https://www.scmp.com/rss/512725/feed Latest news about Hong Kong society, including community, welfare, heritage, leisure and entertainment. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Wrestling with mounting financial difficulties and the challenges of caring for a child with autism, Hong Kong mother Chau Ting-ting found herself struggling several years ago with thoughts of ending her life. The 30-year-old recalled on Thursday that her son Ziyi, now five, began displaying symptoms consistent with autism when he was two years old. Counsellors advised her to send the boy to a nursery to increase his contact with other children his age. “But when I went to the nursery, I saw... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353596/hong-kong-project-helps-turn-around-lives-special-needs-children-and-their-parents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353596/hong-kong-project-helps-turn-around-lives-special-needs-children-and-their-parents?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It was devastating to hear investigators say that a cigarette was likely to have sparked last November’s deadly Hong Kong housing estate fire that raged for more than 43 hours, killed 168 people and left thousands without homes. There is growing hope that similar tragedies at renovation or construction sites could be prevented by banning smoking during such work. The public inquiry into the Wang Fuk Court blaze also learned that despite 17 checks at the site, Labour Department inspectors... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353375/smoking-ban-construction-sites-must-be-implemented-without-delay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353375/smoking-ban-construction-sites-must-be-implemented-without-delay?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 23:15:04 +0000 Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying,Fiona Chow Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying,Fiona Chow The government-appointed administrator of Hong Kong’s fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court has sought to delay an owners’ meeting, prompting calls from residents to hold it before the end of June to address concerns ahead of a decision on whether to sell their flats. The move by Hop On Management Company came after more than 240 owners, representing over 12 per cent of households at the estate in Tai Po, petitioned the administrator in late April to hold an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), warning... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353472/owners-push-back-wang-fuk-court-administrator-seeks-delay-crucial-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353472/owners-push-back-wang-fuk-court-administrator-seeks-delay-crucial-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 14:38:11 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Residents of the only block left largely unscathed by a deadly fire in Hong Kong last year arrived with large suitcases, trolleys and cardboard boxes as they returned home for a second time to collect their belongings, including refrigerators and washing machines. Lifts in the block were put back into service for the first time since the November 26 fire engulfed seven of the eight blocks in Wang Fuk Court, killing 168 people and displacing nearly 5,000. During the three-hour session, residents... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353362/heavy-hearts-residents-wang-fuk-courts-only-spared-block-return-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353362/heavy-hearts-residents-wang-fuk-courts-only-spared-block-return-again?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 04:23:56 +0000 Ashlyn Chak Ashlyn Chak Ash Ayonote left office life behind after spending years behind a desk in Hong Kong. Now, as a fitness coach, he is showing that the city’s parks make great gyms by leading outdoor training sessions that prioritise community as much as cardio. His approach has universal appeal. He recently trained three generations of men from the same family in a public park in Sai Kung. Simon Kavanagh, 53, was the first in the family to turn to Ayonote in October 2023. “I was approaching 50, feeling unfit and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353106/hong-kong-parks-are-fitness-coachs-gym-choice-no-expensive-memberships-required?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3353106/hong-kong-parks-are-fitness-coachs-gym-choice-no-expensive-memberships-required?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 03:00:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s domestic helpers have easy access to unsecured loans from licensed money lenders. But they are often in no position to repay them. Many end up being sucked into a damaging spiral of debt. There is a need for tighter regulation. The government’s measures to strengthen rules for the sector to combat “excessive borrowing” among low-income workers will help tackle the problem. They are a step in the right direction. Monthly repayments for unsecured personal loans to such borrowers will... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353243/tightened-rules-hong-kongs-money-lenders-will-protect-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353243/tightened-rules-hong-kongs-money-lenders-will-protect-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 23:15:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It may seem like long ago that, for a period, visiting a loved one who was a patient in a public hospital was a logistical exercise, if it was allowed at all. That was, of course, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Visiting hours and the number of visitors allowed at any one time were limited. Visitors were permitted only on production of negative rapid antigen test or nucleic acid test results, and proof of vaccination. That such measures were accepted as necessary says something about the times and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353248/extended-visiting-hours-reflect-enlightened-approach-patient-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353248/extended-visiting-hours-reflect-enlightened-approach-patient-care?