https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/40567/feed en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg 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. The deadly floods along the Nepal-Tibet border in August marked the second major deluge in little more than a year. The recurrence highlights a fundamental challenge for climate adaptation in mountain regions, that disasters in these environments unfold through complex physical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3371100/hong-kong-climate-change-no-longer-distant-headline https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3371100/hong-kong-climate-change-no-longer-distant-headline Sat, 17 Oct 2026 03:30:07 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Groundbreaking land-renewal policies recently announced in Guangzhou and Shanghai represent a step forward in stabilising China’s commercial property market and shoring up investors’ confidence amid Beijing’s efforts to revive the real estate industry, according to officials and industry analysts. The new rules governing the leasing of land for commercial and industrial use will also facilitate the issuance of exchange-traded real estate investment trusts (Reits), a financing tool that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370350/clock-ticks-chinas-commercial-land-leases-renewal-plans-allay-investors-concerns https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3370350/clock-ticks-chinas-commercial-land-leases-renewal-plans-allay-investors-concerns Sun, 11 Oct 2026 01:00:11 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s development chief has dismissed concerns that commercial floor space in the Northern Metropolis megaproject will further depress the city’s struggling office market, stressing that incoming supply is primarily for the innovation and technology (I&T) sector. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho told the Legislative Council on Thursday that the 1 million square metres (10.8 million square feet) of economic floor space to be provided in the megaproject next to the Shenzhen... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370199/development-chief-dismisses-fears-northern-metropolis-supply-will-hit-office-sector https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3370199/development-chief-dismisses-fears-northern-metropolis-supply-will-hit-office-sector Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:56:32 +0000 Chris Tsang Chris Tsang With office vacancy rates in Kowloon East remaining high, the Planning Department has indicated it has “no objection” to a request by some developers for a commercial project in the area to be rezoned for residential development. A consortium comprising CSI Properties, Asia Standard International and Chongqing-born property tycoon Cheung Chung-kiu has submitted an application to the Town Planning Board to rezone Harbourside HQ – a grade A office building at 8 Lam Chak Street, Kowloon Bay, which... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368602/high-office-vacancy-rates-spur-bid-rezone-kowloon-east-site-residential-development https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3368602/high-office-vacancy-rates-spur-bid-rezone-kowloon-east-site-residential-development Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:00:05 +0000 Michael Jinghan Zeng Michael Jinghan Zeng Hong Kong’s first five-year plan gives its universities an opportunity to show what their research can do for the city. Its ambitions for technology, regional development and international cooperation depend on decisions about institutions and people’s lives. Social scientists should help shape those decisions from the outset. The blueprint explicitly addresses public governance, including civil service performance, departmental coordination and digital administration. It also provides for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368356/hong-kong-needs-social-science-help-deliver-its-5-year-plan https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3368356/hong-kong-needs-social-science-help-deliver-its-5-year-plan Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:30:06 +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 Gigi Wong Gigi Wong Hong Kong is famous for its elevated walkways, which dot the city from Tsuen Wan to Mong Kok to Central, forming a sprawling pedestrian network built out over many decades. The newest addition to this network is the Amoy Footbridge in Kowloon Bay, which provides a roofed connection between the HK$4.1 billion East Kowloon Cultural Centre, Amoy Plaza mall, residential developments The Aperture and Amoy Gardens, and Kowloon Bay MTR station. Built by Hang Lung Properties as a community investment... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3367679/kowloon-bays-new-amoy-footbridge-set-draw-neighbourhood-closer-together https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/special-reports/article/3367679/kowloon-bays-new-amoy-footbridge-set-draw-neighbourhood-closer-together Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:28:41 +0000 Deepa Padmanaban Deepa Padmanaban Some of my earliest memories of Bengaluru, where I spent my summer holidays, are of looking up in wonder at the towering canopy of trees in Cubbon Park. Even in the height of summer, Bengaluru could be cool enough to require a light jacket. Today, the iconic Cubbon Park, the pride of the city I now call home, is under threat. So is Lalbagh Botanical Garden, another of the city’s iconic green spaces, with roots stretching back more than 250 years. On a Sunday morning in Bengaluru last month,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3366905/warming-cities-cant-afford-sacrifice-their-urban-parks https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3366905/warming-cities-cant-afford-sacrifice-their-urban-parks Sun, 13 Sep 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Deep in the southern border zone of Johor, Malaysia, separated from Singapore by a narrow strait, a steady flow of commuters moves seamlessly between the two sovereign neighbours. Beyond the immediate checkpoints, a short 30-minute train ride connects visitors to regional hubs such as Kulai, where a vastly different dynamic comes into view – one defined by the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure. Inside YTL’s sprawling Green Data Centre Park, massive operational blocks stand beside... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367104/whats-northern-metropolis-project-doing-malaysia-lessons-hong-kong https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367104/whats-northern-metropolis-project-doing-malaysia-lessons-hong-kong Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:30:06 +0000 Jane Lee Jane Lee What kind of population is Hong Kong planning for? That is the question the chief executive’s policy address must tackle as the Northern Metropolis begins to take shape. Much more than just another new town, the Northern Metropolis is Hong Kong’s most consequential project for its next phase of development, expected to house 2.5 million residents and provide 650,000 jobs. The numbers are well known, but they are not the story. This population of 2.5 million will be like no other. The Northern... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366785/hong-kong-must-plan-population-it-wants-have https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3366785/hong-kong-must-plan-population-it-wants-have Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:30:05 +0000 Simpson Cheung,Kristen Cheung Simpson Cheung,Kristen Cheung Hong Kong authorities should make raising home ownership a goal of the city’s first five-year plan, Legislative Council president Starry Lee Wai-king has said, following a visit to a public estate with the housing minister. Lee also said the goal could be achieved by reviving a scheme that allowed public housing tenants to buy their flats and reserving subsidised homes for youth and middle-class families. She made the remarks after inspecting Oi Man Estate in Ho Man Tin with Housing Bureau and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3366608/make-home-ownership-5-year-plan-goal-legco-president-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3366608/make-home-ownership-5-year-plan-goal-legco-president-says Mon, 07 Sep 2026 06:28:06 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A sea wall at a popular selfie spot on Kennedy Town’s waterfront could soon gain grade two status after Hong Kong authorities proposed listing it as a historic structure, although experts say creative storytelling will be key to bringing the site’s heritage to life. According to a document from the Antiquities and Monuments Office, the Historic Buildings Assessment Panel recommended that the New Praya sea wall be given grade two status following an assessment. Subject to members’ endorsement,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3366341/hong-kong-proposes-grade-2-heritage-status-kennedy-town-selfie-spot-sea-wall https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3366341/hong-kong-proposes-grade-2-heritage-status-kennedy-town-selfie-spot-sea-wall Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:27:29 +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 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Urban renewal is essential, not optional, for a small and densely populated city like Hong Kong. While new buildings continue to mushroom across the districts each year, it is outpaced by the relentless ageing of blocks, many of which have become dilapidated and pose a danger to public safety. In this context, the government’s new five-year bonus plot ratio pilot scheme to expedite redevelopment is not merely a technical tweak to planning rules. It is a much-needed and pragmatic attempt to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3365564/hong-kong-right-harness-market-forces-urban-renewal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3365564/hong-kong-right-harness-market-forces-urban-renewal Sat, 29 Aug 2026 23:15:08 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell I’m a little perplexed and bemused by the brouhaha surrounding Hong Kong’s decision to draft its first five-year plan, as if the sky is falling in around the city’s famed laissez-faire economy. Predictably, Yale University’s Stephen Roach (he of “Hong Kong is over” fame) warned in a commentary last month that “Chinese-style central planning” could “over-promise and under-deliver”. In a 2024 commentary, he said Hong Kong had been “shackled by the deadweight of autocracy”. But from my vantage... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3363897/death-knell-hong-kongs-five-year-plan-starting-gun https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3363897/death-knell-hong-kongs-five-year-plan-starting-gun Sun, 16 Aug 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Natalie Wong,Jeffie Lam Natalie Wong,Jeffie Lam Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has recorded an operating surplus of HK$338 million (US$43.3 million) for the 2025-26 financial year, after reporting three straight years of losses. At a banquet on Friday to mark the statutory body’s 25th anniversary, chairman Chow Chung-kong announced that the URA had returned to profit in the 2025-26 financial year, recording an operating surplus to fund ongoing urban renewal initiatives. That followed three consecutive financial years of losses.