The Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong - Press review

Increase training and pay for Hong Kong aviation technicians or face serious labour shortage, unions warn (SCMP, August 2): Aviation unionists in the city warned that the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy is failing to tackle a looming shortage of airport technicians with the third runway due for completion in 2024. They pointed to a "mismatch" between skill needs and training, saying that the academy offered no courses for technicians despite the growing demand for such jobs. A total of 73,000 people currently work at the airport. Once the HK$141 billion third runway is operational, an additional 50,000 staff will be required by 2030. Unionists also said young people were not willing to become technicians because of the low pay.

Hong Kong leader backs proposal to dump 'miserly' fiscal philosophy (SCMP, August 4): Chief Executive Carrie Lam hailed as "constructive" Joseph Yam's idea that the approach of past administrations had put a drag on economic development and the new government should ramp up spending, even going into deficit if it was in the public interest. Lam also said the provision in the Basic Law on fiscal management should not be interpreted too rigidly. Article 107 requires Hong Kong to "follow the principle of keeping expenditure within the limits of revenues in drawing up its budget" and to "strive to achieve a fiscal balance, avoid deficits", keeping the budget commensurate with GDP growth.

Tax breaks in store for Hong Kong start-ups as city struggles to stay competitive (SCMP, August 6): Small and medium-sized enterprises in Hong Kong can look forward to more tax incentives as the government tries to counter competition from regional rivals offering lower rates. To ensure the city stops losing young talent to regional rivals such as Singapore, South Korea and mainland China, Chief Executive Carrie Lam, who took up the top job in Hong Kong last month, has put tax reform on her agenda. Her administration is now in the process of formulating two tax policies, which Lam promised in her election manifesto, favouring SMEs and start-ups. The first is a two-tier profits tax system which will lower the rate for the first HK$2 million of corporate profits to 10 per cent, from the current 16.5 per cent. The second proposal, meanwhile, will offer additional tax deductions on expenses related to research and developments, as well as environmental protection, art and design initiatives.

UnionPay ATM withdrawals to come under closer scrutiny in Hong Kong, as they are in Macau (SCMP, August 7): The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has instructed local banks to submit data on cash withdrawals by UnionPay cards throughout the city's automated teller machine (ATM) network, as the regulator cracks down on unauthorised capital outflow from the mainland. Commercial banks must submit data and documentation regarding the volume and timing of the withdrawals by UnionPay cards for the first six months of 2017 to the regulator by this week, according to a notice cited by the Apple Daily newspaper. An HKMA spokesperson declined to comment. The move, follows a similar step up in enforcement in May by Macau's monetary authorities, and closes a loophole in China's capital remittance regulations, that has thus far focused on the ability by companies to transfer money out of the country, said ING Bank NV's economist Iris Pang.

Hong Kong residents to get equal rights in key areas on the mainland, report states (SCMP, August 9): Beijing is planning to offer Hongkongers the same privileges as their mainland counterparts when studying, working or living across the border, starting with education, finding jobs, and some social benefits. The announcement, in a report issued by the official •Xinhua news agency, coincided with calls by President Xi Jinping to make it "more convenient" for Hongkongers to "study, work and live on the mainland" so that the city could take advantage of national development opportunities. It also came as Chief Executive Carrie Lam wrapped up her four-day visit to the capital focusing on forging closer ties.

Hong Kong to get formal role in Beijing's belt and road plan (SCMP, August 10): Hong Kong has been promised stronger support from Beijing in developing its economy, with plans to establish a formal role for the city in the "Belt and Road Initiative" and boost communication on the development of the Greater Bay Area plan for the Pearl River Delta region. Chief Executive Carrie Lam outlined the initiatives as she concluded her four-day visit to Beijing, during which she called on 16 ministries and organisations. Lam described her visit as "fruitful" and "down-to-earth",adding both sides had agreed to discuss the signing of an agreement to fully leverage Hong Kong's advantages in professional services and finance. "They expressed support for Hong Kong to develop into an international financial hub," Lam said after meetings with senior officials from the People's Bank of China and regulatory commissions. She also revealed that foreign minister Wang Yi expressed support for Hong Kong to play a bigger role in the international arena, like the setting up of more trade offices in belt and road countries. The initiative is Beijing's blueprint to link various economies into a China-centric trade network.

