https://www.scmp.com/rss/519519/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Paul McNamara Paul McNamara China table tennis great Ma Long received a rock star’s welcome as he made a guest appearance at Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University on Friday. A six-time Olympic gold medallist, Ma joined a panel discussion, then exhibited his enduring talent in front of a thrilled audience. As he made to leave the sports hall after trading shots with two leading university players, Ma disappeared amid a scrum of bodies hunting selfies and signatures. “That enthusiasm and excitement showed the power and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3347349/ma-long-receives-rock-star-welcome-hong-kong-china-great-attracts-thrilled-crowds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3347349/ma-long-receives-rock-star-welcome-hong-kong-china-great-attracts-thrilled-crowds?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:00:49 +0000 William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s Baptist University placed a big bet when it told the government in 2023 that it was interested in moving its campus from the upmarket Kowloon Tong residential area to a proposed new academic town near the mainland Chinese border. The 70-year-old university’s move to the Northern Metropolis megaproject will mean giving up a prime site for a spot where most of the land has yet to be prepared for construction, although its proximity to mainland tech hub Shenzhen and the Lok Ma Chau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu At least five Hong Kong universities have backed the government’s proposal to launch study tours aimed at attracting non-local secondary students to pursue higher education in the city, with programmes featuring topics such as AI. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), the city’s oldest tertiary institution, said it would offer up to 35 programmes this summer, giving outstanding non-local students a chance to earn full scholarships. In this year’s government budget, education authorities said they... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344975/hong-kong-universities-back-ai-themed-study-tours-woo-non-local-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344975/hong-kong-universities-back-ai-themed-study-tours-woo-non-local-students?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 04:00:41 +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 Two years ago, amid plans for a citywide waste-charging scheme, the Hong Kong government rolled out smart food waste recycling bins on private housing estates with two years of free maintenance and collection services. This practical step reduced the city’s food waste, which still... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344549/extend-support-smart-food-waste-bins-across-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344549/extend-support-smart-food-waste-bins-across-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Ling Xin Ling Xin Zhu Ziqiang, one of the world’s leading experts in electric motor engineering, has left his four-decade career in Britain to take up a full-time position at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In his new role as chair professor of electrical machines and control systems, Zhu will continue his long-standing work on high-efficiency permanent magnet motors, according to his faculty page on the PolyU website. Zhu spent 38 years at the University of Sheffield, where he eventually established what was... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3344399/world-leading-ev-motor-expert-joins-hong-kong-polyu-after-38-years-britain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3344399/world-leading-ev-motor-expert-joins-hong-kong-polyu-after-38-years-britain?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:00:09 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Chinese scientists have developed a hydrogel cooling coating for solar panels to boost power output by 13 per cent compared to conventional photovoltaic systems. The transparent layer can reduce the temperature of “hotspots” – overheated areas on solar cells caused by defects, shading from leaves, bird droppings or dirt – by 16 degrees Celsius (nearly 30 Fahrenheit). Hotspots are a common cause of solar panel failure and fire risk. “On a global scale, our developed cooling strategy can offset... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341723/chinese-teams-hydrogel-coating-boosts-solar-panel-power-output-13-ideal-hot-regions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3341723/chinese-teams-hydrogel-coating-boosts-solar-panel-power-output-13-ideal-hot-regions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun About 40 per cent of Hongkongers struggle to distinguish between proprietary Chinese medicines and health supplements, according to a survey by a think tank that has developed a tool to assess public literacy in the traditional discipline. Our Hong Kong Foundation on Thursday released the findings of a survey conducted last August, using the tool to poll 800 residents. The think tank said the survey revealed a moderate overall level of Chinese medicine health literacy among respondents, who... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340839/4-10-hongkongers-struggle-distinguish-chinese-medicine-supplements?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340839/4-10-hongkongers-struggle-distinguish-chinese-medicine-supplements?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:02:20 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s oldest university has been ranked seventh in the latest global league table for education, and has placed among the top 20 for medical and health. Renowned British publication Times Higher Education (THE) released its annual subject rankings on Wednesday. The lists cover 11 subject areas and assess them using 18 performance metrics, such as teaching, research and internationalisation. The latest rankings also saw Peking University and Tsinghua University enter the top 10 rankings for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3340585/puts-university-hong-kong-7th-education-east-asia-climbs-rankings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3340585/puts-university-hong-kong-7th-education-east-asia-climbs-rankings?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:25 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu More Hong Kong employees are seeking to have minor day procedures covered under the inpatient services of their group medical insurance, a joint study has found, while projecting a near 15 per cent increase in employers’ premiums this year. The findings, published in the Hong Kong Employee Health Insurance Index, were released on Thursday by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in collaboration with corporate employee benefits and MPF consultancy GUM. The index, which tracks data from Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340047/hong-kong-employee-insurance-costs-jump-15-amid-surge-day-surgeries-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340047/hong-kong-employee-insurance-costs-jump-15-amid-surge-day-surgeries-study?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 12:50:44 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Houthi rebel groups in Yemen signalled in November they would halt attacks on commercial ships passing through the Red Sea if the Gaza ceasefire held, allowing a possible end to two years of costly detours for cargo shipping between Asia and Europe. Dutch financial services group ING called the potential reopening of Red Sea shipping lanes a “key thing to watch for in container shipping” next year. And it would have particular significance for China: the world’s biggest merchandise... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335200/return-red-sea-shipping-3-scenarios-chinese-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335200/return-red-sea-shipping-3-scenarios-chinese-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:30:10 +0000 Holly Chik,Victoria Bela Holly Chik,Victoria Bela The massive fire that engulfed the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong on Wednesday has prompted discussions about the potential for new firefighting technologies to improve rescues. The fire spread rapidly across seven adjoining residential blocks covered in bamboo scaffolding. Residential high-rises are closely clustered in the densely populated city. Since 2000, mainland China has built almost 1,600 skyscrapers – 60 per cent of the global total – eclipsing the early 20th century... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3334416/after-deadly-hong-kong-fire-can-new-tech-protect-chinas-high-rises-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3334416/after-deadly-hong-kong-fire-can-new-tech-protect-chinas-high-rises-tragedy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:00:47 +0000 Zhou Xin Zhou Xin Chinese artificial intelligence scientist Yang Hongxia, a professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), is seeking to democratise large language models (LLMs) by empowering hospitals and various enterprises to train their own AI systems. Yang, who previously worked on AI models at ByteDance and Alibaba Group Holding’s Damo Academy, said in a recent interview with the South China Morning Post that her newly formed start-up, InfiX.ai, envisioned a world in which various businesses could... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3333293/hong-kong-polyus-top-ai-scientist-yang-hongxia-eyes-last-mile-generative-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3333293/hong-kong-polyus-top-ai-scientist-yang-hongxia-eyes-last-mile-generative-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:00:16 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has regained its position as Asia’s best in a regional ranking after 15 years, overtaking a mainland Chinese counterpart, with five local institutions making the top 10 for the first time. British-based education information firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) said Hong Kong’s model – anchored in internationalisation, research excellence and targeted talent policies – showed how smaller systems could outperform larger ones through strategic focus. It added that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3331495/hku-regains-asias-no-1-spot-5-other-hong-kong-universities-break-top-10?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3331495/hku-regains-asias-no-1-spot-5-other-hong-kong-universities-break-top-10?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:04:43 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The debut ranking of Hong Kong’s largest teacher training institution in the top 10 per cent of universities worldwide fosters better self-awareness, its president has said, while stressing the school is defined by more than the rating. Education University of Hong Kong (EdU) president John Lee Chi-kin told the Post in an exclusive interview that the institution took part in the ranking exercise by the prominent British publication, Times Higher Education, following the suggestions of some... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3330293/debut-ranking-top-10-globally-boosts-self-awareness-hong-kongs-eduhk-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3330293/debut-ranking-top-10-globally-boosts-self-awareness-hong-kongs-eduhk-head?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 10:00:25 +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 Two suspected domestic worker suicide cases were reported in recent weeks, taking the total number to at least three this year. Behind these tragedies lies a silent crisis: many domestic workers endure chronic mental distress with little access to support. Each loss leaves the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3329057/its-business-hong-kong-support-domestic-helpers-well-being?