Politics

For years, Winfield Chong Wing-fai, an executive committee member of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party and long-term advocate against bid-rigging, has juggled countless invitations from residents to attend meetings of owners’ corporations, so homeowners can seek his advice on building maintenance projects.The number and frequency of those invitations increased exponentially after last month’s deadly fire at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court, which revealed the secrets of a murky and rapacious building renovation business, including the dubious practice of contractors paying companies to select them for their bids.But Chong has struggled to manage the workload.“I used to be able to handle 90 per cent of the cases I received in the past, but now I think I can only tackle around 10 or 20 per cent,” Chong to...

Beijing’s top office overseeing Hong Kong affairs said on New Year’s Day that the city had lived up to expectations, highlighting its response to the deadly Tai Po fire as proof of “unity and resilience”.The office’s comments came as city leader John Lee Ka-chiu, in response to President Xi Jinping’s new year greetings, pledged that Hong Kong would pursue quality development, deepen reforms and open up.The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office noted that both special administrative regions had lived up to expectations and advanced in unity under Xi’s leadership and guidance.“Hong Kong responded effectively and decisively to a major fire, showing unity and resilience in the face of adversity,” the office said in a commentary published under the pen name “Gang Ao Ping”.In his 2026 message deliv...

Newly elected lawmakers should be “representatives of the public” rather than mere commentators, Hong Kong’s leader has said after the swearing-in of all 90 legislators, warning against “soft resistance” and acts that stir conflicts under the guise of critique.Meanwhile, veteran lawmakers Starry Lee Wai-king and Ronick Chan Chun-ying, front-runners for the Legislative Council presidency, remained tight-lipped about their bids on Thursday, a day before the nomination period is set to close.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, who became the first city leader to speak at a Legco oath-taking ceremony, called on the lawmakers to proactively advise the government.“When performing your duties, [lawmakers] should not merely act as commentators, but actively fulfil your role as representatives of the...

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu is suffering from sciatica, the Chief Executive’s Office has revealed, after he appeared to be in pain while standing for 1½ hours at the lawmakers’ swearing-in ceremony on New Year’s Day, with a cane placed nearby.The office said on Thursday that Lee was suffering from sciatica but did not reveal details about his condition.Sciatica is a condition that causes pain along the sciatic nerve, which is the largest in the body, starting in the lower back and running down the back of the legs.Pressure on this nerve can cause severe, sometimes debilitating pain down the back of the leg and up into the pelvis and buttocks.Lee oversaw the swearing-in of all 90 newly elected lawmakers on Thursday morning and appeared unwell during the 1½-hour ceremony, occasionally ...

Veteran Hong Kong lawmakers Starry Lee Wai-king and Ronick Chan Chun-ying have thrown their hats in the ring to be the Legislative Council’s next president, with a vote expected on January 8.The coming contest will mark the first time two hopefuls from the pro-government camp have vied for the position, with a scholar saying a president chosen through competition would command greater authority.Lee and Chan are running to succeed Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, who stepped down after deciding not to seek re-election in the Legco poll last month.Lee of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) – the city’s largest political party – was nominated by Liberal Party chairman Peter Shiu Ka-fai and seconded by nine other lawmakers, including party colleague Ben Chan Han-p...

Strengthening risk oversight in major maintenance projects in the wake of the deadly Tai Po fire is a top priority for Hong Kong lawmaker Julia Lau Man-kwan, who represents the architectural, surveying, planning and landscape sector.In an interview with the Post, Lau, who is also president of the Hong Kong Institute of Architects, pledged to ensure proper use of public funds in government works amid a deficit, and to remove development barriers to boost tourism in rural areas under the Northern Metropolis megaproject.With a voter turnout rate of 54 per cent in the constituency, Lau’s victory ended the 13-year domination of surveyors at the seat. She clinched 2,157 votes and won the neck-and-neck race over her opponent in the surveying field, Francis Lam Ka-fai, by 117 votes.It was not an e...

Hong Kong’s leader will head to Beijing on Monday for his annual duty visit and meet with state leaders, less than a month after the city’s deadliest fire in decades.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will be in the capital for the duty visit from Monday to Wednesday, briefing leaders on Hong Kong’s economic, social and political situation, the city government said.Authorities on Sunday did not specify which leaders Lee would meet, but he is expected to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior officials on Tuesday.Lee earlier said that he would brief Xi on the aftermath of the Tai Po fire, which broke out on November 26 and claimed at least 160 lives, including that of a firefighter. Six people remain missing, and nearly 5,000 residents were displaced.On the first night of the...

Hong Kong’s Democratic Party, once the city’s largest opposition force, will dissolve following 31 years in operation after most members present at a meeting voted in favour of disbanding, marking the end of an era.Chairman Lo Kin-hei urged Hongkongers to live with “kindness, honesty, integrity” and expressed faith in the city’s democracy movement.“If Hong Kong people believe that democracy is the way to go, I believe that they will keep on striving for democracy,” Lo said after Sunday’s general meeting.Nearly 100 people attended the two-hour meeting, with some representing others by proxy. Of the 121 votes cast, 117 – or 97 per cent – favoured dissolving the party, while four were blank ballots, according to Lo.He expressed gratitude to residents for their staunch support of the party ove...

A series of consequential political developments and controversies made 2025 a significant year for Hong Kong.Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s company CK Hutchison Holdings was caught in the crossfire of US-China tensions over a deal to sell its Panama Canal ports, which was eventually put on hold under pressure from Beijing.Locally, the city held its second Legislative Council election under Beijing’s “patriots-only” overhaul, with the voter turnout slightly surpassing the previous record low.By the end of the year, former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was convicted in a high-profile national security trial, which again sparked a war of words between Beijing and several Western countries.Here is what you need to know about Hong Kong’s major political developments this year.Panama port sale...

Hong Kong’s leader has vowed to improve livelihoods, put public housing projects on the fast track and foster growth in innovation and technology (I&T) in the new year.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also described 2025 as a year full of challenges but also one that showcased perseverance.Lee made his pledges in his annual New Year’s speech, which was uploaded to his social media account on Wednesday night.“We will focus on two key objectives. First, to enhance livelihoods and well-being, and to expedite the construction of public housing,” Lee said.He cited examples such as implementing the registration system of “basic housing units” to replace subdivided flats of poor quality, improving resources in healthcare and education, and providing youth with more employment and entrepreneur...