https://www.scmp.com/rss/524063/feed Alice Mak Mei-kuen: Known for her extensive public service career in Hong Kong, she currently serves as the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, a role she assumed in July 2022. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s home affairs chief has pledged to address concerns of residents of blaze-ravaged Wang Fuk Court at a briefing to be held ahead of an owners’ meeting, saying there will be no clash with the ongoing fire inquiry or with the period in which they will be allowed to return to their flats to retrieve belongings. More than 300 homeowners petitioned for a general meeting with Hop On Management, a Chinachem Group subsidiary appointed by the government as the Tai Po housing estate’s interim... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349232/wang-fuk-court-briefing-give-residents-answers-decisions-are-made-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349232/wang-fuk-court-briefing-give-residents-answers-decisions-are-made-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:56:58 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Fiona Chow,Vivian Au Ng Kang-chung,Fiona Chow,Vivian Au Displaced residents from the seven fire-ravaged blocks of Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court will be allowed to return to their flats for up to three hours to collect their personal belongings, with the first group to return on April 20. Authorities said on Friday that each household could register up to four people to return to a flat, who would be accompanied by police officers, government social workers and support staff. They added that there would be a “very slim” chance that residents of Wang Chi... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348176/residents-fire-hit-wang-fuk-court-blocks-can-retrieve-belongings-mid-april?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348176/residents-fire-hit-wang-fuk-court-blocks-can-retrieve-belongings-mid-april?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 10:40:12 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung More than 300 homeowners from the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po have signed a petition to be sent to Hong Kong’s leader, demanding a face-to-face meeting with the government-appointed Hop On Management Company over unresolved issues. The letter to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, obtained by the South China Morning Post on Sunday, bore 336 signatures and raised concerns in seven areas. These include the use of remaining renovation funds, the handling of outstanding management fees and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346679/over-300-wang-fuk-court-homeowners-petition-hong-kongs-john-lee-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346679/over-300-wang-fuk-court-homeowners-petition-hong-kongs-john-lee-meeting?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 14:22:48 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong district councillor who illegally parked his car and blocked access to a fire exit lane has been “sternly reminded” to watch his conduct, a minister has said, following a similar offence by a colleague within a week. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen revealed on Friday that the Kwai Tsing district officer had already “sternly reminded” Poon Chi-shing in writing to act in accordance with the public’s expectations. “The government attaches great importance to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343492/hong-kong-councillor-warned-over-parking-offence-misconduct-scrutiny-widens?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3343492/hong-kong-councillor-warned-over-parking-offence-misconduct-scrutiny-widens?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 09:24:08 +0000 Leopold Chen,Natalie Wong Leopold Chen,Natalie Wong Hong Kong authorities will “shortly” announce long-term rehousing plans for residents displaced by the deadly Tai Po fire, after settling differences in individual preferences and resolving uncertainties over insurance and legal issues, the city’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu made the pledge on Friday after visiting some of the affected residents temporarily staying in a youth hostel in Kai Tak and revealed that he had told all ministers to conduct community visits before... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343428/hong-kong-soon-announce-rehousing-plans-tai-po-fire-victims-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3343428/hong-kong-soon-announce-rehousing-plans-tai-po-fire-victims-john-lee-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 05:34:34 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong lawmakers have called for greater scrutiny of flat owners’ proxies attending meetings on building management affairs in response to the government’s proposed legal amendments to combat bid-rigging following the deadly Tai Po blaze last year. During a Legislative Council panel meeting on Monday, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said the government was open to advice on its initial proposed amendments to the Building Management Ordinance, including capping the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342962/hong-kong-lawmakers-call-greater-scrutiny-flat-owners-proxies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342962/hong-kong-lawmakers-call-greater-scrutiny-flat-owners-proxies?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:44:17 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Oscar Liu Lo Hoi-ying,Oscar Liu The provisional administrator of the housing estate ravaged by Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades will attend hearings of an independent committee “as necessary” to represent the “common interest” of the owners’ corporation, the home affairs chief has said following criticism that residents lacked legal representation in the probe. