https://www.scmp.com/rss/17/feed All the latest comment, focus, and opinion behind the big news stories in Hong Kong, China & around the world en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Beijing has finally confirmed that US President Donald Trump will make a state visit to China for talks with President Xi Jinping from Wednesday to Friday. The bilateral relationship is very important to both countries, and equally so to the rest of the world. At the same time, we should not expect too much of the visit. Many global issues need the attention of China and the United States, whether the rest of the world wants to see a G2 geopolitical leadership duo. It remains to be seen whether... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353155/trump-xi-summit-may-not-yield-deal-still-significant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353155/trump-xi-summit-may-not-yield-deal-still-significant?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The hantavirus cluster that took a deadly toll on a cruise ship far away in the Atlantic has understandably been of great concern to many in Hong Kong. Fears have grown globally since the phrase “human-to-human transmission” was used to describe what happened on board the MV Hondius after it set sail from Argentina on April 1. Given densely populated Hong Kong’s experience with Covid, Sars and other illnesses, it is good that the city authorities have been on the alert since at least three... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353166/hong-kong-treating-hantavirus-outbreak-reasonable-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353166/hong-kong-treating-hantavirus-outbreak-reasonable-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 22:45:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Mobile phones are being barred from a growing number of classrooms around the world amid concerns about the disruption these devices can cause. While Hong Kong has not imposed a citywide ban, rules are tightening at individual schools. A student outcry at one institution has put a spotlight on the need to strike a better balance with phone restrictions. Form Three and Four pupils at the boys’ school Kwun Tong Maryknoll College were told on April 30 they would not be allowed to use phones on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352862/hong-kong-schools-must-balance-phone-policy-against-student-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352862/hong-kong-schools-must-balance-phone-policy-against-student-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s economy first took off as a trading hub, and then as a global financial centre. Given its advantageous location, it’s only natural that it should be a logistics and transport powerhouse. It’s not for nothing that some of our most famous tycoons of the last century made their names in shipping. Since major ports along coastal China have taken some of the shine off the city, it is even more important that we stay competitive and maintain our strategic maritime edge. That includes... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352866/hong-kongs-maritime-edge-real-its-not-cause-complacency?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352866/hong-kongs-maritime-edge-real-its-not-cause-complacency?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 22:45:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s Legislative Council will visit Beijing in July as a full body for the first time since the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. The announcement by Legco president Starry Lee Wai-king is historically significant. Until a few years ago, the presence of pan-democrats in the legislature made such a visit impossible. With the legislature composed entirely of “patriots” following electoral reforms in 2021, it is now part of the establishment, alongside the executive government... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352860/beijing-trip-will-help-legco-sharpen-hong-kongs-development-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352860/beijing-trip-will-help-legco-sharpen-hong-kongs-development-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial In recent years, it has become a pattern for the United States to launch anti-China measures just before major negotiations. Sure enough, ahead of a presidential summit this month, Washington put five Chinese refineries on a blacklist. Dozens of smaller Chinese shipping firms and vessel operators are already on the sanctions list as part of a campaign to squeeze Iran and disrupt its oil revenue. The latest additions include Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, one of the largest and most... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352851/us-shouldnt-try-bully-china-ahead-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352851/us-shouldnt-try-bully-china-ahead-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial If critics still doubt Hong Kong’s economy is ready to roar back, the latest numbers should offer some assurance. The city posted its fastest quarterly economic growth in nearly five years, hitting 5.9 per cent and outpacing the last quarter of 2025 at 4 per cent. Given the external headwinds from conflict in the Middle East to trade friction between the two superpowers and a shaky world economic outlook, the strong performance is rather impressive. However, the question remains whether the city... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352855/gdp-uptick-signals-hong-kongs-economy-right-path?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352855/gdp-uptick-signals-hong-kongs-economy-right-path?