The Consulate General of Switzerland in Hong Kong - Press review

China seeks Swiss support amid calls for Winter Olympics boycott
In a phone call with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made an appeal urging Switzerland to help counter "malicious politicization" of sport amid international calls for a boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. SCMP, Nov 27

Beijing rejects report to US Congress regarding HK now authoritarian city as 'pack of lies'
Beijing has denounced a report by Washington's leading advisory group on China as "a pack of lies and far-fetched analogies" and firmly rejected the panel's assertion that the Hong Kong government has embraced authoritarianism. SCMP, Nov 18

Amnesty shutters Hong Kong office, ceases social media updates
Amnesty International's Hong Kong office ceased its operations in the city on Sunday, the human right concern group announced on its Facebook. The Standard, Nov 1

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hails establishment of new Asian-African arbitration centre in HK
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has hailed an agreement to establish a centre in Hong Kong to handle trade and investment disputes pertaining to Asia and Africa, saying it will strengthen the city's role as an arbitration hub. SCMP, Nov 29

Experts say Beijing's strict cybersecurity rules threaten HK's attempts to be Asia's data hub
Hong Kong's ambition to become a regional data and innovation hub is threatened by an increasingly complicated web of security data rules and outdated local ones that complicate the flow of data between the two territories, according to experts. SCMP. Nov 16

China's Communist Party backs Xi Jinping's firm hand on Hong Kong
The Chinese Communist Party in its landmark resolution endorsed President Xi Jinping's policies on Hong Kong and Taiwan as part of his major political achievements . Stronger control over Hong Kong and the reunification of Taiwan are goals that Xi does not wish to leave to future generations, observer notes. SCMP, Nov 12

Beijing doesn't owe HK universal suffrage: Carrie Lam
Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Thursday that it would be wrong for people to think that Beijing owes Hong Kong people universal suffrage. Lam added that the idea of having civic nomination for CE candidates is unacceptable, since it is inconsistent with the Basic Law. People who pit one country against two systems endanger national security, as well as Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, she added. RTHK, Nov 26

Chief Executive vows to "plug loopholes" in internet regulation
Chief Executive Lam has vowed to "proactively plug loopholes" in the city's internet regulation to ensure "fake news" circulating online does not "harm society". CE Lam also said the city's law enforcement will bolster its current efforts to clarify and target disinformati on on the internet. HKFP, Nov 25

Media sector should be self-regulating: Chief Secretary Lee
HK's Chief Secretary John Lee said the media industry could consider introducing rules to regulate itself against the spread of fake news. Lee said the government is doing a study to explore different ways to deal with the issue and he personally prefers self -regulation over legislation. SCMP, Nov 18

Hong Kong poverty rate jumps to historic high
Official figures released on Wednesday showed that the number of people facing poverty in Hong Kong rose sharply to more than 1.6 million last year – the highest since the administration set an official poverty line in 2013 – though the increase was offset by government handouts. The data showed that, before taking into account government support, the poverty rate was 23.6 percent of the population. That's up from 21.4 percent in 2019. RTHK, SCMP, Nov 10

HK news outlet Stand News nominated for Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Prize
Hong Kong digital news outlet Stand News has been nominated for the Reporters Without Borders (RSF)'s 2021 Press Freedom Prize for Independence. It comes just as its editor -in- chief announced his resignation over the weekend due to "family reasons." HKFP, Nov 9

Survey among Hong Kong journalists reveals growing concerns working in HK
The Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong has urged the government to reconsider its plan to pass a fake news law, as a survey found that more than 80 per cent of members believed press freedom in the city had deteriorated. In addition, 84% of the 99 journalists questioned said the working environment for the media in the city had "changed for the worse" since Beijing imposed the national security law in June last year. SCMP, Nov 5

HKEX chief says China expansion will bring "big bang of finance"
Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Nicolas Aguzin said China's continued expansion will bring about the next "big bang of finance" as the country will look outward to expand investments. The Standard, Nov 19

Average waiting time for public flat in HK increased to 5.9years, hitting 22-year high
Despite a long-standing Housing Authority pledge to allocate homes to applicants in no more than three years, the average waiting time for a public housing flat in HK has edged upwards to 5.9 years. As of the end of September, there were 254,500 unresolved applications for public housing. SCMP, Nov 11

Monetary Authority, BIS develop platforms for green bond investing
Hong Kong's de facto central bank and the Bank of International Settlements have developed two prototype platforms intended to give retail investors easier access to such debt and allow them to track the environmental impact in real time. BIS, Nov 4

Corporates plan Greater Bay push
International corporates are eyeing business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, where three in four are planning to invest or expand in the next three years, according to a bank's survey. The Standard, Nov 3

HK recovery on track with economy growing 5.4%in Q3, but rising inflation poses threat
The recent economic recovery seems to be stable inQ3 with 5.4% growth over the same period last year. However, the city faced growing pressure from inflation as a result of high overseas energy and commodities prices and global shipping costs. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said that HK is on track to hit about 6.5% growth this year but he also added that the average wage is failing to keep pace with inflation. SCMP1, Nov 1, SCMP2, Oct 31

