Editorial | Today, the Post is 120 years young as we continue our journey
- The media landscape has changed dramatically over the years, but our mission remains the same: to be the leading voice on conversations about China
Today marks the 120th anniversary of the first edition of the South China Morning Post. Our journey has been long and eventful.
The first copy, on November 6, 1903, comprising eight broadsheet pages, brought readers news on Hong Kong, including plans for a new post office and the development of tramways.
There was coverage of Qing dynasty China and reports from Britain, the US, Russia, South Africa and Japan. Editorials expressed opinions on the virtues of a Sunday newspaper (which we supported) and snobbery in cricket (which we were against.)
Over 120 years, the Post has evolved with Hong Kong, reporting on its many ups and downs. We have chronicled the city’s progress from early 20th-century entrepot to today’s international financial centre.
Our pages and, more recently, digital platforms, have brought readers news of dramatic developments, from the plague to the pandemic, from the 1967 riots to civil unrest in 2019, and from the rickshaw to the high-speed rail.
Now, the focus is on the city’s post- Covid recovery as it develops as a key player in the Greater Bay Area.
