https://www.scmp.com/rss/268959/feed Ng Kang-chung joined the Post in 2013, and is a reporter for the Hong Kong desk covering general daily news and politics. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong police have deployed drones for the first time to combat illegal street gambling operations, arresting eight suspects over the past two weeks. The eight suspects – seven men and a woman, aged between 53 and 76 – were arrested in Chung On Estate, police said on Sunday. Officers seized HK$420 (US$54) in cash and gambling equipment. The arrests followed a joint operation, codenamed JusticePeak, conducted between April 5 and 18 by officers from the Sha Tin and Ma On Shan police divisions... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3350620/hong-kong-police-use-drones-first-time-tackle-illicit-street-gambling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3350620/hong-kong-police-use-drones-first-time-tackle-illicit-street-gambling?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:54:29 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A Hong Kong woman has lost nearly HK$4.9 million (US$625,800) in three months after being cheated by bogus “investment experts” in an online scam. The victim was lured into contacting the scammers after seeing a post on social media advertising high-return stock investments, police said. She was then instructed to download an app via an online messaging service. Believing the scheme to be genuine, the victim transferred about HK$4.86 million in more than 40 transactions between January and April... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350584/hong-kong-woman-loses-hk49-million-bogus-online-investment-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350584/hong-kong-woman-loses-hk49-million-bogus-online-investment-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:13:27 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s second-biggest public housing provider will gradually expand the supply of its subsidised sale flats, aiming for them to account for 40 per cent of its home supply in future projects. Hong Kong Housing Society chairman Ling Kar-kan said on Saturday the move was to meet residents’ strong desire to own their homes. In a television interview, Ling maintained the change had nothing to do with the agency’s financial soundness, although he agreed putting more flats on sale could help... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350574/hong-kong-housing-society-aims-boost-supply-subsidised-sale-flats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350574/hong-kong-housing-society-aims-boost-supply-subsidised-sale-flats?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:58:13 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways and its budget arm carried more passengers in March than a year ago, despite the impact of the US-Israel war against Iran. Cathay Group also said on Friday that it aimed to restore all flights after June. The company earlier announced it was cutting the number of Cathay Pacific flights by 2 per cent and HK Express services by 6 per cent between mid-May and the end of June. The group attributed the passenger growth to a spate of mega-events in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350510/cathay-pacific-hk-express-passenger-counts-despite-impact-mideast-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350510/cathay-pacific-hk-express-passenger-counts-despite-impact-mideast-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:00:19 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s food hygiene authorities have deployed drones to help dismantle an illegal slaughterhouse in Yuen Long, arresting its 67-year-old operator and seizing 7.4kg of goat meat and offal with an estimated market value of HK$3,000 (US$380). Acting on a tip-off earlier this week, officers from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department identified a suspicious farm in Kam Tin, Yuen Long. The unlicensed premises were allegedly used to keep and slaughter goats, with the meat to be sold in Kam... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350471/hong-kong-authorities-use-drones-help-raid-illegal-slaughterhouse-yuen-long?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350471/hong-kong-authorities-use-drones-help-raid-illegal-slaughterhouse-yuen-long?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:10:53 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Jeffie Lam Ng Kang-chung,Jeffie Lam Hong Kong police have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of snatching two commuters’ phones just as train doors were closing at separate MTR stations during rush hour. Police said on Friday that both thefts took place within 10 minutes of each other at two nearby stations. The first report came from a woman, aged 48, at around 8.15pm on Thursday, who told officers that her phone was grabbed by a man at Lai King station. About 10 minutes later, another woman reported that a man had also... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350393/hong-kong-police-hunt-suspect-over-phones-snatched-mtr-stations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350393/hong-kong-police-hunt-suspect-over-phones-snatched-mtr-stations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:11:29 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong taxpayers may have to shoulder nearly HK$28 billion (US$3.57 billion) in bad loans from a now-defunct, fully government-backed financing scheme designed to help smaller enterprises survive the Covid pandemic. Official data released to legislators showed that of the 67,189 loan applications approved under the special scheme, 13,231 had defaulted by the end of February, involving a total sum of HK$27.8 billion. This translates to a default rate of 19.3 per cent. As guarantor, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349954/hong-kong-taxpayers-face-hk28-billion-covid-bad-loan-burden-smes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349954/hong-kong-taxpayers-face-hk28-billion-covid-bad-loan-burden-smes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung More than 10,000 posts in the Hong Kong government will be cut by the end of June 2027, with close to 60 per cent being junior roles and about 3 per cent at the senior level, a minister has vowed. Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan said on Monday the move was not “fattening the top but thinning the bottom” and was reasonable because the government workforce had far more frontline staff. Yeung was briefing legislators on her bureau’s budget for 2026-27 during a special... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349934/hong-kong-slash-over-10000-civil-service-posts-mid-2027-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349934/hong-kong-slash-over-10000-civil-service-posts-mid-2027-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 12:32:00 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s 21 ministerial-level officials spent more than HK$46.6 million (US$5.9 million) on trips over the past three financial years, with finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po accounting for nearly a quarter of the total. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah was the most frequent traveller, making 50 trips in the past three years at a cost of HK$7.21 million to taxpayers, official records released to legislators showed. Chan made 35 visits during the three financial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349750/hong-kongs-ministerial-team-spent-hk466-million-visits-past-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349750/hong-kongs-ministerial-team-spent-hk466-million-visits-past-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:00:13 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong affairs has concluded his second visit to the Greater Bay Area in three weeks, a trip that analysts view as a push from the central government to speed up the city’s integration with national development. Xia Baolong, director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, was in Guangdong province earlier this week, visiting Shenzhen, Dongguan and Huizhou. State-run media said his four-day “research tour” focused on supporting Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349755/beijings-point-man-hong-kong-affairs-wraps-second-bay-area-visit-3-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349755/beijings-point-man-hong-kong-affairs-wraps-second-bay-area-visit-3-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 12:12:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong taxi passengers will still have to pay full tunnel tolls despite government relief measures that cut the fee for commercial vehicles by half, transport authorities have said. The Transport and Logistics Bureau said on Friday that the relief measure, contained in a package to support the transport sector as oil prices rise, was aimed at helping commercial vehicle drivers and operators. For two months, the government will reduce tunnel tolls by 50 per cent for all commercial vehicles,... https://www.scmp.com/weather/article/3349698/taxi-passengers-wont-benefit-hong-kongs-50-reduction-tunnel-tolls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/weather/article/3349698/taxi-passengers-wont-benefit-hong-kongs-50-reduction-tunnel-tolls?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:40:37 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Lam Ka-sing Ng Kang-chung,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong will directly pay diesel subsidies to local oil companies based on sales volume after lawmakers approved a massive HK$1.8 billion government scheme to ease rocketing fuel prices for the transport sector over the next two months. The city’s environment minister maintained that a mechanism would be in place so the government could “know” and “monitor” if the oil companies tried to abuse the scheme by increasing prices, but did not say how. Senior government officials briefed lawmakers at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349614/hong-kong-government-must-guard-against-exploitation-diesel-subsidy-experts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349614/hong-kong-government-must-guard-against-exploitation-diesel-subsidy-experts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:16:09 +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 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has promised to allow more children from low-income families to enjoy after-school care on campus by further expanding a government scheme following positive feedback from participants. Social workers and educators welcomed the initiative on Saturday, proposing the government widen the scheme’s coverage to include more pupils and encourage more schools to join through subsidies. The scheme, launched as part of the government’s targeted measures to tackle... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349042/hong-kongs-john-lee-pledges-expand-after-school-care-low-income-families?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349042/hong-kongs-john-lee-pledges-expand-after-school-care-low-income-families?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:06:09 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong customs officers seized 6.5kg of suspected drugs worth about HK$3.4 million (US$433,800) and arrested two men in separate cases earlier this week. The Customs and Excise Department said on Friday the first arrest occurred two days earlier at Hong Kong International Airport when officers found 3.1kg (6.8lbs) of suspected ketamine in the baggage of a man, 43, who arrived from Bangkok. The department said the suspected drugs were concealed inside food packaging in the baggage. In the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348994/hong-kong-customs-seizes-hk34-million-worth-suspected-drugs-arrests-2-men?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348994/hong-kong-customs-seizes-hk34-million-worth-suspected-drugs-arrests-2-men?