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3329057/its-business-hong-kong-support-domestic-helpers-well-being?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 03:30:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial As the only city in the world with five universities among the global top 100, Hong Kong has long cemented its leading position in higher education in the region. It has scaled new heights with a record six institutes in the latest world top 200 ranking by Times Higher Education, further reinforcing its aspiration to become an international study and talent hub. The Education University of Hong Kong is to be commended for attaining the 195th spot for its first appearance in the list, while the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3328491/hong-kongs-universities-go-strength-strength?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3328491/hong-kongs-universities-go-strength-strength?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 23:15:13 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Six Hong Kong institutions have been listed among the world’s top 200 universities, a record for the city, with the British compiler of the table attributing their higher rankings to increased investments in research and staffing. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), the city’s oldest, rose from 35th to 33rd place, the highest among all the local institutions, while the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) registered the biggest jump, moving from 66th to 58th. Renowned British... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3328255/6-hong-kong-universities-set-new-record-global-top-200?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3328255/6-hong-kong-universities-set-new-record-global-top-200?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Chris Hall, a 73-year-old Chinese textile collector, often jokingly called himself the “youngest thing in this flat,” as he lived surrounded by antiques and vintage art from around the world in his residence on The Peak in Hong Kong. However, the accountant by profession has decided to donate his entire collection of 3,000 Chinese textiles and his home to the Hong Kong Palace Museum over a 10-year period ending in 2034, at the West Kowloon Cultural District, citing his bachelor status and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327908/legacy-preserved-collectors-chinese-textile-passion-live-hong-kong-museum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3327908/legacy-preserved-collectors-chinese-textile-passion-live-hong-kong-museum?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 06:57:27 +0000 Jimmy Chow Jimmy Chow Hong Kong designer-turned-entrepreneur Rosie Chan Man-wai has developed a recycling system that uses black soldier fly larvae and smart automation to turn food waste into fertiliser and protein for schools, farms, residential estates and businesses. The innovation has earned her a place as a finalist in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards in the innovation category. The innovation lies not only in the biology, but more importantly in the system’s design philosophy. The machines are stackable,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327722/spirit-hong-kong-awards-designers-fly-larvae-system-recycles-food-waste?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3327722/spirit-hong-kong-awards-designers-fly-larvae-system-recycles-food-waste?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 02:15:07 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s leader and his team will wear ties and silk scarves that symbolise the city’s role in bridging mainland China with the world when he delivers his fourth policy blueprint on Wednesday, as he explained his philosophy in a video partly created using AI technology. The different designs were conceived by instructors and students of fashion courses from Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong Design Institute and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong. Chief Executive... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3325457/hong-kong-leaders-tie-policy-address-show-citys-bridging-role-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3325457/hong-kong-leaders-tie-policy-address-show-citys-bridging-role-mainland-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Sep 2025 03:26:35 +0000 Phoebe Lin Phoebe Lin When I told friends that my university department was launching a citywide short essay competition for secondary school students, many laughed, good-naturedly, of course. “An essay competition? In the age of generative AI?” asked one. “Won’t all the entries sound the same if everyone uses ChatGPT?” said another. “Isn’t the whole point of writing gone now that AI can do it better?” said a third. As a researcher in AI-assisted writing, I took these doubts seriously – and personally. They reflect a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3323720/young-hongkongers-are-cracking-puzzle-writing-age-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3323720/young-hongkongers-are-cracking-puzzle-writing-age-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong authorities have invested HK$30 million (US$3.8 million) in developing water pipe robots, modelled after endoscopes, to navigate the city’s complex urban infrastructure and detect leaks, addressing risks posed by an ageing network. The Water Supplies Department announced on Monday the opening of the Pipeline Robots Joint Laboratory, a collaboration with Polytechnic University and mainland Chinese robotics company Shenzhen Bwell Technology. Under the two-year collaboration, researchers... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323942/hong-kong-invests-hk30-million-water-pipe-robots-detect-leakages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323942/hong-kong-invests-hk30-million-water-pipe-robots-detect-leakages?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:35:01 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik Hong Kong’s once sprawling and diffuse network of state-backed research labs has undergone a surgical transformation – streamlined, repurposed and laser-focused on Beijing’s strategic technology ambitions. In a move emblematic of China’s broader overhaul of its national scientific apparatus, the city has dismantled underperforming labs, rebranded legacy institutions and launched three cutting-edge facilities dedicated to quantum materials and climate resilience – all under tightened alignment... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3323633/how-china-streamlines-national-labs-tech-war-machines-case-study-hk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3323633/how-china-streamlines-national-labs-tech-war-machines-case-study-hk?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 22:00:13 +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, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Despite the continuous efforts of the government to reduce waste, the amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) hit a high of 11,358 tonnes per day or 1.53kg per person per day in 2021. The good news is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3323050/does-recycling-hong-kong-have-be-financial-burden?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3323050/does-recycling-hong-kong-have-be-financial-burden?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 03:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Amid intense superpower tech rivalry, it’s somewhat comforting that there are still neutral events where global talent can learn and compete with each other in a friendly and productive environment. One such major event is the annual Silicon Valley International Invention Festival, held in Santa Clara, California, earlier this month. It aims to showcase cutting-edge inventions from around the world and connect inventors with manufacturers, commercial agents, investors and promoters. It’s a place... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322122/hong-kongs-tech-talent-tomorrow-shines-amid-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3322122/hong-kongs-tech-talent-tomorrow-shines-amid-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 22:45:12 +0000 Danielle Popov Danielle Popov Fintech giant Ant Group’s digital technology subsidiary plans to invest HK$100 million (US$12.7 million) over the next three years to establish and support the operations of a joint AI and Web3 laboratory with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Ant Digital Technologies and PolyU expect their collaboration to drive breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies, while helping propel Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology hub, according to senior officials... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3320159/ant-group-polyu-form-joint-ai-and-web3-lab-boosting-hong-kongs-tech-hub-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3320159/ant-group-polyu-form-joint-ai-and-web3-lab-boosting-hong-kongs-tech-hub-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 11:30:08 +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, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification How do we put into perspective Hong Kong’s property market? On the one hand, we have parties such as Morgan Stanley projecting that “the decline in prices is behind us” and talking as if the decline... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3318399/home-sweet-home-more-investment-sweet-investment-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3318399/home-sweet-home-more-investment-sweet-investment-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 03:30:09 +0000 Danielle Popov,Hannah Wang Danielle Popov,Hannah Wang Hong Kong’s ambition to create an artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem is bearing fruit, with more than 90 per cent of the city’s flagship supercomputing centre at Cyberport now in use, according to officials. The AI Supercomputing Centre, which began operations in December, is a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to foster a vibrant local AI ecosystem. Authorities have earmarked HK$3 billion (US$418.6 million) in subsidies to support AI model development and applications. Cyberport said... https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/ai/article/3317025/more-90-hong-kongs-ai-supercomputing-capacity-use-cyberport-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china-future-tech/ai/article/3317025/more-90-hong-kongs-ai-supercomputing-capacity-use-cyberport-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 13:00:10 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven Lifestyle and Culture stories from the past seven days that resonated with our readers. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. How a Cantonese-American chef in New York uses MSG to celebrate his culture On his left upper arm, Cantonese-American chef Calvin Eng has a tattoo that pays tribute to his upbringing and his identity as a chef. It is a heart with a banner bearing the letters MSG – the abbreviation of flavour enhancer... https://www.scmp.com/culture/article/3316584/cantonese-cuisine-new-york-gifts-avoid-chinese-culture-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/article/3316584/cantonese-cuisine-new-york-gifts-avoid-chinese-culture-7-lifestyle-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Jul 2025 07:20:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Six public universities in Hong Kong have risen in a global ranking, with the city’s oldest jumping to 11th place and beating two prestigious mainland Chinese institutions. Britain-based education information firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) said the city’s new “Study in Hong Kong” brand should help it attract global talent and cement its reputation as a premier academic destination amid the government’s funding cuts. The latest edition of QS’ world rankings, released on Thursday, saw the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3314972/6-public-universities-hong-kong-rise-global-rankings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3314972/6-public-universities-hong-kong-rise-global-rankings?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 23:01:07 +0000 Sammy Heung Sammy Heung The water pipe believed to have introduced black particles of bitumen into the freshwater supply at two public housing estates in Hong Kong last month will be replaced by early July, the development minister has pledged. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho also said on Wednesday that authorities had completed more than 1,500 requests from residents at Queens Hill Estate and Shan Lai Court in Fanling to flush their water meters within one to two days, and most people reported... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3314897/bitumen-lined-water-pipe-hong-kong-be-replaced-early-july-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3314897/bitumen-lined-water-pipe-hong-kong-be-replaced-early-july-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:07:40 +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, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Ahead of World Environment Day today, it was very disappointing to see the general lack of concern regarding waste at the Stanley dragon boat races last Saturday. Plastic Free Seas did the best we... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3312991/dragon-boat-races-and-must-have-proper-waste-management-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3312991/dragon-boat-races-and-must-have-proper-waste-management-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Jun 2025 03:30:07 +0000 Joshua Kwok Joshua Kwok Nearly 70 per cent of Hongkongers aged under 25 have tried e-cigarettes, while 60 per cent said they picked alternative tobacco products because of peer pressure, a university study has found. Separate research by another university found that more than one-third of regular smokers supported plain packaging for cigarettes, which Hong Kong plans to implement in 2027. The government proposed 10 tobacco control measures in June last year, including plain packaging requirements and banning flavoured... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3311549/70-hongkongers-under-25-experimented-e-cigarettes-university-poll?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3311549/70-hongkongers-under-25-experimented-e-cigarettes-university-poll?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 08:54:09 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang One of China’s earliest students of artificial intelligence, now a distinguished and long-serving professor in the field, has returned to work in China after decades as an academic in Australia. Professor Zhang Chengqi, a distinguished professor of AI and former deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney, has taken up the position of chair professor of artificial intelligence at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and director of its Shenzhen Research Institute, according... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3310933/after-decades-australia-chinese-expert-zhang-chengqi-returns-teach-ai-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3310933/after-decades-australia-chinese-expert-zhang-chengqi-returns-teach-ai-shenzhen?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 May 2025 04:00:09 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong bosses are facing significantly higher costs for their employees’ medical insurance, with premiums having increased by 55 per cent over the past three years due to a greater demand for healthcare services, including those related to post-Covid illnesses. The findings were announced on Friday by the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPCE) at Polytechnic University. They form part of Hong Kong’s first “staff medical insurance index”, a collaborative effort with Mandatory... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3310668/greater-healthcare-demand-drives-55-hike-hong-kong-employee-medical-premiums?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3310668/greater-healthcare-demand-drives-55-hike-hong-kong-employee-medical-premiums?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 May 2025 09:48:56 +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, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification We refer to “Asia’s clean energy future at risk as nations rush to sign US gas deals to dodge tariffs” (April 29). Despite the political backlash against sustainability, the energy transition is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3309985/asia-must-focus-energy-transition-and-jobs-it-offers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3309985/asia-must-focus-energy-transition-and-jobs-it-offers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 May 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hongkongers with spinal cord injuries may have a chance to regain mobility with the help of advanced therapy products developed by a new laboratory at Polytechnic University (PolyU), with clinical trials to start as soon as the facility is fully licensed. The scholar in charge of the laboratory said the institution hoped the facility could work in tandem with its proposed medical school to provide a one-stop shop for healthcare, ranging from treatment to rehabilitation, contributing to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3307331/hongkongers-spinal-cord-injuries-may-regain-mobility-help-new-lab?