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South China Morning Post

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Snakes alive! Warmer weather brings flurry of sightings in Chinese capital

Residents in some parts of Beijing are on edge as rises in humidity and temperature lure snakes into the Chinese capital, where encounters with the reptiles are usually rare. Concerned residents have been sharing their sightings on social media. “Why are there snakes in Beijing’s parks?” one user posted. “It scared me to death.” In the comments section, many others shared similar experiences, with one woman recounting her shock at finding a snake hiding behind the fridge of her 25th-floor...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Govt will not implement HK$2 scheme journey cap

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said on Friday that the government will not implement a cap on the number of trips under the HK$2 transport subsidy scheme, citing the travel needs of people with disabilities. Starting from April 3, people aged 60 and above, as well as those with disabilities, pay a flat HK$2 fare for trips costing HK$10 or less. For more expensive journeys, they pay 20 percent of the fare. The government had planned to cap subsidised trips at 240 per person each month. On the Labour and Welfare Bureau Facebook page, Sun said some people with disabilities had voiced concern about the proposed cap because they need to transfer more often than other residents in order to reach the same destination. He said the latest figures show that on average, only about 450 people make more than 240 trips per month – a tiny number among the 2.7 million users of the transport subsidy. However about a fifth of those 450 people are people with disabilities. He said this proves that some disabled people do need more trips. "If we go ahead with the trip cap, it will inevitably affect some people with disabilities – including their need to see a doctor, attend rehabilitation services, go to work, and other daily necessities," he wrote. He added the cap could cause worry among some commuters – especially the elderly – about going over the limit, and would create unnecessary stress. Sun also said a cap would not be cost-effective, as limiting the subsidised trips would save only a few hundred thousand dollars, but updating the subsidy system to accommodate a limit would cost an estimated HK$30 million. He concluded that the government decided not to go ahead with the cap – hoping everyone can travel happily and integrate into society. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'Incentives needed to boost tourism to Central Asia'

Direct flights and longer visa-free access for travellers will help unleash the potential of tourism across Central Asia, industry representatives said as Chief Executive John Lee concludes his visit to the landlocked region on Friday. SAR passport holders can travel to both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan visa-free, but the length of stay per visit is "borderline", according to Sunny Yip, director of Hong Kong travel agency Goldjoy Travel. Currently, Hong Kong permanent residents can stay in Kazakhstan up to 14 days each time, and 10 days in Uzbekistan. "These countries have a great deal of historical sites. From one site to another takes half a day or more by road," Yip said in an interview with RTHK. "If the countries could consider having 30 days visa-free, which is quite common for Hong Kong travellers to other countries, it would be very advantageous." But he said the real game-changer would be the introduction of direct flights. Hong Kong has never had direct air services to Uzbekistan, while Air Astana, Kazakhstan's flag carrier, used to operate flights between the SAR and Almaty before Covid. Lee on Tuesday announced that a Hong Kong carrier will start operating services to Almaty from the first quarter of 2027, with more details to follow. Sardor Nuritdinov, general director of Marco Polo Central Asia Travel in Uzbekistan, explained the importance of direct flights. "Most number of people travelling to Uzbekistan [from Hong Kong], they are 65-plus-year-old elderly people. For them, the biggest issue for them is the flight time and extra hassle in getting to the destination," he said. "If there is a direct flight ... it will at least increase the number of travellers to Uzbekistan in the first year already at least 10 times than what is right now." Yip said Hong Kong businesses can also actively participate in the development of tourism-related industries in Central Asia. "I would expect our chief executive to encourage more Hong Kong investment into hotel sectors," he said. "The airports are relatively basic. Development will be important to increase capacity." Nuritdinov agreed, noting that while Tashkent has no shortage of five-star hotels, cities like Samarkand and Bukhara lack premium accommodation. "Travellers from Hong Kong, they prefer more comfort compared to what can be offered in Uzbekistan at the moment in terms of accommodation," he said. With China emerging as a major market, Nuritdinov said Putonghua-speaking local guides remain scarce. "The local universities are also starting to think we need to add Chinese language as a course to the classes in the university," he said. "But I think it's a long way ahead. I'm thinking like five, 10 years ahead." Despite these challenges, both Nuritdinov and Yip see enormous potential in the region's tourism industry. Instability in the Middle East, they say, could also drive tourists to Central Asia. Nuritdinov recommended immersive experiences beyond historical sites, be it cooking Kazakhstan's national dish plov with a local family, silk embroidery workshops or dance lessons. Edited by Raymond Yeung

