Name: TVB News at 7:30｜29 MAR 2026｜HONG KONG English Latest NEWS｜
Uploaded: 2026-03-31T00:06:17.000Z
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Financial Secretary Paul Chan said more than 13 million people have visited Hong Kong so far this year, which is an increase of 17 percent year-on-year.

The FS also expected a tenth consecutive month of year-on-year growth for retail sales throughout February.

This as authorities will continue to closely monitor the situation in the Middle East and rising oil prices, as well as their effects on Hong Kong.

Having visited the Art Basel Fair on Saturday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan noted on his blog that many exhibitors and event organizers were pleased with the increased people flow and positive situation with art sales.

He further said many art lovers and collectors came all the way to the city not just for the art gala,

but also to enjoy the local delicacies and visit landmarks.

The finance chief emphasized that the government will continue to roll out an ensorment of large-scale financial, cultural, and

sports events to attract high-quality tourists to the city.

According to figures from last Friday, Hong Kong recorded more than 13.7 million tourists so far this year, which is a growth of 17 percent year-on-year.

A positive trend could also be seen in the city's stock and housing markets, which helped to boost the catering and retail sectors.

The financial secretary expects retail sales figures throughout February, set to be released later this week, will continue its tenth consecutive year of growth year-on-year.

In just the first two months of this year, the value of local exports increased by close to 30 percent year-on-year, which marked the 24th month of continuous growth.

Private property prices have also risen by 2.6 percent, marking nine consecutive months of growth.

Regarding escalating tensions in the Middle East, the FS stressed the worst effects on the city are limited owing to Hong Kong being a primarily service-based economy, which results in comparatively fewer exports to the conflict-ridden region.

He added that concerns for local energy supply stability should be alleviated as there is strong backing from the motherland, noting that authorities will continue to closely monitor the situation and assess international energy markets.

Lin told TVB News that a dedicated legislation for the northern metropolis will slash construction time by at least a year for specific projects.

The government aims to pass the dedicated laws to streamline sanitary procedures for the northern metropolis within this year.

Speaking with TVB News, Secretary for Development Bernard L.

Lin said while it was hard to say how the mega project could be sped up, some particular projects could be completed at least one year ahead of schedule.

I believe some projects are likely to be fast-tracked by about a year.

We may have to extend working hours into the night in order to accelerate the construction progress.

Streamlining procedures for construction noise permit application would be a great help.

A key element of the plan is to shorten the process applications on changing land uses for non-conservation zones from nine months to two months.

Concerns mount over whether this will trigger a wave of resigning applications.

Lin believes increasing residential density of some sites could make the investment more appealing for developers.

Meanwhile, she pledged that the authorities would not compromise the northern metropolis' overall strategic positioning.

Tendering is currently underway for Hong Sui Qiu Ha Chun, with a deadline set for July 3.

The development chief noted that after reviewing over 20 expressions of interest, she felt local and mainland firms have shown genuine interest in the project.

Dozens of journalists and supporters marched through central Beirut to protest the killing of three people, including two reporters in southern Lebanon.

They accused Israel of deliberately targeting media workers.

Demonstrators held posters of journalists Ali Shoaib and Fatima Fatouhni and chanted anti-Israeli slogans calling for accountability.

Shoaib worked for Hezbollah's Al Manar TV, while Fatouhni was employed by Beirut-based Al Mayadeen TV.

The third person killed was Fatouhni's brother Mohammed.

Protests said the attack was part of a broader pattern of violence against journalists covering the latest conflict in Lebanon.

Senate appeared to have finally figured out how to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security before it faced the longest partial shutdown in history.

Senators handed House Speaker Mike Johnson their deal and headed for the airport confident of success.

Instead, on Friday night, the House passed a bill to fund the entire department through to May 22nd.

On this vote, the Yays are 213 and the Nays are 203.

Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.

Pursuant to the adoption of House Resolution 1142, the Senate amendment to HR 7147 is considered as agreed to, with an amendment consisting of the text of the Rules Committee print 119-21.

Johnson said he had spoken with Trump about the House Republican plan and the president supported it.

House Republicans were livid that the bill passed by the Senate does not fund immigration and customs enforcement and border patrol.

Democrats refused to fund those departments without changes to immigration enforcement practices.

The collapse of the deal leaves Congress now on a two-week spring break, with no easy way out of the impasse that has put DHS into a shutdown since mid-February.

