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☆ Make it easier to raise children, say many Chinese after population falls
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Our parents think if they have more children, they can get more care when they grow old. They think raising one child is already very tiring." China is one of the most expensive places to raise a child, beaten only by South Korea, according to the Beijing-based YuWa Population Research. In Australia it was 2.08 times, 2.24 times in France, 2.91 times in Sweden, 3.64 times in Germany, and 4.11 times in the US. By comparison, north Asian countries were the costliest, with Japan 4.26 times, China 6.9 times and South Korea 7.79 times.

☆ Macau court sentences junket mogul to 18 years in jail
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Alvin Chau was chairman of Macau's Suncity junket operator - which brokered the gambling activity of Chinese high rollers - until December 2021, a month after his arrest. Macau is the only city in China where citizens are permitted to gamble in casinos. Junket operators help facilitate gambling for wealthy Chinese in Macau, extending them credit and collecting on their debt on behalf of casino operators. That year, Macau casinos generated $36 billion in revenue. The junket industry has collapsed in the former Portuguese colony since Chau's arrest, with all of Suncity's VIP rooms shuttered.

☆ China’s population shrinks for the first time since 1961
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] An elderly person holds a child near lanterns decorating a shop ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Beijing, China, January 15, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu WangBEIJING, Jan 17 (Reuters) - China's population fell last year for the first time since 1961, a historic turn that is expected to mark the start of a long period of decline in its citizen numbers and see India become the world's most populous nation in 2023. The country had 1.41175 billion people at at the end of 2022, compared with 1.41260 billion a year earlier, China's National Bureau of Statistics said. China also logged its highest death rate since 1976, registering 7.37 deaths per 1,000 people compared with a rate of 7.18 deaths in 2021. China's stringent zero-COVID policies that were in place for threee years before an abrupt reversal which has overwhelmed medical faciliites, have caused further damage to the country's bleak demographic outlook, population experts have said.

☆ Factbox: How China is seeking to boost its falling birth rate
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] An elderly person stands outside a house amid snowfall in Beijing, China January 12, 2023. ONE-CHILD POLICY- China implemented a one-child policy from 1980 to 2015 in response to government concerns about the social and economic consequences of continued rapid population growth. - The policy, which limited families to one child, was strictly enforced with violators fined and mothers often forced to have abortions. - Shenzhen, a city in southern China, gives couples having a third child or more an annual allowance of over 6,000 yuan ($890) until the child turn three. ($1 = 6.7044 Chinese yuan)Reporting by Farah Master and the Beijing newsroom; editing by Edwina GibbsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China's foreign ministry branch in Hong Kong urges British gov't to stop Hong Kong report
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Jan 13 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry in Hong Kong urged the British government to stop its "so-called half-yearly report on Hong Kong", state media reported on Friday. A spokesperson at the ministry branch said Britain's report "grossly interfered with Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs, and seriously trampled on international law". read moreIn a separate statement, the Hong Kong government said late on Thursday that it refuted the "slandering remarks and ill-intentioned political attacks" made in Britain's report. "The Hong Kong special administrative region is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China," the statement said, adding that the government urged Britain to "respect the basic norms governing international relations and stop interfering" in the city's affairs. Reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing and Farah Master in Hong Kong; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China set for historic demographic turn, accelerated by COVID traumas
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Farah Master | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/3] Ang Ran and her 2-year-old son Tang Ziang look out from their home in Beijing, China November 8, 2022. A glimpse of the scars caused by the pandemic to China's already bleak demographic outlook may come to light when it reports its official 2022 population data on Jan. 17. "In less than 80 years China’s population size could be reduced by 45%. The United Nations predicts China’s population will start to decline this year when India overtakes it as the world's most populous country. U.N. experts see China's population shrinking by 109 million by 2050, more than triple the decline of their previous forecast in 2019.

