https://www.scmp.com/rss/324555/feed The "Greater Bay Area" refers to the Chinese government's scheme to link the cities of Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Zhongshan, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing into an integrated economic and business hub. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong,Theodora Yu Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong,Theodora Yu More than 685,000 residents left Hong Kong as the Easter break got under way on Friday, even as some said ongoing geopolitical tensions had made them more cautious about drawing up future travel plans. An industry leader noted that more Hongkongers had chosen to travel to mainland China, with the ongoing war in the Middle East disrupting air traffic and prompting local airlines to raise fuel surcharges. Immigration statistics for Friday showed that 685,149 residents had left Hong Kong as of 9pm,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348874/hongkongers-opt-mainland-chinese-tours-during-easter-amid-middle-east-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348874/hongkongers-opt-mainland-chinese-tours-during-easter-amid-middle-east-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:58:57 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Hong Kong is preparing its own medium-term development blueprint alongside China’s coming 15th five-year plan, which officials have described as a “golden strategic period” for the city. This is more than a procedural shift. For the first time, Hong Kong is attempting to align its policy cycle in advance with national planning priorities, yet alignment on its own is not a strategy. The more pressing question is whether the city can define a role that is distinct, necessary and difficult to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348403/hong-kongs-next-five-years-must-take-city-alignment-action?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348403/hong-kongs-next-five-years-must-take-city-alignment-action?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Lee Hill-choi Lee Hill-choi Macau has long been a city of intersections – East and West, old and new, tradition and reinvention. As a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy, it is now staking a claim to another kind of convergence: a place where world-class fine dining and genuine environmental responsibility are not in tension, but in lockstep. That ambition takes centre stage at this year’s International Cities of Gastronomy Fest, which for the first time extends beyond Fisherman’s Wharf into a new satellite venue in the... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3348524/macaus-culinary-festival-highlights-luxury-dining-alongside-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3348524/macaus-culinary-festival-highlights-luxury-dining-alongside-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:30 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As the country with the world’s largest cohort of billionaires, China is no stranger to wealthy elites engaging in luxurious leisure activities, but one common pastime in the West does not seem to have attracted a commensurate level of interest across the Pacific – yachting. While Chinese e-commerce billionaire Richard Liu recently announced a multibillion-dollar investment in a new yacht company, regulatory hurdles and infrastructure gaps have kept China’s wealthiest individuals from fully... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346817/chinas-high-end-yacht-owners-say-industry-growth-stifled-structural-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346817/chinas-high-end-yacht-owners-say-industry-growth-stifled-structural-gaps?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Aidyn Fitzpatrick Aidyn Fitzpatrick Though it may not appear so, a battle takes place every March when Art Basel comes to Hong Kong’s Convention Centre. The fight isn’t over which gallery can sell more paintings or which collector writes the biggest cheques, but over whether the Greater Bay Area (GBA) can convince visitors that this corner of Southern China – expected to record more than US$2.15 trillion in economic output for 2025 – is not just a business powerhouse but a cultural one. GBA policymakers have embraced the lexicon... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348138/how-art-basel-hong-kong-fuelling-greater-bay-areas-cultural-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348138/how-art-basel-hong-kong-fuelling-greater-bay-areas-cultural-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:00:15 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong lawmakers have expressed concern over the lack of a car park at the upgraded Huanggang border crossing, saying that providing a shuttle bus service for tour groups or motorists to reach the checkpoint building will not be convenient. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Friday that the revamped building – which is on the mainland Chinese side of the border in Shenzhen – would not have a public car park or bays for coaches. The Transport and Logistics Bureau would decide... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348211/lawmakers-concerned-over-lack-parking-huanggang-border-checkpoint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348211/lawmakers-concerned-over-lack-parking-huanggang-border-checkpoint?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:04:56 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs has concluded a five-day fact-finding trip to three mainland Chinese cities in the Greater Bay Area to explore ways of deepening the international financial hub’s integration into the national blueprint. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said its director, Xia Baolong, had visited Guangzhou, Zhaoqing and Foshan on the trip from Monday to Friday, accompanied by officials from the mainland and Hong Kong. “[The trip] focused on how... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348201/beijing-official-visits-greater-bay-area-cities-explore-integrating-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348201/beijing-official-visits-greater-bay-area-cities-explore-integrating-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:47:50 +0000 Kevin Li Kevin Li In the summer of 1998, the usually placid air at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s headquarters in Citibank Tower suddenly evaporated as regional currencies collapsed like dominoes. Rapacious speculators had shorted currencies such as the Thai baht, the Indonesian rupiah and the Korean won and had profited handsomely. The contagion looked like it would also bring the Hong Kong dollar to its knees. As storytellers from the era have recalled, that sweltering month of August, the wolves were at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348050/should-hong-kong-be-using-war-chest-firepower-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348050/should-hong-kong-be-using-war-chest-firepower-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) is lagging behind China’s national average in basic research, despite showing strong potential in sectors such as semiconductors and smart manufacturing, according to Deloitte. The cluster of cities in southern China, which included Shenzhen, spent about 28.9 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) on basic research in 2024, accounting for just 5.67 per cent of total spending in research and development (R&D), the consulting firm said in a report... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347992/greater-bay-area-trails-peers-basic-research-despite-strong-tech-potential-deloitte?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3347992/greater-bay-area-trails-peers-basic-research-despite-strong-tech-potential-deloitte?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 23:00:08 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s Baptist University plans to spin off its School of Continuing Education (SCE) as a private university of applied sciences (UAS) next year, according to its president. Unveiling the plan at a media briefing on Thursday, Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong said a private institution would be more agile and responsive to societal changes than public universities, which often face lengthy funding approvals. “HKBU [Hong Kong Baptist University] will spare no effort to ensure the success of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347998/hong-kong-baptist-university-turn-one-its-schools-private?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347998/hong-kong-baptist-university-turn-one-its-schools-private?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:40:44 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s biggest free-to-air broadcaster swung to a profit of HK$59 million (US$7.5 million) in 2025 from a loss of HK$491 million a year earlier, as threefold growth in revenue from the Greater Bay Area helped shake off a streak of annual losses that began in 2018. Television Broadcasts (TVB) said in a stock exchange filing on Wednesday that 2025 revenue fell 2 per cent from a year earlier to HK$3.19 billion, while it trimmed total costs, excluding depreciation and amortisation, by 4.9 per... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347895/hong-kongs-tvb-logs-us75-million-profit-shaking-seven-years-losses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347895/hong-kongs-tvb-logs-us75-million-profit-shaking-seven-years-losses?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:15:42 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China is stepping up its efforts to build Beijing and its environs, along with other major city clusters, into “international technological innovation centres”, according to a high-ranking official – part of the country’s accelerated push for tech self-sufficiency. Speaking at the opening of the state-backed Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang said the country would intensify its campaign to achieve “high-level self-reliance in science and technology”... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347816/china-names-beijing-other-city-clusters-global-tech-hubs-self-reliance-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3347816/china-names-beijing-other-city-clusters-global-tech-hubs-self-reliance-push?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:15:20 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu JPMorgan Chase plans to expand its corporate banking team by about 10 per cent across Asia-Pacific this year, as its plans in the region will not be slowed down by uncertainties arising from the US-Israel war on Iran, according to a senior executive. The hiring campaign was part of the lender’s longer-term plan, which aimed to increase its headcount in the region by 40 per cent between 2023 and 2026, said James Roddy, head of global corporate banking. The corporate banking business in... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347354/jpmorgan-expand-asia-pacific-team-10-year-undeterred-middle-east-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347354/jpmorgan-expand-asia-pacific-team-10-year-undeterred-middle-east-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:30:15 +0000 Wilson Lau Wilson Lau Macau’s culinary identity is a deliciously unruly map of the world: a centuries-old laboratory of creative fusion where spices, techniques and stories collide. Long before “fusion cuisine” became a trend, Macanese cooking was already inventing itself at the crossroads of oceans – an everyday experiment in adaptation, improvisation and joyful hybridity. What began as practical substitutions and ingenuity has evolved into a living tradition that prizes sustainability, originality and a renewed... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347312/macau-gastronomy-fest-unites-39-unesco-cities-chengdu-lucknow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347312/macau-gastronomy-fest-unites-39-unesco-cities-chengdu-lucknow?