https://www.scmp.com/rss/2/feed Breaking news, analysis and opinion from the SCMP's Hong Kong edition. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen A fire services company did not conduct any on-site inspections and merely acted as a “rubber stamp” in submitting 85 notices to shut down the hose reel system of a housing estate hit by Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades, an inquiry has heard. Separate testimony from a Fire Services Department official also noted that another contractor failed to notify authorities after discovering that Wang Fuk Court’s fire water tanks were drained and the main power switches for the fire hose reels and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349426/tai-po-blaze-no-fire-safety-system-checks-firm-sent-85-shutdown-notices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349426/tai-po-blaze-no-fire-safety-system-checks-firm-sent-85-shutdown-notices?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:16:47 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Cinema box office takings in Hong Kong over the first four days of the Easter break more than doubled year on year, reaching HK$25.93 million (US$3.31 million) compared with HK$12.75 million over the same period in 2025, despite a holiday exodus. According to the Immigration Department, residents made around 2.13 million outbound and 1.81 million inbound trips between Good Friday and Monday, resulting in a net outflow of 319,173. For the five-day break to Tuesday, Hongkongers made 2.56 million... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349404/easter-box-office-takings-twice-2025-break-despite-exodus-hongkongers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349404/easter-box-office-takings-twice-2025-break-despite-exodus-hongkongers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 11:06:01 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok A Hong Kong car owner has lost HK$500,000 (US$63,800) to scammers posing as petrol company staff who exploited surging fuel prices by offering bogus top-up deals for membership cards, police have said. The victim received unsolicited WhatsApp messages from fraudsters claiming to represent a fuel company, according to a post on the force’s CyberDefender Facebook page on Wednesday. The scammers promised discounts through prepaid petrol cards and lured the victim into making immediate... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349398/hong-kong-car-owner-loses-hk500000-fuel-membership-card-scam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349398/hong-kong-car-owner-loses-hk500000-fuel-membership-card-scam?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 10:30:41 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on April 8, 1986. Billion dollar brilliance by Staff Reporters The new $5.2 billion headquarters of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corpn was formally opened last night (April 7, 1986) when the Governor, Sir Edward Youde, snipped a simple ribbon. The building, every light ablaze, was a symbol of the bank’s faith in the future of Hongkong, said the bank’s chairman, Mr Michael Sandberg. Many also saw it as a vindication of Mr Sandberg’s own commitment in his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3349377/hsbcs-hk5-billion-headquarters-opens-hong-kong-1986-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3349377/hsbcs-hk5-billion-headquarters-opens-hong-kong-1986-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:30:16 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested an employee of a systems maintenance contractor hired by the Hospital Authority on suspicion of stealing the personal data of more than 56,000 patients and 1,000 staff members. The arrest of a 30-year-old local man came just days after the authority reported on Saturday a suspected data leak involving patients in the Kowloon East group of hospitals on a third‑party platform, with police and the privacy watchdog investigating. Police revealed on Wednesday that more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349378/police-arrest-man-suspicion-stealing-personal-data-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349378/police-arrest-man-suspicion-stealing-personal-data-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:57:48 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has launched a five-year study into why Chinese people often enjoy long lifespans, and aims to recruit 500 residents aged 90 or older for biomarker analysis using advanced blood testing technologies. HKUST president Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, who is leading the research, said Hong Kong urgently needed to uncover the healthy ageing process as the city had become a “super-ageing society” in 2024 under UN standards, with more than 20 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349375/hkust-launches-5-year-study-long-lifespans-chinese-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349375/hkust-launches-5-year-study-long-lifespans-chinese-people?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:41:28 +0000 Edith Lin,Emily Hung Edith Lin,Emily Hung A redevelopment proposal representing the interests of more than 400 fire-displaced residents has been submitted to the Hong Kong government, claiming that a partial redevelopment of Wang Fuk Court could generate a HK6.4 billion (US$816.7 million) surplus. The 47-page proposal, alongside two letters, was sent to the Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, housing minister Winnie Ho Wing-yin, and home... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349373/wang-fuk-court-administrator-rejects-request-hold-owners-meeting-email-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349373/wang-fuk-court-administrator-rejects-request-hold-owners-meeting-email-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:32:37 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow Hong Kong authorities are proceeding with legal action to confiscate property linked to crimes committed by former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, with a hearing on the matter set to be held in three months. According to a court document seen by the South China Morning Post on Wednesday, the secretary for justice filed an application with the Court of First Instance to confiscate Lai’s property after he was sentenced to 20 years in jail for national security offences. A 60-minute hearing is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349371/court-hearing-set-july-confiscating-jimmy-lais-properties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349371/court-hearing-set-july-confiscating-jimmy-lais-properties?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:24:42 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Nearly a quarter of Hong Kong companies are expected to widely adopt AI this year, a threefold increase from a year ago, while a growing number of business leaders believe the technology will result in smaller headcounts, a survey has revealed. Professional services firm KPMG released the Hong Kong Employment Outlook 2026 on Wednesday, with the poll showing that 24 per cent of organisations were set to widely adopt artificial intelligence (AI), up from just 8 per cent in the previous... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349370/24-hong-kong-firms-widely-adopt-ai-smaller-headcounts-expected-kpmg?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349370/24-hong-kong-firms-widely-adopt-ai-smaller-headcounts-expected-kpmg?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:20:39 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s director of immigration will have his service extended beyond the retirement age until June next year, authorities have announced. The announcement to extend the term of Benson Kwok Joon-fung was made on Wednesday, a day before he reached the retirement age of 57. “The purpose of granting director Kwok’s service extension is to ensure a smooth transition in the senior management of the Immigration Department,” a government spokesman said. He added that Kwok had been granted an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349364/hong-kong-immigration-chief-granted-service-extension-past-retirement-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349364/hong-kong-immigration-chief-granted-service-extension-past-retirement-age?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:59:33 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption accelerates worldwide, Hong Kong is sharpening its focus on applying AI technologies across various domains to make life easier, more efficient and more connected for citizens and businesses alike.  Building on Hong Kong’s smart city strategy and its role within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Government and local industry are working together to turn... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/topics/hong-kong-innovation-drive/article/3348818/smart-hong-kong-pavilion-innoex-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/topics/hong-kong-innovation-drive/article/3348818/smart-hong-kong-pavilion-innoex-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 07:37:53 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Up to 80 per cent of Hong Kong’s fishing vessels have suspended operations nearly a month ahead of a planned moratorium, according to a sector representative, as the doubling of “red oil” prices caused by the war in the Middle East has made going out to sea untenable for operators. Representatives for the local transport and maritime sectors welcomed the two-week ceasefire announced by the United States and Iran and the subsequent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but called for targeted,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349339/80-hong-kong-fishing-vessels-grounded-moratorium-due-high-fuel-prices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349339/80-hong-kong-fishing-vessels-grounded-moratorium-due-high-fuel-prices?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 05:47:16 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. An independent committee examining the causes of Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, which claimed 168 lives at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, concluded its second round of hearings on Wednesday. Chung Kit-man, director and engineer of Victory Fire Engineering, the contractor responsible for the estate’s fire service equipment, testified again on conflicting... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349316/no-water-flowed-through-hoses-plumber-says-tai-po-fire-hearings-resume?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349316/no-water-flowed-through-hoses-plumber-says-tai-po-fire-hearings-resume?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 03:01:08 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong authorities will set up a company this year to accelerate the development of an innovation hub near the border, with firms already expressing interest in moving into the San Tin Technopole, a senior tech official has said. Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Kevin Choi Kit-ming also told the South China Morning Post that some companies might soon be able to transfer data and biological samples across the border once tailor-made measures were introduced later... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349306/hong-kong-set-company-year-fast-track-san-tin-tech-hub-firms-eye-move?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349306/hong-kong-set-company-year-fast-track-san-tin-tech-hub-firms-eye-move?