https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/325236/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Leopold Chen,Emily Hung Leopold Chen,Emily Hung The abrupt suspension of Hong Kong’s first waste-to-energy incinerator after a fire is a stark warning against relying too heavily on the HK$31.3 billion (US$4 billion) plant, environmentalists have said, while a former lawmaker has urged the government to keep its landfill-free timetable on track. Monday’s blaze broke out on the roof of the third incineration module at the Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 1, or I·PARK1, on an artificial island off Shek Kwu Chau. More than 900 people... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372305/fire-hong-kongs-first-incinerator-prompts-calls-rethink-waste-strategy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372305/fire-hong-kongs-first-incinerator-prompts-calls-rethink-waste-strategy Tue, 27 Oct 2026 10:11:35 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu The idea of collecting cardboard boxes and used paper in exchange for a few pennies was never something Kuang Su-ling thought she would have to do for a living. It is a laborious occupation that involves working long hours and travelling inconvenient distances, often in difficult outdoor conditions. But Kuang became a waste paper scavenger after she was diagnosed with diabetic eye disease seven years ago and lost her job as a cleaner. “I could not find any other work and I needed money to cover... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3372130/how-will-hong-kongs-cardboard-scavengers-survive-prices-drop-after-new-policy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3372130/how-will-hong-kongs-cardboard-scavengers-survive-prices-drop-after-new-policy Mon, 26 Oct 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau A controversial lighting project along a walking trail on The Peak is in doubt following mounting complaints that the installations damage Hong Kong’s natural beauty. Designed as one of several new attractions meant to replace a retired light show, the initiative has been criticised by local residents and visitors. The South China Morning Post looks at what has gone wrong with the project. 1. What is the project? The Tourism Board planned small light installations for selected points along the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3372069/upgrade-or-eyesore-why-hong-kongs-peak-light-display-has-hit-snag https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3372069/upgrade-or-eyesore-why-hong-kongs-peak-light-display-has-hit-snag Sun, 25 Oct 2026 09:04:10 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Fiona Sun Lo Hoi-ying,Fiona Sun Parts of two installations in a controversial lighting project along a walking trail on The Peak have been removed, days after Hong Kong’s tourism authorities pledged to balance the community’s needs and said the scheme was not “set in stone”. The removals came hours after Commissioner for Tourism Ann Chan Wai-yan inspected the site on Saturday morning with a lawmaker and a district councillor, following an outcry from residents who accused the Hong Kong Tourism Board of removing trees and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372034/2-projector-stands-removed-controversial-peak-lighting-project-after-outcry https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3372034/2-projector-stands-removed-controversial-peak-lighting-project-after-outcry Sat, 24 Oct 2026 14:27:49 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Severe haze in Hong Kong over the past two days has prompted a government warning of serious health risks, with experts urging the elderly and vulnerable to stay indoors until sunset. Air quality health risk levels at some of Hong Kong’s roadside monitoring stations rose on Wednesday and Thursday, with experts attributing the surge to elevated ozone levels caused by sunlight and high temperatures and warning that conditions were likely to persist over the next few days. On Wednesday afternoon,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371819/hong-kong-elderly-urged-stay-indoors-air-pollution-spikes-serious-levels https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371819/hong-kong-elderly-urged-stay-indoors-air-pollution-spikes-serious-levels Fri, 23 Oct 2026 02:00:15 +0000 Lexi Tian,Theodora Yu Lexi Tian,Theodora Yu A controversial lighting project along a walking trail on The Peak “is not set in stone yet”, authorities have said, with the South China Morning Post learning that related works have been suspended amid mounting complaints that the installations are damaging the environment. The project’s future remains uncertain after residents accused the Tourism Board of removing trees and flowers to make way for the installations, while a lawmaker said a district councillor from the city’s largest political... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371630/work-hong-kongs-peak-trail-light-project-suspended-amid-environmental-outcry https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371630/work-hong-kongs-peak-trail-light-project-suspended-amid-environmental-outcry Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:50:51 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong tourism authorities have pledged to review the roll-out of a lighting project along a trail on The Peak after mounting complaints that flowers and trees were chopped down to make way for the installations. But the Tourism Board defended the project, saying it had consulted local residents and sought advice from tree experts to minimise the impact on the surrounding environment. In a statement on Sunday, the board said it valued residents’ views and would now “conduct broader... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371320/hong-kong-review-peak-lighting-installation-after-outcry-over-felled-trees https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3371320/hong-kong-review-peak-lighting-installation-after-outcry-over-felled-trees Sun, 18 Oct 2026 14:06:15 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Roughly one in three unattended dogs captured by Hong Kong authorities had been euthanised as of May this year, a sharp rise from 18 per cent in 2021, according to the latest legislative documents. The proportion of captured unattended dogs later reclaimed by their owners or transferred to animal welfare groups for rehoming has also fallen over the past five years, the Environment and Ecology Bureau told lawmakers on Wednesday. In a written response to the Legislative Council, Secretary for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370886/nearly-1-3-unattended-dogs-captured-hong-kong-euthanised-year https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370886/nearly-1-3-unattended-dogs-captured-hong-kong-euthanised-year Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:45:55 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong will strengthen its community recycling network with measures such as round-the-clock automated collection points after scrapping its waste-charging scheme due to strong public opposition, the environmental chief has said. Secretary for Environment and Ecology Tse Chin-wan on Saturday also pledged to review the permitted profit levels of the city’s two power companies when their control agreements with the government expire in 2033. He added that the government would boost clean energy... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3370429/hong-kong-expand-community-recycling-after-shelving-waste-charging-scheme https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3370429/hong-kong-expand-community-recycling-after-shelving-waste-charging-scheme Sat, 10 Oct 2026 06:12:06 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Environmentalists and academics have voiced concerns over the omission of a systemic heat-health action plan in Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and latest policy address, warning that relying on “common sense” is failing to protect vulnerable residents from rising temperatures. Their comments came as new research from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) found that extreme heat might have contributed to as many as 3,238 excess deaths in the city over 10-year study period. In response to the South... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370406/lack-heat-action-plan-leaves-hong-kongs-vulnerable-residents-risk-experts-warn https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370406/lack-heat-action-plan-leaves-hong-kongs-vulnerable-residents-risk-experts-warn Sat, 10 Oct 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang China’s once-notorious “gutter oil”, recycled from kitchen and drainage waste, has almost vanished from dining tables in recent years and now carries the nickname liquid gold. The substance has become a highly sought-after feedstock for producing clean energy, especially sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with biofuel producers such as Hong Kong-based Ecoceres sourcing gutter oil across the Greater Bay Area. EcoCeres’ co-chairman, Alan Chan Ying-lung, witnessed how the restaurant waste transformed... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370198/kitchen-waste-sky-high-costs-inside-hong-kongs-quest-green-jet-fuel https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370198/kitchen-waste-sky-high-costs-inside-hong-kongs-quest-green-jet-fuel Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu About 100 incidents of visitors catching sea cucumbers and digging up sea snails and clams were recorded at a popular spot in Hong Kong’s Unesco-listed geopark on a single day of the National Day “golden week”, a green group has found, following similar incidents last year. The Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail in Sai Kung was also strewn with rubbish on a separate day, Greenpeace said on Tuesday. At nearby Long Ke Beach, the group recorded nearly 90 instances of environmentally... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369939/greenpeace-catches-hong-kong-geopark-golden-week-visitors-damaging-marine-life https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369939/greenpeace-catches-hong-kong-geopark-golden-week-visitors-damaging-marine-life Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:39:35 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The hotly contested court battle over government plans to build 12,000 public flats on Hong Kong’s oldest golf course has played its final round. The government decided not to appeal against a ruling that held its approval of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report on the project to be unlawful. This is better than pursuing a further attempt to persuade the courts to uphold a fatally flawed process. Now, a broader review of the plans can be undertaken in light of the Court of Appeal’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3369682/hong-kong-must-scrap-housing-plan-and-preserve-golf-course https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3369682/hong-kong-must-scrap-housing-plan-and-preserve-golf-course Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma The Hong Kong Observatory issued an amber rainstorm warning on Sunday evening, with the signal remaining in place for more than two hours. The weather forecaster issued the alert – the lowest level in a three-tier warning system – at 8.20pm and cancelled it at 10.30pm. “A few squally thunderstorms are expected to occur over Hong Kong,” a spokesman for the Observatory said in the evening. Showers would be heavy at times. The forecaster also warned that intense gusts reaching 70km/h (43mph) could... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369718/hong-kong-issues-amber-rainstorm-warning https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369718/hong-kong-issues-amber-rainstorm-warning Sun, 04 Oct 2026 13:05:38 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong is bracing for a surge of mainland Chinese visitors to its eco-sensitive areas during the National Day “golden week” holiday, as strong interest in countryside attractions raises questions over whether the city can absorb crowds without overwhelming popular sites. A review of discussions on Chinese social media platform RedNote on Monday by the South China Morning Post found Po Pin Chau, famed for its dramatic volcanic rock columns, among the most talked-about sightseeing spots,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369108/can-hong-kong-protect-its-eco-sensitive-sites-amid-golden-week-overtourism-fears https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369108/can-hong-kong-protect-its-eco-sensitive-sites-amid-golden-week-overtourism-fears Tue, 29 Sep 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok At least three hikers fell ill on countryside trails as temperatures in parts of Hong Kong climbed to a sweltering 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) on Sunday. A 25-year-old visitor was suspected of suffering from heatstroke while he hiked with friends on the popular High Island Reservoir East Dam-Po Pin Chau hiking route in Sai Kung at about noon. A government helicopter airlifted him to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for treatment. The route is one of Hong Kong’s best-known hiking trails,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368956/3-hikers-fall-ill-hong-kong-trails-temperatures-top-33-degrees https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368956/3-hikers-fall-ill-hong-kong-trails-temperatures-top-33-degrees Sun, 27 Sep 2026 11:53:47 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Plans to build 12,000 public flats on part of Hong Kong’s oldest golf course have been thrown into serious doubt after the government chose not to appeal a court’s decision to uphold a ruling revoking the project’s environmental approval. Authorities said on Thursday that they had decided against appealing after “holistically” considering legal advice following the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the overturning of conditional approval for the construction of 12,000 flats on part of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368668/hong-kong-authorities-wont-appeal-court-halt-12000-flat-project-golf-course https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368668/hong-kong-authorities-wont-appeal-court-halt-12000-flat-project-golf-course Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:16:19 +0000 Christine Loh Christine Loh Hong Kong deserves credit for its first five-year plan, accompanied by a detailed policy address. The plan establishes a useful framework beyond the annual policy cycle. Precisely because this is an important first effort, it is worth asking what could make the framework even stronger. One striking omission is that the five-year plan never explicitly mentions climate change. This does not mean Hong Kong is failing to act. On the contrary, the plan and policy address contain many measures dealing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368261/hong-kong-lacks-climate-narrative-unify-its-efforts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368261/hong-kong-lacks-climate-narrative-unify-its-efforts Tue, 22 Sep 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has urged the government to develop a longer-term plan for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) beyond 2030, including mandatory targets and consistent policies to help scale up the industry and meet the city’s climate goals. The airline made the call after a mainland Chinese official on Monday proposed that authorities in the Greater Bay Area introduce more favourable policies, including subsidies, to boost sales of sustainable fuel. Cathay Group CEO... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368234/cathay-calls-hong-kong-map-out-long-term-sustainable-fuel-plan-beyond-2030 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3368234/cathay-calls-hong-kong-map-out-long-term-sustainable-fuel-plan-beyond-2030 Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:14:11 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong has pledged to boost the share of zero-carbon energy in its electricity generation fuel mix to 30 per cent by 2030, up from the current 28 per cent – one of four binding environmental protection targets set out in the city’s first five-year plan on Wednesday. The binding goal aligns with existing climate protection strategies that target a zero-carbon energy share of between 60 and 70 per cent by 2035, as part of the city’s broader push towards carbon neutrality by 2050. “With these... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367742/hong-kong-aims-raise-zero-carbon-energy-share-fuel-mix-30-2030 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367742/hong-kong-aims-raise-zero-carbon-energy-share-fuel-mix-30-2030 Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:02:04 +0000 Tilman Leo Hohenberger,Kimberly Tasha Jiayi Tang Tilman Leo Hohenberger,Kimberly Tasha Jiayi Tang At the beginning of August, when temperatures in Hong Kong hit highs not seen for at least 140 years, the Labour Department’s Heat Stress at Work Warning system remained at the amber level, the lowest of three tiers. The controversy that followed raised a broader question: are our heat warnings adequately protecting people who work outdoors? The Labour Department has since announced changes that will lead to earlier heat-stress warnings. These improvements to worker protection are welcome. But... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3367306/hong-kong-must-prepare-impact-heat-related-work-stoppages https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3367306/hong-kong-must-prepare-impact-heat-related-work-stoppages Wed, 16 Sep 2026 08:30:05 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong should overhaul its ecotourism planning and allow visitors to book ahead at more of its popular countryside attractions, a lawmaker has said, after a survey found most residents believed the city had strong potential for nature-focused experiences but lacked enough quality options. A poll of 651 residents commissioned by lawmaker Perry Yiu Pak-leung’s office and think tank New Youth Forum found 71.8 per cent agreed Hong Kong’s countryside resources could be developed into high-quality... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367488/hong-kong-urged-overhaul-ecotourism-planning-and-expand-bookings-hotspots https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367488/hong-kong-urged-overhaul-ecotourism-planning-and-expand-bookings-hotspots Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:14:32 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways and Google are expanding AI-powered flight trials designed to steer aircraft away from contrail-forming zones in the Asia-Pacific region, using the data to inform broader sustainability decisions. Condensation trails, or contrails, formed when aircraft flew through cold, humid patches of air, trapping atmospheric heat and accounting for roughly one-third of aviation’s climate impact, Kemal Armada, product manager for climate and AI at Google, said on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3366654/cathay-pacific-google-scale-ai-tests-reduce-aviations-climate-impact https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3366654/cathay-pacific-google-scale-ai-tests-reduce-aviations-climate-impact Mon, 07 Sep 2026 10:45:25 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee The Labour Department recently upgraded its Heat Stress at Work Warning system, making it easier for higher-tier alerts to be sent out, so that employers and workers, especially those who have to work outdoors, can react quickly during very hot weather. Unfortunately, the most we seem to be able to do is issue warnings and recommend passive mitigation measures such as relaxing the work schedule, resting in the shade and staying hydrated. We are sitting ducks as temperatures peak year after... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3365989/era-extreme-summers-its-time-look-beyond-air-conditioning https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3365989/era-extreme-summers-its-time-look-beyond-air-conditioning Sun, 06 Sep 2026 01:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The record temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius logged by the Hong Kong Observatory last month is the strongest evidence yet that extreme heat is not just a distant or occasional inconvenience. The rising temperature underlines a growing challenge that many authorities around the world are still grappling with. The city must respond not merely with improved mechanisms for alerts when the mercury soars but with a complete climate-resilience strategy that protects workers, older people, low-income... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3366343/hong-kong-feels-heat-it-needs-robust-climate-resilience-strategy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3366343/hong-kong-feels-heat-it-needs-robust-climate-resilience-strategy Sat, 05 Sep 2026 23:15:05 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. After a summer downpour, run-off from Hong Kong’s busiest roads may carry more than leaves and litter. It can wash accumulated tyre- and road-surface particles, metals and chemical additives into drains and receiving waters. This overlooked issue deserves attention as vehicle... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3365924/hong-kongs-cleaner-transport-push-must-not-neglect-tyre-pollution https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3365924/hong-kongs-cleaner-transport-push-must-not-neglect-tyre-pollution Wed, 02 Sep 2026 03:30:06 +0000 Kenny Shui,Pascal Siu Kenny Shui,Pascal Siu Hong Kong’s mega-event economy is thriving. In a blog post last month, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po noted that in the first half of 2026, the city hosted more than 130 mega-events, drawing 1.75 million visitors and injecting roughly HK$5.8 billion (US$739.9 million) into the local economy. These figures are the ongoing dividends of the government’s sustained policy and financial backing. This momentum is well-documented: in the last two years, the concerts of global A-listers such as... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3365590/going-big-and-going-green-can-work-together-hong-kong-mega-events https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3365590/going-big-and-going-green-can-work-together-hong-kong-mega-events Tue, 01 Sep 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong The government’s push to boost short-term public housing supply has suffered a setback after it lost an appeal against a court decision overturning conditional approval for building 12,000 flats on part of Hong Kong’s oldest golf course. In a judgment delivered on Monday, the Court of Appeal found that the official endorsement of the project’s environmental impact assessment report was marred by an unfair public consultation process, the imposition of improper conditions and a failure to meet... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3365863/hong-kong-government-loses-appeal-over-fanling-golf-course-housing-plan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3365863/hong-kong-government-loses-appeal-over-fanling-golf-course-housing-plan Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:08:09 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong’s outdoor workers could still lack adequate rest under the revamped heat stress warning system, a lawmaker and a construction industry representative have said, adding that work breaks triggered by higher alerts are not protected by law. The response followed the Labour Department’s announcement on Thursday that it had updated the Heat Stress at Work Warning system to better safeguard workers, after the mechanism was criticised for not triggering higher-tier alerts during... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365560/revised-heat-stress-warning-system-may-lack-rest-provisions-industry-experts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365560/revised-heat-stress-warning-system-may-lack-rest-provisions-industry-experts Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:05:33 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong labour authorities have unveiled changes to the system that sends out warnings to workers about overexertion during very hot weather, reducing the threshold so higher-tier alerts can be issued more easily following intense criticism of the mechanism. The Labour Department said on Thursday that two new conditions would be introduced to the Heat Stress at Work Warning system starting on Friday. The system has three warning levels – amber, red and black – which alert employers and staff... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3365453/hong-kong-lowers-heat-stress-warning-system-thresholds-after-criticism https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3365453/hong-kong-lowers-heat-stress-warning-system-thresholds-after-criticism Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:52:59 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Hong Kong’s weather forecaster cancelled its rainstorm warnings on Thursday, following spells of heavy rain that led to the suspension of morning and whole-day schools, with afternoon classes allowed to proceed. The Observatory issued the red signal – the middle level in a three-tier system – at 5.05am, and soon after also sent out a special landslip advisory for Po Toi Island due to heavy rain. The forecaster downgraded the red alert to amber at 9.20am and then cancelled that one at... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/weather/hong-kong/article/3365380/hong-kong-issues-red-rainstorm-warning-morning-and-whole-day-classes-suspended https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/weather/hong-kong/article/3365380/hong-kong-issues-red-rainstorm-warning-morning-and-whole-day-classes-suspended Thu, 27 Aug 2026 01:05:50 +0000 Eric Jiang,Leopold Chen Eric Jiang,Leopold Chen Hong Kong has launched its first countryside real-name reservation system, capping daily visitors to a popular trail in Sai Kung at 2,000 on select dates, with a lawmaker and a district councillor saying the move could gather data to help shape formal arrangements. The trial reservation system for visits to the Po Pin Chau trail in Sai Kung East Country Park went live at 11am on Monday, offering the first batch of slots for September 5 and 6 via Klook’s website, app and WeChat mini-programme. A... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365057/hong-kong-launches-real-name-booking-system-popular-sai-kung-coastal-trail https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365057/hong-kong-launches-real-name-booking-system-popular-sai-kung-coastal-trail Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:02:40 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Nearly 80 per cent of low-income elderly people surveyed in Hong Kong reported physical or mental distress during periods of extreme heat, prompting calls for stronger government support and heat-prevention measures. Data from the Department of Health cited by Greenpeace identified elderly people as the city’s demographic most at risk from extreme temperatures. The number of hospital discharges and deaths related to heatstroke among people aged 65 or above rose 16-fold between 2015 and 2024,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365037/78-low-income-elderly-hongkongers-report-heat-related-distress-survey-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3365037/78-low-income-elderly-hongkongers-report-heat-related-distress-survey-finds Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:57:09 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The likelihood that Hong Kong’s weather forecaster will issue a typhoon signal in the next two days is “relatively low”, although multiple tropical cyclones are set to bring unsettled weather to the city later this week. The Observatory said at noon on Monday that Tropical Storm Narra was expected to skirt the coast of the Leizhou Peninsula in western Guangdong province in the coming days while “maintaining some distance from Hong Kong”. “Unless Narra further edges closer to the vicinity of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/weather/hong-kong/article/3365034/typhoon-signal-hong-kong-unlikely-next-2-days-expect-unsettled-weather https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/weather/hong-kong/article/3365034/typhoon-signal-hong-kong-unlikely-next-2-days-expect-unsettled-weather Mon, 24 Aug 2026 06:25:56 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Half of Hong Kong’s government departments and public bodies have not disclosed their greenhouse gas emissions data and some calculations have been based on outdated information, a green group has found. The findings from The Green Earth have prompted calls for stronger carbon reporting and the setting of reduction targets across the public sector to align with the city’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050. The non-profit group’s study of 82 public entities found that while 41... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364987/half-hong-kongs-public-bodies-omit-emissions-data-green-group-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364987/half-hong-kongs-public-bodies-omit-emissions-data-green-group-finds Mon, 24 Aug 2026 02:00:22 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has never had the luxury of abundant land for development. A small territory supporting a large and highly urbanised population must constantly make difficult choices about housing, transport and infrastructure. This is especially true when every decision carries an environmental cost that is often irreversible. Yet the way forward is not to stand still, but to ensure that development is necessary, properly designed and compatible with the protection of the city’s natural heritage. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3364817/hong-kong-boosts-governance-efficiency-ai-balance-key https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3364817/hong-kong-boosts-governance-efficiency-ai-balance-key Sat, 22 Aug 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong authorities will cap access to a popular Sai Kung trail overlooking hexagonal rock columns at 2,000 people per day during several stretches from next month and require real-name registration for visitors, marking the city’s first countryside crowd-control measures of their kind. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department announced the arrangement on Friday for the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Geo Trail, after the proposal was floated in April. The trail is within... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364876/quota-set-visitors-popular-sai-kung-coastal-trail-first-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364876/quota-set-visitors-popular-sai-kung-coastal-trail-first-hong-kong Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:40:37 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong authorities have slashed the time required for environmental impact assessments by up to half using artificial intelligence, with an official saying that AI adoption reduced wait times for some public services by up to 90 per cent. The first batch of 30 projects aimed at enhancing efficiency was announced on Monday. It involves 13 government departments, covering transport and food business licensing, leisure and sports facilities, environmental hygiene, complaint handling, and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3364317/hong-kong-halves-environmental-impact-review-times-ai-efficiency-drive https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3364317/hong-kong-halves-environmental-impact-review-times-ai-efficiency-drive Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:20:56 +0000 Kate Chan Kate Chan Wilson Hui Chau-yuen, a 22-year-old final-year student at Hong Kong Metropolitan University, recalls that the scorching heat was the biggest enemy during an annual two-week summer camp organised by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) garrison. “Even on the city’s hottest day, our training continued without pause including martial arts, bayonet practice and marching drills,” Hui said on Sunday, adding that he hoped to join Hong Kong’s disciplined services in the future. The Hong Kong Observatory... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3364196/500-pla-summer-camp-cadets-battle-heat-they-step-out-their-comfort-zone https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3364196/500-pla-summer-camp-cadets-battle-heat-they-step-out-their-comfort-zone Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:34:20 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong’s lush forests are teeming with more wildlife ranging from birds arriving from neighbouring regions to newly discovered reptile species, experts have found, as they urge authorities to devise a conservation list to protect vulnerable local species. The call by the city’s conservationists to formulate a “red list” – a long-awaited measure since 2014 – coincided with National Ecology Day on Saturday. Marking the occasion, Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing said the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364127/hong-kongs-biodiversity-richer-we-know-many-species-lack-protection https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3364127/hong-kongs-biodiversity-richer-we-know-many-species-lack-protection Sat, 15 Aug 2026 04:00:18 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong residents have borne the brunt of extreme weather this summer, with July rainfall exceeding the monthly norm by 23 per cent, followed by hot spells in August linked to Tropical Cyclone Dolphin’s influence. As of Thursday, the maximum temperature recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory reached 33 degrees Celsius (91 Fahrenheit) or above for nine consecutive days, marking the longest streak of very hot days for the month of August. A green group warned in July that scorching days and hot... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363953/why-hong-kongs-heat-stress-warning-system-outdoor-workers-hot-seat https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363953/why-hong-kongs-heat-stress-warning-system-outdoor-workers-hot-seat Thu, 13 Aug 2026 14:39:41 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu At a bustling fruit store in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay, a crowd of workers sporting damp towels around their necks or fan vests buy up chilled drinks to stay hydrated as temperatures hit 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit) on a busy weekday morning. Soaked in sweat, 29-year-old construction worker Yau is among the crowd, buying a litre of water to help beat the heat on Wednesday. “I spend at least HK$100 a day on water lately. It is expensive, and I get poor just drinking water to survive the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363901/how-hong-kong-can-protect-manual-workers-bearing-brunt-heatwave https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363901/how-hong-kong-can-protect-manual-workers-bearing-brunt-heatwave Thu, 13 Aug 2026 08:30:06 +0000 Leopold Chen,Edith Lin Leopold Chen,Edith Lin Power supply and air-conditioning disruptions during Hong Kong’s ongoing heatwave have affected estate residents, office workers and even a funeral parlour, as an expert warned that the higher energy demand caused by the weather could trigger outages in older districts. The city has grappled with an intense heatwave in recent days, with scorching temperatures driven by a southwesterly airstream. The Hong Kong Observatory said on Tuesday the maximum temperature recorded at its headquarters in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3363653/power-ac-outages-hit-estate-office-building-and-funeral-home-amid-heatwave https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3363653/power-ac-outages-hit-estate-office-building-and-funeral-home-amid-heatwave Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:50:36 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities are considering lowering the threshold for activating higher-tier heat-stress warnings during exceptionally hot weather, following public criticism that the alert was not upgraded even as the city sweltered through its hottest day on record. Commissioner for Labour Sam Hui Chark-shum said on Tuesday that the warning system was currently more responsive to “muggy weather” than to conditions involving purely high temperatures and strong solar radiation, but the government... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363615/hong-kong-considers-lowering-heat-stress-warning-thresholds-amid-criticism https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363615/hong-kong-considers-lowering-heat-stress-warning-thresholds-amid-criticism Tue, 11 Aug 2026 05:14:21 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong residents raising goats, sheep and cattle in the New Territories will need a licence under a proposed regulation which aims to reduce nuisance and hygiene problems affecting neighbours, amid the acceleration of urban development under projects such as the Northern Metropolis. The plan was revealed in an Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department document, scheduled to be discussed at the Yuen Long District Council on Tuesday, in which the department sought to extend the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363532/hong-kong-eyes-licensing-livestock-new-territories-amid-urban-push https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363532/hong-kong-eyes-licensing-livestock-new-territories-amid-urban-push Mon, 10 Aug 2026 09:15:32 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,Leopold Chen Ng Kang-chung,Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities are under pressure to review the warning system for heat stress at work after the lowest-level alert remained in force on Sunday, despite the city sweltering through its hottest day on record. Labour unionists, joined by a leading meteorologist, also proposed relaxing the law to recognise heatstroke as a work-related injury, thus entitling workers to compensation. A scorching 36.9 degrees Celsius (98.4 Fahrenheit) was recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory in Tsim Sha Tsui... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363461/calls-system-review-after-lowest-alert-force-during-record-breaking-heat https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3363461/calls-system-review-after-lowest-alert-force-during-record-breaking-heat Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:42:54 +0000 Veronica Qi Veronica Qi A Burmese python has gone viral on social media after it was spotted along a busy road in a Hong Kong shopping district on Sunday evening, with an expert saying heavy rain over recent weeks may have forced wild animals into urban areas. The snake was caught on camera by a passing jogger near Causeway Bay’s Jardine Noonday Gun at around 11pm that day. In the clip, the reptile, which appears to be about two to three metres long, can be seen slithering across a section of pavement along Victoria... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362831/whats-burmese-python-doing-causeway-bay-expert-links-reptile-rain https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362831/whats-burmese-python-doing-causeway-bay-expert-links-reptile-rain Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:37:23 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hongkongers should brace for more bad weather over the next few days. The Hong Kong Observatory warned on Saturday that showers would be heavy at times with squally thunderstorms over the coast of southern China in the next couple of days under the influence of a broad trough of low pressure and an active southerly airstream. Meanwhile, authorities said they received six landslide reports between Friday and Saturday evening, as well as a report of damage to the facing of a retaining wall. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362655/hong-kong-set-heavy-showers-squally-thunderstorms-over-next-few-days https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362655/hong-kong-set-heavy-showers-squally-thunderstorms-over-next-few-days Sat, 01 Aug 2026 15:06:49 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Parts of northern Hong Kong face the highest risk of climate-related disasters, a study by the Hong Kong Red Cross has found, with the charity urging the government to take climate resilience planning into account in developing the area. A report released by the charity on Thursday also said that more than 50 per cent of the city faced high-risk threats from two or three types of hazards, such as typhoons, extreme heat or fires, simultaneously. “In planning Hong Kong’s future, this risk map... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362429/parts-northern-hong-kong-face-highest-climate-disaster-risk-study-finds https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3362429/parts-northern-hong-kong-face-highest-climate-disaster-risk-study-finds Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:27:07 +0000 Veronica Qi Veronica Qi The uprooting of numerous trees across Hong Kong during Typhoon Noul last weekend has sparked safety concerns among residents, with an expert warning that restrictive planting methods had left some unable to withstand strong winds. Two government hotlines received a total of 331 reports of fallen trees during the typhoon, which triggered No 8 and No 9 signals on Saturday and Sunday. Of the fallen trees, eight were banyans at Wan Tau Tong Estate and another of the same species was reported near... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3362275/trees-felled-during-typhoon-noul-raise-safety-concerns-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3362275/trees-felled-during-typhoon-noul-raise-safety-concerns-hong-kong Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:33:15 +0000