https://www.scmp.com/rss/324541/feed He joined the Post in 2017. Awards he won include Journalist of the Year in Regulation at State Street Institutional Press Awards Asia Pacific 2025, Business Reporter of the Year and Best Property Market News Reporting at the 7th Business Journalism Awards of The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Excellence in Business Reporting at the SOPA 2020 Awards for Editorial Excellence as well as Merit Award at The 21st Consumer Rights Reporting Awards from the Consumer Council. He holds a Master of... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong must evolve beyond acting solely as a “superconnector” and reposition itself as a “super value-adder”, a leading think tank has said, urging the city to strengthen its role in global supply chains and align with national development amid geopolitical and technological shifts. In a 216-page report released on Friday, the 2022 Foundation – founded by Fung Investments chairman Victor Fung Kwok-king – outlined a road map for Hong Kong’s next phase of economic growth. It highlighted the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353671/hong-kong-urged-shift-role-superconnector-value-adder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353671/hong-kong-urged-shift-role-superconnector-value-adder?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 07:00:07 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong police arrested a driver after his truck hit a parked vehicle and killed a worker on a closed section of the Cheung Tsing Highway in Tsing Yi in an accident that also left five others, including four South Korean tourists, injured on Thursday. A source said that the accident happened at around 5.10pm when the local driver of a minivan carrying the four tourists pulled over to the side of a lane after one of the vehicle’s tyres burst. A highway worker arrived at the scene in a patrol... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353609/truck-driver-arrested-after-accident-leaves-1-highway-worker-dead-5-others-hurt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353609/truck-driver-arrested-after-accident-leaves-1-highway-worker-dead-5-others-hurt?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 16:17:37 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing About 100 ships registered in Hong Kong or locally managed or owned are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz along with an estimated 2,300 seafarers, an industry leader has said. Richard Hext, chairman of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, told the South China Morning Post on Friday that it was very risky to sail vessels through the strait due to the risk of attack, even though the United States and Iran had recently reached a temporary ceasefire. The United States-Israel war against Iran has... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353009/100-hong-kong-linked-ships-stranded-strait-hormuz-amid-middle-east-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353009/100-hong-kong-linked-ships-stranded-strait-hormuz-amid-middle-east-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 13:30:36 +0000 Denise Tsang,Lam Ka-sing Denise Tsang,Lam Ka-sing An exclusive Hong Kong sports club will press ahead with an imminent change of operator for its Central clubhouse despite objections by some of its members about unfair access and incompatibility of their client profiles, the South China Morning Post has learned. The controversy began about a fortnight ago after private members’ club Carlyle & Co announced it would take over the operation of the Town Club of the Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy (HKGTA). Some HKGTA members told the SCMP that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352993/hong-kong-golf-tennis-academy-members-reject-central-service-takeover-carlyle-co?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352993/hong-kong-golf-tennis-academy-members-reject-central-service-takeover-carlyle-co?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 09:25:26 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong has recorded its fastest quarterly economic growth in nearly five years, hitting 5.9 per cent, driven by private consumption and government spending despite the war in the Middle East. The first-quarter growth outpaced the 4 per cent rise in the fourth quarter of last year, according to an advance estimate released by the Census and Statistics Department on Tuesday. The 5.9 per cent year-on-year increase marks the strongest performance since the 7.6 per cent growth recorded in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352495/hong-kong-posts-strongest-quarterly-economic-growth-almost-5-years-59?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352495/hong-kong-posts-strongest-quarterly-economic-growth-almost-5-years-59?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 09:00:31 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong should develop its shipping insurance and management capabilities, among other areas, to strengthen its status as a global maritime hub amid intensifying geopolitical tensions, former city leader Leung Chun-ying has said. Leung, in his capacity as co-founder and honorary adviser to the Hong Kong Chamber of Shipping, said in a wide-ranging interview last week that the city should adopt big-picture thinking when it came to unpredictable global developments to minimise exposure to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352289/why-cy-leung-thinks-hong-kong-needs-strengthen-maritime-related-sectors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352289/why-cy-leung-thinks-hong-kong-needs-strengthen-maritime-related-sectors?