1 hour ago Hong Kong passes bill to launch electronic driving licences in September

Hong Kong will introduce electronic driving licences in mid-September following the passage of a bill by the legislature, but lawmakers have questioned the need to spend HK$12.5 million (US$1.59 million) to fund a related mobile application. Some legislators also urged authorities to take a flexible approach to enforcement, especially in cases in which drivers had trouble displaying their documents on smartphones, thereby giving them time to adapt to the new system. The legislative amendment,...

Politics

2 h. ago Hong Kong tobacco tycoon Charles Ho dies at 75 after lung cancer diagnosis

Hong Kong tobacco and media tycoon Charles Ho Tsu-kwok, formerly the chairman of the Sing Tao News Corporation, has died at the age of 75. He revealed in February that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer last year. Two sources confirmed his death on Thursday, but it was unclear when he died. Ho previously served as a standing committee member of China’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and controlled the Sing Tao News Corp before he sold his...

Events

3 h. ago China’s Ant International to seek stablecoin licence in Hong Kong

Fintech firm Ant International, the global affiliate of Chinese tech giant Ant Group, said it would apply for a stablecoin issuer licence in Hong Kong once the new ordinance governing fiat-backed cryptocurrencies comes into effect in August. “We welcome the passage of the Stablecoins Bill and hope to contribute more to the city’s vision as a global hub for next-gen finance,” Ant International said in a statement on Thursday. “We plan to apply for the fiat-referenced stablecoins issuer’s...

Politics

3 h. ago Ant International and Ant Digital to seek stablecoin licences in Hong Kong

Singapore-based Ant International and the Hangzhou-based Ant Digital, two affiliates of Chinese tech giant Ant Group, have announced plans to apply for stablecoin issuer licences in Hong Kong once the new ordinance governing fiat-backed cryptocurrencies takes effect in August. “We welcome the passage of the Stablecoins Bill and hope to contribute more to the city’s vision as a global hub for next-gen finance,” Ant International, a spin-off of Ant’s global operations, said in a statement on...

Politics

4 h. ago Hong Kong Airlines cuts Japan routes over sluggish tourism and tremor concerns

Hong Kong Airlines is set to cancel flights to Kagoshima and Kumamoto in Japan in July and August, citing sluggish demand for tourism in the country, while flight schedules between the city and Nagoya will also be adjusted. The carrier announced the flight adjustments on Thursday amid growing concerns about a long-feared megaquake predicted to hit Japan. The airline said affected passengers could rebook to other destinations, including other cities in Japan and mainland China, as well as Taipei,...

Society

4 h. ago Hong Kong flights to 2 Japanese cities cut over sluggish tourism and quake fears

Hong Kong Airlines is set to cancel flights to Kagoshima and Kumamoto in Japan in July and August, citing sluggish demand for tourism in the country, while flight schedules between the city and Nagoya will also be adjusted. The carrier announced the flight adjustments on Thursday amid growing concerns about a long-feared megaquake predicted to hit Japan. The airline said affected passengers could rebook for other destinations, including other cities in Japan and mainland China, as well as...

Politics

4 h. ago Fire erupts in Hong Kong shopping district, with smoke billowing into streets

A fire erupted in Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay on Thursday afternoon, with smoke billowing into the streets of the shopping district. A Post reporter observed smoke coming from what appeared to be the ground floor entrance of the Apartment O service flats near Eton Tower, with emergency personnel arriving at the scene to extinguish the blaze. At least nine fire trucks were spotted in the area. Police and firefighters also blocked off road access along Hoi Ping Road. The smoke could be smelt from...

Economics

4 h. ago Firefighters put out blaze in busy Hong Kong shopping district

Hong Kong firefighters have extinguished a blaze that erupted in Causeway Bay on Thursday afternoon and caused smoke to billow into the streets of the busy shopping district. The Information Services Department said the fire was put out at around 4.48pm, nearly an hour and a half after the blaze was first reported. The Fire Services Department said that no injuries were reported, adding that the cause of the blaze was still under investigation. A Post reporter earlier observed smoke coming from...

Economics

4 h. ago Teen star of Hong Kong documentary on DSE exams convicted of theft again

A Hong Kong student who starred in a popular web documentary about the city’s university entrance exams has been convicted of theft for a second time after pleading guilty to shoplifting at a supermarket. Eastern Court on Thursday recorded a guilty plea from Tang Ngai-hong, who admitted to stealing a bag of fruit and two packets of potato chips from the Fresh supermarket at Kornhill Plaza North in Quarry Bay on January 5. The offence took place just five months after the 19-year-old was fined...