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen on Sunday defended Hop On Management, the firm appointed by the government as the administrator of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342810/government-defends-estate-administrators-absence-tai-po-fire-hearing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342810/government-defends-estate-administrators-absence-tai-po-fire-hearing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 06:15:41 +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 Matthew Cheng,Emily Hung Matthew Cheng,Emily Hung The HK$4.4 billion (US$564 million) donated for Tai Po fire victims will grow gradually with interest earned from fixed deposits, the home affairs minister has told the Post, adding the money will also fund long-term resettlement. In an exclusive interview with the Post on Friday, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said the fund’s accountant, the Treasury, had put an “appropriate amount” of the unallocated donated money into fixed deposits. “Some say, ‘you are just leaving... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340220/tai-po-fire-relief-fund-earn-interest-fixed-deposits-hong-kong-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340220/tai-po-fire-relief-fund-earn-interest-fixed-deposits-hong-kong-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Matthew Cheng,Emily Hung Matthew Cheng,Emily Hung Hong Kong homeowners could face a higher bar for approving major building renovation projects as the government is considering doubling the in-person attendance threshold to 10 per cent or more, the Post has learned. In an exclusive interview with the Post on Friday, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen pledged to fast-track the amendment to the Building Management Ordinance, without providing a specific timeline. The move aims to plug loopholes and enhance owners’... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340212/hong-kong-considers-doubling-attendance-threshold-major-renovation-approvals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340212/hong-kong-considers-doubling-attendance-threshold-major-renovation-approvals?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:06:24 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s new Legislative Council held its first meeting on Wednesday, with lawmakers focusing on follow-up work after last November’s deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which claimed the lives of 161 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and government officials outlined priorities including rehousing the displaced residents, reforming industry practices and holding those responsible for the tragedy accountable. The Post looks into the measures... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340027/bid-rigging-clamp-smoke-free-construction-sites-hong-kongs-legco-gets-cracking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3340027/bid-rigging-clamp-smoke-free-construction-sites-hong-kongs-legco-gets-cracking?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Jan 2026 10:15:10 +0000 Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Natalie Wong,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s newly elected lawmakers, many of them fresh faces on the political scene, held their first meeting on Wednesday, with officials pledging to address policy gaps exposed by the deadly Tai Po inferno, from tightening oversight of maintenance project tenders and raising homeowner voting thresholds to imposing a smoking ban at construction sites. Wednesday also marked the first time since Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty 28 years ago that a city leader had addressed the first... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3339922/gaps-laid-bare-deadly-hong-kong-fire-focus-first-legco-meeting-new-term?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3339922/gaps-laid-bare-deadly-hong-kong-fire-focus-first-legco-meeting-new-term?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 14 Jan 2026 15:38:54 +0000 Ambrose Li,Harvey Kong Ambrose Li,Harvey Kong Hong Kong authorities have distributed about 30 per cent of a HK$4.1 billion (US$528 million) fund set up for residents affected by last month’s deadly fire, along with more than 45,000 donated items. A spokeswoman for the Home and Youth Bureau said: “The total financial commitment of the various support measures in place so far is around HK$1.2 billion, accounting for about 30 per cent of the support fund.” She was referring to the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, which comprises... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337945/hong-kong-authorities-distribute-30-hk41-billion-tai-po-fire-relief-fund?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337945/hong-kong-authorities-distribute-30-hk41-billion-tai-po-fire-relief-fund?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:30:14 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin The body of the Filipino domestic helper who died in Hong Kong’s deadly blaze last month has been repatriated to her home country, with a senior Philippine official hailing her as a heroine. Filipino Secretary for Migrant Workers Hans Leo Cacdac said the remains of Maryan Pascual Esteban, a 39-year-old helper who died in the devastating fire, arrived in the Philippines on Saturday night. “[We] offered for her our prayers and respects as a slain overseas Filipino worker heroine,” Cacdac said on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337233/filipino-helper-killed-hong-kong-fire-hailed-heroine-body-returns-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337233/filipino-helper-killed-hong-kong-fire-hailed-heroine-body-returns-home?