Latest headlines from Hong Kong Free Press, covering world, with clear attribution and direct links to the original publisher.
Hong Kong’s development chief has likened herself to a sailor who must put her captain’s orders over her “personal wishes,” when asked by a reporter about calls for her to resign over the deadly Tai Po fire that killed 168 people last year. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn’s comments, made during a press conference on […]
Evidence presented to an independent committee investigating last year’s deadly Wang Fuk Court fire has shown insufficient proof that a local politician was involved in bid-rigging at the Tai Po housing estate, the inquiry’s final report has concluded. The report, submitted to the government last week ahead of a Thursday press conference where Chief Executive […]
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Former residents of the fire-hit Wang Fuk Court housing estate have criticised Hong Kong leader John Lee and top officials for their apology, saying the gesture — coming nearly a year after a blaze claimed 168 lives and left thousands homeless — lacked “sincerity.” Lee led senior officials in bowing in apology during a press […]
Sanrio, the Japanese company behind the popular character Hello Kitty, apologised on Thursday over its tie-up with a TV spy drama criticised as anti-China, cancelling a merchandise collaboration with the show. It comes days after Chinese sponsors dropped football superstar Kylian Mbappe over comments calling communist leader Mao Zedong a “dictator”, for which the Real […]
The Hong Kong government has caught nearly 110,000 live rats and collected over 20,000 dead ones in the first nine months of this year as the city steps up efforts to combat rodent infestation. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department told local media in a written response that from January to September, staff caught 109,087 […]
The Housing Bureau has announced plans to replace an independent inspection unit following heavy criticism over policy and operational failures and a “slack” work attitude in the lead-up to last year’s massive Tai Po fire. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said on Thursday that a major shake-up would see the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking […]
The Hong Kong government has announced plans to set up a company to provide property owners with building renovation support, as part of reforms introduced following the release of an investigation report into the deadly Tai Po fire. Leading a press conference with the city’s top officials on Thursday, Chief Executive John Lee said authorities […]
Some 70 per cent of Hong Kong’s subdivided flats have been registered under a grace period system that will give landlords three years to ensure their properties meet minimum living standards laid out by a new law implemented eight months ago. Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho told the city’s legislature on Wednesday that around 75,000 […]
Pakistan briefly closed its airspace to Taiwanese cargo and passenger flights, Taiwan said on Thursday, suspecting China of being behind the unprecedented move. “We suspect definitely China was behind this,” Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi told AFP after confirming that Pakistan had closed and reopened its airspace to Taiwanese airlines. China Airlines and EVA Air, […]
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and other top officials bowed in apology at a Thursday press conference where Lee announced that housing chief Winnie Ho would step down over the Wang Fuk Court fire, almost a year after the tragedy killed 168 people. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, who currently leads the government’s task […]
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said Thursday that China’s military build-up was creating a “condition of pressure” in Southeast Asia, and urged allies and partners to deepen cooperation. Beijing deploys hundreds of coast guard, navy and other vessels to patrol disputed areas of the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely despite an international […]
The Security Bureau held a launch ceremony for its Andy and Security Bear: Young Citizens Safeguarding National Security educational picture books on Tuesday. The three-volume set of titles includes new stories and national security-themed children’s songs. They will be distributed to 900 kindergartens and public libraries by the end of the year. According to a […]
South Korean tech giant Samsung is reportedly withdrawing from Hong Kong’s large home appliance sector, months after exiting the mainland Chinese market. Korea Economic TV reported on Wednesday that Samsung’s smartphone, TV and computer monitor operations in Hong Kong will be unaffected. However, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners and fridges are among the products already marked […]
The police ordinance does not empower officers to demand identity proof, a lawyer for Ronson Chan has argued as the former head of Hong Kong’s largest press union applied to challenge his conviction for obstructing police at the Court of Final Appeal. Ronson Chan, who helmed the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) from 2021 to […]
