Latest news with #Kowloon
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Hong Kong police arrest 18-year-old for writing ‘seditious words' in toilet
Hong Kong police have charged an 18-year-old man with sedition and criminal damage for allegedly writing 'seditious words' in a commercial building's toilet on three occasions. Authorities said the graffiti expressed hatred or contempt toward Hong Kong's government and incited others to break the law, violating Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance – also known as Article 23 – which was passed in March last year. The unidentified man was arrested in Kowloon on Monday on suspicion of 'doing with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention ', authorities said in a statement on Wednesday. If convicted, the man could face up to seven years in prison. Police said that 'the contents included provoking hatred, contempt or disaffection against the constitutional order and the executive, legislative or judicial authority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), as well as inciting other person to do an act that does not comply with the law of the HKSAR, etc'. Police also warned the public against violating the law and said that 'offenders shall be liable to imprisonment for seven years on first conviction'. The statement added that 'members of the public are urged not to defy the law.' Earlier in May this year, Hong Kong authorities announced the new legislative changes to amend the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance to provide better 'clarity' and support to Beijing 's national security office. Hong Kong authorities, last year, imposed the domestic security law despite growing international criticism that it could erode freedoms in the city. Since 2024, Hong Kong's homegrown national security law has been used to prosecute individuals for acts as minor as writing pro-independence messages on bus seats or wearing T-shirts bearing protest slogans that authorities claim suggest support for separating the city from China – a red line for Beijing. Last year in September, a 27-year-old Hong Kong man, Chu Kai-pong, became the first person convicted under Article 23, after pleading guilty to sedition for wearing a T-shirt bearing a banned protest slogan. Arrested in June 2023, Mr Chu admitted he wore the shirt to commemorate the 2019 protests. Authorities claimed that the slogan, 'Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times', promoted secession and incited hatred and discontent against the 'fundamental system of the state established by the constitution of the People's Republic of China'.
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong builder Lai Sun seeks more bank support to refinance US$446 million loan
Hong Kong developer Lai Sun Development has been working to win banks' backing for a HK$3.5 billion (US$446 million) loan refinancing deal, but after about six months of talks, nearly half the lenders still aren't on board, according to people familiar with the matter. The property firm – controlled by local tycoon Peter Lam – has secured commitments from nine out of the original 19 lenders for the five-year refinancing, said the people, who declined to be identified discussing private matters. The existing loan matures on October 5, according to Bloomberg-compiled data. Even if Lai Sun doesn't manage to secure the target amount from all banks, it could still opt to partially repay the loan and refinance the rest, the people said. Lai Sun's financing challenges underscore the depth of Hong Kong's years-long property downturn, which has made banks cautious about lending to developers in the city. The company has already spent longer on its deal than property giant New World Development took to complete its recent record loan refinancing, a process that only materialised after months of negotiations and meetings between banks and regulators. 03:39 Shop occupancy recovers in Hong Kong, but vacant stores still visible across the city Shop occupancy recovers in Hong Kong, but vacant stores still visible across the city Lai Sun's original loan was backed by its Cheung Sha Wan Plaza office tower and shopping centre in Kowloon, and the refinancing would be too. The company has proposed an all-in pricing of about 160 basis points over the Hong Kong interbank offered rate for the refinancing, the people said.
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's latest openings, from chicken ramen to ultra-long tteokbokki
Ginza Kagari Ginza Kagari's tori paitan ramen. Photo: courtesy Ginza Kagari This Michelin-recommended Tokyo spot has arrived in Hong Kong, bringing its viral tori paitan ramen to K11 Art Mall. The broth is the star of the show and is made by simmering chicken carcasses for several hours to create a creamy, rich base packed with collagen. Aside from the original flavour, diners can also opt for truffle, shoyu and matcha versions. Shop B232, B2/F, K11 Art Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui Ramen Samurai Ramen Samurai is housed in a grade-three listed shophouse. Photo: courtesy Ramen Samurai Housed in a 90-year-old, grade-three-listed shophouse in Kowloon, this viral ramen spot draws on Japan's bushido culture (bushido, or 'way of the warrior', is the guiding principle of the samurai). Expect dishes such as aged chicken Niboshi ramen, where diners can customise the ratio of the soup base, and what's billed as the world's first chicken soup pudding, a savoury dessert made with rich chicken broth in place of milk, topped with an aged mirin-based sauce. G/F, 3 Playing Field Road, Prince Edward Young Dabang Young Dabang's ultra-long tteokbokki. Photo: Young Dabang
South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong teen arrested for allegedly scrawling seditious words in toilet
An 18-year-old Hongkonger has been arrested by the city's national security police for allegedly writing seditious words three times in the toilet of a commercial building. Advertisement Police revealed on Wednesday that the teenager was arrested on Monday in Kowloon for 'doing with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention' under Section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. He was accused of writing seditious words with contents 'provoking hatred, contempt or disaffection against the constitutional order and the executive, legislative or judicial authority' of Hong Kong, as well as 'inciting other persons' to disobey the city's law. The teenager was charged with one count of 'doing with a seditious intention an act or acts that had a seditious intention', and three counts of criminal damage. The case will be mentioned at West Kowloon Court on Wednesday afternoon. Advertisement The maximum punishment for the offence of seditious intention is 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.
