Stories from Hong Kong

A business and professional lawmaker stated that the current daily quota of 100 vehicles traveling from Guangdong to Hong Kong is too low. The current limit is set at 100 cars, according to the source. This follows the implementation of an e-cigarette possession ban in Hong Kong. Lawmaker Aaron Bock has urged the government to significantly expand the daily quota for southbound vehicles traveling from Guangdong to Hong Kong. The request comes as authorities consider legislative means to reclaim units at Wang Chi House if homeowners refuse government buyout offers. Bock stated the current limit of 100 cars under the Southbound travel scheme is too low. Bock expressed belief that the government will take gradual steps regarding this expansion. The Transport Department received approximately 6,300 applications for cross-border driving from qualified Guangdong private cars as of late March.

Ping An insurance shares saw a 63 percent increase in valuation following the release of first-quarter earnings. The stock rose 63 percent despite a first-quarter profit drop of over 7 percent and declining revenue.

Asia Union announced it will withdraw from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies on the first of next month. The UAE is expected to leave OPEC to avoid collective output agreements, leveraging its position as the holder of the second highest spare oil capacity after Saudi Arabia. The Kremlin stated that attacks on oil export storage by Kyiv increase global hydrocarbon deficits. President Vladimir Putin warned that attacks on the facility pose serious environmental consequences. Consumer associations are warning of further upcoming price surges. The increase follows concerns regarding energy tensions and potential food price inflation. The benchmark selling price for gas is expected to increase by more than 15 percent on Friday, May 1. This price hike is attributed to tensions related to the war in the Middle East.

Employees at Goldman Sachs in Hong Kong have lost access to Anthropic's Claude AI model. Authorities received 75 requests for police assistance and 15 cases of physical discomfort during the building reentry process. Authorities have contacted relevant residents to assist with cleaning and returning to buildings. A new audit report from the Audit Commission indicates that public visitor numbers at various venues have failed to meet targets in recent years. The index rose 398 points to 26,068 with a total turnover of over 174.4 billion. A traffic accident near West Kowloon Station has resulted in the closure of some lanes on Lin Cheung Road in the direction of Tsim Sha Tsui. Road closures are reported in Chai Wan between Chai Wan Road and Ming Wah Building, affecting Citybus route 85.

A clinical study found that MBUTRA helps patients live longer and reduces heart-related hospital stays and urgent visits over a three-year period compared to a placebo.

A new drug described as a pulmonary hypertension signal inhibitor may reduce associated side effects. The treatment is described as more targeted and self-contained than previous options.

The acquisition of Wong Chi Kok involves a 1 billion HKD sum. Specialized teams have engaged 99% of Wong Chi Kok owners, with 77% preliminarily interested in selling to the government for housing schemes.

Construction of the Almond Footbridge is utilizing horizontal rotation technology to build the structure. The bridge's strength is approximately three times that of standard steel.

The eastern section of the Pinglu Canal Bypass is scheduled to open to traffic on the 3rd of next month. It connects via the pesticide intersection, passes through Chong Yuen Hang and Tong Hang, and merges with the Pinglu Highway near Kowloon Tong.

Disney theme park annual attendance reached 7.5 million visitors. A thunderstorm warning is in effect until noon. A new section of the Heng Yin footbridge is scheduled to open to traffic on Sunday, May 3, at 8:00 AM. The company achieved this profit while maintaining zero debt during the 2025 fiscal year. The Hong Kong government announced follow-up arrangements for Tai Po and Wang Fu Yuan. New government regulations regarding alternative smoking substances in Hong Kong will take effect on April 30. Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are seeking expanded access to new medications beyond current standard treatments. Managing director Tim Sipcoe stated the milestone reflects the resort's strengthening financial health. The company reported a net profit of $536 million on revenue of $8.69 billion for the 2025 fiscal year.