Politics

US President Donald Trump has said he is not optimistic about the release of former Hong Kong media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who was sentenced to 20 years for violating the national security law, after raising the issue with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing.“[Xi] said Jimmy Lai is a tough one for him to do; he went through a lot, right or wrong, they went through a lot,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One during his return flight to the United States.When asked whether the two sides had discussed human rights issues, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Friday that Beijing had repeatedly stated its position on Lai’s case.He said Lai was a key instigator and participant in anti-China and destabilising activities in Hong Kong.“Hong Kong affairs ...

China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed its “firm support” for Hong Kong’s judicial authorities when asked whether Beijing would consider releasing jailed former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying ahead of US President Donald Trump’s three-day state visit starting Wednesday.“[Jimmy] Lai Chee-ying is the principal mastermind and perpetrator behind the riots that shook Hong Kong,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing, when asked whether Beijing would consider Lai’s release if Trump raised the issue during talks with Chinese officials.“Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs. The central government of China firmly supports the Hong Kong judicial authorities in performing duties in accordance with the law.”Guo’s remarks came a day before Trump’s much-anticipated...

Top Swedish universities are eager to deepen collaboration with Hong Kong in areas such as life sciences, the city’s innovation and technology minister has told the South China Morning Post during a visit to the country to strengthen ties.“What impressed us most during this trip to Sweden is the incredible enthusiasm of Swedish organisations, groups and individuals for cooperating with Hong Kong. This exceeded my expectations,” Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong said on Tuesday, after visiting KTH Royal Institute of Technology, the Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University in Sweden.“I have extended invitations to the three universities, hoping they will utilise our platforms such as InnoHK and the soon-to-be-established Life and Health Technology Research Instit...

Hong Kong is expected to launch a public consultation in early June for its inaugural five-year plan to align with the national blueprint, with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu set to present a preliminary framework and gather feedback from various industries through face-to-face sessions, according to sources.The South China Morning Post learned that the government was also planning a large-scale publicity campaign to promote the consultation exercise, including television advertisements, large banners and other forms of public announcements.The Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, led by Janice Tse Siu-wa, who replaced Erick Tsang Kwok-wai in March, is currently consolidating proposals from various departments.Meanwhile, lawmakers are expected to submit preliminary views spanning ...

A diplomatic row has escalated over the conviction of two men linked to Hong Kong’s London trade office on spying charges, as Britain warned against attempts by foreign states to intimidate individuals on its soil and Beijing urged the country to stop “political manipulation” or risk “firm countermeasures”.The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said on Saturday it had summoned Chinese Ambassador Zheng Zeguang the previous day following the court verdict in the national security case.But the embassy subsequently said Zheng requested the Friday meeting to make “solemn representations”.Bill Yuen Chung-biu, manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, and Peter Wai Chi-leung, who ran a security firm, were found guilty on Thursday of assisting a forei...

You can’t buy happiness, they say. But we “buy” dopamine fixes all the time. Just whip out the smartphone and we easily go down that rabbit hole of endless doom scrolling, falling into the addictive trap of instant gratification, chasing likes, shares, comments and followers as rewards.Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in our experience of pleasure, focus, reward and motivation. It propels us to put in effort, devote time and feel good about our achievements.Before the internet, the primary way we got our dopamine fixes was through hobbies, such as exercising, reading, writing or other offline creative tasks – activities that needed sustained effort and delayed gratification. Sure, people in those “prehistoric” times probably reached for their favourite snacks for instan...

The operations of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London will remain unaffected by a UK spying verdict, observers have said, arguing that the British government is unlikely to seek its closure so as to maintain relations with Beijing.A British court on Thursday found Bill Yuen Chung-biu, the London HKETO’s manager, and Peter Wai Chi-leung, a retired Hong Kong police superintendent, guilty of spying on activists from Hong Kong on behalf of Chinese authorities.The Hong Kong government said the allegations were “absolutely unrelated” to both the administration and its London office, while Beijing’s embassy in the United Kingdom dismissed the case as a “political move”.Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tan...

Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa has emerged as the biggest landlord among Hong Kong ministers after declaring that she has 25 properties in her name in the city, mainland China and the UK.The 61-year-old constitutional affairs chief also revealed that she or her family held shareholdings of more than 1 per cent in eight private companies, including two food-ingredient firms, more than any other principal official has declared.Tse’s portfolio comprises 23 properties in Hong Kong, including 16 residential flats, four commercial properties and three industrial properties, either solely owned or co-owned with family members. She also owns nine parking spaces in the city.Her residential properties in Hong Kong were located across several districts – 10 in Cen...

Hong Kong’s legislature is set to visit Beijing as a full body for the first time since the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997, with the planned delegation of all 90 lawmakers aiming to learn how to better support alignment with the national 15th five-year plan.Legislative Council president Starry Lee Wai-king announced on Wednesday that the trip would take place in July.Lawmakers were informed that the visit to the capital would run from July 19 to 25, during the legislature’s summer recess, the South China Morning Post learned.“If we have the opportunity to visit Beijing, it will allow us to gain a first-hand understanding of the latest national developments, the specific arrangements under the 15th five-year plan and the overall national strategies,” Lee said.She said the visi...

For decades, Hong Kong thrived as the world’s freest economy without five-year plans, while mainland China rose to become the world’s second largest economy through them. Now Hong Kong has the rare advantage of both: market dynamism and strategic direction. Harnessed through the collective wisdom of the people, this combination can deliver more than what the market or planning alone can achieve.Hong Kong is preparing its first five-year plan to dovetail with the national 15th five-year plan, covering key areas from land and industry to finance and innovation. The real task is not to mirror the national blueprint, but to define how Hong Kong can make unique contributions to national growth while strengthening its growth model and preserving the distinct way it operates.Mainland China’s stre...