Joel Chan

@kjoules

👨🏻‍💻 Data, charts & graphs, news 👕 Custom Slim Fit, Medium 📍香港 Hong Kong, also 🇹🇼🇨🇦 ☢️ @hksushireport.bsky.social I have Hong Kong-related Starter Packs, Feeds, and Lists for those getting started

422 Following2,696 Followers6,887 Posts

YouTube Bluesky

Is this your profile?Claim it and kjoules.dirty.social is yours.Claim profile

Joel Chan@kjoules· 29d

Day 30 of the Tai Po fire hearings: The independent committee's 627-page closing statement assigns institutional responsibility to the Buildings Dept, Fire Services Dept, and Labour Dept; noting that gov't regulation became an "honour system" built around self-certification ...

Cover page: Independent Committee in relation to the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po; Written Closing Submissions of Counsel for the Independent Committee

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 16

Hong Kong 🇭🇰 Influenza update, week ending Jul 11 2026 🚨 Week 2 of summer flu season • 28 severe cases (↑7), 15 deaths (↑5) • 27 outbreaks, 6 from elderly homes • Hospital admission rates for influenza: >0.55 per 10K population (up from 0.43) • Lab surveillance positivity rate: 8.75% (up from 7.79%)

(Chart by @kjoules.org) Hong Kong wastewater surveillance index, Covid-19 and influenza, July 2025-July 2026

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 16

Hong Kong 🇭🇰 Covid-19 update, week ending Jul 11 2026 • Trend: increasing • 572 cases reported (up from 477; ↑20%) • 17 severe cases, 1 death 📈 • 31 outbreaks (↑18), including 17 from elderly residential care homes (↑9) • Wastewater surveillance: ↑28%, at 2026 peak • Prevalent variant: PQ.16.1.1

(Chart by @kjoules.org) Hong Kong Covid-19 severe cases, Jan 2025-present

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 16

No longer fearing a megaquake, Hong Kong visitors to Japan in the month of June 2026 shot up by 28.5% compared to a year before. For 1H2026, visitors from Hong Kong are up 2.2% y-o-y • Overall, visitors to Japan for 1H2026 are down 2.0% y-o-y, despite a 56% decline from China.

(JNTO) Visitor arrivals to Japan for June 2026

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 16

Day 29 of the Tai Po fire hearings: The independent committee has made public the 408-page report from the Hong Kong government, in which it admits extensive regulatory and emergency response weaknesses, but argues that private contractors and professionals were the primary cause of the disaster

967. The Government invites the Committee to find that the primary responsibility for the direct causes of the fire, its rapid spread and the heavy casualties lies overwhelmingly with private actors, specifically:

967.1. Prestige as main contractor, whose multiple acts of non-compliance, deception and misrepresentation across all five contributing factors were the direct and proximate cause of the hazardous conditions;

967.2. Will Power purportedly providing RI services and Ng Yeuk, the RI, whose complete failure to discharge statutory supervisory obligations permitted Prestige’s wrongdoings to continue unchecked throughout the renovation period;

967.3. China Status, whose submission of incomplete and misleading notifications to the FSD concealed the full extent of the FSI failure from the regulatory authority;

967.4. Victory Fire, whose failure to notify the FSD upon discovering the empty water tank and fire alarm shutdown in October and November 2025 was a lost opportunity to trigger the FSD’s contingency measures during the critical weeks before the fire; and

967.5. ISS, whose issuance of unlawful job orders, failure to coordinate between RFSICs, and passive handling of complaints facilitated and compounded the primary failures.

968. The Government further invites the Committee to find that these private-actor failures were not isolated or coincidental but formed a pattern of collaborative and mutually reinforcing wrongdoings.

969. The Government acknowledges that the evidence before the Committee reveals areas requiring improvements in the regulatory and supervisory framework with the result that the private actors’ wrongdoings went undetected before the fire. These areas gave rise to conditions in which the primary causes could operate without detection or intervention.

