The United Kingdom government has continued to release its libelous six-monthly reports on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region since its reunification with the Chinese mainland. On each occasion, the HKSAR government has issued strong protests and rebuttals, but these have failed to stop the UK from continuing to smear Hong Kong so as to advance its own political objectives.
Similarly, the US Department of State publishes an annual “Hong Kong Policy Act Report”, which is even more libelous and amounts to a political farce. It is replete with distorted interpretations of “one country, two systems” framework, baseless attacks on the rule of law in the SAR, and blatant interference in China’s internal affairs. In response, the SAR government has issued protest statements that are often ignored by the international media. It is time for the SAR government to take more preemptive steps to counter unfair Western criticism. One effective approach, in my opinion, is to publish a six-monthly “True Hong Kong Report” grounded entirely in facts and figures.
The report should be comprehensive, covering all aspects of the city.
First, it should cite our latest crime rate to demonstrate that Hong Kong remains one of the safest cities in the world. This should include comparative crime rate data for London and New York.
The report should address the malicious attacks by the United States and the UK on the Hong Kong SAR National Security Law by presenting public security enforcement statistics for the reporting period.
The report can also serve as a platform to state clearly the truth about the Jimmy Lai Chee-ying trial, citing the court’s judgment — the result of 150 days of open hearings involving the examination of over 2,000 pieces of evidence. The defense, represented by a team of experienced senior counsel, was given ample opportunity to cross-examine witnesses and present arguments. As the court concluded, the defendants committed acts harmful to our country and Hong Kong under the guise of journalism.
The fact is that Hong Kong’s rule of law remains intact, as reflected in its strong overall ranking in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index 2025, where it ranked 24th out of 143 jurisdictions worldwide.
The 2025 International Arbitration Survey ranked Hong Kong first as the most preferred arbitration center in Asia-Pacific, and second worldwide. The Fraser Institute ranks Hong Kong as the world’s freest economy — an achievement impossible without diligent respect for human rights and the rule of law.
The headquarters of the International Organization for Mediation has been established in Hong Kong, while the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law have announced plans to open offices in the city, loudly endorsing Hong Kong by voting with their feet.
Second, the report should present economic facts proving that the SAR continues to prosper as an international financial and scientific innovation center. The first report could note that Hong Kong’s economy shows strong resilience and stable growth despite a difficult, volatile global environment, with the first-quarter GDP in 2026 growing 5.9 percent annually, the strongest quarterly expansion in nearly five years. Hong Kong’s exports maintained robust momentum in the first quarter; total exports rose 32 percent in value, marking the 25th consecutive month of growth and the best quarterly performance in five years. Hong Kong will step up efforts to become a global hub for high-value-added supply chain management and strengthen its status as an international trade hub.
The 2025 International Arbitration Survey ranked Hong Kong first as the most preferred arbitration center in Asia-Pacific, and second worldwide. The Fraser Institute ranks Hong Kong as the world’s freest economy — an achievement impossible without diligent respect for human rights and the rule of law
On April 20, global drug maker Pfizer and biotech firm Amgen joined 20 strategic enterprises to sign an agreement with the SAR government to invest in the city.
Third, the report should highlight government efforts to improve people’s livelihoods — including their housing, healthcare, education, and welfare — and demonstrate that Hong Kong’s people enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world.
The unemployment rate fell to 3.7 percent for January to March 2026. The rollout of Light Public Housing has significantly shortened public housing waiting times, while newly introduced Community Living Rooms have markedly improved living conditions for grassroots residents. The implementation of an annual review of the Statutory Minimum Wage and the abolition of the Mandatory Provident Fund offsetting arrangement have strengthened workers’ rights and welfare. Hong Kong opened its first traditional Chinese medicine hospital and added several cross-boundary elderly care facilities. For the 10th consecutive year, Hong Kong people have enjoyed the world’s longest life expectancy.
District governance continues to improve, with care teams providing attentive, people-centered services. On education, Hong Kong is home to five of the world’s top 100 universities, supported by a world-class research environment at the Hong Kong Science Park and the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.
Fourth, the report should cover additional hospitality infrastructure and special events attracting foreign tourists. According to the Hong Kong Immigration Department, visitor arrivals in the first quarter grew 17 percent year-on-year to over 14.3 million, setting a new post-pandemic quarterly high despite global economic uncertainty and regional geopolitical tensions.
Hong Kong International Airport handled 5.74 million passengers in March, up 19.6 percent year-on-year, according to the Airport Authority Hong Kong. Hong Kong was named the world’s best airport at the Global Travel Awards 2026 and also secured four spots among the world’s top 10 busiest international airline routes.
A special chapter should be dedicated to Hong Kong’s role in building the dynamic growth of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, to enhance international understanding and appreciation of the region’s potential. It should highlight enhanced cross-boundary connectivity and Hong Kong’s ideal position as a gateway to the Chinese mainland. Lenovo Group has launched an artificial intelligence innovation center at the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park, becoming one of the first major multinational firms to set up in this dedicated innovation zone.
The six-monthly report need not be too lengthy, perhaps within 3,000 words, and should be released before the UK government’s report. It should be forwarded to all international media agencies and promoted on international social media platforms, accompanied by a video summary. It should also be distributed by Hong Kong’s trade offices to potential investors worldwide to attract attention to investment opportunities in Hong Kong, as well as to tourist agencies to draw international visitors.
The report should also track the progress of Hong Kong’s first-ever five-year plan, ensuring alignment with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). This will be the best advertisement for our five-year plan while providing an accountability mechanism for all bureaus tasked with its implementation.
The author is an honorary fellow of HKU Space and Hong Kong Metropolitan University and an adviser with the Our Hong Kong Foundation. He retired from the government as deputy commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
