Harbour Express

The Hong Kong government sought to stem the Covid resurgence this afternoon by introducing new, stricter coronavirus restrictions, and increases testing. Chief Sec. Matthew Cheung reaffirmed the need to 'strike a balance' with Covid response, denying accusations that the government was slow. Photo: Sam Tsang, SCMP As of now, restaurant dining and gatherings of more than 2 people have been suspended, mandatory face masks, and the temporary closure of sports facilities, the Chief Secretary announced. In addition, he advised employers and employees to work from home.  In terms of testing, the Health Secretary Sophia Chan assured the media that testing will be expanded to minibus drivers, tenants in markets, and some teaching staff. H&B Opinions - The politics of this Harrett : It's clear that Matthew Cheung's trying to maintain confidence in the government's ability to manage the situation. We all know this virus is difficult to control and that immediate action wo...

What are the chances of a second independence referendum in Scotland and what will that mean? How does the UK government intend to counteract sustained support for independence? James Harrett looks at the issues. Recent polls showing sustained support for Scottish independence, in the wake of Covid-19 and Brexit, are worrying for the future of the union. However, the British government has its levers and its solutions to this problem. The precedent set by the 2014 referendum was that if the ruling pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) was to win a majority in Holyrood (the Scottish Parliament), there would be an agreement between the two governments of a referendum. As Holyrood is elected via proportional representation, this will give ground for the SNP to implement their referendum plans. In fact, the SNP's Commons Leader Ian Blackford promised a referendum if the SNP won a Holyrood majority. So, how can the government counteract this issue? One thing the British governm...