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POLITICS5h agoLula’s win aids China ties; Hong Kong official quits over Tai Po fire: SCMP’s 7 highlightsWe 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. Win for Lula boosts China’s foothold and gives Brazil rare earths leverage Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s re-election preserves Beijing’s most critical foothold in Latin America, while positioning Brasilia to leverage...South China Morning Post
POLITICS8h agoFrance’s protests, like Hong Kong’s in 2019, risk being defined by violenceNo protester sets out expecting a friend to be arrested, injured or caught in a confrontation with the police. Yet when that happens, the reasons for returning to the streets can change. People may return not only because of the cause that first brought them out, but because they believe a friend has been treated unjustly. That is how anger becomes personal, and how a protest can move towards a dangerous cycle of action and reaction. This is the risk confronting France. The student protests...South China Morning Post
POLITICS8h agoWill Tai Po fire reforms wipe out collusion in Hong Kong’s building maintenance industry?A raft of reforms to overhaul Hong Kong’s building maintenance sector has been hailed as a bold first step in tackling bid-rigging and other deep-rooted problems, but observers said its success would depend on the determination and persistence to implement them to restore public trust. They said the reforms signalled a departure from the government’s long-standing reliance on the self-discipline of industry professionals, but highlighted a notable absence of measures to tackle falsified...South China Morning Post
POLITICS9h agoHong Kong national security judge Alex Lee promoted to the Court of AppealA Hong Kong judge who has overseen high-profile national security trials, including the collusion case of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, has been promoted to the Court of Appeal. A Judiciary statement on Thursday said the chief executive had accepted the recommendation of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission to appoint Court of First Instance judge Alex Lee Wan-tang to his new role, with his appointment taking effect on the day. Handpicked by the city leader to adjudicate...South China Morning Post
POLITICS17h agoHong Kong’s John Lee apologises for Tai Po fire, unveils reforms as housing chief resignsHong Kong’s leader has apologised for last year’s deadly Tai Po fire, vowing extensive civil service and legislative reforms and an overhaul of government departments as his housing chief Winnie Ho Wing-yin resigned to offer political accountability. A grim-faced Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and seven other top officials bowed their heads in apology on Thursday at the start of a press briefing, the first time his administration had directly expressed regret since the blaze on November 26 at...South China Morning Post
POLITICS19h agoHong Kong housing chief quits over Tai Po fire, accepts political responsibilityHong Kong’s housing chief has resigned to take political responsibility for the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court, offering condolences to the families of the victims and expressing hope that those who perished may rest in peace. Winnie Ho Wing-yin said on Thursday that she submitted her resignation to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu the previous day, becoming the only minister-level official so far to resign over the fire. “As the secretary for housing, I’m willing to bear political...South China Morning Post
POLITICS19h agoHong Kong to set up new body to oversee building renovations in regulatory overhaulHong Kong will establish a dedicated body to oversee building renovations as part of a wide-ranging overhaul that includes restructuring the Buildings Department and tightening regulation of contractors. The move was revealed on Thursday as Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his ministers offered a formal apology over the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po last November. His administration was establishing a Building Maintenance Support and Services Council as part of the reforms, the...South China Morning Post
POLITICS20h agoHong Kong to replace disgraced housing unit over deadly Tai Po fireHong Kong’s disgraced Independent Checking Unit (ICU) will be disbanded as part of reforms in the wake of the city’s deadliest fire in decades, after a judge-led inquiry identified it as the government arm with the greatest responsibility for the Wang Fuk Court inferno. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Thursday that the Housing Bureau would undergo internal restructuring, under which the ICU would be replaced by a new Public Housing Building Control Section. Deputy Financial Secretary...South China Morning Post
POLITICS20h agoHong Kong leader apologises for deadly Tai Po fireJohn Lee pledges reform as report holds four government departments partly responsible for blaze that killed 168 people last yearIrish Times World
POLITICS1d agoBeijing wants Hong Kong to sow the seeds for the digital yuan. Will its plans bear fruit?In September, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled the city’s first five-year plan along with his policy address, highlighting Hong Kong’s strategic role in promoting the greater use of the yuan outside mainland China as a key priority. In the third part of a four-part series on the globalisation of the yuan, Xinmei Shen explores how Hong Kong is testing the interoperability of the e-CNY and other digital assets in an effort to broaden the currency’s international appeal. In a US Senate...South China Morning Post
POLITICS1d agoHong Kong lawmaker urges more checks as illegal parking fines top HK$70m a yearTraffic police have issued more than 220,000 tickets for parking-related offences in each of the past three years, raking in at least HK$70 million (US$8.92 million) a year for Hong Kong’s coffers, but a lawmaker said inspections could be enhanced to target more offenders. In a written reply to the Legislative Council on Wednesday, Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan said police issued 259,589, 242550, and 225,489 fixed penalty tickets in 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively to...South China Morning Post
POLITICS1d agoKowloon leads as 70% of Hong Kong’s subdivided flats registered for grace periodAbout 70 per cent of subdivided flats in Hong Kong have been registered for a grace period under a new law aimed at eradicating substandard homes, with most submissions coming from landlords in Kowloon’s Yau Tsim Mong district, according to the Housing Bureau. The bureau told the Legislative Council on Wednesday that 75,070 subdivided homes across about 21,000 whole flats had been registered for the three-year grace period since applications opened in March under the new Basic Housing Units...South China Morning Post