970. The Government sets out below its conclusions on the systemic issues, framed in general terms as areas for improvement in the framework’s design or execution rather than as judgements on individual bureaux and departments. This framing reflects the Government’s position that the responsibility for systemic reform lies
with the Government collectively, and that the reforms introduced since the fire have been developed and implemented on a cross-departmental basis.

971. The self-regulation model, while sound in principle and effective in the majority of cases, proved inadequate when confronted with professionals who were either actively complicit in the contractor’s wrongdoings and/or were negligent to the degree of complete abdication. The evidence demonstrates that in certain segments of the building maintenance sector, the role of RI has been reduced to a mere formality: a professional appointed to satisfy statutory requirements without exercising any or any meaningful supervision. This phenomenon, described in the evidence as reflective of an “industry practice” in certain areas, represents an area for improvement of the professional self-regulation on which the MBIS and MWCS depend.

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 16

A street sign that says "Observatoly Road"

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 16

Here is the relevant transcript:

(Aaron Chan, lawyer for China Status) Last point, the fire alarm system. Mr Leung agrees that if the fire alarm system was activated during the fire, there is a chance of it reducing the number of casualties or fatalities. But before we consider the function or the use of the fire alarm system, Mr Leung would like the Committee to consider a number of factors.

In this tragedy—that's the first point. There is a very short window for safe egress. Take Wang Cheong House as an example. There was less than 10 minutes of safe egress time according to the expert report. That is, at 14:48 a security guard tried to set off the alarm manually but she did not succeed, and 10 minutes later, that means at 14:58, the staircases became untenable, that means the staircases could no longer be used. So that's why the inter-departmental task force believed there was less than 10 minutes of escape window.

Our view is that in reality perhaps residents had less than 10 minutes even.

THE HON MR JUSTICE DAVID LOK: Don't tell me you say that the fire safety alarm didn't matter. I see your point that the escape window was short, but if you say that fire safety alarm was pointless, then I would not agree with you. I see the point, yes, maybe for the first one or two blocks there's a short safety egress time, but you are certainly not saying that the fire safety alarm systems are for no purpose.

MR AARON CHAN: No, I'm definitely not saying that. In fact, when Mr Leung gave evidence, he agreed that fire safety alarm was useful in reducing casualties and fatalities. It's just that when we consider the matter, there are several factors we would like to raise for the reference of the Committee. One is that there is a very short evacuation time, or window, rather. In the written closing submission I've given all the figures so I don't propose to repeat them here.

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 16

This never gets old

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 15

GovHK press release on the arrests only in Chinese for now. Below, a translation (whose full text is available in ALT text) www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...

The National Security Department (NSD) of the Hong Kong Police Force received a referral from Hong Kong Customs after books with a seditious intention were found in a consignment sent to Hong Kong from outside the territory.
Following an investigation, the NSD mounted an operation today (July 15), searching two shops in Mong Kok and arresting two men, aged 37 and 57, and three women, aged between 30 and 59. They were arrested on suspicion of contravening section 24 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance by “doing, with a seditious intention, an act that has a seditious intention”.
Police investigations revealed that the five arrestees were suspected of displaying items with a seditious intention and selling publications with a seditious intention at the shops. The materials included content inciting others to hatred of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies. Officers also seized from the shops a batch of books with a seditious intention in connection with the case.
The five arrestees are being detained for investigation.
Police remind members of the public that “doing, with a seditious intention, an act that has a seditious intention” is a serious offence punishable on first conviction by up to seven years’ imprisonment. Members of the public are urged not to defy the law.

