https://www.scmp.com/rss/318208/feed News on Hong Kong's public and private health sectors plus the latest medical research. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Flu cases are rising in Hong Kong, particularly among children and the elderly, as waning vaccine protection weakens community immunity, a leading infectious disease expert has warned. Professor Ivan Hung Fan-ngai, chair professor of infectious diseases at the University of Hong Kong, made the warning on Saturday and urged high-risk groups who had not yet received a seasonal flu jab to get one. The remarks came a day after health authorities said an influenza B infection had left a 17-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356191/flu-cases-rise-hong-kong-immunity-wanes-expert-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356191/flu-cases-rise-hong-kong-immunity-wanes-expert-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 05:07:33 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Ambrose Li Connor Mycroft,Ambrose Li The Hong Kong Observatory downgraded a red rainstorm warning on Saturday evening, lowering it to an amber alert after an hour. The amber warning was issued twice earlier on Saturday. The first amber alert, the lowest in the three-tier rainstorm warning system, was lifted at 11.30am, 90 minutes after it was issued. A second amber alert was sent out at 6.45pm. The red warning was issued at 7.55pm and replaced by the amber alert at 8.55pm. “Heavy rain has fallen or is expected to fall generally... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356186/hong-kong-issues-amber-rainstorm-warning-storms-follow-record-heat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356186/hong-kong-issues-amber-rainstorm-warning-storms-follow-record-heat?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 02:43:21 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Hong Kong sweltered through its hottest day of the year so far on Friday as temperatures hit 34.6 degrees Celsius (94.3 Fahrenheit) in the afternoon, with the city’s weather forecaster warning of hail. The Hong Kong Observatory said that this marked the highest temperature recorded on Grain in Ear, the Chinese summer solar term, since records began. By 4.20pm, temperatures had reached 34.4 degrees in Yuen Long Park and 34.1 degrees in Tuen Mun and Wetland Park. The forecaster issued the “very... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356096/hong-kong-records-hottest-day-year-so-far-temperatures-soar-past-34-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356096/hong-kong-records-hottest-day-year-so-far-temperatures-soar-past-34-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 08:52:18 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s food hygiene authorities have prosecuted a popular butcher shop in Kwun Tong after a viral video and a subsequent inspection found rats running over pig carcasses, as well as cracked ceilings and stained floors. A spokesman for the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said staff were deployed to inspect the shop on Hip Wo Street after a clip circulated on social media showing rats roaming over the carcasses and feeding on the meat. The outlet is a branch of Qiandama, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356035/hong-kong-authorities-prosecute-grocery-shop-over-video-rats-exposed-meat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356035/hong-kong-authorities-prosecute-grocery-shop-over-video-rats-exposed-meat?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jun 2026 04:12:51 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s weather forecaster is monitoring a tropical depression that has formed within 800km (497 miles) of the city, but says it is unlikely to issue a typhoon warning signal. The Hong Kong Observatory said on Thursday that an area of low pressure over the northeastern part of the South China Sea had intensified into a tropical depression, which was centred about 530km south-southwest of Kaohsiung and expected to move towards the vicinity of Taiwan. It is forecast to move northeast on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355898/hong-kong-braces-heat-showers-tropical-depression-passes-nearby?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355898/hong-kong-braces-heat-showers-tropical-depression-passes-nearby?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:18:11 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang To head off a public health crisis, China is stepping up efforts to find new treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. As its population ages, the country already has more cases of these neurodegenerative diseases than anywhere else in the world and their prevalence is rising faster than the global average. Cases of Parkinson’s disease in China are forecast to rise from 3.6 million in 2024 to 10.5 million in 2050, while the number of people in China with dementia is projected... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/science/article/3355620/china-steps-alzheimers-parkinsons-drug-push-looks-tcm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/science/article/3355620/china-steps-alzheimers-parkinsons-drug-push-looks-tcm?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Jun 2026 02:37:04 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung An eminent clinical scientist born in Hong Kong has returned to the city to lead its third medical school after serving as a founding dean of medicine in the United States, vowing to nurture future leaders of the “healthcare revolution”. King Li King-chuen, dean emeritus of the Carle Illinois College of Medicine (CI Med), on Monday assumed the role of dean of medicine at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). “Using technology and innovation to transform and revolutionise... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355498/hong-kong-born-scientist-king-li-named-founding-dean-third-medical-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355498/hong-kong-born-scientist-king-li-named-founding-dean-third-medical-school?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jun 2026 02:54:28 +0000 Joe Lo,Lau Ka-kuen,Connor Mycroft Joe Lo,Lau Ka-kuen,Connor Mycroft https://www.scmp.com/infographics/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350474/silent-killer-race-beat-cancer-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/infographics/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350474/silent-killer-race-beat-cancer-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 May 2026 13:00:06 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/series/3355467/confronting-cancer-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/series/3355467/confronting-cancer-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 May 2026 11:02:57 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung In the first of a six-part Health Matters wellness series on cancer in Hong Kong, Emily Hung looks into how the city takes on its leading cause of death while maintaining one of the lowest mortality rates in the developed world and what more it must do to excel as a hub for cancer research. When Hong Kong began modern cancer tracking in 1983, it recorded 15,000 new cases and a far higher death rate than today. Four decades on, the number of cases has more than doubled to 38,000, yet the risk of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355306/hong-kong-winning-war-cancer-or-facing-new-front-late-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355306/hong-kong-winning-war-cancer-or-facing-new-front-late-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 May 2026 11:00:06 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung When Scottish doctor Alexander Fleming accidentally discovered the first antibiotic in 1928, he changed the course of history, extending global life expectancy by decades and saving millions of lives on the battlefield and beyond. But humanity’s dependence on his discovery has fuelled a modern crisis: antimicrobial resistance, or AMR. Decades of overuse and misuse of antibiotics have allowed “superbugs” – bacteria that have mutated to survive treatments – to evolve. According to a 2014 British... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355445/how-hku-developed-eczema-product-could-help-fight-superbug-threat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355445/how-hku-developed-eczema-product-could-help-fight-superbug-threat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 May 2026 04:36:34 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hongkonger Susan Tam, 70, used to wake in the middle of the night, desperate for relief from an unbearable, relentless itch caused by her cancer medication. Tam, diagnosed with lung cancer a few months ago, tried applying regular moisturiser to soothe severe skin rashes, but in vain. She also used aqueous cream, a staple from her time working in a care home for the elderly, and even turned to hot water to numb the irritation, only to find it further inflamed her condition. A visit to a family... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355421/how-hong-kong-app-vital-lifeline-76000-patients-navigating-cancer-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355421/how-hong-kong-app-vital-lifeline-76000-patients-navigating-cancer-care?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 31 May 2026 02:00:24 +0000 Mathias Woo Mathias Woo Think of Hong Kong as a living dictionary. Every old arcade, footbridge and mixed-use tong lau, or tenement building, is an entry worth studying. As the city embarks on another redevelopment cycle, we should be leafing more carefully – not erasing the dictionary’s words but learning how to write new ones in the same spirit. Here are five key words that should be at the centre of any sensitive, forward-looking renewal blueprint. One, shelter. Tong lau arcades were an original climate adaptation.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354573/hong-kongs-old-buildings-5-lessons-urban-renewal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354573/hong-kongs-old-buildings-5-lessons-urban-renewal?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong authorities will crack down on flavoured tobacco substances in the next phase of their enhanced smoking control measures, with the health minister describing such products as a “poisoned chalice” designed to hook younger people. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau warned on Saturday that flavoured tobacco was mostly delivered through e-cigarettes, with additives containing menthol or sugar-coated toxins used to mask the bitterness and smell of tobacco and attract young consumers. “About... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355407/hong-kong-curb-flavoured-tobacco-next-phase-controls-health-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355407/hong-kong-curb-flavoured-tobacco-next-phase-controls-health-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 07:58:39 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s health minister has said the government will not lose out if the medical centre of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) repays its public loan early, rejecting calls for a penalty. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau’s comments came at a Legislative Council health services panel meeting on Friday, when CUHK Medical Centre CEO Chung Kin-lai also revealed that the hospital’s financial situation had improved. Lo was responding to criticism from lawmaker Kitson Yang Wing-kit, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355348/taxpayers-wont-lose-out-if-medical-centre-pays-loan-early-health-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355348/taxpayers-wont-lose-out-if-medical-centre-pays-loan-early-health-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 12:12:38 +0000 Wynna Wong,Edith Lin Wynna Wong,Edith Lin The Hong Kong Observatory issued an amber rainstorm warning on Friday night for 1½ hours after an intense heatwave earlier gripped the city, with temperatures climbing as high as 36.7 degrees Celsius in parts of the New Territories during the day. The amber alert, the lowest of a three-tier rainstorm warning system, was issued at 10pm and cancelled at 11.30pm. The warning means heavy rain exceeding 30mm (1.2 inches) in an hour has fallen or is expected to fall over Hong Kong. The Observatory... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355240/will-hong-kong-break-its-may-hot-night-record-amid-ongoing-heatwave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355240/will-hong-kong-break-its-may-hot-night-record-amid-ongoing-heatwave?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 May 2026 02:22:49 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin The El Nino weather phenomenon could turn the four to seven tropical cyclones predicted to hit Hong Kong this year into super typhoons, the Observatory has said. The weather forecaster also said on Thursday that the 33.4 degrees Celsius (92.1 Fahrenheit) recorded at its Tsim Sha Tsui headquarters was likely to be surpassed on Friday, when the mercury was set to rise to 35 degrees Celsius. It added that temperatures could rise higher on Friday if showers and thunderstorms occurred at dusk or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355209/el-nino-may-turn-coming-tropical-cyclones-super-typhoons-observatory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355209/el-nino-may-turn-coming-tropical-cyclones-super-typhoons-observatory?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 13:02:33 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong has launched a new solar farm built on restored landfill in Tseung Kwan O that aims to cut carbon emissions by an amount equivalent to planting about 20,000 trees each year. Jointly developed by environmental services firm Veolia and developers Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP) and Citic Pacific, with government support, the facility at the South East New Territories Landfill features about 1,850 solar panels spanning 140,000 square feet. Supported by the Environment and Ecology Bureau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355205/solar-so-good-hong-kongs-new-landfill-based-plant-can-power-360-homes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355205/solar-so-good-hong-kongs-new-landfill-based-plant-can-power-360-homes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 12:54:08 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung A woman injured while travelling in Hong Kong has become the first patient transferred from the city to mainland China under the Hospital Authority’s cross-border ambulance pilot scheme. The patient, who requested to continue her treatment on the mainland, was transferred from Tuen Mun Hospital to Zhuhai People’s Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, according to the authority on Thursday. A medical team at Tuen Mun Hospital assessed her condition and coordinated with Zhuhai People’s Hospital to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355191/mainland-chinese-patient-first-be-moved-north-under-cross-border-ambulance-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355191/mainland-chinese-patient-first-be-moved-north-under-cross-border-ambulance-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 11:14:48 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A project designed to teach elderly residents how to protect themselves during extreme heat has improved their health and reduced medical emergencies, according to researchers. Results from the first two years of the three-year “Beat the Heat” project, released by the Chinese University of Hong Kong on Thursday, showed that tailored home interventions led to a 132 per cent increase in knowledge among older residents regarding heat-related health risks, alongside a 37 per cent reduction in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355180/university-heat-project-cuts-medical-emergencies-hong-kongs-vulnerable-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355180/university-heat-project-cuts-medical-emergencies-hong-kongs-vulnerable-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 10:34:54 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong recorded its hottest day of the year so far as the mercury hit 33.7 degrees Celsius (92.7 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, with the Observatory warning that temperatures in parts of the city could reach a scorching 37 degrees on Friday. The highest temperature was logged at the Observatory’s Tsim Sha Tsui headquarters on Wednesday afternoon, as a “very hot... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355060/hong-kong-braces-friday-scorcher-mercury-climbs-337-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355060/hong-kong-braces-friday-scorcher-mercury-climbs-337-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 11:13:40 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong health authorities have deployed an AI chatbot developed by a local university to help residents quit smoking, after missing their target despite a clampdown on tobacco products. The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office noted on Wednesday that the city’s smoking rate had dropped to 8.5 per cent last year, one of the lowest among developed economies. The office unveiled its “Chat to Quit” chatbot pilot initiative as part of its annual “Quit in June” campaign. The drive also offers free... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355045/can-ai-help-hongkongers-quit-smoking-health-authorities-are-giving-it-go?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3355045/can-ai-help-hongkongers-quit-smoking-health-authorities-are-giving-it-go?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 10:20:33 +0000 Marianna Lemus Boskovitch Marianna Lemus Boskovitch Hong Kong’s M+ museum recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Centre Pompidou in France, cementing a multi-year partnership that will cover collection, research and talent exchanges. This follows the 12 MOUs signed by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority during this year’s International Cultural Summit – bringing its total international partnerships to 46. With billions of dollars being poured into mega-events, arts hubs and wider cultural initiatives, we are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354642/beyond-visitor-numbers-hong-kong-must-track-full-worth-its-art-and-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354642/beyond-visitor-numbers-hong-kong-must-track-full-worth-its-art-and-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong issued its first “very hot weather” warning of the year on Tuesday, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit). The forecaster said an anticyclone aloft would bring “generally fine and very hot weather” to the coast of Guangdong, expecting the sweltering conditions to persist until Friday. But it added that... https://www.scmp.com/weather/hong-kong/article/3354839/hong-kong-issues-years-first-very-hot-weather-warning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/weather/hong-kong/article/3354839/hong-kong-issues-years-first-very-hot-weather-warning?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 03:37:34 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee Slowly but surely, Hong Kong is undergoing various scales of transformation. From the mixed-use development around Kai Tak to the revamped waterfronts on both sides of Victoria Harbour, the new railway extensions to the vehicular bypass tunnels below our busy streets, the adaptive reuse of underutilised spaces and the infusion of art and culture into local neighbourhoods, our city is evolving and adapting. Consider the East Coast Boardwalk as an example. The space under the Island Eastern... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353875/can-northern-metropolis-balance-progress-quality-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353875/can-northern-metropolis-balance-progress-quality-life?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 21:30:04 +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 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hongkongers are set for a scorching week ahead, with the forecaster predicting temperatures will climb as high as 33 degrees Celsius (91.4 Fahrenheit) on four days in a row, which may trigger the first very hot weather warning of the year. The Observatory said on Sunday that an anticyclone aloft would continue to bring hot and fine weather to the coast of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354682/mercury-hit-high-33-degrees-4-straight-days-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354682/mercury-hit-high-33-degrees-4-straight-days-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 10:28:02 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung For Hongkonger Annyee Chan, the decision to stop breastfeeding her son at eight months was a pragmatic response to a city that often feels at odds with the needs of nursing mothers. Returning to work just one month after childbirth, the self-employed wealth management professional faced a gruelling logistical challenge, navigating a city with sparse nursing facilities while lugging heavy pumps, bottles and coolers on her daily commute. “I managed to breastfeed my child quite well, and I... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354583/how-can-hong-kong-help-mothers-infants-reverse-falling-breastfeeding-rate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354583/how-can-hong-kong-help-mothers-infants-reverse-falling-breastfeeding-rate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s medical watchdog and the Coroner’s Court will examine an incident in which a young girl was left in a vegetative state and later died after a delayed blood transfusion during an operation at a public hospital. Eddie Chau, the father of the late Chau Tin-yu, said on Friday that the Medical Council inquiry would take place from October 27 to 30 and he would attend as a witness. The Coroner’s Court also notified him that it had decided to open an inquest into Tin-yu’s death, with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354468/coroners-court-watchdog-probe-delayed-blood-transfusion-girl-cancer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354468/coroners-court-watchdog-probe-delayed-blood-transfusion-girl-cancer?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 04:50:45 +0000 Olga Wong,Kristen Cheung,Theodora Yu Olga Wong,Kristen Cheung,Theodora Yu Hong Kong has issued a red travel alert for the Democratic Republic of Congo as Ebola outbreaks escalate in Central Africa, with at least 139 suspected deaths from the disease reported. The red alert – the middle level in a three-tier outbound travel alert system under the Security Bureau – means residents travelling to the country should adjust their plans and avoid non-essential travel due to the significant threat there. The move on Thursday follows the health authorities’ announcement on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354395/hong-kong-issues-red-travel-alert-dr-congo-deadly-ebola-outbreak-spreads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354395/hong-kong-issues-red-travel-alert-dr-congo-deadly-ebola-outbreak-spreads?