https://www.scmp.com/rss/17/feed All the latest comment, focus, and opinion behind the big news stories in Hong Kong, China & around the world en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The case of two-month-old Danny has sparked concern over his welfare and debate on whether home births, though legal, need to be regulated to ensure health and safety. Danny’s parents were arrested on suspicion of child neglect after not registering his home birth as required by law and failing to provide evidence of parentage. It was the latest chapter in a troubled parenting past also involving two other children born at home. The couple eventually provided DNA samples that verified parentage.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3356075/baby-danny-case-shows-gaps-hong-kongs-laws-around-home-births?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3356075/baby-danny-case-shows-gaps-hong-kongs-laws-around-home-births?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has rightly sought to enhance its competitiveness by opening its door wider to overseas talent in recent years. Separately, more non-local students are allowed to study in local universities and stay after graduation, a positive policy for economic and social development. Like the difficulties encountered by those recruited via special visa schemes, mainland students are struggling to overcome various problems when considering settling in the city. According to a survey by the Youth... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3356048/help-mainland-students-overcome-hurdles-ensure-more-stay-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3356048/help-mainland-students-overcome-hurdles-ensure-more-stay-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has made alternative dispute resolution a key component of its push to become an international legal centre, enhancing the city’s status as a venue for arbitration and mediation. But that does not mean that litigation – the deciding of cases in court – is being left out. The judiciary has announced that an international commercial court is to be launched. This is a significant step. The new specialist court, to be established within the coming year, will consider high-value, complex... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355979/new-international-commercial-court-will-boost-hong-kong-legal-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355979/new-international-commercial-court-will-boost-hong-kong-legal-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 23:15:15 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The bombing might have slowed in the Middle East, but the ongoing conflict has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – a major energy supply route – and the dropping of inflation bombs, driving up energy and commodity costs worldwide. The cost of living is rising in most countries, but it’s especially bad for low-income and developing nations where fuel and food supplies are disrupted. The worldwide inflation has also affected China primarily through increasing import costs and global... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355920/inflation-rises-globally-hong-kong-must-remain-alert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355920/inflation-rises-globally-hong-kong-must-remain-alert?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 22:45:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The high-powered delegation led by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to Central Asia has delivered concrete results that redefine Hong Kong’s strategic role in the region. As the first half of the trip concluded in Kazakhstan, the achievements are substantial – 43 memorandums of understanding spanning trade, investment, new energy, agriculture, innovation, education and media cooperation, plus a landmark deal to relaunch direct flights to Almaty by early 2027. The visit has been highly... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355808/kazakhstan-partnerships-redefine-hong-kongs-strategic-role-central-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355808/kazakhstan-partnerships-redefine-hong-kongs-strategic-role-central-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Foster care is an essential lifeline, providing stability, safety and a nurturing environment to vulnerable children who need shelter from traumatic situations. However, it is a challenge to find enough carers in most communities, including Hong Kong. Mother’s Choice has made a worthy appeal for more people from diverse backgrounds to step forward. The charity organisation said on Saturday that it had 222 children on its official waiting list for placement. Its referrals increasingly involve... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355779/vulnerable-children-need-hongkongers-open-their-homes-and-hearts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355779/vulnerable-children-need-hongkongers-open-their-homes-and-hearts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Shangri-La Dialogue became known over the years as a platform for China and the United States to vent their sharp differences. That both sides dialled down the rhetoric at Asia’s top security conference in Singapore last weekend was not entirely unexpected. It reflected a warmer tone at the recent Beijing summit between presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, characterised by consensus on a new strategic framework of “constructive strategic stability”, signalling more diplomacy and less... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355639/shangri-la-dialogue-has-outlived-its-usefulness-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355639/shangri-la-dialogue-has-outlived-its-usefulness-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:15:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A technical blunder that caused the Education Bureau to send school allocation messages with the wrong details is more than an embarrassing administrative mishap. It is a reminder that in a city that prides itself on efficiency, digital readiness and smart governance, the smallest system failures can carry outsized reputational costs. Parents were understandably confused when they prematurely received SMS messages with the correct school choices but the wrong calendar year on Tuesday morning.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355660/kong-kong-education-bureau-must-learn-lessons-after-sms-error-over-school-places?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355660/kong-kong-education-bureau-must-learn-lessons-after-sms-error-over-school-places?