https://www.scmp.com/rss/507662/feed Wynna joined the SCMP in 2023 after nearly a decade as a reporter and anchor at various TV newsrooms. She specialises in Hong Kong macroeconomics, tourism and consumer trends, and holds an MA in journalism from Columbia University. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Wynna Wong Wynna Wong All 90 Hong Kong lawmakers are set to head to Beijing for a historic “national affairs study visit” in July, attending seminars, visiting key authorities and inspecting the tech sector during their week-long trip. The visit to the capital from July 19 to 25, which will include seminars on national security and geopolitical issues, is expected to cost about HK$1.4 million (US$179,000) in total, according to a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Thursday. The estimated cost for each... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3354425/historic-legco-trip-beijing-include-tech-sector-tours-seminars-and-visits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3354425/historic-legco-trip-beijing-include-tech-sector-tours-seminars-and-visits?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 15:57:06 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong authorities have ordered a licensed mobile ice cream vendor in Central to stop selling soft ice cream after a sample was found to contain coliform bacteria levels exceeding the legal limit. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s Centre for Food Safety said on Thursday that the sample contained 310 coliform bacteria per gram, more than three times the limit of 100 per gram under the Frozen Confections Regulation. The watchdog said it had informed the licence holder of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354424/mobile-ice-cream-vendor-central-told-stop-selling-product-due-bacteria?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3354424/mobile-ice-cream-vendor-central-told-stop-selling-product-due-bacteria?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 15:54:52 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A Hong Kong resident has reported suspected airgun damage to her flat window in Yuen Long, with a district councillor warning that similar incidents may have occurred at the same public housing estate. Police said on Thursday that a 64-year-old woman reported the case at about 12.30pm, after discovering damage to a window at her flat in Shek Ping House in Long Ping Estate. The woman told police she found a 2mm steel pellet on her bed on Monday, but did not initially suspect anything. She later... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3354412/hong-kong-police-probe-suspected-airgun-damage-window-yuen-long-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3354412/hong-kong-police-probe-suspected-airgun-damage-window-yuen-long-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 May 2026 13:40:59 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong airport’s Terminal 2 will reopen later this month, with several airlines to relocate their check-in operations from Terminal 1 as part of expansion plans linked to the three-runway system. The phased move, starting on May 27, will mainly involve regional and low-cost carriers, including HK Express and AirAsia group airlines. Terminal 2 was reconfigured under the airport’s three-runway system project. Here is what travellers need to know. 1. Which airlines are moving to Terminal 2? The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353809/what-do-travellers-need-know-when-hong-kong-airports-terminal-2-opens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353809/what-do-travellers-need-know-when-hong-kong-airports-terminal-2-opens?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 09:29:04 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong health authorities have ordered hospitals to stop using a batch of blood pressure monitoring sets after an improperly sealed device was linked to the death of an elderly man undergoing a heart operation. The Department of Health also said on Friday that it had ordered the local supplier to halt sales of the affected batch and it was investigating the incident at Tuen Mun Hospital. The Hospital Authority noted on Thursday the 75-year-old man had a history of chronic obstructive... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353773/health-authorities-order-halt-use-medical-devices-tied-patients-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353773/health-authorities-order-halt-use-medical-devices-tied-patients-death?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 15:57:43 +0000 Wynna Wong,Denise Tsang Wynna Wong,Denise Tsang The Hong Kong government has maintained its full-year growth forecast at between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent after the city’s economy expanded by a stronger-than-expected 5.9 per cent in the first quarter. But rising oil prices linked to the war in the Middle East could push inflation higher in the coming months, the government economist warned as the Census and Statistics Department released growth data on Friday. The economy grew by 5.9 per cent year on year in the first quarter, after expanding by 4... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353658/tourist-arrivals-10-year-year-april-driven-hong-kong-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353658/tourist-arrivals-10-year-year-april-driven-hong-kong-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 05:12:30 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Long lines stretching across several blocks have formed in Hong Kong as shoppers turned up days ahead of the launch of the “Royal Pop” pocket watches – a collaboration between luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet and Swatch. A South China Morning Post reporter observed about 50 people queuing in Causeway Bay on Thursday evening, a few metres from the Swatch store on Kai Chiu Road. “If you don’t try, you don’t win,” said one hopeful, who only gave his name as Jackson. “How many opportunities do you... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353607/hongkongers-queue-round-clock-new-swatch-audemars-piguet-collection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353607/hongkongers-queue-round-clock-new-swatch-audemars-piguet-collection?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 23:00:07 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong authorities have finally begun laying out details on how they plan to regulate ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, Tada and Didi Chuxing, months after lawmakers passed the city’s first legal framework for the sector in October. Officials have provided more information on enforcement powers, penalties and licensing arrangements, although the key issue of how many ride-hailing vehicles will ultimately be allowed on the road has yet to be resolved. The South China Morning Post tackles... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353349/what-hong-kongs-planned-ride-hailing-regime-could-mean-your-next-uber-trip?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353349/what-hong-kongs-planned-ride-hailing-regime-could-mean-your-next-uber-trip?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 03:04:01 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd will perform two concerts at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium in October as part of the final leg of his “After Hours Til Dawn” world tour, confirming an earlier report by the South China Morning Post. The announcement coincides with K-pop act Babymonster’s reveal on Monday that the girl group will perform in the city on January 9 next year at AsiaWorld-Arena, marking the final leg of a regional tour. The Weeknd revealed on Monday that his Hong Kong shows would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353119/weeknd-stage-2-hong-kong-concerts-october-kai-tak-stadium?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3353119/weeknd-stage-2-hong-kong-concerts-october-kai-tak-stadium?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 06:59:41 +0000 Oscar Liu,Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong,Denise Tsang Oscar Liu,Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong,Denise Tsang Hong Kong authorities plan to finalise the cap on ride-hailing vehicles and the technical framework of a long-awaited regulatory regime for the service before making them law ahead of the legislature’s recess in mid-July. In a document submitted to the Legislative Council on Monday, the Transport and Logistics Bureau also outlined penalties for ride-hailing platform operators that failed to comply with the rules. Offenders could face fines of up to HK$1 million (US$127,720) and 12 months in jail... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353118/calls-20500-ride-hailing-permits-keep-15000-cars-hong-kong-roads-daily?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3353118/calls-20500-ride-hailing-permits-keep-15000-cars-hong-kong-roads-daily?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 06:56:36 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Mother’s Day business at many traditional Chinese banquet restaurants in Hong Kong has been weaker than last year, with diners increasingly opting for lunch and afternoon tea celebrations or non-traditional meals such as hotpot, industry representatives have said. Busy areas such as Causeway Bay were bustling with families on Sunday, as residents flocked to restaurants and shopping malls to celebrate, some carrying flowers and cards. “I did not want to do a very big dinner this year because... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353050/hong-kong-mothers-day-dining-shifts-traditional-banquets-casual-meals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353050/hong-kong-mothers-day-dining-shifts-traditional-banquets-casual-meals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 11:21:40 +0000 Danny Mok,Wynna Wong Danny Mok,Wynna Wong Hong Kong police are investigating an allegation that a four-year-old boy was indecently assaulted at an international school in Stanley, with the institution saying its security footage showed “no evidence of any wrongdoing” on the day of the suspected incident. A source said on Wednesday that the International Montessori School kindergarten pupil complained to his family that his buttocks were sore on April 17 after his mother picked him up from school. His father, who suspected that the child... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352740/police-investigate-alleged-sexual-abuse-boy-4-international-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352740/police-investigate-alleged-sexual-abuse-boy-4-international-school?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 08:58:47 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd will perform in Hong Kong for the first time in eight years as part of the final leg of his “After Hours Til Dawn” tour, with sources telling the South China Morning Post that the concert is set to take place at Kai Tak Sports Park in October. Concert giant Live Nation on Wednesday posted a cryptic teaser video across several regional social media accounts, including those for Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, with the caption: “A Foreshadowing Of The Final... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352729/weeknd-return-hong-kong-after-8-years-kai-tak-show-october?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352729/weeknd-return-hong-kong-after-8-years-kai-tak-show-october?