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A 44-year-old Hong Kong man has died after a suspected fall from the Tai Po Waterfront Park’s Spiral Lookout Tower. Police said on Tuesday that they had received a report from a passer-by at about 3.49pm that the man had been found lying near the base of the 32-metre (105-foot) tower, which was built to commemorate Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. The man, surnamed Ng, was unconscious when officers discovered him at the scene. He was immediately sent to the Alice Ho Miu Ling... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353324/man-dies-after-suspected-fall-hong-kongs-spiral-lookout-tower?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353324/man-dies-after-suspected-fall-hong-kongs-spiral-lookout-tower?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 15:49:17 +0000 Vivian Au,Fiona Chow,Kristen Cheung Vivian Au,Fiona Chow,Kristen Cheung Wang Fuk Court’s administrator has revealed that HK$180 million (US$22.9 million) has been paid to parties involved in the estate’s renovation project, with the remaining HK$127 million to be refunded to owners displaced by one of Hong Kong’s deadliest fires in decades. The details were disclosed during a Zoom meeting on Tuesday, one of two sessions arranged for residents by Hop On Management Company, the government-appointed administrator of the Tai Po estate following the fire. The second... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353322/wang-fuk-court-administrator-outlines-hk127-million-refund-displaced-owners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353322/wang-fuk-court-administrator-outlines-hk127-million-refund-displaced-owners?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 15:08:03 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong police have arrested two women on suspicion of animal cruelty after a sick three-month-old Golden Retriever was found dumped in a rubbish bin in Mong Kok, covered in sewage, and later euthanised. Inspector Yip Ho-lam said on Tuesday that police opened an investigation Saturday morning after a street cleaner discovered the puppy inside a bin in the alley behind 104 Hak Po Street. Officers from the animal crime investigation team later took over the case. “The puppy was immediately... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353306/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-women-after-sewage-soaked-puppy-found-bin-put-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353306/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-women-after-sewage-soaked-puppy-found-bin-put-down?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 13:19:30 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A Hong Kong sushi restaurant has apologised after a customer spotted a threadlike parasite crawling out of a piece of sashimi, triggering widespread food safety concerns across social media. Popular Japanese chain Gatten Sushi, which debuted in the city in September 2024, issued an apology on social media on Tuesday after footage of the incident at its Causeway Bay branch went viral. The video, shared by a diner on Threads, shows a thin, white parasite emerging from a piece of golden eye snapper... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353260/viral-clip-parasite-sashimi-hong-kong-sushi-branch-triggers-raw-emotions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353260/viral-clip-parasite-sashimi-hong-kong-sushi-branch-triggers-raw-emotions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 08:24:03 +0000 Fiona Chow,Edith Lin Fiona Chow,Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities have prepared 50,000 sandbags and several sets of water-filled flood barriers to brace for the coming typhoon season, while enhancement works at the high-risk Tseung Kwan O promenade are set to be completed by the end of this year. The Civil Engineering and Development Department on Monday also introduced new guidelines on shoreline management for communities, property managers and businesses operating near the coastal areas. The guidelines include simple infographics on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353182/hong-kong-braces-typhoon-season-50000-sandbags-flood-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353182/hong-kong-braces-typhoon-season-50000-sandbags-flood-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 13:55:20 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong restaurants applying for a licence that allows dogs will have to remove any hotpot from their menus and change their layout to comply with new regulations aimed at ensuring food and pet safety. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) also said on Monday that officers would patrol the premises every day in the first month to inspect and understand their operations, provide advice and ensure compliance with permit conditions. The department held the first in a series of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353178/no-hotpot-hong-kong-dog-friendly-restaurants-face-menu-and-layout-limits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353178/no-hotpot-hong-kong-dog-friendly-restaurants-face-menu-and-layout-limits?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 12:54:06 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities plan to lease out government-built day care facilities for the elderly to the private sector under a pilot programme aimed at providing more diverse services targeting older middle-class residents. Labour and Welfare Bureau officials said in a Legislative Council panel meeting on Monday that the government would introduce the “publicly built, privately run” model to provide “more diverse and higher quality” elderly care services. Under the plan, the government will invite... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353126/hong-kong-have-privately-run-care-services-under-new-scheme-middle-class-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353126/hong-kong-have-privately-run-care-services-under-new-scheme-middle-class-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 07:21:06 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong lawmakers have called for a rethink of a government scheme to develop homes for the elderly, days after the city’s second-largest public housing provider revealed it would stop building homes targeting older residents for the next decade. Lawmaker Andrew Lam Siu-lo of the Legislative Council’s housing panel said on Monday that the government had not been proactive enough in formulating a comprehensive housing policy for the elderly, urging authorities to provide new incentives for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353113/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-rethink-housing-development-policy-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353113/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-rethink-housing-development-policy-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 06:28:38 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities may widen support to cover more younger elderly residents to bolster protection, the welfare minister has said, calling current efforts to identify at-risk seniors “just the beginning” as the city reels from two tragedies in a week. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han told the South China Morning Post that the government was mobilising all available resources to strengthen support for the elderly, but he noted the process would take time given the city’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353061/hong-kong-may-broaden-risk-elderly-support-after-recent-deaths-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353061/hong-kong-may-broaden-risk-elderly-support-after-recent-deaths-minister-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu You can’t buy happiness, they say. But we “buy” dopamine fixes all the time. Just whip out the smartphone and we easily go down that rabbit hole of endless doom scrolling, falling into the addictive trap of instant gratification, chasing likes, shares, comments and followers as rewards. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in our experience of pleasure, focus, reward and motivation. It propels us to put in effort, devote time and feel good about our achievements. Before the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352904/hong-kong-right-move-extend-long-arm-law-claw-machines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352904/hong-kong-right-move-extend-long-arm-law-claw-machines?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 01:30:05 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Cigarette butts will be considered “strong evidence” of a possible breach under a proposed construction site smoking ban, Hong Kong’s labour chief has said, even as he sought to reassure contractors that preventive measures could shield them from the maximum HK$400,000 (US$51,070) fine. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-Han revealed further details about the ban in an interview with the South China Morning Post held amid an inquiry into the deadly Wang Fuk Court blaze, which heard... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353066/cigarette-butts-strong-evidence-smoking-ban-breach-work-sites-chris-sun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353066/cigarette-butts-strong-evidence-smoking-ban-breach-work-sites-chris-sun?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 01:00:23 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Mobile phones are being barred from a growing number of classrooms around the world amid concerns about the disruption these devices can cause. While Hong Kong has not imposed a citywide ban, rules are tightening at individual schools. A student outcry at one institution has put a spotlight on the need to strike a better balance with phone restrictions. Form Three and Four pupils at the boys’ school Kwun Tong Maryknoll College were told on April 30 they would not be allowed to use phones on... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352862/hong-kong-schools-must-balance-phone-policy-against-student-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352862/hong-kong-schools-must-balance-phone-policy-against-student-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung For Hong Kong-based artist Apple Tong Wing-yin, Wang Fuk Court has always been more than a home address. It was a library of her life’s work. Tong, a prominent deaf illustrator and graphic designer who communicates through what she calls her “silent language” of art, kept the many canvases that spoke for her inside her flat in the Tai Po housing estate. In November last year, that library was reduced to ash in one of Hong Kong’s deadliest fires. She lost everything – her awards, her backlog of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3352844/deaf-artist-who-lost-lifes-work-hong-kongs-tai-po-fire-painting-heal-myself?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3352844/deaf-artist-who-lost-lifes-work-hong-kongs-tai-po-fire-painting-heal-myself?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen When Law Yin-ping moved into a village house in Yick Yuen Tsuen in northwest Hong Kong’s Lam Tei more than a decade ago with her granddaughters, it never crossed her mind that they could one day be rendered homeless – and forcibly separated. The Tuen Mun village falls within the government’s planned Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area, which is set to become a high-end professional services and logistics hub under the Northern Metropolis megaproject. Law, who is nearly 70, said on Sunday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353051/forfeiture-rights-hong-kong-villagers-slam-rushed-northern-metropolis-evictions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353051/forfeiture-rights-hong-kong-villagers-slam-rushed-northern-metropolis-evictions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 11:43:53 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Mother’s Day business at many traditional Chinese banquet restaurants in Hong Kong has been weaker than last year, with diners increasingly opting for lunch and afternoon tea celebrations or non-traditional meals such as hotpot, industry representatives have said. Busy areas such as Causeway Bay were bustling with families on Sunday, as residents flocked to restaurants and shopping malls to celebrate, some carrying flowers and cards. “I did not want to do a very big dinner this year because... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353050/hong-kong-mothers-day-dining-shifts-traditional-banquets-casual-meals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353050/hong-kong-mothers-day-dining-shifts-traditional-banquets-casual-meals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 11:21:40 +0000 Edith Lin,Emily Hung Edith Lin,Emily Hung Multiple residents of Hong Kong’s fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court have reported problems with registering for an online meeting hosted by the estate’s administrator, with the company saying it has stepped up arrangements to enhance cybersecurity. A resident received an SMS from Hop On Management on Sunday saying he had not completed registration for the May 20 update session for owners, just two days after the firm had confirmed a “successful registration”. “You have not completed the registration... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353038/what-mess-wang-fuk-court-residents-flag-glitches-online-owners-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353038/what-mess-wang-fuk-court-residents-flag-glitches-online-owners-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 09:40:56 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Authorities will negotiate with operators of popular care homes in Guangdong province to secure more places for elderly Hongkongers to meet a rising demand, the welfare minister has said, amid a ninefold surge in city residents moving into such facilities across the border in recent years. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said in an interview with the South China Morning Post that the number of elderly Hongkongers living in care homes under the Residential Care Services Scheme... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353016/hong-kong-seek-more-elderly-care-places-guangdong-chris-sun-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353016/hong-kong-seek-more-elderly-care-places-guangdong-chris-sun-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 04:00:21 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow Amid the crackle of vinyl records and the nostalgia of Cantonese golden oldies, Holy Lee Hau-yin, a Hong Kong mother of three young children, is spinning a new narrative as a professional disc jockey and turning a page on her troubled past. After suffering an abusive marriage and the exhaustion of a decade of childcare, Lee will spend Mother’s Day on Sunday with renewed hope. The 28-year-old is set to perform for a private event at The Peninsula Hong Kong hotel and ultimately hopes to make a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353011/turning-tables-how-3-hong-kong-mothers-are-spinning-trauma-hope-djs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353011/turning-tables-how-3-hong-kong-mothers-are-spinning-trauma-hope-djs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 May 2026 02:00:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s Legislative Council will visit Beijing in July as a full body for the first time since the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. The announcement by Legco president Starry Lee Wai-king is historically significant. Until a few years ago, the presence of pan-democrats in the legislature made such a visit impossible. With the legislature composed entirely of “patriots” following electoral reforms in 2021, it is now part of the establishment, alongside the executive government... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352860/beijing-trip-will-help-legco-sharpen-hong-kongs-development-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352860/beijing-trip-will-help-legco-sharpen-hong-kongs-development-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang The funeral for the father of Mo Li Kai-yin, the dancer left paralysed after being struck by a falling giant screen during a concert by Hong Kong boy band Mirror, will be held early next month. The family said on Saturday that Reverend Derek Li Shing-lam’s funeral would be held at 10.30am on June 6 at St Andrew’s Church, Kowloon. The 71-year-old Li died on April 25, a week after disclosing on his social media that he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed illness. According to his previous... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353015/funeral-derek-li-father-injured-mirror-dancer-mo-li-be-held-june-6?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353015/funeral-derek-li-father-injured-mirror-dancer-mo-li-be-held-june-6?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 15:48:44 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Stories filled with tragic bravery, outrage at heedless officials and horror as loved ones perished were among those shared by 24 residents of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court estate, as they testified at a public hearing investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades. Over multiple sessions that began on March 19, some told the presiding committee how their repeated efforts to raise bid-rigging and safety concerns about the estate’s exterior renovation fell on deaf ears, well before the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353000/heroism-and-grief-6-residents-stories-wang-fuk-court-fire-hearings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3353000/heroism-and-grief-6-residents-stories-wang-fuk-court-fire-hearings?