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HKFP
04-07-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong lawmakers oppose gov't proposal to recognise limited rights to same-sex partnerships
Many Hong Kong lawmakers have expressed opposition to a government proposal to recognise a limited set of rights for same-sex married couples registered abroad, as it seeks to comply with a top court ruling. The Legislative Council (LegCo)'s panel on constitutional affairs convened a special meeting on Thursday, after the government outlined its proposal to establish a registration system for same-sex couples who had lawfully married or formed a civil union abroad. The proposal is limited to granting registered couples rights in matters relating to healthcare and death, such as hospital visits, making medical decisions, and collecting the body of a deceased partner. At least one person in the couple must be a Hong Kong resident. During the meeting on Thursday, many lawmakers in the opposition-free legislature slammed the proposal, calling it 'an attack on the institution of marriage' and accusing the government of lacking consultation. Holden Chow – who belongs to the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), the city's largest political party, which has opposed LGBTQ rights – said the government proposal would, in effect, recognise same-sex marriage. 'The objective outcome is that it will encourage same-sex couples to get married overseas,' he said in Cantonese, adding the proposal would impact 'fundamental familial values.' Stanley Ng, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said his party 'strongly opposed' the proposal. 'It completely turns our values and foundations upside down,' he said in Cantonese. Other lawmakers, including Starry Lee of the DAB and Carmen Kan, said the government proposal was 'rushed' and asked officials to seek a delay from the court to allow public consultation. According to a Court of Final Appeal ruling in September 2023, the government is obliged to establish a framework recognising same-sex couples' legal rights within two years. That court ruling was a response to a legal challenge by LGBTQ activist Jimmy Sham, who recently completed his four-year-and-two-month prison sentence following a conviction of subversion in Hong Kong's largest national security case. Sham was seen in the public gallery of LegCo observing the panel meeting on Thursday. 'Top court not always right' Junius Ho, a lawmaker who has fervently opposed same-sex marriage, described the government proposal as 'hurting tens of thousands of future generations.' Ho also suggested the government ask Beijing to overturn the CFA's ruling, saying: 'The top court is not always right.' In a minority view, legislator Paul Tse said that, even though he does not support same-sex marriage, the legislature and the government should respect the court's ruling. He called the government proposal a 'conservative half-step' under the direction of the court and urged other lawmakers to 'follow your conscience' when casting their votes. Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang defended the proposal. The government has to respect the court's ruling, and the proposal does not constitute a recognition of same-sex marriage, he told the legislature. 'I want to stress again, from the beginning till the end, including the court and the government, we did not intend to recognise same-sex marriage,' Tsang said. LGBTQ groups have said the government proposal would be insufficient for same-sex couples living in Hong Kong. NGO Hong Kong Marriage Equality said in a statement on Wednesday that the government's proposal 'falls well short of providing the full and equal recognition that all couples and families deserve.' In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Sham also said the government's suggestion to only recognise same-sex couples married overseas would disadvantage underprivileged couples, who may not have the financial resources to get married abroad. Whilst same-sex sexual activity was legalised in 1991, Hong Kong has no laws to protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination in employment, the provision of goods and services, or from hate speech. Equal marriage remains illegal, although a 2023 survey showed that 60 per cent of Hongkongers support it. Despite repeated government appeals, courts have granted those who married – or who entered civil partnerships – abroad some recognition in terms of tax, spousal visas and public housing.
South China Morning Post
06-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
1 in 4 Hongkongers unaware of public healthcare fee waiver expansion: survey
One in four Hongkongers is unaware of the expansion of a medical fee waiver mechanism, a survey has found, with lawmakers urging the government to ramp up efforts to promote the public healthcare subsidy regime reform set to be implemented in six months. Advertisement The survey, involving 724 respondents and conducted by the city's largest workers' union between April 22 and May 13, revealed that some participants lacked a clear understanding of the measures aimed at broadening the safety net in public hospitals. Lawmaker Stanley Ng Chau-pei, president of the Federation of Trade Unions, said people were more familiar with the measures related to the fee increase, including in emergency rooms and general outpatient clinics. 'When residents have limited understanding of the reform, how can the government effectively implement the measures?' he said. 'The government should ramp up its efforts to promote the reform, especially in areas concerning how it will increase support for patients.' Advertisement Around 29 per cent of the respondents did not know about the relaxation of income and asset limits of the mechanism, while around a quarter had no idea about the HK$10,000 (US$1,274) cap on annual spending for public healthcare services.
