https://www.scmp.com/rss/318206/feed Hong Kong political news including political reform and Hong Kong/China relations. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Natalie Wong,Theodora Yu Natalie Wong,Theodora Yu Hong Kong police took away seven people who appeared in Causeway Bay on Thursday evening carrying flowers and dressed in black to mark the 37th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. They included Chan Po-ying, former chairwoman of the now-defunct League of Social Democrats opposition group, and activist Virginia Fung King-man. Police said they stopped and searched five men and two women, aged between 17 and 79, for allegedly disrupting order in the area around Great George Street and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3356009/7-taken-away-police-ramp-patrols-around-former-site-tiananmen-vigil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3356009/7-taken-away-police-ramp-patrols-around-former-site-tiananmen-vigil?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 17:10:13 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Beijing’s top official on Hong Kong and Macau affairs has visited the Hengqin cooperation zone in Guangdong province’s Zhuhai as part of a drive to help the two special administrative regions align with the nation’s 15th five-year plan. The four-day visit by Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), was his third trip to the Greater Bay Area this year. During his trip from Monday to Thursday, Xia visited a university town, research institutes, and innovation and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355988/beijings-point-man-hong-kong-affairs-visits-hengqin-push-integration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355988/beijings-point-man-hong-kong-affairs-visits-hengqin-push-integration?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:43:22 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Two universities in Hong Kong have signed partnership agreements with a leading varsity in Kazakhstan, with the city leader saying the moves will help deepen academic collaboration and strengthen social bonds. The Education University of Hong Kong and Polytechnic University signed separate memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Nazarbayev University on Wednesday to boost cross-border research and student exchanges. The signings were witnessed by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who is leading... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3355845/universities-hong-kong-and-kazakhstan-deepen-ties-during-lees-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3355845/universities-hong-kong-and-kazakhstan-deepen-ties-during-lees-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Jun 2026 11:00:05 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong Legislative Council president Starry Lee Wai-king has urged officials to respect lawmakers’ dissenting views amid a recent rise in government pushback, stressing that public policies “always have pros and cons”. Speaking at a media gathering on Tuesday, Lee said she had relayed lawmakers’ concerns to the government regarding officials’ recent rebuttals. She described the relationship between the executive and legislative branches as an ongoing process requiring mutual respect from both... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355692/starry-lee-urges-hong-kong-officials-respect-lawmakers-dissent-amid-pushback?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355692/starry-lee-urges-hong-kong-officials-respect-lawmakers-dissent-amid-pushback?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:53:00 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Beijing has appointed Yuan Gujie, a senior Guangdong province official who vowed to further connect rules in the Greater Bay Area, as a deputy director of its liaison office in Hong Kong. The state-run Xinhua News Agency announced on Monday that Yuan, 58, had succeeded diplomat Liu Guangyuan, who is expected to retire at age 61. The liaison office’s top leadership includes director Zhou Ji and four deputies. Yuan headed the provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission and also served as a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355533/beijing-appoints-yuan-gujie-deputy-director-hong-kong-liaison-office?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355533/beijing-appoints-yuan-gujie-deputy-director-hong-kong-liaison-office?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 07:16:11 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu It’s that time of the year again – tax season, so don’t forget to fill out your return. It’s also the time of the year when the Hong Kong government decides on pay rises for its civil service staff of over 170,000. There’s a well-established system for deciding on pay rises. It includes the pay trend survey submitted to the government last week. Its preliminary results indicate that civil servants are in line for wage increases of 4.12 per cent for senior civil servants, 2.64 per cent for... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3355319/who-benefits-significant-improvement-hong-kongs-finances?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3355319/who-benefits-significant-improvement-hong-kongs-finances?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu met lawmakers on Friday to discuss a “highly targeted, substance-heavy” report they compiled outlining proposals on how the city’s first five-year plan should proactively align with national development. The closed-door meeting took place ahead of the government’s planned launch of a public consultation on Hong Kong’s five-year plan in early June as previously reported by the South China Morning Post. The plan is expected to be announced by the end of this... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355366/hong-kongs-john-lee-lawmakers-hold-talks-citys-first-five-year-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355366/hong-kongs-john-lee-lawmakers-hold-talks-citys-first-five-year-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 13:20:04 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Lo Wai-kwok, the 73-year-old chairman of Hong Kong’s largest pro-business party and a former lawmaker, has announced his engagement to a Cantonese opera actress 42 years his junior, becoming the talk of the city’s political circles. Lo’s engagement to 31-year-old Yemina Yu Chung-yan comes five years after the death of his wife Adelina Wong Siu-chun. The couple, whose wedding will be held in October, are set to add to the city’s growing number of remarriages, which rose from 15,832 in 2019 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355355/ex-lawmaker-lo-wai-kwok-71-marry-cantonese-opera-actress-42-years-his-junior?