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Hong Kong issues amber rainstorm warning, tells public to brace for possible floods

Signal, sent out at 9.50am, was second amber rainstorm warning to be issued on Friday The Hong Kong Observatory has issued the amber rainstorm warning and urged residents to brace for widespread heavy rain and potential flooding under the influence of a broad trough of low pressure. The signal, sent out at 9.50am, was the second amber rainstorm warning to be issued on Friday. An earlier alert went out just after midnight and was cancelled at 2.15am. The Observatory urged residents to take all necessary precautions to reduce their exposure to risks posed by the heavy rain and flooding, such as staying away from watercourses and seeking shelter, as intense gusts could affect the city. The weather in Hong Kong is expected to remain unsettled for the rest of this week until early next week, and see showers and thunderstorms influenced by a broad trough of low pressure, it added.

July 17, 2026

Business

‘We hope to offer answers,’ committee counsel tells Tai Po fire inquiry

Legal counsel for independent panel investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades delivers closing remarks at final public inquiry session Legal counsel for an independent panel investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades will deliver its closing remarks at the final public inquiry session on Friday. The 600-page closing statement is expected to cover the causes of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, as well as the roles and responsibilities of each involved party. The blaze that broke out on November 26, 2025, killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000. The estate was undergoing a HK$336 million renovation project at the time. On Thursday, Jenkin Suen SC delivered the government’s closing statement. It denied direct responsibility for the blaze and said private stakeholders bore the primary blame. Speaking before the judge-led committee, Suen said that renovation contractor Prestige Construction and Engineering, consultant Will Power Architects, and its registered inspector, Wilson Ng Yeuk, had abused the regulatory mechanism, which directly led to the outbreak of the fire. Follow the South China Morning Post’s live coverage as the hearing goes on.

July 17, 2026

Business

Trump’s China election claims mark new front in the rivalry, analysts say

As midterms loom and Iran war backlash grows, US president resurrects unproven claims, casting uncertainty over Chinese leader’s visit Simon said the move could reshape the wider China policy debate in Washington, with election security becoming “another front in comprehensive strategic competition” alongside AI, semiconductors, supply chains and military modernisation. The timing is also notable. The speech comes as the two sides have sought to stabilise ties in recent months, but Simon said competition and engagement now coexisted. “Washington can simultaneously negotiate on tariffs, discuss fentanyl and maintain military communications, while tightening export controls, sanctioning Chinese companies and accusing Beijing of cyber operations,” he said.

July 17, 2026

Business

China, elections and Iran: the takeaways from Trump’s White House address

The US president blends domestic and global politics by accusing Beijing of meddling in the American electoral process The speech, which blended escalating tensions over Iran with sharp domestic warnings ahead of this year’s midterm elections, is one of the most confrontational White House addresses of his second term, directly targeting Beijing while pressing election integrity changes and defending US military actions. Trump claimed China carried out the “largest compromise of election data in history”, framing it as a critical national security threat that demanded immediate action. He also accused China of influencing US business leaders and journalists to “turn against” the US president. He alleged that China’s state-sponsored election interference was not just systemic, but specifically targeted at his political survival during his first term.

July 17, 2026

Business

China’s Xi Jinping addresses World AI Conference as US tech rivalry heats up

President’s personal attendance seen as a sign of China’s inclusion of artificial intelligence into broader geopolitical strategy President Xi Jinping will speak on Friday at the opening of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), China’s largest annual event for the AI industry. Xi’s personal attendance elevates the conference’s profile, and indicates AI development has become both a technological imperative and a cornerstone of China’s geopolitical strategy. As Washington maintains strict export controls on advanced semiconductors and restricts overseas access to top AI models, Beijing is accelerating its drive for tech self-reliance.

July 17, 2026

Business

Hong Kong won’t see a bright future by constantly looking to its past

Successful global cities are defined by their ambition and measure themselves against the world’s best rather than their past Earlier this month, the first batch of 14,000 free tickets to visit the People’s Liberation Army’s naval vessels during their stopover in Hong Kong was claimed within minutes of being released. Families queued online for the opportunity to step aboard the ships, and the open days quickly became one of the most talked-about events of this year’s handover anniversary. The scenes stood in contrast to those of July 1997. Whether one sees this as growing familiarity, curiosity or a stronger sense of national identity, it reflects an undeniable reality: Hong Kong has changed. Twenty-nine years is a long time – long enough for an entire generation to have known no other Hong Kong. For much of the past three decades, Hong Kong has understandably measured its progress against its own history. That made sense during a period of significant transition as the city adapted to new constitutional, economic and social realities. Today, Hong Kong is entering a different phase. The challenge is no longer simply to demonstrate how far it has come since 1997.

July 17, 2026

Business

Trump’s intense attacks have failed to sway Iran. He’s trying again anyway

Analysts say the renewed bombing campaign by the US is more likely ‌to ‘harden’ Tehran’s position President Donald ⁠Trump has ramped up US air strikes on Iran and threatened broader escalation, but there is ⁠little sign that a military strategy that has already failed to extract concessions from Tehran will succeed this time. With the collapse of an interim ceasefire deal reached a month ago, Trump finds himself in a bind as he seeks to break Iran’s grip on the vital Strait of Hormuz and force Tehran to accept his demands. While the two sides have so far avoided a return to full-scale conflict, hopes of finding an off-ramp any time soon have faded in a crisis that has again driven up global oil prices and sent shock waves through financial markets. A wave of tit-for-tat attacks continued into a sixth day on Thursday while Iran signalled it ‌could prod its Houthi allies in Yemen to close another vital oil-shipping strait – the Bab al-Mandeb at the mouth of the Red Sea – if Washington hits Iran’s power infrastructure as Trump has threatened.