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:45:31 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong is committed to helping mainland China’s medical and health standards “go global”, with a local minister hailing the city’s first time hosting a national medical conference as an event of “great significance”. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said Hong Kong was striving to meet the mainland’s certification requirements for a local stroke centre, following the accreditation of a heart disease treatment facility under national standards last year. Lo officiated at the opening of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348963/hong-kong-committed-helping-mainland-chinas-health-standards-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348963/hong-kong-committed-helping-mainland-chinas-health-standards-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:31:23 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Displaced residents of the fire-hit blocks at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court may be allowed repeated trips back to their flats to collect belongings, after officials softened their stance amid an online petition appealing for greater flexibility. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said on Monday that residents who wished to go back and forth to pack their belongings could speak to their designated social workers. “We appreciate that residents do not want a ‘one-size-fits-all’ arrangement.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348401/hong-kong-eases-rules-wang-fuk-court-residents-retrieving-belongings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348401/hong-kong-eases-rules-wang-fuk-court-residents-retrieving-belongings?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:35:11 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong employers could face punitive surcharges for failing to pay outstanding contributions to their staff members’ pension accounts for extended periods, with data showing only one in six bosses settled the arrears within the prescribed two-week deadline. The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA), which manages the city’s pension plans, said it was working on a “two-tier surcharge” mechanism proposal that it hoped to present to the government by the middle of the year. In a blog... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348298/mpf-authority-propose-2-tier-surcharges-late-employer-contributions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348298/mpf-authority-propose-2-tier-surcharges-late-employer-contributions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:18:10 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong railway experts have called for tougher penalties and stronger public education to prevent the misuse of emergency exits on trains following a recent incident on the MTR East Rail line that caused more than two hours of disruption during evening rush hour. The experts also cast doubt on a lawmaker’s proposal to make emergency doors less accessible, saying the move could compromise passenger safety. A preliminary investigation found that a passenger had opened the emergency exit ramp in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348262/hong-kong-mtr-track-intrusion-prompts-calls-tougher-penalties-education?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348262/hong-kong-mtr-track-intrusion-prompts-calls-tougher-penalties-education?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 13:36:52 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s rail operator has announced it will keep fares unchanged for the coming year after an annual review, marking the second year without any increase. The fare freeze was decided based on the so-called direct-drive formula under the fare adjustment mechanism, which takes into account factors such as inflation, the latest wages in the transport sector, the MTR Corporation’s productivity and profitability, and the affordability of the people. MTR Corp Hong Kong transport services director... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348194/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-keep-fares-unchanged-second-year-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348194/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-keep-fares-unchanged-second-year-row?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:03:22 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Fiona Chow,Vivian Au Ng Kang-chung,Fiona Chow,Vivian Au Displaced residents from the seven fire-ravaged blocks of Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court will be allowed to return to their flats for up to three hours to collect their personal belongings, with the first group to return on April 20. Authorities said on Friday that each household could register up to four people to return to a flat, who would be accompanied by police officers, government social workers and support staff. They added that there would be a “very slim” chance that residents of Wang Chi... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348176/residents-fire-hit-wang-fuk-court-blocks-can-retrieve-belongings-mid-april?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348176/residents-fire-hit-wang-fuk-court-blocks-can-retrieve-belongings-mid-april?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:40:12 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Ng Kang-chung Matthew Cheng,Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s construction sector has raised concerns about fines as high as HK$400,000 (US$51,070) for contractors that fail to prevent smoking at building sites under a proposed ban, urging the government to exempt companies that have already complied with the industry’s guidelines. Contractors could face fines of up to HK$400,000 (US$51,070) for violations under the government proposal to improve safety following the deadly Tai Po fire last November. Workers could face a HK$3,000 fine for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347656/hong-kong-proposes-heavy-penalties-smoking-construction-sites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347656/hong-kong-proposes-heavy-penalties-smoking-construction-sites?