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355355/ex-lawmaker-lo-wai-kwok-71-marry-cantonese-opera-actress-42-years-his-junior?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 12:26:48 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Tung Chee-hwa’s tenure as Hong Kong’s first chief executive reflected “a deep belief in dialogue”, the China Institute of America has said during an awards ceremony honouring the former leader for his decades-long efforts to foster understanding between the world’s two superpowers. The China Institute Centennial Award was presented at an event commemorating the non-profit institution’s 100th anniversary in New York on Thursday. Tung, who served as Hong Kong’s first chief executive after the city... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355334/hong-kongs-first-leader-feted-new-york-institute-fostering-china-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355334/hong-kongs-first-leader-feted-new-york-institute-fostering-china-us-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 11:17:40 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng A revamped appraisal system that denies salary increments to underperforming Hong Kong civil servants is unlikely to significantly improve efficiency, observers have said, calling for a more balanced approach with team-based performance indicators. The revised system, set to be implemented in October, will penalise the bottom 10 per cent of performers – those rated D to F on a six-grade scale – by making them ineligible for a pay increment. A 5 per cent buffer will be allowed depending on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355255/can-pay-penalties-improve-hong-kong-civil-service-or-are-they-slap-wrist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3355255/can-pay-penalties-improve-hong-kong-civil-service-or-are-they-slap-wrist?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 03:55:50 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong lawmakers have called for more clarity on an HK$9.96 billion (US$1.27 billion) project, which includes a fencing arena, in the Northern Metropolis, questioning the “immense” cost and whether the sports venue will host global tournaments. Permanent Secretary for Development Doris Ho Pui-ling defended the massive price tag on Wednesday, saying the government had sought to keep construction costs down and invited tenderers to propose further money-saving measures. She added that more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3354992/local-or-global-lawmakers-seek-clarity-costly-northern-metropolis-fencing-arena?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3354992/local-or-global-lawmakers-seek-clarity-costly-northern-metropolis-fencing-arena?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 05:53:12 +0000 Ying Xu,Weishi Zhang Ying Xu,Weishi Zhang In the global shift towards carbon-neutral mobility, a striking role reversal is taking shape on the pavements of the world’s most populous cities. While geopolitical analysts focus on the high-altitude rhetoric of the Xi-Trump summit in Beijing, a more profound urban reality is unfolding at eye level. Broadcasting live from a teeming Beijing intersection, Fox News anchor Bret Baier recently captured this fascinating counter-narrative. Away from the grandeur of diplomacy, a small revolution is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3354183/hong-kong-can-empower-commuters-embracing-e-bikes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3354183/hong-kong-can-empower-commuters-embracing-e-bikes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 01:30:06 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London can continue its “legitimate activity”, the UK government has said, despite political pressure after a British court found two men linked to the office guilty of spying on activists. But the UK government also said on Thursday that anyone in any organisation found to be helping a foreign state to undermine British security would be brought to justice. The government’s remarks came two weeks after Bill Yuen Chung-biu, the London office’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3354483/hong-kong-trade-office-can-continue-legitimate-activity-uk-official-tells-critical-mps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3354483/hong-kong-trade-office-can-continue-legitimate-activity-uk-official-tells-critical-mps?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 06:18:03 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong All 90 Hong Kong lawmakers are set to head to Beijing for a historic “national affairs study visit” in July, attending seminars, visiting key authorities and inspecting the tech sector during their week-long trip. The visit to the capital from July 19 to 25, which will include seminars on national security and geopolitical issues, is expected to cost about HK$1.4 million (US$179,000) in total, according to a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Thursday. The estimated cost for each... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3354425/historic-legco-trip-beijing-include-tech-sector-tours-seminars-and-visits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3354425/historic-legco-trip-beijing-include-tech-sector-tours-seminars-and-visits?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 15:57:06 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Smoking will be banned at construction sites in Hong Kong from July 17 under a government proposal sent to the legislature following the deadly blaze at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court last November. The government introduced three amendments to existing ordinances to improve fire safety at the sites on Tuesday. “Since the tragic fire which occurred in Tai Po in November 2025, there has been strong community consensus for implementing a comprehensive smoking ban in construction sites to reduce fire risk... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354145/tai-po-blaze-hong-kong-ban-smoking-construction-sites-july-17?