SCMP Hong Kong·Wednesday, December 24, 2025

SCMP Hong Kong - Wednesday, December 24, 2025

10 stories~15 min

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Stories Covered

Hong Kong police make another arrest over deadly Tai Po blaze

Hong Kong police have made their 16th arrest in connection with last month’s deadly Tai Po blaze, detaining a man on suspicion of manslaughter. Police earlier arrested 15 people in connection with the fire, which engulfed seven of eight scaffolding-clad residential buildings in the Wang Fuk Court housing estate on November 26, killing 161 and displacing almost 5,000 residents. Police said on Wednesday that they arrested a man, 48, in Tin Shui Wai. He was the person in charge of the external wall

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Christmas Eve crowds gather in Hong Kong but festive atmosphere ‘more subdued’

Hongkongers are out in droves to experience festive vibes on Christmas Eve, while more than 540,000 residents have left the city for the holidays. By Wednesday evening, a growing crowd had gathered at the open-air plaza at Harbour City shopping centre in Tsim Sha Tsui to admire special Disney-themed festive installations. Office worker Cecile Tang, 38, was there with her mother, her husband and their two children. The five viewed the Christmas decorations at Harbour City and took a stroll along.

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The write way: Hong Kong’s Christmas card loyalists keep the digital wave at bay

Amber Lam has been writing and making her own Christmas cards since childhood and enjoys handing them personally to friends each festive season. The 25-year-old clerk, who sends about 20 cards a year, started the tradition when she was in primary school. She says handwritten messages help build personal bonds with loved ones. “I’ve always loved giving handwritten cards, but normally there aren’t many chances to just sit down and write letters to people. Christmas feels like the perfect...

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Young people’s input needed on pressing Hong Kong issues, incoming lawmaker says

Hong Kong’s incoming social welfare lawmaker has vowed to actively engage young people in policy discussions and strengthen communications with frontline workers to plug a “knowledge gap” in professional conduct. Grace Chan Man-yee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, a statutory body representing local welfare groups, also expressed confidence that there would be critical voices in the legislature although not always in front of the cameras. Chan won the social welfare..

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Hong Kong customs seizes counterfeit goods worth HK$36 million in crackdown

Hong Kong customs has intercepted more than 83,000 counterfeit items worth about HK$36 million (US$4.62 million) as part of a recent crackdown, warning that criminals are using the heightened seasonal demand as a “smokescreen” to move illicit goods to Europe and the Americas. The Customs and Excise Department said on Wednesday that the operation ran from December 8 to 19 and was conducted in response to a surge in cross-border logistics activities during the peak year-end shopping season. During

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Helper who survived Hong Kong fire recovers in Philippines for Christmas

The Filipino domestic worker who fought for her life to escape from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades with her employer’s three-month-old baby is spending Christmas with her family back home after being treated for pneumonia. While 28-year-old Rhodora Alcaraz's time in intensive care is long behind her, she is still recovering from pneumonia and has been referred to a psychiatrist to help process her trauma. The helper was earlier lauded by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr as a hero

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Cool Christmas break for Hong Kong as temperatures to reach as low as 14 degrees

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Get faster notifications on the latest updates by downloading our app. Temperatures in Hong Kong will drop to as low as 14 degrees Celsius (57.2 Fahrenheit) over the Christmas holiday due to an approaching northeasterly monsoon, according to the Observatory. The forecaster said on Wednesday that the “replenishment of the northeast monsoon” would reach the...

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Teen ‘mastermind’ among 20 held by Hong Kong police over HK$2 million phone fraud

Hong Kong police have arrested 20 people in connection with a series of fraud cases in which a 19-year-old college student allegedly led a gang posing as mainland Chinese secret agents to swindle victims out of more than HK$2 million (US$257,000). Chief Inspector Cheung Wai-shan said on Wednesday that the group – 16 male and four female suspects, aged between 11 and 84 – were arrested during a two-day operation earlier this week for various offences, including money laundering, fraud and wasting

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Craving art, music and theatre this Christmas? Here’s what to see in Hong Kong

The festive season is upon Hong Kong, and as in past years, the city offers an array of cultural events for residents and visitors – from ballet to theatre and music. While unmistakably Christmas-themed events are available, some offer an alternative for those who want to spend their holidays in a slightly different way. The Post highlights some of the shows worth catching over the holidays. 1. Family-friendly performances The Hong Kong Ballet’s annual performances of The Nutcracker mark the...

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Hong Kong opens bid for next Kai Tak Cruise Terminal operator with stricter KPIs

The next operator of Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal will manage the entire site, including public areas, and face financial penalties if it underperforms, according to a new government tender aimed at transforming the area into an attractive tourist destination. Authorities on Wednesday launched an open tender for the next operator of the terminal in Kowloon, with the new term set to begin on June 1, 2028. The winning bidder will manage the facility for 10 years, with a possible five-year..

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