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☆ Two giant rubber ducks debut in Hong Kong in bid to drive "double happiness"
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] An art installation dubbed "Double Ducks" by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, is seen at Victoria Harbour, in Hong Kong, China June 9, 2023. Hofman said his pair of ducks represent "twice the fun, double the happiness" and bring new excitement to Hong Kong. "We would like more installation art like the rubber ducks in Hong Kong. Right now there isn't much space for art in Hong Kong if we compare it to Macau or Shenzhen, they have more art installations." A 40-year-old engineer named Kane said the ducks were positive for Hong Kong.

Persons: Florentijn Hofman, Tyrone Siu, Hofman, peng, Anna, Kane, It's, Justin Fung, Jessie Pang, Joyce Zhou, Farah, Michael Perry Organizations: Victoria Harbour, REUTERS, Ducks, Thomson Locations: Victoria, Hong Kong, China, Tyrone Siu HONG KONG, Hong, Victoria Harbour, Netherlands, France, Brazil, Hong Kong's, Tamar, Macau, Shenzhen

REUTERS/Tyrone SiuHONG KONG, June 5 (Reuters) - The United Nations said on Monday it was "alarmed" by detentions in Hong Kong linked to the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, while China said the financial hub was moving from "chaos" to prosperity. China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement late on Sunday that "today's Hong Kong is moving from chaos to stability and prosperity along the right track of "one country, two systems". "External forces" including the United States should uphold international law and stop "futile political manipulation" over Hong Kong to contain China, a ministry spokesperson said. The Canadian consulate said on its Facebook that it joined the people of Hong Kong and others around the world in "remembering the violent crackdown against unarmed and peaceful citizens" on June 4, 1989. Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK said that all 23 people detained on Sunday for breaching peace and public order offences were not arrested and were later released.

Persons: Chong Mui, Tyrone Siu, Farah, Stephen Coates Organizations: Police, REUTERS, United Nations, Hong Kong, Human, Twitter, United States Consulate, RTHK, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, Tyrone Siu HONG KONG, Hong, Beijing, United States, Taipei, London , New York, Berlin, Victoria Park, Canadian, Canada

☆ Macau's May casino revenue soars 366% year on year on visitor influx
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

China lifted strict COVID-19 restrictions in January, allowing visitors to swarm into Macau for the first time in more than three years. A general view shows casinos and hotels in Macau, China February 5, 2020. Sands last week officially opened its "Londoner" casino resort which includes a 6,000 seat arena and attractions like a replica of London's Big Ben clock tower. It was the first big casino opening since the COVID pandemic and was attended by former England football captain David Beckham who drew scores of fans to the property. ($1 = 8.0840 patacas)Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Tom Hogue & Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, David Beckham, Farah Master, Tom Hogue, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Labour, REUTERS, Sands, HK, Wynn, MGM, SJM Holdings, Galaxy Entertainment, Melco, England, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Macau, China, Sands China, Wynn Macau, MGM China, Sands

[1/3] A man looks at job information at an employment fair beside a street in Zhengzhou, Henan province, February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Jason LeeHONG KONG, June 1 (Reuters) - China's Henan province has unveiled a 100-day plan to "dynamically clear" youth unemployment as concern grows over record levels of joblessness among young adults, with millions more students due to graduate this year. The goal is to ensure "zero-dynamic clearing" for long-term unemployment and the "smooth employment of college graduates", the provincial Department of Education said in a social media post this week. Economists expect youth unemployment to become increasingly common in coming years as graduates enter the job market. The "dynamic zero clearing" term the education department used is reminiscent of the language authorities used in the fight against COVID, reflecting the level of concern about unemployment.

