DotDotWeekly | Five killed in Yau Ma Tei building fire

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Weekly Highlights

Xue Long 2 icebreaker makes historic visit to HK to show polar scientific research achievements

The Xue Long 2, China's first domestically built polar scientific research icebreaker, arrived in Hong Kong on Monday morning, marking a significant milestone in the nation's polar exploration efforts.

The icebreaker, which completed China's 40th Antarctic expedition and supported the construction of the Qinling Station in the Ross Sea, will engage in various activities during its five-day stay to promote public awareness and understanding of the country's achievements in polar scientific research.

The Xue Long 2 was moored at the Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, welcoming visitors and offering them a unique opportunity to explore the vessel. A quota of 3,000 people were granted free access to the icebreaker this week, to ensure a smooth and organized experience.

Hong Kong Customs detects suspected gold-smuggling case by air worth about HK$84 million

Hong Kong Customs on March 27 detected a suspected case of large-scale gold smuggling involving air freight, and seized about 146 kilograms of suspected gold with an estimated market value of about HK$84 million, at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). This is the largest gold-smuggling case detected by Hong Kong Customs on record in terms of the seizure value.

Based on risk assessment, Customs on that day examined an outbound air cargo consignment, declared as carrying two air compressors departing for Japan, at the Customs Cargo Examination Compound at HKIA. Upon inspection, Customs officers found the batch of suspected smuggled gold, which was moulded and camouflaged as air compressor parts, concealed in the integral parts of the two air compressors.

After a follow-up investigation, Customs officers on April 3 arrested a 31-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case in Hung Hom. An investigation is ongoing. The arrested man has been released on bail pending further investigation.

Muwu BBQ to open in Mongkok next Monday

Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced on Tuesday that its client, Mainland barbecue chain Muwu BBQ, will officially open its debut store in Mongkok next Monday (April 15) and is planning to open a second one in the Western district next month, as part of a global expansion.

The Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion for InvestHK, Jimmy Chiang, welcomed Muwu BBQ's opening of two stores in the city. He said, "It shows not only the company's confidence in the city's vibrant food and beverage industry, but also its commitment to expand globally via Hong Kong."

Established in 2003 in Shenzhen, Muwu BBQ offers barbecue and skewers at affordable prices. It is one of the popular restaurants for Hong Kong food lovers when they visit Shenzhen. Muwu BBQ's Hong Kong representative, Chen Huijun, said that the company decided to establish its foothold in Hong Kong to attract more Hong Kong customers and visitors from all over the world.

Solar halo appears over HK: Observatory explains phenomenon

Solar halos appeared in the sky over various locations in Hong Kong on Wednesday, prompting many citizens to capture and share photos on social media.

According to the Hong Kong Observatory, a "halo" is an optical phenomenon that occurs when sunlight or moonlight passes through cirrus clouds composed of ice crystals. The light is refracted, forming a circular or arc-shaped halo around the sun or moon. The visibility of the halo depends on the concentration of ice crystals in the clouds.

Special task force to set up for investigation of Yau Ma Tei fire, Director of Fire Services says

A fire broke out at a residential building in Yau Ma Tei on Wednesday morning, resulting in five deaths and more than 30 injuries. Director of Fire Services Yeung Yan-kin expressed his condolences to the families of the fire victims.

The fire was reported at 7:53 a.m. and officers arrived at the scene at 7:56 a.m., according to the FSD. The department then mobilized 218 firefighters and ambulance crews, 35 fire engines and 24 ambulances, and put out the fire at 10:30 a.m.

The fire mainly involved the 1st and 2nd floors of the building, covering an area of 20x20 meters. During the operation, 250 people were rescued from floors of the building and affected units, while 50 others evacuated on their own.

A total of 41 people were injured in the incident, involving 16 men and 25 women aged between 18 and 94. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

FIBA 3x3 qualifiers to be held over weekend

Hong Kong is set to host a FIBA 3x3 Olympic qualifying tournament for the first time ever from Friday to Sunday at Victoria Park.

The hosting rights for the first leg of the tournament mark a seminal moment in the advancement of Hong Kong's 3×3 basketball.

This tournament will welcome top-tier 3×3 basketball teams from across the globe to compete on Hong Kong soil. Moreover, it presents a historic opportunity for the Hong Kong, China men's and women's 3×3 basketball teams to vie for Olympic qualifications in front of their home crowd, an occasion of utmost significance.