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:00:36 +0000 Cui Jianchun Cui Jianchun With the conclusion of China’s parliamentary “two sessions”, the approval of the 2026 government work report and 15th five-year plan – together with the foreign minister’s press conference – has sent a clear signal of China pursuing steady and quality-driven growth while projecting a firm and timely voice on the world stage. In the work report, Premier Li Qiang noted that China’s gross domestic product grew by 5 per cent last year, surpassing 140 trillion yuan (US$20.3 trillion). This year’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347213/china-charts-new-course-hong-kong-writes-its-next-chapter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347213/china-charts-new-course-hong-kong-writes-its-next-chapter?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 21:30:08 +0000 William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s Baptist University placed a big bet when it told the government in 2023 that it was interested in moving its campus from the upmarket Kowloon Tong residential area to a proposed new academic town near the mainland Chinese border. The 70-year-old university’s move to the Northern Metropolis megaproject will mean giving up a prime site for a spot where most of the land has yet to be prepared for construction, although its proximity to mainland tech hub Shenzhen and the Lok Ma Chau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong is ready to discuss land, tax incentives and financial support for businesses setting up in the Northern Metropolis, the finance chief has told a trade seminar in Beijing, stressing a “flexible and innovative” approach will be taken with developing the megaproject. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Thursday also met Xia Baolong, Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs, who underscored the central government’s support for the city’s efforts to bolster its competitiveness through... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347210/hong-kong-finance-chief-stresses-flexibility-pitch-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347210/hong-kong-finance-chief-stresses-flexibility-pitch-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:31:30 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang The Greater Bay Area offers a varied cultural calendar this spring, from headline concerts by pop stars and rock bands to recitals by celebrated pianists and a French musical. Read on to find out what exciting things are coming up in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Macau over the next two months. Late March 1. Jane Zhang concert tour (Guangzhou) Known as the “Dolphin Princess” for her signature whistle register, Sichuan-born singer Jane Zhang is bringing her world tour to Guangzhou. Zhang’s list of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3347094/nicholas-tse-exo-among-top-music-and-art-events-coming-shenzhen-macau-and-guangzhou?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3347094/nicholas-tse-exo-among-top-music-and-art-events-coming-shenzhen-macau-and-guangzhou?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 06:15:08 +0000 Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Proposed designated laws to streamline land-use approval procedures for the Northern Metropolis megaproject will not undermine the authority of Hong Kong’s town planning body, some experts have argued, while urging the government to establish clear key performance indicators (KPIs) to strengthen market confidence. Observers were responding to a package of six subsidiary laws unveiled on Tuesday by the Development Bureau, designed to remove bottlenecks in the New Territories project. A key... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong authorities have proposed designated laws to streamline procedures for changing land use in the Northern Metropolis megaproject, cutting the process from typically nine months to just two. Unveiled by the Development Bureau on Tuesday, the proposed designated legislation comprises six main subsidiary laws designed to remove bottlenecks in the massive scheme near the border with mainland China. They include the establishment of statutory firms and measures to speed up land resumption... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346930/measures-streamline-northern-metropolis-land-use-procedures-unveiled?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346930/measures-streamline-northern-metropolis-land-use-procedures-unveiled?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:38:49 +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 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 Brian Y. S. Wong Brian Y. S. Wong By the second half of the 21st century, the Sino-Indian relationship will become the world’s most significant geopolitical relationship, dislodging even the complex China-US cooperative rivalry. By 2050, the world’s three largest economies are likely to comprise some combination of China, India and the United States. PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts this exact order – with the US having the highest per capita income but the smallest population. Both Asian powerhouses enjoy significant theoretical... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346270/boosting-china-india-ties-should-be-pillar-hong-kongs-five-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346270/boosting-china-india-ties-should-be-pillar-hong-kongs-five-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Lisa Cam Lisa Cam The Bay by Chef Fei, the Cantonese restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen, has been awarded a prestigious One Diamond distinction in the 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide. Often regarded as China’s answer to the Michelin Guide, the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide ranks the country’s finest dining establishments, celebrating culinary excellence and outstanding hospitality. The award recognises the restaurant’s interpretation of Lingnan and Chaozhou (also called Chiu Chow) culinary traditions... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3346080/shenzhens-bay-chef-fei-restaurant-awarded-1-diamond-chinas-michelin-guide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3346080/shenzhens-bay-chef-fei-restaurant-awarded-1-diamond-chinas-michelin-guide?