https://www.scmp.com/rss/522596/feed The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is a governmental body in Hong Kong, headquartered in Sha Tin, New Territories. Its primary mission is to enrich the community’s quality of life by providing comprehensive leisure, recreational, and cultural services. The LCSD manages a vast network of public facilities, including libraries, museums, sports centres, parks, beaches, and performing arts venues. Its main activities encompass organising diverse sports and recreation programmes,... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Chinese painter Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010) remains one of the most important artists of the 20th century – a bridge-builder who combined traditional ink painting with the bold abstraction of Western modernism. Later this month, the Hong Kong Dance Company (HKDance) will explore his visual language in the cross-disciplinary Grand Dance Poem In Between – Wu Guanzhong’s Ink Odyssey. Co-presented with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and co-organised by the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA),... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3351519/incredible-works-wu-guanzhong-reimagined-hong-kong-dance-crossover?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3351519/incredible-works-wu-guanzhong-reimagined-hong-kong-dance-crossover?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A world-class fencing hall and stand-alone swimming pool complex will be built in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis megaproject, authorities have revealed, with experts saying the facilities must be supported by good transport links and services for elite athletes. Sports industry experts shared their views on Tuesday after the Leisure and Cultural Services Department revised its plans to instead build the swimming pool as a stand-alone facility to meet international specifications, while... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349230/separate-fencing-hall-and-pool-revised-northern-metropolis-sports-facilities-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349230/separate-fencing-hall-and-pool-revised-northern-metropolis-sports-facilities-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:55:05 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A newly restored 4K film featuring the late Hong Kong superstar Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing will be part of this year’s Pop Culture Festival, but the government expects a 25 per cent drop in attendance over last year due to a shorter programme. Pat Wong Kit-yi, a chief manager at the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, said on Wednesday the festival welcomed 800,000 visitors in 2025, but this year 600,000 were expected to attend. “We’ve condensed the festival by a month, lasting from April to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346256/late-superstar-leslie-cheung-add-magic-hong-kongs-pop-culture-festival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346256/late-superstar-leslie-cheung-add-magic-hong-kongs-pop-culture-festival?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:03:34 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Once a vital crossroads of the Silk Road, the historic oasis of Dunhuang remains a crown jewel of Gansu province in northwest China. It is home to the Mogao Caves, a Unesco-listed complex representing over a millennium of Buddhist devotion, from the Northern Liang to the Yuan dynasties. Generations of Dunhuangologists have poured over the cultural secrets woven into the elaborate murals inside the 492 preserved caves, including depictions of 4,500 musical instruments and 500 ensembles that are a... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3344692/hong-kong-group-brings-ancient-silk-road-murals-musical-depictions-life?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3344692/hong-kong-group-brings-ancient-silk-road-murals-musical-depictions-life?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 07:15:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s reputation as a sporting city has strengthened in recent years, with strong performances from the city’s athletes and the hosting of elite international events, but the successful development of sport also depends on wider public participation. Easy access to facilities is essential, but venues are in short supply and demand is high, providing fertile ground for touts. Over the years, the government has introduced a series of measures to combat touting. These include real-name... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343435/growing-hong-kong-sporting-culture-means-beating-booking-touts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3343435/growing-hong-kong-sporting-culture-means-beating-booking-touts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Hong Kong handball will take a big step forward in its development next month, when the men’s team join China’s professional league. The city’s squad of part-timers proved they could compete with some of the country’s best with a fourth-placed finish at the National Games last November. While the Chinese Handball Super League’s season has already started, with the first stage presently taking place in Rongchang, Hong Kong could compete at legs in Foshan in March, Jinjiang in April and at home,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3342470/hong-kong-men-get-development-boost-offered-spot-chinese-handball-super-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3342470/hong-kong-men-get-development-boost-offered-spot-chinese-handball-super-league?