Published: 10:15am, 18 Jul 2025Updated: 10:21am, 18 Jul 2025
With the rise of social media and generative AI, how much of what we see online is true? This is the first of a new series, SCMP Fact-Check, in which the Post investigates claims circulating online and debunks viral misinformation impacting the daily lives of Hongkongers.
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An online platform claiming that Hongkongers “will start receiving income from taxes” is falsely attributing the statement to the city’s finance chief.
A link forwarded to the South China Morning Post said in part: “The Minister of Finance highlighted that everyone is entitled to payments of up to 27500 HKD per month.”
The website appeared to imitate the stylings of a Post article and was presented as an interview with Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po.
However, the contents of the website were debunked by Chan’s office.
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In a reply to the Post, a spokesman said the “report” was fake and it had reported the incident to police.