Press Freedom: Hong Kong journalist Tang Ho-wing’s arrest has triggered fresh alarm over press freedom and national-security scrutiny, with claims that media workers and even families faced police obstruction and harassment via anonymous messages, raising fears over live on-site reporting. Financial Policy: In a Legislative Council briefing, Financial Services Secretary Christopher Hui said Hong Kong is doubling down on the offshore yuan—expanding HKMA liquidity to 500 billion yuan, extending tenors to three years, and studying instruments to shape the renminbi rate curve—while stablecoin licensing was treated as secondary. Digital Trade Finance: HKMA hosted a CargoX Solution Day with 300+ stakeholders, signing an MoU to link Hong Kong’s trade data infrastructure with regional single-window platforms to streamline trade finance for SMEs. Crypto Rules vs Reality: A Chainalysis report says East Asia’s crypto market is far bigger than regulations suggest, with mainland China’s P2P stablecoin wallet activity rising sharply despite trading bans. Governance & Courts: In the Philippines, AMLC chief Ronel Buenaventura testified in Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial about inward remittances tied to Duterte-linked entities, including P319.33 million from China/Hong Kong. Institutional Leadership: Tai Kwun Arts named Philip Tinari as director, outlining a push to shape the arts centre’s next chapter ahead of its 10th anniversary.