https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/3265/feed A journalist for more than 30 years, Cliff Buddle began his career as a court reporter in London and moved to Hong Kong in 1994 to join the SCMP. He returned to the UK in August 2022. Specialising in court reporting and legal affairs, he has held a variety of editorial positions, including Deputy Editor and Acting Editor-in-Chief. He is a regular columnist. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg 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?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3369682/hong-kong-must-scrap-housing-plan-and-preserve-golf-course?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Absence, it is said, makes the heart grow fonder. This week marks the fourth anniversary of my departure from Hong Kong, a city I came to love during 28 years as a resident. It was not easy to leave. Hong Kong had become my home. But it was, for me and for many others back then, the right time to make the move. My reasons were complex, although the wearying pandemic restrictions and dramatic legal and political reforms played their part. The city had changed so much. Returning to my native... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3362651/hong-kong-has-bounced-back-bleak-days-pandemic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3362651/hong-kong-has-bounced-back-bleak-days-pandemic?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:48:00 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The prime duty of a judge is to independently assess court cases, resolving the issues and reaching a decision. It requires exercising judgment. The clue is in the name. But this fundamental requirement was not met by Hong Kong judge, Mr Justice Wilson Chan Ka-shun, in a case involving a dispute over a company’s shares. Last week, the Court of Appeal took the drastic step of ordering a new trial before a different judge after finding Chan to have extensively and improperly copied legal arguments... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3361853/judges-actions-could-harm-public-confidence-hong-kongs-system-justice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3361853/judges-actions-could-harm-public-confidence-hong-kongs-system-justice?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Jul 2026 15:18:19 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Churches, of all places, should be safe spaces in which members can follow their faith in a supportive environment consistent with Christian values. Sadly, a wealth of evidence from around the world has shown that is often not the case. Scandals have revealed what has been described as “an inconvenient truth”. Religious institutions can unintentionally provide fertile ground for sex offenders. Complaints are often covered up. No church, whatever its denomination, is immune. Hong Kong has, over... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3361058/churches-must-ensure-complaints-sexual-abuse-are-taken-seriously?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3361058/churches-must-ensure-complaints-sexual-abuse-are-taken-seriously?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Jul 2026 14:28:30 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The US had high hopes for success in the World Cup both as co-hosts and with the performance of its national team, promising to deliver the best tournament ever. All appeared to be going well, especially when the home nation beat Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first knockout round to progress to the last 16. Then President Donald Trump stepped in. It was an intervention waiting to happen. The scandal has gravely undermined the integrity of the sport, its governing body and the World Cup itself. It... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3360244/if-anyone-deserves-red-card-its-donald-trump-and-gianni-infantino?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3360244/if-anyone-deserves-red-card-its-donald-trump-and-gianni-infantino?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:44:15 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Hong Kong’s legal system in which bewigged barristers do battle in court has many benefits and has served the city well. But it often fails victims of sex crimes. This has long been recognised. As a court reporter in the 1990s, I witnessed first-hand the trauma they face when reliving their ordeal in the witness box, facing the attacker across a courtroom. Steps to create a less intimidating environment began with child victims. They were first allowed to give their evidence via television link... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3359434/there-should-be-no-further-delay-implementing-reform-sex-crime-laws?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3359434/there-should-be-no-further-delay-implementing-reform-sex-crime-laws?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Jul 2026 14:08:03 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Imagine a world in which children grow up free from social media. The days spent relentlessly doom-scrolling, gaming and risking exposure to harmful material would be gone. The young would instead spend their time embracing healthy pursuits such as sport, art and music, reading books and visiting museums. Many parents would welcome such a world, but know it is a fantasy. To create such an environment would be to turn the clock back more than 20 years. But this is what the British government... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3358617/putting-social-media-genie-back-bottle-will-not-be-easy-do?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3358617/putting-social-media-genie-back-bottle-will-not-be-easy-do?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Jun 2026 14:45:54 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The mayor of one of Britain’s biggest cities took the high-speed train from Beijing to Tianjin when visiting in 2018, and spoke highly of China’s innovation and development. He pointed out that the 30-minute trip on the 73-mile (117km) line took the same time as “a rattling northern train” travelling just eight miles from Altrincham to Manchester in the UK. “Railway passengers in the north of England deserve a service every bit as clean, comfortable and reliable as those travelling in northern... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3357785/northern-king-burnham-savours-chance-take-starmers-crown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3357785/northern-king-burnham-savours-chance-take-starmers-crown?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Jun 2026 13:00:05 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The World Cup of chaos, as some have dubbed it, was plagued by controversy in the months leading up to its opening ceremony last week. Now that the tournament has finally kicked off, the focus will thankfully be on the football, rather than visa denials or exorbitant ticket prices. The tournament might just live up to its billing as the greatest show on earth. The host nations have given the World Cup an early boost with encouraging performances fuelling the excitement of the home fans. The US... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3357019/world-cup-will-not-solve-globes-problems-it-can-bring-us-together?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3357019/world-cup-will-not-solve-globes-problems-it-can-bring-us-together?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Jun 2026 14:14:25 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle A shocking video showing British police officers arresting and handcuffing a university student as he lay dying from stab wounds has sparked outrage. The officers wrongly believed Henry Nowak, 18, a white accountancy and finance student, to be responsible for a racial attack. They treated his killer, a member of the Sikh community, as the victim. Distressing footage of the arrest in Southampton, recorded by police bodycam, has fuelled intense debate about policing, with claims the force gives... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3356225/henry-nowaks-legacy-should-be-bringing-society-together-not-tearing-it-apart?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3356225/henry-nowaks-legacy-should-be-bringing-society-together-not-tearing-it-apart?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Jun 2026 15:18:34 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The grand opening last week of a Fifa football museum in Hong Kong will whet the appetite of local fans for the sport’s biggest event, the World Cup, which kicks off next month. Visitors to the 6,000-square-foot display in Times Square, Causeway Bay, are being treated to a variety of exhibits and interactive activities. There is a “rainbow” of national team shirts, including one worn by legendary star Pele in 1966, and other jerseys from iconic players such as Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3355432/world-cup-ticket-prices-are-showing-ugly-side-beautiful-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3355432/world-cup-ticket-prices-are-showing-ugly-side-beautiful-game?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 May 2026 15:57:17 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The Chelsea Flower Show is one of the highlights of the summer for British high society, attended by royalty, celebrities and 150,000 gardening enthusiasts. Visitors last week marvelled at spectacular show gardens and lavish ornamental installations, featuring a wide and colourful variety of plants, from roses to fuchsias and wisteria. Almost 30,000 glasses of champagne are usually consumed at the five-day event, which has been running for more than a century. There was even a lifting of the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3354644/chinese-orchids-bring-message-hope-chelsea-flower-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3354644/chinese-orchids-bring-message-hope-chelsea-flower-show?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 May 2026 14:15:23 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Hong Kong’s journey towards regulation of ride-hailing services has been slow and long, with plenty of jams along the way. It is 12 years since Uber started operating in the city. But the destination is now in sight. More details were provided last week and the first licences for platforms are due to be issued this year. Ride-hailing companies offer a valuable, convenient service for residents and visitors, especially amid concerns about the quality of service offered by the city’s traditional... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3353828/passengers-must-not-be-left-behind-ride-hailing-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3353828/passengers-must-not-be-left-behind-ride-hailing-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 May 2026 13:15:05 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle British Prime Minister Keir Starmer swept to power two years ago, winning a landslide election victory with a promise to bring change. In his victory speech, the Labour Party leader pledged to forge national renewal, rebuild the country and “relight the fire”, after 14 turbulent years of Conservative rule. Change, he said, “begins now”. Last week’s local and regional election results demonstrated in stark terms that he was right about one thing: change is coming. But the transformation of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3353013/starmer-was-right-about-political-change-not-what-he-planned?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3353013/starmer-was-right-about-political-change-not-what-he-planned?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 15:08:47 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Hong Kong’s drive to become a leading host of “mega” sports events is keeping the football fans onside, with six top European teams to play high-profile pre-season friendly matches in the city this summer. The football festival, which set new attendance records when first staged at the new Kai Tak Stadium last year, will see top English and Italian teams compete in two matches in August. Manchester City will play Inter Milan four days before a clash between Chelsea and Juventus. And that is not... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3352234/world-cup-football-belongs-fans-not-trump-and-his-friend-fifa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3352234/world-cup-football-belongs-fans-not-trump-and-his-friend-fifa?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 14:30:08 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The appeal of a trip to Europe, to gaze at historic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, to ski in the Alps or sunbathe on a Greek beach, is well known to travellers. One of the attractions has long been the ease with which borders can be crossed. But while the war in Iran has disrupted travel around the world, a new source of potential woe for visitors to Europe has just kicked in. Non-EU nationals must now register their biometric data on arrival. This controversial move has been almost a decade... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3351439/new-entry-system-non-eu-residents-chipping-away-europes-image?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3351439/new-entry-system-non-eu-residents-chipping-away-europes-image?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:30:08 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The ability to predict the outcome of events, from wars and elections to cup finals or the weather, is a skill well worth possessing in an uncertain world. A successful look into the crystal ball can bring great riches but also lead to devastating financial loss. Prediction markets, online platforms that allow speculators to buy a stake in the yes or no result of a diverse array of events, have soared in popularity in recent years. They are styled as financial products, but are, in practice, a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3350592/all-bets-are-legal-basketball-wagers-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3350592/all-bets-are-legal-basketball-wagers-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:45:08 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Hong Kong is best known for its bustling urban centre with soaring skyscrapers, crowded streets and busy roads. But not all residents relish the frenetic pace of life in the heart of the city, longing for an escape from the noise, pollution and lack of space. Discovery Bay, known as DB, a leafy suburb-by-the-sea, with low-rise housing and a low population density, has long been a favourite location for those seeking a different environment, especially arrivals from overseas. It is a unique part... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3349762/discovery-bay-will-never-be-same-if-restriction-taxi-access-lifted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3349762/discovery-bay-will-never-be-same-if-restriction-taxi-access-lifted?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 16:14:16 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The dramatic launch of the first manned space mission to the moon for more than 50 years invokes a childlike sense of excitement and wonder, with reflections on the prospect of another giant leap for mankind. Four astronauts, three from the United States and one from Canada, are on course to travel further away from Earth than any of their predecessors, circling the moon. Some of us are old enough to remember the first lunar missions in the 1960s and ’70s. These formed the backdrop to our... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3349049/lunar-mission-gives-fresh-perspective-troubled-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3349049/lunar-mission-gives-fresh-perspective-troubled-world?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:00:09 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Any parent with experience of children growing up in the social media age knows how addictive and potentially harmful the many hours they spend glued to their screens can be. We do not need a court to tell us. But the verdict delivered by a jury in Los Angeles last week, the first of its kind, has finally given legal force to concerns that have been growing for years. The landmark case against Meta and YouTube, which is being compared to the groundbreaking settlement made by major US tobacco... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3348266/verdict-finds-what-any-parent-knows-social-media-designed-be-addictive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3348266/verdict-finds-what-any-parent-knows-social-media-designed-be-addictive?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 14:49:26 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The role of foreign judges on Hong Kong’s top court has become controversial in recent years, amid geopolitical tensions and criticism in the West of the city’s national security law. A wave of departures, with some judges citing political concerns, has depleted their number. Now, there are only six, down from 15 in 2020. Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung warned last year that appointing judges of the right stature and experience “may be less straightforward than it once was”. The death of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3347440/masons-legacy-lies-reputation-he-helped-forge-hong-kongs-final-court?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3347440/masons-legacy-lies-reputation-he-helped-forge-hong-kongs-final-court?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 13:33:53 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Veteran British politician Peter Mandelson’s visit to Hong Kong in 2024 came as a new era dawned, both for relations between the UK and China and his own career. Speaking at the University of Hong Kong in September that year, soon after the Labour Party’s election victory, the former trade minister expressed optimism that the new government would engage with Beijing and forge closer ties. He spoke highly of Hong Kong. Mandelson played down suggestions he would soon be appointed Britain’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3346620/mandelson-scandal-could-be-tipping-point-costs-starmer-his-job?