Genevieve Pang

We all know that managing the high financial cost of living in Hong Kong is no walk in the park, but it sure doesn’t look good for our city when we’re among the top 10 in a list ranking the most expensive cities globally for expatriates to live in.  A recent study conducted by the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI) at Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy has revealed that the most expensive cities in the world for expats are clustered in the US and parts of Western Europe, with the exception of Singapore and Hong Kong. Out of the 45 major cities studied by researchers, Singapore comes in fourth place in the 2025 report, rising up one spot from the previous year, and Hong Kong has been ranked 10th, remaining in the same position as 2024. Listen, that’s one competition we’re not sorry to lose to our friendly rival Singapore! New York, Zurich, and Los Angeles lead the list, with Singapore and Geneva close behind. Singapore and Hong Kong are the only two cities in Asia to find placement in the top 10. Researchers have concluded that developed economies consistently rank higher than developing economies in terms of high cost of living – no surprises there – but for expats, that cost can be even higher, based on global inflation and exchange rates. Hong Kong’s 10th-place position in the study reflects the city’s reality of becoming increasingly unaffordable. For expats, housing market costs – driven by the imbalance between supply and demand, and the need to rely on t

Shenzhen’s taking its public transportation to the next level. On August 26, the Shenzhen Bus Group launched its new driverless shuttle bus fleet in Luohu district, which serves travellers on a circular route that includes stops at the Luohu Port cross-border checkpoint, the MixC mall, Di Wang Tower, the Grand Theatre, and Guomao Building. Developed in collaboration with autonomous driving specialist WeRide, the B888 Robobus route marks Shenzhen’s first Level 4 fully driverless public transport line in Luohu district, covering 10.9 kilometres with a total journey time of 60 to 65 minutes.  So, how does it work? Each Robobus is designed without traditional automobile elements such as rear-view mirrors or windshield wipers, so it’s really more akin to a moving compartment. What’s different about the driverless shuttle is that it’s installed with complex environmental sensing technology, with 20 sensors operating simultaneously to assess road conditions and navigate traffic in the busy central business district. Each petite Robobus shuttle can accommodate up to eight passengers, including a safety operator, so advance booking is essential for anyone looking to try out this new service. Reservations can be made through the Shenzhen Bus Travel WeChat mini programme, or through a cross-border reservation system on KMB’s App1933 app. Once booked, travellers will receive a QR code to be used as a ticket, and they can proceed to the special Luohu Port bus stop – which is newly equippe

For the first time in 22 years, Hong Kong is raising the departure tax on air passengers, and the increase will see travellers paying 67 percent more starting from October 1. Hong Kong lawmakers passed the Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025 earlier this year in May to address the existing Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) charged by the Hong Kong government. It applies to all passengers aged 12 years or above who depart from the city by air, meaning travellers will soon be paying $200 per departure – that’s an $80 increase from the current rate of $120. Some officials have expressed concerns over the amendment, criticising the tax hike as detrimental to attracting more travellers and that it could put Hong Kong behind regional competitors. Others have defended the increase as affordable and ‘reasonable’. It is expected that the APDT will generate around $1.6 billion government revenue per year. Currently, there are some exceptions to this rule. Passengers who are in direct transit or on connecting flights who remain airside, and passengers who arrive in and depart from Hong Kong by air on the same day do not have to pay this transit tax, for example.  From October 1 onwards, the ADPT exemptions will expand to include passengers who arrive at and depart from HKIA by aircraft who have stayed no longer than 48 hours, as well as passengers who arrive in the city through means other than by air and depart the city again by aircraft on the day of arrival or the foll

Is Bridges Street poised to be the new Peel Street? With the flurry of recent F&B openings along this nondescript lane tucked into the slopes of Soho – no doubt helped by the foot traffic drawn in by the highly decorated Bar Leone – Bridges Street is fast becoming home to a good number of eateries and bars. New to the scene is Salon des Refusés, a moody and intimate gastronomic escape focused on Mediterranean flavours and communal dining. Luca Marinelli – formerly of Osteria Marzia and the long-shuttered Il Posto 97 – steps into a chef-patron role for the first time with Salon des Refusés. Under the tutelage of chef Mauro Uliassi, who is the brains behind the three-Michelin-starred Uliassi on the Adriatic Riviera, chef Marinelli learned the secrets to making seafood sing, and this fresh concept by Black Sheep Restaurants is all about leaning into coastal living in France and Italy, where fresh produce is king and plates are centred around fresh harvests from the sea and bounties from the deep. Photograph: Courtesy Black Sheep Restaurants Chef Marinelli and his team start their morning in Ap Lei Chau, combing the seafood market for the day’s best hauls to mould their menu around produce at their peak, so no two experiences at Salon des Refusés are quite the same. If you want the entire evening taken care of, leave your fate to the kitchen with the aptly named In Chef Luca’s Hands tasting menu ($888). If you’re going the à la carte route, the rule of thumb is the more, the me

