Latest news with #CathayPacific
HKFP
a day ago
- HKFP
Ex-Cathay employee charged in human smuggling bribery case after 15 years on the run
A former Cathay Pacific employee has been charged by Hong Kong's anti-corruption watchdog over a 2009 human smuggling case after fleeing the city for 15 years. The airline's former customer service officer, Tsui Ying-kit, 44, appeared at West Kowloon Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, facing four counts of 'conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages' after returning to the city the day before. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Tuesday that Tsui was initially arrested in 2009 for allegedly accepting bribes in exchange for issuing boarding passes to travellers organised by a human smuggling syndicate. A warrant was later issued for his arrest after he jumped bail. He was taken into custody upon his arrival in Hong Kong on Monday. Tsui is accused of conspiring with members of the syndicate, along with two other Cathay ground crew members, to ensure that smuggled individuals could board their flights, the ICAC said. They also allegedly provided the syndicate with information about the travellers' boarding status and security details from Cathay's internal system. According to the ICAC, Tsui received between HK$1,000 and HK$2,000 for each traveller. Two members of the syndicate and two former Cathay employees pleaded guilty and were sentenced to jail, ranging from 14 to 20 months, in February 2011. On Tuesday, Magistrate Edward Wong ordered Tsui to remain in custody until his next court appearance on September 30. Under the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance, anyone convicted of accepting advantages as an agent faces a maximum fine of HK$500,000 and up to seven years' imprisonment.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Ex-Cathay employee arrested in Hong Kong for alleged human trafficking role
A former customer services officer with Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific has been arrested and remanded in custody after spending more than 15 years on the run for allegedly accepting bribes to help a human trafficking syndicate smuggle travellers overseas. Former Cathay employee Tsui Ying-kit, 44, was escorted to West Kowloon Court on Tuesday afternoon to face four counts of conspiracy for an agent to accept advantages. According to a charge sheet, the defendant conspired with two then-colleagues and others to ensure an unspecified number of travellers could check in for their flights and go through security checks in return for financial rewards between September 2008 and August 2009. The document did not provide the nationalities of the travellers concerned. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said in a statement that Tsui had accepted bribes of HK$1,000 (US$127) to HK$2,000 for each request made by the syndicate. Tsui had been placed on the wanted list since failing to report to ICAC in October 2009. He was arrested after returning to Hong Kong on Monday, according to the anti-corruption watchdog.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Climate
- Economic Times
Hong Kong issues highest storm warning as typhoon Wipha approaches
Synopsis Typhoon Wipha prompted Hong Kong to issue its highest storm warning, with winds exceeding 167 km/h, leading to significant disruptions. Over 200 flights were cancelled, including all Cathay Pacific flights during the day. Public transport, including ferries, was suspended due to high sea swells as the typhoon skirted south of the city. Reuters A worker cordons off the area around a billboard structure that collapsed on a building due to strong winds brought by Storm Wipha, in Quezon City, Philippines, July 19, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez Hong Kong issued its highest storm warning on Sunday as Typhoon Wipha, packing winds of more than 167 kilometres (103 miles) per hour, brought heavy rain and wind across the territory, forcing the cancellation of more than 200 flights. The city's weather observatory raised its storm signal to No. 10 at 9:20 a.m. (0120 GMT) and said it expected it to remain at that level "for some time". Wipha will skirt around 50 km to the south of the observatory, the warning showed. Hurricane-force wind is affecting the southern part of Hong Kong, the observatory said. Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled all of its flights arriving or departing Hong Kong airport between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. It waived ticket change fees and made arrangements for customers to re-book. Most public transport was suspended on Sunday, including ferries amid high sea swells.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Climate
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Rains from Typhoon Wipha Batter Hong Kong as it Heads for Mainland China
Rain pounded Hong Kong on Sunday as Typhoon Wipha skirted southwards, packing winds exceeding 167 kph (103 mph), disrupting 400 flights and public transport, felling hundreds of trees, and damaging a construction site. Just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, weather authorities lowered the typhoon signal in the Asian financial hub to 8 from the maximum of 10, which had been hoisted for nearly seven hours, while more than 110 mm (4 inches) of rain fell within three hours. Much of the rain concentrated on the northern region neighbouring the mainland, the city's observatory said, warning of more to come. In a statement, the government said 26 people sought treatment in public hospitals, while 253 flocked to its shelters, and 471 fallen trees were reported, Reuters reported. In North Point near the city's harbour, large swathes of scaffolding were swept off a residential building and onto the road. As Wipha tracks westward across the South China Sea it is expected to make landfall later on Sunday between Zhuhai and Zhanjiang in the southern province of Guangdong, state-run broadcaster CCTV said. Authorities in neighbouring Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub, also downgraded the typhoon signal to 8 from 10, warning of flooding in its inner harbour area and urging residents to stay safe, public broadcaster TDM said. Hong Kong's airport authority said 80,000 travellers were hit by the rescheduling of 400 flights forced by the typhoon. Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled all flights with Hong Kong airport between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. It waived ticket change fees and arranged for rebooking. Most public transport in Hong Kong was suspended, including ferries amid high sea swells.
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- Climate
- Al Jazeera
Typhoon Wipha makes landfall in southern China after battering Hong Kong
Typhoon Wipha has made landfall on the coast of Taishan city in China's southern Guangdong province, state-run CCTV reported, after it pounded Hong Kong, disrupting hundreds of flights in the region. After landfall at around 5:55pm (0955 GMT) on Sunday, Wipha weakened to the level of a severe tropical storm, with a maximum wind force of 30 metres per second, according to the CCTV report. In Hong Kong, weather authorities lowered the typhoon signal to 8 from the maximum of 10, which had been hoisted for nearly seven hours, while more than 110mm (4 inches) of rain fell within three hours. Much of the rain concentrated on the northern region neighbouring the mainland, the city's observatory said, warning of more to come. In a statement, the government said 26 people sought treatment in public hospitals, while 253 flocked to its shelters, and 471 fallen trees were reported. In North Point near the Asian financial hub's harbour, large swathes of scaffolding were swept off a residential building and onto the road. A representative from Hong Kong's Airport Authority on Sunday said about 500 flights have been cancelled, while 400 others are scheduled to take off or land later in the day, affecting nearly 80,000 travellers. Cathay Pacific Airways cancelled all flights with Hong Kong airport between 5am and 6pm on Sunday. It waived ticket change fees and arranged for rebooking. Most public transport in Hong Kong was suspended, including ferries amid high sea swells. China's Hainan and Guangdong provinces were also put on high alert, according to the state news agency Xinhua. The cities of Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Macao cancelled or delayed all daytime flights on Sunday. Authorities in neighbouring Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub, also downgraded the typhoon signal to 8 from 10, warning of flooding in its inner harbour area and urging residents to stay safe, public broadcaster TDM said. Hong Kong last hoisted the T10 warning signal for Super Typhoon Saola in 2023. Wipha, which in Thai means 'splendour', also passed over the Philippines at tropical storm strength and drenched parts of Taiwan. The typhoon also intensified seasonal monsoon rains in the Philippines, and two people have been reported missing, according to the country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. More than 370,000 people in the Philippines were affected by days of stormy weather, including 43,000 who fled to government-run emergency shelters or homes of relatives due to flooding, landslides and fierce winds. More than 400 houses were damaged in the onslaught, officials in the Philippines said.