POLITICS2d agoHong Kong to propose criminal penalties for bid-rigging after deadly Tai Po fireHong Kong’s leader is expected to announce reforms introducing criminal penalties for bid-rigging on Thursday, when the government will also release the final investigation report into the Tai Po inferno, the South China Morning Post has learned. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and his senior officials will announce the proposed measures and give an update on efforts to pursue “administrative accountability” at a press conference on Thursday, a government source said on Wednesday. Senior...South China Morning Post
POLITICS2d agoHong Kong lawmakers raise concerns about fresh HK$27 billion funding for tech hubHong Kong lawmakers have raised concerns about the hefty cost of developing a flagship tech hub and a neighbouring wetland park near the city’s border with mainland China, as the government seeks to secure a fresh HK$27 billion for the second round of works. During a Legislative Council development panel meeting on Tuesday, government officials explained the HK$27.2 billion proposal. It covers forming 175 hectares (432 acres) of land at the San Tin Technopole, establishing more than one-third of...South China Morning Post
POLITICS3d agoPrincess Anne begins her official visit to Hong Kong in 1971 – from the SCMP archiveThis article was first published on October 27, 1971. Hongkong’s royal welcome for Princess Anne Princess Anne, radiant in a stylish knee-length beige suit and a matching wide-brimmed hat, flew in yesterday (October 26, 1971) to a warm welcome from the people of Hong Kong. She begins her official visits today (October 27, 1971) – a public holiday – when thousands of people will be able to see her during her calls at places like the Tung Wah Hospital, the Po Leung Kuk and the ancient Man Mo...South China Morning Post
POLITICS4d agoHong Kong to boost Huanggang Port capacity after Halloween, concert congestionHong Kong’s No 2 official has pledged to open extra clearance counters and vehicle lanes at the recently revamped Huanggang Port control point ahead of peak hours, after Halloween crowds and concertgoers created heavy cross-border congestion. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, who inspected the Shenzhen Bay and Huanggang ports on Sunday, said he had instructed the Security Bureau to step up advance assessments and passenger flow forecasting. He added that he had directed the Transport and...South China Morning Post
POLITICS5d agoLaw enforcement alerted to firm offering LGBTQ surrogacy services in Hong KongHong Kong’s regulator for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) has referred a case to law enforcement agencies after a mainland Chinese influencer was suspected of offering to bring non-local surrogate mothers of LGBTQ parents to give birth in the city. Tan Zubiao, also known as berlinsun, had set up a company in the city and advertised on social media commercial surrogacy services for LGBTQ couples, according to Hong Kong media. Tan and his foreign husband, who have two children through surrogacy, were...South China Morning Post
POLITICS5d agoHong Kong needs a civil service fit for a changed worldHong Kong’s civil service has long enjoyed a reputation for efficiency, professionalism and probity. It has also been a pillar of stability, particularly during the transition from British to Chinese rule. Outside the general and administrative grades, many civil servants spend much of their careers in relatively specialised areas of responsibility. This allows them to develop deep expertise and makes them dependable regulators and administrators. However, it can also make it harder to adapt...South China Morning Post
POLITICS6d agoHong Kong must revive growth and drive reforms with government’s ‘visible hand’Hong Kong authorities should act as a “visible hand” to break down barriers erected by vested interests and revive growth momentum through reform under its maiden five-year plan, a former Beijing official overseeing the city’s affairs has said. Deng Zhonghua, former deputy director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, also said on Saturday that Hong Kong had to empower emerging industries through deregulation and improve mechanisms for sharing the benefits of development in...South China Morning Post
POLITICS6d agoWhy Hong Kong should rethink premiums for private recreation clubsPrivate recreation leases have a long and contentious history in Hong Kong. Complaints about the inequity of granting land leases to private clubs at a nominal premium for the exclusive enjoyment of a small number of members have been raised many times. This issue is increasingly pressing. Twenty-seven sites are involved and almost all the leases for these sites are set for renewal next year. In response to this perceived inequality, the government reviewed its policy for clubs with private...South China Morning Post
POLITICS6d agoHong Kong Legco to review tighter rules on access to land records amid concernsHong Kong’s legislature will set up a subcommittee to examine proposed restrictions on access to land records following widespread public concern. At a Legislative Council House Committee meeting on Friday, lawmakers endorsed establishing the subcommittee to study proposed requirements and procedures under the Land Titles Regulation. The move came after some legislators and the Hong Kong Journalists Association voiced objections on Wednesday after the government tabled eight pieces of subsidiary...South China Morning Post
POLITICSOct 23Hong Kong security chief vows accountability, reforms ahead of Tai Po fire reportThe Fire Services Department will bear “ultimate responsibility” for following up on fire safety complaints across Hong Kong, the security chief has said, pledging legal reforms after the deadly Tai Po blaze, as an independent committee’s report is expected to identify the department as among those responsible. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung made the pledge a day after the judge-led committee submitted its final report to the government. Sources said the report would identify...South China Morning Post
POLITICSOct 22Beijing slams UK’s ‘irresponsible remarks’ on Hong Kong in 6-monthly reportBeijing has slammed “irresponsible remarks” by Britain after a UK report said Hong Kong’s national security law had further diminished the openness that underpinned the city’s success. In the United Kingdom’s latest six-month monitoring report on Hong Kong, released on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said he was “deeply concerned and disturbed” by the continued imprisonment of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who was jailed for 20 years over national security offences. “We continue...South China Morning Post
POLITICSOct 22Hong Kong’s Bay Area visionDownload the PDF This is the fifth in a series of factsheets about Hong Kong’s first five-year plan and the 2026 policy address. Click here to view the other factsheets. The series has been produced with support from the Hong Kong SAR government. To see the South China Morning Post’s coverage of the five-year plan, click here. This factsheet will appear in the SCMP print edition on October 26. You can find the newspaper at newsstands and convenience stores. For inquiries, contact...South China Morning Post
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