https://www.scmp.com/rss/514186/feed Emily covers Hong Kong health news and policies. Prior to joining the Post in 2022, she was a broadcast journalist at ViuTV News. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Emily Hung Emily Hung A university in Hong Kong establishing the city’s third medical school has broken ground on an interim teaching and research complex that is set to be completed by mid-2028 to welcome the first batch of students. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) president Nancy Ip Yuk-yu also revealed on Tuesday that the institution had hired seven clinical professors for the new school, with many others from overseas expressing interest in joining the team. The first intake of 50 students... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351659/hong-kong-breaks-ground-third-medical-schools-interim-complex-7-professors-hired?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351659/hong-kong-breaks-ground-third-medical-schools-interim-complex-7-professors-hired?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:54:00 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A Hong Kong doctor accused of a blunder that left a boy permanently disabled 16 years ago said he did not return to the hospital to examine the infant immediately as he initially diagnosed the emergency as a choking case, the Medical Council heard on Sunday. Testifying for the first time at the hearing, Dr Sit Sou-chi contested an allegation that he had failed to conduct all necessary and immediate investigations of newborn Li Yuanjian, the son of a mainland Chinese couple, after the infant had... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351495/doctor-long-delayed-hearing-over-blunder-says-he-thought-baby-was-choking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351495/doctor-long-delayed-hearing-over-blunder-says-he-thought-baby-was-choking?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:52:53 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong artiste Kristal Tin Yui-lee has revealed on social media that cancer cells were found in her lymph nodes, more than a year after being diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, drawing renewed attention to the disease. A former leading actress at TVB after starting her career at the now defunct ATV, the 48-year-old has shifted her focus in recent years to screenplays and online media. She won the best lead actress award in 2024 for her role as a wife in Big Divorce Day, a theatre... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350692/second-cancer-shock-hong-kong-actress-kristal-tin-how-does-disease-strike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350692/second-cancer-shock-hong-kong-actress-kristal-tin-how-does-disease-strike?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:44:37 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung About 1,900 families who lived in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court will return in batches to their fire-ravaged homes from April 20. Nearly five months after the deadly blaze in Tai Po engulfed seven of the estate’s eight buildings, the government arranged for residents to visit the devastated flats to collect their belongings and bid farewell to their homes. According to Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, around 6,000 residents have booked slots to return, while 47 households opted out,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350618/returning-fire-ravaged-home-wang-fuk-court-what-prepare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350618/returning-fire-ravaged-home-wang-fuk-court-what-prepare?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:23:14 +0000 Jess Ma,Emily Hung Jess Ma,Emily Hung For 66-year-old Ming Lee, the only way to get back to his flat in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court is by walking up 25 flights of stairs, after the deadly inferno at the housing estate last November destroyed seven of its eight buildings, including their lift systems. Undaunted by the physical toll required, the retiree will ascend Wang Yan House next week and bid a final farewell to his home of four decades. “I exercise regularly, but after the fire, my mood and physical condition both deteriorated,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350579/wang-fuk-court-residents-steel-themselves-emotional-return-site-deadly-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3350579/wang-fuk-court-residents-steel-themselves-emotional-return-site-deadly-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:00:21 +0000 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 Emily Hung Emily Hung Landlords of more than 5,500 subdivided homes in Hong Kong have applied for a three-year grace period to meet size, safety and hygiene requirements following a new law on basic housing standards taking effect six weeks ago. Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said on Saturday that the government had received applications for 5,557 subdivided units in 1,370 flats. That accounted for around 5 per cent of all subdivided units in Hong Kong, mostly located in Yau Tsim Mong district, followed by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349745/landlords-5557-subdivided-homes-seek-3-year-grace-period-fix-flats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349745/landlords-5557-subdivided-homes-seek-3-year-grace-period-fix-flats?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 09:36:22 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have proposed a legal amendment requiring property owners to attend a mandatory briefing on major renovation projects before voting on procurement resolutions, in a move aimed at curbing bid-rigging following the deadly blaze in Tai Po. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Saturday that the proposed amendment to the Building Management Ordinance, which covers five areas, sought to enhance homeowners’ participation and fill existing legal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349739/hong-kong-proposes-mandatory-renovation-briefings-combat-bid-rigging?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349739/hong-kong-proposes-mandatory-renovation-briefings-combat-bid-rigging?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 08:20:19 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong’s smoking rate fell to 8.5 per cent last year, missing an ambitious target of 7.8 per cent, but health authorities have hailed the success of the city’s tobacco control strategy, which led to a 30 per cent decline in overall cigarette consumption. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau told a Legislative Council meeting on Friday that the rate – the prevalence of daily cigarette smokers aged 15 and older in the population – had fallen from 9.1 per cent in 2023 to 8.5 per cent last year. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349681/health-chief-hails-tobacco-control-efforts-smoking-rate-falls-85?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349681/health-chief-hails-tobacco-control-efforts-smoking-rate-falls-85?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:30:19 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Former Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying has launched a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) trading platform aimed at connecting mainland Chinese manufacturers with international markets by leveraging the city’s testing and certification systems. Leung, also a vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said on Thursday that the platform, an independent third party, aimed to promote the centralisation, standardisation, marketisation and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349546/ex-hong-kong-leaders-chinese-medicine-platform-link-mainland-and-global-markets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349546/ex-hong-kong-leaders-chinese-medicine-platform-link-mainland-and-global-markets?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:58:14 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has launched a five-year study into why Chinese people often enjoy long lifespans, and aims to recruit 500 residents aged 90 or older for biomarker analysis using advanced blood testing technologies. HKUST president Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, who is leading the research, said Hong Kong urgently needed to uncover the healthy ageing process as the city had become a “super-ageing society” in 2024 under UN standards, with more than 20 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349375/hkust-launches-5-year-study-long-lifespans-chinese-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349375/hkust-launches-5-year-study-long-lifespans-chinese-people?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:41:28 +0000 Edith Lin,Emily Hung Edith Lin,Emily Hung A redevelopment proposal representing the interests of more than 400 fire-displaced residents has been submitted to the Hong Kong government, claiming that a partial redevelopment of Wang Fuk Court could generate a HK6.4 billion (US$816.7 million) surplus. The 47-page proposal, alongside two letters, was sent to the Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong Wai-lun, housing minister Winnie Ho Wing-yin, and home... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349373/wang-fuk-court-administrator-rejects-request-hold-owners-meeting-email-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349373/wang-fuk-court-administrator-rejects-request-hold-owners-meeting-email-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:32:37 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Eight-year-old Aidan was terrified at the prospect of having to undergo an operation at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital in Kowloon Bay in 2024. But his fears eased once he put on a virtual reality (VR) headset. Guided by a panda character, the VR programme gave him knowledge of what to expect. It allowed him to walk down the corridor and explore the operating theatre, pick the colours of medical staff’s gowns and choose how he wanted to be anaesthetised – down to the flavour of sleep-inducing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349175/hong-kong-hospital-uses-vr-tour-ease-childrens-fears-ahead-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349175/hong-kong-hospital-uses-vr-tour-ease-childrens-fears-ahead-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:30:07 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has launched an academy to nurture the next generation of female medical scientists, aiming to bridge a sex gap in which women make up just one-third of researchers globally. The Women in Science and Medicine Academy (Wise) aims to attract 100 early-career female researchers from the city and overseas in five years, supporting them with mentorship, leadership training and global exposure. Professor Siew Ng, an associate dean of CUHK’s medical school and... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3349097/hong-kongs-new-academy-female-medical-scientists-aims-bridge-gender-gap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3349097/hong-kongs-new-academy-female-medical-scientists-aims-bridge-gender-gap?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong rescuers are searching for a 79-year-old man missing since Saturday, with authorities discovering one of his shoes nearly 20 hours into the operation. Police said on Sunday the man, surnamed He, was hiking with his wife along Section 10 of the MacLehose Trail at around 10am the day before. They had been heading in the direction of the Tai Lam Chung Reservoir in Tuen Mun, the force said. According to a social media post from the man’s adult child, he split off from his wife at the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349078/hong-kong-rescuers-search-man-81-who-went-missing-hike-tuen-mun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349078/hong-kong-rescuers-search-man-81-who-went-missing-hike-tuen-mun?