A rock opera like no other has hit the stage in Hong Kong this month! Get ready to experience a whole new take on a literary epic with The Divine Comedy, the first and only musical adaptation of Dante’s seminal poetic work in the world, from September 4 to 7. Blending rock, opera, and classical music, this production tells the fantastical story of the Divine Comedy through innovative stage technology, captivating design, breathtaking costumes, and contemporary choreography, while honouring the original material. The Divine Comedy first premiered in 2007 and has garnered widespread acclaim, including winning the Dante Alighieri Society Gold Medal in 2007 and the Premio Persefone Award twice. It has entertained more than one million spectators, graced the stage at the renowned Arena di Verona and Teatro degli Arcimboldi, among many others while on tour in Italy, and it was even performed in Beijing last year at the invitation of the Italian president during Marco Polo’s 700th anniversary commemoration.  Photograph: Courtesy Beijing One World Culture Communications Italian poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri penned his masterpiece, the Divine Comedy, in the early 1300s, and the narrative work has been widely recognised as one of the greatest pieces of Western literature. Divided into three parts – Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven – the epic allegorical poem follows Dante’s spiritual journey through the afterlife, and ponders the nature of existence, morality, and the journey of th

If you’ve ever heard an almighty ‘squawk’ while you’re out and about in the city, chances are it was the call of a yellow-crested cockatoo, whose distinctive, high-pitched screeching can be picked up even amid the din of Hong Kong’s urban activities. Now, the race is on to save this endangered bird species and conserve its unique population. University of Hong Kong postdoctoral researcher Astrid Andersson is leading a mission to install artificial nest boxes specifically designed for the yellow-crested cockatoo in trees around Hong Kong in hopes of encouraging reproductive behaviour. Her goal is to distribute 50 such nest boxes across the city to help bolster our cockatoo population. Photograph: Yan Zhao / AFP Native to Indonesia and Timor-Leste’s rainforests, the yellow-crested cockatoo was once a widespread species. A surge in popularity in the 20th century created a global demand for them as cage pets, giving rise to an unsustainable trade that saw more than 96,000 birds exported from Indonesia in the 1980s and 1990s. It was around that time that the yellow-crested cockatoo was introduced to Hong Kong in large numbers. The number of this species in the wild has now dropped to between 1,200 and 2,000 globally, marking the yellow-crested cockatoo as critically endangered – but against all odds, a rogue bunch in Hong Kong has proliferated over the decades, making up 10 percent of the remaining global population. It is believed that the imported birds escaped or were release

Fujifilm, the long-standing Japanese brand best known for its range of photography products, tech developments, and electronics, is spreading the love of the visual medium with the opening of the Fujifilm House of Photography, a new immersive space in Hong Kong dedicated to all things photography! Spanning more than 3,000 sq ft, this ‘experience centre’ at The Mills in Tsuen Wan is their third House of Photography in the world, following locations in London and Sydney, with the space designed as a celebration of photography culture. Professionals, amateurs, and budding hobbyists alike are invited to check out this expansive hub and explore five different zones. Do some hands-on testing of Fujifilm cameras at the GFX/X Camera Trial zone, discover Fujifilm’s line of Instax instant cameras in the Share Joy with Instax area, and learn photography tips and tricks from Fujifilm experts in the School zone! Visitors can also browse merchandise, souvenirs, and home decor that can be customised with your own photography, and use the Professional Studio & Selfie Studio to snap those glam portraits you’ve always wanted as keepsakes. Photograph: @pc_market / Threads What’s interesting is that Fujifilm House of Photography combines an experience centre, a concept store, and a retail space all in one, providing a one-stop-shop for snap-happy camera lovers to engage with the art of photography, discover interactive, photography-focused installations, and be part of a vibrant, creative comm

We’ve all been told that AI is coming for our jobs if we’re not careful, but artificial intelligence putting rat-catchers out of a living sure wasn’t on our bingo card for 2025.  Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has revealed the impressive results of a rather ingenious approach to tackling the city’s rodent problem: thermal imaging cameras coupled with AI technology.  New AI-enabled surveillance put into place last year has successfully led to a 40-percent increase in live rats captured across the city by pest control authorities compared to 2023, with approximately 89,600 live rodents snatched off the streets in 2024.  By deploying tech-driven rodent surveillance from 7pm to 7am over the course of three consecutive days in key areas across the city, health inspectors were able to lean on AI findings and examine heat signatures from thermal images to identify rodent behaviour, movement, and presence to come up with more effective pest control solutions. In addition to surveillance tech and AI, the FEHD has also introduced new waste disposal systems and pressure-washing surface cleaners to uphold public cleanliness, and a harder stance on improper or illegal waste dumping or cluttering in back alleys. Previously, the FEHD has carried out rodent prevention and pest control measures through the use of glue traps, leaving out poisonous bait, improving waste handling in public areas, and installing rodent guards to prevent rats from climbing up pipes an

