Canada expands and extends work permit programme for Hongkongers
Any holders of a Hong Kong passport or BN(0) passport who graduated from a post-secondary learning institution within the past decade may now apply to work in Canada. Previously, the limit was five years.
Kai Tak residents rally against Hong Kong temporary public housing project
The short-term housing initiative was introduced in Chief Executive John Lee’s maiden Policy Address as a solution to alleviate the city’s years-long waits for public rental housing, and the Kai Tak site is expected to offer 10,700 units.
5 arrested over alleged disorderly behaviour at Hong Kong chain store linked to 47 democrats case
An employee of an AbouThai store in Mong Kok called police after five people barged in and reportedly shouted and harassed customers. The retail chain is owned by Mike Lam, who it was confirmed on Monday would testify against his co-defendants in the 47 democrats case.
11 Hong Kong green groups boycott closed-door gov’t ‘briefing’ over proposed Lantau artificial islands
The organisations, including Greenpeace, Green Power and Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society, called the the public consultation period for the artificial islands project “the sneakiest in history.”
Hong Kong police deploy after iPhone automatically calls 999 with erroneous crash report
“My lost and found phone’s screen read: ‘It looks like you’ve been in a crash.’ Then I received a call from the police…,” said Christine.
US says Chinese balloon gave up intelligence secrets before it was shot down
“We’re still analysing the information that we were able to collect off of the balloon before we shot it out of the sky and now we’re going to recover it and I suspect we may learn even more,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.
Hong Kong 47: Democrats saw legislative majority as ‘lethal constitutional weapon,’ prosecutors argue
The closely-watched trial of 16 Hong Kong democrats who denied the charge of conspiracy to commit subversion began on Monday, almost two years after the case was first brought to court.
Opinion
Burning issue: Don’t divert Hong Kong’s betting revenue from charity projects like the fire dragon dance
“Profits from betting go to projects in which the market is not interested and which the government is not ready to support,” writes Chloe Lai. “Increasing betting duty will only hurt people and services that are gravely in need of funds.”
Can Hong Kong’s ‘patriots-only’ legislature hold itself to account?
“Evidence of LegCo’s autonomy would be holding such inquiries into the government’s performance regarding the two most significant events since the city’s Handover from British to Chinese rule in 1997: the protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019 and the Covid-19 pandemic,” writes John Burns.
HKFP FEATURES, EXPLAINERS & LONG READS
In Pictures: Hong Kong fabric traders face material losses as they bid farewell to decades-old market
Nostalgic stallholders packed up and left as the Pang Jai fabric market closed for good after some 45 years.
‘The frontline in our homes’: Covid-19’s lasting impact on Hong Kong’s migrant domestic workers
The fifth wave of Covid-19 highlighted the issues faced by migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong – the backbone of many of the city’s families. It also shone a spotlight on the “power of community,” Manisha Wijesinghe, executive director of HELP for Domestic Workers, told HKFP.
Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 31
Several people arrested by national security police officers, former Stand News editor accused of sedition delivered testimony, and Beijing’s interpretation of the security law continued to stoke debate.