☆ Mainland Chinese head to Hong Kong for mRNA COVID vaccines
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Joyce Zhou | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Scores of mainland Chinese travellers are rushing to Hong Kong to receive mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which are not available on the Chinese mainland, as the country grapples with a torrent of infections which have overwhelmed its health system. A private hospital in the special Chinese administrative region of Hong Kong welcomed the first batch of mainland customers on Thursday, just five days after China reopened its borders for the first time in three years, allowing quarantine free travel. [1/5] Yoyo Liang, from mainland China, received a dose of BioNTech bivalent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at a private clinic in Hong Kong, China January 12, 2023. There is no bivalent vaccine available in mainland Chin," she explained after she received her jab. Virtus, which has received more than 300 inquiries so far about the vaccines, is expecting more mainland customers to come to Hong Kong in the coming weeks and months, the company's chief medical officer Samuel Kwok told reporters.

The aviation industry, battered by years of pandemic curbs, has also been critical of the decisions to impose testing on travellers from China. China reported five new COVID deaths in the mainland for Thursday, bringing its official virus death toll to 5,264, one of the lowest in the world. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways (0293.HK) said on Thursday it would more than double flights to mainland China. Except for airplane wastewater testing by Malaysia and Thailand for the virus, the region's 11 nations will treat Chinese travellers like any others. As many as 76% of Chinese travel agencies ranked Southeast Asia as the top destination when outbound travel resumed, according to a survey released in December by trade show ITB China.

☆ Factbox: China to reopen borders, including with Hong Kong, after 3 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Jan 6 (Reuters) - China will reopen its borders on Sunday, including with its special administrative region of Hong Kong, after nearly three years of COVID-19 closures and restrictions. Travellers from both Hong Kong and China must obtain a negative COVID test result and log it online within 48 hours of departure. Hong Kong and the neighbouring Chinese city of Shenzhen have launched an online booking system for travellers to reserve a slot. China will from Sunday resume issuing tourist and business visas for mainland residents to travel to Hong Kong and Macau. Reporting by Farah Master in Hong Kong, Bernard Orr and the Beijing newsroom; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hong Kong to allow import of hamsters after year-long COVID ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Pedestrians walk past a closed pet shop in Mong Kok district after a hamster cull was ordered to curb the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Hong Kong, China, January 19, 2022. The government aims to "resume commercial imports of hamsters around mid-January," it said in a statement to Reuters. In January 2022, Hong Kong ordered a hamster cull amid an outbreak of Delta variant cases in humans that was traced back to a pet shop worker in the Chinese special administrative region. Hong Kong's pet rodent clampdown had echoed the mainland's zero-tolerance approach to COVID-19. Little Boss, the operating company which owned the pet shop at the heart of Hong Kong's hamster cull last year, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

☆ China to open border with Hong Kong on Sunday
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A general view of village houses at Hong Kong border facing the skyscrapers in Shenzhen, in Hong Kong, China, December 14, 2021. Hong Kong closely followed China's tough zero-COVID policy until the middle of 2022 when it began to ease some of restrictions. China will no longer require people to present COVID tests upon arrival in the mainland from Hong Kong, while China will issue special tourism and business visas for mainland residents to visit Hong Kong from Jan. 8, the office said. China will also increase flights between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, it said. Reporting by the Beijing newsroom, Farah Master and Meg Shen in Hong Kong ; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hong Kong residents rush to get vaccinated ahead of China border reopening
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] People queue at a community vaccination centre, ahead of an expected border reopening with China, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Hong Kong, China, January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuHONG KONG, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Hong Kong residents have swamped clinics to get vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of the expected reopening of the city's border with mainland China, which some people fear will bring a surge of infections to the financial hub. The number of people getting a fourth shot jumped more than 100% this week from a week earlier. Many mainlanders have been asking on social media about how to get an mRNA vaccine in Hong Kong. A Hong Kong resident surnamed Tsoi said she was relieved to have made a booking for BioNTech's second-generation booster.

☆ Analysis: Macau casinos deal themselves a tough hand with big non-gaming investment pledges
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Farah Master | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

But their 10-year, shortened contracts come at a time when COVID-19 restrictions have decimated Macau’s gambling revenues, with 2022 the worst annual performance on record. Non-gaming revenues, which averaged around 5% of overall gaming revenues pre-COVID, must grow to more than 30% in the next decade, said Ben Lee, founder of Macau gaming consultancy IGamiX. Macau, a densely packed territory located on China’s southern coast, is the only place in the country where gambling in casinos is legal. Increased regulatory oversight comes as Macau casinos face much higher debt levels versus 2019. Macau has few direct flights from potential markets outside China, while transport within the city is limited to move large groups of people around, said David Green, head of Macau gaming consultancy Newpage.