Hong Kong growth target raised 1 percentage point amid faster than expected surge (SCMP, August 12): The Hong Kong government upgraded the city's full-year economic growth target after strong stock and property markets and an improved global environment propelled the economy to faster than expected growth in the second quarter of this year. But economists warned that geopolitical tensions including intensified rhetoric between the United States and North Korea as well as the recent border dispute between China and India had cast a shadow over regional financial markets. Gross domestic product in the second quarter grew 3.8 per cent, following growth of 4.3 per cent in the previous quarter, according to official figures. It beat the 3.3 per cent average forecast by analysts.

Expert urges Hong Kong to tax bigger companies more to ease HK$5 billion revenue loss from proposed reform (SCMP, August 18): The Hong Kong government can reduce the financial impact from its proposed profits tax reform, estimated to cost authorities about HK$5 billion in annual revenue, by imposing higher rates (no higher than 17 per cent) on companies making more than HK$2 million in profits, a senior researcher at a think tank founded by the city's first chief executive Tung Chee-hwa has suggested. The city aims to introduce a two-tier tax system, which would entail lowering the tax rate for the first HK$2 million of profits to 10 per cent, from the current 16.5 per cent, to help ease the burden on smaller businesses.

China firms lose appetite for Hong Kong assets after Beijing tightens capital controls (SCMP, August 22): Mainland Chinese companies, the big money behind Hong Kong's real estate market since 2015, will see a decline in their investment appetite for the city's assets following Beijing's tighter capital controls on overseas investments, pushing down property prices over the medium term, say analysts. Even though individual mainland Chinese buyers accounted for only 4 per cent of total residential transaction volumes in the last 12 months, the biggest impact of the tighter policy would be on Hong Kong's land market, and that could gradually affect sentiment on residential prices, investment bank Morgan Stanley predicts.

Alibaba's Jack Ma wants role in helping Hong Kong become 'fashionable', cashless society (SCMP, August 24): Alibaba founder Jack Ma has offered to play a bigger role in helping Hong Kong develop into a "more fashionable", cashless society. The boss of China's e-commerce giant expressed the group's ambition during a meeting with visiting Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam in Hangzhou. Lam's stopover was a key item on her itinerary during a two-day trip to Shanghai and Hangzhou to call on political and business leaders in order to foster closer economic cooperation. Ma said Hong Kong was a global city benefiting from the "one country, two systems" principle, which allowed it to enjoy the benefits of both the capitalist system and policy support from mainland China. Before going to Hangzhou, Lam called on Shanghai Communist Party secretary Han Zheng and mayor Ying Yong. During the meeting, she noted the close relations between the two cities and hoped her visit could lift cooperation between them to a "higher platform".

Retail sales in Hong Kong see highest growth in over two years thanks to local consumption (SCMP, August 30): A stock market boom and rising property prices in July prompted Hong Kong retail sales to grow at their fastest rate in more than two years, potentially spelling the end of a years- long downturn. July sales jumped 4 per cent compared with the same period last year, significantly higher than the 0.1 per cent growth in the previous month, government statistics revealed on August
29. Industry insiders attributed the stronger-than-expected growth to robust local consumption and improved inbound tourism, and expected the trend to continue in the second half of the year with support of a stable labour market. This would put an end to a two-year contraction of the city's once- booming industry, as big-spending mainland shoppers flew elsewhere to buy luxuries. Retail sales in the city dropped for 25 consecutive months until a mild rebound in March.