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:43:33 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A 64-year-old container truck driver was injured when his vehicle crashed into a fire engine and overturned on a busy Hong Kong expressway on Monday. The accident took place at about 12.15pm when the container truck was travelling along Tuen Mun Road in the direction of Tsuen Wan near Nim Wan village in So Kwun Wat. “A fire engine was parked on the road shoulder for an operation,” a police spokesman said. “The container truck collided with the rear of the fire engine and overturned on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347596/truck-driver-injured-vehicle-slams-fire-engine-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347596/truck-driver-injured-vehicle-slams-fire-engine-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:29:47 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong authorities have received more than 100 applications for innovative drone usage to pioneer the city’s “low-altitude economy”, with some pilot projects set to launch as early as in three months, the transport minister has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also pledged to push more advanced transport technologies to transition from trials to everyday use in 2026. In a blog post on the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s website on Saturday, Chan said “the industry... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347425/flying-start-low-altitude-economy-goals-100-drone-projects-proposed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347425/flying-start-low-altitude-economy-goals-100-drone-projects-proposed?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:32:48 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Young people can opt to make self-declarations to be exempted from producing proof of address to register as electors under a new Hong Kong government drive to boost voter numbers, lawmakers have been told. A commissioner for oaths will be stationed at each Immigration Department registration of persons office, where young people replace their juvenile identity cards with adult ones upon turning 18. The initiative was outlined as officials presented the 2026 voter registration campaign at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346785/hong-kong-new-push-get-young-people-register-voters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346785/hong-kong-new-push-get-young-people-register-voters?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:33:01 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong police seized HK$20 million (US$2.55 million) worth of suspected cocaine in a village house in Sha Tin and arrested a 28-year-old man in an anti-drug trafficking operation on Saturday. Senior Inspector Conrad Chan Yuen-fun, of the narcotics bureau’s operation division, said on Sunday the raid stopped the drugs from reaching the market. The operation followed an investigation revealing the house in Sha Tin was being used to store illicit drugs, Chan said. “Officers lay in wait outside... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346650/hongkonger-28-held-hk20-million-suspected-cocaine-seized-village-house?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346650/hongkonger-28-held-hk20-million-suspected-cocaine-seized-village-house?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 08:38:17 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Two monks have clashed during a religious ceremony at a historical Buddhist monastery in Hong Kong, leaving one injured and the other in police custody. Police officers were called to Chuk Lam Sim Yuen in Tsuen Wan at around 9.40am on Saturday after a report about a fight involving two monks, a force spokesman said. Preliminary investigations revealed the two monks, aged 51 and 57, were attending a ceremony at the monastery when they got into a quarrel over queuing, which escalated into a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346607/2-monks-brawl-during-temple-ceremony-hong-kong-leaving-1-injured?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346607/2-monks-brawl-during-temple-ceremony-hong-kong-leaving-1-injured?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 11:14:17 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung An elderly pedestrian has died after being hit by a taxi in Hong Kong’s Kwun Tong, according to police. The accident took place shortly before 10pm on Friday when the 75-year-old man was crossing the road near the junction of Hip Wo Street and Yuet Wah Street. The taxi, travelling along Hip Wo Street towards Sau Mau Ping, ran into the man, reportedly causing him to crash onto the bonnet before falling to the ground. He sustained a serious head wound and other injuries to the body, according to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346591/elderly-man-dies-after-being-hit-taxi-kwun-tong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346591/elderly-man-dies-after-being-hit-taxi-kwun-tong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 07:41:24 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A union representing employees of Hong Kong’s rail operator, the MTR Corporation, has expressed disappointment with the firm’s refusal to consider their calls for improved benefits, saying the pay rise of up to 3.84 per cent for most staff is “slightly below demands”. The MTR Corp announced pay increases on Friday ranging from 1.6 to 3.84 per cent for most non-management staff for the 2026-27 financial year, depending on their performance. Last year, the adjustment was between 1.8 and 5.4 per... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3346512/hong-kong-mtr-corp-pay-rise-below-expectations-union?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3346512/hong-kong-mtr-corp-pay-rise-below-expectations-union?