The Hong Kong government has ruled out chartering Cathay Pacific Airways flights to bring home residents stranded in the Middle East, given the potential danger of navigating partially reopened airspaces and challenges in securing take-off slots at foreign airports, sources have said. The South China Morning Post learned that officials had also weighed the option…
The Hong Kong Journalists Association has lost its judicial challenge against the government’s decision to restrict reporters’ access to its vehicle registry, despite a ruling by the city’s top court that journalism is a valid reason for use. The High Court on Friday ruled against the press union over the policy introduced in early 2024,…
A personalised car number plate featuring the letter “H” has fetched HK$20 million (US$2.55 million) at a government auction, the fourth-most-expensive one sold in Hong Kong at 4,000 times its reserve price. Other high bids at Sunday’s Chinese New Year auction of vehicle registration marks included the plates “30” at HK$4.55 million, “101” at HK$1.01…
Hong Kong’s civil service chief has defended the decision to open up recruitment externally for the role of food and environmental hygiene director, saying the move aims to attract experts who can take the lead in using technology to enforce laws. Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan also stressed that anyone hired…
The Hong Kong government is set to unveil a resettlement plan for owners who lost their homes in the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po as early as Saturday, offering buy-back options at higher-than-expected prices, the South China Morning Post has learned. Government sources said the acquisition prices for properties without land premiums…
The number of babies born in Hong Kong plunged to a record low of 31,100 in 2025, while the city’s provisional population estimate rose 0.1 per cent year on year to 7.51 million. The Census and Statistics Department on Thursday also revealed a net inflow of 29,100 Hong Kong residents in 2025. Some 50,000 deaths…
A significant portion of flat owners at the fire-ravaged Tai Po estate are inclined to sell their properties to the government as part of a long-term rehousing plan, Hong Kong’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also pointed out several key challenges in resettling thousands of residents displaced by the inferno…
Hong Kong authorities have repealed a law requiring bus passengers to wear seat belts through subsidiary legislation, after discovering it only applied to vehicles registered since late January. The government gazetted the Road Traffic (Safety Equipment) (Amendment) Regulation 2026 on Friday, which repeals section 8D requiring passengers to wear seat belts. Section 8D stipulated that…
Hong Kong delegates to China’s top political advisory body are a “steadfast patriotic force” and make an important contribution to the city’s long-term prosperity and stability, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said. The city leader praised the delegates of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Wednesday as he hosted Jiang Zuojun, vice-chairman…
Hong Kong authorities may remove building maintenance contractors from a government-recommended list if homeowners are dissatisfied with their performance, as part of measures to combat bid-rigging following the deadly Tai Po fire, the city’s No 2 official has said. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok‑ki said on Saturday that the government aimed to improve the Urban…