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 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department has given approval for 3,600 old low-rise residential buildings to install a new Internet of Things (IoT) smart fire alarm system as an alternative to traditional fire-safety equipment, following a successful pilot scheme in the first quarter of this year. The IoT-enabled system consists of detectors installed in individual flats and public areas of the building, which send warning signals to the department within 60 seconds of detecting carbon monoxide or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355211/hong-kong-approves-smart-iot-fire-alarms-3600-old-buildings-after-pilot-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355211/hong-kong-approves-smart-iot-fire-alarms-3600-old-buildings-after-pilot-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 13:20:12 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A Hong Kong franchised bus operator has suspended a driver after video footage surfaced online showing him operating a vehicle without either hand on the steering wheel. The incident, which sparked widespread safety concerns on social media on Thursday, prompted KMB to launch an immediate investigation into the driver’s conduct. In a 17-second clip filmed from an adjacent vehicle, the driver can be seen completely releasing his grip on the steering wheel while the bus is in motion, instead using... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355207/hong-kong-bus-driver-suspended-after-video-shows-him-hands-free-wheel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355207/hong-kong-bus-driver-suspended-after-video-shows-him-hands-free-wheel?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 13:03:15 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities launched a search on Thursday for a 51-year-old man who failed to return home after setting out on a hike on Lantau Island the previous day, when the city recorded its highest temperature of the year. The man, surnamed Chan, left home on Wednesday morning, telling his family he planned to tackle section 8 of the Lantau Trail, which connects Shek Pik Reservoir with Kau Ling Chung on the southern part of the outlying island. But he did not return overnight, prompting his wife... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355183/search-launched-after-lantau-hiker-goes-missing-amid-hong-kong-heatwave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355183/search-launched-after-lantau-hiker-goes-missing-amid-hong-kong-heatwave?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 10:51:08 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Over seven in 10 regional companies operating in the Greater Bay Area are maintaining a “cautious stance” on expansion, planning to hire no more than 30 new staff over the next three to five years, a survey has found. There is, however, strong demand in the market for hybrid professionals who can blend technology and management expertise, according to the study. The survey was conducted between April and December last year by local recruitment firm KOS International and Guangzhou-based Sun... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355182/greater-bay-area-firms-cautious-about-hiring-hybrid-tech-talent-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355182/greater-bay-area-firms-cautious-about-hiring-hybrid-tech-talent-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 10:47:22 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s civil servants are in line for wage increases of up to 4.12 per cent this year, according to preliminary results from a pay trend survey, while 10 per cent of underperformers are set to be denied increments under a revamped appraisal system. The findings, based on data from 104 private companies and released on Thursday by the government, indicate pay increases of 4.12 per cent for senior civil servants, 2.64 per cent for middle-ranking staff and 1.17 per cent for junior... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355122/hong-kong-civil-servants-could-see-pay-rise-412-survey-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355122/hong-kong-civil-servants-could-see-pay-rise-412-survey-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 May 2026 04:21:39 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Three life scientists from mainland China and France have won Hong Kong’s Shaw Prize for developing a therapy that has turned a rare form of leukaemia from deadly to widely curable. Professor Emerita Anne Dejean, Professor Hugues de The and Professor Chen Zhu have won in equal shares the life sciences and medicine prize of the Shaw Prize, which has been dubbed the “Nobel Prize of the East”. The three academics were recognised for their discovery of the molecular and cellular bases of acute... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355084/3-scientists-win-hong-kongs-shaw-prize-developing-therapy-rare-leukaemia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355084/3-scientists-win-hong-kongs-shaw-prize-developing-therapy-rare-leukaemia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 16:00:49 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong authorities are seeking to inject HK$4.6 billion (US$587 million) into the government-owned postal service provider to sustain its operations for the next three years, following eight years of losses and declining mail volume. A document submitted to the Legislative Council on Wednesday by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau showed a bruising fiscal trajectory for the Post Office Trading Fund (POTF) of Hongkong Post since 2017-18. Self-financing since 1995, Hongkong Post has... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355080/stamp-approval-sought-hk46-billion-lifeline-struggling-hongkong-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355080/stamp-approval-sought-hk46-billion-lifeline-struggling-hongkong-post?