Persons: Jason Lee HONG, Farah Master, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Department of Education, COVID, Thomson Locations: Zhengzhou, Henan province, Jason Lee HONG KONG, Henan, China, Beijing

HONG KONG, May 31 (Reuters) - An absence of women among China's top leadership is concerning, the United Nations said in a report, as it recommended China adopt statutory quotas and a gender parity system to quicken equal representation of women in government. The committee said that while China's representation of women in political and public life has increased, it was concerned that women only represent 26.54% of deputies to the 14th National People's Congress. It urged China to increase the number of women in all government bureaus including the judiciary and foreign service, particularly at decision making levels. The committee said it was concerned about the excessive restrictions on the registration of non-governmental organisations as well as reports of intimidation and harassment against women human rights defenders. Feminist voices have also been muzzled and in recent years, the government has increasingly emphasized the value of traditional roles for women as mothers and carers.

Persons: Xi, Martin Pollard, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: United Nations, quicken, UN, Leste, National People's, Communist, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, Germany, Iceland, Sao Tome, Principe, Slovakia, Spain, Timor, Venezuela, Beijing

President Xi Jinping recently attended a meeting concerned with population development, it added with the newspaper describing population development as a major event linked to China's "great rejuvenation". Concerned about China's first population drop in six decades last year and its rapid ageing, the government has urgently embarked on measures to lift the country's birth rate including financial incentives and boosting childcare facilities. China will double the number of childcare centres by 2025, state-backed broadcaster CCTV said on Tuesday, with the headline "It is no longer difficult to take care of a baby". Gender discrimination and traditional thinking that places the burden of caring for children mostly on women are still widespread throughout the country. Opening up fertility services to unmarried women may help to boost the country's fertility rate, the government's political advisers proposed in March.

HONG KONG, May 15 (Reuters) - China will launch pilot projects in more than 20 cities to create a "new-era" marriage and childbearing culture to foster a friendly child bearing environment, the latest move by authorities to boost the country's falling birth rate. Promoting marrying, having children at appropriate ages, encouraging parents to share child-rearing responsibilities, and curbing high "bride prices" and other outdated customs are the focus of the projects, the Times said. The association already launched projects in 20 cities including Beijing last year, the Times said. "The society needs to guide young people more on the concept of marriage and childbirth," demographer He Yafu told the Times. Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Sonali PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Chinese baby product firms seek to age up, sell more abroad as population falls
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Farah Master | Thomson Reuters | Farah Master Is A Senior Correspondent At Reuters Where She Focuses On Health | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

HONG KONG, May 11 (Reuters) - For many of China's manufacturers of baby and children's products, painful reverberations from last year's historic decline in the country's population are already upon them. Hong Kong-listed Health and Happiness (H&H) (1112.HK), which gains nearly half of its revenue from baby products such as infant formula, food and diapers, is one such company. China's market for baby food and diapers is the world's largest at $37.9 billion, accounting for around a third of global sales annually, according to research from Euromonitor. Adult diaper revenue, however, shot up 13% - highlighting how China's rapidly ageing population is prompting shifts in consumer spending. Reuters GraphicsShares for the three firms now trade between a third and a fifth of their all-time highs.

☆ British investment minister visits Hong Kong, first official visit in 5 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, May 9 (Reuters) - Britain's Minister for Investment Dominic Johnson said he held a series of meetings with government officials and executives in Hong Kong on Monday, the first official visit from a senior British official to the city in five years. Johnson's visit comes after relations between Britain and Hong Kong have been increasingly strained since 2020 when Beijing imposed a national security law in the former colony. Johnson said he was in Hong Kong to promote the United Kingdom as a leading destination for investment and trade. "Hong Kong is one of the world's leading international financial centres and we have shared interests from financial services to infrastructure to sustainability," he wrote on Twitter. He is due to leave Hong Kong on Tuesday.

