The Chief Executive urges everyone to tell positive stories about Hong Kong, and it’s not hard to do. For example, the city’s IPO ranking as “world number one” is well-known and widely reported by foreign media. Recently, a global ranking where Hong Kong shines brilliantly again has emerged, but few have noticed it—this deserves more spotlight.
Gallup’s latest “2025 Global Safety Report” just published, and Hong Kong is shining bright at number six, way ahead of the UK and the US. China steals the spotlight even more, ranking third globally, beating out many Western countries.
Personal Safety: More Than Just a Feeling
Gallup’s “2025 Global Safety Report” makes it clear: Hong Kong is a shining example of public safety and solid law enforcement, outclassing the UK and US by a wide margin.
This survey tapped into the feelings of 145,000 people from 144 countries, asking them if they felt safe walking alone at night. Hong Kong scored a solid 91%, neck-and-neck with Norway, while China hit even higher at 94%. Japan, Hong Kong people’s favorite tourist destination, is ranked 24 behind Hong Kong. Meanwhile, the US is stuck at 61st with only 58% of women feeling safe on the streets. The UK trails at 42nd.
Chinese Mainland’s high safety ranking proves that its law and order are superior than the western countries.
Hong Kong’s high ranking is impressive compared to Western countries plagued by rising street crime. The UK comes in at 42nd, with frequent street theft and violent attacks leading to low conviction rates—hardly the kind of environment that breeds safety confidence. In the US, some cities have become so dangerous they’re labeled “crime hotspots.” It’s no surprise that less than 60% of women feel safe walking alone.
The Reality Gap
This survey also comes up with a “Law and Order Index” that combines theft and robbery rates, population ratios, and trust in policing. Tajikistan and Singapore lead, with China in the fourth place. Hong Kong and Taiwan are tied at 18th, while the UK and US lag at 46th, alongside India. These results sharply contradict political voices and foreign media that try to smear Hong Kong’s legal system.
Independent Data Supports the Narrative
It’s not just Gallup. The global database Numbeo’s “2025 World’s Safest Countries Ranking” has Taiwan at fourth, Hong Kong seventh, and China fifteenth. The US and UK are way further down at 89th and 87th, respectively. This ranking is often used by travelers to gauge security risks, putting Western destinations under the microscope.
Quick Police Action Makes a Difference
These top safety rankings for Hong Kong reflect years of hard work by law enforcement agencies. Police here crack street crime cases swiftly, unlike in the UK, where some theft rings take over a year to solve.
The sense of security today sharply contrasts with the one we experienced in 2019 when black-clad rioters roamed freely, spreading fear and stripping away any notion of safety on the streets. The current strong feeling of safety among nighttime pedestrians is a welcome turnaround—and one we hope lasts.
Lai Ting-yiu
What Say You?
** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **
Sentencing pleas in the Jimmy Lai case took a stark turn on day two. Two of Apple Daily's most senior executives—publisher Cheung Kim-hung and deputy publisher Chan Pui-man—laid bare the brutal reality of working under Lai's thumb.
Through their lawyers, Cheung and Chan described an environment where dissent was futile, orders were absolute, and resistance meant risking everything. Both painted a picture of powerless lieutenants dragged down an illegal path by a boss who wouldn't budge.
Defense counsel argued Cheung Kim-hung held the CEO title but lacked real authority. He could only execute the "mastermind's" orders—objection achieved nothing.
During trial testimony, both executives recounted losing their free will under Lai's command. On Tuesday, Chan went further. She revealed she'd considered quitting but couldn't afford to walk away because of her own medical need. She told the court she deeply regretted failing to hold fast to journalistic principles.
Lai's Top Gun
Cheung Kim-hung was Lai's number one. He'd jumped ship from Apple Daily back in 2005, only to return five years later and climb to publisher and CEO. But when the anti-extradition protests erupted, Cheung became what his lawyer called an "execution tool"—someone who could only carry out the boss's orders.
Yesterday's plea hearing revealed a telling example. Lai wanted to bring former US Army Vice Chief of Staff Jack Keane onto his interview show. Cheung pushed back, asking whether it "might be too sensitive." Lai ignored him. After the Hong Kong National Security Law took effect, Cheung tried again—this time urging Lai and colleagues not to break the law. The evidence speaks for itself: despite repeated warnings, Lai pressed on, only tweaking his methods slightly.
Defense counsel made it clear: Cheung wanted to limit the damage but had no real control. Yes, he held the CEO title. But actual power? Limited. He could only follow the "mastermind's" instructions and try to minimize the fallout from the coverage.
In court testimony, Cheung didn't mince words about being trapped. He called himself a "tool." Lai constantly issued editorial directives and had the final say on everything. Refusing wasn't really an option. Editorial autonomy existed only in the gaps—those rare moments when Lai hadn't issued orders. At the infamous "lunchbox meetings," Lai would spell out his political stance and tell everyone to fall in line.
About a month after the National Security Law came into force, both Cheung and Chan worried they were heading into legal danger. They opposed some of Lai's moves. Lai went his own way and dismissed their concerns.
Chan's Impossible Choice
Deputy publisher Chan Pui-man faced the same crushing dynamic. When Lai proposed using Apple Daily to mobilize a "one person, one letter" campaign urging Trump to intervene, Chan did raise objection. Lai pushed ahead anyway.
During her testimony, Chan revealed Lai went even further. He ordered her to compile a "Shit list"—a sanctions target list naming HKSAR officials and political figures. This dragged her beyond editorial work into outright political action.
The mitigation hearing added new details about Chan's predicament. Her lawyer said she tried blocking controversial articles from publication, had even considered resigning early to escape Apple Daily. But serious illness and mounting treatment costs trapped her. She faced financial hardship and needed the paycheck to survive. So she stayed.
Chan Pui-man expressed deep regret for abandoning journalistic principles. She'd wanted to quit Apple Daily, but mounting medical bills for serious illness left her no choice but to stay.
In her mitigation letter, she expressed profound regret for failing to stand firm on journalistic principles.
The pleas from Cheung and Chan expose the human cost of working under Lai's boulder-like pressure. Unable to uphold their principles, they were dragged onto an illegal path and ended up behind bars. Little wonder both pleaded guilty and turned prosecution witnesses against their former boss. After years of submission, testifying became their final act of resistance.
Lai Ting-yiu