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:20:27 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Some anxious residents of fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court have urged Hong Kong authorities to help them climb stairs using makeshift aids when they return to their high-rise homes to collect personal belongings next month. Some lawmakers also proposed on Saturday that the government deploy wearable walking robots, stair-climbing trolleys or wheelchairs to assist elderly residents of the Tai Po estate devastated by the inferno that claimed 168 lives and displaced nearly 5,000 people in November. They... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344993/hi-tech-aids-proposed-help-elderly-climb-stairs-fire-ravaged-tai-po-flats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344993/hi-tech-aids-proposed-help-elderly-climb-stairs-fire-ravaged-tai-po-flats?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 15:03:36 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong authorities have defended a controversial subsidy cut for the kindergarten sector for the coming financial year, saying the low birth rate and resultant shrinking pupil population have prompted a reassessment of education policy priorities. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on Friday that the government would channel more resources towards promoting “high-quality education” and adopt a more targeted approach to helping pupils in need. According to the 2026-27 budget,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344918/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-minister-defends-cuts-kindergarten-subsidy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344918/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-minister-defends-cuts-kindergarten-subsidy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:04:20 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s government investment agency will take on a bigger role in attracting commercial property investment while advancing the establishment of an alliance focused on Chinese-developed RISC-V chips, as the financial secretary pledged additional funding to the corporation in Wednesday’s budget speech. The Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), which manages HK$62 billion (US$8 billion) in government funds, described its new role as a means to ‘encourage businesses to take root’ in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344641/hong-kong-boosts-investment-bodys-role-property-sector-tech-investment-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344641/hong-kong-boosts-investment-bodys-role-property-sector-tech-investment-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 13:24:50 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Businesses in Hong Kong remain confident of weathering uncertainties after US President Donald Trump raised global tariffs in response to a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his sweeping levies on imports. The local business sector was convinced that the impact of the new 15 per cent global tariff would be “limited”, echoing the opinion of financial officials. “President Trump’s actions only undermine confidence in American investment and trade, doing nothing but harm,” Jimmy Ng Wing-ka, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344323/hong-kong-businesses-take-trumps-latest-tariff-surprise-stride?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344323/hong-kong-businesses-take-trumps-latest-tariff-surprise-stride?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 14:01:06 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s jobless rate edged up by 0.1 percentage point over the past three months to 3.9 per cent after holding steady since the August to October period last year, with unemployment rising in the insurance, construction and finance sectors. But labour authorities expressed optimism, saying the growing economy would support the job market going forward. Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Friday showed the unemployment rate for the November to January... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344161/hong-kongs-jobless-rate-edges-01-percentage-point-39-over-past-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344161/hong-kongs-jobless-rate-edges-01-percentage-point-39-over-past-3-months?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 11:06:34 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong astronomy enthusiasts can expect a “blood moon” lunar eclipse early next month, with residents able to view the phenomenon with the naked eye from select locations across the city. The global event would be visible in the skies above the city on the evening of March 3, according to the Hong Kong Observatory. “The total eclipse process can be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344143/blood-moon-lunar-eclipse-expected-march-3-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344143/blood-moon-lunar-eclipse-expected-march-3-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:39:59 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong will welcome the Year of the Horse with a 23-minute Lunar New Year fireworks display on Wednesday, showcasing vibrant elements inspired by the energy and spirit of horses. Themed “Prosperity Gallops Across Hong Kong”, the fireworks show is solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, at a cost of HK$19 million (US$2.4 million). The South China Morning Post takes a closer look at the highlights of the extravaganza and the best spots to watch it from. 1. What are the highlights of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343790/how-hong-kong-galloping-towards-prosperity-lunar-new-year-fireworks-spectacle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343790/how-hong-kong-galloping-towards-prosperity-lunar-new-year-fireworks-spectacle?