Lawmakers blame Huanggang Port queues on confusion, traffic surge and system issues

🔮 Influx of former senior officials into Election Committee race will broaden representation and boost body’s legitimacy, observers say A growing number of former senior government officials have joined the race for seats on Hong Kong’s Election Committee, a trend observers say will enhance the prestige and legitimacy of the body tasked with choosing the city’s next leader.

🔮 Five Guangdong-registered yachts will sail into Hong Kong waters on Friday when the Southbound Yacht Travel Scheme launches, the city’s marine chief has said, adding that officers will step up patrols.

🔮 Hong Kong bus operators seek fare hikes of up to 17.7% amid fuel price surge Citybus requests the largest increase at 17.7 per cent, while KMB seeks 16 per cent, with the government saying it will take public affordability into account Four Hong Kong franchised bus operators have applied to raise fares by up to 17.7 per cent, citing “significant financial pressure” from soaring fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict.

🔮 Postmen denied permanent contracts offered priority for other civil service roles Civil Service Bureau offers relaxed academic requirements for clerical posts, but union head says measures may still be insufficient

🔮 US can choose to deport Hongkongers under Deferred Enforced Departure scheme Department of Homeland Security issues warning after Politico report states a dozen city residents under programme had been detained at airports United States authorities could deport Hong Kong residents granted extended stay under the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programme and have not ruled out the option of doing so after a dozen were reportedly detained at local airports.

🔮 Hong Kong finance chief highlights 4 priorities ahead of Apec meeting this month Meeting will focus on areas that play to city’s strengths, such as fiscal policies that support livelihoods, digital infrastructure and young talent The Apec finance ministers’ meeting in Hong Kong this month will focus on fiscal policies that support livelihoods, digital infrastructure financing, inclusive finance and young financial talent, underlining the city’s role as an international financial centre, the finance chief said.

🔮 John Lee promises ‘high-quality’ experience for Apec finance meeting guests City leader says Beijing is handling attendee registration without confirming whether US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is among the guests Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to provide guests attending this month’s Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting with a “high-quality” experience, as the city works closely with Beijing to assist delegations with the registration process. About 500 guests, including finance ministers and senior officials from the 21 member economies, are expected to attend the annual meeting on October 20 and 21, which will be hosted by Hong Kong for the first time at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Asked whether US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would attend the summit, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday only that the Ministry of Finance in mainland China was handling attendee registration.

🔮 Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the government would study and follow up on the recommendations of the judge-led independent committee investigating last November’s deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

🔮 Health chief warns overstated claims of job shortages could lead to fewer new nurses Lo Chung-mau says exaggerated claims of graduate unemployment could discourage new blood from entering nursing sector at city’s expense Hong Kong’s health minister has warned that the city will need to “bear the consequences” of exaggerating concerns over the employment prospects of nurses, as such remarks could deter new blood from joining the profession. “I do not want recent comments, such as claims that ‘[nursing] graduation equals unemployment’, to dampen the interest of our younger generation in joining the nursing profession,” Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Thursday.

🔮 Hong Kong to expand IP financing sandbox after 7 firms secure cheaper loans ‘This will help refine the IP ecosystem, including valuation practices, professional service costs, supporting measures and market awareness,’ HKMA executive says The Hong Kong government has pledged to expand its intellectual property (IP) financing sandbox scheme by adding more participating banks and enterprises, after seven corporate users found that a nine-month trial helped lower their borrowing costs. “This will help refine the IP ecosystem, including valuation practices, professional service costs, supporting measures and market awareness,” Carmen Chu Lap-kiu, executive director of banking supervision at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), said on Wednesday.

🔮 With the Chung Yeung Festival approaching, authorities will also strengthen manpower to monitor high-risk locations for fires Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department will launch three new AI-assisted drone technologies to strengthen fire detection and its response to heightened risks during tomb-sweeping activities ahead of the Chung Yeung Festival on Sunday. Wong Tak-fai, acting divisional officer for information and communications technology, said on Friday that the technology would improve the speed and accuracy of fire detection to help the department operate more efficiently.

🔮 Hong Kong to carry out 24-hour patrols near Apec meeting venue and delegate hotels Hundreds of officers to patrol Wan Chai around the clock as delegates begin arriving for finance ministers’ meeting Hong Kong police will conduct round-the-clock patrols in Wan Chai from Friday as part of enhanced security arrangements for the coming Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting, as delegates begin arriving in the city, the South China Morning Post has learned.

🔮 “The firm involved would use various excuses to delay investors’ cash withdrawals, in a bid to evade their responsibility of paying them back,” Chu said.

🔮 “Different service providers will provide different installation plans that involve work fees.

🔮 Schools urged not to make pupils with special educational needs repeat grades ‘Repeating a grade will only aggravate their social and emotional adjustment difficulties and increase mental health risks,’ guide says Hong Kong schools should not require students with special educational needs or severe mental illness to repeat a grade, under revised education authorities’ guidance that warns the practice could worsen their adjustment difficulties.

🔮 With immigration procedures for both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen sides integrated within the building, authorities have said clearance time will be cut from 30 minutes to five minutes for travellers on foot, and from 10 minutes to two minutes for vehicle drivers.

🔮 How to zoom through new Huanggang Port crossing at Hong Kong’s border Here is your guide to registration, clearance and transport at revamped crossing opening on Monday, promising five-minute processing times The Huanggang Port will open on Monday after more than six years of redevelopment and rounds of preparatory drills.

🔮 Academy to offer about 20 courses on variety of skills, from tactical leadership to counterterrorism, as well as organise international leadership forums Hong Kong’s police have revealed they will launch an academy offering specialised courses for overseas officers and shared new details about the force’s bachelor’s degree programme, with classes expected to start next March.

🔮 Registration on both sides of border needed for Huanggang ‘joint clearance’ Around 100,000 travellers a day are expected to use the revamped crossing when operations begin Hong Kong and mainland Chinese residents will have to register with immigration authorities on both sides of the border to use automated “joint clearance” channels at the revamped Huanggang Port crossing, with around 100,000 travellers a day expected to use the control point when operations begin. Hong Kong’s Immigration Department would deploy sufficient manpower to help passengers register at the checkpoint, assistant director Jacky Wong Ki said on Tuesday.

🔮 Observatory says squally thunderstorms are expected over Hong Kong, while intense gusts reaching 70 km/h could affect the city The Hong Kong Observatory has issued an amber rainstorm warning, with the signal expected to remain in place until 10pm on Sunday. “A few squally thunderstorms are expected to occur over Hong Kong,” a spokesman for the Observatory said.