Our editors will be looking ahead today to these developing stories ...
France to honour its Hong Kong war dead
The city's French consulate will co-host a ceremony at Stanley cemetery to honour France's citizens who died fighting Japanese forces in December 1941 during the battle for the city. The daughter of one of those fighters buried in the cemetery, who was born a few weeks after he was killed, will read a witness' letter about her father's death.
Pre-trial court date for Carson Yeung
Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung Ka-shing (pictured) is expected in the District Court for a pre-trial review. In June, the 51-year-old was charged with five counts of money laundering involving HK$720 million. In September, fans welcomed a court decision blocking Yeung from leaving Hong Kong to visit the English soccer club. 'Fans need to focus their attention on supporting the players and staff rather than worrying who is or isn't in the directors' box,' a fan said.
Top think tank to review China's economy
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences releases its annual forecast and review of the nation's economy in Beijing. Premier Wen Jiabao has pledged to 'fine-tune' economic policies to sustain growth amid a deepening debt crisis in Europe, while his deputy Wang Qishan said it was certain that 'the global economic recession caused by the international financial crisis will be chronic'. On November 30, the central bank for the first time since 2008 lowered required reserves that banks must hold to ease monetary supply. Yesterday, Japanese bank Nomura cut its estimate for China's economic growth next year to 7.9 per cent from 8.6 per cent as investment in private housing slows and exports are moderate.