HONG KONG, May 8 (Reuters) - China wants to work with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to oppose the politicisation of sports, Premier Li Qiang said, amid demands on the sporting body to exclude athletes from Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine. Premier Li made the comments at a meeting with IOC head Thomas Bach in Beijing over the weekend, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has already offered to let Russian and Belarusian athletes compete at the Asian Games in China this year. "Li said that China is willing to work together with the IOC to oppose the politicisation of sports and to make greater contribution to the Olympic movement," Xinhua reported. Bach said China plays an important role in maintaining world peace and promoting mutual development and IOC is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to promote the development of the Olympic movement.

☆ Chinese tourists flock to gambling hub Macau for Labour Day holiday
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Joyce Zhou | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] A view of visitors in front of the ruins of Saint Paul's during Labour Day holiday in Macau, China, April 30, 2023. REUTERS/Lam YikMACAU, April 30 (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of mainland Chinese visitors have descended on the world's biggest gambling hub of Macau for the Labour Day holiday, packing tightly into its narrow cobblestone streets and placing bets in its glitzy casinos. Coco Li, a 42-year-old woman from Hubei province who was visiting with her husband, said they chose to come to Macau because travel rules had relaxed. "We've been actively working with the Macau government on our labour requirements," the company said. Reporting by Joyce Zhou in Macau; Writing by Farah Master; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China EV maker BYD to build $290 mln battery component plant in Chile
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, April 21 (Reuters) - China's BYD Co Ltd (002594.SZ), , the world's largest electric vehicle (EV) maker, plans to build a $290 million lithium cathode factory in Chile's northern Antofagasta region, said Chilean economic development agency CORFO. The South American country's government has named BYD Chile a qualified lithium producer, CORFO said, giving it access to preferential prices for lithium carbonate quotas. BYD, which supplies electric buses for Chile's public transportation system, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday. The plant will produce 50,000 tonnes per year of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) for cathodes, using lithium carbonate as an input. read moreReporting by Farah Master in Hong Kong and Zhang Yan in Shanghai; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China's CCTV slams Western hype of its population decline
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, April 20 (Reuters) - Western media reports on China's population being overtaken by India deliberately ignores China's development, using the topic to "bad mouth" it and advocate decoupling, state broadcaster CCTV said on Thursday. CCTV's sharply worded commentary said the subtext from Western media in recent years was that China's development was in "big trouble" and that when China's demographic dividend disappears, it would decline, and the global economy would also suffer. "The United States is stepping up efforts to contain China's development and advocate further decoupling and found new hype points from the United Nations report," CCTV said, adding that the West simply equated population size with development achievements. "Such hype lacks a basic understanding of the law of population development. "Population is important but talents are also important...China has taken active measures to respond to population aging," Wang told reporters on Wednesday.

☆ New box jellyfish species found in Hong Kong's waters -study
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, April 19 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong university team said it has discovered a new species of box jellyfish in the city's Mai Po Nature Reserve, the first discovery of the venomous species in China's waters. Baptist University (HKBU) together with WWF-Hong Kong, Ocean Park Hong Kong and University of Manchester said on Tuesday that the team collected jellyfish samples from a brackish shrimp pond over 2020-2022 and found they contained a new species. Box jellyfish "are poorly known in Chinese marine waters. Our discovery of Tripedalia maipoensis in Mai Po - a relatively well-studied area in Hong Kong - highlights the rich diversity of marine life in Hong Kong and even the whole of China," he said. Box jellyfish, scientifically known as class Cubozoa, includes some of the highly venomous marine animals that are widely known in tropical waters, the study said.

☆ Sotheby's to auction world's largest ruby in New York in June
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An employee shines a light at the 55.22 carat "The Estrela de Fura" ruby, the largest in the world and expected to fetch up to $30 million in an upcoming New York auction, during a preview at Sotheby's, in Hong Kong, China April 17, 2023. REUTERS/Lam YikHONG KONG, April 17 (Reuters) - The largest ruby in the world to come to auction will be offered by Sotheby's in New York in June, the auction house said at a preview in Hong Kong on Monday, and is estimated to achieve more than $30 million. That would probably make the 55.22-carat gem, known as the Estrela de Fura, the most expensive ruby ever sold at auction, said Uni Kim, a specialist in Sotheby's jewellery department in the Asian financial capital. The current world record for a ruby sold at auction was set in May 2015 by "Sunrise Ruby," a 25.59-carat Burmese stone that fetched $30.3 million at Sotheby's in Geneva. "We estimate Estrela de Fura to be sold in excess of $30 million," Kim added.

