Cracking down on concert ticket fraud: protecting fans and ensuring fair access
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South China Morning Post
4 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
280 arrested as UK cracks down on illegal delivery riders
British authorities arrested almost one in five people they checked in a week-long crackdown on migrants working illegally as delivery riders last month, the government's interior ministry said on Saturday. Immigration enforcement officers stopped and questioned 1,780 individuals between July 20 and 27 and 280 people were arrested, the interior ministry said, adding asylum support was being reviewed for 53 of those detained. The operation was part of a push by the government to tackle illegal migration, which also includes new legal requirements for companies to verify workers' immigration status. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing pressure to show voters he can counter illegal immigration, with support rising for Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. 'This government is making sure rules are respected and enforced,' border security minister Angela Eagle said. 'Illegal working undermines our border security and we're cracking down hard on it. That's why we have intensified our enforcement activity right across the UK to crack down on those who think they can evade immigration and employment laws in the UK.'
HKFP
4 hours ago
- HKFP
HKFP Monitor August 9, 2025: Ex-protester drops case against ban on overseas study; HK$233-million by-elections largely uncontested
Welcome back to HKFP Monitor. This week: A former protester dropped his legal fight against a travel ban that stopped him from studying abroad – a move that may signal Hong Kong authorities are becoming more cautious about allowing ex-prisoners or people on bail to leave the city. Meanwhile, next month's HK$233 million Election Committee by-elections are set to be mostly uncontested, with a pro-establishment commentator saying it's all about avoiding in-house clashes. Also, a diaspora media merger has quickly drawn fire from Beijing-backed press, and a lawmaker has walked back his comments after publicly accusing a minister of 'threatening' him over the controversial same-sex partnerships bill. University of Hong Kong graduate To Kai-wa, jailed for five and a half years in 2021 for biting a police officer's finger during a 2019 protest, has dropped his legal challenge against a post-release order barring him from studying in the UK. To, who was released in October, told local media on Tuesday that he had withdrawn his judicial review against the Correctional Services Department's (CSD) decision to reject his April request to study law at the University of Birmingham. Asked why, he said: 'There are many things I cannot answer.' The case highlights growing caution from Hong Kong authorities in allowing released prisoners to travel abroad, following incidents where prominent activists failed to return. The CSD's Supervision Case Review Committee said To had not shown 'sincere remorse' or completed 'rehabilitation and de-radicalisation.' They also flagged his British National (Overseas) passport, warning he could abscond from supervision. The CSD also told To that, if he broke his supervision order, British authorities would not cooperate with extradition. The refusal referenced a recent case in which the British government met with a wanted individual who had breached a supervision order – believed to be pro-independence activist Tony Chung, who fled to the UK in December 2023 after being allowed to travel to Japan. Chung was put on a wanted list in December 2024 for alleged incitement to secession and foreign collusion, with a HK$1 million bounty on his head. Moreover, there is the case of former student leader Agnes Chow, who jumped bail in 2023. After being released from prison in June 2021 for protest-related offences, Chow was still subject to a list of bail conditions because she was arrested in a 2020 national security case involving pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Police approved her travel to Canada to study on the condition that she first visit Shenzhen with them and write letters praising the 'great development of the motherland.' She left in September 2023 but refused to return that December as agreed. Police condemned her move as 'challenging the rule of law' and said she would carry the 'fugitive' label for life if she stayed away. An official arrest warrant for Chow was issued in February last year. Hong Kong's powerful Election Committee – the body that picks the city's leader – is set to fill 93 vacancies in by-elections next month, which the government estimated in February will cost HK$233 million. The government said on Monday it had received 101 nominations from 28 sectors. But local media found that 72 seats in 22 sectors – almost 80 per cent of the total – would go uncontested. Those candidates will be automatically elected once they pass national security