https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/2/feed Breaking news, analysis and opinion from the SCMP's Hong Kong edition. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Hong Kong authorities have ordered all lift contractors to review the design and construction of landing doors installed over the past 10 years, after a government investigation found missing fire-safety components in lifts in at least 78 private buildings and two public estates. The director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department issued the order in a letter following inspections into lift contractor Taizoom Elevator that revealed “serious deficiencies”. The company is under... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371272/hong-kong-orders-lift-contractors-review-doors-installed-over-past-10-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371272/hong-kong-orders-lift-contractors-review-doors-installed-over-past-10-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 15:57:09 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s legislature has for the first time used artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse lawmakers’ remarks during a three-day debate on the city’s first five-year plan and the latest annual policy address, with talent and the Northern Metropolis emerging as the most-discussed topics. Legislative Council president Starry Lee Wai-king said on Saturday that an overview of the six-session debate had been produced using AI. The session on improving livelihood protections drew the largest number... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371265/ai-used-first-time-analyse-lawmakers-5-year-plan-policy-address-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371265/ai-used-first-time-analyse-lawmakers-5-year-plan-policy-address-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 11:30:12 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong police have arrested the husband of a 34-year-old woman for allegedly stealing luxury goods worth HK$450,000 (US$57,700) from her at home. The woman, surnamed Chan, reported the case to police at around 8.30am on Saturday morning at their home in the Ocean One residential development in Yau Tong. According to police, Chan suspected that her 40-year-old husband, surnamed Lam, had stolen goods worth HK$450,000 in total. The items involved were Chanel and Hermes bags worth HK$300,000 and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371250/man-arrested-alleged-hk450000-theft-wifes-chanel-and-hermes-bags-rolex?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371250/man-arrested-alleged-hk450000-theft-wifes-chanel-and-hermes-bags-rolex?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 09:07:59 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Water pipe smoking will contribute to about 1 million new lung cancer cases globally by 2050, with the Western Pacific region bearing the brunt, according to a study led by a World Health Organization (WHO) research agency that was recently presented in Hong Kong. The study, which is yet to be published, was headed by Dr Mahdi Sheikh, a scientist of the early detection, prevention and infections branch at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It estimated that there would be 82... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371189/shisha-smoking-will-cause-1-million-new-lung-cancer-cases-globally-2050-who-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371189/shisha-smoking-will-cause-1-million-new-lung-cancer-cases-globally-2050-who-study?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Zhisheng Wen Zhisheng Wen When Hong Kong debates how to raise its birth rate, the conversation usually revolves around money: bigger baby bonuses, tax concessions, housing support, cheaper childcare and so on. These economic measures are necessary. Lowering the cost of raising a child removes some real and immediate barriers. However, there is another, lesser-known factor that works more subtly and implicitly. It comes not from economics but from the structure of the language or languages we speak each day. Consider a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3370807/language-matters-hong-kongs-birth-rate-debate-not-just-money?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3370807/language-matters-hong-kongs-birth-rate-debate-not-just-money?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 08:30:06 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong police have raised concerns over Apple’s refusal to activate an additional security protocol to prevent fraud despite repeated calls, as the force received more than 110 reports of unauthorised credit card transactions following the pre-order launch of the company’s latest model. The force said on Saturday that residents began reporting suspicious credit card purchases of the foldable iPhone Duo after online pre-orders started on Friday at 8pm. The largest transaction involved... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371245/police-receive-over-100-reports-about-credit-card-charges-iphone-duo-pre-orders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371245/police-receive-over-100-reports-about-credit-card-charges-iphone-duo-pre-orders?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 07:31:50 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung’s partner told a court this week she initially misled him about her former in-laws’ wealth before describing them as horrible and ungrateful after a bitter family dispute. Chris Tam Fong-chun’s testimony also shed light on his complex relationship with Choi and his former classmate Alex Kwong Kong-chi. The three remained connected through their four children, as Choi had two with each man. During the third week of the murder trial, Tam told the High... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371242/abby-chois-partner-tells-murder-trial-she-hid-ex-laws-financial-reliance-her?