https://www.scmp.com/rss/325061/feed Hong Kong society news, including events, community and public affairs. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fiona Sun,Edith Lin Fiona Sun,Edith Lin Thousands of Hongkongers braced for heavy rain as they crossed the border into Shenzhen on the second day of the Easter holiday, taking advantage of the break to enjoy a wider range of shopping, dining and entertainment options at bargain prices. Many travellers on Saturday cited mainland China’s broader selection of shopping centres, restaurants and attractions as well as more affordable prices as key draws. Immigration statistics on Saturday showed that 153,272 residents had departed Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349029/thousands-hongkongers-brave-heavy-rain-shenzhen-trip-day-2-easter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349029/thousands-hongkongers-brave-heavy-rain-shenzhen-trip-day-2-easter?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 07:15:30 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin The Hong Kong government has demanded that the city’s largest franchised bus operator investigate the malfunctioning of its fare rebate machines, which provided free trips to passengers on the day a revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport subsidy scheme was implemented. The government told the South China Morning Post on Saturday that KMB would be responsible for paying the additional rebates that it accidentally provided to eligible passengers and other residents during the system malfunction on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349016/kmb-told-probe-machines-gave-free-bus-rides-revised-hk2-scheme-launched?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349016/kmb-told-probe-machines-gave-free-bus-rides-revised-hk2-scheme-launched?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:00:32 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin An award-winning documentary capturing the lives of six girls over 10 years by Hong Kong director Mabel Cheung Yuen-ting will be screened at a film festival in Italy, three years after it was pulled from local cinemas due to a lack of consent from interviewees. To My Nineteen-year-old Self, which centres on Ying Wa Girls’ School, was one of the four special screenings revealed in the Far East Film Festival’s line-up on Thursday. The film festival, to be held between April 24 and May 2 in Udine,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348981/hong-kong-documentary-pulled-cinemas-3-years-ago-set-be-screened?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348981/hong-kong-documentary-pulled-cinemas-3-years-ago-set-be-screened?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:43:40 +0000 Sue Ng Sue Ng A major Hong Kong catering and restaurant conglomerate has stepped up its annual fundraising efforts to provide emergency relief to those affected by the deadly Tai Po fire and long-term community projects for vulnerable groups. For more than 18 years, Maxim’s Group has supported Operation Santa Claus (OSC), an annual charitable fundraising initiative organised by the South China Morning Post and public broadcaster RTHK. “The (OSC’s) mission of ‘unlocking the city’s spirit of giving’ strongly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348932/operation-santa-claus-maxims-ramps-programmes-fundraising-tai-po-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348932/operation-santa-claus-maxims-ramps-programmes-fundraising-tai-po-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:52:23 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on April 3, 2011 If the altitude doesn’t give you a nosebleed, the room rates might By John Carney You could say it is the height of luxury. And if putting on the Ritz is your thing, it’s just the place for you. The highest hotel in the world opened in Hong Kong last week, and if the altitude doesn’t give you a nosebleed, the price of a room will. Taking up floors 102 to 118 of the International Commerce Centre (ICC), the five-star, 312-room Ritz-Carlton Hotel... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348732/worlds-highest-hotel-opens-hong-kongs-west-kowloon-2011-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348732/worlds-highest-hotel-opens-hong-kongs-west-kowloon-2011-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 03:11:08 +0000 Edith Lin,Leopold Chen Edith Lin,Leopold Chen An employee of the property management firm at Hong Kong’s inferno-ravaged Wang Fuk Court housing estate has admitted the company failed in its contractual obligations to identify and follow up on fire hazards, while none of its top management testified at an evidential hearing into the disaster. The eighth day of the hearing by the independent committee investigating the November 26 blaze that claimed 168 lives centred on Cheng Tsz-ying, a property officer at ISS EastPoint, the property... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348856/tai-po-blaze-hearing-property-firm-failed-identify-follow-fire-hazards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348856/tai-po-blaze-hearing-property-firm-failed-identify-follow-fire-hazards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:18:05 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu More than 30 groups and individuals have collectively called on the government to close loopholes in Hong Kong’s child sexual offence bill and provide greater protection to survivors. In a paper released on Thursday, the non-profit organisations and professionals also urged the judiciary to review its practice directions to safeguard child abuse victims who often suffered from intense cross-examination in court, which could lead to secondary harm. They highlighted the urgent need to examine... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348839/call-close-loopholes-hong-kongs-child-sexual-offence-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348839/call-close-loopholes-hong-kongs-child-sexual-offence-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:46:22 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to foster an inclusive society for people with autism, with a Unesco official saying the city has the potential to become a global hub for support services. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Thursday highlighted the importance of a better understanding and acceptance of autistic people at an event marking the United Nations’ World Autism Awareness Day. “Awareness is our starting point. Inclusion is our destination. Action is the bridge that joins them,” he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348838/hong-kong-can-become-global-hub-autism-support-unesco-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348838/hong-kong-can-become-global-hub-autism-support-unesco-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:06:55 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Anyone in Hong Kong found carrying more than five vape pods or 100 heat sticks in public will face a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to six months in jail from April 30, while those with smaller quantities will receive a fixed penalty of HK$3,000. The amended tobacco control law also provides for a future territory-wide ban on such products although no timeline has been set, the government said on Thursday. “The government decided to implement the ban in phases, starting with public places, due... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348825/hong-kong-impose-two-tier-penalty-carrying-vapes-public-april-30?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348825/hong-kong-impose-two-tier-penalty-carrying-vapes-public-april-30?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:39:49 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A Discovery Bay resident has lodged a complaint with the city’s ombudsman over authorities’ handling of a proposal to allow unrestricted taxi access to the resort-style seaside community in Hong Kong. A petition bearing 1,700 signatures from concerned residents has also been submitted to the Transport Department calling for proper public consultation and wider communications on the measures. Taxis have had limited access to Discovery Bay since 2014, restricted to the north plaza of the sprawling... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348792/discovery-bay-resident-files-ombudsman-complaint-over-plan-full-taxi-access?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348792/discovery-bay-resident-files-ombudsman-complaint-over-plan-full-taxi-access?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:36:44 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng The head of Hong Kong’s Catholic diocese has urged the government to offer young offenders a “second chance to start anew” and to introduce legal provisions to help those with minor criminal records pursue their careers. In his Easter message on Thursday, Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan also encouraged authorities to reduce the use of key performance indicators (KPIs) so that educators could have more time and space to better support students, amid persistently high youth suicide rates. “I call on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348768/hong-kongs-top-catholic-priest-calls-young-offenders-get-second-chance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348768/hong-kongs-top-catholic-priest-calls-young-offenders-get-second-chance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:34:24 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s CLP Power is distributing HK$100 (US$13) consumption coupons to about 600,000 eligible customers, including elderly people receiving concessionary tariffs, using HK$60 million from the company’s Community Energy Saving Fund. The initiative follows the power company’s earlier announcement that it would raise its fuel cost adjustment (FCA) charge starting this month, citing a discrepancy between forecast and actual fuel prices amid the United States-Israel war against Iran, which has... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348760/hong-kongs-clp-power-give-out-hk100-shopping-coupons-600000-customers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348760/hong-kongs-clp-power-give-out-hk100-shopping-coupons-600000-customers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:43:24 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying An 89-year-old Hong Kong man has been rescued after he was discovered clinging to the exterior wall of a care home in To Kwa Wan following a fall from a second-floor window. Care home staff filed a report with police at around 8am on Thursday, stating the man was hanging off the building at the intersection of Lok Shan Road and Ma Tau Wai Road. The force said he fell from the window while trying to retrieve something and clung to a section of the wall near an air-conditioning unit. Firefighters... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348755/hong-kong-man-89-rescued-after-being-found-clinging-care-home-exterior-wall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348755/hong-kong-man-89-rescued-after-being-found-clinging-care-home-exterior-wall?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:07:08 +0000 Fiona Sun,Theodora Yu Fiona Sun,Theodora Yu Shortly before the evening rush hour recently, chaos erupted at Hong Kong’s Wu Kai Sha MTR station when a wild boar stormed through the concourse. The animal, about 1.2 metres long and weighing around 40kg, knocked down an elderly man. The charging boar left a trail of blood on the station floor, injuring three other residents in a frenzied dash towards a nearby bus terminus and housing estates. “I saw it rampaging at the bus terminus while residents followed, snapping photos,” a woman working... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348718/it-time-call-end-hong-kongs-boar-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348718/it-time-call-end-hong-kongs-boar-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:30:10 +0000 Edith Lin,Leopold Chen Edith Lin,Leopold Chen Staff at the property management company at Hong Kong’s inferno-ravaged Wang Fuk Court housing estate acted with disregard for legal requirements, taking such actions as deactivating the fire safety system despite knowing they needed a registered contractor to do so, an evidential hearing has been told. Victor Dawes, lead counsel for an independent committee investigating the November 26 blaze that claimed 168 lives, also pointed to the management company’s workflow as a contributing factor in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348715/tai-po-probe-workers-turned-fire-safety-system-disregarding-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348715/tai-po-probe-workers-turned-fire-safety-system-disregarding-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:36:34 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A permanent exhibition showcasing Hong Kong’s history reopened on Wednesday after a major revamp that emphasised the city’s roots in Chinese culture, with visitors expressing mixed reactions to the changes. The “Hong Kong Story” exhibition – which opened in 2001 and closed for renovation in late 2020 – has been reduced from two storeys to a single floor, but expanded from eight to 10 galleries. The revamped exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui features more than 2,800... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348678/revamped-hong-kong-story-exhibition-spotlights-citys-roots-chinese-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348678/revamped-hong-kong-story-exhibition-spotlights-citys-roots-chinese-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:15:39 +0000 Ambrose Li,Danny Mok Ambrose Li,Danny Mok The parent company of Hong Kong online retailer HKTVmall has defended its life science project involving testing the viability of detached animal heads and limbs, responding to animal ethics concerns by saying no pets were experimented on. The Hong Kong Technology Venture Company, which revealed the project in its annual results on Monday, said it believed the research to be a world first that could be applied to organ transplants, potentially extending human lifespan. “The related experiments... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348638/hktvmall-parent-firm-under-fire-testing-how-long-detached-animal-heads-can-survive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348638/hktvmall-parent-firm-under-fire-testing-how-long-detached-animal-heads-can-survive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:14:21 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on April 2, 2016. by Eddie Lee Staff, fans bid farewell to broadcaster It was finally curtains for Asia Television last night (April 1, 2016) after a couple of near-shutdowns last month and one dramatic twist after another to the embattled station’s chequered final episode. Just before the stroke of midnight, the cash-strapped broadcaster pulled the plug after airing a re-run of one of its trademark Miss Asia beauty pageants. The only fresh programmes on air... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348605/worlds-first-chinese-language-tv-station-goes-air-2016-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348605/worlds-first-chinese-language-tv-station-goes-air-2016-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 04:30:08 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen A property management worker at the housing estate ravaged by Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades was unaware that fire alarms had been deactivated after the hose reel system was shut down for water tank repairs, an evidentiary hearing has been told. On the sixth day of hearings by an independent committee investigating the November 26 blaze in Tai Po that claimed 168 lives, questions also arose about why fire services water tanks on building roofs were being repaired – a move that prompted... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348578/tai-po-blaze-hearing-property-management-worker-unaware-fire-alarms-deactivated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348578/tai-po-blaze-hearing-property-management-worker-unaware-fire-alarms-deactivated?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:46:35 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong should adopt measures that better meet the needs of women and family development in its first five-year plan and take pragmatic steps to create a fair and inclusive society, the country’s top official on women’s affairs has said. State Councillor Shen Yiqin made the remarks at the Hong Kong Family and Women Development Summit on Tuesday. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also met her and pledged to advance work on family and women’s affairs and contribute more to national... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348565/beijings-top-official-womens-affairs-lays-out-3-goals-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348565/beijings-top-official-womens-affairs-lays-out-3-goals-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:21:34 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong police have arrested a 49-year-old bus driver on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death after a collision that killed two people on the Lantau Link highway. The double-decker operated by Long Win Bus was travelling on the Tsing Yi section of the highway headed towards Tung Chung on route E32A when it rammed into a stationary taxi at 11.16pm on Monday, the force said. Firefighters were called to the scene to rescue the 66-year-old taxi driver and his 37-year-old male passenger,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348464/bus-driver-arrested-hong-kong-after-crashing-stationary-taxi-killing-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348464/bus-driver-arrested-hong-kong-after-crashing-stationary-taxi-killing-2?