voyage in Hong Kong and Comac,” Huang said.
He said his only problems were the overhead television screen on the window seat, which could hit his head when he stood up, and the luggage compartment design that prevented suitcases from lying flat, resulting in reduced storage space.
“Other than that, I feel very comfortable with more than enough legroom for me as a 1.74m tall man. It’s not difficult for me to reach the power outlet with USB charging ports. And I love the in-flight entertainment,” Huang said, referring to the captive Wi-fi on board.
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Chinese police target writers of gay erotica with prison terms and heavy fines
By Phoebe Zhang
Police in eastern China have been targeting dozens of writers who posted gay-themed erotica online, resulting in heavy fines and even prison sentences.
However, the crackdown by officers in Anhui, who have been investigating and detaining people from other provinces, has prompted concerns that officers are abusing their powers as well as a wider debate about whether the law is too severe.
According to posts on social media, many of those arrested had been posting stories on the Taiwanese-based fiction website Haitang Culture and charged with producing, selling or disseminating pornographic materials.
Users of the site can make money from tips or subscriptions from fans, with one of the most popular genres being danmei – a style focusing on gay romance and sex that originated in Japanese manga and has become popular in mainland China over the past two decades.
Earlier this month the news portal Shuiping Jiyuan reported that police in Anhui have detained more than 50 writers across the country since June. So far the heaviest sentence handed down was four and a half years in prison.
Under Chinese law, writers who make more than 250,000 yuan (US$34,500) from selling erotic materials can face a maximum sentence of life in prison, although in practice they can get lower sentences if they cooperate with investigators and pay back the money.
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By Phoebe Zhang
Police in eastern China have been targeting dozens of writers who posted gay-themed erotica online, resulting in heavy fines and even prison sentences.
However, the crackdown by officers in Anhui, who have been investigating and detaining people from other provinces, has prompted concerns that officers are abusing their powers as well as a wider debate about whether the law is too severe.
According to posts on social media, many of those arrested had been posting stories on the Taiwanese-based fiction website Haitang Culture and charged with producing, selling or disseminating pornographic materials.
Users of the site can make money from tips or subscriptions from fans, with one of the most popular genres being danmei – a style focusing on gay romance and sex that originated in Japanese manga and has become popular in mainland China over the past two decades.
Earlier this month the news portal Shuiping Jiyuan reported that police in Anhui have detained more than 50 writers across the country since June. So far the heaviest sentence handed down was four and a half years in prison.
Under Chinese law, writers who make more than 250,000 yuan (US$34,500) from selling erotic materials can face a maximum sentence of life in prison, although in practice they can get lower sentences if they cooperate with investigators and pay back the money.
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Why is Hong Kong charging everyone more for hotel stays, air travel?
By Connor Mycroft
Visitors heading to Hong Kong from New Year’s Day onwards will have to pay out more for hotel accommodation and air travel under revised tax and fee arrangements to help swell public coffers.
Authorities on Wednesday reintroduced a 3 per cent Hotel Accommodation Tax that had been waived since 2008, while all travellers using the local airport will have to pay higher flight fares due to an increase in security fees.
The Post takes a look at the new arrangements and how much people can expect to pay.
From January 1, all patrons must pay a 3 per cent hotel accommodation tax (HAT).
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced the policy as part of last year’s budget address, with the move expected to bring in HK$1.1 billion (US$141.6 million) in government revenue at a time of ballooning deficits. The fee was originally waived in 2008.
In a defence of the decision, the minister noted neighbouring countries charged visitors a similar tax and said the proposed rate would only amount to 1 per cent of a regular visitor’s total spending.
According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Singapore charges a total of 19 per cent tax on hotel room rates, comprising a 9 per cent goods and services levy and a 10 per cent mandatory service charge.
Thailand has a 17 per cent tax on room rates that includes value-added tax (VAT) and a service charge, while South Korea has a 10 per cent levy on hotel room rates.
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By Connor Mycroft
Visitors heading to Hong Kong from New Year’s Day onwards will have to pay out more for hotel accommodation and air travel under revised tax and fee arrangements to help swell public coffers.
Authorities on Wednesday reintroduced a 3 per cent Hotel Accommodation Tax that had been waived since 2008, while all travellers using the local airport will have to pay higher flight fares due to an increase in security fees.
The Post takes a look at the new arrangements and how much people can expect to pay.
From January 1, all patrons must pay a 3 per cent hotel accommodation tax (HAT).
Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced the policy as part of last year’s budget address, with the move expected to bring in HK$1.1 billion (US$141.6 million) in government revenue at a time of ballooning deficits. The fee was originally waived in 2008.