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The richest man in the world is about to launch the largest stock debut in history. That fact alone about Elon Musk’s filing in the United States for an initial public offering (IPO) of SpaceX is significant enough. The flotation is expected to raise at least US$75 billion at a whopping valuation of around US$1.8 trillion for the company. If nothing else, the IPO is about to knock Hong Kong off the top spot for raising capital through listings after the city reclaimed the crown last year... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355516/spacex-ipo-lift-could-test-global-equity-bull-run?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355516/spacex-ipo-lift-could-test-global-equity-bull-run?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 23:15:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The SailGP championships, in which national teams of sailors compete in high-speed races at iconic locations around the world, have become one of the sport’s most exciting contests. Featuring identical catamarans propelled by the wind and capable of reaching speeds of more than 100 km per hour, the races have grown rapidly in stature and popularity since the first event in 2019. The choice of Hong Kong as the venue for the opening race of the 2027 season, in January, is therefore a coup for the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355513/hong-kong-course-benefit-hosting-sailgp-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355513/hong-kong-course-benefit-hosting-sailgp-event?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. From sanctions to hacking and prosecution, the United States and some of its allies have tried everything to kill off Huawei Technologies. Yet, China’s pre-eminent national tech champion comes back stronger every time. If Washington with its hubris had learned to leave China and its tech industry alone, companies like Huawei might have lagged behind and become also-rans. Now, though, across entire fields from artificial intelligence (AI) to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355307/us-pressure-has-only-helped-make-chinas-tech-giants-stronger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355307/us-pressure-has-only-helped-make-chinas-tech-giants-stronger?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 May 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Ideally, a campaign to persuade people to end self-harming behaviour should envisage a date when it is no longer needed. If only that were true of smoking. Then there would be no need for the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare May 31 World No Tobacco Day, more than 60 years after the US surgeon general officially declared smoking a direct cause of lung cancer. Instead, places that achieve small reductions in the smoking rate are held up as examples to the world. Hong Kong is a case in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355312/hong-kongs-progress-quitting-tobacco-worth-celebrating?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355312/hong-kongs-progress-quitting-tobacco-worth-celebrating?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 May 2026 22:45:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial With the first Hong Kong astronaut on board, China’s Shenzhou-23 mission has opened up new horizons. It sends a clear message that space technology and exploration is not out of reach for a place traditionally known for its strength in finance and services. With proper leadership, institutional support and a mentality reset, the city can capitalise on the momentum to fly higher. The pride and excitement brought by Lai Ka-ying must now be sustained by long-term efforts to further develop a space... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355257/one-small-step-one-giant-leap-hong-kongs-space-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355257/one-small-step-one-giant-leap-hong-kongs-space-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A modest pay rise for civil servants is usually no cause for political disputes when the economy is doing well and the public mood is positive, but the prevailing social circumstances make this year’s adjustment more sensitive. The authorities should carefully consider all relevant factors to ensure the outcome is seen as fair and justified. Following last year’s pay freeze for the 170,000-strong bureaucracy, the government’s decision to resume the annual pay trend survey this year signals the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355259/civil-service-pay-rise-must-be-seen-be-fair-and-well-justified?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355259/civil-service-pay-rise-must-be-seen-be-fair-and-well-justified?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial China has largely reined in the human cost of industrial accidents during years of economic growth at breakneck pace. A shocking exception was last Friday’s gas explosion that killed at least 82 people at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province in central China, the country’s worst mining disaster in nearly two decades. President Xi Jinping’s call for a thorough investigation and accountability is necessary. He stressed that authorities must learn from the accident and intensify efforts to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355270/shanxi-mine-disaster-must-fuel-efforts-eliminate-workplace-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355270/shanxi-mine-disaster-must-fuel-efforts-eliminate-workplace-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Another welcome sign that Hong Kong’s economy is roaring back arrived this week with news that the city has surpassed Switzerland as the world’s largest cross-border wealth hub. It is a milestone to be celebrated. International consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG) said in its latest global wealth report released on Wednesday that cross-border wealth booked in Hong Kong climbed 10.7 per cent last year to US$2.95 trillion. The figure was narrowly above Switzerland’s US$2.94 trillion, which... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355157/cross-border-wealth-hub-crown-latest-sign-hong-kong-roaring-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355157/cross-border-wealth-hub-crown-latest-sign-hong-kong-roaring-back?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 23:15:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The visit to China by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif this week came at a critical time as delicate negotiations intended to end the US-Iran war continue, almost two months into a fragile ceasefire. President Xi Jinping praised Pakistan’s proactive role as a mediator in the talks, while Sharif thanked China for supporting the push for peace in the Middle East. The four-day tour, which ended on Tuesday, strengthened the long-standing “iron brother” relationship between the two nations. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355131/pm-sharifs-visit-reaffirms-china-pakistan-iron-brother-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355131/pm-sharifs-visit-reaffirms-china-pakistan-iron-brother-relationship?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial When persuasion doesn’t work, you have to crack the whip. Chinese regulators have launched their toughest crackdown on illicit cross-border stock trading to stem capital outflow. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has imposed heavy fines to punish leading brokerages Futu, Tiger Brokers and Long Bridge for offering mainland Chinese investors access to trading overseas stocks without licences. Futu was fined a whopping 1.85 billion yuan (US$272.6 million) while Tiger Brokers must... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354981/cross-border-crackdown-part-keeping-chinas-capital-market-stable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354981/cross-border-crackdown-part-keeping-chinas-capital-market-stable?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The opening of an expanded second passenger terminal at Hong Kong International Airport has rightly been hailed as a milestone in the city’s journey to bolster its role as a global aviation hub. It was encouraging to see praise from passengers using Terminal 2 on its first full day of operations yesterday. Operators must now remain agile in planning further enhancements to ensure the facility remains world-class. The opening marks the official completion of the airport’s HK$141.5 billion... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355016/terminal-2-relaunch-global-aviation-hub-milestone-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3355016/terminal-2-relaunch-global-aviation-hub-milestone-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 22:46:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Waiting times for public housing have been frustratingly long in Hong Kong, where geographical constraints have made the problem worse than in many global cities. There was a welcome sign of improvement earlier this month when the authorities revealed they had hit an important milestone after speeding up construction of subsidised rental homes. The average wait for long- and short-term general applicants for subsidised public rental housing fell to 4.7 years as of March, according to data... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354491/hong-kong-must-keep-pace-providing-permanent-public-housing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354491/hong-kong-must-keep-pace-providing-permanent-public-housing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s bun festival testifies to the value of the city’s cultural heritage beyond preserving customs and memory. Originating from the outlying island of Cheung Chau in the 18th century, the annual spectacle continues to reinforce community spirit and sustain the distinct Hong Kong story. Its success is a good example of how heritage and traditions can strengthen tourism and cultural identity. The festival works not because it is a flashy mega-event made with a big budget and heavy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354851/cheung-chau-bun-festival-flies-flag-hong-kongs-cultural-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354851/cheung-chau-bun-festival-flies-flag-hong-kongs-cultural-heritage?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is often caught up in disputes between Europe and China, ranging from trade to geopolitics. That has sometimes distracted people from the city’s natural and long-standing position as a bridge between the two major trading blocs. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po therefore had his work cut out during his five-day tour of France, Belgium and Switzerland. To make his case, he not only had to convince European officials about the city’s advantage as a global business hub but also that it... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354737/paul-chans-trip-just-one-step-strengthening-relations-europe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354737/paul-chans-trip-just-one-step-strengthening-relations-europe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 23:15:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial After the city’s worst fire disaster in decades took 168 lives last November, it goes without saying that fire safety is paramount in our crowded high-rise environment. But evidence shows it still needs saying. It is to be found in the report by the Fire Services Department on checks on 1,500 residential and mixed-use old buildings carried out over two months beginning in January. A fire services spokesman said the checks found that 53 buildings had fire alarms with safety violations and another... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354761/hong-kong-must-not-slip-complacency-fire-safety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354761/hong-kong-must-not-slip-complacency-fire-safety?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It’s not the kind of list that Hong Kong wants to top. But it may be the price we pay for being a premier financial hub. In a massive crackdown by law enforcement agencies from 10 jurisdictions on international scams, some US$752 million in losses have been identified, with Hong Kong accounting for 42 per cent of the total. Hong Kong police worked with their counterparts from Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, the Maldives, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand. Together, some 3,200... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354507/hong-kong-should-spare-no-effort-fight-against-financial-crime?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354507/hong-kong-should-spare-no-effort-fight-against-financial-crime?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 22:45:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The government plans to implement a law allowing terminally ill patients to refuse life-sustaining treatment from July 31, more than 20 months after the Legislative Council finally passed it. This has, wisely, allowed the healthcare sector time to prepare for important changes and for public education and awareness. The Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance provides legal status to patients’ advance-care planning while offering protection to healthcare and rescue personnel.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352857/law-advance-medical-directives-will-help-ensure-dignity-end-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352857/law-advance-medical-directives-will-help-ensure-dignity-end-life?