Magdalene Fung

Hong Kong Correspondent, @Straits_Times. Formerly @Bloomberg, @SCMPNews, @MFAsg. Lover of bubble tea, rhymes, and casting pearls to swine; views mine.

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

Hong Kong's ready to push its "headquarters #economy". But MNCs in #HK have already been discreetly shifting large chunks of their staff and ops elsewhere - many to #Singapore - and redefining notions of what a "headquarters" even means. @straits_times
https://t.co/eqv4QWnh3s

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

@kjoules worst news i've had in a while 😭😭😭

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

On the scrapping of HK's iconic Symphony of Lights, tourism minister Rosanna Law spelled out to me her rationale, where the first of the light show's new incarnations will be installed (hint: you'll need to spend more!), and - most imptly - why.
https://t.co/W9ysbWJn6B

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

Interviewed HK tourism minister Rosanna Law. Who explained what she means to target "high value" visitors, and where her strategy leaves the city's millions of budget mainland Chinese tourists. Also gave me a earworm by sharing her fave singer/song.
https://t.co/2BaUWHA5o5

[Joel Chan @kjoules]

Gary Ng, economist at Natixis, says Hong Kong has more to lose than gain due to the Iran conflict: “The biggest risk is the drag from weaker growth and higher inflation, which can hurt overall demand and increase business costs."

From @in_transitiverb:
https://t.co/dtS4UXBpUz

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

@tripperhead On a related note, this report published this morning: Hong Kong’s hub status a double-edged sword amid Middle East war
https://t.co/uLXsrgSfNO

[The Straits Times @straits_times]

Hong Kong’s bus seat belt saga has all the makings of a good comedy https://t.co/WDekro1aKn

[Joel Chan @kjoules]

The St. Paul’s Co-Ed student’s Medisafe app has received international attention; Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb calls it “one of Hong Kong’s biggest education scandal in years”, igniting debate over academic integrity as well as socio-economic inequality
https://t.co/fXyPXtxft1

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

@Steve_Dunthorne lol. Go walk walk around the public housing estates like Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Punggol Waterway or even Bedok Reservoir Park area if time and weather permit!

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

Are Singaporeans really so insufferably arrogant? Many Hong Kongers feel that way. They may have a point... Gift link to my Opinion piece in @straits_times: https://t.co/mlZEBTAhb7

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

My deep-dive piece with @straits_times SZ corros. Best bits for me were learning abt Hong Kong's & Shenzhen's tech pivot, how the extent of govt direction can make a difference & how impt it is to also consider ur neighbours' strengths in policy planning. https://t.co/dILyPrkZgK

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

Political commentator Chris Yeung: “Beijing… can no longer condone underperformers. The pressure is increasing on John Lee’s administration… I won’t be surprised if more heads roll in the second half of his term.”

https://t.co/mkHNWAJPeg

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

I lived in a 9 sq m Hong Kong subdivided flat for 2 years. It was liveable... until it wasn't. Sharing my views on the #HK govt's new rules to regulate such flats, ensuring they're at least 8 sq m, have toilet & window to qualify as "standard". Gift link: https://t.co/p8dnfrtTa8

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

I lived in a 9 sq m Hong Kong subdivided flat for 2 years. It was liveable... until it wasn't. Sharing my views on the #HK govt's new rules to regulate such flats, ensuring they're at least 8 sq m, have toilet & window to qualify as "standard". Gift link: https://t.co/p8dnfrtTa8

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

John Lee’s blueprint for HK has wide-ranging plans to bring in fresh talent, boost tourism, strengthen trade & build new hubs in various industries. But @alfredmwu described it as 灑胡椒麵 - distributing a limited resource thinly without focus or depth
https://t.co/qm95VLQeuD

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

The mindset driving Hong Kong's service standards. Unpopular opinion, probably. Gift link: https://t.co/BbmXmWP7It #hk #hongkong @straits_times

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

@Steve_Dunthorne It occurred to me that the Harry Potter Studio in Watford is even farther out also with nothing else in the vicinity. But I guess you have to be a big enough draw, plus us Asian urbanites are just spoilt!

[Magdalene Fung @in_transitiverb]

Coldplay in Hong Kong: What I found interesting is that while I don't recall in SG any pre-concert angst among public abt whether we might screw it up somehow, the HK sentiment's a tad different. In any case, the concerns raised all come from a good place. https://t.co/Q49K16yUM2