Latest news with #HongkongPost
RTHK
4 days ago
- General
- RTHK
15,500 pupils allocated their preferred schools
15,500 pupils allocated their preferred schools Some parents queue outside a school to try and get their children in through the 'door-knocking' process. Photo: RTHK Almost 80 percent of pupils have received places in one of their top three choices of primary schools, Primary One Central Allocation results released on Wednesday showed. The Education Bureau said nearly 19,500 children took part in the allocation and that more than 15,500 were allocated spots in schools among their first three choices. Combined with discretionary places, the overall satisfaction rate reached 90 percent. Still, some parents lined up outside their preferred schools to compete for the remaining places. A mother, Leung, waited outside a primary school in Yau Ma Tei for 'door-knocking' as early as 7.30 am as her son was only allocated his second-choice school. She said their targeted school has a better environment and new facilities. Another man also tried his luck for his grandson, saying their preferred school has more extracurricular activities Parents can check the school allocation results via the government's Primary One Application e-Platform, SMS messages, or Primary One Registration Forms delivered by Hongkong Post. The authorities have appealed to parents to register their children with the schools allocated to them by June 10 or June 11.
Business Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Hong Kong DIY watch brand sets sights on Europe amid Trump tariffs
[HONG KONG] When Washington announced higher tariffs and the axing of a de minimis rule that allowed for low-value packages from Hong Kong and mainland China to enter the United States free of duties, Quinn Lai felt it was 'game over' for his watch brand. Lai is the founder of DIY Watch Club, which sells do-it-yourself (DIY) watchmaking kits to the overseas market, with over 80 per cent of his shipments going to the United States. Starting from May 2, low-value packages from China and Hong Kong have been subject to a 90 per cent tariff or a flat fee of US$75, part of a punishing trade war between Washington and Beijing. Lai estimated the impact on his company's US revenue to be around 20 to 30 per cent. 'If the situation didn't get better, we would be downsizing the company, or in the worst case, closing shop,' he said. When the tariffs hit in April, Lai's company swiftly boosted its marketing efforts and targeted Europe, increasing ads on social media and sending their toolkits to some online influencers for unboxing. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Lai said he decided to target Europe as a market rather than South-east Asia, as Europe performs better in e-commerce. 'To solve this problem, it was basically an hourly effort testing out different countries in Europe,' he said. Lai said the company has now expanded its market share in Europe from approximately 6 to around 30 per cent. While the US market still accounts for half of its revenue, the company is now less dependent on it. Looking ahead, Lai said he plans to continue expanding his customer base in Europe and explore other markets, such as Japan. Kennedy Wong, honorary president of the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, said that cross-border e-commerce has been seriously impacted, as these products are often sold via small packages and 'no single market can replace the US'. Hongkong Post has suspended mail services for goods to the US Some couriers who are still willing to take these small packages require prepayment of US import duty tariffs, Wong said. REUTERS
Miami Herald
22-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
DHL makes drastic change to deliveries amid U.S.-China trade war
DHL (DPSGY) , one of the largest courier services that U.S. consumers depend on for mail and package deliveries, is responding to President Donald Trump's recent policy changes, which shook the nation. On April 2, Trump announced a 10% "baseline" tariff on all countries importing goods to the U.S., with roughly 60 countries seeing higher tariff rates. Tariffs are taxes companies pay to import goods from overseas, and the extra cost is often passed down to consumers through price increases. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter However, on April 9, he switched gears and enforced a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs on all countries (except China), dropping them to a universal rate of 10%. He also raised tariffs on China to a staggering 145%. Amid these new changes, DHL recently posted a notice on its website stating that it is facing "multi-day transit delays" regarding shipments to the U.S. that are over $800. This is due to recent U.S. Customs regulatory updates that stem from President Trump's tariffs. Image source: Bloomberg/Getty Images "Effective April 5, 2025, all shipments to the U.S. with a declared customs value over USD 800 require formal entry processing - down from the previous USD 2,500 threshold due to new U.S. Customs regulations," reads the notice on DHL's website. "This change has caused a surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock." Due to these delays, the company has temporarily suspended these shipments, which could inconvenience consumers nationwide. Related: Temu quietly makes drastic decision as consumers switch gears "Effective Monday, April 21st, 2025, and until further notice, we will temporarily suspend the collection and shipping of business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments to private individuals in the United States where the declared customs value exceeds USD 800," reads the notice. DHL also warned that business-to-business shipments to companies in the U.S., with over $800 in value, will not be affected by the temporary pause; however, they may also face delays. Large retailers such as Walmart, Costco, and Amazon often use DHL for delivery services. The courier did not specify how long the pause on these shipments to consumers will last but said that it will post more updates "as the situation evolves." The move from DHL comes after the Hongkong Post suspended the delivery of goods from the U.S. last week due to Trump's tariffs. "The U.S. is unreasonable, bullying and imposing tariffs abusively," said the Hongkong Post in a statement on April 16. "Hongkong Post will definitely not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the U.S. and will suspend the acceptance of postal items containing goods destined to the U.S." The Hongkong Post also said that it will suspend the acceptance of surface mail, which is the delivery of packages and letters sent via land or sea, to the U.S. Also, starting April 27, it will no longer accept airmail destined to the U.S. More Tariffs: Mark Cuban sounds alarm on how consumers should handle tariffsTarget makes controversial move to dodge high tariff costs Walmart doubles down on harsh tactic to shrink threat of tariffs The Hongkong Post's decision comes after Trump issued an executive order on April 9 imposing a 120% tax on small parcels under $800 from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. In addition, per-item postal fees for these parcels are set to increase to $100 on May 2 and to $200 after June 1. Trump also signed an executive order on April 2 that aims to end a trade rule called "de minimis" on May 2. This rule allows goods from China that are less than $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free with minimal inspections. He claimed that China uses the loophole to "hide illicit substances and conceal the true contents of shipments sent to the United States through deceptive shipping practices." The change is expected to impact Chinese online retailers Temu and Shein, which have grown in popularity among U.S. consumers over the past few years due to their ultra-cheap prices. Both retailers have already warned customers that they will soon increase their prices due to Trump's tariffs. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DHL won't deliver some packages to the U.S. because of tariffs