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Three arrested for suspected illicit fuel activity

Police arrested three people on Wednesday on suspicion of being involved in illicit fuel activity in Kwai Tsing District. Police seized about 1,600 litres of gasoline, with a suspected market value of HK$50,000, at a suspected illicit fuel station near Kwai Tai Road. At a press briefing on Thursday, officers said two arrestees were loading fuel into a private vehicle when police carried out their raid, while the third arrestee allegedly helped with operations at the facility. One reportedly entered Hong Kong on a two-way exit permit and police suspect that this person violated their conditions of stay. Chief Inspector Koo Man-kai called on residents not to use illicit fuel. "According to the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, both buying and selling illicit fuel is a serious crime. Offenders are subject to two-years imprisonment and a HK$1 million fine upon conviction, and the vehicle involved will be confiscated," he said. The operation unfolded after a fire broke out on Tuesday night due to suspected illicit fuel activity at an industrial building in the district. The Fire Services Department received reports of the blaze at around 10.30pm, and deployed two hoses and two breathing apparatus teams to handle the incident at Kwai Tak Industrial Centre. It said the fire started from an oil tank which spread to a light goods vehicle as well as the building's exterior walls. Firefighters carried out an investigation afterwards and believed the site was used as an illicit fuel station after finding traces of flammable materials, burnt marks, and reviewing surveillance camera footage. The department said it is actively pushing for relevant legislative amendments, which includes higher penalties, expanding the legal liability to include buyers of fuel, and strengthening enforcement powers. Public consultation regarding the suggestions will continue until June 25. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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Chinese man, 19, lives under bridge with pet dog, works long hours to save for tuition

Residents of a city in central China have come to the aid of a poor 19-year-old student who works more than 10 hours a day as a food delivery rider to earn money to cover his tuition fees. Tang Wei, from Xinhuang county in Hunan province, was admitted by a technical college in Changsha, the capital city of the province, the Changsha Evening News reported. He will kick off his college life in September. In early May, Tang left his hometown, heading to Changsha and hoping to find a temporary...

South China Morning Post

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Want to save the planet? Stop being so polite to AI chatbots

Skipping pleasantries like “please” and “thank you” when talking to chatbots could save enough energy to power the annual needs of 760,000 residents in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the massive but often hidden environmental toll of artificial intelligence, according to a new UN report. Released by the Institute for Water, Environment and Health under the United Nations University, the UN’s academic arm, the study published on Wednesday also warned that the true cost of AI extended far beyond...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'Direct flight to Central Asia could lift HK tourism'

The executive director of the Travel Industry Council Fanny Yeung said on Wednesday she believes the planned launch of a direct flight linking Hong Kong and Kazakhstan would further boost the city's tourism industry. Her remarks came as Cathay Pacific announced it would start operating the route to Kazakhstan's biggest city, Almaty, in the first quarter of next year, significantly cutting the travel time between the two places. Speaking at a press conference on the upcoming International Travel Expo (ITE), Yeung said the council is pleased to learn about the flight arrangements to tap into the Central Asian market as the region is relatively unexplored. "We found that the tourism resources [there] are very, very interesting and the scenery is beautiful as well, so definitely it will attract Hong Kong people," she said, adding that the council had led a delegation to the region in 2024. "Prior to Covid, we [actually] had direct flights to Kazakhstan, but since Covid [they] stopped and didn't reopen again. I am quite positive that it will help us to explore this new destination for Hong Kong residents once the direct flight is available," she told reporters. Regarding the the SAR's tourism outlook, Yeung said she is confident that Hong Kong could welcome about 53 million visitors this year, despite risks arising from the Iran war that has reduced demand from long-haul markets. "We have less tourists from the long-haul markets, but on the other hand, Hong Kong is also very attractive to mainlanders," she said. Asia's annual flagship travel fair ITE is set to return to Hong Kong from June 11 to 14 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event is expected to attract over 500 exhibitors from 66 countries and regions, including newcomers Uganda, Mongolia, and Peru. Edited by Aaron Tam

Hong Kong Free Press

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Transport chief says health risks linked to late-night aircraft noise over Tung Chung at ‘acceptable’ levels

Hong Kong’s transport chief has said that late-night aircraft noise over Tung Chung is within acceptable limits in terms of risks to residents’ health. Lawmaker Chan Hok-fung relayed concerns from residents during a legislative Q&A on Wednesday. He said that the issue “has been aggravated significantly,” since the operating hours of the South Runway were […]

South China Morning Post

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‘Mud Buddha’: China official covered in sludge during mudslide while helping villagers evacuate

A valiant official in China has been dubbed “Mud Buddha” after a photograph emerged of him covered in sludge while he was averting disaster by evacuating residents before a catastrophic landslide. From the evening of May 17 to the early morning of May 18, a downpour hit Shanghongyan Village in Maguan county, southwestern Yunnan province. At its height, the level of precipitation reached 256mm, the People’s Daily reported. Tian Ruliang, the village director, left home three times after 10pm on...

