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Ladybbird 04-07-19 10:25

Hong Kong Protester Forced into UK Chinese Embassy & Beaten by Chinese
 
Britain Summons Chinese Ambassador as He Accuses UK Government of Taking 'Wrong Side' on Hong Kong

China's ambassador to the UK accused Britain of interfering over Hong Kong with a "colonial mindset" in a move that threatened to spark a major diplomatic crisis.

The Telegraph UK, 4 JULY 2019.- Roland Oliphant, Senior Foreign Correspondent, Sophia Yan, Hong Kong


Liu Xiaoming was summoned to the Foreign office after his comments amid a spiraling war of words over the handling of protests in the former British colony.

On Tuesday Jeremy Hunt warned China of “serious consequences” if it sought to use the disorder as a pretext for a mass crackdown on the protest movement.

In a press conference called on Wednesday, Mr Liu said that Britain should “seriously reflect on the consequences of its words and deeds with regard to Hong Kong”.

"I tell them: hands off Hong Kong and show respect. This colonial mindset is still haunting the minds of some officials or politicians," he said.



Summoned to the foreign office over the remarks, Liu Xiaoming was also asked to explain the “unacceptable and inaccurate” comments after a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman described UK requests that Beijing respect a deal guaranteeing the former colony's political freedoms as "basking in the faded glory of British colonialism".



Geng Shuang, a foreign ministry spokesman, said: "The UK considers itself as a guardian which is nothing but a delusion. It is just shameless to say that Hong Kong's freedoms are negotiated for them by the British side."

Tensions have risen since hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Hong Kong on Monday in the latest of a series of protests against a proposed law that would allow suspects in criminal cases to be extradited from Hong Kong to mainland China for the first time.

The demonstration turned violent when a hard core of demonstrators stormed Hong Kong’s Legislative Council building and clashed with riot police.

Mr Hunt said on Tuesday: “The UK signed an international binding legal agreement that enshrines the ‘one country, two systems rule,’ enshrines the basic freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, and we stand four square behind that agreement, four square behind the people of Hong Kong."

Hong Kong was under British rule for 155 years before it was handed back to China in 1997.

The handover was underpinned by a 1984 agreement between Margaret Thatcher and Chinese premier Deng Xiaoping that guaranteed protection for Hong Kong's unique British-influence political and legal system under a "one country, two systems" for at least 50 years.

Protesters say the extradition bill would undermine the city' state's common law legal system and allow Chinese authorities to hunt down and persecute dissidents.

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's chief executive, has agreed to suspend the bill for the remaining session of the Legislative Council, but protesters want it withdrawn completely.

Hong Kong police on Wednesday evening arrested 13 people in connection with storming the parliament building.

Eight others were arrested for trying to steal and disclose personal information about police officers and inciting criminal activity online.

The city returned to normal Wednesday, and workers began repairing the many broken windows and removed protest signs that had covered the walls of the building for weeks.

But protesters described a growing sense of despair and said volunteers had been dispatched to dissuade demoralised demonstrators considering suicide.

Three people involved with the protest movement have taken their own lives in recent weeks.

“I’m quite certain this political crisis will continue, because the government has so far been completely inadequate in their response,” said Dennis Kwok, a pro-democracy lawmaker, told The Telegraph.

“We need to safeguard whatever freedom and rule of law there is in Hong Kong on an ongoing basis and to fight for democracy.”

Joshua Wong, a twice-jailed pro-democracy campaigner, said he was not involved with the group that took over the Legislative Council but said they had acted out of desperation.

“I understand their intentions and it’s hard to encourage anyone to take actions that might incur 10 years in jail terms.

“But I hope people can have more understanding. Two million people had already come out, but the government ignored them,” he wrote to his 221,000 followers on Twitter.

Tarfoot 04-07-19 14:16

re: Hong Kong: Giant Firm Shares Suspended & Pro-Democracy Website Closes
 
They should have never given Hong Kong back to China, never ever. Of course we all make our mistakes and sometimes live to regret them....

Ladybbird 12-08-19 13:47

Is China Closing Down ESCAPES From Hong Kong After Protests?
 
