May 2024
Crosby Textor advised pro-Beijing HK officials
The Australian political consultancy provided advice used by pro-Beijing officials in Hong Kong ahead of the start of national security laws that dramatically curtailed free speech.
December 2022
Lawyers exit Hong Kong as they face a campaign of intimidation
Many legal professionals and academics have quietly departed, mostly to Britain, Australia and North America.
October 2022
Hong Kong stares down US on Russian-owned super yacht
Chief executive John Lee said he would only implement UN sanctions, after the US warned the territory’s status as a financial centre could be affected.
April 2022
Ex-security chief poised to be Hong Kong’s next leader
John Lee has reportedly been endorsed by China’s government to become chief executive on May 8.
Under its leader, Carrie Lam, Hong Kong changed forever
The chief executive struggled to manage the relationship with Beijing, stripping the city of many of its freedoms. Her tenure was marked by protests and a devastating COVID-19 outbreak.
HK leader Carrie Lam will not seek re-election
Ms Lam told her cabinet that she would not put herself up as a candidate to become chief executive for a second time.
Everyone in Hong Kong has been told to test for COVID-19
The city is struggling to contain its worst outbreak since the pandemic started, and so is Shanghai where another outbreak has placed about 25 million people under lockdown restrictions.
March 2022
Hong Kong to ease strict COVID-19 measures
A flight ban would be lifted from April 1, while hotel quarantine for arrivals could be cut to seven days from 14 if residents tested negative.
Hong Kong residents brace for citywide lockdown
Mass testing of the city’s 7.4 million residents is set to take place over nine days.
February 2022
Hong Kong morgues near capacity amid record COVID-19 cases
The city’s health infrastructure is being stretched to the limit, with doubts Hong Kong can maintain the strict zero-COVID strategy being pursued by China.
Hong Kong seeks property tycoons’ help to house COVID-19 patients
Sun Hung Kai Properties, Hong Kong’s largest developer, said the group has been in active talks with the government on using some hotels for COVID-19 patients.
Xi orders Hong Kong to tackle virus surge by ‘all measures’
The unusually direct intervention leaves the city’s leaders even less room to deviate from China’s COVID-zero policy.
January 2022
Fortress Hong Kong loses its lustre as COVID-19 rules bite
After it survived mass protests and a Chinese crackdown, the pandemic is shaping up as the biggest threat to Hong Kong’s status as an international business city.
Hong Kong to close primary schools, may vaccinate children
Hong Kong is reimposing some of its strictest virus curbs since the pandemic began, putting fresh strain on the financial hub’s economy.
Hong Kong suspends flights from eight countries, including Australia
The measures will deepen the city’s isolation from the outside world and mark a return to the tough restrictions imposed in the early days of the pandemic.
December 2021
Low turnout the true measure of Hong Kong voter sentiment
The low voter turnout in Sunday’s Legislative Council elections is a more accurate barometer of the political mood in the city than the results themselves, which are stacked in Beijing’s favour.
Pro-Beijing candidates sweep ‘patriots-only’ Hong Kong vote
The turnout of 30.2 per cent was almost half that of the previous legislative poll in 2016.
Hong Kong votes in overhauled ‘patriots-only’ election
The Legislative Council election – in which only candidates deemed by the government to be “patriots” can run – has been criticised by activists and rights groups.
October 2021
China doubles down on zero-COVID strategy
As Australia and the rest of the world prepares to open its borders, China is becoming increasingly isolated as it ramps up construction of mass quarantine centres around the country.
August 2021
Hong Kong’s Olympics success exposes deep political fissures
Euphoria over Hong Kong victories became politicised when crowds celebrating fencer Cheung Ka-long’s gold booed over the Chinese national anthem.