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 08:02:02 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong An elderly man in Hong Kong is believed to have killed his ex-wife before hanging himself at a public housing estate, as he reportedly felt “hopeless” after their separation following years of marital conflict worsened by their son’s suicide, police have revealed. Terry Wan King-hang, the Sau Mau Ping assistant district commander of crime, said on Thursday that the force believed the 77-year-old man killed his 71-year-old ex-wife in the flat in Po Tat Estate before taking his own life on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352713/death-elderly-pair-sau-mau-ping-flat-case-murder-suicide-police-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352713/death-elderly-pair-sau-mau-ping-flat-case-murder-suicide-police-say?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 06:28:18 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A Hong Kong motorcyclist has been killed after reportedly losing control of his vehicle, which overturned inside the Eastern Harbour Crossing, with police launching an investigation. Police said on Thursday that the accident occurred in Kwun Tong shortly after midnight, at about 12.51am, as the motorcycle was travelling through the tunnel towards Hong Kong Island. The vehicle is believed to have struck the left-side kerb before skidding forward and overturning. The rider, a 58-year-old man... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3352685/motorcyclist-58-killed-eastern-harbour-crossing-crash-police-investigate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3352685/motorcyclist-58-killed-eastern-harbour-crossing-crash-police-investigate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 02:08:00 +0000 Wynna Wong,Eric Jiang Wynna Wong,Eric Jiang Hong Kong welcomed more than 1 million mainland Chinese visitors during their five-day Labour Day “golden week” holiday, a 10 per cent rise from a year ago, exceeding government expectations, but industry leaders have said their spending was inconsistent. Immigration Department data showed the city recorded 1.01 million mainland visitor arrivals between May 1 and 5, surpassing the forecast of 980,000. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said on Wednesday some shopping centre operators had reported... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352654/hong-kong-draws-over-1-million-mainland-golden-week-visitors-spending-lags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352654/hong-kong-draws-over-1-million-mainland-golden-week-visitors-spending-lags?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 13:51:59 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hikers should not underestimate the risks of climbing in Japan during the volatile spring transition in May, a mountaineering expert has warned after two Hong Kong men became stranded in the country’s Northern Alps, one of whom later died. Veteran mountaineer Chung Kin-man said on Wednesday that climbers might develop a false sense of safety due to warmer weather in lowland areas in May, even as conditions in the mountains remained unstable, with risks of snowstorms, strong winds and freezing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352558/may-can-give-false-sense-safety-expert-warns-after-hong-kong-hiker-dies-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352558/may-can-give-false-sense-safety-expert-warns-after-hong-kong-hiker-dies-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 03:22:07 +0000 Wynna Wong,Theodora Yu Wynna Wong,Theodora Yu Hong Kong recorded a 4.8 per cent increase in mainland Chinese visitors in the first three days of their Labour Day “golden week” holiday, but industry players warned that uneven spending and more flexible travel patterns could weigh on business despite hotel occupancy rates potentially reaching 90 per cent. Immigration Department data showed mainland Chinese made 714,765 visits to the city between May 1 and 3, up by about 4.8 per cent from 682,114 in the same period last year. Total visitor... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352395/golden-week-hong-kong-draws-more-mainland-chinese-visitors-spending-uneven?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352395/golden-week-hong-kong-draws-more-mainland-chinese-visitors-spending-uneven?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 12:51:55 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Ultra-low-priced Hong Kong tour packages reliant on commissions and pushing mainland Chinese visitors to make additional purchases remain prevalent despite tighter government regulations, the South China Morning Post has found. The business model has come under renewed scrutiny after the Travel Industry Authority revoked the licences of a travel agency and its tour guide over four cases of suspected coerced shopping between January and March. The practice has also prompted concerns about the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352290/ultra-low-priced-tours-exploiting-mainland-chinese-visitors-survive-despite-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352290/ultra-low-priced-tours-exploiting-mainland-chinese-visitors-survive-despite-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Tents inside Hong Kong bus terminuses that have drawn online complaints during mainland China’s Labour Day “golden week” holiday are being used by domestic helpers, who say they have nowhere else to go on their days off. Images of tents lining streets across the city, from Tai Po to Central and Tseung Kwan O, have circulated widely on social media in recent days. Some posts suggested mainland visitors were camping, as tourist numbers have surged during the holiday. However, visits by the South... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352271/nowhere-go-domestic-helpers-spending-days-tents-amid-lack-options?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352271/nowhere-go-domestic-helpers-spending-days-tents-amid-lack-options?