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354145/tai-po-blaze-hong-kong-ban-smoking-construction-sites-july-17?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 16:19:09 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft China will actively participate in settling international conflicts and improve mechanisms to resolve them, a Chinese diplomat has said, stressing that the recently established mediation body in Hong Kong will help bolster the international rule of law. Speaking separately at the Global Prosperity Summit in Hong Kong on Tuesday, local political heavyweight Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee proposed establishing an Apec think tank council to foster collaboration ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s economic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3354081/china-will-actively-help-resolve-international-conflicts-ex-diplomat-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3354081/china-will-actively-help-resolve-international-conflicts-ex-diplomat-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 07:44:11 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s economy and trade with the United States will benefit from greater stability and certainty brought by the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump, the city’s leader has said. “Hong Kong is an externally oriented economy, susceptible to the influence of the main market,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday. “More certainty and stability in the market will greatly reduce the impact of external turbulence on Hong Kong.” Last week’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3354047/hong-kong-set-benefit-xi-trump-summit-signals-more-stability-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3354047/hong-kong-set-benefit-xi-trump-summit-signals-more-stability-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 04:23:40 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong authorities have allocated HK$5 billion (US$638 million) in funding for efforts to safeguard national security, bringing the total amount earmarked for this purpose to HK$18 billion over the past five years, an official document has revealed. The South China Morning Post’s check on the government’s general revenue expenditure accounts for the financial year ending in March 2026 showed a non-recurrent expenditure of HK$5 billion set aside for a “special fund to meet the expenditure for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353972/hong-kong-earmarks-additional-hk5-billion-national-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353972/hong-kong-earmarks-additional-hk5-billion-national-security?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 09:15:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong’s government will launch a consultation exercise on the city’s first five-year plan next month. The plan is set to be released before the end of the year. It’s a monumental task. Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tank and former head of the government’s now-defunct Central Policy Unit, has warned as much, saying: “It took years for local governments on the mainland to master the research and strategic thinking... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353760/my-way-or-highway-no-way-make-informed-policy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353760/my-way-or-highway-no-way-make-informed-policy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse Hong Kong should not limit the number of vehicles licensed to provide ride-hailing services. In particular, every owner of an electric vehicle that complies with the regulations should, in principle, be able to obtain one on demand by paying the required fee. Normal market forces, together with fees and other licensing requirements, will be sufficient to strike the right balance. I have used ride-hailing services a lot recently. Knee replacement surgery has restricted my mobility, and I have a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353552/why-set-limit-hong-kongs-ride-hailing-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353552/why-set-limit-hong-kongs-ride-hailing-services?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng US President Donald Trump has said he is not optimistic about the release of former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who was jailed for 20 years for violating the national security law, after raising the issue with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during their summit in Beijing. “[Xi] said Jimmy Lai is a tough one for him to do; he went through a lot, right or wrong, they went through a lot,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One during his return flight to the United States. When asked... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353789/trump-not-optimistic-jimmy-lais-release-after-raising-case-xi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353789/trump-not-optimistic-jimmy-lais-release-after-raising-case-xi?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 02:38:14 +0000 Ronny Tong Ronny Tong The death of Ted Turner, who founded CNN in 1980 as the world’s first 24-hour television news channel, is a poignant reminder of the glory days of the fourth estate. CNN made day-and-night news coverage, including at the front line of battlefields, an everyday experience for many people. The rise of the internet and ever more channels of news delivery has enabled a global audience of news consumers, attuned to reports delivered from all around the world. This has turned the most successful news... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353284/jimmy-lai-case-shows-press-freedom-not-get-out-jail-free-ticket?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353284/jimmy-lai-case-shows-press-freedom-not-get-out-jail-free-ticket?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong is expected to launch a public consultation in early June for its inaugural five-year plan to align with the national blueprint, with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu set to present a preliminary framework and gather feedback from various industries through face-to-face sessions, according to sources. The South China Morning Post learned that the government was also planning a large-scale publicity campaign to promote the consultation exercise, including television advertisements,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353266/hong-kong-launch-public-consultation-5-year-blueprint-early-june?