Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po recently said the Hong Kong government would grant land in the Northern Metropolis to private companies that bring new technology and job prospects to industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and life sciences. While the government is forging ahead with the large-scale land disposal scheme, we must keep in mind
A painting by a mainland Chinese contemporary artist created by exploding gunpowder may seem an unlikely item for a Picasso exhibition, but it is among more than 190 artworks at Hong Kong’s M+ museum. Gunpowder Drawing No 8-A5 by Cai Guo-qiang is displayed alongside the Spanish master’s cubist study of the Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Paris.
China held US$3.227 trillion of foreign exchange reserves at the end of February, the largest of its kind in the world. Managing this vast wealth are four offshore investment offices known as Hua’an, Huaxin, Hua’ou and Huamei within the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE). The “four golden flowers”, as they are known in Chinese,
Halfway up a 37-storey tower overlooking Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, within walking distance from the People’s Liberation Army barracks and the classy Hong Kong Club, sits an unassuming office of a fund manager with an outsize role in the global financial markets. The spartan office, with two tiny flags of China and Hong Kong providing
Hong Kong is back! OK, that might be a touch too enthusiastic, but the city is starting to finally recover from the lagging effects of one of the harshest COVID-19 lockdowns in the world, that only fully came to an end in January 2023. Incoming tourism numbers are on the up, events and conferences are
Halfway up a 37-storey tower overlooking Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, within walking distance from the People’s Liberation Army barracks and the classy Hong Kong Club, sits an unassuming office of a fund manager with an outsize role in the global financial markets. The spartan office, with two tiny flags of China and Hong Kong providing
Mainland Chinese student Vixie Zhao arrived from Beijing six months ago to start her master’s degree programme and the first thing she bought was an annual pass to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. A long-time Disney fan, the 23-year-old has been heading to the theme park at least once a week to study, rather than take
駁洪水橋流浮山 最早2034竣 港深西部鐵路全長約18公里，香港段佔約8公里，由屯馬線洪水橋站一帶出發，途經厦村和流浮山，跨越后海灣連接深圳灣再駁前海。當局早前預計香港段會在厦村及流浮山設車站，內地段則直通前海。預計2034至2038年落成。 港府上月於《財政預算案》稱預計年內展開項目勘查及設計研究，據悉當局檢視後擬於深圳灣一帶設站，並在深圳灣站及前海站各設出入境口岸「一地兩檢」。 新界北議員、民建聯劉國勳認為，香港土地有限，口岸設於內地可騰出更多香港土地發展，內地建築成本較低，香港段車站較多，口岸設於內地較方便乘客及符合成本效益。劉亦建議採用「合作查驗、一次放行」或「無感通關（即毋須出示任何證件，以人臉識別技術核實身分）」等模式，進一步壓縮人手及通關時間。 另一新界北議員、香港新方向張欣宇分析，倘在香港及深圳各設口岸，乘客搭屯馬線至洪水橋站需先下車過關再上車，到深圳後又再過關，做法不便，故贊成一地兩檢。他又稱，據了解深圳發展前海時已預留空間興建一地兩檢通關設施。 新界西北議員、實政圓桌田北辰則稱，深圳南山一帶有不少創科發展，贊成增設深圳灣站及一地兩檢口岸方便交流。對於深圳灣站口岸具體位置，他認為不應與現有陸路深圳灣口岸共用口岸，應另建口岸分隔兩批人流。 議員冀內地出資建口岸 港府交租 至於未來兩口岸建設成本等，據悉兩地政府仍在商討，未有定案。參考現有陸路深圳灣口岸，當年港府需向內地支付約15.4億元（人民幣，下同）土地開發費，2007年啟用後港府每年付逾623萬元租金，2019年起才減至每年1000元。正重建並將實施一地兩檢的皇崗口岸，則由深圳出資興建新大樓，港府同樣年租1000元。 田北辰稱期望當局可參考皇崗口岸做法，由內地出資，港府只交租。張欣宇則估計兩地政府各自承擔各口岸區建設費，同樣期望港府只交象徵式租金。 ■明報報料熱線﹕inews@mingpao.com / 9181 4676 Source link
Hong Kong authorities will consider charging patients separately for services, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, at public outpatient clinics, the health chief has said, confirming an earlier report by the Post. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Friday that hospitalised patients and those visiting emergency rooms would be
Ocean Park has launched a fan club for Hong Kong’s first locally born panda cubs, with singers Keung To and Ian Chan Cheuk-yin of the boy band Mirror joining the group for an inaugural private visit next month. The theme park said on Friday that panda enthusiasts would have to pay HK$880 (US$113) to join
More than half of people are unhappy about the Hong Kong government’s budget, with nearly 70 per cent of respondents calling measures to boost revenue inadequate, a survey has found. The telephone poll, conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies from February 26 to March 11, also found that more
Beijing’s veiled attack on Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison for selling its Panama Canal ports by posting a blistering newspaper commentary against it is an attempt to pile pressure on the conglomerate to either axe the deal or negotiate better terms that protect the national interest, observers have said. But the experts warned on Friday that
Hongkongers who have to store their eggs, sperm or embryos for later use could have them kept for as long as they want under proposed changes by a statutory body to the existing rules. The Council on Human Reproductive Technology raised the suggestions on Thursday and launched a month-long public consultation. Among the proposals is
The South China Morning Post has picked up 12 prizes, including in the Best Scoop category, at the Hong Kong News Awards 2024. The Newspaper Society of Hong Kong announced the results on Friday, with the Post’s reporters securing awards in 11 categories. Senior reporter Edith Lin and news editor Jeffie Lam from the City
A bigger push for battery-powered lorries and taxis is needed for Hong Kong to cut emissions more quickly as part of its wider carbon-reduction drive, a policy think tank has said. In a report released on Friday reviewing the city’s progress towards achieving its climate goals, Civic Exchange also called for ending new registrations of
The South China Morning Post has picked up 12 prizes, including in the Best Scoop category, at the Hong Kong News Awards 2024. The Newspaper Society of Hong Kong announced the results on Friday, with the Post’s reporters securing awards in 11 categories. Senior reporter Edith Lin and news editor Jeffie Lam from the City
Hong Kong anticipates the continued growth of its fintech ecosystem, with blockchain, digital assets, distributed ledger technology (DLT) and artificial intelligence playing a central role in shaping its future. Hong Kong is home to over 1,100 fintech companies. This includes 175 blockchain application or software firms and 111 digital asset and cryptocurrency companies, which marked
Towngas Smart Energy reported a profit increase last year amid a slowing economy, as the subsidiary of Hong Kong’s sole gas provider reaped the benefits from its investments in renewable energy in mainland China. Net profit rose 2 per cent from a year earlier to HK$1.6 billion (US$206 million), the company said in a Hong
Sharp Chinese criticism of CK Hutchison Holdings’ sale of its port assets near the Panama Canal to a US-led consortium has thrown a potential wrench into the deal, with pressure piling up on the family of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing to rethink the divestment. Analysts said the deal was not final yet due to
Hong Kong authorities plan to spend at least HK$100 million (US$12.87 million) to study the design of a cross-border railway project that will feature a co-location checkpoint in Shenzhen, according to insiders. Sources said on Friday the Hong Kong–Shenzhen Western Express Railway would join Hung Shui Kiu, Ha Tsuen and Lau Fau Shan in the
