https://www.scmp.com/rss/325236/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A planned supercomputing hub in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis could overtake the MTR Corporation rail operator as the city’s single largest electricity consumer, prompting a green group and experts to call for setting energy efficiency standards to limit the sector’s carbon emissions. According to The Green Earth’s estimates, the new project – set to begin operating in 2029 – could increase the industry’s annual carbon emissions by about 70 per cent compared with current levels. Experts have... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348294/northern-metropolis-data-hub-may-surpass-mtr-corp-hong-kongs-top-power-consumer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348294/northern-metropolis-data-hub-may-surpass-mtr-corp-hong-kongs-top-power-consumer?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words WWF’s Earth Hour marks 20 years since its Sydney inception and 18 in Hong Kong. What began as a symbolic lights-off event has grown into one of the world’s largest environmental movements. As we prepare to switch off on March 28, the message must evolve from symbolism to urgent... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347936/earth-hour-hong-kong-should-resolve-switch-lasting-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347936/earth-hour-hong-kong-should-resolve-switch-lasting-change?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The long-range weather forecast for Hong Kong may seem like good news at first. The city’s weather experts have predicted four to seven typhoons between the months of June and October, or fewer than half the record-breaking 14 recorded last year. However, complacency could be dangerous. The Hong Kong Observatory also projects above normal temperatures under the influence of the warming El Nino weather phenomenon amid intensifying global climate challenges. Hong Kong Observatory director Chan... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347836/community-preparation-key-hong-kong-braces-extreme-weather?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347836/community-preparation-key-hong-kong-braces-extreme-weather?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin A section of Hong Kong Island’s southwest coast at Aberdeen will be revamped into a new marina with 200 berths, a clubhouse and about 250 private flats by 2032 as part of government efforts to boost yacht tourism. The Development Bureau said on Wednesday that it aimed to launch a tender in the first half of next year – the first for a marina in nearly 40 years. It also noted there was strong market interest in the project. To clear the 1.16-hectare (2.8-acre) seaside site near Po Chong Wan, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347892/new-200-berth-marina-clubhouse-planned-hong-kong-revamp-aberdeen-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347892/new-200-berth-marina-clubhouse-planned-hong-kong-revamp-aberdeen-site?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:51:23 +0000 Xianji Wen Xianji Wen For decades, parts of Hong Kong’s border like the Frontier Closed Area have been shrouded in mystery, their natural landscapes preserved as much by policy as by their remote geography. Recent plans to relax restrictions – including discussions around the Mai Po closed area – and the establishment of the Robin’s Nest Country Park signal a new era of accessibility. Having co-managed the Mai Po nature reserve for decades, the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWF) views this shift with both... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346778/hong-kongs-border-tourism-push-must-not-put-mai-po-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346778/hong-kongs-border-tourism-push-must-not-put-mai-po-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Emily Hung,Theodora Yu Emily Hung,Theodora Yu After decades at the front lines campaigning for environmental protection, The Green Earth founder Edwin Lau Che-feng is slowing down to focus on his health and hobbies. The 68-year-old has been one of the most vocal environmentalists championing a waste-charging scheme for more than two decades. Lau still remembers May 27, 2024, when the government abruptly paused the waste-charging bill, as if it were yesterday. The suspension was the biggest blow in his 36-year career. “It feels impossible.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347420/veteran-activist-warns-shrinking-space-green-advocacy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347420/veteran-activist-warns-shrinking-space-green-advocacy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:00:20 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Breaking down barriers to expedite the Northern Metropolis project has become an overriding priority of the Hong Kong government, and tailor-made legislation to do just that is now on the way. This is a right step forward. Hong Kong must ensure the new laws serve the need for both speed and standards – clearing obstacles that have been holding back the city from efficient progress without sacrificing the necessary safeguards for standards and quality. Comprising six main subsidiary laws designed... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347141/special-laws-can-help-northern-metropolis-pick-pace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347141/special-laws-can-help-northern-metropolis-pick-pace?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:15:14 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong may introduce pilot schemes for booking campsites before the National Day holiday in October, as authorities revealed that 32 people were prosecuted for offences in Sai Kung’s country parks over the Chinese New Year holiday. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told the Legislative Council on Wednesday that most of those prosecuted were non-locals charged with littering. Authorities had earlier said they were considering implementing a booking system and charging fees for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347018/hong-kong-test-new-campsite-booking-system-amid-overcrowding-litter-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347018/hong-kong-test-new-campsite-booking-system-amid-overcrowding-litter-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:54:53 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson In the early 1980s, coral carpeted the seabed under the Tolo Harbour in northeastern Hong Kong. Coverage reached as high as 70 to 80 per cent in some areas, comparable to what scientists now see in the city’s marine parks. Within a few years, almost all of it was gone. “Not a lot of people actually know about this,” says Dr Apple Chui Pui-yi, assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences at Chinese University. As nearby towns such as Sha Tin and Tai Po developed, pollution and sewage... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3346172/hong-kong-scientist-trying-revive-citys-coral-reefs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3346172/hong-kong-scientist-trying-revive-citys-coral-reefs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A Hong Kong researcher has called for stricter regulations and urged the public to use electronics more responsibly after a study found toxic pollutants from laptops, televisions and smartphones in the bodies and brains of endangered dolphins and porpoises that washed up on the city’s beaches. Yuhe He, an associate professor at City University of Hong Kong and one of the study’s authors, said he was alarmed to find that liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) – the pollutants identified in the research –... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346676/hong-kong-researcher-sounds-alarm-after-toxic-electronic-waste-found-dolphins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346676/hong-kong-researcher-sounds-alarm-after-toxic-electronic-waste-found-dolphins?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 13:28:11 +0000 Kitty Tam,Calvin Au Kitty Tam,Calvin Au When people picture Hong Kong, they often imagine a relentless concrete jungle – a vertical city where glass and steel dominate the skyline. Yet a quiet revolution is beginning to reshape how our city develops. Last week, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department jointly launched the Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines. This landmark document signals a shift in how we think about infrastructure and urban planning. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The crowds visiting Hong Kong’s scenic sites during Chinese New Year highlighted the value of these precious natural attractions. Ecotourism is a core component of the government’s plan to broaden the city’s appeal as a tourist destination. This will require ecologically sensitive areas to be carefully conserved. A report by environmental group Greenpeace Hong Kong this month raised concerns about the impact of an oil spill on wetlands in Pui O, South Lantau, last September. The site is home to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346450/hong-kong-must-protect-ecological-health-its-natural-assets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346450/hong-kong-must-protect-ecological-health-its-natural-assets?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A protected Hong Kong wetland on southern Lantau Island has recorded a high concentration of petroleum following an oil spill in September, with levels up to 40 times higher than those in unaffected areas, according to an environmental group’s study. Greenpeace in Hong Kong said the high concentration could threaten local ecology. It urged authorities to investigate the oil spill and include unprotected sites with high ecological value in the priority conservation projects under the Biodiversity... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346007/hong-kong-wetland-records-40-times-more-petroleum-after-oil-spill-greenpeace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346007/hong-kong-wetland-records-40-times-more-petroleum-after-oil-spill-greenpeace?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:30:18 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Plastic pollution, long associated with marine degradation and contaminated soil, is increasingly recognised as a pressing urban health concern. Recent scientific findings indicate that Hong Kong’s residents may be inhaling large quantities of microscopic plastic particles daily.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3345727/hong-kong-cannot-afford-ignore-threat-microplastic-pollution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3345727/hong-kong-cannot-afford-ignore-threat-microplastic-pollution?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A wild boar bit a hiker in Hong Kong before it fell down a flight of stairs and died, according to police. A police spokesman said the victim, 57, had arrived at a public toilet at Boon Kin Village in Tseung Kwan O on Friday morning while hiking with her husband, also 57, and a friend, when the boar suddenly emerged and chased her. Shocked, the woman fell, hitting her head – resulting in swelling on her forehead – and scratching her limbs, police said. Some witnesses reportedly said nearby... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345776/wild-boar-bites-hiker-tumbles-its-death-down-flight-stairs-village?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345776/wild-boar-bites-hiker-tumbles-its-death-down-flight-stairs-village?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:55:57 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong authorities arrested a man after the discovery of 14 endangered reptiles, including a crocodile and two pythons, at an industrial site in Kwai Chung. A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said on Wednesday evening that officers arrested the man in a blitz operation the previous night. “The AFCD will remain vigilant and continue to monitor and collect intelligence through various channels and proactively take enforcement action to combat offences... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345472/man-arrested-after-14-endangered-reptiles-found-kwai-chung-industrial-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345472/man-arrested-after-14-endangered-reptiles-found-kwai-chung-industrial-site?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:58:16 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A government lawyer has said that an environmental study on the impact of building 12,000 public flats on part of Hong Kong’s oldest golf course holds “no legal effect”, as authorities appeal a court ruling that may send the project back to the consultation stage. The Court of Appeal began hearing oral arguments on Tuesday over an environmental impact assessment report for the public housing project on 9.5 of 32 hectares (23.5 acres) that the government reclaimed from the 172-hectare golf course... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345312/hong-kong-government-says-golf-course-flats-study-has-no-legal-effect-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345312/hong-kong-government-says-golf-course-flats-study-has-no-legal-effect-appeal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:13:15 +0000 Quentin Parker Quentin Parker Hong Kong sees itself as a modern, well-governed, global city that moves with the times. On finance, education, legal services and logistics, that self-image holds. But when considering the green transition, particularly transport electrification, the gap between rhetoric and reality is increasingly hard to ignore. Nowhere is this more evident than in electrifying the taxi fleet, where the quarter-century timeline floated bears little resemblance to what is standard practice in neighbouring... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Excitement about an influx of tourists during the recent Chinese New Year “golden week” was tarnished by the sight of some rural Hong Kong beaches being turned into congested tent cities. It is good that the authorities are considering fees and other solutions to counter holiday rushes. The problem was obvious on beaches in Sai Kung, where more than 900 tents were pitched along Ham Tin Wan. At nearby Sai Wan, nearly half of the campers had illegally pitched shelters outside designated... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344859/hong-kong-wants-ecotourism-not-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344859/hong-kong-wants-ecotourism-not-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong environmental groups have urged the government to focus on accelerating the commercial use of electric vehicles and enhancing green infrastructure, after scrapping a tax concession scheme for private cars that has cost HK$30 billion over the past decade. Green groups said on Friday that they supported the government’s decision to end the first registration tax (FRT) concessions for private electric cars, including the “One-for-One Replacement Scheme”. The move was announced by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344934/commercial-ev-use-needs-boost-after-car-owner-tax-break-ends-green-groups-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344934/commercial-ev-use-needs-boost-after-car-owner-tax-break-ends-green-groups-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong A wild boar was euthanised in Hong Kong hours after it roamed inside an MTR station and a housing estate on Friday, injuring five people who were either knocked down, bitten or had attempted to capture the animal. Police said they received multiple reports of sightings of the boar at Wu Kai Sha station and the Lake Silver housing complex at 5.08pm. A woman, 68, was reportedly bitten by the animal, police said. Two men and another woman, aged 45 to 87, were knocked down. They were taken to Prince... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344905/3-injured-hong-kong-after-wild-boar-wanders-residential-area?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344905/3-injured-hong-kong-after-wild-boar-wanders-residential-area?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:12:11 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Two years ago, amid plans for a citywide waste-charging scheme, the Hong Kong government rolled out smart food waste recycling bins on private housing estates with two years of free maintenance and collection services. This practical step reduced the city’s food waste, which still... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344549/extend-support-smart-food-waste-bins-across-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344549/extend-support-smart-food-waste-bins-across-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s conservation authorities have defended their handling of heavy visitor flows to Sai Kung’s country parks over the Lunar New Year holiday, saying crowd levels at the popular spots stayed under control despite concerns about overcrowding, with 32 enforcement cases recorded during the period. But a Sai Kung district councillor also said that the number of campers at some popular sites had far exceeded recommended capacity levels, arguing that the government should consider introducing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344420/crowds-campsites-not-out-control-hong-kong-conservation-authorities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344420/crowds-campsites-not-out-control-hong-kong-conservation-authorities?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:52:13 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Campers and hikers have urged Hong Kong authorities to step up public education, law enforcement and impose foot traffic limits at campsites after some areas were flooded with visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday. A visit by the South China Morning Post on Saturday to Ham Tin Wan, a beach in Sai Kung, found about 50 visitors and 30 tents. Empty plastic bottles, used tissue paper and chocolate wrappers were seen lying on the sand and in bushes and shrubs. Officers from the Agricultural,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344225/calls-better-supervision-hong-kongs-campsites-after-areas-inundated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344225/calls-better-supervision-hong-kongs-campsites-after-areas-inundated?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 14:03:04 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen A green group has called for long-term measures to tackle overtourism in Hong Kong’s scenic Sai Kung district after the number of tents at a campsite reached more than nine times its capacity on the second day of Lunar New Year, although authorities described the situation as “under control”. Greenpeace said on Thursday that it had counted 585 tents at the Ham Tin Wan and Sai Wan campsites the previous day, far exceeding the designated capacity of 50 at each location. Ham Tin Wan had 450 tents... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344030/green-group-calls-action-after-hong-kong-campsites-packed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344030/green-group-calls-action-after-hong-kong-campsites-packed?