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Hong Kong will launch a two-month public consultation on Monday on its first five-year blueprint to align the city’s development with the national plan, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has announced. Lee said on Tuesday the consultation would begin on June 15, marking what he described as a historic milestone for the city. “The formulation of Hong Kong’s first five-year plan is a historic step and is of great significance,” he said. “We hope to gather everyone’s views, listen to the people and...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Consultation on HK's five-year plan to begin Monday

The two-month public consultation on Hong Kong's first five-year plan will commence on Monday, Chief Executive John Lee said on Tuesday. The move comes after he said this year the SAR would have its own development policy framework that is in line with the nation's and hoped to unveil it by the end of this year. Speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee said the plan would allow the SAR to seize more opportunities that arise from national strategies and development initiatives while also helping Hong Kong better integrate with and contribute to the country's overall development. The plan, he added, would continue to uphold principles that have underpinned the city's success, including "One Country, Two Systems" and "patriots administering Hong Kong" while aiming to develop the economy and improve people's livelihoods. "We will focus on livelihood issues that are of greatest concern to the public to enhance their sense of fulfilment and happiness," Lee said. "Secondly, we will better integrate an active government with an efficient market, with the government playing a leading role in stimulating market creativity and competitiveness. "The effective integration of these two elements will serve as a powerful driving force for Hong Kong's high-quality development." Lee also said the policy blueprint would serve as a forward-looking and strategic document and that the annual Policy Address would align with and respond to what is outlined. The public consultation document will be uploaded to a dedicated website while copies of it will be distributed at various designated locations. A series of consultation events will also be organised to gather feedback from lawmakers, industry representatives as well as the public, Lee said. The government, he said, hopes to listen to views from the community and take public sentiment into account as a way to do its utmost in formulating the plan so as to serve the interests of the general public. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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Thaw in China-India ties is real, but don’t call it reconciliation

Six years after the Ladakh crisis erupted in May 2020, triggering the worst military confrontation between India and China in decades, the two countries are attempting something that once seemed improbable: a diplomatic reset. The latest indication came late last month when officials met in Beijing for the 35th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs. The message emerging from the talks was positive. The two sides reaffirmed their...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Reservation system considered for countryside sites

The government is planning to introduce a reservation system for the Po Pin Chau section of the High Island Reservoir East Dam in Sai Kung to better manage visitor flows and protect hiking trails from excessive wear and tear, according to a paper submitted to the Legislative Council. This came as the number of visitors at the Po Pin Chau section reached capacity during previous Golden Week holidays. Authorities said the proposal would also help improve visitor experience by spreading arrivals across different time slots. "Given that hiking trails in other country parks currently do not require reservation, the government will consider piloting the system at the Po Pin Chau section, collecting data for evaluating the effectiveness," it stated. On marine conservation, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department has proposed designating the coral areas on both the eastern and western sides of Sharp Island, including the tombolo, as a marine park covering an area of approximately 63 hectares. The department has already launched a public consultation and aims to complete the statutory designation process by mid-2027. The paper also outlined the government's broader eco-tourism push, including the "Four Peaks" tourism project featuring The Peak, Lantau Peak, Tai Mo Shan and Sai Kung Hoi. It said the department would launch a thematic website, promotional videos and other publicity materials in the second half of 2026. "While promoting the 'Four Peaks' tourism, the AFCD will continue to enhance promotion of hiking safety and outdoor etiquette and codes, reminding visitors to protect the natural environment," it stated. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Three arrested for suspected illicit fuel activity

Police arrested three people on Wednesday on suspicion of being involved in illicit fuel activity in Kwai Tsing District. Police seized about 1,600 litres of gasoline, with a suspected market value of HK$50,000, at a suspected illicit fuel station near Kwai Tai Road. At a press briefing on Thursday, officers said two arrestees were loading fuel into a private vehicle when police carried out their raid, while the third arrestee allegedly helped with operations at the facility. One reportedly entered Hong Kong on a two-way exit permit and police suspect that this person violated their conditions of stay. Chief Inspector Koo Man-kai called on residents not to use illicit fuel. "According to the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, both buying and selling illicit fuel is a serious crime. Offenders are subject to two-years imprisonment and a HK$1 million fine upon conviction, and the vehicle involved will be confiscated," he said. The operation unfolded after a fire broke out on Tuesday night due to suspected illicit fuel activity at an industrial building in the district. The Fire Services Department received reports of the blaze at around 10.30pm, and deployed two hoses and two breathing apparatus teams to handle the incident at Kwai Tak Industrial Centre. It said the fire started from an oil tank which spread to a light goods vehicle as well as the building's exterior walls. Firefighters carried out an investigation afterwards and believed the site was used as an illicit fuel station after finding traces of flammable materials, burnt marks, and reviewing surveillance camera footage. The department said it is actively pushing for relevant legislative amendments, which includes higher penalties, expanding the legal liability to include buyers of fuel, and strengthening enforcement powers. Public consultation regarding the suggestions will continue until June 25. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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Myanmar’s China-backed mega dam revival risks Kachin rebel backlash

Deep in the forested highlands of northern Myanmar, where the Irrawaddy River rises from two tributaries in the hills of Kachin state, a contentious infrastructure project is stirring again – and threatening to reopen wounds that never fully healed. The Myitsone Dam, a US$3.6 billion Chinese-financed hydroelectric megaproject that was shelved more than a decade ago after igniting a storm of popular fury, is back on the table. Myanmar’s military rulers have begun holding public consultations on...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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'Controls on illicit tobacco products going smoothly'

