10 events and trends that raised eyebrows in HK in 2022 

Three years on, COVID-19 continues to dominate headlines globally. For Hong Kong, last year saw the return of international sports events amid the easing of Covid restrictions in the city. Global incidents such as Russo-Ukrainian war and passing of Queen Elizabeth II had also drawn attention of HongKongers. Looking back at the year, media intelligence company CARMA conducted a review to find out the top 10 events and trends shaping Hong Kong news in 2022 - and its not all gloom and doom. While the shadow of the more serious matters loomed, the brighter news did make its way into the media.

Here are 10 trending topics journalists were covering, which PR professionals can watch out for. 

1. Russo-Ukrainian War (SOV – 38.64%)

The Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February was a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. It has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides, and caused the largest refugee crisis in Europe since WWI.

HongKongers are concerned about the potential outcomes of the war, and how it might impact the wider international relations, particularly concerning China.

Most Hong Kong-based media created a separate section that reports related news on an ongoing basis.

2. Qatar World Cup 2022 (SOV – 20.82%)

The Qatar World Cup held last November took the city by storm. Ranked the second on CARMA’s list, the tournament has drawn a large portion of media mentions from the Argentina vs France final, with media focusing on the comparison of Messi and Mbappé, behaviours of Martínez, and Salt Bae’s gate-crashing pitch.

CARMA released a series of World Cup infographics where it analysed social conversations globally to identify the most mentioned players, sponsors, and teams throughout the tournament.

3. Vaccine Pass (SOV – 16.38%)

There has been a lot of changes and updates on the use of the Vaccine Pass in Hong Kong throughout 2022. Restaurant and bar owners expressed confusion over checking the vaccination status of customers before entering their premises with the ever-changing guidelines from the officials.

The latest update was announced on 28 December 2022 when the Hong Kong government confirmed the lifting of the use of Vaccine Pass. Hongkongers will no longer need to scan their Vaccine Pass or display proof of vaccination when entering restaurants or bars.

4. Hong Kong Chief Executive Election (SOV – 6.83%)

Former chief secretary John Lee was elected as Hong Kong's new leader, replacing Carrie Lam. The 2022 Hong Kong Chief Executive election was held on 8 May 2022, with Lee being the sole candidate approved by the central government of China and the only candidate to be nominated.

Lee was elected with 99.44% of the vote by the 1500 members of the handpicked Election Committee. There were numerous discussions in the media about Lee’s plan for Hong Kong, from sourcing talents to housing and rebooting tourism.  

5. MIRROR concert accident (SOV – 5.57%)

Videos of a MIRROR concert accident went viral last July, explaining how the giant screen crashed into the body and head of the first dancer, while pinning the legs of the second dancer during a perfomance. Both dancers were sent to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, whereas one of them is currently still in the intensive care unit. 

Social monitoring company CAMRA saw a total of 53.6% negative mentions within 24 hours after the incident, and LIHKG was among one of the social media platforms that sparked a heated discussion.

"Most netizens expressed anger as there were several accidents occurred successively during MIRROR’s concert. Many were concerned about the safety of performers and questioned the qualification of production companies involved in setting up of the stage. Several production companies responded that they were not involved in the setting up of the LED screen that caused the accident," said Charles Cheung, general manager of CARMA. 

6. Hong Kong Sevens (SOV – 3.95%) 

The Hong Kong Sevens returned after numerous cancellations, and was the first major sporting event Hong Kong held since the pandemic. Media outlets widely reported that the event was seen as a test of Hong Kong’s readiness to reopen after three years of pandemic restrictions.

However, certain tourists expressed frustrations due to existing Covid-19 restrictions. Some ticket holders were sent away because the code displayed on their “Leavehomesafe” app was still coloured amber, indicating they were still within the three-day monitoring period.

7. East Rail Line Extension (SOV – 2.58%)

The East Rail Line Cross-Harbour Extension commenced services on 15 May 2022. It directly connects the Northeast New Territories, Central Kowloon, and Hong Kong Island, and it provides an option to cross harbour from Hung Hom Station to the Exhibition Centre Station.

The launch was widely reported in the media in Hong Kong, as it marks an end to years of delays of the most expensive rail project in Hong Kong. Photos and footage of MTR fans lining up outside the station to be among the first to board the train were also widely posted on the media.

8. Passing of Queen Elizabeth II (SOV – 2.57%)

With over 70 years of reign and service, Britain’s longest-serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II has become a familiar, well-respected and beloved name across the globe. Her death was announced by Buckingham Palace at 6:30pm London time on 8 September 2022 which saw advertisers in the UK hitting the brakes to their campaigns. 

The tragic news generated a huge amount of mentions across all types of media. In Hong Kong, crowds were seen queuing to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at the British consulate, with some expressing nostalgia for the city’s colonial past at a time when China is seeking to purge dissent.

9. President Xi’s Hong Kong visit (SOV – 1.48%)

On 1 July 2022, Chinese president Xi Jin Ping arrived in Hong Kong for a two-day visit during the 25th anniversary of the city’s handover. It was his second visit to Hong Kong during his leadership.

During this visit, Xi delivered a speech that emphasised the importance of “one country, two systems” principle.

10. Hong Kong bids farewell to Jumbo Floating Restaurant (SOV – 1.19%)

Situated in Hong Kong for nearly 50 years, Jumbo Floating Restaurant decided to leave the city in June 2022 as owners claim to be running out of money to keep the structure in good condition. However, the vessel sank in South China Sea after encountering adverse weather.

Media monitoring company CARMA’s analytics revealed that there has been an increase in both volume and negative sentiments after the boat sank, with 24.7% negative sentiments within 24 hours after the incident. Most negative mentions came from sarcastic comments from netizens and disappointment from tourists.