https://www.scmp.com/rss/522501/feed Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will deliver his fourth policy blueprint in September. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Vivian Au Vivian Au A proposed accountability framework will hold government department heads personally liable for systemic loopholes that they fail to flag to superiors, Hong Kong’s civil service chief has said. Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan also said that public perception could play a role in decisions on pay adjustments for government employees, after being questioned about the potential impact of an inquiry into the city’s deadliest fire in decades. In a television appearance on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352275/top-civil-servants-liable-if-they-dont-flag-systemic-loopholes-under-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352275/top-civil-servants-liable-if-they-dont-flag-systemic-loopholes-under-proposal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 11:08:55 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Non-local students could pay up to HK$350,000 (US$44,680) per year to study in Hong Kong’s semi-private schools after the institutions were allowed to admit them by offering additional places, with scholarships to cover some expenses. But an education consultant specialising in expatriate placements for Hong Kong schools said the charges were uncompetitive, noting the cost exceeded those of a premium British boarding school in Malaysia and Thailand. The Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS)... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347630/non-local-pupils-could-face-hk350000-fees-hong-kong-semi-private-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347630/non-local-pupils-could-face-hk350000-fees-hong-kong-semi-private-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:37:02 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s private schools could be ordered to cease operating or have their registration revoked if their management is deemed unsatisfactory under new guidelines issued by education authorities. The Education Bureau released a code of practice on Friday for private primary and secondary schools, following reports of poor management – including some allegedly offering unauthorised courses and collecting fees from parents without approval. The document said the bureau might issue an advisory or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3341955/hong-kong-steps-scrutiny-private-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3341955/hong-kong-steps-scrutiny-private-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:10:14 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong has ambitious plans to become an international higher education hub. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced as much in his policy address. We are home to top-ranked universities, and the plan seems on track. But are we really preparing our children for these education ambitions? Are we equipping them to join our top-ranked universities? If you ask those running our secondary schools – more specifically, subsidised schools – they would probably say we aren’t doing enough. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3341053/be-education-hub-hong-kong-must-first-do-better-its-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3341053/be-education-hub-hong-kong-must-first-do-better-its-children?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:30:14 +0000 Oscar Liu,William Yiu Oscar Liu,William Yiu More than half of Hong Kong’s 78 semi-private schools have applied to increase class sizes and student numbers to admit more non-locals as part of the city’s drive to become an international education hub. The Education Bureau said on Monday that it has received an “enthusiastic response” to its earlier invitation to all Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools to take in more non-local pupils. The initiative, first outlined in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address last year, allows DSS... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3340466/40-hong-kong-semi-private-schools-eye-more-non-local-pupils-education-hub-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3340466/40-hong-kong-semi-private-schools-eye-more-non-local-pupils-education-hub-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:52:21 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Just before the new year, Hong Kong’s government unveiled details for a more agile, corporate-led strategy to accelerate development of the Northern Metropolis. It could be a game changer for a project that the city needs to ensure its future prosperity. Officials are setting up a dedicated firm to run an industrial estate in the area. The non-statutory Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company would be a departure from typical public-private partnerships. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338389/new-strategy-northern-metropolis-may-be-game-changer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338389/new-strategy-northern-metropolis-may-be-game-changer?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 23:15:17 +0000 Salina Li Salina Li In a spacious three-storey village house in Sai Kung on a recent sunny Saturday, Chen Wei and his family were unpacking the final boxes after their move from Shenyang, the capital of China’s northeast Liaoning province. Having come with his wife and two sons under Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme, Chen, an e-commerce expert, represents a new force recalibrating the city’s future. “The job opportunity was the first draw, but the final decision was for them,” Chen said, gesturing to his two... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3333670/hong-kong-talent-scheme-they-came-jobs-will-they-stay-buy-homes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3333670/hong-kong-talent-scheme-they-came-jobs-will-they-stay-buy-homes?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 02:00:14 +0000 Julie Zhang,Cheryl Arcibal Julie Zhang,Cheryl Arcibal Switzerland’s MKS PAMP, one of the world’s largest refiners and traders of precious metals, has joined a growing number of European companies that are expanding operations in Hong Kong, drawn by the city’s strengthened focus on its financial services and commodity trading sectors. The Geneva-based firm – locally known for minting the centenary gold bars for Bank of China (Hong Kong) in 2017 – on Thursday opened its 3,600 sq ft regional headquarters at the St John’s Building on Garden Road in... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3331186/swiss-firm-mks-pamp-aims-help-build-hong-kong-international-gold-trading-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3331186/swiss-firm-mks-pamp-aims-help-build-hong-kong-international-gold-trading-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 06:00:17 +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 William Yiu William Yiu A body representing Hong Kong’s semi-private schools is considering promoting its institutions to Southeast Asian countries, with more than 60 per cent of members saying they plan to admit more non-local students under a new government trial scheme. Sharing its enrolment strategy on Tuesday, the Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council said that the region was being eyed because of its proximity to the city. Last month, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in his annual policy address that the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3329979/hong-kongs-semi-private-schools-eye-southeast-asia-source-extra-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3329979/hong-kongs-semi-private-schools-eye-southeast-asia-source-extra-students?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:35:37 +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 The policy address has sparked discussion across Hong Kong. Afterwards, I had the privilege of speaking directly with Chief Executive John Lee during a special phone-in programme on RTHK Radio 3. I seized the opportunity to raise two issues: higher education and halal inclusivity,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3329366/when-it-comes-halal-inclusivity-john-lee-listening?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3329366/when-it-comes-halal-inclusivity-john-lee-listening?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Oct 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong’s government spent more than HK$5 billion (US$642.3 million) using the city’s currency on services or purchases related to mainland China in the last financial year, according to officials. In comparison, the government only used 240 million yuan (US$33.7 million) annually to settle expenditures, in addition to payments related to its renminbi-denominated bonds. Authorities are now exploring ways to increase payments in renminbi and expand its use. “Since the amount of renminbi bonds... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3328712/yuan-boost-eyed-hong-kongs-mainland-china-spending-hits-hk5-billion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3328712/yuan-boost-eyed-hong-kongs-mainland-china-spending-hits-hk5-billion?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 01:07:46 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s legislature has passed a motion thanking the city leader for his latest policy address, but some lawmakers have raised concerns about the import of labour amid rising unemployment while calling on him to defend the interests of residents. The Legislative Council concluded a three-day debate on Friday and passed a motion thanking Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for his annual policy blueprint unveiled last month, in which he rolled out a new accountability system for department... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3328571/hong-kong-lawmakers-back-lees-blueprint-raise-fears-over-labour-imports?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3328571/hong-kong-lawmakers-back-lees-blueprint-raise-fears-over-labour-imports?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:19:39 +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 The Hong Kong government’s incentives to boost fertility are welcome, but they risk mistaking a cash transfusion for a cure. An 11 per cent rebound in births is encouraging, yet the same data reveals cause for pessimism: even after the HK$20,000 (US$2,570) baby bonus, 36,700... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3327786/cash-transfusion-not-cure-hong-kong-couples-reluctance-have-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3327786/cash-transfusion-not-cure-hong-kong-couples-reluctance-have-children?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse Alarm and despondency could spread through Hong Kong’s civil service in the coming weeks as the significance of last month’s policy address begins to sink in. The proposal to introduce a heads of department accountability system and make other changes to performance assessment methodology is a real game changer. Despite ritual praise of our 170,000 officials as “an outstanding team”, it is clear Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu feels there is considerable scope for improvement in management, and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3327657/will-new-accountability-system-be-fair-hong-kongs-civil-servants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3327657/will-new-accountability-system-be-fair-hong-kongs-civil-servants?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:30:08 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s education authorities are being urged to implement regulations for private and international schools that align with those governing their subsidised counterparts, following the city leader’s plans to enhance oversight of these institutions. While stricter regulations would help prevent irregularities in private schools, lawmakers also emphasised the importance of proactive monitoring and timely intervention should problems arise. In his policy address, Chief Executive John Lee... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3327893/hong-kong-urged-regulate-private-schools-line-subsidised-institutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3327893/hong-kong-urged-regulate-private-schools-line-subsidised-institutions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 04:00:14 +0000 Christine Loh Christine Loh Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s latest policy address may prove to be a watershed moment for Hong Kong’s education system. Among several measures, one stands out as transformative: the decision to raise the cap on non-local students from 40 per cent to 50 per cent of the student body. This is more than a technical adjustment. It signals Hong Kong’s intent to position itself as an international education hub, opening its classrooms to the world. This is an extraordinary turn for a city that... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3327671/how-turn-hong-kong-global-education-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3327671/how-turn-hong-kong-global-education-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Oct 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Ken Ip Ken Ip Is Hong Kong running out of land, or are we just running out of imagination? Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s latest policy address highlighted efforts to boost housing supply, from expedited approvals for “spade-ready” sites to ambitious projects such as the Northern Metropolis. The government promises faster land release and smarter use of existing plots, yet while more homes are being built, a deeper question remains: are we using the land we have as efficiently as possible? When it comes... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3327418/help-elderly-hongkongers-free-prime-housing-younger-generations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3327418/help-elderly-hongkongers-free-prime-housing-younger-generations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 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 The 2025 policy address, proposing a trial scheme to allow pet dogs in eateries, marks a long-overdue shift, recognising a change in the city’s social fabric. Yet, while this move is positive, it is reactive rather than proactive, a concession, not a strategy. If Hong Kong aims to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3327577/what-hong-kong-must-do-truly-harness-pet-economys-potential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3327577/what-hong-kong-must-do-truly-harness-pet-economys-potential?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Oct 2025 03:30:09 +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 The chief executive pressed many of the right buttons on mental health in his 2025 policy address. In the relevant section of his speech, he started by drawing a useful distinction between treatment and prevention. Conflation of the two happens frequently in public discourse,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326985/hong-kong-leaders-policy-address-pushed-right-buttons-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326985/hong-kong-leaders-policy-address-pushed-right-buttons-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 03:30:10 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong’s bid to be an international education hub is spurring investments in the city’s battered commercial property segment, with hotels being converted to student housing and schools becoming a major driver of leasing in the retail sector, according to analysts. So far this year, investors have spent HK$2.6 billion (US$334 million) in the student accommodation segment, including Hong Kong Metropolitan University’s acquisition of the Urbanwood Hung Hom Hotel, which was converted into student... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3327071/hong-kong-schools-ramp-property-investment-leasing-city-eyes-education-hub-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3327071/hong-kong-schools-ramp-property-investment-leasing-city-eyes-education-hub-status?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Sep 2025 01:30:12 +0000 Tim Cheng Tim Cheng Hong Kong stands at a pivotal juncture. The opportunities presented by the Greater Bay Area are immense, and the city’s Northern Metropolis is the strategic gateway to realising this potential. As boldly envisioned in Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address, this project is more than a property development; it is the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s transformation into an international innovation and education hub, critical to fulfilling our role in national strategies. To succeed, we must... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326726/succeed-northern-metropolis-should-learn-silicon-valley-model?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326726/succeed-northern-metropolis-should-learn-silicon-valley-model?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 08:15:07 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong is set to deploy AI to detect early signs of lung cancer among residents and plans to create a new government office to proactively fast-track approval for innovative treatments from around the globe, the health minister has said. The move signals a major strategic shift by authorities towards new technologies and an aggressive intervention against various forms of cancer, which accounts for one in every four deaths in the city. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Sunday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3327134/hong-kong-get-tough-lung-cancer-new-ai-screening-tools-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3327134/hong-kong-get-tough-lung-cancer-new-ai-screening-tools-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 07:07:23 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Public museums in Hong Kong are probably no match for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in terms of treasures and appeal. But that does not deter the government from pursuing the tall order of opening up some of its venues to commercial or private events in the same vein as the annual Met Gala, a glamorous haute couture fundraising festival, and rightly so. The initiative is part of a package put forward by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau in the latest policy address, along with new... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326961/hong-kongs-tourism-goals-show-citys-commitment-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326961/hong-kongs-tourism-goals-show-citys-commitment-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 23:15:12 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Enhancement of a cash-for-residency scheme might not have stood out in Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s comprehensive policy address last week. But the measure is worthy of support and continued attention to ensure it benefits the city and the high-net-worth investors it draws. The chief executive used his fourth policy blueprint to unveil plans to enhance the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (New CIES). Introduced in last year’s policy speech, the scheme requires applicants to prove... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326968/cash-residency-scheme-must-not-worsen-housing-market-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326968/cash-residency-scheme-must-not-worsen-housing-market-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 22:45:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong may consider whether teachers are living in the city before issuing proposed practising certificates, the education minister has said, with the measure potentially preventing educators who moved away in recent years from working locally in the future. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also said on Friday that teachers who failed to declare any criminal record would be banned from renewing their certificates to safeguard the interests of students and the image of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3326970/hong-kong-could-link-proposed-teacher-certificate-living-city-choi?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3326970/hong-kong-could-link-proposed-teacher-certificate-living-city-choi?