Hong Kong Airport Authority Cancels Flights over Protests

Hong Kong airport cancels ALL FLIGHTS due to a 5,000-strong demonstration after a female protester was shot in the eye by police as the city's carrier Cathay Pacific warns it will fire staff who support 'illegal protests'

  • China last week ordered Cathay Pacific to suspend certain staff because they 'pose a threat to aviation safety'
  • As a result, the airline suspended one pilot and two ground employees in relation to the on-going protests
  • Hong Kong's airport and streets witnessed another weekend of violent clashes between activists and police
  • Local media released footage of police firing bean bag rounds and beating protesters with baton in a station
  • One female protester faces losing her right eye after allegedly being shot in the face with a bean bag round
  • The incident has sparked more anger among protesters who have staged a new rally at the airport today
  • All remaining flights out of Hong Kong today have been cancelled as protesters occupy terminal buildings
  • The city's police today showed off an anti-riot water cannon that could soon be used on demonstrators
  • China today slammed violent Hong Kong protests as 'terrorism' and said the city was at a critical juncture

The Guardian UK, 12 Aug 2019.


https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/08...5598900975.jpg


All remaining flights out of Hong Kong International Airport on Monday have been cancelled after protesters swarmed to a terminal building to stage a sit-in. Pictured, demonstrators surround banners that read: 'Those charge to the street on today is brave!' (centre top) and 'Release all the detainees!' during the peaceful rally at the arrival hall of the airport today


https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/08...5598932058.jpg


Hundreds of Hong Kong protesters have started three days of rallies at the city's busy airport since Friday. The city's streets witnessed another weekend of violent clashes between activists and police. One female demonstrator faces losing her eye after being hit by a bean bag round by the police in Tsim Sha Tsui on Sunday. The incident has sparked more anger in public


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A protester covers her one eye with a gauze during the mass demonstration at Hong Kong International Airport today after news of a woman shot in the eye during a protest shocked the financial hub. Pro-democracy leaders were calling for as many as one million people to head to the Hong Kong airport today after 40 people were injured across the city over the weekend



Hong Kong’s airport authority has cancelled departure flights after thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators flooded into one of the world’s busiest air travel hubs holding signs reading “Hong Kong is not safe” and “Shame on police”.

Roads to the airport were congested and car park spaces were full, the authority said, on the fourth day of a mass demonstration there.

“Other than departure flights that have completed the check-in process and the arrival flights already heading to Hong Kong, all other flights have been cancelled for the rest of today,” a statement said.

The abrupt shutdown came as street protests across the Chinese territory entered their 10th week with no sign of either side backing down, and the Chinese government signalled its rising anger at the protesters, denouncing some of the violent demonstrations as “terrorism”.

Rights groups and democracy activists accused police of using excessive force after teargas was fired into an enclosed subway station and officers posed as protesters before making arrests during an intense weekend of clashes.

Dressed in their uniform black T-shirts and masks, protesters at the airport handed out lists to arriving visitors documenting alleged police violence, and held up graphic images of injured protesters. Many wore eye patches in reference to a female protester who sustained an eye injury.

“I just don’t understand how people can tolerate that kind of police brutality. I feel like if I don’t come out now, I can’t come out ever,” said Hilary Lo, who took a half day’s sick leave from her accountancy firm to attend the demonstration. “People are starting to realise the police are out of control, especially with what has happened in the past two weeks.”

Some of the 5,000 activists occupying the airport’s arrivals hall went to the departure area and caused disruptions, Hong Kong police told a news conference. Police declined to say if they would move to clear the demonstrators.

This summer’s increasingly violent demonstrations have plunged the Chinese-ruled territory into its most serious crisis in decades, presenting one of the biggest challenges to China’s leader, Xi Jinping, since he came to power in 2012.

Yang Guang, a spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, said: “Hong Kong’s radical demonstrators have repeatedly used extremely dangerous tools to attack police officers, which already constitutes a serious violent crime, and also shows the first signs of terrorism emerging. This wantonly tramples on Hong Kong’s rule of law and social order.”

In an apparent warning to protesters of a toughening approach on the part of authorities, Hong Kong police invited legislators and journalists on Monday to witness a display of water cannon.

Police have never used the device since two were bought after pro-democracy protests in 2014, but during Monday’s demonstration one was blasted at dummy targets in a training facility.

Last week Amnesty International said the deployment of water cannon could lead to serious injuries if misused in confined spaces. Man-Kei Tam, the director of the rights group’s Hong Kong division, said clashes between protesters and police had “escalated to another level, especially on the police side”.

An anti-riot vehicle equipped with water cannon sprays water on a dummy during a demonstration in Hong Kong on Monday. Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP

Tam cited footage of police firing teargas into a subway station in Kwai Fong on Sunday night. It was not clear how many protesters were in the station but it was rare for officers to fire teargas indoors. He also shared a video of police firing non-lethal projectiles at close range as protesters attempted to flee down an escalator at another subway station.

The police have also reported injuries among their ranks, including eye irritation from laser pointers and petrol bomb burns.

