https://www.scmp.com/rss/517910/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ken Chu Ken Chu Last month, Hong Kong completed its first green methanol bunkering operation, a significant step in its efforts to support the decarbonisation of global shipping. As the maritime industry accelerates its transition towards cleaner fuels, this milestone signals Hong Kong’s intent to remain relevant. The global blue economy, defined as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth and environmental health, is gaining urgency. No longer confined to environmental discussions, it is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350737/hong-kong-recalibrates-blue-economy-offers-anchor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350737/hong-kong-recalibrates-blue-economy-offers-anchor?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Kudos to the Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan for introducing a two-tier civil service accountability system. This will include giving an independent statutory body, the Public Service Commission, powers to investigate “widespread, repetitive and systemic” management problems, while department heads can investigate problems involving rank-and-file officers. To many, the revamp of the civil service accountability system is long overdue. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351331/hong-kongs-civil-service-accountability-system-will-end-buck-passing-mentality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351331/hong-kongs-civil-service-accountability-system-will-end-buck-passing-mentality?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 01:30:21 +0000 Paul Yip,Harrison Sit Paul Yip,Harrison Sit Student mental health is a matter of great concern. According to the latest data from the Education Bureau, the number of secondary students with mental health issues has doubled over the past five years, from 660 in 2020-21 to 1,330 in 2024-25. In recent years, the government and various stakeholders in society have worked to halt the continued rise in student suicides. However, the number of suspected suicide cases still rose by 10 per cent between 2024 and 2025, from 28 to 31. To help... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350606/10-ways-hong-kong-schools-can-effectively-promote-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350606/10-ways-hong-kong-schools-can-effectively-promote-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Jun Yu Chan Jun Yu Chan Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po recently said the city could rise to become the world’s No 2 financial centre in 10-15 years. That is the right kind of ambition. In a world being reshaped by geopolitical fragmentation, China’s growing global weight and rapid technological change, Hong Kong must think beyond remaining internationally competitive to exercising global leadership. But ambition alone is not enough. Hong Kong has spent decades proving it can operate at the world’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351042/be-world-no-2-financial-centre-hong-kong-must-be-rule-maker?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351042/be-world-no-2-financial-centre-hong-kong-must-be-rule-maker?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Ken Ip Ken Ip The numbers tell a revealing story. The city’s eight publicly funded universities, once primarily judged by academic output and global rankings, are now generating record income from knowledge transfer. Patents, licensing deals, industry partnerships. These are not side activities. They are becoming core business lines. Universities are no longer just custodians of knowledge. They are active market participants, packaging and monetising it. Around them, an ecosystem is forming. Student hostels... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350074/hong-kongs-education-hub-cannot-be-one-market-wonder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350074/hong-kongs-education-hub-cannot-be-one-market-wonder?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Kun Tian Kun Tian The most revealing fact about Hong Kong’s stablecoin launch is not that licences were issued. It is who got them, and who did not. By handing the first approvals to HSBC and the Standard Chartered-led joint venture Anchorpoint Financial, regulators made clear from the start that digital money in Hong Kong will be bank-led. That choice matters because Hong Kong is not trying to become Asia’s easiest venue for cryptocurrency experimentation. Rather, it is trying to become the most credible place... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350356/what-hong-kongs-conservative-stablecoin-licence-roll-out-reveals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350356/what-hong-kongs-conservative-stablecoin-licence-roll-out-reveals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:30:08 +0000 Jinghan (Michael) Zeng Jinghan (Michael) Zeng A year ago, after more than a decade in the United Kingdom and several years in the United States – including time working for the United Nations in New York City – I returned to Asia and arrived in Hong Kong expecting it to also be a leading hub for international relations. Hong Kong is often described as a “superconnector” between China and the world. Yet in one crucial domain – the study and practice of international relations – the city remains a paradox: globally connected, intellectually... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350702/how-hong-kong-can-actively-shape-foreign-policy-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350702/how-hong-kong-can-actively-shape-foreign-policy-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Brian Y. S. Wong Brian Y. S. Wong There is a tendency to portray the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape as consisting of two bitter rivals – China and the United States. The remaining 80 per cent of the world’s population, by virtue of their supposed dearth of scale, research and other critical overheads, are purportedly followers with no agency. The reality is more complex. The emerging global AI order is neither unipolar nor strictly bipolar. Instead, it is characterised by a swathe of middle powers hedging their... