https://www.scmp.com/rss/329448/feed Fiona Sun joined the Hong Kong desk of the Post in 2019. She writes on issues that matter to the city’s residents, including geographic communities, ethnic minorities or those brought together by common causes and interests. She has a master's degree in journalism from the University of Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s finance chief has expressed confidence that the city will climb to at least second place in the global ranking of international financial centres within 10 to 15 years. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Wednesday at the HSBC Global Investment Summit that the city offered stability and prosperity in uncertain times, citing its strong gross domestic product growth of 3.5 per cent last year, as well as robust export performance and rising private investments. “We went through... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350155/hong-kong-set-rise-no-2-global-financial-hub-within-15-years-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350155/hong-kong-set-rise-no-2-global-financial-hub-within-15-years-paul-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:58:36 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s insurance complaints body recorded a 32.7 per cent jump in new cases last year to 857, with medical and travel policies accounting for most of the disputes. The Insurance Claims Complaints Panel under the Insurance Complaints Bureau on Tuesday released the numbers for 2025, which showed that last year’s 857 new complaint cases reflected an increase of about a third from 646 recorded in 2024. The figure marked a rise from 616 new cases in 2023, 607 in 2022 and 512 in 2021. “More... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350027/hong-kong-insurance-complaints-body-records-857-cases-last-year-33-2024?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350027/hong-kong-insurance-complaints-body-records-857-cases-last-year-33-2024?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:29:38 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong police are investigating after a pair of Gucci shoes worth HK$11,000 (US$1,404) were stolen from a restroom at Times Square in Causeway Bay, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source said on Saturday that the victim, 48, had bought the shoes from the Gucci store on the second floor of the shopping centre before heading to the restroom on the third floor. She left the shoes behind, and when she returned, she found the shoebox, but the footwear was missing, the source... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349754/gucci-shoes-worth-hk11000-stolen-shopping-centre-restroom-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349754/gucci-shoes-worth-hk11000-stolen-shopping-centre-restroom-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:52:22 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A 10cm-long (4-inch) turtle has died after apparently falling in Hong Kong’s Wong Tai Sin. Police said on Saturday that they were alerted at 2.09pm by a security guard about a turtle suspected of having fallen from a height at No 185 Hammer Hill Road. Online footage and images showed the turtle lying motionless on a playground mat. In Hong Kong, animal cruelty is punishable by up to three years in jail and a fine of HK$200,000 (US$25,530) upon conviction. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349746/turtle-found-dead-after-apparent-fall-hong-kongs-wong-tai-sin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349746/turtle-found-dead-after-apparent-fall-hong-kongs-wong-tai-sin?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:00:01 +0000 Wynna Wong,Fiona Sun Wynna Wong,Fiona Sun Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will cancel a small proportion of passenger flights between mid-May and the end of June, as surging jet fuel prices driven by the war in the Middle East continue to weigh on airlines globally. The airline said on Saturday that about 2 per cent of its total flight frequencies would be cut between May 16 and June 30, mainly on regional routes, as well as a small number of services to Australia, South Asia and South Africa. Cathay Pacific’s budget arm,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349743/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-and-hk-express-cut-some-flights-jet-fuel-prices-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349743/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-and-hk-express-cut-some-flights-jet-fuel-prices-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:10:45 +0000 Wynna Wong,Fiona Sun Wynna Wong,Fiona Sun The head of a civil service union federation in Hong Kong has warned that tighter disciplinary action risks becoming excessive as the government seeks to revise the penalty system to handle underperforming employees this year. Leung Chau-ting, chairman of the Federation of Civil Service Unions, was responding to the Civil Service Bureau’s plan to revise the regulations to further improve the disciplinary mechanism, including tightening rules on withholding salaries during suspensions and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349736/tighter-civil-service-disciplinary-rules-risk-becoming-excessive-union-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349736/tighter-civil-service-disciplinary-rules-risk-becoming-excessive-union-head?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 07:09:46 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s largest public hospital will open to patients in phases from October, with the new 2,400-bed facility in Kai Tak set to take over the services of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and become a healthcare hub for Kowloon. The Hospital Authority said on Friday that the first phase of services at Kai Tak Hospital, located on Shing Cheong Road in Kowloon Bay, would start in October. The new facility has a total gross floor area of 500,000 square metres, the largest among the city’s public... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349687/new-kai-tak-hospital-open-2-phases-october?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349687/new-kai-tak-hospital-open-2-phases-october?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:34:03 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun More than 150 Hong Kong civil servants were dismissed for serious misconduct or criminal convictions over the past three financial years, with police accounting for the largest number of cases. In a written reply to a lawmaker’s inquiry on Thursday, the Civil Service Bureau said 151 civil servants were dismissed for serious misconduct or criminal offences between 2022 and 2025, with the number of dismissals dropping steadily from 60 in 2022–23 to 51 in 2023–24 and 40 in 2024–25. Of the total, 73... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349620/151-hong-kong-civil-servants-dismissed-misconduct-convictions-past-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349620/151-hong-kong-civil-servants-dismissed-misconduct-convictions-past-3-years?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:27:21 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A minibus driver has been killed and 16 others have been injured in two separate crashes involving eight vehicles within two hours on Hong Kong’s San Tin Highway. Police said on Thursday that an accident involving two cars and a taxi occurred on the side of the highway headed to Sheung Shui at 9.51pm the previous day. Eight people suffered minor injuries and were sent to North District Hospital in Sheung Shui. In another accident on the same highway, a 49-year-old public light bus driver was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349507/bus-driver-killed-16-injured-2-separate-crashes-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349507/bus-driver-killed-16-injured-2-separate-crashes-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:42:05 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran is unlikely to significantly ease fuel prices in the near term without a complete end to the conflict, Hong Kong economists have warned, citing uncertainties in the volatile situation. Economist Simon Lee Siu-po of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Shenzhen Finance Institute said that uncertainties remained, adding that fuel prices were still subject to volatility unless a permanent ceasefire was achieved. “There are lots of variables –... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349407/us-iran-ceasefire-unlikely-cause-major-fuel-price-drop-hong-kong-economists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349407/us-iran-ceasefire-unlikely-cause-major-fuel-price-drop-hong-kong-economists?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:30:15 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong police have charged a 70-year-old man with dangerous driving, after viral footage allegedly shows him going the wrong way on a highway in a black Mercedes-Benz before making a U-turn. Police said on Tuesday that officers noticed online footage showing a private car with a probationary sign driving the wrong way down a hard shoulder of Tolo Highway. In the clip, the black Mercedes then makes a U-turn before veering into the offside lane. The New Territories North traffic investigation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349253/probationary-driver-70-charged-over-going-wrong-way-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349253/probationary-driver-70-charged-over-going-wrong-way-hong-kong-highway?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:44:40 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong police have arrested a 31-year-old taxi driver who demanded a “highway toll” of about HK$85 (US$11) from officers posing as passengers during a crackdown on illegal behaviour. The force said on Tuesday that officers conducted an operation to crack down on taxi violations on Lantau Island the previous day. Officers posing as passengers took a taxi from Hong Kong Disneyland Resort to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge checkpoint. When they arrived, the driver demanded about HK$85 as a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349219/taxi-driver-arrested-demanding-hk85-highway-toll-undercover-officers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349219/taxi-driver-arrested-demanding-hk85-highway-toll-undercover-officers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:35:03 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s housing authorities will expand the use of smart technologies, such as door sensors, in-home fall detectors and stair climbers, to enhance safety and convenience for elderly residents at public estates as the city’s population ages. Michael Hong Wing-kit, deputy director of housing overseeing estate management, said a pilot scheme to install sensors, which track door activity and send alerts, in public flats with elderly occupants would be expanded to include Tung Wui Estate in Wong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349080/housing-authorities-expand-use-smart-technologies-support-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349080/housing-authorities-expand-use-smart-technologies-support-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 03:00:15 +0000 Fiona Sun,Edith Lin Fiona Sun,Edith Lin Hongkongers crossed the border into Shenzhen in droves on the second day of the Easter holiday on Saturday, drawn by a wider range of bargain-priced shopping, dining and entertainment options, as well as new landmark attractions including a futuristic tech museum. While bracing for heavy rain, many travellers cited mainland China’s broader selection of shopping centres and restaurants, along with more affordable prices as key draws. Some also said neighbouring Shenzhen boasted fresh cultural and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349029/thousands-hongkongers-brave-heavy-rain-shenzhen-trip-day-2-easter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349029/thousands-hongkongers-brave-heavy-rain-shenzhen-trip-day-2-easter?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 07:15:30 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong customs officers have seized about 162kg of suspected dried shark fins from protected species worth about HK$280,000 (US$35,720) from Panama at the airport. The Customs and Excise Department said on Friday that officers inspected an air consignment declared as dried fish maw arriving from the country the day before. Upon inspection, officers found six boxes of suspected scheduled dried shark fins, weighing about 162kg (357lbs), inside the consignment. The case has been handed over to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348940/hong-kong-customs-seizes-hk280000-worth-dried-shark-fins-panama?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348940/hong-kong-customs-seizes-hk280000-worth-dried-shark-fins-panama?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 08:31:17 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to foster an inclusive society for people with autism, with a Unesco official saying the city has the potential to become a global hub for support services. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Thursday highlighted the importance of a better understanding and acceptance of autistic people at an event marking the United Nations’ World Autism Awareness Day. “Awareness is our starting point. Inclusion is our destination. Action is the bridge that joins them,” he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348838/hong-kong-can-become-global-hub-autism-support-unesco-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348838/hong-kong-can-become-global-hub-autism-support-unesco-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:06:55 +0000 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 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun In the first of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Fiona Sun examines how the city can mobilise stronger support from the private sector to turn systemic hurdles into opportunities. Hong Kong parent Raymond Lam Yiu-wah says caring for his five-year-old autistic son has been a constant source of stress, as the boy requires his full attention. The 42-year-old auditor said his son, diagnosed with autism at the age of two, had yet to speak in full sentences and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348304/hong-kongs-autism-support-services-are-fragmented-can-private-sector-help?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348304/hong-kongs-autism-support-services-are-fragmented-can-private-sector-help?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:30:13 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Construction has begun on a major data centre in the Northern Metropolis, with Hong Kong’s innovation and technology minister saying the project will supercharge the city’s computing power and drive the national artificial intelligence (AI) push. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Saturday at the Range (Hong Kong) Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, which spans more than 110,000 square metres. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said the project marked a leap forward in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348246/hong-kong-breaks-ground-northern-metropolis-data-centre-power-ai-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348246/hong-kong-breaks-ground-northern-metropolis-data-centre-power-ai-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:04:10 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Tuen Mun Hospital has, for the first time in Hong Kong, used a non-invasive, MRI-guided ultrasound procedure to treat a Parkinson’s disease patient suffering from uncontrollable tremors, offering an alternative option for those affected by the condition. The hospital said it expected to provide the procedure to 40 patients within two years as part of further research into the new treatment. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive, incisionless procedure that uses... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347504/hong-kongs-first-mri-guided-ultrasound-offers-relief-parkinsons-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347504/hong-kongs-first-mri-guided-ultrasound-offers-relief-parkinsons-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:30:37 +0000 Fiona Sun,Olga Wong Fiona Sun,Olga Wong Hong Kong authorities will issue weekly announcements about the changes in international and local fuel costs from April, following mounting suspicion that businesses are prematurely raising prices because of the United States-Israeli war on Iran. The move announced on Saturday was welcomed by experts, although some said prices were ultimately out of the government’s hands and it should consider temporarily cutting the fuel tax if levels soared. “We are currently collecting and organising data.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347414/hong-kong-issue-weekly-updates-fuel-price-changes-april-1?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347414/hong-kong-issue-weekly-updates-fuel-price-changes-april-1?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 06:25:32 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Three Hong Kong police officers fired a total of five shots at a knife-wielding man suspected to have mental problems after he charged at them in the early hours of Saturday morning, hitting him twice. The assailant, a 43-year-old construction worker, was struck in the right chest and thigh, the force said. He was unconscious when sent to Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung, where he underwent surgery. He was in a critical condition as of 10am, according to authorities. Senior... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347403/police-officers-fire-5-shots-charging-assailant-carrying-serrated-knife-metal-rod?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347403/police-officers-fire-5-shots-charging-assailant-carrying-serrated-knife-metal-rod?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 01:41:17 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation has warned of possible glitches, such as misalignment between train and platform doors and automatic speed changes, as a new signalling system on the Tsuen Wan line is set to begin operating on Sunday. The rail giant said the Tsuen Wan line would start using the new system from the first train on Sunday morning, while maintaining its normal schedule that day. “During the adjustment period after the new signalling system is put into service, some isolated incidents... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346621/glitches-possible-new-signalling-system-starts-tsuen-wan-line-mtr-corp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346621/glitches-possible-new-signalling-system-starts-tsuen-wan-line-mtr-corp?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 13:35:13 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun On the weathered facade of the Kiu Kong Mansion on Nathan Road, two freshly painted cats now curl into the bustle of Hong Kong’s Yau Ma Tei. The mural features a ragdoll and a British shorthair cat, two breeds loved by Hongkongers, bringing a burst of colour and whimsy to the ageing building. With its head wrapped in a pink towel after a grooming session, the ragdoll gazes out at the street while the British shorthair shows off glossy nails and long, curly eyelashes, both perched in a garden... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346579/purrs-approval-yau-ma-tei-cat-mural-community-art-project-draws-crowds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346579/purrs-approval-yau-ma-tei-cat-mural-community-art-project-draws-crowds?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:45:47 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Twenty-one people have been injured in a crash involving two double-decker buses, a truck and a car on Yuen Long Highway in Hong Kong. Police said on Friday that the force was alerted to the traffic accident at 6.35pm. As of 8pm, 12 women and nine men had suffered minor injuries, police said. Among them was the driver of the private car, the force added. Franchised bus firm KMB said two double-deckers on routes 276B and 269B were involved in the accident with the two other vehicles while... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346548/21-hurt-4-vehicle-crash-hong-kongs-yuen-long-highway?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346548/21-hurt-4-vehicle-crash-hong-kongs-yuen-long-highway?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:59:05 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities have arrested 20 people, including domestic helpers suspected of unlawfully providing services such as massages and manicures, in a crackdown on illegal labour. The Immigration Department said that it conducted a three-day operation across the city between Sunday and Tuesday, searching 19 target locations, including restaurants, care homes, hotels, commercial and industrial buildings and public places. Officers arrested 20 people, including 14 suspected illegal workers or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346116/11-domestic-helpers-among-20-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-labour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346116/11-domestic-helpers-among-20-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-labour?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:13:08 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun The Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom has warned its citizens in the country to beware of scams involving fraudsters posing as staff from Hong Kong’s anti-corruption watchdog. In a statement on Monday, the embassy said criminals had recently posed as staff of the city’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) to carry out telecommunications fraud. The criminals falsely accused victims of offences such as money laundering, pressuring them to cooperate in a bogus “investigation” and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346063/chinese-embassy-warns-nationals-uk-scammers-posing-hong-kong-icac-staff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346063/chinese-embassy-warns-nationals-uk-scammers-posing-hong-kong-icac-staff?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:42:31 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong has lodged “solemn representations” with local envoys for Britain, the US, Australia and the EU over remarks made by their officials and politicians about the sentencing of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying. The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong issued a statement on Saturday, saying it had summoned representatives from the countries and the bloc on Wednesday and Thursday. “The commissioner’s office lodged solemn... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343589/beijing-slams-us-uk-australia-and-eu-over-jimmy-lai-sentencing-remarks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343589/beijing-slams-us-uk-australia-and-eu-over-jimmy-lai-sentencing-remarks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 12:01:26 +0000 Denise Tsang,Fiona Sun Denise Tsang,Fiona Sun Safeguarding national security is crucial for Hong Kong to fully implement the “one country, two systems” governing principle and ensure the city’s stability, which will aid its development and attract foreign investors. That was the key takeaway from a high-level meeting hosted by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Saturday to discuss a white paper issued by Beijing earlier this week, only the third such report released by the State Council on local affairs since 2014. The document focused on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343584/protecting-national-security-seen-key-hong-kongs-stability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343584/protecting-national-security-seen-key-hong-kongs-stability?