Retailers expect ‘golden week’ sales growth, but trade groups warn of modest gains

🔮 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

🔮 More drug, semiconductor firms eyeing Hong Kong for expansion, OASES head says Head of Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises gives preview of government’s announcement of next batch of firms setting up in the city Ten to 20 more companies are set to establish or expand operations in Hong Kong, including leading drug makers and a semiconductor business, with a roughly equal number of mainland Chinese and overseas firms, the head of a government investment office has said.

🔮 The store is set to hold its official grand opening on Friday evening.

🔮 Hong Kong police arrest 20 over prostitution syndicate that trapped women in debt Police say women from Southeast Asia had to provide unpaid sexual services to repay travel and accommodation costs before sharing earnings with the syndicate Hong Kong police have arrested 20 people in connection with a cross-border prostitution syndicate that allegedly recruited women from Southeast Asia and required them to provide unpaid sexual services to repay travel debts. Police said on Tuesday that the syndicate paid for the women’s travel and accommodation but required them to provide sexual services 30 to 45 times without payment before they could earn money from prostitution.

🔮 Hong Kong electronics fairs to showcase 120 robots as firms aim to expand AI use Hong Kong Electronics Fair and electronicAsia will bring together more than 3,200 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions More than 120 robots, including humanoid machines designed for factory work and elderly care, will be showcased at two major Hong Kong electronics fairs, as mainland Chinese manufacturers seek to expand the commercial applications of AI and tap overseas markets.

🔮 Mainland Chinese arrivals to Hong Kong beat ‘golden week’ forecast in just 6 days Mainland arrivals hit 1.3 million, up 11.6 per cent year on year, surpassing entire holiday forecast of 1.29 million, as malls and hotels report brisk trade Mainland Chinese visitor arrivals in Hong Kong exceeded the government’s forecast for the entire National Day “golden week” holiday in the first six days, as major shopping centres and hotel operators reported brisk business. The city recorded 1.3 million mainland visitor arrivals over the first six days of the week-long break, up by 11.6 per cent from the same period last year and surpassing the government’s forecast of 1.29 million for the entire holiday, according to Immigration Department figures.

🔮 “If you are talking about larger flats, especially those with sea views, there will definitely be demand,” Lee said, adding that the development was likely to appeal to major developers given its scale and prime location.

🔮 ‘We will have more revenue in the coming months such as from the upfront fees from the tender of the residential project,’ authority CEO Betty Fung says The authority managing Hong Kong’s arts hub in West Kowloon recorded a wider deficit in the 2025-26 financial year but expects to generate more income next year by putting a residential development project out to tender. The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority’s deficit ballooned to HK$998 million (U$127 million) in the year to March 30, from HK$769 million in the same period a year earlier.

🔮 Growth had slowed from 7.9 per cent in May to 4.6 per cent in June.

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

🔮 Hong Kong is expecting about 1.29 million mainland arrivals over the October 1 to 7 holiday period, with the daily average forecast to rise by more than 5 per cent from last year.