Hong Kong’s government unveiled plans to raise property taxes for luxury homes in a move set to affect wealthy owners and landlords of multiple properties. Financial secretary Paul Chan proposed ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong to give out spending vouchers as Covid cases hit record level
Hong Kong launched a new round of financial handouts as the city struggles to contain China’s biggest outbreak of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, even as economists warned the city’s zero ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong budget sweeteners help, but city’s prolonged isolation from ‘zero-infection’ strategy a threat to growth, economists warn
Economists signal a tough ride in first half of the year, including an uncertain jobs outlook Business chambers welcome moves to support fight against Covid-19, prepare for post-pandemic growth Hong ... ( read original story ...)
H.K. Toughens Mask Mandate; HSBC Bankers Grounded: Virus Update
Hong Kong will expand mask-wearing to all public places, including in parks and during outdoor exercise, as its latest outbreak worsens. Londoners, by contrast, will no longer be required to wear face ... ( read original story ...)
Can’t pay the rent? Hong Kong’s stricken SMEs get respite with measure to stop landlords chasing after arrears
Legislative Council to pass law barring landlords from taking action against tenants who owe rent Financial Secretary Paul Chan hopes businesses, landlords can work together through tough times Hong ... ( read original story ...)
Grumbling grows as Hong Kong sticks with zero-COVID policy
Hong Kong residents are becoming increasingly annoyed with the administration’s insistence on sticking to Beijing’s zero-COVID strategy as the city posted another record number of new cases ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong’s $22 billion budget for 2022 includes COVID-19 measures, stimulus
Hong Kong on Wednesday unveiled a massive $22 billion budget, which contains new measures to fight COVID-19 and stimulate the island's sagging economy amid a new wave of infections. ( read original story ...)
Budget 2022-2023: Hong Kong opens funding tap to make more mortgage loans available for first-home buyers, dealing a blow to ‘nano flat’ builders
The available mortgages on homes with a loan-to-value ratio of 80 per cent will increase to between HK$10 million and HK$12 million in the fiscal 2022/23 budget First-home buyers who qualify for the ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong Budget: Progressive property rates could see owners of pricier flats paying more
Hong Kong aims to introduce a progressive rating system for residential properties that would see owners of pricier flats paying more in property rates, the city’s financial chief announced on ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong’s rents deferment plan for certain SMEs only a short-term solution, industry observers say
The government should clarify whether rents could be paid in instalments after the deferral period, if business continued to be bad, industry body executive says HSBC and Hang Seng Bank vow to help ... ( read original story ...)
HSBC Will Temporarily Shut Down Its Hong Kong Branches from 5 March
Hong Kong is suffering from severe rise of covid-19 infections. Major banks in the country announced that they will temporarily close from 5 March, ... ( read original story ...)
Here are the Winning and Losing Shares From Hong Kong’s Budget
Hong Kong’s retailers and financial firms may benefit from the city’s annual budget, which includes pandemic relief measures like consumption vouchers and more investment schemes to connect with the ... ( read original story ...)
In full: Hong Kong Budget 2022
Financial Secretary Paul Chan has delivered the 2022 Hong Kong budget. HKFP’s coverage in full: ・HK$10,000 consumption vouchers for all ・Gov’t pledges over HK$54b to fight Covid-19 ‘on all fronts and ... ( read original story ...)
Hong Kong’s coronavirus surge leaves the most vulnerable without a place to isolate
As cases sweep through the cramped territory, denizens of tiny apartments search for places to quarantine and isolate as stipulated by law. ( read original story ...)