China cracks down on ‘illegal’ investigations targeting private business
China's prosecution authorities issued over 6,500 directives in 2023 to ensure "correct law enforcement" and retracted over 400 improperly filed criminal cases involving private businesses. This initiative aims to curb illegal investigative actions that undermine the socialist market economy and address issues like profit-driven law enforcement, which authorities view as a critical responsibility.
These efforts are part of a broader push to stabilize China's post-pandemic economy and restore confidence in the business environment, which faces challenges such as high youth unemployment and trade tensions with the US. Beijing is committed to establishing a fair legal framework that protects private enterprises, recognizing their vital role in driving economic growth, innovation, and job creation.
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China's prosecution authorities issued over 6,500 directives in 2023 to ensure "correct law enforcement" and retracted over 400 improperly filed criminal cases involving private businesses. This initiative aims to curb illegal investigative actions that undermine the socialist market economy and address issues like profit-driven law enforcement, which authorities view as a critical responsibility.
These efforts are part of a broader push to stabilize China's post-pandemic economy and restore confidence in the business environment, which faces challenges such as high youth unemployment and trade tensions with the US. Beijing is committed to establishing a fair legal framework that protects private enterprises, recognizing their vital role in driving economic growth, innovation, and job creation.
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Alibaba chairman Joe Tsai hails Apple partnership, says DeepSeek will inspire AI developers
Alibaba's co-founder Joe Tsai confirmed that Alibaba has partnered with Apple to integrate its Qwen AI models into iPhones in China. This collaboration addresses Apple's need for localized AI solutions within the country, where regulatory approvals are required for AI models intended for public use.
Apple had been searching for a suitable partner for months to launch its Apple Intelligence features in mainland China, as OpenAI's GPT models, used internationally, are not officially available there. Tsai expressed Alibaba's honor in working with Apple, highlighting the selective nature of Apple's decision after considering multiple Chinese companies. He also commended recent innovations from DeepSeek, anticipating they will encourage more developers to pursue open-source solutions.
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Alibaba's co-founder Joe Tsai confirmed that Alibaba has partnered with Apple to integrate its Qwen AI models into iPhones in China. This collaboration addresses Apple's need for localized AI solutions within the country, where regulatory approvals are required for AI models intended for public use.
Apple had been searching for a suitable partner for months to launch its Apple Intelligence features in mainland China, as OpenAI's GPT models, used internationally, are not officially available there. Tsai expressed Alibaba's honor in working with Apple, highlighting the selective nature of Apple's decision after considering multiple Chinese companies. He also commended recent innovations from DeepSeek, anticipating they will encourage more developers to pursue open-source solutions.
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Vietnam eatery owner stuns netizens with striking resemblance to Hong Kong singer Faye Wong
A Vietnamese pho restaurant owner has become an internet sensation in China due to her uncanny resemblance to Hong Kong singer Faye Wong. A tourist from Shanghai shared photos of the woman on social media, sparking widespread discussion and admiration for the "Goddess" lookalike.
The photos, showing the owner in a simple outfit with short silver-grey hair, quickly went viral, amassing thousands of likes and comments. Faye Wong is a celebrated Cantopop diva known for her strong personality and influence in Asia, adding to the intrigue surrounding her doppelganger.
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A Vietnamese pho restaurant owner has become an internet sensation in China due to her uncanny resemblance to Hong Kong singer Faye Wong. A tourist from Shanghai shared photos of the woman on social media, sparking widespread discussion and admiration for the "Goddess" lookalike.
The photos, showing the owner in a simple outfit with short silver-grey hair, quickly went viral, amassing thousands of likes and comments. Faye Wong is a celebrated Cantopop diva known for her strong personality and influence in Asia, adding to the intrigue surrounding her doppelganger.