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau on Saturday said the government would enter a new phase in its crackdown on illicit cigarettes and vapes, as part of its tobacco control measures laid out after a public consultation was conducted in 2023. A series of short, medium, and long-term measures were planned following the consultation, Lo said, which included 10 tobacco control measures rolled out in the beginning of this year. From April 30, the possession or use of alternative smoking products, such as vapes, e-cigarettes or heated tobacco in public has been prohibited. Speaking to reporters after attending a radio programme, Lo said the measures so far had been effectively implemented, and the next step would be to focus on duty stamps and uniform packaging. "These will be fully implemented by the end of next year, and there are very important counter measures against illicit smoking products," he said. "After all these measures, we will start implementing possible measures against all additives in tobacco products — which in fact attracts the younger generation, as well as a lot of women, into nicotine addiction," he added. The minister said the administration would then look into other medium and long term goals, such as charging those smoking while walking. Hong Kong logged an "historic low" smoking prevalence rate at 8.5 percent in 2025, missing the original target set at 7.8 percent. Lo said the SAR's goal was set in accordance to the World Health Organisation's initiative in reducing 30 percent of the global smoking rate, but the organisation postponed the target by three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Edited by Tony Sabine

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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No management fees' impact seen in fire-safety move

Secretary for Security Chris Tang on Saturday said a proposal to hold property management firms responsible for fire-prevention measures would not have a major impact on the fees that they charge. His comments came as the government proposes, in the wake of the Wang Fuk Court inferno in November, amendments to the Fire Services Ordinance that are currently undergoing a one-month public consultation. Among the changes it is looking at is introducing a responsible persons' regime for the maintenance and inspection of fire services installation and equipment. Under the proposal, property management companies would have the statutory responsibility of arranging for fire alarm system inspections to be carried out at least once every six months and fire drills every year. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, Tang said such a changeover would not incur high costs. “The cost of carrying out a test of the fire alarm is very low when compared with management fees. The cost is also very low for carrying out a fire drill," he said. "Our new requirement this time does not involve a commitment of new resources, so we believe it should not have a major impact on management fees.” He stressed that if firms are penalised due to violations of these fire-safety codes, they should not pass the cost on to homeowners. The government is also proposing that fire service installation contractors have to renew their licences every five years instead of, as under the existing regime, their registration being permanent. Tang said the move is necessary because the licences of contractors can currently be revoked only if they commit serious violations, making the existing benchmark very high. He also said the police have received 142 reports of suspected thefts so far at the Tai Po estate. “In 48 of the cases – almost 40 percent – we recovered the items immediately," Tang said. "In about 20 percent of the cases, the flats involved were severely damaged, so we and the homeowners believe the items might have been burnt. "In 30 percent of the cases, the residents could not say exactly what [the items] were, so it was hard to follow up. "But in 16 of the cases, we think it could not be determined whether [the items] were stolen or not." He added that officers are actively investigating the cases. Edited by Tony Sabine

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong’s John Lee, lawmakers hold talks on city’s first five-year blueprint

Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu met lawmakers on Friday to discuss a “highly targeted, substance-heavy” report they compiled outlining proposals on how the city’s first five-year plan should proactively align with national development. The closed-door meeting took place ahead of the government’s planned launch of a public consultation on Hong Kong’s five-year plan in early June as previously reported by the South China Morning Post. The plan is expected to be announced by the end of this...

RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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Lawmakers get hundreds of submissions on 5-year-plan

A Legco subcommittee tasked with supporting the government's efforts to create Hong Kong's first five-year plan has engaged with more than 4,000 people and received about 570 written submissions in the past month, its chairman Stanley Ng said on Friday. Ng said the Subcommittee on Hong Kong's Work to Actively Dovetail with the National 15th Five-Year Plan has held four meetings and 99 consultation sessions during this period. "We have actively contacted different sectors, and invited experts, community groups, and stakeholders to participate extensively. We have listened to the voices of the grassroots and gathered professional insights, which allowed us to gain suggestions that have a broad coverage, are highly targeted and are substantive," he said. "This would provide the foundation and support for the government to formulate a five-year plan that resonates with public opinion." Ng said the subcommittee will submit a report on its findings to the government. A public consultation exercise for the five-year plan is expected to begin this quarter. Edited by Thomas McAlinden

South China Morning Post

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South Korea eyes first nuclear submarine by mid-2030s, but hurdles run deep

South Korea’s drive to acquire its first nuclear-powered submarines is moving back up President Lee Jae Myung’s defence agenda, but analysts say delayed US consultations, non-proliferation concerns and budget pressures still stand in the way. Lee on Tuesday urged faster efforts to secure the submarines, describing them as core strategic assets for the country’s future defence capabilities. “We need to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence and drone technologies, while speeding up...

Hong Kong Free Press

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Hong Kong gov’t begins public consultation on fire safety reforms after Tai Po fire

The Hong Kong government has launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to the city’s fire safety law, six months after the deadly blaze at Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po. According to a government statement on Tuesday, the one-month consultation aims to enhance “public safety, regulatory coherence, enforcement effectiveness and accountability,” as […]

South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong unveils proposed overhaul of fire safety laws as consultation begins

Hong Kong authorities have launched a public consultation on overhauling fire safety regulations, six months after the city’s deadliest inferno in decades, proposing to expand firefighters’ law enforcement powers and impose additional responsibilities on management firms and contractors. The Security Bureau and the Fire Services Department on Tuesday began a one-month consultation exercise on proposed amendments to the Fire Services Ordinance and related subsidiary legislation. The proposals...

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RTHK News (Hong Kong)

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