Politics

5 h. ago Applications for 2,576 Hong Kong subsidised flats to open in third quarter of 2025

Public housing tenants can apply to buy more than 2,500 subsidised flats in Hong Kong in the third quarter of this year, with the homes to go for 60 per cent of the market price, the Post has learned. An insider said on Thursday that the Housing Authority would offer 2,576 new subsidised flats at a site in Kowloon this year under the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme, which focuses on residents living in public housing estates. Prices would range from HK$1.15 million (US$146,500) to...

Politics

5 h. ago Applications for 2,576 Hong Kong subsidised flats to open in third quarter

Public housing tenants can apply to buy more than 2,500 subsidised flats in Hong Kong in the third quarter of this year, with the homes to go for 60 per cent of the market price, the Post has learned. An insider said on Thursday that the Housing Authority would offer 2,576 new subsidised flats at a site in Kowloon this year under the Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme, which focuses on residents living in public housing estates. Prices would range from HK$1.15 million (US$146,500) to...

Politics

7 h. ago Hong Kong exhibition opens to mark fifth anniversary of national security law

An exhibition commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Beijing-imposed national security law has opened in Hong Kong, featuring video footage and images from three major social movements, with city officials urging residents to remain vigilant against threats. At the opening ceremony of the government-organised event on Thursday, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung noted that as of June 1, 326 people had been arrested under relevant national security laws, including the legislation...

Events

7 h. ago Pianist Aristo Sham ‘overwhelmed’ by Hong Kong response to his contest win

Aristo Sham Ching-tao, the first pianist from Hong Kong to win the gold medal in the Van Cliburn Piano Competition, has expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from the city following his victory in one of the world’s toughest and most prestigious music competitions. Speaking from New York, Sham said: “I am overwhelmed by the support in Hong Kong since the news of my win. I really did not expect that.” Born in Hong Kong, he left to study overseas at the age of 14, but...

Culture

9 h. ago Chery’s stock to debut in third quarter in carmaker’s Hong Kong IPO

Chery Automobile, China’s second-largest automobile maker by volume, is aiming to complete its initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong in the third quarter of this year, said its chairman. The company, based in Wuhu city in eastern China’s Anhui province, has filed its intention to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange and use the city as its springboard for venturing into the global market, said Yin Tongyue during the 2025 Automotive Expo in the city. “We hope to have more of our...

Politics

9 h. ago Chery to debut in third quarter as carmaker uses Hong Kong as a springboard

Chery Automobile, China’s second-largest carmaker by volume, is seeking to complete its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO) in the third quarter of this year, its chairman said. At the 2025 International Automotive & Supply Chain Expo in Hong Kong on Thursday, Yin Tongyue said the company was seeking to use the city as a launching pad into the global market. Chery, based in Wuhu in eastern Anhui province, has filed its intention to list on the Hong Kong stock exchange. “We hope to have more...

Politics

11 h. ago The case of Hong Kong vs Singapore: unlimited potential for collaboration

From Hong Kong Disneyland and Universal Studios Singapore to Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines, there is this never-ending comparison between Hong Kong and Singapore. Insofar as our legal systems and the legal markets are concerned, there are also interesting similarities and differences. Both Hong Kong and Singapore are common law jurisdictions with developed and efficient legal systems. We are both in strategic locations with world-class legal infrastructure and vibrant legal communities....

Politics

11 h. ago To achieve its AI ambition, Hong Kong must start investing in schools

With rapid advances in technological development transforming industries and permeating every facet of our lives, there are mounting calls for schools to embrace artificial intelligence in the curriculum. While the focus on AI can seem overwhelming, the role of schools in this new AI-driven world demands attention. Where there is a focus on AI in schools, it is likely to be about effective and ethical ways to use AI. This is important, especially the focus on ethical issues, but there is perhaps...

Politics

11 h. ago With early stablecoin law, Hong Kong looks to keep edge as finance hub

With the passage of one of the world’s most comprehensive stablecoin laws two weeks ago, Hong Kong is looking to stay at the forefront of global finance while addressing lessons from past industry setbacks, according to analysts. Being a “first mover” in stablecoin legislation “reflects the determination” of the city’s government to “unlock value that they see in this sector, given the number of hurdles from past incidents”, said Melvin Deng, CEO of digital asset trading firm QCP Capital. Hong...

Politics

11 h. ago Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong’s T1 alert to stay in effect most of day

This 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. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster has said that the No 1 typhoon warning signal will stay in force for most of Thursday, as squally showers associated with a tropical storm near the coast of Guangdong continue to affect the city. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the signal at 12.40am on Wednesday...

Events

11 h. ago Tropical Storm Wutip: Hong Kong’s T1 alert to stay in effect for most of the day

This 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. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster has said that the No 1 typhoon warning signal will stay in force for most of Thursday, as squally showers associated with a tropical storm near the coast of Guangdong continue to affect the city. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the signal at 12.40am on Wednesday...

Events