Civil Rights Observer, a local rights group that sends observers to protests, said it had serious concerns about police violence and had seen “clear evidence to show the police are violating their guidelines”, according to its spokesman, Icarus Wong Ho-yin.

During the protests at the weekend, the Hong Kong Free Press news website posted footage of one arrest that appeared to show officers dressed as protesters with an demonstrator who was pressed to the ground. The young man, who said his name was Chow Ka-lok and asked for a lawyer, sustained head wounds and a broken tooth.

Protests in Hong Kong began in early June against a legislative bill that would have allowed for residents to stand trial in mainland China on criminal charges. While the territory returned to Chinese rule in 1997, it was promised semi-autonomy for 50 years including a separate legal system. Many protesters feared the bill, now suspended, would have led to the decline of civil and political rights in the Asian financial hub.


Quote:


Why are People Protesting?


The protests were triggered by a controversial bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland CHINA, where the Communist party controls the courts, but have since evolved into a broader pro-democracy movement.
Public anger – fuelled by the aggressive tactics used by the police against demonstrators – has collided with years of frustration over worsening inequality and the cost of living in one of the world's most expensive, densely populated cities.
The protest movement was given fresh impetus on 21 July when gangs of men attacked protesters and commuters at a mass transit station – while authorities seemingly did little to intervene.
Underlying the movement is a push for full democracy in the city, whose leader is chosen by a committee dominated by a pro-Beijing establishment rather than by direct elections.

Protesters have vowed to keep their movement going until their core demands are met, such as the resignation of the city's leader, Carrie Lam, an independent inquiry into police tactics, an amnesty for those arrested and a permanent withdrawal of the bill.


Why Were People so Angry About The Extradition Bill?

Hongkongers have seen Beijing’s influence grow in recent years, as activists have been jailed and pro-democracy lawmakers disqualified from running or holding office. Independent booksellers have disappeared from the city, before reappearing in mainland China facing charges.
Under the terms of the agreement by which the former British colony was returned to Chinese control in 1997, the semi-autonomous region was meant to maintain a “high degree of autonomy” through an independent judiciary, a free press and an open market economy, a framework known as “one country, two systems”.
The extradition bill was seen as an attempt to undermine this and to give Beijing the ability to try pro-democracy activists under the judicial system of the mainland.


How Have The Authorities Responded?

Lam has shown no sign of backing down beyond agreeing to suspend the extradition bill, while Beijing has issued increasingly shrill condemnations but has left it to the city's semi-autonomous government to deal with the situation. Meanwhile police have violently clashed directly with protesters, repeatedly firing teargas and rubber bullets.
Beijing has ramped up its accusations that foreign countries are “fanning the fire” of unrest in the city. China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi has ordered the US to “immediately stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any form”.
.



Ladybbird 04-09-19 12:48

re: Hong Kong: Giant Firm Shares Suspended & Pro-Democracy Website Closes
 
Hong Kong: Lam Withdraws Extradition Bill That Sparked Months-Long Protests

Embattled chief executive makes announcement on Wednesday after meeting allies

The Guardian UK, 4 Sep 2019.


Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam formally withdrew an extradition bill on Wednesday that has sparked month of protests and plunged the territory into its biggest political crisis in decades.


https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/08...7158350755.jpg


In a five-minute television address, the chief executive said: “The government will formally withdraw the bill in order to fully allay public concerns.”

Lam said her government would introduce measures to address the cause of the last three months of mass protests, including appointing two new members of a police watchdog agency, holding a series of dialogues, and investigating social problems.

“From this month, I and my principal officials will reach out to the community to start a direct dialogue,” she said. “People from all walks of life, with different views and backgrounds are invited to share their views and air their grievances.”

The bill would have allowed the extradition of suspects to mainland China’s opaque legal system. The protests it sparked have since turned into a broader democracy movement that has challenged Beijing’s authority over the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.

Lam shelved the bill in June and in July again insisted it was “dead” after weeks of protest but until now refused to withdraw it entirely, a key demand of protesters who argued it could be revived again if not formally withdrawn.

Since early June, Hong Kong has been embroiled in its worst political crisis since the former British colony was returned to Chinese control in 1997. A day after Lam suspended the bill in June, an estimated two million people took to the streets to call for its full withdrawal.

Since then, the city has been rocked by protests every weekend as relations between protesters, many of them students, residents and the police have grown increasingly fraught. The protesters’ demands have expanded to include an independent inquiry, an amnesty to those arrested, and democratic reforms.