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‘Distressing’ job cuts to hit 30,000 Malaysian state contractors who did not finish school
By Hadi Azmi
The Malaysian government’s decision to terminate 30,000 contract staff without a school-leaving certification has drawn backlash from the country’s public service union, which said the sudden end to long careers working for the state lacks compassion.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged an efficiency drive to cut state spending, which includes the government’s 1.6 million employees.
His administration is also working on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the civil service.
In August, the government raised the minimum entry qualification for government jobs to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Malaysia’s national school-leaving exam, equivalent to a high school diploma and is taken at 17.
That means that thousands of contractors who entered the workforce without the SPM face job losses after years of service without any benefits, or pension.
Contract staff usually receive a net pay that excludes medical insurance and other benefits.
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By Hadi Azmi
The Malaysian government’s decision to terminate 30,000 contract staff without a school-leaving certification has drawn backlash from the country’s public service union, which said the sudden end to long careers working for the state lacks compassion.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged an efficiency drive to cut state spending, which includes the government’s 1.6 million employees.
His administration is also working on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the civil service.
In August, the government raised the minimum entry qualification for government jobs to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), Malaysia’s national school-leaving exam, equivalent to a high school diploma and is taken at 17.
That means that thousands of contractors who entered the workforce without the SPM face job losses after years of service without any benefits, or pension.
Contract staff usually receive a net pay that excludes medical insurance and other benefits.
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Lower valuation is next ‘pain point’ for Hong Kong office landlords, S&P says
By Cheryl Arcibal
Office rents in Hong Kong are projected to slip to levels last seen in 2012, a scenario that would erode the value of commercial properties owned by the city’s biggest landlords and force weak owners to sell their assets at deep discounts, according to S&P Global Ratings.
Prime office rents could slide by as much as 10 per cent this year, the rating company said in a report released on Thursday, doubling its previous forecast for a 5 per cent drop. Fresh supply of office space from newly completed projects would intensify pressure on asset owners in a tenant’s market, it added.
“Hong Kong landlords are contending with economic uncertainty and rising competition from new builds,” credit analyst Oscar Chung said in the report. “We expect they will employ more tactics to retain tenants, including deeper cuts in rent rates for renewals.”
Lower valuation could be “the next pain point for Hong Kong office landlords”, S&P said, echoing market concerns, after the Hong Kong Monetary Authority took note of rising bad debts in the commercial real estate sector.
Prime office rents have slumped 62 per cent from a peak in October 2018, according to government data, as social unrest, the Covid-19 pandemic and an economic recession slammed the market. Rents in nine areas including Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai-Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui fell to HK$309 to HK$914 per square metre, approaching levels last seen 13 years ago.
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By Cheryl Arcibal
Office rents in Hong Kong are projected to slip to levels last seen in 2012, a scenario that would erode the value of commercial properties owned by the city’s biggest landlords and force weak owners to sell their assets at deep discounts, according to S&P Global Ratings.
Prime office rents could slide by as much as 10 per cent this year, the rating company said in a report released on Thursday, doubling its previous forecast for a 5 per cent drop. Fresh supply of office space from newly completed projects would intensify pressure on asset owners in a tenant’s market, it added.
“Hong Kong landlords are contending with economic uncertainty and rising competition from new builds,” credit analyst Oscar Chung said in the report. “We expect they will employ more tactics to retain tenants, including deeper cuts in rent rates for renewals.”
Lower valuation could be “the next pain point for Hong Kong office landlords”, S&P said, echoing market concerns, after the Hong Kong Monetary Authority took note of rising bad debts in the commercial real estate sector.
Prime office rents have slumped 62 per cent from a peak in October 2018, according to government data, as social unrest, the Covid-19 pandemic and an economic recession slammed the market. Rents in nine areas including Sheung Wan, Central, Wan Chai-Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui fell to HK$309 to HK$914 per square metre, approaching levels last seen 13 years ago.
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Trump supports Aukus submarines for Australia – will he stay the course?