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3307331/hongkongers-spinal-cord-injuries-may-regain-mobility-help-new-lab?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Apr 2025 02:00:20 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen DeepSeek’s singular focus on technological advances has positioned the Chinese start-up for growth, according to artificial intelligence (AI) scientist Yang Hongxia, as US rival OpenAI contends with copyright challenges from content owners and a legal tussle with former investor Elon Musk. Yang, who serves as associate dean for global engagement at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, said at a forum last Tuesday that the Hangzhou-based company was relatively “free from [commercial] product and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3302697/deepseeks-success-lies-start-ups-singular-focus-innovation-ai-scientist-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3302697/deepseeks-success-lies-start-ups-singular-focus-innovation-ai-scientist-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Mar 2025 12:00:10 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The head of Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University (PolyU) has “full confidence” that the institution will obtain government approval to run the city’s third medical school, pointing to its strong foundation in healthcare education. PolyU president Teng Jin-Guang made the remarks on Wednesday as the chairman of the institution’s governing body said he hoped potential university funding cuts would be not so drastic under the coming government budget. Authorities are expected to record a financial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3299326/polyu-head-confident-securing-approval-run-hong-kongs-third-medical-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3299326/polyu-head-confident-securing-approval-run-hong-kongs-third-medical-school?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:05:20 +0000 Three public universities in Hong Kong have made it into the top 10 in a major annual ranking of Asian institutions, the most the city has achieved since the standings were first compiled 16 years ago. British firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), which compiles the annual Asian University Rankings, said the city’s “Study in Hong Kong” campaign would stand it in good stead to attract global talent and expand its international student base. Among the 11 universities in Hong Kong in the latest ranking,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3285414/3-public-universities-hong-kong-among-top-10-major-ranking-asian-institutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3285414/3-public-universities-hong-kong-among-top-10-major-ranking-asian-institutions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Nov 2024 10:00:40 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese smartphone giant Oppo and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have renewed a collaborative framework agreement, which involves the launch of a joint innovation research centre for artificial intelligence (AI) imaging technology in the city. Oppo last Friday pledged no less than 30 million yuan (US$4.2 million) in funding over the next five years to deepen collaborative efforts with PolyU on AI imaging technology, as well as for expanding the scale of co-training for PhD and postdoctoral... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3285164/chinese-smartphone-giant-oppo-polyu-launch-joint-ai-research-centre-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3285164/chinese-smartphone-giant-oppo-polyu-launch-joint-ai-research-centre-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Nov 2024 14:00:13 +0000 I was saddened when a small group of Pomona College students in the United States recently barricaded themselves inside Carnegie Hall, causing significant damage and choosing violence over discussion. They were a minority in a group that included masked protesters, some later identified as students from other Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven independent institutions including Pomona. Faculty members, students and even visiting high-schoolers were intimidated and forced to evacuate the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3284497/what-us-student-protesters-can-learn-their-hong-kong-peers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3284497/what-us-student-protesters-can-learn-their-hong-kong-peers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Nov 2024 01:30:08 +0000 Hong Kong public universities have pressed ahead with efforts to admit more non-local students after authorities doubled their intake limits, with one institution saying the number of first-year undergraduates it has from outside the city has risen by nearly 200 per cent. The University Grants Committee (UGC), which allocates funds to local tertiary education institutions, said efforts to admit more non-local students would be gradual and take into account each university’s capacity. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3276702/universities-hong-kong-welcome-more-non-local-students-after-city-doubles-intake-limit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3276702/universities-hong-kong-welcome-more-non-local-students-after-city-doubles-intake-limit?