In her short statement on Wednesday, Lam did not address the other demands and said she did not believe the government should establish an independent investigation committee to probe police behaviour over the course of the protests, among the most important to demands to demonstrators.

Lam said: “The government believes the actions of the police should be dealt with by dedicated department that investigates the police.”

And she said the government would continue to punish protesters. “Violence has shaken the foundation of the rule of law and has pushed Hong Kong to a dangerous situation,” she said said. “No matter how dissatisfied people are, violence is not the solution. There is an urgency to suppress violence and to seriously enforce the law.”

By formally withdrawing the bill, Lam conceded to one of five key demands of the demonstrators, in an effort to de-escalate protest that have become increasingly violent on both sides. Lam met pro-establishment lawmakers in the afternoon, according to the South China Morning Post, before making her announcement.

In recent weeks, clashes between police and protesters have becoming increasingly violent. At the weekend, protesters and police clashed in some of the worst confrontations of the last three months as protesters threw 100 petrol bombs at police and government buildings.

The Hong Kong police deployed water cannon and fired multiple rounds of rubber bullets and teargas. Police were also seen chasing down and beating passengers in metro stations. More than 1,000 people have been arrested.

Earlier this week, Reuters published a recording of Lam speaking to a group of business executives in which she said she would step down if she were able to – suggesting Beijing has forced her to remain in office.


On Tuesday, however, Lam told reporters she wanted to remain in office to see Hong Kong through such a difficult period.

The withdrawal, while a major concession by the government, may still be too little, too late. As news of the coming withdrawal spread on Wednesday, riot police were seen patrolling metro stations as some protesters called for people to gather at different stations.

“That alone is not going to be enough to satisfy an angry and frustrated public. The nature of the protest movement has transformed over the last 13 weeks,” said Adam Ni, a researcher at Macquarie University in Sydney. “If she does not take further steps, then we can expect the protests to continue,” he said.

Protesters took to LIHKG, the online forum where they have been organising, to criticise Lam. One popular comment read: “What’s the difference between withdrawal of the bill on June 8 and September 4th? … three eyes … eight dead, more than 100 prosecuted, more than 1,000 arrested, countless wounded, and the injustice of the entire system and the police has been exposed.”





Read More;

Hong Kong on brink of recession as protests and trade war take toll

Code:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/04/hong-kong-on-brink-of-recession-as-protests-and-trade-war-take-toll

Ladybbird 13-07-20 09:55

re: Hong Kong: Giant Firm Shares Suspended & Pro-Democracy Website Closes
 
R.I.P Hong Kong: Draconian New Security Law From Beijing Regime Threatens Freedom

Rest in peace Hong Kong. It might seem over the top to say it, but according to thousands of worried residents, the once thriving hub of Asia is now all but dead.


60 Minutes Australia •13 Jul 2020


They blame the heavy-handed tactics of the Chinese Communist Party for their city’s demise. The Beijing regime has imposed a strict national security law which not only strips Hong Kong of its autonomy but also severely restricts democratic freedoms.

Anyone breaking the law faces life imprisonment.


The draconian takeover has been condemned around the world with countries including Australia warning its citizens to stay away from the troubled region.

However, as Liam Bartlett reports, that’s only strengthening the resolve of the increasingly belligerent Chinese leadership.




Ladybbird 20-09-21 08:26

re: Hong Kong: Giant Firm Shares Suspended & Pro-Democracy Website Closes
 
How Hong Kong is Being Beaten into Submission by Chinas' Regime

Blacklisted Hong Kong business owner stands up to Chinese authorities

60 Minutes Australia 20 Sept 2021



It's no wonder Australia, the UK and US have been shoring up defence ties, beating chests with multi-billion-dollar announcements about building nuclear-powered submarines. It's all about countering China's expansion, which at the moment seems to be progressing unhindered.

Take what the communist regime is systematically dismantling in Hong Kong for example: Democracy. The freewheeling spirit of the former British colony is being smashed into submission with brutal crackdowns, mass arrests and the end of free speech. It's game over for pro-democracy activists who are now faced with a stark choice --- either back Beijing or be punished.


Herbert Chow, outspoken Hong Kong entrepreneur and founder of clothing brand Chickeeduck, found himself blacklisted by China earlier this year. His store was raided by police, who viewed his products – featuring cartoon characters - as a threat to national security.



Ladybbird 24-12-21 05:11

re: Hong Kong: Giant Firm Shares Suspended & Pro-Democracy Website Closes
 
Pillar of Shame: Hong Kong's Tiananmen Square Statue Removed

A famous statue at the University of Hong Kong marking the Tiananmen Square massacre was removed late on Wednesday.

