
Workers flee as thick smoke spews from Cathay flight simulator in Hong Kong
Thick smoke spewing from a flight simulator at Hong Kong flag carrier
Cathay Pacific Airways ' headquarters triggered a fire alarm on Wednesday, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of workers.
Police received a report at 4.40pm about smoke originating from a flight simulator at Cathay Pacific City on Lantau Island.
Cathay City is the airline's headquarters on Lantau island. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Hundreds of employees were evacuated to an outdoor area. No injuries were reported.
A source said the smoke originated from a flight simulator, which was used for training.
Fire engines and an ambulance were on standby at the scene.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong principals slam popular schools' class expansion without consultation
Principals in Hong Kong have criticised education authorities for failing to consult the sector regarding a new measure that permits popular schools to apply to operate an additional Form One class in the next academic year, raising concerns that the move will intensify competition among institutions. The Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools also questioned the timeliness and necessity of implementing the policy change amid the city's declining student population. The Education Bureau briefed representatives from secondary schools at a meeting on May 20 about new class-size regulations, which are expected to jeopardise the survival of disadvantaged schools. The new regulations have increased the minimum number of students required for operating a class, while also permitting schools with four Form One classes to apply to run an additional class in the coming academic year. A maximum of five school applications will be approved. 'There is no consultation at all with such an important policy change,' Lin Chun-pong, chairman of the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools, told the Post last Thursday.


South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Global mediation body a chance for Hong Kong to prove sceptics wrong
The establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation in Hong Kong marks a significant milestone. This initiative presents an opportunity for the city to cement its status as a global mediation hub, fostering peaceful dialogue and dispute resolution in a rapidly evolving world. Success, however, depends on the local leadership's ability to build trust and demonstrate a commitment to internationally recognised legal standards. The global body's presence in Hong Kong could offer a diplomatic pathway for complex disputes, including territorial disputes or other sensitive matters related to major national interests around the world. Effective mediation requires neutrality, voluntary participation and credibility, principles that Hong Kong must emphasise to ensure broad acceptance of its role. Such credibility is not assured by institutional declarations alone. No matter how often Hong Kong commits to internationally recognised norms, scepticism may remain, particularly given persistent perceptions that political influence has weakened judicial independence International parties will inevitably weigh their options when considering choice of venue . Why should good lawyers and big multinational companies forego other established venues with impeccable reputation for Hong Kong? A respected legal framework is essential to building confidence among stakeholders. To achieve this, Hong Kong's leadership must engage with legal communities around the world, assuring businesses, policymakers and practitioners that the organisation will uphold impartiality and effectiveness. Trust in mediation depends on strong governance, and Hong Kong's role in this domain must be reinforced through institutional integrity.


South China Morning Post
7 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
US Indo-Pacific commander calls PLA operations in Taiwan Strait ‘rehearsals', not just exercises
The top US commander in the Pacific said on Monday that Beijing was on a 'dangerous course' and its operations around Taiwan were not mere exercises, but 'rehearsals'. Advertisement 'We face a profoundly consequential time in the Indo-Pacific. China is on a dangerous course,' said Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, in a special address to an AI expo hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project think tank. 'Their aggressive manoeuvres around Taiwan are not just exercises. They are rehearsals,' he continued, without explicitly referencing a potential takeover of Taiwan. Beijing regards the self-ruled island as part of China, to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the US, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take it by force and is committed to arming it. In recent years, the US has grown increasingly anxious about a mainland takeover, with officials and lawmakers eyeing 2027 as a possible window, and pointing to more frequent People's Liberation Army sorties that cross the Taiwan Strait's median line as signs of growing aggression. Advertisement Tensions between Taiwan and mainland China have also grown in the year since Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing has called a 'destroyer of peace', took office. Without naming specific countries, Paparo said on Monday that China's aggression was compounded by 'a growing transactional symbiosis among an axis of autocracies,' evidenced by 'technology transfers and coordinated military activities'.