https://www.scmp.com/rss/511360/feed Hoi-ying became a reporter at the City desk in 2023 after finishing the Post's Graduate Trainee Programme. Originally from Singapore, she previously worked as a television news producer at Mediacorp and interned at the Shanghai-based Sixth Tone. She earned her master's degree in journalism from the University of Hong Kong and holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Nanyang Technological University. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong police have broken up a syndicate led by a beautician that allegedly stole credit cards from patrons of a beauty salon in Mong Kok, causing losses of more than HK$410,000 (US$52,347). The force said on Thursday that four men and two women, aged between 39 and 52, had been arrested over the past two days. One suspect was allegedly found with stolen credit cards in their possession at the time. Between last December and April, police received reports from 19 residents who claimed their... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350273/hong-kong-police-bust-beautician-led-syndicate-behind-hk410000-credit-card-scam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350273/hong-kong-police-bust-beautician-led-syndicate-behind-hk410000-credit-card-scam?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:22:48 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying The developer of Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay is considering extending its trial period and limiting operating hours for cabbies to gain full access to the resort-style seaside community amid opposition from some residents. The Islands District Council’s Traffic and Transport Committee held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the paper presented by Hong Kong Resort Company in the presence of more than 20 residents who held differing views on the plan. Before the meeting, supporters and opponents of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350080/discovery-bay-developer-eyes-longer-taxi-trial-amid-safety-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350080/discovery-bay-developer-eyes-longer-taxi-trial-amid-safety-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:15:16 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s tram operator has launched a new mobile app that provides real-time arrival information and pledged not to raise fares this year. Hong Kong Tramways on Tuesday announced the new app which would use location data to inform commuters of the arrival times and destinations of the next three trams at their stop. Paul Tirvaudey, managing director of Hong Kong Tramways, said the operator had installed more than 400 radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors along the 30km route, as well... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350009/hong-kong-tram-operator-launches-real-time-app-pledges-no-fare-rise-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350009/hong-kong-tram-operator-launches-real-time-app-pledges-no-fare-rise-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:39:56 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong customs officers have arrested a male driver after intercepting a goods vehicle at the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint and finding 760 suspected endangered reptiles, with an estimated market value of about HK$580,000 (US$74,060), hidden inside. The Customs and Excise Department said on Monday it found 106 turtles and 654 lizards hidden in his truck, believed to be endangered species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Officers... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349910/hong-kong-customs-seizes-760-suspected-endangered-reptiles-worth-hk580000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349910/hong-kong-customs-seizes-760-suspected-endangered-reptiles-worth-hk580000?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:42:13 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A mentally ill Hongkonger has been sentenced to an indefinite period at a psychiatric hospital for killing his mother and hiding her body under a bed believing she was a “monster lizard”. The High Court on Monday accepted recommendations from two psychiatrists and imposed a hospital order on Wong Chun-kit on one count of manslaughter based on diminished responsibility and another count of preventing the lawful burial of a body. Mr Justice Wilson Chan Ka-shun said the case was a “tragic one” and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349888/mentally-ill-son-who-killed-mother-detained-indefinitely-psychiatric-hospital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349888/mentally-ill-son-who-killed-mother-detained-indefinitely-psychiatric-hospital?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 08:21:22 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Cantopop singer Hins Cheung, who previously expressed support for social movements in Hong Kong, will lead young people arrested during the 2019 anti-government protests on visits to mainland China to witness the country’s prosperity and serve as a mentor for a “special rehabilitation project” under the Security Bureau. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung also revealed on Saturday that the project, which had been running over the past two years, was aimed at helping about 7,000 people... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349740/hins-cheung-lead-arrested-2019-hong-kong-protesters-mainland-exchange-trips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349740/hins-cheung-lead-arrested-2019-hong-kong-protesters-mainland-exchange-trips?