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3346620/mandelson-scandal-could-be-tipping-point-costs-starmer-his-job?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 14:16:07 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Journalists in Hong Kong, for many years, routinely accessed personal details of vehicle owners held on a government database as part of their newsroom investigations. There was no suggestion this carried legal risks. That all changed in 2021 when reporter Bao Choy Yuk-ling was fined HK$6,000 for making false statements when obtaining such information for the making of an award-winning documentary. Her convictions were overturned by the Court of Final Appeal in 2023, which found the journalist... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345827/freedom-press-calls-faster-route-transport-department-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345827/freedom-press-calls-faster-route-transport-department-data?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 14:25:15 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The ability of victims of harassment to sue in Hong Kong’s courts has long been open to question. But not any more. A landmark judgment of the city’s top court has confirmed, for the first time, that people who suffer cyberbullying, email campaigns or other forms of oppressive behaviour can bring a civil case. The ruling broke new ground, not just for Hong Kong but for the common law world, notably in establishing a new right for companies to seek an injunction to prevent the harassment of their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3344997/ruling-allows-harassment-victims-sue-has-far-reaching-implications?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3344997/ruling-allows-harassment-victims-sue-has-far-reaching-implications?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 16:05:25 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The flying visit to Hong Kong paid by Prince Andrew, as he was then, in October 2010, was a relatively low-key affair. His trip merited a brief item in the South China Morning Post noting that he would meet with the then chief executive and financial secretary, the MTR chief and tycoon Li Ka-shing, while also attending a British Chamber of Commerce lunch. This was, it seemed, a routine trip for the then prince in his capacity as Britain’s special representative for international trade and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3344226/arrest-shows-no-one-above-law-not-even-former-british-prince?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3344226/arrest-shows-no-one-above-law-not-even-former-british-prince?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 14:30:10 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Lunar New Year, widely celebrated around the world, has long provided an opportunity for people unfamiliar with Chinese culture to engage with its festive traditions. The arrival of the Year of the Horse will be marked not only in Hong Kong, mainland China and other parts of Asia, but in cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Paris and Sydney. It is a global celebration enjoyed by Chinese communities and increasingly by non-Chinese participants at new year parades and related events.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3343595/social-medias-becoming-chinese-trend-can-only-be-force-good?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3343595/social-medias-becoming-chinese-trend-can-only-be-force-good?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:15:07 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle A new law requiring passengers to wear seat belts on Hong Kong buses was supposed to mark the start of a long journey ensuring greater safety. But the trip turned out to be surprisingly short. The rule only lasted 13 days. The long-anticipated legal step should not have been revolutionary. It is common knowledge – and common sense – that the wearing of a belt can save life and limb in an accident. But the practical implications were not thought through. A public backlash highlighted a catalogue... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3342782/bus-seat-belt-law-not-end-road-despite-fiasco-first-attempt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3342782/bus-seat-belt-law-not-end-road-despite-fiasco-first-attempt?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 14:15:09 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The prospect of “class actions” conjures up romantic images of campaigning lawyers winning billions of dollars in court from unscrupulous corporations, benefiting thousands of aggrieved citizens. These stirring David v Goliath battles have featured in Hollywood films and TV legal dramas. They have long had a prominent place in the US legal system and been widely adopted in various forms around the world. But not in Hong Kong. Now, in the aftermath of the Wang Fuk Court fire, in which flames... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3341965/tai-po-fire-victims-are-not-being-served-well-inaction-class-actions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3341965/tai-po-fire-victims-are-not-being-served-well-inaction-class-actions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 15:08:21 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The debate over the status of same-sex relationships in Hong Kong sometimes takes the form of pride versus prejudice, an emotional clash between members of the LGBTQ community and their opponents. The bigger picture is often overlooked. Matters came to a head last September when the city’s lawmakers voted down a government bill which would have provided a framework for the recognition of people in such relationships, subject to certain conditions. A scheme of this kind is required by a judgment... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3341124/time-remove-differences-how-hong-kong-treats-same-sex-relationships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3341124/time-remove-differences-how-hong-kong-treats-same-sex-relationships?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:57:04 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Hong Kong has taken great pride in hosting a growing number of glittering sports events, from clashes between top European football teams to international tournaments featuring stars of snooker, table tennis and golf. This push to become a leading destination for such events, following the long-awaited opening of the iconic Kai Tak Sports Park, reached a climax in November with the city’s unprecedented co-hosting of China’s national games. But the biggest and best of all the city’s “mega”... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3340272/hong-kong-marathon-provides-winning-formula-no-finishing-line-sight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3340272/hong-kong-marathon-provides-winning-formula-no-finishing-line-sight?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 15:15:08 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Hong Kong is best known around the world for its city centre, a landscape dominated by soaring skyscrapers sandwiched in between the hills and the harbour. But its reputation as a green and pleasant land is growing. Residents and visitors alike are increasingly exploring the expansive country parks and remote spots, whether for hiking, adventure or spectacular selfies. The natural landscape, however, has been severely degraded over time. Hong Kong was once covered in lush, tall, native... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3339456/native-forest-restoration-project-literally-and-figuratively-bearing-fruit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3339456/native-forest-restoration-project-literally-and-figuratively-bearing-fruit?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 14:37:21 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle New year resolutions take many forms, but a determination to live a healthier lifestyle is one of the most popular. Many of us enthusiastically embraced the Christmas festivities, eating and drinking more than usual. Now, those who overindulged might be embarking on a detox or a diet. Some have probably already lapsed. But the intentions are good. I ate my fair share of turkey, Christmas pudding and mince pies, often washed down with wine. But 2025 was a year during which I became more mindful... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3338639/time-make-new-year-resolution-your-life-depends-it?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3338639/time-make-new-year-resolution-your-life-depends-it?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:45:34 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The new year in Hong Kong will be dominated by the aftermath of the deadly Tai Po fire. There is a need to identify the lapses and loopholes, abuses and failures that contributed to the loss of 161 lives and the displacement of around 5,000 residents at Wang Fuk Court. Investigations are under way. But the city’s resolution needs to go further. There should be a determination to eradicate the cavalier approach adopted to following rules, weak enforcement and cosy relationships between interested... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3337904/eye-opening-court-judgment-snapshot-issues-have-plagued-hong-kong-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3337904/eye-opening-court-judgment-snapshot-issues-have-plagued-hong-kong-years?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Dec 2025 14:30:07 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The festive season, with its much-loved traditions, family gatherings and tidings of joy, provides a welcome ray of light even in the darkest times. In Hong Kong, Christmas celebrations will be tempered with great sadness this year as the city emerges from the shock and horror of the devastating Tai Po fire which engulfed seven housing blocks, leaving at least 161 dead. The tragedy struck on November 26, just as the seasonal festivities were getting under way. The city was plunged into mourning... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3337197/christmas-spirit-generosity-peace-and-goodwill-could-not-be-needed-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3337197/christmas-spirit-generosity-peace-and-goodwill-could-not-be-needed-more?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 14:59:06 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle A disaster on the scale of Hong Kong’s deadly Wang Fuk Court fire requires an immediate response to support victims, pursue those responsible and make sweeping changes that will ensure such a tragedy never occurs again. Hong Kong is taking action on all these fronts following the blaze last month that killed 160 people, left around 5,000 homeless and plunged the city into mourning. Survivors have quickly been provided with accommodation and compensation. Citywide safety checks have been... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3336354/what-hong-kong-can-learn-deadly-london-flats-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3336354/what-hong-kong-can-learn-deadly-london-flats-blaze?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Dec 2025 15:36:28 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The hallowed tradition of trial by jury, dating back hundreds of years, is one of the most fundamental and best-known features of Britain’s legal system. It has been adopted around the world, including in Hong Kong. But nothing is sacred, it seems. Last week, UK justice secretary David Lammy announced plans to dramatically cut back the use of juries, slashing the number of criminal trials using them by half. It is a drastic step. The proposal, for England and Wales, is to only use juries in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3335475/role-jurors-legal-system-should-be-strengthened-not-restricted?