New HK$122 million lifeguard outsourcing contract sparks public spending concerns

🔮 Hong Kong urged to boost private housing supply as student demand jumps 45% ‘When universities cannot provide sufficient accommodation, demand will shift to the private market – the government must devise a careful plan,’ lawmaker says Hong Kong authorities are facing calls to increase the proportion of private housing in selected districts and work more closely with developers to expand accommodation for non-local students.

🔮 Hong Kong’s Paul Chan predicts positive market response to Xi-Trump summit ‘Previously, the geopolitics caused concerns over economic prospects, leading to uncertainty and capital flow volatility,’ finance chief says “I believe the market will have a positive interpretation …

🔮 Hong Kong workforce to shrink by 20,000 yearly as key sectors face shortages Predicted 2028 shortfall will narrow to 130,000, but key sectors such as aviation, tech, healthcare and construction still face crunch

🔮 Foreign carers for elderly to get 10 to 20% more pay than current helpers Carers must also have received elderly care training recognised by Hong Kong and possess at least three years of experience looking after older people Foreign domestic carers brought to Hong Kong to look after elderly residents under a proposed government pilot scheme would receive 10 to 20 per cent more pay than existing helpers, the labour minister has said.

🔮 Two years after her mentally ill husband was fatally shot by a Hong Kong police officer, Mrs Li says she cannot forgive herself for calling for help Two years after her armed, mentally ill husband was fatally shot by a Hong Kong police officer, Mrs Li is still waiting to learn whether a death inquest will be held.

🔮 “During the internship, they never know what kind of problems will be brought into the room by the next patients, which is different from their clinical training at school … that could enhance their clinical judgment and independent thinking skills.”

🔮 Students from city and neighbouring Macau will be able to participate in ‘Tiangong Class’, with details to be released soon Hong Kong’s first astronaut Lai Ka-ying and her two fellow Shenzhou-23 crew members will deliver a live lecture from space for students and teachers in the city and neighbouring Macau.

🔮 Mainland Chinese arrivals to Hong Kong beat ‘golden week’ forecast in just 6 days Mainland arrivals hit 1.3 million, up 11.6 per cent year on year, surpassing entire holiday forecast of 1.29 million, as malls and hotels report brisk trade Mainland Chinese visitor arrivals in Hong Kong exceeded the government’s forecast for the entire National Day “golden week” holiday in the first six days, as major shopping centres and hotel operators reported brisk business. The city recorded 1.3 million mainland visitor arrivals over the first six days of the week-long break, up by 11.6 per cent from the same period last year and surpassing the government’s forecast of 1.29 million for the entire holiday, according to Immigration Department figures.

🔮 “If you are talking about larger flats, especially those with sea views, there will definitely be demand,” Lee said, adding that the development was likely to appeal to major developers given its scale and prime location.

🔮 ‘We will have more revenue in the coming months such as from the upfront fees from the tender of the residential project,’ authority CEO Betty Fung says The authority managing Hong Kong’s arts hub in West Kowloon recorded a wider deficit in the 2025-26 financial year but expects to generate more income next year by putting a residential development project out to tender. The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority’s deficit ballooned to HK$998 million (U$127 million) in the year to March 30, from HK$769 million in the same period a year earlier.

🔮 Growth had slowed from 7.9 per cent in May to 4.6 per cent in June.

🔮 About 1.29 million mainland Chinese visitors are expected over holiday, but trade groups say cautious spending could limit gains across wider sector

🔮 Hong Kong is expecting about 1.29 million mainland arrivals over the October 1 to 7 holiday period, with the daily average forecast to rise by more than 5 per cent from last year.

🔮 Hong Kong Stadium could host tennis events amid Victoria Park court upgrade: minister Sports chief Rosanna Law says stadium site already well equipped, allowing authorities to seek hosting higher-level events Hong Kong Stadium could serve as an interim home for major tennis tournaments during the redevelopment of Victoria Park’s centre court, the city’s sports minister has said, adding that the government will seek to attract higher-level events even before the new facility is ready.

🔮 How Hong Kong’s old businesses are adapting to new times Change does not follow a single formula and may involve creating new experiences, rebuilding unglamorous systems and adopting AI Late into the night, Hong Kong football fans in their twenties, thirties and forties sat in Lin Heung Lau restaurant on Wellington Street watching World Cup matches over dim sum rather than pints at a sports bar.

🔮 University calls for government funds for shared sites in Northern Metropolis Saint Francis University head says authorities should contribute more towards facilities that will be jointly used by institutions in megadevelopment Hong Kong authorities should shoulder a larger share of the cost of facilities jointly used by institutions at the Northern Metropolis university towns, a varsity president has said, while calling for dedicated research funding to encourage collaboration among campuses.

🔮 Finance chief says blueprint’s targets and timelines will help businesses align investment decisions with government goals Hong Kong’s first five-year plan will give businesses greater certainty to make long-term investment decisions amid a volatile external environment, the city’s finance chief has said.