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 14:18:04 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities have evicted more residents from a village in the New Territories to make way for the Northern Metropolis megaproject, with one family complaining they received the notice to move out just last month. But the Development Bureau said on Wednesday that it had notified residents of the deadline over the past two years and exercised discretion in postponing the dates, adding that more than 20 households vacated their homes peacefully and voluntarily during the action by the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355059/more-villagers-evicted-land-earmarked-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355059/more-villagers-evicted-land-earmarked-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 11:07:02 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Beijing has hailed the inclusion of Hong Kong’s first astronaut in the Shenzhou-23 mission as the “fruitful result” of the “one country, two systems” framework and believes that more young people from the city will be inspired to contribute to the country’s technological development. At a press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning described the successful launch of the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft and the arrival of Hong Kong payload specialist Lai Ka-ying at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355054/beijing-hails-hong-kong-astronauts-selection-result-one-country-two-systems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355054/beijing-hails-hong-kong-astronauts-selection-result-one-country-two-systems?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 10:57:06 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s secretary for justice has raised concerns that online accusations against the new public prosecutions director may have been based on information that came from inside his department, urging staff to come forward about the source of the allegations. The internal letter from Paul Lam Ting-kwok surfaced on Wednesday when US-based Hong Kong fugitive activist Frances Hui Wing-ting posted it on social media. She earlier cited “insiders among prosecutors” in accusing newly appointed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355046/hong-kong-justice-secretary-fears-possible-leak-allegations-against-prosecutor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355046/hong-kong-justice-secretary-fears-possible-leak-allegations-against-prosecutor?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 10:23:12 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A 68-year-old construction worker was in a critical condition after being struck by an electric chain hoist at a Hong Kong government site undergoing drainage replacement works on Wednesday morning. The site on Yen Chow Street in Sham Shui Po is part of the government’s drainage pipe replacement project that spans from Tsuen Wan to West Kowloon. The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Police said they received a report from the site at 8.30am. One of the victim’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355005/construction-worker-struck-falling-chain-hoist-site-critical-condition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3355005/construction-worker-struck-falling-chain-hoist-site-critical-condition?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 07:06:49 +0000 Marianna Lemus Boskovitch Marianna Lemus Boskovitch Hong Kong’s M+ museum recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Centre Pompidou in France, cementing a multi-year partnership that will cover collection, research and talent exchanges. This follows the 12 MOUs signed by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority during this year’s International Cultural Summit – bringing its total international partnerships to 46. With billions of dollars being poured into mega-events, arts hubs and wider cultural initiatives, we are... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354642/beyond-visitor-numbers-hong-kong-must-track-full-worth-its-art-and-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354642/beyond-visitor-numbers-hong-kong-must-track-full-worth-its-art-and-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] In Yau Ma Tei, street life, wet markets, night-time food stalls, small workshops and informal gathering spaces are tightly interwoven, giving the district its distinctive character and strong sense of place. A young cross-disciplinary team with background in architecture and urban planning believes this vibrant fabric can be strengthened through holistic urban renewal. Their proposal, “Heartbeat of the City, Voices of... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/society/topics/how-urban-renewal-can-keep-yau-ma-teis-street-life-alive/article/3351647/how-urban-renewal-can-keep-yau-ma-teis-street-life-alive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/society/topics/how-urban-renewal-can-keep-yau-ma-teis-street-life-alive/article/3351647/how-urban-renewal-can-keep-yau-ma-teis-street-life-alive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 16:00:05 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Debates continued to rage online after a Hong Kong school principal was filmed verbally abusing two South Asian security guards in Singapore, with viewers divided over whether his behaviour reflected a lack of manners or racial bias. Lee Cheuk-hing, the principal of San Wui Commercial Society Secondary School in Tuen Mun, was caught on camera behaving badly and swearing at two security guards during a school trip to Singapore last Friday. While many criticised the principal’s lack of courtesy,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354946/bad-mannered-or-racist-debate-rages-over-hong-kong-principals-singapore-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354946/bad-mannered-or-racist-debate-rages-over-hong-kong-principals-singapore-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 15:36:40 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Customers of Hong Kong’s CLP Power are facing higher electricity bills in June, with the company increasing its fuel cost charge by 5.4 per cent from May, its third consecutive monthly rise. CLP Power, which serves more than 80 per cent of Hong Kong’s population, announced on Tuesday that its fuel cost adjustment for June would rise to 42.6 HK cents (5.4 US cents) per kilowatt-hour (kWh), up from 40.4 cents in May. CLP’s monthly fuel cost charge has been rising steadily since March. The charge... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354908/clp-power-raise-electricity-price-fourth-straight-month-june?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354908/clp-power-raise-electricity-price-fourth-straight-month-june?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 10:04:37 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Thousands of Hongkongers were stuck for hours at multiple land checkpoints in what one traveller called “unprecedented” large crowds on Monday night, as more than 673,000 residents returned to the city from mainland China after the long weekend. Some were also reportedly turned away from the Shenzhen Bay border crossing before it closed that night. Among the 740,000 residents entering the city on Monday, about 90 per cent returned via land control points. According to statistics released by the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354859/hongkongers-stuck-hours-673000-return-land-checkpoints-after-long-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354859/hongkongers-stuck-hours-673000-return-land-checkpoints-after-long-weekend?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 05:40:34 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Three elderly Hong Kong hikers who were reported missing in Sai Kung have been found following a rescue operation that lasted more than 12 hours. The Fire Services Department called off the operation at 11.05am on Tuesday after the trio, all in their seventies, were located. None required hospital treatment. The early morning search prompted the development of a government helicopter. Police earlier said they received the initial report at 10.15pm on Monday from members of a hiking group, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354842/search-2-missing-hikers-continues-third-found-sai-kung-village?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354842/search-2-missing-hikers-continues-third-found-sai-kung-village?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 03:46:29 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu The Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon Ho-ming was blunt when he said, “Once there are no political issues, everything in Hong Kong is a livelihood issue.” He was also correct. Housing is this city’s biggest livelihood issue. It is also the hardest to tackle by far. The current administration has probably done more in this area than previous ones. Since Beijing’s top official for Hong Kong affairs Xia Baolong directly called for the eradication of subdivided flats and cage homes in 2021, the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354541/hong-kong-housing-small-shoebox-flat-wins-not-enough-fix-big-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354541/hong-kong-housing-small-shoebox-flat-wins-not-enough-fix-big-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters On the bathroom door of a cluttered, silent flat in Wang Fuk Court, a calendar remains on the page for November 2025 – the month a deadly fire broke out at the Tai Po estate in Hong Kong. Resident Joe* and his wife Annie* took photos of each room of their undamaged flat for what they believed would be their final visit. While time appeared to have stood still in this space, every room reeked of a mixture of sweat and mould, and ants crawled across dusty kitchen walls. A foul stench wafted out... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354749/wang-fuk-court-family-bid-final-farewell-after-salvaging-remains-their-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354749/wang-fuk-court-family-bid-final-farewell-after-salvaging-remains-their-home?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 12:14:15 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Leaving her family behind is the toughest part for Hong Kong’s first astronaut as she blasted off on Sunday for her six-month mission, according to her elder sister. Lai Ka-man recalled that when her sister, 43-year-old Hong Kong police superintendent Lai Ka-ying, was selected as a payload specialist in 2024, Ka-ying’s three children were still in primary school. They were now being cared for by both sets of grandparents and other family members. “When I saw my sister recently, I saw in her eyes... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354774/leaving-family-hardest-part-lai-ka-yings-space-mission-sister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354774/leaving-family-hardest-part-lai-ka-yings-space-mission-sister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 10:43:50 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong police have arrested a bus driver after his double-decker collided with a highway maintenance vehicle on Monday, injuring 22 people. The Transport Department said it had launched an investigation and expressed deep concern over the crash on the Tsing Kwai Highway, requesting detailed reports from the franchised bus company involved and the Tsing Ma Control Area operator. The bus driver, 39, who was slightly injured, was arrested for dangerous driving. Police received a report at 2.05pm... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354742/24-injured-after-double-decker-kmb-bus-crashes-highway-maintenance-truck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354742/24-injured-after-double-decker-kmb-bus-crashes-highway-maintenance-truck?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 07:09:44 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung Hong Kong’s note-issuing banks are replacing burnt cash for Wang Fuk Court residents, following emergency measures introduced by the city’s Monetary Authority and lenders to support those affected by last November’s devastating fire at the Tai Po estate. The extent of the residents’ financial losses came into the spotlight as they returned to the site to collect their belongings during a 15-day government operation that wrapped up earlier this month. When residents visited Wang Tai House, one of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354667/hong-kong-banks-replace-burnt-cash-residents-fire-ravaged-wang-fuk-court?