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Tai Po fire: Hong Kong leader defends housing estate administrator over owners’ meeting delay

Hong Kong’s top leader has defended a management firm’s delay in holding a meeting with owners displaced by the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire, saying those procedures must be carried out “in accordance with the law.” Chief Executive John Lee said at a Tuesday press conference that Hop On Management “has always given people the […]

'Power supply to resume at Tsuen Wan Centre'

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Alice Mak, expected that electricity at Tsuen Wan Centre would be restored by noon on Tuesday after a power blackout hit the facility on Monday. The disruption to the supply of electricity and fresh water, caused by an equipment malfunction, affected around 1,000 customers at the centre. Speaking on an RTHK programme, Mak noted that power restoration work at the centre's electric meter room had been "proceeding smoothly", adding that supplier CLP Power had replaced certain parts of the equipment and was conducting a final check of the power system. She added the inspection, which started at around 10am on Tuesday, might last around one to two hours, after which power would be fully restored. Separately, Mak noted district councillors and community care teams had so far received around 200 assistance requests. "Many of these requests are general inquiries regarding when power will be restored, the reasons for the outage, and the location of shelters. There are also numerous requests for delivering water, supplies, and food," she said. Mak added that around 100 people stayed at the five temporary shelters set up by the government, including more than 70 residents from a disabled care home. The shelters were also equipped with activity rooms for dog owners to bring along their canines for accommodation. Separately, the home affairs chief noted that power blackouts tend to occur more frequently during the summer time due to rain, water leakage, as well as increased electricity usage. She called on the city's owners' corporations and property management firms to ramp up inspections during the summer to ensure "all electricity meter boxes and related power equipment are in safe conditions" and to avoid water leakage which might also affect power supplies. Edited by Tony Sabine

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US sanctions over 100 Nicaraguan officials and relatives with travel ban

The United States has placed travel bans on more than 100 Nicaraguan officials and their family members as part of a broader campaign to punish the current government for human rights abuses. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Monday that the new sanctions were imposed in part because of the death last month of an imprisoned activist, Brooklyn Rivera, who criticised the policies of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife and co-president Rosario Murillo. “The United...

HK sees first black rainstorm warning of the year

The Observatory issued the first black rainstorm warning signal of the year at 8.35pm on Monday as heavy rain lashed Hong Kong. It replaced the red rainstorm warning signal that had been in place for 45 minutes. The black rainstorm warning means heavy rain exceeding 70 millimetres in an hour has fallen or is expected to fall generally over the city, and is likely to continue. The Observatory said Sha Tin is particularly hard hit by heavy downpours, with hourly rainfall expected to exceed 100 millimetres that may cause serious flooding. The forecaster said areas of intense thundery showers associated with a trough of low pressure are affecting Hong Kong, urging members of the public to stay alert. It also warned that violent gusts may continue to affect the SAR. The Hospital Authority said non-emergency outpatient clinic services have been suspended because of the bad weather. It also said accident and emergency services at public hospitals remain normal. The Social Welfare Department said all units providing specific services will remain open during their normal operating hours. These include child care centres, services under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project, after-school care programmes for pre-primary or primary school children, elderly services centres, day pre-school rehabilitation services units and day rehabilitation units. The black rainstorm warning was in effect for an hour before it was replaced by the red rainstorm warning. _____________________________ Last updated: 2026-06-08 HKT 21:39 Edited by Edmond Fong

China’s C919 jet poised to tackle ageing domestic fleet: industry official

China’s massive civil aviation fleet is ageing faster than planes are being replaced, threatening to saddle airlines with higher costs, but orders for home-grown C919 jets could help stem the tide, according to the head of north Asia for the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Current aircraft replacements are failing to reach 2019 levels despite recent orders of Airbus and Boeing jets, IATA regional vice-president Xie Xingquan said at the industry group’s annual general meeting in...