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Dec 2025 09:31:57 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong’s home affairs minister has urged landlords against “fishing in troubled waters” by raising rents to pocket government subsidies meant to help displaced residents of the Tai Po fire. The appeal came days after the government announced it would provide affected homeowners of the Wang Fuk Court fire with an annual rental subsidy of HK$150,000 (US$19,280) for the next two years. “I hate to use the term, but it seems there are some landlords in the district who, as some people also say,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337180/hong-kong-minister-urges-landlords-avoid-cashing-tai-po-fire-rent-aid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337180/hong-kong-minister-urges-landlords-avoid-cashing-tai-po-fire-rent-aid?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 10:17:31 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Denise Tsang Elizabeth Cheung,Denise Tsang Hong Kong authorities are seeking to dissolve the management committee of the Wang Fuk Court owners’ corporation and appoint a new administrator for the residential estate, in an unprecedented move following the city’s deadliest fire in decades. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Friday that the government was intervening for the first time on record in an estate’s affairs by applying to the Lands Tribunal to dissolve the management committee of the owners’... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337085/hong-kong-fire-authorities-seek-dissolve-wang-fuk-court-owners-committee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337085/hong-kong-fire-authorities-seek-dissolve-wang-fuk-court-owners-committee?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 10:03:27 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong authorities took market rates into account before setting a two-year annual subsidy of HK$150,000 (US$19,278) for flat owners displaced by the Tai Po fire, the city’s home affairs minister has said, amid calls for the government to monitor whether the new measure will further drive up rents in the area. Under the new measure, homeowners of the fire-damaged Wang Fuk Court will each receive the subsidy to rent homes in the private market, at a total cost of HK$1.2 billion. Both flat... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337056/market-rates-set-hong-kongs-hk150000-subsidy-tai-po-fire-victims-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337056/market-rates-set-hong-kongs-hk150000-subsidy-tai-po-fire-victims-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 08:12:36 +0000 Willa Wu,William Zheng Willa Wu,William Zheng Hong Kong authorities have made a last-ditch appeal for residents to refocus on the city’s reform and their future by voting in Sunday’s Legislative Council election, as political analysts said public sentiment after the deadly fire in Tai Po would play a decisive role in voter turnout rates. The appeal came as Beijing’s national security office in Hong Kong met with foreign media representatives on Saturday. In a statement, the office said some reports had attacked the election and smeared the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335473/last-ditch-effort-get-hongkongers-vote-legco-poll-turnout-uncertain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3335473/last-ditch-effort-get-hongkongers-vote-legco-poll-turnout-uncertain?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 14:17:31 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li From shoes and clothing to food, daily necessities, logistics services and even university sponsorships for orphans, donors from all walks of life have come together to support survivors of the Tai Po fire, Hong Kong’s deadliest in decades. Beyond the HK$3.3 billion (US$385 million) contributed by the private sector and the government as of Saturday, many compassionate people gave what they could in a show of solidarity. The fire has so far claimed 159 lives, including that of a firefighter, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335435/shoes-scholarships-hongkongers-unite-tai-po-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335435/shoes-scholarships-hongkongers-unite-tai-po-fire-victims?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 04:00:23 +0000 Denise Tsang,Fiona Sun Denise Tsang,Fiona Sun Construction firms began removing scaffold netting from buildings across Hong Kong on Thursday to meet a three-day government-imposed deadline following the city’s deadliest blaze in decades. Authorities also doubled a living allowance for households at fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po and promised to help its residents with long-term housing issues. To meet Saturday’s deadline, contractors at more than 200 buildings under renovation started taking down scaffolding mesh to allay public... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335227/hong-kong-double-living-allowance-tai-po-fire-hit-households-hk100000?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335227/hong-kong-double-living-allowance-tai-po-fire-hit-households-hk100000?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:26:00 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters Hong Kong began a three-day official mourning period on Saturday for victims of the city’s deadliest blaze in decades as residents queued at the site of the tragedy and various halls to pay their respects, penning tributes and laying flowers. For the first time since the fire broke out on Wednesday at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, the death toll remained at 128 on Saturday. No further human remains were recovered, while about 150 people remained “unreachable”, according to police. Graft-busters... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334642/hong-kong-begins-3-days-mourning-more-arrests-made-over-deadly-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334642/hong-kong-begins-3-days-mourning-more-arrests-made-over-deadly-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:59:59 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s home affairs minister has called on NGOs to better coordinate with the government on their support for residents displaced in the city’s deadliest fire in decades following reported confusion on the ground. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen on Saturday also rejected accusations that government-backed care teams had called police to disperse volunteers manning makeshift stations offering supplies to affected residents near the scene of the fire at Wang Fuk Court... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334633/hong-kong-minister-urges-ngos-work-more-closely-government-over-fire-aid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334633/hong-kong-minister-urges-ngos-work-more-closely-government-over-fire-aid?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 13:40:46 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin A Hong Kong government subsidy of HK$60,000 (US$7,710) for victims of the Tai Po fire is only for residents living in Wang Fuk Court, the home affairs minister has clarified amid alleged cases of abuse online. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Saturday that authorities had not received any formal abuse reports so far and vowed to look into any that arose in the future. “This subsidy is for those affected residents, households living in the court during the mega... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334628/hk60000-fire-subsidy-only-wang-fuk-court-residents-hong-kong-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334628/hk60000-fire-subsidy-only-wang-fuk-court-residents-hong-kong-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 12:55:57 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong As despair draped the air and hopes dimmed for the scores still unaccounted for, one scene stood out on the second night after Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades: volunteers forming long human chains next to the charred buildings in Tai Po, passing on supplies hand to hand. These volunteers – mobilised mostly through social media and chat groups – moved the supplies contributed by individuals and businesses to where hundreds of affected residents were staying temporarily. Working tirelessly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334621/we-are-you-hour-need-volunteers-rally-help-hong-kong-fire-displaced?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334621/we-are-you-hour-need-volunteers-rally-help-hong-kong-fire-displaced?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:00:28 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s youth minister has dismissed concerns that young people are “lying flat”, after an outgoing lawmaker voiced worries that the city’s limited development options have caused them to lose hope. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Sunday that her bureau’s youth engagement schemes had seen a doubling in the number of applicants, reflecting the effectiveness of the government’s initiatives to support young people. Her remarks came days after social welfare... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3330352/hong-kong-minister-dismisses-concerns-citys-youth-are-lying-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3330352/hong-kong-minister-dismisses-concerns-citys-youth-are-lying-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 05:56:00 +0000 Lars Hamer Lars Hamer The Hong Kong Jockey Club will pump HK$3 billion (US$384.6 million) into sport in the city over the next three years, with HK$70.75 million earmarked for a programme aimed at developing local basketball. Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges said on Saturday that his organisation wanted “to do even more for sports” and so was doubling the amount it had already provided. A new Jockey Club Believe & Bounce Basketball Programme, funded through its Charities Trust, aims to make the sport more... https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3325418/hong-kong-jockey-club-pump-hk70-million-three-year-basketball-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/basketball/article/3325418/hong-kong-jockey-club-pump-hk70-million-three-year-basketball-project?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 03:23:16 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Basketball betting is poised to be legalised in Hong Kong after lawmakers voted on Thursday to approve a bill meant to counter illicit gambling. The measure passed with 77 members in favour, two abstentions and two opposed. It also enjoys broad community support. As the authorities move to issue betting operator licences, they must also follow through on promised efforts to minimise the addiction risks, especially for young people. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po had floated the idea of... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3325211/legalised-basketball-betting-must-be-accompanied-anti-addiction-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3325211/legalised-basketball-betting-must-be-accompanied-anti-addiction-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 23:00:06 +0000 Leopold Chen,Lo Hoi-ying Leopold Chen,Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong lawmakers have approved a bill to legalise betting on basketball matches as authorities aim to tackle illegal gambling, with the Jockey Club expected to be the sole operator. The Legislative Council passed the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Thursday, empowering the secretary for home and youth affairs to issue basketball betting operator licences with specified terms. The bill also authorises a licensed basketball operator to place bets with other gambling operators for hedging... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3325129/hong-kong-passes-law-legalising-basketball-betting-majority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3325129/hong-kong-passes-law-legalising-basketball-betting-majority?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 04:20:29 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A Hong Kong district councillor has been suspended for a week after being convicted of dangerous driving, the first member to be penalised since the government introduced performance guidelines in 2023. Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Tuesday that Tuen Mun District Council member Kenneth Yip Kat-kong would be suspended for one week after an investigation found that his actions constituted misconduct. She said a five-member supervisory committee had concluded that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3324948/hong-kong-councillor-suspended-misconduct-guidelines-used-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3324948/hong-kong-councillor-suspended-misconduct-guidelines-used-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 15:58:20 +0000 Fiona Sun,Timon Johnson,Lynn Zhang Fiona Sun,Timon Johnson,Lynn Zhang Hongkonger Cyrus Chan*, 28, still remembers how defeated he felt the day he lost almost everything to gambling. “One night, around 10pm, I had just lost again and was left with less than HK$8,000 [US$1,020]. I was ready to end my life,” he said, recalling the incident from two years ago. Chan said a friend introduced him to gambling four years ago, and he soon became addicted. He even quit his job as a construction worker to gamble full-time, which he said won him quick money at first and also... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323224/quitting-hard-how-hong-kong-can-protect-youth-after-legalising-basketball-bets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3323224/quitting-hard-how-hong-kong-can-protect-youth-after-legalising-basketball-bets?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Aug 2025 02:00:10 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft In the first of a two-part series, Connor Mycroft counts the ways Hong Kong’s ethnic minority communities have improved with help and support, after decades of struggling to catch up with the rest of society. Read part two here. Hong Kong-born Bangladeshi Lamia Sreya Rahman has accomplished more at 28 than most people her age. She graduated from the University of Hong Kong with first-class honours in criminology and American studies before obtaining a law degree from the Chinese University of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319198/are-hong-kongs-ethnic-minority-groups-finally-breaking-free-poverty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3319198/are-hong-kongs-ethnic-minority-groups-finally-breaking-free-poverty?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Jul 2025 00:30:09 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A barrister has withdrawn from the Miss Hong Kong Pageant, citing conflicts with her legal career among a number of reasons, while organising broadcaster TVB has said it “respected” her decision. In a post on social media, Kimberlie Chu wrote: “Farewell Miss Hong Kong! I’ve withdrawn!” Chu, who also took part in the contest in 2021 but was eliminated at the top 28 stage, said she had received many positive messages from friends since signing up again this year. She is the second notable... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317913/miss-hong-kong-pageant-loses-another-contestant-over-career-conflicts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317913/miss-hong-kong-pageant-loses-another-contestant-over-career-conflicts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:21:12 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong The Hong Kong government and the largest political party in the city have sought to downplay a controversy involving a district councillor’s brief attempt to compete in a beauty pageant, the Post has learned. Both sides had walked back on any further investigation into whether her actions amounted to misconduct to avoid “reviving the public’s attention” on the episode, sources said. It was also understood that the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) was also... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316231/beijings-liaison-office-angered-angel-chongs-miss-hong-kong-bid-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3316231/beijings-liaison-office-angered-angel-chongs-miss-hong-kong-bid-sources-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 13:30:13 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Taking part in beauty competitions while serving as a public representative is politically and practically infeasible, a commentator and former contestants have said after the city’s youngest district councillor dropped out of this year’s Miss Hong Kong Pageant. Veteran political commentator Sonny Lo Shiu-hing said that he believed Sai Kung district councillor Angel Chong Nga-ting, 24, had faced pressure from her party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3315962/why-hong-kong-district-councillor-cant-have-it-all-beauty-queen-hopeful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3315962/why-hong-kong-district-councillor-cant-have-it-all-beauty-queen-hopeful?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:30:15 +0000