Hong Kong police have arrested a 40-year-old Irish man and a 32-year-old Filipino woman earlier last week for the attempted theft of an artwork by French street artist Invader.  Allegedly worth $50,000, the mosaic of Pac-Man characters sit inside the Harbour City shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, and was reported missing on Tuesday, August 26, by on-site staff. Officers combed CCTV footage to identify the suspects, and were able to retrieve both the stolen artwork and clothing worn by the thieves during the incident.  French street artist Invader – whose real identity remains unknown – has visited Hong Kong multiple times to install his mosaic artwork. Inspired by the pixel art style that characterised 1970s and 1980s arcade and video games such as Pac-Man and Space Invaders, the artist made a name for himself through his simple but impactful creations. According to his website, the artist has come to Hong Kong seven times and put up 132 artworks in total. One of his most memorable pieces is definitely the oft-photographed mosaic mural of four colourful Pac-Man ghosts along the Harbour City promenade. His other famous public street art pieces in Hong Kong include Pac-Man chasing three ghosts in Tin Hau, several Space Invaders across town, the ‘Hong Kong Phooey’ in Happy Valley, a cartoon dog striking a martial arts pose – though you may not be able to find them all of them now, as many of his art pieces have been removed over the years. Photograph: Jenny Leung On one visit

One of the highest-rated ramen restaurants in Tokyo will soon be opening a location in Hong Kong! Even in a saturated market like ours, where so many excellent ramen joints can be found across town, this one’s kind of a big deal, and here’s why. Ramenya Shima made a cryptic announcement on its X account on August 6 that its Japanese branch would be closed from August 12 to 15 “for preparations for our Hong Kong store opening”. They later also updated with another post on August 16 that their team will be in Hong Kong for longer than anticipated, and the Tokyo restaurant will therefore also be closed on August 18. Word of this exciting development quickly spread, setting the local foodie scene abuzz, as this milestone will mark Ramenya Shima’s first overseas location.  Ramenya Shima opened in 2020 in the Shibuya district and currently holds the coveted number one spot in the ramen and tsukemen category within Tokyo on Japan’s restaurant review and booking website Tabelog – a huge achievement, considering Japan’s competitive dining landscape and highly critical diners. Nationwide, Ramenya Shima sits at an impressive number three within Tabelog’s ramen and tsukemen rankings. Its signature shoyu (soy sauce) ramen – using a special, intensely flavoured broth made with artisanal soy sauces, a blend of Japanese poultry breeds, pork bones, and a melange of seafood – is topped with roasted pork chashu, sliced chicken breast, homemade wontons, and more, setting the restaurant apart fro

Hong Kong’s Hungry Ghost Festival will fall on September 6 this year, and the city’s biggest annual celebration of this Chinese tradition, the Yu Lan Cultural Festival, will look a little different this year compared to previous iterations as organisers embrace new ideas and attractions in hopes of drawing younger audiences to the event. Yu Lan Festival is a long-standing tradition that holds major cultural importance within the local Chiuchow community, and has been observed in the city since the 1860s. In line with the significance and purpose of the Hungry Ghost Festival and Ghost Month, the objective of the celebration is to honour the dead and departed, and appease wandering spirits and one’s ancestors through burning joss paper offerings and incense. However, the Yu Lan Festival also includes community events, ceremonies, and performances, turning it into a multi-day celebration that visitors can participate in.  Yu Lan Cultural Festival 2025 will be held on September 12 to 14, running from 10am to 8pm at the Moreton Terrace Temporary Playground near the Hong Kong Central Library in Causeway Bay – a marked change from its usual venue across the street at Victoria Park.  Photograph: Philip Fong Admission remains free, and this year will see the return of several key activities, such as the Festival Offerings competition to promote Hungry Ghost Festival traditions, guided tours to introduce visitors to the festival’s customs, and various workshops focused on ritual cult

Hong Kong’s stagnant economic conditions might be daunting and can pose ongoing challenges for many who call this city home, but some of its ultra-high-net-worth citizens don’t seem to be feeling the burn in quite the same way.  One such ultra-wealthy individual (whose identity remains unknown) has recently snapped up what is reported to be Hong Kong’s most expensive residential property sale of 2025. Located on the Peak, a mansion at 1 Gough Hill Road in the prestigious mountain neighbourhood sold for the eye-watering sum of $1.088 billion, making it this year’s most expensive home sale. So, what does $1.008 billion get you on the Peak? More than 1,060 sq m of space, for one, as well as five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a massive garden, a rooftop terrace, a parking garage, a private lift, alongside a pool and hot tub. Interestingly, the refurbished mansion comes with a bit of history too: it used to be in the hands of the Bank of China, who used it as a guest house in the 1990s before eventually selling it off in 2005. Hongkongers are no strangers to seeing exorbitant price tags attached to properties in the city. In 2025 alone – much like in previous years – Hong Kong was ranked the most expensive city to live in within East Asia, and we also came in third on a list of the most expensive cities in the world for luxurious living. Clearly, living the high life comes at a steep cost. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city,