Politics

Two big issues are bubbling up over Hong Kong’s army of foreign domestic helpers. The whole community will have to sit down and decide how to address them. The first is the availability of places for helpers to congregate safely and freely on their days off without putting too much stress on public facilities, other residents and tourists. The second is figuring out how to provide an acceptable working environment inside the home during hot summer months.Two underlying trends are adding to the complexity and severity of the problems. One is sheer numbers, the other is the increasing impact of climate change.Given the robust improvement in Hong Kong’s economy since the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of foreign domestic helpers in the city is moving steadily back towards the 2019 peak of 399,...

Exclusive: The John Lee interview

Why do some governments consistently turn long-term goals into visible results while others struggle to move beyond policy announcements? The answer often lies not in ideology and planning but in governance: the ability to identify priorities, coordinate action and sustain implementation.As the Hong Kong government begins a public consultation on its first five-year plan, that question deserves careful attention.The challenge is not simply identifying problems. It is mustering the political will and building the capacity to overcome them.Ultimately, citizens judge governments by the results they deliver. Can people find affordable, decent housing? Can young people see opportunities for upward mobility? Can businesses operate with confidence? Can communities feel their concerns being addres...

The Hong Kong government has appointed a former deputy police commissioner to lead the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.Albert Yuen Yuk-kin would lead the department following his retirement from the force, where over 37 years he rose to the rank of deputy commissioner of operations, the government said on Monday.The department post is one of two high-level official positions filled through an open recruitment announced in February. Along with the director of information services role, both appointments have gone to individuals with police backgrounds.The move is reportedly part of the city’s ongoing civil service reforms.Yuen joined the force in 1986 as an inspector. He was assigned to various crime investigation units in the 1980s and 1990s, dealing with rampant armed robbery at...

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs began a two-day visit on Tuesday with inspections of key projects across the city, focusing on housing, technology and Northern Metropolis developments.Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, kicked off his study tour with a briefing led by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, attended by Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and selected members of the establishment, including the city’s property tycoonsXia greeted residents at a light public housing project on Yau Pok Road in Yuen Long in the morning, accompanied by Lee and Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin.The project falls under a scheme providing 30,000 government-built temporary flats for families who have waited at least three year...

The Hong Kong government will conduct a consultation on its slew of pro-baby incentives amid persistently low birth rates, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said, noting that delayed marriage and cultural shifts are limiting the effectiveness of such policies.The number of registered births in Hong Kong hit a historic low of 31,100 in 2025, despite a range of government initiatives aimed at boosting the city’s fertility rate.The HK$20,000 (US$2,552) newborn baby bonus, introduced in 2023, is due to expire in October.In an exclusive interview with the South China Morning Post, Lee said the government would consult the public and “collect wisdom” before deciding whether to continue with incentive measures.Since its launch, the parents of more than 65,000 babies have benefited from the pro...

I’m still reeling from last week’s tragedy in Hong Kong: a mother and her 12-year-old daughter lost their lives to suicide within hours of each other reportedly following an argument about “education problems”.While the causes of suicide are complex, the incident should prompt reflection within the education system. For years, many have tried to point out the impact academic pressure without adequate support has on students’ mental health. We have also noted the effect on teachers and parents. We have tried to cite statistics in the hope that the government would address the issue.Our education system seems to have become what has recently been described as a “zero-sum” game.Students are trained to be exam-takers. In such a system, only results matter. This creates an uncaring culture that...

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has said he is focused on accomplishing much more in the final year of his current term, which he described as a “long period for a lot of things to be achieved” as he shrugged off a question on seeking a second one.Alluding to the adage “a year is a long time in politics”, Lee deflected the question of extending his tenure for another five years and focused instead on what he saw as ensuring continuity in governance. He was “very positive” on the future of Hong Kong’s economic development, he added.“One year is a long period for a lot of things to be achieved … So a lot of these things can happen in one year,” Lee said, pointing to policy roll-outs under his watch, including the decision to allow stock market trading during typhoons and the implementation ...

Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong affairs will visit the city on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a check on the progress of the Northern Metropolis as part of his itinerary, while sources say the chief executive will join him as he looks into a cross-border technology cooperation platform.The Hong Kong government announced on Monday morning that Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, would be visiting the city for two days.“[Xia will] inspect Hong Kong’s alignment with the national 15th five-year plan and the advancement of the Northern Metropolis,” it said, referring to the megaproject to turn 30,000 hectares (74,131 acres) of land into an economic growth engine and housing hub.The top official’s visit will take place just a day after the launch of a two-mo...

A Hong Kong district councillor criticised for her links to the former owners’ committee of the fire-ravaged Wang Fuk Court has resigned from her advisory role for another housing estate in Tai Po, following the announcement of a petition.A notice from the incorporated owners of Plover Cove Garden, seen by the South China Morning Post, announced on Friday that Peggy Wong Pik-kiu had resigned from her honorary adviser role with the housing estate’s incorporated owners’ committee.The incorporated owners of the housing estate had already accepted Wong’s resignation on Thursday, the notice said.Wong stepped down after some owners at Plover Cove Garden had raised concerns over the district councillor’s suitability to act as an honorary adviser at a corporation meeting on June 6, according to a ...