REUTERS/Tingshu WangBEIJING/WUHAN, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Some people in China's key cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan braved the cold and a spike in COVID-19 infections to return to regular activity on Monday, confident of a boost to the economy as more recover from infections. But Monday's one new COVID death - flat with the previous day - among China's population of 1.4 billion does not match the experience of other countries after they re-opened. Cumulative deaths in China since Dec. 1 have probably reached 100,000, with infections at 18.6 million, it said. Airfinity expects China's COVID infections to reach their first peak on Jan. 13, with 3.7 million daily infections. China has said it only counts deaths of COVID patients caused by pneumonia and respiratory failure as COVID-related.

[1/5] People wearing face masks walk under neon lights near casinos during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Macau, China, December 29, 2022. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuMACAU, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Three years of COVID-19 forced Becky Zhang’s specialty food business in Macau to near collapse. However, Macau has been closed off to the rest of the world, including neighbouring financial hub Hong Kong, for the past three years. Since reopening, Macau has grappled with a widespread COVID-19 wave, impacting the number of workers across the city. Some tourists who managed to travel to Macau from the mainland for Christmas said they were happy about the lack of crowds.

☆ Hong Kong asks Japan to drop airport restrictions with 60,000 travellers affected
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Japan, which is a top travel destination for Hong Kong people, said it would limit flights from Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China to Tokyo's two airports, plus Osaka and Nagoya from Friday. "It is understood that around 250 outbound flights of Hong Kong airlines will be affected between December 30, 2022 and the end of January 2023, affecting around 60,000 passengers," the government said in a statement late on Wednesday. "We think that Hong Kong people should be allowed to use not just these four airports," Lee said. Flights of Hong Kong airlines can still carry passengers back to Hong Kong from various airports in Japan, the government said, to "ensure the smooth return of Hong Kong people from Japan and to minimise the impact to Hong Kong travellers caused by the incident." Hong Kong Airlines and Peach Aviation announced they would cancel some flight routes because of the rules.

☆ Hong Kong to scrap COVID tests for arrivals, vaccine pass - media
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong leader John Lee is due to hold a media briefing at 3.30pm (0730 GMT) to give further details. The expected announcement comes after Lee said on Saturday that Hong Kong would reopen its borders with mainland China by mid-January. Hong Kong has for nearly three years largely followed China's lead in tackling the novel coronavirus. Hong Kong and China have lagged the rest of the world in easing stringent COVID rules. International passengers arriving in Hong Kong since mid-month are no longer subject to COVID-related movement controls or barred from certain venues.

☆ Hong Kong aims for mid-January reopening of border with mainland China
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Hong Kong will reopen its borders with mainland China by mid-January, city Chief Executive John Lee said on Saturday, as Beijing accelerates the unwinding of stringent COVID-19 rules that have battered economic growth. Hong Kong authorities will work with the governments of neighbouring Shenzhen city and Guangdong province to manage the flow of people crossing the border, Lee said. The reopening was postponed several times due to outbreaks in Hong Kong or the mainland. Hong Kong and China have lagged most of the world in easing stringent COVID rules. International passengers arriving in Hong Kong since mid-month are no longer subject to COVID-related movement controls or barred from certain venues.

The country spent big on quarantine and testing facilities over the past three years rather than bolstering hospitals and clinics and training medical staff, these people said. "There is no transition time for the medical system to prepare for this," said Zuofeng Zhang, professor of epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. The failure to boost vaccination rates among the vulnerable could imperil China's health system, more than a dozen experts said. The death of a 23-year-old medical student in Chengdu on Dec. 14 fueled public ire at the strain on China's health system. Chen Jiming, a researcher at China's Foshan University, said there was every chance that China's medical system could cope now that the country has ended quarantine for asymptomatic and mild cases.

