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Joel Chan

@kjoules.org

2.5K followers 400 following 4K posts

👨🏻‍💻 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

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · Nov 11

If you’re new or returning to Bluesky, there are a few ways to re-connect with those in the Hong Kong community:
• Hong Kong Bluesky list (link below),
• The 2 Starter Packs below my bio:
- Those on Twitter who have migrated to Bluesky, and
- Journalists who cover Hong Kong

bsky.app/profile/did:...

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 53m

HKU announced its Hong Kong economic forecast for the rest of 2025.
• GDP growth slowing to 2.7% for Q3 due to severe weather, 2.5% for Q4 due to US-China trade tensions
• 2.8% GDP growth for 2025
• Unemployment rate rising to 3.8% by Q4 (latest: 3.7%)

hku.hk/press/press-...

(HKU handout) HKU announces 2025 Q4 HK Macroeconomic Forecast
The APEC Studies Programme of the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) released its quarterly Hong Kong Macroeconomic Forecast today (9 October). After a 1.2% year-on-year decline in private consumption expenditure in 25Q1, a 1.9% rebound in 25Q2 helped lift Hong Kong’s economic growth to 3.1% for the quarter. However, frequent severe weather disrupted logistics and adversely affected retail and tourism-related activities, with GDP growth expected to slow to 2.7% in 25Q3.
The unemployment rate is projected to rise to 3.8% in 25Q4, reflecting more cautious business sentiment amid weakening external demand. While entering a rate-cut cycle is expected to benefit Hong Kong’s economy, persistent US–China trade tensions and uncertainty over the US inflation trajectory leave the pace and scale of Fed rate cuts in
doubt, tempering investment and trade growth. Hong Kong’s real GDP growth in 25Q4 is forecast to slow to 2.5%. The economic growth for Hong Kong in 2025 as a whole is projected to be 2.8%, in line with the previously published forecast.

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 1h

A tale of two stocks

(Yahoo! Finance)
Hang Seng Bank 0011.HK up $30.80 25.9%
HSBC Holdings 0005.HK down $6.60 6.0%

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 1h

You, sir, are a mastermind

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 2h

Two of the four authors are former Australian Olympic rowers who were involved in Brisbane 2032’s winning bid, to an uncertain degree. That being said, it wouldn’t be the least surprising to me if people were to take advantage of others’ irrational exuberance

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 3h

Comparing the first 7 days of this year's Golden Week with last year, mainland visitors increased by 6.4%.

Hong Kong tourism officials were expecting 1.54 million mainland visitors during the 8-day period, and ended up 8.9% short

www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

1.4 million mainland passenger trips made to Hong Kong over ‘golden week’ break

Figures show 15 per cent increase from National Day holiday last year, but sector representative says tourists’ spending power remained weak.

www.scmp.com

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 3h

1,402,889 mainlanders visited Hong Kong during the National Day Golden Week, a 15.3% increase from last year which can mostly be attributed to a 14.3% increase in the number of days of this year's Golden Week

(Chart by @kjoules) Mainland Visitor Arrivals, National Day Holiday Period, for 2023, 2024 and 2025

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 6h

More people to ridicule? Hot diggity!!

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 6h

If at first you don't succeed, try try again.
• Both authors are members of "2036 Working Group" whose purpose is pretty obvious
• What part of "Hell, no" do these people not understand?

www.scmp.com/opinion/chin...

(SCMP headline) Opinion | Greater Bay Area must seize the chance to ignite the Olympic flame

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 6h

HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery, in an interview with Bloomberg, announced that his firm will take Hang Seng Bank private at HK$155 per share, a 30% premium over yesterday's closing price.

Hang Seng Bank shares are up 26%, to HK$149.90 as of 10:50am

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

HSBC Plans to Privatize Hang Seng at $37 Billion Valuation

HSBC Holdings Plc plans to take Hang Seng Bank Ltd. private in a deal that values the lender at $37 billion, ramping up its exposure to Hong Kong as the financial hub attempts to bounce back from year...

www.bloomberg.com

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 8h

World’s 50 Best Bars, 2025:
1 🇭🇰 Bar Leone
9 🇸🇬 Jigger & Pony
15 🇹🇭 Bar Us, Bangkok
16 🇰🇷 Zest, Seoul
18 🇯🇵 Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo
29 🇨🇳 Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou
38 🇭🇰 Coa
45 🇯🇵 Virtu, Tokyo
48 🇯🇵 The Bellwood, Tokyo
49 🇹🇭 BKK Social Club
50 🇸🇬 Nutmeg & Clove

www.theworlds50best.com/stories/News...

The World's 50 Best Bars 2025: the list revealed

It's official – these are fifty bars ranked 1-50 in this year's edition of The World's 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, as announced on Wednesday 8 October in Hong Kong.

www.theworlds50best.com

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 8h

Times Higher Education, World University Rankings, 2026

1 Oxford
2 MIT
3 Princeton
3 Cambridge ↑1
5 Harvard ↓1

12 Tsinghua
13 Peking ↑1
17 NUS ↑2

33 HKU ↑2
41 CUHK ↑3
58 HKUST ↑6
75 CityU ↑5
84 PolyU ↑1
195 EdUHK *
201-250 Baptist ↑
301-350 Lingnan *

www.timeshighereducation.com/world-univer...

