Politics

Veterans of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party have described a motion to disband the group as “deeply sad”, saying the move takes into consideration the situation facing core members and those currently in prison.One of the party veterans also said on Friday that a contact in the Communist Party of China had previously expressed doubts about whether the local political group would survive long enough to take part in the Legislative Council election in December.A day earlier, the Democratic Party’s central committee made a collective decision to put forward a motion to dissolve. The move is set to be reviewed by all 400 members before a final decision is reached.“Personally, I would vote for [dissolving] with deep sadness and resignation,” Fred Li Wah-ming, a former vice-president of the party, ...

Hong Kong director Jun Li Jun-shuo has said he received threats and insults from German right-wingers after reading out a pro-Palestine speech by an Iranian actor at the Berlin International Film Festival.Li, whose actions triggered a police probe, also told the Post that he was not worried about his safety, adding that he planned to watch the German election on Sunday and stay for the entire festival, where his latest film Queerpanorama premiered.“It will definitely have an impact on the promotion of the film. I believe that the truth will become clearer as it is debated, and I believe that people who hold an open attitude will understand,” he said on Friday.“I condemn any use of violence against civilians and the systematic injustice that endangers human life.”Videos of Li reading out th...

The European Union has voiced concerns over what it sees as a diminishing space for civil society in Hong Kong after a once-powerful opposition party announced it might disband, with France also warning over the need for checks and balances.The representatives weighed in on Saturday, two days after the leadership of the Democratic Party, once the city’s largest opposition political group, endorsed a motion to dissolve, without giving specific reasons. The party’s 400 members will vote on the motion, the leadership said, without giving a time frame.“The EU is deeply concerned about the further narrowing of the space for civil society in Hong Kong,” said Anitta Hipper, the EU’s lead spokeswoman for foreign affairs and security policy.She said the EU was “aware of pressure put on the Democrat...

Former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has denied testing the limits of the national security law by allowing the publication of “dangerous” commentaries in the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, adding he will not take responsibility for every perceived mistake his tabloid’s contributors make.Prosecutors on Tuesday argued the 77-year-old tabloid founder knowingly endorsed the publication of three offensive op-eds in Apple Daily despite his purported warnings to staff to be “intensively cautious” against violating the national security law.Lai was testifying for the 46th day at West Kowloon Court to contest two conspiracy charges of collusion with foreign forces and a third of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious publications in his marathon trial.The defendant’s confronta...

Hong Kong’s finance chief will deliver his “most challenging” budget yet on Wednesday morning, analysts have said, pointing to the need for tempering wide-ranging expectations while cautioning the public against counting on quick fixes to the city’s economic woes.While the predicted deficit of nearly HK$100 billion (US$12.86 billion) has made headlines in recent weeks, the observers said on Tuesday all eyes should be on measures to balance the books over the coming years rather than expecting overnight solutions. The bigger task was to ensure the deficit did not become a structural problem, they indicated.Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po should focus on the bigger picture and boost public confidence in the economy for the medium and long-term, they added.Gary Ng Cheuk-yan, a senior econ...

This live blog has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial.Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered his annual budget speech on Wednesday, announcing measures to cut public spending and boost revenues to tackle the deficit.Chan also revealed the deficit had reached HK$87.2 billion (US$11.2 billion) for the 2024-25 financial year. He earlier estimated it would hit HK$100 billion, more than double what he expected at the beginning of 2024, and marking the third consecutive financial year of recording a loss.Follow our live updates on the budget to understand how it will affect you.Reporting by Jeffie Lam, Denise Tsang, Jess Ma, F...

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has hailed the recent strong performance of the city’s stock market, expressing confidence the financial hub can withstand external pressure.Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), held a closed-door meeting with National People’s Congress (NPC) deputies from both cities on Tuesday night. The top legislature holds its annual session on Wednesday, with Premier Li Qiang delivering a work report.NPC deputy Ma Fung-kwok later said Xia hailed the Hong Kong stock market’s positive performance over the past few months, saying its trajectory could benefit the city’s economy.He said Xia warned that Hong Kong would face external pressures Beijing was contending with, without referencing global geopolitical tensions.“[Xia] ment...

Hong Kong’s chief executive, civil servants and lawmakers will all have their pay frozen from April, while about 10,000 government posts will be axed as part of the measures to contain expenditure to tackle the city’s deficit.A source told the Post that the axing of the posts would not necessarily cause lay-offs of civil servants, as it aimed to encourage bureaus to make use of technology to streamline or replace some of the roles.“Regardless of increasing revenue or cutting expenditure, the impact to the general public should be minimised,” Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Wednesday, as he announced the measures in this year’s budget speech.“In particular, the government will lead by example to demonstrate our commitment to cutting expenditure, whilst ensuring the delivery of h...

Legalising basketball betting could add HK$2 billion (US$257.2 million) in duties to government coffers annually, Hong Kong’s finance chief has said, although observers have raised concerns about the promotion of gambling and related youth problems.Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po revealed in his annual budget speech on Wednesday that the government had invited the Hong Kong Jockey Club to submit a proposal on expanding its sports gambling options to include basketball to “combat illegal betting activities in an effective manner”.He said the club had estimated illegal basketball betting turnover had reached HK$70 billion to HK$90 billion last year, while duties could allow the government to earn between HK$1.5 billion and HK$2 billion every year.The club said it would submit a detailed ...

China’s top legislature has recognised Hong Kong’s “irreplaceable” role as the country’s gateway to the world, pledging to conduct more studies to promote future Greater Bay Area development.Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the National People’s Congress (NPC), said on Tuesday that the central government would offer more support for Hong Kong and Macau’s participation in the development of the bay area.“Hong Kong, Macau have been an important window for our country’s opening up. They have unique positions and made significant contributions in the more than 40 years of reform and opening up. Their roles are irreplaceable,” he said.The bay area, a national development blueprint that draws Hong Kong with Macau and nine Guangdong cities to become a new economic powerhouse, will mark its sixth annive...