SummarySummary Companies COVID infections may peak next week- Chinese health officialChina reports no new COVID deaths for 3rd dayOverstretched health system braces for more severe casesBEIJING/SHANGHAI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - China is expecting a peak in COVID-19 infections within a week, a health official said, with authorities predicting extra strain on the country's health system even as they downplay the disease's severity and continue to report no new deaths. China reported less than 4,000 new symptomatic local COVID cases nationwide for Dec. 22, and no new COVID deaths for a third consecutive day. Authorities have narrowed the criteria for COVID deaths, prompting criticism from many disease experts. Experts say China could face more than a million COVID deaths next year. NO DATAThe World Health Organization has received no data from China on new COVID hospitalizations since Beijing lifted its zero-COVID policy.

☆ Macau to drop COVID tests for arriving passengers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, Dec 22 (Reuters) - International arrivals to Macau, including from Hong Kong and Taiwan, will no longer need to undergo a nucleic acid test after landing and will be able to move freely, the government said on Thursday, the biggest steps yet to relax stringent COVID measures. However, travellers from overseas will still be required to present a negative nucleic acid test certificate for entry, the government said. Earlier this week, Macau cancelled its regulations on risk zones in mainland China. Visitor arrivals to the world's biggest gambling hub dropped by 36.8% on the month and 54.3% year-on-year to 366,511 in November, according to the Macau Statistics Bureau. Reporting by Twinnie Siu, Meg Shen and Farah Master; Editing by Toby Chopra, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Hong Kong to drop COVID test for bars, entertainment venues
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG, Dec 20 (Reuters) - People in Hong Kong will from Thursday no longer need to show a negative COVID-19 test to get into bars and restaurants while cinemas and performing venues will be allowed to operate at full capacity, health authorities said. Hong Kong has for nearly three years largely followed China's lead in tackling the novel coronavirus. While Hong Kong has effectively dismantled many of its stringent COVID rules in recent months, masks are still compulsory in public places unless exercising, and a vaccine pass is required to enter many venues. Lee will go on a four-day duty visit to Beijing on Wednesday where he said he would report on Hong Kong's political and economic environment as well as the COVID situation. A closely anticipated full reopening of Hong Kong's border with mainland China and quarantine free travel between both places is expected to be on the agenda.

☆ Macau government cancels COVID risk zones for mainland China
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Macau's government said on Monday that it would cancel its regulations on risk zones in mainland China starting from Tuesday, the latest unwinding of stringent COVID-19 rules that have hammered revenues in the world's biggest gambling hub. In addition, all arrivals into Macau via the mainland, including from overseas, need to show a negative COVID test conducted within the last 72 hours, versus 48 hours previously, the government said. Macau is heavily reliant on Chinese visitors. Tourists from greater China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, account for more than 90% of total visitation. Reporting by Twinnie Siu and Farah Master; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Macau casinos' new contracts to sharpen focus on non-gaming activities
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The operators are expected to focus on non-gaming activities in the new term, particularly as Beijing is keen for Macau to diversify away from gambling and attract foreign tourists. Some analysts expect them to make non-gaming investments of up to $15 billion cumulatively over the next decade. Genting, with its strong non-gaming track record and mass market appeal, was a credible threat for the Macau operators, many executives and analysts have said. Previous attempts by Macau to diversify have been unsuccessful, with casino operators shying away from investing in non-gaming due to the high costs, particularly as the gambling industry was far more lucrative. Macau's gambling industry currently accounts for more than 80% of government revenues.

SYDNEY/BEIJING, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The rising alarm over COVID-19 spreading in China was felt in pharmacies in Hong Kong, Macau, and in some neighbourhoods in Australia, as people hunted for fever medicines and virus test kits to send to family and friends on the mainland. Several shops have since imposed limits on how much customers can buy, and drugmakers are ramping up production. They like to hoard medicines before they even get sick," said a doctor in Shanghai. "I have friends in Beijing who asked me to send over some flu medicines and rapid tests. And the government-backed Sinopharm Group has tripled daily production capacity of key drugs, state run CCTV reported, due to a sharp increase in demand for medicines to treat fever and cough symptoms.

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