Worker prospects in Hong Kong hair, beauty sector not cut and dried amid staff shortages

🔮 Businessman Jason Poon, wife, granted bail over alleged HK$6 million loan fraud Hearing will be transferred to District Court, while couple’s bail conditions include remaining in Hong Kong and reporting weekly to police Hong Kong businessman Jason Poon Chuk-hung and his wife have been granted bail after facing charges for allegedly defrauding a government financing scheme for businesses out of HK$6 million (US$765,000) during the Covid-19 pandemic. Construction businessman Poon, 56, and his 54-year-old wife, Carrie Chu Shu-fong, were told at Kowloon City Court on Monday that proceedings for their fraud and money laundering charges would be transferred to the District Court, where the maximum sentence for any number of charges is capped at a total of seven years’ imprisonment. Magistrate Arthur Lam Hei-wei granted the pair cash bail of HK$100,000, while imposing other conditions, including remaining in Hong Kong and reporting weekly to a police station.

🔮 But her lawyer told So that the parties had reached an agreement and that the Department of Justice would not continue the prosecution.

🔮 Eastern Court Magistrate Kestrel Lam Tsz-hong said that loitering causing concern was inappropriate for addressing the defendant’s actions, which could not be handled under existing criminal laws.

🔮 66% of Hong Kong’s 8-year-olds could be short-sighted by 2028, experts warn Association finds 67 per cent of grade-one pupils already have insufficient hyperopic reserve, urging parents to start eye checks at age three More than 60 per cent of Hong Kong’s eight-year-olds could be short-sighted by 2028, optometrists have predicted, citing a shrinking “hyperopic reserve” that normally helps delay nearsightedness.

🔮 5 things to do over the National Day ‘golden week’ holiday in Hong Kong From fireworks along Victoria Harbour to cycling through the New Territories, here are five suggestions on how to spend the holiday Hong Kong is set to welcome 1.29 million mainland Chinese visitors over the National Day “golden week” break, fuelling questions online about what locals and tourists can do during the celebrations.

🔮 Shelters warn against poor treatment of warehouse guard dogs in New Territories Veteran rescuer says free-roaming warehouse canines fall under definition of stray dogs, with issue in spotlight after suspected fatal attack Poor treatment of guard dogs at warehouses before ditching them in unfamiliar environments could make the animals easier to agitate, rescuers have said, calling for a “trap, neuter and release” approach, among other solutions.

🔮 She added that whether the project would be completed within the current plan or the following one would depend on its finalised design and scale.

🔮 “Chief Executive Tung, you devoted yourself selflessly so that Hong Kong could make a smooth transition.

🔮 In the section on “Develop an East-meets-West Centre for International Cultural Exchange” under the five-year plan, Lee said: “We will strengthen the global reach of the mainstream media”.

🔮 Hong Kong’s MTR Corp announces half-price fares for ‘Thank You Day’ on October 24 Offer applies to Octopus, JoyYou and QR ticket users across heavy rail, eligible bus services and selected cross-border East Rail journeys Hong Kong’s rail operator will offer half-price fares across its network on October 24, as part of a “Thank You Day” promotion.

🔮 It said passengers could check the official 12306 train service app, the relevant MTR website and announcements at the station for details.

🔮 How some grey-market crypto ATMs in Hong Kong can turn users into fraud victims Tucked away in laundromats and arcades, machines offer easy access to crypto, but coming regulations will protect consumers, experts say Inside a tiny self-service laundromat in Quarry Bay in the east of Hong Kong Island, next to a wall of washing machines, stands a waist-high cryptocurrency terminal with signs reading “Elon Musk recommends Dogecoin” and “Buy bitcoin in one minute”.