https://www.scmp.com/rss/511492/feed Connor Mycroft joined the city desk as a reporter in July 2023 after completing the Post’s year-long Graduate Trainee Programme. Originally from Canada, he spent three years teaching English in mainland China before relocating to Hong Kong in 2021. He holds a Masters Degree in Journalism from the University of Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A Discovery Bay resident has lodged a complaint with the city’s ombudsman over authorities’ handling of a proposal to allow unrestricted taxi access to the resort-style seaside community in Hong Kong. A petition bearing 1,700 signatures from concerned residents has also been submitted to the Transport Department calling for proper public consultation and wider communications on the measures. Taxis have had limited access to Discovery Bay since 2014, restricted to the north plaza of the sprawling... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348792/discovery-bay-resident-files-ombudsman-complaint-over-plan-full-taxi-access?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348792/discovery-bay-resident-files-ombudsman-complaint-over-plan-full-taxi-access?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 08:36:44 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Confidence among Hong Kong’s exporters fell at its steepest rate in two years amid global trade turbulence even as demand was expected to remain stable over the long term. The Trade Development Council (TDC) on Tuesday said its Exporters Confidence Index for the first quarter of 2026 showed that traders remained “cautious”, though trade diversification strategies have them “well prepared” for any further market disruptions. The index surveys over 500 traders from six major industries on a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348560/hong-kong-exporter-confidence-records-steepest-drop-2-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348560/hong-kong-exporter-confidence-records-steepest-drop-2-years?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:01:08 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has met Hong Kong political heavyweights and business leaders – including former Chief Justice Andrew Li Kwok-nang and Richard Li Tzar-kai, the son of tycoon Li Ka-shing – in what he described as a “short but meaningful visit” to the city. Wrapping up his first official visit to the city since he became prime minister in 2024, Wong said in a Facebook post on Saturday that closer cooperation between the two Asian financial centres would contribute to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348251/singapores-lawrence-wong-wraps-short-meaningful-visit-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348251/singapores-lawrence-wong-wraps-short-meaningful-visit-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 09:51:53 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong police are searching for a driver who fled the scene after crashing a car into a barricade and hitting a bus on Saturday. The force said it received a report at about 9.20am that a car had crashed into a roadside railing along Pui To Road in Tuen Mun. During the incident the car also made contact with a bus that had stopped at a traffic light along the same road. The driver then got out of the vehicle and fled, police said, adding that no injuries were reported. It was not immediately... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348241/hong-kong-police-searching-driver-run-after-hitting-railing-and-bus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348241/hong-kong-police-searching-driver-run-after-hitting-railing-and-bus?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 07:32:03 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Singapore will explore opportunities arising from Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis megaproject and its coming five-year development plan, the city state’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has said, stressing that relations between the two sides are “more important than ever” in a fragmenting world. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Friday that Wong’s visit – his first official trip to Hong Kong since becoming prime minister in 2024 – was indicative of the strong ties and friendship between the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348166/singapore-explore-opportunities-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-lawrence-wong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348166/singapore-explore-opportunities-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-lawrence-wong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:01:07 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Elderly Hongkongers and people with chronic illnesses should protect themselves from health problems arising from high humidity by using dehumidifiers and removing mould, a doctor and a community advocate have said, as damp conditions are expected to persist until the end of the week. They said the public should be better informed about the health risks posed by the damp weather, cautioning that high moisture encouraged mould that could cause breathing difficulties in asthmatics, while humid and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347907/warning-over-mould-and-infections-hong-kong-set-more-damp-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347907/warning-over-mould-and-infections-hong-kong-set-more-damp-days?