Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor deflected criticism of a population policy consultation paper, saying the government would do its best to assess the manpower needs of the local economy.

The government has given mixed messages over whether a leaked document - stating there was no justification for denying any of the three applicants free-to-air television licences - was a genuine paper discussed in the Executive Council.

A University of Hong Kong poll conducted earlier this month put his latest rating at 48.1 points, 1.3 points lower than the rating the same source gave him in September.

The head of the Equal Opportunities Commission has condemned lawmakers for a newspaper advertisement he says might promote discrimination against mainland migrants, amid growing cross-border tension.

Hongkongers could turn their voices into votes on contentious issues following the completion of a new civil referendum platform next month.

For the first time since the overspending scandal at the Independent Commission Against Corruption erupted, its former chief Timothy Tong Hin-ming admitted yesterday that he had made mistakes. But he insisted he was an honest man.

A top mainland official in charge of Hong Kong affairs yesterday urged the city's political appointees to improve their sensitivity when it comes to policies which have an impact on the mainland.

Up to 3,000 people are expected to be involved in a series of meetings over the next two months to come up with "democratic principles" for the next chief executive election.

The Legislative Council's summer recess has not necessarily been a time of rest. Some have taken the chance to take sponsored official trips; others have been busy meeting with voters to shore up support; opposition figures have been limbering up for the new term. They have been joined by an unlikely bedfellow.