Talking points

City Hall hosts the ceremonial opening of the legal year, with Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li inspecting a ceremonial guard mounted by the police force at Edinburgh Place. He will address the gathering, followed by Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, Bar Association chairman Kumar Ramanathan and others.

Beijing begins conducting spot safety checks on large department stores and supermarkets in the lead-up to the Lunar New Year shopping spree. Every day two teams will draw lots to decide on four venues to check. Inspections will focus on fire hazards.