GLOBEALERT

Feed

Open sources, classified and cross-checked. 1,009+ stories.

POLITICSJul 7How Hong Kong is fighting to redefine its future with an institutional moat, wealth surgeFor decades, warnings of Hong Kong’s terminal decline have arrived in periodic waves. When Stephen Roach, the former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, ignited a firestorm with his February 2024 assertion that “Hong Kong is over”, he pointed to a toxic cocktail of domestic and external pressures. Roach, who doubled down on his “wake-up call” a year ago, argued that the city’s economic glory was being extinguished by a loss of political autonomy following 2020’s national security law, the spillover...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSJul 7Hong Kong’s war-risk pool testament to collaboration, insurance leader saysThe launch of a marine war-risk pool by Hong Kong insurers is a prime example of how the city’s insurers can collaborate not just for the benefit of the local economy but for the entire nation, an industry veteran has said. At the South China Morning Post’s China Conference, themed “Intelligence at Scale: Hong Kong’s AI-Powered Future”, panel speakers considered how the insurance industry could bolster financial resilience across the Greater Bay Area. Speaking at the event, Selina Lau Pui-ling,...South China Morning Post
HEALTHJul 7Hong Kong IVF clinic ordered to suspend most services after embryo sample errorsHong Kong’s regulator for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) has ordered a fertility clinic to partially halt operations after it mishandled embryo biopsy specimens from two patients and failed to report the incident to health authorities. The Council on Human Reproductive Technology said on Tuesday that it had suspended most operations at HEAL Fertility in Central after discovering that embryo biopsy specimens the clinic sent for pre-implantation genetic testing belonged to the wrong parents. The...South China Morning Post
POLITICSJul 7Hong Kong consults on sex law reform over cult coercion, campus and online abuseCults luring victims overseas for sex in a bid to “change their fate”, as well as suggestive games hosted at orientation camps in Hong Kong could amount to sexual offences, authorities have warned, as they launched a public consultation on the city’s sexual law reforms. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Tuesday clarified that sexual offences involving misleading claims would fall within the city’s legal remit if the deception took place in Hong Kong, even if the incident occurred...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSJul 7Hong Kong should build AI plan around ‘competitive’ strengths, industry leaders sayHong Kong should draft a five-year plan that includes an artificial intelligence (AI) focus that is not too broad, makes the most of its core strengths and attracts the best talent to develop the sector, industry leaders have said. At the South China Morning Post’s China Conference on Tuesday, titled “Intelligence at Scale: Hong Kong’s AI-Powered Future”, speakers at two panel discussions considered how Hong Kong could deliver on its AI aspirations and the city’s readiness as a launch pad for...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSJul 7Hong Kong yuan facility to expand 150% to US$73.6 billion to meet international demandHong Kong will substantially increase its yuan facilities for banks from this Friday, while the city will also introduce a new electronic fixed income and currency (FIC) trading system as part of its latest efforts to promote yuan trading, according to local market regulators on Tuesday. Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) would increase the quota of its RMB Business Facility for banks by 1.5 times to 500 billion yuan (US$73.6 billion) from this Friday, according to its chief executive Eddie Yue...South China Morning Post
POLITICSJul 7Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong expected to plead guilty in foreign collusion caseHong Kong jailed activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung has indicated he will plead guilty to conspiring with a fugitive former lawmaker to collude with foreign forces six years ago. The High Court has scheduled a plea and sentencing hearing for the 29-year-old on September 2, according to the judiciary’s website on Tuesday, signalling his intention to admit the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment under the Beijing-decreed national security law. The court has yet to announce the...South China Morning Post
DISASTERJul 7Minibus driver arrested in Hong Kong for allegedly knocking down elderly pedestrianHong Kong police have arrested a 74-year-old minibus driver on suspicion of dangerous driving after he allegedly ran over a 90-year-old man crossing a road in Kwai Chung. Police said the accident was reported at about 7.24am on Tuesday on 188 Hing Fong Road. The driver, surnamed Yan, was driving a public light bus towards Kwai Fong when he allegedly struck the elderly pedestrian, surnamed Leung, who was crossing the road. Officers arriving at the scene found the 90-year-old with a head injury...South China Morning Post
WORLDJul 7Joy and tears as Hong Kong students receive secondary school allocationsHong Kong’s Primary Six students received their secondary school results on Tuesday after years of hard work, with many elated and some already deciding what subject to major in at university or considering pathways to studying overseas. Tears of joy and relief filled the school hall at Yaumati Catholic Primary School (Hoi Wang Road) as students and parents received their long-awaited secondary school allocation results. Among them was 12-year-old Carmen Leung Ka-man, who collapsed into her...South China Morning Post
SCI & TECHJul 7AI ‘central plank’ in Hong Kong’s economic development, John Lee saysHong Kong’s high-quality economic development will be guided by its first five-year blueprint and the coming policy address, with artificial intelligence (AI) as the “central plank”, the city’s leader has said. Speaking at the South China Morning Post’s China Conference 2026 on Tuesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” advantages and commitment to innovation and technology position the city to connect the world with opportunities in an AI-powered...South China Morning Post
WORLDJul 7Before we hail Hong Kong cinema’s return, let’s ensure its survivalThe Furious, Hong Kong’s latest action flick, is crushing it on Rotten Tomatoes and has garnered critical acclaim abroad – proof of what human-centric filmmaking can still deliver in today’s market. But before we rush to hail the return of Hong Kong cinema, a new breed of drama factory is quietly generating content at a velocity no human team could ever match. In mainland China, micro dramas generated by artificial intelligence (AI) have turned the industry upside down. A production schedule...South China Morning Post