In a defence of the decision, the minister noted neighbouring countries charged visitors a similar tax and said the proposed rate would only amount to 1 per cent of a regular visitor’s total spending.
According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Singapore charges a total of 19 per cent tax on hotel room rates, comprising a 9 per cent goods and services levy and a 10 per cent mandatory service charge.
Thailand has a 17 per cent tax on room rates that includes value-added tax (VAT) and a service charge, while South Korea has a 10 per cent levy on hotel room rates.
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‘Every bit of strength’: Taiwanese leader William Lai vows to boost island’s defences
By William Zheng
Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te vowed to boost the island’s defences and improve economic resilience in a New Year’s Day speech, as he faces a serious challenge from the opposition-controlled legislature.
Noting that the Ukraine war is still going on, Lai said “authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran” continue to converge, threatening the “rules-based international order” and seriously affecting the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific and the world.
He said peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait was essential for world security and prosperity, and that “Taiwan must be prepared for danger in times of peace, increase the defence budget, strengthen defence capabilities” and show that it is determined to protect itself.
Lai’s speech on Wednesday followed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s address on New Year’s Eve, which included a message for Taiwan.
In the televised speech, Xi said Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belonged to one family, that no one could sever the bond of kinship between them, and “no one can ever stop China’s reunification – a trend of the times”.
Lai on Wednesday urged Taiwanese to gather “every bit of strength” to improve the island’s defences and “build the capacity to respond to large-scale disasters and deter threats and invasions”.
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By William Zheng
Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te vowed to boost the island’s defences and improve economic resilience in a New Year’s Day speech, as he faces a serious challenge from the opposition-controlled legislature.
Noting that the Ukraine war is still going on, Lai said “authoritarian regimes such as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran” continue to converge, threatening the “rules-based international order” and seriously affecting the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific and the world.
He said peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait was essential for world security and prosperity, and that “Taiwan must be prepared for danger in times of peace, increase the defence budget, strengthen defence capabilities” and show that it is determined to protect itself.
Lai’s speech on Wednesday followed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s address on New Year’s Eve, which included a message for Taiwan.
In the televised speech, Xi said Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait belonged to one family, that no one could sever the bond of kinship between them, and “no one can ever stop China’s reunification – a trend of the times”.
Lai on Wednesday urged Taiwanese to gather “every bit of strength” to improve the island’s defences and “build the capacity to respond to large-scale disasters and deter threats and invasions”.
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By Alice Yan
A landlord in Shanghai whose flat has been turned into a chicken farm by the tenant who raised dozens of birds there has trended on mainland social media.
The unidentified landlord had not checked his house for the past two years until earlier this month and he was astonished with what he found when he opened the door, Dianshi News reported.
The sitting room was full of coops and chicks roaming and flying around the property, according to the landlord.
“It stinks. Both the floor and the wall are badly destroyed. It needs an overhaul and should be decorated completely, otherwise, no one can live there,” the landlord was quoted as saying.
“I am so infuriated!” he added.
He added that the combined rent for the past two years would be far less than the cost of redecoration.The tenant turned a well appointed living room into a smelly chicken farm with piled-up coops. Photo: Sohu
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South Korea’s Jeju Air crash: initial data extracted from black box to hear pilots’ last words
By Agence France-Presse
Investigators probing a Jeju Air crash which killed 179 people in the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil have extracted the initial data from one of the Boeing 737-800’s black boxes, an official said on Wednesday.
The plane was carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea when it issued a mayday call and belly-landed before hitting a barrier and bursting into flames, killing everyone aboard except two flight attendants pulled from the burning wreckage.
South Korean and US investigators, including from Boeing, have been combing over the crash site in southwestern Muan since the disaster on Sunday.
Both of the plane’s black boxes were retrieved, and for the cockpit voice recorder, “the initial extraction has already been completed,” said deputy minister for civil aviation Joo Jong-wan.
“Based on this preliminary data, we plan to start converting it into audio format,” he said, meaning investigators would be able to hear the pilots’ final communications.
The second black box, the flight data recorder, “was found with a missing connector,” Joo said.
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By Agence France-Presse
Investigators probing a Jeju Air crash which killed 179 people in the worst aviation disaster on South Korean soil have extracted the initial data from one of the Boeing 737-800’s black boxes, an official said on Wednesday.
The plane was carrying 181 people from Thailand to South Korea when it issued a mayday call and belly-landed before hitting a barrier and bursting into flames, killing everyone aboard except two flight attendants pulled from the burning wreckage.