BBC News 24 DEC 2021.





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The "Pillar of Shame", seen here at the University of Hong Kong in October


The eight-metre-high "Pillar of Shame" by Danish sculptor Jens Galschiot before it was removed at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), China, 12 October 2021Image source, Reuters

The statue showed piled-up corpses to commemorate the hundreds - possibly thousands - of pro-democracy protesters killed by Chinese authorities in 1989.

It was one of the few remaining public memorials in Hong Kong commemorating the incident.

Its removal comes as Beijing has increasingly been cracking down on political dissent in Hong Kong.

The city used to be one of few places in China that allowed public commemoration of the Tiananmen Square protests - a highly sensitive topic in the country.

In 1989, Beijing's Tiananmen Square became the focus for demonstrations calling for greater political freedoms. Thousands of people camped for weeks in the square, but in June the military moved in and troops opened fire.



What were the Tiananmen Square protests about?

The Chinese government says 200 civilians and several dozen security personnel died. Other estimates have ranged from hundreds to as many as 10,000.

The university had initially ordered the removal of the statue - called the Pillar of Shame - in October.

"The decision on the aged statue was based on external legal advice and risk assessment for the best interest of the university," it said in a statement on Thursday.

"The university is also very concerned about the potential safety issues resulting from the fragile statue."

The Chinese authorities have previously cited safety or public health concerns as reasons for preventing events such as vigils taking place on anniversaries of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

The first sign the statue was being taken down came late on Wednesday, when university officials fenced off the area with plastic sheeting.

Construction workers worked overnight behind plastic barriers to dismantle the 8m (26ft) copper statue. Security guards blocked reporters from approaching and tried to stop them from filming.


Like an Affront to The City's Identity


By Grace Tsoi, BBC World Service, Hong Kong



For decades, Hong Kong prided itself on being the "conscience of China" - the only place in Chinese territory that had not forgotten the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.

Beijing had allowed the annual candlelight vigil commemorating the bloody incident, which also become part of Hong Kong's collective memory.

But under the national security law, the vigil organiser - the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China - was forced to disband, and many protest leaders were jailed. It is clear that Beijing will no longer tolerate any public display of defiance.

The monument had been standing on campus for more than two decades. Now, even it had to be dismantled and removed - in the dead of night.

There was the sound of cracking and drilling as the statue came down, but no one could see what was happening. To many, the abrupt removal felt like another affront to the city's identity.

The removed statue depicts a column of dozens of torn and twisted bodies with anguished faces, "to remind us of a shameful event which must never recur", according to its sculptor, Jens Galschiot.

The university said it would put the statue, which has been on display at the university's campus for 24 years, into storage.

Galschiot called the removal "really brutal" and that he would consider suing the authorities and demand compensation.

"This is a sculpture about dead people and [to] remember the dead people in Beijing in '89. So when you destroy that in this way then it's like going to a graveyard and destroying all the gravestones," he told the BBC's Newshour programme.

A student leader who survived the Tiananmen crackdown and is now living in the US, Wang Dan, strongly condemned the move and accused the Chinese Communist Party of trying to "cover up their crimes".

"The Hong Kong government... has used this despicable act in an attempt to erase this blood-stained chapter of history," he wrote on Twitter.

A student at the University of Hong Kong, 22-year-old Billy Kwok, told Reuters news agency the statue's removal was "really sad".

"It's really ironic... I don't think people would expect this [to] happen in the university," he said, adding that the building was supposed to be a place that supported "so-called freedom of expression or freedom of speech".


Why is its removal significant?


"[The statue] was one of the few remaining prominent, public memorials [of the] crackdown... and a reminder of Hong Kong's freer past," Dr Ian Chong, Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore, told the BBC.

"[Its removal] takes away yet another public focal point for commemorating of the massacre... [and] appears to signal that the Hong Kong and Beijing governments will no longer tolerate public displays of remembrance of the events surrounding 4 June."

The statue's removal comes on the heels of a poorly attended Hong Kong parliamentary election that saw pro-Beijing candidates sweep into power, the timing of which Dr Chong termed "symbolic".

Beijing also introduced a strict national security law last year that criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. Activists say the law is being used to suppress civil society, jail democracy campaigners and curb basic freedoms.


What were the Tiananmen Square protests?


International condemnation ensued after troops and tanks opened fire on protesters.

The incident is considered highly politically sensitive in the mainland and authorities ban even oblique references to the events of 4 June.

In 2020, Hong Kong authorities banned the annual vigil commemorating Tiananmen for the first time in 30 years, citing Covid restrictions - though activists have accused local officials of bowing to pressure from Beijing to muzzle pro-democracy expression.