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 10:37:37 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun The Li Ka Shing Foundation and the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort are arranging free visits to the theme park for 5,000 domestic helpers under an expanded programme this year. The charitable foundation, established by tycoon Li Ka-shing, said on Tuesday the number of helpers receiving the free visits would increase from 4,000 last year to 5,000. The initiative will also include more nationalities, extending beyond the Philippines to workers from Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Thailand. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343037/hong-kongs-li-ka-shing-foundation-gifts-5000-disneyland-tickets-domestic-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343037/hong-kongs-li-ka-shing-foundation-gifts-5000-disneyland-tickets-domestic-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 07:47:07 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A Hong Kong bus driver has earned public praise for making an urgent detour to take an ill child to hospital before resuming the route. Citybus said on Saturday that the route 79X bus was travelling along Tolo Highway at about 10pm the previous day when a passenger noticed a child was unwell and sought help from the driver. “Deeming the situation urgent, the driver arranged for the bus to stop near Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po to allow the passengers to disembark for medical... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342785/public-bus-driver-makes-detour-take-child-hospital-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342785/public-bus-driver-makes-detour-take-child-hospital-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 14:16:54 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Adidas has apologised and said it will conduct a comprehensive review of its fitting rooms to better protect customer privacy, after a woman complained that a staff member and other patrons opened the curtain while she was inside one at a store in Hong Kong. The sportswear giant said on Friday in a social media statement that the company’s management had met the customer to offer an apology and provide help. “Adidas has always valued customers’ shopping experience, with safety and privacy being... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342715/adidas-says-sorry-over-fitting-room-incident-hong-kong-vows-privacy-review?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342715/adidas-says-sorry-over-fitting-room-incident-hong-kong-vows-privacy-review?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 13:45:25 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s ombudsman has found that the Medical Council’s complaint-handling processes are excessively lengthy and plagued by a persistent backlog of cases, urging the watchdog and authorities to hasten procedures to uphold public confidence. The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday released its investigation findings into the effectiveness of administrative support provided by the secretariat under the Department of Health for the council’s complaint handling and the government’s regulatory... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342547/hong-kong-ombudsman-slams-medical-councils-excessively-long-complaints-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342547/hong-kong-ombudsman-slams-medical-councils-excessively-long-complaints-system?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:19:15 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A secondary school in Hong Kong has apologised after a teacher was criticised for citing the deadly Wang Fuk Court blaze as an example to urge students to take a fire drill seriously. The MKMCF Ma Chan Duen Hey Memorial College in Tseung Kwan O on Tuesday said it was aware of the incident that took place last Friday and had initiated a crisis response plan. “The school acknowledged that some individual faculty and staff had used inappropriate language and expressions, and expressed its deepest... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3342253/red-faced-hong-kong-school-sorry-after-teacher-cites-tai-po-blaze-fire-drill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3342253/red-faced-hong-kong-school-sorry-after-teacher-cites-tai-po-blaze-fire-drill?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:49:11 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hongkongers should brace for cooler weather on Sunday as temperatures are expected to drop to as low as 13 degrees Celsius (55.4 Fahrenheit). The Hong Kong Observatory said on Saturday that the mercury would plunge to about 13 degrees in urban areas the next day and a couple of degrees lower in the New Territories. The maximum temperature is forecast to be 18... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341964/hongkongers-should-brace-chilly-sunday-temperatures-dip-13-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341964/hongkongers-should-brace-chilly-sunday-temperatures-dip-13-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 14:00:09 +0000 Leopold Chen,Fiona Sun Leopold Chen,Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s health minister is seeking to amend legislation to reform and speed up the complaint system of a medical watchdog, but has warned against “arbitrarily” adding more non-professionals to the body. Lo Chung-mau said on Saturday that the Health Bureau would table an amendment to the Medical Registration Ordinance at a meeting of the Legislative Council’s health services panel in February, with the aim of implementing the new measures in April. The amendment would review the Medical... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341933/hong-kong-health-chief-seeks-speed-medical-councils-complaint-handling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341933/hong-kong-health-chief-seeks-speed-medical-councils-complaint-handling?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 06:38:21 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun More than 110,000 patients have secured fee waivers since Hong Kong’s public medical fee reform took effect at the start of the year, a jump from a previous annual number of 14,000, the health minister has said while defending the overhaul. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Friday that among the more than 110,000 people with approved waivers, about 53,000 had already received certificates for fee reduction. The roughly 60,000 patients remaining who had failed to provide income and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341856/over-110000-secure-waivers-within-1-month-after-hong-kong-public-medical-fee-reform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341856/over-110000-secure-waivers-within-1-month-after-hong-kong-public-medical-fee-reform?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:43:59 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Disabled residents and a former lawmaker have slammed Hong Kong’s town planning authorities for failing to consider accessibility needs and overlooking potential fire safety risks in an approved development plan for Wan Chai, calling for a review to make the area more barrier-free. Former social welfare sector lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen said on Thursday that the Town Planning Board-approved, high-density development plan covering Sau Wa Fong and Nam Koo Terrace failed to take into account its impact... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341717/town-planning-body-slammed-neglecting-disabled-people-over-wan-chai-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341717/town-planning-body-slammed-neglecting-disabled-people-over-wan-chai-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:14:33 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong plans to lower the age threshold for mandatory medical certification for commercial vehicle drivers from 70 to 65 under legislative proposals to be submitted in the first quarter of this year, with the new rules supported by a transport advisory body. The government on Wednesday briefed the Transport Advisory Committee on the proposals to tighten medical fitness requirements for commercial vehicle drivers in a bid to further safeguard road safety amid an ageing workforce in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341585/hong-kong-eyes-lowering-age-bar-health-checks-commercial-drivers-65?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341585/hong-kong-eyes-lowering-age-bar-health-checks-commercial-drivers-65?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:14:54 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hongkongers should avoid travelling to West Bengal, which is battling an outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus, an infectious diseases expert has warned, with an Indian community leader in the city predicting a short-term impact on family and business trips. The community leader also sought to reassure the public, dismissing fears that the outbreak in India would significantly affect Hong Kong in the long term. “There is a large and thriving Bengali community in Hong Kong. Those who are planning... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341460/hongkongers-urged-avoid-indias-west-bengal-amid-outbreak-deadly-nipah-virus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341460/hongkongers-urged-avoid-indias-west-bengal-amid-outbreak-deadly-nipah-virus?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:31:28 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Weight-loss injections have fallen under the spotlight in Hong Kong after the Post discovered over-the-counter sellers operating locally, and a recent study found that nearly one in two residents was overweight or obese. The Post’s investigation found the prescription-only medicines were available for purchase on some online platforms and at a pharmacy without the need for a doctor’s approval, sparking concerns about potential health risks. The Post looks into the matter and examines the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341137/worth-weight-what-hongkongers-should-know-about-slimming-injections?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341137/worth-weight-what-hongkongers-should-know-about-slimming-injections?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 02:30:20 +0000 Jess Ma,Fiona Sun Jess Ma,Fiona Sun A property landlord has backed down and given tenants of a Hong Kong youth hostel an extra month to find alternative housing, following residents’ complaints about potentially having to return to cramped shoebox homes when the lease expires. Some residents of the BeLIVING Youth Hub in Causeway Bay said on Friday that its operator, the Hong Kong United Youth Association, had called tenants last week to tell them that they had to move out by February 28. “We are all fearful now. We are worried... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340955/we-are-fearful-hong-kong-youth-hostel-closure-leaves-tenants-scrambling-housing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340955/we-are-fearful-hong-kong-youth-hostel-closure-leaves-tenants-scrambling-housing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 07:25:52 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun About 40 per cent of Hongkongers struggle to distinguish between proprietary Chinese medicines and health supplements, according to a survey by a think tank that has developed a tool to assess public literacy in the traditional discipline. Our Hong Kong Foundation on Thursday released the findings of a survey conducted last August, using the tool to poll 800 residents. The think tank said the survey revealed a moderate overall level of Chinese medicine health literacy among respondents, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340839/4-10-hongkongers-struggle-distinguish-chinese-medicine-supplements?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340839/4-10-hongkongers-struggle-distinguish-chinese-medicine-supplements?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:02:20 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong mother Amy Chan* often feels overwhelmed caring for her nine-year-old son, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The 39-year-old said her son, diagnosed with the condition two years ago, seldom listened to her and lost his temper easily, putting tremendous pressure on her and taking a toll on her mental health. Chan, who works as a part-time clerk, said her frustration with her son’s uncooperative behaviour and her own stress sometimes became so intense that she was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340598/hong-kong-parents-special-needs-children-fear-abuse-claims-under-new-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340598/hong-kong-parents-special-needs-children-fear-abuse-claims-under-new-law?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:30:49 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities have identified 1,600 at-risk elderly households in public housing, but analysts have said the figure fails to reflect the scale of this group of vulnerable residents and urged the government to speed up search efforts. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Saturday that authorities had identified high-risk cases by reviewing Housing Department data from more than 800,000 households in public housing. “These 1,600 households could become the hidden,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340274/hong-kong-flags-1600-risk-elderly-households-experts-say-figure-tip-iceberg?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340274/hong-kong-flags-1600-risk-elderly-households-experts-say-figure-tip-iceberg?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 13:59:31 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities may remove building maintenance contractors from a government list if homeowners are dissatisfied with their performance, as part of measures to combat bid-rigging following the deadly Tai Po fire, the city’s No 2 official has said. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok‑ki said on Saturday that the government aimed to improve the Urban Renewal Authority’s “Smart Tender” scheme by establishing a preselected list of qualified contractors. The scheme provides support to owners’... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340251/hong-kong-contractors-rated-poorly-homeowners-face-removal-after-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340251/hong-kong-contractors-rated-poorly-homeowners-face-removal-after-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 07:25:35 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong is building a logistics hub for high-value goods, e-commerce and low-altitude economy in the Northern Metropolis mega development project, with authorities set to gauge industry interest in the first site of the cluster this year. The Transport and Logistics Bureau said on Friday that authorities aimed to attract leading logistics firms with tailored incentives, such as land grant arrangements and premium concessions, to a planned industrial cluster covering more than 30 hectares in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3340213/hong-kong-plans-build-northern-metropolis-logistics-hub-smart-green-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3340213/hong-kong-plans-build-northern-metropolis-logistics-hub-smart-green-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 12:53:38 +0000 Fiona Sun,Connor Mycroft Fiona Sun,Connor Mycroft A 78-year-old man has died in a fire suspected to have started from burning mugwort, a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine, in a flat at a public housing estate in Hong Kong’s Kwai Chung district. Police said they received a report at 12.41pm on Wednesday that a fire had broken out at Cho Yiu Chuen estate’s Kai Him Lau block. Li Kai-chung, assistant divisional officer of the Fire Services Department, said the blaze started in a bedroom of about 60 sq ft in a fifth-floor flat. Thirteen fire... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339839/elderly-man-dies-fire-hong-kong-public-housing-estate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339839/elderly-man-dies-fire-hong-kong-public-housing-estate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 06:45:08 +0000 Fiona Sun,Natalie Wong Fiona Sun,Natalie Wong Hong Kong authorities have replaced Tai Po district officer Eunice Chan Hau-man, who recently apologised for her choice of attire at the funeral of the firefighter who died in the catastrophic Wang Fuk Court blaze. Two government sources said on Tuesday that her removal was not triggered by the episode, but had been planned “for a long period of time” after multiple internal complaints against Chan, who had served in the role for seven years. Those complaints were related to her abrasive... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3339761/hong-kong-government-replace-tai-po-district-officer-eunice-chan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3339761/hong-kong-government-replace-tai-po-district-officer-eunice-chan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:02:27 +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