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Kevin Li Connor Mycroft,Kevin Li Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways’ extended suspension of its Middle Eastern flights is likely to have a limited financial impact on its passenger operations as its expanded European services should help offset losses, aviation experts have said. But they warned of broader effects on its cargo business, given the loss of the Middle East as a historically cost-effective transit route and the upwards pressure on fuel and insurance prices due to the war. The airline announced on Tuesday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347766/cathays-european-services-could-offset-middle-east-losses-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347766/cathays-european-services-could-offset-middle-east-losses-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Some Discovery Bay residents have expressed frustration over a proposal to allow unrestricted taxi access to the seaside resort-like neighbourhood in Hong Kong, with a petition calling for greater public consultation garnering more than 1,100 signatures. In a reply to the South China Morning Post on Saturday, the Transport Department also confirmed it had received a taxi proposal from Discovery Bay’s management company, as well as “different views” from residents. Taxis have had limited access... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347439/plan-full-taxi-access-discovery-bay-sparks-anger-among-some-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347439/plan-full-taxi-access-discovery-bay-sparks-anger-among-some-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:50:36 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft When Hong Kong’s Uzma Naveed discovered she was a finalist for a women’s empowerment global award in Paris, it should have been the proudest moment of her life. Instead, she was left with mixed feelings. The 37-year-old refugee from Pakistan was chosen from a pool of 1,500 nominees from 97 jurisdictions for the “national impact” category of the Women Changing the World Awards, an annual event meant to celebrate women’s achievements. Uzma, who came to Hong Kong seeking asylum with her family in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347407/refugee-hong-kong-could-win-global-award-so-why-does-she-have-mixed-feelings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347407/refugee-hong-kong-could-win-global-award-so-why-does-she-have-mixed-feelings?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 04:00:52 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong police have launched a manhunt for three people involved in a suspected deception case in which a shop reportedly lost 73kg of gold bars worth an estimated US$12 million, the South China Morning Post has learned. The force said on Friday that a woman in Hung Hom had made a report around 2.57pm that a nearby shop was suspected to have been “burgled”. The woman said the shop owner had told her someone had stolen the gold bars before fleeing in a private vehicle. A source said the case... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347390/hong-kong-police-hunt-3-suspects-over-us12-million-gold-theft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347390/hong-kong-police-hunt-3-suspects-over-us12-million-gold-theft?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 15:58:58 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Former Australian chief justice Anthony Mason, who was one of the first non-permanent judges to join the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal and oversaw many of its early key constitutional cases, has died at the age of 100. Tributes from current and former city officials poured in for the late jurist on Wednesday, just a day after he died. Mason is widely considered to have been pivotal in establishing the court’s role under Hong Kong’s new constitutional order following the city’s return to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346996/anthony-mason-who-helped-put-top-hong-kong-court-map-dies-age-100?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346996/anthony-mason-who-helped-put-top-hong-kong-court-map-dies-age-100?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:09:21 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings has accused Panama of missing a deadline for international arbitration initiated by the company, as it confirmed its offices had earlier been raided by alleged “armed security forces”. Panama Ports Company (PPC) on Tuesday also accused authorities of silencing the country’s press and disregarding the rule of law, as it continued to paint the Central American nation as a risk to foreign investors following the seizure of its two... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346839/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-slams-panama-missing-arbitration-deadline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346839/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-slams-panama-missing-arbitration-deadline?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 05:10:49 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Connor Mycroft Lam Ka-sing,Connor Mycroft Hong Kong’s licensed moneylenders will face strict new regulations starting in August, including debt-servicing ratio caps for low-income earners and a complete ban on using loan referees – a move lawmakers have said should reduce harassment by debt collectors. Lawmakers also said on Saturday that the measures outlined by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau would help curb most illicit loans, while one legislator called for further regulation of the moneylending industry. The bureau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346599/hong-kong-tighten-moneylending-rules-tackle-debt-collector-harassment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346599/hong-kong-tighten-moneylending-rules-tackle-debt-collector-harassment?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:45:31 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Greater Bay Airlines will more than double its fuel surcharge on certain routes starting next week, becoming the last Hong Kong passenger carrier to raise prices as war rages in the Middle East. The airline announced on Friday it would raise prices due to “surging fuel costs”, with the change taking effect on March 18. The surcharge on the carrier’s flights originating from Hong Kong for all destinations except mainland China and the Maldives will increase by 104 per cent, from HK$142 (US$18) to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346454/greater-bay-airlines-raise-fuel-surcharges-joining-hong-kong-rivals-costs-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3346454/greater-bay-airlines-raise-fuel-surcharges-joining-hong-kong-rivals-costs-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:18:47 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Former Hong Kong lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee will hold a fan meet-and-greet at this year’s ComplexCon in the city, underscoring the senior government adviser’s enduring online popularity since ending her 17-year tenure in the Legislative Council. Seventy-five-year-old Ip, convenor of the government’s key decision-making Executive Council, will join guests including Jennie from K-pop group Blackpink, American rapper Yeat and Korean R&B singer Crush at the two-day event later this month. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346389/former-hong-kong-lawmaker-regina-ip-swaps-policy-photo-cards-complexcon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346389/former-hong-kong-lawmaker-regina-ip-swaps-policy-photo-cards-complexcon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:13:14 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Leopold Chen Connor Mycroft,Leopold Chen Some Hong Kong industries have warned that surging fuel prices due to the war in the Middle East could hinder their recovery and be passed on to consumers, even as authorities are communicating with local oil companies to monitor the effects locally. But economists suggested the city was well positioned to manage the oil shock in the near term as the US-Israel war on Iran entered its 11th day on Tuesday. Oil markets have been volatile since the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346060/hong-kong-monitors-fuel-prices-iran-war-sparks-premature-and-unfair-hikes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346060/hong-kong-monitors-fuel-prices-iran-war-sparks-premature-and-unfair-hikes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:13:19 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong is not merely China’s testing ground but also a key driver of the country’s development, the finance chief has said, underscoring the city’s role as the nation’s international financial centre. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po also said on Monday that Hong Kong must move swiftly to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) and “get empowered” in its use, as the opportunities it brought outweighed potential job losses. Speaking at the “Redefining Hong Kong 2026: Budget Edition” conference... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345948/hong-kong-more-chinas-financial-sandbox-paul-chan-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345948/hong-kong-more-chinas-financial-sandbox-paul-chan-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:22:42 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong has adequate safeguards to prevent any misuse of the Exchange Fund, according to the economist known as the “father of the city’s dollar peg”, who called concerns over the government’s decision to draw from the de facto sovereign wealth fund “a little overblown”. John Greenwood said the government’s plan to transfer HK$150 billion (US$19.1 billion) from the fund – which plays an essential role in defending the Hong Kong dollar’s peg to the US dollar – would have no effect on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345886/fears-over-exchange-fund-discipline-overblown-hong-kongs-dollar-peg-architect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345886/fears-over-exchange-fund-discipline-overblown-hong-kongs-dollar-peg-architect?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:28 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings is seeking US$2 billion in damages from the Panamanian government over what it described as the “illegal takeover” of the operations of two ports at either end of the strategic canal. In a statement issued on Friday, the Panama Ports Company (PPC) said it had submitted the claim for arbitration against the country under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce, vowing it would not “relent” or seek “token relief” for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345828/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-seeks-us2-billion-panamas-takeover-canal-ports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345828/ck-hutchison-subsidiary-seeks-us2-billion-panamas-takeover-canal-ports?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:14:45 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong authorities have been urged to review the pricing mechanism for local fuel supplies after petrol retailers were accused of swiftly raising prices as conflict erupted in the Middle East, even though the city had not yet exhausted its weeks-long stockpile. Global fuel prices have soared since the US-Israel war with Iran broke out, disrupting traffic along the Strait of Hormuz – the key waterway that handles about 20 per cent of the world’s oil shipments. The price of Brent crude, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345826/hong-kong-urged-review-fuel-prices-amid-unfair-cost-increase-accusations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345826/hong-kong-urged-review-fuel-prices-amid-unfair-cost-increase-accusations?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 12:28:52 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Destroying a fridge with a baseball bat or smashing glass bottles against a wall would normally be considered signs of hooliganism or problematic anger issues in Hong Kong. But tucked away in an industrial building in Kowloon Bay district, Smashroom HK is providing residents with exactly that opportunity, and the founders have said it is a way for people to deal with the stress of their daily lives. “I believe the pressure on Hongkongers is much greater here [than elsewhere],” said Leung Ka-lok,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345779/angry-your-boss-hong-kong-business-lets-you-rage-against-machines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345779/angry-your-boss-hong-kong-business-lets-you-rage-against-machines?