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Laura Westbrook
Correspondent, Hong Kong
Laura Westbrook is a correspondent covering Hong Kong. Prior to joining the Post, Laura was a reporter, presenter and senior producer at BBC World News in London. She has also worked as a news reporter in Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Some experts have warned that Hong Kong could lose out in the battle for business as Shenzhen and Guangzhou airports eye aggressive expansion.
Top government adviser Regina Ip says foreign countries wrongly think ‘one country, two systems’ governing principle will disappear once home-grown national security legislation is enacted.
City’s airport comes fourth behind first-placed Singapore, Incheon in South Korea and Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok.
Many of the estimated 44,000 revellers lined the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui hours ahead of Saturday’s extravaganza.
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Incident occurred at 3.25pm on Friday afternoon, causing three lanes of Kai Cheung Road in Kowloon Bay to be blocked.
Industry’s daily takings down by 15 per cent compared with past festive seasons, Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants says.
Fanny Yeung, Travel Industry Council executive director, says number of visitors from the mainland estimated to be about 80 to 85 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
Concern over risks to investment and potential enforcement standards that could affect foreign nationals under home-grown national security law.
Fans came from across the region to watch Lionel Messi play a friendly match at Hong Kong Stadium but the game ended in boos as he failed to take to the field.
Australian actor, who was famous for fluency in Cantonese and appeared in more than 200 Hong Kong TV dramas, found dead at home on Friday.
In a report to Civil Aviation Department, Cathay CEO Ronald Lam says airline underestimated level of reserve pilots necessary to cover absence caused by seasonal illness.
Cathay will trial special allowance between February 7 and 18 before deciding whether to expand it to other holiday periods.
“We have confidence that passenger traffic will return to 100 per cent by the end of this year, or close to 100 per cent,” executive director Steven Yiu says.
Cathay Pacific accounted for 18 million passengers in 2023 while budget unit HK Express carried the rest.
Official figures show 4.3 million passengers used city’s airport last month, 75 per cent of number recorded in same month of pre-pandemic 2019.
Chamber suggests double taxation treaty as Canberra proposal could leave certain expats paying in two places if they stay in Australia beyond 45 days.
HKU health scholars also encourage residents to switch up vaccine regime, such as going from Sinovac shots to BioNTech or Moderna mRNA boosters.
Korean Air Lines spokeswoman says flight KE766 was being pushed backwards from parking position when it ‘came into contact’ with Cathay Pacific aircraft.
Casino hub’s secretary for administration and justice says Macau Horse Racing Company, which runs Jockey Club, has agreed to end concession contract in April
Decision allows more pilots to be promoted to captain, potentially making the carrier more attractive to employees.
Cathay CEO Ronald Lam speaks publicly for first time about saga since wave of flights axed over Christmas and New Year breaks, vows no new rounds of flight cancellations.
While Cathay has pledged worst is over, pilots and analysts say carrier needs to tackle poor roster management and rebuild trust by boosting pay packages.
Airport website shows airline cut 21 flights, with Cathay exceeding pledged cancellation cap for a second day.
Immigration Department says it has referred the 14 residents to China’s embassy in Tokyo to get all necessary help.
Aviation industry analyst says the security breach is ‘beyond comprehension’ in light of protocols for airline passengers.
Mainland Chinese visitors are not returning to Hong Kong as much as expected, with cities across the border adding to the competition for tourists.
But Cathay acknowledges many pilots have reached, or are close to, maximum 900 flying hours, as some cockpit crew lament increased fatigue.
Airline pledges to minimise disruptions caused by ‘exceptional period’, says overall operations remain ‘normal’.
Hong Kong Observatory issues first frost warning since January 29, saying it is likely to form on Sunday morning on high ground and in northern New Territories.
