Politics

The chief of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong has called on the city to tell the stories of the war of resistance against Japanese aggression “well” to strengthen young residents’ sense of national identity.Zhou Ji, director of the central government’s liaison office, also said on Friday that Hongkongers should carry forward the “great spirit” of the war to unite “positive forces” for the development of the city under the banner of patriotism.Zhou made the remarks as he officiated at the opening ceremony of an exhibition to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people’s war of resistance against Japanese aggression and the world anti-fascist war.The term is commonly used by Beijing to refer to the Second Sino-Japanese War, which was part of World War II.Zhou quoted C...

Hong Kong’s alleged transshipment of Western-sanctioned dual-use goods for Russia’s war effort in Ukraine remains a “major concern” for the European Union, the bloc’s top envoy in the city has said.At an event on Friday to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day, Harvey Rouse, the head of the EU office in Hong Kong, said he had continued to raise the issue with city authorities and hoped there could be “progress together”.“It remains a major concern that Russia keeps receiving dual-use goods for its war machine,” Rouse said, referring to products such as materials, technology or equipment that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.“This is something we will keep raising here with the Hong Kong authorities.”Rouse later said: “It’s a very important issue … we hope that we can make prog...

The Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill, currently before Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, has become a key point in debates about the city’s traditional values and international reputation. Indications suggest it is likely to be rejected: many lawmakers have dismissed the bill as impractical or warned it could set a precedent for advancing same-sex marriage, with only a minority expressing support.Rejecting the bill, however, has serious consequences. It risks portraying Hong Kong as a place unwilling to embrace diversity, undermining the city’s aims of fostering cross-cultural exchange and attracting global talent. This could harm Hong Kong’s reputation as a modern, inclusive hub for international business and innovation.For a city determined to stay competitive, such perceptions ...

Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying deliberately fabricated a negative image of Beijing to create an excuse for Western interference, prosecutors have said, accusing him of having a “resolute” intent to press on with his efforts even after the national security law took effect five years ago.West Kowloon Court on Tuesday resumed hearing the prosecution’s closing remarks in the marathon national security trial of the Apple Daily founder, who is contesting three conspiracy counts of printing seditious publications and colluding with foreign forces.“If we look at the totality of [Lai’s] remarks as a whole, we can see … [he] tried to create a false impression [of the country] so that the external elements can punish the Chinese and Hong Kong governments,” he said.He also highlighte...

Hong Kong’s No 2 official has summoned the Australian and British consuls-general to express strong opposition to their countries “harbouring criminals” after both granted asylum to two activists allegedly endangering national security who have absconded overseas.The government announced in the early hours of Tuesday that Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki summoned Australian Consul-General Gareth Williams and British Consul-General Brian Davidson respectively on Monday afternoon. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung also attended the meeting.The meeting took place days after fugitive former lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung, who lives in Adelaide, and activist Tony Chung Hon-lam, based in London, announced separately on their social media accounts last weekend that they had been granted as...

Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai, one of 47 Hong Kong opposition figures charged in the city’s largest national security case so far, has been released from prison after serving a sentence of four years and three months.Yuen, a former member of the Southern District Council, left Lo Wu Correctional Institution at around 5.40am on Tuesday. According to local media, two black seven-seaters with their curtains drawn were seen leaving the compound, believed to be transporting Yuen.A source said the 31-year-old returned home after 6am and was reunited with her family.She was among the 45 former politicians and activists convicted of and sentenced for conspiracy to subvert state power under the Beijing-decreed national security law for their involvement in an illegal legislative “primary” election in 2020 th...

Former Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying has urged the government to disclose data regarding its talent policy to address public concerns over the short- and long-term impact on the city’s capacity, warning the number of professionals opting to renew their visas could be as high as 60,000.A think tank also said on Monday, following Leung’s appeal a day before, that authorities should review the talent schemes and ensure they align with long-term local workforce demands.Leung said it was natural for Hongkongers to raise concerns about how the talent policy would affect the city in the short, medium and long run, in terms of demand, supply and allocation of education, housing and medical resources.“The most frequently asked question is: among half of the talent who voluntarily gave up their v...

The Hong Kong government’s expression of interest process for developing ecotourism in Tsim Bei Tsui and Pak Nai closed on July 2, marking a crucial milestone in the city’s push to become a regional leader in sustainable tourism.These two sites, spanning 120 hectares bordering Deep Bay and including ecologically sensitive coastal wetlands, represent far more than just another development opportunity; they’re a test case for how Hong Kong can balance economic growth with environmental stewardship.Over the past two decades, I’ve been fortunate to work on two extraordinary ecotourism projects that put environmental regeneration at the forefront of design and planning. From the cooled conservatories at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, where visitors now marvel at thriving biodiversity alongside...

The Development Bureau’s recent proposal to reclaim 301 hectares – including 145 hectares near Lung Kwu Tan and 45 hectares in Tuen Mun West for an “advanced construction industry park” and a “smart and green industrial port” – carries futuristic appeal. But it risks overlooking a strategic opportunity that could help Hong Kong regain its footing as a global maritime hub: repositioning the area as the home of the city’s next-generation container terminal and logistics network.Hong Kong once led the world in container shipping. In 2008, the city’s throughput was nearly 24.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEU), making it the third busiest port on the planet that year. Fast forward to 2023 and throughput had shrunk to 14.4 million TEU. Hong Kong slipped from the world’s top 10 for the firs...

The Top Talent Pass Scheme is a well-intentioned and much-needed scheme to meet the challenge posed by the trend of outward migration that Hong Kong has seen in recent years. It is designed to enrich the city’s human capital – especially in the field of innovation and technology – and enhance its overall economic competitiveness.Reflecting the government’s resolve to attract talent, the scheme is highly applicant-friendly. It represents a kind of “open door policy” for immigration.The government has moved to fast-track immigration for talented professionals through other efforts as well. Since 2022, the city has received 500,000 applications under various talent admission schemes. It has approved 330,000 of them; 220,000 applicants have arrived.Hong Kong clearly wants to entice qualified a...