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 08:02:43 +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 Third Side has long pushed for civil service accountability reform, focusing not on punishment, but on transparency and real accountability. We welcome the latest policy address putting the “Heads of Department Accountability System” front and centre, with the Public Service... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326786/how-new-accountability-system-hong-kong-civil-servants-can-be-impactful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3326786/how-new-accountability-system-hong-kong-civil-servants-can-be-impactful?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 03:30:10 +0000 Jeffrey Wu Jeffrey Wu Hong Kong’s economic story has always unfolded in cycles of innovation. Finance made it a global hub. Real estate later became a backbone. Both engines now face structural limits. As global competition intensifies, the question is what Hong Kong’s new growth engine will be. The policy address offers a clear signal: artificial intelligence (AI) is a policy priority. With Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) tasked with channelling capital into frontier industries, AI has been elevated as a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326438/how-ai-can-catalyse-hong-kongs-next-big-economic-take?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326438/how-ai-can-catalyse-hong-kongs-next-big-economic-take?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Sep 2025 08:30:10 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It has long been recognised that too much time spent on digital devices can have a negative impact on children’s health and well-being. But concerns continue to grow. This is a global problem which has seen increasingly tough measures adopted in many parts of the world. Legislation passed in Australia prohibiting children under the age of 16 from holding social media accounts on certain popular platforms will come into force in December. Britain is considering limiting the time the young can... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326368/hong-kongs-plan-review-screen-time-guidelines-children-sensible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326368/hong-kongs-plan-review-screen-time-guidelines-children-sensible?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 23:15:02 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu It was good to hear Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu say in last week’s policy address that his “ultimate objective in governance is to improve people’s livelihood” and recognising that the government must prioritise the well-being of the people to improve the health of the economy. It’s good because we are finally recognising that people are behind the success of Hong Kong and those good stories he wants everyone to tell. Reactions to the latest policy address have been generally positive. Lee... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326183/john-lees-policy-address-leaves-some-big-questions-unanswered?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326183/john-lees-policy-address-leaves-some-big-questions-unanswered?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 01:30:12 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing One of Hong Kong’s largest business chambers is taking on a bigger role in leading trade delegations to help local and mainland Chinese firms reach new markets at home and abroad, with plans to visit Osaka this week and Hangzhou in December, according to its new chairman. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu highlighted in his policy address last week the Federation of Hong Kong Industries’ recent business trip to Vietnam as an example of how the city was pooling industry strengths to support... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326310/hong-kong-business-chamber-spearheads-local-mainland-chinese-firms-push-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326310/hong-kong-business-chamber-spearheads-local-mainland-chinese-firms-push-abroad?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 00:30:15 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong will expedite its push into the autonomous driving sector, with plans to expand vehicle testing to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Port and the Kai Tak development area, the transport chief has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said on Sunday that three autonomous driving projects would enter the testing phase this year, as announced in last week’s policy address. Driverless vehicles would be trialled at SkyCity between the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Port and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3326306/hong-kong-expand-driverless-vehicle-testing-3-locations-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3326306/hong-kong-expand-driverless-vehicle-testing-3-locations-year?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 11:41:45 +0000 Edith Lin,Leopold Chen Edith Lin,Leopold Chen Hong Kong residents will enjoy the “dividends” of the Northern Metropolis, the city’s leader has said, while vowing to use investment and preferential measures to accelerate the megaproject’s development despite a budget deficit. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made the pledge on Sunday as his innovation minister said he believed that several companies joining the initiative would enjoy preferential land prices this year. Lee also urged his finance chief, Paul Chan Mo-po, to use the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326299/hongkongers-enjoy-dividends-northern-metropolis-john-lee-promises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326299/hongkongers-enjoy-dividends-northern-metropolis-john-lee-promises?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 09:59:56 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s leader has ruled out introducing a suspension mechanism for the city’s labour importation scheme or fining employers for abusing the policy despite calls to further tighten rules to mitigate rising joblessness in some sectors. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Sunday the city was undergoing an economic transformation, but locals facing job challenges must also decide whether to take up new employment opportunities in this “period of choice”. His remarks came days after he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326291/hong-kongs-john-lee-rejects-suspension-mechanism-idea-labour-import-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326291/hong-kongs-john-lee-rejects-suspension-mechanism-idea-labour-import-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 07:08:18 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s finance chief has anticipated improving market sentiment after downward trends in the retail, catering and property sectors showed signs of stabilising, with the prospect of an interest rate cut cycle emerging. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Sunday that authorities had been paying attention to the slow recovery of the retail and catering industries, even as the stock market remained robust, noting that their declining sales figures had stabilised over the past three to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326289/hong-kongs-paul-chan-banks-better-market-sentiments-retail-sector-stabilises?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326289/hong-kongs-paul-chan-banks-better-market-sentiments-retail-sector-stabilises?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 06:15:54 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong The restaurant industry and pet owners have urged the government to map out clear licensing rules, especially on hygiene, as Hong Kong prepares to lift a 30-year-old ban on dogs in eateries. Simon Wong Kit-lung, chairman of the LH Group of restaurants and a dog owner, said the licence should explicitly define even basic points to avoid conflict. He said the primary responsibility for managing dogs should lie with the owners. They should have legal responsibility for their pets’ actions, he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326271/calls-clear-licensing-rules-if-dogs-allowed-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326271/calls-clear-licensing-rules-if-dogs-allowed-hong-kong-restaurants?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 04:48:31 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip In his most comprehensive policy address yet, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu mapped out dozens of policy measures to boost Hong Kong’s hub economy, help small and medium enterprises, shore up the property market, promote tourism, develop new tech-based industries, raise fertility and train talent, just to name a few. However, the emphasis on the economy should not divert attention from the key reforms outlined in Lee’s address, which – if successfully implemented – would have a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326091/hong-kong-doubles-down-innovation-and-accountability-its-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326091/hong-kong-doubles-down-innovation-and-accountability-its-future?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Harvey Kong,Fiona Sun Harvey Kong,Fiona Sun A new accountability system for senior civil servants aims to strengthen the fitness of government departments and raise public trust in authorities, Hong Kong’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu told a radio programme on Saturday that the measure would push department heads to consistently look for areas for improvement, likening the practice to regular exercise. In his annual policy blueprint on Wednesday, Lee introduced the “Heads of Department Accountability System”, which... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3326251/hong-kongs-new-civil-servant-accountability-system-ensure-government-keeps-fit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3326251/hong-kongs-new-civil-servant-accountability-system-ensure-government-keeps-fit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 08:47:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The departmental head who apologised for a HK$52.9 million (US$6.8 million) government water procurement scandal has begun pre-retirement leave, in what a minister has said is a normal arrangement, while the incident remains under review. It may not come under the accountability system proposed in the chief executive’s policy address, but Carlson Chan Ka-shun’s exit as director of the Government Logistics Department will be seen as consistent with the government’s resolve to strengthen... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326171/accountability-system-hong-kongs-top-civil-servants-long-overdue?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326171/accountability-system-hong-kongs-top-civil-servants-long-overdue?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 23:15:12 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis is no longer a distant blueprint but a defining project of our times. In his policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made clear that its delivery will be a top priority, with new structures, legislation and transport links to ensure momentum. This marks a significant step forward for Hong Kong, signalling a determination to transform vision into reality. The creation of a committee tasked with developing the Northern Metropolis, backed by working groups... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325941/northern-metropolis-can-be-hong-kongs-new-growth-engine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3325941/northern-metropolis-can-be-hong-kongs-new-growth-engine?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 22:30:08 +0000 William Yiu,Fiona Sun William Yiu,Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s No 2 official has said a proposed requirement for teachers to obtain a practising certificate was intended to help them and “not to make things difficult”, while the education minister has dismissed concerns from some in the sector about a lack of consultation over the initiative. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said on Friday the certificate was aimed at ensuring teachers had the latest knowledge and avoiding a situation where they might leave the profession for an extended period... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3326212/hong-kong-officials-defend-need-teacher-practising-certificates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3326212/hong-kong-officials-defend-need-teacher-practising-certificates?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 13:55:54 +0000 Haining Gao,Neil Denslow Haining Gao,Neil Denslow US President Donald Trump said a tariff truce with China may be extended in order to conclude a trade agreement between the world’s two largest economies. “We’re pretty close to a deal,” Trump said at a press conference at the end of a state visit to the UK. “We may do an extension with China, but it’s an extension based on the same terms that we have right now, which are pretty good terms.” Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to hold a call on Friday night (Hong Kong time) which... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3326125/trump-xi-call-nvidia-china-pressure-zijin-gold-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3326125/trump-xi-call-nvidia-china-pressure-zijin-gold-ipo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:00:10 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell In his policy address, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he remained “deeply concerned” about the progress of the Northern Metropolis mega project. And so he might be. With plans first unveiled almost four years ago and a detailed “action agenda” released two years ago, there is still barely any concrete evidence of its existence. It is intended to transform 30,000 hectares (about a third of Hong Kong’s land area), adding 500,000 homes so the area can accommodate a population of up... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326038/speed-northern-metropolis-construction-get-bamboo-scaffolders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3326038/speed-northern-metropolis-construction-get-bamboo-scaffolders?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 08:30:07 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong authorities have reached out to diplomats and foreign business chambers to attract more overseas students, especially those from belt and road countries, in a bid to diversify local campuses, with the city further increasing non-local undergraduate quotas at its universities. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said on Friday that the government would work on reducing costs “carefully” and “progressively” to ensure the city’s economic competitiveness and market stability. In his... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3326098/hong-kong-taps-diplomats-foreign-chambers-draw-non-local-undergrads-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3326098/hong-kong-taps-diplomats-foreign-chambers-draw-non-local-undergrads-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 05:29:18 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Northern Metropolis has moved to a new stage following a raft of game-changing initiatives to fast-track development. While the government is to be commended for pushing ahead with the megaproject, the pursuit of speed and efficiency must not come at the expense of standards and scrutiny. Proper monitoring and safeguards remain essential as officials seek to overcome the administrative and statutory hurdles holding back the expeditious implementation of Hong Kong’s future engine of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326007/northern-metropolis-push-must-not-come-price-scrutiny-and-standards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3326007/northern-metropolis-push-must-not-come-price-scrutiny-and-standards?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 23:15:15 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Hong Kong health authorities aim to introduce a fast-track approval mechanism for life-saving drugs that can treat severe or rare diseases, a move that could reduce the current system’s processing time by one-third. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Thursday that the fast-track arrangement could help to respond to health emergencies such as a pandemic where infections spread quickly. The minister was elaborating on health measures outlined in the latest policy address a day earlier. “The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3326039/hong-kong-authorities-eye-fast-track-approval-option-life-saving-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3326039/hong-kong-authorities-eye-fast-track-approval-option-life-saving-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:53:10 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Permanent secretaries of government bureaus will not escape scrutiny even though a proposed new accountability system is targeting department heads, as investigations under the mechanism will cover “all civil servants”, Hong Kong’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu offered more clarity on Thursday on the new “Heads of Department Accountability System”, which he announced in his annual policy blueprint the previous day and will penalise underperforming senior civil servants and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3326031/top-hong-kong-civil-servants-wont-avoid-scrutiny-under-accountability-system-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3326031/top-hong-kong-civil-servants-wont-avoid-scrutiny-under-accountability-system-john-lee?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:43:50 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong will not be “overgenerous” with taxpayers’ money to lure foreign investments and ventures to the city, even though there is competition with other jurisdictions for their contributions, the finance chief has said. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s remarks on Thursday came after the city’s leader delivered the penultimate policy address of this term of government the previous day, focusing on providing incentives to encourage enterprises to invest in Hong Kong. The benefits to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326018/no-need-hong-kong-be-overgenerous-lure-foreign-firms-finance-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3326018/no-need-hong-kong-be-overgenerous-lure-foreign-firms-finance-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 11:02:13 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong will increase its renminbi usage by issuing more yuan bonds and settling some government expenditures, paving the way for mainland Chinese investors to use the currency to trade locally listed stocks, a minister has said. Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu said on Thursday the move would address the question of how the city could use the yuan it received from various channels. Hui was expanding on Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s policy address... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3326017/hong-kong-boost-renminbi-use-through-yuan-bonds-government-spending-chris-hui?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3326017/hong-kong-boost-renminbi-use-through-yuan-bonds-government-spending-chris-hui?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 10:52:25 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang The decision by Hong Kong’s leader to personally oversee the fast-tracked development of the massive Northern Metropolis project while also undertaking smaller initiatives such as building a “pet economy” underscores an aim-high, spread-wide policy address, but some of his key initiatives will only lay the foundation for future administrations to take forward, according to observers. In his policy address on Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu promised to expedite the mega development,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325915/can-hong-kongs-john-lee-deliver-his-aim-high-spread-wide-policy-address?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3325915/can-hong-kongs-john-lee-deliver-his-aim-high-spread-wide-policy-address?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:32:25 +0000