Hong Kong Free Press

Beijing half marathon organisers said Monday they were investigating after footage shared widely online appeared to show three African runners deliberately ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/15/organisers-of-beijing-half-marathon-look-into-embarrassing-win-by-chinas-he-jie/

Hong Kong’s government has revealed that it spent HK$9.17 million on rent, salaries and other expenses to fund former leader Carrie Lam’s office last year ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/17/hong-kong-govt-spent-over-hk9-million-in-rent-salaries-on-ex-leader-carrie-lams-office-last-year/

In Pictures: Hong Kong marked National Security Education Day on Monday with a colourful carnival at a park, seminars for students and other events ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/16/in-pictures-hong-kong-marks-national-security-education-day-with-colourful-carnival-and-seminars/

A routine UK government report on Hong Kong that described the city as being on a “negative trajectory” has been met with condemnation from authorities over ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/16/uk-tells-hongkongers-you-are-safe-here-as-city-slams-slanders-and-smears/

At least five people have died and over 30 have been injured after a fire broke out in a building in Jordan on Wednesday morning ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/10/at-least-5-dead-27-injured-after-fire-in-hong-kong-building/

A Hong Kong teacher who lost her job at a government school over online comments about police during the 2019 protests has challenged the firing in court ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/11/hong-kong-teacher-challenges-dismissal-over-2019-facebook-posts-about-police-says-free-speech-should-be-protected/

The sold-out Hong Kong Sevens kicked off at the Hong Kong Stadium on Friday, marking the international rugby tournament’s return to pre-pandemic popularity ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/06/hkfp-lens-rugby-sevens-kicks-off-for-final-time-at-hong-kong-stadium/

A Hong Kong lawmaker has questioned how a government film subsidy fund vetted projects, citing “views” that the scheme had backed movies promoting “soft ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/18/hong-kong-lawmaker-questions-govt-film-fund-vetting-process-citing-soft-resistance-in-some-movies/

A Songkran water fight took place at a Kowloon City basketball court on Saturday. The Thai water-splashing celebration was moved off the streets ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/14/hkfp-lens-hongkongers-take-part-in-thai-water-splashing-celebration-songkran/

The Hong Kong government will step up national security education through activities organised by disciplinary forces, schools and community groups ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/12/hong-kong-must-remain-vigilant-against-soft-resistance-citys-no-2-official-warns/

A Hong Kong court has refused three activists’ applications to challenge their convictions over refusing to comply with a data request from national security ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/17/hong-kong-tiananmen-vigil-activists-lose-bid-to-take-challenge-against-convictions-over-data-demand-to-top-court/

Water-splashing celebrations for Songkran will be moved from the Kowloon City street that has long hosted the festivities to mark Thai new year to nearby ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/08/after-arrests-in-2023-hong-kongs-songkran-water-splashing-festival-moved-off-the-streets/

Hong Kong should attract family offices provided that they are run by “legitimate businessmen” with “legitimate money,” the city’s Chief Executive John Lee has ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/16/hong-kong-welcomes-family-offices-provided-they-are-run-by-legitimate-businessmen-leader-john-lee-says/

Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai wanted to “lead” protesters in 2019 amid concerns that the violent actions of “radicals” would threaten the movement’s ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/16/jimmy-lai-hoped-to-lead-2019-protests-amid-concern-radicals-would-dampen-global-support-court-hears/

A Hong Kong man has been sentenced to two years and nine months in jail for rioting in a case relating to the Yuen Long attack in 2019 ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/11/hong-kong-accountant-jailed-for-2-years-and-9-months-over-2019-yuen-long-mob-attacks/

China’s economy expanded far more than expected in the first quarter of 2024, data showed Tuesday, but disappointing retail and industrial figures suggested ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/17/chinas-economy-grew-5-3-in-first-quarter-but-property-sector-remains-obstacle-to-recovery/

Hong Kong’s government-backed broadcaster RTHK has begun to use Artificial Intelligence-generated voices (AI) in place of some human presenters ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/12/rthk-using-ai-presenters-to-enhance-productivity-and-relieve-staff-shortage-hong-kong-broadcaster-says/

Hong Kong’s customs chief has said authorities will step up measures to prevent items threatening national security from entering the city ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/08/hong-kong-customs-staff-to-receive-training-to-stop-items-seen-as-risk-to-national-security-from-entering-city/

Hong Kong’s equality watchdog has suspended plans for a legal amendment to protect mainland Chinese from discrimination in the city ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/12/hong-kongs-equality-watchdog-suspends-push-for-law-protecting-mainland-chinese-against-discrimination/

