https://www.scmp.com/rss/276019/feed Matthew Cheung Kin-chung is chief secretary of Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com It has been over 23 years since Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty. Yet very few people in Hong Kong, let alone the international community, are aware of and understand the relationship between the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), as well as the constitution’s importance for Hong Kong. The time is long overdue for us to grasp this key issue so that we can correctly understand the relationship between... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3112264/understanding-how-chinas-constitution-relates-hong-kongs-basic-law?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3112264/understanding-how-chinas-constitution-relates-hong-kongs-basic-law?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Dec 2020 22:45:10 +0000 The Hong Kong government’s proposal to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance has aroused considerable concern in some quarters.  Some fear it might affect Hong Kong businessmen doing business on the mainland. Others contend that it might erode overseas investors’ confidence in Hong Kong and put at risk the integrity of “one country, two systems”. Those who subscribe to the conspiracy theory resist the proposal as politically... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/3009890/extradition-bill-will-enable-hong-kong-uphold-justice-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/3009890/extradition-bill-will-enable-hong-kong-uphold-justice-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 May 2019 23:00:13 +0000 As a vibrant international metropolis, Hong Kong attaches immense importance to the rule of law. We have in place a host of effective and comprehensive legislation to combat trafficking in persons (TIP) crimes and protect foreign domestic helpers (FDHs). Our multi-legislation approach has served Hong Kong well. It is thus unfair and groundless for some critics to accuse the government of lacking the determination in tackling people trafficking simply because there is no composite law here. In... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/hong-kong/article/2189349/hong-kongs-resolve-tackle-people-trafficking-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/hong-kong/article/2189349/hong-kongs-resolve-tackle-people-trafficking-and?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Mar 2019 13:09:07 +0000 The South China Morning Post published its first edition on November 6, 1903. As it now marks its 115th anniversary, three readers reflect on its importance to Hong Kong as a window to the English-speaking world and a gauge on public views. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung Chief secretary I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the South China Morning Post on its 115th anniversary. I have been a great fan of the SCMP since I was a 14-year-old Form Three student in Hong Kong. It was one of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2171728/news-and-views-inform-and-shape-hong-kong-three-readers-south-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/2171728/news-and-views-inform-and-shape-hong-kong-three-readers-south-china?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Nov 2018 19:03:04 +0000 Hong Kong is an open, vibrant, international and pluralistic city where East meets West. This distinctive feature underlines our ability of blending harmony with diversity.  At present, some 263,000 people from non-Chinese ethnic minority groups live in Hong Kong (excluding the 380,000-plus foreign domestic helpers). Of these, some 80,000 are South Asians. Hong Kong’s ethnic minority population forms an integral part of our community and has become increasingly prominent in society. Many members... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/hong-kong/article/2170318/how-hong-kong-will-spend-hk500-million-earmarked?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/hong-kong/article/2170318/how-hong-kong-will-spend-hk500-million-earmarked?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Oct 2018 08:19:40 +0000 The government is highly concerned about recent reports, quoting information released by the Philippines, alleging that thousands of Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong were lured to bogus overseas jobs by local employment agencies. The alleged fraudulent activities on such a large scale have never been brought to the government’s attention at regular liaison meetings with the Philippine Consulate General. Nevertheless, we have taken this allegation extremely seriously and are investigating... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2121773/hong-kong-committed-protecting-foreign-domestic-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2121773/hong-kong-committed-protecting-foreign-domestic-helpers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Nov 2017 09:40:33 +0000 Anniversaries evoke all kinds of memories and emotions – and this is certainly the case in 2017 as we mark the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Many in our community strongly believe that the 20th anniversary is cause for celebration – that we should mark this milestone together as a testament to the considerable progress made over the past two decades, and as a juncture to consider the many... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2089596/real-value-hong-kongs-handover-celebrations-will-be-felt?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2089596/real-value-hong-kongs-handover-celebrations-will-be-felt?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Apr 2017 02:01:00 +0000 In a recent exclusive interview with this newspaper, I shared the government's strategy to unleash the potential of the local workforce in face of a fast-ageing population and a shrinking labour force. Among the measures to boost labour supply is the substantial enhancement of childcare services. My interview has drawn some interesting feedback, with some doubting the effectiveness of the proposed after-school learning and support programmes for underprivileged children in attracting mothers... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1704309/helping-hand-hong-kongs-disadvantaged-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1704309/helping-hand-hong-kongs-disadvantaged-children?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2015 03:29:05 +0000 The Hong Kong government attaches great importance to promoting the well-being of women. The Women's Commission plays a high-level strategic role in advising the government on policies, legislation and services affecting women. We have adopted a three-pronged approach which boils down to the "Three E's" strategy: enabling, empowering and educating women to play a full role in society and to unleash their potential. First is an enabling environment. Since 2002, we have implemented gender... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1253501/hong-kong-must-unleash-womens-potential-drive-progress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1253501/hong-kong-must-unleash-womens-potential-drive-progress?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000 Alleviation of poverty among the elderly ranks highly on the government's agenda. To implement his election manifesto, the chief executive has announced a plan to introduce a new old-age living allowance of HK$2,200 per month for elderly people in need. Since then, there has been some misunderstanding about the objective of this new allowance, with the debate centring around why those aged 70 and above have to declare their financial means to receive the allowance. The argument goes that because... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1056456/spread-too-thinly-old-age-allowance-cannot-reach-hk-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1056456/spread-too-thinly-old-age-allowance-cannot-reach-hk-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000