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 Ambrose Li,Connor Mycroft,Theodora Yu,Leopold Chen Ambrose Li,Connor Mycroft,Theodora Yu,Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities are trying to reserve seats for residents on weekend flights leaving Dubai, with some of those stranded in the Middle East having exhausted all options to secure tickets to get back home amid the escalating regional conflict. The government also said on Thursday that it had urged carrier Emirates to run more flights between Dubai and Hong Kong, as regional airspace remained largely closed. According to the government, Emirates plans to operate direct flights from Dubai to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3345535/safe-air-corridors-enable-stranded-hongkongers-return-middle-east-amid-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3345535/safe-air-corridors-enable-stranded-hongkongers-return-middle-east-amid-war?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:32:15 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft More than 400 Hongkongers have reported being stranded in the Middle East after major airspace closures triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran disrupted dozens of flights between the city and the region. There are no signs yet of when they might return home, even as major transit hubs including Dubai airports resumed limited operations. US President Donald Trump has said military operations could last for weeks amid retaliation from Iran. The Security Bureau maintained a “red” warning for Iran... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345283/what-hong-kong-travellers-stuck-middle-east-need-do-war-spirals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345283/what-hong-kong-travellers-stuck-middle-east-need-do-war-spirals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:00:03 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Nearly 670 Hongkongers have been granted settlement in the United Kingdom under its bespoke BN(O) visa pathway, although the total number of applicants has fallen short of the British government’s lowest “core” estimate five years after its launch. While tens of thousands of Hongkongers are set to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain, or settled status, this year, experts suggested that uncertainties over the UK’s long-term settlement of migrants could deter future applications. The UK... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344988/670-hongkongers-granted-settlement-uk-under-bno-visa-scheme-launch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344988/670-hongkongers-granted-settlement-uk-under-bno-visa-scheme-launch?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:42:04 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft The head of Cambodia’s tourism body is looking to build partnerships with Hong Kong travel agencies as part of a drive to get visitors returning to his country, which has been plagued by safety concerns in recent years. Cambodia Tourism Board CEO Kim Minea also told the South China Morning Post that the government was “determined” to eliminate the notorious scam compounds that had trapped thousands of people, including Hongkongers, in recent years. But Hong Kong tour operators said safety was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344979/scam-hit-cambodia-tries-woo-hong-kong-travel-agencies-have-doubts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344979/scam-hit-cambodia-tries-woo-hong-kong-travel-agencies-have-doubts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 10:56:52 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A Hong Kong appellate court has quashed Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s fraud conviction for operating a consultancy office from his now-defunct tabloid-style newspaper, Apple Daily, finding that the prosecution had failed to prove the media mogul had made a “false representation” or could be held liable for concealment. In a judgment delivered on Thursday, the Court of Appeal ruled that although Apple Daily had breached its contract by allowing Dico Consultants to operate from its premises, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344665/ex-media-boss-jimmy-lai-wins-appeal-over-fraud-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344665/ex-media-boss-jimmy-lai-wins-appeal-over-fraud-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 02:29:07 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings has condemned the uninvited takeover of its Panama ports by the country’s authorities, calling it unlawful and the “culmination of a campaign” against its subsidiary that operated the terminals. The conglomerate, led by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s family, made the remarks on Tuesday, a day after the Panama Maritime Authority acted on a presidential decree allowing it to take over and operate the Balboa and Cristobal ports at either end of the Panama Canal for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344418/panamas-port-takeover-culmination-campaign-against-ck-hutchison?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344418/panamas-port-takeover-culmination-campaign-against-ck-hutchison?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:41:30 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Authorities in Hong Kong have expressed concern to the Japanese consulate after a resident was struck on the head with a beer bottle in Sapporo, urging Tokyo to better protect visitors from the city. Thursday’s statement followed a warning issued a day earlier by the Chinese consulate in Sapporo advising nationals against travelling to Japan, at a time when relations between Beijing and Tokyo are at a low point. However, local tour operators said the attack was likely to be an isolated incident... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3344029/protect-hongkongers-japan-authorities-urge-tokyo-after-tourist-attacked?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3344029/protect-hongkongers-japan-authorities-urge-tokyo-after-tourist-attacked?