It has also exposed a rare rupture between the two Republican leaders in Congress, testing their alliance as they labor to move another set of President Donald Trump's priorities into law before the November elections.

Two sailboats that went missing while carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba have arrived in Havana, days after they went in communicando because of bad weather.

The vessels carrying eight people departed from Isla Mujeres in southern Mexico on March 20th and then lost contact, fueling concern in Mexico, Cuba, and

In a post on X Saturday morning, the Mexican Navy said an aircraft spotted their boats 148 kilometers northwest of Havana and that a boat was on its way to provide help.

The friendship entered Havana Bay in the afternoon, where few people were waiting because of the unexpected arrival.

The Tiger Moth fell a half an hour behind.

An increasing number of countries and aid organizations have sent shipments of aid to Cuba, as a U.S.

fuel blockade has caused crippling blackouts and has pushed the Caribbean nation to the brink of collapse.

Japanese police have searched the Self-Defense Forces base, where the Chinese MC intruder is stationed, as well as his residence on Sunday, on suspicion of unlawful entry, according to Kyodo News.

Authorities sent a man claiming to be an active-duty SDF officer carried a knife and forcefully broke into the premises of the Chinese MC in Tokyo by scaling the wall last Tuesday, threatening to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel.

The lawbreaker was arrested and detained on the same day.

He has been identified as Kodai Murata, a 23-year-old second lieutenant with the Ground Self-Defense Force, stationed at Camp Abino Miyazaki.

The Chinese MC has officially launched a solemn representation with Japan and demanded a thorough investigation for a responsible answer.

A humpback whale stranded again in Germany after it was freed near a Baltic resort last week.

The complicated and delicate efforts to rescue the 12-to-15-meter whale off a sandbank earlier captivated Germans, with media sending news alerts of updates on its progress and streaming live video from the scene.

The whale swam through a man-made escape channel on Friday,

but it was spotted the next day near the coastal town of Vismar.

The marine mammal is unlikely to survive in the Baltic Sea long-term, as the salt concentration of the sea is not high enough and the creature has already developed a skin disease.

It also won't be able to find the right kind of nutrition it needs.

Starting next month, residents of the seven affected Waffle Court buildings can return to their units in phases to collect personal items.

The government has issued instructions and guidelines for those intending to enter the structures, such as residents only being allowed to enter into their own units, as well as strongly suggesting against pregnant women, children, and

It has been more than four months since the devastating fire that destroyed much of Taipei's Waffle Court.

For residents of the seven buildings affected by the blaze, they can begin entering their damaged homes in phases to collect personal items starting on the 20th of next month.

Each person is allowed a maximum stay of three hours.

This as the government issued instructions and guidelines for those who wish to enter the buildings.

Residents are only permitted to enter their own respective units and are barred from filming other units or individuals on site without consent.

As those entering the structures could only head up to their units via stairs, authorities strongly suggest that elderly people, pregnant women, and

children should not enter the buildings, noting that the structures are currently in extremely poor conditions.

Residents are also barred from using washrooms inside their units, urging those who wish to enter to use provisional facilities set up by the government prior to entering the buildings.

A maximum of four people are allowed to return to a single unit for just one time.

Some residents wish to collect their personal items as a family said their concern after reading the guidelines.

This man questioned why he isn't allowed to collect his belongings on more than one occasion and asked whether three hours is enough.

Meanwhile, the government stressed it has set the time limit after careful considerations were made regarding fairness and practicality.

Starting today, all passengers departing from the Hong Kong International Airport can bring no more than two power banks on flights.

Some travelers, however, said they were unclear about the new instructions.

At the Hong Kong International Airport, no official signage concerning the new rule could be seen this morning.

Some passengers said that airline staff did not mention the change during check-in.

This man said power banks are essential gear for hikers like him, so he always brings two every time he goes aboard.

Another traveler said the airline or airport staff should give them a heads-up, as people risk having their power banks confiscated or thrown away.

While this passenger believes it is a reasonable move, she said she would have charged up at home if she knew the new arrangement in advance.

In 2025 and the first months of 2026, a number of power banks on different flights caught fire, seriously endangering crews and passengers.

To tackle the emerging risks, the International Civil Aviation Organization has introduced new power bank restrictions to improve aviation safety last Friday, capping power banks at two per passenger on flights.

Passengers are also banned from recharging these devices during flights.