In Focus
Tobacco duty to increase by 41.5%
Tobacco duty to increase by 41.5%
The Government tabled the Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Bill 2011 at the Legislative Council.
Hong Kong and China join forces to boost IT collaboration
Under the National 12th Five-Year Plan will also explore further collaboration between the laboratories of Mainland and Hong Kong approved under the Partner State Key Laboratory Programme.
Hong Kong still the world’s costliest place in prime office rental
Widening gap between the first and second highest office occupancy costs seen as prices continue to soar.
Inflation to accelerate further at 4.7% in 2011
Consumer price inflation rose to a two-and-a-half year high of 3.7% in February.
Hong Kong, Mainland issuers led global IPO activity with 110 deals
This accounts for 38% of total deals globally and valued at US$18.3 billion.
Hong Kong PMI expands for 21st straight month
PMI bounced back from the Lunar New Year into solid expansion territory as the March headline PMI jumped to 54.9.
Property sales jumped 6.3% in March 2011
On a month-on-month basis, property sales increased 8.9 per cent.
Number of expats from Japan to surge in 2011
The Immigration Department processed 270 applications between March 17 and 31.
Government tightened drug laws
This is to prevent the abuse of new-trend psychotropic drugs and to hinder the production of ketamine.
Government protects workers from excessively low wages
The Labour Department will offer aid to grassroots workers who are having problems after the launch of the statutory minimum wage.
Repair, maintenance work provided 17,500 jobs
Each target building has generated 20 job opportunities on average for building professionals, contractors, technicians and workers.
Hong Kong statutory minimum wage pegged at $28 per hour
The Labour Department released the statutory minimum wage reference guidelines to aid employers and workers in understanding the Ordinance's practical application.
Escalating cost for HK's office spaces drives demand for Grade B Buildings:Colliers
Spiking rental for commercial spaces in HK has recently raised the question mark on the continued attractiveness of HK as the destination for Asia setup.
Hong Kong recorded trade deficit of $25.1bn in February 2011
This is equivalent to 9.9 per cent of the value of imports of goods.
Renminbi market sees robust growth
Further development and more offering of investment products are expected in Hong Kong.
One in three Hong Kong finance professionals dissatisfied with 2010 bonus increase
Hong Kong-based finance professionals received an average bonus increase of 25% for 2010 compared with the previous year but 33% are dissatisfied with their 2010 bonuses.
500 flat-for-flat units to be completed in 2016
The Kai Tak blocks, developed by the URA, will comprise 23 storeys on a 1.1-hectare site and will be divided into different vertical zones.
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