Politics

Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, Hong Kong’s first post-handover Legislative Council president, recently dropped a political bomb. She revealed that one of her friends had been telling her that a legislature with 90 seats costs a lot more than one with 60 and that “I kind of agree with that”.The basic maths behind the statement cannot be refuted: 60 is two-thirds of 90. Even though Fan didn’t bring up the topic herself – she was asked the question by the host during a radio show – it was shocking that a political veteran of her calibre would suggest considering the reduction of Legco seats to cut costs.Funding is not the main issue at play here. Reducing the discussion to dollars and cents does not properly address the real problem, which is public perception.First, a quick breakdown of how we arrive...

Senior public servants found accountable for last year’s deadly Tai Po fire could face disciplinary action if named in an investigation report that a government-appointed panel is expected to submit this month, Hong Kong’s civil service chief has said.Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan also said on Saturday that a support unit was being set up to assist the Public Service Commission if investigations into officials’ “administrative responsibilities” were eventually launched.“If the [investigation] report clearly pinpoints an individual [official] and points out what he or she has done inadequately, or there is prima facie evidence established, I would not rule out the possibility of launching disciplinary action directly,” she told a radio programme.“Otherwise, if syst...

Hong Kong’s legislature has passed motions supporting the city’s first five-year plan and thanking Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu for his latest policy address, while Beijing’s top representative in the city urged mainland Chinese enterprises to align themselves with the government’s blueprint.At the close of a three-day Legislative Council debate on Friday, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki thanked lawmakers for their suggestions, saying they would help improve governance.“The process of formulating the city’s five-year plan and the in-depth discussion at the Legislative Council have demonstrated a positive interaction between the administration and the legislature, with both striving for the best for Hong Kong,” he said.

Hong Kong authorities have made “a series of preparations” to implement reforms and pursue accountability ahead of the final report of an inquiry panel on the Tai Po blaze later this month, the city’s leader has said, pledging to act “as soon as possible”.It was understood that the government has established a dedicated task force under the Public Service Commission, led by former deputy secretary for security Benjamin Mok Kwan-yu and former commissioner for sports George Tsoi Kin-pan, to investigate alleged official failings linked to the deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the government would study and follow up on the recommendations of the judge-led independent committee investigating last November’s disaster, adding that details would b...

More than 300 people signed up for Hong Kong’s Election Committee poll as the nomination period opened on Wednesday, vying for seats on the body that chooses the city’s leader.The nomination period for committee subsectors for the November 22 election will run until October 20. The 1,500-member body will select Hong Kong’s next chief executive in March next year.The Registration and Electoral Office received 305 nominations for candidacy on Wednesday. It also received two nominations from designated bodies proposing members for the Election Committee.Registered subsector voters will elect up to 982 representatives to the committee. They will join 362 ex officio members and 156 members nominated by designated bodies.

Hong Kong’s leader has urged residents to pay close attention to a coming three-day debate on the city’s inaugural five-year plan and latest policy address in the legislature.The debate on the two policy documents is set to begin on Wednesday morning and continue until Friday, according to the Legislative Council’s agenda.“I look forward to tomorrow’s Legislative Council debate, during which government officials and lawmakers will conduct an in-depth discussion on the concept and details of the five-year plan,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday, adding that the sessions would be attended by government officials led by Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki.“I encourage everyone to pay close attention, as this will help you better understand the importance and significance of the ...

Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to provide guests attending this month’s Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting with a “high-quality” experience, as the city works closely with Beijing to assist delegations with the registration process.About 500 guests, including finance ministers and senior officials from the 21 member economies, are expected to attend the annual meeting on October 20 and 21, which will be hosted by Hong Kong for the first time at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.Asked whether US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would attend the summit, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday only that the Ministry of Finance in mainland China was handling attendee registration.“The Hong Kong government will continue to maintain close communication and cooperation with t...

Hong Kong refrained from setting overly rigid economic indicators in its first five-year plan to avoid fuelling concerns that it was moving towards a planned economy, according to the city’s constitutional affairs minister.The current priority should be hitting targets instead of dwelling on accountability mechanisms for potential shortcomings, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa said.Tse also emphasised the government’s efforts to explore administrative measures to protect same-sex couples’ rights after lawmakers vetoed a bill last year meant to recognise their partnership in line with a court ruling, although she offered no timeline.Last month, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu unveiled Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan, outlining initiatives to speed up...

Hong Kong’s first Legislative Council president following the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997 has suggested reviewing the number of seats in Legco, citing the need to use public funds properly.Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai also said on Sunday that Hong Kong and Shenzhen authorities had discussed the development of a plot at the two cities’ border before the 1997 handover, but the plan failed because of opposition within the government.Fan made the remarks during an appearance on a radio show, in which she was asked by the host whether the current 90 seats in Legco were “too many”.“A friend of mine always says keeping 90 seats costs a lot more than 60, and I kind of agree with that,” she said.

Hong Kong’s leader has defended measures in his policy address to boost the economy and improve livelihoods, stressing that businesses must also do their part to remain competitive and survive, even with government aid.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Saturday that the section on livelihoods was the longest and broadest in scope in his policy address when asked about residents who had yet to benefit from the government’s economic policies.“You need to develop the economy first to have the resources to improve people’s livelihoods,” Lee said on a radio programme discussing the blueprint and Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan, which he also announced on Wednesday.“First, we must grow the overall economy so that everyone benefits, but as the pie grows bigger, there are indeed certai...