HONG KONG, Oct 9, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific has been 'hit hard' by the global financial crisis with a significant drop in the number of first and business class travellers, senior managers said.

Cathay's chief executive Tony Tyler said that concern had shifted from the sky-high price of oil earlier in the year to weak passenger numbers.

HONG KONG, Oct 9, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong share prices ended Thursday morning up 2.7 percent, buoyed by interest rate cuts across the globe, but investors remained nervous about the state of the global economy, dealers said.

HONG KONG, Oct 9, 2008 (AFP) - The Hong Kong Monetary Authority on Thursday cut its key interest rate by 50 basis points following similar moves by central banks across the world.

The city's de facto central bank made the move after announcing Wednesday it would change the formula for calculating its rate, effectively already lowering it by 100 basis points.

HONG KONG, Oct 9, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong share prices closed 3.3 percent higher on Thursday, as interest rate cuts across the world provided some comfort to nervous investors, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 511.51 points at 15,943.24. However, turnover remained light at 60.87 billion Hong Kong dollars (7.80 billion US).

HONG KONG, Oct 9, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong share prices opened up 1.1 percent Thursday, after central banks worldwide cut interest rates in a coordinated bid to ease the worst financial crisis in decades, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index rose 166.51 points to 15,598.24, reversing a drastic fall of 15.3 percent over the past three trading days.

HONG KONG, Oct 9, 2008 (AFP) - Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams will spearhead a new World Team Challenge in Hong Kong next year as part of their warm-up for the Australian Open.

The January 7-10 tournament will feature four teams representing Europe, Russia, the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

HONG KONG, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong share prices ended the morning down 5.6 percent on Wednesday, as markets tumbled across Asia on worries about the global financial sector, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended the session down 932.61 points at 15,871.15. Turnover was light at 34.77 billion Hong Kong dollars (4.46 billion US).

HONG KONG, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - Furious investors clashed with police outside Bank of China's Hong Kong headquarters Wednesday and demanded the repayment of investments linked to failed US bank Lehman Brothers.

Scuffles erupted outside the Bank of China building, as protesters tried to push through the police's barricade, an AFP photographer at the scene said.

HONG KONG, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong shares closed down 8.2 percent on Wednesday, as fear over the fragility of the global banking system consumed investors across Asia, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index dropped 1,372.03 points to 15,431.73, its lowest level in more than two years. Turnover was 77.78 billion Hong Kong dollars (9.97 billion US).

HONG KONG, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong share prices opened down 5.1 percent on Wednesday as worries deepened about the worst global financial crisis since the Great Depression, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index shed 848.12 points from Monday's close to 15,955.64.

The market was closed for a holiday Tuesday.

HONG KONG, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced it will cut its key interest rate by 100 basis points from Thursday, looking to address the credit crunch that has wreaked havoc on markets worldwide.

HONG KONG, Oct 7, 2008 (AFP) - Emily Zheng, a Chinese soon-to-be grandmother, grabbed as many tins of Japanese-made infant milk powder from the shelves as the Hong Kong store would allow her.

HONG KONG, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong shares opened down 2.9 percent on Monday, matching tumbles across Asia on worries about the state of the global economy, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index opened down 523.40 points at 17,159.00.

HONG KONG, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - A Hong Kong judge Monday dismissed the appeal of 'Milkshake Murderer' Nancy Kissel, who was trying to overturn her conviction for the gruesome murder of her banker husband.

Michael Stuart-Moore, the presiding judge at the city's court of appeal, said there was 'no merit' in any of the grounds of appeal.

HONG KONG, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong share prices ended the morning down 3.4 percent on Monday, matching the tumbles in other Asian bourses on worries about the global financial system, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended the session down 592.83 points at 17,089.57. Volume was light at 23.55 billion Hong Kong dollars (3.36 billion US) highlighting investors' caution.

HONG KONG, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong share prices closed down 5.0 percent on Monday, as markets tumbled across Asia and Europe on worries over the stability of the global financial system, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended the session down 878.64 points at 16,803.76. Turnover was light at 47.33 billion Hong Kong dollars (6.07 billion US).

HONG KONG, Oct 5, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong's food safety watchdog said Sunday that two China-made chocolate products sold here by British sweetmaker Cadbury contained dangerous levels of melamine.

HONG KONG, Oct 2, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong's financial services chief on Thursday weighed in on the dispute over the possible mis-selling of investment products backed by failed US bank Lehman Brothers.

Chan Ka-cheung, secretary for financial services, met representatives of 21 banks, who are accused by disgruntled investors of mis-selling 'mini-bonds' that could now be worthless.

HONG KONG, Oct 2, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong's financial services chief on Thursday weighed in on the dispute over the possible mis-selling of investment products backed by failed US bank Lehman Brothers.

