He has made much progress on these counts. By winning Beijing’s trust, he has been given a free hand to deal with COVID-19 without having to follow the mainland’s “zero COVID” policies. By Dec. 29,, aside from mask-wearing in certain public spaces. There was an explosion of joy as people celebrated the holidays without having to worry about tests, quarantines, close contacts, vaccine passes or how many people could sit at one table.
At the same time, Mr. Lee is encouraging foreign investors and businesspeople, some of whom have relocated to Singapore, to return to Hong Kong, so it can regain its former role as a regional and international financial, shipping and business hub.
Jimmy Lai, the former newspaper tycoon awaiting trial on national security charges – including one of collusion with foreign forces – has hired British barrister Timothy Owen to defend him. The government vigorously opposed this in court last year, but it has lost at every level, including in Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal on Nov. 28.Back in 1999, after the Hong Kong government lost a right-of-abode case known as Ng Ka Ling v.
The NPCSC announced its decision on Dec. 30, but instead of ruling on whether Mr. Owen could defend Mr. Lai, it issued broad principles. It said that when a Hong Kong court hears cases involving crimes endangering national security, the court shall apply for a certificate from the Chief Executive regarding whether national security or state secrets are involved, and the certificate shall be binding on the court.