'Lots of cooperation opportunities' after C Asia trip

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau described the recent visit to Central Asia by a delegation led by the SAR chief executive as a great success, saying it has led to significant collaboration opportunities with the two countries. During the visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, the 70-strong delegation reached 96 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) involving more than US$1.65 billion in total. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme on Monday, Yau, who was in the delegation, said the two countries are actively seeking economic diversification. "They are very proactive and hope to explore opportunities for collaboration with the SAR government, particularly in finance, trade, infrastructure, innovation and technology, green development and tourism," he said. "They are developing very well in many aspects. There are plenty of cooperation opportunities with us." Yau said the volume of SAR trade with Central Asia is currently not very large as the city's focus used to be more on Europe, the United States and Asean. But its trade with Central Asia is on the rise, he said, noting that total merchandise trade stood at HK$2.53 billion last year – a rise of 27 percent compared with 2020. Yau said the two countries and Hong Kong have launched discussions on a comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement and agreed to push ahead with discussions on an investment promotion and protection agreement. The move will step up investors' confidence and further strengthen trade ties between Hong Kong and the two countries, he said. With the city poised to initiate direct flights to Almaty in Kazakhstan next year, Yau said he believes they would make business travel much more convenient. Wingco Lo, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, who was also part of the delegation, said markets in Central Asia were not just interested in traditional trading opportunities in Hong Kong. They placed more emphasis on the SAR's role as an international financial centre and a platform of professional services. The association signed two MoUs during the visit, Lo added, and would arrange a trip to Central Asia again this year to allow members to find out which sectors and industries they need to gain a deeper understanding of and discuss collaboration details. Edited by Tony Sabine

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Hong Kong police warn World Cup fans against using overseas betting sites

Hong Kong police have warned football fans that using overseas betting websites could breach local gambling laws even if the platforms claim to be legally registered abroad, as authorities prepare for a predicted surge in wagering over the Fifa World Cup that begins on June 11. Police issued the warning after Fifa named its first prediction market partner for the World Cup. The force stressed that anyone in Hong Kong who placed bets with a local or overseas bookmaker outside authorised channels...

Operation Santa Claus: charities help Tai Po fire survivors rebuild their lives

Inside a sparsely furnished 100 sq ft public housing flat in Hong Kong’s Hung Shui Kiu, a family of two lives with little more than a bunk bed, television stand, sofa and some donated clothes racks. This flat is the temporary home of 69-year-old resident surnamed Ho and her daughter. They were among the 5,000 Wang Fuk Court residents displaced by an inferno that ravaged the Tai Po estate on November 26 last year, killing 168 people. The pair had refrained from settling into the accommodation...

Baby Danny parents to get 1-hour weekly visits, list 3 possible outcomes

A Hong Kong couple whose baby was born at home and placed in court-ordered care has said they can visit their son for up to one hour a week while they work to prove their parenting capability, as they outlined three potential outcomes listed by social welfare authorities. The unmarried couple, Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin, told the South China Morning Post on Sunday that they were scheduled to meet government social workers and be granted supervised visits in the coming week. During the...

Sun says HK$2 trip curbs having the desired effect

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said on Saturday that fewer people are opting to take long-route buses for short trips following revisions to the HK$2 transport subsidy scheme. Since April 3, those aged 60 and above and the disabled have been paying 20 percent of fares for trips costing more than HK$10 and a flat HK$2 fare for those costing less than that. Sun said the amount paid out in subsidies in April was HK$69 million less than that for March – the final month before the measures took effect. He also pointed out that April had fewer days than March and more public holidays. "If we look at the average subsidy for each trip, particularly rides costing more than 10 dollars, we can see that for each trip in March, it was HK$4.90. In April, the average was HK$4.50, meaning the amount that the government subsidised had become less," he said. "This also means that the number of people taking longer-route bus trips under the HK$2 transport subsidy scheme has fallen slightly." On another issue, Sun said social workers had, in the morning, met a couple who had been arrested on suspicion of child neglect involving their baby, Danny, to better understand their situation and keep them up to date on the latest developments concerning the one-and-a-half-month-old boy. The infant, who has been placed in a shelter under professional care, is in very good condition, he said. Sun noted that a court is processing a protection order for the baby which the Social Welfare Department is seeking. “For the next step, we have to wait for the court to approve an official protection order. "At the same time we have launched a multi-disciplinary system to assess Danny's condition, to understand the family situation,” he said. “After the multi-disciplinary group has carried out an assessment, we will propose to the court our next move.” Sun added that social workers would work out arrangements to accompany the parents on visits to baby Danny. Edited by Azam Khan

China teacher under probe after using glue gun to scald little girl, resulting in blisters

A kindergarten teacher in China has been suspended from her job and placed under police investigation for using a glue gun to scald a little girl’s lip, causing serious blisters. The incident unfolded on the morning of May 27 in a nursery in Fengxian county, Jiangsu province, eastern China. According to surveillance footage from the classroom, the woman children’s teacher let some children queue up to receive punishment one by one because she was angry that they were talking during class, the...

Norway crown princess awaits lung transplant

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant after a significant deterioration in her health that likely gave her only a year left to live without the surgery, her doctors said on Friday. The 52-year-old wife of Crown Prince Haakon, the ‌heir to the Norwegian throne, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, a chronic disease that causes scarring in the lungs and leads to a reduced oxygen uptake. Oslo’s University Hospital in December said the...

