Hong Kong district councillor fined HK$1,000 for property tax form failure
香港一名区议员因未能提交物业税申报而被法院罚款1000港元（约128美元）。43岁的李天志在观塘法院认罪，承认违反《税务条例》，因未能在2021-22财政年度提交相关申报。他因未能在法庭传票规定的时间内答辩而被警方逮捕。
李天志在提交给市政办公室的个人利益声明中透露，他在元朗和西贡拥有两处住宅。辩护律师表示，李对自己的行为感到“真诚的悔恨”，并愿意承担所有责任。经过考量，副裁判官洪玉关判处李1000港元罚款，考虑到此类案件的通常罚款范围为1000至2500港元，最高可达10000港元。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
香港一名区议员因未能提交物业税申报而被法院罚款1000港元（约128美元）。43岁的李天志在观塘法院认罪，承认违反《税务条例》，因未能在2021-22财政年度提交相关申报。他因未能在法庭传票规定的时间内答辩而被警方逮捕。
李天志在提交给市政办公室的个人利益声明中透露，他在元朗和西贡拥有两处住宅。辩护律师表示，李对自己的行为感到“真诚的悔恨”，并愿意承担所有责任。经过考量，副裁判官洪玉关判处李1000港元罚款，考虑到此类案件的通常罚款范围为1000至2500港元，最高可达10000港元。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong worker dies after falling from ladder in Jardine’s Lookout
By Danny Mok
A worker fell from a ladder in Hong Kong’s Happy Valley on Monday morning and later died in hospital, triggering an investigation by police and the Labour Department.
Police said the 58-year-old worker was using a wooden ladder to repair an air conditioner on the rooftop of a flat on Wilson Road in Jardine’s Lookout at 10.30am.
But he accidentally fell from about 1.5 metres (4.9 feet), injuring his head and passing out.
He was taken to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for treatment, but was confirmed dead soon after.
Police are investigating the cause of the fall.
The Labour Department said it had immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident and it was also investigating.
The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims contacted the family to offer help.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Danny Mok
A worker fell from a ladder in Hong Kong’s Happy Valley on Monday morning and later died in hospital, triggering an investigation by police and the Labour Department.
Police said the 58-year-old worker was using a wooden ladder to repair an air conditioner on the rooftop of a flat on Wilson Road in Jardine’s Lookout at 10.30am.
But he accidentally fell from about 1.5 metres (4.9 feet), injuring his head and passing out.
He was taken to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for treatment, but was confirmed dead soon after.
Police are investigating the cause of the fall.
The Labour Department said it had immediately deployed staff to the scene upon receiving a report of the accident and it was also investigating.
The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims contacted the family to offer help.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
On TikTok ownership, China says acquisitions should be ‘decided by companies’
中国对美国总统当选人特朗普要求将50%的TikTok所有权转交给美国的呼吁做出了回应，强调收购应“由公司独立决定”。特朗普在周日提出这一要求，正值一项旨在切断TikTok与其中国母公司字节跳动关系的法律生效，导致该应用在美国无法使用。
中国外交部发言人毛宁在北京的记者会上表示，企业的运营和收购应基于市场原则独立决定，并强调如果涉及中国公司，必须遵守中国法律和法规。她还指出，TikTok在美国运营多年，受到用户的喜爱。毛宁呼吁美国倾听理性声音，为所有国家的市场主体提供开放、公平、合理且不歧视的商业环境。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
中国对美国总统当选人特朗普要求将50%的TikTok所有权转交给美国的呼吁做出了回应，强调收购应“由公司独立决定”。特朗普在周日提出这一要求，正值一项旨在切断TikTok与其中国母公司字节跳动关系的法律生效，导致该应用在美国无法使用。
中国外交部发言人毛宁在北京的记者会上表示，企业的运营和收购应基于市场原则独立决定，并强调如果涉及中国公司，必须遵守中国法律和法规。她还指出，TikTok在美国运营多年，受到用户的喜爱。毛宁呼吁美国倾听理性声音，为所有国家的市场主体提供开放、公平、合理且不歧视的商业环境。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
More Japanese middle-aged men with ‘hurt pride’ lose their cool in public
近期，日本中年男子在公共场合的暴力行为激增，引发专家对这一现象的关注，认为这与他们在退休前无法应对压力有关。例如，58岁的医师福田胜彦在东京羽田机场因错过航班而对地勤员工大吼大叫并动手打人，随后被捕，尽管他否认了指控。此外，61岁的男性在福冈一餐厅因与账单相关问题袭击了一名女性，戒备着对警察称没有打过女人。
这些事件反映出社会面对激烈工作压力带来的挑战，特别是中年男性的心理承受能力被进一步削弱。东京中央大学的文化社会学教授井泉辻指出，许多中年男性由于工作压力大和休闲时间有限，导致情绪失控的风险增加。近年来，这类事件频繁出现，令人对社会的心理健康和支持系统产生担忧。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