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 01:39:27 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Fire alarm and firefighting pump systems at the housing estate engulfed in Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades were found to have been switched off a week before the tragedy struck, with no action taken to reactivate them, an evidential hearing has been told. An independent committee investigating the Tai Po blaze, which broke out on November 26 last year and killed 168 people, on Monday also called on the public to provide information on whether systemic problems – such as collusion – had... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348444/fire-alarm-pump-systems-switched-tragedy-tai-po-blaze-panel-told?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348444/fire-alarm-pump-systems-switched-tragedy-tai-po-blaze-panel-told?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 14:32:19 +0000 Leopold Chen,Matthew Cheng Leopold Chen,Matthew Cheng Survivors of Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades have mourned a woman who heroically knocked on neighbours’ doors to alert them to the flames but died in the tragedy, after fire alarms at Wang Fuk Court failed to go off. Pak Shui-lin’s husband, Sdanni Yip Ka-kui, and neighbour Lam Yin-ming, both Wang Tai House residents, praised the heroine for her kindness, but said that “she did not deserve to suffer such a fate”. They made the remarks on Monday as they testified at the fifth session of an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348431/tai-po-fire-survivors-mourn-heroine-who-alerted-neighbours-flames?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348431/tai-po-fire-survivors-mourn-heroine-who-alerted-neighbours-flames?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:17:00 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Displaced residents of the fire-hit blocks at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court may be allowed repeated trips back to their flats to collect belongings, after officials softened their stance amid an online petition appealing for greater flexibility. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said on Monday that residents who wished to go back and forth to pack their belongings could speak to their designated social workers. “We appreciate that residents do not want a ‘one-size-fits-all’ arrangement.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348401/hong-kong-eases-rules-wang-fuk-court-residents-retrieving-belongings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348401/hong-kong-eases-rules-wang-fuk-court-residents-retrieving-belongings?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 09:35:11 +0000 Leopold Chen,Matthew Cheng Leopold Chen,Matthew Cheng This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The hearings by an independent committee investigating the catastrophic Tai Po blaze that killed 168 people in Hong Kong entered their fifth day on Monday, with the company responsible for the fire safety systems at Wang Fuk Court estate testifying. Another seven residents testified on Monday at the City Gallery building in Central, including Yip Ka-kui,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348331/suspicious-voting-procedures-hong-kongs-wang-fuk-court-estate-resident-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348331/suspicious-voting-procedures-hong-kongs-wang-fuk-court-estate-resident-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:00:54 +0000 https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/series/3348341/navigating-autism-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/series/3348341/navigating-autism-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:41:27 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun In the first of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Fiona Sun examines how the city can mobilise stronger support from the private sector to turn systemic hurdles into opportunities. Hong Kong parent Raymond Lam Yiu-wah says caring for his five-year-old autistic son has been a constant source of stress, as the boy requires his full attention. The 42-year-old auditor said his son, diagnosed with autism at the age of two, had yet to speak in full sentences and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348304/hong-kongs-autism-support-services-are-fragmented-can-private-sector-help?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348304/hong-kongs-autism-support-services-are-fragmented-can-private-sector-help?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:30:13 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Last week, a friend and I chatted about our children’s favourite art pieces after happening upon an auction house’s exhibition in a building in the heart of Hong Kong’s business district. We both recalled stopping to look at Yayoi Kusama’s Mount Fuji prints. “I pass by the space twice every day,” my friend said. She told me that my son’s pick – a piece by Sam Francis – was a new installation, replacing what had been a display of handbags. How often do we pause to notice art, or enjoy life in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348095/hong-kong-can-draw-art-marchs-success-keeping-it-authentic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348095/hong-kong-can-draw-art-marchs-success-keeping-it-authentic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:30:11 +0000 Edith Lin,Vivian Au Edith Lin,Vivian Au Hong Kong authorities have warned former residents of fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court to brace themselves for the conditions in their homes when they return next month to collect belongings, while saying that those with health issues, among others, should not enter the buildings. The government also provided residents with psychological assessment questionnaires to help them decide whether to return home as part of an operation starting on April 20, according to notices seen by the South China... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348313/brace-yourself-conditions-fire-hit-wang-fuk-court-returning-residents-told?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348313/brace-yourself-conditions-fire-hit-wang-fuk-court-returning-residents-told?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 12:13:57 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong employers could face punitive surcharges for failing to pay outstanding contributions to their staff members’ pension accounts for extended periods, with data showing only one in six bosses settled the arrears within the prescribed two-week deadline. The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA), which manages the city’s pension plans, said it was working on a “two-tier surcharge” mechanism proposal that it hoped to present to the government by the middle of the year. In a blog... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348298/mpf-authority-propose-2-tier-surcharges-late-employer-contributions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348298/mpf-authority-propose-2-tier-surcharges-late-employer-contributions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 10:18:10 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Dedicated laws to streamline statutory procedures for Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis may speed up some projects by about one year, the development chief has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho also revealed on Sunday that the government was preparing to increase the residential component of some sites to make the investment more appealing for developers. The government unveiled a plan for proposed legislation earlier this month, comprising six main subsidiary laws designed to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348288/dedicated-northern-metropolis-laws-may-speed-projects-1-year-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348288/dedicated-northern-metropolis-laws-may-speed-projects-1-year-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:36:34 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hongkongers Oscar and Stella Chan, a couple in their late 60s, have little interest in moving into a traditional residential care home. The retired civil servants rent a flat in Ma On Shan in the New Territories and, while they acknowledge that ageing at home is not always “as straightforward as it sounds”, they believe conventional care homes can “feel restrictive”. “If my financial situation and health allow, I would much prefer not to stay in a residential care home for the elderly,” Oscar... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348254/hong-kongs-ageing-challenge-singapores-kampung-admiralty-model-answer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3348254/hong-kongs-ageing-challenge-singapores-kampung-admiralty-model-answer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A Hong Kong dancer left paralysed after being struck by a giant screen at a concert by popular boy band Mirror has for the first time shown himself moving independently in a wheelchair since the accident 3½ years ago. Mo Li Kai-yin, 31, shared an Instagram video on Saturday of him operating an electric wheelchair with the caption, “A 90 per cent introvert be like:” followed by a bashful emoticon. In the clip, he appeared to be in good spirits as he steered the wheelchair using his right hand.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348282/paralysed-hong-kong-dancer-mo-li-shares-video-himself-steering-wheelchair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348282/paralysed-hong-kong-dancer-mo-li-shares-video-himself-steering-wheelchair?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 06:18:24 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Four people have been injured in a multi-vehicle collision in Hong Kong’s Kowloon City after a van mounted a pavement and crashed into a wall. Police received a report at 8.34am on Sunday that a driver of a van travelling along Prince Edward Road West towards Mong Kok had lost control near the traffic lights at Earl Street, grazing a truck and a coach before crashing into the back of a car. The force of the impact propelled the van onto the pavement, where it came to a halt after hitting the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348278/4-injured-multi-vehicle-collision-busy-hong-kong-road?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348278/4-injured-multi-vehicle-collision-busy-hong-kong-road?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 05:40:36 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on March 30, 2011 by Danny Mok ‘Student Prince’ dies after heart problem Former actor Alan Tang Kwong-wing, known as the “Student Prince”, has died at home. He was 62. The family said he was checked by a family doctor for a heart problem at home in Kadoorie Avenue, Kowloon Tong, yesterday (March 29, 2011) afternoon. He was found collapsed on a bed by a maid around 9.30pm. Ambulance staff confirmed him dead at the scene. Police found nothing suspicious. Tang, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347799/2011-hong-kong-film-actor-alan-tang-dies-62-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347799/2011-hong-kong-film-actor-alan-tang-dies-62-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 04:30:07 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok All passengers departing from Hong Kong International Airport are now prohibited from carrying more than two power banks, effective immediately, the Airport Authority announced on Saturday night. Citing new rules from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department, the authority said the global body had announced the requirements to address emerging safety risks posed by lithium battery power banks. Under the new rules, each departing passenger... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348269/hong-kong-airport-caps-power-banks-2-passenger-line-global-rule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348269/hong-kong-airport-caps-power-banks-2-passenger-line-global-rule?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:21:33 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A Hongkonger has been rescued from Myanmar and transferred to Thailand after being held captive and forced to do illegal work, in an ordeal he described as a “horror movie”. The Security Bureau on Saturday said its dedicated task force had earlier received a request for help from the 25-year-old man who was trapped in Myanmar. It then liaised with the Chinese embassies in Myanmar and Thailand, the city’s economic and trade office in Bangkok and Thai authorities to launch a joint operation. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348261/horror-movie-hongkonger-rescued-after-forced-labour-ordeal-myanmar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348261/horror-movie-hongkonger-rescued-after-forced-labour-ordeal-myanmar?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:55:41 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have insisted that a three-hour time limit is sufficient for residents of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court to retrieve their belongings, with discretion to be exercised for those requesting a second entry. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said on Saturday that although each household could register up to four people to enter the building, only one person would be allowed into severely damaged flats owing to safety concerns. “With four people and three hours... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348242/hong-kong-defends-3-hour-limit-wang-fuk-court-residents-collect-belongings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348242/hong-kong-defends-3-hour-limit-wang-fuk-court-residents-collect-belongings?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 07:47:49 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au A series of artworks featuring six coats with distinctive features created by an Iranian-American artist for the Art Central festival invites Hongkongers to reflect on themes of memory and conflict amid the ongoing war in the Middle East. Elnaz Javani, who was born in Iran in 1985 and currently lives in the United States, told the South China Morning Post that the work also serves as a meditative space for Hongkongers at a time of rising global geopolitical tensions. She said her art also... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348233/us-based-iranians-cloth-works-art-central-reflect-complex-fabric-her-identity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348233/us-based-iranians-cloth-works-art-central-reflect-complex-fabric-her-identity?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong commuters have complained about chaotic scenes after services on a section of the East Rail line were suspended for about 2½ hours on Friday when a passenger opened an emergency exit on a train and was later found injured in a tunnel. The disruption caused chaos during rush hour. Affected stations were packed with passengers who later had to wait in long queues for alternative transport. A passenger on the affected train said a sudden power cut occurred, leaving people feeling... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348209/anger-after-chaotic-2-1/2-hour-disruption-east-rail-line-man-opens-train-exit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348209/anger-after-chaotic-2-1/2-hour-disruption-east-rail-line-man-opens-train-exit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:20:46 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Fiona Chow,Vivian Au Ng Kang-chung,Fiona Chow,Vivian Au Displaced residents from the seven fire-ravaged blocks of Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court will be allowed to return to their flats for up to three hours to collect their personal belongings, with the first group to return on April 20. Authorities said on Friday that each household could register up to four people to return to a flat, who would be accompanied by police officers, government social workers and support staff. They added that there would be a “very slim” chance that residents of Wang Chi... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348176/residents-fire-hit-wang-fuk-court-blocks-can-retrieve-belongings-mid-april?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348176/residents-fire-hit-wang-fuk-court-blocks-can-retrieve-belongings-mid-april?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:40:12 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hongkongers can expect thundery showers in the next few hours, the local weather forecaster has said. The Observatory issued the advisory notice at 3pm on Friday, urging the public to be aware of the weather change. “Areas of thundery showers now to the west of the [Pearl River Delta] are edging closer, and are expected to affect the territory in the next couple of hours,” it said. The weather would be mainly cloudy with a few showers in the afternoon and at night, with isolated thunderstorms at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348125/thundery-showers-hong-kong-expected-several-hours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348125/thundery-showers-hong-kong-expected-several-hours?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:46:10 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin An 81-year-old minibus driver and his six passengers have been injured in a crash involving three vehicles in Hong Kong, according to police. The force was alerted to the traffic accident at around 12.30pm on Friday in Sha Tin, involving a KMB bus, a minibus and a private car on Siu Lek Yuen Road near Kwong Sin Street. “As the vehicles approached the scene, the bus followed the traffic lights and stopped. The minibus allegedly collided with the private car and the bus while attempting to change... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348100/8-injured-3-vehicle-crash-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348100/8-injured-3-vehicle-crash-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:27:34 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Tech giant Google has introduced a mobile version of its Gemini AI chatbot to Hong Kong users, with the service swiftly topping Apple’s app store chart. The roll-out on Thursday followed Google’s announcement last week that it would gradually bring its generative AI services to Hong Kong, starting with Gemini web services before launching a mobile version. The popular AI product was previously unavailable to the general public in Hong Kong, with access limited to some local businesses,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348076/googles-gemini-ai-app-debuts-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348076/googles-gemini-ai-app-debuts-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:45:47 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong At least two bid-rigging syndicates could be linked to the HK$336 million (US$43 million) renovation bid for a housing estate destroyed in Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades, a lawyer for the competition watchdog has said at the fourth session of an evidential hearing. Lester Lee Hiu-leung, the Competition Commission’s executive director for legal services, also said on Thursday that the watchdog had not ruled out applying to the Competition Tribunal for damages from Will Power Architects... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348041/2-bid-rigging-syndicates-potentially-linked-estate-destroyed-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348041/2-bid-rigging-syndicates-potentially-linked-estate-destroyed-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:48:40 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Members of Hong Kong’s ethnic minority groups enjoy near-universal access to digital devices but are not benefiting as much as they could from online services, the equality watchdog has said, urging the government to harness AI to provide multilingual support and simplify app registration. In a study released on Thursday on improving the digital divide among ethnic minority groups, Equal Opportunities Commission chairwoman Linda Lam Mei-sau said members of the community primarily used electronic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348032/official-apps-pose-hurdles-hong-kongs-ethnic-minority-groups-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348032/official-apps-pose-hurdles-hong-kongs-ethnic-minority-groups-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:26:38 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Natalie Wong Lo Hoi-ying,Natalie Wong Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will increase its fuel surcharge for all flights by 34 per cent from April – the second increase in two weeks – citing “considerable pressure” as the war in the Middle East affects oil prices. The airline said on Thursday that considering the scale of recent surges in jet fuel prices, its fuel hedging measures were “insufficient” to mitigate and recover the cost. Fuel accounted for around 30 per cent of its operating costs last year, it said. From... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348004/cathay-increase-fuel-surcharge-all-flights-34-april?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348004/cathay-increase-fuel-surcharge-all-flights-34-april?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:34:06 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma An air-conditioner technician was critically injured after falling from a ladder in Hong Kong’s Tsuen Wan on Thursday morning. Police said they received a report at 9.18am that the man, who is in his sixties, had fallen while working at a building at 88 Yeung Uk Road. The man was unconscious when taken to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung, the force said. “As of 11.45am, the worker was admitted to the intensive care unit,” a police spokesman said. Fay Siu Sin-man, chief executive of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347969/air-con-technician-critically-injured-after-fall-ladder-tsuen-wan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347969/air-con-technician-critically-injured-after-fall-ladder-tsuen-wan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:53:41 +0000 Jess Ma,Danny Mok Jess Ma,Danny Mok Seven people have been injured, four critically, in a fire and explosions at a recycling yard in Hong Kong, forcing the evacuation of 300 people, including students and teachers on a nearby school trip. The blaze broke out at 11.01am on Thursday in a recycling yard at the junction of Ting Kok Road and Fung Yuen Road in Tai Po district. According to the Fire Services Department, it started in a scrap metal compactor housed inside a two-storey iron-sheet structure. The department deployed two... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347947/explosion-hong-kong-recycling-yard-injures-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347947/explosion-hong-kong-recycling-yard-injures-2?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 04:53:26 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. A public evidential hearing by an independent committee into a fire that killed 168 people at a Hong Kong estate entered its fourth day on Thursday, with more residents coming out to testify. One resident who testified in the morning said piles of rubbish were seen outside the building that first caught fire at Wang Fuk Court estate, while another who called... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347925/police-hotline-busy-piles-rubbish-estate-residents-say-tai-po-fire-hearing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347925/police-hotline-busy-piles-rubbish-estate-residents-say-tai-po-fire-hearing?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 02:57:56 +0000