Talking points

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

Donald Tsang to attend his last Legco Q&A

After seven years in office, Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen attends his last question-and-answer session in Legco. Tsang, whose term ends on June 30, will face calls to resign from lawmakers angry at his use of luxury hotel suites on official trips and the yachts and private jets of his tycoon friends. Tsang's popularity rating has plummeted despite making a public apology after an audit report last month said his conduct had been unjustified. He may also face questions on whether Hong Kong needs to review its currency's US-dollar peg, in the wake of an academic paper released by Joseph Yam Chi-kwong, the city's former central banker.

Debate on public opinion in a new world

The World Association for Public Opinion Research holds its three-day annual conference at the University of Hong Kong, with more than 200 delegates taking part. The conference, hosted by HKU's public opinion programme, is being organised with the help of Fudan University in Shanghai and National Chengchi University in Taipei. The conference's website states that delegates will discuss 'new methodologies, new technologies, and new paradigms in the study of public opinion in the era of new media'.

Leung to spell out plans for tourism sector

Chief executive-elect Leung Chun-ying and his chief aide, Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, will hold a briefing on the consequences of his restructuring plan for the tourism industry. Leung, who takes office on July 1, has proposed splitting the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau into an industrial, commercial and tourism bureau and an information and technology bureau, while creating a third bureau for cultural affairs.

Britain, Argentina mark 30 years since Falklands war

The Falkland Islands' legislative assembly will hold a referendum on its political status, according to a statement marking today's 30th anniversary of the war between Britain and Argentina in which 649 Argentinians and 255 Britons died. Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner will be at the UN headquarters in New York today to push Buenos Aires' claim to the South Atlantic archipelago at the annual UN decolonisation committee hearings. A junior British foreign minister, Jeremy Browne, is visiting the Falklands.

Tony Blair to discuss faith in HKU speech

Former British prime minister Tony Blair, founder of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, will give a speech at the University of Hong Kong on 'the impact of faith and globalisation on Hong Kong and the wider region'. Organisers say Blair will discuss how globalisation erodes traditional borders, and integrates people and their beliefs. His speech, in the Rayson Huang Theatre, on the main campus, will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A session.

CPI data to raise fears of world recession

Consumer price index data from both sides of the Atlantic are expected to show that weakening consumer demand is pushing inflation sharply lower, increasing fears of a global recession. CPI data from the US is expected to show the CPI rose 1.8 per cent year on year in May, down from 2.3 per cent previously. Euro-zone CPI data is expected to show that inflation eased to 2.4 per cent in May, from 2.6 per cent in April.