https://www.scmp.com/rss/524383/feed A British-founded confederation of 21 independent charitable organisations, Oxfam is dedicated to alleviating global poverty and injustice. Established in Oxford in 1942, it operates in over 70 countries, with its international secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya, and a foundation registered in The Hague, Netherlands. Its main areas of activity include providing humanitarian aid, advocating for economic justice, gender equality, and climate action, and tackling the root causes of inequality. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Experts have warned that the HK$1 (13 US cents) increase in Hong Kong’s minimum wage, which takes effect on Labour Day, is unlikely to significantly boost low-paid workers’ incomes, but should help preserve purchasing power and ease labour tensions under a new formula. Human resources expert Alexa Chow Yee-ping, managing director of ACTS Consulting, said the latest rise broadly aligned with recent pay trends. “The actual impact is not significant, as the increase is roughly the same as last... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352069/hk1-minimum-wage-rise-unlikely-significantly-lift-low-paid-incomes-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3352069/hk1-minimum-wage-rise-unlikely-significantly-lift-low-paid-incomes-experts-say?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 May 2026 03:01:00 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Hong Kong’s largest trail race, the Oxfam Trailwalker, will open registration for its 2026 edition next Wednesday, with the organiser introducing a 20km category to mark the event’s 50th anniversary. The signature 100km event will once again form the centrepiece for the race, which will take place from November 20 to 22. Teams of four will set off from Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung and finish at Harrow International School Hong Kong in Tuen Mun, traversing most of the MacLehose Trail and connecting... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3351877/oxfam-trailwalker-introduce-20km-category-mark-events-50th-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/trail-running/article/3351877/oxfam-trailwalker-introduce-20km-category-mark-events-50th-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:07:53 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow Hong Kong’s labour authorities have expanded heat stress monitoring to include data from 10 sites, enabling faster alerts to better safeguard outdoor workers. Deputy Commissioner for Labour Vincent Fung Hao-yin said on Monday that the department would incorporate data from the Observatory’s newly added monitoring stations at eight sites across the city. The move is intended to provide a more accurate picture of heat stress levels for issuing warnings when outdoor workers should take breaks of at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349913/hong-kong-expands-heat-stress-monitoring-better-protect-outdoor-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349913/hong-kong-expands-heat-stress-monitoring-better-protect-outdoor-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:40:34 +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 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A famine declared in Gaza in August is now over thanks to improved access for humanitarian aid, the United Nations said on Friday, but warned the food situation in the Palestinian territory remained dire. More than 70 per cent of the population were living in makeshift shelters, it said, with hunger exacerbated by winter floods and an increasing risk of hypothermia as temperatures plummet. Although a ceasefire between Israel and militant group Hamas that took effect in October has partially... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3337131/un-declares-gaza-famine-over-situation-remains-critical-amid-fragile-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3337131/un-declares-gaza-famine-over-situation-remains-critical-amid-fragile-ceasefire?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:36:37 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal,Enoch Yiu Cheryl Arcibal,Enoch Yiu Hong Kong developers have postponed property sales scheduled for Friday as the city mourns the deaths of dozens of residents in a devastating fire that broke out in Tai Po. Sino Group and New World Development announced on Thursday that the sale of 150 units at One Park Place in Yau Tong and 63 units at the Austin Bohemian project in Yau Ma Tei, respectively, would be deferred. Both Sino Group and NWD did not disclose the reason for the postponement or when sales would be rescheduled. Meanwhile,... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3334316/hong-kong-developers-sino-group-nwd-delay-home-sales-after-devastating-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3334316/hong-kong-developers-sino-group-nwd-delay-home-sales-after-devastating-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:11:32 +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 Asia’s economic success has lifted millions from poverty, but we should be honest: that promise is now slipping through the fingers of millions across the continent. Inequality isn’t just an abstract number on a spreadsheet. It’s felt in the pockets of a farmer in Pakistan’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3331302/rising-inequality-will-erode-asias-gains-poverty-reduction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3331302/rising-inequality-will-erode-asias-gains-poverty-reduction?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 03:30:09 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee With over 12,000 registered yachts but only around 4,300 berths, Hong Kong plans to boost its yacht tourism by adding about 1,100 berths at several locations: the proposed Airport Bay Marina, the Hung Hom harbourfront, the former Lamma Quarry and the expanded Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter. The projects are part of the city’s waterfront developments. Airport Bay Marina, for instance, was revealed in the Skytopia master plan, which includes an expanded AsiaWorld-Expo, a “jet fresh market” designed to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3330818/hong-kongs-superyacht-economy-must-not-leave-citys-poor-its-wake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3330818/hong-kongs-superyacht-economy-must-not-leave-citys-poor-its-wake?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof Economic growth across Southeast Asia is increasingly being overshadowed by widening inequality and entrenched corruption, with discontent now spilling onto the streets, according to a new Oxfam report released just a day after Asean leaders concluded their annual summit in Kuala Lumpur. The study, titled “An Unequal Future: Asia’s Struggle for Justice in a Warming, Wired World” and released on Wednesday, found that the richest 10 per cent of Asians took between 60 and 77 per cent of national... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3330772/southeast-asia-faces-unequal-future-rising-inequality-corruption-fuel-unrest-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3330772/southeast-asia-faces-unequal-future-rising-inequality-corruption-fuel-unrest-report?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:33:07 +0000 Associated Press,dpa Associated Press,dpa US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and warned Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. Trump announced the development as he prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House on Monday. The US leader has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza. “My Representatives had a long... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3316566/trump-says-israel-has-agreed-gaza-ceasefire-terms-warns-hamas-accept?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3316566/trump-says-israel-has-agreed-gaza-ceasefire-terms-warns-hamas-accept?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 23:33:24 +0000 Reuters,Agence France-Presse Reuters,Agence France-Presse The High Court in London rejected a legal challenge on Monday, brought by a Palestinian rights group, seeking to block the UK from supplying components for Israeli F-35 fighter jets. Israel has used the jets to devastating effect in its bombardment of Gaza. Both sides have been accused of atrocities during a conflict that has killed tens of thousands – the vast majority of them Palestinian civilians, according to figures the United Nations deems reliable. The UK government suspended some export... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3316403/high-court-rejects-rights-groups-claim-uk-illegally-arming-israel-f-35-parts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3316403/high-court-rejects-rights-groups-claim-uk-illegally-arming-israel-f-35-parts?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Jun 2025 11:23:32 +0000