Politics

Hongkongers who were minors at the time of the 1997 handover to China will be eligible to apply for the British National (Overseas) pathway to UK citizenship independently of their parents, with 26,000 arrivals expected under the expanded scheme in the next five years.The move was a response to the 20-year prison sentence handed to former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for convictions of national security-related charges in the city on Monday morning.In a statement on Monday, the Home Office, Britain’s interior ministry, said the expansion of the scheme “honours the UK’s historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong” following the “continuing deterioration of rights and freedoms” in the former British colony.“Adult children of [BN(O)] status holders who were under 18 at the time...

Beijing has issued a white paper on Hong Kong’s role in safeguarding national security under the “one country, two systems” principle, stressing that the city’s struggle on this front “is persistent” and a “long-term and enduring task”.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the paper, published a day after former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was sentenced to 20 years in prison for national security crimes, served as a stern warning to “traitors who betrayed the country and Hong Kong”.According to the five‑chapter document issued by the State Council, the central government bears the fundamental responsibility for Hong Kong’s national security affairs, while the city must also fulfil its constitutional duty in this regard.“The struggle to safeguard national security in Hong...

Hong Kong investors are reviewing their stakes in Panama following a dispute over a concession held by a subsidiary of CK Hutchison to operate two ports in the country, the city’s leader has said, pledging to work with Beijing to push back.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday also urged Panamanian authorities to ensure “fair and reasonable” treatment for Hong Kong firms operating in the country.“The incident has undermined investors’ confidence in Panama’s business environment, and [they] will review current and future investment in the country,” he said before a weekly meeting of the key decision-making Executive Council.“Hong Kong enterprises’ operation and investment in Panama should be entitled to fair and reasonable treatment and protection.”Lee’s remarks came days after commer...

The Chinese embassy in Britain has slammed London’s “malicious” plan to expand an immigration pathway for Hongkongers after the sentencing of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison, accusing the UK of “manipulating” the issue.A spokesman for the Chinese embassy on Tuesday urged the UK government to stop interfering in China’s domestic affairs after it expanded the British National (Overseas) visa scheme in response to Lai’s sentencing.“The UK’s previous actions of this nature have already caused some misled Hong Kong residents to leave their homes, only to face discrimination and financial hardship upon arriving in the UK, effectively becoming ‘second-class citizens’,” he said.“The current move to further manipulate the BN(O) issue is a contemptible tactic with malicio...

After 156 days of hearings, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying’s case finally came to a close with the former media boss sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment. Western media and critics will no doubt say, what a harsh sentence for a “democracy advocate” and “freedom fighter”.However, Lai was not accused of fighting for freedom or demanding democracy in Hong Kong. His crimes were not even about his avowed hatred of the Communist Party. Western critics may be surprised to hear that hating the Communist Party is not a crime in Hong Kong. It merely provides a motive to commit certain clearly defined crimes against national security.Lai was convicted on a count of conspiracy to spread seditious articles and two conspiracy counts of collusion with foreign forces. The sedition charge was brought under a law ena...

On February 9, the rule of law and justice scored another victory in Hong Kong when a local court sentenced Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison for violating the national security law. This sends a clear and resounding message to the world that Hong Kong is a society rigorously governed by law, and any lawbreakers will be brought to justice.Lai reaped what he sowed. The evidence of his crimes is irrefutable. He relentlessly pushed for so-called international lobbying, went to great lengths to meet US politicians to plead for foreign sanctions against China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He even continued his anti-China activities after the Hong Kong national security law had come into effect.He had not the least qualms about being called a traitor for openly declari...

Hong Kong authorities have launched an unprecedented open recruitment exercise for director positions overseeing information services and environmental hygiene, with “strong political acumen” listed as a common requirement.The government posted the two job advertisements on its website on Wednesday, seeking directors for the Information Services Department and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department.The posts will report to the permanent secretaries for home and youth affairs, and environment and ecology (food) respectively.Common requirements for both positions include “strong political acumen” and the ability to lead change, while the information services role also calls for “strong intellectual ability”.The director of information services will be tasked with “projecting an accura...

Hong Kong’s civil service chief has defended a decision to open up recruitment externally for the role of food and environmental hygiene director, saying the move aims to attract experts who can take the lead in using technology to enforce laws.Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan also stressed on Monday that anyone hired externally would have no chance to climb the ranks as the next role would be permanent secretary, a position which, under regulations, must be held by administrative officers.The government’s decision to hold open recruitment for the director’s post and the role of the head of the Information Services Department marks a departure from the traditional practice of appointing career administrative officers to such senior roles.Yeung told at a Legislative C...

After being sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for national security offences on February 9, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying will decide if he wishes to appeal. He may challenge his convictions and/or sentences and has about two weeks to make up his mind. Given the length of his trial (156 days), the mountain of evidence and the legal issues, it will take time for any appeal to be resolved.Meanwhile, foreign actors have turned their attention to securing Lai’s early release. The lead counsel in his international legal team, Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, called on “leaders from around the world to speak with one voice in their demand for China to free Jimmy Lai so he can come home to his family in London at last”. However, she did not indicate how his release might be engineered.When B...

Hong Kong’s pressing demographic challenges demand tailored, well-considered civil service policies. However, the proposal put forward in recent Legislative Council debates on population policy to raise the retirement age for all civil servants to 65 offers no viable solution to these issues.This one-size-fits-all approach overlooks the civil service’s flexible retirement frameworks and works against the government’s goals of streamlining and modernising the public sector. It risks undermining the long-term vitality of the civil service by stunting the career progression of young talent.As Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan noted in her remarks to the Legislative Council, Hong Kong’s civil service has adapted to demographic shifts with targeted retirement age reforms: ...