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SCMP 115th Anniversary
Hong Kong

Editor-in-Chief Tammy Tam celebrates South China Morning Post’s achievements in past 115 years and outlines its mission for future

  • First edition of the newspaper hit the streets on November 6, 1903
  • It has covered the many dramatic and historic events which have shaped Hong Kong, China and the world

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Editor-in-Chief Tammy Tam (centre) with members of the 24/7 newsgathering team at the South China Morning Post’s headquarters in Times Square, Causeway Bay. Photo: Dickson Lee
Tammy Tam

Birthdays are a time for celebration but also provide a good opportunity to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future. The 115th anniversary of the South China Morning Post is no exception.

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The first edition of this newspaper hit the streets on November 6, 1903. The new publication, launched in Hong Kong by founders Tse Tsan-tai and Alfred Cunningham, entered a challenging media market at a time when new technology was transforming the industry. Some things, then, have not changed.

The Post has published continually since its launch, except for a brief period during the second world war. We have covered the many dramatic and historic events which have shaped Hong Kong, China and the world. The company has moved with the times, evolving and adapting to meet the needs of its readers and changes in the business environment.

In this commemorative series of articles, we tell the colourful story of Tse Tsan-tai, who was driven by a determination to bring about reform in Qing dynasty China. We trace the history of the Post through the nine offices it has inhabited over the years, from harbour-side premises in Central to its new headquarters in Times Square, Causeway Bay.
We recall the iconic pictures taken by the Post’s photographers, including veteran Chan Kiu who served the paper for 28 years. We look back at some of the most memorable front pages, review the Post’s digital transformation, its coverage of China including Hong Kong, and its engagement with the community. And look out for the cartoon strip telling our story.
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These are exciting times for the Post. This year has seen a move to new state-of-the-art offices. We have redesigned the newspaper, introduced a new logo, and brought about a shift in corporate culture. Digital publication has become the priority. The Post’s online readership has grown dramatically since Alibaba bought the company in 2016. We are now read by tens of millions of readers and are encouraged by strong signs of further growth around the world.
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