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350129/hong-kong-can-advance-ai-beyond-confines-geopolitical-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350129/hong-kong-can-advance-ai-beyond-confines-geopolitical-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Nicholas Spiro Nicholas Spiro Hong Kong’s real estate market has come a long way in the past year. For a sign of the extent to which its outlook has improved, look no further than the rapid shift in expectations for the growth in house prices this year. As recently as January, Morgan Stanley characterised its prediction of a 10 per cent rise in secondary home values as a non-consensus call. Fast forward to today, and its forecast is in line with those of most other industry experts. The outlook for the city’s office market... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350677/why-hong-kong-property-recovery-sceptics-miss-bigger-picture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350677/why-hong-kong-property-recovery-sceptics-miss-bigger-picture?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong’s government is under mounting pressure to deliver the Northern Metropolis, announced in 2021, as it approaches the end of its term – less than 15 months and counting. The megaproject, to turn 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) near the border with mainland China into a centre of international innovation and technology, is to be an engine to drive the city’s economic growth and housing – and the gem of its economic integration with the mainland. We are pressed for time. Beijing has long... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350491/why-northern-metropolis-needs-more-one-big-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350491/why-northern-metropolis-needs-more-one-big-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse Many Hongkongers would have been surprised last week that the government was postponing the introduction of basketball betting. It was only months ago that the bill had been enacted by the Legislative Council. So clearly it was a matter that fell within our high degree of autonomy. And the Hong Kong Jockey Club was known to be hard at work preparing for implementation. But listeners to RTHK’s Backchat programme in early February may have come away with an inkling that all might not be well.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350322/why-hong-kong-hitting-pause-basketball-betting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350322/why-hong-kong-hitting-pause-basketball-betting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Kai-Lung Hui Kai-Lung Hui Generative artificial intelligence (AI) powered by large language models presents a significant breakthrough. For the first time, humans are communicating with computers using language instructions. This has enabled the use of AI agents to perform intelligent tasks involving some degree of advanced reasoning and complex logic. Vibe coding – the use of AI for programming and software development by lay persons – empowers end-user application deployments. One-person companies using AI agents to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3350030/ai-advancing-now-its-humans-redefine-their-worth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3350030/ai-advancing-now-its-humans-redefine-their-worth?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip For the first time in its history – and in a striking departure from its long-standing doctrine of minimal economic intervention – Hong Kong is preparing to draw up a five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has asked all policy bureaus to help draft proposals by the end of the year. To lead the exercise, veteran civil servant Janice Tse Siu-wah has come out of retirement. The Legislative Council, not to be left out, has formed a committee supported by six coordinating groups spanning... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350403/how-markets-will-test-hong-kongs-new-economic-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350403/how-markets-will-test-hong-kongs-new-economic-model?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Ryan Ip,Jason Leung Yeuk-ho,Wenhui Jia Ryan Ip,Jason Leung Yeuk-ho,Wenhui Jia For a Chinese enterprise venturing overseas, the first decision is often not which market to enter, but which city to launch from. And that choice increasingly narrows to Hong Kong or Singapore. Both offer deep capital markets, common law systems and Chinese-speaking talent. Both want to be the trusted first stop. But a gap has emerged – not in what the two cities offer on paper, but in how they treat the enterprises they both want. What does a “launch pad” deliver? It is where a Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350196/how-hong-kong-can-beat-singapore-launch-pad-chinese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350196/how-hong-kong-can-beat-singapore-launch-pad-chinese-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Terry Lum Terry Lum In recent years, warnings about Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing population have become increasingly urgent. Long hospital waits, chronic shortages in long-term care and a shrinking working-age population have led many policymakers and researchers to portray ageing as an approaching demographic crisis that a small, densely populated city might be unable to absorb. In some quarters, this has fuelled dire predictions about the sustainability of Hong Kong’s healthcare and social care systems. This... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350035/hong-kong-ageing-real-question-where-people-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350035/hong-kong-ageing-real-question-where-people-age?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:30:09 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell Earlier this week I stumbled on a fascinating piece of research led by geography professor Becky Loo at the University of Hong Kong and soon to be published in the Nature Cities journal. Fascinating not just because of its scale – an analysis of 200,000 household travel surveys covering Boston, Chicago, London, Sao Paulo and Hong Kong – but because of its focus on daily mobility and social mixing. Its key finding? That people aged over 66 have more encounters with a broader cross-section of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350402/debunking-myth-lonely-isolated-hong-kong-retiree?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350402/debunking-myth-lonely-isolated-hong-kong-retiree?