https://www.scmp.com/rss/511686/feed John Hanzhang Ye is a PhD student in science and technology history at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and also holds an MPhil degree in sociology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He writes about Hong Kong identity, heritage conservation policy and science and technology related policy in Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu wrapped up his recent visit to the Asian Winter Games in Harbin with a local breakfast that “warmed” his heart. He not only met Hong Kong athletes but also visited cultural and tourism spots, including the famed Central Street, to learn how Harbin, also known as China’s Ice City, built its tourism industry. Lee attributed the success of Heilongjiang, China’s northernmost province of which Harbin is the capital, to its focus on ice and snow, and lauded... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3298786/harbin-hong-kong-should-focus-what-makes-it-unique?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3298786/harbin-hong-kong-should-focus-what-makes-it-unique?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:30:07 +0000 Donald Trump is returning to the White House, after emphatically winning the most influential election of the year. With the Republican Party confirmed to take control of the US Senate and the House of Representatives, the world is expecting the return of a more protectionist America with lots of uncertainty. One certainty, though, is a hardline immigration policy. Trump’s last administration cracked down on both undocumented immigrants and legal immigration. In October 2020, the Trump... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3286565/visa-denials-under-trump-could-be-opportunity-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3286565/visa-denials-under-trump-could-be-opportunity-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Nov 2024 01:30:08 +0000 In his third policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced a series of new measures to attract talent to Hong Kong. Lee pledged to establish a committee on education, technology and talent, as well as to update the city’s Talent List and add more universities to the Top Talent Pass Scheme. Lee also announced there would be “new channels” under Hong Kong’s General Employment Policy and the admission scheme for talent and professionals from the mainland. Lee said that under Hong... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3283199/hong-kong-attracting-talent-now-it-must-help-them-settle-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3283199/hong-kong-attracting-talent-now-it-must-help-them-settle-down?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Oct 2024 01:30:06 +0000 Beneath the brouhaha over a Dubai prince’s high-profile plan to open a family office in Hong Kong is the city’s steely resolve to look for new economic drivers amid growing tensions between China and the West. Before the headlines – over inauguration delays for Sheikh Ali Rashed Ali Saeed Al Maktoum’s US$500 million family office and his reported alter ego as singer-songwriter Alira – threw a spotlight on Hong Kong’s ambitions, there were two years of careful economic planning by Chief Executive... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3259229/dubai-prince-saga-shows-hong-kongs-middle-east-campaign-needs-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3259229/dubai-prince-saga-shows-hong-kongs-middle-east-campaign-needs-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Apr 2024 21:30:15 +0000 Over the past few months, the Hong Kong government has been busy promoting the city to the world. Although the last mega event – a match between Inter Miami and the Hong Kong XI that brought football superstar Lionel Messi to Hong Kong – disappointed many, the city will continue to host large-scale events from Art Basel to LIV Golf. In addition, in his budget speech, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced that the government will hold pyrotechnic and drone shows against backdrop Victoria... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3253616/hong-kong-go-global-it-could-start-valuing-local?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3253616/hong-kong-go-global-it-could-start-valuing-local?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Mar 2024 06:30:15 +0000 Hong Kong’s flagship carrier Cathay Pacific is cancelling an average of 12 flights per day until February to ensure normal operation for the Lunar New Year period. In early 2023, Cathay executives said the airline aimed to resume 70 per cent of its flight capacity by the end of the year and fully restore capacity by the end of 2024. However, the recent surge in cancelled flights not only threatens Cathay’s 2024 flight capacity goal but has also sparked concern among Transport and Logistics... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3248380/cathay-pacific-travel-chaos-shows-need-revisit-tourism-recovery-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3248380/cathay-pacific-travel-chaos-shows-need-revisit-tourism-recovery-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Jan 2024 08:30:12 +0000 The redevelopment of the iconic Choi Hung Estate is on the Housing Authority’s agenda, according to media reports, which note that the city’s major public housing provider is working on 10 redevelopment projects as part of a push to meet high demand for affordable homes. However, Choi Hung Estate has a special place in Hong Kong’s history. It is time the government reconsidered its strategy of equating redevelopment with reconstruction. The estate was built 60 years ago. Distinguished by its... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3241946/instagram-famous-choi-hung-estates-fate-demands-new-approach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3241946/instagram-famous-choi-hung-estates-fate-demands-new-approach?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Nov 2023 01:30:09 +0000 In his policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu outlined the important task of creating a strong impetus for economic growth in Hong Kong. The measures introduced so far include making the city more attractive to foreign talent and large international corporations, furthering collaboration with mainland China and pledging more support for small and medium-sized enterprises. With the government largely looking outwards, however, it needs to strengthen the link between incoming enterprises... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3239980/foreign-firms-will-boost-hong-kong-only-if-local-industries-benefit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3239980/foreign-firms-will-boost-hong-kong-only-if-local-industries-benefit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Nov 2023 07:30:16 +0000 The Hong Kong government is brainstorming to boost its nighttime economy. Officials have proposed hosting more after-dark activities such as outdoor night markets near the harbour as one way to reinvigorate the city’s nightlife. Such measures could help boost the city’s economy to a limited degree. However, one key question remains: can they persuade visitors to come? Since the reopening of the border with the mainland, checkpoints to Shenzhen have been crowded with visitors. Compared to Hong... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3232790/keep-alive-hong-kongs-history-or-another-night-market-would-just-be-yawn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3232790/keep-alive-hong-kongs-history-or-another-night-market-would-just-be-yawn?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:15:17 +0000 On Sunday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced the government’s intention to work with various sectors to boost Hong Kong’s nightlife, including organising night bazaars to increase spending. While it is admirable of the government to try and keep the momentum of economic recovery going, Chan’s proposal has drawn questions about the profitability of new businesses and increased competition for already struggling restaurants. The proposal’s biggest drawback is that it seems to have... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3231199/boost-nightlife-tourism-why-not-promote-hong-kongs-dai-pai-dong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3231199/boost-nightlife-tourism-why-not-promote-hong-kongs-dai-pai-dong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:15:20 +0000 Hong Kong and Macau have been saddened by the recent deaths of pop star Coco Lee and online influencer Jane Lao, the former manager of a popular Macau-based YouTube channel. These tragedies involving women dealing with depression have sparked discussion on how to identify and treat mental health issues, as well as what friends and relatives can do to help. This might be the only positive outcome of the two deaths. However, we should not forget that there is a large group of people who have long... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3230205/coco-lees-death-highlights-need-battle-enduring-stigma-surrounding-mental-health-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3230205/coco-lees-death-highlights-need-battle-enduring-stigma-surrounding-mental-health-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Aug 2023 22:15:15 +0000 Earlier this month, the government announced a special scheme to import thousands of workers to deal with the shortage of labour in Hong Kong. The announcement triggered opposition from trade unions, which serves as a reminder to the government of the need for caution when handling the issue of imported workers. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu acknowledged during his 2022 policy address that Hong Kong’s workforce had shrunk by about 140,000 over two pandemic years. In response, the government... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3224863/focus-hong-kongs-working-conditions-not-number-workers-fix-labour-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3224863/focus-hong-kongs-working-conditions-not-number-workers-fix-labour-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jun 2023 22:15:16 +0000 The recent Cathay Pacific discrimination scandal has cast doubt on the local government’s “Hello Hong Kong” campaign. After a social media post in which a Mandarin-speaking passenger accused cabin crew of mocking passengers’ English-language abilities on a flight from Chengdu to Hong Kong went viral on the mainland, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, the People’s Daily and Xinhua News Agency condemned the discrimination and demanded the airline deal seriously with the issue. Though Cathay Pacific... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3222316/cathay-pacific-discrimination-scandal-shows-roots-anti-mainland-sentiment-hong-kong-still?