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Every crisis presents an opportunity. Thanks to the war in the Middle East, Hong Kong has, unexpectedly, turned into a safe harbour for the trading and storage of gold and industrial metals. The city had already been positioning itself as an international gold hub, leveraging its financial infrastructure to meet growing demand for safe-haven assets. But the war has driven home how well suited Hong Kong is to becoming an alternative to Dubai, the world’s second-largest gold trading... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352701/middle-east-war-offers-hong-kong-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352701/middle-east-war-offers-hong-kong-golden-opportunity?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The emergence of China’s first world snooker champion, Zhao Xintong, last year was a breakthrough that signalled the beginning of a golden era for the country’s players. There was an expectation there would be more Chinese winners to come. We didn’t have to wait long. Zhao’s compatriot Wu Yize matched the feat on Monday, winning 18-17 in a gripping final at the Crucible Theatre in England. It is the first time in 24 years the final has gone to the last frame. Wu overcame his nerves to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352699/chinas-snooker-world-champions-cue-bright-future-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352699/chinas-snooker-world-champions-cue-bright-future-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 22:45:04 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Stellar economic development can exact a price in industrial accidents, as China found in its very high-growth years. Since then, one of its less noticed achievements – alongside lifting hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty – is to have also made mines and factories safer for those who work in them. As a result, reports of deaths and injuries in major workplace accidents are no longer so commonplace. Sadly, they continue to happen – everywhere, including Hong Kong. Reminders can still be... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352605/china-fireworks-factory-blast-sharpens-focus-workplace-safety?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352605/china-fireworks-factory-blast-sharpens-focus-workplace-safety?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It is springtime for Hong Kong’s bond issuers. Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has just offered the largest Hong Kong dollar-denominated bond series ever. It follows a public offering of Hong Kong dollar-denominated green bonds by the MTR Corporation. Cathay Pacific, the city’s flagship airline, has also raised HK$2.08 billion (US$265.4 million) by selling Hong Kong dollar-denominated bonds, marking its first foray into the local-currency debt market. All three offerings were well received,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352587/blooming-bond-market-shows-trust-hong-kong-dollar-assets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352587/blooming-bond-market-shows-trust-hong-kong-dollar-assets?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Energy resilience is being tested on a global scale as the Middle East conflict drives up fuel and electricity costs. Hong Kong’s government has stepped in with subsidies and the mainland Chinese authorities have pledged support to ensure electricity supply. But plans are needed for a potentially long-term disruption and other future crises. Hong Kong is introducing a subsidy for the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used by taxis, minibuses and school buses. A 50 HK cents per litre subsidy has been... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352479/beijings-backing-hong-kong-can-plan-future-energy-crises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352479/beijings-backing-hong-kong-can-plan-future-energy-crises?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Claw machines are hard to miss in Hong Kong. The prize-filled devices are clustered in shops across the city, often in the retail void created by the pandemic. Players are understandably drawn to the instant gratification of what appears to be a game of skill. But there is also growing concern about the fairness of claw machines and the increasingly high-value prizes that can introduce gambling elements addictive to some users – particularly young people. The authorities are rightly pursuing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352507/tighter-regulation-hong-kongs-claw-machines-much-needed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352507/tighter-regulation-hong-kongs-claw-machines-much-needed?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A poster hanging in the main office of artificial intelligence (AI) firm Manus in Beijing before it relocated to Singapore reportedly said, “Go big or die.” Its ethos perfectly matched that of Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg’s famous motto: “Move fast and break things.” In December, when it was announced that the social media giant had bought the Chinese start-up for US$2 billion, many industry insiders embraced the deal despite a bitter tech war between China and the United States. It was not to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352340/manus-deal-veto-shows-limits-move-fast-and-break-things-ethos-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352340/manus-deal-veto-shows-limits-move-fast-and-break-things-ethos-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 23:15:14 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s natural beauty, one of its greatest assets, is also ecologically vulnerable. Reminders of that abounded during the mainland’s Labour Day “golden week” holiday. At Sharp Island, where thousands flocked to the city’s Unesco global geopark, the authorities issued about 300 verbal warnings. At Ham Tin Wan in Sai Kung East Country Park, the sheer number of visitors camping, some using hotpots, underscored the problem. On Saturday evening, an estimated 500 tents at the campsite included... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352372/hong-kong-needs-better-protect-its-natural-assets-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352372/hong-kong-needs-better-protect-its-natural-assets-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 22:45:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Hong Kong tourism industry has spent years looking for ways to chart a course back to a semblance of the smooth sailing it long enjoyed. Efforts to develop a high-spending yacht economy are one promising approach that could buoy the sector and the city overall. So it was welcome news that a long-awaited cross-border solo travel scheme could be in place for local yachts as early as this summer. The policy would allow vessels from Macau and Hong Kong to easily sail to western waters off the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352250/cross-border-scheme-could-boost-hong-kongs-yacht-economy-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352250/cross-border-scheme-could-boost-hong-kongs-yacht-economy-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 23:15:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Global efforts to protect children from online harm are being stepped up, from the bans on social media use to the measures making platforms safer. But the scourge of child pornography and the threat to the young of being groomed for sexual abuse remain prevalent. Law enforcement agencies have a responsibility to ensure their efforts to investigate, track down and arrest the culprits are successful. This requires close collaboration among police forces in different countries. The latest... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352133/recognise-need-protect-our-children-online-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352133/recognise-need-protect-our-children-online-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 22:45:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Bruce Lee’s legacy in Hong Kong got a needed boost last month with the unveiling of a life-size statue of the late kung fu legend at the site of his childhood home. The tribute marking 85 years since Lee arrived in the city is to be welcomed, but also raises questions about why there is not more focus on one of Hong Kong’s most famous sons. Entertainment company hmvod and arts curator Heiman Ng organised the statue’s unveiling and an exhibition at the Prudential Centre on Nathan Road in Jordan.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352177/hong-kongs-efforts-commemorate-bruce-lee-should-pack-bigger-punch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352177/hong-kongs-efforts-commemorate-bruce-lee-should-pack-bigger-punch?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong Disneyland opened to great fanfare in 2005, but the fact that it is still the smallest Disney park in the world remains a talking point. Losses in most of the 20 years since then have weighed against the case for expansion. However, a return to profit in the last two financial years could yet change the conversation. The Lantau theme park has repaid loans from its two shareholders – the government and the US-based Walt Disney Company – and is debt-free for the first time. Profits are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352123/return-profit-helps-hong-kong-disneyland-look-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352123/return-profit-helps-hong-kong-disneyland-look-future?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 22:45:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The long-term health concerns raised by vaping continue to unfold. The latest example comes from cancer researchers in Australia, who warn of a likely link to lung and oral cancer and urge governments to act now. Hong Kong health authorities, rightly, are not waiting for definitive evidence of the risk to emerge as this may take many years. Thursday was the first day of a new ban on the use of tobacco alternatives in public areas, including the first penalties against vaping offenders. Anyone... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352148/hong-kongs-new-vaping-ban-healthy-step-forward?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352148/hong-kongs-new-vaping-ban-healthy-step-forward?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The successful Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament last month, thrilling a record number of fans, is still fresh in the memory. The city’s drive to host an increasing number of top sporting events continues, signalled by the announcement of another landmark event in the summer. This time, the sport is football and the teams that will compete at Kai Tak Stadium in August are among the best Europe has to offer. The second edition of Hong Kong’s football festival, which was first staged at Kai Tak... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352116/hot-summer-football-festival-fever-ahead-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352116/hot-summer-football-festival-fever-ahead-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial China has the world’s largest army of gig workers, numbering 200 million. Many work long hours under harsh conditions with unpredictable pay. Beijing is now drawing up regulations to offer better protection. Hong Kong, which also has a substantial number of gig workers, will follow suit after pledging improvement last year. Those workers form the backbone of China’s rising consumer society, yet they enjoy few benefits, unlike full-time staff. Technology-driven businesses have outrun legislation,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351944/china-moves-towards-better-protecting-its-gig-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351944/china-moves-towards-better-protecting-its-gig-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s growing ambitions to shine on the global sporting stage do not just count on the competence of individual athletes. Conducive government policies, adequate funding and good governance in the sport sector are just as crucial. Following the Audit Commission’s exposure of management and funding problems in 2020, the government rightly acknowledged that enhancing corporate governance of national sports associations is a key priority in promoting professionalism in sports. Positive... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352036/improving-sports-governance-hong-kong-will-take-more-rules-paper?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352036/improving-sports-governance-hong-kong-will-take-more-rules-paper?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The upcoming Labour Day “golden week” holiday promises another bonanza for Hong Kong’s tourism and related sectors as the city leverages a string of high-profile attractions – from horse racing days to revamped dining and shopping experiences – to pull in both mainland and overseas visitors. Hopefully, the drive can fine-tune the tourism strategy into one focusing on both quantity and quality. The Immigration Department expects about 980,000 mainland visitors to enter Hong Kong between May 1 and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351810/ahead-labour-day-sensible-tweak-hong-kongs-tourism-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351810/ahead-labour-day-sensible-tweak-hong-kongs-tourism-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong continues to grapple with the aftermath of the deadly Tai Po fire. On one hand, the authorities are pushing ahead with post-disaster arrangements for residents, including expanding the long-term resettlement plan and providing more opportunities for residents to retrieve their belongings. Meanwhile, an independent inquiry is examining systemic failures that contributed to the tragedy. Hopefully, this will spur fire safety revamps and help pursue accountability. The latest government... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351851/more-light-shed-tai-po-fire-trauma-and-systemic-failures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351851/more-light-shed-tai-po-fire-trauma-and-systemic-failures?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial As more people shun the silver screen in favour of online streaming, Hong Kong’s film industry may increasingly resemble the unfolding plot of a slow-burn tragedy. But if Saturday’s crowds across local cinemas are any reference, its fate is far from being sealed. The government-subsidised Cinema Day drew a record 201,000 film-goers as 52 cinemas offered discounted movie tickets at a flat HK$30 (US$3.83) for 1,694 screenings, according to the Hong Kong Theatres Association. The footfall marked a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351668/hong-kong-cinema-can-still-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351668/hong-kong-cinema-can-still-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Central harbourfront is one of the world’s most recognisable urban skylines, overlooking a vast, open event space from Central to Admiralty that is coveted for major events. The right to run the event space for five years, from July 1, has just been awarded to a joint venture between property developer Henderson Land Development and concert organiser YW Company, commonly known as “Yiu Wing”. The location east of the International Finance Centre and the adjacent Central Yards development has... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351664/hong-kong-has-big-stake-success-harbourfront-event-space?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351664/hong-kong-has-big-stake-success-harbourfront-event-space?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The growing use of social media and artificial intelligence chatbots across generations has made privacy protection a priority. This is especially important for children who are often insensitive to the risks when navigating the vast online world. The onus is therefore on parents and teachers to provide proper guidance. The guidelines issued by the Privacy Commissioner to safeguard the privacy of youngsters are a timely step. The practical tips suggest parents and teachers take an interest in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351557/online-privacy-guidelines-underscore-key-role-parents-and-teachers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351557/online-privacy-guidelines-underscore-key-role-parents-and-teachers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s limited urban space and large population have steadily pushed the city’s buildings ever higher, but maintenance of far too many structures has not kept pace with decades of wear and tear. Meanwhile, the authorities are often overwhelmed trying to enforce laws that should keep building owners and managers focused on upkeep. So it was encouraging to see officials trying a new tactic to respond to one major issue – water seepage. A pilot scheme to fast track such cases and shift... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351298/new-tactic-water-seepage-can-help-keep-hong-kong-buildings-safe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351298/new-tactic-water-seepage-can-help-keep-hong-kong-buildings-safe?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Mixing robots and artificial intelligence sometimes conjures up images of Hollywood’s Terminator threatening the existence of humanity. The reality is much more mundane. Care services, traditionally provided in homes, hospitals and nursing centres, increasingly turn to robots, first in Japan and South Korea, and now in China. Some critics warn that robots lack the human touch. It remains to be seen how well residents and patients respond to supposedly human-friendly machines in different... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351297/robots-are-all-well-and-good-so-long-they-do-no-harm-humans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351297/robots-are-all-well-and-good-so-long-they-do-no-harm-humans?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 22:45:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union, the world’s most infamous nuclear accident. For decades, the shadow of Chernobyl – and later the Fukushima meltdown in Japan following an earthquake and a tsunami – cast doubt on the safety of nuclear energy. Yet amid current geopolitical turmoil and energy insecurity, nuclear power is once again at the centre of global debate. The immediate trigger is the crisis in the Middle East. The blockade of oil and gas... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351285/learn-chernobyl-world-turns-nuclear-energy-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351285/learn-chernobyl-world-turns-nuclear-energy-again?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:15:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Labour Day holiday is expected to live up to its “golden week” name by providing a welcome boost to the Hong Kong economy, but it will also test the city’s ability to balance an expected tourism surge with environmental conservation. Authorities must apply lessons learned from problematic high seasons in the past when the city sees visitor numbers rise. Arrivals from mainland China alone could hit 980,000, up 7 per cent from 2025, the Immigration Department said. The government plans to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351283/do-more-preserve-hong-kongs-natural-heritage-amid-holiday-crush?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351283/do-more-preserve-hong-kongs-natural-heritage-amid-holiday-crush?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Foreign critics periodically declare the end of Hong Kong, with some of the most recent warnings following the exit of foreign firms after the 2019 protests and the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, firms are returning in droves, including some new ones in the tech sector. More than 120 strategic corporate partners are establishing a presence in Hong Kong through the government’s Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), including global pharmaceutical and biotech brands such as Pfizer and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351256/influx-global-firms-underscores-hong-kongs-economic-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351256/influx-global-firms-underscores-hong-kongs-economic-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Imagine being told to fly thousands of miles to Hong Kong to buy gold pellets as part of an “official investigation”. The scenario seems like an obvious scam, but at least nine students were recently ensnared in such a complex scheme leveraging fear, cross-border logistics and physical assets. Police have rightly issued a warning about the dangerous escalation in scam tactics, underscoring the need for better awareness and prevention. The students were targeted by thieves posing as officers from... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351266/gold-scams-are-reminder-crime-prevention-must-keep?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351266/gold-scams-are-reminder-crime-prevention-must-keep?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial To become an international sporting venue, it helps to have an iconic event that appears on the bucket lists of sports fans worldwide. With its 50th anniversary tournament, the Hong Kong Sevens has now consolidated that claim several times over. It bounced back from the pandemic when the city needed a morale booster. Last year, it emerged even stronger from a move to a new venue that tested fun-loving fans’ loyalty. Now it has confounded concerns that geopolitical tension and wars would dim its... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351098/hong-kong-sevens-proves-be-rude-health-50th-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351098/hong-kong-sevens-proves-be-rude-health-50th-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:15:15 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Officials have begun a detailed review of the government’s HK$20,000 (US$2,600) baby bonus scheme six months before the end of its three-year term, and for good reason. With its low take-up rate, the scheme has failed to make the hoped-for impact on a falling birth rate. At the end of February, more than 40 per cent of the HK$2.8 billion set aside to encourage couples to have babies remained unspent, according to the Labour and Welfare Bureau. This suggests financial incentives alone cannot... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351108/hong-kong-baby-bonus-scheme-needs-rethink-focus-systemic-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351108/hong-kong-baby-bonus-scheme-needs-rethink-focus-systemic-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Chinese President Xi Jinping’s phone call with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in which he called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, was his second conversation in a week with Middle Eastern leaders calling for a de-escalation of the regional conflict. What set this call apart, however, was that it was initiated by the Saudi leader. This is both highly symbolic and significant. Riyadh has long been Washington’s anchor ally in the Middle East. Turning to China in the midst... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351003/saudi-leaders-phone-call-xi-jinping-shows-shifting-global-power-balance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3351003/saudi-leaders-phone-call-xi-jinping-shows-shifting-global-power-balance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 23:15:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong authorities are doubling down on safeguards and guidance on fronts ranging from state security to national education, and understandably so. The revised school curriculum guide seeking to make children as young as six “feel proud to be Chinese” and gain a basic understanding of national affairs might be perceived as another aggressive step in this regard, but it is part of a broader drive to close the gaps stemming from inadequacies over the decades. Compared with the 2021 version, the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350978/new-curriculum-guide-will-bolster-national-identity-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350978/new-curriculum-guide-will-bolster-national-identity-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial There is understandable frustration about a lack of progress fighting animal cruelty in Hong Kong. Efforts to update existing laws against animal cruelty are long overdue in a city where pet ownership and public concern about animal welfare are strong. Now there is a spotlight on enforcement. A report released by the Office of the Ombudsman underscored the need for officials to respond to growing public concern and international trends regarding animal welfare. Existing procedures were described... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350817/amid-growing-concern-hong-kong-should-move-faster-animal-cruelty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350817/amid-growing-concern-hong-kong-should-move-faster-animal-cruelty?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Hong Kong authorities are pushing ahead with the city’s first five-year development plan, with the launch of a public consultation in this quarter. This is a welcome step to ensure directions are not imposed in a top-down approach. It is important that all sectors contribute to the process so that the city can develop policies and measures that align with the national goals and strategies under “one country, two systems”. Announcing a key timeline for the initiative, Chief Executive John Lee... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350841/public-input-key-setting-out-hong-kongs-first-five-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350841/public-input-key-setting-out-hong-kongs-first-five-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The mental health problems faced by Hong Kong’s young show no signs of abating despite new policies and programmes. Government figures presented to lawmakers last week highlight the alarming extent of the problem. Education authorities revealed the number of secondary school pupils diagnosed with mental illness had more than doubled over the last five academic years, with a 54 per cent increase in primary schools. A positive view, as education minister Christine Choi Yuk-lin said, is that the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350678/hong-kong-should-do-everything-possible-youth-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350678/hong-kong-should-do-everything-possible-youth-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:15:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Nearly five months after Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades, thousands of survivors are returning in batches to their fire-ravaged flats to collect their belongings and bid farewell to their homes. The government-supervised operation is logistically challenging, with arrangements closely scrutinised by the public. It is also a moment of mixed emotions for returning households. Yesterday’s exercise, which involved 269 residents from 78 households in one of the blocks of Wang Fuk Court, went... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350716/tai-po-fire-victims-return-flats-hong-kong-looks-closure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350716/tai-po-fire-victims-return-flats-hong-kong-looks-closure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The yuan is rapidly expanding as a global financing source. Just this month, Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund, Samruk-Kazyna, became the first financial institution from Central Asia to issue yuan-denominated debt – worth 3 billion yuan (US$440 million) – in China’s onshore market. Meanwhile, in a first for a euro-zone country, Portugal sold 1.99 billion yuan of eight-year debt in the offshore yuan bond market. The country’s debt agency said the securities, nicknamed dim sum bonds, aim to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350441/chinese-yuan-slowly-surely-cutting-us-dollar-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350441/chinese-yuan-slowly-surely-cutting-us-dollar-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s civil service is by and large clean and efficient, making it one of the world’s best. While the 188,000-strong bureaucracy is managed by a plethora of well-established rules, expectation gaps in performance and accountability arise from time to time. The problems were highlighted in the recent setbacks over bottled water procurement and the bus seat belt law, with critics asking how such glaring blunders could escape layers of scrutiny. The former case saw the former director of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350412/hong-kongs-civil-service-accountability-push-long-overdue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350412/hong-kongs-civil-service-accountability-push-long-overdue?