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371242/abby-chois-partner-tells-murder-trial-she-hid-ex-laws-financial-reliance-her?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 07:00:10 +0000 Ambrose Li,Emily Hung Ambrose Li,Emily Hung Hong Kong’s revamped Huanggang Port is expected to handle more than 100,000 passenger trips a day over the Chung Yeung Festival long weekend, although its departure hall remained quiet on Saturday morning. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said the border crossing had operated smoothly since opening on Monday, handling about 80,000 passenger trips a day, with the figure exceeding 92,000 on Friday. That represented a 1.5-fold to almost twofold increase from the 30,000 to 40,000 trips... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371240/hong-kongs-new-huanggang-port-seemingly-quiet-ahead-expected-holiday-rush?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371240/hong-kongs-new-huanggang-port-seemingly-quiet-ahead-expected-holiday-rush?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 05:51:54 +0000 Jimmy Chow Jimmy Chow Hong Kong’s next phase of development should make room for both butterflies and buildings, conservationist Dr Yau Wing-kwong has said, arguing that biodiversity can be incorporated into parks, schools and neighbourhoods without holding back the city’s growth. Yau, founder of Environmental Association Limited, has spent nearly three decades promoting community-based conservation. He is a finalist for the Spirit of Community Award in this year’s Spirit of Hong Kong Awards, co-organised by Sino... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371129/butterfly-effect-one-mans-mission-help-nature-and-communities-coexist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371129/butterfly-effect-one-mans-mission-help-nature-and-communities-coexist?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 04:15:05 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Denise Tsang Lam Ka-sing,Denise Tsang Distinctive features will set Hong Kong apart from London, a major bullion hub, as the city accelerates efforts to develop an international gold and precious metals trading ecosystem covering the entire value chain, a minister has told the South China Morning Post. In an exclusive interview on Thursday, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu said the city would officially launch a central gold clearing platform in the first quarter of next year. It would... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371228/hong-kong-touts-distinct-features-set-it-apart-london-global-gold-hub-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371228/hong-kong-touts-distinct-features-set-it-apart-london-global-gold-hub-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 04:01:11 +0000 Jimmy Chow Jimmy Chow For cancer patients in Hong Kong, emotional distress can persist beyond the clinic, with a large combined analysis of multiple studies linking depression and anxiety to lower chances of survival. Claudia Chan Shu-ying, a medical student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), is developing CancerCompanion, a digital companion designed to offer emotional support between appointments, including late at night when professional help may not be immediately available. The system uses AI-powered... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371128/companion-between-appointments-hong-kong-students-ai-tool-cancer-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371128/companion-between-appointments-hong-kong-students-ai-tool-cancer-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 02:15:05 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng A growing number of former senior government officials have joined the race for seats on Hong Kong’s Election Committee, a trend observers say will enhance the prestige and legitimacy of the body tasked with choosing the city’s next leader. As the two-week nomination period draws to a close next Tuesday, the Registration and Electoral Office had received 1,115 nominations for 982 elected seats on the Election Committee as of Friday. The poll will be held on November 22 and the elected members... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371204/growing-number-ex-officials-enter-race-hong-kong-election-committee-seats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371204/growing-number-ex-officials-enter-race-hong-kong-election-committee-seats?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong police have arrested two men over their alleged involvement in at least six break-ins across Kowloon over the past three months, with total losses amounting to HK$1.7 million (US$216,629). The pair – a 54-year-old mainland Chinese man and a 34-year-old Hong Kong resident – were arrested separately on Thursday in Sham Shui Po and Tsim Sha Tsui, respectively. Police identified and located them following a break-in targeting four flats in a private residential building on Farm Road in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371200/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-men-over-hk17-million-kowloon-break-spree?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371200/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-men-over-hk17-million-kowloon-break-spree?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:04:52 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department will launch three new AI-assisted drone technologies to strengthen fire detection and its response to heightened risks during tomb-sweeping activities ahead of the Chung Yeung Festival on Sunday. Wong Tak-fai, acting divisional officer for information and communications technology, said on Friday that the technology would improve the speed and accuracy of fire detection to help the department operate more efficiently. “Artificial intelligence [AI] not only... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371201/ai-powered-drones-help-detect-hill-fires-during-chung-yeung-festival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371201/ai-powered-drones-help-detect-hill-fires-during-chung-yeung-festival?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:16:39 +0000 Edith Lin,Connor Mycroft Edith Lin,Connor Mycroft Hong Kong authorities have found that lifts in another 39 buildings are lacking proper door-frame components following an investigation into faulty replacement works carried out by a contractor involving missing fire-safety parts. The South China Morning Post also learned on Friday that police had arrested a director and two registered lift engineers from the lift contractor, Taizoom Elevator, on suspicion of deception over work at 48 lifts at two housing estates. The latest incidents come just... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371193/3-arrested-over-missing-fire-safety-parts-48-hong-kong-lifts-source-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371193/3-arrested-over-missing-fire-safety-parts-48-hong-kong-lifts-source-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 11:30:01 +0000 Leopold Chen,Edith Lin Leopold Chen,Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities have ordered the developer of One Stanley to inspect eight more homes, including one acquired by a Mongolian mining tycoon’s family, as concerns over substandard work at the seaside luxury estate mount. The details of the inspection were contained in a sales brochure updated by developer K&K Property on Friday and follow an announcement by the Buildings Department last month that it would conduct random checks on buildings at the estate. Online property news platform... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371183/inspections-ordered-8-more-houses-hong-kongs-one-stanley-after-rebar-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371183/inspections-ordered-8-more-houses-hong-kongs-one-stanley-after-rebar-scandal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 10:42:49 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong The former father-in-law of slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung failed to repay a HK$250,000 loan from her partner’s father and asked for help in hiring lawyers after he was remanded in custody for allegedly killing the model three years ago, a court has heard. Tam Chak-kwan, founder of the popular restaurant chain TamJai Yunnan Mixian, testified in the High Court on Friday about his interactions with Kwong Kau in the year leading to the latter’s arrest for his suspected role in Choi’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371182/ex-father-law-failed-repay-hk250000-loan-abby-choi-murder-trial-hears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371182/ex-father-law-failed-repay-hk250000-loan-abby-choi-murder-trial-hears?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 10:40:16 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Private hospitals and clinics have thrown their support behind proposed Hong Kong government measures that will make their pricing more transparent, such as publishing annual billing statistics, despite potentially higher operating costs. Healthcare providers said on Friday that the latest proposed measures, which could start with private hospitals from August next year at the earliest, were “feasible” and “reasonable”. Details were set out in a document submitted by the Health Bureau to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371134/hong-kong-private-healthcare-providers-face-new-rules-make-fees-more-transparent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371134/hong-kong-private-healthcare-providers-face-new-rules-make-fees-more-transparent?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:35:40 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying An elderly woman who pasted materials containing pro-independence slogans and Hong Kong’s colonial-era flag outside her flat has been sentenced to three months in a maximum-security psychiatric institution for displaying seditious publications. West Kowloon Court ordered housewife Yang Chau-ki, 62, to undergo mandatory psychiatric treatment at the Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre on Friday. She was charged with knowingly displaying publications with seditious intent under Hong Kong’s Article 23... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371131/hong-kong-housewife-gets-3-months-psychiatric-institution-over-seditious-posters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371131/hong-kong-housewife-gets-3-months-psychiatric-institution-over-seditious-posters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:32:05 +0000 Eric Jiang,Lexi Tian Eric Jiang,Lexi Tian Hong Kong can capture a share of the global yacht industry, which is expected to reach HK$350 billion (US$44.6 billion) in six years, a senior official has said as the city launched a scheme to welcome leisure vessels from mainland China. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also announced fresh measures to attract overseas captains and draw superyachts to the city on Friday. The new Southbound Travel for Yachts from Guangdong scheme is part of the government’s broader plan to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371123/hong-kong-aims-share-hk350-billion-yacht-industry-travel-scheme-launches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371123/hong-kong-aims-share-hk350-billion-yacht-industry-travel-scheme-launches?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:03:02 +0000 Jimmy Chow Jimmy Chow Pro Bono HK is known for helping people in need access justice in Hong Kong, but its work extends beyond legal advice to connecting clients with social workers and community groups for further support and promoting legal education. Founded in 2014, the organisation helps people who may not qualify for legal aid or cannot afford private representation. Its work ranges from tenancy and family disputes to inheritance matters and emergency legal support. Pro Bono HK and its volunteers are finalists... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371081/beyond-legal-advice-hong-kong-charity-helps-bridge-gap-access-justice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371081/beyond-legal-advice-hong-kong-charity-helps-bridge-gap-access-justice?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 06:15:05 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong American athleisure brand Alo generated nearly HK$20 million (US$2.6 million) in sales during its first week in Hong Kong, breaking an opening-week record at a luxury waterfront shopping centre and highlighting growing appetite for premium wellness products amid an uneven retail recovery. The brand, which soft opened its first Greater China flagship at K11 Musea in Tsim Sha Tsui on September 25, recorded the highest first-week sales among new stores at the mall, excluding jewellery and watch... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371055/alo-yoga-rakes-record-hk20-million-first-week-sales-hong-kong-mall?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371055/alo-yoga-rakes-record-hk20-million-first-week-sales-hong-kong-mall?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 05:00:08 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chinese scientists say they spotted possible Israeli electronic warfare units Chinese military scientists claim they have developed an algorithm that could help identify electronic warfare units using civil aviation flight data. 2.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3371090/china-maps-israeli-spoofing-flight-data-new-us-press-secretary-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/article/3371090/china-maps-israeli-spoofing-flight-data-new-us-press-secretary-scmps-7-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:15:11 +0000 Jimmy Chow Jimmy Chow For nearly five decades, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra has worked to bring its music to a wider audience, including people who might never have considered entering a concert hall. Executive director Celina Chin Man-wah said the orchestra had long sought to ensure Chinese music was not seen as distant, formal or difficult to understand. That has meant commissioning new works, exploring different musical styles and developing programmes for younger audiences. “We cannot rely on the old... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371080/more-music-hong-kong-chinese-orchestra-strikes-chord-across-generations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371080/more-music-hong-kong-chinese-orchestra-strikes-chord-across-generations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:15:08 +0000 Christina Zhao Christina Zhao The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) opened the city’s first experimental hub for embodied artificial intelligence on Thursday with the participation of seven mainland and Hong Kong companies, including industry leaders Unitree Robotics and Galbot, as the city looks to carve out a role in the global robotics boom. Located at the HKPC Building in Kowloon Tong, the Embodied AI International Applications Hub, housed under the HKPC’s industrial AI and robotics centre, features simulated... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371095/hong-kong-vies-role-robotics-boom-launch-embodied-ai-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/tech/tech-trends/article/3371095/hong-kong-vies-role-robotics-boom-launch-embodied-ai-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 04:00:39 +0000 Jimmy Chow Jimmy Chow After years of teaching Hongkongers about death and end-of-life arrangements, Dr Ng Kwai-lun realised there was a gap between what people were told they could do and the services actually available to them. Determined to bridge that gap, he left a stable university career to become an entrepreneur. Ng had worked at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s medical school, where he managed embalming and helped run and promote its body donation initiative. But by 2020, the pandemic had exposed another... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371040/its-your-funeral-former-academic-gives-hongkongers-more-end-life-choices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371040/its-your-funeral-former-academic-gives-hongkongers-more-end-life-choices?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 02:15:05 +0000 SCMP Plus SCMP Plus Download the PDF This is the fourth in a series of factsheets about Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and 2026 policy address. Part I – Hong Kong’s new chapter Part II – The story begins ... Part III – Sharpening Hong Kong’s edge Part IV – Tapping into tech and talent The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3371079/tapping-tech-and-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3371079/tapping-tech-and-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 02:00:09 +0000 SCMP Plus SCMP Plus Download the PDF This is the third in a series of Factsheets on Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and 2026 policy address. Part I – Hong Kong’s new chapter Part II – The story begins ... Part III – Sharpening Hong Kong’s edge Part IV – Tapping into tech and talent The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October 20.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3371076/sharpening-hong-kongs-edge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3371076/sharpening-hong-kongs-edge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 02:00:07 +0000 Simpson Cheung,Jess Ma Simpson Cheung,Jess Ma Hong Kong police will conduct round-the-clock patrols in Wan Chai from Friday as part of enhanced security arrangements for the coming Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting, as delegates begin arriving in the city, the South China Morning Post has learned. Delegates from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation member economies will travel to Hong Kong as early as Friday for preparatory work, although most ministers are not expected to arrive until Sunday at the earliest. They will stay at several top... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371050/hong-kong-carry-out-24-hour-patrols-near-apec-meeting-venue-and-delegate-hotels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371050/hong-kong-carry-out-24-hour-patrols-near-apec-meeting-venue-and-delegate-hotels?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:30:09 +0000 SCMP SCMP This is the fourth in a series of factsheets about Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and 2026 policy address. Part I – Hong Kong’s new chapter Part II – The story begins... Part III – Sharpening the city’s edge Part IV – Tapping into tech and talent The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October 20. You can find it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371053/tapping-tech-and-talent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371053/tapping-tech-and-talent?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:15 +0000 SCMP SCMP This is the third in a series of Factsheets on Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and 2026 policy address. Part I – Hong Kong’s new chapter Part II – The story begins... Part III – Sharpening the city’s edge Part IV – Tapping into tech and talent The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This Factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October 20. You can find it at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371054/sharpening-citys-edge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3371054/sharpening-citys-edge?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:00:10 +0000 Denise Tsang Denise Tsang The coming Apec finance ministers’ meeting in Hong Kong will demonstrate “China’s voice” in regional stability, with the city uniquely placed to bring together regional leaders for important exchanges in a geopolitically charged world, the treasury chief has said. In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post on Thursday, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu said the timing of the meeting of finance ministers from the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371051/hong-kong-apec-meet-showcase-chinas-voice-stability-treasury-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3371051/hong-kong-apec-meet-showcase-chinas-voice-stability-treasury-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:00:31 +0000 Jane Lee Jane Lee Hong Kong’s efforts to boost the number of newborns in the city should be considered in the context of talent retention relating to Hong Kong’s liveability. When the Census and Statistics Department reported in August that births in Hong Kong had fallen by an annualised 15.6 per cent to a historic low of fewer than 30,000, it injected a sharp sense of urgency into public discussions as Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu prepared to deliver his policy address. The government addressed concerns with... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3370723/beyond-baby-bonuses-hong-kong-needs-attract-couples-liveability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3370723/beyond-baby-bonuses-hong-kong-needs-attract-couples-liveability?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 21:30:07 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong authorities have uncovered alleged corner-cutting and false declarations involving fire-safety components in a contractor’s replacement of 48 lifts at two public housing estates. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department said on Thursday that surprise inspections had found serious deficiencies in projects carried out by Taizoom Elevator (Hong Kong) at Tsui Ping (North) Estate in Kwun Tong and Pok Hong Estate in Sha Tin. It said 39 lifts replaced between May 2025 and July this... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371062/firm-accused-cost-cutting-false-declarations-over-fire-safety-parts-48-lifts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371062/firm-accused-cost-cutting-false-declarations-over-fire-safety-parts-48-lifts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:17:40 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has appealed to the public for a liver donation for a 13-year-old boy suffering from severe liver failure who urgently needs a transplant. The authority, which is also seeking help from mainland China, said on Thursday evening that the boy, being treated at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam, was now in a serious condition. “The patient has been experiencing severe hepatic failure and developed severe complications including recurrent hyperammonemia and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371059/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-appeals-liver-donor-boy-13?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371059/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-appeals-liver-donor-boy-13?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:15:39 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong suffered a record net loss of 40 kindergartens this year amid a shrinking student population and as the median age of women giving birth to their first child rose to its highest yet, according to official figures. In its overview of preschools released on Thursday, the Education Bureau revealed that 930 kindergartens were currently operating in Hong Kong, down from roughly 970 in the previous school year. While some new kindergartens were launched, the net decrease stood at 40, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3371049/hong-kong-loses-record-40-kindergartens-birth-rate-drops-women-wait-have-kids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3371049/hong-kong-loses-record-40-kindergartens-birth-rate-drops-women-wait-have-kids?