https://www.scmp.com/rss/513090/feed Latest news on Hong Kong taxis, buses, the MTR Corporation, trams, ferries and more. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Emily Hung Emily Hung The revamp of Hong Kong’s HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare concession scheme for the elderly and disabled carried a HK$90 million price tag, with the government paying two-thirds, a Legislative Council Finance Committee paper revealed on Wednesday. It also showed that about 220 beneficiaries averaged more than 240 trips a month – equivalent to over eight daily – with one taking as many as 20 a day in the first year of real-name registration. The government adjusted the scheme on April 3,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350367/hong-kong-government-forks-out-two-thirds-hk90-million-tab-hk2-fare-revamp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350367/hong-kong-government-forks-out-two-thirds-hk90-million-tab-hk2-fare-revamp?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:59:59 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Greater Bay Airlines has suspended most of its flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok for more than four months amid surging fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East. The airline’s website showed that as of 8pm on Thursday no flights were available between Hong Kong and Bangkok for most of the dates between May 12 and September 22. The carrier said it had adjusted its services due to rising fuel prices and apologised to affected travellers. “Due to the continued rise in fuel prices... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350268/greater-bay-airlines-suspends-bangkok-flights-over-4-months-amid-fuel-price-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3350268/greater-bay-airlines-suspends-bangkok-flights-over-4-months-amid-fuel-price-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 06:08:11 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Travelling from Hong Kong’s commercial heart to the site of the San Tin Technopole, a planned innovation hub under the Northern Metropolis megaproject, is an exercise in endurance. The roughly two-hour trek from Causeway Bay requires taking trains on two lines, navigating two transit interchanges and catching a ride on a public minibus. Upon arrival, visitors are not greeted by gleaming skyscrapers or shopping centres, but by a quiet patchwork of fish ponds, villages, scattered squatter homes... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350210/are-special-laws-quick-fix-speeding-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350210/are-special-laws-quick-fix-speeding-hong-kongs-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:26 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying The developer of Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay is considering extending its trial period and limiting operating hours for cabbies to gain full access to the resort-style seaside community amid opposition from some residents. The Islands District Council’s Traffic and Transport Committee held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the paper presented by Hong Kong Resort Company in the presence of more than 20 residents who held differing views on the plan. Before the meeting, supporters and opponents of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350080/discovery-bay-developer-eyes-longer-taxi-trial-amid-safety-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350080/discovery-bay-developer-eyes-longer-taxi-trial-amid-safety-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:15:16 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s tram operator has launched a new mobile app that provides real-time arrival information and pledged not to raise fares this year. Hong Kong Tramways on Tuesday announced the new app which would use location data to inform commuters of the arrival times and destinations of the next three trams at their stop. Paul Tirvaudey, managing director of Hong Kong Tramways, said the operator had installed more than 400 radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors along the 30km route, as well... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350009/hong-kong-tram-operator-launches-real-time-app-pledges-no-fare-rise-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3350009/hong-kong-tram-operator-launches-real-time-app-pledges-no-fare-rise-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:39:56 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Kai Tak has become a world-class destination after years of effort to turn the former Hong Kong airport site into a sporting and entertainment hub with a cruise terminal, housing and commercial spaces. However, third-class transit continues to hold it back. A solution to that problem now seems firmly on track. The city’s key decision-making body has approved plans for an elevated mass transit railway system to connect major facilities in the area with the MTR network. Ideally, the project will... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349624/kai-taks-transport-solution-could-be-model-other-hong-kong-districts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349624/kai-taks-transport-solution-could-be-model-other-hong-kong-districts?