https://www.scmp.com/rss/331036/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The “two sessions” – the annual meetings of China’s National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference – took place in Beijing in earlier this month. As one of the 36 NPC delegates from Hong Kong, I took part in the proceedings. Another Hong Kong delegate, Peter Wong Man-kong, was taken ill before the meetings opened. He was taken to a hospital in Beijing, then transferred back to Hong Kong. Sadly, he passed away on March 11, just days after the NPC officially... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/3003499/politically-polarised-hong-kong-hurtful-response-npc?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/3003499/politically-polarised-hong-kong-hurtful-response-npc?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Mar 2019 04:00:10 +0000 China has just passed a new law that will replace existing regulations on wholly foreign-owned enterprises and on joint ventures involving overseas companies. In response to changing global realities and the need to further open up its economy, the new law includes many stipulations that aim to foster a level playing field for foreign and domestic enterprises.  Forced technology transfer, one of the main issues driving the US-China trade war, will now be banned. The law also emphasises... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/united-states/article/3002701/chinas-new-foreign-investment-law-opens-door?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/united-states/article/3002701/chinas-new-foreign-investment-law-opens-door?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Mar 2019 18:00:13 +0000 In the preceding two weeks, China’s “two sessions” – the annual meetings of the country’s national legislature and the top political advisory body – have gone through the usual but important routine of hearing and approving Premier Li Keqiang’s annual government work report outlining China’s economic growth targets for the year; the budget; statements by the top judge and the top prosecutor; as well as a new foreign investment law. But judging by the blanket coverage on official media, top on... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3001866/chinas-two-sessions-was-xi-worship-straight-out-old-communist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3001866/chinas-two-sessions-was-xi-worship-straight-out-old-communist?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Mar 2019 01:30:10 +0000 Communist Party leaders are going to allow market forces to play a “decisive role” in allocating resources. That is from a Post report after the third plenum of the Central Committee in 2013 that was supposed to set the direction for China’s development over the next decade. But giving private enterprise a bigger role has proved easier said than done. Testament to that, five years later, emerged in the current session of the National People’s Congress. Premier Li Keqiang promised tax relief and... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/3001579/banks-need-change-their-attitude-towards-private-enterprise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/3001579/banks-need-change-their-attitude-towards-private-enterprise?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Mar 2019 14:16:58 +0000 Hong Kong usually does not feature prominently in the central government’s annual work report to the national parliament. But the message from the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee is unambiguous. We should continue to guard against separatism and move along the directions laid down for better growth and development of the city and nation as a whole. As usual, the brief references to Hong Kong have attracted much scrutiny... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2189085/city-can-feel-benefit-joining-push-national-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2189085/city-can-feel-benefit-joining-push-national-development?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Mar 2019 13:18:08 +0000 Spare a thought for poor Li Keqiang, premier of the People’s Republic of China, having to present the state of the Chinese economy to the people at the National People’s Congress earlier this week. China’s economy is growing at its slowest rate in almost 30 years. As the boss (well, nearly), reporting on a control and command economy is easy when things are going well – and painful when it’s in reverse. We ought to remember that Li is a highly competent economist, with a PhD in economics and... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/united-states/article/2188995/chinas-li-keqiang-presents-economy-distress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/united-states/article/2188995/chinas-li-keqiang-presents-economy-distress?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Mar 2019 07:32:48 +0000 China’s size and ever-expanding overseas interests require comparable spending for defence and security. The 7.5 per cent increase in military funding proposed at the National People’s Congress is therefore justified and reasonable. Although above the anticipated economic growth rate of between 6 and 6.5 per cent, the budget has to account for modernisation and reforms to keep pace with challenges and circumstances. Governments worried about the country’s rise need to take such matters into... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2188929/modest-rise-china-military-spending-no-cause-alarm?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2188929/modest-rise-china-military-spending-no-cause-alarm?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Mar 2019 14:15:08 +0000 A gross domestic product target of 6-6.5 per cent, a softening of last year’s 6.6 per cent growth that leaves the central government with room to move, may have grabbed the headlines. But it was the United States-China trade war that framed the opening session of the National People’s Congress. It helped shape Premier Li Keqiang’s annual government work report, from the hurdles the economy faces and the way forward to overcoming them by increasing the role of the market and private sector. Both... https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2188766/trade-war-spurs-li-keqiang-offer-business-incentives?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2188766/trade-war-spurs-li-keqiang-offer-business-incentives?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Mar 2019 14:00:45 +0000