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:37:24 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying The developer of Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay is pushing ahead with a plan for unrestricted taxi access and four new ranks in the resort-style seaside community on Lantau Island, despite a backlash from residents. In a paper submitted to Islands District Council, Hong Kong Resort Company said the lack of point-to-point public transport “severely impacts residents’ daily lives” and that it had received hundreds of messages of support for the proposal. The company said existing restrictions limiting... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349724/discovery-bay-developer-submits-proposal-full-taxi-access-despite-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349724/discovery-bay-developer-submits-proposal-full-taxi-access-despite-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:20:38 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A nine-year-old Hong Kong girl has contracted a rare bacterial infection and is fighting for her life in hospital after visiting Japan during the Easter holiday, with health authorities contacting the other tour group members as a precaution. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Friday that the girl, who was in a critical condition in the paediatric intensive care unit of Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung, began showing symptoms of invasive meningococcal infection including... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349708/girl-9-critical-condition-meningococcal-infection-after-holiday-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349708/girl-9-critical-condition-meningococcal-infection-after-holiday-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:09:15 +0000 Edith Lin,Lo Hoi-ying Edith Lin,Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong police have arrested a 51-year-old man on suspicion of robbing HK$35,000 (US$4,469) from a bank with an air gun and a hammer before escaping on a bicycle, with officers apprehending him and recovering the money in 90 minutes. The force received a report at 12.26pm on Friday that the Bank of East Asia branch in Harbour View Centre in Wan Chai had been robbed. Lam Kin-tat, assistant commander of crime of Wan Chai district, said the suspect claimed to be unemployed and was a Chinese man... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349618/hong-kong-police-hunt-man-who-robbed-bank-wan-chai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349618/hong-kong-police-hunt-man-who-robbed-bank-wan-chai?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:00:32 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong pet owners have called for environmental authorities to place rat poison in boxes instead of hanging them in transparent bags, with one owner saying his dog had to visit the veterinarian three times in recent months after accidentally consuming pellets that spilled from broken bags onto the pavement. In response to queries by the South China Morning Post, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said rodenticides were used “only when warranted”, and had adjusted the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348934/rats-versus-pets-hong-kong-dog-owners-want-rodent-poison-boxes-not-bags?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348934/rats-versus-pets-hong-kong-dog-owners-want-rodent-poison-boxes-not-bags?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 10:00:13 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying An 89-year-old Hong Kong man has been rescued after he was discovered clinging to the exterior wall of a care home in To Kwa Wan following a fall from a second-floor window. Care home staff filed a report with police at around 8am on Thursday, stating the man was hanging off the building at the intersection of Lok Shan Road and Ma Tau Wai Road. The force said he fell from the window while trying to retrieve something and clung to a section of the wall near an air-conditioning unit. Firefighters... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348755/hong-kong-man-89-rescued-after-being-found-clinging-care-home-exterior-wall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348755/hong-kong-man-89-rescued-after-being-found-clinging-care-home-exterior-wall?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:07:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s retail sales jumped by nearly 12 per cent in the first two months of 2026 against a year ago, with authorities pointing to growth in the local economy and a surge in tourists. Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Wednesday showed retail sales reached HK$35 billion (US$4.47 billion) in February, driven by the Chinese New Year holiday and major events in the city. Sales were HK$37.3 billion in January. The department combined the retail sales figures... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348664/hong-kong-retail-sales-jump-nearly-12-first-2-months-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348664/hong-kong-retail-sales-jump-nearly-12-first-2-months-year?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:49:30 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying An orthopaedist has been issued a public warning letter and reprimanded by Hong Kong’s medical watchdog after performing an unconventional bunion surgery without a patient’s informed consent. The Medical Council on Monday found Dr Daniel Wu Yiang guilty of professional misconduct on four charges after the patient at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital underwent a syndesmosis procedure, a soft-tissue bunion surgery advocated by the doctor, without sufficient information about the operation or any... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348419/orthopaedist-rebuked-over-performing-bunion-surgery-without-informed-consent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348419/orthopaedist-rebuked-over-performing-bunion-surgery-without-informed-consent?