☆ Hong Kong activist Wong jailed for 3 months over information breach
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, April 17 (Reuters) - One of the most prominent democracy activists in Hong Kong over recent years, Joshua Wong, was sentenced on Monday to three months in prison over an information breach involving a police officer, according to a post on Wong's Facebook account. Wong attended the hearing but did not speak, a witness in the court said. Wong galvanized international support for the former British colony's pro-democracy movement, meeting politicians from the United States, Europe and elsewhere, and drawing the wrath of Beijing, which says he is a “black hand” of foreign forces. Western governments have criticized the law as a tool to crush dissent but Chinese and Hong Kong authorities say it has brought stability the semi-autonomous financial hub after months of sometimes violent protests in 2019. Reporting by Farah Master and Jessie Pang; Editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Masks off, beer poured at Hong Kong Rugby Sevens after COVID restrictions dropped
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The general view of Hong Kong Stadium during the first day of the Hong Kong Sevens tournament in Hong Kong, China November 4, 2022. The Hong Kong leg of British music festival Creamfields is also taking place on April 1-2. The Chinese special administrative region has hosted financial summits in the past two weeks as well as Art Basel Hong Kong, one of Asia's leading contemporary art fairs. Scores of events were cancelled, postponed or taken to other Asian cities such as Singapore, Bangkok and Seoul because of Hong Kong's rigid coronavirus rules. "Over 20% of tickets purchased in the public sale are coming from overseas audiences, signalling Hong Kong’s return is in full swing."

☆ Shanghai's population drops in 2022 after COVID lockdowns
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shanghai's figures came after Beijing also posted its first population drop since 2003. China's population fell last year for the first time in six decades, weighed down by rising living costs especially in big, sprawling urban hubs, weak economic growth, and changing attitudes towards raising a family. Shanghai's birth rate dropped to 4.4 per 1,000 people from 4.7 a year earlier, while its death rate increased to 6.0 per 1,000 people from 5.6 due to a rapidly ageing population. China last year recorded its lowest ever birth rate, of 6.77 per 1,000 people. Around 18.7% of Shanghai's population is older than 65, above the national average of 14.9%.

☆ Thousands evacuated as fire hits warehouse in crowded Hong Kong district
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] A firefighter walks next to a blaze at a warehouse in the city's bustling Kowloon district, in Hong Kong, China March 24, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuHONG KONG, March 24 (Reuters) - About 3,600 people were evacuated from buildings in Hong Kong's crowded Kowloon district on Friday as firefighters battled a blaze in a warehouse. The warehouse is owned by China Resources Group (1109.HK) but it was not clear what was being stored there. The state-owned company, which runs businesses from healthcare to consumer products such as beer, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Police told Reuters that about 3600 people from nearby residential schools and buildings needed to be evacuated.

☆ Hong Kong government announces measures to lure wealthy family offices
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, March 24 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's government announced a series of measures on Friday to attract wealthy family offices to set up in the financial hub as authorities try to restore business confidence and investor allure after three years of severe COVID-19 rules. "The policy statement demonstrates our determination to develop Hong Kong into a leading global family office hub," Paul Chan, the city's financial secretary said. Chan said this would help bolster Hong Kong's financial sector as well as areas including technology, green, arts and culture and philanthropy. City leader John Lee said last year that he had set a target of attracting 200 large family offices to set up in Hong Kong by 2025. Hong Kong's push to attract wealthy families comes as many wealthy individuals and companies shifted to rival financial hubs such as Singapore after Beijing's imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong in 2020.