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 11:15:52 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft The founder of the Hong Kong Four Trails Ultra Challenge has called for a quota system to be implemented during public holidays to protect the city’s natural resources, saying recent scenes of overcrowding left him feeling “quite disturbed”. Andre Blumberg, who created the now-famous 298km ultra-marathon covering Hong Kong’s four major trails, said the city should consider adopting a reservation system akin to those seen in some national parks in the United States. “Hong Kong is really... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354141/visitor-quotas-needed-protect-country-parks-4-trails-challenge-founder-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354141/visitor-quotas-needed-protect-country-parks-4-trails-challenge-founder-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 14:59:29 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities have prepared a quarantine facility on Lantau Island as they step up efforts to guard against the potential spread of the deadly Ebola virus following an outbreak in Central Africa. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Tuesday it was working closely with stakeholders to implement stringent prevention and control measures after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”. The latest outbreak began... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354138/hong-kong-steps-ebola-precautions-prepares-lantau-island-quarantine-facility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354138/hong-kong-steps-ebola-precautions-prepares-lantau-island-quarantine-facility?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 14:04:19 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong should prioritise the adoption of hydrogen and related facilities such as refuelling stations for heavy vehicles at container terminals and other industrial areas to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, a think tank has said. Our Hong Kong Foundation set out nine recommendations in a policy research report released on Tuesday to advance hydrogen use, covering vehicle uptake, testing facilities, supply and governance. The report was unveiled at the three-day International Hydrogen... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354131/hong-kong-urged-prioritise-hydrogen-adoption-meet-carbon-neutrality-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354131/hong-kong-urged-prioritise-hydrogen-adoption-meet-carbon-neutrality-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 12:32:16 +0000 Wanxin Li,Lam Chiu Ying Wanxin Li,Lam Chiu Ying In February, a landmark study in the journal Science delivered rare good news for conservation: a five-year fishing ban in the Yangtze River had halted seven decades of biodiversity near-collapse. Fish biomass has surged, and the critically endangered finless porpoise has begun to rebound. Researchers showed that sustained, collective action can revive an ecosystem. The lesson for Hong Kong is both inspiring and urgent. Hong Kong is at a critical juncture in its environmental history. Last... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353307/what-hong-kong-can-learn-yangtzes-conservation-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353307/what-hong-kong-can-learn-yangtzes-conservation-success?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 01:30:04 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority will begin using standard prefixes for telephone numbers to make it easier for people to recognise its calls rather than avoiding them due to scammers and advertisers. Starting next Tuesday, all phone calls made by the authority, which oversees public medical facilities, will display a unified caller ID number beginning with 18285 or 18286. Each authority unit will be assigned a seven-digit number from 1828 500 to 1828 599 or from 1828 600 to 1828 699. An authority... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354015/hospital-body-use-18285-and-18286-phone-numbers-help-people-identify-calls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354015/hospital-body-use-18285-and-18286-phone-numbers-help-people-identify-calls?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 16:28:47 +0000 Ambrose Li,Edith Lin Ambrose Li,Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities should step up preventive measures and issue a travel alert to warn residents against visiting parts of central Africa as an Ebola outbreak in the DR Congo and Uganda threatens to worsen, an infectious disease expert has said. The call by Dr Joseph Tsang Kay-yan, a council member of the Hong Kong Society of Infectious Diseases, came on Monday, a day after the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern and local... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353936/hong-kong-should-trigger-travel-alert-congo-uganda-amid-ebola-outbreak-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353936/hong-kong-should-trigger-travel-alert-congo-uganda-amid-ebola-outbreak-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 06:04:38 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The Hong Kong Observatory received more than 10 reports of a locally felt tremor from a magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck Guangxi early on Monday. According to the forecaster, the epicentre was located about 550km (342 miles) west-northwest of Hong Kong, with a focal depth of about 10km. “The Observatory received more than 10 locally felt reports of the tremor, which lasted a few seconds,” it said on Monday. “Initial estimates put the local intensity at II (two) on the Modified Mercalli... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353911/hong-kong-records-10-tremor-reports-after-magnitude-52-quake-hits-guangxi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353911/hong-kong-records-10-tremor-reports-after-magnitude-52-quake-hits-guangxi?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 01:07:11 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong has stepped up health screenings for air passengers arriving from Africa as part of a contingency plan to guard against Ebola, after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an outbreak of the deadly infectious disease on the continent a “public health emergency of international concern”. Local health authorities also said on Sunday that they would strengthen public awareness and education, while stressing that the “immediate health impact of Ebola disease on the local population... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353895/hong-kong-ramps-health-checks-travellers-africa-after-ebola-outbreak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353895/hong-kong-ramps-health-checks-travellers-africa-after-ebola-outbreak?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 13:46:27 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Residents at a private housing estate in Hong Kong have stepped up pest prevention measures as authorities investigate the city’s first human case of rat hepatitis E recorded this year. Janitors were seen deep-cleaning public areas at the 25-block Laguna Verde estate in Hung Hom on Sunday, with sanitation efforts also encompassing the area’s waterfront promenade park, planters and the nearby shopping centre. A day earlier, health authorities revealed that a 42-year-old patient was found to have... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353870/estate-residents-step-cleaning-after-citys-first-rat-hepatitis-case-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353870/estate-residents-step-cleaning-after-citys-first-rat-hepatitis-case-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 08:13:14 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) is stepping up efforts to detect fraudulent certificates used for early withdrawal of pension contributions after two medical groups reported suspected cases to police in recent weeks. Responding to an inquiry from the South China Morning Post, an authority spokesman said its online platform had recently identified suspected fraud involving possibly fake medical certificates submitted to withdraw Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF)... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353824/hong-kongs-mpf-authority-flags-fraudulent-certificates-early-pension-payouts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353824/hong-kongs-mpf-authority-flags-fraudulent-certificates-early-pension-payouts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 May 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Health authorities are investigating a human case of rat hepatitis E – the first recorded in Hong Kong this year – and have urged the public to observe good hygiene practices and use effective rodent control measures. A spokesman for the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Saturday that the case involved a 42-year-old man with chronic liver disease, whose blood sample tested positive for the virus on May 5. “Based on current epidemiological data, the CHP considered that the patient was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353818/man-infected-rat-hepatitis-e-hong-kongs-first-case-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353818/man-infected-rat-hepatitis-e-hong-kongs-first-case-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 10:03:35 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong health authorities have ordered hospitals to stop using a batch of blood pressure monitoring sets after an improperly sealed device was linked to the death of an elderly man undergoing a heart operation. The Department of Health also said on Friday that it had ordered the local supplier to halt sales of the affected batch and it was investigating the incident at Tuen Mun Hospital. The Hospital Authority noted on Thursday the 75-year-old man had a history of chronic obstructive... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353773/health-authorities-order-halt-use-medical-devices-tied-patients-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353773/health-authorities-order-halt-use-medical-devices-tied-patients-death?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 15:57:43 +0000 Ian Borchard Ian Borchard Hong Kong is in a unique position to capitalise on yacht tourism – with over 1,000km of coastline and more than 200 islands, this natural advantage is something few international cities can match. Recent policy initiatives, ranging from new mooring developments to cross-boundary integration within the Greater Bay Area, signal the government’s clear intent to further promote the marine economy. Plans to add over 1,100 new berths and expand key sites, such as the Aberdeen typhoon shelter and the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353168/3-ways-build-hong-kongs-yacht-economy-beyond-infrastructure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353168/3-ways-build-hong-kongs-yacht-economy-beyond-infrastructure?