Chan Ka-cheung, secretary for financial services, met representatives of 21 banks, who are accused by disgruntled investors of mis-selling 'mini-bonds' that could now be worthless.

HONG KONG, Oct 1, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong's food safety watchdog said that the level of melamine in Cadbury products was safe, after the British sweet maker recalled 11 of its China-made chocolates.

Cadbury recalled the product lines from Taiwan, Australia and Hong Kong after they found traces of the industrial chemical, which has led to more than 53,000 babies falling ill in China.

HONG KONG, Oct 1, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong's government said Wednesday it found the toxic chemical melamine in a Japanese brand of cheesecake, joining a growing list of products caught up in China's toxic milk scandal.

HONG KONG, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - Anglo-Dutch company Unilever has recalled brands of Lipton milk tea powder in Hong Kong and Macau after they were found tainted with an industrial chemical, the company said Tuesday.

Unilever Hong Kong Ltd has found the chemical melamine in four batches of the powder during its internal testing, the company said in a statement.

HONG KONG, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong share prices opened down 5.6 percent on Tuesday, as the decision by US lawmakers to block a proposed financial bailout plan caused havoc across Asian markets, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index opened down 998.68 points at 16,882.00, after falling 4.3 percent on Monday.

HONG KONG, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong share prices ended the morning session down 2.4 percent on Tuesday, recovering some of the severe early losses sparked by worries over a proposed Wall Street bailout, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index ended the morning down 433.02 points at 17,447.66. Turnover was 39.24 billion Hong Kong dollars (5.03 billion US).

HONG KONG, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong shares closed 0.8 percent higher Tuesday after falling more than six percent at one point in a roller coaster day driven by worries over the US financial sector bailout plan, dealers said.

Than benchmark Hang Seng Index finished 135.53 points higher at 18,106.21 on turnover worth 71.81 billion Hong Kong dollars (9.21 billion US).

HONG KONG, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - Anglo-Dutch company Unilever is recalling brands of Lipton milk tea powder in Hong Kong after they were found tainted with an industrial chemical, authorities said Tuesday.

HONG KONG, Sept 29, 2008 (AFP) - British sweet maker Cadbury said Monday it had recalled its China-made chocolates from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Australia after tests 'cast doubt' on their safety.

In the latest fallout from the toxic milk scandal, which has sickened some 53,000 Chinese babies, Cadbury said it had carried out internal tests on products made at its Beijing plant.

HONG KONG, Sept 29, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong share prices closed down 4.3 percent on Monday, as banking giant HSBC bumped up its mortgage rate, sending property stocks tumbling, dealers said.

The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed down 801.41 points at 17,880.68.

HONG KONG, Sept 28, 2008 (AFP) - A Hong Kong man has been arrested for spreading rumours on the Internet that one of the city's banks was in financial trouble and a run against it was likely, police said Sunday.

The 34-year-old was arrested after posting the accusation in an online forum calling on people to take out their deposits from the bank, Hong Kong police said in a statement.

Apple has started selling unlocked models of its popular iPhone 3G in
Hong Kong which allow users the freedom to select the telecoms provider
of their choice

HONG KONG, Sept 26, 2008 (AFP) - The Hong Kong government said Friday it has found the toxic chemical melamine in Heinz baby cereal and in rice crackers.

Authorities here said they had ordered a recall of the products and would prosecute the companies involved if there was sufficient evidence.

HONG KONG, Sept 26, 2008 (AFP) - Global banking giant HSBC is to cut 1,100 jobs worldwide because of the volatile global financial environment, a spokesman said Friday.

The cuts will be made in the bank's global banking and markets divisions, with around half of those losing their jobs in HSBC's British operations, Hong Kong-based spokesman Gareth Hewett said.

HONG KONG, Sept 26, 2008 (AFP) - Banking giant HSBC is to cut 1,100 jobs worldwide because of the volatile global financial environment, a spokesman said Friday.

The cuts will be made in the global banking and market division, with around half of those losing their jobs in HSBC's British operations, Hong Kong-based spokesman Gareth Hewett said.

HONG KONG, Sept 26, 2008 (AFP) - Hong Kong supermarkets cleared a popular biscuit from shelves Friday, after tests in Macau showed it contained large amounts of a chemical linked to China's toxic milk scandal.

HONG KONG, Sept 26, 2008 (AFP) - Banking giant HSBC is to cut 1,100 jobs worldwide because of the volatile global financial environment, a spokesman said Friday.

The cuts will be made in the global banking and market division, with around half of those losing their jobs in HSBC's British operations, Hong Kong-based spokesman Gareth Hewett said.

HONG KONG, Sept 25, 2008 (AFP) - Hundreds of Hong Kong savers swarmed Bank of East Asia branches for a second day Thursday, but its share price bounced back after authorities insisted it was not overexposed to Wall Street's crisis.