July 17, 2026

Business

‘True everyday hero’: Chinese man has nose bitten off saving woman from attacker

Zeng Fanlin, who has lost most of his nose and is undergoing reconstruction procedure, says ‘everything I have given is worth it’ A man in central China who had his nose bitten off while subduing an attacker to save a woman has been recognised as a national hero. Zeng Fanlin, 69, from Chenzhou, Hunan province, previously served as a village official before becoming a volunteer mediator who helped resolve disputes among villagers. The incident happened in April, when a man in his 20s entered the village and went on a violent rampage, attacking passers-by and kicking doors, according to local media reports. The attacker later stopped a woman riding an e-bike and grabbed her by the neck. Fearing his aggressive behaviour, bystanders hesitated to intervene and called police instead, while the woman faced the immediate risk of being strangled. Zeng, who was passing by, rushed forward and tackled the attacker. Two other villagers soon joined him in restraining the man. During the struggle, the attacker bit off part of Zeng’s nose. Despite the severe injury, Zeng held on until police arrived. The suspect was taken into custody, while Zeng was rushed to hospital.

July 17, 2026

Business

Trump launches rare broadside against China on US election interference – as it happened

Trump’s speech focused on Chinese interference in domestic politics, called out local TV networks and mentioned Iran war once Such addresses are typically reserved for major national moments. During his second term, Trump has used them to highlight key priorities, including a year-end address in December, and a speech in April focused on the Iran conflict. The White House has not released the full agenda, but the timing has drawn attention. The address comes soon after Trump announced the reinstatement of a US naval blockade on Iran and reversed course on his proposed 20 per cent fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the US the “guardian” of the critical waterway. But the broadcast is already being teased by briefed congressional allies as the most critical Oval Office address since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, with a warning that the time for complacency with China is officially over.

July 17, 2026

Business

Is Hong Kong kicking the can down the road with ride-hailing quota?

Authorities expect 10,000-vehicle cap will meet demand but critics warn it may lead to shortages, higher fares and public dissatisfaction “The ride-hailing quota has gravely disrupted the taxi trade. Drivers are already suffering from plummeting income, with those on night shifts finding almost no business,” said the chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi and Public Light Bus Association. “I am most afraid that after the government enforces this quota limit, it will keep increasing the number of ride-hailing permits under different pretexts. Then Hong Kong’s taxi industry will keep shrinking. The economy is already gloomy enough.” Chau, 59, is among tens of thousands in the taxi trade frustrated by the government’s plan to issue 10,000 permits, a proposal that has also drawn the ire of ride-hailing giant Uber. While the government said it expected the quota would match the current demand, critics warned it could lead to shortages, higher fares and public dissatisfaction. “Chan shouldn’t just kick the can down the road over regulating ride-hailing services in Hong Kong,” legislator Mark Chong Ho-fung said.

July 17, 2026

Business

Retail rift: Hong Kong shops plead for rent relief, landlords see improving market

As closures continue despite rising retail sales, landlords and operators have starkly divided views on the retail leasing market Many tenants say that despite racking their brains for solutions, their businesses remain stagnant. They are losing money because of constant price cutting to attract customers, a situation they attribute to the broader economic climate. Many hope for rent reductions of 20 to 50 per cent to ease their woes. Landlords, however, believe the market is recovering and are willing to offer only limited cuts, typically between 10 and 20 per cent. In some locations including certain shopping centres, they are even raising rents. The operating environment was “poor”, said Michael Leung, chairman of the Association for Hong Kong Catering Services Management, who also owns several restaurants. “There are very few people on the street by 8pm, and the industry is plagued by cutthroat price wars.

July 17, 2026

Business

US and Iran exchange blows in rekindled Middle East war

American forces conducted strikes for a sixth straight night, and boarded a ship to enforce the US naval blockade The United States struck Iran and Tehran attacked US allies in the Gulf on Thursday as the foes battled over the vital Strait of Hormuz in the renewed Middle East war. The rekindled fighting came a month after the signing of a preliminary deal that aimed to end the conflict, which broke out in late February with massive US-Israeli strikes on Iran. US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it was conducting a new wave of strikes on Thursday evening to “further degrade Iranian military capabilities” – the sixth straight night of attacks by American forces. Iranian state television reported two explosions in the city of Bushehr – home to Iran’s only civilian nuclear plant – in a “continuation of the American enemy aggression”, as well as a series of unattributed blasts in coastal Bandar Abbas. The official news agency IRNA also said there were “American enemy attacks on areas around Ahvaz”. Tehran had earlier warned it would target infrastructure across the region if US President Donald Trump followed through on a threat to attack power plants and bridges in Iran – though the White House said he remained “open to diplomacy”.

July 16, 2026