South Korean and US investigators, including from Boeing, have been combing over the crash site in southwestern Muan since the disaster on Sunday.
Both of the plane’s black boxes were retrieved, and for the cockpit voice recorder, “the initial extraction has already been completed,” said deputy minister for civil aviation Joo Jong-wan.
“Based on this preliminary data, we plan to start converting it into audio format,” he said, meaning investigators would be able to hear the pilots’ final communications.
The second black box, the flight data recorder, “was found with a missing connector,” Joo said.
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Milan cracks down on outdoor smoking in Italy’s toughest ban
By Agence France-Presse
Smokers in Italy’s financial and fashion capital of Milan risk being fined for lighting up on city streets or crowded public areas, after the country’s toughest ban comes into effect Wednesday.
Those who defy the new prohibition in the polluted northern Italian city could be fined between €40 to €240 (US$41 to US$249), a punishment that does not sit well with all residents.
“The new law is excessive in my opinion. I agree not to smoke indoors, not to smoke near an elderly person or a child, but banning smoking outdoors for me somewhat limits a person’s freedom,” local plumber Morgan Ishak, 46, said ahead of the ban.
Milan’s air quality ordinance, passed in 2020 by the city council, called for progressively stricter bans on smoking.
Starting in 2021, it was forbidden to smoke in parks and playgrounds as well as bus stops and sports facilities.
The latest smoking ban, effective January 1, applies to “all public spaces, including streets”, with the exception of “isolated places where it is possible to maintain a distance of at least 10 metres from other people”, according to the text.
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By Agence France-Presse
Smokers in Italy’s financial and fashion capital of Milan risk being fined for lighting up on city streets or crowded public areas, after the country’s toughest ban comes into effect Wednesday.
Those who defy the new prohibition in the polluted northern Italian city could be fined between €40 to €240 (US$41 to US$249), a punishment that does not sit well with all residents.
“The new law is excessive in my opinion. I agree not to smoke indoors, not to smoke near an elderly person or a child, but banning smoking outdoors for me somewhat limits a person’s freedom,” local plumber Morgan Ishak, 46, said ahead of the ban.
Milan’s air quality ordinance, passed in 2020 by the city council, called for progressively stricter bans on smoking.
Starting in 2021, it was forbidden to smoke in parks and playgrounds as well as bus stops and sports facilities.
The latest smoking ban, effective January 1, applies to “all public spaces, including streets”, with the exception of “isolated places where it is possible to maintain a distance of at least 10 metres from other people”, according to the text.
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Man charged after New Zealand police officer killed in car-ramming attack
By Associated Press
A driver ran down two New Zealand police officers as they patrolled on foot in the early hours of New Year’s Day, killing one and seriously injuring the other, the country’s police chief said.
The attack jolted a country where the killing of police officers on duty is rare.
The vehicle drove into the officers “at speed” as they performed a routine patrol of a car park, before the driver turned and rammed a police car, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told reporters in the South Island city of Nelson. A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged over the incident shortly after it happened at about 2am local time.
One of the officers, a woman, died in a local hospital hours later.
The other was in serious condition but was expected to make a full recovery, Chambers said. A third officer who was in the rammed police car received a concussion and two members of the public were hurt, one of them after coming to help the injured officers.
Chambers condemned the “senseless act of an individual who appears to have been determined to cause harm,” although he did not suggest a motive.
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By Associated Press
A driver ran down two New Zealand police officers as they patrolled on foot in the early hours of New Year’s Day, killing one and seriously injuring the other, the country’s police chief said.
The attack jolted a country where the killing of police officers on duty is rare.
The vehicle drove into the officers “at speed” as they performed a routine patrol of a car park, before the driver turned and rammed a police car, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told reporters in the South Island city of Nelson. A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged over the incident shortly after it happened at about 2am local time.
One of the officers, a woman, died in a local hospital hours later.
The other was in serious condition but was expected to make a full recovery, Chambers said. A third officer who was in the rammed police car received a concussion and two members of the public were hurt, one of them after coming to help the injured officers.
Chambers condemned the “senseless act of an individual who appears to have been determined to cause harm,” although he did not suggest a motive.
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China sends help to quake-hit Vanuatu as it expands Pacific island ties
By Alyssa Chen
China sent a team of four technical specialists to Vanuatu to help with earthquake recovery efforts this week, in a Pacific islands first for Beijing as it steps up engagement with nations in the region.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday that the team would conduct scientific surveys on structures in the hardest-hit areas, as well as safety assessments and studies on secondary disaster risks.
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific island nation in mid-December, killing at least 14 people, injuring more than 200 others, and causing major damage to infrastructure. A 6.1-magnitude quake followed on December 22.
