hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Tables Tax Law Administration Bill

Hong Kong tabled the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 in parliament on March 24.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Issues 2020-21 Tax Returns

On April 1, 2021, the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department began issuing profits tax, property tax, and employer's returns for the year of assessment 2020-21.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Issues Tax Returns For Individuals

On May 3, 2021, the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department issued over 2.62 million tax returns for individuals for the year of assessment 2020-21.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Enhances Tax Rules For Amalgamations

Hong Kong's Legislative Council has passed a bill to implement a series of amendments to the Inland Revenue Ordinance.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Again Slashes Interest On Early Tax Payments

The Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department has announced a further reduction to the interest rate payable on Tax Reserve Certificates.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong, Georgia Tax Deal To Enter Into Force

The Hong Kong Government has announced that the comprehensive double tax agreement it signed with Georgia last year will enter into force on July 1.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Explains COVID-19 Reliefs For Tax Debtors

Hong Kong's Inland Revenue Department has explained COVID-19 tax concessions available for taxpayers struggling to pay their tax dues and has highlighted upcoming property tax obligations.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Sets Out Response To Int'l Tax Reform Plans

Hong Kong's Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui Ching-yu, has set out how the territory intends to respond to the OECD's proposed new international tax framework.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Discusses US Termination Of Shipping Tax Pact

The Hong Kong Government has said it is looking at potential measures to support the shipping industry following the decision by the US Government to terminate the two territories' agreement that exempted shipping industry income from tax.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong To Amend Tax Rules For Foreign-Source Passive Income

The Hong Kong Government has issued a statement committing to amend its tax law with regards the tax exemption for foreign source passive income from 2023, to ensure the territory does not end up placed on the EU's tax blacklist of non-cooperative territories.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Reviewing Tax-Privileged Retirement Products

Authorities in Hong Kong have launched a review into two tax-deductible retirement savings products: Qualifying Deferred Annuity Policies (QDAP) and Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) Tax-Deductible Voluntary Contributions (TVC).




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Russia Turns Sights To Switzerland, Hong Kong Treaties

Russia's double tax agreements with Hong Kong and Switzerland are next on the radar for authorities in Russia, who are seeking to ensure the country can subject to at least 15 percent withholding tax outbound dividends and interest payments.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong, Georgia Tax Deal To Enter Into Force

The Hong Kong Government has announced that the comprehensive double tax agreement it signed with Georgia last year will enter into force on July 1.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Tables Tax Law Administration Bill

Hong Kong tabled the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021 in parliament on March 24.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Issues Tax Returns For Individuals

On May 3, 2021, the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department issued over 2.62 million tax returns for individuals for the year of assessment 2020-21.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Enhances Tax Rules For Amalgamations

Hong Kong's Legislative Council has passed a bill to implement a series of amendments to the Inland Revenue Ordinance.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Sets Out Response To Int'l Tax Reform Plans

Hong Kong's Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui Ching-yu, has set out how the territory intends to respond to the OECD's proposed new international tax framework.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong Discusses US Termination Of Shipping Tax Pact

The Hong Kong Government has said it is looking at potential measures to support the shipping industry following the decision by the US Government to terminate the two territories' agreement that exempted shipping industry income from tax.




hong kong

Tax-News.com: Hong Kong To Amend Tax Rules For Foreign-Source Passive Income

The Hong Kong Government has issued a statement committing to amend its tax law with regards the tax exemption for foreign source passive income from 2023, to ensure the territory does not end up placed on the EU's tax blacklist of non-cooperative territories.




hong kong

Hong Kong Races to Contain Covid-19 Outbreak – With China’s Help

As countries loosen Covid-19 restrictions, Hong Kong is sticking to a “dynamic zero-Covid” approach – with help from Beijing. A surge in cases has overwhelmed hospitals and threatens business confidence in the global financial hub. Photo: Bertha Wang/Bloomberg




hong kong

Hong Kong woos tourists with 5 lakh air tickets and vouchers

Chief Executive John Lee launched a tourism campaign “Hello Hong Kong,” saying the city will offer 5,00,000 free air tickets to welcome tourists from around the world




hong kong

Hong Kong unveils responsible AI framework for financial sector

Hong Kong’s responsible AI framework comes amid increasing international competition and tensions affecting access to AI technology




hong kong

Hong Kong poems in English and Chinese / by Andrew Parkin and Laurence Wong ; with translations by Evangeline Almberg [and three others].

Vancouver : Ronsdale Press, 1997.




hong kong

Hong Kong stories : old themes new voices / edited by Eva Hung.

Hong Kong : The Research Centre for Translation, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, [1999]




hong kong

Materials Horizons Emerging Investigator Series: Professor Zhengbao Yang, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Mater. Horiz., 2024, 11,1830-1831
DOI: 10.1039/D4MH90031F, Editorial

Our Emerging Investigator Series features exceptional work by early-career researchers working in the field of materials science.
The content of this RSS Feed (c) The Royal Society of Chemistry




hong kong

Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society [electronic resource]

[Hong Kong] : Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch




hong kong

Journal of the Hong Kong Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society [electronic resource]

[Hong Kong] : Royal Asiatic Society, Hong Kong Branch




hong kong

Skiptrace: Gangs of Hong Kong




hong kong

Welcome to Hong Kong

Go undercover in Sleeping Dogs






hong kong

Xi Jinping and the Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong

29 October 2014

Professor Kerry Brown

Associate Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme
The recent protests in Hong Kong shed remarkably little light into the real soul of the current Chinese leaders.