South China Morning Post

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Why Japan’s intolerance towards Muslims is rapidly deepening

Discrimination towards foreign residents in Japan has expanded from Koreans and Kurds to Muslims as their population is estimated to have nearly doubled in recent years, according to observers and community members. Misinformation and hate speech are spreading on Japanese social media and mosques are receiving a barrage of abusive phone calls and emails. Some are asking why they are suddenly being targeted. Others are afraid to leave their homes. Muslims in Japan, including foreign residents and...

South China Morning Post

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Calls for faster rehousing of evicted Hong Kong subdivided flat tenants

Hong Kong authorities should offer more timely and flexible urgent accommodation for residents uprooted by a new regulation aimed at eliminating the city’s notorious subdivided flats, lawmakers have urged. Their comments were made on Tuesday after the Housing Bureau briefed lawmakers on plans to reserve up to 180 transitional flats in urban and extended urban areas to tenants evicted on short notice. Scott Leung Man-kwong, deputy chairman of the Legislative Council’s housing panel, said he...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Towngas in talks with govt to raise gas prices

Towngas on Monday said it is in discussions with the government to raise gas fees due to the latest energy price spikes caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Peter Wong, the managing director of Hong Kong's sole gas provider, told a press conference that the prices of naphtha, which accounts for about 40 percent of the raw materials for producing gas, has doubled since the start of the year. "We are currently under pressure to raise charges and we're in close communication with the government over the extent of the price increase. It's also because of the rise in energy prices and inflation," he said. "As to when a decision will be made, It's up to the government. But if we look back to two years ago, our previous price increase was implemented on August 1," he added. Wong, however, did not give a timeline on when the prices would go up. He noted that the firm has so far saved more than HK$20 billion on fuel costs for local customers because of its long-term "take or pay" contract with a supplier in Australia to secure natural gas. Under their 25-year agreement, signed in 2006, the Australian firm would supply natural gas to Towngas for fixed prices during the period. Towngas has also started negotiations with the Australian supplier over the new prices of their contract as the current one is set to expire in 2031, but "it's difficult to assess the new pricing", Wong said. Separately, he forecast that the city's total gas consumption would decline by three percent year-on-year in the first half of the year, partly because of the high temperatures that has reduced residential demand. But he added that the decline is likely to be smaller for the full year, pointing to a recent increase in gas consumption in the hotel and catering sectors. Meanwhile, Wong expressed optimism over the Northern Metropolis development, noting the company is laying pipelines to meet the demand of the expected additional 1.5 million residents and commercial users there. Edited by Aaron Tam

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong tribunal judge questions power to postpone Wang Fuk Court owners’ meeting

A Lands Tribunal judge has questioned whether he has the power to postpone an extraordinary general meeting requested by at least 247 owners at Hong Kong’s fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court, while acknowledging the difficulties faced by a government-appointed administrator in contacting and verifying residents. The tribunal adjourned its decision until 3pm on Tuesday on an application by Hop On Management Company to extend the statutory 45-day deadline for holding a meeting requested by residents of...

Hong Kong Free Press

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16 of 142 lost property reports at Wang Fuk Court may involve theft, security chief says

Hong Kong authorities cannot rule out theft in 16 of 142 lost property reports filed by residents of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court housing estate, the security minister has said. Secretary for Security Chris Tang said on an RTHK programme on Saturday that in 48 cases, the police and the residents were able to retrieve […]

South China Morning Post

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Jakarta deploys troops against muggers, stirring dark memories

Jakarta residents have largely welcomed a new police-military campaign against violent street crime, after a wave of brazen motorbike muggings struck fear into Indonesia’s capital. But rights advocates warn that deploying soldiers alongside police blurs a line between law enforcement and military power, reviving memories of extrajudicial killings in a country still haunted by its authoritarian past. On May 15, Jakarta police announced the formation of a special, 24-hour joint patrol task force...