By Maria Siow
United States President Donald Trump’s support for Australia to acquire the Aukus nuclear submarines has come as a relief for Canberra amid lingering concerns over their delivery timing and effectiveness as well as Washington’s commitment to the deal.
At a meeting with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in Washington last Friday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said: “The president is very aware, supportive of Aukus, recognises the importance of the defence industrial base.”
When asked if the US would deliver the nuclear submarines to Australia on time, he added: “We sure hope so.”
Established in 2021 to counter China’s growing influence, Aukus – comprising Australia, the UK and the US – has committed to transfer sensitive nuclear, missile and other defence technology to Canberra.
Under the Aukus submarine programme, the US will supply several Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia in the early 2030s while Canberra will pay Washington US$3 billion to boost the capabilities of the American submarine industry.
During the meeting, Marles said that Australia had transferred the first US$500 million payment to the US after he spoke to Hegseth on the matter in a phone call on January 29.
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By Maria Siow
United States President Donald Trump’s support for Australia to acquire the Aukus nuclear submarines has come as a relief for Canberra amid lingering concerns over their delivery timing and effectiveness as well as Washington’s commitment to the deal.
At a meeting with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in Washington last Friday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said: “The president is very aware, supportive of Aukus, recognises the importance of the defence industrial base.”
When asked if the US would deliver the nuclear submarines to Australia on time, he added: “We sure hope so.”
Established in 2021 to counter China’s growing influence, Aukus – comprising Australia, the UK and the US – has committed to transfer sensitive nuclear, missile and other defence technology to Canberra.
Under the Aukus submarine programme, the US will supply several Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia in the early 2030s while Canberra will pay Washington US$3 billion to boost the capabilities of the American submarine industry.
During the meeting, Marles said that Australia had transferred the first US$500 million payment to the US after he spoke to Hegseth on the matter in a phone call on January 29.
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Hong Kong doctor killed by suspected E coli infection hailed as ‘good role model’
By Elizabeth Cheung
The deceased doctor who was part of a suspected Shiga toxin-producing E coli cluster at a Hong Kong public hospital has been described as “a good role model” for colleagues and “willing to go the extra mile” to help patients, according to those who knew him.
The doctor, whose name has not been revealed by authorities, died last Friday, a day after he was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for signs of severe infection, low blood oxygen levels and high fever. He also had symptoms of diarrhoea.
The deceased, who was in his thirties, was among three oncologists from the hospital in Kwai Chung who fell ill. The other two doctors had milder symptoms and at least one has been discharged.
A memorial corner for the late doctor was set up at Princess Margaret Hospital on Tuesday and will be maintained until Sunday.
Requesting anonymity, people who knew the doctor spoke highly of him.
“He was a good role model to our new doctors, and he often shared his knowledge during his spare time with young staff,” a former colleague said. “He was a really good doctor.”
The medical professional described the death of the doctor as a “huge loss” to all of them.
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By Elizabeth Cheung
The deceased doctor who was part of a suspected Shiga toxin-producing E coli cluster at a Hong Kong public hospital has been described as “a good role model” for colleagues and “willing to go the extra mile” to help patients, according to those who knew him.
The doctor, whose name has not been revealed by authorities, died last Friday, a day after he was admitted to Princess Margaret Hospital for signs of severe infection, low blood oxygen levels and high fever. He also had symptoms of diarrhoea.
The deceased, who was in his thirties, was among three oncologists from the hospital in Kwai Chung who fell ill. The other two doctors had milder symptoms and at least one has been discharged.
A memorial corner for the late doctor was set up at Princess Margaret Hospital on Tuesday and will be maintained until Sunday.
Requesting anonymity, people who knew the doctor spoke highly of him.
“He was a good role model to our new doctors, and he often shared his knowledge during his spare time with young staff,” a former colleague said. “He was a really good doctor.”
The medical professional described the death of the doctor as a “huge loss” to all of them.
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As dialogue resumes, will warmer ties increase China-UK economic engagement?
