Good morning from Hong Kong! Here is today’s summary of major news from the city’s newspapers and media outlets, covering local affairs, finance, technology, transport and international relations.
1. Uber Warns Ride-Hailing Cap Could Double Waiting Times, Raise Fares by 70%
Uber has issued a strong warning against a rumoured government plan to impose a cap of 10,000 to 15,000 ride-hailing vehicle licences. The company estimates that such a cap would be far from sufficient to meet passenger demand, potentially leading to four failed ride-hailing attempts out of 10 during peak hours, double the waiting time, and a staggering 70 per cent fare increase. More than 15,000 drivers’ livelihoods would also be affected.
The Hong Kong government has reportedly been collecting opinions from various sectors on the proposed licensing system for online ride-hailing services. According to Ming Pao, the legislation could be introduced in the fourth quarter of this year, with a first-stage consultation putting forward a range of 10,000 to 15,000 licences. This comes after the government proposed a regulatory framework covering platforms, drivers and vehicles—the most comprehensive set of rules for the ride-hailing industry to date.
2. Fifth International Healthcare Week Kicks Off, Showcasing AI in Medicine
Hong Kong officially launched the fifth International Healthcare Week on May 11, bringing together global healthcare officials, research experts, investors and industry representatives to explore medical innovation and the future of the health industry.
The sixth Asian Medical and Health Summit was held concurrently, under the theme “Driving New Breakthroughs in Healthcare”, focusing on the deep application of artificial intelligence across various medical fields. The event aligns closely with the National “15th Five-Year Plan” and aims to support the development of a “Healthy China” while promoting coordinated medical development across Asia.
Chief Executive John Lee attended the forum and delivered a speech, emphasising that Hong Kong—as a leading innovation and technology hub in Asia and a core city of the Greater Bay Area—is actively advancing medical innovation in line with the national plan. Key measures include streamlining the approval mechanism for innovative drugs and supporting clinical applications.
Furthermore, the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute” at the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone is now operational, working in tandem with its counterpart in Shenzhen to accelerate the delivery of cutting-edge medical technologies to patients.
3. Truck Hits Double-Decker Bus in Sau Mau Ping, 10 Injured
A traffic accident occurred in Sau Mau Ping in the early hours of today (May 12). At around 6 am, a light goods vehicle was turning from Po Lam Road into the Po Tat Estate shopping centre when it collided with a double-decker KMB bus travelling downhill. The truck rolled onto its side and came to rest across the road, while the bus crashed into a traffic light pole. The truck driver managed to climb out of the vehicle on his own. A total of 10 people were injured, including the bus captain, three men and five women passengers aboard the bus.
Emergency personnel arrived at the scene to provide on-site treatment and triage. All injured were later sent to United Hospital for further medical attention. Police are currently investigating the circumstances of the crash. The accident caused partial lane closures on Po Lam Road towards Sau Mau Ping Road near Po Tat Shopping Centre, resulting in traffic disruption for nearly two hours.
4. Hong Kong’s Economy Shows Strong 5.9% GDP Growth in Q1
The Hong Kong economy grew 5.9 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, significantly exceeding market expectations and marking the largest quarterly increase in nearly five years. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the strong performance was driven by two main forces: robust export growth and a 17 per cent surge in investment. He noted that Hong Kong’s economic outlook is positive and proactive, though the city still faces geopolitical challenges and inflation pressures driven by rising oil prices. Looking ahead, the government aims to develop the Northern Metropolis area and foster innovation and technology as a new pillar of economic growth alongside the financial and trade sectors.
5. Power Outage Hits 5,700 Households in Tsing Yi
A power outage struck Tsing Yi late on Monday night (May 11), affecting about 5,700 customers. According to CLP Power, the outage caused street lights and traffic signals in the area to fail. Service was restored to most homes within 28 minutes. Meanwhile, the Fire Services Department’s Counter Illegal Fuel Transfer Task Force, together with police, raided an illegal fuel depot on Kwai Wo Street and seized approximately 5,000 litres of diesel worth over HK$180,000.
6. Customs Seizes HK$3.1 Million in Drugs at Airport
Hong Kong Customs detected two dangerous drug cases at Hong Kong International Airport on May 7 and May 10, seizing about 3.7 kilograms of suspected ketamine and about 9 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with a total estimated market value of about HK$3.1 million. In a separate operation in Kwai Chung, customs officers also seized about 5.4 million suspected untaxed cigarettes worth about HK$24 million, with a duty value of about HK$18 million. A 59-year-old local man was arrested.
7. UBS Predicts Continued Rise in Hong Kong Property Prices
According to the Hong Kong Economic Journal, Hong Kong property prices have risen by more than 7 per cent this year. UBS expects population inflows to drive structural growth in the sector. Lin Zhenhong, the bank’s Asia-Pacific Real Estate Industry Research Head, said Hong Kong’s education system advantages attract mainland professionals and students to the city. Additionally, the tightening of residency requirements for the children of talent scheme participants sitting for the DSE exam in 2027 is expected to generate substantial housing demand. At the same time, Lin anticipates that the first batch of Hongkongers who migrated to the UK may return to Hong Kong after obtaining British citizenship in 2027, influenced by the local employment environment.
8. Hackers Attack Online Education Platform, Causing Major Privacy Breach
Oriental Daily News reports that hackers have breached an online education platform, resulting in a massive privacy leak across the education sector. Affected institutions include the National University of Singapore. Experts are advising users to immediately change their passwords and carefully monitor their accounts for any suspicious activity. Hong Kong Cyber Security Incident Response Centre has revealed that five local institutions suspected of data leakage have proactively notified the Privacy Commissioner’s office, and the centre will hold a press conference today to provide the latest updates on the situation.
9. Fake INTERPOL Ads Target Hong Kong Scam Victims on Meta Platforms
Meta has removed fraudulent INTERPOL advertisements targeting Hong Kong scam victims. The deceptive ads were published by a fake news outlet page called “Hong Kong Daily”, which falsely claimed to share an office address with the legitimate media organisation Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP). The incident has raised fresh concerns about the proliferation of scam advertisements on social media platforms and the challenges facing scam victims in Hong Kong.
10. Hong Kong’s Night-Time Economy Indicator: Liquor Licences Peak, Then Decline
Ming Pao reports that the number of liquor licences in Hong Kong has peaked and begun to decline, serving as a barometer for the city’s night-time economy. Industry insiders attribute the downturn to the post-pandemic economic slump and the outflow of Hong Kong residents traveling abroad. However, there is cautious optimism that the worst times may have passed.
Other Notable Headlines
- Rubber tycoon’s wife and others purchase three units at Yacheng Peak for HK$170 million, with one unit including a show flat’s luxury design, hitting a record price of HK$64,000 per square foot.
- Taxation Department has issued approximately 2.77 million individual tax returns for the 2025/26 tax year, with deadlines in early June or early August depending on the taxpayer category.
- Hong Kong stocks ended higher on Monday, with the Hang Seng Index up 0.05 per cent to close at 26,406.84 points.
- In other culture news, the much-anticipated sequel to the hit comedy It Dog is in the works with an even more “explosive” plot, according to director Jian Jinjun.
- Former local actor-turned-hawker Huang Yiliang was assaulted at a hawker centre in Singapore, with police investigating.
- Hong Kong’s Counter Illegal Fuel Task Force and police have been stepping up enforcement amid a “sharp rise” in illegal fuel trading linked to surging global oil prices.
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