近期，日本中年男子在公共场合的暴力行为激增，引发专家对这一现象的关注，认为这与他们在退休前无法应对压力有关。例如，58岁的医师福田胜彦在东京羽田机场因错过航班而对地勤员工大吼大叫并动手打人，随后被捕，尽管他否认了指控。此外，61岁的男性在福冈一餐厅因与账单相关问题袭击了一名女性，戒备着对警察称没有打过女人。
这些事件反映出社会面对激烈工作压力带来的挑战，特别是中年男性的心理承受能力被进一步削弱。东京中央大学的文化社会学教授井泉辻指出，许多中年男性由于工作压力大和休闲时间有限，导致情绪失控的风险增加。近年来，这类事件频繁出现，令人对社会的心理健康和支持系统产生担忧。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Cybersecurity cases in Hong Kong hit 5-year high in 2024, aided by AI
By Lo Hoi-ying
The number of cybersecurity cases in Hong Kong hit a five-year high last year as hackers weaponised artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate data systems and generate malware, according to an information security watchdog.
The Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) on Monday said phishing cases accounted for more than half of all security incidents last year.
The government-funded group handled 12,536 cybersecurity incidents in 2024, up 62 per cent from 7,752 cases in 2023, marking a five-year high. The number of phishing cases more than doubled to 7,811 from the 3,752 in 2023.
Alex Chan Chung-man, general manager of HKCERT’s digital transformation division, said nearly a quarter of the phishing attacks focused on banking, finance and e-payment services.
Social media and instant messaging apps like WhatsApp also made up another 22 per cent of the cases.
The number of URLs related to phishing last year exceeded 48,000, increasing by about 1½ times from 2023.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Lo Hoi-ying
The number of cybersecurity cases in Hong Kong hit a five-year high last year as hackers weaponised artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate data systems and generate malware, according to an information security watchdog.
The Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre (HKCERT) on Monday said phishing cases accounted for more than half of all security incidents last year.
The government-funded group handled 12,536 cybersecurity incidents in 2024, up 62 per cent from 7,752 cases in 2023, marking a five-year high. The number of phishing cases more than doubled to 7,811 from the 3,752 in 2023.
Alex Chan Chung-man, general manager of HKCERT’s digital transformation division, said nearly a quarter of the phishing attacks focused on banking, finance and e-payment services.
Social media and instant messaging apps like WhatsApp also made up another 22 per cent of the cases.
The number of URLs related to phishing last year exceeded 48,000, increasing by about 1½ times from 2023.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Tech war: China creates US$8.2 billion AI investment fund amid tightened US trade controls
By Ben Jiang
China has created a new artificial intelligence (AI) investment fund, with an initial capital of 60 billion yuan (US$8.2 billion), days after the United States further tightened export controls for advanced semiconductors and placed more Chinese companies on its trade blacklist.
The National AI Industry Investment fund was incorporated in Shanghai last Friday as a joint venture of state-backed Guozhi Investment (Shanghai) Private Equity Fund Management and the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund (CICF) Phase III, according to information from local business registry service Qcc.com.
The new AI fund’s scope of business includes general equity investment and asset management, according to the registry service, which did not provide any details.
Its creation reflects Beijing’s determination to advance the nation’s AI capabilities, despite greater tech restrictions imposed by Washington.