World University Rankings 2026 | Times Higher Education (THE)

Explore the 2026 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education. Compare over 2,000 top universities and discover this year’s leading institutions.

www.timeshighereducation.com

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 21h

Scams in Hong Kong have led to HK$5.02 billion in losses in the first 8 months of 2025, down 14.5% year-on-year
• 28,379 reported cases, down 1% y-o-y
• The biggest loss: over HK$10 million from a mainland university student who gave it to a "gov't official"

www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

Scam losses in Hong Kong total HK$5.02 billion in first 8 months of year: police

Losses down by 14.5 per cent year on year, with 1 per cent fewer cases, but force sees new trend of students conned in food delivery phone scams.

www.scmp.com

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 1d

Starting 2026-27, Hong Kong's PolyU will offer the course “AI as a Tool for Language Learning” which will be compulsory for all new students.
The course will teach students how to effectively use AI tools to improve their reading, writing and interview skills

www.thestandard.com.hk/hong-kong-ne...

PolyU to introduce compulsory AI language course next academic year

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) will introduce a compulsory artificial intelligence (AI)-related course for all new students starting next academic year, aiming to help them enhance their...

www.thestandard.com.hk

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 1d

The MTR later confirmed through testing that the screws and bolts involved met legal and contract standards, but declined to reveal the suppliers or quantities involved

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 1d

A month after fake cement bricks, the MTR has found unapproved screws from an unknown brand for the installation of fireproof boards at Tung Chung East Station. It also found >10% of shear bolts for a steel bridge were not submitted for MTR's approval before use.

www.hk01.com/article/6028...

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 1d

Key retail and restaurant receipts for the first 4 days of the National Day Golden Week are up just 3.3% compared to last year, according to China's Commerce Ministry

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

China’s Big Stock Boom Is Doing Little to Boost Holiday Spending

China’s longest stock rally in years has done little so far to encourage households to shell out more money during a major holiday this month, a worry for an economy already entering a slowdown.

www.bloomberg.com

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 1d

Not very satisfied with that graph, so I did a quick redesign

(Chart by @kjoules.org) Hong Kong Very Hot Days in October (in which the temperature exceeded 33C)

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 1d

With the Hong Kong Observatory registering a temperature of 33.1°C today, 2025 marks the first time in Hong Kong’s recorded history there were at least 4 “very hot days” in the month of October which the mercury rose above 33°C

(Chart by @kjoules.org) Hong Kong, Very Hot Days in October (in which the temperature exceeded 33C), 1884-present

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 1d

“This attempt to silence lawyers by disbarring them is an appalling violation of international law and sets a very troubling precedent in Hong Kong and China.”

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 1d

“This is a new retaliation and an alarming assault on freedom of expression and lawyers’ rights to practice their profession and express their views in line with international standards,” in an United Nations Human Rights Council statement.

Hong Kong Free Press HKFP @hongkongfp.com · 1d

UN experts have expressed alarm after self-exiled lawyer Kevin Yam was barred from practising as a solicitor in Hong Kong. In full: buff.ly/UV9Iwl0

UN rights experts condemn move to bar lawyer-activist Kevin Yam from practising in Hong Kong | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

UN experts have expressed alarm after self-exiled lawyer Kevin Yam was barred from practising as a solicitor in Hong Kong. Australia-based Yam was barred by the Law Society in September following a ruling...

buff.ly

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 2d

Hong Kong’s bar scene has matured and evolved years after protests and the pandemic, says a former editor for Time Out

www.wineenthusiast.com/hong-kong-ni...

www.wineenthusiast.com

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 3d

The URA stressed their financial position remained sound, with net assets of HK$43.6 billion, however it is concerned the “seven-year-old flat in the same district” rule for acquisitions is leading to significant losses

Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 3d

Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority recorded a net loss of HK$2.72 billion for the 2024-25 fiscal year, of which $41 million were operating losses and $2.68 billion were impairment provisions for properties and ongoing projects

In 中文:
news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/comp...

市建局上年度淨虧損27.2億元　與政府檢視收購政策研替代方案 - RTHK

市建局主席周松崗表示， 2024/25 年度市建局錄得4100萬港元營運虧損，連同物業及已承擔項目要作出約26億8千萬元的減值撥備，年度的淨虧損為27億2千元；總流動資金為212億元，資產淨值為436億港元，指市建局的財務狀況仍保持穩健。...

news.rthk.hk

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 3d

Palestine ladies sighting at Central

Two ladies waving Palestinian flags on a crosswalk on Pedder Street, Hong Kong, with one carrying a placard urging a boycott of Israeli products

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Joel Chan @kjoules.org · 3d

And the article has reappeared online

www.scmp.com/news/hong-ko...

Legco delegations shun West for 4 years in a first since Hong Kong handover

But lawmaker hopes that next Legco will resume official visits, arguing that city can learn from West.