When Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong recently described Hong Kong’s executive-led system as a distinct governance model, he elevated it from an administrative arrangement to constitutional doctrine. A doctrine is not merely about structure. It is about how governance power is exercised. In Hong Kong’s executive-led system, that exercise begins with…
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…
Hong Kong’s U-turn on its seat belt rule for buses is a sobering reminder to lawmakers that they must meet higher standards even under the “executive-led” governance model recently underlined by Beijing, according to several policy experts. They noted that some lawmakers had been complacent, prioritising speed over efficacy in policymaking in a “patriots-only” legislature…
The head of Beijing’s liaison office in Hong Kong has urged the city to be a “reformer who braves challenges” rather than a “complacent idler”, expressing expectations that the executive-led governance model will be strengthened. Office director Zhou Ji made the remarks on Wednesday at a reception to celebrate the coming Lunar New Year, also…
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 as they perform “on the same stage” rather than undermine one another. Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, on Monday warned…
One of Hong Kong’s largest developers, Sun Hung Kai Properties (SHKP), has entered into a land deal worth around HK$1.4 billion (US$179.5 million) with the government for a site in Kwu Tung South, setting up one of the biggest housing projects in the Northern Metropolis. The company said on Monday that the site could yield…
Hong Kong will hold the Legislative Council election as scheduled on Sunday, the chief executive has announced, arguing that it is important to elect new lawmakers who will be his key partners in launching reforms as the city reels from the deadly fire in Tai Po. City leader John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that…
A recent visit to Hong Kong by the new executive deputy director of the central government’s top office for the city’s affairs was likely to have been to check on the progress of the Northern Metropolis megadevelopment, political analysts have said. Xu Qifang, the executive deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office…
Hong Kong should avoid negative labels for certified subdivided flats as they provide accommodation to people from all walks of life, the housing minister has said, while stressing that a planned shake-up of standards will not drive up rents. In an exclusive interview with the Post, Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin also said temporary…
We have all sworn to uphold “one country, two systems”. But when it comes to building new railways, “one country, one system” may save us a lot of money. Hopefully, London and Washington won’t cite the Joint Declaration to criticise Hong Kong for breaching our treaty obligations. The construction costs of the mass transit links…