Bejing made AI a national priority amid a heightened tech war between the world’s two largest economies. While the central government shores up its support for the nascent sector with favourable policies and mandates, China’s AI market is expected to be worth 5.6 trillion yuan by 2030, according to state-backed investment vehicle China International Capital Corp.
The US Department of Commerce last week added more than two dozen Chinese entities to its Entity List, accusing them of supporting Beijing’s military advance. Blacklisted companies are barred from buying goods or services from US tech suppliers without a licence, which is generally denied.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Ben Jiang
China has created a new artificial intelligence (AI) investment fund, with an initial capital of 60 billion yuan (US$8.2 billion), days after the United States further tightened export controls for advanced semiconductors and placed more Chinese companies on its trade blacklist.
The National AI Industry Investment fund was incorporated in Shanghai last Friday as a joint venture of state-backed Guozhi Investment (Shanghai) Private Equity Fund Management and the China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund (CICF) Phase III, according to information from local business registry service Qcc.com.
The new AI fund’s scope of business includes general equity investment and asset management, according to the registry service, which did not provide any details.
Its creation reflects Beijing’s determination to advance the nation’s AI capabilities, despite greater tech restrictions imposed by Washington.
Bejing made AI a national priority amid a heightened tech war between the world’s two largest economies. While the central government shores up its support for the nascent sector with favourable policies and mandates, China’s AI market is expected to be worth 5.6 trillion yuan by 2030, according to state-backed investment vehicle China International Capital Corp.
The US Department of Commerce last week added more than two dozen Chinese entities to its Entity List, accusing them of supporting Beijing’s military advance. Blacklisted companies are barred from buying goods or services from US tech suppliers without a licence, which is generally denied.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong adds nursing help, other services to pilot chronic disease scheme
By Elizabeth Cheung
Patients will benefit from nursing support and services from physiotherapists, dietitians and optometrists in an expanded Hong Kong pilot scheme that aims to provide early detection of diabetes and hypertension.
The Health Bureau said on Monday that more than 40 locations had been added to the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme to provide services offered by nurses and allied health professionals from the private market.
The bureau said the move would offer “a broader scope of healthcare services with better coherence” to participants of the scheme, which launched in 2023.
Patients must pay for the services, with costs of HK$80 (US$10) per visit to nurse clinics, HK$150 for optometrists and physiotherapists, and HK$380 for dietitians.
Previously, the scheme only provided screening, consultations with doctors, blood tests and drug prescriptions as part of efforts to detect and manage diabetes and hypertension, which are common chronic diseases in Hong Kong.
Now patients taking part in the pilot scheme will be able to visit nurses to be assessed for diabetic foot, a common condition for those with diabetes. Patients will also receive care for the condition or learn about prevention.
Nurses will draft personalised plans to help residents pursue healthy lives and change their diets.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Elizabeth Cheung
Patients will benefit from nursing support and services from physiotherapists, dietitians and optometrists in an expanded Hong Kong pilot scheme that aims to provide early detection of diabetes and hypertension.
The Health Bureau said on Monday that more than 40 locations had been added to the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme to provide services offered by nurses and allied health professionals from the private market.
The bureau said the move would offer “a broader scope of healthcare services with better coherence” to participants of the scheme, which launched in 2023.
Patients must pay for the services, with costs of HK$80 (US$10) per visit to nurse clinics, HK$150 for optometrists and physiotherapists, and HK$380 for dietitians.
Previously, the scheme only provided screening, consultations with doctors, blood tests and drug prescriptions as part of efforts to detect and manage diabetes and hypertension, which are common chronic diseases in Hong Kong.
Now patients taking part in the pilot scheme will be able to visit nurses to be assessed for diabetic foot, a common condition for those with diabetes. Patients will also receive care for the condition or learn about prevention.