In October, nine pro-democracy Hong Kong activists were sentenced to between six and 10 months in prison for taking part in the vigil.

Earlier this month, media tycoon Jimmy Lai also received 13 months in prison for participating in the same vigil.




Ladybbird 03-01-22 07:30

Re: Hong Kong: Giant Firm Shares Suspended & Pro-Democracy Website Closes
 
China: Evergrande Suspends Shares in Hong Kong as Firm Tries to Raise Cash

Crisis-hit Chinese real estate giant Evergrande has suspended trade in its shares in Hong Kong as investors await news on its restructuring plan.

Hong Kong: Pro-Democracy Website Citizen News is Latest to Close

Hong Kong independent news website Citizen News has announced it will close on Tuesday, the latest in a series of pro-democracy news outlets which have shuttered in recent months.


BBC News 3 JAN 2022.



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The statement to the stock exchange did not give a reason for the trading halt.


Evergrande has more than $300bn (£222bn) of debt and is scrambling to raise cash by selling assets and shares to repay suppliers and creditors.

Last week, the company dialled back plans to repay investors in its wealth management products.

Evergrande said on Friday that each investor in its wealth management product could expect to receive $1,257 each month as principal payment for three months irrespective of when the investment matures.

The company had earlier not mentioned any amount and had agreed to repay 10% of the investment by the end of the month when the product matures.

Evergrande said in a statement posted on the wealth unit's website that the situation was not "ideal" and that it would "actively raise funds", and update the repayment plan in late March, without giving further details.

The announcement was seen as highlighting the deepening cash squeeze at the struggling property developer.

Last week, Evergrande did not make some interest payments on its offshore bonds.

Over the weekend, local media reported that a city government on the Chinese resort island of Hainan had ordered the company on 30 December to demolish its 39 residential buildings there within 10 days, as they were built illegally.

Evergrande has yet to comment on the reports.

The company's $19bn in international bonds were deemed to be in default by rating agencies after it missed a payment deadline last month.

Evergrande suspended its shares in early October, saying the move was ahead of "an announcement containing inside information about a major transaction".

There were reports at the time that rival real estate firm Hopson Development was set to buy a 51% stake in its property services unit.

However, later that month Evergrande said the $2.6bn (£1.9bn) deal had fallen through as they were unable to agree on the terms of a deal.

Evergrande's shares lost almost 90% of their value last year as investors became increasingly concerned about its future.

For months, many of the details of Evergrande's debt crisis have been clouded in uncertainty.

But some experts believe that this is no accident - it is exactly how Beijing wants it to be.

When the Chinese Communist Party changed its rules to limit how much money the country's property developers could borrow, they knew that it would cause major problems for Evergrande and other heavily indebted real estate firms.

China watchers say the government wanted to send a clear message that what they consider to be the reckless expansion of the sector could not continue.



Pro-Democracy Website Citizen News is Latest to Close


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Citizen News said in a Facebook post that it would cease operations from 4 January 2022




Hong Kong independent news website Citizen News has announced it will close on Tuesday, the latest in a series of pro-democracy news outlets which have shuttered in recent months.


It cited a "deteriorating media environment" as the reason.

The move comes after last week's police raid on Stand News, where several were arrested on sedition charges.

Observers say new laws put in place by China have created a climate of fear stifling free speech.

Citizen News, established in 2017, is one of the last few Chinese-language pro-democracy publications in Hong Kong.

In its Facebook post late on Sunday, the outlet thanked readers for their support, before announcing "with a heavy heart" that it would cease operations from 4 January to "ensure the safety and well-being of everyone".

"Regrettably, what was ahead of us [was] not just pouring rains or blowing winds, but hurricanes and tsunamis," the statement said.

"Sadly, we can no longer strive to turn our beliefs into reality without fear because of the sea change in the society over the past two years and the deteriorating media environment."



Last week the pro-democracy website Stand News declared it would shut down after its offices was raided by police and senior staff were arrested on charges of "conspiracy to publish seditious publications".

Pro-democracy outlet Apple Daily - a publication known for being a vocal critic of the Hong Kong and Chinese leadership - was forced to close in June 2021, following sustained pressure on the paper from authorities. Its owner, prominent media mogul Jimmy Lai, has been jailed


Hong Kong's Stand News independent website shuts down after raid

Hong Kong was handed back to China from Britain in 1997 under the agreement that rights such as freedom of assembly and freedom of speech would be guaranteed in the territory.

