Hong Kong’s contentious MPF offsetting mechanism has finally been axed and a surge in Labour Day tourism – here are the stories leading the news locally this week.

In today’s edition:

• Offsetting now history

   

• ‘Golden week’ ins and outs

   

• ‘Flesh-eating infection’

Offsetting now history

The abolition of the controversial “offsetting” mechanism that allowed companies to dip into staff pensions finally took effect on Labour Day.

In a boost for the city’s 3 million workers, employers can no longer use the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions for their staff to cover severance and long-service payments.

The Legislative Council in 2022 passed a bill to ditch the mechanism, signalling an end to a lengthy tussle between employers and unions over the issue.

‘Golden week’ ins and outs

Nearly 222,000 mainland Chinese visitors arrived in Hong Kong on the first day of the five-day Labour Day “golden week” holiday, a 22 per cent jump from last year.

Immigration Department data shows that 264,504 visitors in total entered the city on May 1, up by 27 per cent year on year. By comparison, 296,273 Hongkongers headed to other destinations on Thursday, 52 per cent more than the previous Labour Day’s 195,355.

‘Flesh-eating infection’

A “flesh-eating infection” case that led to a 47-year-old man having his lower left leg amputated after acupuncture treatment sparked concerns among the public over the safety of the traditional Chinese medicine practice in the city.

We took a look at the incident, the risks of acupuncture-associated infections and how patients can protect themselves.

You can read about these stories and more at SCMP.com. Have a good weekend.

Politics

• Beijing office posts article critical of splitting ports off in Hutchison deal

   

• Hong Kong 47: first 4 subversion offenders released from prison

   

• Hutchison ports deal: China’s foreign ministry tells parties to ‘act prudently’

   

• Macau’s exposure to US trade war limited, but economy must diversify: leader

   

• Hutchison ports deal: China regulator warns parties not to circumvent probe

Society

• Fired, rehired? How Hong Kong bosses plan to save money as MPF mechanism ends

   

• ‘Exhausted and short of breath’: hidden toll of Hong Kong’s food delivery grind

   

• ‘All for nothing’: Hong Kong workers complain of losing jobs to imported labour

   

• Fans flock to ‘Keung To Bay’ to celebrate Mirror star’s birthday in Hong Kong

   

• 76% of addicts in drug rehab run by Hong Kong NGO are readmissions: auditor