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:12:02 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong police have arrested six people allegedly tied to a nine-year scam run by a suspected cross-border criminal syndicate offering business opportunities in agarwood and cryptocurrency, with funds involved reaching HK$14 million (US$1.78 million). Superintendent Allan Chu Ming-lun of the commercial crime bureau said on Thursday that investigations began in September after the force received 21 reports from victims, mostly elderly people, saying they had been investing in various products... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371037/6-arrested-over-hk14m-agarwood-and-crypto-investment-scam-ran-9-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371037/6-arrested-over-hk14m-agarwood-and-crypto-investment-scam-ran-9-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:13:16 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A 19-year-old teenager has admitted splashing corrosive liquid on a Singaporean tourist in Hong Kong last year, leaving her with second-degree burns. The High Court on Thursday heard the guilty plea from Anson Kew, who was 17 when he threw a corrosive solution at 36-year-old Jiang Wen, who was visiting the city, on June 9 last year. Jiang was getting into a vehicle in Wan Chai when Kew, dressed in black and wearing a mask, ambushed her. She screamed in pain and collapsed after feeling an intense... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371038/hong-kong-teenager-pleads-guilty-acid-attack-singaporean-tourist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371038/hong-kong-teenager-pleads-guilty-acid-attack-singaporean-tourist?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:10:42 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying The Hong Kong Pride Parade committee has cancelled an indoor event at Central Market next month after being told the venue is unavailable due to an “administrative error”. In a social media post on Thursday, the committee said its Rainbow Market, scheduled for November 14 at the revamped landmark, had been cancelled because the venue “could no longer host it”. The group said it approached Central Market, which is managed by Chinachem Group, in early June, confirmed the booking and paid a deposit... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371031/booking-overlap-forces-hong-kong-pride-parade-cancel-indoor-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371031/booking-overlap-forces-hong-kong-pride-parade-cancel-indoor-market?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:15:54 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested a man and a woman after he allegedly stole a gold necklace worth nearly HK$80,000 (US$10,193) from a Chow Sang Sang jewellery store in Tai Po. The man was tracked down in the same district on Thursday afternoon, but only half of the necklace has been recovered. The unemployed 37-year-old entered the store on Kwong Fuk Road at about 3.10pm on Wednesday. Believed to be financially strapped, he carried out the theft without attempting to cover his face. After asking... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371030/hong-kong-police-arrest-suspect-hk80000-tai-po-gold-necklace-theft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371030/hong-kong-police-arrest-suspect-hk80000-tai-po-gold-necklace-theft?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 10:13:14 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Revamped CTF Media and Entertainment, which holds one of Hong Kong’s three free-to-air television licences, plans to expand its focus beyond TV programmes and broadband to entertainment and the sports economy as its traditional businesses stagnate. Revealing the new logo of the company previously known as i-Cable Communications, CEO and executive director Ivy Wong Nga-fan listed its five core areas going forward: event organisation and investment; celebrity merchandising and e-commerce;... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371022/ctf-media-eyes-sports-expansion-traditional-tv-and-broadband-growth-stagnates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371022/ctf-media-eyes-sports-expansion-traditional-tv-and-broadband-growth-stagnates?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:41:23 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Lingnan University in Hong Kong has scrapped its requirement for undergraduates to pass an English proficiency test before graduating, replacing it with internal language classes. The move has sparked concerns among some observers that the change was intended to accommodate students who struggle to meet international standards. Lau Chi-pang, special adviser to the president on publicity, confirmed on Thursday that the university no longer saw a need for an exit exam, noting that 99 per cent of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3371009/hong-kongs-lingnan-university-scraps-english-exit-test-graduation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3371009/hong-kongs-lingnan-university-scraps-english-exit-test-graduation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:32:13 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau The Hong Kong public’s dissatisfaction with customer service is growing, with complaints in the first nine months of the year already exceeding the total for 2025 and many involving companies’ overreliance on artificial intelligence (AI). The Consumer Council received 3,078 complaints about traders’ customer service between January and September, compared with 2,715 for the whole of last year and 2,173 in 2024. “Among the consumer complaints received by the Consumer Council each year, many... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371006/hong-kong-customer-service-complaints-top-2025-total-ai-use-fuels-frustration?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371006/hong-kong-customer-service-complaints-top-2025-total-ai-use-fuels-frustration?