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3335475/role-jurors-legal-system-should-be-strengthened-not-restricted?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Dec 2025 15:30:10 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The rapid spread of a ferocious fire through multi-storey housing blocks, leaving helpless occupants trapped and dying, has long been one of Hong Kong’s darkest nightmares. In a city where most live in proximity to each other in high-rise flats, the risk of a blaze turning homes into death traps is ever present. But the fire that swiftly engulfed seven blocks of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on Wednesday, killing more than 100 people and leaving thousands homeless, is on a scale that exceeds even the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3334648/we-must-ensure-such-tragedy-never-occurs-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3334648/we-must-ensure-such-tragedy-never-occurs-again?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 21:43:25 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Britain’s crackdown on immigration accelerated last week with the unveiling of radical reforms which will make it more difficult for those embarking on a new life in the country to settle there. The sweeping changes will apply not only to asylum seekers but to migrants who have entered the UK lawfully since 2021. The goalposts are moving. Tighter restrictions for people who relocate to the UK through legal routes, such as for work or study, are the subject of a 12-week consultation. The aim,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3333813/bn0-visa-holders-deserve-clarity-pathway-new-life-uk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3333813/bn0-visa-holders-deserve-clarity-pathway-new-life-uk?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:43:39 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The rivalry between Hong Kong and Singapore over everything, it seems, from attracting talent, tourists and even Taylor Swift, will hit new heights this week. Disputes about which is best, for food, finance or culture, are not easy to resolve. But when it comes to football, there is always a result. Teams representing the two cities face off at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday. Only one of the two sides can qualify for the prestigious Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia in 2027. The eagerly... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3332943/hong-kongs-football-fans-deserve-much-better-latest-ticketing-debacle?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3332943/hong-kongs-football-fans-deserve-much-better-latest-ticketing-debacle?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 15:15:09 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The commemorative activities to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war this year have ensured the sacrifice made by those who lost their lives is not forgotten. Parades, fly-pasts, church services and street parties celebrated VE Day in May, the anniversary of the Nazi regime’s surrender in Europe. It was followed, in August, by VJ Day, recalling the defeat of Japan. Then, Victory Day, in September, marked the formal surrender of Japanese forces in China, with events on the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3332067/poppies-remain-poignant-reminder-catastrophic-human-cost-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3332067/poppies-remain-poignant-reminder-catastrophic-human-cost-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 15:30:08 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The news that Hong Kong would co-host China’s National Games for the first time, a landmark for the city, was not accompanied by the fanfare that might have been expected when it was announced four years ago. At the time, the world was still in the grip of the pandemic. Hong Kong’s measures to combat Covid-19, including quarantine and strict social-distancing rules, hit the city’s sports sector hard. Iconic events such as the rugby sevens, the marathon and Oxfam Trailwalker were cancelled or... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3331187/national-games-are-just-start-not-finishing-line-sporting-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3331187/national-games-are-just-start-not-finishing-line-sporting-ambitions?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 13:11:41 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The brutal killing of a newspaper seller, stabbed to death at her stand by “hired thugs” in 1999, was an outrage of the kind that has occasionally rocked and shocked Hong Kong. Four men who carried out the horrific attack, described by authorities as a “classic triad murder”, were later jailed, three of them for life. The punishment fits the crime. They deserve no sympathy. But a fair and humane justice system must allow for the possibility that those responsible for even the most terrible... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3330325/one-measure-just-society-way-it-treats-those-who-transgress-most?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3330325/one-measure-just-society-way-it-treats-those-who-transgress-most?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Oct 2025 13:40:11 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Hong Kong was decked out in red for national day this month, displaying thousands of flags representing China and the city, as part of celebrations intended to promote patriotism. National flags are flying seemingly everywhere in England, too, also in the name of national pride. But their proliferation in recent months has been much more controversial. The union jack and England’s flag of St George fly not only from public buildings but also houses, gardens, and, in a movement that began in the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3329546/national-flag-should-be-symbol-unity-not-prejudice-and-divisiveness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3329546/national-flag-should-be-symbol-unity-not-prejudice-and-divisiveness?