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:55:09 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A Hong Kong dancer left paralysed after being struck by a giant screen at a concert by popular boy band Mirror has for the first time shown himself moving independently in a wheelchair since the accident 3½ years ago. Mo Li Kai-yin, 31, shared an Instagram video on Saturday of him operating an electric wheelchair with the caption, “A 90 per cent introvert be like:” followed by a bashful emoticon. In the clip, he appeared to be in good spirits as he steered the wheelchair using his right hand.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348282/paralysed-hong-kong-dancer-mo-li-shares-video-himself-steering-wheelchair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348282/paralysed-hong-kong-dancer-mo-li-shares-video-himself-steering-wheelchair?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 06:18:24 +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 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation will carry out overnight signalling upgrade works on Sunday as part of preparations for the partial opening of the Tung Chung line extension later this year. Representatives from the city’s sole rail operator also said on Wednesday that the HK$19.5 billion (US$2.5 billion) project remained unaffected by a counterfeit brick scandal and the full extension was still on track to open in 2029. Upgrades to the existing system will take place in the early hours of Sunday,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347858/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-upgrade-tung-chung-line-signalling-system-sunday-night?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347858/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-upgrade-tung-chung-line-signalling-system-sunday-night?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:57:36 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong authorities will launch advertisements and a transport guide to help seniors adapt to the revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare scheme, which comes into effect next Friday, according to the city’s welfare chief. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Tuesday that the government would extensively publicise changes to the scheme and introduce a guide covering different districts in the coming days. “On Monday, I met district councillors and care teams from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347668/government-launch-guide-help-elderly-hongkongers-revised-hk2-fare-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347668/government-launch-guide-help-elderly-hongkongers-revised-hk2-fare-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:53:18 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying The Hong Kong government has raised the outbound travel alert for Iran and Israel to black, and expanded the amber alert to include Bahrain, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The government on Monday announced the escalation “in view of the continued deterioration of the situation in the Middle East region.” “The black [outbound travel alert] signifies severe threat,” a government spokesman said. “Due to the highly unpredictable security situation in Iran and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347631/hong-kong-raises-iran-israel-travel-alerts-black-expands-amber-warning?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347631/hong-kong-raises-iran-israel-travel-alerts-black-expands-amber-warning?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:49:41 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong will experience between four and seven typhoons from June to October, according to the city’s weather forecaster, fewer than half of last year’s record-breaking 14 tropical cyclones. The Observatory also said on Monday the city would be hotter than average this year under the influence of the warming El Nino weather phenomenon. The tropical cyclone season in Hong Kong is expected to start in June or later and end in October or before, according to Observatory director Chan... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347619/hong-kong-projected-face-4-7-typhoons-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347619/hong-kong-projected-face-4-7-typhoons-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:16:04 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Some Hong Kong residents planning to leave the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with their pets because of conflict in the Middle East are considering flying to other countries rather than returning home due to the city’s 120-day quarantine requirement for cats and dogs. The pet owners called on authorities to relax the “excessive” quarantine rules for Dubai, saying the requirement had made returning to Hong Kong unfeasible. In a reply to the South China Morning Post, the Agriculture, Fisheries and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347441/hongkongers-uae-urge-rethink-home-citys-120-day-quarantine-cats-dogs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347441/hongkongers-uae-urge-rethink-home-citys-120-day-quarantine-cats-dogs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 04:00:19 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Swire Coca-Cola has won a HK$31.9 million (US$4 million) contract to supply Bonaqua water to some Hong Kong government offices, following a HK$52.9 million procurement scandal last year. According to a Government Logistics Department notice, Swire Coca-Cola was awarded the 27-month contract on Tuesday to supply more than 1.46 million bottles of drinking water to offices on Hong Kong Island and parts of the outlying islands. The selection followed an open tender launched in December. In its... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347375/swire-coca-cola-wins-hk32-million-government-deal-after-bottled-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347375/swire-coca-cola-wins-hk32-million-government-deal-after-bottled-water-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:32:55 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong police have arrested 13 people on suspicion of laundering more than HK$113 million (US$14.4 million) using the government’s “iAM Smart” app in scams run by a syndicate. The force said on Friday that nine men and four women, aged between 38 and 75, were suspected of using victims’ “iAM Smart” accounts to launder money through “mule” bank accounts. “The syndicate placed fake job advertisements in newspapers, claiming to be hiring cleaners,” said Wong Yuk-yan, acting superintendent from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347332/13-arrested-hong-kong-over-hk113-million-iam-smart-laundering-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347332/13-arrested-hong-kong-over-hk113-million-iam-smart-laundering-crackdown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:06:07 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s Security Bureau has apologised for an advertising blunder in its anti-drug campaign, after a banner in a railway station appeared to encourage the use of illegal substances when viewed from certain angles. The bureau addressed the issue in a social media post on Friday, a day after an internet user circulated a photo of the poorly placed advert at Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station. The banner was part of the government’s latest anti-drug campaign, featuring one of Hong Kong’s “Four Heavenly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347331/red-faces-bureau-after-anti-drug-advert-sends-opposite-message?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347331/red-faces-bureau-after-anti-drug-advert-sends-opposite-message?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:03:46 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s jobless rate dipped by 0.1 percentage point over the past three months to 3.8 per cent, with unemployment dropping in the retail, accommodation, and foundation and superstructure sectors. “The sustained growth momentum of the Hong Kong economy should continue to support the overall labour market, though employment situations in some local sectors may still face challenges due to their business performances,” Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Wednesday. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347046/hong-kongs-jobless-rate-falls-01-percentage-point?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347046/hong-kongs-jobless-rate-falls-01-percentage-point?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:34:43 +0000 Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Proposed designated laws to streamline land-use approval procedures for the Northern Metropolis megaproject will not undermine the authority of Hong Kong’s town planning body, some experts have argued, while urging the government to establish clear key performance indicators (KPIs) to strengthen market confidence. Observers were responding to a package of six subsidiary laws unveiled on Tuesday by the Development Bureau, designed to remove bottlenecks in the New Territories project. A key... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Conflicts in the Middle East highlight Hong Kong’s attractiveness as a talent hub promising safety and stability, the city’s labour chief has said. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han on Monday said that while Hong Kong already drew global talent because of its status as an international city, its safety and security were “equally important” factors that the escalating tensions in the Middle East had thrown into relief. The joint United States-Israel strikes on Iran entered a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345156/middle-east-tensions-highlight-hong-kongs-stability-opportunities-labour-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345156/middle-east-tensions-highlight-hong-kongs-stability-opportunities-labour-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:32:13 +0000 Jeffie Lam,Lo Hoi-ying Jeffie Lam,Lo Hoi-ying 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 and rainy weather on Tuesday as temperatures are expected to drop progressively to as low as 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) as a cold front approaches, according to the city’s weather forecaster. The Observatory issued an amber rainstorm signal at 7.50pm on Monday, warning of possible flooding in low-lying areas and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345105/rainy-tuesday-expected-hong-kong-temperatures-dipping-16-degrees-celsius?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345105/rainy-tuesday-expected-hong-kong-temperatures-dipping-16-degrees-celsius?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 06:58:42 +0000 Oscar Liu,Jeffie Lam,Lo Hoi-ying Oscar Liu,Jeffie Lam,Lo Hoi-ying US-Israeli strikes on Iran have grounded at least 47 flights between Hong Kong and the Middle East, with flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways suspending its Dubai services until Thursday and immigration authorities reporting 432 residents are stranded in the region. The Airport Authority said that as of 9pm on Monday, 14 passenger flights were cancelled and one was delayed, with at least 12 more axed for Tuesday. Cathay also announced on Monday that it would suspend its Riyadh flights until... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345067/cathay-pacific-halts-dubai-flights-until-thursday-amid-us-israeli-attack-iran?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345067/cathay-pacific-halts-dubai-flights-until-thursday-amid-us-israeli-attack-iran?