Four teenagers were arrested for conspiracy to defraud in connection with a scam where multiple victims were conned out of around HK$230,000 after their credit card details were stolen to purchase Apple products. The four suspects, aged between 14 and 16, were detained on suspicion of obtaining property by deception and attempting to obtain property by deception – offenses punishable by up to 10 years in jail. According to the force, the gang, including a 15-year-old mastermind, allegedly set up a bogus postal website, luring victims to input their personal and credit card information. They then used the stolen credit card details to make online purchases from Apple for electronic products, including iPhones, the force added.

HONG KONG: Hong Kong has lost its crown as Asia's premier finance center to Singapore in a global ranking list where New York and London maintained their No. Singapore jumped three places to third in the twice-a-year Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI), which assesses 119 cities around the world and was published late Thursday. Hong Kong has adhered to a version of China's strict zero-Covid rules throughout the pandemic, battering the economy and deepening a brain drain as rival business hubs reopen. In a 600-word statement responding to the latest GFCI ranking, Hong Kong's government focused on the city scoring a higher points rating than the year before. "We will continue to listen to views and be bold in taking forward reforms to consolidate and strengthen Hong Kong's capital market and our role as an international financial center," the government said.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation is boosting its prime rate by 12.5 basis points to 5.125 percent from today. Standard Chartered Hong Kong and Bank of East Asia are lifting their rates by the same amount to 5.375 percent. And HSBC has increased its deposit rates for US dollars by 25 basis points to 0.5 percent. But "there is a very high chance for Hong Kong to record a negative gross domestic product growth for this year," Chan said. His comments came after the Hong Kong Monetary Authority raised its base rate by 75 basis points, keeping in step with the US Federal Reserve.

Hong Kong is set to end the year in the midst of a full-blown recession, the city's finance chief warned Thursday, as Covid-19 controls and spiraling interest rates hammer the economy. "There is a very high chance for Hong Kong to record a negative GDP growth for this year," Financial Secretary Paul Chan told reporters. "Hong Kong has been raising interests at a pace that was never seen in the past three decades," he added. Hong Kong is one of the world's wealthiest places, per capita -- although there is entrenched inequality. Hong Kong also saw a recession in 2019 when months of huge and sometimes violent democracy protests rocked the city.

Two men, aged 22 and 21, were sentenced to nine years imprisonment on Wednesday for raping a 14-year-old girl in Tin Shui Wai three years ago. According to Judge Anna Lai Yuen-kee in court, the accident happened in the girl’s own dwelling on April 16, 2019. The pair attacked the girl while she was drunk and her boyfriend went outside. The judge added that the girl suffered huge trauma after the accident and had made suicide attempts. She also could not keep living in her own flat for fear of seeing the place where the accident happened.

A doctor in Yau Ma Tei and his three assistants were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly issuing more than 2,000 vaccination exemption certificates and getting HK$10 million without proper diagnoses. It's alleged to have issued more than 2,000 vaccine exemption certificates in the past three months, charging HK$4,000 to HK$5,000 a time. Officers seized computer records and arrested the four - a 76-year-old doctor and his three female assistants aged between 35 to 76 - for making false documents. Around HK$760,000 and HK$1.1 million in cash were also seized from the doctor’s clinic and resident respectively, which the force suspected was crime proceeds. Police said the doctor had neither held consultations nor looked at medical records before issuing his patients the exemption certificates.

Sing Tao News Corporation's co-chairman Kwok Ying-shing said it has been almost three years since the Covid-19 pandemic emerged, significantly thrashing the economy and citizens' lives. Sing Tao will continue to serve citizens and Chinese people across the globe with unbiased and objective news information that leads the city's developments. Another co-chairman Karson Choi Ka-tsan echoed Kwok that Sing Tao is an influential media in the city and bears great social responsibility. The Sports/Culture/Performing Arts category winners are Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games athletes from Hong Kong and China. The Education/Professions/Technology & Innovation category winners are Jia Jiaya and Shen Xiaoyong , the chairman and CEO of SmartMore Corporation Limited.