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 06:02:40 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong authorities have uncovered robot-operated accounts booking public indoor sports venues just a week after a new anti-touting policy took effect, prompting experts to call for stronger measures against scalping. A Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) spokesman told the South China Morning Post that authorities had detected bots being used to book public indoor sports venues on its SmartPLAY app. “We have identified accounts using different means, computer programs or other... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341941/calls-stricter-rules-after-bot-bookers-detected-hong-kong-sports-app?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341941/calls-stricter-rules-after-bot-bookers-detected-hong-kong-sports-app?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 01:00:18 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen As spring approaches and temperatures begin to climb, Hong Kong’s cherry blossoms are preparing to burst into full bloom. Within the next week or two, Hongkongers can enjoy this spectacle without leaving the city. The South China Morning Post lists the best spots in the city to enjoy cherry blossoms and how to get there. 1. How to catch cherry blossoms near Hong Kong airport? The cherry blossom garden run by the Airport Authority has expanded with 39 new trees, bringing the total to 160. Steven... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341737/blooming-good-where-find-cherry-blossoms-hong-kong-spring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341737/blooming-good-where-find-cherry-blossoms-hong-kong-spring?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 02:30:09 +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 As the 50th anniversary of the Police Negotiation Cadre (PNC) is marked, it is time to recognise the heroes who serve as our city’s ultimate safety net. What makes the Hong Kong PNC a global benchmark is its rare willingness to bridge the gap between law enforcement and academia.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3341483/kudos-hong-kong-police-negotiators-listening-and-saving-lives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3341483/kudos-hong-kong-police-negotiators-listening-and-saving-lives?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Theodora Yu,Edith Lin Theodora Yu,Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities have arrested two women for hawking and received four complaints about unauthorised vendors selling merchandise for K-pop group Blackpink near a concert venue over the past few days. Hours ahead of the final night of the three-concert series of the popular Korean girl band on Monday, a Post reporter spotted about a dozen hawkers near Kai Tak Stadium, selling merchandise without official approval. Since the concerts began on Saturday, photos shared on Threads have shown... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341304/2-women-arrested-hawkers-cash-blackpink-merchandise-craze-concerts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3341304/2-women-arrested-hawkers-cash-blackpink-merchandise-craze-concerts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:05:16 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen A Hong Kong dancer paralysed from the neck down in an accident during a concert by popular local boy band Mirror is set to undergo a more intense rehabilitation programme, his father has revealed, calling for more financial support. Mo Li Kai-yin, 31, would embark on a three-year rehabilitation journey powered by advanced technologies, including regenerative medicine and an implantable microstimulator, his father, Reverend Derek Li Shing-lam, revealed in a prayer letter. “It is a thorny path we... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340318/paralysed-hong-kong-dancer-mo-li-set-undergo-intense-cutting-edge-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340318/paralysed-hong-kong-dancer-mo-li-set-undergo-intense-cutting-edge-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 09:21:31 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li With the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon little more than a week away, local runners are struggling to find space to train at the city’s few remaining open public tracks. The problems started after two government sports grounds in East Kowloon were closed. Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground was the first one to go last June for track resurfacing work, which is expected to finish in March. And this month, Kowloon Bay Sports Ground closed for renovation for nine months. To try to ease the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3339204/runners-complain-overcrowding-after-closure-sports-grounds-ahead-hong-kong-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/health-fitness/article/3339204/runners-complain-overcrowding-after-closure-sports-grounds-ahead-hong-kong-marathon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A 20-year-old man was injured after a basketball post collapsed and struck him while he was playing with a friend on a court near a Hong Kong public housing estate. Police received a report of the incident at Kau Pui Lung Road Playground, located near Lok Man Sun Chuen estate in To Kwa Wan, at 10.22pm on Sunday. The force said the victim, a man surnamed Choi, was playing basketball when the metal structure suddenly tilted forward and fell on him, injuring his head and knees. Paramedics arrived... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338719/basketball-post-collapses-hong-kong-playground-injuring-20-year-old-man?