Billionaire tycoons, super-typhoons and topless royals: 2012 had it all. And the South China Morning Post was there to cover it all. Here, SCMP.com lists the most popular stories of the year according to our readers.
Tycoon offers HK$500m bounty to find husband for gay daughter
In terms of global recognition, it's safe to say 2012 was Cecil Chao Sze-tsung year. The flamboyant property developer became a household name outside of his Hong Kong home turf when he offered a bounty of HK$500 million to find a husband for his daughter. Unfortunately for the billionaire, his daughter was already in a same-sex relationship.
That didn't deter potential suitors who contacted Cecil and Gigi to offer their hand in marriage.
38 die in Hong Kong ferry disaster
Tragedy struck on National Day when two ferries collided in waters off Lamma Island, killing 38 people and injuring 101 others.
A Hongkong Electric ferry was packed with utility company employees and their families, and three crew members, on their way to watch a fireworks display in celebration of National Day in Victoria Harbour. It collided with a Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry (HKKF) boat headed for Lamma Island from Central around 8.15pm on October 1 in the worst maritime disaster in 40 years.
Property heir Gigi Chao has laugh over father's bounty on her heart
Having apparently overcome the embarrassment of her personal life becoming common knowledge around the world, Gigi Chao was able to see the lighter side of her father's attempt to marry her off to a suitable man.
The property heiress told the Post: "He [her father] has an interesting interpretation of me."