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The films that become big box-office hits often enjoy huge budgets and feature all-star casts. Some Hollywood blockbusters cost hundreds of millions of US dollars. The film that has taken mainland China by storm this year is different. Dear You, a heartwarming story featuring the culture of Chaoshan, in eastern Guangdong province, has been a surprise success. The film was made on a shoestring budget of just 14 million yuan (US$2.06 million). The cast was mostly unknown before the film was... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354479/indie-hit-dear-you-shows-power-storytelling-over-big-budgets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354479/indie-hit-dear-you-shows-power-storytelling-over-big-budgets?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 22:45:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial In an era of rising geopolitical fragmentation, the annual Global Prosperity Summit in Hong Kong is an important illustration of how communities with different systems can collaborate constructively to explore new ideas and even foster world peace. The city should be proud to host the two-day event, which in its third edition this week showcased how Hong Kong provides intellectual leadership fostered by its unique status as a premier hub for dialogue and intellectual exchange. Organised by the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354473/prosperity-summit-showcases-hong-kongs-intellectual-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354473/prosperity-summit-showcases-hong-kongs-intellectual-leadership?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The heavy downpours that triggered Hong Kong’s first red rainstorm warning of the year should wash away any complacency about risks and the need for better preparation in a world of rapidly shifting climate patterns. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries linked to Thursday’s chaos. But it was distressing to see flooded streets, stranded cars and children caught in heavy rain on their way to school. Government departments involved in storm responses have clearly learned from weather woes in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354506/first-severe-storm-year-shows-citys-response-can-be-improved?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354506/first-severe-storm-year-shows-citys-response-can-be-improved?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 22:45:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial President Xi Jinping has pivoted from hosting a summit with US President Donald Trump to another, just days later, with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was a landmark moment in head-of-state diplomacy, a guiding strategic principle of foreign relations under Xi’s leadership. His summit with Putin was seen by some in the West as sequential to his meetings with Trump. That is far from the reality. China does not see a stabilised relationship with Russia – among the three major powers – only... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354384/xi-putin-summit-no-less-important-xi-trump-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354384/xi-putin-summit-no-less-important-xi-trump-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 23:15:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s senior counsel have been a feature of the city’s common law justice system since its early days. The first such appointment was made in 1865. The legal sector has seen many changes over the years, but the role of the “silks” remains as important as ever. They are leaders of the profession. Six new senior counsel were admitted at an annual ceremony on Saturday. Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung stressed the significance of the lawyers in maintaining public confidence in the city’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354327/hong-kong-welcomes-class-new-senior-counsel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354327/hong-kong-welcomes-class-new-senior-counsel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The recent hantavirus outbreak on a small cruise ship was a reminder of the hidden threats posed by deadly pathogens. Little did we know that at the same time, an outbreak of a strain of the highly fatal Ebola viral disease may have been circulating undetected for several weeks in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa. It is now reported to have killed at least 136, with hundreds of infections or suspected cases. Early detection of deadly viruses is difficult in regions... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354252/despite-low-risk-ebola-hong-kong-vigilant-and-prepared?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354252/despite-low-risk-ebola-hong-kong-vigilant-and-prepared?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The local dining scene is bound for change after applications opened this week for restaurants to welcome dog owners with their pets from July. The pet-friendly scheme, foreshadowed in the chief executive’s policy address last year, is limited to 1,000 or 5 per cent of the city’s restaurants – but the quota was largely filled by about 700 applications on the first day. How it turns out, especially during busy times like weekends, will have a big impact on how widely the change will be ultimately... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354221/compliance-matters-social-acceptance-pet-friendly-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354221/compliance-matters-social-acceptance-pet-friendly-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial After the pomp and ceremony of US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing last week – his first in nearly 10 years – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s summit with President Xi Jinping on Wednesday may seem underwhelming. But it is not because Beijing attaches less importance to the relationship. It reflects mutual trust between the two, and the fact that Putin has been an annual visitor for the past 10 years except for two Covid-19 pandemic years. As a result, he has forged a strong rapport... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354077/energy-will-be-high-xi-putin-summit-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354077/energy-will-be-high-xi-putin-summit-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Central Asia is fast becoming Hong Kong’s next frontier for growth as the city makes a major strategic pivot towards the region. This welcome new direction is about to be further embraced, after the announcement that Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will lead his administration’s biggest business delegation to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan next month. More than 30 Hong Kong business leaders from sectors ranging from logistics to innovation and technology as well as about 30 entrepreneurs from... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354067/central-asia-trip-will-open-new-horizons-prosperity-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3354067/central-asia-trip-will-open-new-horizons-prosperity-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 22:45:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial China wants it both ways with the yuan, and it may just succeed despite conventional economic wisdom. Many mainstream economists think the yuan faces insurmountable barriers to internationalising as a major currency because of domestic capital controls. They might be right technically, but Chinese policymakers may have different goals. Full convertibility means abandoning capital controls, something Beijing is unwilling to give up any time soon. An increasing number of China’s trade partners and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353934/why-chinas-yuan-gaining-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353934/why-chinas-yuan-gaining-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Medical innovation may not be the first prognosis that comes to mind regarding financial hub Hong Kong’s future. But last week, the city comfortably took the spotlight hosting professionals, policymakers and investors from around the world for International Healthcare Week. The Asia Summit on Global Health and the Hospital Authority Convention, held concurrently with the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair, were important catalysts for developing the sector. The two-day summit... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353944/hong-kong-shares-its-public-health-bona-fides-global-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353944/hong-kong-shares-its-public-health-bona-fides-global-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Scientific knowledge may be universal but scientists can suffer discrimination and persecution like everyone else. Recent reports of Chinese researchers in the United States being accused of smuggling biological materials suggest carelessness on the part of the researchers or, more likely, deliberate scapegoating by US law enforcement agencies. They appear to fit an enduring pattern of official harassment against Chinese scientists under the guise of combating industrial espionage and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353729/us-must-ensure-equal-legal-protection-all-scholars-including-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353729/us-must-ensure-equal-legal-protection-all-scholars-including-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 23:15:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The launch of a legal body to resolve international disputes through mediation in Hong Kong last year was a landmark. The institution, led by Beijing, is the first of its kind in the world. Now, the organisation has resolved a dispute for the first time. It has been quick to get down to business. The settlement will be the first of many. Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, secretary general of the International Organisation for Mediation (IOMed), revealed that a maritime case involving parties from mainland... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353679/hong-kong-mediation-bodys-successful-case-resolution-will-be-first-many?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353679/hong-kong-mediation-bodys-successful-case-resolution-will-be-first-many?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 22:45:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The problem of loneliness is a familiar one in Hong Kong, highlighted by tragedies among isolated elderly members of society. However, it is not only those in advanced years or residents living alone who feel disconnected. Such feelings are also much too prevalent among adults across age groups living with their families. The results of a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society suggest one in five such people in the city feel lonely. An estimated 520,000 household members... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353666/those-lonely-not-alone-also-deserve-hong-kongs-attention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353666/those-lonely-not-alone-also-deserve-hong-kongs-attention?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Climate change has had an unmistakable impact in Hong Kong, which has experienced everything from super typhoons and intense heat to historic rains, landslides and flooding. But a more subtle yet equally alarming symptom can be found in the city’s green spaces where trees and other plants are growing in unexpected ways. Botanists are calling for urgent research on local ecosystems after seeing dramatic shifts in leaf-shedding and flowering patterns of certain species. Among them are the red... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353654/hong-kongs-trees-can-serve-barometers-amid-climate-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353654/hong-kongs-trees-can-serve-barometers-amid-climate-change?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong narrowly escaped the worst of Super Typhoon Ragasa last year when it passed within 100km rather than making a direct hit. The city weathered the storm. But the damage caused by the typhoon, with winds reaching 220km an hour at its centre, was significant. There were storm surges and floods. More than 100 people were injured and over 1,200 trees felled. The typhoon, which prompted Observatory to issue the No 10 signal, brought the city to a standstill for nearly two days and costs were... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353730/improved-defences-will-help-hong-kong-weather-typhoon-season?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353730/improved-defences-will-help-hong-kong-weather-typhoon-season?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The world might be in for another China shock: affordable AI-enabled robots. Chinese-made humanoid robots are already significantly cheaper than many Western rivals. Now, with state policy support, mainland companies are working fast to combine artificial intelligence (AI) with robotics. Is the world ready? This month, Unitree Robotics unveiled a manned “mecha” capable of transitioning between bipedal-walking and four-legged modes. A high-strength alloy machine designed for civilian transport,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353651/chinas-ai-enabled-robots-set-transform-global-playing-field?