https://www.scmp.com/rss/325061/feed Hong Kong society news, including events, community and public affairs. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Theodora Yu Theodora Yu More than half of working carers in Hong Kong have never used the family-friendly measures offered by their companies, a study has found, sparking calls from experts to change workplace cultures to prevent carers being stigmatised. The findings came even as the study, released on Thursday, also showed carers benefited from measures such as flexible working hours and working from home, which led to fewer symptoms of depression and reduced the burden of caregiving. Bobo Lau Hi-po, a professor at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373391/hong-kong-working-carers-shun-family-friendly-measures-amid-stigma-fears-study https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373391/hong-kong-working-carers-shun-family-friendly-measures-amid-stigma-fears-study Thu, 05 Nov 2026 09:22:02 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on November 6, 1976. Concorde arrives, softly, softly by Mark Giles The supersonic age hit Hongkong yesterday (November 5, 1976) – not with a bang, as many expected, but with a whisper. Concorde, the Anglo-French airliner, arrived from Manila on a demonstration flight with Mrs Imelda Marcos, wife of the Philippine President, as special guest. While the aircraft stopped over before returning to the Philippines, the First Lady and her party found time to do some... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373104/concorde-lands-hong-kongs-kai-tak-first-time-1976-scmp-archive https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373104/concorde-lands-hong-kongs-kai-tak-first-time-1976-scmp-archive Thu, 05 Nov 2026 03:15:13 +0000 Lexi Tian Lexi Tian The installation of anti-ram bollards costing HK$5 million (US$637,230) has begun at a busy crossing in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay to prevent vehicles from mounting crowded pavements, sparking debate over whether the safety barriers justify the price tag. By Wednesday afternoon, workers had installed four fixed bollards along the pavement outside the landmark Sogo department store, while construction continued on the ground behind temporary barriers. Officials said the bollards and crash barriers... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373282/roll-out-hk5m-anti-terrorism-bollards-causeway-bay-draws-mixed-reactions https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373282/roll-out-hk5m-anti-terrorism-bollards-causeway-bay-draws-mixed-reactions Wed, 04 Nov 2026 10:58:47 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung After spending 12 gruelling hours battling the Tai Po inferno, frontline firefighter Ah Fai* could not have imagined that, barely a year later, his department would find itself under the harsh glare of public scrutiny. The trauma of that night is still raw. He remembers burning debris from the bamboo scaffolding raining down from above, blocking one of the main entrances of Wang Fuk Court. “Our colleagues simply had no chance of getting in,” he said. Those who eventually breached the towers were... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373182/praised-heroes-stung-criticism-firefighters-torn-over-tai-po-blaze-report https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373182/praised-heroes-stung-criticism-firefighters-torn-over-tai-po-blaze-report Wed, 04 Nov 2026 00:30:56 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hongkongers moving to the United Kingdom under the British National (Overseas) visa scheme will be exempt from plans to double the qualifying period for settlement to 10 years, according to an official announcement. But they will still face stricter English-language requirements and tighter rules on criminal records, alongside existing conditions such as completing five years of continuous residence and passing the Life in the UK test. British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Monday outlined... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373178/hong-kong-bno-visa-holders-exempt-uks-proposed-10-year-settlement-wait https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373178/hong-kong-bno-visa-holders-exempt-uks-proposed-10-year-settlement-wait Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:27:09 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Think you can steer a drone using nothing more than your own concentrated thoughts? It may sound like science fiction, but mind-controlled drone-flying is one of the free activities the public can take part in at the upcoming Being Human Festival in Hong Kong. Running from November 5 to 15, the festival is the first Hong Kong edition of the UK’s national festival of the humanities, which was founded in 2014. Organised by the University of Hong Kong (HKU)’s Faculty of Arts under the theme... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3372981/mind-controlled-drone-flying-hong-kongs-being-human-festival-among-varied-programme https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3372981/mind-controlled-drone-flying-hong-kongs-being-human-festival-among-varied-programme Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:15:06 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong journalists may have to rely on judicial reviews if the government refuses to provide land records under a proposed new system, although authorities have vowed to simplify applications and deliver records in as little as one to two working days. Officials made the pledge on Tuesday as lawmakers raised concerns over possible restrictions on media access during the first meeting of a Legislative Council subcommittee examining eight pieces of subsidiary legislation for the proposed land... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373152/journalists-may-need-judicial-review-access-land-records-under-new-rules https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373152/journalists-may-need-judicial-review-access-land-records-under-new-rules Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:39:43 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Jess Ma Lo Hoi-ying,Jess Ma Hong Kong homeowners’ pushback against proposals to limit proxy votes and restrict meeting attendance to relatives has prompted authorities to study alternatives to resolve estate management issues behind the deadly Tai Po fire. In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau revealed the findings of its month-long public consultation on amendments to the Building Management Ordinance, part of proposed reforms after the Wang Fuk Court fire that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373145/hong-kong-homeowners-prompt-government-rethink-proxy-vote-proposals https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373145/hong-kong-homeowners-prompt-government-rethink-proxy-vote-proposals Tue, 03 Nov 2026 10:04:10 +0000 Fiona Sun,Danny Mok Fiona Sun,Danny Mok Hong Kong’s transport authorities have launched an investigation into a four-hour outage of the parking meter system that affected about half of all machines across the city and have ordered operator HKT to submit a report. The Transport Department also said that motorists who paid for parking during the outage between 8.20am and 12.15pm on Tuesday would receive a refund. The department said preliminary investigations showed that a system software update conducted in the early hours of Tuesday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373109/transport-authorities-demand-answers-after-4-hour-parking-meter-outage https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373109/transport-authorities-demand-answers-after-4-hour-parking-meter-outage Tue, 03 Nov 2026 07:36:02 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee Retail is making a comeback in Hong Kong. Deloitte China reported an encouraging HK$203 billion (US$25.9 billion) in sales volume in the first half of 2026, beating expectations. Accordingly, they forecast the retail market to reach HK$412 billion by the end of this year. A retail revival should directly translate into reduced vacancies for the city’s bricks-and-mortar stores. However, while high street vacancies dropped to 9.1 per cent, the lowest since 2020, vacancies in prime shopping centres... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3372750/hong-kongs-malls-must-evolve-green-sanctuaries-stay-relevant https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3372750/hong-kongs-malls-must-evolve-green-sanctuaries-stay-relevant Tue, 03 Nov 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Funeral proceedings for Ng Hon-mun, an influential pro-Beijing educator and long-serving Hong Kong deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC), will begin on Wednesday, with three former city leaders heading the funeral committee. Ng died peacefully on October 18, aged 100. His wake will be held at Hong Kong Funeral Home in North Point from 5pm on Wednesday, followed by a memorial gathering at 7pm. A public memorial service will take place at 10am on Thursday, according to an obituary seen by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373021/3-former-hong-kong-leaders-head-funeral-committee-educator-ng-hon-mun https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373021/3-former-hong-kong-leaders-head-funeral-committee-educator-ng-hon-mun Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:54:21 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Meta Platforms has confirmed it discussed privacy concerns surrounding smart glasses with the Hong Kong watchdog, as the US tech giant’s AI-enabled eyewear goes on sale in the city amid mounting international scrutiny. The company briefed Hong Kong media on Monday, days after the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) warned that smart glasses could enable covert recording, excessive collection of personal data, and processing of sensitive information through AI. “We take... