https://www.scmp.com/rss/2/feed Breaking news, analysis and opinion from the SCMP's Hong Kong edition. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong’s government is under mounting pressure to deliver the Northern Metropolis, announced in 2021, as it approaches the end of its term – less than 15 months and counting. The megaproject, to turn 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) near the border with mainland China into a centre of international innovation and technology, is to be an engine to drive the city’s economic growth and housing – and the gem of its economic integration with the mainland. We are pressed for time. Beijing has long... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350491/why-northern-metropolis-needs-more-one-big-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350491/why-northern-metropolis-needs-more-one-big-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Twenty Hong Kong couples have each received baby bonuses totalling HK$60,000 (US$7,700) for having three children in about 2½ years. Yet less than 60 per cent of the HK$2.28 billion earmarked for the three-year government scheme has been disbursed as of February, with just over six months to go before it ends in October. Government figures showed the city’s registered birth rate in the first two months of this year dropped by 20 per cent compared with the same period in 2025. A youth group... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350642/20-hong-kong-couples-get-triple-baby-bonus-hk60000-each-disbursement-lags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350642/20-hong-kong-couples-get-triple-baby-bonus-hk60000-each-disbursement-lags?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:30:16 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong-headquartered Toys ‘R’ Us Asia has pivoted to an experience-focused format and smaller stores in the city following an expansion programme that sought to increase its outlets as it navigates the changing retail landscape. The group planned to close the year with 20 stores in Hong Kong, representing a 40 per cent rise from 2025, said Leo Tsoi, CEO of the toys and collectibles retailer. The strategy allows the group to be more nimble and adapt to the demographic shift, as toys and... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350624/toys-r-us-game-changer-kidults-compact-shops-fuel-pivot-hong-kong-retail-evolves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350624/toys-r-us-game-changer-kidults-compact-shops-fuel-pivot-hong-kong-retail-evolves?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:30:13 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse Many Hongkongers would have been surprised last week that the government was postponing the introduction of basketball betting. It was only months ago that the bill had been enacted by the Legislative Council. So clearly it was a matter that fell within our high degree of autonomy. And the Hong Kong Jockey Club was known to be hard at work preparing for implementation. But listeners to RTHK’s Backchat programme in early February may have come away with an inkling that all might not be well.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350322/why-hong-kong-hitting-pause-basketball-betting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350322/why-hong-kong-hitting-pause-basketball-betting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Ciao UFO, a sci‑fi drama inspired by a local urban legend of mysterious lights over a public housing estate, clinched the top honours at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards on Sunday night, winning best film and best director for Patrick Leung Pak‑kin. The dystopian crime thriller Sons of the Neon Night emerged as the biggest winner, taking home eight prizes out of 12 nominations. Among those sharing the limelight at the ceremony in the Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui was veteran Tony Leung Ka‑fai,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3350651/ciao-ufo-takes-top-prizes-hong-kong-film-awards-sons-neon-night-glows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3350651/ciao-ufo-takes-top-prizes-hong-kong-film-awards-sons-neon-night-glows?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 16:12:07 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Spinal muscular atrophy patients have urged the Hong Kong government to expand subsidised medicine options for adults to increase their chances for a better quality of life, with some saying their condition deteriorated after growing up without affordable care. Lui Man-lam, president of the Hong Kong Neuro-Muscular Disease Association, said at a press conference on Sunday that while oral medicine subsidies for those aged 25 or above were rolled out early this year, adult patients still lacked... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350640/hong-kongs-spinal-muscular-atrophy-patients-seek-aid-injection-therapy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350640/hong-kongs-spinal-muscular-atrophy-patients-seek-aid-injection-therapy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:30:17 +0000 SCMP Reporter SCMP Reporter A major exhibition featuring more than 250 sets of Han dynasty relics – most of which have never been displayed in Hong Kong – is offering a rare look into one of the most influential periods of Chinese history. The showcase, titled “The Majestic Han: A Golden Age of Vigour and Cultural Integration”, is running at the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui until September 20. Admission is free. The event is co-organised by the Development Bureau and the National Cultural Heritage... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3350639/over-250-rare-han-dynasty-relics-display-major-hong-kong-showcase?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3350639/over-250-rare-han-dynasty-relics-display-major-hong-kong-showcase?