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South China Morning Post
06-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong should have ‘real' dialogue on same-sex partnership proposal: LGBTQ groups
LGBTQ organisations in Hong Kong have called for 'real consultations' on a government-proposed framework to recognise same-sex partnerships, even as widespread opposition from lawmakers threatens to derail the plan. The groups said on Sunday that the reaction from legislators was 'not surprising' but the 'hostility' had prompted some people to leave the city altogether. In a paper submitted to the legislature last week, the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau proposed allowing same-sex couples to apply to have their relationship recognised in Hong Kong if they had first registered it in another jurisdiction. While the framework was in accordance with a landmark ruling by the Court of Final Appeal in 2023, lawmakers in the Legislative Council hit out at the plan, fuelling speculation that it could hit a dead end. So far, at least 41 members of the 89-strong legislature – including those from the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the Business and Professionals Alliance, the Federation of Trade Unions and the Liberal Party – have indicated their objection to the proposal. One of the only lawmakers to express support was Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, the convenor of the key decision-making Executive Council, who has said she and five other members of her New People's Party will vote in favour of the eventual legislation.
South China Morning Post
02-07-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong can chart path for high-quality growth in the space economy: Regina Ip
A top adviser to Hong Kong has called for the local government to aim for the space economy as the city's answer to stimulating high-quality economic growth, while seeking to host top-tier international events such as the Apec finance ministers' meeting to enhance global ties and boost local consumption. Advertisement Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, convenor of the key decision-making Executive Council and chairwoman of the New People's Party, also proposed a HK$50 million (US$6.4 million) fund on Wednesday to support local young musicians and artists to train and compete overseas, inspired by award-winning pianist Aristo Sham Ching-tao. The proposals were part of her party's submissions to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu ahead of his third policy address, which was expected to be unveiled in September. Ip said that Hong Kong was 'well positioned' to look into outer space and its commercial potential, adding it would complement the low-altitude economy, which the city's leader vowed to boost in his 2024 policy address. 'We have scientists in our university already engaged in supporting the nation's open space development,' lawmaker Ip told reporters after the proposals were submitted. Advertisement 'We are well positioned to provide financial support, fundraising support … We have a common law system that can help our government provide input into how to regulate open space for peaceful uses,' she added, describing the suggestion as one of the party's key suggestions. She cited a Goldman Sachs research report in March, which showed that the global satellite market was expected to become seven times bigger, from US$15 billion in 2024 to US$108 billion in 2035.
South China Morning Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong lawmakers call for TV stations to show more English-language content
Hong Kong's broadcast watchdog has been asked to require TV stations to produce more local programmes on their English channels to 'tell good Hong Kong stories' to expats and visitors. Advertisement Stations are permitted to have up to 45 per cent of their English-channel content be in other languages, a threshold some lawmakers said on Monday was too high and at odds with Hong Kong's role as an international city. Some legislators also urged the government to sponsor TV stations to produce dramas promoting national security and education, while others called for loosening restrictions on TV commercials or product placements to help broadcasters survive in the new media era. The views were raised at a meeting of the Legislative Council's panel on information technology and broadcasting, at which officials briefed lawmakers on the coming renewal of the three domestic free-to-air TV service licences. Non-affiliated lawmaker Chan Siu-hung said: 'Hong Kong is an international city, but there are not enough English programmes. Most of them are about financial markets or current affairs. We should allow expats here more choices.' Advertisement Sharing a similar view, Eunice Yung Hoi-yan of the New People's Party said: 'Most of the English programmes are bought from overseas. Travellers switching to a local English TV channel could end up watching programmes they have already watched in their home places.'
South China Morning Post
06-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to host crucial summit in wake of political elites' postponed US trip
Hong Kong's convenor of the Executive Council revealed on Tuesday the reason for the delay of a high-profile visit by the city's political and business elites to the United States during Easter was to avoid any misunderstanding amid ongoing US-China tensions as she announced details of a crucial coming summit. Advertisement Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who also chairs a co-organiser for the prominent Global Prosperity Summit in the city from May 19 to 21, further disclosed that two former US consuls general in Hong Kong, Hanscom Smith and Kurt Tong, would be taking part in the summit, along with a former senior mainland Chinese diplomat. 'Originally, I planned to visit the US during Easter last month, but I felt that the timing was not appropriate, particularly because [US President Donald] Trump has been stating daily that someone from China was reaching out to him,' she said. The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce announced on April 17 that its delegation of 10 to 20 members and leaders would not depart for Dallas on April 24 as scheduled due to the rapidly changing geopolitical situation. This would have been the chamber's first visit to the US in seven years. The New People's Party, also led by Ip, similarly postponed its trip to the US. Advertisement 'We did not want to be misunderstood [as the] people reaching out to him. Therefore, I, along with lawmaker Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, decided to postpone our itinerary,' she added. President Trump had refuted a Chinese statement on April 25, asserting that the two economic powers had held talks earlier that day to ease the ongoing trade war, contrary to China's claim that no such discussions had taken place.
