25 h. ago Legco poll a chance for Hong Kong to show its resilience after Tai Po fire

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. The cause of the fire must be investigated and learned from in due course, but for now the priority is resilience. The announcement that the Legislative Council election will...

Events

4 d. ago Hong Kong Legco poll to ‘go ahead as planned’ as fire recovery on track

Hong Kong’s Legislative Council election will be held as scheduled on December 7, as recovery and rebuilding work from the city’s deadliest blaze in Tai Po is proceeding largely smoothly, a source has told the Post. The insider said the decision to proceed with the poll as planned was also based on legal considerations, as postponing it could risk creating a constitutional crisis after December 31, when the current council’s term ends. “A lot of legislative work also needs to be done. The...

Events

4 d. ago Hong Kong Legco poll to ‘go ahead as planned’ with fire recovery on track

Hong Kong’s Legislative Council election will be held as scheduled on December 7, as recovery and rebuilding work from the city’s deadliest blaze in decades is proceeding largely smoothly, a source has told the Post. The insider said the decision to proceed with the poll as planned was also based on legal considerations, as postponing it could risk creating a constitutional crisis after December 31, when the current council’s term ends. “A lot of legislative work also needs to be done. The...

Events

1 week ago Bomb disposal chief urges Indonesian residents to vote in Hong Kong Legco poll

A senior Hong Kong police officer has appealed to Indonesian residents in the city to take part in and support the coming Legislative Council election as part of the government’s latest effort to boost voter turnout. Raymond Suryanto Chin-chiu, head of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, made the appeal in Indonesian in a video released on Sunday by Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan on her social media account. “Dear Indonesian friends in Hong Kong, if you are a...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong steps up voter turnout efforts with video targeting minority residents

Hong Kong authorities have ramped up efforts to drive voter turnout for the coming Legislative Council election, including releasing a new video featuring a bomb disposal chief urging ethnic minority residents to cast their ballots. Raymond Suryanto Chin-chiu, head of the explosive ordnance disposal bureau, made the appeal in Indonesian in a video released on Sunday via Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan’s social media account. “Dear Indonesian friends in Hong Kong, if you...

Politics

2 w. ago Beijing vows ‘zero tolerance’ ahead of Legco poll as Hong Kong’s ICAC charges 3

Beijing’s national security arm in Hong Kong has pledged to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach in safeguarding next month’s Legislative Council election, as the city’s anti-corruption agency charged three people for allegedly inciting others to boycott the poll. The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) charged three individuals for allegedly reposting online messages that urged others not to vote and, on Thursday, issued arrest warrants for two men suspected of making such posts. The...

Politics

3 w. ago Northern Metropolis, employment take centre stage at third Legco poll forum

Candidates in the Hong Kong Legislative Council election have called for more local jobs and faster development of transport infrastructure in a megaproject near the border, using the third government-run forum to pitch their solutions to long-standing problems. At Wednesday’s forum for the New Territories North constituency, which covers the North District and Tin Shui Wai, all five candidates pledged to push forward the development of the Northern Metropolis. The project located in the...

Politics

3 w. ago Northern Metropolis, employment focus of Hong Kong’s third Legco poll forum

Candidates in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council election have called for more local jobs and faster development of transport infrastructure for a megaproject near the border, using the third government-run forum to pitch their solutions to long-standing problems. At Wednesday’s forum for the New Territories North constituency, which covers the North District and Tin Shui Wai, all five candidates pledged to push forward the development of the Northern Metropolis. The project located in the...

Politics

3 w. ago Hopefuls spar over livelihood issues, upping ante at Hong Kong Legco poll forums

Candidates in Hong Kong’s coming Legislative Council poll sparred over livelihood issues on the second day of government-led election forums, upping the ante after a sedate first day as a newcomer also challenged an incumbent to account for his record. In a shift of tempo, the host at the two forums on Wednesday, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon for constituencies in the northern New Territories, also reminded candidates that they could express different opinions during the...

Politics

3 w. ago 5 candidates raise livelihood issues in first Legco poll forum but avoid debate

Livelihood issues have emerged as a key focus of Hong Kong’s first government-held Legislative Council election forum, although there was little confrontation among candidates who refrained from questioning one another at the event. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai praised the orderly and “vibrant” atmosphere of the event on Tuesday, which covered the New Territories South West constituency. It was the first of 39 “Patriots Collaborate for Good Governance”...

Politics

3 w. ago First Legco poll forum held as candidates raise livelihood issues, avoid debate

Hong Kong’s first government-held Legislative Council election forum has been held with livelihood issues emerging as a key focus, although there was little confrontation among the five candidates, who refrained from questioning one another at the event. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai praised the orderly and “vibrant” atmosphere of the event on Tuesday, which covered the New Territories South West constituency. It was the first of 39 “Patriots Collaborate...

Politics

3 w. ago First Legco poll forum with 5 candidates zooms in on livelihood issues

Hong Kong’s first government-run Legislative Council election forum has been held with livelihood issues emerging as a key focus, although there was little confrontation among the five candidates, who refrained from questioning one another at the event. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai praised the orderly and “vibrant” atmosphere of the event on Tuesday, which covered the New Territories South West constituency. It was the first of 39 “Patriots Collaborate...

Society

3 w. ago First Hong Kong Legco poll forums zoom in on livelihood issues

Hong Kong held its first two government-run Legislative Council election forums on Tuesday with livelihood issues emerging as a key focus, as candidates highlighted their own platforms and ideas while largely refraining from questioning one another. While the events were going on, the Post learned that at least two broadcasters cancelled their forums after candidates began pulling out soon after the government announced on Monday that it would for the first time hold such sessions. Secretary for...

Society

3 w. ago All 161 hopefuls get nod to run in Hong Kong Legco poll with forums set to start

All 161 hopefuls eyeing a seat in Hong Kong’s second “patriots-only” legislature have been cleared to contest by a vetting panel, with an unprecedented 39 election forums organised by the government set to kick off on Tuesday as the city goes into full campaign mode. Beijing’s top office overseeing the city, the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), also commended the candidates for being outstanding talent who were providing voters with choice and enabling them to pick “the best from the...

Politics

3 w. ago 3 more arrested for allegedly damaging Legco poll banners in separate cases

Hong Kong police have arrested three men on suspicion of damaging Legislative Council election campaign banners in separate cases over the weekend. The force said on Monday that an 80-year-old man, surnamed Lam, had been apprehended in a Tseung Kwan O flat the previous day after he allegedly tore up four roll-up banners in the district. It added that a political party worker reported the case of damaged banners on Man Kuk Lane near Hang Hau MTR station on Sunday morning. Lam was arrested for...

Events

3 w. ago Fewer registered professionals, more councillors contesting Hong Kong Legco poll

Fewer candidates with professional backgrounds are making a bid to run in Hong Kong’s coming Legislative Council election amid more subdued interest in the sector-based functional constituencies. A check by the Post of all 161 candidates’ occupations found that 45, or 28 per cent, had declared on their forms that they were from professions such as teaching, law, social work, accountancy, and engineering or architecture, compared with 51 from the previous election, marking a 10 per cent decrease...

Politics