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:25:52 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Eight people have fallen ill after eating seafood at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong, adding to a spate of food poisoning cases in recent weeks. The five men and three women developed diarrhoea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever between 25 and 75 hours after dining in two groups at the Clipper Lounge in the hotel on Connaught Road Central on January 31 and February 2. The Centre for Health Protection said four sought medical advice but none required hospitalisation. All were now in a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342971/8-people-fall-ill-after-eating-seafood-hong-kongs-mandarin-oriental-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342971/8-people-fall-ill-after-eating-seafood-hong-kongs-mandarin-oriental-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 15:53:16 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The recent incident that saw a routine pond-cleaning operation go horribly wrong and kill more than 110 fish at a public housing estate in Tseung Kwan O was more than a misadventure. To many animal lovers and rights activists, it amounts to a tragic case of unlawful killing that highlights the troubling gaps in respect for living beings in our advanced society. The sorry episode came to light after images of dozens of colourful koi and other species lying dead on a wet brick pavement at King Lam... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341812/hong-kong-should-see-animal-protection-shared-civic-duty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341812/hong-kong-should-see-animal-protection-shared-civic-duty?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities are investigating the discovery of a severely decomposed whale carcass discovered on a beach in Sai Kung. Authorities were alerted to the decomposed carcass, measuring 11 metres (36.1 feet) in length, on Thursday after villagers found it on the beach at Ham Tin Wan, in Sai Kung East Country Park. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) deployed officers to the scene, with preliminary findings suggesting that the animal was a baleen whale. Based on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341738/discovery-badly-decomposed-whale-carcass-sai-kung-beach-triggers-probe?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341738/discovery-badly-decomposed-whale-carcass-sai-kung-beach-triggers-probe?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:56:09 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Peggy Chan, a Hong Kong-born vegetarian chef, sustainability dining advocate and consultant, has become the first recipient of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants’ Champions of Change Award, which honours those who make a meaningful impact in the hospitality industry. “I’m so grateful and honoured for this recognition,” Chan tells the Post. “I really feel like it’s come full circle, too, as [the ceremony] is being held in Hong Kong, where my career started. “I cannot take this honour on my own because... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3341621/hong-kong-chef-peggy-chan-wins-asias-50-best-restaurants-first-champions-change-award?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3341621/hong-kong-chef-peggy-chan-wins-asias-50-best-restaurants-first-champions-change-award?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 07:00:11 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words On New Year’s Eve, Hong Kong released its updated Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP), outlining the city’s conservation directions for the next decade. Two foundational priorities stand out: amending conservation policies and protecting endangered wildlife. These are not... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3341343/time-update-hong-kongs-wildlife-protection-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3341343/time-update-hong-kongs-wildlife-protection-law?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:30:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Less than two weeks after the government launched new smoking controls, it emerged that most residents would have supported even stronger measures. The results of a survey commissioned by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health are striking evidence that anti-smoking sentiment among Hong Kong residents has hardened. For example, in the survey by the University of Hong Kong, nearly 90 per cent of respondents support tougher controls, including a ban on smoking while walking in the streets.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341233/hongkongers-stand-united-need-more-no-smoking-zones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341233/hongkongers-stand-united-need-more-no-smoking-zones?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung About 75 per cent of paper waste and 40 per cent of plastic items sent to landfills are unclassified, according to official statistics, with environmentalists warning that such unclear records will undermine Hong Kong’s green efforts. However, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said it was “unnecessary” to change its waste-tracking system, arguing that the government already “has an idea” of what fell under the “others” category and had taken steps to address it. The lack of detail... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341181/hong-kongs-unclassified-landfill-waste-data-gaps-undermine-green-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341181/hong-kongs-unclassified-landfill-waste-data-gaps-undermine-green-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 02:00:21 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Slope safety monitoring is rightly under scrutiny after an investigation by the Hong Kong ombudsman turned up an alarming number of landslides. The city must redouble efforts to reclaim its reputation for good management of such sites after several government-managed slopes were found to have repeatedly failed in recent years. The Office of the Ombudsman released a report on January 8, based on its review of nine serious landslides at man-made slopes since 2008. Four incidents happened along... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340792/hong-kongs-slope-safety-monitoring-must-keep-pace-climate-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340792/hong-kongs-slope-safety-monitoring-must-keep-pace-climate-change?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong will not pursue carbon-based taxation in its decarbonisation efforts, as maintaining a low and simple tax framework is central to the city’s competitive advantage, the financial chief has told a panel at the World Economic Forum. Speaking at the “How to Finance Decarbonization?” panel in Davos, Switzerland, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said that a key strategy by Hong Kong authorities was collaborating with the private sector to develop robust business cases for sustainable... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340903/hong-kong-wont-pursue-carbon-based-taxes-under-bid-go-green-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340903/hong-kong-wont-pursue-carbon-based-taxes-under-bid-go-green-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:32:15 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen A dead porpoise, suspected to have been carrying a stillborn calf, was discovered in Hong Kong waters on Tuesday. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said it had retrieved the carcass, which was identified as a finless porpoise, in the waters near Ap Chau, one of the city’s outlying islands, on Tuesday evening. It added that a necropsy would be conducted by veterinarians, with the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation to also investigate. The park confirmed it would assist with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340532/porpoise-stillborn-calf-found-hong-kong-waters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340532/porpoise-stillborn-calf-found-hong-kong-waters?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 07:50:58 +0000 Christine Loh Christine Loh Net-zero commitments are now commonplace across Hong Kong’s property sector. Many major developers have announced targets for 2030 and 2050, often framed around energy efficiency, renewable energy and greener buildings. This is welcome. However, as climate ambition becomes the norm, a more uncomfortable question comes into focus: how many of these commitments are grounded in a serious understanding of what decarbonisation actually entails? What remains largely missing from Hong Kong’s climate... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3339817/hong-kong-needs-ask-hard-questions-about-its-net-zero-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3339817/hong-kong-needs-ask-hard-questions-about-its-net-zero-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 21:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The global trade in shark fin has been more strictly regulated in recent years, an essential step in the battle to save endangered species from extinction. However, this has not prevented the highly lucrative illegal trade from flourishing. Despite some eye-catching seizures, Hong Kong remains a major hub. A comprehensive study published in Science Advances highlighted the alarming level of shark fin from protected species reaching the city’s markets. The research was led by Mote Marine... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340008/study-shows-hong-kong-must-do-better-end-illegal-shark-fin-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3340008/study-shows-hong-kong-must-do-better-end-illegal-shark-fin-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Japan’s restarting of the world’s biggest nuclear power plant is a bold response to energy insecurity, economic stagnation and climate imperatives. In contrast to intermittent, weather-dependent renewable sources such as wind and solar, nuclear power offers reliable 24/7... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3339820/japan-should-put-more-eggs-renewable-basket?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3339820/japan-should-put-more-eggs-renewable-basket?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 03:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The recent discovery of two new coral species in waters close to urban Hong Kong was a welcome surprise. The hopeful sign of resilience and richness of the city’s biodiversity should drive efforts to better protect the fragile assets from development and tourism. Researchers from Baptist University revealed on January 5 that they had identified the new soft corals, species that were previously unknown worldwide, in an area about 5 km (3 miles) southeast of Hong Kong Island’s Shek O Beach. One of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3339707/hong-kongs-biodiversity-strategy-must-be-clear-and-comprehensive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3339707/hong-kongs-biodiversity-strategy-must-be-clear-and-comprehensive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words I am writing in response to your video report, “Sai Kung campsite flooded with trash after New Year’s Eve celebration” (January 2). The overcrowding and littering issues in our country parks have become deplorable. I would like to share my own unpleasant experience on the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3339326/educate-visiting-hikers-and-seriously-deter-them-littering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3339326/educate-visiting-hikers-and-seriously-deter-them-littering?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 03:30:12 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities are using artificial intelligence (AI) and laser-based sensors to improve environmental impact assessments for major projects, with plans to use these tools for sustainable development in the Northern Metropolis. The Environmental Protection Department has been employing two systems – one for detecting bird species and another for monitoring trees – at Hong Kong Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai since last year, in preparation for the planned expansion. The AI-driven bird... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339496/ai-and-laser-armed-robot-dogs-sharpen-hong-kongs-environment-impact-reviews?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339496/ai-and-laser-armed-robot-dogs-sharpen-hong-kongs-environment-impact-reviews?