A decision to extend the opening hours at two border checkpoints during the Lunar New Year period has been generally welcomed by various trades. They say it should attract more visitors and boost business. Kelly Yu reports:

Roundtable lawmaker Michael Tien says he welcomes keeping the Shenzhen Bay crossing open around the clock from February 9-13. But he questioned the decision to extend the hours at Lo Wu. He says authorities should instead open the Lok Ma Chau crossing for longer so people can travel to Futian. He spoke to Kelly Yu:

The executive director of the Travel Industry Council, Fanny Yeung, told Anne Chan that she welcomed the news of extended border operating hours. She says this could prevent a repeat of those chaotic scenes and traffic congestion seen after the fireworks display on New Year's Eve in Victoria Harbour, when mainland tourists rushed to return home:

People are being urged to take extra precautions as Hong Kong shivers through a cold snap. The mercury dipped below freezing to a low of minus 2.4 degrees at the SAR's highest peak on Tuesday, as Damon Pang reports:

The government says new arrangements between mainland and Hong Kong courts will not mean that judgments automatically apply in the SAR. The new set-up, which begins on Monday, only applies to civil and commercial cases. Todd Harding reports:

The national security trial of former media tycoon Jimmy Lai has heard that he hoped to call for sanctions from the United States through a letter campaign to then American leader Donald Trump, ahead of the roll out of the national security law here in 2020. Kelly Yu reports:

An accountancy group has estimated the city's fiscal deficit could reach about HK$127 billion for the 2023/24 financial year. The Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants blamed a drop in land sales, slower economic growth and lower stamp duty income from the stock and property markets. It also said it expected the government to have reserves of around HK$707 billion by the end of March, which equates to 11 months of expenditure. The institute's president, Roy Leung, told Chloe Feng there was no pressing need to introduce new taxes in the short-term as the current fiscal condition remained healthy. But he said the government should consider reviewing the SAR's tax system:

Chief Executive John Lee says authorities have not seen any unusual activity, after the Hang Seng Index dropped below 15,000 points on Monday. He pointed out that the market was sensitive and officials were keeping a close eye on any fluctuations. Local stocks rallied on Tuesday, finishing 2.6 percent higher. Natale Ching reports:

At least three people have been killed and five injured after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Xinjiang on Tuesday morning. Dozens of injuries were also reported in neighbouring Kazakhstan. Wendy Wong reports: