https://www.scmp.com/rss/503070/feed Natalie is an award-winning journalist specialising in policy analysis with a focus on Hong Kong politics. She also moderates SCMP events and is passionate about video storytelling. She is the co-author of Post Portraits – Hong Kong’s 25 years of change through the lens of the South China Morning Post (SCMP Publishers, 2023). Previously, she worked for i-Cable News (HK) and BBC Chinese (London). en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Natalie Wong Natalie Wong A statutory advisory body in Hong Kong will be given new powers as early as June to investigate government department heads over “serious, widespread or systemic” problems, as part of a broader push to institutionalise accountability for top officials. A Civil Service Bureau spokeswoman stressed that the new system targeted “implementation failures” by senior officials, but a union representative argued that major scandals often stemmed from flawed policy designs in which bureau chiefs and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350052/advisory-body-be-given-power-probe-government-department-heads-serious-offences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350052/advisory-body-be-given-power-probe-government-department-heads-serious-offences?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 09:47:19 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong The supervisor of a prestigious secondary school in Hong Kong has hit back at the director and distributor of a controversial coming-of-age documentary, accusing them of “defaming” the integrity of the institution’s principal and placing her in an “unjust position”. The claims, contained in a letter sent to students of Ying Wa Girls’ School on Monday, mark an escalation in the war of words over a screening of To My Nineteen-Year-Old Self that was planned at an Italian film festival that begins... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349922/hong-kong-school-hits-back-filmmaker-row-over-italian-screening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349922/hong-kong-school-hits-back-filmmaker-row-over-italian-screening?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 10:18:58 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong spent HK$1.13 billion (US$144.27 million) on the Legislative Council election last year, or nearly 35 per cent more than on the previous poll, with authorities citing rising technology expenses, staff salaries and venue rentals for the increased expenditure. In a written response to lawmakers’ inquiries that came to light on Thursday, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau revealed the revised budget for the Registration and Electoral Office for the 2025-26 financial year that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349559/hong-kong-spent-hk113-billion-legco-poll-35-over-figure-2021?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3349559/hong-kong-spent-hk113-billion-legco-poll-35-over-figure-2021?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:43:25 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs has concluded a five-day fact-finding trip to three mainland Chinese cities in the Greater Bay Area to explore ways of deepening the international financial hub’s integration into the national blueprint. The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said its director, Xia Baolong, had visited Guangzhou, Zhaoqing and Foshan on the trip from Monday to Friday, accompanied by officials from the mainland and Hong Kong. “[The trip] focused on how... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348201/beijing-official-visits-greater-bay-area-cities-explore-integrating-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348201/beijing-official-visits-greater-bay-area-cities-explore-integrating-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:47:50 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Natalie Wong Lo Hoi-ying,Natalie Wong Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will increase its fuel surcharge for all flights by 34 per cent from April – the second increase in two weeks – citing “considerable pressure” as the war in the Middle East affects oil prices. The airline said on Thursday that considering the scale of recent surges in jet fuel prices, its fuel hedging measures were “insufficient” to mitigate and recover the cost. Fuel accounted for around 30 per cent of its operating costs last year, it said. From... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348004/cathay-increase-fuel-surcharge-all-flights-34-april?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348004/cathay-increase-fuel-surcharge-all-flights-34-april?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:34:06 +0000 Danny Mok,Natalie Wong Danny Mok,Natalie Wong Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will arrive in Hong Kong on Thursday for a three-day visit, meeting the city’s leader, politicians and businesspeople, and will also examine key sites in the Northern Metropolis megaproject to explore collaboration opportunities. It will be Wong’s first working visit to Hong Kong since he assumed office as Singapore’s fourth prime minister in May 2024. The visit will follow Wong’s attendance at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference in Hainan province,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347743/singapores-lawrence-wong-visit-hong-kong-after-boao-forum-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347743/singapores-lawrence-wong-visit-hong-kong-after-boao-forum-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:54:37 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong’s terrorism threat level remains moderate amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, the city’s security chief has said, urging residents to stay vigilant in the globally connected city. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Sunday that while no intelligence suggested an imminent attack, Hong Kong must “be prepared” and residents should report anything suspicious to police. “The Russia-Ukraine war is not over, and there is conflict in the Middle East,” Tang told a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346643/terrorism-threat-hong-kong-moderate-amid-middle-east-war-security-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3346643/terrorism-threat-hong-kong-moderate-amid-middle-east-war-security-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 07:25:24 +0000 Natalie Wong,Vivian Au Natalie Wong,Vivian Au The Hong Kong government has ruled out chartering Cathay Pacific Airways flights to bring home residents stranded in the Middle East, given the potential danger of navigating partially reopened airspaces and challenges in securing take-off slots at foreign airports, sources have said. The South China Morning Post learned that officials had also weighed the option of repatriation flights from Oman, but the absence of direct Cathay services made the route “impractical” because obtaining aviation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345768/hong-kong-authorities-rule-out-chartering-cathay-pacific-flights-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345768/hong-kong-authorities-rule-out-chartering-cathay-pacific-flights-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:34:25 +0000 Oscar Liu,Natalie Wong,Theodora Yu,Fiona Chow Oscar Liu,Natalie Wong,Theodora Yu,Fiona Chow At least 35 flights from Hong Kong to the Middle East originally scheduled for Sunday and Monday have been disrupted following the joint United States-Israeli attack on Iran, with further cancellations and delays likely to follow. Sunday morning also saw hundreds of passengers pack Hong Kong International Airport to inquire about the suspended departures of flights initially scheduled for the previous day. The flights were primarily to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Doha in Qatar and Dubai in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3345005/travellers-stranded-hong-kong-airport-some-27-middle-east-flights-disrupted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3345005/travellers-stranded-hong-kong-airport-some-27-middle-east-flights-disrupted?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 05:05:46 +0000 Natalie Wong,Lam Ka-sing Natalie Wong,Lam Ka-sing A new government committee tasked with reviewing Hong Kong’s tax policies will consider updating them to allow for levies on the virtual asset sector and selected emerging industries, while providing incentives to attract business and investment, the South China Morning Post has learned. The SCMP learned of the development on Wednesday as experts called for Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po to regard the new Advisory Committee on Tax Policy, which he will chair, as an opportunity to conduct a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344648/hong-kongs-virtual-asset-sector-considered-taxation-under-policy-review?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344648/hong-kongs-virtual-asset-sector-considered-taxation-under-policy-review?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 15:12:25 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has announced an array of industry spending and relief measures in Hong Kong’s budget, in response to the city’s quicker-than-expected return to a surplus of HK$2.9 billion (US$370.8 million) in its consolidated account. In a two-hour address to the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Chan pledged substantial government support and investment in major development projects and key industries, such as the artificial intelligence (AI), intellectual property (IP)... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344584/surpluses-investments-tax-breaks-whats-it-you-hong-kongs-budget-2026-27?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344584/surpluses-investments-tax-breaks-whats-it-you-hong-kongs-budget-2026-27?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 08:40:12 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Natalie Wong Matthew Cheng,Natalie Wong A Hong Kong court has dismissed appeals by 12 opposition activists to overturn their convictions or reduce their sentences in the city’s largest national security case, upholding a finding that an unofficial 2020 primary election was subversive and that the seven-year starting point for jail terms was not “manifestly excessive”. The Court of Appeal on Monday also upheld the acquittal of barrister Lawrence Lau Wai-chung, one of the 47 activists prosecuted in the landmark case of conspiracy to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344367/hong-kong-court-dismisses-appeal-12-activists-over-landmark-subversion-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344367/hong-kong-court-dismisses-appeal-12-activists-over-landmark-subversion-case?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:15:17 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong’s civil service chief has defended a decision to open up recruitment externally for the role of food and environmental hygiene director, saying the move aims to attract experts who can take the lead in using technology to enforce laws. Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan also stressed on Monday that anyone hired externally would have no chance to climb the ranks as the next role would be permanent secretary, a position which, under regulations, must be held by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3344315/open-recruitment-hygiene-chief-can-attract-innovator-tech-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3344315/open-recruitment-hygiene-chief-can-attract-innovator-tech-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:07:06 +0000 Natalie Wong,Matthew Cheng,Edith Lin,Brian Wong Natalie Wong,Matthew Cheng,Edith Lin,Brian Wong Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeals by 12 opposition activists seeking to overturn their convictions or have their sentences reduced, following the city’s largest national security trial to date. The appellate court on Monday also upheld the acquittal of one of 47 defendants prosecuted in the high-profile case of conspiracy to subvert state power. A heavy police presence was seen outside the West Kowloon Court on Monday morning, with around 100 officers stationed at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344284/hong-kong-court-rule-appeals-activists-largest-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344284/hong-kong-court-rule-appeals-activists-largest-national-security-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 01:31:22 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong’s coming annual budget must address critical bottlenecks in technology and talent attraction to pave the way for the city’s first five-year development framework in line with national priorities, according to observers. The budget, to be delivered by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Wednesday, is more than a fiscal exercise. It is viewed as the first major test of officials’ “reform mindset” after Beijing unveiled the nation’s 15th five-year plan recommendations, which include... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344219/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-whats-holding-back-citys-tech-and-talent-schemes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344219/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-whats-holding-back-citys-tech-and-talent-schemes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 01:00:27 +0000 Edith Lin,Natalie Wong Edith Lin,Natalie Wong Hong Kong authorities are set to offer flat owners who lost their homes in the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire buy-back options at higher-than-expected prices in a resettlement plan to be announced as early as Saturday, the South China Morning Post has learned. Government sources said on Friday that the acquisition prices for properties without land premiums could be HK$8,000 (US$1,204) per square foot, while properties with land premiums could exceed HK$10,000 per square foot. Authorities had valued... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344134/tai-po-fire-owners-receive-buy-back-offer-about-hk10000-sq-ft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344134/tai-po-fire-owners-receive-buy-back-offer-about-hk10000-sq-ft?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 08:55:29 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong International Airport’s second terminal, set to fully open in May, is projected to serve 15 million travellers by the end of this year, with a midterm goal of increasing capacity to 30 million. The target was revealed by Rock Chen Chung-nin, lawmaker and board member of the Airport Authority, who said on Friday that the 15 airlines scheduled to operate from the terminal would primarily be budget and newer carriers flying short-haul routes. The carriers would include Hong Kong Airlines,... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3344090/hong-kong-airports-terminal-2-projected-serve-15-million-travellers-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3344090/hong-kong-airports-terminal-2-projected-serve-15-million-travellers-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:25:39 +0000 Leopold Chen,Natalie Wong Leopold Chen,Natalie Wong Hong Kong authorities will “shortly” announce long-term rehousing plans for residents displaced by the deadly Tai Po fire, after settling differences in individual preferences and resolving uncertainties over insurance and legal issues, the city’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made the pledge on Friday after visiting some of the affected residents temporarily staying in a youth hostel in Kai Tak and revealed that he had told all ministers to conduct community visits before... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343428/hong-kong-soon-announce-rehousing-plans-tai-po-fire-victims-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343428/hong-kong-soon-announce-rehousing-plans-tai-po-fire-victims-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 05:34:34 +0000 Oscar Liu,Natalie Wong,Edith Lin Oscar Liu,Natalie Wong,Edith Lin Hong Kong’s rail operator has apologised after items from a maintenance vehicle and damage to track equipment caused a 1½-hour partial suspension of the MTR Island line, throwing Wednesday’s morning rush hour into chaos. Train services between Sheung Wan and Quarry Bay stations were suspended as soon as the Island line began operating at 6.07am. The disruption lasted until 7.30am, triggering complaints from passengers about poor contingency arrangements after they were left waiting in long... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3343123/hong-kong-mtr-island-line-services-resume-after-track-obstruction-causes-major-delays?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3343123/hong-kong-mtr-island-line-services-resume-after-track-obstruction-causes-major-delays?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:11:19 +0000 Jeffie Lam,Natalie Wong Jeffie Lam,Natalie Wong Hong Kong’s U-turn on its seat belt rule for buses is a sobering reminder to lawmakers that they must meet higher standards even under the “executive-led” governance model recently underlined by Beijing, according to several policy experts. They said some lawmakers had been complacent, prioritising speed over efficacy in policymaking in a “patriots-only” legislature with no opposition presence, and would have to share the responsibility for administrative missteps. Xia Baolong, director of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3342829/are-hong-kongs-lawmakers-also-blame-over-seat-belt-law-blunder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3342829/are-hong-kongs-lawmakers-also-blame-over-seat-belt-law-blunder?