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 15

From The Witness, photos of the police raid on Have a Nice Stay

A woman being escorted by police, she is wearing a black t-shirt which says in Chinese, "I am a bookstore staff member"

Three policemen carrying a blue box which are suspected to contain items seized from the bookstore

About 10 blue boxes worth of materials were seized by police

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 15

Despite a 11% increase in revenue, Hong Kong’s Airport Authority saw a 16.8% decline in profit for FY2025, at HK$2.04 billion, which it attributed to increasing costs of operating the airport’s new facilities, plus the cost of salvaging a 747 last October amp.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

Financial and operational highlights, Hong Kong Airport Authority, 2025-26 annual report

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 14

Not a government press release, but the SCMP: a blockade-cum-toll "Economists and shipping analysts say the region is better placed to absorb the blow this time round" www.scmp.com/week-asia/ec...

(SCMP article: Trump’s 20% Hormuz toll jolts markets as Asia adapts to oil shock)
Asia’s economies are once again staring down the barrel of the Strait of Hormuz as the latest breakdown of the US-Iran ceasefire and Washington’s decision to impose a blockade-cum-toll threaten to keep energy costs elevated and shipping flows under strain.
But economists and shipping analysts say the region is better placed to absorb the blow this time round.

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 14

Hong Kong: Let's raise a whole generation of idiots

RTHK headline, July 12: Paul Chan calls on youth to embrace AI
SCMP headline, July 14: AI homework tools cut exam scores by 20%, study of 26,000 Chinese students finds

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 12

Tom yum goong

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 12

As of Saturday, the Highways Department has removed this sign (and said, "Sorly!") www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

A sign post saying "Observatoly Road" (sic)

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 11

Hong Kong's government thermometers might need to be replaced www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 12) reminded the public, particularly the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers, pregnant women, infants and children, to adopt appropriate measures to protect their health in view of the cold weather.

Elderly and people with chronic illnesses
---------------------------------------------
A spokesman for the CHP said that in general, elderly people have less insulating fat, and their body temperature control mechanisms would be weaker. Their body may not respond appropriately to the cold weather. In addition, some senior persons may have decreased mobility, which can impair their ability to generate and conserve body heat.

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 10

Hong Kong’s Environment and Ecology secretary Tse Chin-wan, whose department spent over HK$260 million on a municipal waste charging system that had to be shelved due to total incompetence, was awarded a 2025 Sing Tao “Leader of the Year” www.thestandard.com.hk/news/article...

CE John Lee presenting Environment and Ecology Secretary Tse Chin-wan

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 10

The Securities and Futures Commission is requiring all online brokers and licensed crypto trading platforms to stop using one-time passwords for client logins and device registration, and use passkeys or securely bound devices, by July 9 2027 apps.sfc.hk/edistributio...

The Securities and Futures Commission today issued a circular requiring internet brokers and virtual asset trading platform operators (VATPs) to adopt phishing-resistant authentication methods for client login and device binding, amid the growing threat of phishing attacks involving stolen client credentials.

As part of its continued efforts to combat phishing attacks and account takeover incidents targeting clients of internet brokers and VATPs, the SFC is requiring them to cease using one-time passwords for client login and device binding, given the associated risks and the availability of stronger authentication alternatives. Passkeys and bound devices are examples of more robust, phishing-resistant authentication methods.

The SFC requires these phishing-resistant authentication measures for login and device binding to be implemented as soon as practicable but no later than 12 months from the issue of its circular. Large internet brokers are expected to adopt them immediately.

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 10

Here are the attendance figures of Hong Kong's five major LCSD-operated museums; four of the five museums saw double-digit percentage decline in attendance; while the only museum with an attendance increase was the Museum of History

(Chart by @kjoules.org) Attendance in LCSD-operated museums, 2025-26 financial year

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 10

That is worse than 2024-25: museum revenues were 6.7% of expenditures

LCSD museum revenues and expenditures for 2024-25

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 10

Photos of CX509 (from Tokyo/NRT), Cathay Pacific A330 reg. B-HLQ; on Friday July 3 her tail struck runway 07R while attempting a go-around at Hong Kong International Airport, eventually landing on runway 07L. • No injuries to the crew or the passengers www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

B-HLQ with some noticeable scratches underneath the tail of the fuselage

B-HLQ with some noticeable scratches underneath the tail of the fuselage, seen directly underneath the tail

