Politics

The Chinese foreign ministry’s arm in Hong Kong has lodged “solemn representations” with local envoys for Britain, the US, Australia and the EU over remarks made by their officials and politicians about the sentencing of former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying.The Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong issued a statement on Saturday, saying it had summoned representatives from the countries and the bloc on Wednesday and Thursday.“The commissioner’s office lodged solemn representations against the negative remarks made by the officials and politicians of these countries and organisations regarding the sentencing in the Lai Chee-ying case, [and] expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition,” it said.“[The office] urged those countries, organisations and politici...

As a long-time observer of Hong Kong affairs – and someone who cares deeply about the city – I have often felt that external debates about Hong Kong have been louder than careful assessments of how the city is actually evolving.Since the implementation of the national security law, discussion of Hong Kong has often become polarised. Less attention has been paid to outcomes and observable change. From where I stand, however, a clear shift is under way: the city has moved from prolonged disruption back towards stability, and that stability is feeding into economic and social momentum.You may disagree, but it is hard to deny that the year preceding the national security law was marked by persistent social tension and repeated disruptions to daily life.Transport networks were periodically para...

We are ready to head into the Year of the Horse. But, before we do, let’s take stock of what the Year of the Snake brought Hong Kong.Some say the Year of the Snake is all about change and not meant to be comfortable. For Hong Kong, the past year has been a difficult one of shedding skin, baring our vulnerabilities for all to see.Just weeks into the Year of the Snake, Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong and Macau affairs, Xia Baolong, made inspection visits, reinforcing the central government’s demand for progress. It was seen as Beijing officially putting the Hong Kong and Macau governments on notice, basically to get on with the programme – in this case, China’s 14th five-year plan.Hong Kong, a city that prides itself on its efficiency, had been found wanting. The leadership, however, appear...

Hong Kong will “move with agility and steadiness” in the Year of the Horse to seize opportunities and overcome challenges, the city’s leader has said in a message to residents.The one-minute Lunar New Year video, broadcast on Monday, showed Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu dressed in a traditional red Chinese suit and admiring paintings of horses on ceramic plates – some created by his wife, Janet Lee Lam Lai-sim.On Lunar New Year’s Eve, Lee described the horse as an animal that boldly charged ahead and covered vast distances each day – a symbol of “speed and stamina”.“As we step into the Year of the Horse, let us move with agility and steadiness, seizing opportunities, overcoming challenges and propelling Hong Kong forward,” Lee said in the televised address.John Lee visits the Lunar New ...

Hong Kong’s sports minister has expressed regret over her social media post about the former coach of the men’s football team made after their stinging loss to Singapore in an Asian Cup qualifying match last year, vowing to be “more careful” with her comments.Speaking on a radio show on Tuesday evening, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said her comments about Ashley Westwood were made from the standpoint of a fan rather than a government official.At the time, some people interpreted her remarks as an instance of a government official straying into the management of the local football team, she noted.“As a supporter of the team Hong Kong, China, if I did not feel frustrated, it would be abnormal,” she said. “But if I had known [such an interpretation would be m...

Authorities in Hong Kong have expressed concern to the Japanese consulate after a resident was struck on the head with a beer bottle in Sapporo, urging Tokyo to better protect visitors from the city.Thursday’s statement followed a warning issued a day earlier by the Chinese consulate in Sapporo advising nationals against travelling to Japan, at a time when relations between Beijing and Tokyo are at a low point.However, local tour operators said the attack was likely to be an isolated incident that would not affect Hongkongers’ appetite to visit Japan.The Hong Kong government said it had immediately contacted the Commissioner’s Office of China’s Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong and the Chinese consulate in Sapporo to follow up and provide “practicable assistance” to the resident involved.“The ...

The Hong Kong government has started the year with initiatives that have far-reaching impacts on the city’s long-term growth.Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced that he is spearheading Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan, which will promote broader integration with China’s five-year plan and ensure a bigger role for the city in the nation’s economic development. He also reaffirmed deeper engagement with countries in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia to open up new markets for local enterprises.The city’s leadership has made significant inroads in building trust and partnerships across promising emerging markets, reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as a vital bridge between China and the world.Taken together, the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)...

An alleged traffic offence involving a Hong Kong lawmaker has sparked a fiery exchange between a veteran of the city’s biggest party and political heavyweight Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who defended her protege and was accused of double standards.New People’s Party chairwoman Ip, convenor of the government’s key decision-making body Executive Council, reportedly snapped at former lawmaker Choy So-yuk, questioning whether her Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), was exploiting the incident for revenge.Judy Chan leaves Traffic Police Hong Kong Island after giving a statement. Photo: Edmond SoThe storm centred on Ip’s party colleague and lawmaker Judy Chan Kapui, who was seen driving against traffic last Friday.According to WhatsApp group chat screen grabs seen ...

Hong Kong lawmaker Judy Chan Kapui has apologised again for driving along a road in the wrong direction, saying that she will accept any legal consequences and refrain from getting behind the wheel for the time being.“I made a rash decision in haste at the time. I am willing to bear any legal consequences. I will also reach out to police to provide details of what happened to assist in their investigation,” she told a radio programme on Saturday.Chan, 45, confirmed the night before that she was the driver of the vehicle in a viral video circulating on social media that shows a black car driving along Jaffe Road in the wrong direction, with three fire engines parked ahead.The New People’s Party lawmaker said on Saturday that she would refrain from driving for a period of time, starting this...

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong affairs has called on the city to improve its executive-led governance model, arguing that the legislative and judicial branches should support the government rather than undermine each other, as they all perform “on the same stage”.Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, on Monday warned against any attempts by foreign and disruptive forces to promote the idea of a separation of powers, arguing such views undermined the authority of the local and central governments.Following Xia’s remarks, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu vowed to improve government efficiency and implement an accountability system for principal officials. He said it was the “primary responsibility” of authorities to govern Hong Kong.In the morning, Lee and his ca...