King Charles III stressed Canada's proud independence on Tuesday as he delivered a major speech to open parliament in Ottawa set against US President Donald Trump's repeated threats to take over the country.

"Democracy, pluralism, the rule of law, self-determination, and freedom are values which Canadians hold dear, and ones which the Government is determined to protect," Charles said, adding Canada was facing a "critical moment."

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney invited the 76-year-old British monarch – who is the Canadian head of state – to the capital, accompanied by Queen Camilla.

King Charles's "speech from the throne" was the first by a monarch in nearly half a century.

The king has never publicly commented on Trump's repeated talk of making Canada the 51st US state, but his language was closely watched for any reference.

Although the speech was read by the king as if his own words, it was in fact written by the prime minister's office to set out the government's priorities to "build Canada strong" and how it aims to achieve them.

Trump has also ripped up the world trade order and launched tariff wars against friends and foes alike, particularly targeting Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth.

"The system of open global trade that, while not perfect, has helped to deliver prosperity for Canadians for decades, is changing. Canada's relationships with partners are also changing," Charles said, in cautious words.

"We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War. Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes."

Thousands gathered along a parade route early Tuesday morning for a chance to see their monarch. The atmosphere was festive with people waving Canadian flags.

Kirsten Hanson, 44, said she welcomes the king's show of support amid the pressure coming from Canada's southern neighbor.

"I think if there's anything that he can do to demonstrate Canada's sovereignty I think that that's fantastic," she told AFP.

"Nobody wants to be absorbed into the US," she said. (AFP)

Southeast Asian leaders expressed "deep concern" over US tariffs on Tuesday, as they held a summit with China and Gulf states hailed as "a response to the call of the times" in a geopolitically uncertain world.

The trade-dependent economies are looking to insulate themselves after US President Donald Trump blew up global trade norms by announcing a slew of levies targeting countries around the world, then paused most for 90 days.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) released a statement on Tuesday night expressing "deep concern over... the imposition of unilateral tariff measures, which pose complex and multidimensional challenges to Asean's economic growth, stability, and integration".

In another statement, the bloc stressed "our strongest resolve to stand together" in the face of the levies, and pledged to expand cooperation with other partners.

Malaysian premier Anwar Ibrahim further said the leaders had reached an understanding that any bilateral agreements they might strike with the United States on trade tariffs would not harm the economies of fellow members.

"While proceeding with bilateral negotiations ..., the consensus rose to have some sort of understanding with Asean that decisions should not be at the expense of any other country," said Anwar, who on Monday said he had written to Trump requesting an Asean-US meeting on the tariffs.

"So we will have to protect the turf of 650 or 660 million people," he said of Asean.

Earlier in the day Malaysia, which holds the bloc's rotating chairmanship, hosted the inaugural summit between Asean, China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – a regional bloc made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Premier Li Qiang told the meeting that "against the backdrop of a volatile international situation", the summit was "a pioneering work of regional economic cooperation".

"This is not only a continuation of the course of history, but also a response to the call of the times," he said.

Later, at a dinner event, Li urged Gulf and Asean countries to remove trade barriers and expand liberalisation in the face of rising protectionism and unilateralism.

"We all need to firmly maintain the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as the core, and promote the creation of a stable and orderly international market environment," he said. (Agencies)

The government on Tuesday unveiled a total of 30 new measures to promote the "silver economy" and tap into the "favourable financial conditions and purchasing power" of the city's elderly population.

Officials announced measures in five areas: boosting "silver consumption", developing the "silver industry", promoting "quality assurance of silver products", enhancing "silver financial and security arrangements" and unleashing "silver productivity".

To get elderly people to spend more, there'll be a "Friends & Flavours" drive involving restaurants introducing suitable meal options, while the retail sector will be urged to offer discounts to older customers.

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau said he expects more than 100 restaurants to join the "Friends & Flavours" campaign.

Measures will also be introduced to encourage "post-50s" to participate in training and rejoin the labour market, including new placement-tied courses which will be launched in the second quarter of the year.

"In 2024, the elderly spending of people aged 60 and above amounted to HK$342 billion. In 10 years' time, it is predicted to grow to HK$496 billion, so that is the kind of magnitude of silver spending," said Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk, who chairs the Working Group on Promoting Silver Economy.

"If we can achieve a five percent growth a year, and if we just take the first year in illustration, that would amount to HK$17 billion, which is quite substantial."

Five different government bureaus will be responsible for promoting and collaborating with various industries to launch the new measures.

At least five people have been killed and 19 injured in an explosion at a chemical plant in Shandong province.

Authorities also said six people were unaccounted for.

The blast happened shortly before noon on Tuesday at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co., which is located in an industrial park in the city of Weifang.

Upon receiving a report of the blast, the Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a work team and specialised personnel, including firefighters, medical experts and work safety specialists, to aid local rescue efforts.

Youdao was set up in August 2019 in the Gaomi Renhe chemical park in the provincial city of Weifang, its website says, with more than 300 employees.

It develops, produces and sells technology for pesticides, pharmaceuticals and related fine chemical intermediates. (Agencies)

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Last updated: 2025-05-27 HKT 21:35

Undercover police officers on Tuesday arrested two people suspected of providing illegal ride-hailing services.

The pair, aged 35 and 48, were arrested on suspicion of illegally carrying passengers for hire and not having third party liability insurance.

Two vehicles were seized in the operation, which saw officers posing as customers.

"According to the Road Traffic Ordinance, no person shall use a car to carry passengers for hire unless a hire car permit is issued," noted inspector Ho Kin-pong, adding that the offence carries a maximum punishment of HK$10,000 or a six-month prison term for a first conviction.

Ho urged people to use legal means of transport.