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373007/meta-says-it-met-hong-kong-privacy-watchdog-over-ai-enabled-glasses-concerns https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373007/meta-says-it-met-hong-kong-privacy-watchdog-over-ai-enabled-glasses-concerns Mon, 02 Nov 2026 11:39:12 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s new renovation monitoring body will encourage legitimate consultants and contractors previously plagued by intimidation from bid-rigging syndicates to return to the market, industry representatives have said, potentially lowering costs for homeowners in the long run. Renovation and construction sector players said on Monday that the new Building Maintenance Support and Services Council, headed by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, would heighten scrutiny of the tendering process,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372942/new-renovation-body-will-draw-legitimate-contractors-back-market-sector-says https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372942/new-renovation-body-will-draw-legitimate-contractors-back-market-sector-says Mon, 02 Nov 2026 05:31:30 +0000 Danny Mok,Eric Jiang Danny Mok,Eric Jiang Hong Kong tour groups returning from Japan have praised a smooth roll-out of the country’s new tax refund arrangement that requires travellers to complete refund procedures at airports or ports rather than at shops. Under the “pay first, refund later” scheme, which took effect on Sunday to curb illicit domestic reselling and tax evasion, international tourists must now pay the 10 per cent consumption tax upfront at the counter. Travellers are now required to complete customs verification before... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372903/less-minute-hong-kong-travellers-praise-japans-new-tax-refund-airports https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372903/less-minute-hong-kong-travellers-praise-japans-new-tax-refund-airports Sun, 01 Nov 2026 14:43:46 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The Hong Kong Bar Association has warned that a proposed phased redevelopment of the High Court, which could span more than a decade, is “not workable” and risks deterring legal practitioners from joining the bench. The association, the professional body for barristers, urged the government to consider faster alternatives, such as repurposing the existing District Court building. In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post on Sunday, association chairman Jose-Antonio Maurellet SC... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372893/high-court-redevelopment-plan-not-workable-hong-kong-bar-association-warns https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372893/high-court-redevelopment-plan-not-workable-hong-kong-bar-association-warns Sun, 01 Nov 2026 12:05:39 +0000 Vivian Au,Lam Ka-sing Vivian Au,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s security chief has conceded that keeping pre-qualified lists of building repair contractors completely free of criminal elements will be challenging, even with a new government measure to combat bid-rigging through background vetting by enforcement agencies. Discussing the administration’s response to a report on the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po – which found the Fire Services Department bore responsibility alongside three other government bodies – Secretary for Security... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372872/criminalising-bid-rigging-bring-revolutionary-overhaul-sector-minister https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372872/criminalising-bid-rigging-bring-revolutionary-overhaul-sector-minister Sun, 01 Nov 2026 06:49:30 +0000 Ambrose Li,Jayson Albano Ambrose Li,Jayson Albano Celebrating one’s 18th birthday is not typically a poignant occasion, but for Hongkonger Chen Tsz-kin, adulthood began with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. At 18 months old, Chen was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic condition that causes muscles to weaken over time. Doctors told his mother, Michelle Li Yuan-feng, that people with the incurable illness had an average life expectancy of 18. The latest medical consensus, however, is that those with the disease might live... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372861/be-alive-hongkonger-muscular-dystrophy-turns-18-against-all-odds https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372861/be-alive-hongkonger-muscular-dystrophy-turns-18-against-all-odds Sun, 01 Nov 2026 04:00:20 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu A Vincent van Gogh painting not shown publicly for more than 60 years recently drew hundreds of people to Sotheby’s Hong Kong. Painted in May 1890, Châtaigniers en fleurs (Chestnut Trees in Flower) is a major work from his Auvers-sur-Oise period and could set an auction record. For three days, Sotheby’s opened the private collection to public viewing in Hong Kong. Its brief stay raises a question about the city’s art hub ambitions: what lasting expertise can be built around a masterpiece that... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3372464/hong-kongs-art-trading-hub-ambitions-rest-more-headline-sales https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3372464/hong-kongs-art-trading-hub-ambitions-rest-more-headline-sales Sun, 01 Nov 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Paul Yip Paul Yip What kind of living space can truly be called a “home”? That was the question on my mind when I visited United Court, a transitional housing estate in Tung Tau, Yuen Long, run by the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council. While there, I shared my thoughts on building a mental health-friendly community. Nine years ago, I took part in a community-based poverty study and interviewed residents in inadequate housing. I still remember families describing their living space as little more than a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3372381/hongkongers-need-more-4-walls-and-roof-make-home https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3372381/hongkongers-need-more-4-walls-and-roof-make-home Sat, 31 Oct 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A Hong Kong man believed to have accidentally fallen from a height struck a domestic helper on the podium of a luxury housing estate in West Kowloon on Saturday, with the pair sent to hospital. Police said they received a report at 7.43pm that the man had fallen at 1 Austin Road West and landed on the podium, hitting the woman. A police spokesman said both were conscious at the scene, with the man taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the woman sent to Kwong Wah Hospital. He added that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372850/hong-kong-man-falls-luxury-housing-complex-striking-domestic-helper-below https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372850/hong-kong-man-falls-luxury-housing-complex-striking-domestic-helper-below Sat, 31 Oct 2026 15:28:33 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Jess Ma Connor Mycroft,Jess Ma Revellers packed Lan Kwai Fong dressed as golden Buddhas, Lipton tea drink cartons and bottles of ketchup and mustard, with bars expecting a business bump of more than 50 per cent as Hong Kong’s first “Halloween Month” roared to a close on Saturday. By 7.30pm police were urging revellers to celebrate elsewhere as the area in Central was packed. There was a 45-minute wait for visitors inside the departure hall at Huanggang, according to the Security Bureau. Party-goers travelling from mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372835/bars-expect-50-jump-sales-final-night-hong-kongs-halloween-month https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372835/bars-expect-50-jump-sales-final-night-hong-kongs-halloween-month Sat, 31 Oct 2026 10:30:45 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau A UK-registered air ambulance and family support charity has issued an urgent appeal for a donated private flight to bring a critically ill baby boy home from Hong Kong. Lia’s Wings said on Friday that nine-month-old Matthew, from Nottinghamshire, had travelled to Hong Kong with his mother several months ago to visit relatives. He fell ill with influenza A and suffered three cardiac arrests, leaving him critically ill in hospital. His brain was reportedly deprived of oxygen for 47 minutes. His... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372825/appeal-private-flight-bring-critically-ill-british-baby-home-hong-kong https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372825/appeal-private-flight-bring-critically-ill-british-baby-home-hong-kong Sat, 31 Oct 2026 08:56:09 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together 10 stories from our coverage on the full report of the Wang Fuk Court fire, released almost a year since the tragedy claimed 168 lives. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. John Lee apologises for Tai Po fire, unveils reforms as housing chief resigns Hong Kong’s leader has apologised for last year’s deadly Tai Po fire, vowing extensive civil service and legislative reforms and an overhaul of government departments as his housing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372768/hong-kong-has-released-full-report-tai-po-fire-tragedy-heres-all-you-need-know https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372768/hong-kong-has-released-full-report-tai-po-fire-tragedy-heres-all-you-need-know Sat, 31 Oct 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s planned renovation monitoring body will consider bigger subsidies for homeowners in ageing buildings, older districts and areas with more elderly residents who use its supervision services for major repairs, the finance chief has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Saturday that the Building Maintenance Support and Services Council, set up to curb malpractice in the industry after the Tai Po blaze, would be non-profit but would have to recover its costs, since owners... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372819/new-renovation-body-may-offer-bigger-subsidies-ageing-hong-kong-districts https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372819/new-renovation-body-may-offer-bigger-subsidies-ageing-hong-kong-districts Sat, 31 Oct 2026 06:48:49 +0000 Cannix Yau,Jess Ma Cannix Yau,Jess Ma The personal data of nearly 17,000 students based in mainland China who applied to take two international exams through the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) has been leaked after its information system was compromised. The authority said the leaked data included the names, dates of birth and email addresses of about 16,900 students. It added that there was no evidence that the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) Examination or any other tests had been affected. “The HKEAA... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372817/nearly-17000-students-hit-data-leak-hong-kong-exams-authority https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372817/nearly-17000-students-hit-data-leak-hong-kong-exams-authority Sat, 31 Oct 2026 06:06:09 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Even as Hong Kong remains the world’s least affordable housing market, many buyers still shun heavily discounted homes linked to an “unnatural death”, such as murder or suicide, according to property agents. Prices for such properties could fall by as much as 50 per cent, while rents were typically about 20 per cent below market rates, they added. The aversion stands in stark contrast to parts of Europe, particularly in France, where buyers are often willing to purchase homes under a “vente en... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3372257/scary-deals-what-makes-hong-kong-shun-death-linked-homes-while-france-embraces-risk https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3372257/scary-deals-what-makes-hong-kong-shun-death-linked-homes-while-france-embraces-risk Sat, 31 Oct 2026 03:00:13 +0000 Natalie Wong,Vivian Au Natalie Wong,Vivian Au Hong Kong’s development chief has rejected accusations of a policy U-turn over the establishment of a dedicated agency to help flat owners with building repair tenders, insisting the agency’s planned remit differs fundamentally from one rejected a decade ago. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, in a press conference on Friday, elaborated on the scope of work of the Building Maintenance Support and Services Council, which will be established by the end of this year. She was asked if... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372786/hong-kong-development-chief-denies-u-turn-over-agency-support-homeowners https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372786/hong-kong-development-chief-denies-u-turn-over-agency-support-homeowners Fri, 30 Oct 2026 14:24:13 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Ministers have defended their decision not to step down over the deadly Tai Po fire, insisting they are putting Hong Kong’s well-being ahead of personal considerations. A senior official also hinted that a successor might not be named to replace Winnie Ho Wing-yin, who resigned as housing minister to take political accountability for the city’s deadliest disaster in decades. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, who is now serving as acting housing minister, apologised alongside three... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372783/hong-kong-ministers-defend-decision-not-resign-over-deadly-tai-po-fire https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372783/hong-kong-ministers-defend-decision-not-resign-over-deadly-tai-po-fire Fri, 30 Oct 2026 14:04:01 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin A planned renovation monitoring body could be held liable for poor oversight when recommending and keeping tabs on consultants and contractors, Hong Kong’s development chief Bernadette Linn Hon-ho has warned, as officials detailed broader reforms to curb malpractice during major building repairs. Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun also gave assurances on Friday that a new department overseeing major renovation projects would adopt a fresh approach and provide training, despite being... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372776/hong-kongs-planned-renovation-body-may-be-liable-poor-oversight-minister https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372776/hong-kongs-planned-renovation-body-may-be-liable-poor-oversight-minister Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:59:13 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s security chief has expressed confidence that a new joint task force led by him will eradicate the decades-long problem of bid-rigging, while denying that the reforms came too late after the deadly Tai Po fire. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung also said on Friday that law enforcement officers would attend meetings of owners’ corporations where the risk of bid-rigging was deemed high to gather frontline intelligence and intervene early. Authorities also hope to pass new... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3372757/security-chief-vows-his-task-force-will-root-out-bid-rigging-hong-kong https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3372757/security-chief-vows-his-task-force-will-root-out-bid-rigging-hong-kong Fri, 30 Oct 2026 11:36:39 +0000 Kristen Cheung,Lexi Tian Kristen Cheung,Lexi Tian Hong Kong officials’ apology over the deadly Tai Po blaze nearly a year ago came too late, residents of the fire-ravaged estate have said, as they urged authorities to learn from the disaster and pursue long-term reforms. Several Wang Fuk Court residents also said on Thursday the resignation of housing minister Winnie Ho Wing-yin could not answer for cross-departmental failings, adding that institutional overhaul would be ineffective unless officials enforced rules, exercised sound judgment and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372622/why-did-it-take-11-months-apology-too-late-some-tai-po-fire-survivors https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372622/why-did-it-take-11-months-apology-too-late-some-tai-po-fire-survivors Fri, 30 Oct 2026 04:46:00 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Hong Kong’s M+ museum, New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Centre Pompidou in Paris signed an agreement on October 30 to establish a three-way cultural alliance, aiming to redefine how visual culture is collected, exhibited and shared globally. The framework agreement, signed at M+ in the West Kowloon Cultural District, departs from conventional short-term blockbuster touring exhibitions and fee-based satellite franchises. With no money changing hands, the institutions will focus on... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3372366/hong-kongs-m-forges-new-alliance-moma-and-centre-pompidou-redefine-museum-loans https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3372366/hong-kongs-m-forges-new-alliance-moma-and-centre-pompidou-redefine-museum-loans Fri, 30 Oct 2026 03:15:06 +0000 Edith Lin,Vivian Au,Kristen Cheung,Lo Hoi-ying,Leopold Chen Edith Lin,Vivian Au,Kristen Cheung,Lo Hoi-ying,Leopold Chen This live article is freely available to our registered users. Please log in or create an account. Hong Kong authorities provided more details about reforms to tackle bid-rigging and enhance oversight of building maintenance projects, in response to the city’s deadliest fire in decades. The government held two press conferences on Friday to provide details about the reforms, after an independent committee that investigated the Tai Po fire pointed to inadequacies in the government’s oversight of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372651/ai-system-screen-contractors-mid-2027-part-sweeping-tai-po-fire-reforms https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372651/ai-system-screen-contractors-mid-2027-part-sweeping-tai-po-fire-reforms Fri, 30 Oct 2026 02:29:12 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan No protester sets out expecting a friend to be arrested, injured or caught in a confrontation with the police. Yet when that happens, the reasons for returning to the streets can change. People may return not only because of the cause that first brought them out, but because they believe a friend has been treated unjustly. That is how anger becomes personal, and how a protest can move towards a dangerous cycle of action and reaction. This is the risk confronting France. The student protests... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3372437/frances-protests-hong-kongs-2019-risk-being-defined-violence https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3372437/frances-protests-hong-kongs-2019-risk-being-defined-violence Fri, 30 Oct 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s leader has apologised for last year’s deadly Tai Po fire, vowing extensive civil service and legislative reforms and an overhaul of government departments as his housing chief Winnie Ho Wing-yin resigned to offer political accountability. A grim-faced Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and seven other top officials bowed their heads in apology on Thursday at the start of a press briefing, the first time his administration had directly expressed regret since the blaze on November 26 at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372634/hong-kongs-john-lee-apologises-tai-po-fire-unveils-reforms-housing-chief-resigns https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372634/hong-kongs-john-lee-apologises-tai-po-fire-unveils-reforms-housing-chief-resigns Thu, 29 Oct 2026 16:08:24 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung Hong Kong’s security chief has vowed to implement tougher enforcement against unauthorised shutdowns of fire safety systems and a structural overhaul of the Fire Services Department (FSD) after it was criticised for relying on a “passive, paper-driven” audit regime. The independent committee that investigated the Wang Fuk Court fire said in its report released on Thursday that the department had received notices that the estate’s fire hydrant and hosepipe reel system had been deactivated for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372626/security-chief-vows-revamp-fire-department-after-report-censures-lax-inspections https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372626/security-chief-vows-revamp-fire-department-after-report-censures-lax-inspections Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:18:59 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung No government department took effective ownership of fire safety risks ahead of the deadly Tai Po fire in Hong Kong, allowing complaints made by residents to fall into a vacuum, according to an independent committee. At the release of the 1,154-page full report on Thursday, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said he would lead a steering committee to review and implement the more than 100 recommendations of the independent committee. The recommendations included the criminalisation of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3372624/residents-were-left-helpless-departments-passed-ball-safety-complaints https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3372624/residents-were-left-helpless-departments-passed-ball-safety-complaints Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:00:16 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s housing chief has resigned to take political responsibility for the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court, offering condolences to the families of the victims and expressing hope that those who perished may rest in peace. Winnie Ho Wing-yin said on Thursday that she submitted her resignation to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu the previous day, becoming the only minister-level official so far to resign over the fire. “As the secretary for housing, I’m willing to bear political... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372620/hong-kong-housing-chief-quits-over-tai-po-fire-accepts-political-responsibility https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372620/hong-kong-housing-chief-quits-over-tai-po-fire-accepts-political-responsibility Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:45:18 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong will establish a dedicated body to oversee building renovations as part of a wide-ranging overhaul that includes restructuring the Buildings Department and tightening regulation of contractors. The move was revealed on Thursday as Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his ministers offered a formal apology over the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November. His administration was establishing a Building Maintenance Support and Services Council as part of the reforms, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372619/hong-kong-set-new-body-oversee-building-renovations-regulatory-overhaul https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372619/hong-kong-set-new-body-oversee-building-renovations-regulatory-overhaul Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:41:47 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s disgraced Independent Checking Unit (ICU) will be disbanded as part of reforms in the wake of the city’s deadliest fire in decades, after a judge-led inquiry identified it as the government arm with the greatest responsibility for the Wang Fuk Court inferno. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Thursday that the Housing Bureau would undergo internal restructuring, under which the ICU would be replaced by a new Public Housing Building Control Section. Deputy Financial Secretary... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372616/hong-kong-replace-disgraced-housing-unit-over-deadly-tai-po-fire https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372616/hong-kong-replace-disgraced-housing-unit-over-deadly-tai-po-fire Thu, 29 Oct 2026 13:04:36 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A combination of a lit cigarette and an “abundant fuel” of combustible materials caused Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, according to a long-awaited report which found the blaze would not have killed so many people, or happened at all, without “human fault”. Eleven months after the deadly fire tore through Wang Fuk Court, killing 168 and displacing thousands, an independent committee’s report released on Thursday assigned blame to the main contractor for renovations at the housing estate,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372602/lit-cigarette-combustibles-and-human-fault-led-deadly-hong-kong-fire-report https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372602/lit-cigarette-combustibles-and-human-fault-led-deadly-hong-kong-fire-report Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:11:47 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong A long-awaited report on the Wang Fuk Court fire released by Hong Kong authorities on Thursday set out how a chain of systemic failures across the government and the construction sector led to the deaths of 168 people. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu alongside top officials announced an array of decisions, ranging from the resignation of the housing chief and setting up a new body to assist homeowners in renovation projects to criminalising bid-rigging that was regarded by officials as “the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372584/chain-failures-5-key-takeaways-report-tai-po-blaze https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372584/chain-failures-5-key-takeaways-report-tai-po-blaze Thu, 29 Oct 2026 09:12:35 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This live article is freely available to our registered users. Please log in or create an account. The Hong Kong government has released a deeply scathing report by an independent committee probing the city’s deadliest blaze in decades, with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu holding a press conference alongside top officials to outline the administration’s consequent actions and systemic reforms. Sources earlier said that at least one senior official would take the rap for the tragedy as part of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372542/tai-po-fire-inquiry-hard-hitting-report-tragedy-set-be-released https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372542/tai-po-fire-inquiry-hard-hitting-report-tragedy-set-be-released Thu, 29 Oct 2026 06:40:49 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Soft skills and deep domain knowledge will decide how far young workers go in the age of artificial intelligence, Hong Kong’s labour chief has said, predicting that demand for AI practitioners with both technical capability and professional expertise will grow three- to fourfold. Rejecting fears that automation will replace the human workforce, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han dismissed the claim as a “zero-sum game”, stressing that the future lay in close collaboration between... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3372443/human-master-labour-chief-says-ai-reshaping-jobs-not-ending-them https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3372443/human-master-labour-chief-says-ai-reshaping-jobs-not-ending-them Wed, 28 Oct 2026 11:30:09 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities are searching for an elderly man who went missing in a remote rural area of Tai Po three days ago. Tung Chung-yin, 80, was last seen at Wu Kau Tang in Plover Cove Country Park on Sunday. His family reported him missing to police on Tuesday. A search was launched on Tuesday night and continued on Wednesday. Police have appealed to the public for information on his whereabouts. Tung, who has short grey hair, is about 1.7 metres tall (5 feet, 7 inches), weighs about 75kg and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372457/authorities-search-elderly-hong-kong-man-missing-tai-po-3-days https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372457/authorities-search-elderly-hong-kong-man-missing-tai-po-3-days Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:33:20 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin About 70 per cent of subdivided flats in Hong Kong have been registered for a grace period under a new law aimed at eradicating substandard homes, with most submissions coming from landlords in Kowloon’s Yau Tsim Mong district, according to the Housing Bureau. The bureau told the Legislative Council on Wednesday that 75,070 subdivided homes across about 21,000 whole flats had been registered for the three-year grace period since applications opened in March under the new Basic Housing Units... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372442/kowloon-leads-70-hong-kongs-subdivided-flats-registered-grace-period https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372442/kowloon-leads-70-hong-kongs-subdivided-flats-registered-grace-period Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:30:46 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s government-owned postal service reported a record operating deficit of HK$905 million (US$115 million) in 2025-26, its ninth straight annual loss. In its annual report published on Wednesday, Hongkong Post said the past year showed its “resilience and adaptability” despite a volatile economic environment and an escalating geopolitical situation. “The emergence of protectionism, tightening customs policies in various places, increasing terminal dues and rising operating costs posed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372405/hongkong-post-reports-record-hk905-million-deficit-ninth-year-losses https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372405/hongkong-post-reports-record-hk905-million-deficit-ninth-year-losses Wed, 28 Oct 2026 06:39:06 +0000 Leopold Chen,Olga Wong Leopold Chen,Olga Wong Hong Kong’s leader is expected to announce reforms introducing criminal penalties for bid-rigging on Thursday, when the government will also release the final investigation report on the Tai Po inferno, the South China Morning Post has learned. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his senior officials would outline the proposed measures and give an update on efforts to pursue “administrative accountability” at a press conference, a government source said on Wednesday. Senior officials... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372377/hong-kong-propose-criminal-penalties-bid-rigging-after-deadly-tai-po-fire https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372377/hong-kong-propose-criminal-penalties-bid-rigging-after-deadly-tai-po-fire Wed, 28 Oct 2026 03:15:19 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong lawmakers have raised concerns about the hefty cost of developing a flagship tech hub and a neighbouring wetland park near the city’s border with mainland China, as the government seeks to secure a fresh HK$27 billion for the second round of works. During a Legislative Council development panel meeting on Tuesday, government officials explained the HK$27.2 billion proposal. It covers forming 175 hectares (432 acres) of land at the San Tin Technopole, establishing more than one-third of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372338/hong-kong-lawmakers-raise-concerns-about-fresh-hk27-billion-funding-tech-hub https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372338/hong-kong-lawmakers-raise-concerns-about-fresh-hk27-billion-funding-tech-hub Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:34:43 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A former Deliveroo rider who suffered severe brain injuries in a traffic accident has taken the platform to a Hong Kong court to seek compensation, arguing that resolving the legal question of his employment status at the time of the accident warrants a full trial. In the District Court on Tuesday, Deliveroo’s Hong Kong liquidator applied to strike out the lawsuit, contending that the injured worker, Lok Sze-chun, offered only a “bare assertion” to support his claim of being entitled to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372308/injured-hong-kong-delivery-rider-seeks-full-trial-employment-status-question https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372308/injured-hong-kong-delivery-rider-seeks-full-trial-employment-status-question Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:20:46 +0000