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong NGO offers HK$30,000 to Tai Po fire victims who transfer property

Hong Kong’s largest non-profit organisation, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, will offer a HK$30,000 (US$3,827) relocation allowance to victims of the deadly Tai Po fire who agree to transfer ownership of their properties to the government, its chief executive has said, with the scheme expected to benefit about 1,000 households. Albert So Yau-on also noted on Sunday that more than 1,000 inquiries have been received regarding the legal aid scheme for Wang Fuk Court residents, following the...

South China Morning Post

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More Hong Kong tourists drawn to ‘mysterious’ Central Asia, travel agencies say

The mystique of Central Asia and its deepening business ties with mainland China have prompted more Hongkongers to choose the region for holidays, according to travel agency heads. They were also optimistic that Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s high-level visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan this week would further promote Central Asia, encouraging residents to step off the beaten path and explore the region’s lesser-known tourism spots. Alex Lee Chun-ting, general manager of Miramar Travel,...

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong cuts emergency mobile alert activation time from an hour to 15 minutes

Hong Kong authorities have slashed the time needed to send emergency mobile alerts to residents from an hour to 15 minutes under a HK$150 million (US$19 million) system, while messages can now be tailored to specific districts, the security chief has revealed. A hearing session into the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in April had exposed the lengthy time needed to trigger the alert. But security chief Chris Tang Ping-keung on Saturday stopped short of specifying the types of incidents, such as major...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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2nd ICH month builds on last year's success

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law on Saturday said the government will continue to collaborate with the community as a way to protect and inherit the city's intangible cultural heritage. Officiating the second Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Month opening ceremony, Law said the nation's 15th five-year plan has called for vigorous cultural development, enhancing protection and inheritance of ICH, as well as strengthening the reach and influence of Chinese culture towards the world. As such, she said, the ICH Office under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department has responded to the call, and an ICH month has been organised every June since last year - aligning with the nation's China Cultural and Natural Heritage Day on the second Saturday of June. Law also said the event will build on last year's success in attracting over 160,000 participants, to allow both residents and tourists to enjoy Hong Kong's rich and diverse culture, and promote the deep integration of culture and tourism. This year's event will offer over 50 performances, 80 promotional booths, as well as 40 site visits that feature more than 100 intangible cultural heritage items, she said. "A total of nine themed tours covering eight selected districts will be offered, such as exploring the art of Guqin in Sham Shui Po, and learning about the craftmanship behind Chiu Chow food making. Participants will have the opportunity to hear the stories and experiences directly from local artisans," Law said. To enrich the tourism experience, the minister said the administration has partnered with the Tourism Board and the airport, launching highlight tours and live demonstrations of Hong Kong-style milk tea making, respectively. The Space Museum will also present a horse-themed light and sound show on its exterior walls every evening from June 11 to 24, marking the Year of the Horse. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

South China Morning Post

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How US defence chief Hegseth softened his tone towards China after Xi-Trump meeting

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth softened his tone towards China in his speech on Saturday to the Shangri-La defence forum compared with the previous year. Speaking two weeks after the meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing, Hegseth also adopted a cautious stance on US arms sales to Taiwan when questioned about the highly sensitive issue and did not mention the island at all in his speech. Although he still criticised China’s military build-up, unlike last year he did...

뉴스

타임라인 키워드

Snakes alive! Warmer weather brings flurry of sightings in Chinese capital

Govt will not implement HK$2 scheme journey cap

'Incentives needed to boost tourism to Central Asia'

Three arrested for suspected illicit fuel activity

Chinese man, 19, lives under bridge with pet dog, works long hours to save for tuition

Want to save the planet? Stop being so polite to AI chatbots

'Direct flight to Central Asia could lift HK tourism'

Transport chief says health risks linked to late-night aircraft noise over Tung Chung at ‘acceptable’ levels

‘Mud Buddha’: China official covered in sludge during mudslide while helping villagers evacuate

Why Japan’s intolerance towards Muslims is rapidly deepening

Calls for faster rehousing of evicted Hong Kong subdivided flat tenants

Towngas in talks with govt to raise gas prices

Hong Kong tribunal judge questions power to postpone Wang Fuk Court owners’ meeting

16 of 142 lost property reports at Wang Fuk Court may involve theft, security chief says

Jakarta deploys troops against muggers, stirring dark memories

Hong Kong NGO offers HK$30,000 to Tai Po fire victims who transfer property

More Hong Kong tourists drawn to ‘mysterious’ Central Asia, travel agencies say

Hong Kong cuts emergency mobile alert activation time from an hour to 15 minutes

2nd ICH month builds on last year's success

How US defence chief Hegseth softened his tone towards China after Xi-Trump meeting