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 23:15:13 +0000 Wynna Wong,Fiona Sun Wynna Wong,Fiona Sun Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will cancel a small proportion of passenger flights between mid-May and the end of June, as surging jet fuel prices driven by the war in the Middle East continue to weigh on airlines globally. The airline said on Saturday that about 2 per cent of its total flight frequencies would be cut between May 16 and June 30, mainly on regional routes, as well as a small number of services to Australia, South Asia and South Africa. Cathay Pacific’s budget arm,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349743/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-and-hk-express-cut-some-flights-jet-fuel-prices-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349743/hong-kongs-cathay-pacific-and-hk-express-cut-some-flights-jet-fuel-prices-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:10:45 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying The developer of Hong Kong’s Discovery Bay is pushing ahead with a plan for unrestricted taxi access and four new ranks in the resort-style seaside community on Lantau Island, despite a backlash from residents. In a paper submitted to Islands District Council, Hong Kong Resort Company said the lack of point-to-point public transport “severely impacts residents’ daily lives” and that it had received hundreds of messages of support for the proposal. The company said existing restrictions limiting... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349724/discovery-bay-developer-submits-proposal-full-taxi-access-despite-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349724/discovery-bay-developer-submits-proposal-full-taxi-access-despite-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:20:38 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial In a rare and speedy move, the Hong Kong government is pressing ahead with diesel subsidies and toll cuts for the commercial transport sector as the global oil crisis escalates. The short-term measures are timely, targeted and reasonable. They are exactly what the industries need as they grapple with soaring fuel prices fuelled by conflict in the Middle East. The two-month HK$3 (US$0.38) per litre diesel subsidies for public and commercial vehicles, vessels and related industries as well as... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349641/hong-kongs-rare-speedy-response-fuel-price-surge-shows-preparedness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349641/hong-kongs-rare-speedy-response-fuel-price-surge-shows-preparedness?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong taxi passengers will still have to pay full tunnel tolls despite government relief measures that cut the fee for commercial vehicles by half, transport authorities have said. The Transport and Logistics Bureau said on Friday that the relief measure, contained in a package to support the transport sector as oil prices rise, was aimed at helping commercial vehicle drivers and operators. For two months, the government will reduce tunnel tolls by 50 per cent for all commercial vehicles,... https://www.scmp.com/weather/article/3349698/taxi-passengers-wont-benefit-hong-kongs-50-reduction-tunnel-tolls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/weather/article/3349698/taxi-passengers-wont-benefit-hong-kongs-50-reduction-tunnel-tolls?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 13:40:37 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Lam Ka-sing Ng Kang-chung,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong will directly pay diesel subsidies to local oil companies based on sales volume after lawmakers approved a massive HK$1.8 billion government scheme to ease rocketing fuel prices for the transport sector over the next two months. The city’s environment minister maintained that a mechanism would be in place so the government could “know” and “monitor” if the oil companies tried to abuse the scheme by increasing prices, but did not say how. Senior government officials briefed lawmakers at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349614/hong-kong-government-must-guard-against-exploitation-diesel-subsidy-experts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349614/hong-kong-government-must-guard-against-exploitation-diesel-subsidy-experts-warn?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:16:09 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong bus company boss Martin Lau feels overwhelmed as he attempts every option possible to minimise mounting losses wrought by runaway fuel prices. He has done everything he can think of, from trying to reduce services to doing his own repairs on his fleet of more than 20 coaches. Lau, managing director of ABC Touring Car Company, told the South China Morning Post that he and his team had no choice for now but to absorb the losses as there was no help he could access. “The reality is cruel,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349564/oil-crisis-just-start-economic-pain-hongkongers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349564/oil-crisis-just-start-economic-pain-hongkongers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Leopold Chen,Ambrose Li,Olga Wong Leopold Chen,Ambrose Li,Olga Wong The Hong Kong government has proposed short-term measures including diesel subsidies of HK$3 per litre and reduced tunnel tolls to ease pressure on the commercial transport sector, which is grappling with soaring fuel prices. Confirming an earlier South China Morning Post report, the government said on Thursday night that a recently formed task force monitoring fuel price movements had floated four temporary measures prioritising diesel-powered commercial vehicles and vessels, and ferries. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349450/hong-kong-roll-out-relief-measures-transport-sector-fuel-costs-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349450/hong-kong-roll-out-relief-measures-transport-sector-fuel-costs-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 02:57:21 +0000 Oscar Liu,Lam Ka-sing Oscar Liu,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong lawmakers have warned that a local bus operator’s failed bid to reduce services is only the “tip of the iceberg”, as rising fuel costs drive wider reductions across the sector, urging the government to act swiftly to tackle soaring oil prices. Legislators on Tuesday also urged authorities to approve applications by non-franchised bus companies to increase fares, and to provide subsidies to cushion the effects of higher fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East. Their calls came... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349251/lawmakers-call-fuel-subsidies-citing-loss-making-bus-service-amid-oil-price-spike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349251/lawmakers-call-fuel-subsidies-citing-loss-making-bus-service-amid-oil-price-spike?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:27:49 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong police have arrested a 31-year-old taxi driver who demanded a “highway toll” of about HK$85 (US$11) from officers posing as passengers during a crackdown on illegal behaviour. The force said on Tuesday that officers conducted an operation to crack down on taxi violations on Lantau Island the previous day. Officers posing as passengers took a taxi from Hong Kong Disneyland Resort to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge checkpoint. When they arrived, the driver demanded about HK$85 as a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349219/taxi-driver-arrested-demanding-hk85-highway-toll-undercover-officers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349219/taxi-driver-arrested-demanding-hk85-highway-toll-undercover-officers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:35:03 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong International Airport has been flying high for decades, winning numerous world titles for its services, facilities and efficiency. Another jewel in the crown is this year’s Global Travel Award for “Best Airport in the World”. It is a fitting tribute to an aviation hub that has consistently delivered top performance amid fierce regional and global competition. In an era where many airports strive to stand out with flashy new infrastructure, Hong Kong’s success stems from its enduring... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349126/travellers-recognise-strengths-hong-kong-international-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349126/travellers-recognise-strengths-hong-kong-international-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A Hong Kong bus operator serving commuters in Tuen Mun has scrapped plans to reduce services amid soaring oil prices after transport authorities warned that it needed to apply for any changes at least 14 days in advance. ABC Touring Car Company, which runs non-franchised bus services linking Tuen Mun and urban areas, announced on Sunday it would reduce its operations with immediate effect as a first step to cut costs. But the company, which had also warned of ceasing operations, changed course... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349168/tuen-mun-bus-operator-cuts-services-amid-soaring-fuel-prices-warns-closure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3349168/tuen-mun-bus-operator-cuts-services-amid-soaring-fuel-prices-warns-closure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:06:55 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Traffic at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge reached peak levels during the first two days of the extended holiday, with checkpoint queues sometimes exceeding an hour, raising concerns about whether clearance arrangements can handle surging demand. Passenger flows exceeded 192,000 over Friday and Saturday, while vehicle numbers surpassed 30,000, marking one of the busiest periods at the cross-boundary bridge in recent years, Ringo Lee Yiu-pui, honorary life president of the Hong Kong, China... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349123/queues-stretch-past-hour-traffic-jams-hit-mega-bridge-during-easter-ching-ming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349123/queues-stretch-past-hour-traffic-jams-hit-mega-bridge-during-easter-ching-ming?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 05:13:10 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse The HK$2 (US$0.26) transport fare scheme for the elderly is one of Hong Kong’s most socially significant success stories. But some of the recent changes, and further ones contemplated, seem to be rowing in a different direction. We need to pause and take stock before we inadvertently undo some of our good work. In the process, we should also take the chance to ensure the long-term affordability of the scheme. The subsidy scheme was introduced in 2012 after an announcement in the 2011 policy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348958/hong-kong-must-not-undo-good-work-its-hk2-transport-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348958/hong-kong-must-not-undo-good-work-its-hk2-transport-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:30:09 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation extended the time needed for its in-town check-in service to 120 minutes from 90 minutes on Sunday evening, after a signalling equipment malfunction disrupted travel on the Airport Express and Tung Chung lines The rail operator said at 7.10pm that a signalling fault near a depot at Siu Ho Wan on Lantau Island had affected MTR train services on both lines and caused delays of about eight to 10 minutes. It added that engineers were working to repair the fault. At around... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349091/signal-fault-disrupts-hong-kong-mtrs-airport-express-tung-chung-line-services?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349091/signal-fault-disrupts-hong-kong-mtrs-airport-express-tung-chung-line-services?