Hong Kong prepares reforms, accountability measures ahead of Tai Po fire report

🔮 Deng said the city’s five-year blueprint would address “deep-rooted conflicts” in Hong Kong, including entrenched vested interests and uneven benefits from development, through a reform-oriented approach.

🔮 Influx of former senior officials into Election Committee race will broaden representation and boost body’s legitimacy, observers say A growing number of former senior government officials have joined the race for seats on Hong Kong’s Election Committee, a trend observers say will enhance the prestige and legitimacy of the body tasked with choosing the city’s next leader.

🔮 Five Guangdong-registered yachts will sail into Hong Kong waters on Friday when the Southbound Yacht Travel Scheme launches, the city’s marine chief has said, adding that officers will step up patrols.

🔮 Hong Kong bus operators seek fare hikes of up to 17.7% amid fuel price surge Citybus requests the largest increase at 17.7 per cent, while KMB seeks 16 per cent, with the government saying it will take public affordability into account Four Hong Kong franchised bus operators have applied to raise fares by up to 17.7 per cent, citing “significant financial pressure” from soaring fuel prices driven by the Middle East conflict.

🔮 Postmen denied permanent contracts offered priority for other civil service roles Civil Service Bureau offers relaxed academic requirements for clerical posts, but union head says measures may still be insufficient

🔮 US can choose to deport Hongkongers under Deferred Enforced Departure scheme Department of Homeland Security issues warning after Politico report states a dozen city residents under programme had been detained at airports United States authorities could deport Hong Kong residents granted extended stay under the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) programme and have not ruled out the option of doing so after a dozen were reportedly detained at local airports.

🔮 Hong Kong finance chief highlights 4 priorities ahead of Apec meeting this month Meeting will focus on areas that play to city’s strengths, such as fiscal policies that support livelihoods, digital infrastructure and young talent The Apec finance ministers’ meeting in Hong Kong this month will focus on fiscal policies that support livelihoods, digital infrastructure financing, inclusive finance and young financial talent, underlining the city’s role as an international financial centre, the finance chief said.

🔮 John Lee promises ‘high-quality’ experience for Apec finance meeting guests City leader says Beijing is handling attendee registration without confirming whether US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is among the guests Hong Kong’s leader has pledged to provide guests attending this month’s Apec Finance Ministers’ Meeting with a “high-quality” experience, as the city works closely with Beijing to assist delegations with the registration process. About 500 guests, including finance ministers and senior officials from the 21 member economies, are expected to attend the annual meeting on October 20 and 21, which will be hosted by Hong Kong for the first time at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Asked whether US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would attend the summit, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday only that the Ministry of Finance in mainland China was handling attendee registration.

🔮 Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the government would study and follow up on the recommendations of the judge-led independent committee investigating last November’s deadly fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.

🔮 Health chief warns overstated claims of job shortages could lead to fewer new nurses Lo Chung-mau says exaggerated claims of graduate unemployment could discourage new blood from entering nursing sector at city’s expense Hong Kong’s health minister has warned that the city will need to “bear the consequences” of exaggerating concerns over the employment prospects of nurses, as such remarks could deter new blood from joining the profession. “I do not want recent comments, such as claims that ‘[nursing] graduation equals unemployment’, to dampen the interest of our younger generation in joining the nursing profession,” Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Thursday.