The owners of a Hong Kong-registered oil tanker involved in South Korea's worst oil spill say the South Korean decision to indict the ship's officers for the incident is unjust. The owners say the crew should in fact be commended. Claudia Blume reports from Hong Kong.

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is warning of fraud in the country's coming general elections, which are widely expected in March. VOA's Heda Bayron reports from Hong Kong, where the former deputy prime minister has been visiting.

Hong Kong continues to top a list of the world's freest economies and the Philippines posted a record balance of payments surplus in 2007. Claudia Blume at VOA's Asia News Center in Hong Kong has more on these and other business stories from the region.

The world-famous star singer Lea Salonga, will appear 'live' with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra on 9, 10 February 2008 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. A bona fide "Disney Princess", Lea is the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in Disney's Aladdin and the singing voice of Mulan in Mulan and Mulan 2. She is also the Laurence Olivier Award and Tony Award-winning star of the blockbuster musical Miss Saigon.

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (SEHK), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, and the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) announced today (Thursday) that they have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) announced today (Thursday) that the pilot scheme requiring new listing applicants to post a web proof information pack (WPIP) on the HKEx or Growth Enterprise Market website, as applicable, will commence on 1 January 2008.

India and Hong Kong have initiated talks on a free trade agreement and plan to enter into a double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) to promote bilateral trade and investment.

Pursuant to the rules of the Employees' Share Award Scheme (as amended and restated on 16 August 2006), the board of directors of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) today in accordance with the recommendation of the Remuneration Committee resolved to provide an amount of $26.3 million for the purchase of shares of $1.00 each in the capital of HKEx to be awarded to certain eligible employees (Selected Employees).

The Exchange proposes to exercise its right to cancel the listing of the shares of the Company on the Exchange pursuant to Rule 6.10 of the Listing Rules.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx) and Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited (Hang Seng Indexes) today (Tuesday) announced an agreement on HKEx's use of the Hang Seng Industry Classification System (HSICS) for the classification of all Hong Kong-listed companies.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited has announced the arrangements for the adjustment to the contract terms of all open Wharf futures and option contracts in existence after the market close on 12 December 2007, the business day immediately before the ex-rights date (ex-date), which is 13 December 2007, to account for rights shares to be issued on the basis of one rights share for every eight existing ordinary shares.

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited hereby publicly criticises the Company for failing to disclose in a timely manner the continuing connected transactions with connected entities thereby breaching Rule 14A.34 of the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.