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:12:43 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Authorities have demanded that Hong Kong’s largest franchised bus operator investigate glitches in its fare rebate machines, which provided free trips to passengers on the day a revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport subsidy scheme was implemented. The city’s welfare minister also stressed on Saturday that the problems that occurred with KMB’s machines the previous day – when the revised scheme took effect – did not involve any malfunction in the government’s own system. “We understand that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349016/kmb-told-probe-machines-gave-free-bus-rides-revised-hk2-scheme-launched?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349016/kmb-told-probe-machines-gave-free-bus-rides-revised-hk2-scheme-launched?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:00:32 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s elderly residents have raised concerns about the financial burden placed on their low-income peers under a revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare scheme that came into force on Friday, with some avoiding higher-charging, long-route buses. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the implementation of the new arrangements had gone smoothly on the first day. He also stressed that the government was still subsidising a large part of the fares and the saved funds would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348933/revamped-transport-fare-scheme-triggers-concerns-about-cost-working-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348933/revamped-transport-fare-scheme-triggers-concerns-about-cost-working-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 07:53:25 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu More than 40,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers have adopted major electronic payment platforms AlipayHK and WeChat Pay HK, easing a protracted pain point for mainland Chinese visitors who are expected to arrive in droves during the coming Ching Ming Festival break. AlipayHK, a subsidiary of Ant International, an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, which owns the South China Morning Post, said on Thursday that its e-payment system was available to 47,000 taxi drivers. WeChat Pay HK said more than 40,000... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348828/40000-taxi-drivers-sign-e-payment-systems-new-rules-come-force?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348828/40000-taxi-drivers-sign-e-payment-systems-new-rules-come-force?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:12:07 +0000 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 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 From April 3, elderly and disabled passengers must pay 20 per cent of any fare exceeding HK$10 (US$1.28) under the revised HK$2 transport fare scheme. The government says this will curb people taking long-haul bus trips for short rides. But the debate obscures a different problem:... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348663/hong-kong-needs-start-charging-all-bus-passengers-distance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348663/hong-kong-needs-start-charging-all-bus-passengers-distance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 03:30:11 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung John Hau, a 66-year-old Hongkonger, was frustrated by the government’s decision to revamp the HK$2 (26 US cents) transport subsidy scheme. The discount allowed him to pay just HK$4 to make the round-trip rail commute from his home in Sham Shui Po in Kowloon to Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island, where he works as a security guard at a hotel. From Friday, he will need to pay an extra HK$1.20, an amount that does not bother him financially but emotionally. “The impact on my finances is not substantial,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348712/will-coming-changes-hk2-transport-scheme-hurt-working-elderly-most?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348712/will-coming-changes-hk2-transport-scheme-hurt-working-elderly-most?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s security minister has revealed that authorities are reviewing fire safety laws to expand enforcement powers and toughen penalties as part of a broader crackdown on illegal fuel sales in the city amid surging global oil prices. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Wednesday the government’s review included possible penalty increases, expanding enforcement powers for the Fire Services Department to make arrests and seize vehicles, and an examination of the legal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348689/hong-kong-weighs-tougher-enforcement-against-illegal-fuel-sales-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348689/hong-kong-weighs-tougher-enforcement-against-illegal-fuel-sales-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:47:11 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong International Airport has been voted the world’s best airport, along with accolades recognising its security standards and facilities. An Airport Authority spokesman said on Wednesday that the city’s airport had been named “Best Airport in the World” at the Global Travel Awards this year. Organiser International Media & News Group, based in Britain, said the awards recognised the best hotels, airports, airlines and destinations based on votes cast by 2.5 million travellers from more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348649/hong-kong-airport-named-worlds-best-global-travel-awards-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348649/hong-kong-airport-named-worlds-best-global-travel-awards-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 08:10:07 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Some Hong Kong taxi drivers have yet to install e-payment options even after the city’s mandatory electronic payment choices for taxis came into effect, highlighting a digital divide challenge facing cabbies, the South China Morning Post has observed. Under the Transport Department rule that came into effect on Wednesday, all drivers must offer passengers at least a QR code option and an alternative e-payment method. The initiative aimed to elevate the quality of taxi services by leveraging... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348627/some-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-unprepared-new-e-payments-rule-takes-effect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348627/some-hong-kong-taxi-drivers-unprepared-new-e-payments-rule-takes-effect?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:47:21 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It was alarming to see the actions of one individual cause so much disruption on a vital Hong Kong transport artery last Friday. The alleged misuse of an emergency exit on an MTR East Rail train has sparked calls for deterrents and public education. However, the resulting chaos should prompt a thorough review of contingency and response measures. Preliminary investigations found that an emergency exit ramp in the rear driver’s cabin was opened on a train heading north from Kowloon Tong to Tai... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348509/service-failures-show-mtr-has-work-do-uphold-its-reputation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348509/service-failures-show-mtr-has-work-do-uphold-its-reputation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s key decision-making body has approved plans for an elevated smart mass transit railway system in Kai Tak that will connect the cruise terminal and other major facilities in the area to the local MTR station. The Executive Council’s endorsement followed meetings between authorities and project critics and consultations with the public and the Legislative Council to address their concerns. The proposal was gazetted in July last year. “The public is generally supportive of the Smart and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348507/hong-kongs-exco-approves-plans-elevated-mass-transit-system-kai-tak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348507/hong-kongs-exco-approves-plans-elevated-mass-transit-system-kai-tak?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:17:24 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu More than 47,000 taxi drivers have adopted the commercial version of the Octopus app or equipped their cabs with mobile card readers ahead of new electronic payment regulations taking effect in Hong Kong on Wednesday, transport authorities have said. The new measures require cab drivers to provide at least two e-payment options, as part of a broader government push to modernise the industry’s image and service quality. The Transport Department on Tuesday said three dedicated service stations at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348480/over-47000-cabbies-adopt-octopus-card-readers-ahead-e-payment-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348480/over-47000-cabbies-adopt-octopus-card-readers-ahead-e-payment-regulations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 04:05:53 +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 I refer to the letter, “Why BMI should be just one data point among many” (March 25). The Department of Health shares a common goal with our community: the well-being of everyone in Hong Kong. We truly welcome feedback and perspectives which help raise awareness and bring us... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348178/bmi-starting-point-not-whole-story-hong-kongs-weight-management-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348178/bmi-starting-point-not-whole-story-hong-kongs-weight-management-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Air passengers departing from Hong Kong have said they were unaware of a new rule limiting the number of power banks they can carry to two, with few reminder signs visible at the airport on the first day of its enforcement on Sunday. The concerns were raised after Hong Kong International Airport announced on Saturday night that departing passengers were restricted to carrying no more than two power banks each on flights. Citing new regulations from the International Civil Aviation Organization... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348275/hong-kong-passengers-caught-guard-new-airport-limit-2-power-banks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348275/hong-kong-passengers-caught-guard-new-airport-limit-2-power-banks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 04:24:51 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok All passengers departing from Hong Kong International Airport are now prohibited from carrying more than two power banks, effective immediately, the Airport Authority announced on Saturday night. Citing new rules from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department, the authority said the global body had announced the requirements to address emerging safety risks posed by lithium battery power banks. Under the new rules, each departing passenger... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348269/hong-kong-airport-caps-power-banks-2-passenger-line-global-rule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348269/hong-kong-airport-caps-power-banks-2-passenger-line-global-rule?