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 10:30:09 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Fiona Chow,Kristen Cheung,Wynna Wong Matthew Cheng,Fiona Chow,Kristen Cheung,Wynna Wong Hong Kong has recorded more than 242,000 trips by mainland Chinese visitors on the first day of their Labour Day “golden week” break, with many heading to the countryside for scenic views and others opting for “city walks” to explore picturesque locales. Some early arrivals headed straight to the countryside after getting off at the West Kowloon rail terminus on Friday morning. University student Chen Hongjie, 18, was all geared up to hike the MacLehose Trail on his first day in the city after a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352119/golden-week-opens-76056-mainland-visitors-flooding-hong-kong-hikes-city-walks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352119/golden-week-opens-76056-mainland-visitors-flooding-hong-kong-hikes-city-walks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 05:40:53 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Experts have warned that the HK$1 (13 US cents) increase in Hong Kong’s minimum wage, which takes effect on Labour Day, is unlikely to significantly boost low-paid workers’ incomes, but should help preserve purchasing power and ease labour tensions under a new formula. Human resources expert Alexa Chow Yee-ping, managing director of ACTS Consulting, said the latest rise broadly aligned with recent pay trends. “The actual impact is not significant, as the increase is roughly the same as last... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352069/hk1-minimum-wage-rise-unlikely-significantly-lift-low-paid-incomes-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352069/hk1-minimum-wage-rise-unlikely-significantly-lift-low-paid-incomes-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 03:01:00 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong expects about 980,000 mainland Chinese visitors over the Labour Day “golden week” holiday from May 1 to 5, a 7 per cent increase from last year. Instead of rushing through major attractions, many travellers are opting for slower, highly curated itineraries centred on exhibitions, neighbourhood walks and carefully timed photo spots – trends driven by popular social media platforms such as RedNote. Here, the South China Morning Post highlights what mainland tourists are currently... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351821/which-hidden-gems-are-mainland-chinese-tourists-chasing-labour-day-golden-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3351821/which-hidden-gems-are-mainland-chinese-tourists-chasing-labour-day-golden-week?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:23:05 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Researchers have urged Hong Kong to shift its focus from boosting visitor numbers to increasing tourist spending, as mainland Chinese arrivals rebound but adopt more selective consumption habits. Preliminary findings from a joint study by Polytechnic University and consultancy Think China, released on Tuesday, show mainland visitor arrivals have recovered to about 88 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in 2018. However, high-income travellers are spending less and becoming more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351731/hong-kong-urged-shift-focus-tourist-numbers-increasing-spending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351731/hong-kong-urged-shift-focus-tourist-numbers-increasing-spending?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:58:52 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong police have arrested nine men in a crackdown on child pornography as part of a seven-jurisdiction operation in which more than 300 suspects were detained across Asia. Police said on Monday the city had joined a coordinated international operation involving Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Brunei, targeting offences related to the production, distribution and possession of child sexual exploitation material. “Through active intelligence exchange and investigation,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351590/hong-kong-police-arrest-9-men-joint-asia-wide-crackdown-child-pornography?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351590/hong-kong-police-arrest-9-men-joint-asia-wide-crackdown-child-pornography?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:04:07 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong police have arrested two men in connection with a series of thefts targeting homeless people in Yau Tsim Mong district that involved about HK$142,000 (US$18,100) worth of stolen property. Inspector Frankie Chiu of the district said on Saturday that police had begun to notice a rise in such thefts from early April and had launched an investigation. “Through in-depth investigation, intelligence analysis and extensive review of CCTV, including cameras under the ‘SmartView’ scheme, we... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351430/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-men-over-thefts-targeting-homeless-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351430/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-men-over-thefts-targeting-homeless-people?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 12:04:17 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Police have dismantled a motorcycle theft syndicate and arrested five people, believed to be linked to 14 cases across Hong Kong, amid a rise in such crimes in the first quarter of the year. Senior Inspector Fu Ho-shing of the Kowloon West regional crime unit said on Saturday that the group primarily targeted motorcycles parked in back alleys or secluded areas in West Kowloon and Tsuen Wan, where surveillance coverage was limited. They also targeted delivery workers who left their vehicles... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351416/hong-kong-police-bust-motorcycle-theft-syndicate-arrest-5-over-14-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3351416/hong-kong-police-bust-motorcycle-theft-syndicate-arrest-5-over-14-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 08:20:44 +0000 Ambrose Li,Wynna Wong Ambrose Li,Wynna Wong Hongkonger Dominique Li and his wife spent a two-day break earlier this month in Shenzhen to soak up the cultural vibe, a short getaway they said would not be their last. The 45-year-old engineer, who lives in Tin Shui Wai in the northwestern New Territories, was particularly drawn to a new landmark, Shenzhen Bay Culture Square in Nanshan district. He treated his visit to Shenzhen like a trip to Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay shopping district, which also takes about an hour. “The spaces here are... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351208/value-space-and-style-pull-hongkongers-shenzhens-new-cultural-hotspots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3351208/value-space-and-style-pull-hongkongers-shenzhens-new-cultural-hotspots?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:30:17 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong travellers in Japan were reported safe by at least one major tour operator while the Immigration Department said it was closely monitoring the situation after a powerful earthquake struck off the country’s northeast coast on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings. Steve Huen Kwok-chuen, executive director of EGL Tours, said the operator currently had about 40 tour groups in Japan, including three in the northeast and four in Hokkaido, areas covered by the alert. “All our customers are... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350777/40-hong-kong-tour-groups-safe-after-magnitude-75-quake-strikes-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350777/40-hong-kong-tour-groups-safe-after-magnitude-75-quake-strikes-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:02:36 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The number of inbound trips to Hong Kong by mainland Chinese visitors is expected to reach 980,000 for the coming Labour Day “golden week” holiday across the border, a 7 per cent increase from last year, with city authorities saying they will enforce environmental regulations around the clock at popular camping spots. The estimate from the Immigration Department on Monday came as the government revealed it had stepped up measures for crowd control, transport and tourism in anticipation of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350752/mainland-chinese-make-980000-inbound-trips-hong-kong-labour-day-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350752/mainland-chinese-make-980000-inbound-trips-hong-kong-labour-day-break?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:12:29 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Jess Ma,Wynna Wong Lo Hoi-ying,Jess Ma,Wynna Wong Members of more than 70 former households of a fire-damaged block of Wang Fuk Court returned to their homes on Monday for the first time since a deadly inferno ravaged the estate last November to recover cherished items such as wedding rings, paintings and a safe. Three suspected cases of theft were also under investigation by police after Wang Sun House residents finished counting their losses on Monday. The block’s residents were the first to return to the estate in Tai Po as part of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350664/it-feels-complicated-wang-fuk-court-residents-return-home-bid-last-farewell?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350664/it-feels-complicated-wang-fuk-court-residents-return-home-bid-last-farewell?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:35:43 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Attendance numbers at Hong Kong Sevens are expected to be resilient despite travel concerns over conflict in the Middle East, the event’s organiser has said, even though some operators have warned of potential pressure from rising costs and flight disruptions. The flagship rugby tournament, which runs from Friday to Sunday this week, traditionally draws tens of thousands of overseas visitors each year. But this year’s event is taking place more than a month after the United States and Israel... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350121/could-middle-east-conflict-dent-turnout-hong-kong-rugby-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350121/could-middle-east-conflict-dent-turnout-hong-kong-rugby-sevens?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong Unreasonably low prices offered by some mainland Chinese tourist groups visiting Hong Kong are a major factor behind coerced shopping, industry leaders have said, urging authorities to step up random inspections during the coming Labour Day “golden week” holiday. The Travel Industry Authority announced on Monday that it had previously revoked the licence of Star Link Travel in connection with four suspected cases of coercing inbound mainland tourists to shop. Sara Leung Fong-yuen, a consultant... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349985/cheap-tours-blamed-coerced-shopping-hong-kong-tourism-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349985/cheap-tours-blamed-coerced-shopping-hong-kong-tourism-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 03:58:37 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The number of phishing scams in Hong Kong fell by more than half last year but total losses suffered by victims doubled to HK$110 million (US$14 million), police have said. The latest numbers were revealed as police warned that workers remained susceptible to such scams. A recent phishing simulation involving hundreds of organisations across the city found that more than one in eight employees taking part clicked on malicious email links and nearly half went on to submit personal data. Police... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349768/number-phishing-cases-drops-hong-kong-victims-lose-more-money?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349768/number-phishing-cases-drops-hong-kong-victims-lose-more-money?