☆ Number of Chinese kindergartens drops in 2022 for first time in 15 years-media
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, March 23 (Reuters) - The number of kindergartens in China has dropped for the first time in 15 years, falling by more than 5,000 on the previous year, financial news outlet Yicai reported, citing data from the country's Education Ministry. There were a total of 289,200 kindergartens nationwide in 2022, the Education Ministry said on Thursday. The fall compared to previous years was due to fewer students enrolled in the kindergartens, Yicai said. The number of rural kindergartens is decreasing along with urbanisation as residents move to more urban cities, Yicai said. China's birth rate last year fell to 6.77 births per 1,000 people, from 7.52 births in 2021, the lowest on record.

☆ Oil spills and near misses: more ghost tankers ship sanctioned fuel
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Jonathan Saul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

REUTERS/Ronen ZvulunSummary Risk of accidents in focus as 'shadow' fleet growsStirs fears of oil spills, decades after Exxon ValdezHundreds of ships carry oil from sanctioned nationsMany ship certifiers and insurers have pulled servicesLONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - An oil tanker runs aground off eastern China, leaking fuel into the water. Many leading certification providers and engine makers that approve seaworthiness and safety have withdrawn their services from ships carrying oil from sanctioned Iran, Russia and Venezuela, as have a host of insurers, meaning there's less oversight of vessels carrying the flammable cargoes. Reuters was unable to independently verify the numbers regarding the size and growth of the shadow fleet. The U.S. Treasury didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on ships carrying sanctioned oil. SHIP-TO-SHIP TRANSFERSAround 774 tankers out of 2,296 in the overall global crude oil fleet are 15 years old or more, according to data provider VesselsValue.

☆ Crowds swarm Art Basel Hong Kong as galleries report sales bonanza
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] An installation titled "Calligraphic Wig" by Daniel Knorr is displayed at Art Basel in Hong Kong, China, March 23, 2023. Art Basel Hong Kong is one of the first big events the city has held since dropping its COVID-19 mask mandate this month. City authorities are welcoming the art fair as they try to reinvigorate the economy and promote Hong Kong as a vibrant cultural hub. Teresa Choi, a visitor from Macau, said Hong Kong was much busier than during COVID times. "Hong Kong has always been the international financial hub for Asia ... Travellers are regaining their confidence about Hong Kong and the economy and want to come."

☆ China capital Beijing experiences first population decline since 2003
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Beijing's population decline was in line with national trends, with China's population falling last year for the first time in six decades, weighed down by rising living costs especially in big, sprawling cities like Beijing, weak economic growth, and changing attitudes towards raising a family. "These figures are expected, especially for Beijing," said Xiujian Peng, senior research fellow at the Centre of Policy Studies at Victoria University in Australia. The birth rates in Beijing and other cities and provinces are calculated based on the permanent residents not including migrant population, she said. Beijing's natural population growth was minus 0.05 per 1,000 people last year. China's birth rate last year was 6.77 births per 1,000 people, the lowest on record, while the country's death rate, the highest since 1974, was 7.37 deaths per 1,000 people.

☆ Hong Kong heiress sues gallery owner Pearl Lam over Banksy painting
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, March 22 (Reuters) - An heiress of the Hong Kong beverage giant Vitasoy International (0345.HK) is suing prominent gallery owner Pearl Lam, saying she has paid 500,000 pounds ($613,000) for a Banksy painting that was never delivered, according to a court writ filed this week. The 2005 painting by the British artist is a "remix" of a masterpiece by Impressionist painter Claude Monet. It was sold at a Sotheby's auction in October 2020 for more than 7.5 million pounds, far above an estimated sale price of 3 million pounds to 5 million pounds. Lam is one of more than 170 gallery owners participating in Art Basel Hong Kong this week. Reporting by Farah Master and Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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