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:21:33 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong railway experts have called for tougher penalties and stronger public education to prevent the misuse of emergency exits on trains following a recent incident on the MTR East Rail line that caused more than two hours of disruption during evening rush hour. The experts also cast doubt on a lawmaker’s proposal to make emergency doors less accessible, saying the move could compromise passenger safety. A preliminary investigation found that a passenger had opened the emergency exit ramp in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348262/hong-kong-mtr-track-intrusion-prompts-calls-tougher-penalties-education?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348262/hong-kong-mtr-track-intrusion-prompts-calls-tougher-penalties-education?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 13:36:52 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang The deployment of mainland China-made rail equipment and technologies by Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation can provide a “showcase” for their applications overseas, a top representative of manufacturing giant CRRC has said. Jin Guozhong, chief engineer of the CRRC Qishuyan Institute, the Chinese state-owned manufacturer’s research and development centre in Changzhou, said on Friday there was a synergy between the two rail firms that went beyond equipment deployment. The semi-privatised MTR Corp had... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348210/mtr-corps-use-crrc-technology-can-act-showcase-rest-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348210/mtr-corps-use-crrc-technology-can-act-showcase-rest-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong lawmakers have expressed concern over the lack of a car park at the upgraded Huanggang border crossing, saying that providing a shuttle bus service for tour groups or motorists to reach the checkpoint building will not be convenient. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Friday that the revamped building – which is on the mainland Chinese side of the border in Shenzhen – would not have a public car park or bays for coaches. The Transport and Logistics Bureau would decide... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348211/lawmakers-concerned-over-lack-parking-huanggang-border-checkpoint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348211/lawmakers-concerned-over-lack-parking-huanggang-border-checkpoint?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:04:56 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong commuters have complained about chaotic scenes after services on a section of the East Rail line were suspended for about 2½ hours on Friday when a passenger opened an emergency exit on a train and was later found injured in a tunnel. The disruption caused chaos during rush hour. Affected stations were packed with passengers who later had to wait in long queues for alternative transport. A passenger on the affected train said a sudden power cut occurred, leaving people feeling... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348209/anger-after-chaotic-2-1/2-hour-disruption-east-rail-line-man-opens-train-exit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348209/anger-after-chaotic-2-1/2-hour-disruption-east-rail-line-man-opens-train-exit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:20:46 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s rail operator has announced it will keep fares unchanged for the coming year after an annual review, marking the second year without any increase. The fare freeze was decided based on the so-called direct-drive formula under the fare adjustment mechanism, which takes into account factors such as inflation, the latest wages in the transport sector, the MTR Corporation’s productivity and profitability, and the affordability of the people. MTR Corp Hong Kong transport services director... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348194/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-keep-fares-unchanged-second-year-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348194/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-keep-fares-unchanged-second-year-row?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:03:22 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin An 81-year-old minibus driver and his six passengers have been injured in a crash involving three vehicles in Hong Kong, according to police. The force was alerted to the traffic accident at around 12.30pm on Friday in Sha Tin, involving a KMB bus, a minibus and a private car on Siu Lek Yuen Road near Kwong Sin Street. “As the vehicles approached the scene, the bus followed the traffic lights and stopped. The minibus allegedly collided with the private car and the bus while attempting to change... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348100/8-injured-3-vehicle-crash-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348100/8-injured-3-vehicle-crash-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 06:27:34 +0000 Jeffie Lam,Wynna Wong Jeffie Lam,Wynna Wong Greater Bay Airlines has become the latest Hong Kong-based carrier to raise its fuel surcharges by 34 per cent amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the fee for destinations other than mainland China set to hit HK$389 (US$50). China’s largest courier, SF Express, also said on Friday it would switch to adjusting its fuel surcharge rates from a monthly to a weekly basis beginning in April because of the “continuous and frequent fluctuations” of international oil prices. Global fuel... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348094/greater-bay-airlines-raise-fuel-charges-34-joining-other-hong-kong-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348094/greater-bay-airlines-raise-fuel-charges-34-joining-other-hong-kong-carriers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:14:56 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities have extended the tender deadline to find new operators for Kai Tak Cruise Terminal by a month, after bidders requested more time to prepare for new management requirements and key performance indicators (KPIs). The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau said on Friday that the tender’s closing date would be extended from May 22 to June 26. “[The bureau] has decided to extend the tender closing date in response to prospective tenderers’ requests to the government for more time... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348088/hong-kong-kai-tak-cruise-terminal-tender-deadline-extended-1-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3348088/hong-kong-kai-tak-cruise-terminal-tender-deadline-extended-1-month?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:01:48 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Natalie Wong Lo Hoi-ying,Natalie Wong Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will increase its fuel surcharge for all flights by 34 per cent from April – the second increase in two weeks – citing “considerable pressure” as the war in the Middle East affects oil prices. The airline said on Thursday that considering the scale of recent surges in jet fuel prices, its fuel hedging measures were “insufficient” to mitigate and recover the cost. Fuel accounted for around 30 per cent of its operating costs last year, it said. From... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348004/cathay-increase-fuel-surcharge-all-flights-34-april?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348004/cathay-increase-fuel-surcharge-all-flights-34-april?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:34:06 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin A section of Hong Kong Island’s southwest coast at Aberdeen will be revamped into a new marina with 200 berths, a clubhouse and about 250 private flats by 2032 as part of government efforts to boost yacht tourism. The Development Bureau said on Wednesday that it aimed to launch a tender in the first half of next year – the first for a marina in nearly 40 years. It also noted there was strong market interest in the project. To clear the 1.16-hectare (2.8-acre) seaside site near Po Chong Wan, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347892/new-200-berth-marina-clubhouse-planned-hong-kong-revamp-aberdeen-site?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347892/new-200-berth-marina-clubhouse-planned-hong-kong-revamp-aberdeen-site?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:51:23 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation will carry out overnight signalling upgrade works on Sunday as part of preparations for the partial opening of the Tung Chung line extension later this year. Representatives from the city’s sole rail operator also said on Wednesday that the HK$19.5 billion (US$2.5 billion) project remained unaffected by a counterfeit brick scandal and the full extension was still on track to open in 2029. Upgrades to the existing system will take place in the early hours of Sunday,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347858/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-upgrade-tung-chung-line-signalling-system-sunday-night?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347858/hong-kongs-mtr-corp-upgrade-tung-chung-line-signalling-system-sunday-night?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:57:36 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong authorities are facing mounting pressure from lawmakers to roll out more measures to rein in surging fuel prices, including a requirement for firms to disclose pricing formulas when bidding for petrol stations – an idea the environment minister said could be considered. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan told the Legislative Council on Wednesday the government was open to reviewing the current tender policy for petrol station sites to bring down fuel prices, a proposal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347850/hong-kong-weighs-petrol-pricing-disclosure-rule-tenders-fuel-costs-surge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347850/hong-kong-weighs-petrol-pricing-disclosure-rule-tenders-fuel-costs-surge?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 08:28:25 +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 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It says something about the times that in February 2022, compared with now, lowering the age bar from 65 to 60 for the HK$2 transport fare subsidy for the elderly, adding 815,000 beneficiaries, didn’t ring more warning bells about sustainability. It was, after all, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the government was issuing cash vouchers and when public morale and economic confidence were paramount. Lowering the bar for people at or near the end of normal working life struck an empathetic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347670/changes-hk2-transport-fare-subsidy-will-ensure-scheme-viable?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347670/changes-hk2-transport-fare-subsidy-will-ensure-scheme-viable?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong authorities will launch advertisements and a transport guide to help seniors adapt to the revised HK$2 (26 US cents) transport fare scheme, which comes into effect next Friday, according to the city’s welfare chief. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Tuesday that the government would extensively publicise changes to the scheme and introduce a guide covering different districts in the coming days. “On Monday, I met district councillors and care teams from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347668/government-launch-guide-help-elderly-hongkongers-revised-hk2-fare-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347668/government-launch-guide-help-elderly-hongkongers-revised-hk2-fare-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:53:18 +0000