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353266/hong-kong-launch-public-consultation-5-year-blueprint-early-june?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 00:30:05 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Top Swedish universities are eager to deepen collaboration with Hong Kong in areas such as life sciences, the city’s innovation and technology minister has told the South China Morning Post during a visit to the country to strengthen ties. “What impressed us most during this trip to Sweden is the incredible enthusiasm of Swedish organisations, groups and individuals for cooperating with Hong Kong. This exceeded my expectations,” Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353321/top-swedish-universities-eager-forge-ties-city-hong-kong-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353321/top-swedish-universities-eager-forge-ties-city-hong-kong-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 14:57:37 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed its “firm support” for Hong Kong’s judicial authorities when asked whether Beijing would consider releasing jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying ahead of US President Donald Trump’s three-day state visit starting Wednesday. “[Jimmy] Lai Chee-ying is the principal mastermind and perpetrator behind the riots that shook Hong Kong,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing, when asked whether Beijing would consider Lai’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353308/china-backs-hong-kong-courts-spurns-calls-free-jimmy-lai-ahead-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353308/china-backs-hong-kong-courts-spurns-calls-free-jimmy-lai-ahead-trump-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 13:06:51 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu You can’t buy happiness, they say. But we “buy” dopamine fixes all the time. Just whip out the smartphone and we easily go down that rabbit hole of endless doom scrolling, falling into the addictive trap of instant gratification, chasing likes, shares, comments and followers as rewards. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in our experience of pleasure, focus, reward and motivation. It propels us to put in effort, devote time and feel good about our achievements. Before the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352904/hong-kong-right-move-extend-long-arm-law-claw-machines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352904/hong-kong-right-move-extend-long-arm-law-claw-machines?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Jeffie Lam,Edith Lin Jeffie Lam,Edith Lin A diplomatic row has escalated over the conviction of two men linked to Hong Kong’s London trade office on spying charges, as Britain warned against attempts by foreign states to intimidate individuals on its soil and Beijing urged the country to stop “political manipulation” or risk “firm countermeasures”. The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said on Saturday it had summoned Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang the previous day following the court verdict in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353026/uk-warns-against-foreign-intimidation-over-hong-kong-linked-spying-convictions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3353026/uk-warns-against-foreign-intimidation-over-hong-kong-linked-spying-convictions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 05:00:15 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng A wanted member of the overseas group “Hong Kong Parliament” has been arrested in Thailand for overstaying her visa and is reportedly set to be deported to mainland China. The organisation said on Friday that Zhang Xinyan, who took part in what it called a parliamentary election and was sworn in as a member last year, was recently arrested in Thailand for overstaying her visa. It was not immediately clear what type of visa Zhang held. In a reply to the South China Morning Post on Saturday, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352996/wanted-hong-kong-parliament-member-could-be-deported-thailand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352996/wanted-hong-kong-parliament-member-could-be-deported-thailand?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 10:11:41 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa has emerged as the biggest landlord among Hong Kong ministers after declaring that she has 25 properties in her name in the city, mainland China and the UK. The 61-year-old constitutional affairs chief also revealed that she or her family held shareholdings of more than 1 per cent in eight private companies, including two food-ingredient firms, more than any other principal official has declared. Tse’s portfolio comprises 23... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352943/janice-tse-property-queen-hong-kong-ministers-heres-what-she-owns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352943/janice-tse-property-queen-hong-kong-ministers-heres-what-she-owns?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Connor Mycroft,William Yiu Connor Mycroft,William Yiu The operations of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London will remain unaffected by a UK spying verdict, observers have said, arguing that the British government is unlikely to seek its closure so as to maintain relations with Beijing. A British court on Thursday found Bill Yuen Chung-biu, the London HKETO’s manager, and Peter Wai Chi-leung, a retired Hong Kong police superintendent, guilty of spying on activists from Hong Kong on behalf of Chinese authorities. The Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352937/why-uk-unlikely-shut-hong-kongs-london-trade-office-despite-spying-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352937/why-uk-unlikely-shut-hong-kongs-london-trade-office-despite-spying-verdict?