Dual-class shares top agenda at financial leaders' forum in new push by Hong Kong government (SCMP, August 31): A contentious proposal to allow dual share listings on Hong Kong's bourse emerged top of the agenda at an inaugural meeting of financial heavyweights initiated by the chief executive, signalling the government's determination to reform the city's capital markets. Financial Secretary Paul Chan confirmed the attendees had discussed whether to allow dual-class share companies to list in the city after receiving separate briefings from Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). A government statement quoted Chan as saying at the closed-door meeting: "The Government attaches great importance to enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness as an international financial centre. While we endeavour to uphold market quality, we should also actively seek to further develop and broaden our capital markets." Many major technology companies such as Facebook and Google offer dual-class shares, which allow some shareholders to have more rights than others. Unlike the US, Hong Kong bars such shares, favouring the principle of "one share, one vote".

Christine Choi becomes deputy at Education Bureau, as government unveils political appointees to serve government ministers (SCMP, August 1): A pro-Beijing school principal was officially appointed Hong Kong's new education undersecretary despite strong opposition, as the government unveiled its first batch of political appointees to serve government ministers. The awarding of the job to Christine Choi could herald more conflict between the administration of Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the city's pro-democracy bloc of politicians, which expressed fierce objections to her taking on the role due to her Beijing-friendly stance. Critics fear the appointment of Choi to take up the position could mean her spearheading the return of a campaign to implement a controversial national education curriculum under Lam. Eighteen people were selected to join Lam's administration as undersecretaries and political assistants who serve government ministers.

Third top cop joins Hong Kong's Security Bureau, raising eyebrows among lawmakers and concern groups (SCMP, August 1): Concerns have been raised over the leadership of Hong Kong's Security Bureau after all the top three positions became filled for the first time by senior police officers. The government announced it would appoint director of crime and security Sonny Au as the new security undersecretary. Au will join two other former senior police officers leading the bureau and formulating the city's security policies. "Having all police minds and one thinking mode is not good for nurturing good security policy. No checks and balances. The bureau is very likely to be biased against human rights and freedoms," Security veteran and lawmaker James To said.

New Hong Kong coalition seeks to collect 300,000 signatures to block express rail link plan (SCMP, August 3): Opponents of a controversial plan to allow mainland law to be enforced on the Hong Kong side of the cross-border high-speed rail link to Guangzhou formed a coalition to derail it. Dozens of academics, serving and former lawmakers, professionals and university student union leaders put on a show of solidarity at a press conference. The group argued that the plan violated the city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, by applying national laws in Hong Kong. But the government's counter is that it could seek authorisation from the National People's Congress Standing Committee under Article 20 of the Basic Law to lease out part of the terminus to mainland authorities so that national laws can be applied there.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam pledges to set up civil service training academy after visiting facility in Singapore (SCMP, August 4): Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has pledged to set up the city's first academy for its 170,000 civil servants in the face of new challenges after touring a similar facility in Singapore, viewed by many as the city's sharpest regional competitor. Lam added that public servants in Hong Kong were unaccustomed to "thinking out of the box" and should embrace new technology as the city state did. Lam said she had found it difficult to push Hong Kong officials to use new technologies and share data.

Hong Kong leader reminded of need to strengthen national education of young (SCMP, August 7): Mainland China's education minister reminded Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam of President Xi Jinping's instructions on the need to strengthen young people's education on the Chinese constitution, Basic Law, and Chinese history and culture. Chen Baosheng also assured Lam that his ministry would spare no efforts in helping the city address "all questions" and responding to "all requests" on education. Chen raised the issue with Lam during a meeting in Beijing, a move seen by some political analysts as Beijing pressuring Lam to revive national education in Hong Kong. Professor Lau Siu-kai, a vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, a semi-official mainland think tank, said: "Like it or not, Lam must do something to enhance national education in Hong Kong. That is already a political order."

Carrie Lam rejects idea to limit power of China's officers at joint checkpoint in Hong Kong, or defer launch for consultation (SCMP, August 10): Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam rejected suggestions to limit the power of mainland officers operating under the controversial joint checkpoint plans for the cross-border express rail link terminus. She also said she would not defer the launch of the project to allow time for more consultations. In Hong Kong, Maria Tam, a member of the Basic Law Committee under the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that due to national security, mainland officers should be allowed to exercise their powers fully in their section of the terminus.