20141029XiHongKong.jpg

A child walks before a portrait of China's president Xi Jinping on a barricade outside the entrance to a road occupied by protesters in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong on 12 October 2014. Photo by Getty Images.

The umbrella revolution in Hong Kong, precipitated by the announcement of the decision on how to hold the 2017 elections for chief executive in September, has now sprung several leaks. The passion of the initial protests which convulsed the centre of the city, and which even heavy downpours of rain could not dampen, has evaporated. Street protests only get you so far. The activists have to engage now in the delicate art of politics and compromise. This is where either the real achievements are gained or everything is lost. Street protests belong to the world of theatre. They only make a difference if they give impetus and energy to what happens afterwards, in the establishment of long term arrangements and real outcomes.

The political vision of the leadership in Beijing about the Hong Kong issue is pretty clear. The idea that China talked about 'One country, two systems' on the basis of each part of this balanced clause having equal weight is now over. It was an illusion. In fact, for the Beijing leadership, there was only ever one important part of that four word phrase – the first two words. 'One country' trumps everything. And the preservation of their idea of that one country and its best future is key. A Hong Kong which would be able to march off with a political system increasingly at odds with that presiding just over the border was never on the cards.

Now both the Hong Kongese democrats, and the outside world, are relieved of their illusions, how best to deliver a future for Hong Kong in an age when the airy empty promises of its old colonial masters, the British, are no longer relevant. First of all, there has to be a shift in thinking. Like it or not, Hong Kong figures as a province in the thinking of Beijing leaders around Xi Jinping – a special province, one that has a unique status, and significant value for them, but a province all the same. In that context, it lines up with all the other issues and problems they have to deal with, from restive western provinces to fractious and demanding central ones, to placating the demands for more freedom and space of boom towns like Shanghai or Guangzhou. Hong Kongese have to think about how they relate to all these domestic issues, and pragmatically accept that they are irrevocably tied to a system that has to handle these – its success or failure in the management of this is also their success or failure. Hong Kongese have a vested interest in the Beijing government. They have to start thinking of far smarter ways of being allies in this, rather than camping outside of it and resting on loud declarations of their privileges. A sense of entitlement inherited from the British will get them no traction in China anymore, where there are far larger priorities and battles going on.

Current Chief Executive C Y Leung has been a failure in almost every respect. He has proven poor at promoting Hong Kong’s interests in Beijing, the one place where he needs to deliver – and even poorer at delivering palatable messages back in Hong Kong. That Hong Kongese at least have some form of representation in 2017 is not much, but at least it is something. A good politician could have made something of this, messaged it differently, and used it as a basis on which to build. But Leung simply wasn’t up to this. It is hard to see him having a political life after 2017.  In many ways, he is already finished.

For the protestors, they now need to think deeply about their future strategy. They have made their point, and at least proved that the myth of Hong Kong’s apolitical population can be safely consigned to a trash can. Having politicized the city, they now need to argue, mobilize and build constituencies to support developments beyond 2017. Business is important here – the one constituency the Beijing leadership probably listen to and take seriously – so having an engagement strategy with them is crucial. Framing a demand for better quality leadership in the future is all-important here, because business, political and social constituencies all want to see this. If the Xi leadership in Beijing insists on a system where only two or three people can go through and then be voted on by the electorate, then the protesters at least have the negotiation space to demand far better quality candidates than the ones that have led the city since 1997 and its reversion to Chinese sovereignty. All three of the chief executives so far have been disappointments. Hong Kong now has the right to ask for a better deal, and insist that the people put forward are at least up to the job asked of them – something that the current incumbent evidently is not.

Does all this prove that Xi Jinping is a strong, forceful leader? Perhaps. Perhaps not. One could argue that a really strong leader would have had the courage and vision to let Hong Kong adopt a more open system in elections after 2017, and the confidence not to fear kickback from this into the mainland. What it does show is that, underneath all the heat and noise, Xi is as risk averse as his predecessor Hu Jintao, and has taken, at least domestically, a very safe option. If he had gone to Hong Kong and dared to explain directly to the people there what the Beijing government’s thinking was on this issue, that would have been even more impressive. At most, we can conclude that the Xi leadership is not radically different from their predecessors, but just aware of a vast menu of challenges they need to face domestically, of which Hong Kong is one of the least important. Beyond that, recent events over Hong Kong have shed little light into the real soul of the current Chinese leaders. At most it has proved what has long been known: that if you really want to see what they believe and what they want, then you cannot do that from Hong Kong but have to look at what they do over the border. In that sense, and only that sense, Hong Kong continues to occupy a unique position as the last place in China where its leaders can truly be themselves.