Business Recorder
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CLIP launched to accelerate homegrown climate tech solutions in Pakistan
KARACHI: In the face of escalating climate threats, Renewables First and New Energy Nexus have jointly launched Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP), a first-of-its-kind national platform dedicated to accelerating homegrown climate tech solutions. Pakistan ranks high amongst the most vulnerable countries to climate change, despite contributing less than 0.9% to global greenhouse gas emissions. The groundbreaking ceremony at the National Incubation Centre marks a significant milestone in addressing this existential climate challenge through technology driven solutions. The collaboration introduces two key components: a Climate Tech Incubator by Renewables First featuring a tailored curriculum for early-stage climate ventures, and a New Energy Academy established by New Energy Nexus to upskill the solar industry workforce. The discussion underscored the urgent need for specialized incubation programs and targeted capacity-building curricula, supported by a balanced mix of global and local subject matter experts and experienced founders. With the right policy environment in place, Pakistan's climate tech ecosystem stands at a pivotal juncture, presenting a ripe opportunity for disruption, innovation, and long-term impact. Muhammad Bilal Abbasi, General Manager Ignite Funds praised the initiative, noting that 'CLIP, not only adds value to the existing ecosystem but also helps to strengthen Pakistan's economy,' while affirming that Ignite's own Incubator will complement CLIP's work. Stanley Ng, Global Partnerships Director at New Energy Nexus highlighted the organization's global footprint and extensive experience sharing in the South Asian region. He elaborated on the idea of New Energy Academy and how it serves the solar workforce of Pakistan. Aafaq Ali, Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Solar Association, endorsed the collaboration as 'a very timely initiative,' emphasizing the urgent need for improved solar installation quality across the country. Ahtasam Ahmad from Renewables First presented his whitepaper 'Pakistan's Climate Tech Opportunity,' outlining both challenges and untapped potential within the nation's evolving startup ecosystem, while identifying implementation roadmap to scale the nascent vertical. The launch event featured an interesting panel discussion titled 'The Role of Ecosystem Support Organizations (ESOs) in building an investable climate tech pipeline'. All panelists agreed that impact investment offers the most viable path forward for innovation in climate tech in Pakistan, but unlocking it requires stronger collaboration between public and private actors, greater alignment between academia and industry, and tailored support for early-stage startups. Sayyed Ahmad Masood echoed similar views, emphasizing that 'a one-size-fits-all approach is not viable anymore.' He noted that incubators are now increasingly shifting toward customized support models, where programs are tailored to the specific needs, stages, and contexts of individual founders and startups. Shehryar Hyderi commented that 'Pakistan is still experiencing a funding drought,' but he anticipated that the post 2025 period could usher in a period of micro-recovery for the startup space with climate tech being a promising sector. Merai Syed emphasized that the support ecosystem has not kept pace with the sector's needs, pointing out a critical gap between available resources and the actual requirements of climate tech ventures. She stressed that academic institutions must undergo a mindset shift, embracing change, adaptation, and greater alignment with real-world climate challenges to effectively nurture innovation. On gender inclusion, Zainab Saeed highlighted that despite structural challenges, the climate tech space holds immense untapped potential for women-led ventures. She stressed that unlocking this potential will require ecosystem support organizations (ESOs) to play a more intentional role in de-risking investments for female founders. This includes not only providing tailored mentorship and capital access, but also addressing the deeper systemic barriers, such as gendered perceptions of risk and limited visibility, that continue to sideline women in tech-driven innovation spaces. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
CLIP launched to accelerate homegrown climate tech solutions
