Protests in Hong Kong show no signs of abating as demonstrators took to the streets in the 16th consecutive weekend of unrest. Tensions are escalating in the run-up to a significant political anniversary for Beijing, and riot police fired teargas, pepper spray and bean bag rounds on protesters who vandalised metro stations and set improvised barricades ablaze.
Continue reading...Category Archives: Hong Kong
Hong Kong protesters trample Chinese flag as protests continue – video
Protesters in Hong Kong trampled on a Chinese flag in a shopping mall and lit a fire on a main street as pro-democracy demonstrations took a violent turn again. The day’s action began peacefully as protesters filled a mall in the Sha Tin district but police ended up firing teargas at protesters who used umbrellas to protect themselves
Continue reading...Hong Kong police and demonstrators clash as tensions escalate
Confrontations come in run-up to 70th anniversary of People’s Republic of China
Protesters and police have clashed in Hong Kong in another weekend of unrest as tensions escalate in the run-up to a significant political anniversary for Beijing.
Riot police fired teargas, pepper spray and bean bag rounds on protesters who vandalised metro stations and set improvised barricades ablaze in several flashpoints across the city.
Continue reading...‘Never surrender’: Hong Kong’s protest graffiti – in pictures
It has been more than 100 days since anti-government protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong, calling for the complete withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill, an independent inquiry into police brutality, the retraction of the word ‘riot’ to describe the rallies, and genuine universal suffrage. Even though the Hong Kong government formally withdrew the controversial bill this month, many protesters have vowed to continue the fight until all their demands are met. Expressing their opinions on the streets, many young protesters have left their imprints on the roads, walls and buildings by spray-painting slogans and symbols that resonate with their discontent against the government
Continue reading...Pro-China supporters tear down Hong Kong’s ‘Lennon Walls’
Action against symbol of democracy protests could lead to renewed trouble on city’s streets
Groups of pro-China supporters have pulled down “Lennon Walls” of anti-government protest messages in Hong Kong, raising the possibility of clashes with democracy supporters and another weekend of trouble.
By mid-morning on Saturday, dozens of demonstrators vowing support for Beijing had started to tear down the large mosaics of colourful posted notes calling for democracy and denouncing perceived Chinese meddling in the former British colony.
Continue reading...Hong Kong protests: tech war opens up with doxxing of protesters and police
Campaigns to expose personal details of those on both sides of protests skyrocket, with nearly 1,000 cases being investigated
Hong Kong has seen an unprecedented wave of doxxing – the malicious spread of private information online – since anti-government protests began in early June.
Social media forums such as LIHKG, a Reddit-like website, and encrypted apps such as Telegram have played a critical role in organising the leaderless protest movement but are now being used to share names, photos, phone numbers, ages and the occupation of individuals on both sides of the protest line.
Continue reading...Huang Xiangmo: judge to reveal why she froze $140m of Chinese businessman’s assets
Anna Katzmann said Huang could only use the money to pay debt to ATO or for living or legal expenses
A judge will today reveal her reasons for slapping a $140m asset freezing order on controversial businessman and political donor Huang Xiangmo after an application by the Australian taxation office.
At an urgent hearing in Sydney on Monday, federal court judge Anna Katzmann ordered Huang not to dispose of assets worth up to the $140.9m claimed by the ATO, including more than $6m worth of property in Sydney and an apartment in Hong Kong.
Continue reading...Hong Kong protests: government fails to find PR firm to rescue battered image
Eight companies turned down opportunity because it would harm their reputations
The Hong Kong government has tried but failed to secure help from any of the global public relations firms it has approached to salvage the financial hub’s tarnished reputation, as anti-government protests continued to wreak havoc months into its deepest political crisis in decades.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam told a group of business people in the city in late August that the government had approached eight global PR companies to help it relaunch Hong Kong, but four “immediately declined because that would be a detriment to their reputation to support the Hong Kong government now,” according to a transcript of her speech published by Reuters last week. Two more declined later, she said.
Continue reading...Hong Kong anti-government protesters take to the hills – in pictures
Thousands of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists used torches, lanterns and laser pens to light up Lion Hill on 13 September. Pro-democracy protesters have continued demonstrations across Hong Kong, calling for the city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, to immediately meet demands including an independent inquiry into police brutality. The evening of 13 September marked the start of the mid-autumn festival, traditionally a time for thanksgiving, spending time with family, and praying for good fortune.
