Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said the government is doing what it can to help Hong Kong residents who were reportedly lured to Southeast Asia for illegal work. Speaking to reporters before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee said a task force led by Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk has made significant progress. "The visit by…

Hong Kong passport holders can obtain tourist visas when they arrive at designated control points in Saudi Arabia starting on Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee announced. Visitors can apply for a multiple-entry visa with stays for up to 90 days or a single-entry visa for a maximum 30-day stay. "That means holders of [an] SAR passport could visit …

Three people were injured on Tuesday when a rubbish truck was crushed by a collapsing noise barrier that had been hit by an out-of-control excavator. The excavator rolled down a slope at a construction site in Lin Tak Road, Lam Tin at around 9.40am, police said. The drivers of both vehicles were among those hurt, but were able to free themselves an…

Heavyweight Tyson Fury declared he's retiring from boxing in a brief social media post on Monday. The former heavyweight champion, 36, claims he's calling it quits for the fourth time. "The Gypsy King" suffered a second consecutive defeat last month to Oleksandr Usyk. "Hi everybody, I'm going to make this short and sweet. I'd like to announce my re…

US President Joe Biden said on Monday that a ceasefire and hostage-release deal between Hamas and Israel is "on the brink" of being finalised, amid growing optimism in Washington about negotiations in the Middle East. "In the war between Israel and Hamas, we're on the brink of a proposal that I laid out in detail months ago finally coming to fruiti…

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 has hit south-western Japan, the country's meteorological agency said on Monday. Tsunami warnings were issued for Miyazaki Prefecture, where the temblor was centred, in the southwestern island of Kyushu, as well as nearby Kochi Prefecture, shortly after the quake struck at 9.19pm local time, a…

Security chief Chris Tang on Monday said senior Thai officials have promised to do all they could to secure the safe return of Hongkongers who were reportedly lured to Southeast Asia for illegal work. "The minister of justice gave great importance of our concern, and had responded positively. [Thai authorities] said they would do their utmost to he…

A prominent Chinese economist and national political advisor said China is likely to surpass the United States and become the world's largest economy in about five years, as he dismissed concerns of a second Trump administration's impact on the nation. The remarks came as Professor Justin Lin, former chief economist and senior vice president at the…

Eleven people on Monday were injured in a scaffolding collapse at a construction site in Kai Tak, with four in critical condition and one seriously hurt. Emergency personnel received reports of the incident on Shing Cheong Road at around 4pm. The bamboo structure, measuring 60 by 20 metres, was said to give way at the site where the New Acute Hospi…

The Centre for Food Safety of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department urged dim sum restaurants to reduce sodium content in their dishes after its survey revealed that a small decrease in salt would not affect its taste. The department conducted a test among 72 people to evaluate standard and reduced-sodium samples of two types of classic dim…

Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin will have to wait a little longer for the long-anticipated maiden orbital flight of its brand-new rocket after a launch attempt dragged on for hours before being canceled due to unspecified technical issues. The towering 98-metre rocket, dubbed New Glenn in honor of legendary astronaut John Glenn, was scheduled to lift off …

The mixer from a cement truck fell onto the road in Yau Ma Tei, although no injuries were reported. Police said the incident happened at about 3pm on Monday on Waterloo Road near Ferry Street. From a photo taken at the scene, the loading compartment was detached from the truck and lay across the road while the vehicle was stationary. Police have se…

Financial Secretary Paul Chan said on Monday that Hong Kong can offer professional services to companies seeking to diversify risk by moving their businesses to different places. At the annual Asian Financial Forum, the minister noted that many firms are realigning or restructuring their industrial and supply chains across different countries, part…

Vast crowds of Hindu pilgrims in India began bathing in sacred waters on Monday as the Kumbh Mela festival opened, with organisers expecting 400 million people -- the largest gathering of humanity. The millennia-old Kumbh Mela, a show of religious piety and ritual bathing -- and a logistical challenge of staggering proportions -- is held at the sit…

Governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC) Pan Gongsheng on Monday said Beijing will significantly increase the proportion of its national foreign exchange reserves and asset allocation in Hong Kong, as part of efforts to boost the development of the city's financial markets. Speaking at the 18th annual Asian Financial Forum in the SAR, Pan also…

Security minister Chris Tang has confirmed that national security police are investigating whether pollster Robert Chung or his research organisation had provided assistance to an absconder. Sources earlier said Chung was taken away from his home on Monday morning, and brought to the Wong Chuk Hang office of the Public Opinion Research Institute, o…

Chief Executive John Lee has told thousands of business leaders from around the world that Hong Kong is working towards developing itself into an international gold trading centre. Delivering his opening remarks at the Asian Financial Forum on Monday, Lee revealed that the SAR will build world-class gold storage facilities, and strengthen support s…

A hill fire which had been burning in Pat Heung since Saturday afternoon was largely put out after more than 20 hours. The Fire Services Department said Sunday that the Government Flying Service is also water bombing the site. The blaze near Kai Kung Leng, literally meaning Rooster Ridge, once stretched to 200 metres from one end to the other. Emer…

The head of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has predicted that 2025 will be a year marked by uncertainties and many changes, while the SAR will be affected by policies set to be introduced by incoming US President Donald Trump. Authority chief executive Eddie Yue also admitted on Sunday the city cannot fully shield itself from unforeseen factors i…