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:34:57 +0000 Denise Tsang,Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Denise Tsang,Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Thousands of Hongkongers braved heavy rains to sweep tombs during the Ching Ming Festival on Sunday, with some Wang Fuk Court residents returning to the fire-ravaged housing estate to mourn the victims. The spring trek to graveyards around Hong Kong began under skies darkened by an approaching band of thundery showers, which prompted the Observatory to issue an amber rainstorm warning at 2.05pm. While many Chinese families cherish the chance to visit their ancestors’ tombs and pay their... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349074/thousands-brave-rain-mark-ching-ming-wang-fuk-court-residents-return-mourn?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349074/thousands-brave-rain-mark-ching-ming-wang-fuk-court-residents-return-mourn?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 06:55:46 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong’s economy showed resilience in the first quarter of the year amid volatility in the equity and oil markets brought by war in the Middle East, the city’s finance chief has said. In his review on Sunday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said investors continued to move assets to the city, drawn by the steady growth of mainland China’s economy and the large number of initial public offerings in Hong Kong. The minister said the geopolitical landscape had proved to be complex and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349071/hong-kong-economy-showed-resilience-first-quarter-2026-paul-chan-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349071/hong-kong-economy-showed-resilience-first-quarter-2026-paul-chan-says?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 05:51:55 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong International Airport has opened a sensory corner to ease travel stress for passengers with invisible disabilities, ranging from autism to dementia. Major airports around the world, including Singapore Changi and London Heathrow, have introduced sensory rooms or quiet zones for neurodivergent travellers in recent years, as part of a wider effort to enhance inclusivity. Chris Au Young, the Airport Authority’s general manager of terminal and passenger experience, said the 30 square metre... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348952/hong-kong-airport-opens-sensory-space-passengers-invisible-disabilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348952/hong-kong-airport-opens-sensory-space-passengers-invisible-disabilities?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Anyone in Hong Kong found carrying more than five vape pods or 100 heat sticks in public will face a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and up to six months in jail from April 30, while those with smaller quantities will receive a fixed penalty of HK$3,000. The amended tobacco control law also provides for a future territory-wide ban on such products although no timeline has been set, the government said on Thursday. “The government decided to implement the ban in phases, starting with public places, due... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348825/hong-kong-impose-two-tier-penalty-carrying-vapes-public-april-30?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348825/hong-kong-impose-two-tier-penalty-carrying-vapes-public-april-30?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:39:49 +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 Emily Hung,Olga Wong Emily Hung,Olga Wong Retired civil servant Janice Tse Siu-wa has been appointed the new secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, with her top priority being the formulation of Hong Kong’s first five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Monday that he had nominated the 61-year-old Tse to the State Council because of her strong passion for the five-year plan and capability, stemming from her 38 years of working for the government. “The first local five-year plan must be formulated within this... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348334/janice-tse-appointed-new-constitutional-and-mainland-affairs-chief-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3348334/janice-tse-appointed-new-constitutional-and-mainland-affairs-chief-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 01:38:26 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have insisted that a three-hour time limit is sufficient for residents of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court to retrieve their belongings, with discretion to be exercised for those requesting a second entry. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said on Saturday that although each household could register up to four people to enter the building, only one person would be allowed into severely damaged flats owing to safety concerns. “With four people and three hours... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348242/hong-kong-defends-3-hour-limit-wang-fuk-court-residents-collect-belongings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348242/hong-kong-defends-3-hour-limit-wang-fuk-court-residents-collect-belongings?