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:21:47 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong homebuyers’ strong demand for new flats extended a streak of brisk sales for developers with one project selling out in a single day, underscoring the city’s broader recovery in housing prices. All 88 units at the Pavilia Farm III project by New World Development and MTR Corporation in Sha Tin were sold on Saturday, prompting the developers to put 75 more flats on sale later that night. Elsewhere in Kai Tak, 133 units of KT Marina II were snapped up over the weekend, according to... https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/3350638/hong-kong-homebuyers-extend-sell-out-streak-amid-renewed-confidence-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/property/hong-kong-china/article/3350638/hong-kong-homebuyers-extend-sell-out-streak-amid-renewed-confidence-market?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:10:25 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu The Hong Kong Sevens ended in a high-octane finale on Sunday with costume-clad rugby fans filling the stands at Kai Tak Stadium, but some nearby restaurants said they struggled to match last year’s takings, blaming an influx of new rivals for diluting profits. The atmosphere on Super Sunday was electric as a sea of excited spectators, some clad in creative and flamboyant costumes, filled the South Stand, with some experiencing the event for the first time at its 50th anniversary. Over three... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350630/hong-kong-sevens-treat-fans-local-restaurants-hungry-more-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350630/hong-kong-sevens-treat-fans-local-restaurants-hungry-more-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:20:28 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong should take a more proactive approach to removing barriers hindering the cross-border flow of people, capital, goods and data with neighbouring Shenzhen, analysts have said, as the new leadership of the mainland China tech hub signals a fresh push for deeper integration. The calls for action followed the appointment of Jin Lei, an economist and former official in Sichuan province, as Shenzhen’s Communist Party chief last month, succeeding Meng Fanli, who has since been named the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350627/hong-kong-urged-be-more-proactive-removing-barriers-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350627/hong-kong-urged-be-more-proactive-removing-barriers-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 10:13:39 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung About 1,900 families who lived in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court will return in batches to their fire-ravaged homes from April 20. Nearly five months after the deadly blaze in Tai Po engulfed seven of the estate’s eight buildings, the government arranged for residents to visit the devastated flats to collect their belongings and bid farewell to their homes. According to Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, around 6,000 residents have booked slots to return, while 47 households opted out,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350618/returning-fire-ravaged-home-wang-fuk-court-what-prepare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350618/returning-fire-ravaged-home-wang-fuk-court-what-prepare?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:23:14 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The Hong Kong government should use its proposed accountability system prudently to investigate department heads and avoid undermining morale among civil servants, a top adviser to the city’s leader has said. But Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of the city’s top decision-making Executive Council, stressed on Sunday that the system would serve as a reminder for leaders to actively spot deficiencies in their departments and “do better in handling residents’ complaints”. In a televised interview,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350612/government-should-probe-department-heads-cautiously-under-new-system-regina-ip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350612/government-should-probe-department-heads-cautiously-under-new-system-regina-ip?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 06:09:38 +0000 Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Hong Kong is set to announce on Monday a new batch of “strategic enterprises” establishing a presence in the city, including several firms with market capitalisations of up to HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion), the finance chief has revealed. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday that the new partners were in high-growth sectors, including life and health technology, the low-altitude economy, artificial intelligence (AI), new energy materials and fintech. “Those life and health... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350608/new-firms-hk100-billion-market-capitalisation-set-shop-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350608/new-firms-hk100-billion-market-capitalisation-set-shop-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 05:04:23 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin David Chan* is among the few remaining ship machinery maintenance masters at the Po Chong Wan temporary industrial area in Hong Kong’s Aberdeen. Chan, in his seventies, entered the trade in the 1960s as an apprentice in Ap Lei Chau, an islet off Aberdeen, repairing propellers, gearboxes and other machinery on wooden fishing boats and cargo ships. At the time, the area was one of the city’s four major fishing villages. After years of hard work, he went solo and relocated to the Po Chong Wan site... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350591/no-mood-work-veteran-ship-mechanics-future-clouded-aberdeen-marina-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350591/no-mood-work-veteran-ship-mechanics-future-clouded-aberdeen-marina-project?