https://www.scmp.com/rss/2/feed Breaking news, analysis and opinion from the SCMP's Hong Kong edition. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Danny Mok Danny Mok About 40 people were left stranded in a revolving observation tower that apparently malfunctioned in mid-air at Hong Kong’s Ocean Park on Monday. The incident at the Ocean Park Tower at the city’s landmark tourist attraction in Hong Kong’s Southern district occurred at about 3.30pm. Most riders returned safely to the ground following the incident but one person remained in the tower. The stranded visitor, who reported feeling unwell, was later rescued. No injuries were reported. The cause of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373803/40-people-stranded-mid-air-ocean-park-revolving-tower-ride-breaks-down https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373803/40-people-stranded-mid-air-ocean-park-revolving-tower-ride-breaks-down Mon, 09 Nov 2026 09:25:48 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung A Hong Kong contractor is under criminal investigation for suspected fraud after authorities found it had failed to install fire-resistant door frames in about 90 per cent of the lifts it installed, with preliminary evidence also pointing to serious negligence and misconduct. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) said on Monday that Taizoom Elevator was suspected of fraud and making false statements. The department reported the case to police on October 16, and a criminal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373802/hong-kong-lift-contractor-under-probe-fraud-over-missing-fire-safety-frames https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373802/hong-kong-lift-contractor-under-probe-fraud-over-missing-fire-safety-frames Mon, 09 Nov 2026 09:16:06 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong lawmakers have demanded tighter scrutiny over a government proposal to fund the HK$377.3 million redevelopment project of the scandal-hit Hong Kong Student Aid Society. Residents and former staff of the NGO’s child care facilities recently alleged severe staffing shortages, high employee turnover and an inadequate food budget that reportedly left them with just HK$250 (US$32) to feed 10 people with two meals a day. The NGO denied the allegations and in late October filed for an... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373797/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-more-scrutiny-student-aid-society-funding-after-scandal https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373797/hong-kong-lawmakers-urge-more-scrutiny-student-aid-society-funding-after-scandal Mon, 09 Nov 2026 08:56:26 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s legislature will require lawmakers to submit relevant research findings and recommendations when they raise motions that have no legislative effect, a move its president has said is aimed at helping the public follow debates more easily and fostering “evidence-based” discussion. “This will allow the government and the public to better understand the intent and rationale of the motions, and also help the public better follow the debates in the chamber,” Starry Lee Wai-king said. “I... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373777/evidence-based-legco-require-research-lawmakers-raising-non-binding-motions https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373777/evidence-based-legco-require-research-lawmakers-raising-non-binding-motions Mon, 09 Nov 2026 07:47:13 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong The former brother-in-law of slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung has said he treated her like a biological sibling, while claiming that he had maintained an affluent facade in front of her friends to protect her reputation. Anthony Kwong Kong-kit took the witness box for the first time on Monday since going on trial in the High Court alongside his father and younger brother for allegedly conspiring to kill the influencer on February 21, 2023. The 35-year-old is contesting a joint count... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373774/abby-chois-ex-brother-law-tells-court-he-treated-her-biological-sibling https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373774/abby-chois-ex-brother-law-tells-court-he-treated-her-biological-sibling Mon, 09 Nov 2026 07:26:49 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chinese engineers reduce cargo ship fuel use by 5% with high-speed torpedo tech 2. India questions US ‘double standards’ as Pakistan secures F-16 upgrade deal 3. Will China’s slow and steady moon landing plan be a safer bet than the US’? 4. Defects at Hong Kong MTR station ‘unimaginable’,... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3373731/chinas-torpedo-tech-defects-hong-kong-mtr-station-5-weekend-reads-you-missed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3373731/chinas-torpedo-tech-defects-hong-kong-mtr-station-5-weekend-reads-you-missed Mon, 09 Nov 2026 04:29:44 +0000 Roetta Wang Roetta Wang Hong Kong police have arrested a Citybus driver after he struck and killed an elderly man in North Point. The fatal incident happened at the junction of King’s Road and Tin Chong Street at around 8am, with police and ambulance personnel arriving at the scene after a report made by the bus driver. The victim, a man in his sixties, suffered severe head and body injuries and was unconscious when transported to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan, where he was certified dead at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3373744/man-dies-after-being-hit-bus-hong-kongs-north-point https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3373744/man-dies-after-being-hit-bus-hong-kongs-north-point Mon, 09 Nov 2026 04:15:47 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung Hong Kong recorded its coolest morning so far this autumn on Monday, with temperatures falling to 23.2 degrees Celsius (73.76 Fahrenheit) and forecast to reach as low as 16 degrees the next day. The Hong Kong Observatory said a cold front and a strong northeast monsoon kept Guangdong’s coastal areas cool, adding that temperatures across the city were about two degrees lower than the day before. As of 7.40am, the Observatory had recorded a minimum temperature of 23.2 degrees. The mercury was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373737/hong-kong-wakes-coolest-morning-so-far-autumn-232-degrees https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373737/hong-kong-wakes-coolest-morning-so-far-autumn-232-degrees Mon, 09 Nov 2026 03:52:22 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s railway operator can use high-strength concrete to rectify the structure of dozens of defective columns at a station under construction, an engineer and an industry leader have said, describing the shoddy work as a “basic mistake”. Their remarks came after the Buildings Department revealed on Saturday that about 30 columns at Tung Chung West MTR station were defective because the concrete failed to reach the upper ceiling, leaving steel reinforcement bars exposed. Engineering sector... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3373734/stronger-concrete-needed-fix-basic-mistake-defective-mtr-station-columns-experts https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3373734/stronger-concrete-needed-fix-basic-mistake-defective-mtr-station-columns-experts Mon, 09 Nov 2026 03:14:26 +0000 Roetta Wang Roetta Wang Unsatisfactory employment conditions in Hong Kong’s aviation industry are threatening the sector’s ability to attract and retain talent, potentially undermining the city’s competitive edge as a global aviation hub, unions and a lawmaker have warned. Hong Kong International Airport retained its title as the world’s busiest cargo airport in 2025, the 15th time it has taken the top spot. With the full operation of the three-runway system and Terminal 2, the city aims to strengthen its position as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3373714/low-pay-fatigue-and-staff-shortages-put-hong-kongs-aviation-hub-status-risk-unions https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3373714/low-pay-fatigue-and-staff-shortages-put-hong-kongs-aviation-hub-status-risk-unions Mon, 09 Nov 2026 02:00:47 +0000 Michael B. Wong,Jarvis Wan Michael B. Wong,Jarvis Wan Hong Kong has set its sights on becoming Asia’s events capital. China’s five-year plans support the city’s role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The chief executive’s latest policy address commits the Tourism Board to strengthening Hong Kong’s reputation as the “events capital of Asia”. The economic benefits could be huge. International events bring tourists and business for hotels, restaurants, shops and transport operators. The South China Morning Post... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3373443/be-asias-events-capital-hong-kong-must-offer-ticketing-works https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3373443/be-asias-events-capital-hong-kong-must-offer-ticketing-works Mon, 09 Nov 2026 01:30:17 +0000 Kristen Cheung,Vivian Au Kristen Cheung,Vivian Au Agencies are promoting Vocational Training Council (VTC) courses to pregnant women in mainland China, touting packages cheaper than HK$100,000 (US$12,600) including commission as the lowest-cost route for the women to secure Hong Kong passports for their newborns, the South China Morning Post has found. The path would enable their children to get into top-tier mainland universities more easily and could even secure them a job as a civil servant in the future, the agencies claimed. But critics... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373694/hong-kong-vtc-courses-touted-short-cut-residency-babies-mainland-mothers https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373694/hong-kong-vtc-courses-touted-short-cut-residency-babies-mainland-mothers Mon, 09 Nov 2026 00:30:31 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong has recorded a nearly 18 per cent rise in ransomware cases in the first three quarters of this year despite an overall drop in technology crime, with police attributing the rise to artificial intelligence-aided attacks. Chief Superintendent Raymond Lam Cheuk-ho of the cybersecurity and technology crime bureau said police had recorded cases of AI agents and other forms of artificial intelligence being used in cyberattacks as recently as last month. “We understand that the use of AI... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373691/hong-kong-records-nearly-18-rise-ransomware-cases-amid-drop-tech-crime https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373691/hong-kong-records-nearly-18-rise-ransomware-cases-amid-drop-tech-crime Sun, 08 Nov 2026 23:00:43 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu We can count on this administration to be quick to take credit. It took just one day for Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki to claim credit on behalf of the Hong Kong government for the impressive results of the city’s universities in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia University Rankings. All 11 of Hong Kong’s ranked institutions made it into Asia’s top 500 for the first time. Five of the 11 are ranked among Asia’s top 10. The University of Hong Kong took the crown as Asia’s top... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3373538/hong-kong-must-retain-talent-its-world-class-universities-nurture https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3373538/hong-kong-must-retain-talent-its-world-class-universities-nurture Sun, 08 Nov 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong is set to nearly double the campus area of one of three university towns planned for the Northern Metropolis to 75 hectares, with space reserved for a second campus for the city’s only public institution specialising in performing arts. According to a paper submitted to North District Council by the Development Bureau and picked up by the media over the weekend, the campus area of Ta Kwu Ling university town – which is part of a 250-hectare zone earmarked for priority development –... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373709/hong-kongs-top-drama-school-stage-entrance-university-town-expands-campus https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373709/hong-kongs-top-drama-school-stage-entrance-university-town-expands-campus Sun, 08 Nov 2026 14:01:34 +0000 Wynna Wong,Leopold Chen Wynna Wong,Leopold Chen Mistakes that left about 30 columns defective at a Hong Kong railway station under construction were “unimaginable”, lawmakers and engineers said on Sunday, adding that the repairs were expected to be straightforward and unlikely to delay the project. The MTR Corporation was also urged to set up a reporting mechanism that would allow frontline workers to flag problems during construction. The comments came a day after the Buildings Department revealed that about 30 columns at the MTR’s Tung... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373705/defects-hong-kong-mtr-station-unimaginable-engineers-and-lawmakers-say https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373705/defects-hong-kong-mtr-station-unimaginable-engineers-and-lawmakers-say Sun, 08 Nov 2026 12:49:56 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung In the final instalment of a four-part Health Matters wellness series on frontier medicine in Hong Kong, Elizabeth Cheung examines a dual-arm surgical robot that could remove gastrointestinal tumours in about half the usual time, and the hurdles between its first human trials and wider patient access. Ho Man-wai underwent a colonoscopy in late August, during which doctors identified three polyps that needed to be removed before they could develop into cancer. Two were removed during the initial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373668/cant-be-inaccurate-how-two-tiny-robot-arms-could-halve-digestive-cancer-surgery-time https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373668/cant-be-inaccurate-how-two-tiny-robot-arms-could-halve-digestive-cancer-surgery-time Sun, 08 Nov 2026 11:00:27 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Temperatures in Hong Kong are forecast to plunge to as low as 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, a further drop from an earlier prediction, as a cold front is expected to hit the city early this week. The Hong Kong Observatory on Sunday revised its forecast for the coming week, saying it expected an intense northeast monsoon to bring cool, very dry weather to the city. An earlier forecast had put this week’s lowest temperature at 18 degrees. “A cold front will move across the coast... https://www.scmp.com/weather/hong-kong/article/3373687/winters-knocking-cold-front-slash-hong-kong-temperatures-16-degrees https://www.scmp.com/weather/hong-kong/article/3373687/winters-knocking-cold-front-slash-hong-kong-temperatures-16-degrees Sun, 08 Nov 2026 08:23:24 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung More than half of Hong Kong’s underprivileged children spend over two hours a day on electronic devices, often turning to screens for cheap entertainment despite problems with their eyesight, attention, sleep and addiction, a survey has found. The Society for Community Organisation (SoCO), which released the findings on Sunday, urged authorities to keep students on campus for longer, introduce full-day kindergartens and subsidise more extracurricular activities for underprivileged pupils. Wong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373686/52-hong-kongs-underprivileged-children-spend-over-2-hours-day-devices https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373686/52-hong-kongs-underprivileged-children-spend-over-2-hours-day-devices Sun, 08 Nov 2026 08:19:22 +0000 Simpson Cheung,Danny Mok Simpson Cheung,Danny Mok Three hikers have been injured in Hong Kong after being hit by a paraglider landing at the Ngong Ping campsite in Ma On Shan Country Park. Police received a report at 12.36pm on Sunday that three people, including two teenagers, had been injured at the campsite after being hit by a landing paraglider. The Government Flying Service deployed a helicopter to transport the trio to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for treatment. A 42-year-old woman, surnamed Zheng, sustained a head injury while her... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373685/3-hikers-injured-after-being-hit-landing-paraglider-hong-kong-country-park https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373685/3-hikers-injured-after-being-hit-landing-paraglider-hong-kong-country-park Sun, 08 Nov 2026 08:18:35 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung Hong Kong authorities have not ruled out introducing a demerit points system for contractors, the development chief has said, after an independent inquiry into last year’s deadly Tai Po fire identified unscrupulous consultants and building professionals as the main culprits of the tragedy. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Sunday that the government was also considering introducing new conditions for homeowners who applied for its building maintenance subsidy scheme,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3373683/demerit-system-contractors-not-ruled-out-hong-kong-development-chief-says https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3373683/demerit-system-contractors-not-ruled-out-hong-kong-development-chief-says Sun, 08 Nov 2026 07:18:22 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong must focus on the “practical work” of building a safe and convenient environment and reassuring the international community amid criticism of its legal system, the justice minister has said, after 10 countries issued a joint statement decrying the latest jail sentence handed to opposition activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung. “It is inevitable that their criticism will continue … Political realities have to be dealt with, but I do not think we should allow them to distract us from our focus,”... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373677/hong-kong-must-build-reassuring-environment-amid-political-criticism-paul-lam https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373677/hong-kong-must-build-reassuring-environment-amid-political-criticism-paul-lam Sun, 08 Nov 2026 04:36:22 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong is forging deeper ties with the mainland across artificial intelligence (AI), aviation and professional services, industry insiders at China’s global import expo have said. Tech executives and accounting veterans discussed how to leverage Hong Kong’s strategic position, such as through the Northern Metropolis megaproject near the mainland Chinese border, while the city’s flag carrier introduced its refrigerated sea logistics link to Dongguan, Guangdong province. These were signs of a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3373664/hong-kong-makes-further-roads-ai-aviation-mainland-chinese-expo https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3373664/hong-kong-makes-further-roads-ai-aviation-mainland-chinese-expo Sun, 08 Nov 2026 04:00:35 +0000 SCMP SCMP This article was first published on November 9, 2006. Margaret Chan wins WHO race in coup for China, HK by Mary Ann Benitez Hong Kong’s former director of health Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun made history yesterday (November 8, 2006) when she was nominated World Health Organisation director-general in a resounding victory that saw her lead all the way in four rounds of voting. Dr Chan, 59, is expected to be endorsed today by the 193-member World Health Assembly, making her the first Chinese to lead... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373379/hong-kongs-margaret-chan-voted-lead-world-health-organization-2006-scmp-archive https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373379/hong-kongs-margaret-chan-voted-lead-world-health-organization-2006-scmp-archive Sun, 08 Nov 2026 03:00:36 +0000 Christine Loh Christine Loh When Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and seven principal officials bowed deeply before the cameras on October 29, Hong Kong witnessed something rare: a collective government apology. It came 11 months after the Wang Fuk Court fire claimed 168 lives and uprooted 1,984 households. A minister has resigned. Many reforms have been promised. Yet public reaction remains divided. That division reveals what people expect an apology to achieve, and how differently they understand political... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3373289/hong-kong-must-show-real-remorse-tai-po-fire-tragedy https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3373289/hong-kong-must-show-real-remorse-tai-po-fire-tragedy Sun, 08 Nov 2026 01:30:21 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung Some 2,000 Hong Kong firefighters have been issued upgraded tracking devices after an independent inquiry into last year’s deadly Tai Po fire exposed technical limitations in the previous system, the South China Morning Post has learned. The Fire Services Department spent HK$8.4 million (US$1.1 million) on the new Firefighter Tracking Devices (FTDs), which cost more than HK$4,000 each, to help find personnel in distress more effectively. The November 1 roll-out came about a year after the Wang... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3373666/hong-kong-firefighters-get-hk84-million-tracking-upgrade-after-tai-po-fire https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3373666/hong-kong-firefighters-get-hk84-million-tracking-upgrade-after-tai-po-fire Sun, 08 Nov 2026 01:00:34 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun A 67-year-old woman died in hospital on Sunday, hours after firefighters rescued her from a Tin Shui Wai flat where a blaze had broken out. A preliminary investigation suggested aromatherapy products ignited objects in the flat, with the fire prompting about 100 residents to evacuate. Police said officers were alerted at 5.39pm on Saturday after smoke was seen billowing from a flat at Locwood Court in the Kingswood Villas private estate. Firefighters forced entry into the flat, where they found... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373665/woman-hurt-flat-fire-suspected-have-been-caused-aromatherapy-items https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373665/woman-hurt-flat-fire-suspected-have-been-caused-aromatherapy-items Sat, 07 Nov 2026 15:12:44 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui Gustav Mahler’s rarely performed Symphony No 8, a work requiring such a large orchestra and choir it is known as “Symphony of a Thousand”, finally received its Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra premiere on Saturday, heralding an ambitious new chapter as the 26-year-old Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski officially took the podium as music director. The 5pm performance at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre involved nearly 600 musicians and singers from six choirs: the Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus; the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373659/tarmo-peltokoski-begins-hk-phil-tenure-mahlers-monumental-symphony-no-8 https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373659/tarmo-peltokoski-begins-hk-phil-tenure-mahlers-monumental-symphony-no-8 Sat, 07 Nov 2026 13:31:49 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft A Canadian goal of clearing a backlog of more than 30,000 applications from Hongkongers awaiting permanent residency is “encouraging” but questions remain about whether it can be achieved by 2027, advocates and immigration experts have said. Experts and Canadian parliamentarians said on Saturday that Ottawa’s new one-off measure to add more quota spaces to clear the Hong Kong immigration pathways backlog would help address the uncertainty facing tens of thousands from the city still waiting for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373653/canadian-plan-clear-hongkonger-migration-backlog-welcomed-questions-remain https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373653/canadian-plan-clear-hongkonger-migration-backlog-welcomed-questions-remain Sat, 07 Nov 2026 12:22:10 +0000 Ambrose Li,Edith Lin Ambrose Li,Edith Lin Engineers have identified about 30 substandard columns at a Hong Kong railway station under construction, building authorities have revealed, with the MTR Corporation ordering the contractor to rectify the structures after discovering unauthorised remedial works. The Buildings Department said on Saturday that the structural engineering team for the Tung Chung West station project first identified the problem in early October. It involved a substandard concrete column on the platform of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3373646/mtr-corporation-halts-unauthorised-remedial-works-station-after-column-concerns https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3373646/mtr-corporation-halts-unauthorised-remedial-works-station-after-column-concerns Sat, 07 Nov 2026 09:20:29 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Warning: graphic content follows. Slain Hong Kong socialite Abby Choi Tin-fung could have been fatally struck with a hammer that contained her ex-husband’s DNA when it was seized from a rural village flat where her dismembered remains were found, a court has heard. Wrapping up their case as the murder trial entered its sixth week, prosecutors highlighted forensic findings and surveillance camera footage showing the movements of Choi and three of her former in-laws before and after her alleged... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373639/ex-husbands-dna-found-hammer-allegedly-used-kill-abby-choi-prosecution-says https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373639/ex-husbands-dna-found-hammer-allegedly-used-kill-abby-choi-prosecution-says Sat, 07 Nov 2026 07:00:06 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong has hit back at a joint statement from 10 countries over the latest sentencing of opposition activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung, accusing them of distorting facts and smearing the city’s national security law. The rebuttal came after the US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the UK issued a joint statement on Friday saying the sentencing of Wong, together with the earlier jailing of many others, showed how the city’s national security law was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373638/hypocritical-hong-kong-hits-back-criticism-joshua-wongs-sentence https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373638/hypocritical-hong-kong-hits-back-criticism-joshua-wongs-sentence Sat, 07 Nov 2026 06:31:27 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A Hong Kong paediatric expert has called on parents to arrange influenza vaccinations for their children ahead of cooler temperatures next week, warning of a double whammy of overlapping summer and winter flu seasons. The city has recorded 29 cases of severe paediatric influenza infection this flu season, two of which were fatal. Dr Mike Kwan Yat-wah, former president of the Asian Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases, warned on Saturday that the city could see a longer flu season with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373635/hong-kong-paediatrician-urges-parents-vaccinate-children-temperatures-fall https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373635/hong-kong-paediatrician-urges-parents-vaccinate-children-temperatures-fall Sat, 07 Nov 2026 05:33:52 +0000 Edith Lin,Vivian Au Edith Lin,Vivian Au For former Wang Fuk Court resident Dorz Cheung, seeing will be believing when it comes to reforms initiated after the deadly inferno in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district. The 34-year-old questioned whether the new oversight bodies would prevent another disaster, saying systemic reforms to tackle shoddy building maintenance and bid-rigging could be undermined by poor implementation. “No matter how well the system is reformed, it is people who put it into practice. Even the best system will achieve... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373606/test-trust-hong-kongs-new-housing-checks-unit-after-wang-fuk-court-blaze https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3373606/test-trust-hong-kongs-new-housing-checks-unit-after-wang-fuk-court-blaze Sat, 07 Nov 2026 04:25:50 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A foreign domestic helper in Hong Kong has been arrested on suspicion of ill-treating a child after she allegedly spat into the food of a girl under her care, according to police. The mother of the four-year-old girl filed a police report at 9.28am on Friday, saying her 37-year-old Filipino helper had treated her daughter inappropriately. Initial police investigations at the family’s flat at The Belcher’s, a private residential estate in Kennedy Town, indicated that the helper had spat into the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373630/domestic-helper-arrested-after-allegedly-spitting-4-year-old-girls-food https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373630/domestic-helper-arrested-after-allegedly-spitting-4-year-old-girls-food Sat, 07 Nov 2026 03:25:23 +0000 Cannix Yau,Emily Hung Cannix Yau,Emily Hung Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) president Nancy Ip Yuk-yu has been awarded a UN prize for a second time for her “outstanding contributions” in neuroscience, which have enabled the earlier diagnosis and better monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease. Ip was presented with the Unesco-Equatorial Guinea International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences in Paris on Friday. “Dr Nancy Yuk-yu Ip, president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, is a world-renowned... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373626/hkust-president-nancy-ip-wins-unesco-prize-alzheimers-research https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373626/hkust-president-nancy-ip-wins-unesco-prize-alzheimers-research Sat, 07 Nov 2026 02:54:06 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft More Irish companies are considering Hong Kong as a base for expansion across Asia, according to the head of the country’s chamber of commerce in the city, who described the two jurisdictions as “natural partners”. Padraig Seif, president of the Irish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, said momentum was building ahead of the Asia-Pacific Irish Business Forum as Irish firms increasingly looked to Asia amid Washington’s tariff policy and the lingering effects of Brexit. “What we’ve seen is … Asia... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3373552/hong-kong-draws-growing-interest-irish-firms-seeking-expansion-across-asia https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3373552/hong-kong-draws-growing-interest-irish-firms-seeking-expansion-across-asia Sat, 07 Nov 2026 01:00:08 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Ten countries – including the “Five Eyes” allies – have called for an immediate end to “unjust prosecutions” under Hong Kong’s national security law after opposition activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung was jailed for 10 years, while the government has urged foreign forces to stop their “baseless malicious attacks”. The foreign ministers of the 10 countries issued a joint statement on Friday, a day after the High Court sentenced Wong over his role in a global campaign to instigate sanctions against... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373613/call-end-unjust-national-security-cases-hong-kong-slams-malicious-attacks https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373613/call-end-unjust-national-security-cases-hong-kong-slams-malicious-attacks Fri, 06 Nov 2026 16:12:04 +0000 Roetta Wang Roetta Wang Hong Kong’s yacht industry is seeking to attract more buyers and visitors from mainland China under a new cross-boundary travel scheme, but relatively high berthing costs could pose a challenge, industry representatives have said. Industry leaders, exhibitors and visitors gathered in Discovery Bay on Friday for the fourth edition of the Lantau Yacht Club Boat Show, which runs until Sunday. The show featured more than 30 vessels, including superyachts and models from international brands such as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3373609/hong-kongs-yacht-industry-eyes-mainland-china-buyers-challenges-remain https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3373609/hong-kongs-yacht-industry-eyes-mainland-china-buyers-challenges-remain Fri, 06 Nov 2026 15:08:49 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s education secretary has said she will seek additional funding if a HK$10 billion loan scheme falls short of the needs of institutions setting foot in the Northern Metropolis’ first university town, while warning that their financial plans must be feasible and they must not “take chances”. A task force jointly established by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Association of Banks will designate 11 tertiary institutions as public sector entities to help them secure bank... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373600/more-funding-could-be-sought-if-hk10b-university-town-loan-scheme-falls-short https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373600/more-funding-could-be-sought-if-hk10b-university-town-loan-scheme-falls-short Fri, 06 Nov 2026 13:41:22 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong companies can survive intense competition in mainland China by being innovative and maintaining high standards, the head of the city’s trade promotion body has said. Hong Kong Trade Development Council chairman Frederick Ma Si-hang said on Friday that the city was also tapping into emerging markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa to counter global trade uncertainties. “I feel that Hong Kong manufacturers need to be more innovative; think of ways to use our strengths to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3373591/hong-kong-firms-must-innovate-compete-mainland-china-trade-chief-says https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3373591/hong-kong-firms-must-innovate-compete-mainland-china-trade-chief-says Fri, 06 Nov 2026 12:24:23 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Fiona Sun,Eric Jiang Elizabeth Cheung,Fiona Sun,Eric Jiang Hong Kong authorities have cracked down on a syndicate and arrested 28 people allegedly involved in bid-rigging, including board members of contractors and consultancy firms, in the first operation by a joint task force set up after the release of a scathing report on the devastating Wang Fuk Court fire. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said on Friday that the task force, set up to tackle bid-rigging, had also established a 24-hour hotline for the public to report any suspicious... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373575/hong-kong-authorities-arrest-28-crackdown-bid-rigging-after-tai-po-fire https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373575/hong-kong-authorities-arrest-28-crackdown-bid-rigging-after-tai-po-fire Fri, 06 Nov 2026 10:59:46 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Temperatures in Hong Kong are expected to drop to as low as 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday as a cold front hits the city early next week. According to the Hong Kong Observatory, a strong monsoon over the weekend will bring cooler weather. “A strong northeast monsoon will affect the coast of Guangdong over the weekend. A cold front is expected to move across the coast of southern China at first on Monday,” the forecaster said on Friday. “Under the influence of the associated... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373545/hong-kong-temperatures-fall-18-degrees-next-week-cold-front-hits https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3373545/hong-kong-temperatures-fall-18-degrees-next-week-cold-front-hits Fri, 06 Nov 2026 08:57:41 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong court has sentenced a domestic helper to five months in jail for molesting her former employer’s 12-year-old daughter in the family home. Lady Jay Santos Flores, 45, offered no mitigation before she was sentenced at Kowloon City Court on Friday on three counts of indecent assault. She sobbed occasionally during the hearing. Flores was convicted last month of molesting the girl, who said the Filipino helper had touched her genitals on several occasions between May and June 2025. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373505/5-months-jail-helper-convicted-molesting-employers-12-year-old-daughter https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373505/5-months-jail-helper-convicted-molesting-employers-12-year-old-daughter Fri, 06 Nov 2026 05:30:29 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has backed a proposed overhaul of rules to tighten access to land records, warning that journalists have no exemption when collecting data as complaints over information misuse appear to be worsening. Privacy Commissioner Ada Chung Lai-ling said on Friday that journalists did not enjoy an exemption under the privacy ordinance when gathering information, even though certain safeguards applied to how the data was subsequently used. “The privacy ordinance does provide... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373496/hong-kong-privacy-watchdog-backs-tighter-rules-access-land-records https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373496/hong-kong-privacy-watchdog-backs-tighter-rules-access-land-records Fri, 06 Nov 2026 05:19:05 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from this week’s news across Hong Kong, mainland China, the wider Asia region and beyond that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. US midterm shift could squeeze China on AI, bring clarity to bilateral talks Beijing has vowed to continue working with Washington towards a “constructive relationship of strategic stability” following the Democrats’ sweeping victory... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3373481/us-democrats-win-could-squeeze-china-star-mathematician-leaves-us-scmps-7-highlights https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3373481/us-democrats-win-could-squeeze-china-star-mathematician-leaves-us-scmps-7-highlights Fri, 06 Nov 2026 04:45:09 +0000 Jess Ma,Matthew Cheng Jess Ma,Matthew Cheng Former Macau opposition lawmaker Au Kam-san has been convicted on five of seven charges in the city’s first national security trial, with the court handing down a 12½-year prison sentence following closed-door proceedings. The Court of First Instance on Friday found Au, 69, guilty on four counts under Macau’s national security law – subversion of state power and establishing links with foreign groups or individuals to commit activities endangering national security – as well as a fifth count of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373482/12-1/2-years-jail-ex-macau-lawmaker-au-kam-san-citys-first-national-security-trial https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3373482/12-1/2-years-jail-ex-macau-lawmaker-au-kam-san-citys-first-national-security-trial Fri, 06 Nov 2026 03:08:14 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Leaders of overseas institutions have expressed keen interest in taking part in Hong Kong’s planned university towns in the Northern Metropolis megaproject and stress that while financing remains a challenge, they will collaborate on activities to help ensure projects are financially viable. The university heads also called on the Hong Kong government to provide affordable housing in the new university towns, roll out policy incentives to retain top global talent and clearly define what success... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373457/overseas-institutions-keen-hong-kong-university-towns-happy-help-local-peers https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3373457/overseas-institutions-keen-hong-kong-university-towns-happy-help-local-peers Fri, 06 Nov 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] From private jewellery viewings to stepping aboard a yacht, the Festival of Connoisseurs took visitors beyond the conventional exhibition hall. This luxury festival is the first exhibition supported by a HK$100 million government fund, spearheaded by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau to attract large-scale, distinctive international exhibitions to Hong Kong. It brought yachts, prestige cars, jewellery and art... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/topics/awes-waterfront-debut/article/3373141/beyond-exhibition-hall-awes-waterfront-debut-offers-glimpse-whats-next https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/topics/awes-waterfront-debut/article/3373141/beyond-exhibition-hall-awes-waterfront-debut-offers-glimpse-whats-next Fri, 06 Nov 2026 00:00:11 +0000 Eric Jiang Eric Jiang Hong Kong police will enable artificial intelligence-powered facial recognition technology across their expanding smart surveillance network this month to improve the tracking of missing persons or suspects, with plans to save the data it generates for up to 180 days. The force said the facial recognition technology was widely used by law enforcement agencies around the world and stressed that residents’ privacy rights would be protected. “Leveraging AI [facial recognition] would cut the time we... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373440/hong-kong-police-enable-ai-facial-recognition-cctv-network-month https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3373440/hong-kong-police-enable-ai-facial-recognition-cctv-network-month Thu, 05 Nov 2026 23:00:09 +0000