A Hong Kong accountant has been found guilty of rioting in a case relating to the Yuen Long attack in 2019, marking the first time someone not involved in the ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/05/hong-kong-accountant-found-guilty-of-rioting-after-yuen-long-mob-attack-in-2019/

Hong Kong police have arrested a woman on suspicion of sharing test papers from the city’s university entrance examination online ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/18/hong-kong-police-arrest-woman-for-allegedly-leaking-university-entrance-exam-papers-on-social-media/

Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was willing to provide “all kinds of help,” including a HK$1.5 million loan, to activists launching a global advertising ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/13/hong-kong-media-mogul-jimmy-lai-provided-hk1-5-million-loan-to-activists-during-2019-demos-court-hears/

Hong Kong’s public hospitals saw a turnover rate of 6.1 per cent for full-time doctors in 2023, authorities have said as they continued to recruit non-local ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/17/6-1-doctors-left-hong-kong-public-hospitals-last-year-as-authorities-continue-push-to-hire-non-local-medics/

Hong Kong’s government spent around HK$1.22 billion to prepare for and hold last year’s “patriots-only” District Council election ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/18/hong-kong-spent-over-hk1-2-billion-on-first-patriots-only-local-election-marked-by-record-low-turnout/

A team established to rebut criticism of Hong Kong’s new security law will continue to operate, the government has said, citing continued “misinformation and ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/17/team-set-up-to-rebut-slanders-of-new-security-law-here-to-stay-hong-kong-says-citing-ongoing-misinformation/

A Hong Kong court has rejected media mogul Jimmy Lai’s challenge against a national security committee’s decision to bar a British lawyer from taking part in ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/16/hong-kong-court-rejects-media-mogul-jimmy-lais-challenge-against-decision-to-bar-british-lawyer-from-trial/

FKJ is to release two new albums – including a live record featuring a track recorded at Hong Kong’s Clockenflap festival last March – the French ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/13/exclusive-french-multi-instrumentalist-fkj-to-release-2-new-albums-hk-gig-in-may/

Beijing on Thursday accused the United States of hypocrisy in response to accusations by President Joe Biden that China is “xenophobic” and “cheating” on trade ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/18/beijing-accuses-us-of-hypocrisy-after-pres-joe-biden-says-china-is-xenophobic-cheating-on-trade/

Taiwan’s incoming president Lai Ching-te has made Time Magazine’s list of the “100 Most Influential People of 2024”, which the island hailed Thursday as a ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/18/taiwans-next-president-lai-ching-te-among-time-magazines-most-influential/

After a March that was warmer than normal, April in Hong Kong got off to a hot start, with the Observatory forecasting highs of 30 degrees Celsius for ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/03/april-in-hong-kong-gets-off-to-unseasonably-hot-start-with-highs-of-31-degrees-celsius-forecast/

Academic freedom in Hong Kong experienced a “substantial” decline between 2013 and 2023, a study which reviewed research freedom ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/05/hong-kongs-academic-freedom-saw-substantial-decline-over-past-decade-index-finds/

Hundreds of book lovers gathered in a quiet alleyway over the weekend to bid farewell to Hong Kong independent bookstore Mount Zero ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/02/in-pictures-hong-kong-book-lovers-bid-farewell-to-independent-store-mount-zero/

Hong Kong has purchased the broadcasting rights for the Paris Olympics this summer, with the games licensed to four TV stations in the city ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/09/hong-kong-buys-broadcasting-rights-for-paris-olympics-for-undisclosed-fee-as-leader-john-lee-cites-value-to-society/

The University of Hong Kong’s head has been cleared of misconduct and mismanagement allegations, after whistle-blower emails accusing him of mismanaging funds ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/15/university-of-hong-kong-head-zhang-xiang-cleared-of-misconduct-following-6-month-long-internal-investigation/

After an electrifying performance at last year’s Clockenflap, multi-instrumentalist FKJ is returning to Hong Kong this May for a more intimate performance – ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/13/fkj-music-interview-fkj-brings-his-unique-style-back-to-hong-kong/

Industry representatives have said that local businesses saw a drop in trade over the long Easter weekend, as Hongkongers made almost 1 ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/02/local-businesses-struggle-as-hongkongers-log-almost-1-76-million-outbound-trips-over-easter-holiday/

A Dubai sheikh's plan to set up a US$500 million family office in Hong Kong has attracted suspicion over his identity and source of wealth ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/05/no-additional-benefits-for-family-offices-hong-kong-says-after-dubai-sheikhs-business-plan-draws-suspicion/