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 00:30:14 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Thousands of visitors have flocked to Hong Kong’s East Dam to view its rare volcanic rock columns at the start of the five-day Labour Day “golden week” holiday, prompting a lawmaker to suggest charging an entrance fee to maintain the Unesco global geopark. Drawn by the city’s natural scenery and well-established hiking trails, which are being heavily promoted on mainland Chinese social media, many tourists are increasingly trading traditional shopping sprees for ecotourism at the East Dam of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352145/hong-kongs-east-dam-draws-thousands-golden-week-lawmaker-floats-entry-fee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352145/hong-kongs-east-dam-draws-thousands-golden-week-lawmaker-floats-entry-fee?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 08:56:04 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing A long-awaited cross-border solo travel scheme will allow yachts from Macau and Hong Kong to easily sail to about six designated ports in the western waters off the Greater Bay Area, with the policy to be finalised as early as this summer, the South China Morning Post has learned. A Guangdong provincial government document, seen by the SCMP, also showed several routes that were recommended for leisure, such as the waters off Castle Peak Bay, the Pearl River Delta and Fan Lau Kok of the Lantau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351051/travel-scheme-could-allow-hong-kong-macau-yachts-sail-6-greater-bay-area-ports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351051/travel-scheme-could-allow-hong-kong-macau-yachts-sail-6-greater-bay-area-ports?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:30:07 +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 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 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 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s competition watchdog is closely monitoring a potential megadeal between the city’s two largest supermarket chains amid a continued decline in grocery sales since 2020. The Competition Commission told the South China Morning Post that it was aware of media reports about the potential merger. “The commission is aware of the relevant media reports and is paying close attention to the matter and any future developments,” it said. Conglomerates Jardine Matheson and CK Hutchison Holdings,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350589/hong-kong-watchdog-monitoring-potential-merger-citys-top-2-supermarket-chains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350589/hong-kong-watchdog-monitoring-potential-merger-citys-top-2-supermarket-chains?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:02:30 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s investments in the Middle East will not be derailed by ongoing conflicts, the commerce minister has said, expressing confidence in the region’s economic prospects and urging businesses to take a long-term view. “The geopolitical situation has a temporary impact, but in the long term, we remain hopeful about development in the Middle East,” Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah told a radio programme on Saturday. “We have many strengths in areas such as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350558/take-long-term-view-hong-kong-minister-says-middle-east-investment-unaffected?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350558/take-long-term-view-hong-kong-minister-says-middle-east-investment-unaffected?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:57:01 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong customs has arrested seven people in a citywide crackdown on party rooms offering suspected illegal karaoke sets with songs that infringed copyright. The operation, code-named “Magpie”, took place between March 16 and Wednesday this week and involved more than 100 officers, who raided 14 party rooms, a bar and the homes of two online sellers. Ng Ka-chun, divisional commander of customs’ intellectual property technology crime investigation, said on Friday that authorities seized 28... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350419/7-arrested-crackdown-party-rooms-offering-copyright-infringing-karaoke-sets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350419/7-arrested-crackdown-party-rooms-offering-copyright-infringing-karaoke-sets?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:02:16 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Heartfelt tributes continued to be paid to Maisy Ho Chiu-ha, remembered as a dedicated philanthropist, after the daughter of late Hong Kong and Macau tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun died on Sunday, having led a notably private life. On Monday, official statements and tributes poured in from government officials and associations to mourn the loss of Maisy Ho, who had devoted herself to serving the community. She was one of 17 children of “king of gambling” Stanley Ho, and one of five siblings born to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349944/maisy-ho-remembered-dedicated-philanthropist-and-community-servant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349944/maisy-ho-remembered-dedicated-philanthropist-and-community-servant?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:32:20 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The founder of Hong Kong online shopping platform HKTVmall has broken his silence over a science project involving controversial animal experiments, saying the research he supported was meant to reduce elderly patients’ suffering from illness. Ricky Wong Wai-kay, vice-chairman and group chief executive officer of Hong Kong Technology Venture Company, the platform’s parent company and a listed firm, wrote in a social media post on Saturday that its experiments were intended to improve the quality... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349901/hktvmalls-ricky-wong-says-firms-research-aims-improve-quality-life-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349901/hktvmalls-ricky-wong-says-firms-research-aims-improve-quality-life-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:07:21 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing With various Hong Kong industries battered by the world’s highest petrol and diesel prices, economists and business leaders predict the oil crisis caused by the Middle East war will trigger a wave of imported inflation, driving up the cost of items ranging from toilet paper and laundry services to asphalt. Analysts have warned that the adverse impact on inflation will be more immediate than the effect on economic growth, with some saying the repercussions will emerge in the third and fourth... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349816/toilet-paper-travel-why-inflation-could-soon-hit-hongkongers-hard?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349816/toilet-paper-travel-why-inflation-could-soon-hit-hongkongers-hard?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:30:11 +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 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong bus company boss Martin Lau feels overwhelmed as he attempts every option possible to minimise mounting losses wrought by runaway fuel prices. He has done everything he can think of, from trying to reduce services to doing his own repairs on his fleet of more than 20 coaches. Lau, managing director of ABC Touring Car Company, told the South China Morning Post that he and his team had no choice for now but to absorb the losses as there was no help he could access. “The reality is cruel,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349564/oil-crisis-just-start-economic-pain-hongkongers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349564/oil-crisis-just-start-economic-pain-hongkongers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:30:09 +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 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing A new rule in Guangzhou requiring teahouses to declare whether their traditional dim sum is freshly handmade has sparked debate and calls for transparency over how similar meals are made in Hong Kong. Guangzhou authorities on Wednesday released new regulations on morning tea heritage protection, effective on May 1, which mandate that operators must explicitly indicate whether their dim sum dishes are made using traditional on-site methods or through non-traditional means. The mainland Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349037/new-guangzhou-rule-handmade-dim-sum-sparks-debate-heritage-food-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349037/new-guangzhou-rule-handmade-dim-sum-sparks-debate-heritage-food-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:15:55 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing One winning ticket took the HK$81.14 million (US$10.35 million) first prize in Hong Kong’s Mark Six Easter snowball draw on Saturday. According to the Hong Kong Jockey Club, four units each won HK$1.51 million for the second prize, while 225.5 units each scooped the third prize of HK$71,510. The total turnover reached HK$154.5 million, falling short of the HK$402.3 million recorded during the Chinese New Year draw on February 21. The winning numbers drawn were 20, 28, 32, 35, 40 and 45, with 43... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349033/punters-hoping-happy-easter-winning-hk80-million-mark-six-snowball-draw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349033/punters-hoping-happy-easter-winning-hk80-million-mark-six-snowball-draw?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 09:15:27 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Police have arrested a domestic helper on suspicion of child neglect following the death of a six-month-old baby in northern Hong Kong. The force said it received a report from the baby girl’s family at 11.39am on Friday that she had been found unconscious on a bed at home in the Fairview Park development in Yuen Long. Emergency personnel rushed the infant to Pok Oi Hospital in Yuen Long for treatment, police said. She was transferred to Tuen Mun Hospital, where she was later certified dead. A... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349003/domestic-helper-arrested-after-6-month-old-girl-dies-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349003/domestic-helper-arrested-after-6-month-old-girl-dies-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:24:46 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Some Hong Kong taxi drivers have yet to install e-payment options even after the city’s mandatory electronic payment choices for taxis came into effect, highlighting a digital divide challenge facing cabbies, the South China Morning Post has observed. Under the Transport Department rule that came into effect on Wednesday, all drivers must offer passengers at least a QR code option and an alternative e-payment method. The initiative aimed to elevate the quality of taxi services by leveraging... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348627/some-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-unprepared-new-e-payments-rule-takes-effect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348627/some-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-unprepared-new-e-payments-rule-takes-effect?