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip For the first time in its history – and in a striking departure from its long-standing doctrine of minimal economic intervention – Hong Kong is preparing to draw up a five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has asked all policy bureaus to help draft proposals by the end of the year. To lead the exercise, veteran civil servant Janice Tse Siu-wah has come out of retirement. The Legislative Council, not to be left out, has formed a committee supported by six coordinating groups spanning... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350403/how-markets-will-test-hong-kongs-new-economic-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350403/how-markets-will-test-hong-kongs-new-economic-model?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The debut exhibition of the US’ Metropolitan Museum of Art in Hong Kong has underscored the importance of people-to-people ties and trust between countries through cultural exchanges during times of uncertainty, organisers have said. About 200 pieces of jewellery from 4,000 years of history across five continents are on display at the Hong Kong Palace Museum for six months, with the event coming at a politically sensitive time. US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are set to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350576/new-york-met-exhibit-hong-kong-underscores-importance-cultural-exchanges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350576/new-york-met-exhibit-hong-kong-underscores-importance-cultural-exchanges?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Ryan Ip,Jason Leung Yeuk-ho,Wenhui Jia Ryan Ip,Jason Leung Yeuk-ho,Wenhui Jia For a Chinese enterprise venturing overseas, the first decision is often not which market to enter, but which city to launch from. And that choice increasingly narrows to Hong Kong or Singapore. Both offer deep capital markets, common law systems and Chinese-speaking talent. Both want to be the trusted first stop. But a gap has emerged – not in what the two cities offer on paper, but in how they treat the enterprises they both want. What does a “launch pad” deliver? It is where a Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350196/how-hong-kong-can-beat-singapore-launch-pad-chinese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350196/how-hong-kong-can-beat-singapore-launch-pad-chinese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Fourteen people were injured after a minibus crashed into a heavy goods vehicle, Hong Kong police said on Saturday. The driver reported to police at about 9.30pm that the minibus had hit a heavy goods vehicle in Tsing Yi and that some passengers had been injured. The crash happened near Ching Chung House at Cheung Ching Estate. Emergency services found 14 people injured on the minibus. Two of them, who sustained minor injuries, subsequently left the scene. The remaining four men and eight women... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350595/14-hurt-after-minibus-slams-back-goods-vehicle-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350595/14-hurt-after-minibus-slams-back-goods-vehicle-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 15:10:04 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s competition watchdog is closely monitoring a potential megadeal between the city’s two largest supermarket chains amid a continued decline in grocery sales since 2020. The Competition Commission told the South China Morning Post that it was aware of media reports about the potential merger. “The commission is aware of the relevant media reports and is paying close attention to the matter and any future developments,” it said. Conglomerates Jardine Matheson and CK Hutchison Holdings,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350589/hong-kong-watchdog-monitoring-potential-merger-citys-top-2-supermarket-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350589/hong-kong-watchdog-monitoring-potential-merger-citys-top-2-supermarket-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:02:30 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A Hong Kong woman has lost nearly HK$4.9 million (US$625,800) in three months after being cheated by bogus “investment experts” in an online scam. The victim was lured into contacting the scammers after seeing a post on social media advertising high-return stock investments, police said. She was then instructed to download an app via an online messaging service. Believing the scheme to be genuine, the victim transferred about HK$4.86 million in more than 40 transactions between January and April... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350584/hong-kong-woman-loses-hk49-million-bogus-online-investment-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350584/hong-kong-woman-loses-hk49-million-bogus-online-investment-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:13:27 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong rugby has reached a “pinnacle” as the city celebrates the 50th anniversary of its annual Sevens tournament, the man who coached the local team at the first edition of the event in 1976 has said. Peter Duncan, who stepped down as president of Hong Kong China Rugby in March after a decade in the post, described the annual three-day tournament as an “iconic” sporting event that helped to cement the city’s status in the international community. “If you were sitting in the stadium in 1976... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350582/hong-kong-sevens-pinnacle-50th-anniversary-pioneering-coach-peter-duncan-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350582/hong-kong-sevens-pinnacle-50th-anniversary-pioneering-coach-peter-duncan-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:57:44 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong Cantopop singer Keung To has urged the public to learn from his mistakes after he was fined HK$2,200 (US$280) for careless driving, running a red light and failing to display a probationary sign on his car while driving. Keung, a member of the popular boy band Mirror, also said on Saturday that the “P” sign might have fallen off and he was not aware of it until police told him. The 26-year-old singer, who reportedly obtained his probationary driving licence in February last year, was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350580/hong-kongs-mirror-star-keung-urges-public-learn-his-driving-mistakes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350580/hong-kongs-mirror-star-keung-urges-public-learn-his-driving-mistakes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:12:27 +0000 Jess Ma,Emily Hung Jess Ma,Emily Hung For 66-year-old Ming Lee, the only way to get back to his flat in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court is by walking up 25 flights of stairs, after the deadly inferno at the housing estate last November destroyed seven of its eight buildings, including their lift systems. Undaunted by the physical toll required, the retiree will ascend Wang Yan House next week and bid a final farewell to his home of four decades. “I exercise regularly, but after the fire, my mood and physical condition both deteriorated,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350579/wang-fuk-court-residents-steel-themselves-emotional-return-site-deadly-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350579/wang-fuk-court-residents-steel-themselves-emotional-return-site-deadly-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:00:21 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s second-biggest public housing provider will gradually expand the supply of its subsidised sale flats, aiming for them to account for 40 per cent of its home supply in future projects. Hong Kong Housing Society chairman Ling Kar-kan said on Saturday the move was to meet residents’ strong desire to own their homes. In a television interview, Ling maintained the change had nothing to do with the agency’s financial soundness, although he agreed putting more flats on sale could help... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350574/hong-kong-housing-society-aims-boost-supply-subsidised-sale-flats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350574/hong-kong-housing-society-aims-boost-supply-subsidised-sale-flats?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:58:13 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A Hong Kong charity is attempting to fast-track the supply of guide dogs for the blind by breeding a Labrador with a golden retriever for the first time, as only 10 per cent of applicants for canines were ready for immediate pairing. Jasmine Tang Yau-sheung, head of operations with Hong Kong Seeing Eye Dog Services, also told the South China Morning Post that the number of canines still lagged far behind demand, even with the imminent birth of the mixed-breed “goldadors”. This litter of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350565/hong-kong-charity-breeding-labrador-golden-retriever-boost-guide-dog-supply?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350565/hong-kong-charity-breeding-labrador-golden-retriever-boost-guide-dog-supply?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:00:18 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma The US-Israeli war on Iran has unleashed sharp swings across global energy and financial markets, fuelling demand for safe-haven assets, with Hong Kong emerging as a potential beneficiary across gold, property and capital markets. In the first of a three-part series, we examine Hong Kong’s bid to position itself as Asia’s bullion hub. War in the Middle East has intensified global demand to diversify gold storage, creating a strategic window for Hong Kong to tap its unique status and evolve from... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350511/hong-kong-wants-become-global-gold-vault-does-iran-war-create-opening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3350511/hong-kong-wants-become-global-gold-vault-does-iran-war-create-opening?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 06:00:16 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong authorities will take public opinion into account when deciding whether to trigger a new investigation mechanism to hold senior officials accountable for problems identified, the city’s civil service minister has said. Permanent secretaries of bureaus – who are not covered by the proposed “Heads of Department Accountability System” – would also face scrutiny if they were found to be involved in management failures, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan said on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350561/public-opinion-factor-governments-decision-investigate-officials-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350561/public-opinion-factor-governments-decision-investigate-officials-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 05:55:59 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s investments in the Middle East will not be derailed by ongoing conflicts, the commerce minister has said, expressing confidence in the region’s economic prospects and urging businesses to take a long-term view. “The geopolitical situation has a temporary impact, but in the long term, we remain hopeful about development in the Middle East,” Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah told a radio programme on Saturday. “We have many strengths in areas such as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350558/take-long-term-view-hong-kong-minister-says-middle-east-investment-unaffected?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350558/take-long-term-view-hong-kong-minister-says-middle-east-investment-unaffected?