By Mia Nulimaimaiti
As Beijing-London relations become warmer, and visits by high-ranking officials resume, a prominent China-watcher has urged the United Kingdom to give serious consideration to further economic engagement with China now that it has leapfrogged tech rivals with the launch of DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence (AI) models.
“The main factor now is a clear-sighted recognition in the UK that the economic situation is perilous, and that with China, there are clearly unexplored opportunities that we have to at least look at, even if we don’t take them,” said Kerry Brown, a professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King’s College, London.
“China remains a minuscule investor in Britain, but with shocks like the success of DeepSeek, it is clear that Britain needs to think hard about the opportunity costs that engagement with China bring.”
Foreign Minister Wang Yi was scheduled to hold talks with British counterpart David Lammy in London on Thursday at the first UK-China Strategic Dialogue meeting since July 2018.
This follows the resumption of the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue in Beijing last month, when British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng reached deals worth £600 million (US$746.5 million) to Britain.
Bilateral relations had been strained since 2018, with the previous British government criticising Beijing’s actions in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Hong Kong. Ties cooled further amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the UK’s alignment with the United States and Australia in the Aukus security partnership.
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By Mia Nulimaimaiti
As Beijing-London relations become warmer, and visits by high-ranking officials resume, a prominent China-watcher has urged the United Kingdom to give serious consideration to further economic engagement with China now that it has leapfrogged tech rivals with the launch of DeepSeek’s artificial intelligence (AI) models.
“The main factor now is a clear-sighted recognition in the UK that the economic situation is perilous, and that with China, there are clearly unexplored opportunities that we have to at least look at, even if we don’t take them,” said Kerry Brown, a professor of Chinese studies and director of the Lau China Institute at King’s College, London.
“China remains a minuscule investor in Britain, but with shocks like the success of DeepSeek, it is clear that Britain needs to think hard about the opportunity costs that engagement with China bring.”
Foreign Minister Wang Yi was scheduled to hold talks with British counterpart David Lammy in London on Thursday at the first UK-China Strategic Dialogue meeting since July 2018.
This follows the resumption of the UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue in Beijing last month, when British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng reached deals worth £600 million (US$746.5 million) to Britain.
Bilateral relations had been strained since 2018, with the previous British government criticising Beijing’s actions in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and Hong Kong. Ties cooled further amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the UK’s alignment with the United States and Australia in the Aukus security partnership.
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Rethinking AI development: maximum intelligence vs useful applications
By Joe Tsai
This week, I attended the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris. Since 2018, France has identified AI as an important national strategy and devoted key resources to AI research institutes, talent and infrastructure, as well as fostering an innovative environment for AI start-ups.
The foresight of President Emmanuel Macron’s government was on display as technologists and business leaders from around the world gathered in France to announce hundreds of billions of euros’ worth of AI and related infrastructure investments.
Amid the excitement about opportunities for Europe to participate in the rapid development of AI, I was asked how Alibaba Group saw the future of AI. This question requires some context.
In the past month, DeepSeek’s sudden rise to fame has captured everyone’s attention and imagination. The once-obscure Chinese company launched open-source models and published a series of papers to detail its engineering innovation which suggest that the training and inference of large-language models can be accomplished with costs much lower than brute-force training.
Until now, the public’s attention had been on who is developing the smartest frontier model. Every launch of a model is accompanied with benchmark comparisons about capabilities in maths, coding, reasoning, etc. But this type of race belongs only to an exclusive club of companies that have enormous resources, each of them investing US$60 billion-US$80 billion per year in compute infrastructure.
To use a human analogy, training frontier models is like the arduous process of educating children – you need 25-plus years and lots of books and teachers to develop a postgraduate degree expert. Imagine if the AI race were about the development of the smartest children, and only a handful of rich parents could afford to have children that can win a Nobel Prize. Then, what about the rest of us?