Hong Kong police investigate democracy activist's claim he was kidnapped and tortured by mainland China agents (SCMP, August 13): Hong Kong police have promised a full investigation into a democracy activist's claim that he was kidnapped in broad daylight by agents from the mainland on one of the city's busy thoroughfares, drugged, tortured and dumped at a beach. Democratic Party member Howard Lam said on August 11 his abductors punched staples into his legs during his ordeal, which he linked to his intention to send a signed postcard from Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi to Liu Xia, widow of the late mainland dissident, Liu Xiaobo.

Hong Kong activist makes bail but barred from travel over alleged misleading of police with China agents kidnap claim (SCMP, August 18): A democracy activist Howard Lam, who claimed he was kidnapped and tortured by mainland Chinese agents, was released on bail but barred from leaving Hong Kong as he appeared in court to face a charge of misleading police. Lam is accused of knowingly misleading a detective police constable on August 11 and feeding him with false information about being abducted in Kowloon.

Jailing Hong Kong's three young Occupy leaders 'will deter others from joining protests' (SCMP, August 18): The Hong Kong Court of Appeal which sent three young Occupy leaders to jail warned against what one judge called the "unhealthy trend" of advocating civil disobedience, while observers feared the ruling would intimidate people into staying away from future pro-democracy drives. While the city's democracy activists pledged to maintain their campaigns even if allies were jailed, a criminal lawyer said the lower courts, which used to value young defendants' ideals, would have to follow the Court of Appeal's "deterrence" principle in handing down future sentences. The ruling – which sees Joshua Wong, Alex Chow and Nathan Law sent to jail for six to eight months – was the government's second successful attempt in a week to seek tougher sentences for protesting activists. Court of Appeal vice-president Wally Yeung slammed the "unhealthy trend" in which intellectuals advocated the idea of civil disobedience.

Protesters turn out in force against jailing of Hong Kong activists (SCMP, August 21): Tens of thousands took to the streets of Hong Kong to condemn the jailing of young pro-democracy activists over illegal protests, even as the city's leading legal professionals warned against painting recent court rulings as political persecution. Organisers claimed the rally was the biggest since the Occupy protests of 2014 while police put the figure at a more conservative 22,000. Democracy campaigners are now hoping it will rejuvenate their movement which has been faltering since the Occupy protests. Political commentator Chung Kim-wah said high turnout was expected as Hongkongers felt a strong sense of oppression in the face of the government's crackdown on activists, including the disqualification of pro- democracy lawmakers over oath-taking. The Bar Association and the Law Society, the city's two biggest groups of legal professionals, took an unprecedented step on August 18 to jointly defend judicial independence and the rule of law.

Accusations of political motivation in activist jailings 'totally unfounded', Hong Kong's chief executive Carrie Lam says (SCMP, August 22): Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam has rejected as "unfounded" and "irresponsible" accusations from critics at home and abroad that the recent jailings of 16 young pro-democracy activists were politically motivated, as she mounted a stout defence of the judiciary. Addressing what she described as "groundless attacks" against the institution, the chief executive warned of a possible adverse impact on the judiciary. The consequences, she said could damage Hong Kong, as the foundations of the city's success lay in having an independent judiciary and upholding the rule of law. In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying also urged people to respect the independence of Hong Kong's judiciary.

Justice chief rejects claims of ulterior motive behind sentence review that jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy activists (SCMP, August 24): Hong Kong's justice minister Rimsky Yuen has rejected "groundless" accusations that the government had an "ulterior motive" in securing tougher sentences for three young pro-democracy activists, who were jailed for six to eight months as a result. Yuen, also a former Bar Association chairman, added that while the public had a right to discuss judicial decisions, it was "regrettable that some of the comments sought to attack our judiciary" or undermine its integrity or impartiality.