A No 3 alarm blaze broke out at a logistics warehouse in Tin Shui Wai on Tuesday.

Police received reports at around 12.40 pm of a blaze and heavy smoke seen at a warehouse in Ha Tsuen.

The blaze was upgraded to a No 3 alarm fire at about 1.30 pm, the Fire Services Department said.

Six breathing apparatus teams and six jets were dispatched to put out the flames, with the department reminding people to stay calm and shut their doors and windows if they smell something burning.

Police officers said around 20 people were evacuated from the warehouse, with a 53-year-old man taken to Tuen Mun Hospital after suffering back injuries.

The names of the giant panda twin cubs that were born in Hong Kong have been revealed on Tuesday.

In a ceremony, the judges announced that "big sister" will take the name of Jia Jia while "little brother" will be named De De.

Officials said the name "Jia Jia" conveys the message of support.

It also features an element of family, embodying the prosperity of families and the nation as well as the happiness of its people.

Meanwhile, "De De" means "to succeed", expressing hope that Hong Kong can do well in everything.

It also represents virtue in Chinese, suggesting that giant pandas, as national treasures, possess the virtues cherished by the Chinese people.

More than 35,000 submissions were received after the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and Ocean Park called on the public to submit ideas for the names of the panda cubs in February.

In the ceremony, Director of Immigration Benson Kwok presented a "birth certificate" to each cub.

"The pair of giant pandas are actually not qualified to get a birth certificate, but we will present them with a birth memorial certificate," he said.

"The certificate will have their photos printed and some basic information, along with their [official] names."

The twin pandas will move with their mother Ying Ying to Alpine Zone at the Giant Panda Adventure, where the public will be able to see the pandas without a glass barrier.

"It is a very positive pair of names," Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong said.

"Jia Jia is the mandarin version, it means home, and sounds like home.

"In terms of De De, some people may pronounce as Di Di, which is younger brother in Cantonese.

"We have to be a bit creative here with the names, the sounds like, and there are also different meanings."

An international mediation body to be inaugurated in Hong Kong will bring significant benefits and boost the city's appeal globally, Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday.

Lee said the decision to set up the International Organisation for Mediation in the territory reflected the central government's full backing for Hong Kong becoming a leading centre for international legal and dispute resolution services.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to arrive for Friday's signing ceremony of the convention on establishing the mediation body, alongside dignitaries from nearly 60 countries and 20 international organisations.

"It all shows that the central authorities fully support Hong Kong's efforts to establish an international legal and dispute resolution centre in the Asia-Pacific region," Lee said.

The chief executive said the mediation body will bring "various advantages" to the SAR.

"Through the [organisation], Hong Kong will see its role elevated in mediation. Hong Kong's international influence will be boosted," he said.

"The [organisation] will bring about various economic benefits, will create a large number of jobs, including mediators, interpreters and researchers. A number of international organisations, non-governmental organisations and academic agencies will be attracted to set up their offices in Hong Kong."

Lee also described the mediation body as a "high-level international organisation", which is on a par with the International Court of Justice and Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

The government earlier said the organisation's headquarters, at the site of the old Wan Chai Police Station, could open as soon as the end of the year.

Hong Kong's doors are "wide open" for those potentially affected by the US government's efforts to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students, according to the SAR's leader who called the policy "discriminatory and unfair".

Chief Executive John Lee also said on Tuesday that he would consider further raising the ceiling for non-local student intake at the city's eight higher education institutions funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC).

The Trump administration sought to revoke the Massachusetts-based Ivy League school's ability to enrol international students, which was later blocked temporarily by a judge after the university sued to stop the decision.

"Hong Kong will welcome any students who have been discriminated by the US policy, who face difficulties to study or continue their studies in US universities," Lee told reporters ahead of an Executive Council meeting.

"The Hong Kong SAR government, together with the eight UGC-subsidised universities, will do all our best to facilitate and assist any students who suffered from this discriminatory and unfair treatment, so that they will find a way to study in Hong Kong."

The chief executive announced in his 2023 Policy Address that public universities would be allowed to double the number of non-local undergraduate admissions, raising the enrolment ceiling from 20 percent to 40 percent.

"We have room in this quota to accept students who have problems studying in the US to come to these eight UGC-funded universities. If there's the need, I will consider further raising this ceiling," Lee said.

The Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday the MTR Corporation has to enhance its contingency planning and responses in the wake of three service disruptions so far this year.

These include the more than five-hour suspension along the entire Tseung Kwan O line on Thursday that began with the evening rush hour.

Ahead of the Executive Council meeting, Lee said the stoppages show there are inadequacies in the operator's response and contingency planning.

"We have been focusing on rectification, in which we have systems to impose punishment on MTRC," he said.

"But I think it is more important to focus on prevention so that there will be [no more disruptions].

"And we should also focus on the responses when there are, unfortunately, such incidents."

Lee said he has requested the MTRC carry out a comprehensive and systemic review to enhance operations.

The subway operator, he said, also needs to strengthen its contingency capabilities and responses by conducting drills and setting up a team dedicated to coping with emergencies.

Lee went on to say the MTRC has to improve on its arrangements for alternative transport during service suspensions and come up with a timely information dissemination system.

The Transport and Logistics Bureau, Transport Department and Electrical and Mechanical Services Department have to lead and guide the operator in implementing its five-year plan in enhancing management and maintenance of its railway assets, he said.

The Transport and Logistics Bureau has told the railway giant to submit a report regarding last week's incident within a month.

There were two other disruptions in February and April.

The operator will offer HK$19.2 million in compensation to the public over the raft of incidents, as well as give commuters a day of half-price discounts on fares for last week's disruption.