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By Joe Tsai
This week, I attended the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris. Since 2018, France has identified AI as an important national strategy and devoted key resources to AI research institutes, talent and infrastructure, as well as fostering an innovative environment for AI start-ups.
The foresight of President Emmanuel Macron’s government was on display as technologists and business leaders from around the world gathered in France to announce hundreds of billions of euros’ worth of AI and related infrastructure investments.
Amid the excitement about opportunities for Europe to participate in the rapid development of AI, I was asked how Alibaba Group saw the future of AI. This question requires some context.
In the past month, DeepSeek’s sudden rise to fame has captured everyone’s attention and imagination. The once-obscure Chinese company launched open-source models and published a series of papers to detail its engineering innovation which suggest that the training and inference of large-language models can be accomplished with costs much lower than brute-force training.
Until now, the public’s attention had been on who is developing the smartest frontier model. Every launch of a model is accompanied with benchmark comparisons about capabilities in maths, coding, reasoning, etc. But this type of race belongs only to an exclusive club of companies that have enormous resources, each of them investing US$60 billion-US$80 billion per year in compute infrastructure.
To use a human analogy, training frontier models is like the arduous process of educating children – you need 25-plus years and lots of books and teachers to develop a postgraduate degree expert. Imagine if the AI race were about the development of the smartest children, and only a handful of rich parents could afford to have children that can win a Nobel Prize. Then, what about the rest of us?
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Panda fever is great but Hong Kong needs its own cultural icon
By Devin Lin
Pandas have dominated Hong Kong’s latest festival season. The excitement began in early December when giant pandas An An and Ke Ke, given to the city by Beijing, made their first public appearance at Ocean Park. A pop-up exhibition of 2,500 panda sculptures, including at the Avenue of Stars and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, also attracted crowds.
Through Christmas and the Lunar New Year, panda fever soared as Hong Kong officials hinted at debut dates for the public to meet the giant panda twins born in Ocean Park last August – before announcing February 16. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has also called for a naming event for the twins, known simply as “Elder Sister” and “Younger Brother” for now.
Ocean Park, now home to six giant pandas – the largest number in captivity under the same roof outside mainland China – recently announced plans to build a panda museum.
Some legislators have proposed leveraging the “panda economy” to boost Hong Kong’s tourism and cultural industries. Meanwhile, voices in the community have called for the creation of a new panda-themed cultural identity for Hong Kong, positioning pandas as the city’s cultural ambassadors.
While pandas are loved by Hong Kong residents, it is important to recognise that, as China’s national treasure, the panda is a Chinese icon, much like the eagle for the United States, the brown bear for Russia and the kangaroo for Australia. Given this, Hong Kong should embrace the panda craze as part of a broader effort to promote Chinese culture.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong should develop its unique cultural symbol, one that reflects its distinct identity and allows the city to showcase itself as the “Pearl of the Orient”.
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By Devin Lin
Pandas have dominated Hong Kong’s latest festival season. The excitement began in early December when giant pandas An An and Ke Ke, given to the city by Beijing, made their first public appearance at Ocean Park. A pop-up exhibition of 2,500 panda sculptures, including at the Avenue of Stars and Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, also attracted crowds.
Through Christmas and the Lunar New Year, panda fever soared as Hong Kong officials hinted at debut dates for the public to meet the giant panda twins born in Ocean Park last August – before announcing February 16. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has also called for a naming event for the twins, known simply as “Elder Sister” and “Younger Brother” for now.
Ocean Park, now home to six giant pandas – the largest number in captivity under the same roof outside mainland China – recently announced plans to build a panda museum.
Some legislators have proposed leveraging the “panda economy” to boost Hong Kong’s tourism and cultural industries. Meanwhile, voices in the community have called for the creation of a new panda-themed cultural identity for Hong Kong, positioning pandas as the city’s cultural ambassadors.