Continue reading...Unrest in Hong Kong as protests turn violent – in pictures
Riot police fire teargas and water cannon as pro-democracy protesters hurl rocks and petrol bombs, tipping the region back into chaos after a brief lull in clashes
Continue reading...Hong Kong police fire water cannon at protesters throwing petrol bombs – video
Officers also fired teargas at the demonstrators, who had gathered outside the government office complex on Sunday. The latest violence came after tens of thousands defied a police ban and marched toward the seat of the government, chanting: ‘Five demands, not one less.’ For the past three months, Hong Kong has been gripped by the most serious political crisis in decades, triggered by a proposal to allow extradition to mainland China
Continue reading...Police fire teargas and water cannon at Hong Kong protesters
Demonstrators surround government complex, throwing rocks and molotov cocktails
A peaceful rally in Hong Kong has descended into chaos as police fired teargas and water cannon at protesters who hurled petrol bombs, set fires and clashed with residents.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators defied a police ban and marched on the seat of the government calling for greater democracy in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.
Continue reading...Hongkongers sing God Save the Queen in plea for UK support – video
Hundreds of Hong Kong protesters sang God Save the Queen and waved the union flag as they rallied outside the British consulate on Sunday to demand the UK ensures China honours its commitments to the city’s freedoms. The Sino-British joint declaration, signed in 1984, laid out a ‘one country, two systems’ formula
‘We will not surrender’: Hongkongers rally for support outside UK consulate
Continue reading...Hong Kong protesters clash after standoff in shopping mall – video
Rival groups of protesters clash in the Amoy Plaza mall in another weekend of mass demonstrations after months of political unrest. Dozens of protesters scuffled at the shopping district in Kowloon Bay, where they traded blows and some used umbrellas to hit their opponents. Police detained several people
Continue reading...Hong Kong enters 15th week of mass protests as unrest continues
Pro-democracy demonstrators clash with Beijing supporters as riot police subdue protesters
Rival groups of demonstrators clashed in Hong Kong and police made arrests in another weekend of mass protests after months of political unrest.
Dozens of pro-Beijing protesters waved Chinese flags and chanted “support the police” at a mall in Kowloon Bay on Saturday, as pro-democracy demonstrators gathered, clad in black and wearing masks. After a standoff, members of the two sides began to fight, throwing punches and hitting each other with umbrellas before police separated them. At least one man was seen bleeding from the head.
Continue reading...London Stock Exchange rejects approach by Hong Kong counterpart
‘Fundamental flaws’ in £32bn takeover proposal mean LSE board sees no merit in it
The board of the London Stock Exchange has “unanimously rejected” an approach by its Hong Kong rival after the Asian bourse made a surprise £32bn bid to take over the 321-year-old City institution earlier this week.
In an uncompromising response to the approach, which the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) described as a “significant backward step”, the UK firm said it saw “no merit in further engagement” with Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX).
Continue reading...Uncle Wong, 82: protecting Hong Kong protesters with his walking stick – video
Uncle Wong is part of Protect the Children, a community group whose members put their bodies between the police and young Hongkongers protesting against the government. Waving his walking stick in the air and wearing swimming goggles to protect against teargas, he tries to reason with police and provide a distraction to allow activists to evade arrest. As tensions continue to rise between protesters and police, however, so does the emotional burden on Uncle Wong
Continue reading...‘Glory to Hong Kong’: thousands sing protest anthem in shopping malls – video
Protesters in Hong Kong gathered in shopping malls across the territory in support of the pro-democracy movement. The song Glory to Hong Kong has been adopted by the demonstrators as their unofficial anthem. The peaceful gathering marked a moment of respite after violent clashes over the weekend
Continue reading...Activist Joshua Wong urges Germany to stop selling arms to Hong Kong police – video
Joshua Wong called for Germany to stop the export of riot control weapons and equipment to Hong Kong police, as he embarked on a global tour to promote his pro-democracy message. He said Hong Kong police were using water cannon manufactured in Germany to suppress protests. Wong urged Germany to suspend trade negotiations with China until Beijing puts on the agenda human rights laws ‘that respect European standards’
Continue reading...Hong Kong Stock Exchange makes £32bn move for London counterpart
Proposal to LSE board will only proceed if deal for Refinitiv is terminated or voted down
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange has made a surprise £32bn bid approach to take over the London Stock Exchange Group.
It comes weeks after LSE agreed a $27bn (£22bn) all-share deal to take control of Refinitiv, a move the company said would transform it into a UK-headquartered, global rival to Michael Bloomberg’s financial news and data business.
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