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 11:01:23 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Competition among Hong Kong florists heated up on the day before Mother’s Day as stores slashed bouquet prices and offered more innovative products, with some vendors reporting weaker business and lower profit margins compared with last year. Despite the wet weather on Saturday, vendors at the Mong Kok Flower Market touted colourful bouquets of carnations, roses and other fresh flowers. The price of a medium-sized bouquet at the market ranged from HK$300 to HK$400 (US$38.32 to US$51.10), at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352988/budding-mothers-day-competition-hong-kong-florists-prune-prices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352988/budding-mothers-day-competition-hong-kong-florists-prune-prices?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 08:43:20 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. In recent days, social media platforms have been flooded with images that should serve as a wake-up call for even the most complacent among us. The numerous tents blanketing Ham Tin Wan Beach like a shantytown, the snack wrappers and cigarette butts strewn along trails and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3352614/legco-must-preserve-hong-kongs-natural-heritage-its-too-late?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3352614/legco-must-preserve-hong-kongs-natural-heritage-its-too-late?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 03:30:06 +0000 Richard Lord Richard Lord By 2060, old-age to work-age ratios will double and 20 per cent of the population will be aged 65 or older, according to OECD predictions. The prospect of fewer young people to care for increasing numbers of elderly in their retirement makes financial planning and healthcare increasingly paramount concerns. “Chronic diseases are getting more prevalent and the age of onset is getting younger,” says Dr Shiba Poon, a general practitioner with OT&P Healthcare. “The majority of non-communicable... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/special-reports/topics/wealth-healthcare/article/3352859/how-longevity-healthcare-reshaping-physical-mental-and-financial-resilience?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/special-reports/topics/wealth-healthcare/article/3352859/how-longevity-healthcare-reshaping-physical-mental-and-financial-resilience?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 22:00:17 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters The South China Morning Post has taken home three honours at the International News Media Association’s 2026 Global Media Awards, with its infographic on Hong Kong’s deadly Tai Po fire winning first place for the best use of visual journalism. The awards were announced and presented in Berlin on Thursday, with the SCMP being the only Hong Kong media outlet recognised at the prestigious annual competition. This year’s awards event, which had 20 categories, drew a record 960 entries from 274 media... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352955/scmp-takes-home-3-honours-global-media-awards-including-win-infographic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352955/scmp-takes-home-3-honours-global-media-awards-including-win-infographic?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 14:41:30 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung An Australian man has been remanded in custody and hit with fresh charges in Hong Kong for fleeing restaurants without paying more than HK$2,000 (US$255) in bills, just a day after being fined for similar offences. Samuel Anthony Monkivitch, 50, was detained soon after pleading guilty at Eastern Court on Thursday to three charges – two of failing to pay HK$1,200 in bills at a restaurant and a massage parlour, and one of common assault. He was fined HK$3,000 and ordered to use his bail money to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352887/australian-remanded-fresh-eat-and-run-charges-hong-kong-day-after-being-fined?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352887/australian-remanded-fresh-eat-and-run-charges-hong-kong-day-after-being-fined?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 08:58:46 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. While ride-hailing regulation may not be dominating headlines, I feel compelled to offer my perspective before these rules are finalised – especially as the government’s transport blueprint emphasises people-first transport. I have been a ride-hailing driver for three years. As a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3352607/rigid-quotas-will-undercut-hong-kongs-ride-hailing-service-providers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3352607/rigid-quotas-will-undercut-hong-kongs-ride-hailing-service-providers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 03:30:05 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Brian Wong Lo Hoi-ying,Brian Wong This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The deputy director of the Home Affairs Department and the former head of the Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) were the latest Hong Kong officials to testify at a public hearing on the city’s deadliest blaze in decades. Their cross-examination on Friday concluded the fourth round of evidential hearings held by the government-appointed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352830/tai-po-probe-department-did-its-best-repeatedly-urged-committee-hold-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352830/tai-po-probe-department-did-its-best-repeatedly-urged-committee-hold-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 03:07:06 +0000 Gayatri Bhaumik Gayatri Bhaumik Asia’s fitness scene received a shot of adrenaline when Hyrox hosted its inaugural race in Hong Kong in 2022. The European-born hybrid race quickly gained traction in regional hubs like Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, reflecting a broader shift in wellness trends across these markets. Now, there are dozens of races across Asia – not least this weekend’s event in Hong Kong – and between the ubiquitous branded backpacks, social media posts and gyms promoting their race-focused training, Hyrox... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/special-reports/topics/hyroxs-rise-asia/article/3352709/hyrox-races-are-exploding-across-asia-clubs-hong-kong-tokyo-and-jakarta?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/special-reports/topics/hyroxs-rise-asia/article/3352709/hyrox-races-are-exploding-across-asia-clubs-hong-kong-tokyo-and-jakarta?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 03:03:48 +0000 Jane Lee Jane Lee For decades, Hong Kong thrived as the world’s freest economy without five-year plans, while mainland China rose to become the world’s second largest economy through them. Now Hong Kong has the rare advantage of both: market dynamism and strategic direction. Harnessed through the collective wisdom of the people, this combination can deliver more than what the market or planning alone can achieve. Hong Kong is preparing its first five-year plan to dovetail with the national 15th five-year plan,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352402/hong-kong-needs-peoples-wisdom-its-5-year-plan-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352402/hong-kong-needs-peoples-wisdom-its-5-year-plan-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 01:30:04 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A Hong Kong homemaker sits alone at a pinball machine at a shopping centre in Sham Shui Po on a weekday morning, engrossed in the game for an hour before picking up her sons from school for lunch. The 47-year-old mother-of-two, who only identified herself as Mrs Cheung, said she played pinball machines at least twice a week at Dragon Centre, including once on the weekend with her family of four as entertainment. “We just have fun as a family and use the points we earn from the games to redeem... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352804/hong-kongs-pinball-wizards-and-claw-fans-defend-arcade-thrills-clamp-looms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352804/hong-kongs-pinball-wizards-and-claw-fans-defend-arcade-thrills-clamp-looms?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 00:30:05 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong education authorities have ordered a primary school to submit a report after a national flag was found hanging upside down on campus. The Education Bureau said on Thursday that it had followed up on the incident at F.S.F.T.F. Fong Shu Chuen Primary School in Fanling. Online images earlier showed that the national flag was hanging upside down on top of a building at the school. “The Education Bureau immediately contacted the school upon learning of the incident. The school promptly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352803/hong-kong-school-ordered-submit-report-after-national-flag-hung-upside-down?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3352803/hong-kong-school-ordered-submit-report-after-national-flag-hung-upside-down?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 14:41:57 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung Hong Kong authorities have urged the public to stop using a certain model of Zwilling electric kettle over concerns that the handle may detach, posing a risk of scalding. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department on Thursday issued a safety recall for the kettle (model 53005). Consumers should contact the supplier, Cheong Hing (1917) Company Limited, at 2687 5879 to arrange a refund. The supplier warned that, in a small number of cases, the kettle’s handle may loosen or break,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352741/hong-kong-recalls-zwilling-electric-kettles-over-handle-defect-and-scalding-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352741/hong-kong-recalls-zwilling-electric-kettles-over-handle-defect-and-scalding-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 08:59:15 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong An elderly man in Hong Kong is believed to have killed his ex-wife before hanging himself at a public housing estate, as he reportedly felt “hopeless” after their separation following years of marital conflict worsened by their son’s suicide, police have revealed. Terry Wan King-hang, the Sau Mau Ping assistant district commander of crime, said on Thursday that the force believed the 77-year-old man killed his 71-year-old ex-wife in the flat in Po Tat Estate before taking his own life on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352713/death-elderly-pair-sau-mau-ping-flat-case-murder-suicide-police-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3352713/death-elderly-pair-sau-mau-ping-flat-case-murder-suicide-police-say?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 06:28:18 +0000 Felix Tang Felix Tang Preparing for my first ever court hearing did not feel like the beginning of a career milestone. It felt more like being handed an important responsibility before I fully understood what was required. I was in the middle of limited practice, absorbing how work gets done in chambers – how documents are handled, how time pressures shape decisions. Then a chamber mate of my pupil master asked me to appear in court. The task was not complicated, it was for a routine time extension to file pleadings.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352600/my-first-3-minutes-hong-kongs-court?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3352600/my-first-3-minutes-hong-kongs-court?