Hong Kong police are searching for a man believed to have snatched mobile phones from two MTR commuters moments before the train doors closed.

Police said they received a report at 8.24pm on Thursday from a woman, surnamed Tung, who said her phone was stolen at Lai King MTR station.

Less than 10 minutes later, they received a second report from another woman, surnamed Wong at Mei Foo MTR station, also saying that somebody had grabbed her phone.

The suspect is a man in his 30s with long hair, who was wearing a navy top and shorts at the time of the suspected offences, police said.

According to local media, in the first incident, the woman got on a Tsuen Wan Line train at Lai King MTR station when, just as the doors were closing, a man snatched her OPPO FIND X9 phone and ran out to the platform.

The woman got off at the next stop, Mei Foo, where she sought help from station staff.

In the second incident, another woman, Wong, had her iPhone 14 snatched inside the train when it stopped at Mei Foo MTR station. Just before the doors closed, the suspect took her phone and ran out of the train.

Police said the phone in the first incident was worth around HK$4,000, while the phone in the second was worth around HK$9,000.

Nobody was injured in the incidents.

The cases were classified as robberies and are being investigated by officers in the police’s Sham Shui Po division.

Hong Kong-based carriers Cathay Pacific and HK Express have said they will reduce flights from mid-May to the end of June, citing “huge cost pressure” due to surging fuel prices amid the Middle East conflict.

Around 2 per cent of Cathay Pacific flights will be cancelled between May 16 and June 30 “to mitigate part of the increased costs,” according to a statement issued by the aviation giant on Saturday.

The cancellations will mostly affect regional flights, as well as a small number of routes to Australia, South Asia and South Africa. 

HK Express, Cathay Pacific’s budget subsidiary, will axe around 6 per cent of flights from May 11 to June 30.

The decision to reduce capacity is due to surging jet fuel prices amid the Middle East crisis, Cathay said.

“In the past month, we have pursued every suitable means to keep our flights operating as normal. This includes adjusting the fuel surcharges in an attempt to mitigate the surge in jet fuel prices,” it said.

“Despite our best efforts, the measures we have taken to mitigate the heightened fuel costs have not been enough… Cutting back on capacity has always been our last resort.”

All affected passengers will be offered alternative flights within 24 hours of their original departure times.

Cathay raised fuel surcharges on all flights by 34 per cent on April 1, two weeks after doubling the fees. HK Express also hiked fuel surcharges on most flights, except to and from mainland China.

It also said it would extend the suspension of Dubai and Riyadh flights until at least June 30 due to “the ongoing situation in the Middle East.”  

The outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, sparked by Israeli-US attacks on Iran on February 28, has significantly impacted global oil prices.

Citing data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Cathay said the global average jet fuel price had doubled, from US$99.40 per barrel for the week ending February 27 to US$209 per barrel for the week ending April 3.

Taxi drivers cannot impose surcharges for using the Octopus card payment platform and are already enjoying fee waivers, the company has told HKFP in response to a row over additional fees.

As of April 1, all Hong Kong taxis must accept at least two forms of e-payment. The methods must include one QR code e-payment option, such as WeChat Pay HK, and at least one non-QR code e-payment method, such as a credit card or Octopus card.

A widely circulated online photo from earlier this month showed a warning sign in a taxi, which was using the DASH ride-hailing platform, stating that a 3 per cent fee would be imposed for electronic payments. It sparked debate over who receives the fee, prompting the Transport Department to clarify that additional platform fees are allowed, as they are not part of the fare, according to The Standard.

However, an Octopus spokesperson told HKFP on Friday that it did not allow handling fees to be imposed on customers. “Under our merchant terms and conditions, taxi drivers accepting Octopus via the Octopus App for Business or Octopus Mobile POS are not allowed to impose [an] additional fee on passengers,” the company said.

It said that over 47,000 taxi drivers had registered to accept Octopus. “Octopus does not charge taxi drivers any transaction or handling fees for using the Octopus App for Business and Octopus Mobile POS, and we will continue to waive these fees as part of our ongoing efforts to support the taxi industry’s transition to cashless payments and contribute to Hong Kong’s digital transformation,” the company added.

According to Octopus, if customers encounter any taxi drivers imposing fees, they can call their hotline on 2266 2222, submit an online enquiry or contact the Consumer Council.

Against rules but not illegal

The issue of payment platform surcharging is a grey area. The practice is not banned by the authorities, but Octopus and major credit card firms forbid it as part of merchant agreements.

Last month, Assistant Commissioner for Transport Louisa Fung told Hongkongers to check whether their chosen e-payment platforms impose extra surcharges, according to RTHK.

On March 15, in the lead-up to the new rules, the Transport Department said in a press release that it had been stepping up publicity and public education to familiarise taxi drivers with the mandatory requirement.

If a taxi driver fails to provide electronic payment methods at the end of a ride, passengers are still obliged to pay the fare. Passengers may report the case by noting the time, date, taxi licence plate, and driver details and calling 1823 or 2889 9999.

