Cantopop heartthrob Keung To’s fall into the sea and a young district councillor’s bid to join the Miss Hong Kong Pageant were among the city’s most talked-about news this week. Read on for details about those stories and others.

In today’s edition:

• Singer’s sea drama

   

• Beauty contest backlash

   

• Security law five years on

Singer’s sea drama

Keung To, a member of the popular Hong Kong boy band Mirror, revealed he had been drinking alcohol and had taken painkillers for a headache before he fell into the sea near the Western Wholesale Food Market while jogging on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old singer provided more details about the accident and his rescue from the harbour before flying to Paris on Wednesday night. Earlier in the day, he and three other band members met fans at an event in Mong Kok, with the organisers criticised for pressing ahead with the session despite Keung’s accident. Fellow band member Anson Lo also attended while still recovering from surgery.

Beauty contest backlash

The city’s youngest district councillor, Angel Chong, came under fire after she was spotted at TVB City in Tseung Kwan O for the first round of interviews for the Miss Hong Kong Pageant, with critics accusing her of compromising her official duties.

The 24-year-old Sai Kung district councillor quit the beauty contest organised by TVB, the city’s biggest free-to-air broadcaster, on Wednesday, a day after the furore erupted. She attributed her exit to protecting the image of district councils. TVB said it respected her decision while defending the pageant.

Security law five years on

Hong Kong is marking the fifth anniversary of the national security law. We take an in-depth look at the workings of the legislation, imposed by Beijing on June 30, 2020, and how the city has battled negative narratives in a two-part series.

Check out SCMP.com for these and other big stories this week, including a HK$450 million donation by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to support the city co-hosting the coming National Games.

Politics

• Hong Kong civil servants have duty to identify security breaches: Chris Tang

   

• Hong Kong public universities get 850 transfer inquiries amid shifting US policies

   

• ‘Soft resistance’ is real and still exists in Hong Kong, John Lee warns

   

• 20 of 21 Hongkongers in Israel and Iran have left the countries: John Lee

   

• Outgoing US envoy says little chance to meet Hong Kong officials during term

Society

• Child sexual abuse cases in Hong Kong nearly double over decade

   

• 15 suspicious cases uncovered in Hong Kong tech voucher programme

   

• Presale tickets for G.E.M. concerts in Hong Kong gone in just over an hour

   

• Dining app Eatigo sorry for joke on Hong Kong singer Keung To’s fall into sea

   

• Lawmakers call for rents in Hong Kong student hostels to be regulated