While pandas are loved by Hong Kong residents, it is important to recognise that, as China’s national treasure, the panda is a Chinese icon, much like the eagle for the United States, the brown bear for Russia and the kangaroo for Australia. Given this, Hong Kong should embrace the panda craze as part of a broader effort to promote Chinese culture.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong should develop its unique cultural symbol, one that reflects its distinct identity and allows the city to showcase itself as the “Pearl of the Orient”.
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Parents of Hong Kong baby girl in need of heart transplant renew appeal for donor
By Lo Hoi-ying
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.
The parents of a seven-month-old Hong Kong baby girl in need of a life-saving heart transplant have appealed again for a suitable donor as she suffers from worsening respiratory failure.
Hong Kong Children’s Hospital said on Thursday that Whitney remained in critical condition in its paediatric intensive care unit since her parents first asked publicly for donors last October.
She was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes her heart’s main pumping chamber to become enlarged, making it difficult to send blood to the rest of the body.
Whitney has been on the local heart transplant waiting list for more than four months and is the first among similarly sized patients.
The hospital said it had sought help from mainland China for a suitable heart, in addition to searching locally.
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By Lo Hoi-ying
This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.
The parents of a seven-month-old Hong Kong baby girl in need of a life-saving heart transplant have appealed again for a suitable donor as she suffers from worsening respiratory failure.
Hong Kong Children’s Hospital said on Thursday that Whitney remained in critical condition in its paediatric intensive care unit since her parents first asked publicly for donors last October.
She was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes her heart’s main pumping chamber to become enlarged, making it difficult to send blood to the rest of the body.
Whitney has been on the local heart transplant waiting list for more than four months and is the first among similarly sized patients.
The hospital said it had sought help from mainland China for a suitable heart, in addition to searching locally.
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Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest to slash movie ticket prices amid closure concerns
By Wynna Wong
Major Hong Kong cinema chain Golden Harvest has announced it will slash prices to as low as HK$20 (US$2.60), a month after a temporary suspension in ticket sales sparked fears that the firm could be next in the movie industry to downsize or shut down.
But an industry representative said on Thursday that the price reduction might not necessarily reverse the difficult situation the sector was in, with the reduced ticket revenue potentially hindering future film production too.
An announcement on Golden Harvest’s website this week showed some ticket prices starting from Saturday would start at HK$20.
“Starting from February 15, Golden Harvest cinemas will launch ‘the most affordable’ ticket prices at all theatres, to thank all movie fans for their support over the years,” it said.
IMAX shows will start from HK$65, while some student tickets will be as low as HK$30.
For seniors, prices will start from HK$20.
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By Wynna Wong
Major Hong Kong cinema chain Golden Harvest has announced it will slash prices to as low as HK$20 (US$2.60), a month after a temporary suspension in ticket sales sparked fears that the firm could be next in the movie industry to downsize or shut down.
But an industry representative said on Thursday that the price reduction might not necessarily reverse the difficult situation the sector was in, with the reduced ticket revenue potentially hindering future film production too.
An announcement on Golden Harvest’s website this week showed some ticket prices starting from Saturday would start at HK$20.
“Starting from February 15, Golden Harvest cinemas will launch ‘the most affordable’ ticket prices at all theatres, to thank all movie fans for their support over the years,” it said.
IMAX shows will start from HK$65, while some student tickets will be as low as HK$30.
For seniors, prices will start from HK$20.
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The Hongkong Bank Foundation nurtures next generation at different stages of their growth journeys
By Nick JonesAngie HonKristie KoReggie HoMorning Studio editors
Young people are our future, and it is a responsibility of society to nurture and support the next generation at different stages of their lives.
Through The Hongkong Bank Foundation, HSBC offers a range of initiatives, supported by volunteers from the bank, that are aimed at empowering young people by helping equip them with the skills, knowledge and resources they need to reach their full potential.
