PRESS DIGEST - Hong Kong - March 7

HONG KONG, March 7 (Reuters) – These are some of the leading

stories in Hong Kong newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not

verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST

– Beijing’s top official on Hong Kong affairs has

acknowledged for the first time that the city’s capacity for

mainland tourists is a matter of concern for the central

government. (link.reuters.com/mar47v)

– Democracy in Hong Kong would give a “healthy” status

boost to the business community, says Li Ka-shing, but only if

people are open-minded. The Cheung Kong chairman gave

a rare insight into his political views in an interview with

mainland media company Caixin.com. (link.reuters.com/gar47v)

– Rent on high-end flats in Hong Kong remains more

expensive than in any other city worldwide – double the level of

Singapore – despite a slight fall in the past year, according to

a survey by human resources consultancy ECA International. (link.reuters.com/har47v)

THE STANDARD

– Two of five affluent local investors own overseas

properties, particularly in the mainland, Singapore and the

United States, a survey by HSBC finds. Among their Asian peers,

Hongkongers are also among the keenest to invest elsewhere. (link.reuters.com/par47v)

– Casino operator SJM Holdings announced plans to

build the world’s first luxury hotel fully designed by Chanel

Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld in its new casino resort in

Macau. The Karl Lagerfeld Hotel will be opened in 2017. (link.reuters.com/qar47v)

– The 11 percent increase in tobacco tax in the city’s

budget is too low to push smokers to quit and deter youngsters

from starting, the head of the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and

Health said. Chairwoman Lisa Lau Man-man said this year’s tax

rise was far lower than the 40 percent in 2009 and 2011. (link.reuters.com/var47v)

HONG KONG ECONOMIC TIMES

– China home grown smartphone maker Xiaomi, which launched

its first mobile handset in the mainland three years ago,

expects its smartphone sales to reach 100 billion yuan ($16.34

billion) in 2015 and the company has no plan to seek a listing

in the next five years, according to founder Lei Jun.

– With a slogan “World Class, Asia Heart”, casino operator

Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd aims to expand beyond

Asia, according to Deputy Chairman Francis Lui.

MING PAO DAILY NEWS

– Developers of four new residential projects in the city

have submitted applications in February for pre-sales of flats,

involving a total of 943 units, the highest in three months,

according to the Lands Department in Hong Kong.

For Chinese newspapers, see……………

($1 = 6.1185 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Donny Kwok; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)

PRESS DIGEST - Hong Kong - March 7