A series of consequential political developments and controversies made 2025 a significant year for Hong Kong.
Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing’s company CK Hutchison Holdings was caught in the crossfire of US-China tensions over a deal to sell its Panama Canal ports, which was eventually put on hold under pressure from Beijing.
Locally, the city held its second Legislative Council election under Beijing’s “patriots-only” overhaul, with the voter turnout slightly surpassing the previous record low.
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By the end of the year, former media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was convicted in a high-profile national security trial, which again sparked a war of words between Beijing and several Western countries.
Here is what you need to know about Hong Kong’s major political developments this year.
Panama port sale
In March, CK Hutchison Holdings, a Hong Kong conglomerate, disclosed a deal to sell its Panama Canal port interests to a BlackRock-led consortium.
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