Genevieve Pang

First, Labubu came for our purses and backpacks. Now, it’s coming for our phones. Pop Mart CEO Wang Ning announced in a Hong Kong press conference on Wednesday that a miniature version of the highly collectable Labubu doll will be launched as an attachable charm for mobile phones as soon as this week. Not much other information has been released about the new product yet, but Wang was pictured holding an example of the mobile phone accessory at the press conference in Hong Kong. Keen observers have noted that the mini ugly-cute doll resembles the first-generation Labubu figurine from the Exciting Macaron line, just in a much smaller size.  If the new mini version for mobile phones is set to follow the same blind-box philosophy as many other Labubu hero products, we expect there will be a flurry of sales and a frenzy of unboxing activities among collectors hunting for their favourite colours. Unsurprisingly, Pop Mart’s stock shares catapulted 12.5 percent following the announcement of the new product line, a record for the company since it went public in December 2020. Wang also shared in the post-earnings conference that Pop Mart is on track to surpass its annual sales projections, citing the company’s original goal of $21.7 billion as easily achievable, and even forecasting that $32.6 billion is on the cards. Pop Mart is also aggressively pursuing global expansion, targeting emerging markets such as the Middle East, Central Europe, and Central and South America, on top of pl

Marks & Spencer Food in Langham Place is bidding shoppers adieu on August 24 after almost 10 years of operation in one of Hong Kong’s busiest shopping malls. Opened in November 2015, the 3,600-square-foot branch in Mong Kok was once one of the largest M&S food speciality stores in town. It was notable for introducing the British retailer’s ‘Hot Food to Go’ concept to Asia, rivalling brands such as Pret a Manger with its freshly baked goods, sandwiches, soups, and more, alongside ready-to-eat meals. News of the imminent closure was shared on the official Marks & Spencer Hong Kong & Macau Instagram account, along with details of a week-long farewell sale at Langham Place to thank customers for their support. From now until August 24, shoppers can enjoy a 12-percent discount on food and beverage purchases of $250 or above. Don’t mind us while we stock up on bags of Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar sweets! While M&S has not commented on the reason for closing its long-standing Langham Place branch, it’s not difficult to make the leap that challenging conditions in Hong Kong’s retail and dining sectors may have contributed to this shutdown decision. If M&S Food is your go-to for groceries, fear not – there are other branches across the city where you can still shop for your favourite staples, including the Queen’s Road Central location, Windsor House in Causeway Bay, and Cityplaza in Quarry Bay, among others. Over on Kowloon side and in the New Territories, there are also sever

Looking for meow-nificent way to spend the weekend? The SPCA x HKJC SumMEOW Festival takes over the SPCA Tsing Yi Centre until August 31 to present feline-related activities! Cute photo ops, a scavenger hunt, a themed exhibition, and opportunities to visit the SPCA cattery to hopefully welcome a new family member are all part of the month-long programme. Specifically on August 23 to 24, the SPCA x HKJC SumMEOW Festival will stage a series of workshops, seminars, and leisure activities. Visitors can expect two days dedicated to all things cats, starting with a marketplace where owners can shop for toys, treats, and products for their pets, as well as themed merchandise commemorating the event.  Hong Kong-based pet photographers Danny Kwan and Kenneth Kwan will be on-site to snap stunning images of your feline friends, and guests of all ages can join classes such as name-tag creation, toy making, balloon twisting, and face painting. All proceeds will be donated to the SPCA to fund their charitable initiatives.  Photograph: Courtesy SPCA HK August 23 will be centred around a Cat Conference that celebrates the 25th anniversary of the SPCA’s Cat Colony Care Programme. Four industry experts will help to raise awareness for feline welfare in Hong Kong through an afternoon of lectures, starting from 2.05pm. From discussing research on improving our understanding of feline well-being and health, and how to enrich cat welfare at home, to caring for an aging cat population and an in-d

Say it isn’t so! Bing Kee Cha Dong – an iconic dai pai dong in Tai Hang – announced on its Instagram account last weekend that it is “taking a long holiday” indefinitely due to staff shortage and lack of manpower. Loved by Hongkongers and tourists alike, the old-school, tin-roofed dai pai dong has been in operation for more than half a century, and is frequently listed in Hong Kong travel guides as a foodie destination, growing its appeal as a social media ‘check-in’ spot. Bing Kee has a long history stretching all the way back to the 1950s. It first appeared on the scene as a bakery specialising in traditional Chinese pastries before transitioning into a casual dai pai dong serving local, down-to-earth diner fare. Bing Kee’s claim to fame is its authentic Hong Kong-style milk tea – it was even ranked by CNN as one of the top four spots in the city for the classic beverage – and the eatery is also notable for its pork chop noodles, Hong Kong-style French toast, and corned beef and egg sandwiches. Hong Kong superstar Eason Chan has been spotted dining at this no-frills diner on Shepherd Street multiple times, and Bing Kee has even been featured on the silver screen in Hong Kong comedy The Romancing Star 2 and mainland Chinese drama The First Frost. Open-air food stalls like Bing Kee are a dying breed in Hong Kong these days, but there are still a handful of them kicking around, including Sing Kee on Stanley Street, Sing Heung Yuen on Mei Lun Street, and Yuk Yip Dessert on Elgi

