Hong Kong Welcomes Muslim Tourists with Expanded Halal Offerings
In a strategic move to attract more Muslim travelers, Hong Kong has unveiled a significant expansion of its halal-certified facilities, including over 130 local restaurants and 39 hotels. This initiative comes as part of the city’s broader efforts to tap into the burgeoning Muslim tourism market, particularly from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Middle East. At...
Hong Kong Plans Loan Caps to Curb Domestic Helper Debt Woes
The Hong Kong government is considering implementing a cap on unsecured personal loans in a bid to address the growing issue of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) overborrowing, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han announced. In a written response to lawmakers, Sun revealed that the police recorded nine cases of harassment inflicted on FDH employers due to debt collection...
Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Rattles Central Luzon, Felt as Far as Ilocos and Pampanga
MANILA, Philippines - A moderate earthquake struck central Luzon on Thursday morning, shaking buildings and rattling windows across a wide swath of the region. The 5.7-magnitude quake hit roughly 3 kilometers east of Tarlac City at around 6 a.m. local time, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The tremor was felt as far north as Ilocos Sur...
Hong Kong Police Bust Major Loan Shark Ring Targeting Domestic Workers
Police have dismantled a sophisticated illegal lending operation that preyed on foreign domestic workers, arresting 46 people in a two-day crackdown dubbed Operation "Dark Current," authorities announced Tuesday. The suspects, including nine local men, one local woman, eight foreign men and 28 foreign women, range in age from 20 to 76. Police identified several as ringleaders of the syndicate, which...
Hong Kong Pandas Prepare for Public Debut on December 8
The public will soon get its first glimpse of Hong Kong's newest residents - a pair of giant pandas gifted by the Central Government. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and Ocean Park will hold a greeting ceremony on December 7 to welcome the two giant pandas, who arrived in Hong Kong on September 26. The pandas will then...
Senator Go Tells PhilHealth to Deliver on Expanded Health Care Commitments
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Christopher "Bong" Go urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to fulfill its commitments under the Universal Health Care Act during a Senate Committee on Health hearing on November 25. Go, who chairs the committee, called for actionable results from PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., emphasizing that promises must translate into real benefits for the...
Landmark Art Exhibition in Hong Kong To Showcase Filipino Artists’ Masterworks
HONG KONG — A celebration of Filipino artistry and cultural identity is set to take center stage at the highly anticipated "Unity in Diversity: Filipino Artists Across Borders" exhibition organized by Galleria Camaya. The show is scheduled to open on February 26, 2025 at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre in Hong Kong. This groundbreaking event will feature a...
Hong Kong Unveils Ambitious Plan to Boost Arts, Culture and Creative Industries
HONG KONG — The Government of Hong Kong released the "Blueprint for Arts & Culture & Creative Industries Development," outlining a comprehensive strategy for enhancing the region's artistic and cultural sectors. The announcement was made by Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Kevin Yeung during a press conference held this afternoon. Yeung described the blueprint as a pivotal policy document...
Filipino Expats Divided on Veloso’s Prison Transfer
Indonesian authorities' decision to transfer death row inmate Mary Jane Veloso to Philippine custody has sparked mixed reactions among Filipino expatriates, particularly those from her home province of Catanduanes. Nanette Balin Rigos, a teacher based in Indonesia for nearly two decades, lauded the move as a "gesture of goodwill" from President Prabowo's administration. "Mary Jane has shown remarkable resilience throughout...
Cold Front, Flu Season Prompt Hong Kong Officials to Issue Double Warning
Hong Kong authorities issued a cold weather preparation advisory Wednesday as a cold front approaches the city, bringing temperatures down to 15 degrees Celsius (59 Fahrenheit) in urban areas later this week. Acting Assistant Cheng Yuen-chung of the Hong Kong Observatory said the cold front, currently positioned over northern parts of southern China, is expected to reach Guangdong's coast by...