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:04:51 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A Hongkonger was beaten on the head with a beer bottle while visiting Sapporo, prompting the Chinese consulate in the Japanese city to again warn against travel to the country amid frayed bilateral ties. The consulate said the attack occurred at a restaurant in the early hours of Wednesday and that Japanese police had arrested a suspect at the scene. “The [consulate] has made representations to the local police, requiring the police to seriously hold the perpetrators accountable in accordance... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343938/japan-travel-warning-after-hongkonger-beaten-beer-bottle-sapporo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343938/japan-travel-warning-after-hongkonger-beaten-beer-bottle-sapporo?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 15:45:32 +0000 Theodora Yu,Connor Mycroft Theodora Yu,Connor Mycroft The pedestrian footbridge linking Hong Kong’s Central Pier with the International Financial Centre (IFC) will be demolished and replaced by a temporary one, with Wednesday marking its last day open to the public. A new temporary passageway, located near the current footbridge, will be open for use on Thursday, according to Henderson Land Development. On Wednesday, some residents came to take a final look at the old bridge before its closure. Lukas Mok, 25, was among those snapping photos to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343929/footbridge-linking-hong-kongs-central-pier-ifc-close-demolition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343929/footbridge-linking-hong-kongs-central-pier-ifc-close-demolition?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:01:53 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Harvey Kong Connor Mycroft,Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s visitor numbers on the first two days of Lunar New Year are at least 8 per cent higher than in 2025, with Wednesday’s fireworks display boosting momentum further as tens of thousands of spectators lined both sides of Victoria Harbour for the show. The huge crowd gasped in awe as the 23-minute spectacle to celebrate the Year of the Horse lit up the night skies above Victoria Harbour with 31,888 shells, including pyrotechnics forming the shapes of gold ingots and horseshoes. Chief... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343928/tens-thousands-eagerly-waiting-hong-kong-lunar-new-year-fireworks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343928/tens-thousands-eagerly-waiting-hong-kong-lunar-new-year-fireworks?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 11:39:56 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft The owners’ committee of a Hong Kong private housing estate has said it is “very concerned” after a large section of the ceiling collapsed into an indoor swimming pool, while the MTR Corporation, which manages the property, said a “detailed investigation” was under way to identify the cause. In a notice issued to residents of Lake Silver in Ma On Shan, the estate’s customer service centre said it had been notified by the clubhouse contractor that “material” had fallen from the ceiling of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343843/large-section-ceiling-plunges-hong-kong-estates-indoor-pool?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343843/large-section-ceiling-plunges-hong-kong-estates-indoor-pool?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 14:58:27 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A Hong Kong coach driver has been charged after his vehicle crashed on the Shenzhen Bay Bridge, leaving 17 passengers with minor injuries on Sunday. Hong Kong police said on Monday that the man, surnamed Lee, 63, had been charged with dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. Police said the bus had been travelling along the bridge towards Hong Kong shortly before 2pm on Sunday when it ran into the railings. Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the scene and confirmed that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343767/hong-kong-coach-driver-charged-over-shenzhen-bay-bridge-crash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343767/hong-kong-coach-driver-charged-over-shenzhen-bay-bridge-crash?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:28:06 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Curry fishball plushies, novelty minibus signs and products inspired by Hong Kong iconography emerged as bestsellers at the city’s biggest Lunar New Year fair, with one vendor saying he made more than HK$100,000 (US$12,790) in daily sales. From first-time sellers to charities, vendors were busy attracting customers with their locally designed merchandise on Wednesday as tens of thousands of festivalgoers lined the booths at Victoria Park’s Lunar New Year Fair. Among the busiest stalls was Lo... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343764/curry-fishball-toys-hit-hong-kong-nostalgia-shines-lunar-new-year-fair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343764/curry-fishball-toys-hit-hong-kong-nostalgia-shines-lunar-new-year-fair?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:25:45 +0000 Oscar Liu,Connor Mycroft Oscar Liu,Connor Mycroft Parts of Hong Kong Island were heavily congested on Monday as the final day of the Lunar New Year flower market at Victoria Park drew shopping crowds, leaving commuters stranded and bringing public transport to a standstill for hours. At 7pm, buses and trams continued to be stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic in Causeway Bay, where the city’s largest flower market is located, with some drivers blaring their horns as vehicles cut in front of them. Earlier, a South China Morning Post reporter spent... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3343756/traffic-gridlock-central-hong-kong-crowds-throng-last-day-lunar-new-year-fair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3343756/traffic-gridlock-central-hong-kong-crowds-throng-last-day-lunar-new-year-fair?