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:19:36 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Hong Kong has emerged as the third best city in the world for wealthy individuals seeking to make philanthropic contributions over the medium term, trailing New York and Seoul, according to a study by Altrata. The inaugural Giving Opportunity Index by the US-based group that tracks the world’s affluent population ranked 100 cities based on three criteria: wealth, donor affinity and philanthropic infrastructure. The study defined the “global wealthy” as individuals with a net worth of more than... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371004/hong-kong-ranks-third-globally-philanthropy-hub-behind-new-york-and-seoul-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3371004/hong-kong-ranks-third-globally-philanthropy-hub-behind-new-york-and-seoul-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 09:00:30 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong The partner of slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung has denied seeking a sexual relationship with her ex-husband when they were young, saying he only remained in contact because their children shared the same mother. Testifying on Thursday, Chris Tam Fong-chun appeared surprised when a defence lawyer suggested he wanted a “romantic and sexual relationship” with Alex Kwong Kong-chi when they were studying at the same international school. “Definitely disagree,” Tam said after seeking... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3370987/abby-chois-partner-tells-court-her-ex-father-law-helped-resolve-his-hk5m-debt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3370987/abby-chois-partner-tells-court-her-ex-father-law-helped-resolve-his-hk5m-debt?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:46:57 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang More than 1,000 residents are expected to ride in autonomous vehicles (AVs) after Chinese technology giant Baidu launches Hong Kong’s first large-scale public trial next week. Baidu’s autonomous driving platform, Apollo, will run the trial in Tung Chung from October 21 to November 3, inviting more than 1,000 residents to take part. Iris Wong Man-hei, senior project and business development manager for Baidu’s intelligent driving group, described the trial as a “milestone” for the city’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370979/over-1000-hongkongers-ride-baidus-robotaxis-city-first-public-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370979/over-1000-hongkongers-ride-baidus-robotaxis-city-first-public-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 07:14:33 +0000 Jimmy Chow Jimmy Chow Inconvenience is one of the biggest obstacles to recycling, a challenge that prompted a Hongkonger to establish a one-stop recycling service. Jorch Wong Ching-hei left advertising in 2019 and started The Loops Hong Kong after finding that recycling different materials often required travelling to different collection points. With no prior background in the industry, he contacted recycling operators, visited plants and learned how paper, plastics and metals were processed. Wong also taught... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3370913/spirit-hong-kong-awards-start-turns-tech-tackle-urban-waste?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3370913/spirit-hong-kong-awards-start-turns-tech-tackle-urban-waste?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:15:05 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal A mild displacement of jobs across the Asia-Pacific region as companies expand their use of AI would trim five percentage points off growth in office space demand in the next few years, according to property consultancy CBRE. In a report released on Thursday it said 3.9 per cent of office jobs were vulnerable to artificial intelligence-driven displacement in developed markets in the region, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. However, only 1.7... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370934/ai-job-losses-set-rein-office-demand-developed-asia-pacific-economies-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3370934/ai-job-losses-set-rein-office-demand-developed-asia-pacific-economies-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 06:00:11 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Two rush-hour disruptions at Hong Kong’s Lam Tin MTR station within 15 hours could be connected if they involved the same power supply circuit or exposed procedural shortcomings, an engineering expert has said, with a lawmaker urging the rail operator to offer more targeted compensation to affected passengers. The first disruption occurred on Tuesday evening, when an insulating rubber component in a track turnout caught fire, halting services for about an hour. The second struck on Wednesday... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3370964/2-hong-kong-mtr-disruptions-may-be-linked-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3370964/2-hong-kong-mtr-disruptions-may-be-linked-expert-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 05:38:33 +0000 Jimmy Chow Jimmy Chow Veteran Cantonese opera teacher Leung Sum-yee does not expect every child who enters her classroom to become a performer. If they leave knowing what good Cantonese opera sounds and looks like, she considers that worthwhile too. “My purpose was not to train stars or idols. I wanted more people to understand Cantonese opera and to have more audiences,” she said. That approach has guided Leung through more than three decades of teaching and cultural advocacy. She founded an opera organisation in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3370881/spirit-hong-kong-awards-veteran-who-keeps-flame-cantonese-opera-alive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3370881/spirit-hong-kong-awards-veteran-who-keeps-flame-cantonese-opera-alive?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Oct 2026 04:15:05 +0000