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan March is a highlight of Hong Kong’s cultural calendar. Last month, as I welcomed delegates to the International Cultural Summit during Art Week, many told me they had come to network with local and international collaborators and explore Hong Kong’s museums, galleries and performance venues. Tens of thousands attended Art Basel, Art Central, gallery openings, performances and other events across the city. The month also buzzed with jazz, opera, classical concerts and other performances, with the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350293/art-march-hong-kong-firmly-global-cultural-map?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350293/art-march-hong-kong-firmly-global-cultural-map?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Eugene Yim Eugene Yim In my last column discussing how Hong Kong law ensures kids’ well-being when divorced parents split locations, I explained that, in the absence of the other parent’s consent, a parent who wishes to relocate with their children to another jurisdiction will need to apply for permission from the court to do so. I have since been asked by a number of friends what would ensue if the relocating parent were to proceed with relocating the children out of Hong Kong in the face of the other parent’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350223/how-law-protects-when-parent-abducts-their-child-across-borders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350223/how-law-protects-when-parent-abducts-their-child-across-borders?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:30:16 +0000 Francis Neoton Cheung Francis Neoton Cheung The world is undergoing a transformation of historic proportions. Geopolitical rivalry, economic restructuring and technological acceleration are converging to reshape the global order. These changes transcend the logic of any single nation, industry or moment in time, exerting profound influence on international politics, geoeconomics, industrial structures, capital flows and investment strategies. For Hong Kong, this “great change unseen in a century” is not an abstraction. It is a pressing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3349883/hong-kong-must-go-beyond-its-intermediary-role-become-global-anchor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3349883/hong-kong-must-go-beyond-its-intermediary-role-become-global-anchor?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Christine Loh Christine Loh When the unthinkable becomes normal, stability becomes the new premium – and Hong Kong is well positioned. The world we thought we understood even two years ago no longer exists. We are living through a period of disruption that, until recently, would have seemed unthinkable. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the US-Israel war against Iran are reshaping long-held assumptions about energy, security and alliances. Trade is being reordered through tariffs, industrial policy and geopolitics.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349612/hong-kong-increasingly-seen-safe-haven-troubled-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349612/hong-kong-increasingly-seen-safe-haven-troubled-world?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu visited one of the schools offering free after-school care for low-income families last month. After receiving positive feedback from participants, he pledged to extend the programme to benefit more families. Lee said it had helped promote family harmony, with children also reporting “positive development in both academic and social aspects”. There’s little doubt we should celebrate victories, however small, but it is equally important to examine... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349609/education-equality-hong-kong-policymakers-must-do-their-homework?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349609/education-equality-hong-kong-policymakers-must-do-their-homework?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:30:08 +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 Hong Kong’s falling birth rate brings to mind a tune from decades ago: “Two is enough, two is enough, girl or boy, two is enough.” At the time, the Family Planning Association campaign made perfect sense. The city was crowded, resources were tight and limiting population growth... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349588/clock-ticking-reversing-hong-kongs-birth-decline?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349588/clock-ticking-reversing-hong-kongs-birth-decline?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Carolyn Yim Carolyn Yim Hong Kong is navigating a period of significant economic transition. The city is seeing a surge in family offices. It is an offshore renminbi hub and has one of the world’s most meaningful capital markets. However, it needs systemic change to attract and retain top talent, bring the Hong Kong diaspora back home and lure high-spending tourists. While our capital infrastructure is strong, our cultural infrastructure demands urgent attention. As outlined in China’s 15th five-year plan, the central... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349328/why-securing-hong-kongs-economic-future-cultural-question?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349328/why-securing-hong-kongs-economic-future-cultural-question?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Matteo Giovannini Matteo Giovannini Hong Kong’s identity as a world-leading international hub has never been static. It has been built over time through openness, adaptability and, crucially, diversity. Recent discussions about the city’s talent strategy, including concerns that the overwhelming majority of applicants under key admission schemes come from mainland China, raise a deeper structural question: can Hong Kong remain truly global if its talent pipeline becomes increasingly concentrated? This is not about downplaying the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349169/hong-kongs-global-future-depends-diverse-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349169/hong-kongs-global-future-depends-diverse-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Winston Mok Winston Mok The Strait of Hormuz blockage is being felt far and wide. While the world struggles with higher pump prices, key energy exporters such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar face severe economic setbacks. In Gulf states serving as air hubs, expats and affluent locals are scrambling for the exit. The discovery of oil transformed Arabian deserts into rich petro-states. Knowing this wealth would not flow forever, the states leveraged their strategic locations to become air traffic hubs.