https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/316074/feed Elizabeth Cheung has been reporting on health for the Post's Hong Kong desk since 2014. She covers general medical news, breakthrough medical treatments and research, government policy and hospital blunders. Elizabeth has a master's in development studies. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong’s largest public hospital, built on the former airport site in Kai Tak, began its first phase of operations on Monday after more than a decade of planning and preparation. The South China Morning Post looks at the hospital’s key features and what its opening means for the city’s healthcare development. 1. What makes Kai Tak Hospital special? With a gross floor area of roughly 500,000 square metres (5.38 million square feet) and 2,400 beds, Kai Tak Hospital will be Hong Kong’s largest... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369717/kai-tak-hospital-opens-week-what-you-need-know-visiting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369717/kai-tak-hospital-opens-week-what-you-need-know-visiting?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong is playing a central role as part of a broader regional hub for research breakthroughs, the head of a leading global cancer organisation has said, adding that the city’s success in reducing its smoking rate has set an example for others to follow. Cary Adams, CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control, praised the city’s tobacco control efforts as the organisation held the World Cancer Congress in Hong Kong for the first time late last month. “We’ve all become aware globally... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369670/hong-kongs-cancer-research-drawing-global-attention-says-leading-bodys-chief?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369670/hong-kongs-cancer-research-drawing-global-attention-says-leading-bodys-chief?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Oct 2026 01:00:15 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong has cut its cancer-related death rate by more than 40 per cent over the past three decades, the health minister has said, as the chief executive renewed his pledge to make the city a hub for medical innovation. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau outlined the city’s progress in controlling the disease at the World Cancer Congress, which is being held in Hong Kong for the first time. Citing figures from 1993 to 2023, Lo said Hong Kong’s age-standardised cancer mortality rate had fallen by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368624/hong-kong-reports-more-40-drop-cancer-related-death-rate-over-30-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368624/hong-kong-reports-more-40-drop-cancer-related-death-rate-over-30-years?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:34:32 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Foreign domestic carers brought to Hong Kong to look after elderly residents under a proposed government pilot scheme would receive 10 to 20 per cent more pay than existing helpers, the labour minister has said. Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han on Friday revealed additional details about the arrangement for foreign domestic carers, as the government also released a comprehensive report outlining strategies for an ageing society. The report listed 73 measures spanning 11 areas,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368063/foreign-carers-elderly-get-10-20-more-pay-current-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368063/foreign-carers-elderly-get-10-20-more-pay-current-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:15:56 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Doctors in Hong Kong have been urged to arrange blood tests for patients with symptoms of chikungunya fever, regardless of their travel history, after the city recorded its first local case of the mosquito-borne disease this year. The Centre for Health Protection issued a reminder to doctors on Thursday after a 55-year-old woman with no recent travel history was reported as Hong Kong’s first locally acquired chikungunya fever case in 2026. “To facilitate early diagnosis and timely public health... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368007/doctors-urged-test-chikungunya-hong-kong-detects-first-local-2026-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368007/doctors-urged-test-chikungunya-hong-kong-detects-first-local-2026-case?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:06:30 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong will strive to raise its expenditure on innovation activities to a level equivalent to 3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by around 2030, nearly double the current rate, according to the city’s first five-year plan. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled the ambitious goal, together with measures to boost frontier technologies, including aerospace research, on Wednesday. Among the 22 indicators laid out in the plan, the government aims to raise the ratio of total domestic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367767/hong-kong-aims-raise-innovation-spending-3-gdp-about-2030?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367767/hong-kong-aims-raise-innovation-spending-3-gdp-about-2030?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 15:30:33 +0000 Simpson Cheung,William Yiu,Elizabeth Cheung Simpson Cheung,William Yiu,Elizabeth Cheung A new visa intended to attract international talent to participate in short-term training programmes in Hong Kong could become available as early as the first quarter of next year, the South China Morning Post has learned. The final policy address of Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s current term also put the spotlight on five existing or soon-to-launch academies that would seek to train overseas professionals and organise international events. They and the new visa category were among a spate... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367763/hong-kongs-new-training-visa-could-be-available-first-quarter-2027?