Matthew Cheng
Reporter, City
Matthew joined SCMP in 2025 and covers Hong Kong politics. Prior to joining the Post, he was a reporter at Ming Pao Daily.
Matthew joined SCMP in 2025 and covers Hong Kong politics. Prior to joining the Post, he was a reporter at Ming Pao Daily.
Areas of Expertise:
Hong Kong politics, Hong Kong general news
Languages Spoken:
Cantonese, English, Mandarin
In sombre ceremony, political and business elite pay final tribute to city’s first postcolonial leader, as President Xi sends condolences.
‘He always placed national interests first and throughout his life upheld the belief that patriotism is a natural conviction,’ Shi Taifeng says in eulogy.
President Xi Jinping and other top Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, pay tribute after funeral attended by 200 members of city’s establishment and family.
Financial services minister Christopher Hui also says city will pay for Dongjiang water using yuan as part of internationalising renminbi.
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John Lee and Eric Chan stress new system will consolidate data to improve city management and won’t be used for crime detection or surveillance.
City leader says he will examine current policies but acknowledges no single measure can reverse Hong Kong’s declining birth rate.
Government also creating new role of AI commissioner, who is expected to begin next year overseeing key areas of risk governance, John Lee says.
‘I want to make it very clear: the five-year plan is not a planned economy,’ city leader stresses ahead of blueprint’s unveiling.
Sources say measures supporting Northern Metropolis and backing innovation are expected to be major highlights of John Lee’s policy address.
Hong Kong’s openness is both a strength and a weakness, so it must build robust security frameworks to reap rewards of national development, experts say.
City government coordinating arrangements to honour Tung as deputy national-level leader and his contributions to ‘one country, two systems’ framework.
Experts expect John Lee’s policy address to set ambitious governance agenda on various social and economic issues, but security will underpin them all.
US consulate, the George H.W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations and former city leader Donald Tsang highlight his pivotal diplomatic legacy.
Speaking at Belt and Road Summit, chief executive says city is taking structured approach to new markets in Southeast Asia, Middle East and Central Asia.
Tung, hailed as a ‘close friend of the Communist Party of China’ and credited with working to improve China-US relations, died on Tuesday.
Lai Ka-ying will take part in ‘Tiangong Class’, which will feature expert lecture, in-orbit demonstrations and question-and-answer session.
Employment agencies association expresses concerns but says ‘contingency plans in place’ if Mount Anak Krakatoa erupts again.
Hua Liebing’s appointment fills vacancy left last year and marks another change in HKMAO’s top ranks.
Benjamin Chan vows improvements after unclear wording in eTAX system results in more than 33,000 people leaving returns incomplete.
Marble altar at Lin’s Happy Valley grave found covered in cement, with police saying cemetery staff reported suspected vandalism.
Animal welfare groups also warn that the government’s response to a string of dog attacks could lead to a wave of pet abandonments.
‘For this first joint debate, I hope to secure a longer duration than before so that lawmakers will have more time for a comprehensive discussion,’ Legco president says.
‘Moving to the US is geographically convenient, but it is expensive,’ agent says, recommending UK BN(O) visa as Ottawa closes 2021 pathway.
Finance chief says megaproject’s success depends on attracting high-value industries and firms, with market forces steered into industrial development.
Sudden global restrictions by Trump have some applicants in city fearing US may scrap immigration pathway.
Hong Kong’s leader says releasing blueprints together will show how the five-year plan sets direction and the policy address implements it.
City leader says public education should be strengthened to prevent further attacks, after two more cases emerge.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian hits out at ‘certain countries and organisations’ for using judicial cases to smear Hong Kong.
City leader makes familiar pitch to attendees at summit, citing Hong Kong’s ability to help global firms enter mainland China and vice versa.
