https://www.scmp.com/rss/522010/feed The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (HKFTU) is Hong Kong’s oldest and largest pro-Beijing labour and political group, established in 1948. Headquartered in Tokwawan, Kowloon, it boasts over 420,000 members. Its primary mission is to safeguard labour rights and welfare, advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and social harmony. The HKFTU actively participates in political affairs, holding seats in legislative bodies, and is recognised for its significant influence as a... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Park Chan-kyong Park Chan-kyong South Korea builds fast. It always has. The pali-pali (hurry, hurry) spirit turned a war-ravaged nation into an industrial titan in a single generation. It also has a habit of killing factory workers, safety experts say. Those deadly consequences were on full display in Friday’s fire at Anjun Industrial, a car parts supplier in Daejeon. The warning signs were impossible to miss. Oil vapour so thick it coated the lenses of workers’ glasses with a greasy film. Grease caking the ceilings, the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347544/south-koreas-pali-pali-spirit-keeps-killing-its-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3347544/south-koreas-pali-pali-spirit-keeps-killing-its-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 05:19:37 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A union representing employees of Hong Kong’s rail operator, the MTR Corporation, has expressed disappointment with the firm’s refusal to consider their calls for improved benefits, saying the pay rise of up to 3.84 per cent for most staff is “slightly below demands”. The MTR Corp announced pay increases on Friday ranging from 1.6 to 3.84 per cent for most non-management staff for the 2026-27 financial year, depending on their performance. Last year, the adjustment was between 1.8 and 5.4 per... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3346512/hong-kong-mtr-corp-pay-rise-below-expectations-union?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3346512/hong-kong-mtr-corp-pay-rise-below-expectations-union?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 10:20:27 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong recorded a 13 per cent increase in visitors from mainland China during the Lunar New Year holiday against a year ago, with the influx boosting jewellery sales by 10 per cent during the period despite a sharp rise in gold prices. Industry representatives said on Sunday that overall business was better than last year, although the recovery remained uneven across sectors and was not always directly tied to the greater number of mainland visitors. Immigration figures showed mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344261/hong-kong-jewellery-sales-sparkle-amid-13pc-jump-mainland-chinese-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3344261/hong-kong-jewellery-sales-sparkle-amid-13pc-jump-mainland-chinese-visitors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 10:57:54 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Smoking on construction sites in Hong Kong might have a better chance of being snuffed out with the fixed penalty being proposed by authorities. The approach seems a sensible alternative to initial plans for an approach that would carry much higher potential fines. Education and enforcement will also be needed to correct behaviour that could have caused the deadly Tai Po fire that claimed 168 lives as it raged for 43 hours through scaffolding and green mesh put up on the towers during renovation... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344092/fixed-penalty-can-spark-reduction-smoking-hong-kong-construction-sites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344092/fixed-penalty-can-spark-reduction-smoking-hong-kong-construction-sites?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong plumber Anson Hui Po-lung is ready to work through his Lunar New Year break to make ends meet, after struggling since the citywide removal of scaffolding nets began in early December following the deadly blaze at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court. Twenty public housing projects and 230 private buildings undergoing major maintenance had to suspend facade work after the removal of the nets, threatening the livelihoods of about 700 workers for more than two months. As of mid-February, only 19... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343838/hong-kong-workers-hit-halt-facade-repairs-after-deadly-tai-po-fire-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343838/hong-kong-workers-hit-halt-facade-repairs-after-deadly-tai-po-fire-overhaul?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma A district councillor who illegally parked in Hong Kong has been warned to adhere to higher standards, a minister has revealed. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen told reporters on Saturday that the Kwai Tsing district officer had reminded Chau Kit-ying verbally and in writing to act in accordance with the public’s expectations. “We demand that each district councillor perform their duty responsibly, and speak and act prudently,” Mak said. “Their actions must fulfil the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342776/hong-kong-district-councillor-warned-after-parking-illegally-fire-exit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3342776/hong-kong-district-councillor-warned-after-parking-illegally-fire-exit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 11:58:11 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong authorities are considering changing the proposed fine for smoking on a construction site to a fixed penalty of HK$3,000 (US$385) rather than a maximum of HK$150,000. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Tuesday that the initial plan was to amend the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, which only stipulates the maximum fine to be determined by the courts rather than a fixed amount. The proposed smoking ban is in response to the deadly Tai Po blaze in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342284/hong-kong-consider-hk3000-fixed-penalty-smoking-construction-sites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342284/hong-kong-consider-hk3000-fixed-penalty-smoking-construction-sites?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 15:24:54 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Fiona Chow Matthew Cheng,Fiona Chow Hong Kong’s transport minister has pledged to refine a policy requiring passengers to wear seat belts on buses by ensuring the devices become more user-friendly, while acknowledging lawmakers’ calls for a review of the recent law. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan made the promise on Wednesday, less than a week after the new rules took effect. The regulations require all passengers travelling on public or private buses, including franchised and school services, to wear seat belts... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341583/transport-chief-responds-backlash-over-hong-kong-law-public-bus-seat-belts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3341583/transport-chief-responds-backlash-over-hong-kong-law-public-bus-seat-belts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:54:36 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Mainland Chinese tourists coming to Hong Kong on Saturday and Sunday made it a record-breaking weekend for this month, driven by K-pop girl group Blackpink’s shows, while the figure was just 2 per cent below New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day footfall. Hotel and retail industry leaders said on Monday the three-day concert series had attracted crowds of local and mainland “Blinks” – the nickname for Blackpink fans – to Kai Tak. They urged authorities to explore more celebrity tie-ups to promote... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341293/blackpink-lifts-mainland-chinese-arrivals-hong-kong-january-weekend-record?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3341293/blackpink-lifts-mainland-chinese-arrivals-hong-kong-january-weekend-record?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu The dust has settled on the election of the Legislative Council president, and committees and panels have settled into the new Legco. Most, it seems, are ready to hit the ground running. First on the agenda: dealing with the aftermath of the Tai Po fire. The more immediate matters involve the rebuilding of a community that has lost so much. Equally pressing are the long-standing issues laid bare by the tragic fire that demand the government fix the entire building sector. Consultations with... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3340199/policy-blowback-shows-why-hong-kong-lawmakers-must-play-bigger-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3340199/policy-blowback-shows-why-hong-kong-lawmakers-must-play-bigger-role?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 01:30:09 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China’s ruling Communist Party has vowed to press ahead with President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign after a record 65 high-ranking officials were detained by the country’s top anti-graft agency last year. In a front-page editorial on Saturday, the People’s Daily stressed that self-reform and anti-corruption efforts were key to ensuring the longevity of the party’s rule over China. “A new year, a new journey begins,” the party mouthpiece said, urging intensified discipline in the coming... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338596/xi-jinpings-anti-corruption-drive-snares-record-65-tigers-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3338596/xi-jinpings-anti-corruption-drive-snares-record-65-tigers-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Edith Lin,Vivian Au Edith Lin,Vivian Au One month after the Wang Fuk Court fire, Hong Kong’s construction industry grapples with a scaffold net safety regime halting repairs on over 200 buildings. In the third part of a series, Edith Lin and Vivian Au report on calls for certified suppliers, expedited testing and a broader accountability overhaul. Here’s part one and two. Hong Kong’s construction industry has been thrown into uncertainty under a new scaffold net inspection regime introduced after the deadly fire in Tai Po, prompting... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337887/5000-hong-kong-workers-idle-new-scaffold-net-safety-regime-hits-200-projects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337887/5000-hong-kong-workers-idle-new-scaffold-net-safety-regime-hits-200-projects?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 01:00:17 +0000 Fran Lu Fran Lu An engineer in eastern China has been fired for taking frequent bathroom breaks that lasted longer than an hour despite his claims that he was suffering from haemorrhoids. The man, surnamed Li from Jiangsu province, was let go for taking 14 bathroom breaks, the longest of which lasted four hours, in a month between April and May 2024. The case was reported by the Shanghai Federation of Trade Unions recently after the man took the company to court for illegal termination of an employment... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3335629/china-engineer-fired-taking-loo-breaks-hour-each-longest-lasting-4-hours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/trending-china/article/3335629/china-engineer-fired-taking-loo-breaks-hour-each-longest-lasting-4-hours?