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367763/hong-kongs-new-training-visa-could-be-available-first-quarter-2027?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:15:30 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Vivian Au Elizabeth Cheung,Vivian Au In the second of our series of previews on the five-year plan and policy address, to be announced on September 16, Elizabeth Cheung and Vivian Au drill down on what’s holding back the Northern Metropolis. Read part one here. For employees of surgical robotics company Yuanhua Tech, travelling between their Shenzhen base in Nanshan district and its Hong Kong office in the Science Park means a two-hour commute. And when the hi-tech firm sends money to Hong Kong for operations, the process can take... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367105/can-john-lee-untie-4-knots-choking-tech-loop-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367105/can-john-lee-untie-4-knots-choking-tech-loop-northern-metropolis?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Sep 2026 02:30:09 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong’s medical watchdog has said a target time frame for handling complaints will not be necessary as it presented its rebuttal against a government proposal that includes major reforms to its operations, disciplinary sentencing, internal supervision and membership make-up. The Medical Council on Tuesday presented its views on the government’s proposed amendments, which were first laid out in late June and aimed to speed up the watchdog’s process and accountability in handling... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366950/hong-kong-medical-council-rejects-proposal-time-frame-handling-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366950/hong-kong-medical-council-rejects-proposal-time-frame-handling-complaints?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:40:55 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung A professor at Hong Kong’s oldest medical school has been suspended from clinical work and face-to-face teaching after the university discovered he was temporarily disqualified from practising in Canada following past sexual harassment allegations. The University of Hong Kong (HKU) confirmed on Monday that Peter Tanuseputro, a clinical professor in the department of family medicine and primary care, was asked to work from home after the university became aware of a professional misconduct ruling... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366656/university-hong-kong-suspends-professor-over-past-sexual-misconduct-canada?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366656/university-hong-kong-suspends-professor-over-past-sexual-misconduct-canada?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Sep 2026 11:45:43 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Soon after becoming a mother, Hong Kong resident Sarah Tam enjoyed eight hours of sleep a night and yoga sessions at a post-partum care centre in neighbouring Shenzhen, where carers looked after her newborn around the clock. Tam, a 30-year-old social worker who gave birth in mid-July, spent a month at the facility in mainland China, recovering from delivery with total peace of mind. She said she felt completely at ease leaving her baby in their care, which allowed “mothers to truly focus on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366276/faster-and-cheaper-why-hongkongers-are-heading-north-medical-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366276/faster-and-cheaper-why-hongkongers-are-heading-north-medical-care?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Sep 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, vice-chancellor and president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), is a world-renowned molecular geneticist widely regarded as the Hongkonger closest to winning a Nobel Prize, but he maintains “a calm attitude” about it. In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, Lo appeared dispassionate about whether he would receive the prestigious award. Instead, he credited his success to his team and spoke enthusiastically about his... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3363408/cuhk-chief-dennis-lo-calm-about-talk-nobel-prize-groundbreaking-test?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3363408/cuhk-chief-dennis-lo-calm-about-talk-nobel-prize-groundbreaking-test?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Aug 2026 01:00:09 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong parents should have their children vaccinated against respiratory infections as the city faces a triple threat from influenza, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a medical expert has said. Dr Mike Kwan Yat-wah, an honorary clinical associate professor in the University of Hong Kong’s department of paediatrics and adolescent medicine, warned on Saturday that the current summer flu season had yet to reach its peak. His remarks came four days after the city recorded its first... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363391/parents-urged-vaccinate-children-amid-threat-flu-covid-19-and-rsv-infections?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363391/parents-urged-vaccinate-children-amid-threat-flu-covid-19-and-rsv-infections?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:50:36 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong octogenarian Chan Yiu-kuen is ready to let death take its course when the time comes. The 89-year-old said she would sign an advance medical directive to clearly indicate which life-sustaining treatments she would not want if she became terminally ill. “It is OK to depart the world at my old age. Better not to rescue me further, as it could be hard for me,” said Chan, who is mentally capable and has no major illnesses. Chan is among residents signing directives with the help of doctors... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362579/residents-sign-directives-hong-kongs-new-end-life-law-takes-effect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362579/residents-sign-directives-hong-kongs-new-end-life-law-takes-effect?