Tens of thousands of Hong Kong students received their exam results, while the government unveiled a framework for regulating ride-hailing platforms. Read on for details about those stories and others making the news this week.

In today’s edition:

• Exam results relief

   

• Ride-hailing drive

   

• Wipha heads this way

Exam results relief

Happiness, relief and, no doubt, some disappointment were among emotions as more than 55,000 candidates received the results of their Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exams. In a sign of the times, many top scorers said they had used AI to help with their studies. At least 11 of 16 star pupils said they planned to study medicine locally.

Ride-hailing drive 

Ride-hailing platforms have operated in a legal grey area in Hong Kong for about a decade. That is about to change, with the government planning to regulate such services as early as the first half of 2026. The framework unveiled this week sets out the broad requirements of the regulations, which will allow ride-hailing firms to take on the taxi trade head-on.

Wipha heads this way

The Observatory has warned of strong winds and torrential rain over the weekend as Tropical Storm Wipha moves closer to Hong Kong. Wipha is expected to intensify progressively and edge closer to the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta on Saturday and Sunday. It was likely to pass about 50km from the city on Sunday, the forecaster said. 

Check out SCMP.com for other highlights this week. Enjoy the weekend, weather permitting.

Politics

• Hong Kong’s leader will ‘respect’ Legco decision on same-sex partnership bill

   

• Beijing slams foreign news outlets for ‘smearing’ Hong Kong national security law

   

• New US diplomat to Hong Kong expected to be in place by autumn

   

• Books on President Xi’s thoughts to serve as ‘action guide’ for Hongkongers

   

• Hong Kong 47: court expected to rule on appeals in 9 months’ time

Society

• Cathay says sorry twice after technical issue, air con failure disrupt flights

   

• ‘Feels like magic’: Hong Kong’s DSE top scorers revel in results – as it happened

   

• Hong Kong Covid facility at old airport takes off as youth hostel, culture hub

   

• Hong Kong to launch guide for professionals required to report child abuse cases

   

• Hong Kong carer hotline to scale up operations after handling 100,000 calls