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353651/chinas-ai-enabled-robots-set-transform-global-playing-field?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 22:45:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Day one of the summit in Beijing between President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump opened with a welcome ceremony befitting the importance of the event, and ended with a significant agreement on the future of the China-US relationship. Most importantly, the two sides have agreed to establish a new strategic framework of “constructive strategic stability”. This hopefully will define the bilateral relationship for the rest of Trump’s term. It is not simply the definition of a relationship... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353587/xi-trump-summit-beijing-heralds-start-constructive-stable-relations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353587/xi-trump-summit-beijing-heralds-start-constructive-stable-relations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It was devastating to hear investigators say that a cigarette was likely to have sparked last November’s deadly Hong Kong housing estate fire that raged for more than 43 hours, killed 168 people and left thousands without homes. There is growing hope that similar tragedies at renovation or construction sites could be prevented by banning smoking during such work. The public inquiry into the Wang Fuk Court blaze also learned that despite 17 checks at the site, Labour Department inspectors... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353375/smoking-ban-construction-sites-must-be-implemented-without-delay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353375/smoking-ban-construction-sites-must-be-implemented-without-delay?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Twelve years after illegal ride-hailing was launched to compete with taxi services in Hong Kong and give passengers a wider choice, the government has embarked on the last stage of a long journey towards regulating them and putting them on a legal footing. The major issue for stakeholders in both the taxi industry and ride-hailing platforms – and for customers – is the hotly disputed cap on the number of ride-hailing vehicles to be allowed on the road. The Transport and Logistics Bureau says it... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353361/ride-hailing-regulation-must-keep-customers-and-operators-mind?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353361/ride-hailing-regulation-must-keep-customers-and-operators-mind?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s domestic helpers have easy access to unsecured loans from licensed money lenders. But they are often in no position to repay them. Many end up being sucked into a damaging spiral of debt. There is a need for tighter regulation. The government’s measures to strengthen rules for the sector to combat “excessive borrowing” among low-income workers will help tackle the problem. They are a step in the right direction. Monthly repayments for unsecured personal loans to such borrowers will... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353243/tightened-rules-hong-kongs-money-lenders-will-protect-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353243/tightened-rules-hong-kongs-money-lenders-will-protect-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 23:15:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It may seem like long ago that, for a period, visiting a loved one who was a patient in a public hospital was a logistical exercise, if it was allowed at all. That was, of course, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Visiting hours and the number of visitors allowed at any one time were limited. Visitors were permitted only on production of negative rapid antigen test or nucleic acid test results, and proof of vaccination. That such measures were accepted as necessary says something about the times and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353248/extended-visiting-hours-reflect-enlightened-approach-patient-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353248/extended-visiting-hours-reflect-enlightened-approach-patient-care?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Beijing has finally confirmed that US President Donald Trump will make a state visit to China for talks with President Xi Jinping from Wednesday to Friday. The bilateral relationship is very important to both countries, and equally so to the rest of the world. At the same time, we should not expect too much of the visit. Many global issues need the attention of China and the United States, whether the rest of the world wants to see a G2 geopolitical leadership duo. It remains to be seen whether... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353155/trump-xi-summit-may-not-yield-deal-still-significant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353155/trump-xi-summit-may-not-yield-deal-still-significant?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The hantavirus cluster that took a deadly toll on a cruise ship far away in the Atlantic has understandably been of great concern to many in Hong Kong. Fears have grown globally since the phrase “human-to-human transmission” was used to describe what happened on board the MV Hondius after it set sail from Argentina on April 1. Given densely populated Hong Kong’s experience with Covid, Sars and other illnesses, it is good that the city authorities have been on the alert since at least three... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353166/hong-kong-treating-hantavirus-outbreak-reasonable-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353166/hong-kong-treating-hantavirus-outbreak-reasonable-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 22:45:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Mobile phones are being barred from a growing number of classrooms around the world amid concerns about the disruption these devices can cause. While Hong Kong has not imposed a citywide ban, rules are tightening at individual schools. A student outcry at one institution has put a spotlight on the need to strike a better balance with phone restrictions. Form Three and Four pupils at the boys’ school Kwun Tong Maryknoll College were told on April 30 they would not be allowed to use phones on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352862/hong-kong-schools-must-balance-phone-policy-against-student-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352862/hong-kong-schools-must-balance-phone-policy-against-student-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 23:15:10 +0000