Instilling empathy and a sense of mission
The teenage years are an important life stage – a time that shapes one’s world view, values and dreams. Anson Yung, like other 15-year-old students, is still finding his way. Besides facing academic pressure, Yung also struggles to navigate a path where his dreams might take him in the future.
He became more confident about his ambitions and talents after joining the Hong Kong government-led Strive and Rise Programme, which helps students in Form One to Four who are from underprivileged families broaden their horizons and create a brighter future.
He was paired with an HSBC volunteer, Cyrus Chu, who is a senior wealth planning consultant at the bank. “My mentor is very passionate. He often invites me to participate in various activities and genuinely wants to help shape my future,” Yung explains. “He is like a brother to me.”
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By Nick JonesAngie HonKristie KoReggie HoMorning Studio editors
Young people are our future, and it is a responsibility of society to nurture and support the next generation at different stages of their lives.
Through The Hongkong Bank Foundation, HSBC offers a range of initiatives, supported by volunteers from the bank, that are aimed at empowering young people by helping equip them with the skills, knowledge and resources they need to reach their full potential.
Instilling empathy and a sense of mission
The teenage years are an important life stage – a time that shapes one’s world view, values and dreams. Anson Yung, like other 15-year-old students, is still finding his way. Besides facing academic pressure, Yung also struggles to navigate a path where his dreams might take him in the future.
He became more confident about his ambitions and talents after joining the Hong Kong government-led Strive and Rise Programme, which helps students in Form One to Four who are from underprivileged families broaden their horizons and create a brighter future.
He was paired with an HSBC volunteer, Cyrus Chu, who is a senior wealth planning consultant at the bank. “My mentor is very passionate. He often invites me to participate in various activities and genuinely wants to help shape my future,” Yung explains. “He is like a brother to me.”
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South Korea to ban in-flight power bank charging after plane fire
By Reuters
South Korea’s transport ministry on Thursday announced measures to strengthen aviation safety rules, following a fire on an Air Busan plane last month, which will include limiting the number and type of portable batteries allowed on flights.
The measures come into effect on March 1 after an Airbus plane belonging to South Korean carrier Air Busan caught fire on January 28 at Gimhae International Airport in the southern part of South Korea while preparing for departure to Hong Kong.
Under the new safety measures, passengers will be permitted to carry up to five 100 watt-hours portable batteries, while batteries over 160 watt-hours will not be allowed on board.
Security searches will include checking the number and types of batteries, and charging portable batteries on a plane will be banned, the ministry said in a statement.
Mirroring a similar decision already taken by Air Busan last week, the ministry said it will ban passengers from keeping power banks and e-cigarettes in luggage stored in overhead cabin bins.
The decision comes in an effort to address concerns over potential portable battery fires, the ministry said, though the cause of the fire on the Air Busan aircraft has yet to be determined.
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By Reuters
South Korea’s transport ministry on Thursday announced measures to strengthen aviation safety rules, following a fire on an Air Busan plane last month, which will include limiting the number and type of portable batteries allowed on flights.
The measures come into effect on March 1 after an Airbus plane belonging to South Korean carrier Air Busan caught fire on January 28 at Gimhae International Airport in the southern part of South Korea while preparing for departure to Hong Kong.
Under the new safety measures, passengers will be permitted to carry up to five 100 watt-hours portable batteries, while batteries over 160 watt-hours will not be allowed on board.
Security searches will include checking the number and types of batteries, and charging portable batteries on a plane will be banned, the ministry said in a statement.
Mirroring a similar decision already taken by Air Busan last week, the ministry said it will ban passengers from keeping power banks and e-cigarettes in luggage stored in overhead cabin bins.
The decision comes in an effort to address concerns over potential portable battery fires, the ministry said, though the cause of the fire on the Air Busan aircraft has yet to be determined.
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Chinese study tracing Okinawan roots to home of Confucius hits a nerve in Japan
By Shi Huang
A Chinese-led genetic study has offered a new piece to the ancestral puzzle of where modern East Asians came from, but it has also threatened to deepen political faultlines in Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan, and long home to an American military presence.