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:47:21 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The conflict in the Middle East has triggered a global energy crisis that serves as a “yellow warning” for Hong Kong, which so far has escaped the severe impact seen elsewhere, tycoon Michael Kadoorie has said. “At this point, I think we’re very lucky. Now we touched on the story of fuel. It may impact us. It does already send a warning light,” the CLP Group chairman said. “So you have your traffic lights red, yellow and green. Well, we’re yellow. We’re not at red, but we have to think ahead as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348315/hong-kong-yellow-alert-middle-east-conflict-fuels-global-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348315/hong-kong-yellow-alert-middle-east-conflict-fuels-global-energy-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:30:22 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s traditional Chinese dining landscape is undergoing a structural overhaul, with a leading restaurant operator pivoting to experiential dining and smaller footprints amid a wave of closures and residents heading across the border for shopping and dining. Traditional dim sum and Chinese restaurants have been closing across the city, including three Star Seafood Restaurant branches in districts such as Wong Tai Sin, and the 35-year-old Metropol Restaurant in Admiralty. Martin Lee, chief... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348310/hong-kong-restaurateurs-revamp-traditional-dining-closures-reshape-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348310/hong-kong-restaurateurs-revamp-traditional-dining-closures-reshape-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 23:30:21 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Connor Mycroft Lam Ka-sing,Connor Mycroft Hong Kong’s licensed moneylenders will face strict new regulations starting in August, including debt-servicing ratio caps for low-income earners and a complete ban on using loan referees – a move lawmakers have said should reduce harassment by debt collectors. Lawmakers also said on Saturday that the measures outlined by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau would help curb most illicit loans, while one legislator called for further regulation of the moneylending industry. The bureau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346599/hong-kong-tighten-moneylending-rules-tackle-debt-collector-harassment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346599/hong-kong-tighten-moneylending-rules-tackle-debt-collector-harassment?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:45:31 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Harvey Kong Lam Ka-sing,Harvey Kong Hong Kong authorities are coordinating with airlines to increase direct flight and transfer capacity, turning the challenges posed by the US-Israel war on Iran into opportunities, the transport minister has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also said on Saturday that the ongoing Middle East turmoil had deeply disrupted global trade and aviation networks, underscoring the need for Hong Kong to reduce its reliance on traditional oil by expanding supply sources. “We can... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346588/hong-kong-boost-direct-flights-transfer-capacity-amid-middle-east-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346588/hong-kong-boost-direct-flights-transfer-capacity-amid-middle-east-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 07:51:32 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing More than 400 foreign domestic helpers gathered at an international school campus in Hong Kong on Friday as 50 students paid tribute to their contributions as “second mothers” who help shape a multicultural environment at home. The organising student committee for the event at the English Schools Foundation’s Renaissance College in Ma On Shan said it hoped to inspire the wider community to cherish their domestic workers. The “Jie Jie Day” event, held annually by the school for 14 years, was also... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346551/hong-kong-students-honour-over-400-foreign-domestic-helpers-second-mothers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346551/hong-kong-students-honour-over-400-foreign-domestic-helpers-second-mothers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:39:11 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The net profit of Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation dropped by 6.9 per cent to HK$14.68 billion (US$1.88 billion) last year, from HK$15.77 billion in 2024, as higher depreciation costs and weaker revenue from the rail giant’s mainland China operations weighed on earnings. The company recorded a property development profit of HK$11.08 billion last year, up from HK$10.27 billion in 2024, with income generated from projects including The Southside, Lohas Park and Ho Man Tin station. But the MTR Corp... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346363/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-net-profit-falls-69-amid-weaker-mainland-china-revenue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346363/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-net-profit-falls-69-amid-weaker-mainland-china-revenue?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:27:02 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Cathay Pacific Airways’ net profit climbed by 9.5 per cent to HK$10.82 billion (US$1.39 billion) in 2025, driven by increased capacity and robust cargo demand, but the Hong Kong flag carrier has warned of higher fuel surcharges due to conflict in the Middle East, ongoing supply chain disruptions and inflated costs. Cathay Group chairman Patrick Healy said on Wednesday that the results marked the airline’s third consecutive year of profits. But he cautioned that global geopolitical tensions were... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346177/cathay-posts-95-rise-profit-hk1082-billion-warns-geopolitical-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346177/cathay-posts-95-rise-profit-hk1082-billion-warns-geopolitical-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 04:45:46 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong could emerge as the world’s leading financial centre as the central government pushes to internationalise the yuan – a move that will advance the nation’s development under the 15th five-year plan while also driving the city’s own growth, a National People’s Congress (NPC) deputy has said. Li Yinquan said the city stood to benefit from increased capital as the yuan became more internationalised, since most global renminbi reserves and transaction volumes would naturally be held in Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346011/hong-kong-tipped-be-worlds-top-financial-centre-amid-global-yuan-expansion-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346011/hong-kong-tipped-be-worlds-top-financial-centre-amid-global-yuan-expansion-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:30:11 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing,Edith Lin Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing,Edith Lin Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang has acknowledged it is no “easy task” to truly implement Hong Kong’s executive-led governance system, stressing that it must be a “shared responsibility” of the legislative and judicial branches and society as a whole. The state leader also urged the city to “grasp” the opportunities of China’s 15th five-year plan as he highlighted key areas such as quantum technology, aerospace and the low-altitude economy, while calling on local entrepreneurs to proactively... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345644/chinese-vice-premier-stresses-shared-duty-hong-kongs-executive-led-governance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345644/chinese-vice-premier-stresses-shared-duty-hong-kongs-executive-led-governance?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 02:21:09 +0000 Edith Lin,Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Edith Lin,Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong should enhance its role as an international financial hub by strengthening its offshore renminbi business and supply chain services, and speed up the Northern Metropolis megaproject, according to the nation’s next five-year plan. Beijing set out its expectations for the city in a draft of its 15th five-year plan, submitted on Thursday to the National People’s Congress, the country’s legislature. The plan outlines China’s economic and social development targets for 2026 to 2030. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345521/beijing-tasks-hong-kong-fast-tracking-northern-metropolis-boosting-integration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345521/beijing-tasks-hong-kong-fast-tracking-northern-metropolis-boosting-integration?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:23:52 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called on Hong Kong to boost its governance efficiency and leverage its “unique strengths” in connecting with the world while being supported by the rest of the country. In the government work report he delivered at the opening session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing on Thursday, the country’s No 2 official also stressed the need to transform the Greater Bay Area into an international innovation and technology (I&T) hub. Li underscored the need to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345497/leverage-unique-strengths-and-global-role-chinas-no-2-tells-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345497/leverage-unique-strengths-and-global-role-chinas-no-2-tells-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 02:32:54 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong tycoons have expressed confidence in the Middle East’s economic outlook amid continued strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory attacks, stressing that the city’s economy is unlikely to be affected. Speaking to the media in Beijing on the sidelines of the “two sessions” – the nation’s annual parliamentary meetings – on Wednesday, Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, former heir apparent to Hong Kong property giant New World Development, said the Middle East’s economic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345468/hong-kong-tycoons-downplay-impact-middle-east-war-citys-fortunes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345468/hong-kong-tycoons-downplay-impact-middle-east-war-citys-fortunes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:11:22 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing Beijing will roll out further favourable measures for Hong Kong while the coming 15th five-year plan will also step up support for the city in leveraging its unique strengths, a spokesman for the nation’s legislature has said. National People’s Congress (NPC) spokesman Lou Qinjian said on Wednesday that the central government would make further arrangements in the 15th five-year plan to support Hong Kong in “leveraging its unique strengths and to perform a significant role”. “More beneficial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345402/chinas-top-advisory-body-urges-greater-bay-area-cities-align-rules-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345402/chinas-top-advisory-body-urges-greater-bay-area-cities-align-rules-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:42:57 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing,Emily Hung Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing,Emily Hung Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has urged the city to focus on development amid heightening geopolitical tensions and to cherish its hard-earned stability, according to local delegates visiting the capital for the annual “two sessions” political gatherings. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), also said on Tuesday that the city enjoyed “favourable timing, advantageous location and unity of the people” in pursuing development, while calling for work on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345243/starry-lee-propose-boosting-hong-kongs-role-offshore-yuan-hub-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345243/starry-lee-propose-boosting-hong-kongs-role-offshore-yuan-hub-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:41:24 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong does not plan to make another transfer from its Exchange Fund in the next five years, the finance chief has said, citing a new medium-range forecast that explains why the rare move will not be repeated. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po elaborated on his plan on Saturday, after his budget announcement that he would withdraw HK$150 billion (US$19.2 billion) from the government’s main investment arm and de facto sovereign wealth fund sparked concerns about the city’s financial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344962/no-exchange-fund-transfers-planned-next-5-years-hong-kongs-paul-chan-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344962/no-exchange-fund-transfers-planned-next-5-years-hong-kongs-paul-chan-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 05:49:01 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The operator of Hong Kong’s Ngong Ping 360 cable car attraction has apologised after the personal data of visitors and employees was stolen in a ransomware attack. The company on Thursday detected irregularities in its internal network system and alerted police and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data. “Subsequent investigation confirmed that certain data had been stolen and the company was subjected to a ransom demand,” the operator said on Friday. “Ngong Ping 360 deeply... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344932/personal-data-stolen-ransomware-attack-hong-kongs-ngong-ping-360-attraction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344932/personal-data-stolen-ransomware-attack-hong-kongs-ngong-ping-360-attraction?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:45:40 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s exports surged by more than 30 per cent in the first month of 2026, thanks to a rebound from last year’s low base after US-China trade war fears eased. According to the Census and Statistics Department, the total value of exports of goods rose by 33.8 per cent year on year in January to HK$520.6 billion (US$66.6 billion). The value of imports surged by 38.1 per cent to HK$534.7 billion. “Exports to most markets and of most major commodities increased visibly,” a government spokesman... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344880/hong-kong-exports-surge-338-january-thanks-rebound-2025s-low-base?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344880/hong-kong-exports-surge-338-january-thanks-rebound-2025s-low-base?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:31:21 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing A combination of a strong initial public offering (IPO) market and bond sales has helped put Hong Kong’s financial health back in the black sooner than expected, with analysts expecting a robust pipeline of listings to be key to sustaining the city’s surplus. In his budget speech on Wednesday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said the city was previously expected to record a HK$67 billion deficit for the 2025-26 financial year, which ends on March 31, but emerged with an estimated HK$2.9... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344776/hong-kong-records-hk29-billion-consolidated-surplus-2025-26-heres-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344776/hong-kong-records-hk29-billion-consolidated-surplus-2025-26-heres-how?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 14:01:20 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The Hong Kong government has produced a consolidated surplus earlier than expected, its first in four years, ahead of a rare transfer into coffers from the Exchange Fund and other sources. Wednesday’s budget pointed to fund transfers of HK$127.83 billion (US$16.35 billion) and an 11.1 per cent jump in government revenues contributing to another surplus for 2026-27, on top of the one for the 2025-26 financial year. “We will bring back about HK$15.8 billion from funds established outside the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344651/rare-move-take-income-out-exchange-fund-pay-northern-metropolis-other-big-projects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344651/rare-move-take-income-out-exchange-fund-pay-northern-metropolis-other-big-projects?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:12:55 +0000 Natalie Wong,Lam Ka-sing Natalie Wong,Lam Ka-sing A new government committee tasked with reviewing Hong Kong’s tax policies will consider updating them to allow for levies on the virtual asset sector and selected emerging industries, while providing incentives to attract business and investment, the South China Morning Post has learned. The SCMP learned of the development on Wednesday as experts called for Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po to regard the new Advisory Committee on Tax Policy, which he will chair, as an opportunity to conduct a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344648/hong-kongs-virtual-asset-sector-considered-taxation-under-policy-review?