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:12:33 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Veronica Qi Elizabeth Cheung,Veronica Qi The parents of a Hong Kong baby taken into care have applied for a legal order to review the custody decision by welfare authorities, expressing “fear and anger” over arrangements for the boy to receive “medical intervention” against their wishes. Tsang Wai-bong and Kwan Pui-sin said on Friday they had already asked that their son, Danny, not be vaccinated, adding that the decision to remove him from their custody should not be based on their opposition to vaccines and prenatal... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3362482/fear-and-anger-drive-parents-seek-legal-review-citys-custody-their-infant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3362482/fear-and-anger-drive-parents-seek-legal-review-citys-custody-their-infant?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Jul 2026 04:22:44 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung A new law allowing patients in Hong Kong to reject life-sustaining treatments when they are terminally ill will take effect on Friday. The South China Morning Post looks into how the law will affect patients and healthcare professionals. 1. What is the new law about? The Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance will come into effect on July 31, following its passage by the Legislative Council in November 2024. The law gives patients the power to reject certain life-sustaining... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362287/how-does-hong-kongs-new-end-life-law-affect-patients-and-medical-staff?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362287/how-does-hong-kongs-new-end-life-law-affect-patients-and-medical-staff?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Jul 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Jess Ma Elizabeth Cheung,Jess Ma A 50-year-old independent bookshop has announced it will close when its lease ends, following a raid by Hong Kong national security police earlier this month. Customers at Greenfield Book Store said on Wednesday they headed to the shop on Sai Yeung Choi Street South in Mong Kok after learning the news of the closure earlier in the day. In a social media post announcing its closure, Greenfield expressed its gratitude to customers. “The shop will close down after the end of the lease. Thank you,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3362198/after-50-years-business-bookshop-close-following-national-security-raid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3362198/after-50-years-business-bookshop-close-following-national-security-raid?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 03:21:39 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung A fire broke out at a village house in Hong Kong on Wednesday, leaving one man dead and forcing nearly 80 people to evacuate. Authorities said they were alerted at around 4.30am to the blaze at a house made of metal sheets in Ling Shan Tsuen in Fanling. Police said rescuers arriving at the scene found electrical wires burning. Seventy-eight people were evacuated, in addition to four dogs and cats. Firefighters had extinguished the flames by 5am. A man, estimated to be between 50 and 60 years... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3362194/man-dies-78-people-evacuated-after-fire-breaks-out-hong-kong-village-house?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3362194/man-dies-78-people-evacuated-after-fire-breaks-out-hong-kong-village-house?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jul 2026 02:01:05 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Veronica Qi Elizabeth Cheung,Veronica Qi Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways will raise fuel surcharges by up to 41 per cent on most passenger flights from August, citing escalating tensions in the Middle East. The airline said on Friday that the higher passenger and cargo fuel surcharges would take effect on August 1, following a brief period of declines after prices peaked in April. “This is the first increase to passenger and cargo fuel surcharges since April, and levels remain below their peak in that month,” Cathay... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3361713/cathay-raise-passenger-fuel-surcharges-41-amid-middle-east-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3361713/cathay-raise-passenger-fuel-surcharges-41-amid-middle-east-tensions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jul 2026 06:22:52 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Veronica Qi,Vivian Au Elizabeth Cheung,Veronica Qi,Vivian Au Hong Kong police have arrested a 72-year-old local man for allegedly practising dentistry illegally at a shop used by a mainland Chinese dental clinic to promote its business in the city, following calls from the local industry for tighter regulatory oversight of such activities. The arrest was made during a joint operation conducted by police and the Department of Health on Thursday at a shop on 37 King’s Road in North Point. The shop had been used to advertise a mainland clinic’s services,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3361635/man-72-held-mainland-chinese-dental-clinic-hong-kong-raided-amid-promotions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3361635/man-72-held-mainland-chinese-dental-clinic-hong-kong-raided-amid-promotions?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jul 2026 14:24:18 +0000 Vivian Au,Elizabeth Cheung Vivian Au,Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong’s new legislation on end-of-life directives could create significant operational challenges, including verifying patients’ wishes in emergencies and affordability barriers for low-income families, according to frontline responders and patient advocates. The warnings come a week before the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance takes effect next Friday. Under the law, a formal legal framework will empower Hongkongers to specify in advance which life-sustaining... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3361505/hong-kongs-end-life-law-raises-concerns-over-emergency-care-affordability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3361505/hong-kongs-end-life-law-raises-concerns-over-emergency-care-affordability?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hongkongers will be able to upload orders specifying which life-sustaining treatments they do not wish to receive when terminally ill to the city’s electronic health record platform from next Friday, when the new law comes into effect. The move marks a significant step in formalising end-of-life care arrangements, more than 20 months after the Advance Decision on Life-sustaining Treatment Ordinance was passed by lawmakers. “This legislation is a milestone for Hong Kong’s end-of-life care,” Dr... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3361489/end-life-directives-go-ehealth-new-law-takes-effect-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3361489/end-life-directives-go-ehealth-new-law-takes-effect-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Jul 2026 11:02:26 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Theodora Yu Elizabeth Cheung,Theodora Yu A rare mix-up involving embryo biopsy specimens at Heal Fertility, a privately-run reproduction clinic in Hong Kong linked to former financial secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung, has prompted investigations by health authorities and police The South China Morning Post looks into fertility treatments in the city and how they are regulated. 1. What is in vitro fertilisation? In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a fertility treatment offered to couples struggling to conceive naturally. A woman receiving... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3359839/embryo-specimen-mix-what-happened-and-how-ivf-regulated-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3359839/embryo-specimen-mix-what-happened-and-how-ivf-regulated-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2026 08:55:10 +0000 Lam Ka-sing,Natalie Wong,Elizabeth Cheung Lam Ka-sing,Natalie Wong,Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong should draft a five-year plan that includes an artificial intelligence (AI) focus that is not too broad, makes the most of its core strengths and attracts the best talent to develop the sector, industry leaders have said. At the South China Morning Post’s China Conference 2026 on Tuesday, titled “Intelligence at Scale: Hong Kong’s AI-Powered Future”, speakers at two panel discussions considered how Hong Kong could deliver on its AI aspirations and the city’s readiness as a launch pad... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/article/3359735/hong-kong-should-build-ai-plan-around-competitive-strengths-industry-leaders-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/article/3359735/hong-kong-should-build-ai-plan-around-competitive-strengths-industry-leaders-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Jul 2026 09:53:22 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Expectant mothers in Hong Kong requiring government antenatal services will only need to visit public hospitals, rather than maternal and child health centres, under a change taking effect on Monday. Health authorities announced on Friday that antenatal services currently provided by maternal and child health centres, managed by the Department of Health, would be transferred to public hospitals under the Hospital Authority. “After the service integration, the obstetrics department of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3359316/hong-kong-moves-antenatal-care-public-hospitals-reform-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3359316/hong-kong-moves-antenatal-care-public-hospitals-reform-push?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jul 2026 09:04:45 +0000 Wynna Wong,Elizabeth Cheung Wynna Wong,Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong police have launched an investigation into the death of a man and arrested four people following an alleged attack in a Mong Kok flat, where drugs were also found. A police spokesman said on Wednesday that officers received a call at about 2.50pm on Wednesday from a man who reported that his friend, 45, was attacking another acquaintance, 58, with scissors inside a flat at 22 Tong Mi Road. Officers arrived to find the 45-year-old unconscious. He was taken to Kwong Wah Hospital in Yau... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3359067/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-after-man-dies-following-dispute-flat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3359067/hong-kong-police-arrest-2-after-man-dies-following-dispute-flat?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:14:16 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung In the fifth instalment of a six-part Health Matters wellness series on cancer in Hong Kong, Elizabeth Cheung looks at the hidden psychological burden patients face and how support programmes are reshaping treatment. The battle with multiple cancers since the summer of 2024 has taken a mental toll far beyond what Sasa Hui Yuen-sim felt she could manage. The 67-year-old retiree was first diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2024, followed by lung cancer the following year. Between the two... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3358611/i-see-hope-how-mindset-shifts-help-hong-kong-cancer-patients-cope-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3358611/i-see-hope-how-mindset-shifts-help-hong-kong-cancer-patients-cope-diagnosis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Jun 2026 11:00:05 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung In the fourth instalment of a six-part Health Matters wellness series on cancer in Hong Kong, Elizabeth Cheung examines how city researchers are developing new blood tests to detect the disease earlier, and what they could mean for screenings and diagnoses. Retired Hong Kong businessman Peter Wan Ying-keung still remembers the uncertainty and discomfort of his months-long journey to a prostate cancer diagnosis 13 years ago. It began with a routine blood test in 2013 that showed elevated levels... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3357760/no-more-painful-biopsies-how-new-blood-test-will-transform-cancer-detection-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3357760/no-more-painful-biopsies-how-new-blood-test-will-transform-cancer-detection-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jun 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung In the third of a six-part Health Matters wellness series on cancer in Hong Kong, Elizabeth Cheung looks into the rise in breast cancer cases among women, the changing reproductive and lifestyle patterns behind the trend and what it means for screening and early detection. After a prolonged battle with breast cancer, actress and former Miss Hong Kong Natalie Ng Man-yan died at the age of 51. Ng was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 and suffered a relapse in 2024, with the disease later... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3357031/why-are-breast-cancer-cases-surging-among-younger-hong-kong-women?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3357031/why-are-breast-cancer-cases-surging-among-younger-hong-kong-women?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3357631/lung-cancer-cases-rise-among-hong-kong-women?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3357631/lung-cancer-cases-rise-among-hong-kong-women?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung In the second of a six-part Health Matters wellness series on cancer in Hong Kong, Elizabeth Cheung examines the rise of lung cancer among women, the risk factors beyond smoking and growing calls for earlier detection. Rates of new lung cancer cases among Hong Kong women have risen by 20 per cent in the past two decades despite their smoking less than men, a South China Morning Post review has found, prompting calls for citywide screenings to catch the disease earlier. Experts said genetic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356220/smoking-down-so-why-are-more-hong-kong-women-getting-lung-cancer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3356220/smoking-down-so-why-are-more-hong-kong-women-getting-lung-cancer?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jun 2026 11:00:07 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung The only cinema in the Ma On Shan area has shut down, joining a wave of theatre closures in Hong Kong that began during the pandemic. Emperor Cinemas announced on Monday that its branch in MOSTown, a shopping centre in Ma On Shan, had ceased operations on the same day. No reason for the closure was given. “Thank you for your support. Emperor Cinemas (Ma On Shan) will cease operations from January 12, 2026,” the company said in a social media post. The group said all movie vouchers and coupons... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339550/hong-kongs-ma-shan-loses-its-only-cinema-amid-wave-theatre-closures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3339550/hong-kongs-ma-shan-loses-its-only-cinema-amid-wave-theatre-closures?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 05:37:05 +0000 Susan Su,Elizabeth Cheung Susan Su,Elizabeth Cheung Most patients visiting Hong Kong emergency departments at public hospitals at night for minor ailments were not aware they could go to evening clinics instead, although securing a booking was difficult and multiple calls were needed before a successful slot could be confirmed. With a new fees regime in public hospitals beginning on Thursday, authorities aimed to divert less urgent cases away from accident and emergency (A&E) departments, encouraging patients to visit public clinics for minor or... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338606/most-patients-hong-kong-ae-departments-unaware-evening-clinics-alternative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338606/most-patients-hong-kong-ae-departments-unaware-evening-clinics-alternative?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 07:28:48 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Willa Wu Elizabeth Cheung,Willa Wu Concern groups have called for a more concrete timeline and clearer details in an updated action plan for Hong Kong’s biodiversity strategy, which for the first time lists assessing the capacity of ecotourism hotspots as a priority. The government on Wednesday unveiled its updated Hong Kong Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which covers four strategic areas – nature conservation, deepening mainstreaming, capacity building and collaborative partnering. It lists 30 priority actions and 81... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338339/groups-welcome-updated-hong-kong-biodiversity-plan-call-more-details?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338339/groups-welcome-updated-hong-kong-biodiversity-plan-call-more-details?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 01:30:17 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong’s leader has vowed to improve livelihoods, put public housing projects on the fast track and foster growth in innovation and technology (I&T) in the new year. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also described 2025 as a year full of challenges but also one that showcased perseverance. Lee made his pledges in his annual New Year’s speech, which was uploaded to his social media account on Wednesday night. “We will focus on two key objectives. First, to enhance livelihoods and well-being,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338344/hong-kong-leader-vows-boost-livelihoods-fast-track-housing-projects-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3338344/hong-kong-leader-vows-boost-livelihoods-fast-track-housing-projects-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:34:06 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Genomic sequencing has helped Hong Kong identify the right treatments for cancer patients more quickly, according to an expert who also suggested that the city could be a “super-linker” between mainland China and the rest of the world