Politics

Hong Kong authorities have condemned the US’ imposition of port fees on Chinese vessels docking in the country, calling the actions “blatantly discriminatory” and “deliberately dividing the international maritime community”.The government on Friday night hit out at new port fees announced by US President Donald Trump administration’s on vessels owned, operated or constructed by Chinese companies. He earlier said the move was part of efforts to revive the American shipbuilding industry.“The US measures are blatantly discriminatory, deliberately dividing the international maritime community and undermining the spirit of solidarity and cooperation built over the years,” a Hong Kong spokesman said. “Such actions fall short of the basic standards of international conduct.”The spokesman said aut...

Hong Kong must “gear up to fight a long battle” in the escalating trade war with the US by diversifying risks and accelerating brand upgrades, the city’s leader has said, citing views from representatives to China’s top legislature and political advisory body.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu hosted a closed-door seminar on Thursday at the government headquarters, where he engaged with local deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and representatives from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference on Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports.The seminar took place two days after the White House warned in a fact sheet that China could face up to a 245 per cent tariff on imports to the US as a result of its retaliatory actions. Washington also planned to charge tariffs on...

One of Hong Kong’s largest business chambers has abruptly postponed a trip to the United States next week following a top Beijing official’s denouncement of US President Donald Trump’s tariff war on Chinese imports, which the White House said could reach as high as 245 per cent.Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce CEO Patrick Yeung Wai-tim told the Post on Thursday that the delegation of 10 to 20 members and leaders would not depart for Dallas on April 24 as scheduled due to the fast-changing geopolitical situation.It would have been the chamber’s first visit to the US in seven years.“We were talking about going ahead with the delegation [on Wednesday], but subsequently after listening to the views of our members, we decided it was not the right time to go,” Yeung said.He added that membe...

Hong Kong’s top Catholic priest has called on residents to be hopeful and united to make a difference despite escalating trade tensions between the US and China.In his Easter message on Thursday, Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, head of the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong, said that the global sentiment had become pessimistic with growing fears of a potential global recession, following the US imposition of tariffs on its trading partners.He said the trade conflict could occur alongside regional warfare, geopolitical tensions and natural disasters, which would affect those with little means and low international or social status the most.“What has happened to the so-called international community, which different countries have built up over the years since World War II?” he said.“What about t...

People convicted of national security offences found to be holding office in a trade union could be sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and fined HK$50,000 (US$6,440) under proposed legal amendments gazetted by the Hong Kong government on Thursday.Authorities can also reject trade union applications and mergers if there are national security concerns and ban those convicted of national security offences from registering new unions, according to the proposed changes to the Trade Unions Ordinance, expected to take effect in October.A government spokesman announced on Thursday that the changes aimed to strengthen the regulation of such labour organisations and to safeguard national security and promote the development of unions, adding that the bill would be introduced to the Legislative C...

Hong Kong should not give up on its traditional trade partners, such as the United States, a top government adviser has said, stressing that it is important for the city to distinguish between the US administration and business sector despite an escalating tariff war.Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of Hong Kong’s top policy decision-making body, the Executive Council, also said on Wednesday that she believed the US would lose in the trade war, pointing to the American Chamber of Commerce’s supportive stance towards the city’s government.“We have to tell the Trump administration and US business sector apart, the latter is also a victim,” Ip told a radio show, as she reckoned with Hong Kong’s need to diversify its markets across other parts of the world.“As Xia [Baolong] said, Hong Kong is t...

Hongkong Post has said it will stop accepting surface parcels containing goods destined for the United States with immediate effect.The postal service said on Wednesday it would contact senders of items that had not been shipped to the US yet to arrange for a return and a refund starting from April 22.Parcels containing only documents would not be affected, it added.“The US government announced earlier that it would eliminate the duty-free de minimis treatment for postal items dispatched from Hong Kong to the US and increase the tariffs for postal items containing goods to the US starting from May 2,” Hongkong Post said.“The United States is unreasonable, bullying and imposing tariffs abusively.”Regarding items containing goods sent to the US via airmail, Hongkong Post will suspend their a...

“Soft resistance” has become an important avenue for foreign political intervention amid a tense geopolitical climate, Hong Kong experts and officials have said, with authorities having been urged to not just bolster legal defences against such threats.The panel of academics and government officials, moderated by Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, issued the call after the opening ceremony for this year’s National Security Education Day on Tuesday.They also said soft resistance included disinformation and ideologies “targeting the mind”, with one expert on the panel warning that such activities would be on the rise as geopolitical tensions grew.“They cannot accept the new political order, and will do everything they can to find ways to damage Hong Kong’s stability and governance, making it...

The UK government has voiced worries after a member of parliament was denied entry to Hong Kong last week, saying the move will further undermine the city’s international reputation.British authorities said any decision to deny entry to an MP who was “simply expressing their views” was “unacceptable”.“It is deeply concerning that a UK MP was refused permission to enter Hong Kong last week,” a British government spokesman said.Wera Hobhouse, the MP for Bath and a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, which has been critical of Beijing’s handling of human rights issues, earlier said she was detained and questioned upon her arrival in Hong Kong before being sent back to the UK without an explanation last Thursday.The spokesman added: “Unjustified restrictions on the freedom of ...

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has opened a new Hong Kong office based overseas led by diaspora activists following its exit from the city in 2021, in what the group described as its first section operated entirely “in exile”.The NGO announced on Tuesday that Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas would be led by the city’s activists based in jurisdictions such as Taiwan, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States – many of which have welcomed thousands of Hongkongers in recent years.“The opening of Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas marks a new chapter in the organisation’s strengthened commitment to human rights in Hong Kong and its support for the Hong Kong diaspora around the world,” said Luk Chi-man, executive director of the new office.Dozens...