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 May 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Vivian Au,Emily Hung Vivian Au,Emily Hung The government-appointed administrator of Wang Fuk Court, the Hong Kong estate devastated by a deadly fire last November, will hold two online meetings with displaced residents this month after 240 flat owners threatened legal action in a petition. Hop On Management Company announced on Wednesday that the Zoom meetings will take place from 7pm to 9pm next Tuesday and from 2pm to 4pm on May 20, prompting complaints from residents about the virtual format and its limitations. Participation is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352655/wang-fuk-court-administrator-schedules-talks-after-residents-legal-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352655/wang-fuk-court-administrator-schedules-talks-after-residents-legal-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 13:48:01 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have launched an investigation after a man and a woman were found dead in a flat at a Sau Mau Ping public housing estate on Wednesday afternoon. Police received a report at about 4.10pm from a man who suspected his brother had taken his own life inside a flat at Tat Yan House, Po Tat Estate. The South China Morning Post learned that the man went up to check on the duo and heard his brother’s phone when he rang, but no one responded. Firefighters forced entry into the flat and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352637/hong-kong-police-launch-investigation-after-man-and-woman-found-dead-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352637/hong-kong-police-launch-investigation-after-man-and-woman-found-dead-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 10:51:34 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Hong Kong’s retail sales jumped by 12.8 per cent in March, bringing first-quarter growth to 9.8 per cent, driven by a spurt in electric car sales ahead of the withdrawal of tax breaks. Provisional figures released by the Census and Statistics Department on Wednesday showed that retail sales reached HK$33.9 billion (US$4.32 billion) in March. The March increase was largely driven by an 80.8 per cent surge in the value of car sales as buyers raced to make deals before tax breaks for electric cars... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352608/hong-kong-retail-sales-jump-128-march-back-higher-car-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3352608/hong-kong-retail-sales-jump-128-march-back-higher-car-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 08:57:45 +0000 Jess Ma,Brian Wong Jess Ma,Brian Wong This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. All eyes were on the Hong Kong Housing Bureau’s Independent Checking Unit (ICU) on Wednesday, as one of its officers testified before a judge-led panel about its role in the Tai Po blaze. Senior maintenance surveyor Andy Ku Siu-ping was the only witness giving testimony in the first of three sessions of the fourth round of evidential hearings. The ICU,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352299/tai-po-fire-probe-housing-bureaus-checking-unit-failed-follow-safety-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352299/tai-po-fire-probe-housing-bureaus-checking-unit-failed-follow-safety-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 04:03:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Anna, a domestic helper from the Philippines, had managed her finances well until she took out two loans over the past few months for a friend she described as being “like a mother to me”. The 37-year-old, who asked to be identified only by her first name, now has to pay creditors about HK$9,000 (US$1,149) a month – almost twice her salary – leaving her extremely stressed about her debt. “My friend said she needed the money and asked if I could borrow from banks under my name, saying she would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352536/will-hong-kongs-clamp-lending-wean-helpers-debt-and-save-their-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352536/will-hong-kongs-clamp-lending-wean-helpers-debt-and-save-their-dreams?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 00:30:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Claw machines are hard to miss in Hong Kong. The prize-filled devices are clustered in shops across the city, often in the retail void created by the pandemic. Players are understandably drawn to the instant gratification of what appears to be a game of skill. But there is also growing concern about the fairness of claw machines and the increasingly high-value prizes that can introduce gambling elements addictive to some users – particularly young people. The authorities are rightly pursuing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352507/tighter-regulation-hong-kongs-claw-machines-much-needed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352507/tighter-regulation-hong-kongs-claw-machines-much-needed?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s security chief has reaffirmed that fire services will act as the gatekeeper for safety after a legal vacuum was exposed during an inquiry into the city’s deadliest blaze in decades, stressing the department’s existing manpower could cope with expanded oversight duties. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Tuesday reiterated the pledge earlier made by Fire Services Department Director Andy Yeung Yan-kin during the hearings into the inferno at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352537/fire-services-be-gatekeepers-safety-hong-kong-security-chief-vows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352537/fire-services-be-gatekeepers-safety-hong-kong-security-chief-vows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 15:01:18 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong After years of debate over whether claw and pinball machines encourage high-stakes gambling, Hong Kong has finally proposed stricter oversight to curb gaming, particularly among teenagers. Cases of addiction linked to these machines are rising in the city, but drawing a clear distinction between gaming and gambling remains difficult. As Hong Kong prepares to amend relevant laws, the South China Morning Post examines how other jurisdictions regulate the trend and asks an expert from an addiction... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352534/will-hong-kongs-claw-machine-regulations-curb-gaming-habits-and-gambling-risks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352534/will-hong-kongs-claw-machine-regulations-curb-gaming-habits-and-gambling-risks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 14:04:53 +0000