Macau
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Macau

Macau
Macau
Macau is a former Portuguese colony, and in 1999 it became a special administrative region of China. Its economy relies heavily on tourism, specifically the gambling industry, whose revenue has made Macau the world's largest casino market.
Head of Government
Sam Hou Fai
People queue overnight for test-free driving licence applications outside the Transport Department’s licensing office at United Centre, Admiralty, on January 7. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong society

Opinion | Hong Kong courts cross-border drivers – then traps them in licence queues

Overnight queues and a complicated application system open to abuse expose gaps between Hong Kong’s policy ambition and execution.

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Hong Kong politics

Editorial | Hong Kong’s new Legislative Council president must strike the right balance

Crime in Hong Kong

Man arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly doxxing peer in industry chat groups

Taiwan

Beijing puts 2 more Taiwanese cabinet ministers on sanctions list

Liu Shyh-fang and Cheng Ying-yao are added to list of ‘stubborn Taiwan independence figures’.

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Liu Shih-fang, Taiwan’s interior minister, has been accused by Beijing of promoting separatist rhetoric. Photo: CNA
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong film Back to the Past rakes in record HK$45 million in first week

Time travel movie beats A Guilty Conscience and The Last Dance to become highest-grossing film in opening week, amid box office gloom in city.

Hong Kong politics

‘Hong Kong has lived up to expectations,’ Beijing says in new year message

City leader John Lee vows to deepen reform and seize opportunities in online post, following President Xi Jinping’s wishes for the city.

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War and conflict

Letters | May 2026 bring more peace and more jobs

Readers discuss hopes for the new year, the prospect of an EU-like Asian union, and the cult of ‘result-oriented’.

A Palestinian woman walks along a street surrounded by buildings destroyed during Israeli air and ground operations in Sheikh Radwan, a residential district of Gaza City, on December 30. Photo: AP
Hong Kong courts

Hongkonger who stole HK$61 million by adding ‘0’ to cheques gets 18 years’ jail

Property manager falsified reimbursements issued to him for work done, stealing HK$61.1 million from owners’ corporation over a decade.

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Banking & finance

OCBC, Bangkok Bank, First Abu Dhabi join US$14 billion offshore yuan scheme

Leading banks from Southeast Asia and the Middle East are taking part in the programme, underscoring the city’s push as an offshore yuan hub.

Food and Drinks

Chinese chef of 2-Michelin-star restaurant is redefining plant-based cuisine

Chef Dai Jun talks about his philosophy at Beijing’s Lamdre, a restaurant that sits at the vanguard of the Chinese vegetarian food scene.

‘Sunflower’ by Lamdre. Photo: Wynn Resorts (Macau)
Made in China 2025

China’s rising biotech clout on show in flurry of billion-dollar licensing deals

A burst of overseas licensing pacts is spotlighting China’s biotech sector, as Jacobio, Coherent Biopharma and Harbour BioMed land deals.

The latest transactions reflect a broader pattern of multinational drugmakers turning to Chinese biotechs for pipeline replenishment. Photo: Shutterstock
Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong to extend Lo Wu and Shenzhen Bay checkpoint hours for New Year’s Eve

Lo Wu checkpoint to stay open until 2am next day while Shenzhen Bay will operate overnight to manage post-countdown crowds.

Hong Kong tourism

Thousands stuck for hours at Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge on Christmas Day

Immigration Department figures show Hong Kong residents made about 644,000 outbound trips by 9pm on Thursday.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hong Kong customs seizes counterfeit goods worth HK$36 million in crackdown

Customs warn criminals using high demand over holiday season as ‘smokescreen’ to move illicit goods.

Some of the counterfeit items seized by customs in the recent operation. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong firms hoping new southbound travel scheme will drive more business

Social media users are selling driving courses to Guangdong car owners while local companies are offering perks to attract business.

Scheme applicants must obtain Hong Kong driving licences and complete local licensing formalities. Photo: Eugene Lee
Greater Bay Area

Hong Kong property prices stabilise as mainland China slump drags on

Hong Kong is drawing cautious interest from buyers, while markets such as Shenzhen remain weighed down by persistent price declines.

China-Japan relations

China CP comic fan event stripped of Japanese content, dozens of booths affected

Organisers of the weekend convention in Hangzhou did not name Japan directly in its pivot to a ‘Chinese style’ theme.

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Hong Kong economy

New bypass and transport links to boost Hong Kong’s competitiveness: Paul Chan

Finance chief also says city’s planned major road and rail expansion will drive deeper Greater Bay Area integration.

The long-awaited Yau Ma Tei section of the Central Kowloon Bypass has officially opened on Sunday. Photo: Eugene Lee
Food and Drinks

‘Crazy cocktail menu’ at Macau bar honours bartender’s travels in Asia

At Wynn Palace’s Wing Lei Bar, Scottish cocktail maestro Mark Lloyd pours his spirit into tipples inspired by places from Seoul to Singapore.

Made in China 2025

Chinese biotech Scizeng’s global licensing deal to yield up to US$1.44 billion

Yarrow Bioscience gets exclusive global rights for the GenSci098 therapy to treat thyroid eye disease and Graves’ disease.

Jimmy Lai trial

Jimmy Lai’s conviction in Hong Kong becomes flashpoint between China, West

Western nations unlikely to hit city with more sanctions as they need Beijing’s cooperation to offset unfair US trade practices, experts say.

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The ruling could send Jimmy Lai to jail for life. Photo: AP
Malaysia

Cold spots are hot tickets as southern Chinese head north to ski

Ski resorts record big visitor increases as high-speed rail and flight expansions bring in those who have tried the sport in indoor venues.

Children learn snowboarding at Jiangjunshan International Ski Resort in Altay, in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on December 1, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
Insurance

Manulife becomes first insurer to redomicile in Hong Kong

Move from Bermuda ‘reflects our deep-rooted belief in Hong Kong’s future and its importance to our business,’ Hong Kong and Macau CEO says.

Hong Kong politics

Hong Kong to host Apec finance ministers’ meeting in October 2026

Central authorities also reveal dates for Apec economic leaders’ meeting in Shenzhen next year, while Macau set to hold tourism ministers’ event.

Hong Kong politics

Bar Association is first Hong Kong delegation to visit Beijing after fire, poll

15-member delegation expected to hold meetings with Basic Law Committee, Ministry of Justice and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.

Chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet will lead the annual visit for the first time since being elected in January. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong property

Casino tycoon Fu Tak-iam’s family buys US$71 million Hong Kong rental property

Deal highlights investor shift from offices to rental housing as hotel conversions surge amid student influx.

Pleasure Properties was identified as the buyer of CHI 138, a 107-unit serviced-apartment property in Wan Chai. Photo: Handout
Japan

Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki cancels Macau show as Beijing-Tokyo rift continues

‘I sincerely apologise to everyone who was looking forward to it,’ pop star says, with decision following axing of Shanghai show last month.

Hong Kong economy

100 Guangdong drivers seek entry into Hong Kong urban areas as bookings open

Applications came from 1,700 winners of a November 23 ballot conducted by the Guangdong authorities, which drew 2,388 registrations.

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