Chief executive dismisses suggestions that Hong Kong has entered 'era of authoritarian rule of law' (SCMP, August 27): Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam dismissed suggestions that the city had entered an "era of authoritarian rule of law" as she claimed she was not a fan of stirring up conflict. "I am not a person who likes to create social conflicts ... Some people worry that [the city]has entered the so-called 'authoritarian rule of law era' and that the SAR government will make use of the legal system to oppress or divide society. I have to stress clearly that this is neither going to happen nor is it my direction of governance," Lam said.

Ousted pro-independence Hong Kong lawmakers to sit out Legco by-elections (SCMP, August 28): Two ousted pro-independence Hong Kong lawmakers said they would not contest the upcoming by-elections as they did not see the point of trying after the city's top court refused their appeals. The Court of Final Appeal on August 25 rejected a final bid by Youngspiration members Yau Wai-ching and Sixtus Baggio Leung to be reinstated in the Legislative Council. The decision halted their political careers and between them they now face a HK$12 million bill, mostly in legal fees. The two said they would not be candidates in the Legco by-elections to be held to fill their vacated seats. The pair's antics featured anti-China slogans and banners in the Legco chamber. They prompted Beijing to issue an interpretation of the Basic Law, Hong Kong's mini-constitution, and make such offences punishable by disqualification.

Carrie Lam urges Hongkongers not to be 'overly sensitive' about new Chinese national anthem law (SCMP, August 30): Hong Kong's leader has urged residents not to be "overly sensitive" about a new mainland law curbing abuse of the national anthem, which the city must soon adopt. Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she saw no difficulty in enacting a local law to implement the national one, comparing it with how the city adopted legislation on the national flag and emblem in the past without trouble. Her assurances came after two influential Beijing newspapers reported on August 28 that the National People's Congress Standing Committee would officially propose inserting a national anthem law into Annexe III of the Basic Law, the city's mini-constitution, at its bimonthly meeting in October.

Foreign politicians call for release of Hong Kong's 'political prisoners' Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow (SCMP, August 19): A group of foreign politicians, lawyers and activists has condemned Hong Kong's jailing of three young democracy activists who stormed a government building, calling them "political prisoners" and demanding their release. The 25 international figures who came to the trio's defence included former British foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, US congressman Christopher Smith, Canadian MP Garnett Genuis and Mohamed Nasheed, former president of the Maldives. They urged "the international community to put pressure on the governments of the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to respect the principles of 'one country, two systems' and the Basic Law in Hong Kong". The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the jailings were an internal affair, and that it "firmly opposes any external forces' interference in Hong Kong's internal affairs and judicial independence."

UK diplomat stresses importance of upholding Sino-British Joint Declaration for Hong Kong (SCMP, August 25): A British diplomat overseeing Asian affairs has said there is a growing tendency for concerns over Beijing's role in Hong Kong affairs to "become much more cause célèbre", and said London must reassert the importance of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Yet, Mark Field, the UK minister of state for Asia and the Pacific, also said the "one country, two systems" framework was in good shape, and declined to take a strong stance on the recent jailings of prominent political activists by a Hong Kong court. Field was in Hong Kong as part of his Asian tour, after visiting Beijing on August 22. The minister separately met the city's chief executive Carrie Lam and seven Hong Kong lawmakers from both sides of the political divide.

Hong Kong's online shoppers reminded to be vigilant as police admit they cannot help growing numbers of scam victims (SCMP, August 5): Hongkongers are being reminded to protect themselves from joining a growing group of online shopping scam victims in the city, as police favour targeting lucrative scam syndicates over one-off scammers. Senior police officers insisted they had secured convictions in some of the biggest cases of shop scams, which involve the seller taking an online payment for advertised goods, but never actually sending the product. The number of reported online shopping frauds rose to 872 between January and June this year, up from 559 a year before, marking a 56 per cent increase.

