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 Matthew Cheng Hong Kong authorities have proposed new offences with tougher punishments for fire installation contractors who fail to obtain prior approval before deactivating firefighting systems or do not report malfunctions within 24 hours, following the city’s deadliest blaze in decades, the South China Morning Post has learned. Other proposed changes included drastically increasing the maximum penalty for existing offences related to the unauthorised handling of fire equipment and the issuance of false... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351039/tough-punishments-proposed-stop-unapproved-shutdown-firefighting-systems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351039/tough-punishments-proposed-stop-unapproved-shutdown-firefighting-systems?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 12:30:20 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu The bourse operators of Hong Kong and Malaysia are exploring a range of collaborations, from dual listings and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to Islamic finance, to forge closer ties between the city and the Southeast Asian country. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) CEO Bonnie Chan Yiting and Boursa Malaysia CEO Dato Fad’l Mohamed unveiled their joint development plans in a media briefing in Hong Kong on Wednesday as HKEX hosted the 40th Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges Federation (AOSEF)... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3351005/hong-kong-malaysia-stock-exchanges-team-etfs-listings-islamic-finance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3351005/hong-kong-malaysia-stock-exchanges-team-etfs-listings-islamic-finance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 11:30:09 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu More than 600 Hongkongers aged 60 and above have failed to repay their student loans under five government schemes funding tertiary and post-secondary studies, with the average amount owed standing at HK$17,400 (US$2,220). In a reply to questions from lawmakers on Wednesday, the Education Bureau said it had recorded 9,838 default cases involving 8,494 individuals under the five schemes as of January 31 this year, with outstanding amounts totalling nearly HK$126 million. The schemes provide... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351025/611-elderly-hongkongers-default-student-loans-owe-hk17400-each-average?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351025/611-elderly-hongkongers-default-student-loans-owe-hk17400-each-average?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:51:10 +0000 Brian Wong,Leopold Chen Brian Wong,Leopold Chen A public inquiry into Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has exposed confusion among government agencies over their roles in supervising large renovation projects, with a fire services officer insisting on Wednesday that his department was not responsible for handling complaints about flammable building materials because it lacked construction expertise. Hours after the hearing, the Fire Services Department announced it would launch a new mechanism this month for handling cases involving fire... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351019/confusion-over-government-agencies-roles-fire-oversight-tai-po-probe-reveals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351019/confusion-over-government-agencies-roles-fire-oversight-tai-po-probe-reveals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:00:18 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Octopus is moving further into Hong Kong’s transport system with the rollout of a taxi booking feature in its app, as the city steps up efforts to modernise a traditionally cash-heavy sector through regulation and fintech. The new “Easy Ride” feature allows passengers to book, ride and pay for taxis in a single interface, expanding the company’s role in transport from fare settlement to journey co-ordination. The launch... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/topics/octopus-easy-ride/article/3350940/from-tap-to-taxi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/topics/octopus-easy-ride/article/3350940/from-tap-to-taxi?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:16 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Eight mainland China-based companies – five of them biotech firms – passed listing hearings on the Hong Kong stock market in April, clearing the way for them to tap the city’s deep liquidity. The influx, including an AI-driven drug discovery firm, a driverless technology developer and a maker of industrial robots, comes as the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has been pushing private firms to list in Hong Kong. The market regulator has required companies that established so-called... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351001/biotech-led-boom-8-china-firms-flock-hong-kongs-thriving-stock-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3351001/biotech-led-boom-8-china-firms-flock-hong-kongs-thriving-stock-market?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:53:15 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] The Hong Kong Sevens concluded successfully this evening (19 April) at Kai Tak  Stadium with The Hong Kong Jockey Club having supported the tournament for the fifth consecutive year as the Official Community Partner. This year, the Club has also become  the Official Community Partner of the Hong Kong Football Club 10s for the first time. Through a series of community programmes, the Club enabled over 12,000 people to... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/topics/hkjc-backs-sevens-community-focus/article/3350810/jockey-club-supports-international-rugby-events-community-programmes-benefiting-over-12000-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/topics/hkjc-backs-sevens-community-focus/article/3350810/jockey-club-supports-international-rugby-events-community-programmes-benefiting-over-12000-people?