KARACHI: In the face of escalating climate threats, Renewables First and New Energy Nexus have jointly launched Climate Innovation Pakistan (CLIP), a first-of-its-kind national platform dedicated to accelerating homegrown climate tech solutions. Pakistan ranks high amongst the most vulnerable countries to climate change, despite contributing less than 0.9% to global greenhouse gas emissions. The groundbreaking ceremony at the National Incubation Centre marks a significant milestone in addressing this existential climate challenge through technology driven solutions. The collaboration introduces two key components: a Climate Tech Incubator by Renewables First featuring a tailored curriculum for early-stage climate ventures, and a New Energy Academy established by New Energy Nexus to upskill the solar industry workforce. The discussion underscored the urgent need for specialized incubation programs and targeted capacity-building curricula, supported by a balanced mix of global and local subject matter experts and experienced founders. With the right policy environment in place, Pakistan's climate tech ecosystem stands at a pivotal juncture, presenting a ripe opportunity for disruption, innovation, and long-term impact. Muhammad Bilal Abbasi, General Manager Ignite Funds praised the initiative, noting that 'CLIP, not only adds value to the existing ecosystem but also helps to strengthen Pakistan's economy,' while affirming that Ignite's own Incubator will complement CLIP's work. Stanley Ng, Global Partnerships Director at New Energy Nexus highlighted the organization's global footprint and extensive experience sharing in the South Asian region. He elaborated on the idea of New Energy Academy and how it serves the solar workforce of Pakistan. Aafaq Ali, Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Solar Association, endorsed the collaboration as 'a very timely initiative,' emphasizing the urgent need for improved solar installation quality across the country. Ahtasam Ahmad from Renewables First presented his whitepaper 'Pakistan's Climate Tech Opportunity,' outlining both challenges and untapped potential within the nation's evolving startup ecosystem, while identifying implementation roadmap to scale the nascent vertical. The launch event featured an interesting panel discussion titled 'The Role of Ecosystem Support Organizations (ESOs) in building an investable climate tech pipeline'. All panelists agreed that impact investment offers the most viable path forward for innovation in climate tech in Pakistan, but unlocking it requires stronger collaboration between public and private actors, greater alignment between academia and industry, and tailored support for early-stage startups. Sayyed Ahmad Masood echoed similar views, emphasizing that 'a one-size-fits-all approach is not viable anymore.' He noted that incubators are now increasingly shifting toward customized support models, where programs are tailored to the specific needs, stages, and contexts of individual founders and startups. Shehryar Hyderi commented that 'Pakistan is still experiencing a funding drought,' but he anticipated that the post 2025 period could usher in a period of micro-recovery for the startup space with climate tech being a promising sector. Merai Syed emphasized that the support ecosystem has not kept pace with the sector's needs, pointing out a critical gap between available resources and the actual requirements of climate tech ventures. She stressed that academic institutions must undergo a mindset shift, embracing change, adaptation, and greater alignment with real-world climate challenges to effectively nurture innovation. On gender inclusion, Zainab Saeed highlighted that despite structural challenges, the climate tech space holds immense untapped potential for women-led ventures. She stressed that unlocking this potential will require ecosystem support organizations (ESOs) to play a more intentional role in de-risking investments for female founders. This includes not only providing tailored mentorship and capital access, but also addressing the deeper systemic barriers, such as gendered perceptions of risk and limited visibility, that continue to sideline women in tech-driven innovation spaces. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Filipino Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- Filipino Times
Richard Nuttall appointed as new PAL president
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has appointed Richard Nuttall as its new president, effective May 29, 2025. Nuttall, a British aviation executive, brings extensive international experience to the role, having previously served in senior leadership positions at various global airlines. He will succeed Captain Stanley Ng, who has led PAL since 2022. Ng will transition to a leadership role within PAL Holdings Inc., the airline's parent company. Nuttall will report directly to Dr. Lucio C. Tan, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Lucio C. Tan III, President and Chief Operating Officer of PAL Holdings Inc. The leadership change reflects PAL's commitment to revitalizing its operations and pursuing growth opportunities in the post-pandemic aviation landscape. Captain Stanley Ng, who has served as PAL's president since 2022, will continue to contribute to the company's strategic direction as he assumes his new responsibilities within the holding firm. The transition in leadership comes as PAL continues to navigate the challenges of the global aviation industry, with a focus on enhancing customer experience, expanding its route network, and ensuring sustainable operations.