Nurses will draft personalised plans to help residents pursue healthy lives and change their diets.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Second Hong Kong man rescued from Southeast Asian scam farm: ex-politician
一名香港男子近日在缅甸被解救，结束了长达四个月的强迫非法劳动生活。这位男子在被拐至东南亚后，得到了前区议员余德宝的帮助。余德宝在社交媒体上透露，受害者已于上周日晚抵达泰国，目前正在安全地带避难。
余德宝陪同受害者家属向缅甸驻港总领事馆提交请愿信，但并未得到任何回应。被解救的男子在电话中告知家人他已脱离了一个“骗局农场”，并表示此次解救并没有涉及赎金问题。他的家人已向警方和入境事务处报告情况，并希望驻曼谷经贸办事处能协助处理滞留和机票问题，尽快安排他返回香港。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
一名香港男子近日在缅甸被解救，结束了长达四个月的强迫非法劳动生活。这位男子在被拐至东南亚后，得到了前区议员余德宝的帮助。余德宝在社交媒体上透露，受害者已于上周日晚抵达泰国，目前正在安全地带避难。
余德宝陪同受害者家属向缅甸驻港总领事馆提交请愿信，但并未得到任何回应。被解救的男子在电话中告知家人他已脱离了一个“骗局农场”，并表示此次解救并没有涉及赎金问题。他的家人已向警方和入境事务处报告情况，并希望驻曼谷经贸办事处能协助处理滞留和机票问题，尽快安排他返回香港。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Foodborne illness cases mar roll-out of Prabowo’s flagship free-meal scheme in Indonesia
印尼总统普拉博沃·苏比安托的免费餐食计划在实施仅两周后就遭遇食品安全危机，导致数十例食源性疾病，令这一440亿美元的计划面临可行性质疑。据当地媒体报道，位于中爪哇的SDN Dukuh 03国立小学有40名学生在食用包含炸鸡、炒胡萝卜和豆腐、米饭、火龙果及牛奶的餐食后出现生病症状。
此外，北加里曼丹的一所国立学校也有多名学生和教师在食用预包装午餐后出现食物中毒的症状。国家营养机构负责人达丹·欣达亚纳表示，苏科哈霍的事件与餐食中鸡肉的烹饪不当有关。总统通讯办公室负责人哈桑·纳斯比则透露，承包商已对受污染的餐食进行了召回和更换。这一系列事件不仅影响了学生的健康，也使得政府对免费餐食计划的执行能力受到质疑。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
印尼总统普拉博沃·苏比安托的免费餐食计划在实施仅两周后就遭遇食品安全危机，导致数十例食源性疾病，令这一440亿美元的计划面临可行性质疑。据当地媒体报道，位于中爪哇的SDN Dukuh 03国立小学有40名学生在食用包含炸鸡、炒胡萝卜和豆腐、米饭、火龙果及牛奶的餐食后出现生病症状。
此外，北加里曼丹的一所国立学校也有多名学生和教师在食用预包装午餐后出现食物中毒的症状。国家营养机构负责人达丹·欣达亚纳表示，苏科哈霍的事件与餐食中鸡肉的烹饪不当有关。总统通讯办公室负责人哈桑·纳斯比则透露，承包商已对受污染的餐食进行了召回和更换。这一系列事件不仅影响了学生的健康，也使得政府对免费餐食计划的执行能力受到质疑。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
In India, man who raped, killed doctor gets sentenced to life in prison
印度法庭对一名警务志愿者判处终身监禁，因其在去年强奸和杀害一名实习医生而被认定有罪，此案引发了全国范围内对女性安全不足的抗议，并促成了快速审判。被告桑贾伊·罗伊（Sanjay Roy），33岁，一直坚持自己无辜，可以在更高法院上诉。
这名31岁的医生在位于东部城市加尔各答的医院值班时被杀，案件突显了该国长期存在的针对女性的暴力问题。去年8月9日，警方在R.G.卡尔医科大学和医院的一个研讨厅发现了她的尸体，尸检结果显示她遭到勒死和性侵。案件最初由加尔各答警方调查，但由于州政府官员被指控处理不当，该案随后移交给联邦调查机构。
在袭击发生后，印度各地的医生和医学生发起抗议，要求加强安全措施。成千上万的女性走上街头，呼吁对受害者迅速公正的审判，这一系列反应显示了社会对女性安全问题的高度关注和愤怒。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
印度法庭对一名警务志愿者判处终身监禁，因其在去年强奸和杀害一名实习医生而被认定有罪，此案引发了全国范围内对女性安全不足的抗议，并促成了快速审判。被告桑贾伊·罗伊（Sanjay Roy），33岁，一直坚持自己无辜，可以在更高法院上诉。
这名31岁的医生在位于东部城市加尔各答的医院值班时被杀，案件突显了该国长期存在的针对女性的暴力问题。去年8月9日，警方在R.G.卡尔医科大学和医院的一个研讨厅发现了她的尸体，尸检结果显示她遭到勒死和性侵。案件最初由加尔各答警方调查，但由于州政府官员被指控处理不当，该案随后移交给联邦调查机构。
在袭击发生后，印度各地的医生和医学生发起抗议，要求加强安全措施。成千上万的女性走上街头，呼吁对受害者迅速公正的审判，这一系列反应显示了社会对女性安全问题的高度关注和愤怒。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Malaysia and Thailand vow to back Trump’s China trade war - but analysts are sceptical
By Ralph Jennings
Malaysia and Thailand have pledged to clamp down on Chinese companies transshipping goods through their territories to dodge US tariffs, but analysts say their warnings are unlikely to stop a rapid surge in Chinese investment into Southeast Asia.