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3338719/basketball-post-collapses-hong-kong-playground-injuring-20-year-old-man?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 03:45:43 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Yau Ka-wing was once a self-described “ordinary, gaming-obsessed nerd” who was teased for being skinny and lacked confidence. Today, the 26-year-old is a champion callisthenics athlete who has represented Asia on the international stage and runs his own training studio. Two factors motivated Yau when he was in his final year of secondary school. “I was laughed at. I was bullied for being scrawny, and all I did was game [online] all day. I had no confidence and wanted to try working out to change... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3338129/hong-kong-callisthenics-athlete-how-sport-changed-his-life-and-what-makes-it-special?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3338129/hong-kong-callisthenics-athlete-how-sport-changed-his-life-and-what-makes-it-special?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan Hong Kong Bulls moved a step closer to playing in the top flight of Chinese basketball after the city’s government said it could use Kai Tak Arena between 2026 and 2027 to host several home games. A spokeswoman for the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) said it had spoken to the Bulls regarding the 2026-27 Chinese Basketball Association season, and had helped in the Bulls’ discussion with Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSPL). According to the sports park, there were 12 slots available for the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3336913/hong-kong-bulls-may-be-step-closer-cba-league-after-kai-tak-lined-host-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3336913/hong-kong-bulls-may-be-step-closer-cba-league-after-kai-tak-lined-host-games?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:30:10 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Amid souring Sino-Japanese relations, Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) has abruptly cancelled three screenings of Japanese films for its upcoming film programme. The decision was announced on December 3, three days before “Food for Thought – a Cinematic Feast” was slated to begin. Kamome Diner (2006), previously scheduled for December 6 and January 3, follows a woman working in a quiet cafe who eventually forms an unexpected family with two other solitary... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3335189/hong-kong-abruptly-cancels-3-japanese-film-screenings-amid-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3335189/hong-kong-abruptly-cancels-3-japanese-film-screenings-amid-diplomatic-row?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 09:29:59 +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 Leisure and Cultural Services Department’s plan to introduce market-driven operations at eight public venues, including the Hong Kong Cultural Centre piazza and Kai Tak Station Square, is a welcome move. Many government-run venues remain underused during weekdays, and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3334989/commercialisation-hong-kongs-public-venues-must-come-caveat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3334989/commercialisation-hong-kongs-public-venues-must-come-caveat?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:30:11 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Both Hong Kong authorities and a major developer are offering residents an array of discounts and perks during the Legislative Council election weekend, including complimentary entry to swimming pools and museums, in a bid to boost voter turnout. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki announced on Wednesday that voters would also receive a thank-you card upon casting their ballot, which could be redeemed for discounts and coupons worth a total of HK$5 million (US$643,000) across Chow Tai Fook Group’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3334184/hong-kong-offer-discounts-free-pools-and-museums-boost-legco-election-turnout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3334184/hong-kong-offer-discounts-free-pools-and-museums-boost-legco-election-turnout?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 05:51:23 +0000 Stephy Zhang Stephy Zhang With the curtain coming down on BT100 Hong Kong, the ITF Beach Tennis World Tour event that was held in Discovery Bay and finished on Sunday, Hongkongers have expressed interest in the sport but admitted there were hurdles around playing on the city’s beaches. The event first came to Hong Kong in April this year as the city’s first international beach tennis tournament sanctioned by the sport’s global governing body. The return of the three-day event – this time as a higher-level tournament –... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3333969/itf-beach-tennis-event-hong-kong-piques-interest-sport-among-residents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3333969/itf-beach-tennis-event-hong-kong-piques-interest-sport-among-residents?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Jiang Chuqin Jiang Chuqin Elderly residents in Hong Kong are enjoying a slew of perks on Sunday, from free rides to discounted meals, as the city marks Senior Citizens Day. Established in 1979, the celebration is held on the third Sunday of November to recognise the contributions of the elderly and raise public awareness of care for the aged. The Post highlights some major giveaways, as more than 400 organisations and merchants with over 3,800 outlets are rolling out special promotions. Free MTR offers Residents aged 65... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332973/senior-citizens-day-hong-kong-treats-elderly-free-rides-meal-deals-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3332973/senior-citizens-day-hong-kong-treats-elderly-free-rides-meal-deals-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 08:04:41 +0000 Ken Chu Ken Chu Recent discussions on the financial sustainability of the West Kowloon Cultural District have raised broader questions about the direction of cultural development in Hong Kong. While flagship institutions play an important role in shaping the city’s international profile, they are only one part of the wider cultural landscape. Across Hong Kong, smaller community-based venues have been steadily gaining momentum. These spaces are making culture part of everyday life and contributing to a more... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3331642/hong-kongs-small-cultural-venues-can-pack-big-punch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3331642/hong-kongs-small-cultural-venues-can-pack-big-punch?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s Ocean Park could shut down its Water World facility to prevent further losses and “actively consider” any government takeover offer, its chairman revealed on Thursday. Paulo Pong Kin-yee said that the theme park’s HK$274.7 million (US$35.3 million) deficit over the past year was primarily driven by its water attraction. Asked whether the park would close the facility to balance the books, Pong said the option remained on the table. “I do not dare completely deny this possibility,” he... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330023/hong-kong-ocean-park-not-ruling-out-water-world-closure-cut-losses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3330023/hong-kong-ocean-park-not-ruling-out-water-world-closure-cut-losses?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:38:02 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong police will expand their surveillance camera coverage to public housing estates, cross-harbour tunnels and venues hosting the National Games including Kai Tak Sports Park by the end of the year after footage helped officers arrest more than 840 suspects. The police force said on Sunday that it was exploring a wider range of installation platforms and continuing to gradually integrate closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera feeds from other government departments and public... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329562/hong-kong-police-expand-cctv-coverage-and-link-more-departments?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3329562/hong-kong-police-expand-cctv-coverage-and-link-more-departments?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Oct 2025 07:59:58 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Beijing’s world-renowned Palace Museum celebrates its centenary this month. In the first of a three-part series to mark the anniversary, Ambrose Li examines how the West Kowloon Cultural District, home to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, can tackle the thorny issue of funding. When Bernard Chan recently took over as the new chairman of the body managing Hong Kong’s premier arts hub, he made his top priority clear: to ensure its cultural facilities were financially sustainable in the long run. It was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328160/can-hong-kong-cash-culture-so-arts-hub-museums-pay-themselves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328160/can-hong-kong-cash-culture-so-arts-hub-museums-pay-themselves?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 00:30:13 +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 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 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 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities have called on residents not to swim at Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay beaches after a sewage pipe split in two during Super Typhoon Ragasa. The Drainage Services Department said on Thursday that it had immediately stopped using the 450mm-diameter sewage main at the Mills and Chung Path near Deep Water Bay after a routine inspection found “severe damage” to the pipe. The department said on Friday night emergency repairs were under way and anticipated the work to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3326933/hongkongers-urged-avoid-deep-water-bay-and-repulse-bay-beaches-after-sewage-pipe-splits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3326933/hongkongers-urged-avoid-deep-water-bay-and-repulse-bay-beaches-after-sewage-pipe-splits?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 04:24:51 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities plan to open up more public museums for commercial and private hiring to boost revenue, the culture minister has said, pointing to the use of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art for events such as the Met Gala. Secretary for Culture, Sport and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui on Sunday expanded on proposals announced in last week’s annual policy address, with the planned measures including offering tailored luxury tours for high-spending visitors. “Museums are not a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3326303/hong-kong-open-museums-commercial-private-events-same-vein-met-gala?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3326303/hong-kong-open-museums-commercial-private-events-same-vein-met-gala?