‘No special privileges for tax evasion,' John Lee tells Hongkongers
Hong Kong's leader has slammed organisations that claim to be professional yet defend members under tax investigations, warning that such attempts to pressure authorities will only 'expose their ugly nature'.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also said that authorities would pursue legal responsibility in accordance with the law, as he responded to a question on whether the government's recent tax reviews on members of Hong Kong Journalists Association were targeting independent media.
Last week, the city's largest journalism group revealed that at least 20 members were asked to prepay about HK$1 million (US$127,609) following a tax review by the Inland Revenue Department, arguing the move was supported by insufficient evidence and had 'inevitably' placed extra stress on the reporters and media organisations.
Lee said the department had a legal obligation to conduct tax audits and assessments.
He added no one had the right to evade taxes or avoid assessments, while noting that evasion could result in a three-year jail sentence.
Hong Kong Journalists Association chairwoman Selina Cheng. The group has said that at least 20 members have undergone tax reassessments. Photo: Edmond So
'Regardless of profession – whether civil servants, professionals or non-professionals, journalists or any other occupation – no one holds a special privilege to break the law through tax evasion,' Lee told reporters before meeting with the top decision-making body Executive Council.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
40 minutes ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong police arrest 2, hunting for third over burglaries at antiques warehouse
Hong Kong police have arrested two men and are hunting for a third in connection with two burglaries at an antiques warehouse where more than 100 jade pieces, antiques and accessories valued at over HK$2 million (US$254,860) were stolen. The force said on Saturday that officers had arrested two suspects, a 41-year-old tattoo artist and a 50-year-old renovation worker, in Sau Mau Ping in Kowloon and Chai Wan on Hong Kong Island the day before. The third suspect remains at large. Chan Chi-leung, an acting assistant district commander of the force's Eastern district crime division, said the break-ins occurred at a warehouse on Tai Man Street in Chai Wan on May 14 and Thursday. 'The person in charge of the company filed police reports in late May and early June, stating that the warehouse had been burglarised,' Chan said. 'The victim's initial estimate places the total value of the stolen items at over HK$2 million, but the exact amount and losses are still being tallied.' An Eastern district crime squad took over the investigation, poring over a large amount of security footage, including from the force's citywide SmartView camera system. 'Coupled with intelligence analysis, police arrested two men suspected to be involved in the case [on Friday] and successfully recovered a portion of the stolen goods,' Chan said, adding that the investigation was ongoing. Inspector Tse Yuen-ying of the district crime squad said the first burglary on May 14 was a solo job. The same suspect allegedly returned with two accomplices on Thursday.
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
China slams US ‘political manipulation' as research pair face fungus smuggling charge
China has condemned 'political manipulation' by the United States and its 'overstretched concept of national security', days after two Chinese researchers were charged with illegally importing a toxic fungus described by US authorities as a 'dangerous biological pathogen'. The Chinese Consulate in Chicago said in a statement on Saturday that it was seeking information about the case and had lodged a 'stern representation' with the US side. This comes after the US Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that Chinese citizens Jian Yunqing , 33, a research fellow at the University of Michigan, and her boyfriend, Liu Zunyong, 34, had been accused of attempting to smuggle the fungus pathogen Fusarium graminearum into the country last year. They allegedly planned to carry out research on the material at a University of Michigan laboratory where Jian worked. In its statement, the consulate said: 'The Chinese government has always required Chinese citizens abroad to strictly abide by local laws and regulations, including those related to entry and exit. 'At the same time, China lawfully safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of its citizens overseas and firmly opposes the US side's political manipulation of the case under the pretext of ideology and an overstretched concept of national security.'
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
US-China trade talks round 2 in London ‘positive step' but rough road ahead: analysts
US-China trade talks in London next week would signal positive development in ties but the negotiations would not be easy, observers said. Meanwhile, Chinese state media reaction to the expected talks was muted, with commentaries reminding the US to honour its pledges while asserting Beijing's red lines. On Friday, a day after his much-anticipated phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump announced that a new round of high-level bilateral meetings were due to take place in the British capital. 'I am pleased to announce that Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer, will be meeting in London on Monday, June 9, 2025, with Representatives of China, with reference to the Trade Deal,' Trump wrote on his social media platform. 'The meeting should go very well. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' During their phone conversation on Thursday – the first since Trump returned to the White House in January – the two leaders agreed to advance talks aimed at resolving trade disputes between the world's two largest economies.