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 23:30:12 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s public hospital operator has suspended a medical intern and launched an investigation following a complaint that patient information had been exposed on social media, just days after another doctor was dismissed in a separate but similar privacy controversy that triggered citywide concern. The Hospital Authority said on Saturday that the case involved an intern at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung, who had since been temporarily taken off clinical duties. “As a provider of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349761/medical-intern-suspended-after-complaint-over-patient-data-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349761/medical-intern-suspended-after-complaint-over-patient-data-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:51:06 +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 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Life for Hong Kong-based Iranian biomedical researcher Behzad Nasiri Ahmadabadi is filled with anxiety as he spends each day waiting for a call from his family that may not come amid the conflict in the Middle East. The stress is similar for Iranian student Ali*, who spends his days scrolling through news reports from across the world to piece together events on the ground and lies awake at night thinking about what they mean. Young Iranians in Hong Kong are dealing with the conflict in a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349165/anxious-days-sleepless-nights-young-iranians-hong-kong-war-rages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349165/anxious-days-sleepless-nights-young-iranians-hong-kong-war-rages?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:30:41 +0000 Wynna Wong,Leopold Chen Wynna Wong,Leopold Chen As many as a third of laundry companies serving corporate clients in Hong Kong could shut down due to soaring fuel costs, an industry leader has warned, with some operators forced to reject new orders and freeze hiring. Industry representatives said on Monday the price of industrial diesel, commonly known as “red diesel”, surged from about HK$6 (80 US cents) per litre in late February to as high as HK$17.50 in early April, an increase of more than 190 per cent. The sharp rise has sharply raised... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349141/surging-oil-prices-push-hong-kongs-laundry-sector-freeze-hiring-halt-orders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349141/surging-oil-prices-push-hong-kongs-laundry-sector-freeze-hiring-halt-orders?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 07:26:22 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Traffic at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge reached peak levels during the first two days of the extended holiday, with checkpoint queues sometimes exceeding an hour, raising concerns about whether clearance arrangements can handle surging demand. Passenger flows exceeded 192,000 over Friday and Saturday, while vehicle numbers surpassed 30,000, marking one of the busiest periods at the cross-boundary bridge in recent years, Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, honorary life president of the Hong Kong, China... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349123/queues-stretch-past-hour-traffic-jams-hit-mega-bridge-during-easter-ching-ming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349123/queues-stretch-past-hour-traffic-jams-hit-mega-bridge-during-easter-ching-ming?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:13:10 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hongkongers are more willing to discuss death including their own funeral wishes in the wake of the Covid pandemic, mass emigration and the deadly Tai Po fire, amid a rapidly ageing population, a death education advocate says. Pasu Ng Kwai-lun, founder of Minimal Funeral and a practitioner of “life-and-death education”, said attitudes had changed and people had grown much more open to discussing death over the past five to 10 years. “People may not go as far as fully planning their funerals, but... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349079/talk-about-death-comes-alive-ageing-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349079/talk-about-death-comes-alive-ageing-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:30:12 +0000 Ambrose Li,Wynna Wong Ambrose Li,Wynna Wong Hong Kong traveller Mr Lau is among those turning to high-speed rail trips or flights to mainland China after being deterred from international air travel by rising costs, particularly fuel surcharges, as war in the Middle East rages. The 34-year-old, who was travelling to neighbouring Guangzhou with his wife for a three-day trip on a high-speed train on Friday, said he had done some calculations since airlines’ fuel surcharges rose, noting that a return train trip between the two cities cost... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349064/hong-kong-tourists-choose-safety-affordability-trips-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349064/hong-kong-tourists-choose-safety-affordability-trips-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 04:32:30 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong,Theodora Yu Matthew Cheng,Wynna Wong,Theodora Yu More than 685,000 residents left Hong Kong as the Easter break got under way on Friday, even as some said ongoing geopolitical tensions had made them more cautious about drawing up future travel plans. An industry leader noted that more Hongkongers had chosen to travel to mainland China, with the ongoing war in the Middle East disrupting air traffic and prompting local airlines to raise fuel surcharges. Immigration statistics for Friday showed that 685,149 residents had left Hong Kong as of 9pm,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348874/hongkongers-opt-mainland-chinese-tours-during-easter-amid-middle-east-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348874/hongkongers-opt-mainland-chinese-tours-during-easter-amid-middle-east-war?