Embark on an eye-opening journey to nearly 20 exotic countries and regions at The Belt & Road National Art & Culture Expo, to be held in AsiaWorld-Expo from 23 to 25 September, 2022. The Belt & Road National Art & Culture Expo brings out the finest treasures and national culture of China, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Panama, Philippines, Thailand, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Iran, Myanmar, Taiwan and Hong Kong. At the “Belt & Road Art and Culture Forum”, consuls of various countries will share their national culture, art and world heritage, as well as new opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative. Finally, the Hong Kong Primary & Secondary Students Chinese Paintings Competition and Awards Ceremony will also take place during the Expo. ------------Belt & Road National Art & Culture Expo l The 4th Hong Kong International Arts & Collectibles ExpoDate: 23-25 September 2022Venue: AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong KongOpening Hours: 11:30-19:00Admission: Free of chargeWebsite: www.beltnroadculture.comEnquiries: 2763 9011

A prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment was charged by the ICAC with offering a HK$300,000 bribe to a correctional services officer. The defendant was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in July last year. The Correctional Services Department officers, including a Principal Officer in charge of the defendant's ward, would record the defendant's behaviors in her nursing notes which might be used for her psychiatric assessment. And on November 6, 2021, the defendant offered HK$300,000 to the above Principal Officer. Another aunt and uncle, Jim Siu-wai and Jim Chin-kui, were in hospital for three and ten days, respectively.

Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki was appointed as the Chairperson of the Candidate Eligibility Review Committee on Monday. The government announced Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu's appointment of members of the CERC commencing on September 19. As the above appointment takes effect, Paul Chan Mo-po, Financial Secretary, ceases to be the Chairperson of the CERC. The official members of the CERC included Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai; Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung; and Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen. CERC is responsible for assessing and validating the eligibility of candidates in the Election Committee, CE and Legislative Council elections.

Authorities may seek further discussion with the Athletic Association to postpone the 2022 Hong Kong Marathon to next February, which was previously scheduled on November 20 but announced to be cancelled. Hong Kong Association of Athletics Affiliates, the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon organiser, announced last Friday to cancel the event as it "had no choice" and failed to get the government's approval in time amid the Covid-19 epidemic. "We have always been actively responding to the Association's application, and we will support entirely for holding the race," Yeung said. However, he emphasised that the format of the race needs to take into account the circumstances of the epidemic. The previous races of the Hong Kong Marathon were generally held in January or February, but the race last year was brought forward to October.

Beijing has committed to peaking its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Overall carbon emissions in China have fallen for four consecutive quarters on the back of an economic slowdown, research reported by climate monitor Carbon Brief showed in early September. Premier Li Keqiang in June called for "releasing advanced coal capacity, as much as possible, and implementing long-term coal supply." Expanding coal capacity as a quick fix, however, goes against "immediate annual cuts in coal use that the UN and leading research organizations have called for," GEM analysts said. "The more coal China builds now, the harder it becomes to finance and deliver renewable energy projects later," Wu Jinghan, climate and energy project leader for Greenpeace East Asia, told AFP.

The government should relax the entry quarantine rules before the year ends since it has affected the city’s international image, says a business sector lawmaker. Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung claimed on Sunday that the currently applied quarantine arrangement for arrivals has had adverse effects. It led to the cancellation of several major international events, including the 15th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships and the Hong Kong Marathon 2022. In a radio programme, Lam called for lifting the quarantine rules as it would be “too late” if they continue to be in force until the end of the year. He cites that top executives from about 20 leading global firms will come to Hong Kong for the financial summit in November.

Police arrested four triad members in the New Territories today, rescuing a teenager kidnapped by the arrestees for a debt of about HK$100,000. The force received a report Saturday night claiming a 17-year-old was kidnapped by his debtors in Mong Kok at about 7pm. The suspects drove the teenager to the station to get the money at around 4am on Sunday. The police arrested the party and rescued the teenager. The arrested four were in their twenties and have triad backgrounds, and the case is now being investigated by the Tai Po Police District Anti-Triad Squad Two.

Eight transsexual men dressed as women for prostitution were among 31 people arrested on Friday on Hong Kong Island as police launched a series of operations to combat illegal prostitution and gambling activities. Hong Kong Island regional anti-triad unit and Wan Chai police district first sent plain-clothes officers to raid Fuji Building on Lockhart Road and arrested eight men and a woman aged 26 to 36 for breaching their conditions of stay. It is understood that the eight men are transsexual men who dress as women for prostitution, charging HK$600 to HK$800 for each sexual service. In North Point, police raided two gambling dens on Fort Street and Cheung Hong Street and arrested a 35-year-old non-Chinese woman and a 39-year-old local man for operating a gambling establishment. Thirteen customers, including eight men and five women aged 31 to 52, were arrested for gambling in a gambling establishment.