Hong Kong

A sign in the international terminal at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. On Tuesday, Japan starts a limited reopening of its borders, allowing up to 5,000 people -- including foreign students and business travelers -- to enter each day.
Your Week in Asia

Japan reopens, Beijing Paralympics, South Korea election early voting

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

27 February 2022
Greater Bay Airlines is looking to differentiate itself from full-service Cathay Pacific as a "value carrier." (Photo by Kenji Kawase)
Transportation

Startup carrier unfazed by Hong Kong aviation 'lockdown'

Greater Bay Airlines pushes ahead with plans to launch service later this year

26 February 2022
Hong Kong residents have lined up outdoors for hours for required COVID tests.
Coronavirus

Hong Kong daily COVID case count hits nearly 22,000

Scientists warn tally could multiply further before peaking next month

25 February 2022
Hong Kong is turning public housing estates into mass quarantine facilities as it battles the city's worst virus outbreak.
Coronavirus

Hong Kong flags deficit to pay for COVID-19 battle

Government rolls out tax breaks, handouts to ease pain of tighter virus measures

23 February 2022
Southeast Asia's biggest banks, all based in Singapore, are hoping the worst effects of the coronavirus pandemic are behind them.
Finance

From ASEAN to Taiwan, Singapore banks tap Asia growth post-COVID

Southeast Asia's largest lenders snapping up Citi's assets as profits surge

23 February 2022
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam takes questions in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
Coronavirus

Hong Kong to enforce citywide COVID testing without lockdown

All 7.4m residents will be required to take three tests over three weeks in March

22 February 2022
HSBC is taking advantage of lower-than-expected impairment charges.
Finance

HSBC brings key profit target forward on rising rates

Lender reports $18.9bn pretax profit last year, up from $8.8bn in 2020

22 February 2022
A Hong Kong small business association has warned that hundreds of businesses could shutter in the coming months because of strict COVID-19 restrictions. 
Coronavirus

Hong Kong's 'zero business' COVID rules sink small operators

City is battling record virus outbreak, hospitals overflowing with patients

22 February 2022
Passengers at Sydney Airport in November 2021: Australia reopens to fully vaccinated tourists, business travelers and other visa holders on Feb. 21.
Your Week in Asia

Australia reopens, South Korean presidential debates, Hong Kong vaccine passport

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

20 February 2022
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Friday that she expects the COVID-19 crisis there to stabilize within three months.
Politics

Hong Kong delays leadership election amid worst COVID-19 outbreak

Chief Executive Carrie Lam ducks questions about seeking new term

18 February 2022
A treatment area outside a hospital in Hong Kong as the city grapples with a surge of COVID-19 cases.
Coronavirus

Hong Kong moves to require COVID testing for all residents

Carrie Lam calls for 'cooperation and acceptance' as caseload sets records

18 February 2022
Hong Kong should further deepen its links with mainland China.
Opinion

Hong Kong can still thrive

City's future remains bright, despite its many challenges

17 February 2022
Patients have been stuck outside Hong Kong hospitals overwhelmed with COVID cases. 
Coronavirus

Xi raises pressure on Lam over Hong Kong COVID surge

Chinese leader calls for 'all necessary measures' to stop city's worst outbreak

16 February 2022
Moderna, which developed one of the main COVID-19 vaccines used worldwide, is looking to begin production in Asia. (Source photo by Akira Kodaka and Reuters)
Interview

Moderna taps Singapore, Hong Kong for COVID era expansion

Taiwan, Malaysia also picked; CEO Bancel eyes vaccine plants in Asia

16 February 2022
Animoca's blockchain-based game "The Sandbox" lets users buy and sell NFTs as virtual real estate. (Photo courtesy of Animoca Brands)
Media & Entertainment

Hong Kong NFT startup taps Japan's intellectual property trove

Animoca lines up 50 projects, from anime to fashion, to expand content worldwide

16 February 2022
People line up at a COVID-19 testing center in Hong Kong's Central district.
Coronavirus

Hong Kong outbreak tests limits of China's zero COVID policy

Mainland China to send personnel and build facilities to contain spread

15 February 2022
Bilibili, which is backed by both Tencent and Alibaba, has been struggling with widening losses and must now address the culture of overwork that afflicts China's online sector.  
Media & Entertainment

China video site Bilibili to add 1,000 censors after worker dies

Content monitoring team to be increased by 40% amid debate on overwork

9 February 2022
Liberal news outlets in Hong Kong such as Apple Daily, whose shuttered headquarters are shown here, have been dropping like flies since a national security law was introduced in 2020. In their absence, pro-China publications have been gaining influence. (Photo by Paul Yeung)
The Big Story

Hong Kong's independent media fight to survive

Erosion of press freedom leaves door open for pro-China publications

9 February 2022
Hong Kongers joined long lines for COVID tests on Tuesday, with thousands subject to mandatory screening orders. 
Coronavirus

Hong Kong ramps up COVID controls as cases reach record level

Carrie Lam vows to stick to 'dynamic zero' infection target

8 February 2022
Hong Kong's travel restrictions are among the strictest in the world.
Business trends

Hong Kong financial talent flees to Singapore under 'zero COVID' policy

Strict travel restrictions prompt exodus of personnel and business

1 February 2022
Caspar Tsui, Hong Kong's secretary for home affairs, has tendered his resignation.
Coronavirus

Hong Kong 'partygate' scandal claims cabinet member

Home affairs minister Caspar Tsui resigns over COVID controversy

31 January 2022
A rebound in consumer spending, boosted by government vouchers, helped Hong Kong to return to growth. 
Economy

Hong Kong bounces back with 6.4% annual economic growth

Analysts warn city could see fresh contraction due to return of COVID controls

28 January 2022
Zhu Linyao, seen here in 2007, is now "under residential surveillance at a designated location,” language usually used in China to indicate a person is being investigated for corruption.
Consumer

Detention of China's 'tobacco fragrance queen' confounds company

Huabao International ponders how to manage without Zhu Linyao and her son

28 January 2022
Some multinationals fear Hong Kong's position as a world-class business hub is being eroded.
Business trends

Hong Kong's talent pool evaporating, some companies say in survey

Nearly 40% of Japan corporations note city's human resources conditions have worsened

28 January 2022
The Sandbox is a popular platform for buying and selling virtual land.
Property

Demand for virtual land heats up in property-mad Hong Kong

Real estate tycoon lays out plans for digital Mega City to drive future growth

27 January 2022