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 01:30:04 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong health authorities have opened an investigation into a suspected medical blunder involving an improperly sealed catheter used in a heart operation on a 75-year-old man who later died at Tuen Mun Hospital. The Hospital Authority said on Thursday that the patient, who had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and high cholesterol, was admitted on Wednesday last week after his respiratory condition worsened. His health deteriorated further following an acute heart attack,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353601/medical-blunder-probe-opened-over-death-linked-improperly-sealed-catheter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353601/medical-blunder-probe-opened-over-death-linked-improperly-sealed-catheter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 13:23:28 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Popular weight-loss injections have the potential to help patients recover from severe strokes when used alongside a surgical procedure to remove blood clots in the brain, scientists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have said. The scientists said on Thursday that administering a GLP-1 injection before and after a thrombectomy, a blood clot removal procedure, could have neuroprotective effects and improve the neurological recovery of ischemic stroke patients by as much as 20 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353588/why-hong-kong-scientists-think-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-can-help-stroke-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353588/why-hong-kong-scientists-think-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs-can-help-stroke-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 11:28:43 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu As the early summer season approaches after weeks of heavy rain, reports of “flying ants” have emerged across Hong Kong, sparking concerns that the insects could cause a nuisance and even damage homes. Social media users also shared photos of the insects circling street lights in the evening or of their carcasses scattered across toilet sinks, with some questioning whether they are in fact termites. The South China Morning Post looks into these flying insects and how to prevent termites from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353449/are-those-flying-ants-or-termites-how-protect-your-home-winged-pests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353449/are-those-flying-ants-or-termites-how-protect-your-home-winged-pests?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 10:49:11 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong experienced its hottest day of the year so far on Tuesday, with the city’s forecaster reporting temperatures of 31.6 degrees Celsius (88.8 Fahrenheit) at its headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui in the afternoon. Data from the Hong Kong Observatory showed much of the city on Tuesday saw temperatures rising above 31 degrees, with some parts of the New Territories exceeding 33 degrees. “An anticyclone aloft is bringing generally fine weather to the coast of Guangdong,” the Hong Kong Observatory... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353286/hong-kong-records-hottest-day-year-so-far-temperatures-top-316-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353286/hong-kong-records-hottest-day-year-so-far-temperatures-top-316-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 10:17:50 +0000 Fiona Chow,Edith Lin Fiona Chow,Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities have prepared 50,000 sandbags and several sets of water-filled flood barriers to brace for the coming typhoon season, while enhancement works at the high-risk Tseung Kwan O promenade are set to be completed by the end of this year. The Civil Engineering and Development Department on Monday also introduced new guidelines on shoreline management for communities, property managers and businesses operating near the coastal areas. The guidelines include simple infographics on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353182/hong-kong-braces-typhoon-season-50000-sandbags-flood-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353182/hong-kong-braces-typhoon-season-50000-sandbags-flood-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 13:55:20 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong is expected to play a greater role in major national clinical research projects and scientific breakthroughs, a mainland Chinese health official has said, pledging stronger support for local researchers at an annual medical conference. The remarks were made by a National Health Commission official at the Hospital Authority Convention on Monday, where the authority’s chief also vowed to introduce more efficient service pathways and smart hospital initiatives to enhance healthcare... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353160/hong-kong-urged-expand-role-national-medical-research-breakthroughs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353160/hong-kong-urged-expand-role-national-medical-research-breakthroughs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 09:54:51 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong will act as a global partner in pandemic preparedness, leveraging its “unrivalled” status as a medical innovation hub to combat emerging health threats such as a recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, the city’s leader and health chief have said. Speaking at the Asia Summit on Global Health on Monday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu underscored the city’s commitment and strategic role in medical innovation. “Our status as a leading hub for scientific innovation is unrivalled in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353111/hong-kong-leverages-unrivalled-medical-hub-status-amid-global-hantavirus-alarm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353111/hong-kong-leverages-unrivalled-medical-hub-status-amid-global-hantavirus-alarm?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 06:22:53 +0000