HKFP_Live: National Security Education Day Opening Ceremony

Hong Kong police will roll out a new scheme to crack down on taxi drivers who overcharge or refuse passengers, beginning in nightlife area Lan Kwai Fong ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/03/hong-kong-police-rolls-out-pilot-scheme-in-lan-kwai-fong-to-support-taxi-passengers-against-overcharging-fares/

The Hong Kong government has defended its monthly spending of HK$3.75 million to maintain defunct Covid-19 isolation centres after one legislator described the ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/18/hk3-75m-in-monthly-expenses-for-covid-isolation-facilities-not-waste-of-taxpayer-money-hong-kong-govt-says/

Hong Kong’s university entrance exam remained internationally recognised despite the fact that liberal studies had been replaced with citizenship as a core ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/03/lack-of-liberal-studies-has-no-impact-on-global-recognition-of-hong-kong-university-entry-exam-authorities-say/

A representative for Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has been denied entry to Hong Kong, the French free expression NGO has said, after she was detained ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/10/breaking-reporters-without-borders-rep-denied-entry-to-hong-kong-ngo-says-after-6-hour-detention-searches-at-airport/

Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Dennis Leung petitioned outside government headquarters last Tuesday. Leung held banners representing "what ... Show more

More than 70 teachers and students have returned to Hong Kong after spending a week in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou on the government’s first national ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/05/hong-kong-students-return-moved-and-inspired-after-national-security-study-trip-to-mainland-china/

The 2024 Hong Kong Sevens is set to sell out, organisers have said, after more than 39,500 of the 40,000 tickets to the international rugby tournament had been ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/03/hong-kong-sevens-set-to-sell-out-as-overseas-spectators-return-to-tournament/

Beijing expressed “deep concern” on Sunday over Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/15/beijing-expresses-deep-concern-and-urges-relevant-parties-to-exercise-restraint-over-iran-attack-on-israel/

China vowed Wednesday it would not accept “criticism or pressure” over its ties with Russia, after Washington warned that it will hold Beijing responsible if ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/10/beijing-does-not-accept-criticism-or-pressure-over-ties-with-russia-chinese-foreign-ministry-says/

The Hong Kong government has said it will speed up food waste recycling and set up hundreds more smart bins to collect food waste before August ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/17/hong-kong-to-speed-up-food-waste-recycling-in-public-and-private-housing-estates-ahead-of-waste-tax-rollout/

A Hong Kong man charged with insulting the Chinese national anthem at a volleyball match sang the pro-democracy song Do You Hear the People Sing while the ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/11/hongkonger-accused-of-insulting-chinese-anthem-at-volleyball-match-sang-do-you-hear-the-people-sing-court-hears/

Hong Kong’s judiciary has handled around 90 per cent of cases on national security and the 2019 protests. In full: hongkongfp.com/2024/04/12/90-of-hong-kong-protest-national-security-cases-have-been-through-court-as-judiciarys-manpower-woes-persist/ File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP.

A Hong Kong man who tried to flee to Taiwan while facing a charge linked to the 2019 protests has been jailed for three years and 10 months ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/16/hongkonger-jailed-for-3-years-10-months-over-2019-petrol-bomb-plot-and-failed-escape-to-taiwan/

A Portuguese national has been sentenced to five years in prison for conspiring to incite secession under the Beijing-imposed national security law ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/11/portuguese-national-sentenced-to-5-years-in-hong-kong-prison-under-security-law-over-demonising-china/

A detained activist has told the trial of media mogul Jimmy Lai that he believed a national security law imposed on Hong Kong by Beijing four years ago was ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/11/jimmy-lai-trial-hears-hong-kong-activist-believed-national-security-law-was-imposed-to-persecute-political-enemies/

Hong Kong’s second largest labour union has announced that it will host a forum on occupational safety ahead of the upcoming Labour Day ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/16/hong-kongs-second-largest-labour-union-to-host-forum-instead-of-march-to-mark-labour-day/

Three former organisers of the annual Tiananmen vigils in Hong Kong are seeking to take a challenge against their convictions over refusing to comply with a ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/09/tiananmen-vigil-trio-turn-to-hong-kongs-top-court-to-try-and-challenge-convictions-over-nat-security-request/

Under the influence of an anticyclone aloft, it will be generally fine and hot during the day over the region in the next few days ... Show more

Lawmakers have called for stronger maintenance checks after the city’s sole rail operator found a crack in the train tracks on Thursday morning ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/05/lawmakers-call-for-better-maintenance-after-hong-kong-rail-operator-finds-crack-in-train-track/