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Oct 2025 23:46:14 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Hong Kong’s drive to attract visitors to the city, in a bid to ensure that “tourism is everywhere”, is beginning to bear fruit. The eight-day “golden week” holiday drew more than 1.4 million arrivals from mainland China, a 15 per cent increase on last year. It fuelled a 20 per cent surge in business for the struggling retail and catering sectors, while hotels enjoyed an occupancy rate of over 90 per cent. Much comfort, during challenging economic times, was taken from the boost to consumption... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3328663/tourism-might-be-everywhere-not-everywhere-can-cope-mass-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3328663/tourism-might-be-everywhere-not-everywhere-can-cope-mass-tourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Oct 2025 15:07:50 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The British government, desperate to ease rising concerns about illegal immigration, has announced a radical new plan. It is one that would not be seen as remotely controversial in Hong Kong, or many other parts of the world. But in the UK, the initiative is viewed by many as a sinister threat to the country’s cherished freedoms. The proposal, announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer last month, envisages the introduction of identity cards to the UK. The idea, fiercely resisted by British people... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3327892/digital-id-may-be-bridge-too-far-those-brits-wanting-stop-boats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3327892/digital-id-may-be-bridge-too-far-those-brits-wanting-stop-boats?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:08:34 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Hong Kong awaits typhoons with some trepidation, being well aware of the devastation they can wreak. But the storms also bring a sense of excitement, romance and wonder. They are part of the city’s collective memory. This fascination with the forces of nature led some foolhardy souls last week to recklessly venture too close to the coastline during Super Typhoon Ragasa. It left them at the mercy of the raging sea and placed their lives in danger. Some even took children with them. It was more... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3327109/not-playing-king-canute-during-typhoon-matter-common-sense?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3327109/not-playing-king-canute-during-typhoon-matter-common-sense?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:00:16 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wasted no time playing his “Trump card” when he visited the newly elected US president earlier this year. A smiling Starmer produced a letter from King Charles inviting Donald Trump to make an unprecedented second state visit to the UK. Trump happily accepted, describing it as an honour. Last week’s two-day extravaganza displayed more pomp and pageantry than politics. It was all about flattering Trump and making him feel special. But the point of this... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3326265/more-pomp-and-pageantry-politics-britain-plays-its-trump-card?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3326265/more-pomp-and-pageantry-politics-britain-plays-its-trump-card?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Sep 2025 13:45:07 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle A court ruling in favour of a three-year-old boy, whose parents are both women, highlighted the practical difficulties faced by Hong Kong’s same-sex couples last week and broke new ground in upholding their rights. The government had refused to allow both lesbian mothers of the child to be recorded as parents on his birth certificate. One of them was excluded. This was ruled by the court to be unlawful, as it breaches the little boy’s privacy and family rights. It is the latest in a long line of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3325450/government-must-go-back-drawing-board-rights-same-sex-couples?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3325450/government-must-go-back-drawing-board-rights-same-sex-couples?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 14:22:41 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle Britain has endured another summer of discontent, with concerns about immigration sparking protests, court challenges and shifts in government policy. There has, thankfully, been no repeat of the riots which spread across the country last year. But there is much frustration and anger about the government’s inability to prevent thousands of asylum seekers arriving on small boats, with many housed in hotels at public expense. Populist politician Nigel Farage, whose anti-immigration Reform UK party... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3324618/britain-must-prove-its-commitment-bno-scheme-hk-migrants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3324618/britain-must-prove-its-commitment-bno-scheme-hk-migrants?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 Sep 2025 14:26:26 +0000 Cliff Buddle Cliff Buddle The many memorials marking this year’s 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war culminate this week with China’s Victory Day. A military parade in Beijing on Wednesday and other activities, including in Hong Kong, mark the formal surrender of Japan’s army in China, ending the 14-year conflict which cost an estimated 35 million Chinese lives. This follows ceremonies around the world, from the poignant to the patriotic, commemorating the conclusion of the war in Europe in May and the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3323780/sacrifice-made-during-japans-occupation-must-not-be-forgotten?utm_source=rss_feed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/article/3323780/sacrifice-made-during-japans-occupation-must-not-be-forgotten?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Aug 2025 14:05:07 +0000