Senior figures in both countries have spoken out against tariff-dodging in the days leading up to the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has vowed to ramp up a trade war with China.
Malaysia’s deputy trade minister, Liew Chin Tong, told a forum days earlier that his country had asked Chinese companies to avoid using Malaysia as a base to “rebadge” products to avoid being slapped with a made-in-China label, according to media outlets in Kuala Lumpur.
In Thailand, a production centre for foreign carmakers, customs director general Theerat Atthanawanit said that more goods would “flow” into the country after Trump takes office and “steps up the trade war with China”, Bangkok-based news outlet The Nation reported last month.
The official added that he had instructed Thai customs checkpoints to monitor for illegal imports.
Southeast Asia has come under scrutiny due to the flood of Chinese investment that has poured into the region since Trump launched a trade war with Beijing during his first term in office.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Ralph Jennings
Malaysia and Thailand have pledged to clamp down on Chinese companies transshipping goods through their territories to dodge US tariffs, but analysts say their warnings are unlikely to stop a rapid surge in Chinese investment into Southeast Asia.
Senior figures in both countries have spoken out against tariff-dodging in the days leading up to the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump, who has vowed to ramp up a trade war with China.
Malaysia’s deputy trade minister, Liew Chin Tong, told a forum days earlier that his country had asked Chinese companies to avoid using Malaysia as a base to “rebadge” products to avoid being slapped with a made-in-China label, according to media outlets in Kuala Lumpur.
In Thailand, a production centre for foreign carmakers, customs director general Theerat Atthanawanit said that more goods would “flow” into the country after Trump takes office and “steps up the trade war with China”, Bangkok-based news outlet The Nation reported last month.
The official added that he had instructed Thai customs checkpoints to monitor for illegal imports.
