Hong Kong introduces real-name reservations for Po Pin Chau trail to prevent scalping and no-shows, considering ballot systems and potential future fees after pilot evaluation.
Labour's King's Speech unveils bills to reset EU relations, nationalise British Steel, reform NHS, education, housing, and immigration, amidst potential backlash from Labour MPs on asylum measures.
YouTubers and TikTokers would be granted access under a Council pilot scheme.
A Hong Kong secondary school facing student backlash over newly tightened mobile phone rules has said it will seek further feedback from stakeholders and review the policy’s scope and implementation. A source also told the South China Morning Post on Wednesday that Kwun Tong Maryknoll College had planned to extend the policy to all students after launching a pilot scheme for Form Three and Four students. In a letter to parents on Tuesday, principal Caroline Sin Nga-lam said the school had noted...
NPS Swasthya is a PFRDA-backed pilot scheme allowing NPS subscribers to withdraw retirement savings for healthcare needs. Launched under the regulatory sandbox framework in January, it offers two proof-of-concept options: ICICI Prudential+Apollo+Kfintech and Axis Pension+Tata Pension+Aditya Birla Health+CAMS+MediAssist. The scheme enables tax-free partial withdrawals directly to hospitals/TPAs without the four-withdrawal limit of regular NPS. However, participating companies emphasize it is NOT a substitute for comprehensive health insurance—it serves as an additional funding source during medical emergencies when existing coverage is inadequate.
South Korea has launched its first pilot scheme to expand funeral support for deceased foreign workers, following the death of 23-year-old Vietnamese worker Nguyen Van Tuan in a conveyor belt accident at a gravel factory in Icheon, Gyeonggi province. K-Comwel President Park Jong-kil honored Tuan at Incheon International Airport, stating the grief was the same despite the language difference. The agency is now working to institutionalize the benefit through reforms.
Hong Kong government launches pilot scheme inviting private operators to develop three public beaches - Butterfly Beach in Tuen Mun, Tung Wan Beach in Ma Wan and Big Wave Bay in Southern district. District councillor Chung Kin-fung suggests hosting beer and barbecue festivals, while Director of Leisure and Cultural Services Manda Chan Wing-man says fees must remain affordable and strict KPIs will not be imposed.
Dr. James Noyes, an early proponent of gambling affordability checks, has called on the government to pause their implementation. He cites concerns over transparency, potential harm to the horse racing industry, and the need for further evaluation of pilot schemes.
OKX Ventures and HashKey Capital will invest in Vietnam's CAEX, providing capital to meet the 10 trillion VND threshold for the country's regulated cryptocurrency trading pilot program.
