Politics

A revamped appraisal system that denies salary increments to underperforming Hong Kong civil servants is unlikely to significantly improve efficiency, observers have said, calling for a more balanced approach with team-based performance indicators.The revised system, set to be implemented in October, will penalise the bottom 10 per cent of performers – those rated D to F on a six-grade scale – by making them ineligible for a pay increment.A 5 per cent buffer will be allowed depending on departmental circumstances, while professional grades and smaller departments may reduce the quota of penalised staff with justification.“Is a single salary point enough of a real punitive measure? Is it sufficient as a proper performance management tool? Clearly, it is not,” said Alexa Chow Yee-ping, manag...

Hong Kong’s economy and trade with the United States will benefit from greater stability and certainty brought by the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump, the city’s leader has said.“Hong Kong is an externally oriented economy, susceptible to the influence of the main market,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday. “More certainty and stability in the market will greatly reduce the impact of external turbulence on Hong Kong.”Last week’s Xi-Trump summit saw the two leaders agree to build a “constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability”, with both sides signalling interest in deeper cooperation on trade, investment and artificial intelligence.Xi is also expected to make a state visit to the US this autumn, his first in more ...

China will actively participate in settling international conflicts and improve mechanisms to resolve them, a Chinese diplomat has said, stressing that the recently established mediation body in Hong Kong will help bolster the international rule of law.Speaking separately at the Global Prosperity Summit in Hong Kong on Tuesday, local political heavyweight Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee proposed establishing an Apec think tank council to foster collaboration ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s economic leaders in neighbouring Shenzhen later this year.Delivering the keynote address at the summit, Ambassador Han Zhiqiang, vice-president of the semi-official China Public Diplomacy Association, pointed to last week’s talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump in Beijing....

Smoking will be banned at construction sites in Hong Kong from July 17 under a government proposal sent to the legislature following the deadly blaze at Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court last November.The government introduced three amendments to existing ordinances to improve fire safety at the sites on Tuesday.“Since the tragic fire which occurred in Tai Po in November 2025, there has been strong community consensus for implementing a comprehensive smoking ban in construction sites to reduce fire risk and enhance safety,” a Labour and Welfare Bureau paper submitted to the Legislative Council stated.Two of the amendments will be tabled on May 27 for negative vetting and will take effect on July 17.Construction sites will be designated no-smoking areas, and the Labour Department will be tasked with ...

All 90 Hong Kong lawmakers are set to head to Beijing for a historic “national affairs study visit” in July, attending seminars, visiting key authorities and inspecting the tech sector during their week-long trip.The visit to the capital from July 19 to 25, which will include seminars on national security and geopolitical issues, is expected to cost about HK$1.4 million (US$179,000) in total, according to a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Thursday.The estimated cost for each lawmaker is around HK$15,600, which includes HK$3,700 for an economy round-trip flight ticket and HK$11,000 for accommodation, meals, local transport and sundries.The legislature earlier this month revealed that all lawmakers were expected to join the delegation during the summer recess, marking the first...

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in London can continue its “legitimate activity”, the UK government has said, despite political pressure after a British court found two men linked to the office guilty of spying on activists.But the UK government also said on Thursday that anyone in any organisation found to be helping a foreign state to undermine British security would be brought to justice.The government’s remarks came two weeks after Bill Yuen Chung-biu, the London office’s manager, and Peter Wai Chi-leung, who ran a security firm, were found guilty of spying on activists from Hong Kong on behalf of Chinese authorities.Some British politicians and civil society groups had urged the government to review and revoke the privileges and immunities currently afforded to the off...

In the global shift towards carbon-neutral mobility, a striking role reversal is taking shape on the pavements of the world’s most populous cities. While geopolitical analysts focus on the high-altitude rhetoric of the Xi-Trump summit in Beijing, a more profound urban reality is unfolding at eye level.Broadcasting live from a teeming Beijing intersection, Fox News anchor Bret Baier recently captured this fascinating counter-narrative. Away from the grandeur of diplomacy, a small revolution is taking place: a surging ocean of electric bicycles and scooters that serve as the lifeblood of China’s capital.Yet, as Baier highlighted how artificial-intelligence-driven surveillance was catching traffic violations in real-time, a deeper systemic shift was under way. Beijing is executing a visible s...

Hong Kong should not limit the number of vehicles licensed to provide ride-hailing services. In particular, every owner of an electric vehicle that complies with the regulations should, in principle, be able to obtain one on demand by paying the required fee.Normal market forces, together with fees and other licensing requirements, will be sufficient to strike the right balance.I have used ride-hailing services a lot recently. Knee replacement surgery has restricted my mobility, and I have a greater need for reliable point-to-point transport. I think that makes me as qualified as anyone else to comment on the government’s latest set of proposals for regulating ride-hailing services.My experience has been instructive. The booked vehicle invariably arrives on time. It’s usually modern, clean...

Hong Kong’s government will launch a consultation exercise on the city’s first five-year plan next month. The plan is set to be released before the end of the year. It’s a monumental task.Lau Siu-kai, a consultant to the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tank and former head of the government’s now-defunct Central Policy Unit, has warned as much, saying: “It took years for local governments on the mainland to master the research and strategic thinking required to deliver a robust five-year plan.”With talk of the government gathering views from different sectors, including Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu joining sessions for direct feedback, it is important to also look at how the government will engage the public.If it is planning a full-on publicity b...

The death of Ted Turner, who founded CNN in 1980 as the world’s first 24-hour television news channel, is a poignant reminder of the glory days of the fourth estate. CNN made day-and-night news coverage, including at the front line of battlefields, an everyday experience for many people.The rise of the internet and ever more channels of news delivery has enabled a global audience of news consumers, attuned to reports delivered from all around the world. This has turned the most successful news providers into some of the most powerful and influential communication tools of our time.Such power and influence are not lost on political leaders and interest groups. Nowadays, it is hard to imagine a major news outlet not taking a side in politics or having behind it some powerful political figure...