Hong Kong graft-buster calls for more power to probe misconduct at highest levels (SCMP, August 7): Independent Commission Against Corruption ICAC Director of Investigation (Government Sector) Ricky Yu said the graft-buster had always hoped that the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance could be reviewed in light of the offence of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, which was used in Hong Kong for the first time in the High Court drama of 2014 (a case against former chief secretary Rafael Hui). He called for changes that would allow the ICAC to exercise the same power during a misconduct investigation as it did when tackling corruption. Such a change could have an effect on the investigation – if still ongoing – into former chief executive Leung Chun-ying.

About 20 Indonesian domestic workers on Hong Kong police watch list over Islamic State links (SCMP, August 14): Hong Kong police are monitoring about 20 Indonesian domestic workers in the city out of a list of 43 that a think tank said were linked to terror group Islamic State, the Post has learned. The rest left Hong Kong earlier, a source with knowledge of the police probe said. Indonesia's top diplomat in the city, Tri Tharyat, said separately that his consulate had intensified efforts to stop Indonesians from becoming radicalised in the city. The police contacted most of those still in the city for interviews, the source added, and found they were IS sympathisers with no direct connection to the group. They supported certain IS religious ideologies, but had shown no violent intent. "Even though they were only sympathisers, the police will still be keeping an eye on them," the source said.

Hong Kong public hospitals need additional 100 internal medicine doctors, college says (SCMP, August 2): The city's public hospitals are facing a shortage of at least 100 doctors specialising in internal medicine amid growing demand arising from the peak flu season and the ageing population, according to the Hong Kong College of Physicians. College president Professor Philip Li called on the government to hire more public doctors as the existing number had failed to catch up with the growth in patient numbers over the past few years. Li said currently each doctor had to take care of up to 25 patients in a medical ward, while an ideal ratio should be 12 to 15 patients.

Hong Kong's first cancer centre to provide advanced treatments for city's biggest killer (SCMP, August 7): Cancer patients in Hong Kong will receive more advanced and timely treatments once the city's first cancer centre begins operations in eight years. "In future, patients can benefit from laboratory discoveries directly," Professor Gabriel Leung, dean of the medicine faculty at the University of Hong Kong, said. The project, made possible with a HK$1.24 billion donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, will redevelop the public Grantham Hospital into the city's first comprehensive cancer centre. Facilities comprise a top-notch therapy base, clinical research hub as well as a facility providing psychological support for sufferers and their caregivers.

All European Union eggs to be inspected, Hong Kong food watchdog announces amid safety scare (SCMP, August 15): All poultry eggs in Hong Kong imported from European Union countries are to be held for inspection, the city's food watchdog announced. Effective immediately, the decision by the Centre for Food Safety is the latest precaution taken locally since eggs from Dutch farms were found earlier this month to contain unsafe levels of an insecticide. The scandal spread as tainted eggs were found in 15 EU states and Switzerland as well as Hong Kong. Eggs imported to the city from the Netherlands were found to exceed the local legal limit for Fipronil, a highly toxic pest control chemical banned from the production of food. Poultry eggs from the EU account for less than two per cent of all poultry eggs imported to the city.

Summer flu season in Hong Kong is ending, senior health official says (SCMP, August 15): Hong Kong's flu crisis may be over as the summer season is waning and the number of patients admitted to public hospitals has dropped significantly, according to a senior Hospital Authority official. Dr Dominic Tsang, the authority's chief infection control officer, also dismissed speculation the city's wave posed as severe a threat as Severe acute respiratory syndrome [Sars] did in 2003, saying the two were "incomparable". More than 15,000 flu patients have been admitted to public hospitals since the start of the summer flu season in early May.

38 out of 60 shampoos found to contain harmful manufacturing solvent in tests by Hong Kong consumer watchdog (SCMP, August 16): Hong Kong's consumer watchdog has found 38 out of 60 shampoo samples it tested contained a harmful solvent used in manufacturing, with seven exceeding the limit recommended by the European Union. The Consumer Council also found 20 per cent of the shampoos contained allergy-causing preservatives, and one even tested positive for a heavy metal. But the agency insisted none of the samples constituted an "immediate" health risk, and only urged those with sensitive skin to be extra cautious when making their choices.

