Public forum opens on obscenity ordinance

The first of two public forums to discuss the government's review of the Control of Obscene and Indecent Articles Ordinance takes place this evening in the Space Museum's lecture hall. The second will be held at Tsuen Wan Town Hall on June 6. The public consultation began in April, and will last until July 15, following concerns raised by the legal fraternity over the Obscene Articles Tribunal. The judiciary, Bar Association and Law Society say the tribunal's administrative and judicial functions should be separated.

More questions on C.Y.'s restructuring plan

The head of the chief executive-elect's office, Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, will be questioned by lawmakers for a second consecutive day on boss Leung Chun-ying's planned government revamp. The subcommittee's second meeting on the plan will scrutinise the proposed legislative amendments needed to reorganise the government secretariat, planned to include a new culture bureau and a new technology and communications bureau.

EU leaders discuss complaints about austerity

European Union leaders gather in Brussels for talks on how to boost growth, ahead of a scheduled EU summit next month. Today's extraordinary meeting was called by European Council president Herman van Rompuy (left) after heavily indebted countries, in particular Greece, complained about Germany's insistence on austerity and budget discipline, saying economic recovery is impossible without some stimulus measures.

IOC announces candidates to host 2020 Olympics

The International Olympic Committee's board, meeting in Quebec, Canada, is expected to name the candidate to host the 2020 Games. Applications from Doha, Istanbul, Baku, Tokyo and Madrid will be considered, after Rome withdrew in February on the instructions of the Italian government, which cited the country's economic difficulties. The IOC can eliminate some of the five applicant cities or declare all of them to be candidates. The 2020 host will be announced at an IOC meeting in Buenos Aires on September 7 next year. Many regard Tokyo as the favourite, followed by Madrid.

China watcher speaks on abuses by 'para-police'

Sophie Richardson (left), who oversees Human Rights Watch's work on China, returns to the Foreign Correspondents' Club to discuss the advocacy group's first China report for the year: Beat Him, Take Everything Away: Abuses by China's Chengguan Para-Police. Since its founding in 1997, the 'Urban Management Law Enforcement, or chengguan, a para-police agency tasked with enforcing non-criminal urban administrative regulations, has earned a reputation for excessive force and impunity', according to the FCC.