Talking points

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

Asean eyes on Chinese minister's visit to Singapore

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (left) visits Singapore today and tomorrow in a trip that will be closely watched by other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Yang will meet Singaporean counterpart K. Shanmugam, who said during his visit to Beijing in February that China is an extremely important partner of Singapore and a key player in the region. They are expected to discuss enhancing high-level interaction, boosting mutual trust and deepening co-operation. They are also expected to exchange views on international and regional issues, including South China Sea disputes.

Consultation on minimum wage ends

A public consultation on the statutory minimum wage rate ends. The eight-week consultation conducted by the Minimum Wage Commission will give some insights into whether the current minimum wage of HK$28 per hour - implemented a year ago - should be increased or remain unchanged. Workers have been fighting for it to rise to HK$33 an hour to combat inflation. The commission will report its findings at the end of October.

Ex-prime minister testifies at Fukushima inquiry

Former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is expected to testify before a parliamentary committee investigating last year's Fukushima nuclear disaster. The panel is to question Kan on his handling of the nuclear crisis after the 9.0-magnitude quake and tsunami on March 11 left crippled the nuclear power plant. About 19,000 people were killed by the record quake-tsunami, and tens of thousands more were displaced from the areas surrounding the radiation-leaking Fukushima plant. Kan stepped down five months later, partly over criticism of his handling of the aftermath of the disaster.

Annan meets Syrian officials in shadow of massacre

United Nations-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan arrives for fresh talks with senior officials in Damascus after a massacre left more than 90 people dead, including 32 children under the age of 10. The artillery barrage by government forces on Friday night was the worst violence since the start of Annan's bid to slow the flow of blood in Syria's uprising. Although the six-week-old ceasefire he negotiated has failed to stop the violence, the UN is nearing full deployment of a 300-strong unarmed observer force meant to monitor a truce. Annan's peace plan calls for a truce, withdrawal of troops from cities and dialogue between the government and opposition. The latest carnage underlined just how far Syria is from any negotiated path out of the 14-month-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

Wong Yuk-man details Chen Ran challenge

Outspoken lawmaker Wong Yuk-man (left) announces details of his plan to seek a judicial review to challenge the appointment of non-permanent resident Chen Ran (right) as a project officer in the Chief Executive-Elect's Office. Wong said the appointment of mainlander Chen, a former member of the Communist Youth League, was a violation of the Basic Law, which states public servants serving in any government department must be permanent residents. He said he would attend the Court of First Instance tomorrow to apply for the judicial review.