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349044/gulf-states-geography-both-generous-and-treacherous-patron?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3349044/gulf-states-geography-both-generous-and-treacherous-patron?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Wang Xiangwei Wang Xiangwei In China’s political parlance, calling someone “one of us” is far more than an expression of ideological kinship. It signals that more doors can be opened, and preferential treatment extended. Yet it can also imply that “one of us” should now follow the rules of the group – rules that may differ sharply from previous ones. For decades, this mentality has shaped domestic policy. The private sector contributes over 60 per cent of the country’s GDP and over 80 per cent of urban employment but has... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348922/hong-kong-must-keep-its-unique-edge-even-it-enjoys-deeper-mainland-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348922/hong-kong-must-keep-its-unique-edge-even-it-enjoys-deeper-mainland-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +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 Alice Wu Alice Wu The independent committee investigating Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades concluded the first round of hearings last week. It is essential that we get to the bottom of the human and systemic errors that led to the Tai Po inferno. There were many, as anticipated. Fragmentation of responsibility was rampant, which is probably expected for projects of this size with so many parties involved. If the government isn’t there to make sure that things are done properly, monitor and enforce the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348966/tai-po-fire-hearings-reveal-broken-promises-hongkongers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348966/tai-po-fire-hearings-reveal-broken-promises-hongkongers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 06:30:08 +0000 Ningrong Liu Ningrong Liu Hong Kong’s first five-year plan is expected to guide the city’s future development. Never before has the city attempted a comprehensive plan in the style of mainland China, signalling a major shift in how it approaches long‑term growth. The real question is not why a laissez‑faire economy must adopt a new model but how this transformation will unfold. This exercise is unprecedented on multiple fronts. First, it departs from Hong Kong’s long-standing reliance on market forces and incremental... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348085/how-china-transforming-hong-kong-strategic-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348085/how-china-transforming-hong-kong-strategic-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan The sentencing of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has been cited by several Western officials and media outlets as further evidence that Hong Kong’s legal system is in decline. Lai, the founder of the now-closed Apple Daily newspaper, faced multiple charges, including two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of conspiracy to publish seditious publications. He was convicted last December and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment in February. That same month, however, the Court of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348705/dont-let-geopolitical-rivalry-skew-debate-over-jimmy-lais-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348705/dont-let-geopolitical-rivalry-skew-debate-over-jimmy-lais-sentencing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Richard Harris Richard Harris The mighty Zambezi River has its source in northern Zambia, and flows north, west, south, then east, tracing borders for several countries including Zimbabwe. As the river enters Zimbabwe, the water molecules begin to flow faster, unknowingly energised – developing first into a rush, then eventually a torrent as they plunge down the Victoria Falls. This is an excellent analogy of the extremes of stock market price movements. In a stock market crash, prices move slowly, then very fast. My... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348698/us-hong-kong-theres-no-excuse-insider-trading?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348698/us-hong-kong-theres-no-excuse-insider-trading?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Hong Kong is preparing its own medium-term development blueprint alongside China’s coming 15th five-year plan, which officials have described as a “golden strategic period” for the city. This is more than a procedural shift. For the first time, Hong Kong is attempting to align its policy cycle in advance with national planning priorities, yet alignment on its own is not a strategy. The more pressing question is whether the city can define a role that is distinct, necessary and difficult to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348403/hong-kongs-next-five-years-must-take-city-alignment-action?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348403/hong-kongs-next-five-years-must-take-city-alignment-action?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Kun Tian Kun Tian When InvestHK’s director general Alpha Lau Hai-suen recently said that companies using Dubai as a hub had mostly shifted to Hong Kong after the outbreak of the Iran war, the instinct to leverage the city’s position as a safe haven for investment was understandable. Hong Kong should absolutely try to capture capital and talent unsettled by instability in the Gulf. However, it should resist the temptation to confuse a geopolitical opening with a strategic victory. Opportunity does not become a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347848/dubais-loss-could-be-hong-kongs-gain-only-if-city-ready?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347848/dubais-loss-could-be-hong-kongs-gain-only-if-city-ready?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Chen Xiaofeng Chen Xiaofeng On March 23, Hong Kong’s government brought into force amended implementation rules for Article 43 of the national security law. This is not a new power grab or an expansion of authority. It is a technical, evidence-based refinement of the 2020 implementation rules that have governed national security enforcement since the law took effect. Rooted in common law principle and aligned with global legislative practice, the amendments clarify operational gaps, strengthen procedural certainty and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347880/lets-be-clear-national-security-law-update-not-power-grab?