Questions over two-day delay on notice of palm oil spill that left 11 Hong Kong beaches closed (SCMP, August 7): Environmental experts have questioned why it took two days for mainland authorities to inform Hong Kong about a ship collision and palm oil spill that left nearly a dozen local beaches closed to the public. City University chair professor of biology Paul Lam said the spill did not amount to an environmental disaster but was "not a good thing". "Palm oil is a crystallised liquid … which will slowly be decomposed by micro-organisms. The problem is that it is a real eyesore for beachgoers," he said. He agreed that the notification mechanism needed to be faster and information flow more transparent. A Marine Department spokesman confirmed two ships had collided somewhere in the Pearl River estuary, in mainland waters and said that had caused some of the vessel's cargo, palm oil, to leak into the sea.

Tracking Hong Kong's litter trail all the way to Taiwan (SCMP; August 14): Up to 40 per cent of litter dropped on Hong Kong's streets may end up polluting the city's waters or being washed ashore as far away as Taiwan, a study involving floating balls with GPS trackers dropped in drains has suggested. Global conservation group WWF used 100 of the GPS devices to track the trash in the city's storm drains and rivers. And its researchers called on the public and the government to curb street-level littering and manage drains better to cut it off at source. Though most of the drifters remained in Hong Kong waters, some ventured overseas.

Palm oil that spilled onto Hong Kong's beaches turned into crude gasoline (SCMP, August 18): Half of the palm oil washed ashore on beaches two weeks ago will be turned into 50 tons of crude gasoline to go on sale next week, according to a biodiesel company. Two hundred tons of white, jelly- like oil clumps washed up on Hong Kong's beaches after two ships collided in the Pearl River estuary 4km southwest of the city, resulting in one of the worst environmental cases in recent years. Almost all palm oil has now been cleared from the city's beaches and 11 out of the 13 that were closed have been reopened.

Hong Kong government launches foreign trips aimed at improving teachers (SCMP, August 2): A total of 150 teachers in secondary public schools are expected to benefit from a three-year government programme sending them on a "unique learning experience" in foreign countries, in the hope of improving teaching. The government will spend HK$28 million paying for the trips to either Finland or Australia, and hiring substitute teachers to cover them. Teachers who travel to Finland will learn more about unorthodox teaching methods. Those taking courses in Australia will learn more about teaching pupils with special needs. Only regular full-time teachers serving in government-aided or Direct Subsidy Scheme secondary schools, with at least five years of teaching experience, are eligible to apply.

Digital radio in Hong Kong dies with bow out of RTHK channels (SCMP, August 12): Hong Kong's last remaining digital radio channels will go off the air next month, public broadcaster RTHK announced, putting the final nail in the coffin for the city's ill-fated digital audio broadcasting policy. Three other commercial licensees – Metro Broadcast, Phoenix U and Digital Broadcasting Corporation
– pulled out of the market between 2015 and 2016, making RTHK the sole operator of digital radio services. The introduction of digital radio services was first announced by former chief executive Donald Tsang in 2009, following the successful roll-out of digital television in 2007.

Composition of Hong Kong school boards may be reviewed, education No 2 says (SCMP, August 20): The Hong Kong government may review the composition of school boards in the wake of controversy over governance at government-subsidised Hing Tak School in Tuen Mun. Undersecretary for Education Christine Choi also pledged to look into how to bring about a balance of power between the Education Bureau and schools. The saga at Hing Tak School, which was accused of exaggerating pupil numbers to secure funding, raised concerns about the current school-based management model for public institutions, which gives boards more financial freedom and full powers in matters such as promoting teachers.