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:41:29 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong environmental groups have urged the government to focus on accelerating the commercial use of electric vehicles and enhancing green infrastructure, after scrapping a tax concession scheme for private cars that has cost HK$30 billion over the past decade. Green groups said on Friday that they supported the government’s decision to end the first registration tax (FRT) concessions for private electric cars, including the “One-for-One Replacement Scheme”. The move was announced by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344934/commercial-ev-use-needs-boost-after-car-owner-tax-break-ends-green-groups-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344934/commercial-ev-use-needs-boost-after-car-owner-tax-break-ends-green-groups-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Kevin Li,Lo Hoi-ying Kevin Li,Lo Hoi-ying A proposed high-level committee that will focus on artificial intelligence (AI) could help tech start-ups in Hong Kong mitigate legal and geopolitical challenges, as well as gain access to important databases for model training, market leaders have said. But the experts also told the South China Morning Post on Thursday that the committee, which was proposed in the latest budget and will be led by the city’s finance chief, would need to involve a diverse panel of experts and be “action-driven”... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344748/ai-committee-can-help-hong-kong-start-ups-tackle-legal-geopolitical-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344748/ai-committee-can-help-hong-kong-start-ups-tackle-legal-geopolitical-hurdles?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 10:38:36 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A dog suspected to have been poisoned was found dead in Hong Kong’s New Territories on Sunday, the fifth such case in the past week, according to police. The force on Sunday said that between February 16 and Saturday, it had received four reports involving the discovery of five dead dogs suspected to have been poisoned in an open space on Liu Pok Road in Lok Ma Chau. The latest case had been classified as “cruelty to animals” following a preliminary investigation, but no arrests have been made... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344276/5-dogs-found-poisoned-death-hong-kongs-new-territories-single-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344276/5-dogs-found-poisoned-death-hong-kongs-new-territories-single-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 15:49:06 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Some lucky Hong Kong fans of K-pop star G Dragon pocketed at least HK$320 (US$41) from the record HK$200 million Lunar New Year Mark Six draw after they chose lottery numbers he suggested. G Dragon fans took to social media to share news of their earnings after the winning numbers were announced on Saturday. During a fan meeting earlier this month in Seoul, the star was asked by a South Korean fan to name some lucky lottery numbers. After glancing at a countdown timer for the segment at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344260/hong-kong-fans-were-right-bet-lottery-picks-k-pop-star-g-dragon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344260/hong-kong-fans-were-right-bet-lottery-picks-k-pop-star-g-dragon?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 10:35:35 +0000 Wynna Wong,Lo Hoi-ying Wynna Wong,Lo Hoi-ying Hongkongers made more than 1.4 million outbound trips over the Lunar New Year holiday, up by about 20 per cent from 2019, while the number of arrivals over the same period remained below pre-pandemic levels. Immigration Department data released on Friday showed that from Lunar New Year’s Eve to the third day of the holiday, residents made 1.44 million trips out of the city – 20.4 per cent more than the 1.2 million recorded in the same period in 2019. By contrast, mainland Chinese visitors made... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344114/hongkongers-make-14-million-outbound-trips-over-lunar-new-year-break-20-2019?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344114/hongkongers-make-14-million-outbound-trips-over-lunar-new-year-break-20-2019?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 07:18:19 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s public hospitals recorded a year-on-year decline of up to 15 per cent in the number of patients seeking emergency treatment during the first three days of the Lunar New Year holiday, following fee adjustments introduced at the start of the year. The decline was revealed on Friday by Dr Axel Siu Yuet-chung, chairman of the Hospital Authority’s coordinating committee in accident and emergency. He noted that accident and emergency departments (A&E) in public hospitals often became... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344086/hong-kong-public-hospitals-report-decline-emergency-visits-over-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344086/hong-kong-public-hospitals-report-decline-emergency-visits-over-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:15:53 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Jess Ma Lo Hoi-ying,Jess Ma Locals and visitors flocked to popular destinations across Hong Kong on the third day of Lunar New Year on Thursday, despite official data showing a nearly 16 per cent increase in net outflow during the holiday period. Crowds began building up at about 10am on The Peak and at Sha Tin’s Che Kung Temple, with authorities later reporting that footfall at the High Island Reservoir’s East Dam, a popular tourist spot, in Sai Kung ranged between 500 and 999 visitors from around noon to 4pm. According... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343993/crowds-continue-flood-hong-kong-attractions-despite-outbound-travel-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343993/crowds-continue-flood-hong-kong-attractions-despite-outbound-travel-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 07:23:32 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Artificial intelligence (AI) is unlikely to replace feng shui masters despite a growing trend of people turning to chatbots for fortune-telling, Hong Kong soothsayers have said, warning against blindly trusting such software as it may produce “dangerous” predictions. Feng shui masters told the South China Morning Post that such chatbots, trained on existing datasets, could make errors, especially in metaphysics, which draws on wisdom from ancient Chinese scriptures. Following the AI tech boom in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343787/can-chatbots-tell-hongkongers-fortunes-or-just-make-them-out-thin-ai-r?