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344648/hong-kongs-virtual-asset-sector-considered-taxation-under-policy-review?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:12:25 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Jimmy Chow Lam Ka-sing,Jimmy Chow Hong Kong firefighters have been honoured for their heroic response to November’s deadly Tai Po fire – the city’s worst in decades – at the 13th Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, which celebrates unsung heroes who contribute to the community or inspire others through stories of resilience and perseverance. The Fire Services Department received an appreciation flag at the awards co-organised by the South China Morning Post and Sino Group at the Conrad Hong Kong, where 10 winners were selected from 27... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344509/spirit-hong-kong-awards-john-lee-hails-role-models-firefighters-feted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344509/spirit-hong-kong-awards-john-lee-hails-role-models-firefighters-feted?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:07:47 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong police are investigating the death of a 66-year-old man who fell from bamboo scaffolding, with drugs discovered in the flat he climbed out of. The force said the man, surnamed Yip, was found unconscious on a platform at 3 Nelson Street in Mong Kok at 2.38pm on Saturday. He was rushed to Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau Ma Tei but was subsequently declared dead. Police said detectives from its Mong Kok district criminal investigation team had taken over the case and were looking into the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344223/hong-kong-police-probe-death-man-60-fall-bamboo-scaffolding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344223/hong-kong-police-probe-death-man-60-fall-bamboo-scaffolding?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 13:36:33 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing The first prize for the Year of the Horse’s Mark Six snowball draw on Saturday is set to be split across five winning bets, with each garnering a payout of about HK$42.2 million (US$5.4 million). The total turnover for the draw reached HK$402.3 million – 6.45 times the total turnover of the HK$62.4 million recorded for the previous draw earlier this week. This lottery’s HK$200 million first prize fund is the highest in its history. The winning numbers were 2, 18, 34, 35, 37 and 49, with 33 being... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344213/hongkongers-line-shot-record-hk200-million-mark-six-draw?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344213/hongkongers-line-shot-record-hk200-million-mark-six-draw?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 10:04:18 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Simon Leung has been without a full-time job since his contract ended in March 2024, after the Hong Kong government cut its budget for NGOs by 7 per cent. The social work event coordinator, who is in his late forties, now makes ends meet through gig jobs. With word spreading that the city’s coming budget will yield an early operating surplus, he wants Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po to restore funding for non-governmental organisations so retrenched workers like him can be hired again. “They... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344041/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-beyond-balancing-books-whats-stake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344041/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-beyond-balancing-books-whats-stake?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Unusually warm weather in Hong Kong has forced flower sellers at Lunar New Year fairs to contend with premature blooms while also navigating a retail landscape where heavy foot traffic masked a tightening of local purse strings. On Sunday, the Observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 26.9 degrees Celsius (80.4 Fahrenheit) at its headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui, matching the record set in 2010 for the same day in the lunar calendar. “Winter has become like summer, which is not a good... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343641/early-flower-blooms-warm-weather-add-sellers-woes-festival-fairs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343641/early-flower-blooms-warm-weather-add-sellers-woes-festival-fairs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 14:11:51 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing A one-year-old girl may have suffered food poisoning after consuming Nestlé infant milk formula, Hong Kong authorities have said, while revealing they have received about 50 reports of children feeling unwell amid a growing contamination scare. The Centre for Food Safety separately ordered the immediate removal of 390 cans of Aptamil Profutura DUO Advance 1 (800g) from shelves, as officials expanded a citywide recall to include a second batch of the milk powder imported from Germany. The Centre... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342731/hong-kong-toddler-suspected-have-fallen-ill-tainted-milk-formula?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342731/hong-kong-toddler-suspected-have-fallen-ill-tainted-milk-formula?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:25:08 +0000