Visa and Mastercard did not respond to HKFP’s enquiries.

As the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other Gulf states were targeted by Iranian airstrikes, Hongkonger Oi Chau joined a chorus of other expats saying it was “business as usual” in Dubai.

She was convinced after seeing images of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also serves as defence minister, strolling around Dubai Mall on March 2 – two days after the US-Israeli attacks on Iran triggered a military conflict in the Middle East.

Four weeks later, on Monday, the crown prince, Sheikh Hamdan, made another visit to the same mall – this time with Finance Minister Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

It was “as if nothing happened, as if it was business as usual,” Chau told HKFP.

The UAE, a regional economic superpower that hosts US military assets, seems to bear the brunt of Iranian strikes.

As of Wednesday, UAE air defences had intercepted 438 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and 2,012 drones launched by Tehran. The Ministry of Defence said 12 people – nine of whom were foreign nationals – had been killed and 190 others injured.

Last month, the Hong Kong government raised travel alerts for countries in the Middle East, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia. It said that as of March 23, about 590 of the 830 Hong Kong residents who sent enquiries to the Immigration Department had left the region, while 240 remained behind in the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Despite growing uncertainty over the war in the Middle East, Chau was among Hongkongers – long accustomed to their home city’s insularity from armed conflicts – who have chosen to stay put.

Hong Kong to Dubai

Chau recalled hearing the initial strikes on February 28 from her flat at the Dubai Marina district.

She lives a 30-minute drive away from the Port of Jebel Ali, where one of the berths caught fire from missile debris when Iran’s airstrikes were intercepted in early March.

“I saw a crater in the side of a building from the intercepted missiles. That was when I thought my life could be in danger,” Chau told HKFP in a video call in late March.

A month into the strikes, she thought the worst of the conflict was over.

“When we were able to hear the missiles overhead, I was conflicted whether I should leave the UAE. But the strikes calmed down after the third week, so I don’t think I have to leave just yet,” she said.

Chau, who works for a regional office of a Japanese car manufacturer, said she chose to stay largely because her employer does not allow remote work.

Meanwhile, by her own estimates, some 80 per cent of her expat social circle have left. Dubai Marina, an affluent tourism and residential district where Chau lives, has fallen silent since the war broke out, with tourists gone and residents mostly staying home.

Chau transferred to Dubai two years ago for a change of scenery after getting fed up with the restrictive work culture at the automobile company in Tokyo.

What drew her to Dubai was the diverse expat crowd and the low-tax regime, which she said was reminiscent of Hong Kong’s.

Having visited twice before moving to Dubai for work, Chau had already formed an impression of the UAE as an “oasis” for political stability.

“I never had concerns that this place would be dragged into a conflict,” she said, adding that she believed the UAE would be well-protected even in the case that it did get involved.

Safe haven

However, the war has shattered the UAE’s image as a safe, low-tax haven that attracts affluent foreigners.

There are signs that the conflict may escalate even further, as Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have led calls for the US to turn up the heat on Tehran. The unpredictable nature of US President Donald Trump, which has veered from threatening to hit Iran’s civilian and energy infrastructure to announcing a pause to his threats, does not help either.

Meanwhile, the automaker Chau works for has been experiencing supply issues since Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes.

Other companies have slashed salaries and placed employees on unpaid leave, but so far, Chau’s workplace has said it will not impose pay cuts. “But if the situation continues, nobody knows,” she said.

For Chau, choosing to stay during the first fortnight of the conflict was something of a gamble. But some factors convinced her about the city’s safety, including assurances from her Lebanese boss, who witnessed armed conflicts in his country of origin, and a friend who grew up in Dubai, as well as the crown prince’s mall visits.

“It was as if to say, the UAE isn’t affected by this war, we aren’t affected, and our development will continue,” she said of the Dubai rulers’ mall stroll.

Across the border in Saudi Arabia, Chloe Wong has also decided to stay, although the country, which hosts several US military bases, has been targeted by Iranian strikes.

“As of now, life is still normal here in Riyadh,” said the Hongkonger who moved to the Saudi capital after a stint in the UAE. “It’s almost like the war isn’t even happening.”

She added: “I believe we are still in safe hands. There were some missiles here in Riyadh, and I think it has already become… our new normal.”

Wong said she would consider leaving only if Saudi Arabia “actively participates” in the conflict. “The Gulf countries haven’t joined the war.”

‘Like propaganda’

Another Hongkonger in Dubai has a more critical view of the crown prince’s public appearance.

Kristi, who uses a pseudonym for fear of reprisals, said she believed the grandstanding was meant to reassure the UAE populace of the “Dubai dream” amid missile and drone strikes.

“The government cares a lot about its image. I’ve known this since I came here,” said Kristi, who now works as a marketer after moving to the city.

“They don’t want to let public sentiment be affected. At the end of the day, 90 per cent of the workforce are expats. If they leave, who’s left to work?”