Hong Kong and Macau graduates from mainland Chinese universities struggle to stay and find jobs (SCMP, August 21): Fewer than four in 10 Hong Kong and Macau students who graduated from mainland universities eventually work on the mainland, survey findings have shown, even though 80 per cent of current students are willing to take on a job there. The poll, which looked at more than 300 Hong Kong and Macau students and graduates of 15 mainland universities, found their identity and tough competition were their biggest challenges. The study was carried out from 2015 to this year by the Beijing Institute of Hong Kong and Macau Scholars. According to the Ministry of Education, 15,320 students from Hong Kong and 16,432 from Macau and Taiwan were attending universities on the mainland as of October 2016.

Outgoing HKU vice-chancellor rejects calls to sack Occupy leader and legal scholar Benny Tai (SCMP, August 31): The departing vice-chancellor of the University of Hong Kong rejected calls to oust Benny Tai Yiu-ting, the •controversial legal scholar and co-founder of the 2014 Occupy •protests. Professor Peter Mathieson revealed that he had recently received a handful of requests to remove Tai from the institution's law faculty. "I read these letters and don't agree with them all and I don't expect to agree with everybody. We have our procedures for taking actions against students and staff if we think they infringe the regulations of the university," Mathieson said.

Is Donald Trump considering Macau casino bid? (SCMP, August 7): A company representing US President Donald Trump has applied for a casino trademark in Macau. DTTM Operations LLC, a Delaware-based company responsible for handling the ownership of dozens of trademarks for the president, filed four applications in Macau under the brand name "Trump" in June. Among the applications for trademarks was one for gambling and casino services and facilities. The licences of Macau's six casino operators begin to expire on March 31, 2020. It is still unclear whether the six will be allowed to continue operating in the city, and if new bidders will be allowed into the market. Experts said it was too early to tell how supportive Beijing would be of a gaming project involving the current US president in Macau.

People's Liberation Army in historic deployment to help Macau after Hato (SCMP, August 26): At the request of the Macau government, the PLA garrison based in the casino hub after its return to Chinese sovereignty in 1999 took the unprecedented step of deploying 1,000 soldiers to help with the recovery effort after Typhoon Hato. The unprecedented move came a day after Macau Chief Executive Fernando Chui apologised for being ill-prepared for the disaster brought by Hato, which left 10 people killed and more than 200 injured and tens of thousands without power or water. Macau's government said the PLA was asked to help in accordance with the city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, as well as the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Garrisoning of the Macau Special Administrative Region.

Singapore beats Hong Kong in liveability rankings for first time (SCMP, August 16): Hong Kong is officially less liveable than Singapore, according to the latest Economist Intelligence Unit survey, with the Lion City coming out ahead for the first time thanks to improvements in education. In the annual liveability report produced by the think tank, Hong Kong fell two places to 45th in the overall table, while Singapore managed to leap 11 spots to 35th. "In fact, it is worth remembering that, although 10 ranking places now separate Hong Kong and Singapore, the difference between them is marginal at just 1.6 per cent, and both comfortably sit in the top tier of liveability where there are few, if any, challenges to lifestyle," Roxana Slavcheva, one of the report's authors, said.

14 missing after massive landslide in Swiss Alps engulfs homes (AFP, SCMP, August 25): As many as 14 people are feared missing after a massive landslide swept away a mountainside in the Swiss Alps, ripping apart buildings and forcing the evacuation of a village, police said. The landslide sent mud, rocks and dirt flooding down the Piz Cengalo mountain into the outskirts of the village of Bondo, near the Italian border. About 100 people were evacuated, some airlifted out by helicopters. Andrea Mittner of the Graubunden police said a massive search-and-rescue operation was scouring a five square kilometre area, involving about 120 emergency workers, helicopters and rescue dogs.

This is a review of the Hong Kong media and does not necessarly represent the opinion of the Consulate General of Switzerland. The Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong does not bear any responsibility for the topicality, correctness, completeness or quality of the information provided. Liability claims regarding damage caused by the use of any information provided, including any kind of information which might be incomplete or incorrect, will therefore be rejected.

31.8.2017