RTHK has been told that district councillors will be cut from the committee that elects the Chief Executive, membership of which is to be increased by a quarter to 1,500 under changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system to be passed in Beijing. Sources in the capital also said district council 'superseats' will be axed from the Legislative Council, although the overall number of lawmakers in Hong Kong will be raised from 70 to 90. “Improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR” is listed seventh on the agenda for the annual meeting of the National People's Congress, which opens on Friday. Frances Sit reports:

Former chief executive CY Leung told RTHK that reforms to Hong Kong's election system are needed to stop “puppets of foreign governments” getting into power. He also said people who love Hong Kong, for its way of life and capitalist system, should thank the Chinese Communist Party. Maggie Ho reports:

A national security magistrate granted bail to 15 pro-democracy activists and politicians charged with conspiracy to commit subversion at the end of a four-day hearing on Thursday. But they remain in custody after the Department of Justice immediately sought a review of the decision. More than 30 other defendants in the mammoth case were denied bail outright, while legal scholar Benny Tai withdrew his application after he was remanded in custody over another case. Damon Pang filed this report from outside West Kowloon Court:

Executive councillor and Senior Counsel Ronny Tong says the prosecution of the 47 pro-democracy figures for conspiracy to commit subversion has the right to ask for a review of any bail decision. He told Mike Weeks it’s all part and parcel of dealing with any new legislation, like the National Security Law:

The Heritage Foundation has removed Hong Kong from its annual ranking of the world's freest economies, saying it no longer has autonomy over its economic policies. But Financial Secretary Paul Chan says the decision of the Washington-based think-tank is politically biased. Joanne Wong reports:

Hong Kong recorded just six new local coronavirus infections on Wednesday, only one of them from an unknown source. But health authorities say it is too early to conclude that the pandemic is under control. Frances Sit reports:

The government says people are still keen to be vaccinated against Covid-19. But official figures show the daily number of inoculations dropped by more than a thousand on Wednesday, after news broke that a man died two days after getting a Sinovac jab. An expert panel has concluded that the vaccine did not cause his death. Dr Samuel Kwok is in charge of the vaccination centre in Jordan where the jab was administered. He told Wendy Wong that most people who've made bookings are showing up, but they're asking more questions about the vaccines:

The Ombudsman has called on the government to guard against possible fake Covid-19 vaccines. Frances Sit has that story:

Seven local student unions have accused the Chinese University of becoming a "puppet of tyranny" as they criticised the institution's decision to cut ties with its own student union. Vicky Wong reports:

The Court of Final Appeal has agreed to hear a challenge by Sixtus Leung to his conviction for unlawful assembly. The ousted lawmaker, who's fled Hong Kong, and his former Youngspiration colleague, Yau Wai-ching, were charged over their attempt to force their way into a Legco meeting in 2016 when they were trying to re-take their oaths of office. Timmy Sung reports: