On February 9, the rule of law and justice scored another victory in Hong Kong when a local court sentenced Jimmy Lai Chee-ying to 20 years in prison for violating the national security law. This sends a clear and resounding message to the world that Hong Kong is a society rigorously governed by law, and…
Former governor Chris Patten once said nobody ever profited from betting against Hong Kong. Anybody wagering against its “one country, two systems” policy will undoubtedly be out of pocket. Since 1997, the policy has been the city’s lodestar. While the post-reunification settlement was repeatedly challenged, most notably during the 2019 social unrest, Hong Kong has…
China’s commercial space sector has entered a new frontier. In January, a private Chinese aerospace company unveiled the test capsule of what is set to become the country’s first commercially developed crewed spacecraft, with plans for crewed flights by 2028 and bookings already taken from private space tourists. The project reflects a decisive shift in…
Hong Kong is putting gold at the centre of its push to become a global commodities trading hub, with officials prioritising plans for an international gold trading centre alongside a broader strategy to expand the city’s role in physical trade, derivatives and logistics. The government’s newly formed Commodity Strategy Committee held its first meeting on…
Hong Kong’s Democratic Party has announced what many people had been expecting for some time – that it would disband. For the party, this is the beginning of the end; for others, the question lingers: is this also the end of the democratic movement in Hong Kong? One thing is certain: the party’s demise will…
Last week’s deadly fire has cast a heavy shadow over Hong Kong, reminding us of the fragility of life and the need for solidarity in hard times. The central government has responded swiftly with its full attention and support. Aid and sympathy have poured in from across China, underscoring that Hong Kong’s pain is shared….
China is justifiably proud of its accomplishments over the past three-quarters of a century, having evolved from a newly established republic in 1949 to one of the world’s leading powers and economies today. The deep sense of pride and achievement also resonated widely in Hong Kong as it celebrated National Day yesterday, although with mixed…
Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to “eliminate bottlenecks” and shorten the time needed to realise economic gains to ensure that residents from all walks of life can benefit from the city’s development. Speaking at this year’s National Day reception on Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also vowed to continually enhance the city’s national security…
Hong Kong is set to sign a deal with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on Monday to pave the way for sharing relevant court judgments with the United Nations agency, the city’s finance chief has revealed. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Sunday also highlighted the importance of intellectual property as an emerging high-value…
The European Union has condemned Macau authorities for arresting a democracy activist from the former Portuguese enclave over alleged national security violations. In a statement on Saturday, the EU said the arrest of Au Kam-san, a former pro-democracy lawmaker of Macau, “adds to the existing concerns about the ongoing erosion of political pluralism and freedom…