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347880/lets-be-clear-national-security-law-update-not-power-grab?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Last week, a friend and I chatted about our children’s favourite art pieces after happening upon an auction house’s exhibition in a building in the heart of Hong Kong’s business district. We both recalled stopping to look at Yayoi Kusama’s Mount Fuji prints. “I pass by the space twice every day,” my friend said. She told me that my son’s pick – a piece by Sam Francis – was a new installation, replacing what had been a display of handbags. How often do we pause to notice art, or enjoy life in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348095/hong-kong-can-draw-art-marchs-success-keeping-it-authentic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3348095/hong-kong-can-draw-art-marchs-success-keeping-it-authentic?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:30:11 +0000 Jane Lee Jane Lee China’s 15th five-year plan is about to make commercial aerospace a mainstream pillar of national development, and Hong Kong cannot afford to miss this opportunity. Whether the city can translate this national push into concrete local strengths will become a test of its ability to integrate with – and contribute to – China’s next wave of strategic industries. Commercial aerospace has moved to a full-scale strategic policy in just a few years, sitting at the intersection of satellites,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347794/can-hong-kong-hitch-ride-chinas-commercial-aerospace-wave?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347794/can-hong-kong-hitch-ride-chinas-commercial-aerospace-wave?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:30:10 +0000 Rina Lai Rina Lai For most of my career in developmental and educational psychology, I have been guided by a single question: what do children truly need to flourish in the world they are entering? I don’t mean the world their parents inherited or the one textbooks were designed for, but the one unfolding – volatile, technology-saturated and deeply uncertain. Eight years ago, during my PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, I was certain I was close to finding the answer; I immersed myself in building... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347072/case-spiritual-wellness-age-anxious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347072/case-spiritual-wellness-age-anxious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Betty Fung Betty Fung The power of arts and culture should not be underestimated. They educate, inform, inspire and bring joy. They open doors to discovery, unite communities and break down barriers between cultures and people. In a broader context, the arts help to define our cities, offering a point of focus for the community and an opportunity to develop a clear cultural identity. Hong Kong has been successful in defining itself as a financial centre, but culture can play as big a role as capital in determining... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347251/realise-hong-kongs-cultural-potential-global-vision-essential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347251/realise-hong-kongs-cultural-potential-global-vision-essential?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Cui Jianchun Cui Jianchun With the conclusion of China’s parliamentary “two sessions”, the approval of the 2026 government work report and 15th five-year plan – together with the foreign minister’s press conference – has sent a clear signal of China pursuing steady and quality-driven growth while projecting a firm and timely voice on the world stage. In the work report, Premier Li Qiang noted that China’s gross domestic product grew by 5 per cent last year, surpassing 140 trillion yuan (US$20.3 trillion). This year’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347213/china-charts-new-course-hong-kong-writes-its-next-chapter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3347213/china-charts-new-course-hong-kong-writes-its-next-chapter?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu “What if?” and “but why?” are questions I’ve been bombarded with by young schoolchildren. I’m often stumped, but I’ve learned to avoid giving the “worst” answer possible – “that’s the way it is” – because who’s to say things can’t change. Children’s ability to challenge the status quo, questioning norms and authority, forces us to re-examine our assumptions on why things must be the way they are. Adults are often too impatient to experiment with the alternative. We rush through our to-do lists... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347350/hong-kongs-education-policy-must-reflect-innovative-future-it-seeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347350/hong-kongs-education-policy-must-reflect-innovative-future-it-seeks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Xianji Wen Xianji Wen For decades, parts of Hong Kong’s border like the Frontier Closed Area have been shrouded in mystery, their natural landscapes preserved as much by policy as by their remote geography. Recent plans to relax restrictions – including discussions around the Mai Po closed area – and the establishment of the Robin’s Nest Country Park signal a new era of accessibility. Having co-managed the Mai Po nature reserve for decades, the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWF) views this shift with both... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346778/hong-kongs-border-tourism-push-must-not-put-mai-po-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346778/hong-kongs-border-tourism-push-must-not-put-mai-po-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Chiu Kam-kuen Chiu Kam-kuen In October last year, Singapore’s three-day Formula One (F1) Grand Prix showcased the tremendous economic impact that world-class sporting events can bring to a city. The event attracted more than 300,000 attendees, the second highest in its history. Since Singapore began hosting F1, the races have drawn more than 720,000 international visitors and generated about S$2.2 billion (US$1.7 billion) in tourism revenue, underscoring their significant contribution to the local tourism industry. In... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346980/f1-could-be-hong-kongs-fast-lane-economic-reinvention?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346980/f1-could-be-hong-kongs-fast-lane-economic-reinvention?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Bernard Chan Bernard Chan By the time this column appears, the world will feel very different from when my previous column appeared earlier this month. In just days, a conflict that some in Washington seemed to believe would quickly topple Iran’s leadership has instead become a potentially long and uncertain war, with little clarity on how or when it will end. The front lines will have shifted, more oil tankers will have been stuck at sea and more flights cancelled, and there will almost certainly have been further... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3347056/iran-war-revives-pandemic-era-shocks-and-may-go-further?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3347056/iran-war-revives-pandemic-era-shocks-and-may-go-further?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Ronny Tong Ronny Tong In my experience, most people misunderstand the concept of “separation of powers”, and so I would not be at all surprised if most people also misunderstand the term “executive-led government”. In the case of separation of powers, the confusion usually arises from the use of the word “separation”. It connotes a meaning of absolute independence or alienation. A better word would have been “division”. The concept of separation of powers focuses on the division of power in a government and how that... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346623/heres-what-executive-led-government-really-means-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346623/heres-what-executive-led-government-really-means-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Ken Ip Ken Ip In China this month, people have been lining up on streets to install an AI programme on their computers. Some had travelled from other cities. Others had waited for hours for engineers to set it up for them. There were even “birth certificates” given out upon installation. The programme is OpenClaw. Its logo is a red lobster. Chinese internet users quickly coined a phrase for the phenomenon: raising lobsters. The scene looks quirky, even amusing. But beneath the spectacle lies a revealing... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346562/frenzy-over-ai-agent-openclaw-shows-lobster-has-escaped-pot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3346562/frenzy-over-ai-agent-openclaw-shows-lobster-has-escaped-pot?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:30:08 +0000 Cui Jianchun Cui Jianchun On February 10, China’s State Council Information Office released a white paper titled “Hong Kong: Safeguarding China’s National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems”. This is the third white paper issued by the Chinese central government on Hong Kong-related affairs since 2014. It reviews Hong Kong’s efforts in safeguarding national security, elaborates on the central government’s stance on Hong Kong’s role in maintaining national security and summarises the experience and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346515/how-national-security-and-one-country-two-systems-go-hand-hand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346515/how-national-security-and-one-country-two-systems-go-hand-hand?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Ryan Ip,David Yu Chak-wai Ryan Ip,David Yu Chak-wai The war in Iran, culminating in the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has again exposed the world’s energy and maritime sector to acute vulnerabilities. The spike in oil prices and surging freight rates may grab headlines, but beneath these shocks lie fundamental questions about Asia’s – and Hong Kong’s – energy security, the resilience of shipping risk management and the urgent need to transform our maritime industry for a greener future. The Strait of Hormuz is not just a geopolitical... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346529/iran-war-shows-urgency-hong-kongs-green-shipping-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346529/iran-war-shows-urgency-hong-kongs-green-shipping-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu After the annual “two sessions” in Beijing, it’s clear that Hong Kong policymakers have their work cut out for them. It has been made abundantly clear what is expected of Hong Kong: stop messing around and get on with the national programme. Hong Kong is part of the nation’s plans to move forward. The country knows exactly where the city fits into the big picture, how it can catapult growth in key areas and play the role of superconnector between China and the rest of the world. The 15th... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346468/mainland-style-oversight-system-could-help-legco-deliver?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346468/mainland-style-oversight-system-could-help-legco-deliver?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Kitty Tam,Calvin Au Kitty Tam,Calvin Au When people picture Hong Kong, they often imagine a relentless concrete jungle – a vertical city where glass and steel dominate the skyline. Yet a quiet revolution is beginning to reshape how our city develops. Last week, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department jointly launched the Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines. This landmark document signals a shift in how we think about infrastructure and urban planning. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Brian Y. S. Wong Brian Y. S. Wong By the second half of the 21st century, the Sino-Indian relationship will become the world’s most significant geopolitical relationship, dislodging even the complex China-US cooperative rivalry. By 2050, the world’s three largest economies are likely to comprise some combination of China, India and the United States. PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts this exact order – with the US having the highest per capita income but the smallest population. Both Asian powerhouses enjoy significant theoretical... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346270/boosting-china-india-ties-should-be-pillar-hong-kongs-five-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346270/boosting-china-india-ties-should-be-pillar-hong-kongs-five-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000