DHL is suspending high-value shipments to the U.S. beginning Monday due to new restrictions on imports, according to The Wall Street Journal. U.S. Customs regulations now require goods above $800 in value to undergo more rigorous customs processing, which took effect April 5, DHL said. The previous threshold was $2,500. DHL, which is a division of Germany-based Deutsche Post, said in a statement reported by The Journal that a 'surge in formal customs clearances, which we are handling around the clock' may cause delays of multiple days. To manage them, the company said that until further notice it 'will temporarily suspend [business-to-consumer] shipments to private individuals in the U.S. where the declared value exceeds $800.' The move does not affect business-to-business shipments, but those goods could face delays, DHL said. Shipments to either businesses or consumers valued at less than $800 will not be affected. The decision is the latest disruption caused by the U.S.'s new trade policies under President Donald Trump. Last week, Hong Kong's postal service announced it was suspending shipments to the U.S. 'The U.S. is unreasonable, bullying and imposing tariffs abusively,' Hongkong Post said Wednesday. 'Hongkong Post will definitely not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the U.S. and will suspend the acceptance of postal items containing goods destined to the U.S.' Trump announced tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese imports earlier this month. In response, China installed 125% tariffs on U.S. goods. Imports from all countries have been hit with a minimum base tariff of 10%, with many extending much higher. Last week, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said tariffs are highly likely to fuel further inflation. 'The level of the tariff increases announced so far is significantly larger than anticipated,' he said. 'The same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth.' For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Star
21-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Hong Kong must become global supply chain hub to navigate US trade war: experts
Hong Kong must transform itself from a transshipment port into a global supply chain services hub to navigate a raging US-China trade war while leveraging its position as an international shipping and trading centre, industry leaders have said. Kennedy Wong Ying-ho, honorary president of the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, said on Thursday that the transition from being a re-exporting hub was crucial for the city amid challenges of growing trade protectionism worldwide and US tariff shock on small parcels. 'In the past, Hong Kong's trade was relatively simple. Our role as a 'superconnector' meant business was like buying with the left hand and being able to resell with the right. But now, the global supply chain is being reshaped,' Wong told a radio programme. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. 'Certain raw materials originate in one country or region, while a part of the manufacturing takes place in another country, and finally, the product goes for packaging and then transport to yet another location. Hong Kong needs to provide some high-quality services along the links of the supply chain.' Earlier this week, the association released a study report on how Hong Kong could elevate its position from 'intermediary' to 'supply chain manager' by integrating advantages in professional services such as finance, law and insurance to provide comprehensive trade support throughout the entire cycle. The suggestions are in line with the budget blueprint by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po in February, in which mainland Chinese companies are encouraged to establish a presence in Hong Kong by setting up international or regional headquarters to facilitate offshore trading and supply chain management, and expand globally. Wong, also import and export sector lawmaker, said that Hong Kong should accelerate the development of new momentum in the 'airport economy' by building a highly efficient and high-value-added air cargo hub. 'Our airport handles nearly the highest volume of air cargo in the world, and with the completion of our third runway, we have what it takes to develop the 'airport economy' as neighbouring regions are rapidly emerging. Our advantage in sea freight has dwindled,' he added. The escalating trade war initiated by US President Donald Trump, which prompted Hongkong Post to stop accepting parcels for delivery to the country by land and sea starting Wednesday, in response to what it called 'bullying' tariff hikes. Highlighting Hong Kong's world-class aviation infrastructure, Wong said that greater collaboration with e-commerce exporters in the Greater Bay Area was crucial to solidify the city's position as a leading air cargo hub in the evolving global trade landscape. 'Establishing dedicated logistics hubs for e-commerce near Hong Kong's airport cargo terminals leasing to major e-commerce platforms can create a cluster effect,' Wong said. 'The international flight connections and the small package processing capabilities of airports in Guangdong and other Greater Bay Area provinces need to work together with Hong Kong's infrastructure to achieve true global reach.' Fellow lawmaker Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung of the commercial sector said the US-initiated trade war had negatively affected Hong Kong's manufacturing and re-export trade, with various businesses being forced to absorb costs, accepting loss-making orders or relocating production. 'The government needs to support businesses, especially [small and medium-sized enterprises] SMEs, to help them overcome difficulties while accelerating the exploration of emerging markets like Asean and the Middle East as well as mainland China,' Lam said in the same radio show. 'It also needs to leverage Hong Kong's free port status and CEPA policies to facilitate joint ventures between Hong Kong and mainland businesses.' Lam added that attracting foreign investment to access the mainland market amid the volatile global environment would strengthen the city's position as an international financial and trade centre. More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
