Power banks on flights: which airlines and regions have tightened rules?
Hong Kong is the latest aviation hub to tighten the use of power banks on flights, resulting in local airlines joining several other Asian carriers with more restrictions.
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The Civil Aviation Department on Monday said the new measures for Hong Kong carriers followed recent safety incidents involving passengers using lithium power banks during flights.
Some airlines have moved to prohibit the carrying and the use of power banks on aircraft given recent incidents.
The International Air Transport Association's Dangerous Goods Regulations state power banks must be carried in cabin baggage.
In general, spare lithium batteries can be stored in carry-on bags if each does not exceed two grams in lithium content or each one does not exceed rating of 100 watt-hours.
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For batteries rated from 100Wh to 160Wh, each passenger is limited to two and they must be stored separately and protectively. Batteries exceeding 160Wh are banned from aircraft.
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South China Morning Post
04-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Study Buddy (Explorer): A beginner's guide to Korean strawberries
Content provided by British Council Read the following text, and answer questions 1-9 below: [1] Strawberries are the newest must-have souvenir for visitors to Seoul. At the city's markets, crowds of tourists line up for the fruit. Once a hidden gem for street food lovers craving tteokbokki rice cakes and hotteok – a type of Korean sweet pancake – Mangwon Market is now having a berry sweet moment as travellers scoop up bright-red boxes of South Korea's juiciest spring treat. [2] For Koreans, strawberries have long been the most coveted fruit in winter and spring, known for their juicy sweetness and delicate texture. In recent years, however, their fame has ripened beyond borders. 'The love for strawberries is a recent phenomenon,' said a fruit seller. 'And most [customers] are Asian tourists.' [3] According to Statistics Korea, strawberry exports jumped to US$69 million (HK$535 million) in 2024, making them the country's third most exported fresh agricultural product after paprika and pears. Demand is especially strong in Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. In 2022, one Korean newspaper even reported chartered flights were being used to fly strawberries to Hong Kong. [4] What makes them different? Unlike other strawberries, most Korean varieties are smaller, bright red and sweet. They are best enjoyed fresh, with no added sugar or cream. Their short shelf life and soft texture are precisely why they are such a sought-after delicacy among tourists – the sweetness is fleeting and best experienced fresh. [5] Experts say Korean strawberries owe their exceptional sweetness to greenhouse techniques, such as when farmers grow strawberries hydroponically – without soil – which enables precise control of temperature, humidity and nutrients. When strawberries are cultivated in open fields, there is more texture and sweetness variation, depending on the season, weather and soil. [6] How to pick, wash and store At a supermarket, look for heart-shaped, evenly red and glossy berries. The stems should be fresh and green, not dried out. If the flesh is red all the way to the top, it means the fruit is fully ripe. [7] Strawberries are delicate and prone to softening and mould, so they are often treated with antifungal agents. To clean them, soak them briefly in water with stems still attached, then rinse under running water for about 30 seconds. Because pesticide residues can linger near the stem, it is best to remove the stem just before eating. [8] These precious, sweet berries are also sensitive to humidity. Airtight containers can trap moisture and cause the fruit to go mushy quickly. At room temperature, they only keep for about a day, so it is best to consume them shortly after purchase. [9] Instead of using plastic bags, store them in breathable containers like boxes or baskets and refrigerate at temperatures between one and five degrees Celsius. Avoid keeping them for more than a week. Source: The Korea Times, April 19 Questions 1. Based on paragraph 1, what can be found in Mangwon Market? A. sweet pancakes B. rice cakes C. strawberries D. all of the above 2. Why do people in South Korea enjoy eating strawberries, according to paragraph 2? 3. In paragraph 3, what was the top fresh South Korean agricultural product sold to other countries in 2024? 4. Find a word in paragraph 4 that refers to something 'wanted by many people'. 5. According to paragraph 5, the reason Korean strawberries are very sweet is because … A. they are grown in very sweet soil. B. they are grown outside in an open field. C. they are grown using special greenhouse methods. D. they are picked when they are not yet ripe. 6. In paragraph 6, how can you tell if a strawberry is fully ripe? 7. Decide whether the following statements according to paragraphs 6 and 7 are True, False or the information is Not Given. Fill in ONE circle only for each statement. (4 marks) (i) It is best to eat strawberries together with their stems. (ii) Soaking strawberries in salt water is a more effective way to remove pesticides than just water. (iii) Farmers often put special chemicals on strawberries to stop mould from growing on them. (iv) Strawberries should be soaked overnight before eating. 8. Based on paragraph 8, is storing strawberries in an airtight container a good idea? Why or why not? (2 marks) 9. Based on your understanding of paragraph 9, the best place to keep strawberries is … A. in a basket in the refrigerator. B. in a box at room temperature. C. in the freezer in a plastic bag. D. in a box near other fruits. Strawberries grown through hydroponics – a method of farming that does not use soil and grows a plant by feeding it with mineral nutrient salts dissolved in water. Photo: Shutterstock Answers 1. D 2. because of the fruit's juicy sweetness and delicate texture 3. pears 4. sought-after 5. C 6. It is red all the way to the top. 7. (i) F; (ii) NG; (iii) T; (iv) F 8. No, because airtight containers can trap moisture and cause the fruit to go mushy quickly. 9. A