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 12:04:42 +0000 Jane Lee Jane Lee For decades, Hong Kong thrived as the world’s freest economy without five-year plans, while mainland China rose to become the world’s second largest economy through them. Now Hong Kong has the rare advantage of both: market dynamism and strategic direction. Harnessed through the collective wisdom of the people, this combination can deliver more than what the market or planning alone can achieve. Hong Kong is preparing its first five-year plan to dovetail with the national 15th five-year plan,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352402/hong-kong-needs-peoples-wisdom-its-5-year-plan-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352402/hong-kong-needs-peoples-wisdom-its-5-year-plan-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 01:30:04 +0000 Jeffie Lam,Theodora Yu,Connor Mycroft Jeffie Lam,Theodora Yu,Connor Mycroft China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the UK for “abusing the law and judicial process” after a British court found two men linked to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London guilty of spying on activists. Bill Yuen Chung-biu, the London office’s manager, and Peter Wai Chi-leung, who ran a security firm, were found guilty on Thursday of assisting a foreign intelligence service, two years after their arrests thrust Hong Kong’s overseas promotion offices into the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352809/uk-court-convicts-2-men-linked-hong-kong-trade-office-spying?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352809/uk-court-convicts-2-men-linked-hong-kong-trade-office-spying?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 16:18:00 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s legislature is set to visit Beijing as a full body for the first time since the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, with the planned delegation of all 90 lawmakers aiming to learn how to better support alignment with the national 15th five-year plan. Legislative Council president Starry Lee Wai-king announced on Wednesday that the trip would take place in July. Lawmakers were informed that the visit to the capital would run from July 19 to 25, during the legislature’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352595/all-90-hong-kong-lawmakers-visit-beijing-first-time-1997-handover?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352595/all-90-hong-kong-lawmakers-visit-beijing-first-time-1997-handover?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 08:12:26 +0000 Natalie Wong,Matthew Cheng Natalie Wong,Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s legislature has issued a written warning to lawmaker Judy Chan Kapui for driving on the wrong side of the road earlier this year, urging her to be mindful of her conduct and meet the public’s expectations. “I humbly accept the decision. I committed reckless driving out of convenience … I am deeply sorry for disappointing the public with my behaviour,” Chan told the press. The official warning was issued by the Legislative Council’s Supervisory Committee on Wednesday, four months... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352564/hong-kong-legco-issues-warning-lawmaker-judy-chan-over-traffic-offence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352564/hong-kong-legco-issues-warning-lawmaker-judy-chan-over-traffic-offence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 04:11:58 +0000 Ruiwang Yu Ruiwang Yu As Hong Kong prepares for another major push in public works, one question deserves far more attention than it has received: are we buying infrastructure in a way that is sustainable for the construction industry and the public as a whole? In his February budget, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced that HK$150 billion (US$19.1 billion) will be transferred from the Exchange Fund to support the Northern Metropolis and other infrastructure projects in the coming two years. This major... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351996/hong-kong-should-study-how-singapore-awards-infrastructure-contracts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351996/hong-kong-should-study-how-singapore-awards-infrastructure-contracts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Congratulations to Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po for getting the city’s budget to sail through the Legislative Council. It wasn’t always such smooth sailing and Chan would do well to acknowledge as much. When Chan was first given the keys to the city’s coffers, they were full. Successive financial secretaries faced political pressure of a very different kind. There weren’t many issues that opposing parties saw eye to eye on. However, accusing the government of hoarding cash and not giving... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352150/paul-chan-should-welcome-lawmakers-budget-scrutiny-not-dismiss-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352150/paul-chan-should-welcome-lawmakers-budget-scrutiny-not-dismiss-it?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Olga Wong Olga Wong A Hong Kong police chief superintendent turned public relations adviser will lead the government’s Information Services Department, becoming the first non-administrative officer to take up the post. John Tse Chun-chung, who has served as the government’s information coordinator since 2024, is expected to take up the post on a three-year contract on Tuesday. Tse, 49, joined the force in 1999. He became a well-known face during the 2019 anti-government protests, when he led the police’s daily... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352301/police-turned-pr-adviser-john-tse-set-top-government-media-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352301/police-turned-pr-adviser-john-tse-set-top-government-media-role?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 01:02:37 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs and a senior national energy official have held meetings with CLP Holdings chairman Michael Kadoorie, with observers saying it signalled the firm was expected to help minimise livelihood disruptions amid the ongoing global fuel crisis and support the Northern Metropolis megaproject. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said its director, Xia Baolong, spoke with Kadoorie, his son Philip Kadoorie and the senior management of energy firm CLP Power in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352171/beijings-xia-baolong-top-energy-official-hold-talks-clps-michael-kadoorie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352171/beijings-xia-baolong-top-energy-official-hold-talks-clps-michael-kadoorie?