China’s diplomatic missions in the United States have launched a new online visa application system as part of its efforts to boost tourist revenues and people-to-people exchanges. The process previously required at least two in-person visits: first to submit application materials and later to provide biometric information and submit their passports after initial approval. But…
China’s Victory Day military parade presents a fascinating paradox. With over 12,000 troops reportedly marching through Tiananmen Square, this spectacle celebrates a defensive military doctrine while showcasing power-projection capabilities that would make any expeditionary force envious. It reveals how Beijing is pioneering a new grammar of military power that particularly resonates with the Global South….
Few Hongkongers have the vaguest idea of the scale of government procurement, even though it is everywhere around us. The Government Transparency Institute, which tries to monitor government procurement worldwide, estimates it accounts for around 30 per cent of government spending. Worldwide, public procurement shares at least three characteristics. First, it is a colossal business…
The Kai Tak Development Area, once home to Hong Kong’s iconic airport, is now the site of one of the city’s most ambitious urban regeneration efforts. As the government pushes forward with two major infrastructure projects in the area – a smart and green mass transit system and the enhancement of the Kai Tak Cruise…
Hong Kong has jumped five places to fourth overall in a global talent ranking – its highest position ever. The news coincided with the SCMP Hong Kong-Asean Summit, where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu called for the city’s ties with partners such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to be bolstered. The coincidence is…
Hong Kong has secured the fourth spot globally for talent, catapulting five places to achieve its highest position ever in an international ranking. In a study released by the International Institute for Management Development on Tuesday, Hong Kong also ranked first in Asia, buoyed by improvements across the ranking’s three talent competitiveness factors. The city’s…
Yi Huiman, the former regulator of China’s equities market, is being investigated for disciplinary breaches, as the country’s long-standing anti-graft campaign extends into all corners of the financial industry, from banking to the stock market. Yi, the chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) from January 2019 to February 2024, has been detained by…
A higher level of engagement in society is among the reasons Hong Kong women’s life expectancy has reached a record high, experts have said, calling for gender-specific solutions to support the city’s ageing population. Academics and other specialists said that less exposure to high-risk activities and a willingness to seek help were also among factors…
Hong Kong schools appear to have staunched the problem of shrinking enrolment as fewer Primary One classes are being cut this year, according to official data, with the sector attributing the improvement to an influx of children of mainland Chinese talent. According to Primary School Profiles 2025 released on Monday, there are 1,569 Primary One…
At the Aberdeen Wholesale Fish Market, a fisherman surveys his day’s stock of fish, planning to sell his multicoloured inventory to numerous restaurants and street stalls across Hong Kong. But as he waits along the main corridor for a customer, only his competitors fill the area. “Business has been very difficult,” the 43-year-old fisherman surnamed…