checks. Pro-establishment commentator Lau Siu-kai told Ming Pao that the short term for the seats won in by-elections – they have to serve only until October 2026 – means few people are interested. He called it an 'elite-type election,' where potential rivals avoid going head to head to prevent friction and keep the pro-Beijing camp united. Winners next month will get a say in the Legislative Council elections in December – a new power given to the committee after a 2021 electoral overhaul. The revamp also saw the committee expanded from 1,200 to 1,500 members. The revamped system, built to ensure only 'patriots' run Hong Kong, has effectively shut out nearly all pro-democracy candidates. Political circles are now buzzing over which of the 90 sitting lawmakers will keep their seats. Some say top government officials may have a say – an unusual twist if true – while pro-Beijing outlets quote unnamed heavyweights claiming Beijing still wants legislators who are 'vocal.' STATE MEDIA MONITOR 'Anti-China' diaspora outlet: Pulse HK, a new digital platform to be launched out of the merger of two Hong Kong diaspora media groups, has become the latest target of Beijing-backed newspaper Ta Kung Pao. In a Monday op-ed, Ta Kung Pao labelled Pulse HK an 'anti-China' platform aiming to spread ideological propaganda against mainland China and Hong Kong. Pulse HK emerged from the merger of The Chaser and Photon Media – both founded overseas after the 2021 national security crackdown that shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily and independent outlet Stand News. The Chaser was started by ex-Apple Daily reporter Shirley Leung in Taiwan in 2023, while Photon Media, launched in the UK in 2022, is run by veteran Hong Kong journalists. Wu Lik-hon – former head of RFA's Cantonese unit, which recently halted service due to funding cuts by US President Donald Trump – will become Pulse HK's editor in chief. Last week, Pulse HK announced a crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise HK$4 million to build a 16- to 18-person team across Taiwan, the UK, and North America, targeting 4,000 subscribers in its first year. Ta Kung Pao questioned the merger's timing, claiming Pulse HK is trying to 'integrate public opinion forces' for an 'upcoming confrontation.' The op-ed accused the outlet of planning to publish biased reporting, doctored images, and smear campaigns to undermine Hong Kong's progress. At a press conference last week, Wu said the journalists, despite being away for years, remain deeply connected to Hong Kong. Co-founder Edward Li, formerly with Apple Daily, called for diaspora media to unite and pool their strengths. Leung added, 'In these dark times, with press freedom collapsing, we want to be a ray of light.' When asked if he was worried about being labelled as engaging in 'soft resistance,' Wu said Pulse HK does not promote any political agenda and aims to be a neutral news organisation. Legislator backtracks after fiery Facebook post: The Hong Kong government's proposal to register same-sex partnerships has sparked rare pushback from the city's 'all-patriots' legislature since the bill was tabled last month. Officials want it passed by October to meet a 2023 Court of Final Appeal deadline, but some conservative lawmakers stand firm in opposing it. Tensions between the executive and legislative branches hit a new high last week when Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) chairperson Stanley Ng publicly blasted Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, the bill's lead advocate. In a Facebook post on the late evening of July 31, Ng said he had met Tsang that morning and that the minister had 'almost begged' and 'threatened' him to ensure 'safe passage' of 'his bill' – without naming which one. Ng claimed Tsang warned he would 'bear the consequences' if he refused, but stressed the FTU's position 'would not be swayed.' 'I urge him to save his breath!' Ng added. Around two hours later, Ng edited the post – visible in the edit history – removing Tsang's name. He still alleged facing 'threats' and kept the 'save his breath' line, but left the source vague. The following afternoon, Ng apologised to Tsang on Facebook, admitting his earlier remarks 'went too far' and saying he respected Tsang's 'dedication and sense of responsibility.' Hong Kong was drenched on Tuesday as record rainfall saw the black rainstorm warning raised for the fourth time in a week – a first in the city's history. Torrential downpours triggered flash floods and landslides, causing part of Bride's Pool Road in Tai Po to collapse. Authorities fielded over 480 calls for help, a quarter of them flood-related, while more than 30 trees were brought down. expect more extreme weather due to the impact of climate change.
The Standard
a day ago
- The Standard
Cracking down on concert ticket fraud: protecting fans and ensuring fair access
Oasis British fans were said to have lost at least £2 million in scams before the concert tour kicked off last month. (AFP)