Airstrikes are not the only worry. The UAE’s National Media Authority warned on March 2 that sharing false or unverified content was an imprisonable offence.

In mid-March, the UAE attorney general arrested 35 people from nine countries for sharing photos and videos related to the Iranian strikes on social media, from real to misleading and AI-generated content. Days later, on March 20, Abu Dhabi police announced the arrests of 109 people on suspicion of filming or posting about the Iranian attacks.

Following the arrest reports, Kristi witnessed members of a WhatsApp group consisting of hundreds of Hongkongers in Dubai deleting images from the chat. They now only resort to text descriptions of what they have seen.

Meanwhile, government-licensed influencers on TikTok and Instagram in Dubai continue to produce a steady stream of content praising the ruling royal family for ensuring their safety.

“Spreading fear doesn’t do them any favours; it actually hurts them. We understand why they have to do that, but we know it feels like propaganda,” she said, referring to the Dubai rulers.

Kristi pointed out that, as a Hongkonger, she had never experienced geopolitical conflict first-hand.

“We Hongkongers haven’t witnessed natural disasters or war,” she said, adding that one of the deciding factors for her move was that she felt Dubai was as safe as Hong Kong. However, she acknowledges that the narrative is being challenged.

While Dubai’s missile interception systems have provided a degree of reassurance, “nobody knows if they’re going to run out,” Kristi said, referring to the UAE’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system, developed by US defence giant Lockheed Martin.

“Drones also don’t care where they fall after their GPS systems are jammed,” she added.

Kristi moved to Dubai on a whim about half a decade ago. “I didn’t even know what the Middle East was back then,” she said.

“When the fighting began in Iran and with Gaza, my friends back in Hong Kong messaged me telling me to take care of myself. But in Dubai, you really couldn’t feel any of that. It was really when the missiles were intercepted that I could feel the impact of war.”

Despite the shock, Kristi has decided to stay, at least for the time being.

Her boyfriend, who is also based in Dubai, is one major reason why she is staying put. “I have a stable partner here, and we’re planning to get married. I’m not going to just leave and do this long-distance,” she said.

Even before the war, she had realised that life in Dubai “is good for a short time,” and the couple had plans to leave. For now, they want to stay, at least for a short or medium term.

“Even if they announce a ceasefire, things won’t return to normal overnight,” Kristi said. “I don’t think it’s going to stop any time soon. Iran and Trump are both stubborn… and the UAE is stuck in the middle.”

Taiwanese airlines will raise their fuel surcharges on international flights by 157 percent on Tuesday, as the Middle East conflict sends global oil prices soaring.

Surcharges on short-haul flights will increase by US$27.50 to US$45 and US$71.50 to US$117 for longer flights, the Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) and transportation ministry said on Wednesday.

China Airlines and Eva Air confirmed that passengers will be affected by the hikes from April 7.

Ticket prices for domestic routes will increase by an average of around US$3, CAA director-general Ho Shu-ping told parliament.

“In response to international trends, prices often go up and down, so we need to make appropriate adjustments to reflect that,” Ho said.

The move comes as the war in the Middle East, and Iran’s effective closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, have sent crude prices skyrocketing.

A barrel of Brent oil, the benchmark reference for energy markets, which had fallen back below US$100 Wednesday, surged seven percent to hit US$108.15.

Several Chinese airlines, including national carrier Air China, also plan to raise their fuel surcharges from Sunday.

Other airlines, including Air France-KLM, Air India, Qantas, and SAS, have raised their fares to reflect the increase in jet fuel prices.

Several Chinese airlines, including national carrier Air China, said they will raise their fuel surcharges on domestic flights from Sunday as the war in the Middle East drives up oil prices globally.

Air China, China Southern and its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines said in statements that they will increase surcharges on flights of up to 800 kilometres (500 miles) by 60 yuan (US$8.70), and 120 yuan for longer flights. Spring Airlines and Juneyao Airlines also announced fuel surcharge hikes.

International flights will be subject to the system’s calculations, according to statements issued on Wednesday that did not mention the conflict.

The move comes as the war in the Middle East, and Iran’s effective closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, have sent crude prices soaring.

A barrel of Brent oil, the benchmark reference for energy markets, has risen to around US$100 since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, leading Iran to retaliate against oil installations in several Gulf states.

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific ramped up its fuel surcharge on all flights last month by 34 percent as a result of the conflict.

Several other airlines, including Air France-KLM, Air India, Qantas, and SAS, have raised their fares to reflect the increase in jet fuel prices.

Many airlines have also stopped serving destinations in the Middle East over security concerns.

Analysts have said that, while carriers all hedge a portion of their fuel costs, their margins could still be affected.

Chinese carriers transported around 770 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 5.5 percent on the previous year, according to official reports, while international passenger traffic jumped by 21.6 percent.

Passenger traffic was expected to rise to 810 million, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.