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 11:40:39 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities have condemned attempts by anti-China forces and foreign media to sugarcoat the criminal acts of jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, while defending the city’s press freedom after the release of a global index. The government issued a strongly worded statement in the early hours of Friday, slamming the attempts to slander, smear and attack the city “by releasing a so-called press freedom index”, saying that “such despicable behaviours totally disregarded the rule... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352096/hong-kong-slams-attempts-sugarcoat-jimmy-lais-criminal-acts-press-freedom-index?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3352096/hong-kong-slams-attempts-sugarcoat-jimmy-lais-criminal-acts-press-freedom-index?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 02:55:09 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Note: This story has been updated to clarify former transport minister Anthony Cheung Bing-leung’s remarks about his readiness to step down following the 2012 Lamma ferry tragedy. Where exactly does the buck stop? Senior Hong Kong civil servants are asking themselves that question after the unveiling of a new accountability system targeting department heads. They point to the deadly Tai Po fire last year as an example. An independent committee investigating the tragedy heard evidence officials... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3351906/will-top-hong-kong-civil-servants-pay-price-blunders-under-new-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3351906/will-top-hong-kong-civil-servants-pay-price-blunders-under-new-system?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:30:11 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Kudos to the Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan for introducing a two-tier civil service accountability system. This will include giving an independent statutory body, the Public Service Commission, powers to investigate “widespread, repetitive and systemic” management problems, while department heads can investigate problems involving rank-and-file officers. To many, the revamp of the civil service accountability system is long overdue. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351331/hong-kongs-civil-service-accountability-system-will-end-buck-passing-mentality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351331/hong-kongs-civil-service-accountability-system-will-end-buck-passing-mentality?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:30:21 +0000 Jinghan (Michael) Zeng Jinghan (Michael) Zeng A year ago, after more than a decade in the United Kingdom and several years in the United States – including time working for the United Nations in New York City – I returned to Asia and arrived in Hong Kong expecting it to also be a leading hub for international relations. Hong Kong is often described as a “superconnector” between China and the world. Yet in one crucial domain – the study and practice of international relations – the city remains a paradox: globally connected, intellectually... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350702/how-hong-kong-can-actively-shape-foreign-policy-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350702/how-hong-kong-can-actively-shape-foreign-policy-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Edith Lin Matthew Cheng,Edith Lin A former director of Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) in Jakarta and Bangkok is standing in the United Kingdom local elections for the right-wing Reform UK party. Lee Sheung-yuen, who left government in 2023 after serving as the first director of the Bangkok ETO and concurrently served as director general of its Jakarta office, is now contesting a seat on Ealing Council in London. He also previously served as the government’s assistant commissioner for tourism and as administrative... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350924/former-hong-kong-trade-office-chief-contesting-uk-local-elections-reform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350924/former-hong-kong-trade-office-chief-contesting-uk-local-elections-reform?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:05:40 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s top-ranking civil servants will be held accountable if they fail to provide adequate support in policy formulation, the city’s leader has said, despite a new investigation mechanism that primarily targets department heads. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the proposed “Heads of Department Accountability System” was intended to promote self-improvement within departments rather than “picking on” individuals. Under the new mechanism, the chief executive, department... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350842/new-accountability-system-aims-improve-not-blame-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350842/new-accountability-system-aims-improve-not-blame-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:32:17 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin The Hong Kong government plans to launch a public consultation this quarter on its first five-year blueprint aligned with national development, aiming to gather views on which policies to focus on in the coming years. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the five-year plan would cover areas such as the economy, investment, industry development, land, housing, transport and infrastructure, employment, healthcare, education and welfare, bringing numerous benefits including... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350803/hong-kong-launch-public-consultation-first-5-year-plan-quarter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350803/hong-kong-launch-public-consultation-first-5-year-plan-quarter?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:08:30 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/series/3350667/turbulent-times-will-hong-kong-be-safe-haven?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/series/3350667/turbulent-times-will-hong-kong-be-safe-haven?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:45:43 +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 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 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 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