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 02:00:21 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Seven murals celebrating the Thai and Chiu Chow heritage of Hong Kong’s Kowloon City will be erected in the district known for its ethnic Thai population and traditional stores under a public scheme to encourage building renovations in the area. The first on Jenford Building has been completed on South Wall Road in the heart of the city’s “Little Thailand”, featuring a purple cartoon elephant dressed in a blue Hawaiian shirt, grinning with its trunk lifted as if greeting passers-by. Against a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349305/sawadeekowloon-mural-celebrates-thai-culture-hong-kong-under-renovation-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349305/sawadeekowloon-mural-celebrates-thai-culture-hong-kong-under-renovation-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A new research institute in Hong Kong is set to ramp up efforts to develop “AI for all” as early as this month, mapping out a strategy to strengthen the government’s capabilities while ensuring all residents and sectors benefit from the technology, a senior official has said. Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Kevin Choi Kit-ming said one of the priorities of the Hong Kong Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Institute would be to integrate a locally... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349304/new-research-institute-ramp-efforts-hong-kong-pursues-ai-all?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349304/new-research-institute-ramp-efforts-hong-kong-pursues-ai-all?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has found a doctor breached its code of conduct after he posted a photo of a resuscitation procedure in a public hospital, with the case being passed to the Medical Council. The authority’s Kowloon West group of hospitals announced on Tuesday that it had terminated the doctor’s contract, one day after stating the man was “no longer an employee”. “The Kowloon West Cluster has completed its investigation into the incident. We confirm that the staff member breached... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349301/hong-kong-doctor-axed-posting-resuscitation-photo-faces-medical-council-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349301/hong-kong-doctor-axed-posting-resuscitation-photo-faces-medical-council-case?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:44:31 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Mud and rainy weather caused chaos and frustration at a high-profile open-air coffee festival in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District over the Easter weekend, with the arts hub’s managing authority urging the organiser to take timely and appropriate measures to respond to vendors. The weather put a dampener on the four-day 2026 Coffee Hong Kong @WestK, which was held at the Great Lawn of the district’s Art Park. Some festival visitors were seen wearing shoe covers as they walked over the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349293/backlash-brews-hong-kong-coffee-festival-over-response-bad-weather?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349293/backlash-brews-hong-kong-coffee-festival-over-response-bad-weather?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:10:38 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s East Dam welcomed about 1,400 visitors daily over the first four days of the Easter break, despite the adverse weather, conservation authorities have said, while revealing littering and illegal camping figures for the site and the surrounding area. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said on Tuesday that it recorded 18 cases of law enforcement action being taken at Sai Kung East Country Park for such offences between Good Friday and Easter Monday. “The AFCD... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349292/hong-kongs-east-dam-welcomes-1400-visitors-daily-over-first-4-days-easter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349292/hong-kongs-east-dam-welcomes-1400-visitors-daily-over-first-4-days-easter?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:44:42 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong police have charged a 70-year-old man with dangerous driving, after viral footage allegedly shows him going the wrong way on a highway in a black Mercedes-Benz before making a U-turn. Police said on Tuesday that officers noticed online footage showing a private car with a probationary sign driving the wrong way down a hard shoulder of Tolo Highway. In the clip, the black Mercedes then makes a U-turn before veering into the offside lane. The New Territories North traffic investigation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349253/probationary-driver-70-charged-over-going-wrong-way-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349253/probationary-driver-70-charged-over-going-wrong-way-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:44:40 +0000 Winston Mok Winston Mok The Strait of Hormuz blockage is being felt far and wide. While the world struggles with higher pump prices, key energy exporters such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar face severe economic setbacks. In Gulf states serving as air hubs, expats and affluent locals are scrambling for the exit. The discovery of oil transformed Arabian deserts into rich petro-states. Knowing this wealth would not flow forever, the states leveraged their strategic locations to become air traffic hubs.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349044/gulf-states-geography-both-generous-and-treacherous-patron?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349044/gulf-states-geography-both-generous-and-treacherous-patron?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Oscar Liu,Lam Ka-sing Oscar Liu,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong lawmakers have warned that a local bus operator’s failed bid to reduce services is only the “tip of the iceberg”, as rising fuel costs drive wider reductions across the sector, urging the government to act swiftly to tackle soaring oil prices. Legislators on Tuesday also urged authorities to approve applications by non-franchised bus companies to increase fares, and to provide subsidies to cushion the effects of higher fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East. Their calls came... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349251/lawmakers-call-fuel-subsidies-citing-loss-making-bus-service-amid-oil-price-spike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349251/lawmakers-call-fuel-subsidies-citing-loss-making-bus-service-amid-oil-price-spike?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:27:49 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s home affairs chief has pledged to address concerns of residents of blaze-ravaged Wang Fuk Court at a briefing to be held ahead of an owners’ meeting, saying there will be no clash with the ongoing fire inquiry or with the period in which they will be allowed to return to their flats to retrieve belongings. More than 300 homeowners petitioned for a general meeting with Hop On Management, a Chinachem Group subsidiary appointed by the government as the Tai Po housing estate’s interim... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349232/wang-fuk-court-briefing-give-residents-answers-decisions-are-made-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349232/wang-fuk-court-briefing-give-residents-answers-decisions-are-made-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:56:58 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A world-class fencing hall and stand-alone swimming pool complex will be built in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis megaproject, authorities have revealed, with experts saying the facilities must be supported by good transport links and services for elite athletes. Sports industry experts shared their views on Tuesday after the Leisure and Cultural Services Department revised its plans to instead build the swimming pool as a stand-alone facility to meet international specifications, while... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349230/separate-fencing-hall-and-pool-revised-northern-metropolis-sports-facilities-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349230/separate-fencing-hall-and-pool-revised-northern-metropolis-sports-facilities-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:55:05 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong homebuyers flocked to the second round of new flat sales at the La Mirabelle I project in Tseung Kwan O on Tuesday, underscoring continuing demand for property amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Of the 168 units offered via a price list, 152 had been sold as of 6.40pm, according to Sino Land. A further 86 flats were made available by tender. Sino is one of the project’s co-developers. The launch generated more than HK$1.1 billion (US$140 million) in revenue, the developer... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349223/hong-kong-property-launch-sees-brisk-sales-buyers-unfazed-trumps-iran-warning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349223/hong-kong-property-launch-sees-brisk-sales-buyers-unfazed-trumps-iran-warning?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:26:19 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Residents made more than 2 million outbound passenger trips over the first four days of the Easter break, while the number of motorists using the city’s border checkpoint for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge hit a single-day record on Monday. Immigration Department figures published on Tuesday showed that the number of outgoing Hong Kong residents rose by 14.34 per cent year on year to 2.12 million over the period. This year’s Easter holiday runs from Friday to Tuesday, while the break in 2025... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349222/slump-fb-sector-over-easter-break-28-hongkongers-leave-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349222/slump-fb-sector-over-easter-break-28-hongkongers-leave-city?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:55:06 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong police have arrested a 31-year-old taxi driver who demanded a “highway toll” of about HK$85 (US$11) from officers posing as passengers during a crackdown on illegal behaviour. The force said on Tuesday that officers conducted an operation to crack down on taxi violations on Lantau Island the previous day. Officers posing as passengers took a taxi from Hong Kong Disneyland Resort to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge checkpoint. When they arrived, the driver demanded about HK$85 as a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349219/taxi-driver-arrested-demanding-hk85-highway-toll-undercover-officers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349219/taxi-driver-arrested-demanding-hk85-highway-toll-undercover-officers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:35:03 +0000 SCMP SCMP These articles were first published on April 8, 1966. Quiet day explodes into violence by SCMP reporter After a quiet but tense day, Kowloon and New Kowloon last night were again in the grip of riotous mobs, who roamed the streets of Mong Kok and Yau Ma Tei uncontrolled, stoning buses and cars, setting fires to vehicles and buildings and challenging police and troops. For seven hours, they ran wild until two hours after the reimposition of the curfew when an uneasy quiet again returned. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349129/riots-over-star-ferry-fare-increase-kill-1-1800-arrested-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349129/riots-over-star-ferry-fare-increase-kill-1-1800-arrested-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:00:26 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Eight international school operators in Hong Kong, including the city’s largest group, failed to admit enough non-local students this academic year, breaching their pledge to the government. The English Schools Foundation (ESF) said it had been increasing the proportion of “non-local passport holders” since the end of the pandemic, but noted it might take several years to return to mandated levels after being allowed to admit more local students during that period. The Education Bureau told the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349156/esf-among-8-international-school-operators-failed-meet-non-local-student-targets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349156/esf-among-8-international-school-operators-failed-meet-non-local-student-targets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang US dollar-denominated funds could face more hurdles when investing in Chinese tech and biotech companies as Beijing adopts a stricter approach to companies seeking listings via offshore incorporated vehicles. Indicative of Chinese regulators’ caution in overseeing sensitive industries, industry sources say the move ensures that any sale of assets does not escape regulatory scrutiny. And for any offshore incorporated structures that are approved, the stock regulator requires listing applicants to... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349166/stricter-chinese-scrutiny-offshore-vehicles-blow-tech-and-biotech-ipo-candidates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3349166/stricter-chinese-scrutiny-offshore-vehicles-blow-tech-and-biotech-ipo-candidates?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Eight-year-old Aidan was terrified at the prospect of having to undergo an operation at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital in Kowloon Bay in 2024. But his fears eased once he put on a virtual reality (VR) headset. Guided by a panda character, the VR programme gave him knowledge of what to expect. It allowed him to walk down the corridor and explore the operating theatre, pick the colours of medical staff’s gowns and choose how he wanted to be anaesthetised – down to the flavour of sleep-inducing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349175/hong-kong-hospital-uses-vr-tour-ease-childrens-fears-ahead-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349175/hong-kong-hospital-uses-vr-tour-ease-childrens-fears-ahead-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:30:07 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong restaurants suffered a 6 to 7 per cent revenue drop over the Easter weekend, an industry source said, as gains from a 15 per cent rise in mainland Chinese tourists failed to offset business lost to 1.7 million departing locals. Industry leaders also said on Monday that the trend of locals travelling across the border and abroad during long weekends had become the “new normal”, leaving businesses to rely on mega-events and the coming Labour Day “golden week” to recover their... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349162/hong-kong-restaurant-revenues-drop-over-easter-break-departures-outnumber-arrivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349162/hong-kong-restaurant-revenues-drop-over-easter-break-departures-outnumber-arrivals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:30:08 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong developers are raising prices of new homes this week following sold-out launches in recent days, further testing the appetite of homebuyers amid geopolitical and interest rate uncertainties. Henderson Land Development put another 39 units at its Chester project in Hung Hom on sale on Monday, with 25 homes finding buyers, according to agents. With an average discounted price of HK$22,198 (US$2,831) per square foot, the units were priced 4.57 per cent higher than the 123 units that sold... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349172/hong-kong-developers-test-homebuyers-modest-price-increases-after-sell-outs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3349172/hong-kong-developers-test-homebuyers-modest-price-increases-after-sell-outs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:30:44 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A Hong Kong bus operator serving commuters in Tuen Mun has scrapped plans to reduce services amid soaring oil prices after transport authorities warned that it needed to apply for any changes at least 14 days in advance. ABC Touring Car Company, which runs non-franchised bus services linking Tuen Mun and urban areas, announced on Sunday it would reduce its operations with immediate effect as a first step to cut costs. But the company, which had also warned of ceasing operations, changed course... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349168/tuen-mun-bus-operator-cuts-services-amid-soaring-fuel-prices-warns-closure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349168/tuen-mun-bus-operator-cuts-services-amid-soaring-fuel-prices-warns-closure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:06:55 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Life for Hong Kong-based Iranian biomedical researcher Behzad Nasiri Ahmadabadi is filled with anxiety as he spends each day waiting for a call from his family that may not come amid the conflict in the Middle East. The stress is similar for Iranian student Ali*, who spends his days scrolling through news reports from across the world to piece together events on the ground and lies awake at night thinking about what they mean. Young Iranians in Hong Kong are dealing with the conflict in a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349165/anxious-days-sleepless-nights-young-iranians-hong-kong-war-rages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349165/anxious-days-sleepless-nights-young-iranians-hong-kong-war-rages?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:30:41 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A doctor who posted a photo of a resuscitation procedure in a Hong Kong public hospital is no longer employed by the Hospital Authority, following an outcry over patient privacy and professional ethics. The authority’s Kowloon West Cluster confirmed on Monday the doctor’s departure but did not say whether he had resigned or been dismissed. “The cluster had previously conducted a serious investigation and a comprehensive review of the incident. It confirmed that the individual involved is no... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349154/hong-kong-doctor-who-posted-resuscitation-photo-exits-hospital-authority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349154/hong-kong-doctor-who-posted-resuscitation-photo-exits-hospital-authority?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:30:57 +0000 Wynna Wong,Leopold Chen Wynna Wong,Leopold Chen As many as a third of laundry companies serving corporate clients in Hong Kong could shut down due to soaring fuel costs, an industry leader has warned, with some operators forced to reject new orders and freeze hiring. Industry representatives said on Monday the price of industrial diesel, commonly known as “red diesel”, surged from about HK$6 (80 US cents) per litre in late February to as high as HK$17.50 in early April, an increase of more than 190 per cent. The sharp rise has sharply raised... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349141/surging-oil-prices-push-hong-kongs-laundry-sector-freeze-hiring-halt-orders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349141/surging-oil-prices-push-hong-kongs-laundry-sector-freeze-hiring-halt-orders?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:26:22 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Danny Mok Matthew Cheng,Danny Mok A 79-year-old mainland Chinese man who went missing while hiking on Hong Kong’s MacLehose Trail over the weekend was found on Monday afternoon. Rescuers found He Chengan conscious near Kwan Tai Temple in Tai Tong along Section 10 of the trail, where he had last been seen, police said. A government helicopter airlifted him to Tuen Mun Hospital, where he was in a stable condition. When found, he was covered with sand and missing both shoes, although one lay nearby. Rescuers placed him on a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349134/search-81-year-old-hiker-who-went-missing-tuen-mun-enters-third-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349134/search-81-year-old-hiker-who-went-missing-tuen-mun-enters-third-day?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:07:13 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Traffic at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge reached peak levels during the first two days of the extended holiday, with checkpoint queues sometimes exceeding an hour, raising concerns about whether clearance arrangements can handle surging demand. Passenger flows exceeded 192,000 over Friday and Saturday, while vehicle numbers surpassed 30,000, marking one of the busiest periods at the cross-boundary bridge in recent years, Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, honorary life president of the Hong Kong, China... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349123/queues-stretch-past-hour-traffic-jams-hit-mega-bridge-during-easter-ching-ming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349123/queues-stretch-past-hour-traffic-jams-hit-mega-bridge-during-easter-ching-ming?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:13:10 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) is poised to report a loss of over HK$100 billion (US$12.8 billion) for March this week, its worst monthly loss in dollar terms since its inception 25 years ago. The sharp fall in global stock markets last month hit the MPF hard, while the uncertainties ahead stemming from the Middle East conflict have led the pension regulator and analysts to urge the 4.8 million members to adopt a diversified approach. The 378 MPF investment funds suffered a HK$103.3... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3348982/hong-kongs-mpf-set-report-worst-performance-3-years-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3348982/hong-kongs-mpf-set-report-worst-performance-3-years-march?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Clifford Lo Clifford Lo English-speaking con artists have targeted university students seeking summer internships, using a bogus 40-minute orientation session for one victim to make their dubious job offers appear genuine, Hong Kong police have warned. The force issued the alert after a 19-year-old first-year university student fell for a dubious job offer last month and lost nearly HK$190,000 (US$24,230), saying scammers had prepared detailed scripts to deceive her and conducted the fraudulent recruitment process in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349115/warning-issued-after-university-student-loses-hk190000-internship-scam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349115/warning-issued-after-university-student-loses-hk190000-internship-scam?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s housing authorities will expand the use of smart technologies, such as door sensors, in-home fall detectors and stair climbers, to enhance safety and convenience for elderly residents at public estates as the city’s population ages. Michael Hong Wing-kit, deputy director of housing overseeing estate management, said a pilot scheme to install sensors, which track door activity and send alerts, in public flats with elderly occupants would be expanded to include Tung Wui Estate in Wong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349080/housing-authorities-expand-use-smart-technologies-support-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349080/housing-authorities-expand-use-smart-technologies-support-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:00:15 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A US clampdown on visas for mainland Chinese and Hong Kong students last May led to year-on-year declines of 42 per cent and 35 per cent in the number of permits granted, but a consultant has said the impact has been short-lived. One PhD student from the mainland said US President Donald Trump’s actions had led to him giving up an offer to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to enrol at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) last year after he found America’s once-vibrant... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349093/how-us-clampdown-affected-mainland-chinese-hong-kong-student-visa-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349093/how-us-clampdown-affected-mainland-chinese-hong-kong-student-visa-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:30:11 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hongkongers are more willing to discuss death including their own funeral wishes in the wake of the Covid pandemic, mass emigration and the deadly Tai Po fire, amid a rapidly ageing population, a death education advocate says. Pasu Ng Kwai-lun, founder of Minimal Funeral and a practitioner of “life-and-death education”, said attitudes had changed and people had grown much more open to discussing death over the past five to 10 years. “People may not go as far as fully planning their funerals, but... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349079/talk-about-death-comes-alive-ageing-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349079/talk-about-death-comes-alive-ageing-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:30:12 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse The HK$2 (US$0.26) transport fare scheme for the elderly is one of Hong Kong’s most socially significant success stories. But some of the recent changes, and further ones contemplated, seem to be rowing in a different direction. We need to pause and take stock before we inadvertently undo some of our good work. In the process, we should also take the chance to ensure the long-term affordability of the scheme. The subsidy scheme was introduced in 2012 after an announcement in the 2011 policy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348958/hong-kong-must-not-undo-good-work-its-hk2-transport-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348958/hong-kong-must-not-undo-good-work-its-hk2-transport-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation extended the time needed for its in-town check-in service to 120 minutes from 90 minutes on Sunday evening, after a signalling equipment malfunction disrupted travel on the Airport Express and Tung Chung lines The rail operator said at 7.10pm that a signalling fault near a depot at Siu Ho Wan on Lantau Island had affected MTR train services on both lines and caused delays of about eight to 10 minutes. It added that engineers were working to repair the fault. At around... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349091/signal-fault-disrupts-hong-kong-mtrs-airport-express-tung-chung-line-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349091/signal-fault-disrupts-hong-kong-mtrs-airport-express-tung-chung-line-services?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:12:43 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong has swapped the Easter bunny for a festive feline, with giant cat installations and murals delighting visitors and residents citywide. A gigantic ginger cat has been greeting travellers at Hong Kong International Airport while three inflatable marmalade felines lie sprawled across a lawn at the West Kowloon Cultural District, delighting visitors to the arts hub. In Yau Ma Tei, local artist German Li and his students have reimagined Vincent van Gogh’s classic painting The Starry Night... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349088/move-over-easter-bunny-cats-are-stars-hong-kong-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349088/move-over-easter-bunny-cats-are-stars-hong-kong-holiday?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:44:22 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong rescuers are searching for a 79-year-old man missing since Saturday, with authorities discovering one of his shoes nearly 20 hours into the operation. Police said on Sunday the man, surnamed He, was hiking with his wife along Section 10 of the MacLehose Trail at around 10am the day before. They had been heading in the direction of the Tai Lam Chung Reservoir in Tuen Mun, the force said. According to a social media post from the man’s adult child, he split off from his wife at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349078/hong-kong-rescuers-search-man-81-who-went-missing-hike-tuen-mun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349078/hong-kong-rescuers-search-man-81-who-went-missing-hike-tuen-mun?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:34:57 +0000 Denise Tsang,Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Denise Tsang,Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Thousands of Hongkongers braved heavy rains to sweep tombs during the Ching Ming Festival on Sunday, with some Wang Fuk Court residents returning to the fire-ravaged housing estate to mourn the victims. The spring trek to graveyards around Hong Kong began under skies darkened by an approaching band of thundery showers, which prompted the Observatory to issue an amber rainstorm warning at 2.05pm. While many Chinese families cherish the chance to visit their ancestors’ tombs and pay their... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349074/thousands-brave-rain-mark-ching-ming-wang-fuk-court-residents-return-mourn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349074/thousands-brave-rain-mark-ching-ming-wang-fuk-court-residents-return-mourn?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 06:55:46 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu The independent committee investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades concluded the first round of hearings last week. It is essential that we get to the bottom of the human and systemic errors that led to the Tai Po inferno. There were many, as anticipated. Fragmentation of responsibility was rampant, which is probably expected for projects of this size with so many parties involved. If the government isn’t there to make sure that things are done properly, monitor and enforce the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348966/tai-po-fire-hearings-reveal-broken-promises-hongkongers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348966/tai-po-fire-hearings-reveal-broken-promises-hongkongers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 06:30:08 +0000