Hong Kong’s housing minister has defended an estimated HK$4.39 billion price tag for managing 30,000 temporary flats which are planned for the city ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/18/hong-kong-housing-chief-defends-hk4-4-billion-operating-costs-of-temporary-housing-scheme/

Hong Kong is to host eight competitions at the 2025 National Games, alongside events in Macau and Guangdong. It is the first time the city has co-hosted the ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/12/hong-kong-to-host-8-sporting-events-at-2025-national-games/

Two university students have been acquitted of rioting in 2019 after a judge found the testimonies of two police officers “contrived” ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/09/2-hong-kong-students-cleared-of-rioting-in-2019-after-judge-finds-police-testimony-contrived/

Trading in debt-ridden Chinese property developer Country Garden was suspended in Hong Kong on Tuesday, days after it postponed the release of its 2023 results ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/03/trading-in-debt-laden-chinese-property-developer-country-garden-suspended-in-hong-kong/

It would be “discriminatory” to bar candidates who lost in last year’s opposition-free District Council election from joining three neighbourhood committees ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/02/no-laws-barring-election-losers-from-joining-district-committees-hong-kong-home-affairs-minister-says/

HKFP Live: Hong Kong's John Lee meets the press

For a twice-weekly email summary of our most important and popular stories, sign up to HKFP Dim Sum: buff.ly/4bdzv39 Emails go out Mondays and Saturdays ... Show more

More than 40 per cent of Hong Kong civil servants dismissed over the past five years were sacked over not complying with the city’s vaccination requirements ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/12/over-40-of-hong-kong-civil-service-dismissals-for-misconduct-in-past-5-years-linked-to-breach-of-covid-vaccine-rules/

The Hong Kong government will evaluate proposed hikes to taxi fares based on factors including public acceptance and drivers’ income ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/08/hong-kong-to-consider-public-approval-drivers-income-as-industry-seeks-to-raise-urban-taxi-flagfall-to-hk32/

Transgender individuals in Hong Kong who have not completed full sex reassignment surgery may now apply to change the gender marker on their identity card ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/03/after-painful-wait-since-landmark-ruling-hong-kong-revises-policy-on-changing-gender-marker-on-id-card/

A man has been arrested after 129 kilograms of suspected ketamine with an estimated market value of around HK$71 million were intercepted at Hong Kong’s ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/11/24-year-old-arrested-after-hk71-million-worth-of-ketamine-seized-at-hong-kong-airport/

💰 Hongkongers can now “doot” a one-off donation to HKFP, as Octopus becomes the latest way to support the city’s only independent English-language newspaper ... Show more   app.octopus.com.hk/qrpayment   support.hongkongfp.com/en/

A Hong Kong student charged with loitering at a chain store linked to the city’s largest national security case has said he was “just playing around ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/09/hong-kong-student-charged-with-loitering-in-store-linked-to-47-democrats-case-said-he-was-just-playing-around/

Explainer: March saw Hong Kong passed its own security law as it faced new travel warnings, and a security law prisoner was the first to be denied early ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/01/explainer-hong-kongs-national-security-crackdown-month-45/

Monthly factory activity in China grew for the first time in half a year, official figures showed Sunday, in a positive sign for policymakers seeking to revive ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/01/china-factory-activity-up-after-5-month-slump-following-year-of-slow-growth/

Experts have warned against touching or feeding Hong Kong’s wild monkeys after a man wounded by macaques was left in a critical condition in the city’s first ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/05/hong-kong-man-wounded-by-wild-monkeys-in-critical-condition-after-contracting-b-virus/

For a twice-weekly email summary of our most important and popular stories, sign up to HKFP Dim Sum: buff.ly/4bdzv39 Emails go out Mondays and Saturdays ... Show more

Hong Kong activists and lawyers slammed a new policy governing the changing of gender on ID cards Wednesday, saying the rule shift ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/04/hong-kongs-new-id-card-policy-on-gender-markers-slammed-for-violating-right-to-bodily-integrity-of-trans-people/

Hong Kong police have seized two batches of suspected cocaine found on the city’s beaches in less than a week, with a total estimated market value of around ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/10/2-suspected-cocaine-hauls-worth-hk27-million-found-on-hong-kong-beaches-in-6-days/

China will put three minors on trial for allegedly murdering another child, a provincial prosecutor said Monday, in a case that has shocked the nation and ... Show more   hongkongfp.com/2024/04/08/3-minors-to-face-trial-in-china-over-alleged-murder-of-classmate/