17 h. ago 500 Hong Kong primary pupils resume classes in university facilities after fire

About 500 primary school pupils of Tai Po Baptist Public School (TPBPS) have resumed classes in temporary classrooms set up on the premises of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), with most students returning to their normal routines ten days after the deadly blaze in their district. EdUHK president John Lee Chi-kin said on Friday the university had offered its gymnasium and converted activity rooms into about 10 temporary classrooms, while a university psychologist shared that the...

Events

3 d. ago From chips to noodles: the newcomers testing Hong Kong’s buoyant IPO market

Hong Kong’s booming fundraising market is set for another busy week, with four companies scheduled to debut this week and a string of billion-dollar listings – including Chinese luxury electric vehicle maker Avatr Technology – lining up behind them. Among this week’s newcomers, chip materials supplier Guangdong Tianyu Semiconductor plans to raise the highest sum, seeking up to HK$1.74 billion (US$223.42 million) from the sale of 30.07 million shares. The shares have been priced at HK$58 each....

Economics

3 d. ago Hong Kong man facing murder charge after wife found with knife wounds, burns

A man has been arrested after allegedly attacking and killing his wife with a knife and trying to set fire to their home in northwestern Hong Kong. Police said they received a report of a flat fire and a person injured at 6.59am on Tuesday from security guards at On Ting Estate in Tuen Mun. First responders arrived at the flat in Ting Fuk House and put out a fire that covered about 11 sq ft, said Chief Inspector Patty Chong Yuen‑na of Tuen Mun police. The woman, a convenience shop worker, had...

Events

1 week ago Hong Kong and Singapore prime office rents set to equalise by 2027: CBRE

Prime office rents in Hong Kong and Singapore are expected to reach parity within two years, driven by diverging dynamics in demand and supply for office properties in the rival business hubs, according to CBRE. By the fourth quarter of 2027, tenants in premium office spaces in Hong Kong were set to pay just over US$122 per square foot per year, while those in Singapore would face slightly higher costs at about US$123 per square foot annually, said Ada Choi, head of research for Asia-Pacific at...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong’s tokenisation drive set to boost treasury centres, investments

Hong Kong’s push to establish a tokenised financial system is poised to attract more companies to set up treasury centres in the city, which would give investors broader options while reducing transaction costs, according to market players. Both corporations and individuals stood to benefit from increased tokenisation of money and assets, which could make financial services faster and more efficient and accessible, said representatives from Standard Chartered, China Asset Management (Hong Kong)...

Politics

2 w. ago More than half of Hong Kong pupils get desired Primary One spot, a 20

More than half of the children set to start Primary One at Hong Kong’s public or government-subvented schools in the next academic year have secured a place at their preferred institutions, the highest success rate in about 20 years. The Education Bureau revealed on Friday that 37,581 children had applied for discretionary places in government or aided primary schools this year for admission next September. Among them, 19,656, or 52.3 per cent, will receive a place in these schools – a record...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong to set up firm to speed up San Tin Technopole, boost I&T industry

Hong Kong authorities will take the lead by setting up a company to drive the development of a new innovation hub near the border, with the base focusing on prototyping, pilot production and small-scale manufacturing as strategic bets for the future. Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said on Thursday that the San Tin Technopole would serve as a base for advanced manufacturing and strategic IT industries, attracting global resources and talent under a market-led...

Politics

2 w. ago 8 of 10 new polling stations for Hong Kong civil servants in police facilities

Eight out of 10 newly introduced designated polling stations for civil servants in the coming Hong Kong Legislative Council election will be set up inside police facilities. A list of four new types of designated polling stations was gazetted on Wednesday, with ten such stations set up specifically for civil servants. Of these, eight will be located in police stations or facilities, including the police headquarters in Wan Chai, the auxiliary police headquarters in Kowloon Bay, and the Police...

Events

2 w. ago What experts say Hong Kong’s new medical school must do to succeed

The new medical school set to be run by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) should ride on the institution’s unique technological strengths and catch up on clinical research to become a leading institution, experts and lawmakers have said. Their comments followed the government’s announcement on Tuesday that HKUST had emerged as the top choice to operate the city’s third medical school, taking its place alongside the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the...

Science

2 w. ago What must Hong Kong’s new medical school focus on to succeed?