The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications on February 3, suggests that the origins of the ancestors of Okinawans can be traced primarily to China’s eastern province of Shandong, the birthplace of Confucius.
The findings have been played up in Chinese state media, but they risk exacerbating already strained relations between Tokyo and Beijing.
The research, spearheaded by Professor Fu Qiaomei with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, analysed nuclear genomes from 85 individuals at 11 archaeological sites in Shandong, dated from 6,000 to 1,500 years ago.
The study revealed that 75 per cent of the ancestry of Ryukyu Islanders – distant relatives of present-day Okinawans – originated from Shandong during the Longshan period, from 4,600 to 4,000 years ago, and mixed with the region’s indigenous Jomon-related lineages.
Genetic admixtures occurred mainly during or after China’s Sui and Tang dynasties, 1,600 to 1,400 years ago, though the earliest ancestral links stretch further back to the time of Confucius.
Such admixtures occur when previously isolated populations interbreed resulting in a population that is descended from multiple sources.
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By Shi Huang
A Chinese-led genetic study has offered a new piece to the ancestral puzzle of where modern East Asians came from, but it has also threatened to deepen political faultlines in Okinawa, the southernmost prefecture of Japan, and long home to an American military presence.
The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications on February 3, suggests that the origins of the ancestors of Okinawans can be traced primarily to China’s eastern province of Shandong, the birthplace of Confucius.
The findings have been played up in Chinese state media, but they risk exacerbating already strained relations between Tokyo and Beijing.
The research, spearheaded by Professor Fu Qiaomei with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, analysed nuclear genomes from 85 individuals at 11 archaeological sites in Shandong, dated from 6,000 to 1,500 years ago.
The study revealed that 75 per cent of the ancestry of Ryukyu Islanders – distant relatives of present-day Okinawans – originated from Shandong during the Longshan period, from 4,600 to 4,000 years ago, and mixed with the region’s indigenous Jomon-related lineages.
Genetic admixtures occurred mainly during or after China’s Sui and Tang dynasties, 1,600 to 1,400 years ago, though the earliest ancestral links stretch further back to the time of Confucius.
Such admixtures occur when previously isolated populations interbreed resulting in a population that is descended from multiple sources.
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Chinese jet accused of dropping flares near Australian plane patrolling South China Sea
By Reuters
Australia has raised concerns with China over what it said was “unsafe and unprofessional” actions by a Chinese fighter jet towards an Australian maritime patrol in the South China Sea on Tuesday.
A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was conducting a routine surveillance patrol in the South China Sea when a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet released flares in proximity to the RAAF P-8A aircraft, the defence department said in a statement.
“This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel,” said the statement, adding there were no injuries.
Australia’s defence department also noted that a Chinese navy task group was operating in Australia’s north.
A People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate, cruiser and replenishment vessel had entered Australia’s maritime approaches, with the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang transiting the waters to Australia’s north, the defence department said in a separate statement on Thursday.
“Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, just as we expect others to respect Australia’s right to do the same,” the statement said.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
By Reuters
Australia has raised concerns with China over what it said was “unsafe and unprofessional” actions by a Chinese fighter jet towards an Australian maritime patrol in the South China Sea on Tuesday.
A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was conducting a routine surveillance patrol in the South China Sea when a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet released flares in proximity to the RAAF P-8A aircraft, the defence department said in a statement.
“This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel,” said the statement, adding there were no injuries.
Australia’s defence department also noted that a Chinese navy task group was operating in Australia’s north.
A People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate, cruiser and replenishment vessel had entered Australia’s maritime approaches, with the Jiangkai-class frigate Hengyang transiting the waters to Australia’s north, the defence department said in a separate statement on Thursday.
“Australia respects the rights of all states to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, just as we expect others to respect Australia’s right to do the same,” the statement said.
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