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 09:55:44 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hongkongers can expect a warm Lunar New Year with maximum temperatures climbing to 23 degrees Celsius (73.4 Fahrenheit) when the three-day holiday begins on February 17. According to the Observatory’s nine-day weather forecast, temperatures on the first day of the holiday will range between 19 and 23 degrees, with mostly cloudy skies and sunny intervals... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342804/warm-temperatures-expected-over-lunar-new-year-holiday-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342804/warm-temperatures-expected-over-lunar-new-year-holiday-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 05:15:02 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong The Hong Kong government is reviewing feedback from 90 per cent of property owners hit by the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court on their long-term rehousing preferences, with the city leader stressing that “every option” is on the table amid calls to rebuild the burnt-out estate on site. Two months after the blaze that claimed 168 lives, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday underlined the urgency of announcing the resettlement plan for thousands of displaced residents, but stopped short... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3341365/all-options-considered-amid-feedback-flat-owners-hit-tai-po-fire-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3341365/all-options-considered-amid-feedback-flat-owners-hit-tai-po-fire-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:29:40 +0000 Natalie Wong,Jeffie Lam,Matthew Cheng Natalie Wong,Jeffie Lam,Matthew Cheng Erick Tsang Kwok-wai has resigned as Hong Kong’s constitutional and mainland affairs chief, saying that he has elevated prostate cancer markers in his blood and cannot cope with the heavy workload. State news agency Xinhua first reported the State Council’s decision to remove Tsang from his post on Tuesday morning, ending days of speculation over the 62-year-old’s departure from the cabinet. Meeting the press later with Tsang, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he had decided to recommend the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3341321/hong-kongs-constitutional-and-mainland-affairs-minister-erick-tsang-resigns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3341321/hong-kongs-constitutional-and-mainland-affairs-minister-erick-tsang-resigns?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:24:52 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Shifting policies under US President Donald Trump’s administration are expected to heighten market volatility in Hong Kong this year, the finance chief has said, while also expressing “cautious optimism” about the capital market. Explaining his upbeat outlook despite the tense geopolitical climate, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said business and political leaders he met at the World Economic Forum in Davos viewed the city much more positively than in previous years. “Despite the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3340943/paul-chan-upbeat-about-hong-kong-economy-despite-volatile-market-trump-policies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3340943/paul-chan-upbeat-about-hong-kong-economy-despite-volatile-market-trump-policies?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:51:55 +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 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong 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. Temperatures in Hong Kong are expected to sharply dip to as low as 12 degrees Celsius (53.6 Fahrenheit) on Wednesday next week as a cold front moves through the city midweek. The Hong Kong Observatory said the fine and relatively warm weather on Friday, brought by a dry northeast monsoon,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3340094/hong-kong-temperatures-fall-12-degrees-next-week-winter-monsoon-arrives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3340094/hong-kong-temperatures-fall-12-degrees-next-week-winter-monsoon-arrives?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:29:38 +0000 Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s newly elected lawmakers, many of them fresh faces on the political scene, held their first meeting on Wednesday, with officials pledging to address policy gaps exposed by the deadly Tai Po inferno, from tightening oversight of maintenance project tenders and raising homeowner voting thresholds to imposing a smoking ban at construction sites. Wednesday also marked the first time since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty 28 years ago that a city leader had addressed the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3339922/gaps-laid-bare-deadly-hong-kong-fire-focus-first-legco-meeting-new-term?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3339922/gaps-laid-bare-deadly-hong-kong-fire-focus-first-legco-meeting-new-term?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:38:54 +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 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong authorities have launched a survey to gauge the long-term rehousing preferences of flat owners displaced by the devastating Tai Po blaze, offering nine options for new subsidised homes, including redeveloping the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court by 2035 at the earliest. But some owners said on Friday that the acquisition prices the government had estimated for their flats were too low while suggesting officials also include the option of providing subsidies for them to buy second-hand... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3339296/hong-kong-authorities-launch-survey-long-term-rehousing-plans-tai-po-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3339296/hong-kong-authorities-launch-survey-long-term-rehousing-plans-tai-po-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 06:34:02 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong 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. Frost may form on the ground in parts of Hong Kong’s New Territories on Thursday morning, the weather forecaster has said, after the city recorded its lowest temperature so far this winter. The temperature on Wednesday morning fell to 10.9 degrees Celsius (51.6 degrees Fahrenheit) due to a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338977/temperature-hong-kong-hits-109-degrees-celsius-lowest-so-far-winter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338977/temperature-hong-kong-hits-109-degrees-celsius-lowest-so-far-winter?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 02:02:14 +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,Edith Lin,Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Oscar Liu,Edith Lin,Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Hong Kong firefighters are investigating the cause behind a fire, including a possible electrical fault, at a public housing flat that left one man dead, injured eight others and forced more than 250 residents to evacuate. Authorities received multiple reports on Sunday morning of thick smoke billowing from the flat, with 91 firefighters deployed to Mei Yue House in Kowloon’s Shek Kip Mei Estate. The blaze was largely under control by 8.54am, about 40 minutes after it was first reported. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338648/1-dead-more-200-evacuated-after-fire-breaks-out-hong-kong-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338648/1-dead-more-200-evacuated-after-fire-breaks-out-hong-kong-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 02:39:06 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Twenty-one people have been arrested in a crackdown by Hong Kong’s anti-graft agency on a triad-linked syndicate accused of manipulating renovation project tenders at two residential estates in Kwun Tong, with one contract valued at about HK$33 million (US$4.2 million). The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said on Friday that 15 men and six women, aged 30 to 81, were apprehended last week in connection with the case, including suspected core members of the ring. Among those... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338483/21-held-hong-kong-over-renovation-bid-rigging-including-hk33-million-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338483/21-held-hong-kong-over-renovation-bid-rigging-including-hk33-million-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 06:03:26 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong As despair draped the air and hopes dimmed for the scores still unaccounted for, one scene stood out on the second night after Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades: volunteers forming long human chains next to the charred buildings in Tai Po, passing on supplies hand to hand. These volunteers – mobilised mostly through social media and chat groups – moved the supplies contributed by individuals and businesses to where hundreds of affected residents were staying temporarily. Working tirelessly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334621/we-are-you-hour-need-volunteers-rally-help-hong-kong-fire-displaced?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334621/we-are-you-hour-need-volunteers-rally-help-hong-kong-fire-displaced?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:00:28 +0000 Wynna Wong,Ambrose Li,Willa Wu,Mike Chan,Natalie Wong,Fiona Sun,Jess Ma Wynna Wong,Ambrose Li,Willa Wu,Mike Chan,Natalie Wong,Fiona Sun,Jess Ma The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in seven decades climbed to more than 100 on Friday as the government announced a three-day official mourning period from Saturday for victims of the blaze. National and Hong Kong flags at all its buildings and facilities will fly at half-mast until Monday, with officials cancelling all non-essential public engagements, and government-endorsed celebratory events delayed or cancelled. Residents can also pen their condolences in books placed across... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334587/death-toll-hong-kong-fire-climbs-128-city-prepares-mourning-period?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334587/death-toll-hong-kong-fire-climbs-128-city-prepares-mourning-period?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 18:19:03 +0000 Natalie Wong,Ambrose Li,Mike Chan Natalie Wong,Ambrose Li,Mike Chan Against the backdrop of the seven charred residential blocks, an open plaza next to Wang Fuk Court has transformed into a bustling relief centre, manned by hundreds of volunteers aiding thousands of displaced residents on the third day since Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades. As large quantities of donated supplies continuously flowed into the area, volunteers – mostly mobilised through social media and chat groups – sorted the items systematically and divided the plaza into different zones... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334570/hongkongers-solidarity-volunteers-pick-pieces-tai-po-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334570/hongkongers-solidarity-volunteers-pick-pieces-tai-po-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:49:26 +0000 Natalie Wong,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen,Fiona Chow Natalie Wong,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen,Fiona Chow Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has torn apart families as the death toll climbed to 83 early Friday morning, with many heavy-hearted relatives continuing to search for missing loved ones. Firefighters worked late into the night, combing flats across seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court and finding more bodies. Authorities were yet to release details about the deceased and injured as the blaze entered its second night. In the evening, anxious families gathered at a temporary shelter in Tai Po to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3334421/hong-kong-families-endure-unimaginable-loss-fire-death-toll-hits-75?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3334421/hong-kong-families-endure-unimaginable-loss-fire-death-toll-hits-75?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:21:15 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Scores of people, including infants and the elderly, remain unaccounted for a day after Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. Families and friends are racing against time, issuing appeals at the scene and on social media to find their loved ones. The Post put together some of the appeals as the search and rescue operation continues, after authorities reported that 279 people were missing. Six-month-old Ho Tsz-yan and her grandparents Winnie Hui tells the Post... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3334385/families-appeal-information-loved-ones-scores-missing-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3334385/families-appeal-information-loved-ones-scores-missing-hong-kong-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:46:40 +0000 Natalie Wong,Lynn Zhang Natalie Wong,Lynn Zhang At least two employment agencies have been found offering allegedly bogus jobs to mainland Chinese talent in Hong Kong, assisting them in securing visa renewals for fees of up to 500,000 yuan (US$70,200), the Post has found. The allegations surrounding the companies come amid a peak period of visa expirations under the government’s top talent scheme. Tactics deployed by the agencies included offering employment contracts and payslips without requiring actual work, as well as fabricating evidence... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325461/2-agencies-hong-kong-help-mainland-chinese-talent-secure-visas-through-sham-jobs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325461/2-agencies-hong-kong-help-mainland-chinese-talent-secure-visas-through-sham-jobs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 04:02:20 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong With Hong Kong leader John Lee set to deliver his annual policy address on September 17, the Post examines key topics the chief executive is expected to focus on, including a mega infrastructure project near the border, new economic drivers and livelihood issues. In the fifth of a seven-part series, Natalie Wong looks at the effect of the city’s top talent scheme on the rental property and job markets. In Kai Tak, Hong Kong’s up-and-coming hip hotspot and home to a new 50,000-seat stadium, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325100/3-years-hong-kongs-talent-scheme-it-time-fine-tune-how?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3325100/3-years-hong-kongs-talent-scheme-it-time-fine-tune-how?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 01:30:16 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. All typhoon signals will be cancelled at 12.10pm on Sunday as Tropical Cyclone Kajiki moves further away from Hong Kong, according to the city’s weather forecaster. The Observatory said the No 1 typhoon signal would be replaced by the strong monsoon signal at noon, as Kajiki moved across the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3322955/all-typhoon-signals-hong-kong-be-cancelled-1210pm-cyclone-kajiki-departs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3322955/all-typhoon-signals-hong-kong-be-cancelled-1210pm-cyclone-kajiki-departs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 03:30:44 +0000 Ambrose Li,Natalie Wong Ambrose Li,Natalie Wong Films from four countries that are a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative – Egypt, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Turkey – have been included in a Hong Kong film festival for the first time. The third edition of the Asean Film Festival, taking place in Hong Kong between August 7 and 31, features 24 films from 14 countries. In a reply to the Post, the Turkish consulate said the inclusion of films from the country significantly enhanced cultural exchanges in Hong Kong by showcasing Turkey’s rich... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3322132/films-egypt-hungary-kazakhstan-and-turkey-debut-hong-kong-festival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3322132/films-egypt-hungary-kazakhstan-and-turkey-debut-hong-kong-festival?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 09:14:49 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Hong Kong Observatory cancelled the No 1 typhoon signal on Sunday evening, nearly 22 hours after the warning was first issued because of a tropical depression. The tropical depression would skirt the southwestern coast of Hainan Island in the next few hours and continue to move away from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322112/no-1-typhoon-signal-hong-kong-remain-force-until-noon-sunday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3322112/no-1-typhoon-signal-hong-kong-remain-force-until-noon-sunday?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 02:24:40 +0000 Willa Wu,Edith Lin,Natalie Wong Willa Wu,Edith Lin,Natalie Wong A proposed piece of legislation by the Hong Kong government to recognise same-sex partnerships is set to be the first bill the legislature will reject since Beijing overhauled the city’s electoral system in 2021 to ensure only “patriots” held political power. The new law, opposed by the major political parties, was the government’s response to a landmark court ruling that found authorities had violated the city’s Bill of Rights by failing to offer some form of legal recognition, such as civil... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3321636/hong-kongs-legislature-becoming-too-timid-too-tame-year-review?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3321636/hong-kongs-legislature-becoming-too-timid-too-tame-year-review?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:30:13 +0000 Timon Johnson,Natalie Wong,Connor Mycroft Timon Johnson,Natalie Wong,Connor Mycroft Hong Kong firefighters formed a human ladder to rescue 17 people from a ride malfunction at Ocean Park, according to a visitor who said she was among those suspended in mid-air for hours, while an engineer called for stronger oversight of the venue’s safety inspections. But some visitors on Monday remained undeterred about enjoying the park after the breakdown of the “Wild Twister” ride on Sunday. The incident was the latest in at least three this year involving attractions malfunctioning due to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3321430/hong-kongs-ocean-park-wild-twister-ride-breakdown-fails-deter-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3321430/hong-kongs-ocean-park-wild-twister-ride-breakdown-fails-deter-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 07:08:20 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Natalie Wong Lam Ka-sing,Natalie Wong Uncertainties stemming from a reignited US tariff war will potentially cloud Hong Kong business expansion plans and dampen economic growth for the rest of the year, Trade Development Council chairman Frederick Ma Si-hang has said. But in an exclusive interview with the Post, Ma expressed cautious optimism that a US-China trade deal could be reached by the end of the year, noting that Washington was aware heavy tariffs on Beijing would harm the economy and worsen inflation in the United... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320722/will-hong-kong-firms-feel-us-tariff-pinch-trade-council-chief-cautious-optimistic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320722/will-hong-kong-firms-feel-us-tariff-pinch-trade-council-chief-cautious-optimistic?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2025 01:30:12 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will form a “strategic alliance” with the Bank of China (BOC) to get mainland Chinese companies to rely on the city as a “superconnector” as they venture overseas, its new chairman, Frederick Ma Si-hang, has said. The council’s new task would be part of an expansion of its role in response to continuing geopolitical tensions, he told the Post in an exclusive interview last week. As Ma outlined his vision to realign the statutory body’s global... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320723/hong-kong-trade-promoter-form-strategic-alliance-bank-china-frederick-ma?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320723/hong-kong-trade-promoter-form-strategic-alliance-bank-china-frederick-ma?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 23:30:08 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Four out of Hong Kong’s five new premium taxi fleets failed to accept hire requests within 30 minutes in the city centre, a test by the Post has found several days after the cabs hit the streets with full licences providing ride-hailing alternatives for passengers. The test, conducted on a weekday morning in Tsim Sha Tsui, involved five Post reporters placing orders using separate apps from the five operators – SynCab, Amigo, Big Bee, Big Boss Taxi and Joie. Only SynCab confirmed a ride after an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3320501/how-easy-it-ride-hong-kongs-5-premium-taxi-fleets-only-1-passes-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3320501/how-easy-it-ride-hong-kongs-5-premium-taxi-fleets-only-1-passes-test?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 01:00:21 +0000 Natalie Wong,Sammy Heung,Jess Ma Natalie Wong,Sammy Heung,Jess Ma The city’s national security police have placed a new round of bounties on 15 overseas activists wanted for their involvement in a group called “Hong Kong Parliament”, which the force has deemed subversive and has accused it of violating the Beijing-imposed security law. The HK$200,000 (US$25,640) reward offered for each fugitive was supported by the Office for Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong, which said the group’s actions, including holding an unlawful election “posed a serious... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3319549/police-place-bounties-19-members-subversive-group-hong-kong-parliament?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3319549/police-place-bounties-19-members-subversive-group-hong-kong-parliament?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 04:49:13 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong A senior Hong Kong official has called on lawmakers to be “pragmatic, rational and impartial” when scrutinising a bill aimed at granting certain legal rights to same-sex couples after most major political parties voiced opposition to the legislation. Introducing the bill for its first and second readings in the legislature on Wednesday, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai stressed that the proposed framework was a “reasonable balance” between fulfilling the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3318463/hong-kong-lawmakers-urged-be-impartial-when-reviewing-same-sex-partnership-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3318463/hong-kong-lawmakers-urged-be-impartial-when-reviewing-same-sex-partnership-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 11:15:13 +0000