Kind of a good news/bad news thing. On the plus side, there was only one fatality here, and no firearms were involved. The downside? Check out the gruesome details: A student in east China’s Anhui Province was axed to death in a university library on Thursday morning, local authorities said. The victim, surnamed Tan, 23, […]

Chinese wanting to invest in the US should not have to undergo “political background checks”, a top Communist party official said at the close of high level trade talks with his counterparts in Washington. Wang Qishan, the outgoing vice-premier responsible for commerce, trade and finance, said at a dinner attended by US cabinet members there […]

I’ve had a couple of people ask me about the current U.S.-China bilateral meeting, which is part of the U.S-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) framework. Not much to say, really. The following quote in Reuters is indicative of the type of progress that is expected this time around: The United States expects […]

It’s not exactly breaking news to say that multinationals/foreign companies have it tough in China. Seems like every other day I’m writing something about a new investigation, enforcement campaign, or dispute involving a foreign firm here. Some times the criticism turns out to be fair, and other times the rumors are unfounded. Occasionally there are […]

The Marine Department and Marine Police will step up vessel inspections and crack down on speeding during the New Year's Eve Countdown Pyrotechnic Show to be held over Victoria Harbour on December 31.

The department and the Police today reminded people to keep appropriate safety measures in mind.

The department expects about 100 vessels will be carrying people to see the fireworks that night, Assistant Director (Port Control) of Marine Raymond Chung said. Most vessels will be on the eastern and western sides of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, which can accommodate about 140 vessels. If it gets too crowded, officers will divert some of them to other locations, including the waters off Tsim Sha Tsui East.

Mr Chung emphasised that parents should look after children and ensure they wear a lifejacket at all times. Coxswains should keep a passenger and crew list in case it is needed.

In addition, passengers should note the locations of the vessels' emergency exits and lifejackets and note how to put on a lifejacket before the vessels depart.

The department will strengthen vessel inspections on the event day and will enforce guidelines on children wearing lifejackets at all times.

Police Superintendent (Operations) Marine Joseph Li noted that the Marine Police will crack down on speeding vessels on that day, also.