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:15:08 +0000 Cheung Hok-hang Cheung Hok-hang Huizhou is a city in mainland China’s southern Guangdong province just 90 minutes from Hong Kong on the high-speed rail that offers budget-friendly stays and activities like leisurely strolls around its West Lake’s Lingnan-style pavilions. But venture out of the city and you can discover how the wider Huizhou region is quietly transforming into a “scenic sweat” destination for those seeking physical activities among picturesque surroundings infused with culture. An hour’s drive northwest leads... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3345983/5-top-china-instagram-spots-huizhous-highway-218-blend-nature-and-architecture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3345983/5-top-china-instagram-spots-huizhous-highway-218-blend-nature-and-architecture?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:15:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Shenzhen is one of Asia’s top tech hubs, while Hong Kong has long been a financial powerhouse. Together, they are two souls merging into a turbocharged engine of growth behind the Greater Bay Area. The government’s flagship project, the Northern Metropolis, will soon become a focal point of this unbeatable combination. At its heart will be a supercomputing facility to help the city become a data centre hub. Range Intelligent Computing Technology won the tender to build the supercomputing centre... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345691/supercomputer-hub-brings-hong-kong-and-shenzhen-closer-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345691/supercomputer-hub-brings-hong-kong-and-shenzhen-closer-together?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Yulu Ao,Ann Cao,Wency Chen Yulu Ao,Ann Cao,Wency Chen China’s most powerful economic regions – the Yangtze River Delta and the Greater Bay Area – are racing to meet President Xi Jinping’s call for breakthroughs in core technologies including artificial intelligence, as Beijing maps out priorities for the coming 15th five-year plan during the “two sessions”. As part of the annual meeting on Friday, provincial and municipal leaders of Zhejiang province outlined an ambitious strategy to become a key area of AI development and cement the province’s... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345770/chinas-zhejiang-guangdong-provinces-vie-heed-xi-jinpings-call-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345770/chinas-zhejiang-guangdong-provinces-vie-heed-xi-jinpings-call-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:41:21 +0000 Yulu Ao,Themis Qi Yulu Ao,Themis Qi Hong Kong can reinforce its role as an international financial centre by deepening integration with mainland capital markets and expanding cross-border investment channels, financial industry leaders said on Thursday during China’s annual “two sessions”. Stronger collaboration between Hong Kong and mainland exchanges would enhance the resilience of the mainland’s financial system while supporting the internationalisation of the yuan, said Tan Yueheng, permanent honorary president of the Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345601/lean-harder-hong-kong-mainland-china-market-ties-two-sessions-delegates-urge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345601/lean-harder-hong-kong-mainland-china-market-ties-two-sessions-delegates-urge?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 23:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Chinese Premier Li Qiang revealed in his work report to the annual session of the National People’s Congress a growth target of 4.5-5 per cent, compared with around 5 per cent for 2025. It will have to stay around that level for 10 years to achieve Beijing’s goal of turning China into a moderately developed country by 2035. The target, for the first year of the 15th five-year plan (2026-2030), has been set at a relatively moderate and realistic range to reflect the reality that externally, China... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345623/amid-external-uncertainties-china-steers-growth-and-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345623/amid-external-uncertainties-china-steers-growth-and-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 23:15:13 +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 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Beijing should create a “connect” scheme for initial public offerings (IPOs) in the Greater Bay Area to allow mainland Chinese and Hong Kong investors to buy into new listings across the border, HSBC Asia-Pacific chairman Peter Wong Tung-shun said on the eve of China’s annual “two sessions” meetings. “If investors in both Shenzhen and Hong Kong are further allowed to participate simultaneously in IPOs in both markets – achieving a more comprehensive IPO connect mechanism for the Greater Bay Area... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345285/hsbc-chairman-floats-ipo-connect-hong-kong-shenzhen-ahead-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3345285/hsbc-chairman-floats-ipo-connect-hong-kong-shenzhen-ahead-chinas-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:30:09 +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 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hundreds of Hong Kong politicians and business leaders head to Beijing on Tuesday for the nation’s annual “two sessions”, with observers expecting discussions to focus on the city’s role as an international financial centre and the Northern Metropolis megaproject. The annual session of the country’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), will commence on Wednesday, followed by the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s legislature,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345179/two-sessions-focus-hong-kongs-financial-role-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345179/two-sessions-focus-hong-kongs-financial-role-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:30:13 +0000 Emily Hung,Fiona Chow Emily Hung,Fiona Chow A “relatively flexible” legal framework for Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis will be introduced to the Legislative Council later this month to fast-track the megaproject’s development, a minister has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho shared the update on the planned framework on Sunday, days after the city’s latest budget sought to allocate HK$30 billion (US$3.8 billion) for the megaproject set to span 30,000 hectares (74,130 acres) in the New Territories. Authorities will... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345048/legal-framework-northern-metropolis-be-tabled-legco-late-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345048/legal-framework-northern-metropolis-be-tabled-legco-late-march?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:16:32 +0000 Quentin Parker Quentin Parker Hong Kong sees itself as a modern, well-governed, global city that moves with the times. On finance, education, legal services and logistics, that self-image holds. But when considering the green transition, particularly transport electrification, the gap between rhetoric and reality is increasingly hard to ignore. Nowhere is this more evident than in electrifying the taxi fleet, where the quarter-century timeline floated bears little resemblance to what is standard practice in neighbouring... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Cruise ship calls in Hong Kong may exceed 200 this year, the city’s tourism minister has said, as she revealed that authorities will consider measures to create synergy between the terminal and an emerging cultural hub in Kai Tak. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui on Saturday also said cruise ships made 189 port calls in 2025, representing 88 per cent of peak levels, and Chinese vessels might stop in the city this year, which she described as “refreshing news”. “It’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344969/cruise-ship-calls-hong-kong-may-top-200-year-tourism-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344969/cruise-ship-calls-hong-kong-may-top-200-year-tourism-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 08:41:44 +0000 Edith Lin,Kevin Li Edith Lin,Kevin Li Hong Kong’s finance chief has defended his budget against public criticism over the lack of “sweeteners”, stressing the government must balance its finances with long-term investments for the city’s benefit. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said during a radio forum on Thursday he would brief credit-rating agencies and the International Monetary Fund next month on his budget, including a proposed HK$150 billion (US$19.2 billion) transfer from the Exchange Fund to support infrastructure... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344698/long-term-gains-worthwhile-paul-chan-says-hongkongers-slam-lack-budget-sweeteners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344698/long-term-gains-worthwhile-paul-chan-says-hongkongers-slam-lack-budget-sweeteners?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:58:26 +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 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong will establish the first national manufacturing innovation centre outside mainland China and a high-level steering committee to spearhead AI development, the finance chief has said, as the city seeks to align with the country’s 15th five-year plan. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also unveiled a citywide artificial intelligence (AI) literacy drive in Wednesday’s budget, earmarking funds for various organisations to set up courses on the technology. “We must embrace the 15th... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344645/hong-kong-set-first-national-innovation-centre-outside-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344645/hong-kong-set-first-national-innovation-centre-outside-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 14:51:53 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po unveiled his latest budget on Wednesday, revealing an earlier-than-expected operating surplus after three years of deficits. While the improved fiscal position – driven by a stock market boom – had sparked calls for more sweeteners in this year’s financial blueprint, Chan had sought to manage public expectations by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344514/budget-2026-27-what-can-hongkongers-expect-paul-chans-financial-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344514/budget-2026-27-what-can-hongkongers-expect-paul-chans-financial-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 02:45:36 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s railway development is going full steam ahead following the launch of its own consolidated railway standards. The game-changing move is more than a timely housekeeping exercise – it paves the track for better planning, construction and operation while enhancing railway safety, reliability and cost efficiency. Issued by the Highways Department, the 336-page document outlined a unified and comprehensive set of technical references and guidelines for railway design, construction,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344430/new-standards-will-drive-safer-railway-development-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344430/new-standards-will-drive-safer-railway-development-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Oscar Liu,Ambrose Li Oscar Liu,Ambrose Li Hong Kong has for the first time introduced its own railway standards to support the use of cutting-edge construction technologies, and established a dedicated inspection unit to accelerate new projects – moves that analysts have said could lay the foundation for the city’s next decade of transport development. The Highways Department on Monday released a 336-page document outlining a unified and comprehensive set of technical references and guidelines for railway design, construction,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344360/hong-kong-launches-own-rail-standards-enhance-safety-and-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344360/hong-kong-launches-own-rail-standards-enhance-safety-and-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:17:29 +0000 Christine Choi Christine Choi This week, Hong Kong is honoured to play host to the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition, one of the most significant gatherings in the global higher education arena. For us, this is not merely a conference; it is a homecoming for international collaboration and a resounding statement of intent. As delegates from across the globe arrive in our city, we are reminded that education knows no borders, and Hong Kong remains the pivotal bridge... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344080/bridging-east-and-west-hong-kong-offers-talent-best-both-worlds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344080/bridging-east-and-west-hong-kong-offers-talent-best-both-worlds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial With the Hong Kong government budget coming shortly after Lunar New Year this year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po needs no reminder that people’s hopes – as numerous as the wishes hanging on the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree – are riding on his annual plan. Equally important is the goal to help Hong Kong weather challenges and achieve robust growth in the Year of the Horse. How to capitalise on the opportunities ahead and enable more people to enjoy the fruits of economic success is the test... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344123/clearer-skies-allow-hong-kong-budget-go-beyond-balancing-books?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344123/clearer-skies-allow-hong-kong-budget-go-beyond-balancing-books?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 23:15:13 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A date has been set for a new era of Hong Kong aviation history to take off. On May 27, the airport’s HK$141.5 billion (US$18.1 billion) three-runway expansion will wrap up with the full opening of its redeveloped second terminal. Completion of the decade-long project sends a powerful message to the world that the air transport hub has turned a page after years struggling with economic woes deepened by civil unrest and the pandemic. Hong Kong International Airport is back – and bigger, smarter... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344110/hong-kong-airports-second-terminal-will-help-city-reach-new-heights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344110/hong-kong-airports-second-terminal-will-help-city-reach-new-heights?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 22:45:16 +0000 Jane Lee Jane Lee When Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong recently described Hong Kong’s executive-led system as a distinct governance model, he elevated it from an administrative arrangement to constitutional doctrine. A doctrine is not merely about structure. It is about how governance power is exercised. In Hong Kong’s executive-led system, that exercise begins with engaging the governed. The national security white paper unveiled earlier this month highlights the need to achieve both... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344060/executive-led-governance-hong-kong-must-start-listening-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344060/executive-led-governance-hong-kong-must-start-listening-people?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong’s coming annual budget must address critical bottlenecks in technology and talent attraction to pave the way for the city’s first five-year development framework in line with national priorities, according to observers. The budget, to be delivered by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Wednesday, is more than a fiscal exercise. It is viewed as the first major test of officials’ “reform mindset” after Beijing unveiled the nation’s 15th five-year plan recommendations, which include... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344219/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-whats-holding-back-citys-tech-and-talent-schemes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344219/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-whats-holding-back-citys-tech-and-talent-schemes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 01:00:27 +0000 Daryl Ng Daryl Ng The Hong Kong government has started the year with initiatives that have far-reaching impacts on the city’s long-term growth. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that he is spearheading Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan, which will promote broader integration with China’s five-year plan and ensure a bigger role for the city in the nation’s economic development. He also reaffirmed deeper engagement with countries in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia to open up new markets... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343896/building-asean-ties-puts-hong-kong-path-long-term-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3343896/building-asean-ties-puts-hong-kong-path-long-term-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen President Xi Jinping has deemed the acceleration of consumption and innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, an essential task as the world’s second-largest economy seeks to overcome challenges in 2026. The president’s priorities, officially laid out before the year began, were revealed to the public in a speech excerpt published on Monday by the ruling Communist Party’s leading theoretical journal. Xi emphasised the need to boost domestic demand, giving it the lion’s share of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343726/chinas-xi-prioritises-ai-plus-and-consumer-spending-counter-economic-headwinds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343726/chinas-xi-prioritises-ai-plus-and-consumer-spending-counter-economic-headwinds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:58:18 +0000