However, critics say those rights have been increasingly eroded as Hong Kong authorities crack down on dissent in the city in recent months, following the imposition of a national security law introduced by Beijing in 2020.

The controversial law criminalises secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces, and carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Hong Kong authorities reject those claims and the city's government denies targeting the media, insisting instead that the law is critical for preserving national security.


Ladybbird 21-06-22 08:59

re: Xi Jinping Defends China's Rule of Hong Kong
 
Hong Kong: Iconic Floating Jumbo Restaurant Sinks

A floating restaurant that was a famous Hong Kong landmark has sunk, days after it was towed away from the harbour where it operated for nearly 50 years.


BBC News 21 JUN 2022




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The Jumbo restaurant capsized in the South China Sea while on its way to an undisclosed location, its parent company said.



Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises said it was "very saddened by the incident" but that no crew members were injured.

The restaurant closed in March 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

More than 3 million guests are believed to have eaten its Cantonese cuisine over the years, including the Queen, Tom Cruise and Richard Branson.

It had featured in several films - including a Bond movie - but the pandemic dealt the business a fatal blow as diners turned away.
jumbo restaurant

The Jumbo restaurant was an iconic landmark of Hong Kong, however had not been profitable since 2013

Marine engineers had been hired to inspect the floating restaurant before the trip, and "all relevant approvals" had been obtained, the owners said.

The vessel was due to stay at an undisclosed location while it awaited a new operator.

But it sank on Sunday near the Paracel Islands after it "encountered adverse conditions" and began to take on water, Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises said.

"The water depth at the scene is over 1,000 metres, making it extremely difficult to carry out salvage works," it added.

While the pandemic was the final straw for the restaurant, it had faced financial issues for years.

Operator Melco International Development said last month the business had not been profitable since 2013 and was making large losses.

Ladybbird 01-07-22 06:15

Re: Xi Jinping Defends China's Rule of Hong Kong
 
Xi Jinping in Hong Kong: Xi Jinping Defends China's Rule of Hong Kong

China's "one country two systems" model of ruling Hong Kong has worked in protecting the city and must continue long term, says Xi Jinping.

BBC News 1 JUL 2022.



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Mr Xi (right) was greeted by Hong Kong's new chief executive John Lee

The Chinese leader mounted a stern defence of the political system in a speech in Hong Kong, following recent international criticism.



Hong Kong is marking 25 years since Britain returned the city to China.


It is under tight security as it hosts Mr Xi, who is on his first trip outside of the mainland in two years.

Under "one country two systems", Hong Kong is supposed to be governed in a way that gives it a high degree of autonomy and protects freedom of speech and assembly, and other rights not found in mainland China.

But in recent years China has been criticised for increasing its control of Hong Kong and enacting laws and reforms that stifle free speech and dissent.

The "one, country, two systems" principle arose out of an agreement between Britain and China and is enshrined in law in Hong Kong. The protections run out in 2047, a deadline which many in Hong Kong have long been worried about.

But on Friday Mr Xi said it "must be adhered to over the long run" - the clearest sign yet that China intends to preserve the political model, which critics say has already been compromised to suit Beijing.

Flanked by the Chinese and Hong Kong flags on stage, Mr Xi defended the system as having worked in protecting Hong Kong's prosperity and stability as well as China's "fundamental interests" in the past 25 years.

"'One country, two systems' has been tested and proved time and again, and there is no reason to change such a good system," he said, to applause from the audience comprising mostly of the city's pro-Beijing elite.

He added the system had the "unanimous endorsement" of residents along with "widespread approval" by the international community, and that Hong Kong's "true democracy began" when it returned to China.

But over the years Hong Kong has seen huge protests and many, including Western countries, have criticised Beijing's growing interference in the city.

In 2020, China introduced a controversial national security law that has clamped down on free speech and dissent in Hong Kong. This prompted Britain to accuse China of violating the "one country two systems" principle and their agreement.

"We're not giving up on Hong Kong," UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday.

"Twenty-five years ago we made a promise to the territory and its people and we intend to keep it, doing all we can to hold China to its commitments so that Hong Kong is once again run by the people of Hong Kong, for the people of Hong Kong."

China's recent electoral reforms designed to ensure only "patriots" can run for office in Hong Kong have also been heavily criticised.

But Mr Xi strongly defended this move on Friday, saying that it was "essential for safeguarding the long-term stability and security of Hong Kong" and that "at no time should this principle be allowed to be compromised".

"No country or territory's citizens would allow non-patriotic, or even traitorous, forces and people to wield political power," he said.


