Nearly 50% rise in drug seizures by Hong Kong customs in first half of year

🔮 Hamasaki, who is recovering in hospital, wrote in Japanese on her social media X account that she would be examined by a psychiatrist on Monday afternoon.

🔮 Security chief vows revamp of fire department after report censures lax inspections Hong Kong Fire Services Department will enhance monitoring, licencing and tools to combat fire risks after committee cites failure of its supervision Hong Kong’s security chief has vowed to implement tougher enforcement against unauthorised shutdowns of fire safety systems and a structural overhaul of the Fire Services Department after it was criticised for relying on a “passive, paper-driven” audit regime. The independent committee that investigated the Wang Fuk Court fire said in its report released on Thursday that the department had received notices that the estate’s fire hydrant and hosepipe reel system had been deactivated for maintenance, but its officers paid only “cursory initial visits” and relied on verbal reports rather than conducting inspections themselves.

🔮 Chief Secretary Eric Chan warns cross-border drivers of congestion during 11pm to 2am window from Friday to Sunday Hong Kong authorities will give public transport priority at Huanggang Port this Halloween weekend, warning that cross-border private car travellers could face wait times exceeding an hour during late-night peak hours.

🔮 1 million Hong Kong employees to get ‘full portability’ of MPF funds in December Roll-out from December 21 allows eligible members to transfer both employer and employee contributions to preferred providers once a year About 1 million employees in Hong Kong will be allowed to move their entire Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) balance to a different provider once a year under the “full portability” arrangement, effective from December 21 for the first phase of implementation.

🔮 In part one, Simpson Cheung and Alfred Lam explore how the event could elevate the city’s status as an international financial centre at a pivotal moment.

🔮 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.

🔮 Police said they would continue to maintain contact with the family and relevant parties and update them accordingly.

🔮 Prison term ‘karma’, says Hong Kong man freed after 26 years in Philippine jail Tang Lung-wai, 55, says he learned how to be a proper human being while locked up in Manila for a drug offence he insists he did not commit On his 29th birthday, Hong Kong bartender Tang Lung-wai boarded a flight to the Philippines for a holiday that would change his life. He ended up spending 26 years in jail in the country.

🔮 Commerce chief Algernon Yau says TV rules will be eased so local broadcasters can better compete against online streaming platforms Hong Kong authorities plan to relax restrictions on indirect advertising for broadcasters amid fierce competition from online and streaming media, the commerce minister has told the South China Morning Post.

🔮 I felt I could actually make a living off this, so I joined the inner circle to give it a shot,’ he said.