Alice Wu fell down the rabbit hole of politics aged 12, when she ran her first election campaign. She has been writing about local politics and current affairs for the Post since 2008. Alice's daily needs include her journals, books, a multi-coloured pen and several lattes. She is currently a political consultant and a former associate director of the Asia Pacific Media Network at UCLA
The apparent anointment of judge Sam Hou-fai to follow Ho Iat-seng as chief executive puts to rest any remaining illusions over the political influence of the city’s four dynasties.
If the government wants Hong Kong to be a hub for mega events, it would do well to take lessons from the recent Doraemon exhibitions in the city. There is an art to building hype, linking multiple events and creating memorable experiences, something the organisers did with aplomb.
The public and Hong Kong’s taxi drivers have long had a strained relationship, something that won’t be helped by an impending fare increase. Instead of dragging its feet, the government should clear up any legal grey areas over Uber and better regulate taxi.
The government finds itself facing calls for civil servants’ pay to rise when it is trying to curb a ballooning budget deficit. This may be hard to swallow for Hongkongers amid a sluggish economy with small local businesses struggling.
Despite governments around the world fretting over falling birth rates, society still puts up many barriers to mothers returning to the workforce. This Mother’s Day, let’s work to help mothers feel truly supported rather than penalised for choosing to have children and also wanting to work.
Turning spectacular displays into something more mundane is not how to make Hong Kong an attractive destination for mainland and foreign tourists, and the government needs to go back to the drawing board.
Can the postal service be both a public service and a business? That’s the question the government needs to answer. It might be too much to expect Hongkong Post to have the business acumen to tackle revenue challenges.
Xia Baolong, the top official on Hong Kong affairs, is daring the city to say and do new things. The central government is expecting no less than courage from the city’s leadership.
Latest fire at New Lucky House broke out after building owners were allowed to ignore safety orders for 16 years. Inspections and advisory letters are not enough. There must be real enforcement
Factoring the rail operator’s property profits into the fare adjustment formula looked like a win for commuters last year. But when a company with billions in profits is allowed to hike prices in the current economic climate, it leaves the public feeling short-changed.
The pilot programme was supposed to show Hongkongers how the waste charging scheme works, but a tiny trial run and multiple delays inspire little confidence. This is bad for public perception and adds fuel to the fire of speculation whether the government will actually implement the scheme in full on August 1.
As the government continues to promote Hong Kong as an art and cultural hub in the region, it has much to learn about what truly constitutes art. Jin Yong’s wuxia novels, with their wide appeal, manage to be both escapist entertainment and a vast cultural phenomenon.
After years of posting pandemic-related losses, Cathay Pacific reporting a net profit of HK$9.79 billion in 2023 is a welcome bit of good news for the city. If our flag carrier is to recover its status as the pride of Hong Kong, the city’s people need to give it their support and celebrate a good Hong Kong story.