Government Flying Services aircrafts display the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong SAR flags over the Convention Centre in Hong Kong, China, 01 July 2022



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The flags of China and Hong Kong are displayed over the convention centre where Mr Xi spoke





At the same event, Mr Xi also formally appointed John Lee, a former security chief known for his tough pro-Beijing views, as the new chief executive.

Mr Lee had got the top job through an uncontested election - a sore point for many Hongkongers who say China has gone back on its promise to make the process fully democratic eventually.

Mr Lee's new 21-member cabinet was also sworn in. It is heavily staffed by pro-Beijing leaders, including three who have been sanctioned by the US for "undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly" of its people.

Various official events celebrating the handover will be held across the city on Friday, a public holiday. They typically culminate in a firework display over Victoria Harbour.

Mr Xi's visit this year - the first to Hong Kong since the 20th anniversary celebrations in 2017 - has led to the city deploying plainclothes officers and "special constables" drafted from prison guards and immigration forces, reports BBC Chinese's Martin Yip.

An Omicron outbreak earlier this year in Hong Kong fuelled doubts over whether Mr Xi, who has personally championed China's zero Covid policy, would cancel his visit.

But he arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday via a high-speed train where he met outgoing chief executive Carrie Lam.


Police stand guard on a street in Hong Kong on July 1, 2022, during the 25th anniversary of the city's handover from Britain to China

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Security personnel have been deployed across the city for the handover anniversary



Ladybbird 28-08-22 08:15

Re: Hong Kongs' POSH Peak Tram Reopens
 
Hong Kongs' Peak Tram Reopens After 14 Months

Hong Kong's Peak Tram, one of the city's most popular tourist attractions, has reopened with a new look after a year-long closure.

BBC News 28 Aug 2022



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The funicular, the oldest in Asia, dates back to 1888 and previously drew over six million visitors annually before Covid-19 struck.



The service welcomed back passengers on Saturday - even as tight coronavirus rules remain in place in the city.

It has undergone a $799m HKD (£87m) facelift since closing in June 2021.

Tourist numbers in Hong Kong are a fraction of their pre-Covid levels - in the past year, 134,000 people visited the city compared to 65 million in 2018.

The new tramcars are a far cry from this one carrying visitors to Victoria Peak in 1960, when Hong Kong was a British colony

The price of a return adult ticket is now nearly 70% higher than before the tram's makeover and costs HK$88 (£9.50).

"I hope all visitors will feel it's worth the price," said May Tsang, general manager of tram operator the Peak Complex.

"We have to consider the increase in our operating costs and the long-term sustainability of our business."

Around 100 people queued for several hours before the reopening on Saturday to see the panoramic views of the city from Victoria Peak.

Chau, who brought his two sons along for a family outing, said he was generally satisfied with the revamp.

"It's a bit pricey, but so is everything nowadays," he told the AFP news agency.



Ladybbird 18-10-22 03:43

Re: Hong Kong Protester Forced into UK Chinese Embassy & Beaten by Chinese
 
Hong Kong Protester Dragged into Manchester UK Chinese Consulate Grounds and Beaten

A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was pulled into Chinese consulate grounds in Manchester on Sunday and beaten up.


BBC 18 OCT 2022



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Unidentified men came out of the consulate and forced a man inside the compound before he escaped with the help of police and other demonstrators.

The protester told the BBC: "They dragged me inside, they beat me up."





The UK government called the reports "extremely concerning". The consulate says protesters displayed an insulting portrait of China's president.

The Foreign Office said it was urgently seeking clarity on the incident. Greater Manchester Police has launched an investigation.

Speaking after the incident, the protester, called Bob, told BBC Chinese that "mainlanders" - people from mainland China, as opposed to Hong Kong - had come out of the consulate and destroyed their posters.

"As we tried to stop them, they dragged me inside, they beat me up," he said, adding that he was then pulled out by the UK police.

"It's ridiculous. They [the attackers] shouldn't have done that. We are supposed to have freedom to say whatever we want here [in the UK]."

After the incident, the crowd remained angry. Protesters shouted at the men from the consulate and the British police, arguing they could have done more.

Consulate staff had previously asked the protesters to move to the opposite side of the street.

There were two police officers at the protest, but several more appeared within minutes of the altercation beginning.

They gathered at the gates of the compound trying to break up the fighting and move protesters back.

One police officer entered the consulate grounds and pulled the man who had been dragged inside back out.

At least eight men - some of whom were wearing helmets and protective vests - then returned to the consulate building.

The consulate is on UK soil, but cannot be entered without consent.

Reacting on Twitter, former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said the UK government should demand a full apology from the Chinese ambassador, and that those involved should be sent back to China.






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