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Sep 2025 11:01:34 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara The ongoing exile of distance runner Wong Wan-chun from the Hong Kong athletics team began after decisions he made about sponsorship and World University Games accommodation. His relations with the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates (HKAAA) soured to the extent that communication broke down in the lead-up to last year’s Olympics in Paris, from which Wong was absent. Meetings this year with HKAAA officials have yet to result in the city’s marathon, half-marathon and 10km record... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3326209/why-hong-kongs-fastest-marathon-runner-was-exiled-athletics-chiefs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3326209/why-hong-kongs-fastest-marathon-runner-was-exiled-athletics-chiefs?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 01:00:13 +0000 Jane Lee Jane Lee Hong Kong’s bottled water procurement scandal has garnered widespread public attention. Beyond the immediate concerns over the process and contract management, it offers an opportunity to reflect more broadly on civil service culture. The episode should be viewed not only as a problem to resolve but also as an opportunity to promote attentiveness, ownership and flexibility in public administration. The 2025 tender awarded contracts mainly based on the lowest bid. Requirements were described as... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3324926/end-hong-kongs-procurement-failures-overhaul-civil-service-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3324926/end-hong-kongs-procurement-failures-overhaul-civil-service-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 01:30:09 +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, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification On January 3, a fatal accident occurred when an off-duty customs officer tried to intercept a motorcyclist evading police pursuit. On August 28, police unconditionally released the customs officer... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3324314/does-hong-kong-need-good-samaritan-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3324314/does-hong-kong-need-good-samaritan-law?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 03:35:09 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong authorities are looking into complaints about new government-supplied shoes after a lifeguard union received more than 100 reports of discomfort or foot injuries, becoming the second procurement issue to be raised in recent weeks. The Hong Kong and Kowloon Life Guards’ Union earlier revealed that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department had previously switched from shoes provided by global sportswear company Mizuno to a new, lesser-known brand called “JWS”, despite its... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324220/hong-kong-authorities-look-complaints-over-new-shoes-issued-lifeguards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3324220/hong-kong-authorities-look-complaints-over-new-shoes-issued-lifeguards?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 11:49:22 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer A Hong Kong surfing body has launched a petition urging the local government to relax its ban on the sport, saying doing so would allow the city to follow mainland China’s example of producing Olympic-calibre athletes. Bryan Ng Yu-fong, chairman and founder of the Hong Kong, China Surfing and Standup Paddle Association, said the petition had around 300 signatures and was aimed at highlighting community support and enabling discussions on how it could be safely practised in the city. Surfing is... https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3323694/hong-kong-surfers-urge-government-lift-beach-ban-so-they-can-become-olympic-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3323694/hong-kong-surfers-urge-government-lift-beach-ban-so-they-can-become-olympic-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Aug 2025 01:00:18 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li An exhibition featuring more than 180 artefacts that illustrate Chinese war efforts against the Japanese in the 1930s and 1940s will open in Hong Kong on Wednesday, with a military sabre used in battle among the pieces. Featuring items loaned from the National Museum of China in Beijing, “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: United in Arms, Standing for Peace – 80th Anniversary of Chinese Victory in the War of Resistance Exhibition” will run at the Hong Kong Museum of History in Tsim Sha Tsui as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323242/hong-kong-show-chinese-war-effort-highlight-80th-anniversary-events?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323242/hong-kong-show-chinese-war-effort-highlight-80th-anniversary-events?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:52:48 +0000 Paul McNamara Paul McNamara Bold newcomers Eastern District have pledged to inject some pizazz into the staid Hong Kong Premier League fan experience. Club chiefs have also embarked on an ambitious recruitment drive under director of football Alex Chu Chi-kwong, the decorated ex-Kitchee boss, as they aim to quickly establish a firm top-flight footing. The army of new signings have been told to expect a “carnival atmosphere” for home matches at the near 12,000-capacity Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground. “We want to try something... https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323191/pets-padel-lots-beer-bold-plan-liven-football-matches-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3323191/pets-padel-lots-beer-bold-plan-liven-football-matches-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:30:12 +0000 Mike Chan,Lars Hamer Mike Chan,Lars Hamer A Hong Kong government review of funding for key sporting events under its “M” Mark scheme has concluded that money should be spent only on world-class and international occasions, aimed at bringing the city an economic boost. Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui on Sunday said the system would be made “more focused”, and confirmed the earlier revelation by sources that a “one size fits all” approach would be replaced by a multilayered funding structure. Review criteria... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3322953/m-mark-funding-stop-supporting-regional-events-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3322953/m-mark-funding-stop-supporting-regional-events-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Aug 2025 03:15:52 +0000 Christopher DeWolf Christopher DeWolf In the Kowloon City Municipal Services Building, you can play badminton, borrow a book from the library, sample some of Hong Kong’s best Thai food and shop in a wet market where actor Chow Yun-fat is sometimes spotted buying his groceries. But not for much longer. The landmark complex is set to be demolished and redevel­oped in the near future. For University of Hong Kong associate professor of architecture Ying Zhou, it’s an example of both Hong Kong’s architectural ingenuity and how crucial... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3321972/hong-kongs-urban-living-rooms-can-these-public-spaces-survive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/design-interiors/article/3321972/hong-kongs-urban-living-rooms-can-these-public-spaces-survive?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 07:15:12 +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 Ticket scalping is so lucrative and rampant in Hong Kong that fans often face the double whammy of exorbitant prices and fake tickets. One way to contain scalpers is to hold Dutch auctions of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3321987/economically-sound-way-hong-kong-beat-ticket-scalpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3321987/economically-sound-way-hong-kong-beat-ticket-scalpers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 03:30:07 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. Hong Kong’s forecaster issued two amber rainstorm warnings on Sunday morning and warned residents of possible flooding as a monsoon continued to bring heavy showers to the region. “An active southwest monsoon is bringing showers and thunderstorms to the coast of Guangdong and the northern part... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3320570/hong-kong-could-be-hit-more-heavy-showers-sunday-after-earlier-deluge-forecaster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3320570/hong-kong-could-be-hit-more-heavy-showers-sunday-after-earlier-deluge-forecaster?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 03:03:23 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A Hong Kong dancer left paralysed after being hit by a falling giant screen at a concert by popular Cantopop boy band Mirror in 2022 is suing a government department and 11 other parties involved in the show’s production for an undisclosed amount of compensation. The defendants have been accused of negligence and breaching their duty of care. Among those named in the claims are the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, a contractor it hired, and a Guangdong-based stage production house,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319900/hong-kong-dancer-mo-li-sues-12-parties-damages-over-mirror-concert-accident?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319900/hong-kong-dancer-mo-li-sues-12-parties-damages-over-mirror-concert-accident?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:33:24 +0000 Mike Chan Mike Chan A Hong Kong government department has backed down on its decision to deny several of the city’s sports teams the chance to compete at the National Games, and has lowered the bar to allow more to do so. Several of the city’s national sports associations (NSAs) had voiced concerns about the announcement of selection criteria that excluded their teams from the Games, which Hong Kong will co-host with Guangdong and Macau in November. The city’s organising committee, under the Leisure and Cultural... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3319656/hong-kong-makes-u-turn-over-rule-blocking-its-teams-entering-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/3319656/hong-kong-makes-u-turn-over-rule-blocking-its-teams-entering-national-games?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:45:11 +0000 Joyce Yip Joyce Yip Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 hit “Not Like Us” crescendoed, the two battle-ready competitors faced off, and the final round of the Red Bull Dance Your Style university qualifier was under way. Among the 16 contestants at The Burrow in San Po Kong in April, the race for the crown came down to the sultry shoulder rolls and eccentric arm twirls of Chlorine, a whacker repping the red team, and the dips and twitches of Wing, the popper in blue. The two teams’ flags fluttered over the rambunctious crowd of... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3315621/these-youths-are-making-us-question-everything-we-knew-about-street-dance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3315621/these-youths-are-making-us-question-everything-we-knew-about-street-dance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Jun 2025 04:45:07 +0000