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:57:01 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Some passengers have been unable to use any e-payment options in Hong Kong taxis, with drivers blaming faulty machines or battery problems, but customers view these as excuses because the “cash is king” mentality persists. Experts said many taxi drivers still held a deep-seated fear of having a traceable income record, which could lead to taxation or the loss of eligibility for public housing. Lawmaker Mark Chong Ho-fung told the South China Morning Post that many passengers had complained to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350532/faulty-devices-low-battery-some-taxi-drivers-cook-excuses-avoid-e-payments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350532/faulty-devices-low-battery-some-taxi-drivers-cook-excuses-avoid-e-payments?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:00:13 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma The Hong Kong Tourism Board invited more than 1,700 influencers from around the world to the city between 2023 and last year, with the internet personalities having a combined following exceeding 1.6 billion. Responding to an inquiry from lawmaker Chan Hoi-yan, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau said the board had invited 1,730 influencers to Hong Kong over two years, with itineraries tailored to their markets and audiences. “In 2026-27, [the board] will continue to develop themed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350512/tourism-board-invited-1730-influencers-hong-kong-over-2-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350512/tourism-board-invited-1730-influencers-hong-kong-over-2-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 01:00:25 +0000 Terry Lum Terry Lum In recent years, warnings about Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing population have become increasingly urgent. Long hospital waits, chronic shortages in long-term care and a shrinking working-age population have led many policymakers and researchers to portray ageing as an approaching demographic crisis that a small, densely populated city might be unable to absorb. In some quarters, this has fuelled dire predictions about the sustainability of Hong Kong’s healthcare and social care systems. This... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350035/hong-kong-ageing-real-question-where-people-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350035/hong-kong-ageing-real-question-where-people-age?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) has proposed halving the cash settlement cycle for share trading as part of efforts to enhance market efficiency and liquidity. The city’s bourse operator said in a consultation paper on Friday that it aimed to implement a “T+1” system – under which trades are settled one day after the transaction – in the fourth quarter of 2027, replacing the existing “T+2” cycle. If adopted, the shortened cycle would apply to equities, exchange-traded products,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350526/hkex-proposes-halving-share-settlement-cycle-bid-boost-hong-kongs-financial-profile?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350526/hkex-proposes-halving-share-settlement-cycle-bid-boost-hong-kongs-financial-profile?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:51:01 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft An amber rainstorm warning and a leaky roof failed to dampen the mood of fans as the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament kicked off its 50th anniversary edition on Friday. First-time visitors to the city’s signature annual sporting event expressed amazement at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium, while a food shortage fiasco that plagued last year’s tournament appeared to have been addressed. Costumed revellers gearing up for three days of rugby could already be seen entering the South Stand –... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350524/gloomy-weather-cant-take-shine-hong-kong-sevens-visiting-rugby-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350524/gloomy-weather-cant-take-shine-hong-kong-sevens-visiting-rugby-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:11:18 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong authorities will seek half of the HK$440 million (US$56.2 million) investment for a planned national innovation centre in Yuen Long from the private sector, while setting performance benchmarks that an analyst has called ambitious. The target was announced after Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po revealed the plan in his latest budget in February, which earmarked funds to establish the first national manufacturing innovation centre outside mainland China as part of efforts to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350515/hong-kong-eyes-hk220-million-private-investment-national-innovation-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350515/hong-kong-eyes-hk220-million-private-investment-national-innovation-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:16:03 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways and its budget arm carried more passengers in March than a year ago, despite the impact of the US-Israel war against Iran. Cathay Group also said on Friday that it aimed to restore all flights after June. The company earlier announced it was cutting the number of Cathay Pacific flights by 2 per cent and HK Express services by 6 per cent between mid-May and the end of June. The group attributed the passenger growth to a spate of mega-events in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350510/cathay-pacific-hk-express-passenger-counts-despite-impact-mideast-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350510/cathay-pacific-hk-express-passenger-counts-despite-impact-mideast-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:19 +0000 Brian Wong,Matthew Cheng Brian Wong,Matthew Cheng The owners’ corporation of a Hong Kong housing complex devastated in the city’s deadliest fire in decades failed to convince renovation workers to use fire-resistant materials due to the absence of statutory requirements, a public inquiry heard. Tony Tsui Moon-come, chairman of the management committee of the incorporated owners of Wang Fuk Court at the time of the fire, said on Friday he and other residents were “helpless” when trying to compel contractor Prestige Construction and Engineering... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350494/tai-po-fire-owners-group-repeatedly-protested-use-flammable-materials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350494/tai-po-fire-owners-group-repeatedly-protested-use-flammable-materials?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:41:36 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s food hygiene authorities have deployed drones to help dismantle an illegal slaughterhouse in Yuen Long, arresting its 67-year-old operator and seizing 7.4kg of goat meat and offal with an estimated market value of HK$3,000 (US$380). Acting on a tip-off earlier this week, officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department identified a suspicious farm in Kam Tin, Yuen Long. The unlicensed premises were allegedly used to keep and slaughter goats, with the meat to be sold in Kam... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350471/hong-kong-authorities-use-drones-help-raid-illegal-slaughterhouse-yuen-long?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350471/hong-kong-authorities-use-drones-help-raid-illegal-slaughterhouse-yuen-long?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:10:53 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hail was reported on Hong Kong’s outlying islands on Friday afternoon while an amber rainstorm warning was in force, with heavy downpours also leaking through the closed roof of Kai Tak Stadium during the Sevens rugby tournament. The Hong Kong Observatory cancelled the amber rainstorm warning after 2½ hours, after earlier telling residents to brace for hail... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350455/hong-kong-observatory-issues-amber-rainstorm-signal-warns-hail-violent-gusts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350455/hong-kong-observatory-issues-amber-rainstorm-signal-warns-hail-violent-gusts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:54:07 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell Earlier this week I stumbled on a fascinating piece of research led by geography professor Becky Loo at the University of Hong Kong and soon to be published in the Nature Cities journal. Fascinating not just because of its scale – an analysis of 200,000 household travel surveys covering Boston, Chicago, London, Sao Paulo and Hong Kong – but because of its focus on daily mobility and social mixing. Its key finding? That people aged over 66 have more encounters with a broader cross-section of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350402/debunking-myth-lonely-isolated-hong-kong-retiree?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350402/debunking-myth-lonely-isolated-hong-kong-retiree?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow Hong Kong’s security chief has pledged to replace fax messaging between police and firefighters with a digital system and to increase phone lines at emergency call centres, after an inquiry into last year’s deadly Tai Po fire heard that callers waited up to 15 minutes to be transferred. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung’s remarks on Friday at a Legislative Council Finance Committee meeting followed the independent panel investigating last November’s blaze hearing evidence of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350449/hong-kong-scrap-fax-messaging-between-police-and-fire-services-emergencies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350449/hong-kong-scrap-fax-messaging-between-police-and-fire-services-emergencies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:27:10 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s conservation officers will step up coordination with police to carry out joint operations to enter private premises when investigating suspected animal abuse, following an ombudsman’s report that found existing procedures ineffective. A lawmaker on Friday also backed strengthening collaboration rather than granting Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) staff the power to enter flats, noting that investigative expertise rested with police. Jackie Yip Yin, an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350433/hong-kong-strengthen-police-coordination-animal-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350433/hong-kong-strengthen-police-coordination-animal-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:06:45 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li An 80-year-old Hong Kong man was stabbed in the leg near Cosco Tower on Wing Lok Street in Sheung Wan on Friday morning. He sustained injuries to his left elbow and thigh after being attacked by a man wielding a knife. He was sent to Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam for treatment. The case was reported to police at 11.17am. Officers investigated at the scene and are searching for the suspect. The motive for the attack is still unknown. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350428/elderly-man-stabbed-leg-attacker-knife-sheung-wan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350428/elderly-man-stabbed-leg-attacker-knife-sheung-wan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:50:15 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang An oil tanker sailing under the flag of Hong Kong has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and entered the Gulf of Oman, as a US blockade continues to target vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports, according to a maritime data firm. The tanker, AVA 6, departed from a port in the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, Beijing time. It passed through the Strait of Hormuz sometime between 4am and 2pm on Thursday, according to data from Mingkun Technology, a Chinese maritime information provider based... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350423/hong-kong-flagged-oil-tanker-passes-through-strait-hormuz-test-us-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3350423/hong-kong-flagged-oil-tanker-passes-through-strait-hormuz-test-us-blockade?