Chief Executive Carrie Lam awards seven serving and retired police leaders in recognition of their public service contributions.

Overwhelming percentage of principals also worry about the practicality of the screening rule, survey by Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools finds.

Tong Ying-kit is accused of riding a motorcycle into police officers during a July 1 protest last year, but legal experts say he faces uphill battle in light of Court of Final Appeal’s ruling in Jimmy Lai case.

Residents of Chinese descent born in city or on the mainland ‘regarded as Chinese nationals’ no matter what other passports they hold, city leader says.

If people do not continue to practise social distancing, city could end up back at ‘square one’ after the festivities, government adviser cautions. Authorities confirm 26 new cases, order new lockdown and evacuation of rehabilitation centre.

Teachers, students, janitors among those ordered into confinement, with mandatory Covid-19 testing imposed on entire Shau Kei Wan Government Secondary School community.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam has surprised many by revealing plans to amend the law to allow more overseas-trained doctors to practise locally, an idea that has long been unpopular with local practitioners.

Government considering adding another form of assessment before granting full registration to those doctors, but debate sparked over move, which would mean amending the Medical Registration Ordinance.

Liaison office head Luo Huining highlights city’s civil liberties and constitutional order, guarantees Beijing’s full backing.

Local medical groups immediately slammed the proposal, which would allow foreign-educated practitioners to gain full registration and bypass the licensing exam.

Improvement at RTHK ‘badly needed’, chief executive says, noting she is ‘still waiting’ to hear from its chief editor over a variety of complaints.

The measures were among several legal amendments Lam proposed in her first Legislative Council visit of the new year.

The people who were locked down are not criminals – they only have the misfortune of living in cramped flats, the responsibility for which is to be laid squarely at the government’s door.

Carrie Lam categorically denies discussing any court cases with Hong Kong’s chief justice or his predecessor.

Hong Kong government says raft of legal powers at authorities’ disposal against those refusing to submit to lockdown testing, including breaking into flats with court approval.

Luo Huining, director of the central government’s liaison office, makes an unprecedented visit to the force’s headquarters in Wan Chai and Tsim Sha Tsui Police Station.

Officials say 3,000 workers must be screened after discovery of five new cases take cluster size to nine.

Carrie Lam says North Point operation helped to cut chains of transmission, but no new infections detected after 475 people tested.

Local politicians and analysts say President Xi Jinping’s recent call with Chief Executive Carrie Lam showed Beijing’s high expectations for the city.

Hong Kong still has significant financial reserves and more should be done to expedite the vaccination programme.

Residents of four North Point tenement buildings locked down for testing overnight, with restrictions relaxing from 7am on Friday.

Xi also stresses importance of ensuring city is governed by patriots as he hails return of stability, and praises Macau leader for his government’s success in containing the pandemic.

Virus has been brought from construction site clusters into communities where old buildings are located, Professor Yuen Kwok-yung says.

Any relaxation of pandemic regulations is contingent on the infection rate slowing down. The mainland’s success in tackling the coronavirus through lockdowns and mandatory testing should offer a lesson.

BlackRock, the world’s biggest asset manager, said it would incorporate climate risks in markets assumptions, introduce new products aligned to emissions goals.