Hong Kong

If you have travel plans coming up that include a flight to Asia, you may be part of the newest wave of airport technology. The idea is to get passengers on their way more quickly — and without having to always take out a passport.

There’s news this week concerning a train project that has been long-delayed and whose costs have soared way past the original budget. It’s not the Honolulu rail project. This rail is more than 5,000 miles from O’ahu – connecting Hong Kong and southern China.

Hurricane Florence continues to threaten parts of the east coast of the mainland. Closer to home, Tropical Storm Olivia is cutting across the islands. But another dangerous storm is moving through another part of the Pacific.

There are many ways to measure the impact of high housing prices in a community. In Hawaii and other states there is the annual point in time count of homeless on the streets and in shelters. But there are other measurements — including an unusual one that has developed in Hong Kong.

A multi-billion dollar rail project is running into unexpected problems, and may require some extra money. This is not a story about the Honolulu rail project — it’s about an enterprise that’s underway thousands of miles from Hawai‘i. 

It’s a city on the water, where tourism plays an important role and housing costs have spiraled beyond affordability for many residents. But government officials are floating new ideas to deal with the housing crisis. The city is not Honolulu, but Hong Kong. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

2018 is an election year not just here in Hawaii, but also for a number of congressional races around the country. Overseas, this past weekend saw an important election in Hong Kong—with significant results. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Valentine’s Day is a western tradition. Certainly encouraged by greeting card companies, among other influences. But it’s also celebrated in many parts of Asia with a surprising twist in Hong Kong. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Plastic in the ocean is a serious pollution problem—and it’s getting worse. While many factors contribute to the issue, one growing concern is plastic water bottles. And one of the largest coastal cities in Asia is trying a new approach to cut down on the waste. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Hawai‘i gets a relatively early start on the school year, compared to most schools on the mainland. For many universities, early September means back to school. That’s the case in Hong Kong, where a new academic year is bringing new protests against the government in Beijing. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A week before Labor Day, there’s a focus on a group of workers who want an increase in their minimum wage. Over a time of increasing wealth in Hong Kong, domestic workers there have seen very little movement in their pay. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Condominiums are selling faster than single family homes in several parts of the state. Real estate professionals say a lot of that has to do with price and size. But while some condos are getting smaller here, it’s nothing compared to what’s going on in Hong Kong. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Three student leaders of Hong Kong’s democracy movement have been sentenced to prison. It’s a reversal of a previous sentence of community service and sends a chilling message to protestors. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Dozens of stray cats in Hong Kong will be allowed to stay in a place they have adopted as their home. In a reversal of policy, officials will let the cats keep living in a prison. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

It’s still a little more than a month away, but a party planned in East Asia is already sparking controversy. The occasion is the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s political return to China. And there are some competing plans. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Housing prices across the state continue to rise. While there are monthly fluctuations, the long term trend is definitely toward higher prices. But there are some locations where the cost of real estate has spiked even more—including an Asian location that set a new record this week. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Issues of mental health have come under closer attention around the world. In part, that’s because of recent efforts of people from Britain’s Prince William and Prince Harry to Lady Gaga. But in at least one part of Asia, large challenges remain. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

It’s been about a month since food trucks were introduced to Hong Kong. And while those trucks are popular in many spots around these islands, in Hong Kong it’s a bit more complicated. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

This has been a dramatic week in Hong Kong. A former top leader of the city was sentenced to prison, and another court case led to an unusual protest by tens of thousands of police officers. HPR’s Bill Dorman has details in today’s Asia Minute.

The waters around the Hawaiian Islands are rich in biodiversity. Other stretches of the Pacific Ocean are also home to many species of marine life. Those include more isolated parts of the ocean. But one location is more of a surprise. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The holiday season is a peak travel time not only in the United States, but in several other parts of the world. That includes Hong Kong, where the airport was disrupted Tuesday by an unusual visitor. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

There’s no question that Hawai‘i has a shortage of affordable housing. That’s also a frequent complaint for a growing number of cities in the Asia Pacific. And in Hong Kong, some of the projections are dramatic. HPR’s Bill Dorman has details in today’s Asia Minute.

A shipment from Taiwan to Singapore was held up this week in Hong Kong. It’s an unusual case that combines elements of business, diplomacy and the military. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Nine armored personnel carriers are stuck on a dock in Hong Kong.  They were found on a container ship bound from Taiwan to Singapore.  Singapore’s Defense Ministry says the vehicles were used in “routine overseas training” ...adding that the government expects “the shipment to return to Singapore expeditiously.”

Washing windows can be a tough job—it’s difficult work and it can be dangerous. And in Hong Kong, it has turned into a chore with international implications. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

This is a big vacation week in China. Saturday marked the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China—and public holidays during the week make it a popular time for travel, both inside the country and overseas. One location keeping close tabs on visitors is Hong Kong. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A Hollywood movie that hasn’t even been released yet is already sparking some controversy in Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

Food trucks are popular around the islands—and their numbers have grown in recent years, especially in Honolulu. But they’re still a novel concept in parts of Asia. This week, the government of Hong Kong is awarding licenses for the city’s first 16 food trucks. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia minute.

Beach cleanups are frequent weekend activities around the islands…organized by groups from Surfriders to Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i. But in Hong Kong, beach cleanups have recently reached a new level. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Summer months are the busiest time of the year for lifeguards—in Hawai‘i and across the country. Summer vacation and hot weather pack beaches and pools in many locations. But in one Asian city, the crowds of summer are bringing trouble when it comes to lifeguards. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

A massive security operation could not stifle all protests in Hong Kong this week, as an important Chinese official arrived. Zhang Dejiang is the chairman of China's legislature, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and the most senior official to visit Hong Kong since the pro-democracy Umbrella Movement in 2014. We have more, from Neal Conan in the Pacific News Minute.

 Thousands of police officers manned barricades around the Convention Center, forcing small groups of demonstrators to official protest zones well out of the way.