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:08:14 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Jeffrey Epstein committed at least US$113,000 to American scholar Ben Goertzel – known for popularising the term “artificial general intelligence” – to help him secure at least HK$8.9 million in Hong Kong government grants at a top city university, a South China Morning Post investigation has found. The almost two-decade relationship between Epstein and computer scientist Goertzel, who previously built artificial intelligence (AI) architecture at Polytechnic University (PolyU), was disclosed in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343645/epstein-funded-ai-pioneer-helped-him-get-hk89-million-hong-kong-government-grants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343645/epstein-funded-ai-pioneer-helped-him-get-hk89-million-hong-kong-government-grants?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:30:22 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3344034/hong-kongs-miss-nepal-hopeful-follows-mothers-footsteps?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3344034/hong-kongs-miss-nepal-hopeful-follows-mothers-footsteps?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong is stepping up its game as an international arbitration hub while pushing forward to help mainland Chinese companies go global with its professional services, the city’s deputy justice secretary has said. Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan on Tuesday described Hong Kong as an “indispensable bridge” between the rest of the country and the world, while the head of a key government legal body in Indonesia said Singapore remained the more “famous” arbitration hub. Cheung... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343019/hong-kong-stepping-international-arbitration-hub-deputy-justice-secretary-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343019/hong-kong-stepping-international-arbitration-hub-deputy-justice-secretary-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:29:42 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Connor Mycroft Ng Kang-chung,Connor Mycroft Hongkongers who were minors at the time of the 1997 handover to China will be eligible to apply for the British National (Overseas) pathway to UK citizenship independently of their parents, with 26,000 arrivals expected under the expanded scheme in the next five years. The move was a response to the 20-year prison sentence handed to former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for convictions of national security-related charges in the city on Monday morning. In a statement on Monday, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342966/uk-expands-bno-scheme-more-hongkongers-following-jimmy-lai-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342966/uk-expands-bno-scheme-more-hongkongers-following-jimmy-lai-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 14:26:15 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft In 1994, Deepmala Kharel Dhakal’s mother competed in the first Miss Nepal beauty pageant. Thirty-two years later, the Nepali-Hongkonger is preparing to follow in her footsteps. The 23-year-old was crowned Miss Nepal Hong Kong International on Thursday. Victory at the event guarantees entrance into the national competition later this year. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Kharel Dhakal has an impressive resume. She landed a job as an investment strategist with BlackRock after graduating from the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342770/hong-kongs-miss-nepal-hopeful-follows-mothers-pageant-footsteps-32-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342770/hong-kongs-miss-nepal-hopeful-follows-mothers-pageant-footsteps-32-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Connor Mycroft,Wynna Wong Connor Mycroft,Wynna Wong A Hong Kong academic had a relationship with late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with correspondence revealing a proposed collaboration that he deemed was “a good rebrand” for an island owned by the disgraced American financier, where he hosted parties. The exchange of emails also showed Epstein became interested in the academic’s pursuit of finding people with so-called special abilities, such as mind-reading and other “psychic activities”. These discussions led to Epstein giving the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342544/epstein-his-hong-kong-academic-friend-and-their-interest-psychics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3342544/epstein-his-hong-kong-academic-friend-and-their-interest-psychics?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:02:12 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings is expected to move forward with selling its remaining port assets, despite Panama’s Supreme Court nullifying its contract for two terminals at either end of the country’s geostrategically vital canal, according to experts. But the effort by billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate to offload the rest of its ports would still face scrutiny from Beijing and local authorities, and the overall deal might need to be re-evaluated, experts told the South China... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341950/ck-hutchison-tipped-sell-remaining-ports-despite-panama-court-ruling-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341950/ck-hutchison-tipped-sell-remaining-ports-despite-panama-court-ruling-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Connor Mycroft Matthew Cheng,Connor Mycroft British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told Chinese President Xi Jinping that Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability are in the shared interests of both China and the United Kingdom in a high-profile meeting during his four-day trip to Beijing. Starmer, the first British leader to visit China since 2018, confirmed after the meeting, when asked by the media, that he had mentioned the landmark national security trial of jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying with Xi. According to the state... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3341709/starmer-stresses-hong-kongs-stability-key-stronger-ties-meeting-xi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3341709/starmer-stresses-hong-kongs-stability-key-stronger-ties-meeting-xi?