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A man crosses a muddy street where cars piled up after being swept away in floods brought on by Typhoon Kalmaegi, in Bacayan, Cebu City, the Philippines, on November 5. Photo: Reuters
Extreme weather

Letters | Asia is waking up to storms that are stronger – and more polluted

Readers discuss new research that shows how typhoons spread microplastic pollution, encouraging the use of an anti-scam app, and the migrant domestic workers who fell victim to the Tai Po fire.

Australia

Letters | Bondi response must go beyond policing and towards rebuilding unity

Banking & finance

Letters | 5 years on, digital banks are taking root in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Letters | As Hongkongers unite around Tai Po, the fire probe must deliver

Readers discuss how to sustain social cohesion in Hong Kong, the kindness of Hongkongers, and why the world must respond to the Venezuela raid.

Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on January 5. Photo: Dickson Lee
Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on January 5. Photo: Dickson Lee
US-Venezuela conflict

Letters | What US military action in Venezuela looks like to Southeast Asia

Readers discuss the possible repercussions of the Venezuela raid, and water supplies management in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong economy

Letters | Besides part-time employees, Hong Kong should protect gig workers

Readers discuss the status of gig-based work, a health safety net, and the seizure of Nicolas Maduro.

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Venezuela

Letters | The US’ unilateral Venezuela strikes should worry the world

Readers discuss the US’ latest intervention in Latin America, the Trump presidency, and Hong Kong’s EV-charging subsidy.

People look for personal belongings among the rubble following US strikes in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, on January 4. Photo: Reuters
People look for personal belongings among the rubble following US strikes in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, on January 4. Photo: Reuters
Social media

Letters | Scolding not the right way to curb children’s social media use

Readers discuss the parenting styles that are conducive to growth, raising awareness of Hong Kong’s new smoking rules, and minimising disruption in our water supply.

Hong Kong society

Letters | Hong Kong must take pragmatic approach to improving animal welfare

Readers discuss the complexities of balancing animal protection with economic imperatives, the benefits of engaging the elderly in esports, and traffic arrangements on Christmas Eve.

Hong Kong’s Tai Po fire tragedy

Letters | Lesson from Tai Po fire: Hong Kong must close the regulatory loopholes

Readers discuss the scourge of dishonest practices in industries, creating longer breaks for Hong Kong workers, combating illegal parking, and the live-fire drills around Taiwan.

Thick smoke and flames rise as a major fire engulfs apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on November 26. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

Letters | How universities can rein in the abuse of AI

Readers discuss ways to ensure ethical artificial intelligence use in academia, the importance of activating Hong Kong’s emergency alerts, and the city’s healthcare fee hikes.

One way to reduce the irresponsible use of AI in the classroom might include increasing the weighting of assessments such as written exams or impromptu oral responses. Photo: Getty Images
One way to reduce the irresponsible use of AI in the classroom might include increasing the weighting of assessments such as written exams or impromptu oral responses. Photo: Getty Images
War and conflict

Letters | May 2026 bring more peace and more jobs

Readers discuss hopes for the new year, the prospect of an EU-like Asian union, and the cult of ‘result-oriented’.

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Letters | Annual spending cap protects the medically and financially at risk

Readers discuss the healthcare revamp, greater public usage of the Central Kowloon Bypass, and higher education.

Hong Kong society

Letters | How government-led building repairs can work in Hong Kong

Readers discuss the safeguards needed to ensure fairness and effectiveness, and public demand for the coin collection service.

Bamboo scaffolding encases a building under repair in Hong Kong’s Sham Shui Po district on December 5. Hong Kong’s stock of ageing buildings presents a structural challenge. Photo: EPA
Diplomacy

Letters | China’s Latin America policy paper speaks language of multipolarity

Readers discuss why Beijing’s outreach to the region should not be seen as a challenge to Washington, the HK$2 subsidised transport fare for the elderly, and Hong Kong’s New Year countdown.

Chinaís President Xi Jinping speaks during the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), in Beijing on May 13. Photo: AFP
Chinaís President Xi Jinping speaks during the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum of China and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), in Beijing on May 13. Photo: AFP
Hong Kong society

Letters | Why lapses in the Tai Po tragedy are both shocking and familiar

Readers discuss Hong Kong’s light-touch culture, the city’s struggling retail sector, and meeting the emotional needs of men.

Education in Hong Kong

Letters | New benchmarks for Hong Kong language teachers underline policy shift

Readers discuss the new requirements for native-speaking English teachers, the need to prioritise safety and well-being in building renovation, and the commercialisation of Christmas gift-giving.

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Hong Kong society

Letters | Let 2026 be the year we are kinder to animals

Readers suggest what Hongkongers can do in the coming year to make a difference and reflect on the constant pursuit of gratification.

Peta members wearing dolphin masks protest against the Ocean Park’s dolphin shows on August 20. Photo: Nora Tam
Peta members wearing dolphin masks protest against the Ocean Park’s dolphin shows on August 20. Photo: Nora Tam
Social media

Letters | To kick our social media habit, let’s start with the adults

Readers discuss the missing link in efforts to restrict screen time for children, concern over the Jimmy Lai trial and verdict, and rampant illegal parking in Hong Kong.

Education in Hong Kong

Letters | Hong Kong’s AI grant for schools shouldn’t leave out teacher training

Readers discuss the flaws of a hardware-first, training-last approach, shoring up accountability of owners’ corporations, and the aftermath of the Bondi Beach attack.

China's economic recovery

Letters | Shenzhen-Hong Kong special zone could better serve national economy

Readers discuss takeaways from the central economic work conference, native-level English proficiency, and how to honour those lost in the Tai Po fire.

The Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone on April 24. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong society

Letters | Medical volunteers’ joint effort on Tai Po fire relief made a difference

Readers discuss the collaborative spirit of and bonds forged through the mobilisation, and smoking in public in Hong Kong.

A woman receives medical attention at a temporary shelter, after a fire started across multiple buildings at Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on November 26. Photo: Reuters
A woman receives medical attention at a temporary shelter, after a fire started across multiple buildings at Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on November 26. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong society

Letters | Building renovation management should not be entrusted to laymen

Readers discuss the law that makes owners responsible for common parts of buildings, the opening of the Chinese Medicine Hospital, and a robot’s record-breaking feat of endurance.

Extreme weather

Letters | Asia is not built for extreme weather. This must change

Readers discuss the urban planning features essential to climate resilience, the demise of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, and the Legislative Council election.

Hong Kong society

Letters | Tai Po fire tragedy shows importance of disaster risk reduction

Readers discuss how addressing risk factors can save lives and minimise loss, the turnout of the Legislative Council election, and the Japanese prime minister’s controversial remarks on Taiwan.

The buildings of Wang Fuk Court seen on December 16, a month after the devastating fire that engulfed the housing estate. For sudden‑onset disasters like fires, risk reduction is especially vital given the limited response time. Photo: Sam Tsang
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