It’s something that we’ve all heard complaints about: Airplane food is the worst. Bland flavours, mushy textures, and lukewarm temperatures have not endeared passengers to the in-flight meals commonly found on commercial airliners. But is that stereotype truly the reality of dining at a flight altitude of 35,000 feet above sea level? Certainly not when you’re in first class, says Skytrax, which has just released its rankings for the top 10 airlines offering the best first-class food in the world. Hong Kong’s home carrier, Cathay Pacific, would likewise disagree, having snagged fifth place on the global list, trailing behind Singapore Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, and Emirates. (While Lufthansa may have us beat in the Best First Class Onboard Catering category, Cathay Pacific is ranked 4th overall in the World’s Best First Class Airlines of 2025.) Photograph: Courtesy Cathay Pacific Airways Limited Aside from food presentation, variety, and flavour, the availability of diverse and premium beverages sets airlines apart. Cathay Pacific’s approach to in-flight dining blends Hong Kong flavours with international influences, presenting dishes designed around seasonal produce and paired with signature drinks, classic cocktails, a selection of wines sourced from France, New Zealand, Italy, and Portugal, as well as the airline’s own citrus-forward Betsy pale ale by local brewery Gweilo Beer, finely tuned to be enjoyed at altitude. Menus tend to differ between flight routes, but s

Lace up your trainers – Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong’s leading integrated sports and entertainment destination, has opened new outdoor facilities for leisure and fitness! Dubbed the North Garden, this outdoor sports zone is now home to Hong Kong’s largest covered climbing wall at 17.5 metres tall, with different sections to be introduced in phases. An eight-metre auto-belay area designed for children and beginners will open first in the third quarter of the year, followed by a 10-metre top-rope zone, 15-metre speed climbing zone, and 17.5-metre lead climbing zone towards the end of October. North Garden also contains a dynamic covered court for urban games such as three-on-three basketball, dodgeball, pickleball, futsal, handball, dodgebee, and teqball, as well as a beach ball court for volleyball, beach tennis, and even beach football. With misting cooling systems installed and washing facilities on-site, it means that visitors can still feel comfortable even in the hot and muggy clutches of summertime. Photograph: Courtesy Kai Tak Sports Park A multi-purpose tennis court, fitted out with three standard courts, is scheduled to open in the third quarter of the year, and the flexible space can also be configured for basketball and volleyball matches. Athletes and hobbyists can use the venue for warm-ups during competitions, community activities and tournaments, and even training. Aside from the North Garden, the new outdoor facilities will also cater to families. Playfield

One of Hong Kong’s most anticipated film festivals makes its return this month! From August 13 to 25, the Summer International Film Festival (Summer IFF) organised by the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) brings a diverse curation of more than 40 films to the city, from movies making their Asia premiere to beloved classics. Summer IFF 2025 is currently taking over five cinemas in town, including Emperor Cinemas iSquare in Tsim Sha Tsui, Premiere Elements and M+ Cinema in West Kowloon, the Louis Koo Cinema at the Hong Kong Arts Centre in Wan Chai, and Emperor Cinemas Times Square in Causeway Bay, with ticket prices ranging from $100 to $75 available on Urbtix. Photograph: Courtesy A24 / Summer International Film Festival Ari Aster’s Eddington – starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone – is poised to be one of the highlights of Summer IFF 2025 as it makes its gala premiere. Featuring black comedy and absurdist violence packaged as a neo-Western satire, the story follows the escalating conflict between a fictional New Mexico town’s progressive mayor and its right-wing sheriff as their confrontation fuels a growing societal divide. Kowloon Generic Romance, a Japanese film directed by Ikeda Chihiro scheduled as the closing film of the festival, turns the Kowloon Walled City trope on its head, eschewing criminal underbelly for a quirky take on an office romance that sparks between two coworkers, played by Yoshioka Riho and Mizukami Koshi. In a tribute to

In early August, Hong Kong recorded its first case of chikungunya fever (CF) since 2019, and numbers have gradually risen to reach eight confirmed patients in the city as of August 15. With cases by the thousands just across the border in mainland China, the unfamiliar nature of the CF virus – more commonly seen in South and Southeast Asia, is giving rise to a lot of questions and concerns among Hong Kong residents fearful of an outbreak. From 2016 to 2019, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health recorded between one and 11 imported cases of chikungunya fever cases per year, with no new cases being reported in the city since then – until now, that is. Here’s what you need to know about chikungunya fever, the symptoms, how to prevent it, and more. What is chikungunya fever? Chikungunya fever is a mosquito-borne illness, transmitted to humans through the bite of the female Aedes mosquitoes, which carries the virus. Aedes albopictus, also known as the Asian tiger mosquito, is common in Hong Kong and can transmit chikungunya by biting affected individuals during the early stages of infection, when the patient still carries a large amount of the virus in their blood, and passing on the virus through further bites. How many people in Hong Kong have chikungunya fever? As of August 15, there are eight confirmed cases of chikungunya fever in Hong Kong. While the ages of patients range between eight and 79 years old, all cases have been imported – that is, th