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 06:00:26 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Oscar Liu Ng Kang-chung,Oscar Liu Hong Kong has begun 2026 with a surge in inbound tourism, welcoming 7.23 million visitors to date, marking a 9.6 per cent increase compared with the previous year. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also said that 1.43 million mainland Chinese visitors were expected during the Lunar New Year holiday, up by 6 per cent from last year. He attributed the expected boost to the mega-events scheduled throughout the holiday. “Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year atmosphere is rich and vibrant, blending... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343627/hong-kong-visitor-arrivals-strong-start-2026-96-723-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343627/hong-kong-visitor-arrivals-strong-start-2026-96-723-million?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 09:27:14 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Theodora Yu Ng Kang-chung,Theodora Yu Some Hong Kong restaurant operators have urged authorities to clearly tell the public about the origins of problematic raw oysters following a spate of food poisoning cases, so that diners can make informed decisions in the lead-up to Lunar New Year, their peak business season. Consumers are becoming increasingly wary about oysters, with some restaurants saying demand has plunged amid calls from health officials for diners to avoid consuming them raw as the number of norovirus-related food... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343555/share-where-risky-oysters-are-authorities-urged-after-food-poisoning-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343555/share-where-risky-oysters-are-authorities-urged-after-food-poisoning-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 02:50:35 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s anti-graft watchdog has arrested 22 people on suspicion of corruption and other illicit activities linked to seven building renovation projects worth more than HK$200 million (US$25.6 million). The suspects – 17 men and five women, aged 36 to 78 – included directors and employees of four project consultancy firms and three contractors, as well as several chairmen of owners’ committees of the housing estates and buildings. The arrests followed a two-day operation, code-named “Lion... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343507/22-arrested-hong-kongs-icac-raids-firms-linked-shady-renovation-deals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343507/22-arrested-hong-kongs-icac-raids-firms-linked-shady-renovation-deals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:39:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Connor Mycroft Ng Kang-chung,Connor Mycroft Hongkongers who were minors at the time of the 1997 handover to China will be eligible to apply for the British National (Overseas) pathway to UK citizenship independently of their parents, with 26,000 arrivals expected under the expanded scheme in the next five years. The move was a response to the 20-year prison sentence handed to former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for convictions of national security-related charges in the city on Monday morning. In a statement on Monday, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342966/uk-expands-bno-scheme-more-hongkongers-following-jimmy-lai-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342966/uk-expands-bno-scheme-more-hongkongers-following-jimmy-lai-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:26:15 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A traveller bound for Singapore has been arrested at the Hong Kong airport for allegedly carrying a knuckleduster in her luggage, according to police. The force said on Sunday that airport security staff found the weapon, which is worn over the knuckles, in the local woman’s carry-on luggage during regular screening the day before. Police arrested the 19-year-old on suspicion of violating the Airport Security Ordinance. She was later released on police bail, pending further... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342837/hong-kong-woman-arrested-airport-over-knuckleduster-carry-luggage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342837/hong-kong-woman-arrested-airport-over-knuckleduster-carry-luggage?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 11:28:52 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s CLP Power said it was investigating a voltage dip in the New Territories that left dozens of residents trapped in lifts on Friday evening. More than 50 reports of people trapped in lifts were received by the Fire Services Department between 6.30pm and 8pm. Most reports came from Sha Tin and Ma On Shan, although several were from Kwai Tsing and Mong Kok. CLP Power, the city’s largest electricity supplier, said a 132,000-volt power grid connecting Ma On Shan to Sha Tin experienced a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342721/hong-kongs-clp-power-investigates-after-voltage-dip-traps-dozens-lifts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342721/hong-kongs-clp-power-investigates-after-voltage-dip-traps-dozens-lifts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:01:36 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Internet fraudsters cheated Hong Kong consumers out of about HK$350 million (US$44.8 million) through online shopping scams between January and November 2025, while the number of such cases grew by 8 per cent year on year. Police also said that about 63 per cent of cases over the period involved bogus concert ticket sales, while another 9 per cent were related to fake sales of electronic goods. According to figures released on Friday, 11,449 online shopping scams were reported in the first 11... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342698/hongkongers-lost-hk350-million-online-shopping-scams-first-11-months-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342698/hongkongers-lost-hk350-million-online-shopping-scams-first-11-months-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:33:26 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s tourism sector is bracing for a 6 per cent rise in mainland Chinese visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday, as travel to the city regains momentum. Tickets for high-speed trains from major mainland cities to Hong Kong have been selling fast in the days leading up to the festive period – an upbeat sign for some hoteliers expecting a full house during the holiday. The Travel Industry Council, a federation of local travel trade associations, estimated that up to 1.4 million mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342144/hong-kong-set-lunar-new-year-tourism-bump-6-rise-mainland-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342144/hong-kong-set-lunar-new-year-tourism-bump-6-rise-mainland-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung More than 60 per cent of Hong Kong Zoomers fear they cannot compete with rapidly advancing AI in the workplace, a survey has found. The survey by the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong also showed about 30 per cent of respondents did not know how to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools, while only 11.5 per cent considered themselves “very familiar” with the technology. The young members’ council under the Chinese YMCA interviewed 1,178 Hongkongers aged between 15 and 30 – commonly known as “Generation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342015/62-hong-kong-zoomers-fear-they-cant-compete-ai-chinese-ymca-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342015/62-hong-kong-zoomers-fear-they-cant-compete-ai-chinese-ymca-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 14:33:17 +0000 Jess Ma,Ng Kang-chung Jess Ma,Ng Kang-chung Rafael Hui Si-yan, a former Hong Kong chief secretary who was jailed for pocketing nearly HK$20 million from a prominent land developer, has died at the age of 77. “Mr Rafael Hui passed away at [Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital] peacefully on Sunday after a brave fight with an acute illness,” a source told the South China Morning Post. Former Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen told SCMP on Monday that he was deeply saddened to learn about Hui’s death. They had worked together for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342016/convicted-hong-kong-official-rafael-hui-dies-age-77?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342016/convicted-hong-kong-official-rafael-hui-dies-age-77?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 14:24:47 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s spending should not grow faster than its income, even though the city’s finances are improving, Paul Chan Mo-po has said, adding that the market expects the government to invest more to boost the economy. But the finance chief on Sunday also painted a rosy picture for the city’s retail sector, revealing that sales figures for December, set to be released on Tuesday, would show continued growth. Retail sales in November 2025 were provisionally estimated at HK$33.7 billion (US$4.3... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341995/hong-kongs-public-expenditure-growth-cannot-exceed-revenue-rise-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341995/hong-kongs-public-expenditure-growth-cannot-exceed-revenue-rise-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 09:50:37 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Matthew Cheng Ng Kang-chung,Matthew Cheng Hong Kong authorities’ swift U-turn on a law requiring bus passengers to wear seat belts came about because of a lack of public consultation during policymaking and a less than thorough crafting process for the regulatory fine print, political observers have said. Failures on both fronts should serve as a wake-up call for officials and lawmakers to do much better and put themselves in the public’s shoes when formulating policies, they said. In an embarrassing about-face, authorities announced on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3341962/failures-2-fronts-led-hong-kongs-seat-belt-u-turn-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3341962/failures-2-fronts-led-hong-kongs-seat-belt-u-turn-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 14:21:40 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,William Yiu,Edith Lin Ng Kang-chung,William Yiu,Edith Lin Hong Kong civil servants have been urged to exercise greater caution and refrain from accepting any offers in the workplace, as stakeholders called on authorities to explain how the head of a government office became embroiled in a bribery case. Ricky Cheng Chun-sang, former director of the Tianjin Liaison Unit, was dismissed last week and placed under criminal investigation for allegedly accepting advantages without permission, after posting on social media about perks such as an upgraded... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341176/hong-kong-civil-servants-warned-avoid-perks-after-officials-bribery-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341176/hong-kong-civil-servants-warned-avoid-perks-after-officials-bribery-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 13:49:35 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong has deported 113 rejected non-refoulement claimants after a week-long operation, according to the Immigration Department. The operation codenamed “Shield” involved deporting a group of 68 men and 45 women, some of whom had completed prison sentences for criminal offences in the city. “A total of 113 unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants who were illegal immigrants and overstayers were repatriated to their places of origin,” the department said on Monday. “The persons removed …... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340434/hong-kong-deports-113-failed-asylum-seekers-week-long-operation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340434/hong-kong-deports-113-failed-asylum-seekers-week-long-operation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:43:42 +0000