News

Homes are now less affordable for the general public after a rally in property prices.

China’s biggest chipmaker saw the biggest decline in months in Hong Kong after David Wang failed to win reappointment and eventually quit.

77,991 new local companies were registered during the first half of this year, an increase of 8.53% from 71,861 in the second half of last year.

The Customs and Excise Department, the Intellectual Property Department and the copyright industry have been jointly organising various publicity and educational events to promote respect for IPRs in the community and especially among the youth, so as to inculcate a culture of IPRs protection when they are young. One of the educational events is the Youth Ambassador Against Internet Piracy Scheme, which was initiated by the C&ED in 2006 in collaboration with the copyright industry. Some 200 000 members of 11 youth uniformed groups have so far joined the scheme, which is aimed at promoting a sense of respect for copyright works among young people. In the past five years, different promotional activities have been organised under the scheme to raise the awareness of, and to motivate the youth ambassadors to support, IPRs protection. The IPD, together with the C&ED, the copyright industry and different organisations in the community have also organised different anti-piracy activities to promote public respect for IPRs. The Youth Ambassador Competition on Business Software Proposal is one of these activities.

Tsang said the government will consider various subsidised housing schemes to address one of Hong Kong’s crucial social issue.

Total number of bankruptcy petitions was 4,086 for the first six months of 2011.

Hong Kong’s rental yield of car parking spaces tops 4% per annum, relatively higher than the other sectors such as residential and office properties.

Exchange Fund bills and notes issued reached $1.05tn while claims on the private sector in Hong Kong amounted to $114.6bn.

The authority will take note of Hong Kong’s practical operating situation, overseas experience in implementing different withdrawal options and stakeholders’ views.

Financial Secretary John Tsang outlined the opportunities for Canadian firms in Hong Kong brought by the latter's close integration with mainland in his remarks at an Economic Club luncheon in Toronto.

The Education Bureau's expenditure on national education for primary and secondary schools rose from $35.3 million in 2007-08 to an estimate of $95.7 million in 2011-12.

The airline expects strong interest from China and Northeast Asian countries for shipments of computers, computer components, high-value electronic goods, ICs, and garments.

Participating service providers have revised contract forms and revamped service platforms and sales and internal supporting procedures.

A new phase of the Neighbourhood Active Ageing Project will be launched.

Repurchase offer’s total value to reach $1.06bn, covering about 92% of Citibank HK customers holding outstanding notes.

Reserve reached US$277.2bn at the end of June.