Stretched, not squeezed: Why the Xizang quake was a 'pull-apart'
China’s five-year leadership cycle is getting under way at a provincial level, with new teams being installed in a process that offers important clues to the future of the Communist Party at a national level. Last week, four provinces – Anhui, Henan, Shanxi and Xinjiang – wrapped up their respective party congresses and appointed new standing committees for the next five years. The meetings were held a week before a key party gathering in Beijing – known as the fifth plenum – that runs from...
A controversial lighting project along a walking trail on The Peak is in doubt following mounting complaints that the installations damage Hong Kong’s natural beauty. Designed as one of several new attractions meant to replace a retired light show, the initiative has been criticised by local residents and visitors. The South China Morning Post looks at what has gone wrong with the project. What is the project? The Tourism Board planned small light installations for selected points along the...
Beijing pledged to support pro-unification forces in Taiwan as it mounted a concerted publicity campaign on Sunday to mark the 81st anniversary of the end of Japanese colonial rule over the island. October 25 was formally established by Beijing last year as an official memorial date known as “Taiwan Restoration Day”. Speaking at an event in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province, on Sunday, Song Tao, the head of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said the memorial day highlighted Beijing’s “firm...
Veteran Hong Kong stock commentator Louie Shum Chun-ying has died aged 66, with a police source revealing he had a history of heart disease and diabetes. His twin sister confirmed on Sunday that he died on Saturday night at Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai, sharing the news in a post on his social media page. Shum, also known as “Master Shum”, was chief executive of stock brokerage Sincere Securities until his retirement two years ago. He remained active on internet radio shows over the past two...
Canadian singer The Weeknd surprised concertgoers in Hong Kong on Saturday with a new song inspired by the city, evoking nostalgia among local music fans. Abel Tesfaye – the Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer and actor known professionally as The Weeknd – performed “Hong Kong” to tens of thousands of fans at Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday night. It was his first of four concerts in the city as part of the “After Hours Til Dawn Tour” world tour. The crowd reacted with awe and cheers. “Hong...
The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has expressed interest in financing projects in the Northern Metropolis mega development, Hong Kong’s finance chief has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also told the media on Sunday that global finance leaders had set aside their political differences during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Finance Ministers’ Meeting held in Hong Kong last week and reached a consensus on promoting digital infrastructure, employment...
About 1 million employees in Hong Kong will be allowed to move their entire Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) savings to a different provider once a year, starting December 21. The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, which regulates the mandatory pension plans, said on Sunday that the “full portability” arrangement would be carried out in two phases to ensure a smooth implementation. In a blog post, authority chairwoman Ayesha Macpherson Lau said the arrangement would allow eligible members...
Hong Kong’s major property developers are shifting investment in mainland China from residential projects to commercial assets, including hospitality, as weak home sales and fewer attractive investment opportunities prompt them to focus on existing properties, recurring income and debt reduction. “In recent years, after we recycled the capital from our projects, we haven’t really found many good opportunities on the mainland,” Stephen Ng, chairman and managing director of Wharf Holdings, said at...
Hong Kong’s regulator for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) has referred a case to law enforcement agencies after a mainland Chinese influencer was suspected of offering to bring non-local surrogate mothers of LGBTQ parents to give birth in the city. Tan Zubiao, who goes by the name of “berlinsun” on Instagram, had set up a company in the city and advertised commercial surrogacy services for LGBTQ couples on social media, according to local media reports. Tan and his foreign husband, who have two...
Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined Beijing’s formula for tackling African conflicts and hot-button issues during a meeting this month with visiting Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbe, framing it around four principles linking peace to development. The principles focus on African-led security free from outside intervention; upholding sovereignty and UN Charter principles; rejecting force and sanctions and favouring ceasefires through dialogue; and focusing on both immediate security concerns and...
Sherry Shum has embraced a new shopping routine after finding a smart vending machine near her home in Chai Wan in Hong Kong. The 37-year-old retail worker uses her phone to scan a QR code, opens the smart machine’s door, picks up a bottle of Coca-Cola, an oolong tea and a pack of potato chips, closes it and walks away with HK$60 (US$7.70) worth of goods. The whole process is so seamless that the bulk of the time is spent deciding what to buy. The moment Shum takes an item from the shelf, the...
Senior United Nations officials have reaffirmed the world body's unwavering adherence to UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758, as Sunday marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat at the UN.
