Fireworks, free rides and dining deals: how to celebrate National Day in Hong Kong

🔮 Hong Kong lawmaker urges more checks as illegal parking fines top HK$70m a year Lawmaker Mark Chong urges authorities to step up inspections and make use of AI-powered sensors to track repeat illegal parking offenders Traffic police have issued more than 220,000 tickets for parking-related offences in each of the past three years, raking in at least HK$70 million (US$8.92 million) a year for Hong Kong’s coffers, but a lawmaker said inspections could be enhanced to target more offenders.

🔮 Organised by the Tourism Board under the theme “Taste the World’s Best,” the festival will be held from October 29 to November 1 at the Central Harbourfront, opening at 7.30pm on the first day and 1pm on the following three days.

🔮 John Lee pledges to showcase Hong Kong’s financial strengths at Apec meeting Chief executive says city will use its first hosting of the finance ministers’ meeting to share its experience as an international financial centre Hong Kong’s leader pledged to showcase the city’s financial strengths to the world as it hosts the two-day Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting for the first time. Observers said the event, which began on Tuesday and runs until Wednesday, would also help dispel misperceptions abroad about Hong Kong’s economy and development, while drawing business leaders from around the world. Speaking at a summit on Greater Bay Area development, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu expressed gratitude for the country’s trust and support in allowing Hong Kong to host the meeting for the first time, as well as Beijing’s “high recognition” of the city’s status as an international financial centre.

🔮 John Lee pledges to showcase Hong Kong’s financial strengths at Apec meeting Chief executive says city will use its first hosting of the finance ministers’ meeting to share its experience as an international financial centre Hong Kong’s leader pledged to showcase the city’s financial strengths to the world as it hosts the two-day Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting for the first time. Observers said the event, which began on Tuesday and runs until Wednesday, would also help dispel foreign misunderstandings about Hong Kong’s economy and development, while drawing business leaders from around the world. Speaking at a summit on Greater Bay Area development, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu expressed gratitude for the country’s trust and support in allowing Hong Kong to host the meeting for the first time, as well as Beijing’s “high recognition” of the city’s status as an international financial centre.

🔮 Under the system, taxi drivers will receive three, five or 10 demerit points for each of the 11 types of misconduct and can be disqualified from driving a taxi for three months if they accumulate 15 points or more within two years.

🔮 The scheme will allow Guangdong yachts to berth at designated Hong Kong locations, with about 300 mainland yacht masters already qualified to navigate local waters Guangdong-registered yachts will be allowed to sail into Hong Kong waters from next Friday under a new travel scheme, the city’s transport minister has confirmed.

🔮 Hong Kong to expand community recycling after shelving waste-charging scheme Environment chief Tse Chin-wan also pledges review of permitted profit levels of city’s two power companies Hong Kong will strengthen its community recycling network with measures such as round-the-clock automated collection points after scrapping the waste-charging scheme due to strong public backlash, the environmental chief has said.

🔮 The annual Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival in late October will extend its opening hours until 1am on two nights and feature 10 per cent more booths, with the Tourism Board rolling out a gourmet month throughout November to boost visitor spending and encourage longer stays.

🔮 Hong Kong Airport Authority to reshape 11 Skies as a high-end tourism landmark Transport chief Mable Chan says the project will align with the Airport City development, aiming to create an entertainment hub with minimal public investment The Airport Authority will reposition the 11 Skies commercial project after taking it over next April, with the government expecting it to become a high-end tourism landmark with minimal public investment, the transport chief has said.

🔮 About 1.29 million mainland Chinese visitors are expected over holiday, but trade groups say cautious spending could limit gains across wider sector