The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Hong Kong

  • China, Australia police arrest five drug traffickers

    China, Australia police arrest five drug traffickers

    Police from China and Australia have arrested five suspects in cross-border drug trafficking.

    A total of 100 kilograms of methamphetamine was seized during raids in Shenzhen in January, police in south China’s Guangdong Province said on Monday.

    The police were tipped off in November, 2016 that a gang of drug dealers was trafficking drugs from China to Australia.

    Three Chinese, including two from Hong Kong, one Australian and one Fijian were detained in raids in February and March.

    Police from the two countries signed a joint anti-drug operation deal in November, 2015.

    Since the agreement, 150 drug dealers, 4,140 kilograms of various drugs and 3,310 kilograms of raw materials for drugs have been seized.

  • We are searching for missing Chinese billionaire -Hong Kong police

    We are searching for missing Chinese billionaire -Hong Kong police

    Hong Kong police on Wednesday confirmed that they are investigating the disappearance of a Chinese billionaire Xiao Jianhua, in spite of a request from his family not to do so.

    Authorities told newsmen that Xiao, founder of the Beijing-based Tomorrow Group, crossed onto the Chinese mainland on Friday.

    The Tomorrow Group is a holding company for a vast business empire with stakes in Chinese state-dominated industries including banking, insurance, property, coal, cement and rare-earth minerals

    A source close to the Chinese billionaire also told newsmen that Xiao was in China.

    Xiao Jianhua
                                                                                   Xiao Jianhua

    The anonymous source, who did not want to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Xiao can only communicate with family members.

    However, Wednesday’s police statement and media reports were the latest twists in events surrounding Xiao’s apparent disappearance.

    A front page newspaper advertisement in Hong Kong on Wednesday stated that Xiao was seeking treatment abroad.

    The report said the Tomorrow Group has also released two statements, via Chinese messaging app WeChat, saying Xiao was overseas and would appear “very soon after the treatment”.

    The two WeChat statements have since been removed.

  • Hong Kong firm to build 200,000 barrels refinery in Nigeria

    A Hong kong based firm,  Blooming Faith Petroleum Ltd, is partnering the Federal Government to build  and operate a 200,000 barrels per day ( bpd) capacity in Nigeria.

    The company, a subsidiary of Blooming Faith Global Holdings, plans to build the refinery in Akwa-Ibom state.

    Its chairman, Dr. Robert Yeung during his visit to Nigeria, said  the firm was planning to build the refinery in order to help Nigeria reduce the importation of petroleum products.

    He said:’’ Two major reaons informed the decision of the firm ro build a refniery in Nigeria. First, is the need to fill a vacuum created by the failure of the four government-owned refneries to perform to optimal capacity in the country. Secondly, is the realisation that Nigeria is an investment destination, which must be explored to the fullest.’’

    He said his company is not interested in exporting fuel, but to produce it for the domestic market, adding that discussions are on-going with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) and the Departmnt of Petroleum Resources(DPRP.

    Also, the firm’s Director in charge of International Operations, Mr. John Erigwe, said   the company has the financial capability and technical expertise to see the project through.

    According to him, Blooming  is interested in investing in Nigeria’s economy, stressing that this is main reason why the firm is planning to dicuss with the Honourable Minister of Ststae for Petroleum resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, how to acheive this goal.

    He said the refinery, if approved by the Federal Government, would follow Dangore Petrochemcial Refinery in terms of size and output.

    .Still on the issue, Chief Executive officer of ‘D’Alphaxristi Ltd and consultants to the firm, said  it is pertinent that the Government eases the pathway to investments as a way of encouraging investors to commit funds to projects.

    “This is one of those investments that will have direct impact on the ordinary Nigerian people and the government should give such project immense priority. Investors must be encouraged with incentives and access to government support when required.

    It would be recalled that Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Kachikwu was in China recently on a Road Show that aimed at creating awareness for the nation’s economy.

    The show is expected to provide  $100 billion worth of investments for Nigeian oil and gas industry.

  • Hong Kong rejects Jetstar’s bid to set up local airline

    Hong Kong has refused an application by Jetstar to set up local operations there

    Hong Kong authorities have rejected an application by Qantas-backed Australian budget carrier Jetstar to set up a local airline, after nearly two years of deliberation.

    The regulator said the bid did not comply with the laws of having its principal place of business in the Chinese territory.

    The city’s other carriers had also objected, it said.

    Qantas said it would reconsider basing the low-cost carrier in Hong Kong.

    The carrier is a three-way joint venture between Qantas Airways, China Eastern Airlines and Hong Kong investment firm Shun Tak Holdings.

    “Jetstar Hong Kong cannot make its decisions independently from that of the two foreign shareholders,” said the Air Transport Licensing Authority when handing down its decision.

    It also said the city’s other carriers, including Cathay Pacific and Dragon Airlines, had objected to Jetstar’s application.

    Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the decision was disappointing for shareholders as well as “for the travellers that Jetstar Hong Kong planned to serve”.

    “It’s the travelling public who have lost out, because the message from this decision is that Hong Kong appears closed to fresh aviation investment even when it is majority locally-owned and controlled,” he said in a statement.

    He added that Hong Kong was going in the opposite direction of other aviation markets in Asia that were “opening up”.

    “Given the importance of aviation to global commerce, shutting the door to new competition can only serve the vested interests already installed in that market.”

    The airline, along with its partners, said it had not yet decided on whether to appeal the decision.

     

     

    The joint venture was valued at $10million Australian dollars ($7.7million; £4.9million), according to Qantas.

     

     

    Shares of Qantas were down 1.4% in Sydney in reaction to the news.

