Politics

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...

The dust has settled and Hong Kong’s eighth Legislative Council is getting ready, with new lawmakers finding their way. There were quite a few surprises, looking at the results.With many new candidates and political groups vying for seats, the contest for the directly elected geographical constituencies was highly competitive. Some candidates were fielded by groups with strongholds in the trade-based functional constituencies, which are indirectly elected.That is something we should welcome. Establishing ties directly in the community will help our political groups be more in touch; it can help steer the groups’ mindsets, address their blind spots and bridge the gap between policymakers and the masses. As long as these groups continue to work on community building on the ground and put the...

A political row over former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has intensified after his guilty verdict, with the Hong Kong government condemning what it called “despicable political manipulations” and the United States seeking his release.Beijing’s top office overseeing city affairs also published a strongly worded commentary on Tuesday, criticising Lai for using “two systems” to oppose “one country” and branding him a “national criminal who will forever be nailed to the pillar of historical shame”.The clash followed Monday’s guilty verdict against the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper.Lai was convicted of two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a third count of conspiracy to print and distribute seditious articles in his national security trial....

Hong Kong’s incoming social welfare lawmaker has vowed to actively engage young people in policy discussions and strengthen communications with frontline workers to plug a “knowledge gap” in professional conduct.Grace Chan Man-yee, chief executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, a statutory body representing local welfare groups, also expressed confidence that there would be critical voices in the legislature although not always in front of the cameras.Chan won the social welfare seat in a race with two other candidates in the December 7 poll, bagging 2,179 of the 4,657 votes cast.She will succeed Tik Chi-yuen, the city’s sole non-pro-establishment member in the previous legislature, when she assumes office on January 1, 2026.The voter turnout rate in the social welfare sector ...

Beijing has appointed Zhang Yong, a senior staff member from a state-owned shipping and logistics service group, to serve as a deputy director in the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, the nation’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has announced.Zhang, executive vice-president of mainland Chinese shipping conglomerate Cosco Shipping Group and also its media spokesman, will replace Qi Bin, who was appointed in November last year, according to the ministry’s announcement on Wednesday.The liaison office’s website was updated on the same day, with Zhang listed as the fourth deputy director.The state-owned company has been under the spotlight since late July, when media identified it as a “major strategic investor” to be invited by Li Ka-shing’s CK Hutchison Holding...

Incoming lawmakers should prioritise helping the Hong Kong government advance policy reforms and deepen integration with national development, the outgoing Legislative Council president has said as he prepares to step down.Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen also said on Saturday that new lawmakers would need to assist the government in devising a prudent and pragmatic budget, set to be unveiled in February, as well as tackling the aftermath of the Tai Po fire that broke out on November 26 and claimed at least 161 lives.According to Leung, China’s latest five-year plan, which outlines the national development blueprint for 2026 to 2030, will serve as an “examination” set by Beijing for Hong Kong and a “golden opportunity” for the city to reach new heights of development.“As an important part of Hong Ko...