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 02:00:33 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Extreme weather brought about by the El Nino phenomenon could cost Hong Kong as much as US$300 billion over the 21st century, according to a joint study by local and Singapore universities. The study also painted a bleak picture for public health, finding that Hongkongers born during the two strong El Nino events in 1982-83 and 1997-98 could have their life expectancy reduced by five to seven months. Led by Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University in collaboration with City University... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339396/el-nino-could-cost-hong-kong-us300-billion-and-shorten-life-expectancy-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339396/el-nino-could-cost-hong-kong-us300-billion-and-shorten-life-expectancy-study?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:48:23 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong experienced its driest January day on record earlier this week, bucking its reputation for high temperatures and humidity. Relative humidity in the city plunged to 17 per cent on Thursday, the lowest for the month since records started in 1984. To help Hongkongers adjust, the Post speaks to experts about how to manage the cold and dry weather. 1. What is the impact on the respiratory system? Dr Edmund Lam Wing-wo, a family doctor, said the sudden cold and dry weather was conducive to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339373/hong-kong-just-had-its-driest-january-day-how-does-impact-your-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339373/hong-kong-just-had-its-driest-january-day-how-does-impact-your-health?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 11:50:29 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The Office of the Ombudsman has raised concerns about frequent landslides occurring at the Hong Kong government’s man-made slopes, highlighting that one location had four such incidents at different sections over five years. In a direct investigation report released on Thursday, the office reviewed nine serious landslides that have occurred since 2008. It found that most slopes with repeated landslides were either not included in a specific monitoring programme or deemed relatively low... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339166/hong-kong-ombudsman-raises-concerns-over-repeated-landslides-man-made-slopes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339166/hong-kong-ombudsman-raises-concerns-over-repeated-landslides-man-made-slopes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 07:56:39 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. The humidity in Hong Kong on Thursday dropped to the lowest level ever recorded for the month of January, the local forecaster said, while warning that Friday would bring a second consecutive day of frost. Under the influence of a winter monsoon, the relative humidity plunged to 17 per... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339122/hongkongers-shiver-winter-monsoon-drives-temperatures-down-59-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339122/hongkongers-shiver-winter-monsoon-drives-temperatures-down-59-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:48:00 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Illegal dog trapping and cat smuggling have become alarmingly common, with an animal rescue group reporting that it saved 351 animals in Hong Kong over the past six months – an average of two per day. As Paws Guardian Rescue Shelter, now in its 10th year, released a report on Tuesday detailing the condition of the animals it had saved over the past six months, its founder – who led most of the operations – told the Post how brutal recent cases had become. Founder Kent Luk Ka-chit said that in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338969/hong-kong-shelter-saves-351-animals-6-months-trapping-smuggling-cases-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338969/hong-kong-shelter-saves-351-animals-6-months-trapping-smuggling-cases-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 00:30:18 +0000 Oscar Liu,Lo Hoi-ying Oscar Liu,Lo Hoi-ying An extensive study of 16,000 shark fin samples taken from Hong Kong retail markets has found that 6.5 per cent of them were from globally protected species, surpassing the figure officially declared by local authorities under an international agreement. The study, published in Science Advances on Monday, also revealed a disparity: the volume of critically endangered oceanic whitetip shark fins sold in the city was 70 times higher than what officials reported under the Convention on International... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338765/65-shark-fins-sold-hong-kong-are-protected-much-higher-reported-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338765/65-shark-fins-sold-hong-kong-are-protected-much-higher-reported-study?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:31:20 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Researchers from Baptist University have discovered two new coral species in Hong Kong’s southeastern waters, underscoring the area’s biodiversity despite being close to urban territory. The university revealed on Monday that a team of its marine scientists had identified two new soft coral species – previously unknown worldwide – in rocky reefs off Sung Kong Island, located about 5km (3 miles) southeast of Hong Kong Island’s Shek O Beach. One of them, Paraminabea inflata, a yellow or orange... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338751/hong-kong-marine-scientists-discover-2-new-coral-species-citys-southern-waters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338751/hong-kong-marine-scientists-discover-2-new-coral-species-citys-southern-waters?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 06:50:44 +0000 Emily Chan Emily Chan Images widely circulating on social media showed the Ham Tin Wan Campsite in the Hong Kong neighbourhood of Sai Kung polluted with litter, including a public bathroom sink flooded with dirt and trash, following New Year’s Eve celebrations. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3338498/sai-kung-campsite-flooded-trash-after-new-years-eve-celebration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3338498/sai-kung-campsite-flooded-trash-after-new-years-eve-celebration?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 07:32:31 +0000