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343787/can-chatbots-tell-hongkongers-fortunes-or-just-make-them-out-thin-ai-r?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Jess Ma,Ambrose Li Lo Hoi-ying,Jess Ma,Ambrose Li Hongkongers and world leaders should take a step back and be careful to avoid conflicts during the Year of the Horse, feng shui masters have warned, saying the zodiac sign contains excessive “fire energy” that could trigger aggressive action. Soothsayers interviewed by the South China Morning Post said the coming year, which falls under the category of the “fire horse” in the lunar calendar, would remain volatile for China and be crisis-prone for the US. They also predicted that Hong Kong would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343766/beware-excessive-fire-energy-year-horse-hong-kong-feng-shui-masters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343766/beware-excessive-fire-energy-year-horse-hong-kong-feng-shui-masters?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:00:12 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Dozens of diners flocked to an 80-year-old cha chaan teng in Hong Kong’s Wan Chai to get a last taste of its famous egg tarts and milk tea before the restaurant shuts its doors next month. Honolulu Coffee Shop was packed during lunch hour on Friday, with long, snaking queues of patrons waiting outside along Hennessy Road. The Hong Kong-style restaurant announced on Thursday that it would close its long-standing Wan Chai branch on March 1 “after careful consideration”. It is the latest in a spate... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343473/hong-kong-diners-bid-farewell-80-year-old-honolulu-coffee-shop-wan-chai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343473/hong-kong-diners-bid-farewell-80-year-old-honolulu-coffee-shop-wan-chai?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 08:41:56 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Danny Mok,Theodora Yu Lo Hoi-ying,Danny Mok,Theodora Yu Some recent food poisoning cases in Hong Kong have been linked to raw oysters supplied by a company in Spain, prompting authorities to instruct the food trade to suspend imports and sales from the firm. The Centre for Food Safety revealed the latest results of its investigation into dozens of recent food poisoning cases on Friday night – hours after a restaurant chain told the South China Morning Post that raw oysters consumed by diners who fell ill came from France and were supplied by a Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3343376/hong-kong-diners-urged-avoid-raw-oysters-more-food-poisoning-cases-found?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3343376/hong-kong-diners-urged-avoid-raw-oysters-more-food-poisoning-cases-found?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:31:43 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Vendors at Hong Kong’s biggest Lunar New Year fair are confident of strong sales this year despite higher rents, with some noting a larger turnout in Causeway Bay on the event’s opening day than in 2025. Hundreds of shoppers visited the fair at Victoria Park on Wednesday to check out the offerings at 400 stalls, which included horse-themed merchandise, flowers and street food to celebrate the Year of the Horse. The fair is one of 14 across the city in locations such as Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343218/hong-kong-vendors-optimistic-despite-rent-hikes-lunar-new-year-fair-crowds-flock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343218/hong-kong-vendors-optimistic-despite-rent-hikes-lunar-new-year-fair-crowds-flock?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:34:33 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s health authorities are investigating two food poisoning clusters linked to five people falling ill after eating raw oysters, adding to dozens of cases recorded in recent weeks. Officials also reminded residents on Sunday to maintain personal hygiene, as norovirus was more active in the winter months from December to March. The Centre for Health Protection reported that the latest two epidemiologically linked food poisoning clusters involved Chef’s Cuts at The Southside shopping... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342825/hong-kong-food-poisoning-cases-linked-raw-oysters-spike-27-1-week?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342825/hong-kong-food-poisoning-cases-linked-raw-oysters-spike-27-1-week?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 10:10:30 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Oscar Liu Lo Hoi-ying,Oscar Liu The provisional administrator of the housing estate ravaged by Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades will attend hearings of an independent committee “as necessary” to represent the “common interest” of the owners’ corporation, the home affairs chief has said following criticism that residents lacked legal representation in the probe. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen on Sunday defended Hop On Management, the firm appointed by the government as the administrator of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342810/government-defends-estate-administrators-absence-tai-po-fire-hearing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342810/government-defends-estate-administrators-absence-tai-po-fire-hearing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 06:15:41 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong wildlife protection authorities have recorded 23 cases of smuggled orchids in the first month of the year, with the number expected to rise in the coming weeks as Lunar New Year approaches. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department also pledged to step up patrols and enforcement at borders during the holiday season, when such crimes tend to peak. Endangered Species Protection Officer Jenny Lau Yuen-yung said the department discovered 23 cases of illegally imported orchids... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342772/23-cases-smuggled-orchids-recorded-holiday-demand-swells-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342772/23-cases-smuggled-orchids-recorded-holiday-demand-swells-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 02:00:29 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong animal rights activists have called on the government to create a list of approved pets after an abandoned 85kg (187lbs) alligator snapping turtle was found eating fish in a New Territories pond. They also called on authorities to microchip turtles sold to the public, toughen penalties for letting pets loose in the wild and update the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance before pushing further ahead with a “pet-friendly” society. Bon Chan Chung-pong, founder of Turtle’s Inn, said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342724/call-tougher-animal-welfare-laws-after-invasive-turtle-found-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342724/call-tougher-animal-welfare-laws-after-invasive-turtle-found-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Ricky Tam Wai-kit’s pet-friendly Uluru Cafe in Wan Chai was recently issued a grim ultimatum by Hong Kong food hygiene officers – a week-long closure if officers spotted one more dog in his restaurant, with another offence meaning losing his licence forever. “We like pets and animals, but this has made us a target for attack,” Tam said, adding that a neighbour had frequently complained to environmental authorities about pets in his restaurant. “I don’t understand why they have to weaponise the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342526/hong-kong-barking-wrong-tree-dog-friendly-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342526/hong-kong-barking-wrong-tree-dog-friendly-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:30:10 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Japan’s representative to Hong Kong has said his consulate is making “steady progress” in improving ties with the city, while noting the absence of top local officials at a celebration of the emperor’s birthday amid tensions between Tokyo and Beijing. Jun Miura, the country’s consul general to the city, on Thursday expressed his thanks for the friendship between Japan and Hong Kong at an event marking the 66th birthday of Emperor Naruhito. “While we do not have a guest of honour per se, I... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342560/japans-consulate-hong-kong-marks-emperors-birthday-city-officials-absent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342560/japans-consulate-hong-kong-marks-emperors-birthday-city-officials-absent?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 14:26:03 +0000 Edith Lin,Harvey Kong,Lo Hoi-ying Edith Lin,Harvey Kong,Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong authorities will allow up to 1,000 restaurants to welcome dogs in the initial stage of a pet-friendly premises scheme, with the first group of approved outlets expected to receive licences by June. The Environment and Ecology Bureau said on Tuesday that it aimed to submit the proposed amendments to the Food Business Regulation, which currently prohibits dogs on food premises, within the first quarter of this year. “The first batch of restaurants can apply for permits by May, allowing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342190/dogs-be-allowed-1000-hong-kong-eateries-first-phase-new-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3342190/dogs-be-allowed-1000-hong-kong-eateries-first-phase-new-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:20:59 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Edith Lin Lo Hoi-ying,Edith Lin Hong Kong’s construction watchdog should help small firms procure approved scaffolding nets at a lower cost, a leading contractor has said, after inspectors found two sites using plastic meshes that failed safety tests. Lawrence Ng San-wa, permanent honorary president of the Hong Kong Construction Sub-contractors Association, said on Monday that the industry was concerned about procurement and inspection costs to meet authorities’ new requirements following the deadly Tai Po fire. He said 50,000... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342053/small-hong-kong-firms-struggling-scaffold-net-safety-costs-contractor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342053/small-hong-kong-firms-struggling-scaffold-net-safety-costs-contractor?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:30:18 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s tourism chief has struck an upbeat note on visitor arrivals over Lunar New Year and has expressed confidence that numbers will cross the 50 million mark by the end of the year. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said she was optimistic about a year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals over the Lunar New Year “golden week” holiday in mainland China, which runs from February 15 to 23 this year. She noted that a larger gap between Christmas and Lunar New Year... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341996/hong-kong-tourism-chief-targets-more-50-million-visitors-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341996/hong-kong-tourism-chief-targets-more-50-million-visitors-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 10:01:14 +0000