DISASTERBREAKINGJul 7Serious flooding risk in Hong Kong’s Yuen Long under amber rainstorm signalThis story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster has warned of severe downpours and serious flooding in Yuen Long under the amber rainstorm signal. The Hong Kong Observatory, which issued the warning signal at 5.30am on Tuesday, said hourly rainfall in the northwestern New Territories district was expected to exceed, or had already exceeded, 100mm. “There is a severe rainstorm...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSJul 7Hong Kong’s gold clearing and settlement firm joins Shanghai exchangeHong Kong inaugurated the trial operation of a gold clearing and settlement system on Tuesday, a step towards building the city into a trading hub and price-setter for the precious metal. The decision was announced by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu at the Hong Kong FIC & Bond Connect Summit. “The government-owned Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing [Company] will offer a comprehensive suite of services ranging from gold deposits and withdrawals to transaction settlements in the...South China Morning Post
SCI & TECHJul 7Crushed it: AI and healthy habits help Hong Kong students ace IBHong Kong’s top International Baccalaureate (IB) scorers this year credited AI and a balanced study routine for their academic success after receiving their results on Monday. Amid the intense pressure of the final assessments, top achievers from Diocesan Boys’ School (DBS), Victoria Shanghai Academy (VSA), and Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School shared insights on using technology responsibly while maintaining personal well-being. They were among at least 65 students from 16 Hong Kong schools who...South China Morning Post
POLITICSJul 6Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis project needn’t neglect agricultureHong 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...South China Morning Post
DISASTERBREAKINGJul 6Hong Kong issues red rainstorm warning, with flooding expected in parts of Wan ChaiThis story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Hong Kong Observatory issued a red rainstorm warning for an hour on Monday night, while a suspected waterspout was spotted off Cheung Chau. The red signal – the middle level in a three-tier system – was issued at 9.45pm but was cancelled at 10.45pm. An amber warning had been issued...South China Morning Post
WORLDJul 6Hong Kong churches warned over ‘systemic’ flaws in handling sexual harassmentHong Kong churches have been urged to broaden the implementation of anti-sexual harassment policies to better protect members after a survey found signs of spiritual leaders mishandling complaints, including downplaying incidents. A survey by the Hong Kong Christian Council’s Gender Justice Ministry also identified at least 69 victims who reportedly experienced varying degrees of sexual harassment over the past two decades, including three who were aged 13 to 15 at the time. The findings were...South China Morning Post
HEALTHJul 6Hong Kong doctor issued over 3,700 fraudulent Covid vaccine exemptions, court hearsA Hong Kong doctor fraudulently issued more than 3,700 Covid-19 vaccination exemption certificates over seven months during the pandemic, allowing some residents to avoid inoculation on the grounds of skin allergies, chest pain and other conditions, a court has heard. Dr Tai Kong-shing, 80, stood trial at the District Court on Monday over allegations that he generated the certificates en masse for personal gain. Prosecutors said the Western medical practitioner failed to make a proper diagnosis...South China Morning Post
BUSINESSJul 6Global investors pivot from access to scale in yuan operations, anchored by Hong KongGlobal institutional investors are pivoting away from basic market entry to scaling up their yuan operations, with offshore hubs such as Hong Kong emerging as the central infrastructure for that shift, a new survey showed. The survey, conducted by HSBC and polling more than 120 institutional investors collectively managing over US$32 trillion in assets across 12 Asia-Pacific markets, found that 63 per cent preferred offshore yuan markets for currency transactions, while 54 per cent relied on...South China Morning Post
WORLDJul 674% of Hong Kong pupils get first-choice secondary school, match 2025 recordSeventy-four per cent of Primary Six pupils in Hong Kong were allocated their first-choice secondary school through the central allocation system, matching last year’s record – a result a school council representative attributed to parents making more informed choices. The Education Bureau on Monday said that 48,545 students joined the Secondary School Place Allocation System, an increase of 534 pupils, or 1.11 per cent, from last year. “For students allocated through central allocation, 91 per...South China Morning Post
MILITARYJul 6PLA naval ships Nanning , Hengyang depart Hong KongTwo naval ships from the People's Liberation Army, the Nanning and Hengyang, have departed from Hong Kong. This represents a routine movement of military assets in the region.hongkongherald.com · China
WORLDJul 6‘Goodbye and thank you’: Hong Kong’s old Kai Tak Airport closes - SCMP archiveThis article was first published on July 6, 1998. Roger, over and out, Kai Tak by Rachel Clarke The lights were turned out at Kai Tak at 1.16 this morning, marking the end of the airport’s 73-year history. “Goodbye Kai Tak and thank you,” said Director of Civil Aviation Richard Siegel, before throwing the switch. As the lights went out, hundreds of people worked through the night in a hectic 13-hour operation to move the last pieces of equipment to the new airport at Chek Lap Kok, 35km...South China Morning Post
DISASTERJul 6At least 5 injured in crash between bus and luggage trailer at Hong Kong airportAt least five people have been injured in a collision between a bus and a luggage trailer at Hong Kong International Airport. A police spokesman said officers received a report at 8.56am on Monday that a passenger vehicle and a trailer had collided on the airport’s south apron, injuring five people on the bus. “All five were mildly injured and remained conscious. They have been sent to North Lantau Hospital,” the spokesman said, adding that police were investigating the incident. Among those...South China Morning Post
DISASTERJul 6Close call as tree branch hits Hong Kong double-decker bus, smashing windowPassengers on a Hong Kong bus have escaped unharmed after a tree branch struck the upper deck, shattering a side window. Police said they received a report at about 8am on Monday that a KMB route 277E bus hit an overhanging tree while travelling in the left lane of Ching Hiu Road in Sheung Shui, outside the Glorious Peak residential development. No injuries were reported. Images circulating online showed a large hole where a side window had shattered, with the adjacent pane cracked but still in...South China Morning Post