Talking points

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

Chief executive rivals attend forum

Three of the chief executive contenders are expected to attend a forum hosted by the insurance industry's functional constituency. Despite the growing scandal over illegal alterations at his wife's Kowloon Tong house, Henry Tang Ying-yen (left) has refused to withdraw. If he is still in the race today he is scheduled to appear at the Boys' and Girls' Club Association in Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, at 4pm, followed by rivals Albert Ho Chun-yan at 4.45pm and Leung Chun-ying at 5.30pm.

Court hears appeal in permanent residency battle

The Court of Appeal starts hearing the government's appeal against a court order in favour of giving Evangeline Banao Vallejos, a Filipino domestic helper who has lived in Hong Kong since 1986, the right to apply for permanent residency. The Court of First Instance ruled in Vallejos' favour in September, leading to an outcry that an influx of new permanent residents would overburden the jobs market, the medical sector and public housing. The government estimates 125,000 helpers who have lived in the city for seven years or more will be entitled to apply if the ruling is upheld.

26 countries join to fight EU tax on aviation emissions

Twenty-six countries meet in Moscow to discuss ways to fight the European Union's trading scheme for aviation carbon emissions. The group, which includes China, Russia, India and the United States, says the EU tax on airlines is discriminatory. Measures to be discussed include following China in banning airlines from paying the charges. EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard (left), Denmark's former minister for the environment, has rejected calls to shelve the scheme.

Awards for Chinese websites with 'correct directions'

The China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Centre hands out annual awards for 'recommended' Chinese websites. To qualify, website content must conform to 'the socialist internet culture standard' and 'correct directions', and be healthy, up-to-date and popular. Previous winners include the mobile portal of People's Daily, Xinhua's 'Headlines' portal and Nanfang Daily's online commentary portal.

Data likely to show unemployment holding at 3.3pc

Unemployment figures for November-January are expected to show Hong Kong's jobless rate was steady at 3.3 per cent, as mainland tourists helped to underpin the economy. Retail sales grew 23 per cent year on year in October, with mainland visitor arrivals up 25 per cent over the same period. However, economists warn that the city will inevitably be affected by the euro-zone debt crisis, with JP Morgan Chase forecasting late last year that unemployment may rise to 3.8 per cent by the end of this year.

Animal rights group denounces bear bile IPO

Animals Asia Foundation (which released this picture of a bear at a farm in Vietnam) hosts a briefing in Beijing at which it is expected to call on securities authorities to reject a listing application filed by a company that uses bear bile in its products. Guizhentang Pharmaceutical, based in Fujian province , is seeking to list on the Shenzhen stock exchange. It says it has nothing to hide and will invite members of the public to visit its bear farms in Quanzhou city tomorrow and on Friday.