Southeast Asia has come under scrutiny due to the flood of Chinese investment that has poured into the region since Trump launched a trade war with Beijing during his first term in office.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Chinese aircraft maker AVIC removes website profiles of top executives
中国领先航空制造商的两位高管资料已从其网站上删除，令人关注。其中包括负责J-20隐形战斗机设计的首席设计师杨伟，以及中国航空工业集团公司（AVIC）的总经理郝兆平。两位高管已数月未公开露面，且近期未参加AVIC的领导会议，这引发了外界的广泛猜测。
此事件发生在前AVIC董事长谭瑞松因腐败问题于8月被调查之后，他于2023年被解除职务。根据媒体报道，杨伟的个人资料也已从中国科学院的网站上消失。尽管最初有报道称这一信息变更是在上周六进行的，但相关报道随后也被删除，这使得情况更加扑朔迷离。作为中国军事现代化和技术自给自足的重要参与者，AVIC的高管变动可能对该公司的未来发展产生深远影响。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
中国领先航空制造商的两位高管资料已从其网站上删除，令人关注。其中包括负责J-20隐形战斗机设计的首席设计师杨伟，以及中国航空工业集团公司（AVIC）的总经理郝兆平。两位高管已数月未公开露面，且近期未参加AVIC的领导会议，这引发了外界的广泛猜测。
此事件发生在前AVIC董事长谭瑞松因腐败问题于8月被调查之后，他于2023年被解除职务。根据媒体报道，杨伟的个人资料也已从中国科学院的网站上消失。尽管最初有报道称这一信息变更是在上周六进行的，但相关报道随后也被删除，这使得情况更加扑朔迷离。作为中国军事现代化和技术自给自足的重要参与者，AVIC的高管变动可能对该公司的未来发展产生深远影响。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
China live-streamer calls woman ‘mum’, uses emotional content to scam her out of US$76,000
一名在中国拥有42,000名粉丝的网络红人通过编造感人的故事，假装是一位孤独老人的儿子，骗取了她56万元人民币（约76,000美元）。这位70多岁的上海女性唐某未婚且无子女，2022年时，她的侄女发现她不断向一名陌生人转账。
这名来自陕西省的男子自称致力于解决人们的问题，帮助农民销售滞销产品，帮助迷路的人找到回家的路。唐某的侄女姜某表示，唐某被这名男子的“善良”吸引，最初在2021年的直播中给他发送小礼物，随后又被骗购买非法健康产品。这名使用@lixuan的男子在社交平台上被封禁后，开始与唐某联系，并称呼她为“妈妈”。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
一名在中国拥有42,000名粉丝的网络红人通过编造感人的故事，假装是一位孤独老人的儿子，骗取了她56万元人民币（约76,000美元）。这位70多岁的上海女性唐某未婚且无子女，2022年时，她的侄女发现她不断向一名陌生人转账。
这名来自陕西省的男子自称致力于解决人们的问题，帮助农民销售滞销产品，帮助迷路的人找到回家的路。唐某的侄女姜某表示，唐某被这名男子的“善良”吸引，最初在2021年的直播中给他发送小礼物，随后又被骗购买非法健康产品。这名使用@lixuan的男子在社交平台上被封禁后，开始与唐某联系，并称呼她为“妈妈”。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong florists eye blossoming business with longer Lunar New Year market
By Ambrose Li
Florists in Hong Kong are pinning their hopes for better business ahead of the Lunar New Year at a popular flower market in the city, with a longer than usual road closure of 10 days providing more time for vendors to sell their products.
The flower supply has remained steady despite the recent cold spells and low humidity, according to vendors, while some have branched out to selling products such as handicraft pot plants to boost business.
Much-sought after flowers include orchids in white, yellow, purple and pink, peach blossoms flowers, yellow Chrysanthemums, pussy willows, narcissus, gladiolus, peonies, mandarins and tangerine.
“The earlier closure means we can display our goods for longer without worry of getting penalised [for blocking the streets],” florist May Cheng in her 50s said, adding that she expected her shop to buy 20 to 30 per cent more stock as a result of the measure.
“It’s much more difficult to operate the business without the extra space at the shopfront, which also makes loading and unloading much easier,” she said.
“Officials have been a little more lax in getting us to move our stuff this year and we’ve been cooperative.”
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Ambrose Li
Florists in Hong Kong are pinning their hopes for better business ahead of the Lunar New Year at a popular flower market in the city, with a longer than usual road closure of 10 days providing more time for vendors to sell their products.
The flower supply has remained steady despite the recent cold spells and low humidity, according to vendors, while some have branched out to selling products such as handicraft pot plants to boost business.
Much-sought after flowers include orchids in white, yellow, purple and pink, peach blossoms flowers, yellow Chrysanthemums, pussy willows, narcissus, gladiolus, peonies, mandarins and tangerine.
“The earlier closure means we can display our goods for longer without worry of getting penalised [for blocking the streets],” florist May Cheng in her 50s said, adding that she expected her shop to buy 20 to 30 per cent more stock as a result of the measure.
“It’s much more difficult to operate the business without the extra space at the shopfront, which also makes loading and unloading much easier,” she said.
“Officials have been a little more lax in getting us to move our stuff this year and we’ve been cooperative.”