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354667/hong-kong-banks-replace-burnt-cash-residents-fire-ravaged-wang-fuk-court?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 04:00:05 +0000 Ying Xu,Weishi Zhang Ying Xu,Weishi Zhang In the global shift towards carbon-neutral mobility, a striking role reversal is taking shape on the pavements of the world’s most populous cities. While geopolitical analysts focus on the high-altitude rhetoric of the Xi-Trump summit in Beijing, a more profound urban reality is unfolding at eye level. Broadcasting live from a teeming Beijing intersection, Fox News anchor Bret Baier recently captured this fascinating counter-narrative. Away from the grandeur of diplomacy, a small revolution is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3354183/hong-kong-can-empower-commuters-embracing-e-bikes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3354183/hong-kong-can-empower-commuters-embracing-e-bikes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 May 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Holly Chik,Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Holly Chik,Oscar Liu,Emily Hung An electric atmosphere swept from the edge of the Gobi Desert to Hong Kong on Sunday night, as thrilled residents erupted into cheers to celebrate the historic launch of the Shenzhou-23 space mission featuring the city’s first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying. Lai, a police superintendent and a mother of three, is serving as the payload specialist for the mission. At a Wong Chuk Hang student dorm of the University of Hong Kong, where Lai, 43, completed her doctoral degree in computer science, more than 50... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354696/hongkongers-praise-astronaut-lai-ka-ying-send-ceremony-jiuquan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354696/hongkongers-praise-astronaut-lai-ka-ying-send-ceremony-jiuquan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 15:08:13 +0000 Danny Mok,Leopold Chen,Lo Hoi-ying Danny Mok,Leopold Chen,Lo Hoi-ying Perennial “bun king” Kwok Ka‑ming captured the men’s crown for the 11th time at Hong Kong’s annual bun-scrambling competition on Cheung Chau, while Janet Kung Tsz‑shan – last year’s women’s champion – also successfully defended her title. The competition is the highlight of the annual Cheung Chau Bun Festival, which drew more than 18,000 visitors to the outlying island on Sunday, including tourists who travelled there to watch a parade featuring “floating” children dressed in costumes. Kwok, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354665/crowds-top-10000-hong-kongs-cheung-chau-bun-festival-parade-draws-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354665/crowds-top-10000-hong-kongs-cheung-chau-bun-festival-parade-draws-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 07:18:39 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin The leader of Hong Kong offered his praise and blessings to the first local astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, in a video call ahead of the launch of the Shenzhou-23 mission on Sunday, calling her participation a reflection of the country’s support for the city. In response, payload specialist Lai recalled her rigorous and demanding training in Beijing, which she noted had “finally come to an end”, while expressing absolute confidence in completing her mission. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu was joined... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354657/we-are-very-proud-john-lee-tells-first-hong-kong-astronaut-ahead-space-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354657/we-are-very-proud-john-lee-tells-first-hong-kong-astronaut-ahead-space-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 04:12:47 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Ken Mak’s greatest wish before leaving his village in Hong Kong this month is to save the fruit trees planted by his grandfather before the bulldozers arrive. To give the trees in Yick Yuen Tsuen in Tuen Mun a second chance, he hit on an idea: tree adoption. Within a week, Mak had recorded the species, height and girth of 53 fruit trees at his family-run flower farm and a nearby church. He compiled the information and photographs into a catalogue and led people on tours to view the trees. So... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354635/hong-kong-villager-steps-adopt-tree-bid-amid-northern-metropolis-evictions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354635/hong-kong-villager-steps-adopt-tree-bid-amid-northern-metropolis-evictions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng For the first time in a decade, a Hong Kong government task force did not conduct any publicity campaign covering gender identity and sexual orientation in the latest financial year, triggering concerns that authorities are taking a lukewarm attitude towards the local LGBTQ community. Figures from the Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Unit (GISOU), which falls under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, also showed that it only received seven complaints from 2015 to 2025, a figure... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354639/hong-kong-holds-annual-lgbtq-publicity-drive-community-being-forgotten?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354639/hong-kong-holds-annual-lgbtq-publicity-drive-community-being-forgotten?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 May 2026 01:00:28 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Matthew Cheng Ng Kang-chung,Matthew Cheng Lai Ka-ying suffers from motion sickness, cannot stand hot weather, was not a top student and did not speak Mandarin – all of which made the 43-year-old mother of three an unlikely pick as Hong Kong’s first astronaut. But the Hong Kong-born payload specialist on China’s Shenzhou-23 mission, which is expected to blast off on Sunday night and head to the Tiangong space station, made it through nearly two years of training. “I held a ‘let’s give it a try’ attitude,” Lai said in interviews with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354648/lets-give-it-try-motion-sickness-no-barrier-hong-kongs-first-astronaut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354648/lets-give-it-try-motion-sickness-no-barrier-hong-kongs-first-astronaut?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 16:04:41 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s first astronaut will operate a locally developed observatory that monitors key sources of greenhouse gas emissions on Earth during her time aboard the Tiangong space station, the research team behind the project has said. The imaging equipment could pinpoint the location and intensity of emissions, providing data that could be used to reduce carbon sources in the Greater Bay Area and elsewhere in mainland China, Professor Li Jia of Lingnan University said on Saturday. Payload... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354636/hong-kongs-astronaut-gather-data-using-observatory-created-local-teams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354636/hong-kongs-astronaut-gather-data-using-observatory-created-local-teams?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 12:13:19 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s justice department has rejected online accusations about the newly promoted public prosecutions director and a colleague, labelling the allegations “despicable behaviour” and an attempt to “defame public officers”. In a statement on Saturday, the department said it had referred the case to law enforcement agencies for further investigation, vowing to “severely punish lawbreakers in accordance with the law”. US-based Hong Kong fugitive activist Frances Hui Wing-ting has accused the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354630/hong-kongs-justice-department-rejects-despicable-claims-targeting-prosecutors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354630/hong-kongs-justice-department-rejects-despicable-claims-targeting-prosecutors?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 10:44:56 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Nearly 10,000 Hongkongers have been granted permanent residence in the UK under a bespoke British immigration pathway launched in January 2021, making them eligible to apply for citizenship next year. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the British National (Overseas) visa pathway, which allows successful applicants and their dependants to live, work and study in the United Kingdom for up to five years. “Since the scheme began, there have been a total of 9,804 grants of settlement to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354629/nearly-10000-hongkongers-granted-permanent-uk-residence-under-bno-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354629/nearly-10000-hongkongers-granted-permanent-uk-residence-under-bno-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 10:40:34 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen A group of Hongkongers have started the city’s first corpse restoration team, aiming to provide affordable reconstruction services for badly disfigured bodies so the dead can be buried with dignity and their families can find some comfort. The six-member team, under local funeral information sharing platform RIPHK, has handled more than 10 cases since it started operations last December, including victims who died in the Tai Po fire in November. After the disaster, a professional corpse... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354619/dignity-dead-6-hongkongers-form-citys-first-corpse-restoration-team?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354619/dignity-dead-6-hongkongers-form-citys-first-corpse-restoration-team?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 08:32:18 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au A fatal fire at a subdivided flat on Thursday has highlighted the need to eradicate substandard housing in Hong Kong, the housing minister has said, noting that affected residents had a living space of just five square metres (54 sq ft) on average. Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin was referring to a blaze that killed one resident and injured four others, saying it underscored the importance of the new Basic Housing Units Ordinance. “In the flat [where the tragedy occurred], each resident... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354614/fatal-subdivided-flat-fire-highlights-need-tackle-substandard-homes-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354614/fatal-subdivided-flat-fire-highlights-need-tackle-substandard-homes-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 07:06:38 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong authorities will consider requiring claw machine operators to display the odds of winning, while remaining open to increasing prize values and maximum payouts under proposed changes to the regulatory regime, the home affairs minister has said. “The most important thing is to protect players and consumers, ensure they play in a safe environment, and prevent addiction,” Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen told a radio programme on Saturday. “These are our... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354609/new-law-could-require-displaying-odds-licensee-info-claw-machines-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354609/new-law-could-require-displaying-odds-licensee-info-claw-machines-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 05:59:30 +0000 William Yiu,Connor Mycroft William Yiu,Connor Mycroft Ten passengers and crew members were injured when a Cathay Pacific Airways flight from Brisbane to Hong Kong was hit by severe turbulence on Saturday, with one traveller saying it felt like “free-falling from a drop tower” as everyone screamed and items flew through the air. The passenger said the sudden drop in altitude lasted about two seconds and occurred two hours before the expected landing time, just as flight attendants were about to serve economy-class passengers their meals. Cathay said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354606/10-injured-severe-turbulence-cathay-pacific-flight-brisbane-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3354606/10-injured-severe-turbulence-cathay-pacific-flight-brisbane-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 04:18:30 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung For Hongkonger Annyee Chan, the decision to stop breastfeeding her son at eight months was a pragmatic response to a city that often feels at odds with the needs of nursing mothers. Returning to work just one month after childbirth, the self-employed wealth management professional faced a gruelling logistical challenge, navigating a city with sparse nursing facilities while lugging heavy pumps, bottles and coolers on her daily commute. “I managed to breastfeed my child quite well, and I... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354583/how-can-hong-kong-help-mothers-infants-reverse-falling-breastfeeding-rate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354583/how-can-hong-kong-help-mothers-infants-reverse-falling-breastfeeding-rate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 04:00:10 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s first astronaut has encouraged the city’s young people to chase their dreams, declaring that “there must be a better tomorrow” if everyone works hard and bears the country in mind when pursuing one’s goals. Payload specialist Lai Ka-ying, one of three astronauts on the Shenzhou-23’s mission to China’s Tiangong space station scheduled to launch on Sunday evening, told Hongkongers in a press conference on Saturday that she would “ga yau”, meaning to step up efforts in Cantonese. “Thank... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354603/hong-kong-astronaut-testament-countrys-regard-citys-talent-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354603/hong-kong-astronaut-testament-countrys-regard-citys-talent-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 03:10:09 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma If you are working on a space station orbiting hundreds of kilometres above Earth, the woman set to become Hong Kong’s first astronaut when the mission launches this weekend is exactly the kind of person you want by your side, according to the professor who supervised her postgraduate studies. Lai Ka-ying was meticulous, patient and a skilled communicator who could break down highly technical ideas for others, Chow Kam-pui, an honorary associate professor at the University of Hong Kong, told the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354601/lai-ka-ying-hong-kongs-first-astronaut-her-mentor-saw-her-talent-years-ago?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354601/lai-ka-ying-hong-kongs-first-astronaut-her-mentor-saw-her-talent-years-ago?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 02:10:18 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Graduates of Hong Kong’s largest vocational training institution have largely avoided the negative effects of AI and could reap more internship opportunities from a coming megaproject, the body’s new leader has said. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, newly appointed Vocational Training Council (VTC) chairman Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung also vowed to review the courses to align them with emerging job opportunities. The government earlier revealed that entry-level jobs for university... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354552/graduates-top-vocational-school-spared-brunt-ai-impact-new-chairman-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354552/graduates-top-vocational-school-spared-brunt-ai-impact-new-chairman-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:12 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung HK Electric customers are set to pay more for their energy bills next month after the Hong Kong company announced a 20.4 per cent rise in its fuel charge as the ongoing war in the Middle East contributed to volatile oil prices. The energy provider, which mainly serves Hong Kong Island and Lamma Island, also warned on Friday that the charge was expected to continue rising “in the coming months”. HK Electric announced it would adjust its fuel clause charge for June to 31.3 HK cents per unit of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354568/hk-electric-customers-set-steeper-bills-june-over-volatile-oil-prices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354568/hk-electric-customers-set-steeper-bills-june-over-volatile-oil-prices?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 12:47:18 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on May 23, 1976. Australia’s long distance swimming heroine, Linda McGill, staggered ashore at crowded Repulse Bay beach yesterday afternoon (May 22, 1976) after completing her round Hong Kong Island swim and said: “I’d do it again – for A$20,000 (HK$883,817 in 2026).” Linda, looking exhausted and close to collapse after just over 17 hours in the water, fell into the arms of her fiance, Dr Bruce Logan, and hundreds of spectators clapped and cheered. With cameras... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354073/australias-linda-mcgill-makes-first-swim-around-hong-kong-island-1976-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354073/australias-linda-mcgill-makes-first-swim-around-hong-kong-island-1976-scmp-archive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 05:30:05 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A Hong Kong resident was killed and four others were injured after a fire broke out late on Thursday in an old building under renovation in Jordan, prompting the evacuation of about 300 people. Police said on Friday that they received a report at 10.49pm the previous day of a fire at a subdivided flat in the 62-year-old Man Yuen Building on Man Wai Street. The Fire Services Department deployed 20 fire engines, 10 ambulances and 106 personnel, and extinguished the blaze at 11.53pm. The department... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354448/1-dead-4-injured-hong-kong-subdivided-flat-fire-forces-300-be-evacuated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354448/1-dead-4-injured-hong-kong-subdivided-flat-fire-forces-300-be-evacuated?