Talking points

Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...

Henry Tang on air after his post-defeat holiday

Defeated chief executive candidate Henry Tang Ying-yen (left) talks about his political future with talk show host Albert Cheng King-hon, after returning from a holiday in America last week. Speaking on Cheng's debut show at digital broadcasting radio DBC, the former chief secretary is expected to talk politics, his next job and, possibly, his former rival, chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying.

Civil servants expect 5 to 8 per cent pay rise

Following yesterday's announcement of an 8.1 per cent pay rise for ministers, and the publication today of the annual pay trend survey, it will be the turn of the city's 160,000 civil servants to find out how their salaries will be adjusted for the remainder of the year. Major civil service bodies say they expect an upward revision that will exceed the rate of inflation, probably ranging between 5 and 8 per cent.

Picasso museum director unveils HK$6.7b exhibition

Anne Baldassari, director of the National Picasso Museum in Paris, unveils a collection of paintings and sculptures by Pablo Picasso worth HK$6.7 billion at the Heritage Museum in Sha Tin and discusses details of the exhibition, which will open to the public on Saturday.

Visiting US scholar speaks on China's former leaders

Ezra Vogel (left), the Harvard University scholar of contemporary East Asian history and culture, speaks at Chinese University on the relationship between former state leaders Deng Xiaoping , Zhou Enlai and Chen Yun . Vogel last year published a book, Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China, whose Chinese-language version is due to appear this month. Some critics, particularly in the West, argue Vogel took an apologist view of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown, but Vogel argues that Deng was determined to save China from disintegration. The book will not be published on the mainland 'because I have discussed and talked about things that are deemed not acceptable' to Beijing.

EU finance ministers discuss 2013 budget

European Union finance ministers meet in Brussels to discuss the bloc's draft budget for 2013. Among other items on the agenda is a proposal to amend the regulation of credit rating agencies 'to reduce excessive reliance on credit ratings, strengthen the independence of the agencies and improve the quality and transparency of ratings'. The meeting is also expected to discuss a new strategy for value-added taxation, updating age-related spending projections for the EU member states and funding for measures to adapt to and mitigate climate change.

Gem with royal past tipped to fetch up to US$4m

The Beau Sancy (left), a diamond weighing 34.98 carats, goes to auction in Geneva at one of three multimillion-dollar sales over as many days featuring the jewels of queens, film stars and billionaires. The stone has never had a non-royal owner since 1604, when it was bought by Henry IV of France for his wife, Marie de Medici, who wore it in her crown at her coronation. Sotheby's, which put the stone on display at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in late March, estimates its worth at between US$2 million and US$4 million.