HKFP
03-05-2025
- HKFP
The Hong Kong government's latest craze? Marinas for millionaires
What is it about the Hong Kong government and luxury yachts? This used to be a non-topic. An occasional superyacht (no agreed definition, but generally over 24 metres long and with a crew of at least eight) would arrive and tie up at Ocean Terminal for a while. Well-off local residents owned less super yachts (under 24 metres long, with a crew between one and 10) which they kept at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club or the marina on Discovery Bay. This supported a small industry – someone once described a yacht as a hole in the sea that you pour money into – and attracted no official or political interest. Lately, though, our local leaders seem to have decided that this is a cow which can be milked. The South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor (how do they think these names up?) has now graduated from a mention in last year's policy address to an outline which includes a marina for 150-200 yachts, up to 50 metres in length. Then there is Skytopia (see comment on names above), which is planned by the Hong Kong Airport Authority, will be built next to the airport and will have 500 berths. We now also have the proposed development of land around the Hong Kong Coliseum, which will include a marina with space for 200 yachts; size not specified yet. These plans have sparked a certain amount of scepticism. The owners of large crewed yachts can choose from a wide range of cruising grounds. The overwhelming favourites are the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Your yacht can combine these by spending the summer in the Med and crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean in the winter. The leading home port for big yachts is Fort Lauderdale, Florida. About a quarter of all superyachts are owned by Americans. Most of the rest are owned in West European countries or Russia. There is a growing interest in Asian cruising, but this demands dependable sunshine and a supply of interesting destinations, so most of the traffic is in the region of Southeast Asia, such as Singapore and Indonesia. Whatever facilities are built here, Hong Kong will always have one serious drawback: typhoons. In short, this is not really a global industry. There are some rather outdated lists of top locations of yachts, leading marinas, and most ownerships. The idea that there are 900 or so big yachts out there just waiting for Hong Kong to provide parking spaces seems a bit of a stretch. Some cynical observers have suggested that Hong Kong might be interested in a niche market: moorings for yachts whose owners would fear confiscation or other problems if they were moored in Europe, or even Singapore. But there is already a very nice marina in Hainan which shares our political peculiarities, such as they are. Another disreputable theory is that owning a big yacht in Hong Kong might offer mainland millionaires a large floating asset – albeit a very expensive one to run – which could literally sail away at short notice. But of course, our government would not dream of conniving at that sort of thing. Given Hong Kong's highly uneven income distribution, it is difficult to see an expensive watery hobby producing a huge spurt in local demand. Indeed, a striking feature of Hong Kong life is the government's total indifference to the possibility that large numbers of people might enjoy messing about in boats. It is interesting to consider the contrast between Chichester Harbour and Tolo Harbour. Chichester Harbour, in England, is a heavily tidal mudflat on which everything runs aground twice a day. It is, nevertheless, usually full of boats and occasionally, indeed, congested. Tolo Harbour, in Hong Kong's northeastern New Territories, is big, sheltered and virtually non-tidal. It would be an ideal place for kids to catch the boating bug at little expense. There are big waterside towns in Sha Tin, Tai Po, and Ma On Shan. Facilities could be provided within walking distance of millions of people. They are not. Tolo Harbour, whatever the weather, is usually completely empty. We are apparently more interested in providing facilities for millionaires than facilities for the masses. Shame.
South China Morning Post
01-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Cuba pins hopes on Chinese to help save sputtering tourism industry
Cuba is pinning its hopes on attracting more visitors from Communist ally China as part of a last-ditch bid to revive a sputtering tourism industry devastated by renewed US sanctions under the Trump administration and a crisis-wracked economy. Advertisement Visitors from abroad, a critical source of foreign currency on the island, plunged by nearly a third in the first quarter of 2025, according to recent data from Cuba's statistics agency, ONEI, an ominous sign that has left top officials on the archipelago scrambling for alternatives. Cuba had forecast 2.6 million visitors in 2025, an 18 per cent increase over the previous year, but seems unlikely to hit that target as the peak northern winter fades into a sultry Caribbean summer. 'It's no secret that, recently, our country, and especially the tourism sector, is facing a complex scenario,' said Cuban Tourism Minister Juan Carlos Garcia in a speech on Wednesday inaugurating the island's annual tourism fair – this year dedicated to China. Garcia praised China in his talk, saying their close ties of cooperation and friendship had 'stood the test of time'. Advertisement The Asian giant could prove fertile ground for Cuba, despite the vast physical distance between the two countries.