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza holding after first hostage-prisoner swap
以色列与哈马斯之间的脆弱停火协议于周一生效，标志着超过15个月战争的可能结束。这一协议促成了三名女性人质与90名巴勒斯坦囚犯的交换，使得人质重新与家人团聚并接受医疗检查。
停火协议的实施使得成千上万的巴勒斯坦人开始返回已经被战争摧毁的家园，尤其是在加沙地带的贾比利亚地区，人们涌向满目疮痍的街道。这一停火正值特朗普第二次就职总统的前夕，他在数月的艰难谈判后声称对此协议负有功劳。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
以色列与哈马斯之间的脆弱停火协议于周一生效，标志着超过15个月战争的可能结束。这一协议促成了三名女性人质与90名巴勒斯坦囚犯的交换，使得人质重新与家人团聚并接受医疗检查。
停火协议的实施使得成千上万的巴勒斯坦人开始返回已经被战争摧毁的家园，尤其是在加沙地带的贾比利亚地区，人们涌向满目疮痍的街道。这一停火正值特朗普第二次就职总统的前夕，他在数月的艰难谈判后声称对此协议负有功劳。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Hong Kong convention centre awarded highest halal certificate by Singapore firm
By Sammy Heung
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) has been awarded the highest accreditation by an internationally recognised halal travel promotion company, the first of such venues to obtain such a certification, giving a boost to the city’s effort to tap Muslim markets for more tourists.
The centre’s management company on Monday announced Singapore-based research and consultancy firm CrescentRating had accredited it with the Gold Certification for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions – or MICE venues – last month.
“The HKCEC is the first MICE venue in Hong Kong to receive this Gold Certification, the highest ranking of the certification scheme, reflecting the good experiences that the exhibition centre has created for Muslim exhibitors and visitors,” its spokesman said.
“In order to support the [government’s] initiative of promoting Muslim-friendly business activities and tourism … it is expected that many of the international exhibitions and conferences held at the HKCEC will increasingly attract Muslim exhibitors, buyers and visitors.”
In his annual policy address last October, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu encouraged tourism-related businesses to look to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including through offering better dining options for Muslim visitors.
Hong Kong has no official figures for the number of Muslims that visit the city each year, but about 800,000 tourists arrived in 2019 from Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the Middle East, Indonesia, and Malaysia – the major source markets of Muslim visitors for the city, according to the Tourism Board.
In the first 11 months of 2024, there were 680,000 visitors from these places, or about 1.7 per cent of the total arrivals.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Sammy Heung
The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) has been awarded the highest accreditation by an internationally recognised halal travel promotion company, the first of such venues to obtain such a certification, giving a boost to the city’s effort to tap Muslim markets for more tourists.
The centre’s management company on Monday announced Singapore-based research and consultancy firm CrescentRating had accredited it with the Gold Certification for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions – or MICE venues – last month.
“The HKCEC is the first MICE venue in Hong Kong to receive this Gold Certification, the highest ranking of the certification scheme, reflecting the good experiences that the exhibition centre has created for Muslim exhibitors and visitors,” its spokesman said.
“In order to support the [government’s] initiative of promoting Muslim-friendly business activities and tourism … it is expected that many of the international exhibitions and conferences held at the HKCEC will increasingly attract Muslim exhibitors, buyers and visitors.”
In his annual policy address last October, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu encouraged tourism-related businesses to look to the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including through offering better dining options for Muslim visitors.
Hong Kong has no official figures for the number of Muslims that visit the city each year, but about 800,000 tourists arrived in 2019 from Gulf Cooperation Council countries in the Middle East, Indonesia, and Malaysia – the major source markets of Muslim visitors for the city, according to the Tourism Board.