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 08:48:25 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung Hong Kong residents, from housewives to stay-at-home mothers and couples, have rushed to theatres to secure HK$30 (US$4) tickets for Cinema Day, with many calling for even more discounts and family-friendly perks on other occasions. Before sales opened at noon on Wednesday, some customers started queuing up from as early as 10.30am at Star Cinema in Tseung Kwan O to get discounted tickets for screenings this Saturday. A housewife surnamed Ho was the first in line and hoped to get discounted... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350982/hong-kong-residents-flock-theatres-buy-advanced-hk30-cinema-day-tickets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350982/hong-kong-residents-flock-theatres-buy-advanced-hk30-cinema-day-tickets?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:41:48 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The first locally recorded case of dengue fever in Hong Kong in more than a year indicates that undiagnosed imported cases may lead to an outbreak in the coming months, a health official has warned, while stressing that the risk is preventable. The warning by Albert Au Ka-wing, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, came after the dengue fever case – involving a patient with no travel history – was recorded in Tai Po last Thursday. “The first local dengue fever... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350971/first-local-dengue-case-could-lead-outbreak-coming-months-health-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350971/first-local-dengue-case-could-lead-outbreak-coming-months-health-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:41:47 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The MTR Corporation has sold HK$18.8 billion (US$2.4 billion) in green bonds, setting a Hong Kong dollar-denominated issuance record and marking its first publicly offered bond in the local currency market, as it seeks to diversify funding for a raft of projects. The rail giant said on Wednesday that it sold five-, 10- and 30-year bonds, with the size of each tranche also representing the largest for their respective tenors to date. Together with its inaugural Australian dollar-denominated green... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350965/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-sells-record-hk188-billion-green-bonds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350965/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-sells-record-hk188-billion-green-bonds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:19:23 +0000 Jess Ma,Vivian Au Jess Ma,Vivian Au The latest batch of residents to return to their flats in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court under special government arrangements said prayers and left bouquets on Wednesday as a final farewell to their fire-ravaged homes. The residents, who were among 79 households that registered to visit Wang Sun House in the morning, arrived at the building with trolleys, backpacks and bags, some carrying stools to aid their arduous climb up at least 20 floors. An elderly woman surnamed Tang, who lived on the 24th... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350951/residents-leave-prayers-and-flowers-third-day-return-wang-fuk-court?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350951/residents-leave-prayers-and-flowers-third-day-return-wang-fuk-court?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:05:26 +0000 Leopold Chen,Brian Wong Leopold Chen,Brian Wong This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Four officers from Hong Kong’s fire department testified on Wednesday before an independent committee investigating the Wang Fuk Court fire, as hearings entered their 17th day. The conflagration, which broke out on November 26 last year amid a major renovation, claimed 168 lives, displaced about 5,000 residents and destroyed seven of the estate’s eight... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350941/wang-fuk-court-hazard-complaints-none-fire-departments-business-probe-hears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350941/wang-fuk-court-hazard-complaints-none-fire-departments-business-probe-hears?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:51:32 +0000 Jinghan (Michael) Zeng Jinghan (Michael) Zeng A year ago, after more than a decade in the United Kingdom and several years in the United States – including time working for the United Nations in New York City – I returned to Asia and arrived in Hong Kong expecting it to also be a leading hub for international relations. Hong Kong is often described as a “superconnector” between China and the world. Yet in one crucial domain – the study and practice of international relations – the city remains a paradox: globally connected, intellectually... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350702/how-hong-kong-can-actively-shape-foreign-policy-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350702/how-hong-kong-can-actively-shape-foreign-policy-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Clifford Lo Clifford Lo Fraudsters have duped students studying abroad out of up to HK$1.5 million (US$191,531) each by accusing them of money laundering and luring them to Hong Kong to buy gold for bogus law-enforcement investigations, prompting a police warning. At least nine victims aged between 19 and 26, who are studying in the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries, have recently fallen prey to such cross-border impersonation scams, according to Hong Kong police. “Their losses ranged from HK$740,000 to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350861/scammers-trick-overseas-students-out-gold-fake-money-laundering-probes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350861/scammers-trick-overseas-students-out-gold-fake-money-laundering-probes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:30:13 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The number of Hong Kong secondary school leavers pursuing higher studies outside the city fell to a 14-year low in 2025, with an expert attributing the trend to a surge in mainland Chinese students targeting local universities. Only 2,671 students, or 6.5 per cent of 40,948 Form Six graduates pursuing full-time courses, chose to study outside Hong Kong last year, a survey by the Education Bureau showed. The number was a 13 per cent drop from the 2024 figure of 3,061 and the lowest since... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350925/number-hong-kong-school-leavers-seeking-education-elsewhere-hits-14-year-low?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350925/number-hong-kong-school-leavers-seeking-education-elsewhere-hits-14-year-low?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:22:09 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Edith Lin Matthew Cheng,Edith Lin A former director of Hong Kong’s Economic and Trade Offices (ETOs) in Jakarta and Bangkok is standing in the United Kingdom local elections for the right-wing Reform UK party. Lee Sheung-yuen, who left government in 2023 after serving as the first director of the Bangkok ETO and concurrently served as director general of its Jakarta office, is now contesting a seat on Ealing Council in London. He also previously served as the government’s assistant commissioner for tourism and as administrative... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350924/former-hong-kong-trade-office-chief-contesting-uk-local-elections-reform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350924/former-hong-kong-trade-office-chief-contesting-uk-local-elections-reform?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:05:40 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Buyers of illicit fuel in Hong Kong could face a maximum penalty of HK$1 million (US$127,687) and one year in prison under proposed legal amendments aimed at curbing illegal refuelling amid surging global oil prices, the South China Morning Post has learned. According to a government source, the Security Bureau has also proposed tougher penalties for sellers, increasing the maximum fine for a first conviction from HK$100,000 to HK$3 million and raising the maximum jail term from six months to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350922/hong-kong-aiming-curb-illicit-fuel-trade-tougher-penalties-source?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350922/hong-kong-aiming-curb-illicit-fuel-trade-tougher-penalties-source?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:53:57 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hutchison Port Holdings Trust has deployed Hong Kong’s first AI-powered driverless trucks, a move the container terminal operator said could help tackle a chronic manpower shortage and improve efficiency. The trust, affiliated with Hutchison Ports – a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings, controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s family – on Tuesday invited media to view a fleet of six electric autonomous trucks at Kwai Tsing Container Terminal 4. The fleet was launched in January. “Hong Kong has... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350914/first-ai-driverless-trucks-deployed-tackle-hong-kong-port-labour-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350914/first-ai-driverless-trucks-deployed-tackle-hong-kong-port-labour-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:50:03 +0000 Brian Wong,Leopold Chen Brian Wong,Leopold Chen A Labour Department official has told an inquiry into Hong Kong’s deadly Tai Po inferno that the temporary removal of fireproof windows from emergency passages in the blaze-hit estate complied with occupational safety protocols, triggering questions on whether the interests of workers and residents are at odds. The inquiry also heard on Tuesday that a department officer had misled Wang Fuk Court residents by claiming the fire resistance of renovation material was outside the purview of the law,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350910/tai-po-blaze-probe-temporary-removal-fireproof-windows-complied-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350910/tai-po-blaze-probe-temporary-removal-fireproof-windows-complied-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:32:49 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Pop star Fujii Kaze has become the latest Japanese act to cancel a show in Hong Kong, which was scheduled as part of his world tour this year. Without offering a reason, Kaze’s official website on Tuesday stated: “Show in Hong Kong has been cancelled”. Hong Kong was originally listed as one of the stops in his “Prema World Tour” last year. The tour, which kicks off in October, will cover Asia, Europe and North America, with Asian dates confirmed for Kaohsiung, Fukuoka, Osaka, Tokyo, Bangkok and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350907/pop-star-fujii-kaze-pulls-plug-hong-kong-show-japanese-acts-shun-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350907/pop-star-fujii-kaze-pulls-plug-hong-kong-show-japanese-acts-shun-city?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:07:15 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s commercial property market attracted US$1.6 billion in investment in the first quarter, up 41 per cent from a year earlier, as demand for office, retail and hotel assets picked up amid improving liquidity, according to JLL. Investment volumes could receive a further boost from global investors looking to redeploy their capital amid the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, the property consultancy said in a report on Tuesday. “With Asia increasingly perceived as a relatively... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350899/hong-kong-property-investment-soars-lower-funding-costs-rising-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350899/hong-kong-property-investment-soars-lower-funding-costs-rising-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:30:08 +0000 SCMP Reporter SCMP Reporter The South China Morning Post received six honours at the State Street Institutional Press Awards Asia-Pacific 2025 on Tuesday. The awards, which recognise outstanding news reporting on institutional finance across Asia-Pacific (APAC), drew a record 246 submissions this year from eight economies – mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and France. Most notably, SCMP veteran Enoch Yiu received the Outstanding Contribution to Institutional Journalism Award. The... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350897/scmps-original-finance-reporting-honoured-state-street-institutional-press-awards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350897/scmps-original-finance-reporting-honoured-state-street-institutional-press-awards?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:00:18 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong The Hong Kong government is seeking to confiscate HK$56.5 million (US$7.2 million) from former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s bank accounts and all of the shares in his 17 companies after he was jailed for 20 years under the national security law, court documents show. The secretary for justice applied to the High Court earlier this month to seize Lai’s assets linked to three conspiracies to instigate foreign sanctions and incite public hatred towards the authorities in 2019 and 2020. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350893/hong-kong-seeks-seize-hk565-million-17-companies-jailed-jimmy-lai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350893/hong-kong-seeks-seize-hk565-million-17-companies-jailed-jimmy-lai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:35:16 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao A long-standing pricing gap between the mainland China-listed and Hong Kong shares of dual-listed companies has narrowed – and in some cases reversed – as global investors re-rate China’s technology companies. The Hang Seng AH Premium Index, a widely watched gauge of the valuation gap between dual-listed companies’ A shares trading on mainland exchanges and their H shares in Hong Kong, has remained below 120 in recent sessions, down sharply from a high of 157.89 in February 2024. The shift has... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350886/premium-mainland-china-shares-erodes-or-flips-capital-flows-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350886/premium-mainland-china-shares-erodes-or-flips-capital-flows-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:30:07 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong will face squally thunderstorms and a nine-degree plunge in temperature later this week as a cold front sweeps across the South China coast, with the mercury expected to dip to 21 degrees Celsius (69.8 Fahrenheit) on Friday, the city’s forecaster has said. The Observatory said on Tuesday that the city would first experience unseasonably hot weather... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350892/hong-kong-braces-9-degree-temperature-drop-thunderstorms-later-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350892/hong-kong-braces-9-degree-temperature-drop-thunderstorms-later-week?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:21:50 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong police are investigating two separate traffic accidents on Tuesday that led to the deaths of two women. In the first case, police were alerted at about 8.51am to a light goods vehicle driven by a 36-year-old man travelling along Cha Kwo Ling Road towards Yau Tong. The vehicle was approaching Yau Tong MTR station when it reportedly knocked down a woman crossing the road. The 30-year-old woman from mainland China sustained serious injuries to her head and limbs. She was rushed to United... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350863/2-women-killed-separate-traffic-accidents-involving-goods-vehicle-and-coach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350863/2-women-killed-separate-traffic-accidents-involving-goods-vehicle-and-coach?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:39:23 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft The two main ferry operators running daily services between Hong Kong and Macau will raise fares by up to 11 per cent amid surging fuel prices, while a union said bus drivers were reporting lost income as companies cut services. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the government would continue to monitor oil prices as it pressed ahead with measures set out earlier by the interdepartmental task force on fuel supply. A day earlier, TurboJet and Cotai Water Jet said they would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350862/hong-kong-macau-ferry-fares-increase-11-amid-fuel-costs-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350862/hong-kong-macau-ferry-fares-increase-11-amid-fuel-costs-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 08:38:46 +0000 John Cremer,Morning Studio editors John Cremer,Morning Studio editors The year-long celebrations to mark Hong Kong Disneyland Resort’s 20th anniversary will run until June, still giving visitors from around the world plenty of opportunity to experience the thrills and excitement of what is billed as “The Most Magical Party of All”. The milestone event has already been a resounding success on many levels, showcasing not just the enduring appeal of the Disney brand and characters, but also the effectiveness of innovative marketing campaigns, targeted commercial... https://www.scmp.com/native/news/hong-kong/topics/20-years-disney-magic/article/3350741/hong-kong-disneyland-builds-solid-20th-anniversary-performance-further-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/news/hong-kong/topics/20-years-disney-magic/article/3350741/hong-kong-disneyland-builds-solid-20th-anniversary-performance-further-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 07:12:36 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s top-ranking civil servants will be held accountable if they fail to provide adequate support in policy formulation, the city’s leader has said, despite a new investigation mechanism that primarily targets department heads. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the proposed “Heads of Department Accountability System” was intended to promote self-improvement within departments rather than “picking on” individuals. Under the new mechanism, the chief executive, department... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350842/new-accountability-system-aims-improve-not-blame-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350842/new-accountability-system-aims-improve-not-blame-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 06:32:17 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s leader has defended the government’s decision to suspend the launch of basketball betting, stressing the policy was never intended to encourage gambling and that all risks must be controlled before any further steps are taken. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made the remarks on Tuesday after the government’s surprising U-turn last week to halt the launch of basketball betting this September, citing the rapid growth of prediction markets – cryptocurrency-based platforms that allow... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350833/all-risks-must-be-controlled-john-lee-says-he-defends-basketball-betting-u-turn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350833/all-risks-must-be-controlled-john-lee-says-he-defends-basketball-betting-u-turn?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:20:03 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong authorities have arrested five men at registered pharmacies and seized thousands of unregistered anti-obesity medicines and boxes of slimming injections, vowing to launch more joint operations to clamp down on illegal sales across the city. The Department of Health said on Monday evening that an enforcement operation with the police last Friday at a registered pharmacy in Sha Tin district led to four arrests and the seizure of over 400 tablets of clonazepam, more than 2,700 tablets of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350832/5-arrested-hong-kong-pharmacies-thousands-anti-obesity-and-dangerous-drugs-seized?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350832/5-arrested-hong-kong-pharmacies-thousands-anti-obesity-and-dangerous-drugs-seized?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:19:26 +0000 Zhang Shidong Zhang Shidong Chinese stocks are likely to continue the resilience they have shown since the war in the Middle East began, thanks to haven demand for yuan-linked assets, the green shoots of the property market and the inclusion of tech start-ups in key equity gauges, according to fund managers and investment banks. Optimism about Chinese equities was building after official data showed that home prices in the biggest mainland cities reversed declines and an inflationary trend took hold in March, said money... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350830/outlook-china-stocks-brightens-capital-flows-rebounding-home-prices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350830/outlook-china-stocks-brightens-capital-flows-rebounding-home-prices?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:15:28 +0000 Jess Ma,Vivian Au,Kristen Cheung Jess Ma,Vivian Au,Kristen Cheung More residents have returned to their fire-ravaged homes on the second day of pickup sessions at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court to search for memorabilia. Severe damage to flats in the Tai Po housing estate distressed some residents while a woman expressed relief after finding items belonging to her father who had suffered a mental illness from the trauma of last November’s deadly blaze. Those who lived on the middle floors of the estate’s Wang Sun House began returning home on Tuesday, with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350818/residents-thank-life-saving-neighbours-use-robots-search-charred-wang-fuk-court-flats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350818/residents-thank-life-saving-neighbours-use-robots-search-charred-wang-fuk-court-flats?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:16:09 +0000 Leopold Chen,Brian Wong Leopold Chen,Brian Wong This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong labour authorities’ handling of Wang Fuk Court residents’ complaints and inspections at the renovation site were scrutinised by the independent committee on the 16th day of its evidential hearing. Officers from the Labour Department testified on Tuesday before the judge-led panel investigating the fire that engulfed all but one of the estate’s eight... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3350809/tai-po-fire-probe-workers-might-have-smoked-despite-inspections-labour-department-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3350809/tai-po-fire-probe-workers-might-have-smoked-despite-inspections-labour-department-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 03:44:54 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin The Hong Kong government plans to launch a public consultation this quarter on its first five-year blueprint aligned with national development, aiming to gather views on which policies to focus on in the coming years. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the five-year plan would cover areas such as the economy, investment, industry development, land, housing, transport and infrastructure, employment, healthcare, education and welfare, bringing numerous benefits including... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350803/hong-kong-launch-public-consultation-first-5-year-plan-quarter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3350803/hong-kong-launch-public-consultation-first-5-year-plan-quarter?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:08:30 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu Victory Giant, a Chinese manufacturer of printed circuit boards (PCBs) for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing, rose by 57.23 per cent in its trading debut in Hong Kong on Tuesday, as investors rushed to tap into surging global demand for the hardware powering the AI infrastructure boom. Shares in the Guangdong-based company, a supplier to US chip leader Nvidia, opened at HK$330, versus the offer price of HK$209.88 – the maximum offer price. The firm raised HK$20 billion... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350801/chinese-circuit-board-supplier-victory-giant-jumps-hong-kong-share-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350801/chinese-circuit-board-supplier-victory-giant-jumps-hong-kong-share-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:43:39 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Twenty-two strategic enterprises have signed agreements with the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) to open or expand operations in Hong Kong. The latest group marks the sixth cohort under the government’s flagship investment attraction initiative since its launch in 2022, bringing the total number of strategic partners to more than 120. The South China Morning Post looks at who the latest companies are and the anticipated economic impact. 1. Who are the corporations? Pfizer, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350780/which-global-firms-are-being-attracted-hong-kongs-strategic-enterprise-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350780/which-global-firms-are-being-attracted-hong-kongs-strategic-enterprise-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:30:31 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong health authorities are investigating a third measles case involving an aircraft maintenance worker at the airport, saying his infection is epidemiologically linked to those of two colleagues. The Centre for Health Protection said on Monday night that the latest patient, a 37-year-old man, was likely to have contracted the disease at his workplace. It said all three cases worked for the same company at the airport, adding that the latest patient was involved in aircraft maintenance and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350799/hong-kong-health-authorities-investigate-third-measles-case-among-airport-staff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350799/hong-kong-health-authorities-investigate-third-measles-case-among-airport-staff?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:56:06 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s major retailers are using aggressive tactics such as direct sourcing and leveraging massive economies of scale to avoid raising prices despite surging logistics costs arising from the war in the Middle East. But their resilience is being seriously tested for certain goods, with a leading cosmetics chain warning that shipping and airfreight costs have already surged by up to 15 per cent. Sa Sa International chairman Simon Kwok Siu-ming told the South China Morning Post on Friday that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350713/hong-kong-retailers-leverage-scale-sourcing-offset-war-driven-cost-pressures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350713/hong-kong-retailers-leverage-scale-sourcing-offset-war-driven-cost-pressures?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong travellers in Japan were reported safe by at least one major tour operator while the Immigration Department said it was closely monitoring the situation after a powerful earthquake struck off the country’s northeast coast on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said the operator currently had about 40 tour groups in Japan, including three in the northeast and four in Hokkaido, areas covered by the alert. “All our customers are... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350777/40-hong-kong-tour-groups-safe-after-magnitude-75-quake-strikes-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350777/40-hong-kong-tour-groups-safe-after-magnitude-75-quake-strikes-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:02:36 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested a 16-year-old garage worker for allegedly driving without a licence after he lost control of a Tesla car and crashed into a parked vehicle, pushing the latter through a property agency’s storefront and leaving an employee injured. The force said on Monday that the teenager was believed to have been trying to drive the electric car out of the garage on Luk Mei Tsuen Road when he lost control and struck a seven-seater parked nearby. The boy had reportedly only... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350778/teen-driving-tesla-arrested-after-knocking-second-vehicle-through-storefront?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350778/teen-driving-tesla-arrested-after-knocking-second-vehicle-through-storefront?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:01:16 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Hong Kong’s food safety watchdog has urged people with gluten allergies not to eat a Marks & Spencer yoghurt product after the allergen was found but not declared on the label. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) said on Monday night it was investigating the omission of gluten from the ingredients list of the supermarket’s authentic vanilla Greek yoghurt product. The affected batch, imported by Alf Retail Hong Kong Limited, is sold in 500g (18oz) packs with a use-by date of May 12. “The CFS noticed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350774/hong-kong-watchdog-warns-undeclared-gluten-marks-and-spencer-yoghurt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350774/hong-kong-watchdog-warns-undeclared-gluten-marks-and-spencer-yoghurt?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:49:26 +0000 Brian Wong,Leopold Chen Brian Wong,Leopold Chen A public inquiry into Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has heard that authorities and representatives of Wang Fuk Court homeowners took no proactive steps against alleged vote rigging at the subsidised housing estate. Jason Kong Cheung-fat, a former management committee member of the owners’ corporation at Wang Fuk Court, said on Monday that the abuse of proxy votes was a long-standing problem that had enabled his predecessors to maintain a firm grip on power until they were ousted over a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350746/vote-rigging-wang-fuk-court-went-unchecked-deadly-fire-inquiry-hears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350746/vote-rigging-wang-fuk-court-went-unchecked-deadly-fire-inquiry-hears?