in drug development. Aya El Helali, a clinician-scientist in medical oncology at the University of Hong Kong, praised how collaboration within the Greater Bay Area had opened up opportunities to run clinical trials faster and at lower costs – factors that appealed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3337799/genomic-sequencing-puts-hong-kong-forefront-cancer-care-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3337799/genomic-sequencing-puts-hong-kong-forefront-cancer-care-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 01:00:14 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung A Hongkonger was killed in an avalanche at a popular skiing destination in northwestern mainland China last week, the Post has learned, with city authorities offering support to the victim’s family. A source on Tuesday said the victim, whose death was announced by tourism authorities in Kanas, northern Xinjiang, was a Hong Kong resident. In a reply to the Post, Hong Kong’s Immigration Department said that a request for assistance had been received. The Hong Kong government’s office in Beijing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337542/avalanche-ski-resort-northern-xinjiang-kills-hongkonger?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337542/avalanche-ski-resort-northern-xinjiang-kills-hongkonger?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 14:49:06 +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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/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 Elizabeth Cheung,Lam Ka-sing Elizabeth Cheung,Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong police have arrested one suspect after four armed men robbed the staff of a currency exchange shop of 1 billion yen (US$6.4 million). The force said it received a report at 9.06am on Thursday from a staff member who, together with a colleague, was robbed of yen worth nearly HK$50 million at 181 Queen’s Road Central near Grand Millennium Plaza in Sheung Wan. The four knife-wielding robbers fled in a westward direction along Queen’s Road Central after the theft. Police later found a car... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336860/1-arrested-after-currency-exchange-staff-robbed-1-billion-japanese-yen-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3336860/1-arrested-after-currency-exchange-staff-robbed-1-billion-japanese-yen-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 04:20:39 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Jeffie Lam Elizabeth Cheung,Jeffie Lam Former Hong Kong commerce minister Gregory So Kam-leung has died at the age of 67. It was understood that So, a lawyer by profession who served as the city’s secretary for commerce and economic development between 2011 and 2017, had suffered a stroke two months ago and was in hospital in Singapore before he died on Saturday morning. He oversaw a number of thorny issues during his tenure, including broadcast regulation, intellectual property protection and a controversial bid for a free-to-air... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336311/hong-kongs-former-commerce-minister-gregory-so-kam-leung-dead-67?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336311/hong-kongs-former-commerce-minister-gregory-so-kam-leung-dead-67?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 04:34:39 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,William Yiu Elizabeth Cheung,William Yiu Hong Kong will hold the Apec finance ministers’ meeting in October next year for the first time when China plays host to the regional economic forum. City authorities revealed the news on Friday afternoon, confirming an earlier Post report, and said that the treasury minister would lead the task force coordinating planning for the event. Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that the 33rd Apec economic leaders’ meeting would be held in Shenzhen next year. The foreign affairs... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336205/hong-kong-host-apec-finance-ministers-meeting-november-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3336205/hong-kong-host-apec-finance-ministers-meeting-november-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 07:43:04 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung A “Hong Kong model” being developed by the city’s first Chinese medicine hospital that integrates traditional and Western practices will be easier for overseas institutions to adopt, offering a niche for promoting such treatments worldwide, experts have said. With the opening of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong on Thursday, a German facility that earlier signed an agreement with the new institution told the Post that the two sides were exploring potential areas of collaboration and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3336126/why-hong-kong-model-combining-chinese-and-western-medicine-could-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3336126/why-hong-kong-model-combining-chinese-and-western-medicine-could-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 00:30:09 +0000 Emily Hung,Elizabeth Cheung Emily Hung,Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong’s first hospital offering Chinese medicine services opened its doors on Thursday, with its subsidised general outpatient services already fully booked for the first month. The flagship facility, located on Pak Shing Kok Road in Tseung Kwan O, is not only a healthcare service provider but also a training and research hub tasked with facilitating collaborations and helping Chinese medicine services go global. Here’s what you need to know about the hospital. 1. What services are... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3336123/what-you-need-know-about-services-hong-kongs-chinese-medicine-hospital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3336123/what-you-need-know-about-services-hong-kongs-chinese-medicine-hospital?