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 9

Hong Kong 🇭🇰 Covid-19 update, week ending Jul 4 2026 • Trend: increasing • 477 cases reported (up from 340; ↑40%) • 12 severe cases, 4 deaths • 13 outbreaks, incl. 8 from elderly residential care homes • Wastewater surveillance: ↓17% • Prevalent variant: NB.1.8.1, 94.3% of wastewater sampling

(Chart by @kjoules.org) Hong Kong wastewater surveillance index, Covid-19 and influenza, July 2025-present

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 9

Hong Kong 🇭🇰 Influenza update, week ending Jul 4 2026 🚨 Week 1 of summer flu season • Flu season totals: 60 severe cases, 29 deaths - By age- 65+: 26, 50-64: 3 • Hospital admission rates for influenza: >0.43 per 10K population (increasing/low) • Lab surveillance positivity rate: 7.79% (up from 6.69%)

(Chart by @kjoules.org) Hong Kong weekly reported deaths due to Covid-19 and influenza, 2025-present

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 9

Cathay Pacific is waiving rebooking/rerouting charges for passengers flying to/from Taipei/TPE or Kaohsiung/KHH which may be disrupted due to Super Typhoon Bavi www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_HK/lat...

(Cathay Pacific) Flights to/from/through Taipei or Kaohsiung
- Tickets issued on/before 8 Jul 2026
- Original travel period 9-12 Jul 2026
- Ticket change deadline 12 Jul 2026
- Travel must be completed by 31 Aug 2026

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 8

The number of disciplinary cases among intern doctors and resident doctors employed within Hong Kong's Hospital Authority have gone up by 150% in the last 4 years, according to health secretary Lo Chung-mau www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

Number of disciplinary cases due to poor performance or breach of professional conduct involving intern doctors and resident doctors in the Hospital Authority, 2021/22 to 2025/26

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 8

Here's the Facebook post by Ruszin-Szendi Romulusz, Hungary's Minister of Defence. English translation in ALT text

At 1:42 p.m. today, NATO’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) fighter pair was ordered to scramble because a Chinese-registered Airbus A350 flying from Hong Kong to London failed to establish contact with Romanian civilian air traffic control while still in Romanian airspace.

The Hungarian alert aircraft took off at 1:51 p.m. and, near the Hungarian border, visually signaled a warning to the Chinese-registered aircraft. The airliner then established contact with air traffic control.

The mission was completed, and the fighter aircraft returned to its base in Kecskemét.

Thank you to those standing guard!

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 8

The seven senior executives of the Hong Kong Palace Museum and M+ Museum were paid a total of HK$20,876,063, or an average of $2.98 million (US$382,000) per executive, during the 2025-26 financial year, according to tourism secretary Rosanna Law www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...

(GovHK) Renumeration expenditure of senior executives of the museums under the WestK authority

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 8

🚨 New Hong Kong hubs alert 🚨 World-class sports hub Dragon boat racing hub "The decision [for the International Dragon Boat Foundation] to anchor its global operations in Hong Kong strengthens the city's reputation as an international sports hub" www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (July 8) that the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) officially opened its new global headquarters in Hong Kong, marking a significant milestone for the city's sports economy. Photo shows (from left) the Head of Creative Industries, Sports and Entertainment of InvestHK, Ms Doris Fong; the Founder and Honorary President of the IDBF, Mr Mike MacKeddie-Haslam; the President of the IDBF, Mr Claudio Schermi; the President of Italy Alliance, Mr Riccardo Fuochi; and the President of the International Ice Dragon Boat Federation, Mr Luo Zhongyi, at the opening ceremony.

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 7

SCMP managing editor Yonden Lhatoo, who said Hong Kong hates Messi, inhaling from a balloon

Joel Chan@kjoules· Jul 7

🇨🇴: ✅ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ 🇨🇭: ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ (In all four penalty shootouts in this World Cup so far, the team that goes first has lost)