https://www.scmp.com/rss/17/feed All the latest comment, focus, and opinion behind the big news stories in Hong Kong, China & around the world en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial As Shenzhen hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders’ summit next week, Hong Kong is preparing to welcome police chiefs and senior officers from Interpol’s 196 member countries when the agency’s general assembly convenes here on November 30. This is a recognition of the city as a global partner in fighting cross-border crime; it also underlines Beijing’s trust in the special administrative region as a “superconnector” bridging the world. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3374057/hong-kongs-interpol-summit-litmus-test-its-global-standing https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3374057/hong-kongs-interpol-summit-litmus-test-its-global-standing Wed, 11 Nov 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The latest construction scandal at a railway project is regrettably all too familiar. The disclosure of 30 substandard concrete columns at the Tung Chung West station under construction is the latest in a long list of controversies involving building work. However, it is particularly shocking because of the scale of the irregularities and the weaknesses they reveal in the monitoring systems meant to prevent such failures. Hong Kong can no longer sidestep a sober reckoning with the growing number... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373908/hong-kong-must-tackle-systemic-issues-construction-industry-head https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373908/hong-kong-must-tackle-systemic-issues-construction-industry-head Tue, 10 Nov 2026 23:15:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial For an advanced economy that has been growing steadily, Hong Kong’s latest economic growth rate may be taken for granted. While the 5.2 per cent year on year rise in the third quarter bodes well for the way forward, ensuring a fair share of the expanding pie reaches the wider community remains a challenge. Buoyed by stronger exports and domestic demand, the economy grew for the 15th consecutive quarter. This translates into a growth rate of 5.1 per cent for the first nine months of the year, the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373779/hong-kongs-economic-pie-expands-it-must-be-more-fairly-shared https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373779/hong-kongs-economic-pie-expands-it-must-be-more-fairly-shared Mon, 09 Nov 2026 23:15:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Beijing has been letting the yuan appreciate gradually. Europeans expect a faster pace. The dispute, then, is not about direction but speed. Europe should learn patience and work with China. Top European Union officials are planning coordinated trips to Beijing to press for a stronger yuan to shrink a surging trade gap. Maarten Verwey, the European Commission’s director general for economic and financial affairs, will lead a delegation in the week of November 23. A year-end joint mission could... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373680/european-pressure-wont-make-yuan-appreciate-faster https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373680/european-pressure-wont-make-yuan-appreciate-faster Sun, 08 Nov 2026 23:15:15 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A number of important things must fall into place to flesh out a vision of Hong Kong as a biotech hub with a key role in developing affordable access to the latest drugs and other medical products. With the appointment of Dr Li Zili as controller of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR), there is now one fewer item on the to-do list. Li, a mainland-born former senior official of the US Food and Drug Authority, considers Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” governing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373535/real-test-begins-hong-kongs-new-drug-regulator https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373535/real-test-begins-hong-kongs-new-drug-regulator Sun, 08 Nov 2026 03:30:26 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is not just a common law jurisdiction in China under the special governance model of “one country, two systems”. As an international legal services centre, and recently a dispute resolution hub, the city is well positioned to become a superconnector bridging East and West through its trusted common law system, independent judiciary and legal talent. This unique strength was highlighted during Hong Kong Legal Week, an annual government event that brings together local and overseas legal... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373498/unidroit-regional-office-vote-confidence-hong-kongs-legal-strengths https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373498/unidroit-regional-office-vote-confidence-hong-kongs-legal-strengths Fri, 06 Nov 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The last time an American president lost both houses of the United States Congress in a midterm election was 20 years ago, under George W. Bush. Few were bold enough to predict the scale of the surge in support this time for Democratic Party candidates, particularly in the Senate, where they now hold a comfortable majority over the Republicans. The result immediately raised the question of what it means for China-US relations, just two weeks before President Donald Trump is expected to attend... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373400/democratic-congress-wont-reset-beijings-us-strategy https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373400/democratic-congress-wont-reset-beijings-us-strategy Thu, 05 Nov 2026 23:15:14 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Reform has taken centre stage as Hong Kong officials proposed sweeping legislative and institutional changes in building and fire safety in the wake of a damning inquiry report on the blaze that killed 168 people and displaced 1,984 families at Wang Fuk Court last year. The pledges by the top leader and the ministers implicated in the independent probe to fix the underlying issues that led to the city’s deadliest inferno in decades are being tested by how they will be put into practice. But the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373231/hong-kongs-sweeping-fire-safety-reforms-are-only-first-step https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373231/hong-kongs-sweeping-fire-safety-reforms-are-only-first-step Wed, 04 Nov 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Beijing has affirmed to an international audience the national importance of Hong Kong’s finance sector. In a video address to the annual Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit organised by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Vice-Premier He Lifeng’s message was clear: the finance sector is where Hong Kong can best serve the nation. Hong Kong will have the central government’s support, so long as it understands the nation’s needs and balances security and efficiency. The words... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373159/security-opening-complementary-hong-kongs-finance-sector https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3373159/security-opening-complementary-hong-kongs-finance-sector Tue, 03 Nov 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong tourism officials have sensibly pulled the plug on a controversial light spectacle project at The Peak – a decision that proves that shows which are not backed by key stakeholders must not go on. The reversal may seem uncharacteristic of an administration that has pushed through a raft of contentious policies and legislation in no time under its “result-oriented” mantra. But the episode shows that the authorities must carefully consider how to properly implement the “tourism is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372960/outcry-over-hong-kongs-lighting-plan-peak-offers-illuminating-lesson https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372960/outcry-over-hong-kongs-lighting-plan-peak-offers-illuminating-lesson Mon, 02 Nov 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial China observers often watch party plenum meetings for clues about major personnel changes. This is especially true of the fifth plenum, which traditionally fires the starting gun for the once-every-five-years leadership reshuffle. But the fifth plenum in Beijing last week mattered for more than that. After all the official commentaries, articles and meetings ahead of the event, everyone was expecting it to focus on party discipline. Still, the extent and language of the final readout of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372613/clean-efficient-government-crucial-chinas-future https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372613/clean-efficient-government-crucial-chinas-future Sun, 01 Nov 2026 23:15:18 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Overdue moves to reform Hong Kong’s outdated laws on sexual offences are under way. Following a month-long public consultation on proposed changes, a wide-ranging overhaul could be revealed this year and enacted before the end of the current legislative term next year. It is aimed at aligning laws with changes in society and ensuring justice for survivors of sexual assault, including children and other vulnerable people, while continuing to ensure fair trials. Meanwhile, a High Court judge and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372712/child-sex-abuse-sentencing-must-ensure-justice https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372712/child-sex-abuse-sentencing-must-ensure-justice Sat, 31 Oct 2026 23:15:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial With Hong Kong doubling down on the university town venture as a new engine for development, there is no better way to promote it than by inviting top educators to exchange ideas and see the progress for themselves. The Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit, bringing together senior leaders from over 50 institutions across more than 20 countries and regions, was more than an academic gathering. It was a strategic showcase of the developing university towns in the Northern Metropolis... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372706/hong-kongs-university-towns-concretise-northern-metropolis-vision https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372706/hong-kongs-university-towns-concretise-northern-metropolis-vision Fri, 30 Oct 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is still healing from the trauma of the Wang Fuk Court fire that claimed 168 lives nearly a year ago. The difficult process has been taken a step further with the release of the final report of an independent committee of inquiry led by a High Court judge, and the response of the government, revealed on Thursday by the city’s leader and his administration. The concept of accountability has hung heavily over proceedings. It is only natural after such a catastrophe for people to expect... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372631/ensure-reform-wake-tai-po-fire-report-delivers-intended-results https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372631/ensure-reform-wake-tai-po-fire-report-delivers-intended-results Fri, 30 Oct 2026 01:31:22 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Brazil has given Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a fourth, non-consecutive term, a feat without precedent in its democratic history. Lula came back from a first-round defeat to win 51.8 per cent of the run-off vote against Flavio Bolsonaro, son of the jailed former president. Yet the victory leaves Lula little room to manoeuvre. Opposition parties may yet control both chambers of Congress. Nearly half of Brazilians say the economy has worsened over the past year. Last year Washington threatened... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372458/china-lulas-win-brazil-removes-uncertainty https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372458/china-lulas-win-brazil-removes-uncertainty Wed, 28 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong might have grown accustomed to treating seasonal influenza as a temporary inconvenience rather than a public health menace as the virus comes and goes every year. But with a lower vaccination uptake and a raging and longer-than-expected summer outbreak this year, the same business-as-usual response is hardly the right defence. Members of the public, especially high-risk groups, should waste no time coming forward for the jabs as local health authorities put the city on alert. Officials... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372269/flu-jabs-must-become-norm-hong-kongs-protracted-outbreak https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372269/flu-jabs-must-become-norm-hong-kongs-protracted-outbreak Tue, 27 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Citigroup is not the first foreign bank to win Beijing’s permission to run a wholly owned securities firm in mainland China. But it is among the largest, and it is American. That combination makes last week’s approval by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) significant in practice and in symbolism. For decades, foreign financiers lobbied for the right to operate in China without a local partner. Since 2020, when Beijing scrapped ownership caps on securities firms, fund managers and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372137/chinas-citigroup-approval-both-practical-and-symbolic-move https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372137/chinas-citigroup-approval-both-practical-and-symbolic-move Mon, 26 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial First came the cars; now come the yachts. When five Guangdong-registered vessels sailed into Hong Kong waters recently to mark the launch of the southbound yacht travel scheme, they completed a two-way maritime link that began with the northbound arrangement for Hong Kong yachts in June. The southbound scheme deserves a warm welcome. It opens a promising channel of high-value visits as the city searches for fresh sources of growth. Each widening of the door to the rest of the Greater Bay Area... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372049/hong-kong-must-ensure-mainland-yachts-are-welcome https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3372049/hong-kong-must-ensure-mainland-yachts-are-welcome Sun, 25 Oct 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Tragedies involving vulnerable elderly people continue to make headlines in Hong Kong. Sadly, in a rapidly ageing society where many live alone or with an elderly partner, this seems unlikely to change any time soon. There is an urgent need to close gaps in support services. The authorities have initiated several measures, including a plan to import trained domestic carers, but that is only a start on addressing a growing problem. About a week ago, a man, 72, and his 69-year-old partner died in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371933/hong-kong-must-urgently-tackle-its-elderly-isolation-problem https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371933/hong-kong-must-urgently-tackle-its-elderly-isolation-problem Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:15:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial From ageing fleets and drivers to the likes of Uber making inroads, taxi services around the world face an array of challenges. In Hong Kong, drivers complain about unfair competition and regulatory reform pressure. At the same time, they continue to be the target of complaints in relation to refusing rides, rude service, overcharging and taking circuitous routes. In response, the government has taken steps to regulate ride-hailing platforms and introduce premium taxi fleets to enhance service... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371923/hong-kongs-taxi-reform-progresses-has-far-go https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371923/hong-kongs-taxi-reform-progresses-has-far-go Fri, 23 Oct 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Today’s global landscape is increasingly splintered. Commercial disputes, rival technical frameworks and geopolitical contests between major powers are prompting numerous nations to seek markets where stable, dependable rules still govern commerce. The successful meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) finance ministers in Hong Kong offered an answer. Not only has the city’s status as the leading offshore renminbi hub and international financial centre been enhanced, but with... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371772/hong-kongs-strengths-take-centre-stage-apec https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371772/hong-kongs-strengths-take-centre-stage-apec Thu, 22 Oct 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The first holiday test of the revamped Huanggang Port demands a thorough review. The newly opened checkpoint was meant to showcase Hong Kong’s readiness for deeper integration with the Greater Bay Area under the latest national drive. Instead, its first major holiday rush showed that a modern building is no guarantee of travel convenience. The authorities must urgently review what went wrong, fix the weaknesses and ensure the facility delivers the seamless cross-border travel that was... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371625/holiday-rush-huanggang-port-should-catalyse-improvement https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371625/holiday-rush-huanggang-port-should-catalyse-improvement Wed, 21 Oct 2026 23:15:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial China’s economy has delivered a welcome, if qualified, surprise. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 4.5 per cent in the third quarter, up from 4.3 per cent in the second. The figure beat the 4.4 per cent consensus of economists surveyed by Wind and lifted growth for the first nine months to 4.6 per cent, within Beijing’s full-year target range of 4.5 to 5 per cent. Besides the latest quarterly GDP figure, the revival of factory-gate prices is worth noting. The producer price index returned to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371483/chinas-stronger-expected-gdp-growth-sends-positive-signal https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371483/chinas-stronger-expected-gdp-growth-sends-positive-signal Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s civil engineering work is reputedly among the world’s best, as evidenced by the awe-inspiring infrastructure marvels and skyscrapers that have been built with exceptional efficiency and high standards across the city. These hard-earned credentials are not accidental but rooted in generations of professional practice and robust institutional safeguards and monitoring. Yet public confidence has been shaken by a series of scandals involving shoddy construction and maintenance work. From... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371351/ensure-standards-hong-kongs-civil-engineering-work-remain-sky-high https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371351/ensure-standards-hong-kongs-civil-engineering-work-remain-sky-high Mon, 19 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Ocean Park has a special place in Hongkongers’ hearts. For half a century, the beloved theme park has been as much a leading conservation and education institution as an old friend. Yet it is struggling like an endangered species amid the mantra of survival of the fittest. As it marks its 50th anniversary with new facilities and celebrations, opportunities and challenges abound. In store for the golden jubilee are a revamped panda pavilion and a new marine mammal conservation centre featuring... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371163/ocean-park-weathers-stormy-seas-nostalgia-cant-be-its-lifeline https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371163/ocean-park-weathers-stormy-seas-nostalgia-cant-be-its-lifeline Sun, 18 Oct 2026 23:15:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial World Mental Health Month, observed each October, may not command the same public attention in Hong Kong as it does elsewhere. Yet the latest revelations about suicides among local school children should serve as a sobering call for more urgent action. With those aged 15 or below accounting for 60 per cent or more of suspected student suicide deaths over the past three academic years, and the under-15 suicide rate climbing to 2.9 per 100,000 – the highest since 2016 – the city cannot afford to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371158/hong-kong-cannot-afford-neglect-youth-mental-health https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371158/hong-kong-cannot-afford-neglect-youth-mental-health Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s media stands at a crossroads, and how the city chooses to regulate it will shape not only the health of the industry but the vitality of “one country, two systems”. A robust, commercially viable media sector strengthens the city’s international standing. Licensing laws and regulations must therefore be treated as an integral part of efforts to build an ecosystem in which local media can grow, not just domestically but overseas. Technological disruption has upended the economics of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371139/hong-kongs-media-regulations-must-allow-room-innovation https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3371139/hong-kongs-media-regulations-must-allow-room-innovation Fri, 16 Oct 2026 23:15:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has staked much of its tourism revival on an ambitious strategy of impressing visitors from near and far with world-class shows and events. The recent Hong Kong Cyclothon was meant to be one of those spectacles. Regrettably, a wrong turn by a lead vehicle and a congested finish turned the flagship sporting event into a cautionary tale. The setback is embarrassing and the lesson is telling. In the pursuit of the mega-events economy, success is built on good preparation and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370978/mega-events-capital-has-little-margin-error https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370978/mega-events-capital-has-little-margin-error Fri, 16 Oct 2026 03:30:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD) has never looked more vibrant. Visitor numbers climbed to over 17 million in 2025, up more than 10 per cent from the previous year. Since this year, more than 1,300 exhibitions, performances, programmes and events have been held, including the much-acclaimed showcase of ancient Egyptian treasures at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Revenue from tickets, sponsorships and cultural and creative products jumped 19 per cent to HK$768 million (US$98... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370825/hong-kongs-arts-hub-must-anchor-vibrancy-sustainability https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370825/hong-kongs-arts-hub-must-anchor-vibrancy-sustainability Wed, 14 Oct 2026 23:15:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial When finance ministers and senior officials from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum’s 21 member economies gather next week, Hong Kong will host the event for the first time. The choice of venue is no accident. China holds the Apec chair this year, and Beijing picked the city for a key ministerial summit. Sending the finance ministers to Hong Kong is a deliberate statement: the city remains the nation’s pre-eminent international financial centre, and the central government wants the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370686/hong-kongs-hosting-apec-finance-ministers-meeting-deliberate-choice https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370686/hong-kongs-hosting-apec-finance-ministers-meeting-deliberate-choice Tue, 13 Oct 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The revamped Huanggang Port has opened to a promising start. Thousands of passengers passed through it on the first day of operations, which officials described as satisfactory. Considering its significance amid intensifying cross-border integration under the strategic national drive for Greater Bay Area development, this is a welcome beginning. The new facility, along with its upgraded systems and transport links, will be put to further tests in the coming long weekend and the weeks and months... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370608/huanggang-port-upgrade-showcase-hong-kongs-gateway-role https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370608/huanggang-port-upgrade-showcase-hong-kongs-gateway-role Mon, 12 Oct 2026 23:15:18 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Finance Minister Lan Foan’s latest article offers an authoritative glimpse of Beijing’s fiscal compass. Its timing is telling: demand is flagging, external headwinds are stiffening and the Central Committee’s fifth plenum convenes in late October. Beneath the dry prose lies a weighty message: the real test is not only how hard to stimulate the economy but how to mend local governments’ battered finances. Stimulus comes first. The keywords are “precision” and “effectiveness”, signalling Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370467/beijing-right-reserve-its-fiscal-firepower https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370467/beijing-right-reserve-its-fiscal-firepower Sun, 11 Oct 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Yet another high-profile business collapse has exposed how vulnerable Hong Kong consumers remain when they pay large sums upfront for service contracts stretching over a long period. The abrupt closure of Hotstone Yoga, after a decade in business, has left hundreds of customers facing potentially millions of dollars in losses. The incident has once again highlighted the risks for consumers paying hefty prices upfront for discounted services over a long period. It also renews calls on the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370326/cooling-period-bill-should-protect-more-consumers https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370326/cooling-period-bill-should-protect-more-consumers Sat, 10 Oct 2026 23:15:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has been ranked the world’s freest economy for the third consecutive year, and for the ninth time in the last 10 years. Despite the almost unbroken grip on the coveted ranking by the Fraser Institute, a top Canadian think tank, it is not to be taken for granted. The Hong Kong government sets great store by continued recognition of the city’s economic freedom because it is fundamental to its competitiveness. For example, after the city lost first place to Singapore in 2023, on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370284/hong-kong-crowned-worlds-freest-economy-again-cant-rest-its-laurels https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370284/hong-kong-crowned-worlds-freest-economy-again-cant-rest-its-laurels Fri, 09 Oct 2026 23:15:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The National Day “golden week” has long been a barometer of Hong Kong’s tourism and business health. While there was a reassuring uptick in visitor numbers and business activity this year, the figures also underscore the more complex and challenging environment facing various sectors. The simultaneous outflow of residents heading north, combined with evolving spending patterns among southbound mainland visitors, continues to put the city’s tourism facilities and business adaptability to a stern... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370168/hong-kong-businesses-must-stay-agile-attract-tourists https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370168/hong-kong-businesses-must-stay-agile-attract-tourists Thu, 08 Oct 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has long prided itself on the quality and coverage of its public healthcare system. But it has not opened a hospital on the scale of the new one at Kai Tak, on the old airport site, for decades. Recent stand-alone developments like the North Lantau or Tin Shui Wai hospitals are significantly smaller. It is important that the opening goes smoothly. About 350 patients on day one is an impressive start, but that is expected to reach 1,800 a day by year’s end. The opening of Kai Tak... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370013/kai-tak-hospital-promises-set-new-benchmark-public-healthcare https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3370013/kai-tak-hospital-promises-set-new-benchmark-public-healthcare Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Three years after Clara Chan Ka-chai took the helm as its first chief executive, Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) has proved its worth despite a difficult global economic climate. Her reappointment as chief executive for a further three-year term, beginning on October 9 is a fitting acknowledgement of that record. When HKIC was unveiled in the 2022 policy address, it had its critics. Some argued that Hong Kong’s prosperity was built on laissez-faire, not government investment, and that... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369873/three-years-hong-kongs-investment-body-has-proved-its-worth https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369873/three-years-hong-kongs-investment-body-has-proved-its-worth Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong athletes’ record medal haul from the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, could hardly have been better timed. It comes soon after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu launched the city’s first five-year plan, which enshrines sport as a pillar of the city’s economic and social development until 2030. Our athletes’ success boosts the sport segment of the plan almost from the beginning. Key initiatives include big cumulative increases in sport funding and in the number of full-time elite... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369818/hong-kong-has-scope-build-record-asian-games-medal-haul https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369818/hong-kong-has-scope-build-record-asian-games-medal-haul Mon, 05 Oct 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial China’s spending on research and development (R&D) has reached a milestone worth celebrating, a testament to Beijing’s sustained commitment to science and technology. It hit a record 2.8 per cent of gross domestic product last year, exceeding 3.92 trillion yuan (US$584.8 billion) and beating the average for Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member states. Yet, there is still a long road ahead as the nation strives to lead the world at the technological frontier. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369566/china-must-ensure-rd-funding-flows-where-it-matters-most https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369566/china-must-ensure-rd-funding-flows-where-it-matters-most Sun, 04 Oct 2026 23:15:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Despite a government cash incentive for young couples to have children, Hong Kong’s birth rate continues to fall. It is driving the ageing of a society in which one in four people is projected to be 65 or over by 2028. Unless the trend is arrested, one in three residents is projected to be 65 or over by the 2040s. One projection puts the number of elderly residents at 2.74 million by 2046. Granted, it is not all bad news. One reason for the population ageing is increased longevity. But the fact... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369576/no-silver-bullet-hong-kongs-falling-birth-rate https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369576/no-silver-bullet-hong-kongs-falling-birth-rate Sat, 03 Oct 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial In two months, Beijing’s reading of the economy has changed markedly. In July, the State Council brushed aside calls for stimulus, preferring to make “full and effective use of existing policies”. On Monday, a cabinet meeting chaired by Premier Li Qiang acknowledged emerging problems and pledged to “intensify countercyclical adjustment of macro policies”. The shift is welcome. But how the stimulus is delivered, and by whom, matters as much as its size. The case for urgency is plain. Growth... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369611/chinas-economic-recovery-calls-bigger-role-private-firms https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369611/chinas-economic-recovery-calls-bigger-role-private-firms Fri, 02 Oct 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial National Day is a celebration of this country’s achievements. China has much to be proud of since becoming a republic in 1949. The sentiment resonated in Hong Kong as it too celebrated National Day amid increased integration with the mainland’s development goals. What sets the 77th anniversary apart is the timing – at a critical juncture in the affairs of the nation and Hong Kong. President Xi Jinping has just returned from a state visit to the United States that included a summit with US... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369471/hong-kong-can-capitalise-its-unique-role-benefit-nation https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369471/hong-kong-can-capitalise-its-unique-role-benefit-nation Thu, 01 Oct 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The government has finally decided not to appeal a court ruling revoking environmental approval of a controversial proposed housing development at the Hong Kong Golf Club. This casts serious doubt on plans to build 12,000 public flats on 9.5 hectares out of 32 hectares of land resumed from the Old Course at the club in Fanling. The future use of the land is now uncertain. It remains to be seen what course the government will adopt, including how it will remedy a flawed consultation process. Some... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369298/hong-kong-must-balance-boosting-public-housing-supply-other-goals https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369298/hong-kong-must-balance-boosting-public-housing-supply-other-goals Wed, 30 Sep 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial For centuries, geography has been a burden for China’s southwest. Cargo had to travel a long way east to reach the sea through the ports of Guangdong. The Pinglu Canal, which opened to navigation in Guangxi in September, changes all that. It is the first river-to-sea canal built since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. A feat of engineering, it is a new gateway for trade between China and Southeast Asia. Whether it becomes a two-way gateway will depend on the choices made by Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369224/both-china-and-asean-must-capitalise-pinglu-canals-potential https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369224/both-china-and-asean-must-capitalise-pinglu-canals-potential Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial When Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu used his last policy address this month to announce an interdepartmental task force on minors’ use of social media and artificial intelligence platforms, he was placing Hong Kong within a widening international consensus. The digital lives of children can no longer be left to the goodwill of technology companies. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok has since confirmed that legislation is among the options. This inquiry should proceed with an open... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369094/hong-kong-moves-right-direction-minors-social-media-use https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3369094/hong-kong-moves-right-direction-minors-social-media-use Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:15:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial If improved cooperation between China and the United States is any indication, the summit in Washington last week between presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump can be seen as a landmark in setting the tone for the future of the bilateral relationship on the basis of mutual respect and benefit. Xi’s state visit built on the foundations of better relations laid by the two leaders during Trump’s visit to Beijing in May. It yielded eight cooperative outcomes, according to the Chinese statement... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3368957/xi-trump-summit-built-muscle-us-china-cooperation https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3368957/xi-trump-summit-built-muscle-us-china-cooperation Sun, 27 Sep 2026 23:15:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Cities that host major international medical conferences can expect their own healthcare sector to come under attention. As a popular venue for such “mega-events”, Hong Kong is no exception. These events are also an opportunity for the host to proclaim its achievements. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau did so at the World Cancer Congress, held in Hong Kong for the first time last week. Lo told delegates the city had cut its rate of cancer-related deaths by more than 40 per cent over the past... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3368833/hong-kongs-fight-against-cancer-must-begin-early-screening https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3368833/hong-kongs-fight-against-cancer-must-begin-early-screening Sat, 26 Sep 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s latest manpower projection offers some short-term relief, but includes a big warning. The shortfall expected by 2028 has narrowed to 130,000, down from the 180,000 forecast two years ago. Yet the workforce itself is set to shrink from 3.47 million last year to 3.4 million in 2028. That is roughly 20,000 fewer workers each year, even after counting imported labour and talent. Without those import schemes, the labour force would fall to 3.21 million and the gap would widen to 300,000.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3368797/more-work-needed-plug-hong-kongs-labour-gap https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3368797/more-work-needed-plug-hong-kongs-labour-gap Fri, 25 Sep 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s university town project is transforming from an ambitious vision into a concrete and deliverable action plan. With applications now open for campuses in Hung Shui Kiu, the government has set out the land, financing framework, timetable and strategic purpose of the first of three university towns. The challenge is to ensure that this flagship project becomes a showpiece of the Northern Metropolis mega development, paving the way for the mission to turn Hong Kong into a global... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3368669/universities-must-rise-northern-metropolis-challenge https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3368669/universities-must-rise-northern-metropolis-challenge Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial People and dogs usually coexist peacefully in Hong Kong. The recent licensing of nearly 1,000 restaurants to admit dogs is evidence of that. The deaths of two young women after they had been mauled by dogs therefore comes as a shock. They have prompted reflection and soul-searching about the canine legal and regulatory regime and the responsibilities and accountability of pet owners. The government has pledged to review and strengthen its policy on stray dogs, which were apparently involved in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3368515/debate-dog-ownership-and-control-much-needed-hong-kong https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3368515/debate-dog-ownership-and-control-much-needed-hong-kong Wed, 23 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000