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:29:35 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong customs has arrested seven people in a citywide crackdown on party rooms offering suspected illegal karaoke sets with songs that infringed copyright. The operation, code-named “Magpie”, took place between March 16 and Wednesday this week and involved more than 100 officers, who raided 14 party rooms, a bar and the homes of two online sellers. Ng Ka-chun, divisional commander of customs’ intellectual property technology crime investigation, said on Friday that authorities seized 28... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350419/7-arrested-crackdown-party-rooms-offering-copyright-infringing-karaoke-sets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350419/7-arrested-crackdown-party-rooms-offering-copyright-infringing-karaoke-sets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:02:16 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A primary school on an outlying island in Hong Kong will cease operations in the 2029-30 academic year after failing to submit a survival plan due to an insufficient number of Primary One pupils for next year. CCC Cheung Chau Church Kam Kong Primary School will also be the first of 15 under-enrolled schools barred from operating subsidised Primary One classes from September. A spokeswoman for the Education Bureau said on Friday that the school did not apply for any survival options despite being... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350415/hong-kong-primary-school-close-2029-over-primary-one-enrolment-shortfall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350415/hong-kong-primary-school-close-2029-over-primary-one-enrolment-shortfall?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:38:56 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Jeffie Lam Ng Kang-chung,Jeffie Lam Hong Kong police have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of snatching two commuters’ phones just as train doors were closing at separate MTR stations during rush hour. Police said on Friday that both thefts took place within 10 minutes of each other at two nearby stations. The first report came from a woman, aged 48, at around 8.15pm on Thursday, who told officers that her phone was grabbed by a man at Lai King station. About 10 minutes later, another woman reported that a man had also... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350393/hong-kong-police-hunt-suspect-over-phones-snatched-mtr-stations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350393/hong-kong-police-hunt-suspect-over-phones-snatched-mtr-stations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:11:29 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Brian Wong,Leopold Chen Matthew Cheng,Brian Wong,Leopold Chen This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The hearing by an independent panel investigating the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong entered its 14th day on Friday. The hearing focused on the role of the management committee of the owners’ corporation, with a former chairman of the body and a construction worker testifying. Tony Tsui Moon-come, chairman of the management committee at the time of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350390/no-cigarettes-allowed-and-no-one-seen-smoking-worker-tells-tai-po-fire-inquiry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350390/no-cigarettes-allowed-and-no-one-seen-smoking-worker-tells-tai-po-fire-inquiry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:35:35 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan March is a highlight of Hong Kong’s cultural calendar. Last month, as I welcomed delegates to the International Cultural Summit during Art Week, many told me they had come to network with local and international collaborators and explore Hong Kong’s museums, galleries and performance venues. Tens of thousands attended Art Basel, Art Central, gallery openings, performances and other events across the city. The month also buzzed with jazz, opera, classical concerts and other performances, with the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350293/art-march-hong-kong-firmly-global-cultural-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350293/art-march-hong-kong-firmly-global-cultural-map?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Ambrose Li,Stephy Zhang Ambrose Li,Stephy Zhang Bars and restaurants are gearing up for a bumper three days during the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, brushing off concerns that rising airfares because of the Middle East war might put off visitors, with some operators expecting a surge of up to 40 per cent compared with a regular weekend. Business magnate and Lan Kwai Fong Group chairman Allan Zeman told the South China Morning Post that the loyal following of the flagship tournament, which runs from Friday to Sunday at the 50,000-seat Kai... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350374/bars-gearing-bumper-hong-kong-sevens-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350374/bars-gearing-bumper-hong-kong-sevens-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has met the city’s No 2 official and finance chief in the capital to discuss alignment with the national 15th five-year plan, as the government prepares to draw up its own inaugural blueprint by the end of the year. The State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) said its director, Xia Baolong, held talks with Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and the newly appointed Secretary for Constitutional and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350370/beijings-point-man-hong-kong-affairs-meets-citys-leaders-capital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350370/beijings-point-man-hong-kong-affairs-meets-citys-leaders-capital?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:35:03 +0000