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:30:14 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation said on Monday that it had received eight bids for a commercial and residential development at one of the critical hubs in the Northern Metropolis, a large-scale project that aims to bolster the city’s economic base and foster closer integration with the Greater Bay Area. The number of bids for the Kam Sheung Road Station Phase Two property development exceeded expectations, indicating developers’ interest in the Northern Metropolis project, according to analysts. The... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350761/hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-gains-momentum-key-project-attracts-8-bids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3350761/hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-gains-momentum-key-project-attracts-8-bids?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:00:05 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The number of inbound trips to Hong Kong by mainland Chinese visitors is expected to reach 980,000 for the coming Labour Day “golden week” holiday across the border, a 7 per cent increase from last year, with city authorities saying they will enforce environmental regulations around the clock at popular camping spots. The estimate from the Immigration Department on Monday came as the government revealed it had stepped up measures for crowd control, transport and tourism in anticipation of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350752/mainland-chinese-make-980000-inbound-trips-hong-kong-labour-day-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350752/mainland-chinese-make-980000-inbound-trips-hong-kong-labour-day-break?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:29 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Chow Yun-fat, the legendary Hong Kong actor, has sold a Mid-Levels flat after more than three decades, securing a roughly 91 per cent gain, as the city’s secondary housing market continues to strengthen. The 541 sq ft, three-bedroom flat in Corona Tower fetched HK$7.5 million (US$960,000), or HK$13,863 per square foot. The sale agreement was signed on February 11 and the transaction was registered on March 11, according to Land Registry records. The deal generated a gain of HK$3.58 million... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3350739/chow-yun-fat-nets-91-gain-hong-kong-flat-after-31-years-prices-rebound?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3350739/chow-yun-fat-nets-91-gain-hong-kong-flat-after-31-years-prices-rebound?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:00:14 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong authorities have developed an artificial intelligence-driven flood forecasting and alert system capable of three-dimensional simulations, aimed at enabling more timely pre-emptive measures and emergency responses to flooding. The technology is the latest addition to the existing territory-wide flood risk visualisation system, which was deployed after Super Typhoon Ragasa struck the city last year. “This is to foster Hong Kong as a future-facing and climate-resilient city,” Ringo Mok... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350748/hong-kong-launches-ai-flood-alert-system-boost-forecasting-and-response?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350748/hong-kong-launches-ai-flood-alert-system-boost-forecasting-and-response?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:37:21 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Hong Kong’s real estate market has come a long way in the past year. For a sign of the extent to which its outlook has improved, look no further than the rapid shift in expectations for the growth in house prices this year. As recently as January, Morgan Stanley characterised its prediction of a 10 per cent rise in secondary home values as a non-consensus call. Fast forward to today, and its forecast is in line with those of most other industry experts. The outlook for the city’s office market... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350677/why-hong-kong-property-recovery-sceptics-miss-bigger-picture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350677/why-hong-kong-property-recovery-sceptics-miss-bigger-picture?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A former kindergarten administrator at Hong Kong’s biggest international school group has been sentenced to 25 months in jail for accepting more than HK$640,000 (US$81,700) in bribes from 13 parents and a middleman to tamper with the admissions system. Fatima Rumjahn, 56, earlier admitted to accepting bribes ranging from HK$20,000 to HK$200,000 from parents eager to secure enrolment for their children at the English Schools Foundation’s (ESF) Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten. At Monday’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350700/esf-administrator-jailed-25-months-accepting-bribes-favour-applicants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350700/esf-administrator-jailed-25-months-accepting-bribes-favour-applicants?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:43:03 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong’s Airport Authority has launched its marina project as part of the broader Skytopia blueprint, and is soliciting partners from the global yachting, hospitality and water sports sectors to help shape the 200-hectare (494 acres) development, with the first phase of the facility scheduled for completion in 2028. Cissy Chan Ching-sze, the authority’s commercial executive director, said on Monday that the development – a key component of the wider Airport City project – is aimed at a global... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350696/hong-kong-launches-skycity-marina-project-drive-tourism-and-yacht-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350696/hong-kong-launches-skycity-marina-project-drive-tourism-and-yacht-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:16:52 +0000