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 07:47:49 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A global investigation involving Hong Kong authorities has found that more websites and mobile apps designed for children are collecting personal data – ranging from phone numbers to addresses – than they did about a decade ago. The 2025 Global Privacy Enforcement Network Sweep, which included the participation of Hong Kong’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, examined 876 websites and mobile apps specifically designed for children across multiple sectors in early November,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347829/more-websites-mobile-apps-children-collecting-personal-data-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347829/more-websites-mobile-apps-children-collecting-personal-data-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 06:55:50 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A university in Hong Kong has launched an Alzheimer’s disease screening programme using locally developed blood-based testing technology – the first of its kind globally – which is expected to benefit 6,000 underprivileged elderly people over five years. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting one in 10 Hongkongers aged 60 or above, with prevalence increasing with age, according to a Department of Health report last year. Announcing the “NeuroCare Community Project” on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347591/hkust-launches-programme-offering-alzheimers-blood-based-test-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347591/hkust-launches-programme-offering-alzheimers-blood-based-test-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:04:04 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Tickets from Hong Kong to many mainland Chinese destinations connected by cross-border high-speed rail services are nearly sold out for the first two days of the five-day holiday over Easter and the Ching Ming Festival. The mainland cities have become an alternative for travellers, with the escalating war in the Middle East triggering a global oil crisis and significantly disrupting airspace, prompting airlines to increase ticket prices and fuel surcharges. Steven Huen Kwok-chuen, executive... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347502/high-speed-rail-tickets-selling-fast-hongkongers-opt-short-haul-trips-amid-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347502/high-speed-rail-tickets-selling-fast-hongkongers-opt-short-haul-trips-amid-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 14:27:36 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A 41-year-old mother in Hong Kong has been charged with child abuse after her 12-year-old son reported her to police for beating him with a rattan cane, the South China Morning Post has learned. The woman was arrested on Saturday in a flat at Kam Fung House in Wong Tai Sin after her son called police at 2.48pm and complained he had been beaten. A source said on Sunday that the woman, surnamed Guo and holding a Hong Kong identity card, allegedly beat the child on his left shoulder and thigh with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347480/hong-kong-mum-charged-abuse-after-son-12-calls-police-over-cane-beating?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3347480/hong-kong-mum-charged-abuse-after-son-12-calls-police-over-cane-beating?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:20:03 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A hamster was caught hitching a ride on a bus from Central to Sha Tin on Sunday morning, ending up in the custody of a Hong Kong animal welfare group. The golden brown Syrian hamster was spotted by a passenger and is now being looked after by the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Photos and videos circulating online show the tiny passenger tucked into a corner on the KMB bus, seemingly overwhelmed by its surroundings. It was later placed in a translucent plastic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347478/rodent-trip-swinging-time-hamster-hitching-ride-bus-sha-tin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347478/rodent-trip-swinging-time-hamster-hitching-ride-bus-sha-tin?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 09:43:34 +0000 Emily Hung,Theodora Yu Emily Hung,Theodora Yu After decades at the front lines campaigning for environmental protection, The Green Earth founder Edwin Lau Che-feng is slowing down to focus on his health and hobbies. The 68-year-old has been one of the most vocal environmentalists championing a waste-charging scheme for more than two decades. Lau still remembers May 27, 2024, when the government abruptly paused the waste-charging bill, as if it were yesterday. The suspension was the biggest blow in his 36-year career. “It feels impossible.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347420/veteran-activist-warns-shrinking-space-green-advocacy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347420/veteran-activist-warns-shrinking-space-green-advocacy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:00:20 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung More than 300 homeowners from the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have signed a petition to be sent to Hong Kong’s leader, demanding a face-to-face meeting with the government-appointed Hop On Management Company over unresolved issues. The letter to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, obtained by the South China Morning Post on Sunday, bore 336 signatures and raised concerns in seven areas. These include the use of remaining renovation funds, the handling of outstanding management fees and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346679/over-300-wang-fuk-court-homeowners-petition-hong-kongs-john-lee-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346679/over-300-wang-fuk-court-homeowners-petition-hong-kongs-john-lee-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 14:22:48 +0000 Emily Hung,Oscar Liu Emily Hung,Oscar Liu The Panamanian