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 22:45:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The adage that there is no such thing as a free lunch has stood the test of time. Tour package deals that are too good to be true are no exception. When the real cost emerges, they can spark disputes that inflict a reputational cost on the tourism industry, a pillar of Hong Kong’s economy. A case in point has just resulted in the revocation of a travel agency’s licence by the Travel Industry Authority. One of its tour guides allegedly tried to coerce mainland tourists into shopping at designated... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350429/stamp-out-coercive-shopping-tours-uphold-hong-kongs-reputation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350429/stamp-out-coercive-shopping-tours-uphold-hong-kongs-reputation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 23:15:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Why do Hongkongers keep living longer and topping longevity tables? The proportion of those 85 and older is growing rapidly. Experts and older people themselves advance any number of explanations, including diet, exercise and a good health system. The question has also focused attention on the resilience of older Hongkongers – many of whom were survivors of wartime and post-war hardships. But if more elderly people continue to live longer and healthy lives, there may be more to it. In five years... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350436/hkust-study-decode-longevity-stuff-frontier-science?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350436/hkust-study-decode-longevity-stuff-frontier-science?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Beijing’s decision to resume direct flights to Taiwan, alongside nine other measures to deepen cross-strait exchanges and ties, shows the value of dialogue. These steps, announced immediately after Kuomintang chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s recent six-day visit, including a meeting with Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, are a reminder that trust and cooperation are more likely to result in improvement to fraught relations, while confrontation leads only to stagnation. The measures go beyond symbolic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350458/beijings-10-point-plan-sends-strong-signal-ordinary-taiwanese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350458/beijings-10-point-plan-sends-strong-signal-ordinary-taiwanese?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 23:15:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The prevalence of sexual harassment in the workplace has long been recognised in Hong Kong but the problem has persisted. Figures revealed this month show that 207 such complaints were made to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) last year, a 33 per cent increase on 2024. The rise does not necessarily mean more harassment is taking place. It might be an encouraging sign that victims are more willing to take action. But the statistics show that sexual misconduct at places of work continues to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350417/employers-must-tackle-office-culture-harassment-complaints-spike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350417/employers-must-tackle-office-culture-harassment-complaints-spike?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s pursuit of top international sports events has gathered pace in recent years. But it is difficult to beat the excitement generated by the Hong Kong Sevens, the iconic rugby tournament born in the city and celebrating its 50th anniversary. Last year, the event became the first major sports competition staged at the newly opened Kai Tak Stadium. It was hailed as a success. This weekend, the Sevens will again bring its unique blend of sporting excellence, top-class entertainment and a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350307/50-years-sevens-hong-kongs-festival-fun-awaits-worlds-rugby-fans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350307/50-years-sevens-hong-kongs-festival-fun-awaits-worlds-rugby-fans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 23:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Pandemic-related economic headwinds are easing in Hong Kong, but a blast from the past arrived this week with word that taxpayers could be on the hook for bad loans under a special scheme to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) during the Covid-19 pandemic. A full accounting is needed to understand what happened and help prepare for the future. Official data released to legislators showed that of the 67,189 loan applications approved under the now-defunct, fully government-backed... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350261/hong-kong-taxpayers-deserve-clarity-covid-era-sme-loan-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350261/hong-kong-taxpayers-deserve-clarity-covid-era-sme-loan-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000