In a recent global smart city study of 73 cities, Hong Kong has placed among the top 10 of the world’s smart cities, beating out numerous urban powerhouses in Asia to come in at eighth place. What makes a ‘smart’ city, you ask? Researchers from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, in collaboration with the International Society for Urban Informatics, have formulated the ISUI Smart City Index which uses public data to benchmark urban intelligence and human-centric quality of life in alignment with the needs, lived experiences, and well-being of residents to rate the ‘smartness’ of cities.  Six core dimensions of environment, social landscape, economy, infrastructure, citizens, and governance are key factors in the rankings. These drill further down into criteria about education, health, resource efficiency, pursuit of urban environmental sustainability, energy consumption, the role of emerging technologies, innovation, productivity, digital integration, employment opportunities, foundational urban systems, accessibility, and even interactions between government, citizens, and stakeholders. In short, this ISUI survey looks at factors that affect people’s quality of life in our modern age, and how well our respective cities are providing these elements to their citizens. Out of 73 cities surveyed, Stockholm sits in first place as the world’s smartest city, with Washington, D.C. and Barcelona snapping at its heels. Tokyo ranks highest of all 25 Asian cities surveyed at number fi

Hong Kong’s turbulent F&B landscape has claimed yet another victim. Fast food chain Burger King has announced that its last remaining urban branch on the Peak will be shuttering its doors on August 31, leaving its Hong Kong International Airport location as the last and only outlet of the brand in the city. It’s the latest development in a string of closures for Burger King in Hong Kong, following shutdowns in Tseung Kwan O, Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai, Wong Tai Sin, and Yau Ma Tei back in 2015. Burger King’s history in Hong Kong has been fraught with ups and downs – the brand first entered the local market in the 1980s but swiftly withdrew two years later amid challenging conditions, then returned in 2003 under a new franchisee, operating more than 20 branches across the city at its height. Regular frequenters of Soho may remember that one branch opened on the corner of Staunton Street and Shelley Street in 2016, but it too was eventually forced to close during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. It’s hard to make it in a city where dominant competitor McDonald’s reigns supreme – guess it’s pretty obvious who the real Burger King is now. Burger King’s location at The Peak Tower has served as one of the longest-standing bastions of the fast food brand, visited by locals and tourists alike. As the Peak branch prepares to take its final bow, it will offer limited-time promotions and discounts to say goodbye to its customers, according to Burger King franchisee SSP Hong Kong. After this

If hunting for bargain products and skincare steals in Japan is a favourite pastime, you’ll be pleased to know that there’s no need to wait for your next vacation to go on a shopping splurge. Earlier this month, Japanese drugstore chain Daikoku Drug made its overseas debut in Hong Kong with the opening of a new outlet in Tsim Sha Tsui, adding to the growing number of Japanese retail brands already active in the city – such as the maze-like superstore Don Quijote and the beauty-and-health-focused Matsumoto Kiyoshi. Emblazoned with a distinctive orange and blue shop-front sign, the Daikoku brand is a formidable presence in Japan, operating more than 160 locations. Daikoku Drug was founded in 1957 in Osaka and, over almost seven decades, has gained popularity for selling a wide range of pharmaceutical products, cosmetics and beauty items, health foods and medicines, daily essentials, and Japanese snacks at highly competitive prices, making it one of the most popular choices for both local and international shoppers. Bestsellers in Japan include Eve Quick DX headache tablets, Ohta’s Isan digestive medicine, Santen Soft Santear moisturising eye drops, Rohto Melano CC brightening enzyme face cleanser, and Taisho Pharmaceutical Pabron Gold A cold remedy. Photograph: Courtesy Invest Hong Kong At its new Hong Kong retail shop, Daikoku Drug will continue to remain true to their promise, balancing low prices with a selection of almost 5,000 products, from Daikoku-branded vitamin C fac

It’s that time of the year again – Hong Kong’s expansive Food Expo is making its return to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, offering visitors five exciting days of delicious exploring through a huge variety of vendors and their edible wares.  For the uninitiated, this highly anticipated annual event is packed with international and local flavours and flair, with plenty of opportunities to sample small bites as you get your steps in, find new favourite food products, and shop for snacks to bring home. Here’s what you need to know about the Food Expo, when it’s taking place, and how to get tickets. Photograph: Courtesy HKTDC When and where will the Food Expo take place? Now in its 35th year, the annual Food Expo returns to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai from August 14 to 18. More than 700 exhibitors are set to take over the venue, making for a thrilling mix of global gourmet experiences. If you’ve got more on your mind than just food, the 35th Food Expo is happening at the HKCEC at the same time as the Hong Kong International Tea Fair (August 14 to 16), Beauty & Wellness Expo (August 14 to 18), and Home Delights Expo (August 14 to 18), so you can discover a wealth of lifestyle products and global tea culture on the same day! Photograph: Courtesy HKTDC What to expect at the Food Expo It goes without saying that food and beverage will be the main focus of the event, and one of the key highlights of the 35th Food Expo is the G