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:30:12 +0000 The Hong Kong government’s announcement last month that it would approve five new taxi fleet licences did not seem to have set many pulses racing. This is not surprising; the public has become pretty blase over the years about efforts to improve taxi services here. The new scheme is just the latest chapter in a very long book. The failings of the present system are well known and have been debated for years: the driving skills of an elderly workforce, attempts at overcharging - particularly of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3273846/hong-kongs-new-taxi-licensing-scheme-old-wine-new-bottles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3273846/hong-kongs-new-taxi-licensing-scheme-old-wine-new-bottles?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Aug 2024 08:30:09 +0000 Salina Li,Aileen Chuang Salina Li,Aileen Chuang An executive with ties to a Hong Kong-listed power-tools maker has emerged as the buyer of three luxury houses on The Peak, the second such distressed sale in weeks by the beleaguered owners in the city’s upmarket district, according to sources. Stephan Horst Pudwill, the vice-chairman of Techtronic Industries, has bought 99, 101 and 103 Peak Road, which were put up for sale by the family of Ho Shung-pun, a low-key clan of real estate developers, one of the sources said. Pudwill is currently the... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3273744/hong-kong-listed-techtronic-executive-emerges-buyer-3-villas-peak-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3273744/hong-kong-listed-techtronic-executive-emerges-buyer-3-villas-peak-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Aug 2024 10:07:23 +0000 Salina Li Salina Li Yeung Kin-man, who founded the world’s largest producer of smartphone screen glass, has emerged as the buyer of four mansions on The Peak of Hong Kong in a HK$1.1 billion (US$141 million) distressed sale, according to the city’s Land Registry. Grand Tai Enterprises (HK) Development, a nominee company that counts Yeung and his wife Lam Wai-ying as shareholders, bought the town houses A through D at No 46 Plantation Road on The Peak on Thursday, according to the records. The four town houses, each... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3272936/hong-kongs-screens-king-biel-crystal-snaps-peak-mansions-hk11-bn-fire-sale?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3272936/hong-kongs-screens-king-biel-crystal-snaps-peak-mansions-hk11-bn-fire-sale?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Aug 2024 06:43:41 +0000 Indonesia can provide nurses to help Hong Kong address its medical sector’s manpower shortages, the country’s top diplomat in the city has said as he set out his country’s bid to diversify the talent it can offer beyond domestic helpers. In an exclusive interview with the Post, Consul General Yul Edison said he also hoped to increase the number of Indonesian students studying at Hong Kong’s top-tier universities in key fields vital to his country’s development. According to the latest statistics... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3272906/indonesia-can-supply-nurses-hong-kong-not-just-domestic-helpers-says-top-envoy-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3272906/indonesia-can-supply-nurses-hong-kong-not-just-domestic-helpers-says-top-envoy-city?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Aug 2024 06:00:21 +0000 Perhaps the world’s most famous unfinished building, the Sagrada Família is due to be completed in 2026. Barcelona’s undisputed major landmark, construction of which began in 1882, it is the masterwork of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. Horace Pan Hung-bing, founder of Hong Kong interior design studio Panorama Design Group and chairman of the Hong Kong Interior Design Association, explains how it changed his life. The first time I saw it was when I was at university. I was very happy to be able... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/design-interiors/article/3272737/barcelonas-sagrada-familia-worlds-most-famous-unfinished-building-reason?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/design-interiors/article/3272737/barcelonas-sagrada-familia-worlds-most-famous-unfinished-building-reason?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Aug 2024 09:15:12 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Yang Hongxia, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) scientist who did stints with Alibaba Group Holding and TikTok owner ByteDance, has joined the faculty of Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Yang is a professor in PolyU’s Department of Computing, where she is recruiting doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers interested in “specialising in generative AI and decentralised computing”, according to her profile on the university website. Yang did not respond immediately to a request for an... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3272357/chinas-top-ai-scientist-yang-hongxia-joins-hong-kong-polytechnic-university?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3272357/chinas-top-ai-scientist-yang-hongxia-joins-hong-kong-polytechnic-university?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Jul 2024 12:30:13 +0000 Hong Kong businesses and other organisations have signed 12 non-binding deals with their Laotian counterparts as Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu pledged to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation on his “historic” visit to the country. The city’s leader also said on Monday that Hong Kong could contribute to the development of Laos in agricultural trade, tourism, green financing, logistics and education as he wrapped up a two-day visit to the country, noting there was room to ease visa... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3272266/hong-kong-businesses-and-other-organisations-seal-12-non-binding-deals-laos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3272266/hong-kong-businesses-and-other-organisations-seal-12-non-binding-deals-laos?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Jul 2024 05:07:17 +0000