Politics

Macau’s finance minister has resigned over “personal reasons,” prompting the city’s chief executive to temporarily assume his duties until a new candidate is appointed.The cabinet change took effect on Thursday after China’s State Council approved the removal of Tai Kin-ip from the post of secretary for economy and finance, in accordance with Macau’s Basic Law and the recommendation of Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai.Tai, 57, who only assumed the senior role in December 2024, said he had earlier submitted his resignation to Sam for “personal reasons,” according to a government press statement.“I will, as always, continue to care for and support the chief executive and the government in governing according to the law, and contribute to Macau’s various development initiatives,” he said.He also e...

A former lawmaker and doctor who was previously imprisoned for conspiracy to commit subversion has been struck off Hong Kong’s register of medical practitioners, becoming the first national security-related disciplinary case to involve the profession.In a ruling handed down on Thursday, the Medical Council ordered that specialist urologist Dr Kwok Ka-ki, 64, be removed indefinitely from the General Register, which took immediate effect upon publication in the government gazette.Kwok, once a member of the now-defunct Civic Party, did not attend the hearing and was not legally represented. The former lawmaker took to social media to slam the council’s decision.“I am not surprised. When teachers are barred from teaching, social workers are prevented from helping those in need, and lawyers are...

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has met the city’s No 2 official and finance chief in the capital to discuss alignment with the national 15th five-year plan, as the government prepares to draw up its own inaugural blueprint by the end of the year.The State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) said its director, Xia Baolong, held talks with Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and the newly appointed Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Janice Tse Siu-wa on Thursday.They were joined by HKMAO executive deputy director Xu Qifang and newly appointed deputy head Zhang Dongmei, the first woman in the role since the office’s status was elevated in 2023.Photos showed a closed-door meeting and group shot at the Great Hall of th...

A statutory advisory body in Hong Kong will be given new powers as early as June to investigate government department heads over “serious, widespread or systemic” problems, as part of a broader push to institutionalise accountability for top officials.A Civil Service Bureau spokeswoman stressed that the new system targeted “implementation failures” by senior officials, but a union representative argued that major scandals often stemmed from flawed policy designs in which bureau chiefs and permanent secretaries should also be held responsible.The proposed legislation, submitted to the Legislative Council on Tuesday, seeks to grant new investigative powers to the Public Service Commission, an independent, statutory body that advises the government on civil service appointments and promotions...

Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to enhance the city’s governance in public security and safety, and carry out systemic reform following the deadly Tai Po fire, describing it as a key task in safeguarding national security.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu’s remarks came after Xia Baolong, Beijing’s top official overseeing Hong Kong affairs, said people with “ulterior motives” had exploited the city’s deadliest blaze in decades to stir up social unrest and called for vigilance against national security risks.They were referring to the fire at Wang Fuk Court last November, which killed 168 people and displaced nearly 5,000 residents. A judge-led independent committee was established in the aftermath of the tragedy to investigate and is currently conducting an evidential hearing.“Once the [inde...

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has urged businesspeople to serve as the “main force” driving the city’s economic development by investing in innovation and the Northern Metropolis project, calling on them to demonstrate their patriotism through “concrete actions”.Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, also argued that people with “ulterior motives” had politicised the deadly Tai Po fire to stir up social unrest, urging residents to remain vigilant against national security risks.“Security at one point in time does not mean permanent security. Current stability also does not guarantee future security,” the senior official said in a video address at the opening ceremony of National Security Education Day on Wednesday.“After the Tai Po fire, people with ult...

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu visited one of the schools offering free after-school care for low-income families last month. After receiving positive feedback from participants, he pledged to extend the programme to benefit more families. Lee said it had helped promote family harmony, with children also reporting “positive development in both academic and social aspects”.There’s little doubt we should celebrate victories, however small, but it is equally important to examine problems comprehensively. The School-based After-School Care Service Scheme, as it is officially known, is a targeted poverty alleviation measure. It aims to help families struggling with childcare and unable to work longer hours and earn more income.In tackling poverty, this is only one of many measures t...

When the unthinkable becomes normal, stability becomes the new premium – and Hong Kong is well positioned. The world we thought we understood even two years ago no longer exists. We are living through a period of disruption that, until recently, would have seemed unthinkable.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the US-Israel war against Iran are reshaping long-held assumptions about energy, security and alliances. Trade is being reordered through tariffs, industrial policy and geopolitics. Technology systems and supply chains are fragmenting. At the same time, major economies are experiencing deep internal divisions that affect their policy direction and global posture.This is not simply volatility – it is structural change. Crucially, it is happening everywhere rather than being confined to o...

More than 150 Hong Kong civil servants were dismissed for serious misconduct or criminal convictions over the past three financial years, with police accounting for the largest number of cases.In a written reply to a lawmaker’s inquiry on Thursday, the Civil Service Bureau said 151 civil servants were dismissed for serious misconduct or criminal offences between 2022 and 2025, with the number of dismissals dropping steadily from 60 in 2022–23 to 51 in 2023–24 and 40 in 2024–25.Of the total, 73 were dismissed for criminal offences and 78 for misconduct. Police recorded the highest number of dismissals, at 44.The bureau said authorities would also revise the Public Service (Administration) Order and the Public Service (Disciplinary) Regulation to further optimise the disciplinary mechanism, ...

Hong Kong’s director of immigration will have his service extended beyond the retirement age until June next year, authorities have announced.The announcement to extend the term of Benson Kwok Joon-fung was made on Wednesday, a day before he reached the retirement age of 57.“The purpose of granting director Kwok’s service extension is to ensure a smooth transition in the senior management of the Immigration Department,” a government spokesman said.He added that Kwok had been granted an extension of service until June 30, 2027.According to the Civil Service Bureau, officers in the disciplined services can retire as early as 55, depending on their date of appointment.Kwok took the helm of the Immigration Department in 2023, following the retirement of his predecessor Au Ka-wang.