Author: Grace Johnson

An asteroid discovered by a Hong Kong-born astronomer has been officially named after firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who died while rescuing residents during one of Hong Kong’s deadliest fires in decades, turning his legacy into what loved ones are calling an “eternal star.” Ho Wai-ho, 37, lost his life in the Wang Fuk Court blaze in Tai Po last November while helping evacuate residents from the burning building. He was among 168 people killed in the 43-hour inferno that devastated the housing complex and displaced around 5,000 residents. He was later posthumously awarded the honorary rank of senior fireman for his…

The Hong Kong property market is facing a key test as new capital-control rules from Beijing raise questions about the strength of its housing rebound. Developers are preparing to launch new residential projects in the coming weeks, and many analysts are watching closely to see how buyers respond. After a long period of weak demand and falling prices, Hong Kong’s housing market had started to show early signs of recovery. Lower interest rates and policy changes helped support buyer interest. But new financial restrictions linked to mainland China may now slow that momentum. Market experts say the biggest uncertainty comes…

Hong Kong authorities have strongly criticized a recent commentary published by The Washington Post, rejecting claims that recent changes to the city’s national security framework are “repressive” and warning that such descriptions are misleading. The dispute centers on an editorial titled “Hong Kong’s nightmare gets darker,” which examined amendments to the city’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. The piece raised concerns about expanded powers under the law and their impact on governance and legal transparency. In response, Hong Kong officials issued a statement late Saturday, calling the commentary “groundless allegations” and defending the legal changes as necessary for maintaining stability and…

Hong Kong national security cases are set to be more clearly defined under new proposed legal amendments as the city government moves to refine how such cases are classified within its judicial system. Security and justice authorities submitted the latest changes to the Legislative Council on Monday. The proposal is part of ongoing adjustments to Hong Kong’s national security framework, which has been expanded in recent years through multiple legislative updates. The new proposal introduces a formal classification system for what are described as “other offences endangering national security.” Under this system, certain criminal cases could be officially designated as…

A Hong Kong Baby Custody Case has begun after authorities moved to take care of an undocumented infant following the arrest of his parents over suspected child neglect. Social welfare officials are now stepping in to protect the two-month-old boy and plan long-term care options. The case was confirmed after a lawmaker said that social services will care for the baby for at least one year. The child may later be placed in foster care depending on future assessments of the parents’ ability to provide a safe home. Peter Koon Ho-ming shared details of the arrangement after speaking with authorities.…

A Hong Kong charity lawsuit has been filed in the United States against a former charity director who is now a fugitive. The case involves serious fraud claims tied to a real estate deal that the plaintiff calls a “shell game” scheme. The lawsuit is a 14-count civil complaint. It targets Jacob Lam Hay-sing, the founder and director of a now-closed Hong Kong charity called Christian Zheng Sheng Association. He is accused of leaving Hong Kong and avoiding legal responsibility after the scandal emerged. The plaintiff in the case is property developer Joseph Lee Daniell. He claims he was tricked…

Hong Kong education authorities have issued an apology after a system error caused some parents to receive school allocation results for their children a day before the official announcement date. The Education Bureau confirmed that the early SMS notifications were sent due to an operational mistake. The messages included correct school placement details but displayed the wrong academic year, leading to confusion among parents across the city. Officials stressed that the results scheduled for release on Wednesday remain the official and final school allocations and should be treated as the authoritative outcome. The incident triggered widespread concern on Tuesday as…

A newborn baby in Hong Kong has been left without a legal identity after his parents refused to take a DNA test required for issuing a birth certificate, sparking public concern and calls for government intervention. Lawmakers in the city are now urging authorities to step in, arguing that the child’s welfare must take priority over personal and religious objections. The case has raised wider questions about how far parental rights can extend when they conflict with legal requirements for a child’s official registration. The issue came to public attention through social media posts on a page called “Save Lily,”…

A Hong Kong woman has lost more than HK$1 million after falling victim to a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme disguised as an artificial intelligence-powered trading application. Police say the case is part of a wider surge in online scams targeting investors through social media and messaging platforms. The victim was reportedly first exposed to the scam through a fake investment advertisement on Facebook, which promised high returns through advanced trading technology. After clicking the link, she was redirected to a WhatsApp group where scammers posed as financial experts offering cryptocurrency investment advice. Hong Kong Police Force Hong Kong Police Force…

China’s currency is steadily gaining influence in global trade as Beijing continues efforts to expand the international use of the yuan, according to a new analysis from Goldman Sachs. The report highlights a significant rise in the use of the Chinese yuan for cross-border settlements over the past several years, reflecting a broader push by China to reduce reliance on the US dollar in global transactions and strengthen its financial influence. Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs said trade settlements in yuan have nearly tripled since 2019, showing a clear upward trend in international usage despite ongoing global dominance of the US…