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:58:57 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong More Hongkongers are expected to travel elsewhere during the five-day Easter weekend from Friday despite a sharp jump in fuel surcharges, according to industry leaders. They also expect more visitors from mainland China during an overlapping Ching Ming Festival holiday, but doubt the influx will deliver any significant boost to the city’s tourism revenue. Some noted that the Easter break might have encouraged travel to the Middle East, but many tour groups have been cancelled until October due... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348849/more-hongkongers-travel-over-long-easter-break-despite-higher-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348849/more-hongkongers-travel-over-long-easter-break-despite-higher-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s initiatives to develop an intellectual property (IP) economy remain loosely defined and will require sustained investment and clearer coordination to take shape, industry players and analysts have said, following the latest budget outlining plans to turn the city into a regional IP trading hub. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in his budget address last month that authorities aimed to strengthen Hong Kong’s role in IP trading – including by refining tax arrangements,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348449/hong-kongs-ip-hub-ambitions-require-sustained-investment-coordination-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348449/hong-kongs-ip-hub-ambitions-require-sustained-investment-coordination-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Jeffie Lam,Wynna Wong Jeffie Lam,Wynna Wong Greater Bay Airlines has become the latest Hong Kong-based carrier to raise its fuel surcharges by 34 per cent amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the fee for destinations other than mainland China set to hit HK$389 (US$50). China’s largest courier, SF Express, also said on Friday it would switch to adjusting its fuel surcharge rates from a monthly to a weekly basis beginning in April because of the “continuous and frequent fluctuations” of international oil prices. Global fuel... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348094/greater-bay-airlines-raise-fuel-charges-34-joining-other-hong-kong-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348094/greater-bay-airlines-raise-fuel-charges-34-joining-other-hong-kong-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:14:56 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s Ocean Park has started using AI to better track the behaviour of its giant panda twins and golden monkeys, allowing for more personalised care and improved habitat design, with plans to extend the technology to dolphin research. The theme park’s chairman, Paulo Pong Kin-yee, also reported a surge in overseas visitors over the winter period, fuelled by a 60 per cent jump in long-haul arrivals, notably from the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. On Wednesday, the park... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347901/hong-kongs-ocean-park-uses-ai-track-enrich-lives-giant-pandas-monkeys?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347901/hong-kongs-ocean-park-uses-ai-track-enrich-lives-giant-pandas-monkeys?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:28:12 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s arts funding body has vowed not to cut financial support for arts groups and artists for the next three years, even as it undertakes a review of its grant system amid tightening public finances. The Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s pledge on Monday comes amid a government effort to get statutory bodies to reduce spending, as reinforced by finance chief Paul Chan Mo-po’s latest budget in February. The council, along with other government bodies, faces reductions of about 2 per... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347605/no-funding-cuts-hong-kong-arts-groups-next-3-years-agency-chief-pledges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3347605/no-funding-cuts-hong-kong-arts-groups-next-3-years-agency-chief-pledges?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:06:32 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong More than 60 new brands, mostly luxury labels, will move into K11 Musea as part of a revamp to boost the shopping centre’s offerings, but an analyst has warned of a complicated external environment weighing on the retail sector’s prospects. These brands are set to join the Tsim Sha Tsui mall in a tenant overhaul covering about 30 per cent of its retail space, with operators expecting rents for the revamped stores to rise by double digits. New or expanded flagship stores include Audemars Piguet,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347486/luxury-brands-bet-growth-well-heeled-tourists-flock-hong-kong-events?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347486/luxury-brands-bet-growth-well-heeled-tourists-flock-hong-kong-events?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:30:13 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Police have arrested a woman on suspicion of child abuse after she allegedly hit her 12-year-old son with a rattan cane in a Hong Kong flat. The police force said it received a report at 2.48pm on Saturday from a boy in Wong Tai Sin who complained he had been beaten by his mother. The boy, whose shoulder was red and swollen, was later taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Yau Ma Tei for treatment after police arrived at the public housing flat on Tsui Fung Street. Officers conducted an initial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347446/mother-arrested-after-boy-12-told-police-she-beat-him-rattan-cane?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347446/mother-arrested-after-boy-12-told-police-she-beat-him-rattan-cane?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 15:34:47 +0000