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3364109/ura-posts-hk338-million-operating-surplus-after-three-years-losses https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3364109/ura-posts-hk338-million-operating-surplus-after-three-years-losses Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:40:27 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Nearly 30 years after the closure of Hong Kong’s iconic Kai Tak Airport, state-owned giant China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) hopes to provide the nearby waterfront area – a narrow stretch of land that juts into Victoria Harbour – with a route to better transit connectivity. Executives from the world-leading railway vehicle manufacturer said the company aims to use the former airport site as a test bed for an autonomous vehicle system, and a potential runway for overseas... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363937/transit-giant-crrc-sets-down-marker-hong-kong-sales-pitch-overseas-cities https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3363937/transit-giant-crrc-sets-down-marker-hong-kong-sales-pitch-overseas-cities Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:15 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The leader of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has called for greater financial support to develop a proposed 300-hectare (741 acres) university town near the border with mainland China, including funding for local institutions to build campuses, arguing that expansion will help navigate future challenges. In a wide-ranging interview with the South China Morning Post, CUHK president Dennis Lo Yuk-ming said Hong Kong universities needed to expand their presence in the Northern... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3363363/cuhk-chief-calls-more-funds-campuses-northern-metropolis-university-town https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3363363/cuhk-chief-calls-more-funds-campuses-northern-metropolis-university-town Sat, 08 Aug 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Francis Neoton Cheung Francis Neoton Cheung Hong Kong’s redevelopment policy is approaching an institutional turning point. Recent government proposals – pilot schemes for additional plot ratios and cross-district plot ratio transfers – are presented as new instruments to stimulate redevelopment in ageing districts. Yet they extend the same paradigm that shaped policy for decades: incentivising redevelopment through floor-area bonuses, relying on land premium as the financial logic and assuming more buildable area will automatically... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3362596/hong-kong-needs-regenerated-districts-not-piecemeal-renewal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3362596/hong-kong-needs-regenerated-districts-not-piecemeal-renewal Thu, 06 Aug 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority (URA) received seven tender submissions for a major waterfront residential redevelopment project in Hung Hom, drawing bids from some of the city’s largest developers despite a subdued land market. The authority said on Monday that seven developers submitted tenders for the project before the noon deadline. A tender review panel under the URA board will assess the bids before making recommendations, with the board to decide on the successful developer. Wheelock... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3361983/seven-hong-kong-developers-bid-waterfront-project-kowloon-renewal-gathers-pace https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/article/3361983/seven-hong-kong-developers-bid-waterfront-project-kowloon-renewal-gathers-pace Mon, 27 Jul 2026 08:36:20 +0000 Regina Ip Regina Ip Hong Kong has embarked on the path of drawing up its first five-year plan – a significant moment in its history. Hong Kong’s first five-year plan should be more than a local economic blueprint. Properly conceived, it should define how the city contributes to China’s national development while preserving the global connections that make Hong Kong uniquely valuable. Success will depend on three mutually reinforcing pillars – deeper integration with the mainland, seamless connectivity across the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3360772/hong-kongs-5-year-plan-must-focus-what-city-does-best https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3360772/hong-kongs-5-year-plan-must-focus-what-city-does-best Sun, 19 Jul 2026 01:30:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It has been nearly five years since the plan for a key MTR station at Pak Shek Kok on the East Rail line was unveiled in former chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s 2021 policy address. That the project is still on the drawing board does not seem in line with the city’s reputation for getting important things done efficiently. But a revised proposal just announced is a milestone in Hong Kong’s development. To put an end to the long delay, the government has taken the new approach of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3360149/mtr-station-near-science-park-will-serve-citys-superconnector-goals https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3360149/mtr-station-near-science-park-will-serve-citys-superconnector-goals Fri, 10 Jul 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Wander Meijer Wander Meijer Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis is positioned as the city’s next engine of growth – a long-term solution to land supply, economic transformation and cross-boundary integration. Just as importantly, the government has stressed that this massive undertaking will embed nature conservation and urban-rural integration at its core. Yet, a growing contradiction lies at the heart of this vision. The very landscapes that could support a green, sustainable and liveable Northern Metropolis – its remaining... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3359169/hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-project-neednt-neglect-agriculture https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3359169/hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-project-neednt-neglect-agriculture Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:30:06 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu As Hong Kong marks the 29th anniversary of its return to Chinese rule on July 1, the South China Morning Post talks to the city’s senior officials about the administration’s achievements so far and what may lie ahead. The first tender for the university town in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis will be launched in two months, with successful bidders to be announced after the site formation of the plot is completed by the end of this year, the education minister has revealed. Secretary for... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3359486/hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-university-town-tender-launch-2-months https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3359486/hong-kongs-northern-metropolis-university-town-tender-launch-2-months Sun, 05 Jul 2026 23:30:12 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The head of Hong Kong’s Harbourfront Commission has called for improvements to a proposal to reclaim land for a popular tourist selfie spot in Kennedy Town, saying the current design fails to fit the neighbourhood’s ambience. Ivan Ho Man-yiu, the advisory body’s chairman, said on Monday that the design of a proposed offshore walkway at Kennedy Town Praya should reflect the “mood” of the district. “On its design, commission members have raised a lot of suggestions, and one of the biggest concerns... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3358712/kennedy-town-walkway-plan-needs-rethink-match-local-vibe-harbourfront-body https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3358712/kennedy-town-walkway-plan-needs-rethink-match-local-vibe-harbourfront-body Mon, 29 Jun 2026 05:25:33 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s education authorities are likely to miss the deadline for unveiling a concept plan for a proposed university town in the first half of this year, as the project must align with the city’s inaugural five-year plan, which is set to be released in the third quarter. A source familiar with the development said on Friday that at least two higher education institutions tipped to be granted space in the first phase of the university town in the Northern Metropolis megaproject had been told... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3357726/university-town-framework-unlikely-be-unveiled-five-year-plan-released https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/education/article/3357726/university-town-framework-unlikely-be-unveiled-five-year-plan-released Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:08:26 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau A social media post by London Mayor Sadiq Khan calling his city and Singapore global powerhouses has ignited scrutiny of both places, with critics arguing that they are worlds apart. Khan, who was in Singapore this week, posted a picture of himself standing in front of the Marina Bay skyline on Sunday with the caption: “This is what it looks like when two global powerhouses unite. Delighted to be here to bang the drum for London and supercharge the strong ties between our countries.” Social... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3357692/worlds-apart-london-mayors-singapore-visit-triggers-clash-over-city-reputations https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3357692/worlds-apart-london-mayors-singapore-visit-triggers-clash-over-city-reputations Fri, 19 Jun 2026 09:57:10 +0000 Jane Lee Jane Lee Why do some governments consistently turn long-term goals into visible results while others struggle to move beyond policy announcements? The answer often lies not in ideology and planning but in governance: the ability to identify priorities, coordinate action and sustain implementation. As the Hong Kong government begins a public consultation on its first five-year plan, that question deserves careful attention. The city is not short of ideas, research and innovative policy proposals. Yet some... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3356739/hong-kongs-five-year-plan-must-boost-governance-ensure-results https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3356739/hong-kongs-five-year-plan-must-boost-governance-ensure-results Mon, 15 Jun 2026 08:30:06 +0000 Natalie Wong Natalie Wong Hong Kong should revive plans for large-scale reclamation off Lantau Island to run in parallel with the Northern Metropolis project, property magnate Gordon Wu Ying-sheung has said, warning that a lack of urban land will hold back the city’s development as the population grows. The 90-year-old founder and chairman of Hopewell Holdings also described it as “too early to say” whether his property empire would follow its peers and commit to investing in the mega development near the city’s border... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3356279/lantau-reclamation-plans-should-be-revived-property-tycoon-gordon-wu-says https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3356279/lantau-reclamation-plans-should-be-revived-property-tycoon-gordon-wu-says Mon, 08 Jun 2026 03:30:11 +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. Hong Kong is on the verge of building two new engineering landmarks: the Tsing Yi-Lantau Link and the Tsing Lung Bridge. While these are symbols of progress and greater connectivity, their blueprints reveal a glaring, outdated omission: they completely exclude pedestrian walkways... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3355762/hong-kong-must-build-bridges-people-not-just-cars https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3355762/hong-kong-must-build-bridges-people-not-just-cars Thu, 04 Jun 2026 03:30:07 +0000 Mathias Woo Mathias Woo Think of Hong Kong as a living dictionary. Every old arcade, footbridge and mixed-use tong lau, or tenement building, is an entry worth studying. As the city embarks on another redevelopment cycle, we should be leafing more carefully – not erasing the dictionary’s words but learning how to write new ones in the same spirit. Here are five key words that should be at the centre of any sensitive, forward-looking renewal blueprint. One, shelter. Tong lau arcades were an original climate adaptation.... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354573/hong-kongs-old-buildings-5-lessons-urban-renewal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354573/hong-kongs-old-buildings-5-lessons-urban-renewal Sat, 30 May 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren China’s ambitious urban renewal projects, from upgrading dilapidated homes to rebuilding gas pipelines, are expected to require investment of at least 15 trillion yuan (US$2.2 trillion) in the five years from 2026, offering fresh growth opportunities for construction firms. Property developers also received a shot in the arm on Friday, after the State Council released a guideline on the urban renewal campaign, part of Beijing’s 15th five-year plan for 2026 to 2030. The overall investment could... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3355357/chinas-us22-trillion-urban-renewal-plan-boost-construction-property-sectors https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3355357/chinas-us22-trillion-urban-renewal-plan-boost-construction-property-sectors Fri, 29 May 2026 12:33:10 +0000 Ryan Ip,Jason Leung Yeuk-ho,Moon Kok Ryan Ip,Jason Leung Yeuk-ho,Moon Kok Hong Kong’s public housing conversation is often dominated by a single anxious question: how long do you have to wait for a home? Today, the answer is starting to change. The average waiting time for a general applicant for subsidised public rental housing has fallen to 4.7 years, a shift that feels small on paper but enormous for the families living it. The real transformation runs deeper than that headline figure. We have moved from a system that was playing catch-up to one that is steadily... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354175/hong-kongs-golden-window-renew-ageing-housing-estates-now https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3354175/hong-kongs-golden-window-renew-ageing-housing-estates-now Thu, 28 May 2026 01:30:06 +0000 Dennis Lee Dennis Lee Slowly but surely, Hong Kong is undergoing various scales of transformation. From the mixed-use development around Kai Tak to the revamped waterfronts on both sides of Victoria Harbour, the new railway extensions to the vehicular bypass tunnels below our busy streets, the adaptive reuse of underutilised spaces and the infusion of art and culture into local neighbourhoods, our city is evolving and adapting. Consider the East Coast Boardwalk as an example. The space under the Island Eastern... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353875/can-northern-metropolis-balance-progress-quality-life https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3353875/can-northern-metropolis-balance-progress-quality-life Mon, 25 May 2026 21:30:04 +0000 Iman Muttaqin Yusof Iman Muttaqin Yusof A dispute over where churches and temples can operate in Malaysia’s richest state has become an awkward political test for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling coalition, which came to power promising to protect the country’s multiracial and multi-faith society. The row centres on planning guidelines in Selangor, a wealthy and densely populated state surrounding Kuala Lumpur, that critics say could restrict non-Islamic places of worship in commercial areas, where many religious groups have long... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3354741/malaysias-ruling-coalition-faces-test-over-selangor-non-muslim-worship-house-rules https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3354741/malaysias-ruling-coalition-faces-test-over-selangor-non-muslim-worship-house-rules Mon, 25 May 2026 07:09:28 +0000 Christopher DeWolf Christopher DeWolf When Winston Churchill stood in the House of Lords in October 1943 and made the case to rebuild the bomb-ravaged House of Commons exactly as it was, he had just the thing to say: “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.” The dogged British leader was no architectural scholar, but he was a master of the turn of phrase. His quote has lingered ever since as a concise reflection of how we relate to our built environment. In that particular case, Churchill believed the oppositional layout... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/interiors-living/article/3354321/how-buildings-and-cities-shape-our-lives-ancient-rome-hong-kong-today https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/interiors-living/article/3354321/how-buildings-and-cities-shape-our-lives-ancient-rome-hong-kong-today Thu, 21 May 2026 10:15:05 +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. Each weekday morning, I leave home in central Tin Shui Wai, take the light rail to the MTR station, and then ride the Tuen Ma line towards the city. By the time the train reaches Nam Cheong, I would have spent close to 40 minutes pressed shoulder to shoulder with my fellow... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3353141/hong-kongs-northern-link-must-be-more-rail-plus-property-project https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3353141/hong-kongs-northern-link-must-be-more-rail-plus-property-project Wed, 13 May 2026 03:30:05 +0000 David D. Lee David D. Lee For 42 years, Ha Sung-ki has sold large speakers to churches and event halls from his electronics shop inside Seoul’s Sewoon Plaza. On a weekday afternoon, the corridor outside – once part of a bustling merchants’ network – is largely empty. “These days, the number of customers crossing the street to come here can be counted on your fingers – sometimes fewer than 10 a day,” he said. “People used to come for the nostalgia, the vintage products and the experience of assembling electronic... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3351379/iconic-south-korean-district-brink-divisive-urban-renewal-fight https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3351379/iconic-south-korean-district-brink-divisive-urban-renewal-fight Sun, 26 Apr 2026 01:30:11 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong’s government is under mounting pressure to deliver the Northern Metropolis, announced in 2021, as it approaches the end of its term – less than 15 months and counting. The megaproject, to turn 30,000 hectares (74,132 acres) near the border with mainland China into a centre of international innovation and technology, is to be an engine to drive the city’s economic growth and housing – and the gem of its economic integration with the mainland. We are pressed for time. Beijing has long... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350491/why-northern-metropolis-needs-more-one-big-push https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350491/why-northern-metropolis-needs-more-one-big-push Mon, 20 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Kai Tak has become a world-class destination after years of effort to turn the former Hong Kong airport site into a sporting and entertainment hub with a cruise terminal, housing and commercial spaces. However, third-class transit continues to hold it back. A solution to that problem now seems firmly on track. The city’s key decision-making body has approved plans for an elevated mass transit railway system to connect major facilities in the area with the MTR network. Ideally, the project will... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3349624/kai-taks-transport-solution-could-be-model-other-hong-kong-districts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3349624/kai-taks-transport-solution-could-be-model-other-hong-kong-districts Sun, 12 Apr 2026 23:15:13 +0000 Sam Beltran Sam Beltran Hong Kong and Singapore routinely top global rankings of unaffordable cities. Yet it is the residents of Manila, Colombo and Yangon who are far more likely to tell pollsters they cannot afford shelter. The Philippines recorded the world’s highest share of people reporting difficulty affording housing in a new survey from US-based firm Gallup, with 55 per cent saying they had struggled to pay for shelter in the past 12 months. Sri Lanka followed at 54 per cent, Myanmar at 49 per cent and Thailand... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3349725/forget-hong-kong-and-singapore-philippines-housing-least-affordable-survey https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3349725/forget-hong-kong-and-singapore-philippines-housing-least-affordable-survey Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:00:21 +0000 Carolyn Yim Carolyn Yim Hong Kong is navigating a period of significant economic transition. The city is seeing a surge in family offices. It is an offshore renminbi hub and has one of the world’s most meaningful capital markets. However, it needs systemic change to attract and retain top talent, bring the Hong Kong diaspora back home and lure high-spending tourists. While our capital infrastructure is strong, our cultural infrastructure demands urgent attention. As outlined in China’s 15th five-year plan, the central... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349328/why-securing-hong-kongs-economic-future-cultural-question https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3349328/why-securing-hong-kongs-economic-future-cultural-question Sun, 12 Apr 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong’s key decision-making body has approved plans for an elevated smart mass transit railway system in Kai Tak that will connect the cruise terminal and other major facilities in the area to the local MTR station. The Executive Council’s endorsement followed meetings between authorities and project critics and consultations with the public and the Legislative Council to address their concerns. The proposal was gazetted in July last year. “The public is generally supportive of the Smart and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348507/hong-kongs-exco-approves-plans-elevated-mass-transit-system-kai-tak https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3348507/hong-kongs-exco-approves-plans-elevated-mass-transit-system-kai-tak Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:17:24 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is still finding its balance between urban development and its wildlife. Tragic encounters on consecutive days earlier this month were a reminder of that. First, the authorities euthanised eight wild boars – two adults and six juveniles – after they wandered into a residential area near Chuk Yuen North Estate in Wong Tai Sin. The next day, a car struck a buffalo on a highway in Yuen Long, disrupting traffic for hours before the animal was euthanised because of severe injuries. The... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3348120/balance-vital-urban-hong-kong-coexist-wild-animals https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3348120/balance-vital-urban-hong-kong-coexist-wild-animals Sat, 28 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin A section of Hong Kong Island’s southwest coast at Aberdeen will be revamped into a new marina with 200 berths, a clubhouse and about 250 private flats by 2032 as part of government efforts to boost yacht tourism. The Development Bureau said on Wednesday that it aimed to launch a tender in the first half of next year – the first for a marina in nearly 40 years. It also noted there was strong market interest in the project. To clear the 1.16-hectare (2.8-acre) seaside site near Po Chong Wan, the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347892/new-200-berth-marina-clubhouse-planned-hong-kong-revamp-aberdeen-site https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347892/new-200-berth-marina-clubhouse-planned-hong-kong-revamp-aberdeen-site Wed, 25 Mar 2026 12:51:23 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes In an increasingly globalised world, culture is the common thread that binds communities together. For over two decades, the Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) has worked to weave loose local threads into a cohesive global fabric, bringing together urban centres from all over the world. Its goal is to champion creativity in a way that helps make that sometimes ambiguous force a concrete driver of sustainable development, placing it at the heart of urban policy and international... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347274/how-unescos-creative-cities-network-redefining-urban-development https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347274/how-unescos-creative-cities-network-redefining-urban-development Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:00:15 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Some Discovery Bay residents have expressed frustration over a proposal to allow unrestricted taxi access to the seaside resort-like neighbourhood in Hong Kong, with a petition calling for greater public consultation garnering more than 1,100 signatures. In a reply to the South China Morning Post on Saturday, the Transport Department also confirmed it had received a taxi proposal from Discovery Bay’s management company, as well as “different views” from residents. Taxis have had limited access... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347439/plan-full-taxi-access-discovery-bay-sparks-anger-among-some-residents https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347439/plan-full-taxi-access-discovery-bay-sparks-anger-among-some-residents Sat, 21 Mar 2026 12:50:36 +0000 Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Vivian Au,Lo Hoi-ying Proposed designated laws to streamline land-use approval procedures for the Northern Metropolis megaproject will not undermine the authority of Hong Kong’s town planning body, some experts have argued, while urging the government to establish clear key performance indicators (KPIs) to strengthen market confidence. Observers were responding to a package of six subsidiary laws unveiled on Tuesday by the Development Bureau, designed to remove bottlenecks in the New Territories project. A key... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346939/northern-metropolis-land-use-laws-wont-undermine-boards-authority-experts Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Kitty Tam,Calvin Au Kitty Tam,Calvin Au When people picture Hong Kong, they often imagine a relentless concrete jungle – a vertical city where glass and steel dominate the skyline. Yet a quiet revolution is beginning to reshape how our city develops. Last week, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department jointly launched the Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines. This landmark document signals a shift in how we think about infrastructure and urban planning. It... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A government lawyer has said that an environmental study on the impact of building 12,000 public flats on part of Hong Kong’s oldest golf course holds “no legal effect”, as authorities appeal a court ruling that may send the project back to the consultation stage. The Court of Appeal began hearing oral arguments on Tuesday over an environmental impact assessment report for the public housing project on 9.5 of 32 hectares (23.5 acres) that the government reclaimed from the 172-hectare golf course... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345312/hong-kong-government-says-golf-course-flats-study-has-no-legal-effect-appeal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345312/hong-kong-government-says-golf-course-flats-study-has-no-legal-effect-appeal Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:13:15 +0000