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:30:25 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Vanuatu’s leader hopes to strengthen his country’s presence in Hong Kong as the Pacific island nation looks to tap the city’s regulatory expertise, financial markets and investment opportunities. Prime Minister Jotham Napat said on Wednesday that his country had established a “communication mechanism” during his trip to Hong Kong, to improve coordination and deepen ties with the financial hub. He called the visit a “pivotal moment” for bilateral relations, with his delegation holding high-level... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341566/vanuatu-seeks-hong-kongs-regulatory-expertise-woos-investors-and-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341566/vanuatu-seeks-hong-kongs-regulatory-expertise-woos-investors-and-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:56:27 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Deans from several of Canada’s top engineering programmes are exploring new academic exchange opportunities in Hong Kong, as relations between Ottawa and Beijing warm, with a forum organiser highlighting the city’s “pivotal role” in rebuilding ties. Speaking at the Canadian Engineering Asia-Pacific Conference, academics expressed hope that their students could learn from mainland China’s “impressive” development while also highlighting opportunities arising from major national projects in both... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341106/hong-kong-pivotal-rebuilding-canada-china-academic-links-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341106/hong-kong-pivotal-rebuilding-canada-china-academic-links-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 10:31:41 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong immigration authorities have apprehended 19 people in a citywide crackdown targeting illegal labour, with those arrested including four suspected employers and two people alleged to have aided and abetted such activities. The Immigration Department on Friday said it had worked with police and the Labour Department in a string of operations between January 16 and 22 that led to the arrests. Immigration officers raided multiple locations, including restaurants and flats under renovation... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341052/19-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-labour?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341052/19-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-labour?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 13:18:57 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong air travellers are being advised to leave their power banks at home and bring charging cables as several South Korean airlines become the latest to ban the use of the portable batteries during flights. A local tour operator issued the guidance on Friday after Hanjin Group announced that, starting from January 26, its five carriers would ban the use of the devices on board their aircraft as part of enhanced flight safety measures. Yuen Chun-ning, managing director at travel operator... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341043/air-travellers-urged-ditch-power-banks-more-airlines-ban-flight-use?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341043/air-travellers-urged-ditch-power-banks-more-airlines-ban-flight-use?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 11:41:54 +0000 Jess Ma,Connor Mycroft Jess Ma,Connor Mycroft A 60-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of slashing a family of three with a knife at a Hong Kong residential estate on Friday morning, with the Post learning that the victims and the suspect are neighbours. Police said they received a report at 7.35am of a family, including a 10-year-old daughter, being attacked by the suspect at a lift lobby of Tai Hing Estate in Tuen Mun. A source told the Post that the suspect and the family had been involved in a dispute, which could have led to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341018/hong-kong-police-arrest-man-60-allegedly-slashing-family-3?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3341018/hong-kong-police-arrest-man-60-allegedly-slashing-family-3?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:50:28 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Beijing and Hong Kong authorities have condemned a resolution strongly backed by the European Parliament to sanction officials and revoke the city’s special trade status to protest against former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s conviction in a national security trial. A spokesman for the foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong on Friday expressed “strong condemnation and opposition” while accusing the European Parliament of ignoring facts and distorting the truth. “The European Parliament has... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340895/eu-parliament-backs-sanctions-against-hong-kong-officials-over-jimmy-lai-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340895/eu-parliament-backs-sanctions-against-hong-kong-officials-over-jimmy-lai-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 14:41:49 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft European lawmakers have renewed their calls for the bloc’s executive arm to revoke Hong Kong’s special trade status, and to sanction the city’s chief executive and officials to protest against the conviction of former media boss Jimmy Lai on national security charges. During the debate in the European Parliament on Thursday, Hong Kong time, some MEPs stressed the importance of the EU taking concrete measures in response to the verdict, following a non-binding motion passed in the wake of an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340752/european-mps-debate-actions-punish-hong-kong-after-jimmy-lai-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3340752/european-mps-debate-actions-punish-hong-kong-after-jimmy-lai-conviction?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:44:52 +0000