Hong Kong authorities’ swift U-turn on a law requiring bus passengers to wear seat belts came about because of a lack of public consultation during policymaking and a less than thorough crafting process for the regulatory fine print, political observers have said. Failures on both fronts should serve as a wake-up call for officials and…
A new action plan released by the Qianhai authorities in Shenzhen aims to strengthen its position as a “key partner” to Hong Kong rather than a competitor, further bolstering the city’s status as a global hub for finance, trade and talent. The 2026 action plan, released recently by authorities, is set to deepen cooperation between…
Hong Kong is approaching the winter flu season, but vaccination rates among most age groups remain below the 70 per cent threshold needed for herd immunity, a leading government medical adviser has warned. David Hui Shu-cheong, chairman of the government’s scientific committee on emerging and zoonotic diseases, on Saturday reminded the public to get vaccinated…
Hong Kong could gain about HK$200 million (US$25.6 million) in economic value from K-pop powerhouse Blackpink’s coming concerts at Kai Tak Stadium, with fans of the girl group pouring into the city ahead of the three much-awaited shows. Excited fans splurged on band merchandise on Thursday ahead of the first concert at the weekend, while…
Hong Kong’s oldest university has been ranked seventh in the latest global league table for education, and has placed among the top 20 for medical and health. Renowned British publication Times Higher Education (THE) released its annual subject rankings on Wednesday. The lists cover 11 subject areas and assess them using 18 performance metrics, such…
Looking back at 2025, the city made meaningful strides in supporting its retirees. The government expanded the Elderly Health Care Voucher and Community Care Service Voucher schemes, and invested HK$2 billion (US$256.47 million) in an elderly and rehabilitation technology fund. It also announced 30 measures for the silver economy and formed the Working Group on…
Nearly 90 per cent of Hong Kong residents support more smoking control measures, a poll has found, while a separate study estimated that raising tobacco tax progressively could cut the city’s smoking rate significantly within a decade. The Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH) and academics on Tuesday announced findings of both a…
Five student unions among nine colleges at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have been dissolved in the space of a year, with their leaders attributing the closures to the institution’s requirement that they register as legal societies with police. The student union of Lee Woo Sing College on Wednesday became the latest group…
Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu is suffering from a bout of sciatica, a common degenerative condition that mostly affects middle-aged people who might not be aware of the seriousness of it at first until the pain worsens and affects their mobility. The Chief Executive’s Office revealed that Lee had sciatica after he attended a…
Hong Kong’s adoption of preferential packages to fast-track an industrial park that falls under the Northern Metropolis megadevelopment has been given an initial thumbs up. Local developers hailed the new approach as a “one-stop service” to help them cut through red tape and resolve problems, while some market observers believed it could also attract mainland…