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3222316/cathay-pacific-discrimination-scandal-shows-roots-anti-mainland-sentiment-hong-kong-still?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 May 2023 22:15:17 +0000 In recent months, there has been much discussion of the impact of advances in artificial intelligence technology, in particular ChatGPT. The appearance of the AI-powered chatbot sparked global disruption that caught tech companies – from Google in the US to Baidu in China – off guard. At the government level, the UK issued a pro-innovation policy paper on regulation of artificial intelligence in March following the release of a national AI strategy in 2021. In comparison, Hong Kong has an... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3216770/what-hong-kongs-reaction-chatgpt-says-about-citys-appetite-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3216770/what-hong-kongs-reaction-chatgpt-says-about-citys-appetite-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Apr 2023 00:15:07 +0000 In his latest budget, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced a “Happy Hong Kong” campaign aimed at local residents, which will offer the public “gourmet experiences, fun amusements and exciting ambience” after three years of strict anti-pandemic measures. With the end of the mask mandate, Hong Kong has finally largely returned to normal as many countries have done in the past year. Chan’s budget is an attempt to raise people’s spirits, but the resulting good cheer may only be an illusion.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3212072/happy-hong-kong-look-wonton-soup-soul-and-small-businesses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3212072/happy-hong-kong-look-wonton-soup-soul-and-small-businesses?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Mar 2023 22:15:09 +0000 Hong Kong government pandemic adviser David Hui recently suggested the mask mandate could be lifted after the winter. Microbiologist Ho Pak-leung went further, saying the remaining Covid-19 restrictions could go now. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also indicated the government aimed to remove all Covid-19 restrictions this year. Together with the reopening of the border to the mainland, this all suggests the city is moving quickly towards normality after three years of strict Covid-19... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3208485/not-just-shopping-mall-hong-kong-reopens-time-fix-old-problems-and-chart-new-path?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3208485/not-just-shopping-mall-hong-kong-reopens-time-fix-old-problems-and-chart-new-path?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Jan 2023 19:30:10 +0000 As Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the government’s plan to reopen Hong Kong’s border with the mainland, the city was caught unprepared amid the rapid change in Beijing’s Covid-19 policy and the moves by foreign countries to limit the arrival of possible Covid carriers from China. While Hong Kong was celebrating the long-awaited announcement of the reopening, Japan imposed restrictions on flights not only from mainland China, but from Hong Kong and Macau. Travellers may now fly from... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3205323/hong-kong-risks-reopening-mainland-border-worst-moment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3205323/hong-kong-risks-reopening-mainland-border-worst-moment?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Jan 2023 00:15:08 +0000 The possible closure of Mil Mill, the only drinks carton recycler in Hong Kong, raises questions about the government’s commitment to its environmental goals and its support for green technology innovation. Both the Environmental Protection Department and Mil Mill’s landlord, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, say they have done their best to accommodate the needs of the recycler, even though its current site is to be set aside for other industries. The episode reveals a... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3196722/flaws-hong-kongs-approach-innovation-apparent-mil-mill-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3196722/flaws-hong-kongs-approach-innovation-apparent-mil-mill-row?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Oct 2022 22:15:08 +0000 Hong Kong has taken a step towards reopening with the axing of mandatory hotel quarantine for overseas arrivals. This is encouraging news and flight prices have soared. Hong Kong, compared to Southeast Asia, still has a way to go to catch up with the region’s opening up, but there is at least hope now that the city will soon return to normal. Three years after Covid-19 hit, with most developed economies back in operation, Hong Kong is under enormous pressure to reopen its borders. Politicians... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3193999/hong-kongs-covid-19-policy-and-reopening-road-map-must-be?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3193999/hong-kongs-covid-19-policy-and-reopening-road-map-must-be?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Sep 2022 22:45:09 +0000 Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said the Hong Kong government will strive to “tell the world the good stories of Hong Kong”, echoing President Xi Jinping’s mantra of “telling China’s story well”. Yet, after two years of political disturbances and nearly three years of tough Covid-19 policies, with Hong Kong appearing frequently in global news headlines, the Western world doubts its ability to maintain its semi-autonomous status. Some countries no longer see the city as a distinct member of... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3191537/john-lee-wants-tell-hong-kongs-story-world-actions-would?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3191537/john-lee-wants-tell-hong-kongs-story-world-actions-would?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Sep 2022 19:30:11 +0000 Hong Kong’s new administration has said that reopening the border with the mainland was one of its top priorities. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also told the public that the administration is working with mainland authorities to open the border. He said Hong Kong would seek to lower the daily number of new cases through more testing to stop local transmission. In the meantime, Lee said, efforts to reopen the mainland border would not stop the city from opening up to the rest of the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3184190/hong-kong-mainland-border-reopening-what-if-covid-19-containment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3184190/hong-kong-mainland-border-reopening-what-if-covid-19-containment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Jul 2022 22:45:24 +0000 Recent days have seen Hong Kong suffer another blow, with the Jumbo Floating Restaurant – a long-standing icon of the city – set to leave in weeks amid mounting losses during the pandemic. Social media has been filled with discussion about the potential loss and discontent over the government’s lack of action. This is just the latest example of Hong Kong’s inability to preserve its contemporary history. Another case in point is the General Post Office building in Central, which opened in 1976.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3180894/jumbo-floating-restaurant-saga-another-sign-hong-kongs-inability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3180894/jumbo-floating-restaurant-saga-another-sign-hong-kongs-inability?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Jun 2022 22:45:21 +0000 Chief executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu said in the outline for his new government that Hong Kong can have no future without technological innovation. He vowed to develop the city into an international innovation and technology hub, as outlined in China’s Greater Bay Area plan and the 14th five-year plan. The government has already done much to boost the city’s innovation capabilities. In the latest budget, it increased funding for the Hong Kong Growth Portfolio, which offers investment... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3177444/john-lee-must-ensure-support-technology-development-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/hong-kong/article/3177444/john-lee-must-ensure-support-technology-development-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 May 2022 01:15:23 +0000 Amid an unprecedented wave of Covid-19 infections, the Hong Kong government has imposed its toughest measures yet. The authorities were apparently caught out by the latest Omicron wave, which worsened rapidly and became the focus of local and international headlines. Overwhelmed hospitals meant patients seeking treatment were forced to wait in the cold – photos of which became a symbolic snapshot of Hong Kong’s fifth wave. Unable to contain the pandemic, the Hong Kong government finally called... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3168973/hong-kong-broken-omicron-lack-pandemic-preparedness-must-be?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3168973/hong-kong-broken-omicron-lack-pandemic-preparedness-must-be?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Mar 2022 00:15:23 +0000 As the Omicron variant of Covid-19 spreads across the globe, Hong Kong has joined many other regions and countries in imposing tough restrictions. In addition to containing local transmissions, the Hong Kong government has taken measures since the beginning of the pandemic to control incoming travellers. At the moment, every major country where Hongkongers prefer to study and live is listed in Group A as high-risk. This means anyone returning to the city from those countries is required to spend... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3164757/returning-lunar-new-year-expensive-luxury-hongkongers-stuck?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3164757/returning-lunar-new-year-expensive-luxury-hongkongers-stuck?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Jan 2022 01:45:18 +0000 As Covid-19 cases spike, the Hong Kong government has reimposed restrictions to control the spread of the Omicron variant. Meanwhile, the city’s vaccination rate has reached nearly 70 per cent, a level some consider to be sufficient for achieving herd immunity. What the government appears to have neglected is that its vaccination policy is not just a public policy, but also creates an expectation among the public of a return to normal life, to some degree at least. Therefore it is critical to... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3162676/can-hong-kong-move-zero-covid-living-virus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3162676/can-hong-kong-move-zero-covid-living-virus?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Jan 2022 01:15:14 +0000