The new medical school set to be run by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) should ride on the institution’s unique technological strengths and expand its capacity in clinical research to become a leading institution, experts and lawmakers have said. Their comments followed the government’s announcement on Tuesday that HKUST had emerged as the top choice to operate the city’s third medical school, taking its place alongside the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia set to launch US$1 billion fund, Paul Chan says

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia will launch a US$1 billion fund to help companies from Hong Kong and other cities in the Greater Bay Area expand into the Middle Eastern country, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Tuesday. The move was expected to contribute to the development of non-oil economic sectors in Saudi Arabia, he said. “Next month, a major Saudi development company will be hosting a roadshow in Hong Kong to seek strategic...

Economics

2 w. ago Hong Kong set for further economic growth after robust quarter, city leader says

Hong Kong’s economy is expected to continue growing after a strong performance in the previous quarter, supported by the global economic environment, a vibrant financial market and an interest rate cut, the city’s leader has said. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that a persistent rise in exports and sustained expansion in domestic demand had contributed to the city’s “robust” economic performance in the third quarter, despite turbulence in the global economy, which recorded a...

Politics

2 w. ago Hong Kong asked to layer up as temperature set to dip to 14 degrees by Wednesday

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong’s forecaster has reminded the public to stay warm as a cold front is due to hit the city on Tuesday, adding it expected about nine to 17 days when temperatures will dip below 12 degrees Celsius (54 Fahrenheit) this winter. The Observatory said on Monday the cold front was expected to move across the coast of Guangdong province in mainland China at...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong raises GDP growth forecast to 3.2% amid ‘robust’ economic performance

The Hong Kong government has revised its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2025 from 2 to 3 per cent to 3.2 per cent, with the economy performing better than expected. The Census and Statistics Department on Friday revealed that it upgraded the real GDP forecast for 2025 to 3.2 per cent, taking into account the actual outturn of 3.3 per cent in the first three quarters of the year and the near-term outlook. The department also announced a revised figure of 3.8 per cent GDP growth...

Economics

3 w. ago Hongkongers to feel the chill as temperatures set to dip to 16 degrees next week

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hongkongers should brace for cooler weather next week, as a northeast monsoon is expected to push temperatures down to around 16 degrees Celsius (60.8 Fahrenheit), the weather forecaster has said. The Hong Kong Observatory said on Wednesday that the dry northeast monsoon would bring mainly fine weather to the region over the next few days, before temperatures...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong school fair with mainland China focus set to attract 50,000 visitors

A three-day education fair featuring more than 300 institutions from kindergartens to universities will be held in Hong Kong later this month to boost student enrolment from mainland China, with the organisers expecting it to draw more than 50,000 visitors. The fair, the third since 2023, is being arranged by four major school councils, with the city facing the problem of a shrinking student population. “It is one of the ways to expand our source of students,” said primary school head Jessie...

Politics

3 w. ago All 161 hopefuls get nod to run in Hong Kong Legco poll with forums set to start

All 161 hopefuls eyeing a seat in Hong Kong’s second “patriots-only” legislature have been cleared to contest by a vetting panel, with an unprecedented 39 election forums organised by the government set to kick off on Tuesday as the city goes into full campaign mode. Beijing’s top office overseeing the city, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), also commended the candidates for being outstanding talent who were providing voters with choice and enabling them to pick “the best from the...

Politics

3 w. ago Hong Kong extends digital bond ambitions with third offering

Hong Kong is marketing a new set of “digitally native” bonds denominated in multiple currencies, intensifying the city’s drive to become a global hub for digital assets. The government was looking to sell digital green bonds denominated in US dollars, Hong Kong dollars, euros and offshore yuan, according to people familiar with the matter. The deal could be priced as early as Monday, said the people, asking not to be identified discussing a private matter. If successfully priced, it would mark...

Politics

4 w. ago Over 10 enterprises interested in Hong Kong’s Northern Metropolis: investment body

More than 10 enterprises, including pharmaceutical and logistics firms, are in talks with Hong Kong authorities to set up a presence at the Northern Metropolis megaproject, according to the city’s investment promoter. In an interview on Thursday, InvestHK Director-General Alpha Lau Hai-suen said the interested enterprises included those from South Korea and Europe, as well as one from the Middle East with a mainland Chinese capital background. “The firms in discussion [with the authorities to...

Politics

4 w. ago Hospital mortuary fees will unfairly penalise Hong Kong families: funeral sector

Mortuary charges set to be introduced in Hong Kong public hospitals next year could unfairly penalise families for delays in after-death arrangements, a funeral business association has argued, despite authorities saying those with financial difficulties will not have to pay. The funeral sector on Thursday criticised new measures gazetted last week that would introduce fees for mortuary services that are currently free at public hospitals. The tiered fee structure, set to take effect on January...

Society