Page 8 - Hong Kong

Hong Kong needs to reinvent itself to retain competitive edge: Mark Mobius

He pointed to the growing rivalry between the US and China over tech and AI as an area that Hong Kong could leverage

Hong Kong court convicts 14 pro-democracy activists under China imposed law

A Hong Kong court on Thursday convicted 14 pro-democracy activists in the city's biggest national security case under a law imposed by Beijing that has all but wiped out public dissent. Those who were found guilty included former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong and Raymond Chan. But the three judges approved by the government to oversee the case acquitted two former district councilors Lee Yue-shun and Lawrence Lau. They were among 47 democracy advocates who were prosecuted in 2021 for their involvement in an unofficial primary election. Prosecutors had accused them of attempting to paralyse Hong Kong's government and topple the city's leader by securing the legislative majority necessary to indiscriminately veto budgets. Some of Hong Kong's best-known pro-democracy activists charged in the city's biggest national security case will begin to hear their verdicts as early as Thursday, facing up to life in prison if convicted under a law imposed by Beijing that h

Hong Kong will keep a watch for non-compliance with ban on protest song

Hong Kong's leader said Tuesday his administration would keep monitoring for any non-compliance with a court order that bans a popular protest song, days after YouTube blocked access to dozens of videos of the tune in the city. The ban targets anyone who broadcasts or distributes Glory to Hong Kong popularly sung during huge anti-government protests in 2019 to advocate for the separation of the city from China. It also prohibits any actions that misrepresent the song as the national anthem with the intent to insult the anthem. In his weekly news briefing, Chief Executive John Lee said if the government found any instances of non-compliance, it would then notify the relevant internet platforms about the content of the injunction. I believe that operators in general operate within the law, so we will continue to monitor the situation, Lee said. The court ban sought by the government has raised concerns over a further decline in the city's freedom of expression and internet freedom.

YouTube blocks access to Hong Kong protest anthem videos after court order

Glory to Hong Kong was an anthem of anti-government protests in 2019

Asian shares stabilise after solid China trade data, yen steadies

Chinese shares see earlier gains, with bluechip stocks rising 1 per cent and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index increasing 1.2 per cent

Spice row: FSSAI orders compulsory testing of spice brands across India

The decision was taken following the suspension of sales of certain spice blends from two leading brands, MDH and Everest, by Singapore and Hong Kong

MDH says its products are 100% safe; rejects pesticide allegation

MDH, a leading spice brand, on Saturday assured consumers that its products are 100 per cent safe and rejected the allegations of the presence of certain pesticides in some products by Hong Kong and Singapore food regulators. Earlier this month, Hong Kong's Center for Food Safety (CFS) said that samples of several kinds of pre-packaged spice-mix products of two Indian brands MDH and Everest were found to contain a pesticide ethylene oxide. The CFS asked consumers not to buy and traders not to sell MDH's Madras Curry Powder (spice blend for Madras curry), Everest Fish Curry Masala, MDH Sambhar Masala Mixed Masala Powder, and MDH Curry Powder Mixed Masala Powder. In a statement, MDH said it has not received any communications from Hong Kong and Singapore food safety regulators. In reference to the alleged presence of ETO (ethylene oxide) in some of its products, MDH said that "these claims are untrue and lack any substantiating evidence". "Additionally, we would like to assert that

Spice Board of India tells Everest, MDH to give details of quality checks

The companies' products are hugely popular in India and are exported to countries in Europe, Asia and North America

Spices Board inspects plants of MDH, Everest over alleged contamination

MDH and Everest spices are among the most popular in India and are sold in Europe, Asia and North America. Exports totaled $4 billion in 2022-23, according to the Spices Board, the industry regulator

Hong Kong bans sale of Everest, MDH spice mix over ethylene oxide presence

The Centre for Food Safety said there was the presence of ethylene oxide in MDH Group's madras curry powder, sambhar masala powder, and curry powder

Chinese firms' fundraisings in limbo as IPOs scrutinised at home, abroad

The sudden freeze of an IPO market that was the world's biggest in 2023 and 2022 comes after the securities watchdog, under new chairman Wu Qing

Morgan Stanley plans biggest round of job cuts in Asia Pacific in years

The final size and timing of the cuts may change, the people said. A media representative for the New York-based bank declined to comment.

HK gives initial approval to first Bitcoin, ether spot ETFs, say funds

At least three offshore Chinese asset managers will launch the virtual asset spot ETFs soon

Hong Kong must hold national security line to ensure development: China

Hong Kong in March enacted a new national security law, also known as article 23, that updates or introduces new laws to prohibit treason, sabotage, sedition

HK bars Reporters Without Borders' rep, stoking press freedom concerns

Reporters Without Borders said Wednesday that one of its representatives was denied entry into Hong Kong, calling it a new decline in the city's press freedoms. According to the group, its Taipei-based staffer Aleksandra Bielakowska was stopped at the Hong Kong airport by immigration officers earlier in the day. She was detained, questioned and had her belongings searched three times before she was denied entry to Hong Kong, said the group, also known by its French acronym RSF. This action by the Hong Kong authorities, unprecedented for RSF, marks a new decline in the already poor press freedom climate in the territory, RSF said in a statement. Bielakowska was to meet journalists and attend a hearing at the trial of Jimmy Lai, the media tycoon and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper who is currently facing national security charges. The Immigration Department did not immediately comment when contacted after business hours. Rebecca Vincent, RSF's director of campaigns,

US denounced Hong Kong's national security law but its actions remain muted

The US has denounced Hong Kong's new national security law as a tool to potentially silence dissent both at home and abroad, but so far the action from Washington has been notably muted, disappointing those fighting for the Chinese territory's democracy and freedoms. Since the law's swift passage on March 19, the US has announced visa restrictions on an unspecified number of unnamed Hong Kong officials but taken no further action. That's a far cry from 2020, when Beijing imposed national security restrictions to end months of unrest on Hong Kong streets. The U.S. responded by hitting the city's highest-ranking officials with sanctions and depriving the territory of its preferential trading status. While the new law, known as Article 23, now expands the Hong Kong government's powers to go after those it accuses of spying and to target dissidents anywhere in the world, Washington has been treading carefully. The State Department declined to preview or comment on any potential actions

Rupee most stable Asian currency in FY24 after Singapore, Hong Kong

Record inflows keep bond, currency market steady

China's WuXi AppTec sent US client's data with Beijing: US intelligence

Hong Kong listed Wuxi shares pared earlier gains of nearly 5 % to trade 1% higher, while Shanghai-listed shares were up 0.4%

Hong Kong regains fourth-largest market spot after rout in Indian equities

India cedes position as broader market rout shaves off $180 bn in mcap; China & Hong Kong markets have rebounded over 12 per cent

Shares in Australia, HK edges higher, while Japan, China stocks decline

Treasuries were mostly steady following a rally on Friday that wiped seven basis points from the 10-year yield. Australian and New Zealand bond yields ticked lower Monday