https://www.scmp.com/rss/325273/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Jess Ma Jess Ma A former Hong Kong truck driver who caused the death of a pregnant woman was sentenced to 22 months in prison on Tuesday, with the judge saying the man had made “continuous” wrong decisions in his driving. District Judge Josiah Lam Wai-kuen also pushed back on the defence’s mitigation argument that the accident had occurred because of a momentary lapse of judgment. “He had acted out of convenience for himself. This is not a lapse in judgment, but driving with bad judgment,” he said in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348491/hong-kong-man-gets-22-months-jail-pregnant-womans-death-truck-accident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348491/hong-kong-man-gets-22-months-jail-pregnant-womans-death-truck-accident?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 05:51:06 +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 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow Hong Kong police have arrested a man on suspicion of dangerous driving in connection with an online video allegedly showing him allowing a child on his lap to steer a car on a busy road. The force said on Monday that it had tracked down the 22-year-old man believed to be the driver seen in the video that went viral a day earlier. The footage, published in a Tuen Mun community group on social media, shows the child sitting on the driver’s lap and steering the wheel for more than a minute as cars... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348368/man-arrested-after-viral-video-shows-child-steering-car-busy-hong-kong-road?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348368/man-arrested-after-viral-video-shows-child-steering-car-busy-hong-kong-road?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:51:42 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong police are searching for a driver who fled the scene after crashing a car into a barricade and hitting a bus on Saturday. The force said it received a report at about 9.20am that a car had crashed into a roadside railing along Pui To Road in Tuen Mun. During the incident the car also made contact with a bus that had stopped at a traffic light along the same road. The driver then got out of the vehicle and fled, police said, adding that no injuries were reported. It was not immediately... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348241/hong-kong-police-searching-driver-run-after-hitting-railing-and-bus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348241/hong-kong-police-searching-driver-run-after-hitting-railing-and-bus?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 07:32:03 +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 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A 64-year-old container truck driver was injured when his vehicle crashed into a fire engine and overturned on a busy Hong Kong expressway on Monday. The accident took place at about 12.15pm when the container truck was travelling along Tuen Mun Road in the direction of Tsuen Wan near Nim Wan village in So Kwun Wat. “A fire engine was parked on the road shoulder for an operation,” a police spokesman said. “The container truck collided with the rear of the fire engine and overturned on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347596/truck-driver-injured-vehicle-slams-fire-engine-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347596/truck-driver-injured-vehicle-slams-fire-engine-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:29:47 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A hamster was caught hitching a ride on a bus from Central to Sha Tin on Sunday morning, ending up in the custody of a Hong Kong animal welfare group. The golden brown Syrian hamster was spotted by a passenger and is now being looked after by the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Photos and videos circulating online show the tiny passenger tucked into a corner on the KMB bus, seemingly overwhelmed by its surroundings. It was later placed in a translucent plastic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347478/rodent-trip-swinging-time-hamster-hitching-ride-bus-sha-tin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347478/rodent-trip-swinging-time-hamster-hitching-ride-bus-sha-tin?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:43:34 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Some Discovery Bay residents have expressed frustration over a proposal to allow unrestricted taxi access to the seaside resort-like neighbourhood in Hong Kong, with a petition calling for greater public consultation garnering more than 1,100 signatures. In a reply to the South China Morning Post on Saturday, the Transport Department also confirmed it had received a taxi proposal from Discovery Bay’s management company, as well as “different views” from residents. Taxis have had limited access... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347439/plan-full-taxi-access-discovery-bay-sparks-anger-among-some-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347439/plan-full-taxi-access-discovery-bay-sparks-anger-among-some-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:50:36 +0000 Leopold Chen,Oscar Liu Leopold Chen,Oscar Liu An injured buffalo has been euthanised after it was struck by a car on a Hong Kong highway on Wednesday morning, leaving it with a severely fractured leg, authorities have said. Dashcam footage circulating online captured the moment the buffalo emerged from roadside shrubbery into the fast lane of a Yuen Long highway, where an oncoming vehicle was unable to brake in time. The animal rolled over after hitting the ground and tried to stand up slowly but failed. Following the heavy impact, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346951/injured-cow-brings-rush-hour-traffic-standstill-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346951/injured-cow-brings-rush-hour-traffic-standstill-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 01:33:19 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities are searching for a woman believed to own a truck that burst into flames in Kwai Chung, with the vehicle suspected of having been converted to carry up to 2,000 litres of black-market fuel. The Fire Services Department received a report shortly after 2pm that the truck was ablaze at a car park on Container Port Road South in Kwai Chung. Witnesses said explosions were heard as the vehicle was engulfed in flames, with smoke billowing high above the area and visible across... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346895/authorities-look-link-illegal-fuel-operations-truck-goes-flames?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346895/authorities-look-link-illegal-fuel-operations-truck-goes-flames?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:34:26 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin A 75-year-old driver has been arrested in Hong Kong after stepping on the wrong pedal in his car and mounting the pavement, injuring eight pedestrians and throwing his passenger from the vehicle. Police were called to Lam Hing Street in Kowloon Bay at about 12.40pm on Monday following reports of a car veering onto the pavement outside the car park of Metro Centre II, an industrial building. Surveillance footage showed the man attempting to make a U-turn before the accident happened, according to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3346720/9-injured-car-mounts-pavement-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3346720/9-injured-car-mounts-pavement-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 06:36:13 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung An elderly pedestrian has died after being hit by a taxi in Hong Kong’s Kwun Tong, according to police. The accident took place shortly before 10pm on Friday when the 75-year-old man was crossing the road near the junction of Hip Wo Street and Yuet Wah Street. The taxi, travelling along Hip Wo Street towards Sau Mau Ping, ran into the man, reportedly causing him to crash onto the bonnet before falling to the ground. He sustained a serious head wound and other injuries to the body, according to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346591/elderly-man-dies-after-being-hit-taxi-kwun-tong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346591/elderly-man-dies-after-being-hit-taxi-kwun-tong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 07:41:24 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Careless driving without causing damage or injuries is hardly news, except when public figures or people in positions of authority are involved. The incident where Hong Kong legislator Judy Chan Kapui drove against traffic early this year continues to draw public attention as it concerns not just the rule of law but also the conduct of lawmakers under the revamped “all-patriots” governance approach. So far, the case is being handled in accordance with the law and procedures, and rightly so. As... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346314/judy-chan-careless-driving-case-reminder-high-expectations-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346314/judy-chan-careless-driving-case-reminder-high-expectations-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Ambrose Li,Danny Mok Ambrose Li,Danny Mok A man has been arrested after a collision involving more than 10 cars on a major bridge injured 11 people and forced the closure of most lanes leading to Hong Kong’s airport. Police said 10 vehicles were travelling in the fast lane of the Tsing Ma Bridge towards the airport when the crash occurred at 8.31am on Thursday. The chain collision was triggered by a vehicle that suddenly reduced speed, causing those behind to fail to brake in time. Another private car overturned into the middle lane and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346283/multi-car-crash-major-bridge-injures-10-shuts-hong-kong-airport-bound-lanes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346283/multi-car-crash-major-bridge-injures-10-shuts-hong-kong-airport-bound-lanes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 01:39:34 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong lawmaker has been fined HK$2,000 (US$256) for driving on the wrong side of a road in Wan Chai earlier this year. Eastern Court on Monday also suspended Judy Chan Kapui, 45, from driving for one month after she pleaded guilty to a count of careless driving. “I deeply regret that my careless driving affected other road users,” Chan told presiding magistrate David Ko Wai-hung, adding that she had stopped driving and would accept any legal consequences. Ko noted the defendant was issued... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345963/hong-kong-lawmaker-judy-chan-fined-hk2000-driving-against-traffic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345963/hong-kong-lawmaker-judy-chan-fined-hk2000-driving-against-traffic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:45:40 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Fines worth HK$2.1 billion (US$268.39 million) flowed into Hong Kong’s coffers in 2025‑26, nearly 26 per cent more than initially forecast, following an increase in cigarette penalties and a surge in forfeitures. According to budget estimates analysed by the South China Morning Post, the HK$2.1 billion income amounted to 0.3 per cent of the government’s total revenue. The funds were primarily from court fines and forfeiture orders, statute penalties, forfeitures from breaches of contracts and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345050/fines-penalties-and-forfeitures-pump-hk21-billion-government-coffers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345050/fines-penalties-and-forfeitures-pump-hk21-billion-government-coffers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:00:19 +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 The Transport and Logistics Bureau recently announced its Transport Strategy Blueprint and its vision of promoting efficient travel. Since the road and rail arteries of the city are well developed, you can easily reach any place here within an hour or so. That said, there is room... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344404/fourth-cross-harbour-tunnel-could-link-kennedy-town-tsing-yi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344404/fourth-cross-harbour-tunnel-could-link-kennedy-town-tsing-yi?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng A Hong Kong court has granted bail to a driver suspected to have deliberately crashed his coach on the Shenzhen Bay Bridge, injuring 17 passengers, with the magistrate urging the man’s family to “pay extra attention” to his condition. Lee Kai-po, 63, appeared before West Kowloon Court on a charge of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm on Wednesday. Bail was set at HK$50,000 (US$6,370). As part of his bail conditions, Lee was told to hand in his driving licence and ordered not to leave... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343924/hong-kong-bus-driver-alleged-have-crashed-deliberately-bridge-granted-bail?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343924/hong-kong-bus-driver-alleged-have-crashed-deliberately-bridge-granted-bail?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:05:35 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A Hong Kong coach driver has been charged after his vehicle crashed on the Shenzhen Bay Bridge, leaving 17 passengers with minor injuries on Sunday. Hong Kong police said on Monday that the man, surnamed Lee, 63, had been charged with dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. Police said the bus had been travelling along the bridge towards Hong Kong shortly before 2pm on Sunday when it ran into the railings. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene and confirmed that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343767/hong-kong-coach-driver-charged-over-shenzhen-bay-bridge-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343767/hong-kong-coach-driver-charged-over-shenzhen-bay-bridge-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:28:06 +0000 Oscar Liu,Danny Mok Oscar Liu,Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested a driver after his coach crashed on the Shenzhen Bay Bridge, leaving 17 people with minor injuries. Police said the bus ran into railings at 1.50pm on Sunday while heading to the city in the slow lane of the cross-border link. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene and confirmed 17 passengers – 10 men and seven women – suffered minor injuries, the force said. They were taken to Tin Shui Wai and Tuen Mun hospitals. After the accident, parts of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343618/15-injured-2-hong-kong-bound-coaches-collide-shenzhen-bay-bridge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343618/15-injured-2-hong-kong-bound-coaches-collide-shenzhen-bay-bridge?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 07:15:05 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s transport chief has pledged to fully review the ill-fated mandatory seat belt rule for bus passengers, including improving strap designs and examining possible exemptions, before relaunching the policy. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Sunday the government would adopt a four-pronged approach to address public concerns over the requirement, starting by working with franchised bus operators to improve the installation, design and maintenance of seat belts to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3343610/hong-kong-fully-review-plans-bus-seat-belt-rules-relaunch-mable-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3343610/hong-kong-fully-review-plans-bus-seat-belt-rules-relaunch-mable-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 04:43:29 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Hong Kong police have arrested a 79-year-old cabby on suspicion of knocking down an elderly woman with his vehicle in North Point in the early hours of Sunday. The force said the taxi driver was driving along Java Road when he allegedly struck the 74-year-old woman as she was crossing the street shortly before 3am. The victim, who was found in a semi-conscious state, was rushed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital for treatment. Police officers subsequently arrested the cabby on suspicion... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343606/taxi-driver-79-arrested-over-knocking-down-elderly-woman-north-point?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343606/taxi-driver-79-arrested-over-knocking-down-elderly-woman-north-point?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 03:12:28 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Transport authorities have warned of heavier traffic on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge from Sunday because of the combined effect of a key link’s suspension in Zhuhai and increased travel over Lunar New Year. A temporary link between the mega bridge’s Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road will be closed for repairs from Sunday until further notice, with Hong Kong’s Transport Department urging users to plan ahead and use public transport as far as possible. Drivers could access the Zhuhai Port via... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3343592/hong-kong-users-warned-heavier-mega-bridge-traffic-zhuhai-link-suspended?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3343592/hong-kong-users-warned-heavier-mega-bridge-traffic-zhuhai-link-suspended?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:31:53 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s police chief has slammed the alleged involvement of a lawyer and doctors in a spate of so-called crash-for-cash scams as “unforgivable and unacceptable”. Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming said on Saturday that the force would speed up its investigation into such cases and expected a fresh wave of arrests. He noted police previously arrested a couple and two doctors for their alleged roles in more than 20 crash-for-cash scams, adding that officers were investigating more than... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343566/unforgivable-police-chief-slams-lawyer-doctors-linked-crash-cash-scams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343566/unforgivable-police-chief-slams-lawyer-doctors-linked-crash-cash-scams?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 06:08:15 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang Hong Kong police are investigating the death of an 80-year-old man allegedly knocked down by a taxi driver in a traffic accident in Kwun Tong. The force said on Saturday that the cab driver, a 46-year-old man, was travelling along Kwun Tong Road on Friday night when he was believed to have struck the pedestrian near Ngau Tau Kok Road. The elderly man was reportedly crossing the road at the time. Police said the victim sustained serious injuries to his head and limbs and lost consciousness. He... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343561/hong-kong-police-probe-death-man-80-allegedly-knocked-down-taxi-driver?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343561/hong-kong-police-probe-death-man-80-allegedly-knocked-down-taxi-driver?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 04:05:22 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A driver and his passenger were arrested after their car, which had an expired licence and allegedly contained small amounts of the drug etomidate, hit a police vehicle, a taxi and a bus while attempting to evade officers on a northern Hong Kong road. The crash on Thursday left three people injured including two police officers. The driver and a woman were arrested at the scene on suspicion of offences including dangerous driving, failing to stop for police and possession of suspected dangerous... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3343331/driver-passenger-arrested-after-bmw-hits-3-vehicles-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3343331/driver-passenger-arrested-after-bmw-hits-3-vehicles-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 09:57:56 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A passenger who was not wearing a seat belt died after being ejected from a taxi that collided with a highway maintenance vehicle en route to the Hong Kong airport, the South China Morning Post has learned. Police said they received a report at 9.46am on Wednesday from a cabby who claimed his New Territories taxi had collided with a road-maintenance shadow vehicle while travelling along the North Lantau Highway towards Hong Kong International Airport at a stretch of road opposite Citygate in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343155/man-dies-after-being-thrown-taxi-crash-near-hong-kong-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343155/man-dies-after-being-thrown-taxi-crash-near-hong-kong-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:25:05 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Harvey Kong Matthew Cheng,Harvey Kong Hong Kong authorities have repealed a law requiring bus passengers to wear seat belts after finding that it only applies to vehicles registered since late January, with officials saying they will review the legislation again and conduct a public consultation. The government gazetted the Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) (Amendment) Regulation 2026 on Friday, which repeals Section 8D requiring passengers to wear seat belts. “The bureau will fully review the arrangements for passengers wearing seat... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3342643/hong-kong-authorities-repeal-flawed-bus-seat-belt-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3342643/hong-kong-authorities-repeal-flawed-bus-seat-belt-law?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 07:47:57 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Driving can be challenging in Hong Kong, where despite high safety standards there are dozens of accidents each day on the city’s busy road network. Unfortunately, motorists face a new hazard – scammers making bogus claims. Police announced several arrests on Wednesday, a week after the force and insurers raised the alarm about unusually high and belated compensation claims for minor or non-existent traffic accidents. Victims and the insurance industry have been steadily reporting cases since... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342499/swift-action-traffic-accident-scams-hong-kong-be-commended?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342499/swift-action-traffic-accident-scams-hong-kong-be-commended?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 22:45:08 +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 Two points about seat belts on buses. First, not every risk warrants the government’s legal protection. Just how risky is riding a bus sitting down? According to the Hong Kong Transport Department, there were about 2,000 franchised bus accidents involving injury or death each year... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3342314/just-how-risky-riding-bus-hong-kong-lets-do-maths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3342314/just-how-risky-riding-bus-hong-kong-lets-do-maths?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:30:36 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Hong Kong government’s plan to introduce stricter health and fitness requirements for elderly commercial drivers reflects public safety concerns. Many bus, taxi and goods vehicle drivers in Hong Kong continue to work well into their 70s, and older drivers are more vulnerable to declining reflexes, vision and cardiovascular health, raising risks for passengers and pedestrians. This proposal is expected to be submitted to lawmakers early this year. It follows a horrific accident last August in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342333/keep-hong-kong-safe-limit-impact-drivers-livelihoods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342333/keep-hong-kong-safe-limit-impact-drivers-livelihoods?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 22:45:37 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Police have arrested two doctors and a married couple for allegedly masterminding more than 20 “crash-for-cash” scams, with officers investigating over 100 suspicious cases in a fraud epidemic that has become the talk of Hong Kong. Police said on Wednesday that the three men and a woman were detained on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud. The couple – the husband a taxi driver and the wife a nurse – are both 37, while the doctors are aged 56 and 69. Superintendent Charles Fung Pui-kei of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342422/police-arrest-4-hong-kong-over-crash-cash-scams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342422/police-arrest-4-hong-kong-over-crash-cash-scams?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:47:14 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong taxi driver has been fined HK$1,000 (US$128) for rude behaviour, having thrown a passenger’s change out of the window after she had asked him to slow down. Magistrate Winnie Lau Yee-wan at West Kowloon Court convicted taxi driver Lam Ching-fung of behaving rudely towards a female passenger who had booked his cab from Hong Kong International Airport to a residential complex in Hung Hom on December 7, 2024. Lam denied a summary charge of behaving “other than in a civil and orderly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342269/hong-kong-taxi-driver-fined-hk1000-rude-behaviour-towards-passenger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342269/hong-kong-taxi-driver-fined-hk1000-rude-behaviour-towards-passenger?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:18:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It says something about Hong Kong governance when a simple and well-intentioned requirement for bus passengers to buckle up has become yet another embarrassing policy setback involving the executive branch and the revamped Legislative Council. The abrupt U-turn over the new law on seat belts, less than a week after it took effect, might have been one solution to a problematic law. But the blunder is a blow to the image of the government and of Legco, amid mounting public expectations for better... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342073/valuable-lessons-be-learnt-u-turn-seat-belt-law-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3342073/valuable-lessons-be-learnt-u-turn-seat-belt-law-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu People generally don’t like change. But if you have ever had to take the worst seat on a bus – lower deck, last row, middle seat – then you would have probably put on the seat belt to avoid being catapulted down the aisle should the driver slam on the brakes. And if you’re on the upper deck and the only available seats are in the front row, then again, you would buckle up, to avoid going through the window in an accident. A responsible person would wear a seat belt when sitting anywhere in the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3341855/seat-belt-u-turn-hong-kong-another-case-ill-fitting-policy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3341855/seat-belt-u-turn-hong-kong-another-case-ill-fitting-policy?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong The number of suspected scams involving unusually high and belated compensation claims for minor or non-existent traffic accidents in Hong Kong has doubled to more than 70 in less than a week, according to the security minister. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung told a radio programme on Sunday that the increase was recorded after publicity efforts by the force. Authorities on Tuesday said they had recently received reports of drivers facing sudden massive civil claims, long after... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341990/hong-kong-road-accident-scam-reports-double-over-70-week-chris-tang?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341990/hong-kong-road-accident-scam-reports-double-over-70-week-chris-tang?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 08:36:43 +0000 Jeffie Lam,Matthew Cheng Jeffie Lam,Matthew Cheng Hong Kong transport authorities will repeal a law that took effect on Sunday requiring bus passengers to wear seat belts, following strong public criticism and the revelation that the rule only covered new vehicles registered from late January. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan announced the U-turn on Friday, conceding that the legislation had “deficiencies” as it failed to reflect the policy’s intent of requiring all passengers on public or private buses – including franchised... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341828/hong-kong-suspend-bus-seat-belt-rules-over-law-deficiencies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341828/hong-kong-suspend-bus-seat-belt-rules-over-law-deficiencies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 08:39:28 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has an array of rules to make our roads safer. They all make a difference, but accidents still happen. This is why seat belts matter. Data cited by the Transport Department credit them with reducing fatal and serious injuries by up to 40 per cent and 70 per cent respectively in traffic accidents. Seat belts have long kept many thousands of Hongkongers safe or safer from unrestrained impact or ejection from vehicle crashes. It is a notable omission that they have not until now been... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341512/required-seat-belts-hong-kongs-bus-fleets-are-long-overdue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3341512/required-seat-belts-hong-kongs-bus-fleets-are-long-overdue?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Fiona Chow Matthew Cheng,Fiona Chow Hong Kong’s transport minister has pledged to refine a policy requiring passengers to wear seat belts on buses by ensuring the devices become more user-friendly, while acknowledging lawmakers’ calls for a review of the recent law. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan made the promise on Wednesday, less than a week after the new rules took effect. The regulations require all passengers travelling on public or private buses, including franchised and school services, to wear seat belts... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341583/transport-chief-responds-backlash-over-hong-kong-law-public-bus-seat-belts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341583/transport-chief-responds-backlash-over-hong-kong-law-public-bus-seat-belts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:54:36 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police and insurers have warned motorists to be alert to road scammers seeking unusually high and belated compensation claims stemming from minor or non‑existent traffic accidents, with officers reviewing 30 such cases. Superintendent Charles Fung Pui‑kei of the commercial crime bureau warned on Tuesday that the police force had recently received reports of drivers facing sudden massive civil claims, well after officers closed a traffic case. Some incidents involved a tiny bump or even... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341462/hong-kong-drivers-warned-look-out-sham-compensation-claims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341462/hong-kong-drivers-warned-look-out-sham-compensation-claims?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:58:11 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong’s leader has called for the public to recognise that seat belt rules are widely implemented in other jurisdictions, following complaints about the new mandatory policy on buses, with passengers lamenting that the restraints are ill-fitting for young children and prevent commuters from reaching “stop” buttons to alight. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday the new regulation was a necessary step to protect lives, citing the “painful lesson” of the 2018 Tai Po Road bus crash... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341352/hong-kong-leader-urges-patience-amid-pushback-against-mandatory-seat-belts-buses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341352/hong-kong-leader-urges-patience-amid-pushback-against-mandatory-seat-belts-buses?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:25:25 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong lawmakers have urged the government to review its new seat belt policy on buses in six months’ time, including a suggestion that operators use lap belts in certain vehicles offering short-haul rides to make it easier for passengers to alight. A day after the regulation for public and private buses took effect, passengers reported having difficulty adapting to the change. Some residents told the Post that they were uncertain about the rule, while others said they had no time to fasten... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341251/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-review-seat-belt-policy-buses-amid-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341251/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-review-seat-belt-policy-buses-amid-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:51:46 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong police have arrested a 70-year-old car driver who fatally struck an elderly cyclist in Tai Po. Police received a report of the accident at 7.25am on Monday. The victim, a man in his seventies or eighties, was struck by a car travelling towards Tai Mei Tuk as he crossed Ting Kok Road near Tai Po Industrial Estate. No identification was found on the man. He was rushed to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po but was later pronounced dead. The force arrested the 70-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341208/cyclist-fatally-hit-car-hong-kong-second-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341208/cyclist-fatally-hit-car-hong-kong-second-week?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 04:20:00 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Passengers crowded the lower decks of buses on Sunday out of concern that they would not be able to alight in time on the first day of a new rule mandating seat belt use taking effect, while Hong Kong authorities said they aimed to strengthen safety education initially. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said that during the initial period of law enforcement on the rule, her bureau and police would focus on educating people. “Police will consider the reason, circumstances and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341144/crowds-lower-decks-hong-kong-buses-first-day-mandatory-seat-belt-rule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341144/crowds-lower-decks-hong-kong-buses-first-day-mandatory-seat-belt-rule?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 05:27:00 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong police are following up on an alleged traffic offence involving lawmaker Judy Chan Kapui, who was filmed driving against the flow of traffic in Wan Chai on Friday. Chan confirmed on Friday night that she was the driver of the car in a viral video circulating on social media and apologised for her actions in an interview with the Post, hours after the clip was posted online. “I sincerely apologise for my actions,” Chan said. “This has significantly affected my public image.” The video... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341066/hong-kong-lawmaker-judy-chan-sorry-over-traffic-incident-caught-camera?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341066/hong-kong-lawmaker-judy-chan-sorry-over-traffic-incident-caught-camera?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:54:10 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong police arrested two drivers and found that motorists had committed about 220 traffic violations in a two-day crackdown on illegal vehicle modifications, speeding and other offences. Police said on Sunday the arrests were made during the force’s two-day operation called ‘Fossington’ over the weekend, targeting traffic violations across New Territories locations such as Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tolo Highway, Tai Mei Tuk, Luk Keng Road and Bride’s Pool Road. At around 9am on Sunday, transport... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340326/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-record-220-offences-illegal-road-racing-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3340326/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-record-220-offences-illegal-road-racing-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 10:36:18 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li In just over a week, passengers on various modes of public and private transport in Hong Kong will be required to wear seat belts under new rules to enhance safety through stricter penalties for motorists and commuters. The Post looks at the new rules and what passengers, including those with special needs, should do in different scenarios. 1. What are the new rules? From January 25, all passengers must wear seat belts wherever available on public and private buses – including franchised and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3340311/hong-kong-enforce-new-seat-belt-rules-january-25-what-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3340311/hong-kong-enforce-new-seat-belt-rules-january-25-what-you-need-know?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:00:39 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A female cyclist died after being struck by a van in Hong Kong’s North district on Sunday. The driver of the vehicle was later arrested. Police said they received a report about the collision at the junction of Ma Sik Road and Tin Ping Road, at 8.41am. The van was travelling towards Sheung Shui and knocked down the woman, 55, on a bicycle as it approached Tin Ping Road at 8.37am. The cyclist was sent to North District Hospital unconscious, and was certified dead at 9.17am, after sustaining... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340300/hong-kong-cyclist-killed-after-being-hit-van-sheung-shui-driver-arrested?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340300/hong-kong-cyclist-killed-after-being-hit-van-sheung-shui-driver-arrested?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 06:18:51 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A HK$5 million (US$641,000) plan to install crash barriers in Hong Kong’s bustling Causeway Bay shopping district is expected to improve pedestrian safety, but could also worsen congestion and restrict access for delivery workers and wheelchair users, according to a district councillor and nearby businesses. Wan Chai district councillor Peggy Lee Pik-yee agreed on Wednesday with the government’s plan to introduce about 60 bollards in the area, but said the move needed to meet residential and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3339837/anti-crash-bollards-hong-kong-shopping-area-necessary-could-cause-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3339837/anti-crash-bollards-hong-kong-shopping-area-necessary-could-cause-disruption?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 06:24:28 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Authorities plan to spend HK$5 million (US$641,025) to install safety bollards near the popular Sogo department store in Causeway Bay as a precautionary measure against potential vehicle-ramming attacks targeting pedestrians in one of Hong Kong’s busiest shopping districts. In a paper submitted to Wan Chai District Council for discussion on January 20, police and the highways and transport departments outlined the plan for locations around 555 Hennessy Road. The proposal calls for bollards and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339790/hk5-million-plan-install-anti-terrorism-bollards-near-hong-kongs-sogo-store?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339790/hk5-million-plan-install-anti-terrorism-bollards-near-hong-kongs-sogo-store?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:30:15 +0000