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:00:10 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Stephy Zhang Lo Hoi-ying,Stephy Zhang Contractors were racing to tear down scaffolding nets used for renovations at estates to meet Saturday’s government deadline imposed in the wake of the deadly Tai Po fire, but companies handling work at 55 blocks admitted they would need more time. An industry representative estimated that work at all sites across the city would only be completed by early next week, given the lengthy processes and a limited number of trained workers in the city. The development authority announced the removal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335452/hong-kong-contractors-race-remove-scaffolding-nets-after-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335452/hong-kong-contractors-race-remove-scaffolding-nets-after-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 08:19:28 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Fire safety risks persist at building sites across Hong Kong following the deadly blaze in Tai Po last week, the Construction Industry Council has warned, after a scaffolding worker at a major subsidised estate was sacked for smoking. Council chairman Thomas Ho On-sing on Saturday criticised companies for failing to have “learned a lesson” from the tragedy. “I have been inspecting construction sites recently and found that many still have styrofoam boards and volatile paint. They also continue... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335444/lesson-not-learned-watchdog-says-fire-risks-persist-hong-kong-construction-sites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335444/lesson-not-learned-watchdog-says-fire-risks-persist-hong-kong-construction-sites?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 05:22:48 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin As Hong Kong mourns the victims of the deadly Tai Po blaze and questions emerge on accountability, experts have called for much tighter supervision of building maintenance and fire safety by authorities to hold relevant parties responsible so that future tragedies can be averted. They gave this assessment as the government set up an interdepartmental task force to probe Wednesday’s fire, including the cause, the reasons it spread so quickly and the factors leading to the heavy casualties. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334643/what-are-right-lessons-hong-kongs-worst-fire-7-decades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334643/what-are-right-lessons-hong-kongs-worst-fire-7-decades?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 02:00:16 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s construction and catering sectors remain pessimistic about their recovery, despite a decline in unemployment rates, citing a lack of new private development projects and unattractive wages for junior positions in the food and beverage industry. Two industry representatives made the remarks on Thursday, after the government announced the latest unemployment figure of 3.8 per cent for the past three months, the first drop since mid-2023. The latest rate is 0.1 percentage points lower... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3333503/hong-kong-construction-catering-sectors-pessimistic-despite-dip-unemployment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3333503/hong-kong-construction-catering-sectors-pessimistic-despite-dip-unemployment?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:46:22 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Integration with mainland China and boosting Hong Kong’s sluggish economy have dominated the manifestos of candidates contesting functional and Election Committee constituencies in the Legislative Council election, while those running for directly elected seats have prioritised livelihood concerns, the Post has found. A check by the Post of all 161 candidates’ manifestos on the government’s election website also found that only 38 of them, or 23 per cent, provided English versions. Of the 161... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333002/what-are-hong-kong-legco-election-candidates-prioritising-their-manifestos?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3333002/what-are-hong-kong-legco-election-candidates-prioritising-their-manifestos?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:30:16 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Harvey Kong Matthew Cheng,Harvey Kong A Hong Kong minister has defended the decision to proceed with a government-run Legislative Council election forum on Saturday afternoon after a candidate collapsed on stage while introducing herself. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, speaking after the conclusion of the debate with candidates for the Hong Kong Island East constituency, said that the 10 forums held so far had achieved their expected goal of raising awareness about the various potential... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332920/hong-kong-island-election-hopefuls-vow-fight-ethnic-minority-groups?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332920/hong-kong-island-election-hopefuls-vow-fight-ethnic-minority-groups?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 08:23:17 +0000 Willa Wu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Willa Wu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Hong Kong is ramping up momentum for the coming Legislative Council election, with the government set to host a gala show ahead of polling day and a major developer pledging to promote voting across its residential estates and shopping centres. The government-run election forums also entered their third day for the Kowloon East and Kowloon West constituencies on Thursday, with a senior official arguing there should not be a “single approach” to enhancing voter engagement and awareness of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332597/tensions-flare-over-kowloon-transport-issues-hong-kong-legco-election-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332597/tensions-flare-over-kowloon-transport-issues-hong-kong-legco-election-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Nov 2025 06:16:28 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong is gearing up for a Legislative Council election on December 7, as 161 candidates are confirmed to be joining the race after nominations closed last week. With 5 per cent more hopefuls than the previous poll in 2021, this year’s election leaves no seats uncontested. There will also be fiercer competition in the geographical constituencies, as major political parties have fielded more candidates to run for the 20 seats directly elected by residents. Functional constituencies, comprising... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332398/vivian-kongs-bid-forums-lawmaker-pullout-what-know-about-hong-kong-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332398/vivian-kongs-bid-forums-lawmaker-pullout-what-know-about-hong-kong-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 02:00:17 +0000 Willa Wu,Leopold Chen,Matthew Cheng Willa Wu,Leopold Chen,Matthew Cheng Hong Kong held its first two government-run Legislative Council election forums on Tuesday with livelihood issues emerging as a key focus, as candidates highlighted their own platforms and ideas while largely refraining from questioning one another. While the events were going on, the Post learned that at least two broadcasters cancelled their forums after candidates began pulling out soon after the government announced on Monday that it would for the first time hold such sessions. Secretary for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332297/5-candidates-raise-livelihood-issues-first-legco-poll-forum-avoid-confrontation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332297/5-candidates-raise-livelihood-issues-first-legco-poll-forum-avoid-confrontation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:37:17 +0000 Leopold Chen,Danny Mok Leopold Chen,Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested three men on suspicion of damaging Legislative Council election campaign banners in separate cases over the weekend. The force said on Monday that an 80-year-old man, surnamed Lam, had been apprehended in a Tseung Kwan O flat the previous day after he allegedly tore up four roll-up banners in the district. It added that a political party worker reported the case of damaged banners on Man Kuk Lane near Hang Hau MTR station on Sunday morning. Lam was arrested for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3332156/hongkonger-80-arrested-allegedly-damaging-legco-election-campaign-banners?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3332156/hongkonger-80-arrested-allegedly-damaging-legco-election-campaign-banners?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 04:53:13 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Willa Wu Matthew Cheng,Willa Wu The coming Legislative Council election has thrown up some unexpected links, with several Hong Kong tycoons nominating candidates who are non-core establishment or union representatives, who in turn have backed the real estate sector. A check of nomination forms submitted by all 161 Legco hopefuls found that top figures from major developers had taken different approaches in naming aspirants running in the December 7 poll, the second under Beijing’s “patriots-only” electoral overhaul. New World... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332002/surprises-hong-kong-legco-election-nominations-tycoons-back-unions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3332002/surprises-hong-kong-legco-election-nominations-tycoons-back-unions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:41:58 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun At five months pregnant, domestic helper Daisy* was kicked out of her Hong Kong employer’s home one night without warning. Distraught and alone, the 32-year-old called home in Mindanao, the Philippines, crying over what had happened to her. “It was in the middle of the night. I felt so scared as I was pregnant and I had no family or friends here I could turn to,” Daisy recalled. She had arrived in Hong Kong in 2023 to work for a local couple who had a seven-year-old son but fell pregnant last... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3331689/no-place-call-home-plight-hong-kongs-pregnant-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3331689/no-place-call-home-plight-hong-kongs-pregnant-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:30:27 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng At least 49 hopefuls have declared that they will run for directly elected seats in Hong Kong’s coming Legislative Council race after the first week of the nomination period, already marking a 40 per cent jump from the previous poll. While an intensified race could encourage residents to cast their ballots on December 7, the absence of opposition candidates could still pose a challenge for voter turnout, a political scientist said on Friday. The legislature will also undergo a massive reshuffle... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3331129/race-heats-directly-elected-seats-hong-kongs-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3331129/race-heats-directly-elected-seats-hong-kongs-legco-election?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:56:20 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Balancing labour supply and demand has been a challenge for Hong Kong as it scrambles to ensure it has the workforce needed to keep its economic growth on track, as well as advance local and national development goals. So, authorities and industry leaders must carefully examine the latest tally for the city’s import labour scheme. A timely review of labour needs must be done so the programme does its job, countering chronic shortages in a fast-changing global environment. The city has imported... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330579/hong-kong-must-ensure-labour-import-scheme-does-its-job?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3330579/hong-kong-must-ensure-labour-import-scheme-does-its-job?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Oct 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong has imported more than 37,000 workers since the government introduced a labour scheme two years ago, while a construction union has announced a wage freeze for most of the major trades in the industry. The Labour and Welfare Bureau on Wednesday revealed that it had received applications to import more than 62,000 workers in the catering and hospitality industries since the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme was launched in 2023. Between September 4, 2023, and September 30 this year,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329943/37000-workers-imported-hong-kong-start-labour-scheme-2023?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329943/37000-workers-imported-hong-kong-start-labour-scheme-2023?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:32:21 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Material defects and poor installation supervision may have contributed to the improper assembly of prefabricated flats at three light public housing projects in Hong Kong, experts have suggested amid a controversy over the new construction method. Their analysis came after a series of incidents involving Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) flats across various public housing projects sparked concerns over the dependability of the new building technique that has been heavily promoted by the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329028/material-defects-lax-oversight-may-have-led-hong-kong-prefab-flat-woes-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3329028/material-defects-lax-oversight-may-have-led-hong-kong-prefab-flat-woes-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 00:30:15 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities have been urged to set up a mechanism to suspend the importation of labour for certain jobs when their unemployment rate hits a threshold, after the city leader announced tighter importing rules for only two catering roles. The appeal was made by a construction workers’ union and a lawmaker on Thursday, after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the new rules on the importation of waiters and junior cooks in his policy speech on Wednesday. Lee told lawmakers on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326022/halt-labour-imports-jobs-hong-kong-high-unemployment-rate-john-lee-urged?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326022/halt-labour-imports-jobs-hong-kong-high-unemployment-rate-john-lee-urged?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:47:47 +0000 Cannix Yau,Oscar Liu Cannix Yau,Oscar Liu Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has mapped out plans to break the city’s economic bottleneck on several fronts, from the food and pet sectors to the low-altitude and new energy industries and beyond. In his policy address on Wednesday, the chief executive said the latest blueprint served as a road map for the city to achieve a “vibrant economy, pursue development and improve people’s livelihoods”. “The well-being of our people is intimately linked to the health of our economy, making economic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325908/policy-address-2025-how-will-john-lees-plans-shape-hong-kongs-economic-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325908/policy-address-2025-how-will-john-lees-plans-shape-hong-kongs-economic-landscape?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 14:24:36 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Veteran Hong Kong lawmaker Stanley Ng Chau-pei has said he was unable to vote on an ill-fated same-sex partnership bill due to a personal emergency, in response to questions about his absence despite being a member of a key decision-making body. Ng, president of the Federation of Trade Unions, was the only lawmaker also sitting on the Executive Council who failed to attend the vote for the Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill on Wednesday. The proposed legislation was eventually voted down... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3325241/urgent-matter-stopped-me-voting-same-sex-rights-bill-hong-kongs-stanley-ng?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3325241/urgent-matter-stopped-me-voting-same-sex-rights-bill-hong-kongs-stanley-ng?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:40:50 +0000 Ambrose Li,Emily Hung,William Yiu Ambrose Li,Emily Hung,William Yiu Teachers should be given more training to identify serious child abuse cases, Hong Kong lawmakers and a school representative have urged, after education authorities updated guidelines that mandate reporting of suspected incidents from next year. According to an Education Bureau circular issued on Wednesday, educators, social workers, therapists and psychologists working in Hong Kong schools must make a report if they suspect that a child is suffering serious harm. The policy will come into... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3322770/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-more-teacher-training-spot-serious-child-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3322770/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-more-teacher-training-spot-serious-child-abuse-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 06:23:14 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong authorities should make better use of technology to identify and support elderly residents living alone or only with a spouse, experts have said, following two recent cases in which skeletal remains were found in public housing. Lawmakers also highlighted gaps in the city’s social safety net for high-risk elderly people on Thursday, urging the government to expand support schemes as soon as possible to cover needy residents, with priority given to those in ageing districts. On... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3321118/hong-kong-lawmakers-want-pilot-schemes-aiding-high-risk-seniors-be-expanded?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3321118/hong-kong-lawmakers-want-pilot-schemes-aiding-high-risk-seniors-be-expanded?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Aug 2025 11:13:00 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun The Hong Kong government is under mounting pressure to clarify the circumstances that warrant an “extreme conditions” announcement to prevent residents from commuting to work during hazardous weather, a day after record-breaking downpours wreaked havoc across the city. Some lawmakers and labour union leaders called for further clarification on Wednesday after residents expressed confusion as to whether they should have headed to work during the torrential downpours. The highest-level black... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320984/hong-kong-urged-clarify-extreme-conditions-criteria-after-record-rainfall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3320984/hong-kong-urged-clarify-extreme-conditions-criteria-after-record-rainfall?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:22:24 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A Hong Kong pest control and cleaning company has been banned from bringing in workers from outside the city for a year after it was found to have refused to offer a job to a suitable local candidate first. The Labour Department said on Monday that it had imposed an “administrative sanction” on Amala Limited and would not process its applications for importing workers for one year, with the measure taking effect last Thursday. “At the same time, the [department] has terminated the processing of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320698/hong-kong-pest-control-firm-banned-importing-workers-over-rejecting-local?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320698/hong-kong-pest-control-firm-banned-importing-workers-over-rejecting-local?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 09:49:58 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A coalition of domestic worker unions has demanded an immediate 30 per cent pay rise for Hong Kong’s 370,000 helpers to HK$6,500 (US$833) a month and for their food subsidy to be doubled. The Hong Kong Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Unions on Sunday blamed current government policy for having left many helpers in a “hungry and malnourished” condition. Federation representatives raised the demands at a meeting with Labour Department officials. “The value of our work and our contribution to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320609/groups-seek-30-pay-rise-hong-kong-domestic-helpers-hk6500-month?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3320609/groups-seek-30-pay-rise-hong-kong-domestic-helpers-hk6500-month?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 15:31:52 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A politician who sits on Hong Kong’s top decision-making Executive Council has apologised to the city’s constitutional minister after slamming his “annoying” attempts to lobby support for a controversial same-sex partnership bill. Legislator Stanley Ng Chau-pei, who is also president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), held out an olive branch on Friday, praising the minister’s “dedication” and “hard work” after earlier chiding the official for “threatening” him. At the centre of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3320469/hong-kong-lawmaker-apologises-minister-after-dispute-over-same-sex-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3320469/hong-kong-lawmaker-apologises-minister-after-dispute-over-same-sex-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 10:34:55 +0000 Vivian Au,Edith Lin Vivian Au,Edith Lin At least four Hong Kong LGBTQ groups have launched a petition to drum up support for a bill that aims to grant certain rights to same-sex couples, with the legislation facing strong opposition from lawmakers. The joint action by Hong Kong Marriage Equality, Dear Family Hong Kong, Pink Alliance and Covenant of the Rainbow on Thursday came a day after the legislature convened its first meeting to scrutinise the government bill, in which only one lawmaker of the 15-strong committee openly endorsed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319469/hong-kong-lgbtq-groups-push-get-publics-support-same-sex-rights-bill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319469/hong-kong-lgbtq-groups-push-get-publics-support-same-sex-rights-bill?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:33:33 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu Hong Kong authorities have an “ongoing legal duty” to fulfil their responsibilities related to same-sex relationships in response to a landmark court ruling, even if the legislature rejects a proposal to establish a recognition framework, the government has said. The government said on Wednesday that the judiciary had not and would not give any direct orders to either the executive or the legislature about fulfilling the requirements of the ruling. Authorities also argued that the proposal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3319262/hong-kong-authorities-have-ongoing-legal-duty-fulfil-same-sex-couples-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3319262/hong-kong-authorities-have-ongoing-legal-duty-fulfil-same-sex-couples-ruling?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 08:07:45 +0000