Fair and transparent tax policies will foster trust among investors, governments and taxpayers, Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday. More than 400 tax specialists, academics and professionals from around 30 jurisdictions gathered for the three-day Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Forum. Speaking at the forum, Lee said Ho…

China's deep sea research submersible Jiaolong is making its first-ever visit to Hong Kong, on its return from a mission in the western Pacific. Students and officials on Tuesday had tours of Jiaolong and its mothership, Shenhai Yihao, during a three-day port call at Tsim Sha Tsui's Ocean Terminal. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk said the vesse…

Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said the government is ready to welcome the flood of visitors expected during the National Day Golden Week holiday next week. Ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee said he expects the various celebratory activities organised by the SAR government to lead to about 1.15 million to 1.2 million visitor a…

Chief Executive John Lee has announced that two pandas the central government is giving Hong Kong as a gift will arrive on Thursday. A welcome ceremony chaired by Chief Secretary Eric Chan will be held for the pandas at the airport. Speaking to reporters before the weekly Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, Lee said the pandas, both aged five, wi…

Chief Executive John Lee on Tuesday said Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office chief Xia Baolong has affirmed the work of the SAR government and encouraged continuous reforms. The CE met Xia in Beijing last Friday, on the sidelines of two events promoting economic cooperation between Hong Kong and the capital. Ahead of the weekly Executive Council mee…

The Monetary Authority (HKMA) on Monday said 11 groups of firms from different sectors will help it test offline and cross-border payments as part of the second phase of a pilot programme involving an e-Hong Kong dollar (e-HKD). This follows a trial involving 16 companies last year. The second phase, lasting a year, will again involve HSBC and Hang…

The Hospital Authority on Monday urged citizens to vaccinate against seasonal influenza, citing uncertainties for the upcoming winter peak. According to the Centre for Health Protection, flu cases in Hong Kong typically surge twice every year - between January and April, and then from July to August. But the winter peak this year lasted 28 weeks un…

The head of a local think tank said on Sunday that Hong Kong needs to rebuild its international profile, which was "severely damaged" after the 2019 social unrest and the pandemic. Speaking on a radio programme, Our Hong Kong Foundation chairman Bernard Chan pointed out that apart from deep-rooted social conflicts, the city is also facing new chall…