Hong Kong Free Press

Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 71

The landmark trial of Tiananmen vigil activists neared its conclusion in May, with both defendants and prosecutors delivering their closing submissions. The government allocated more money to the national security fund and lashed out at Reporters Without Borders (RSF) after the NGO once again placed Hong Kong low on its annual press freedom index. Trial […]

Unregistered infant moved to shelter under court order

A one-and-a-half-month-old baby boy, who does not possess a birth certificate and was reportedly delivered via homebirth, has been temporarily moved to a sheltering facility following a court order. The Social Welfare Department on Wednesday said the baby is under professional care, adding that it has applied for a child protection order from the court following the arrest of a couple said to be his parents. Police, meanwhile said they have obtained the DNA sample of the boy, as well as samples from the couple, for verification. Officers said the test results are not out yet. The couple was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of child neglect after failing to provide proof that they had taken the infant for medical checks. They previously refused DNA testing to prove their relationship with the baby and failed to register a birth within 42 days set out in the law. Following the couple’s arrest, the baby underwent checks at the hospital and medical workers found no apparent injuries on him. Senior social work officer Stephanie Lee said the department will submit a report to the court to decide the next steps after meeting with the couple. “We will collect the information and then make the assessment and then also involve all other concerned parties. The time [taken for the report submission] will be subject to the progress of this assessment or the information gathered,” she said. When asked if the department will hand the baby back to the couple if it is found they are his biological parents, she stressed that the department will prioritise the baby's well-being. She added that if the couple is proven unfit to care for the child, the department may seek a guardianship order. The couple said they have another child that was placed in foster care in Sweden a number of years ago. The Immigration Department said it has reached out to the Swedish authorities to seek more information, including her identity there and foster care arrangements. The department added that it will take follow-up actions based on their response. Edited by Aaron Tam

Adminstrator to ‘review’ tribunal decision on Wang Fuk Court owners’ meeting

An administrator appointed to oversee the affairs of Hong Kong’s fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court has said it will arrange an extraordinary general meeting at the request of displaced owners, but stopped short of providing a time frame. In a written statement on Wednesday, Hop On Management Company said it was studying the Lands Tribunal’s reasons for dismissing its application to extend the statutory deadlines for convening and holding the meeting. It did not indicate whether the company would lodge...

China’s anti-corruption watchdog targets its former senior official Li Xiaohong

Li Xiaohong, a former senior disciplinary official in charge of national inspection, has been placed under investigation for suspected severe disciplinary and legal violations, China’s top anti-corruption authorities said on Tuesday. The downfall of the 73-year-old veteran – known for spearheading high-level anti-corruption crackdowns and his top disciplinary roles at the securities regulator – underscores Beijing’s continued efforts to target corruption among its most senior disciplinary...

Police arrest couple in 'unregistered birth' saga

A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of child neglect over a baby said to have been left without a birth certificate following a home birth. The couple's story sparked debate online after they spoke about attempts to be reunited with another child that was placed in foster care in Sweden a number of years ago. The pair have refused to provide a DNA sample in order to obtain a birth certificate for a baby boy in their care after failing to register a birth within the timeframe set out in law. Security Secretary Chris Tang said police found the couple and the child in Cheung Sha Wan on Tuesday. The boy was to be taken to hospital for a health check, Tang said. "The mother has not yet provided any records of prenatal care or medical examinations, and refused to provide a DNA sample. She has not even provided any photos of herself while pregnant," the minister told reporters. "The individuals claiming to be the parents have never taken him to hospital for a physical examination." Tang added that he hopes the couple will quickly provide proof of their relationship to the boy. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

High value placed on Central Asia trip: CE

Chief Executive John Lee began his first day of activities in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on Monday. In the morning, a group photo was taken of the delegation, which was described as the largest of its kind in the current term of the SAR government. The photo included Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung, Financial Services Secretary Christopher Hui, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau and around 70 business representatives from Hong Kong and the mainland. Speaking to the delegation, Lee said Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan authorities attach great importance to the visit. Lee said he would meet senior officials of the two countries. He stressed the importance of teamwork and urged delegation members to stay energetic and keep their spirits high to deliver good results on the trip. In a social media post, Lee also said the 70-strong delegation brings together industry elites from various sectors in Hong Kong and the mainland. “We will jointly explore the vast potential of Central Asia, gain in-depth insights into this vibrant emerging market, exchange ideas through cross-sectoral interactions, and achieve win-win outcomes through complementary strengths,” he said. Lee added that the visit would boost long-term economic and trade cooperation between Hong Kong, the mainland and Central Asia. Lee will stay in Kazakhstan until Wednesday before heading to Uzbekistan. Edited by Thomas McAlinden