Latest news with #HongKongGovernment
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hongkongers can enjoy 9-day Lunar New Year break, 6 long weekends in 2026
Hong Kong residents can enjoy nine days off during the Lunar New Year and a five-day-long break during Easter among six long weekends in 2026, according to a list of official public holidays released by authorities. The Hong Kong government on Friday gazetted the dates for public holidays in 2026, with residents able to enjoy at least six long weekends next year by taking a couple of days of leave. There will be 17 days of public holidays in total next year. Between the Lunar New Year holiday between February 17 and 19, residents working five days a week can enjoy a break of as long as nine days by taking leave on February 16 and 20. Another long weekend will take place starting on Good Friday on April 3 to April 7, the latter of which is in lieu of the Ching Ming Festival coinciding with Easter Sunday. 'As the Ching Ming Festival in 2026 falls on a Sunday, the following day will be designated as a general holiday in substitution,' a government spokesman said. 'As the day following the Ching Ming Festival falls on Easter Monday, the next day that is not itself a general holiday will be observed as an additional general holiday.'
South China Morning Post
10-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Can Hong Kong truly live up to its ‘Asia's world city' brand?
During the recent ' two sessions ', Chinese Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed Hong Kong's 'one country, two systems' framework and called on the city to deepen international exchanges and cooperation. It was a timely reminder of Hong Kong's unique value to the mainland and how the city can assert its relevance in an increasingly polarised world. Advertisement Back in 2001, Hong Kong was branded ' Asia's world city '. In the last few years, the Hong Kong government has positioned the city as a ' superconnector ' and 'value-added' partner to mainland China and the rest of the world. Has the city fulfilled its role as a bridge facilitating the flow of people, capital and ideas? Or are we merely parroting slogans? It is high time we act on our brand promise, whether in relation to our talent mix, technology development, taking traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to the world or becoming a cultural melting pot and an education and management innovation hub. The government is proactively trying to draw talent to Hong Kong. But marketing and talent admission schemes can only do so much. To be a magnet for global talent, the city must offer unique career and entrepreneurship opportunities with access to international networks and the Chinese mainland's vast market. Hong Kong firms should be comfortable using English as the language of international business. Talent from Southeast Asia, Europe, the Americas and beyond cannot be expected to work in a Chinese-speaking environment. Advertisement