This article was originally published by IB Tauris.

To comment on this article, please contact Chatham House Feedback




hong kong

New Rules for Hong Kong work Visas

The Hong Kong Immigration Department has made it clear that it is currently refusing applications/application visa renewals from Indian workers and other foreign immigrants who have changed their contracts too much without any legitimate reason.In a…




hong kong

Mainland parents facing strain with Hong Kong citizenship

Mainland professionals and middle class residents have found that a decision that was intended to make their life easier may well have backfired on them. Historically, many mainland couples have taken a trip to Hong Kong to have their children, due to…




hong kong

Hong Kong man arrested for human trafficking

A recent incident where a Hong Kong citizen forced his maid to travel abroad with him has opened up a wide discussion on the issue of human trafficking. The outcome of the incident has seen a rather curious scenario develop, wherein Hong Kong holidaymakers…




hong kong

Hong Kong announces the first phase of visa sanctions for Philippines

Hong Kong announces the first phase of visa sanctions for PhilippinesAmbassadorial passport holders and the government officials of Philippines will not be able to visit Hong Kong without a visa effective February 5, 2014. This was announced by the Hong…




hong kong

Will Hong Kong manage the Tourist overload?

The Hong Kong Tourism Commission has confessed that hundred million people will be visiting the city every year by 2023 which is almost twice the current amount.In January, Gregory So Kam-leung, the Secretary for Economic and Commerce Development, produced…




hong kong

Hong Kong proposes Tax on Mainland China's visitors

Leung Chun-Ying, Hong Kong's Chief Executive, has opposed the plan to impose an entry tax for the foreigners who are entering the territories by land.Two democratic parties of Hong Kong had proposed US$ 13 tax to restrict the inflow of mainland tourists.There…




hong kong

Hong Kong"s resident confirmed as having been there on the missing plane

On Sunday, 09th March, 2014, Hong Kong’s immigration department has confirmed that a resident of Hong Kong was on the Beijing-bound flight MH370, which was a Boeing 777-200, which went missing.Additionally, the department provided the passenger’s…




hong kong

Hong Kong airport identifies 1,181 forged travel documents over past 3 years

On 09th, April 2014, Hong Kong's city government has said that around 1,181 travel documents have been identified as forged at the International Airport of Hong Kong over the previous 3 years.Lai Tung kwok, Hong Kong's Secretary for Security has said…




hong kong

Hong Kong"s immigration department announces the introduction of Voice-navigated e-Channels

Effective 16th April, 2014, the Immigration Department of Hong Kong has announced that e-channels provided with voice navigation function would be working at the Macau Ferry Terminal (MFT) point of control, intended to assist visually impaired persons…




hong kong

Hong Kong prepares itself for the anticipated heavy rush of passengers during the festive season

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ‘s (HKSASR’s) is estimating that about 4.89 million travelers will transit through its air,  sea and land control points during the coming Labour Day and Buddha's Birthday festival season (from May…




hong kong

Hong Kong, Germany sign MOU on usage of automated clearance service

Hong Kong and Federal Republic of Germany have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerned with the automated clearance service usage on a shared basis. The MOU is considered as a new milestone in the collaboration between the countries in immigration…




hong kong

Hong Kong announces visa requirement for Central African Republic nationals

Hong Kong’s immigration department has announced that Central African Republic nationals will have to acquire a visa to enter Hong Kong for any purpose of visit with effect from 21 July 2014.  From the beginning, Hong Kong has followed a progressive…




hong kong

Rise in quota of Hong Kong - Germany Working Holiday Scheme

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has decided to work with the Government of Germany to additionally increase the yearly quota from 150 to 300 under Hong Kong Working Holiday Scheme for Germany. Germany has grown popular as…




hong kong

Hong Kong executes automated clearance services mutually with Germany

Hong Kong and Germany will execute the service of automated clearance mutually.Effective 01 September 2014, people with HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) electronic passport will be authorized to get register for the automated service of…




hong kong

E-Channel facility for Singaporeans entering Hong Kong

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) of Singapore announced that Singaporeans whose age is 11 or above will be able to clear immigration at faster pace in Hong Kong.Individuals holding Singapore passports and have traveled Hong Kong for at…




hong kong

Hong Kong visa is essential for the nationals of the Republic of Yemen

The Department of Immigration has announced on September 22 that the nationals of the Republic of Yemen need to attain a visa to enter Hong Kong, including the transit passengers from September 29th.In the present scenario, the nationals of the Republic…




hong kong

Hong Kong to roll out pilot scheme for luring talent

The Hong Kong immigration department rolls out a new talent admission pilot proposal for second-generation Hongkongers on 04 May 2015, along with the improved versions of numerous programs that are presently in place to attract overseas nationals.Individuals…




hong kong

Hong Kong Agreement to double 2015 Quotas with the French Government

Under the scheme from 200 to 400, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has agreed with the French government to increase the 2015 quota with the view by Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) of enthusiastic response to Hong Kong or France. The…