Politics

Beijing has slammed Western nations for interfering in China’s internal affairs over their criticism of the conviction of the now-disbanded alliance that organised Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen Square vigils and its former leaders for inciting subversion.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian used a regular press briefing on Monday to hit out at “certain countries and organisations” for using the case to smear Hong Kong and denigrate its rule of law.He made the comments in response to questions about expressions of concern from the US and other countries over a Hong Kong court ruling last week, which found the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, ex-chairman Lee Cheuk-yan and former vice-chairwoman Chow Hang-tung guilty of attempting to undermine th...

“History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes.” This famous quote, widely attributed to Mark Twain, keeps playing in my mind as China mourns the death of former premier Zhu Rongji and reflects on his legacy.It was early afternoon on August 12 when I received a message from a friend on the mainland that made my heart sink: “Our much-respected Premier Zhu left us this morning!”As we anxiously waited for the official confirmation that would launch us into a frantically busy news day, my mind went back to those years when I, as a journalist, had multiple opportunities to encounter Zhu up close. I was as impressed by his statesmanship, wisdom and wit on the international stage as I was touched by the genuine love he showed Hong Kong.Zhu became the fifth premier of China in March 1998 as th...

Hong Kong authorities have hit out at “baseless slander and smearing” by Western countries over the convictions of the now-disbanded alliance behind the annual Tiananmen Square vigil and its former leaders for inciting subversion, stressing the High Court’s “well-reasoned and sound” verdict.In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, a spokesman for the city’s government said the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, its former chairman Lee Cheuk-yan and its former vice-chairwoman Chow Hang-tung had received a fair trial and been found guilty of trying to undermine the fundamental system of the People’s Republic of China.They were not prosecuted for their political beliefs, the spokesman stressed, rejecting assertions by Western countries that Friday’s v...

Hong Kong’s first five-year plan will be judged not by how many initiatives it assembles. Instead, it will be judged by whether it explains where the city intends to be by 2030 and how it will get there.The consultation document covers the expected ground. It includes the Northern Metropolis; Hong Kong’s roles as an international financial, trade, maritime and aviation centre; integration with the Greater Bay Area and supporting the Belt and Road Initiative; and social priorities such as housing, education and manpower. A final section covers culture, sports, tourism and green living.Much of this will sound familiar from past policy addresses and government documents. That is understandable in a consultation paper seeking public views before the plan is completed, but the final plan cannot...

Hong Kong’s first five-year plan will create more quality jobs and support young people seeking to start businesses, while the Northern Metropolis megaproject will help them move up the housing ladder, the city’s leader has said.At the second town hall meeting to gather public views on the five-year plan set to be unveiled next month and his annual policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Sunday that the government would consider establishing an independent agency to handle building maintenance projects and provide homeowners with professional and credible services.The two-month public consultation on the five-year blueprint ends on Friday. Lee said he would release the plan in September, followed by his policy address, adding that he hoped to minimise the interval between ...

As the government completes a public consultation exercise to craft the city’s own five-year plan to align with national development, the first of this five-part series looks at key questions, starting with the need for such a blueprint.Economist Heiwai Tang has a line he likes to use on free-market purists: “The market is almost always right, but it’s not always right.”While Hong Kong has long been ranked the world’s freest economy, Tang, an associate dean at the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) Business School, said the government’s lack of overarching, long-term planning had contributed to a housing shortage, widening inequality and limited upward mobility, among other social problems.“We should not be the last defender of laissez-faire, which has created a lot of prosperity for many peo...

When it comes to bad prognostication, no one can beat Fortune, which came up with the mother of all “Hong Kong is doomed” narratives. In June 1995, the magazine ran its infamous “The Death of Hong Kong” cover story, predicting its demise following the 1997 handover to China.Stephen Roach, veteran China watcher and former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, seems determined to follow in its footsteps.In 2024, Roach caused a stir by proclaiming “Hong Kong is over” in the Financial Times. He was forced to correct himself next year, albeit only a little, when the city recovered its No 1 spot in the global IPO ranking. Last month, he came back for more with another commentary titled, “Yes, the Hong Kong of Old Is Over”.Who can argue with that? You and I are very different from our younger selves. ...

Hong Kong’s leader has expressed his profound sorrow over the death of former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, paying tribute to him for supporting the city in challenging times including the 1997 Asian financial crisis.In a statement late on Wednesday night, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said he was sincerely grateful for Zhu’s care and support for Hong Kong’s economic and social development over the years, while noting his commitment to the “one country, two systems” governing principle.“During his premiership, Mr Zhu had supported Hong Kong in staying united and striving to leverage its strengths amid such challenges as the Asian financial crisis, resolutely upholding the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong as an international financial centre,” Lee said.“I am profoundly saddened by the...

It made perfect sense for Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu to hold public consultations on both the city’s first five-year plan and the last policy address of his current term at the same time. Many have been putting forward views that warrant serious consideration.It is clear that Lee needs to be bolder when it comes to the “new chapter” he promised in 2022 when he was elected. The Northern Metropolis is only one part of the city’s transformation; his coming policy address must lay out the rest.Hong Kong is well established as a global financial centre but we still need audacious changes. The good news is the groundwork has been laid. We are already the world’s largest offshore yuan trade settlement centre, and the recent launch of offshore Chinese government bond futures in the...

Hong Kong will fly the national and regional flags at half-staff at various government sites on Tuesday to mourn the late former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji.The government said on Sunday it would lower the flags at government headquarters in Admiralty, Government House, all control points and checkpoints at border crossings and Hong Kong International Airport.The tribute will be paid on the day of Zhu’s cremation, in accordance with a notice issued by state news agency Xinhua. China’s late premier Zhu Rongji remembered as the chief engineer of economic transformationIt said that the national flag would also be flown at half-staff at various sites across the country, including Tiananmen Square, Xinhua Gate, the Great Hall of the People and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing.Known as ...