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 02:14:42 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au The new industrial park under the Northern Metropolis megaproject has attracted strong global interest from companies in environmental and AI sectors, its chairman has said, with plans to provide international education and accommodation facilities. Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, the newly appointed chairman of the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company, also aims to have the park operational by July next year, describing it as a “nice gift” for Hong Kong’s 30th anniversary of its return to Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354359/northern-metropolis-industrial-park-draws-global-interest-ai-green-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354359/northern-metropolis-industrial-park-draws-global-interest-ai-green-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 May 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong authorities have ordered a licensed mobile ice cream vendor in Central to stop selling soft ice cream after a sample was found to contain coliform bacteria levels exceeding the legal limit. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s Centre for Food Safety said on Thursday that the sample contained 310 coliform bacteria per gram, more than three times the limit of 100 per gram under the Frozen Confections Regulation. The watchdog said it had informed the licence holder of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354424/mobile-ice-cream-vendor-central-told-stop-selling-product-due-bacteria?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354424/mobile-ice-cream-vendor-central-told-stop-selling-product-due-bacteria?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 15:54:52 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong authorities are extending an operation targeting poorly maintained fire safety equipment for another two years, aiming to inspect 5,000 high-risk old buildings after an initial phase resulted in 75 prosecutions. Law Kin-san, acting senior divisional officer for policy at the Fire Services Department, said on Thursday that ad hoc checks on high-risk buildings would prioritise residential blocks wrapped in scaffolding nets and those undergoing major renovation. “Unlike new buildings,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354416/operation-targeting-fire-safety-old-hong-kong-buildings-extended-2-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354416/operation-targeting-fire-safety-old-hong-kong-buildings-extended-2-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 14:37:47 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin As many as two-thirds of 158 subdivided housing tenants supported by an NGO in Hong Kong have shown signs of anxiety or depression, highlighting calls for stronger counselling and social support. The Kwun Tong Methodist Social Service (KTMSS) said on Thursday that it had served 158 families living in subdivided flats in the district in 2024-25, about half of whom had at least one child with special educational needs. The households had an average monthly income of about HK$15,350 (US$1,960),... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354336/anxiety-depression-plague-two-thirds-subdivided-flat-tenants-ngo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354336/anxiety-depression-plague-two-thirds-subdivided-flat-tenants-ngo?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 06:23:33 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu At least one man was injured in a 10-vehicle pile-up on Hong Kong’s Tuen Mun Road during the Thursday morning rush hour. Police received the first report of the collision near Sham Tseng Fire Station on the Yuen Long-bound fast lane of the major highway at 7.47am, while an amber rainstorm warning was in force. A driver in his thirties reported hand injuries after the airbag in his private car deployed during the crash, according to police. Videos circulating online showed vehicles slamming into... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354302/man-injured-hong-kong-10-vehicle-crash-during-rush-hour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354302/man-injured-hong-kong-10-vehicle-crash-during-rush-hour?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 02:39:51 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hundreds of parents have criticised Hong Kong’s weather forecaster after children were required to attend school during heavy downpours, with many complaining of flooded streets and difficult commutes even after the year’s first red rainstorm warning was downgraded. The Observatory issued the red rainstorm signal at 2.40am on Thursday as intense rainbands battered the city, followed by a flooding alert for the northern New Territories. The middle-tier warning, which is issued when rainfall... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354295/hong-kong-crews-fight-flooding-robotic-dragons-after-intense-downpours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354295/hong-kong-crews-fight-flooding-robotic-dragons-after-intense-downpours?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 01:23:45 +0000 Edith Lin,Theodora Yu Edith Lin,Theodora Yu A Hong Kong migrant workers’ group has urged authorities to expand a pedestrian area in Central on Sundays, as a section of a landmark garden that serves as a popular gathering spot for domestic helpers will temporarily close for the construction of a pedestrian underpass. The subway is part of the tender requirements for a Central harbourfront site secured by developer Henderson Land Development. It will run below Statue Square Gardens and connect the Central MTR station at Chater Road to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354279/hong-kong-helpers-cry-out-popular-garden-central-close-underpass-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354279/hong-kong-helpers-cry-out-popular-garden-central-close-underpass-work?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 01:00:16 +0000