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:51:38 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Hong Kong’s first Chinese medicine hospital has opened its doors to patients, with subsidised general outpatient services for the first month fully booked, prompting the facility to add extra slots to meet demand. The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, located in Tseung Kwan O, aims to provide services for more complex cases under a model that features Chinese medicine as the primary approach, integrated with Western medicine. “We hope to bring the development of Chinese medicine in Hong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3336003/hong-kongs-first-chinese-medicine-hospital-opens-first-month-quotas-fully-booked?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3336003/hong-kongs-first-chinese-medicine-hospital-opens-first-month-quotas-fully-booked?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 04:27:29 +0000 Vivian Au,Elizabeth Cheung Vivian Au,Elizabeth Cheung A scaffolding net sample from a large Hong Kong housing estate produced flaming droplets and ignited a fire in a lab experiment despite passing the authorities’ safety standards, a test commissioned by the Post has found. The findings have prompted calls from experts to review the standards set for the nets and improve the existing safety regulations targeting scaffolding on renovation sites. Soon after the inferno at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on November 26, the Post collected net samples from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3335498/post-test-finds-hong-kong-scaffold-net-sample-igniting-despite-passing-safety-standards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3335498/post-test-finds-hong-kong-scaffold-net-sample-igniting-despite-passing-safety-standards?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 09:00:10 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung A man has been arrested after allegedly attacking and killing his wife with a knife and trying to set fire to their home in northwestern Hong Kong. Police said they received a report of a flat fire and a person injured at 6.59am on Tuesday from security guards at On Ting Estate in Tuen Mun. First responders arrived at the flat in Ting Fuk House and put out a fire that covered about 11 sq ft, said Chief Inspector Patty Chong Yuen‑na of Tuen Mun police. The woman, a convenience shop worker, had... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3334853/man-arrested-arson-murder-after-woman-found-injured-hong-kong-flat-dies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3334853/man-arrested-arson-murder-after-woman-found-injured-hong-kong-flat-dies?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 04:02:23 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung The government should take the lead in assessing the structural safety of the estate engulfed by Hong Kong’s worst fire in decades before deciding whether it should be restored or redeveloped, experts have said, warning of liability problems and a long road ahead. The future of Wang Fuk Court, where a massive fire raged through seven of its eight blocks for more than 43 hours before largely being put out, remains uncertain, with residents taking shelter or moving into temporary housing arranged... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334585/difficult-say-if-fire-ravaged-hong-kong-buildings-can-be-fixed-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334585/difficult-say-if-fire-ravaged-hong-kong-buildings-can-be-fixed-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 02:30:07 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Vivian Au,Ada Li Elizabeth Cheung,Vivian Au,Ada Li People from all walks of life in Hong Kong rallied in support of victims of the city’s deadliest fire in decades, with aid ranging from millions in cash donations by major business groups to grass roots efforts by civilians delivering essential supplies. The fire that erupted in seven blocks in Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on Wednesday, killing at least 83 people, left thousands of residents homeless and in need of daily supplies. “What happened on Wednesday night appeared to be such a large-scale... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334422/hongkongers-are-capable-deadliest-fire-decades-ignites-widespread-aid-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334422/hongkongers-are-capable-deadliest-fire-decades-ignites-widespread-aid-efforts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 27 Nov 2025 15:25:32 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung A Hong Kong university establishing the city’s third medical school has pledged to commit more than HK$7 billion (US$899 million) to the project and has already recruited six clinical professors, including a former head of an Australian institution. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on Wednesday provided further details of its development plan, a day after the government revealed that the institution had been chosen to run the new medical school for its clear strategic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3333386/hkust-pledges-invest-more-hk7-billion-third-medical-school-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3333386/hkust-pledges-invest-more-hk7-billion-third-medical-school-project?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 07:32:55 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Edith Lin,Leopold Chen Elizabeth Cheung,Edith Lin,Leopold Chen The new medical school set to be run by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) should ride on the institution’s unique technological strengths and expand its capacity in clinical research to become a leading institution, experts and lawmakers have said. Their comments followed the government’s announcement on Tuesday that HKUST had emerged as the top choice to operate the city’s third medical school, taking its place alongside the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3333324/what-experts-say-hong-kongs-new-medical-school-must-do-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3333324/what-experts-say-hong-kongs-new-medical-school-must-do-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:45:43 +0000