In the first 11 months of 2024, there were 680,000 visitors from these places, or about 1.7 per cent of the total arrivals.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Cathay Hong Kong flight returns to Boston airport soon after take-off
一架前往香港的国泰航空航班在美国波士顿起飞后不久因机舱内出现烟雾，迫返波士顿。该航班CX811于当地时间凌晨2:23从波士顿洛根国际机场起飞，随后在马萨诸塞湾上空盘旋，疑似进行燃油排放以便紧急着陆。
社交媒体上有用户报告称机舱内有烟雾，但这一说法尚无法得到确认。国泰航空的发言人尚未对此事件作出回应。这是国泰航空在不到一个月内第二次在波士顿相关航班中遇到问题，显示出该航空公司在航班安全方面可能面临挑战。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
一架前往香港的国泰航空航班在美国波士顿起飞后不久因机舱内出现烟雾，迫返波士顿。该航班CX811于当地时间凌晨2:23从波士顿洛根国际机场起飞，随后在马萨诸塞湾上空盘旋，疑似进行燃油排放以便紧急着陆。
社交媒体上有用户报告称机舱内有烟雾，但这一说法尚无法得到确认。国泰航空的发言人尚未对此事件作出回应。这是国泰航空在不到一个月内第二次在波士顿相关航班中遇到问题，显示出该航空公司在航班安全方面可能面临挑战。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Recruiting foreigners to Hong Kong’s top court now more complex: chief justice
香港最高法院招募海外法官的过程因地缘政治紧张而变得“复杂”，但首席法官表示，他们的存在与否不会削弱法律系统的完整性。首席法官张举能在法律年开幕仪式上指出，基于少数高调的国家安全案件，不应对法治或司法独立做出“草率的结论”。
张举能强调，邀请海外法官参与审理案件的制度将继续存在，这一做法长期以来象征着香港对法律卓越和司法独立的承诺。然而，近年来，随着2020年实施的北京国安法引发的争议，部分法官因感到无法继续履职而辞职，这一问题引发了外界的批评和制裁。尽管如此，张首席法官表示，几位法官的离开并不意味着司法质量或独立性的削弱。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
香港最高法院招募海外法官的过程因地缘政治紧张而变得“复杂”，但首席法官表示，他们的存在与否不会削弱法律系统的完整性。首席法官张举能在法律年开幕仪式上指出，基于少数高调的国家安全案件，不应对法治或司法独立做出“草率的结论”。
张举能强调，邀请海外法官参与审理案件的制度将继续存在，这一做法长期以来象征着香港对法律卓越和司法独立的承诺。然而，近年来，随着2020年实施的北京国安法引发的争议，部分法官因感到无法继续履职而辞职，这一问题引发了外界的批评和制裁。尽管如此，张首席法官表示，几位法官的离开并不意味着司法质量或独立性的削弱。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
China’s RedNote netizens warn each other about sharing street views with US TikTok users
中国社交媒体平台RedNote上的用户警告彼此，注意那些请求中国街景图像和西藏或新疆照片的“TikTok难民”，因为这些用户可能是外国间谍。最近，许多帖子在平台上流传，提醒用户对这些请求保持警惕，认为这些行为显得异常，并呼吁大家在分享本地照片时要小心。
自2010年以来，由于中国的互联网审查政策，Google街景服务在中国被禁止，大多数街景图像无法在网上获取。中国国家安全部门对此类地理信息的关注，反映出对间谍活动的警惕，国家安全部指控外国势力利用各种手段窃取信息。与此同时，随着越来越多的外国用户因TikTok的前景不明而涌入RedNote，用户之间的互动虽然总体友好，但“国家安全”相关的讨论也在迅速增加，显示出网络空间的紧张态势。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
中国社交媒体平台RedNote上的用户警告彼此，注意那些请求中国街景图像和西藏或新疆照片的“TikTok难民”，因为这些用户可能是外国间谍。最近，许多帖子在平台上流传，提醒用户对这些请求保持警惕，认为这些行为显得异常，并呼吁大家在分享本地照片时要小心。
自2010年以来，由于中国的互联网审查政策，Google街景服务在中国被禁止，大多数街景图像无法在网上获取。中国国家安全部门对此类地理信息的关注，反映出对间谍活动的警惕，国家安全部指控外国势力利用各种手段窃取信息。与此同时，随着越来越多的外国用户因TikTok的前景不明而涌入RedNote，用户之间的互动虽然总体友好，但“国家安全”相关的讨论也在迅速增加，显示出网络空间的紧张态势。
via SCMP Full Text Feed
