Holiday border rush pushes Hong Kong to 3.2 million crossings—85 % of pre-Covid level
950 000 visitors flood Hong Kong over New-Year weekend as checkpoints extend hours
Overnight queues end: Hong Kong shifts ‘test-free’ driving-licence tickets fully online
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Hong Kong wins bid to host 94th INTERPOL General Assembly, expects 1 500 delegates
The hand-over of the INTERPOL flag in Morocco confirms Hong Kong as host of the 94th General Assembly in 2026. The event will attract around 1 500 law-enforcement delegates, prompting the government to prepare fast-track e-Channel lanes and special customs licences—logistics that global mobility teams need to note well in advance.
Asia’s departure-tax trend grows: Japan to follow Hong Kong and others with July 2026 hike
Japan will triple its exit tax in July 2026, aligning with levies already charged by Hong Kong and several Asian neighbours. The widening tax net raises costs for regional itineraries and spotlights Hong Kong’s own HK$120 departure tax, although the city says no increase is planned.
Hong Kong checkpoints handle 3.2 million cross-border movements during three-day mainland New-Year break
New Immigration Department statistics show Hong Kong processed 3.2 million passenger movements from 1–3 January, roughly 85 per cent of the equivalent 2019 holiday volume. Round-the-clock e-Channels, extra intercity trains and mobile ‘immigration marshals’ kept queues under 20 minutes—good news for firms shuttling staff across the boundary.
Immigration Department logs 5.4 million trips over five-day New-Year period, signalling full rebound
Extending its holiday snapshot, Hong Kong recorded 5.4 million land, sea and air trips between 31 December and 4 January. Mainland visitors drove much of the growth, boosting hotel occupancy and raising the prospect of overnight checkpoint operations during the next peak period.
Inbound visitors to Hong Kong hit 950,000 over New-Year weekend, up 40 per cent year-on-year
Almost a million visitors entered Hong Kong over the New-Year long weekend, propelled by a 48 per cent jump in mainland arrivals and steady gains from Southeast Asia. The surge tightened hotel supply and underscores the need for firms to book early for Q1 events.
Restaurant owners and five Indonesian nationals arrested in Hong Kong’s latest illegal-worker sweep
Immigration officers arrested two restaurant owners and five Indonesian nationals at a Kwai Chung food factory, alleging illegal employment and visa overstay. The case highlights Hong Kong’s tough stance on unlawful work and the compliance risks for companies that outsource food production.
Air China trims Cathay Pacific stake in tactical move; Hong Kong flag-carrier focuses on frequency growth
Air China’s HK$1.32 billion sale of a small slice of Cathay Pacific is being framed as tactical, not strategic, leaving the Mainland carrier with an eventual 29.98 per cent holding. Cathay says it will channel fresh capital into higher frequencies rather than new destinations—welcome news for business travellers seeking more schedule flexibility.