Newly opened M+ museum displays works of Ai Weiwei, but in compliance with the law
Hong Kong's most ambitious museum ever, the M+, will not shy away from showcasing the work of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in spite of past accusations that one of his works breached the national security law, an official overseeing the institution has said. SCMP, Nov 11

Hong Kong completes first successful paired kidney donation under pilot scheme
Life-extending surgery made possible when two married couples willing to undergo live donation but deemed incompatible were successfully matched with each other. SCMP, Nov 3

Chinese science award recognises HK medical team's ground-breaking liver disease research
A Chinese University of HK medical research team's breakthrough research into non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its related cancer, which kills 700,000 people a year worldwide, has been recognized with a top science accolade in China. Also recognized is an engineering team at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology for their work preventing damage from unsaturated soil. SCMP, Nov 3

Omicron variant: Hong Kong tightens entry rules for residents arriving from high-risk countries
Hong Kong residents returning from countries with reported cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant that is now upending global travel will undergo 21 days of quarantine (7 days at the Government facility Penny's Bay and a further 14 days in a designated hotel) and be grouped in the highest-risk category, officials announced on Monday as the city confirmed its third such infection. SCMP, Nov 30

HK bans non-resident arrivals from 7 African states
Hong Kong authorities moved to ban non-residents who've spent time in seven African countries in the previous three weeks from entering the SAR. Meanwhile, lawmaker Michael Tien says he expects quarantine-free travel between Hong Kong and the mainland to resume soon, if the new Omicron variant doesn't torpedo the plan. RTHK, Nov 26

Chief Executive hopes for large quota for quarantine-free travel
Chief Executive Carrie Lam said that she hopes as many people as possible will soon be allowed quarantine-free travel across the border. Lam said her administration will strive to quickly finish preparatory work, including the introduction of a health code mobile phone app for contact-tracing and so that people can prove their health status. RTHK, Nov 26

Hong Kong set to fully reopen border with mainland
Chief Secretary John Lee said the city has in principle met the requirements for a full border reopening and the government was now ready to push ahead with quarantine -free travel with the mainland. Meanwhile, more Hongkongers want the government to prioritise resuming travel to mainland China over destinations overseas should Covid -19 restrictions be relaxed. RTHK, Nov 25

Hong Kong hasn't done enough to handle a resurgence, says health chief
HK hasn't done enough to preparefor a resurgence of the virus, Health Secretary Sophia Chan said, even as the city tightens measures in a bid to hasten quarantine-free travel with mainland China. Meanwhile, HK hit the government's goal of administeringat least one Covid-19 vaccine dose to 70% of the city's population, reaching the milestone nine months since the start of the inoculation drive. TS, Nov 24

Government approves Sinovac use for children as young as 3
The government has approved the use of the Sinovac vaccine for children as young as three years old, but agreed with its advisers that adolescents aged 12 to 17 will first be allowed to get the jab. RTHK, Nov 20

Border with mainland China to fully reopen to quarantine-free travel by June at latest
Hong Kong's border with mainland China will reportedly reopen fully to quarantine-free travel by June at the latest. SCMP, Nov 8

Quarantine-free Mainland-Macao-Hong Kong travel likely in near future
Quarantine-free travel between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao is in sight, Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong has said. Meanwhile, Macao closed its borders for people coming from eight African countries. Macao News, Nov 29

Macau registers 0.3%deflation in October
Macao registered a 0.3% deflation in the 12 months ending in October, compared to the period between November 2019 and October last year. Macau Business, Nov 24

Inflation creeps up in October
Hong Kong saw its overall consumer prices rise 1.7% year -on-year in October, which is higher compared to a rise of 1.4% in September, according to the latest data from the Census and Statistics Department. The Standard, Nov 23

Macao GDP grows by 27.5%in Q1- Q3
Macao's gross domestic product has increasedby 27.5% in real terms in the first three quarters of this year, with positive growth reported for two consecutive quarters, data from the Statistics and Census Bureau reveals. Macau Business, Nov 19

Gaming tax revenue reaches EUR 3.26bn by October
The Macao SAR has collected EUR 3.26bn in gaming taxes this year as of October, or about 60% of the estimate authorities expected to collect in 2021. Macau Business, Nov 19

Legislative Assembly approves 2022 budget draft proposal
The Legislative Assembly has unanimously approved the general draft for the 2022 public budget, with Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong vowing that social support policies will be maintained next year. Macau Business, Nov 11

Hengqin to further simplify customs clearance for goods between Macao and Guangdong
Hengqin will accelerate the implementation of the general plan for building the Guangdong- Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone and further simplify customs clearance for goods between Macao and Guangdong. Macau Business, Nov 2

Senior Beijing official says LegCo vetting results prove legislature would not be "one- sided"
A senior mainland Chinese official in HK has pointed to the 153 Legislative Council (LegCo) aspirants who passed vetting as proof the legislature would not be "one -sided", while also urging future lawmakers to help promote cross-border development. Chief Secretary John Lee said the revamped electoral system has attracted many newfaces and candidates from across the political spectrum to run for December's LegCo elections, dismissing concerns that the future LegCo will have no opposition. Furthermore, Chief Executive Lam said that arrangements for HKers to cast their votes on election day at polling stations at border points in the mainland will be announced soon. RTHK, SCMP, The Standard, Nov 20

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.

30.11.2021