It is the first time Beijing has sent a technical team to a country in the Pacific islands, an area where China is looking to develop closer relations.
Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said the assistance was part of Beijing’s diplomatic playbook.
“Assistance and aid are among the tools that China uses to build ties. [The recovery support from Beijing is] consistent with its efforts elsewhere around the world. This is especially apparent in places that are less developed and poorer,” Chong said.
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By Alyssa Chen
China sent a team of four technical specialists to Vanuatu to help with earthquake recovery efforts this week, in a Pacific islands first for Beijing as it steps up engagement with nations in the region.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday that the team would conduct scientific surveys on structures in the hardest-hit areas, as well as safety assessments and studies on secondary disaster risks.
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific island nation in mid-December, killing at least 14 people, injuring more than 200 others, and causing major damage to infrastructure. A 6.1-magnitude quake followed on December 22.
It is the first time Beijing has sent a technical team to a country in the Pacific islands, an area where China is looking to develop closer relations.
Ian Chong, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, said the assistance was part of Beijing’s diplomatic playbook.
“Assistance and aid are among the tools that China uses to build ties. [The recovery support from Beijing is] consistent with its efforts elsewhere around the world. This is especially apparent in places that are less developed and poorer,” Chong said.
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Cost of living in Hong Kong: what you’ll have to pay more for in 2025
By Fiona Chow
Hongkongers will be hit with inflation on utility and food bills, transport fares and home rents from January.
The Post lists the items that will be subject to higher costs in 2025.
CLP Power, the city’s larger of two electricity suppliers serving Kowloon, the New Territories and Lantau Island, will increase fees by 0.98 per cent per unit of electricity.
Customers of HK Electric, which serves Hong Kong Island and several outlying islands, will also bear an extra 0.9 per cent rise.
The new fees take effect from January 1.
In terms of percentages, the companies’ increase will be the same as in 2023.
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By Fiona Chow
Hongkongers will be hit with inflation on utility and food bills, transport fares and home rents from January.
The Post lists the items that will be subject to higher costs in 2025.
CLP Power, the city’s larger of two electricity suppliers serving Kowloon, the New Territories and Lantau Island, will increase fees by 0.98 per cent per unit of electricity.
Customers of HK Electric, which serves Hong Kong Island and several outlying islands, will also bear an extra 0.9 per cent rise.
The new fees take effect from January 1.
In terms of percentages, the companies’ increase will be the same as in 2023.
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Malaysian police say body found in river may be missing teenage girl
By Hadi Azmi
A murder probe has been launched after Malaysian police said a body found in a river in Selangor state’s Kuala Langat is believed to be that of a 15-year-old girl reported missing after she did not return home from lion dance training before Christmas.
The teenager was reported missing by her family at 2.15am on December 22 after attending the session of the traditional Chinese dance at a basketball court in Cheras at 10.30pm, some 25km away from Kuala Lumpur, prompting police to seek public help in locating her.
On Tuesday evening, Selangor police commissioner Hussein Omar Khan said the body discovered on Saturday in a river at a rural community 35km south of the capital city is believed to be that of the missing girl.
“The Selangor Police confirmed that a body found at RTB Sungai Changgang is believed to be the victim of a missing person investigation that was reported on 22 December 2024,” Hussein said in a statement.
He, however, said police were working on formal identification as the body had decomposed and is now undergoing autopsy at the Banting Hospital.
The commissioner said a murder probe was opened and three suspects aged 16,20 and 51 had been arrested so far “including the victim’s boyfriend”.
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By Hadi Azmi
A murder probe has been launched after Malaysian police said a body found in a river in Selangor state’s Kuala Langat is believed to be that of a 15-year-old girl reported missing after she did not return home from lion dance training before Christmas.
The teenager was reported missing by her family at 2.15am on December 22 after attending the session of the traditional Chinese dance at a basketball court in Cheras at 10.30pm, some 25km away from Kuala Lumpur, prompting police to seek public help in locating her.
On Tuesday evening, Selangor police commissioner Hussein Omar Khan said the body discovered on Saturday in a river at a rural community 35km south of the capital city is believed to be that of the missing girl.
“The Selangor Police confirmed that a body found at RTB Sungai Changgang is believed to be the victim of a missing person investigation that was reported on 22 December 2024,” Hussein said in a statement.
He, however, said police were working on formal identification as the body had decomposed and is now undergoing autopsy at the Banting Hospital.
The commissioner said a murder probe was opened and three suspects aged 16,20 and 51 had been arrested so far “including the victim’s boyfriend”.
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