     

  • Policemen arrested over beating in Hong Kong

    Ken Tsang was photographed on 15 October being taken away by policemen, shortly before his alleged beating  PHOTO:AFP

    Seven Hong Kong policemen have been arrested in connection with the beating of a pro-democracy protester.

    A police statement said the officers, who had already been suspended, were detained on suspicion of “assault resulting in grievous body harm”.

    The incident took place on 15 October amid clashes while police cleared an underpass by the Admiralty camp.

    Civic Party protester Ken Tsang was filmed being led away in handcuffs and beaten for several minutes.

    Local TV network TVB later aired footage of his assault, and Mr Tsang’s lawyer said that the beatings had continued after he was taken to a police station.

    The authorities immediately moved to suspend the officers and launched an investigation shortly after the clip was aired.

    A video filmed by the Apple Daily newspaper appeared to show officers beating a handcuffed protester

    Images such as this one allegedly showing marks on Ken Tsang’s back have caused outrage

    On Wednesday, a police spokesman said they had not delayed investigations into the case, and that Mr Tsang had promised to show up to identify his assailants, but failed to do so.

    The spokesman called on Mr Tsang to “assist the police in investigations as soon as possible”.

    The police also rejected previous criticism of their handling of the case, saying that their investigations had consistently followed the procedures for complaints against police officers.

    “If any other officer is suspected of illegal behaviour, the police will investigate impartially and not show favouritism,” said the spokesman.

    Police used pepper spray and batons on 15 October to remove protesters from Lung Wo Road, arresting 45 people who had resisted the action.

    The clearance operation continued on Wednesday as bailiffs, backed by police, began removing barricades

    Since then the authorities have attempted to clear parts of the three protest sites in Hong Kong, after the high court granted injunctions to several groups.

    Wednesday’s announcement by the police came amid efforts by bailiffs, aided by the police, to clear the Mong Kok protest site, which resulted in more clashes. More than 140 people have been arrested.

  • Quadri gets Hong Kong foe in round of 16

    Quadri gets Hong Kong foe in round of 16

    As the ongoing ITTF World Cup enters the knockout stage today, Nigerian table tennis ace, Aruna Quadri has been paired against Tang Peng from Hong Kong, who is rated number 16 in the world. The game begins 12 noon local time.

    In the qualiying round played yesterday, Quadri defeated World number 37, Russia’s Alexander Shibaev in the last group match of the first round. He had earlier beaten Japan’s Matsudaira in the first game.

    From the start of the encounter, Quadri pinned back his Russian opponent and never gave him a chance as he won easily 11-6, 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 to confirm his place in the main draw.

    Quadri told NationSport after the match that he capitalised on his opponent’s mistakes to claim the victory.

    “I was a bit nervous early in the game, but when I discovered he was making some mistakes I had to capitalise on this to earn points. I knew I had to win the game because he lost to Japan’s Matsudaira in his first game. I just thought I would win 4-3, but when I discovered he was making some mistakes, I quickly used this to gain points. I think he did not get his rhythm tonight (yesternight) because I knew him as a good player having beaten him at the Czech Open this year,” he said.

    “I never thought I will progress to the next round because I was in the same group with players who were ranked higher than me. So, I had nothing to lose and I knew if I win it would be a massive result. I am ready to face any player because they will be under pressure as they are ranked better than me. I am hoping for another upset.”

    It would be recalled that Quadri defeated the Russian 4-3 at the last Czech Open.

  • Citic to expand Hong Kong presence

    Citic to expand Hong Kong presence

    Citic Group Corp., a state-owned company that describes itself as a pilot of China’s economic reform, plans to list the majority of its assets in Hong Kong by injecting them into its subsidiary Citic Pacific Ltd.

    Citic Pacific has signed a framework agreement to acquire Citic Group’s main operating unit — called Citic Ltd. — according to a statement today. The unit has total shareholder equity of 225 billion yuan ($36 billion), Citic Pacific said, without providing a total value for the deal. Citic Pacific will pay for the purchase in cash and new shares, with the terms still being negotiated, the company said.

    The move will expand the company’s presence in Hong Kong, serving as a boon to the city after China’s largest e-commerce company, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. said it plans to conduct its initial public offering in the U.S. As part of the deal Citic plans to move its domicile to Hong Kong, two people with knowledge of the matter said earlier today.

    “With its established legal framework, high governance standards, international connectivity and strong talent pool, Hong Kong remains the ideal place for the next phase of our development and we are deeply committed to this market,” Chang Zhenming, Citic Pacific chairman, said in the statement today.

    At $36 billion, the deal would top China Mobile Ltd.’s $32 billion purchase of seven wireless networks from its parent, to be the largest such asset injection into a Hong Kong-listed unit by a Chinese company, data compiled by Bloomberg show. China’s state-owned companies transfer assets to their listed entities in Hong Kong to raise funds and increase access to capital markets. Citic Pacific currently has a market value of about $6 billion.

    “The Board believes the proposed transaction would greatly increase the breadth and scale of our business,” Chang said in today’s statement.

    Beijing-based Citic Group, China’s first state-owned investment corporation, was set up in 1979 as part of paramount leader Deng Xiaoping’s push to modernise and open up China’s state-controlled economy.

     

  • North Korea deports detained Australian missionary

    North Korea on Monday deported a 75-year-old Australian missionary, detained last month for distributing religious material, AFP reported.

    Hong Kong-based John Short arrived in Beijing on a commercial flight from Pyongyang hours after the North’s official KCNA news agency announced he was being released.

    North Korea had arrested him a week ago after leaving “Bible tracts” in a Buddhist temple in Pyongyang during a tour.