government has asked Chinese shipping giant Cosco to reconsider its decision to suspend operations at the Balboa port amid geopolitical tensions surrounding the strategic gateway and Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison Holdings. Panama’s Minister for Canal Affairs Jose Ramon Icaza told reporters on Friday that Cosco’s decision had caught the government off guard. “The Cosco issue has actually taken us a bit by surprise. All cargo is important, and certainly, Cosco cargo is important for us,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346674/panama-urges-chinese-shipping-giant-cosco-resume-operations-canal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3346674/panama-urges-chinese-shipping-giant-cosco-resume-operations-canal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:58:48 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have proposed replacing Medical Council members who underperform rather than punishing them as part of an overhaul following a public outcry over a 15-year delay in an alleged medical blunder inquiry. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Sunday the government had no plans to impose rigid deadlines for each stage of complaint handling by the quasi-judicial body, saying the requirement was “asking the impossible” and the council would “be required to” set time... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346661/hong-kong-replace-not-punish-underperforming-medical-council-members?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346661/hong-kong-replace-not-punish-underperforming-medical-council-members?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:35:44 +0000 Emily Hung,Fiona Chow Emily Hung,Fiona Chow Some Hong Kong residents displaced by the deadly Tai Po fire remain in limbo as they complained of rude or unhelpful officers on a government outreach team who failed to answer their questions about authorities’ long-term resettlement plan. The 100-strong engagement team, which started operations on March 2 along with an inquiry hotline, was tasked with contacting nearly 2,000 Wang Fuk Court homeowners to address questions arising from the government’s rehousing plan, which includes a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346603/wang-fuk-court-residents-resettlement-limbo-slam-unhelpful-engagement-officers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346603/wang-fuk-court-residents-resettlement-limbo-slam-unhelpful-engagement-officers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 11:00:18 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347226/more-needed-shatter-glass-ceiling-mothers-advocates-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347226/more-needed-shatter-glass-ceiling-mothers-advocates-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung The Hong Kong Red Cross has raised HK$530 million (US$67.8 million) to provide emergency and long-term support to residents affected by the deadly Tai Po fire, with the NGO expecting all its relief and recovery efforts to be finished in five years. More than three months on from the Wang Fuk Court blaze that killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000, the group said on Thursday that it had ended its donation drive. It also pledged to spend no more than 5 per cent of the funds on administrative... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346133/tai-po-fire-hong-kong-red-cross-raises-hk530-million-affected-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346133/tai-po-fire-hong-kong-red-cross-raises-hk530-million-affected-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:10:27 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong has been urged to extend its stock trading hours to maintain its status as an international financial hub, as competitors move towards near 24-hour operations to capture global liquidity. Speaking at the “Redefining Hong Kong 2026 Budget Edition” forum organised by the South China Morning Post on Monday, Kenny Shui Chi-wai, vice-president of think tank Our Hong Kong Foundation, said the city should consider lengthening the stock market’s trading hours, which rivals were already... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346018/hong-kong-urged-extend-stock-trading-hours-keep-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346018/hong-kong-urged-extend-stock-trading-hours-keep-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:53:50 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong must do more to shatter the glass ceilings at its roots, moving beyond token diversity to ensure motherhood no longer derails women’s careers, advocates have said on International Women’s Day. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Sunday that women were “holding up more than half the sky” for Hong Kong as they accounted for 54 per cent of the population and comprised half of the government, legal and accounting workforce, with increasing representation in corporate leadership. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345880/hong-kong-must-ensure-motherhood-no-longer-derails-womens-careers-advocates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345880/hong-kong-must-ensure-motherhood-no-longer-derails-womens-careers-advocates?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 10:00:15 +0000 Jess Ma,Harvey Kong,Emily Hung Jess Ma,Harvey Kong,Emily Hung Hong Kong police have arrested three construction workers on suspicion of stealing HK$90,000 (US$11,510) worth of gold jewellery from a flat at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court where they were carrying out structural reinforcement in the aftermath of the deadly fire last November. The government said on Friday night that it would review measures to strengthen the protection of residents’ property, hours after angry fire victims demanded it step up security at the site and allow them to return home sooner... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345743/3-workers-arrested-over-theft-wang-fuk-court-hk90000-jewellery-seized?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345743/3-workers-arrested-over-theft-wang-fuk-court-hk90000-jewellery-seized?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:18:36 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung One in three Hong Kong adults have moderate to severe symptoms of depression, almost triple the rate from 2012, with Generation Z respondents who spent a lot of time on screens affected the most, a survey has found. The biennial study, conducted by the Mental Health Association NGO and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), also found that 22 per cent of the 2,700 adult respondents turned to AI chatbots to manage their stress, which experts on Thursday described as “risky” as this could... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345606/warning-over-screen-time-and-chatbots-number-depressed-hits-record-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345606/warning-over-screen-time-and-chatbots-number-depressed-hits-record-high?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:45:15 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong has launched its first action plan on weight management, aiming to reduce the proportion of people who are overweight or obese to less than half the population in three years from the current 51.3 per cent of adults. On Wednesday, World Obesity Day, the Department of Health announced more than 40 measures, ranging from installing more weighing scales in government venues to exploring the inclusion of novel weight-loss injections in the drug formulary, in a bid to reverse the rising... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345436/hong-kong-launches-3-year-action-plan-help-residents-fight-flab?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345436/hong-kong-launches-3-year-action-plan-help-residents-fight-flab?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:48:43 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing,Emily Hung Matthew Cheng,Lam Ka-sing,Emily Hung Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has urged the city to focus on development amid heightening geopolitical tensions and to cherish its hard-earned stability, according to local delegates visiting the capital for the annual “two sessions” political gatherings. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), also said on Tuesday that the city enjoyed “favourable timing, advantageous location and unity of the people” in pursuing development, while calling for work on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345243/starry-lee-propose-boosting-hong-kongs-role-offshore-yuan-hub-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3345243/starry-lee-propose-boosting-hong-kongs-role-offshore-yuan-hub-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:41:24 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A mainland Chinese firm has won the tender to build a supercomputing hub in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis, agreeing to pay a land premium of HK$581 million (US$74.25 million) and invest HK$23.8 billion over the first three years to boost the city’s computing power 36-fold. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong revealed on Monday the winning bidder was Range Intelligent Computing Technology, whose ultimate holding company, Shenzhen-listed Runze Intelligent Computing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345158/mainland-chinese-firm-build-northern-metropolis-data-cluster-facility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345158/mainland-chinese-firm-build-northern-metropolis-data-cluster-facility?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:03:57 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong’s public airmail services to 24 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia have been affected after a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran forced flight cancellations to two Gulf states and disrupted transit journeys. A Hongkong Post spokesman said on Sunday evening that the department’s airmail services to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were suspended with immediate effect until further notice. “Airmail services transiting through these locations will also be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3345053/hongkong-posts-airmail-services-24-countries-affected-strikes-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3345053/hongkong-posts-airmail-services-24-countries-affected-strikes-middle-east?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 15:45:39 +0000 Emily Hung,Fiona Chow Emily Hung,Fiona Chow A “relatively flexible” legal framework for Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis will be introduced to the Legislative Council later this month to fast-track the megaproject’s development, a minister has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho shared the update on the planned framework on Sunday, days after the city’s latest budget sought to allocate HK$30 billion (US$3.8 billion) for the megaproject set to span 30,000 hectares (74,130 acres) in the New Territories. Authorities will... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345048/legal-framework-northern-metropolis-be-tabled-legco-late-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345048/legal-framework-northern-metropolis-be-tabled-legco-late-march?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 13:16:32 +0000 Fiona Chow,Emily Hung Fiona Chow,Emily Hung Hong Kong aims to host fairs on robotics, yachts and small jets – events never before held in the city – to cement its status as an international exhibition hub and attract big spenders, the commerce minister has said. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau Ying-wah on Sunday said the push was in response to the HK$100 million (US$12.78 million) budgeted to “attract large international exhibitions with new elements to Hong Kong”. Yau said the government was brainstorming... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345043/robots-jets-and-yachts-hong-kong-eyes-new-fairs-woo-big-spenders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3345043/robots-jets-and-yachts-hong-kong-eyes-new-fairs-woo-big-spenders?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 12:46:12 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung More than 40,000 Hong Kong taxi drivers have registered to accept Octopus payments, ahead of an electronic payment mandate that will take effect next month, with a sector representative urging authorities to exercise discretion during the initial phase of the roll-out. On April 1, all cabbies will be required to offer at least two electronic payment options to passengers as part of a broader plan to enhance the quality and image of taxi services. Hong Kong has about 46,000 active taxi drivers,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345030/more-40000-hong-kong-cabbies-register-accept-octopus-payment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345030/more-40000-hong-kong-cabbies-register-accept-octopus-payment?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 11:11:37 +0000 Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Oscar Liu,Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have said that residents of fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court will be allowed to return to their flats to collect personal belongings by late April – nearly five months after the city’s deadliest inferno in decades killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 at the Tai Po estate. The announcement came a day after more than 630 displaced homeowners petitioned the government for their “humble and urgent” wish to retrieve cherished possessions that were not destroyed in the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344773/residents-fire-ravaged-wang-fuk-court-can-retrieve-belongings-late-april?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344773/residents-fire-ravaged-wang-fuk-court-can-retrieve-belongings-late-april?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 13:47:43 +0000 Aileen Chuang,Emily Hung Aileen Chuang,Emily Hung Hong Kong is aiming to sharpen its competitive edge as an offshore yuan hub, an asset and wealth management base, and a digital-asset front runner under Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s budget released on Wednesday. Market participants largely welcomed Hong Kong’s renewed push to strengthen its position as an international financial centre, after Chan highlighted the city’s unique role in driving the yuan’s internationalisation and capital account opening. The initiative comes as Beijing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3344634/hong-kong-seeks-hone-edge-offshore-yuan-hub-digital-asset-front-runner?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3344634/hong-kong-seeks-hone-edge-offshore-yuan-hub-digital-asset-front-runner?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:23:24 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong’s transport authorities have given the green light for testing autonomous vehicles from the airport island to Sunny Bay and Tung Chung town centre on Lantau, marking the latest cross-district trial of driverless technology. The Transport Department said on Monday that the updated pilot licence – held by Baidu Apollo International – would support the city’s goal of applying driverless vehicles for cross-district use in a safe and orderly manner, as set out in the policy address and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344372/hong-kong-autonomous-vehicle-tests-move-gear-longer-routes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344372/hong-kong-autonomous-vehicle-tests-move-gear-longer-routes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:24:12 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Some survivors of Hong Kong’s deadly Tai Po fire have expressed reservations over a HK$6.8 billion (US$871. 8 million) government resettlement plan, fearing that an “unfair” home selection process will leave their families with smaller flats. The residents urged the government to provide more clarity on how the new homes would be allocated, a day after they were offered an acquisition price of HK$8,000 or HK$10,500 per square foot, along with thousands of subsidised homes for sale or exchange,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344298/some-tai-po-fire-survivors-doubtful-over-governments-unfair-rehousing-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3344298/some-tai-po-fire-survivors-doubtful-over-governments-unfair-rehousing-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 04:48:04 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Sanju*, a foreign domestic helper of Nepalese ethnicity, never imagined her Hong Kong dream would turn into a nightmare. The 34-year-old arrived in Hong Kong in 2023, driven by a simple wish to work in the city of her dreams. But she said her first employer paid her 30 per cent below the statutory minimum wage, allowed her only two hours of sleep a day, and gave her just three rest days over six months, during which she was only paid two months’ salary. After six months, she was dismissed and... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3344257/silent-suffering-how-domestic-helpers-hong-kong-dream-became-nightmare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3344257/silent-suffering-how-domestic-helpers-hong-kong-dream-became-nightmare?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 10:04:53 +0000