China's Xi visits changed Hong Kong for handover anniversary
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the British handover of a city that his rule has transformed from a global hub known for its political freedoms to one that is much more tightly controlled by the Communist Party.
Carrie Lam says Hong Kong hasn't become 'just another Chinese city'
"And if I may just add, stability is extremely important for Hong Kong to maintain and enhance status as an international financial center," she told CNBC's Emily Tan and Martin Soong. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the national security law was "absolutely necessary" to ensure Hong Kong's stability. Lam also said the exodus of expatriates and foreigners from Hong Kong in recent months was not due to the newly enacted National Security Law — seen by some as Beijing's tightening of its grip over the city — but as a result of the the strict pandemic controls and measures that "make people very impatient." The enactment of the national security law and subsequent improvements to increase stability," Lam said on Street Signs. "Stability is important to maintain enhanced Hong Kong as a financial center.
cnbc.comHong Kong leader says China patriots now firmly in charge
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Monday said Chinese patriots are now firmly in charge of the city following the election of its new leader, who ran unopposed in a process controlled by Beijing from start to finish. Lam’s comments came a day after a carefully vetted election committee voted overwhelmingly to approve John Lee, a hard-line security chief who oversaw a crackdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. Appearing with Lee, Lam said such changes were necessary to restore order and stability in the Asian financial hub.
news.yahoo.comChina installing former security chief as Hong Kong leader
China is installing a career security official as the new leader of Hong Kong in the culmination of a sweeping political transformation that has gutted any opposition in the Asian financial center and placed it ever more firmly under Beijing’s control.
Why Hong Kong’s Election Features Only One Candidate: QuickTake
Replacing Hong Kong’s leader is a complicated, closed-door affair that epitomizes the central problem facing the Asian financial hub: How to balance the public’s desire for autonomy with China’s demands for control? The city’s Basic Law, which came into effect the day the British left, contains the promise of a popular vote some day, but electoral reforms imposed from Beijing in 2021 made that goal even more distant. In the end, an elite group of just 1,500 people who represent business, interes
washingtonpost.comWhy Hong Kong’s Election Features Only One Candidate
Replacing Hong Kong’s leader is a complicated, closed-door affair that epitomizes the central problem facing the Asian financial hub: How to balance the public’s desire for autonomy with China’s demands for control? The city’s Basic Law, which came into effect the day the British left, contains the promise of a popular vote some day, but electoral reforms imposed from Beijing in 2021 made that goal even more distant. In the end, an elite group of just 1,500 people who represent business, interes
washingtonpost.comHow China Has Stacked the Deck in Hong Kong Elections
Replacing Hong Kong’s leader is a complicated, closed-door affair that epitomizes the central problem facing the Asian financial hub: How to balance the public’s desire for autonomy with China’s demands for control? The city’s Basic Law, which came into effect the day the British left, contains the promise of a popular vote some day, but electoral reforms imposed from Beijing in 2021 made that goal even more distant. In the end, an elite group of just 1,500 people who represent business, interes
washingtonpost.comHong Kong to ease COVID-19 restrictions as infections fall
Hong Kong will ease some social distancing measures later this month, allowing people to dine in at restaurants in the evening and lifting restrictions on private gatherings, as the number of COVID-19 infections declined in recent weeks
washingtonpost.comIndia's Delhi swelters under early heatwave
(in sequences) Delhi residents are sweltering under an early heatwave, with the temperature reaching 39 degrees on Wednesday after breaking the 40 mark earlier in the week. India's meteorological department has issued heat warnings for several parts of northern India where temperatures were recorded at 6-10 degree celsius above normal. "It's just the beginning so it's going to be worse in the coming days," says business owner Anuj Ahuja.
news.yahoo.comHong Kong leader Carrie Lam says she won't seek second term in office
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam listens to reporters' questions during a press conference on March 21, 2022 in Hong Kong, China. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam will not be pursuing a second term in office, she said during a press conference on Monday. "This is not a question of evaluating my performance or the performance of the Hong Kong SAR government in this term. This is a question of my personal wish and aspiration," Lam said in response to a question on why she would not run for the upcoming chief executive election. "So I am taking this earliest opportunity to inform the public through the media that I would not contest in the coming chief executive election," she added.
cnbc.comHong Kong urges testing, Shanghai struggles under lockdown
Hong Kong authorities on Saturday asked the entire population of more than 7.4 million people to voluntarily test themselves for COVID-19 at home for three days in a row starting next week. The announcement by Chief Executive Carrie Lam came as the southern Chinese city is struggling to contain its worst outbreak with authorities sending mixed signals about testing and lockdowns. Lam said a “compulsory, universal test” of the whole population is still essential, but did not say when that might happen.
news.yahoo.comPakistan marks national day with military parade
A parade of troops and military equipment in Islamabad on Wednesday marked Pakistan's national day. The day fell while Pakistan was hosting a meeting of foreign ministers from Muslim nations. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting and national day celebrations were also attended by China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi. DURATION: 01:27
news.yahoo.comCrematoriums in Hong Kong at capacity, coffin supply running out amid devastating COVID-19 wave
Crematoriums in Hong Kong are reportedly filling up as the region nears 1 million infections and faces the world’s highest COVID-19 death rate in its current outbreak. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday that the new wave of COVID-19 cases and their resulting deaths is putting a strain on the region’s healthcare system. “Our crematoriums are working day and night, and they are already close to their capacity,” she said.
news.yahoo.comHong Kong leader says no fixed time frame for mass testing
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says reducing the skyrocketing number of deaths in the latest coronavirus surge is the city’s priority, putting a plan to test the entire population on hold in the latest flip-flop in the government’s pandemic response.
Hong Kong puts mass testing on hold as COVID-19 deaths rise
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said Wednesday that reducing the skyrocketing number of deaths in the latest coronavirus surge is the city's priority, putting a plan to test the entire population on hold in the latest flip-flop in the government’s pandemic response. Lam said there is “no specific time frame” for a citywide testing, two weeks after she announced it would happen this month. The city of 7.4 million people is in the grip of a spiraling omicron outbreak that has swamped hospitals and morgues and reduced hours or shut restaurants and other shops in the normally bustling financial hub.
news.yahoo.comHong Kong reports record cases; movements may be restricted
Hong Kong’s leader says people’s movements may be restricted during mandatory testing this month of the entire population for the coronavirus, as health officials reported more than 55,000 daily infections, a new record, and over a hundred deaths.
China Leadership Gathers as Economic Challenges Mount
China’s annual parliamentary pageant -- the National People’s Congress -- opens Saturday in Beijing, bringing President Xi Jinping one step close to a precedent-defying third term in power. Amid the pomp and propaganda at the Great Hall of the People, the Communist Party leadership will lay out policies to address the country’s biggest challenges, such as rebuilding growth slowed by Covid. The 3,000-or so deputies always give their ceremonial seal of approval to everything proposed, but that doe
washingtonpost.comTop Hong Kong official resigns over birthday party fiasco
A top Hong Kong official resigned Monday for attending a birthday party with about 200 guests in early January as the city was battling a coronavirus surge. At least one guests later tested positive, and Secretary of Home Affairs Caspar Tsui was among several officials and lawmakers ordered to quarantine after the party, which was held for Witman Hung, a delegate to China’s legislature. Tsui said in a statement issued Monday afternoon that he had not “set the best example during the recent outbreak.”
news.yahoo.comHong Kong suspends officials, isolates some 170 party guests
Hong Kong authorities have suspended several government officials from duty and will order about 170 people to be quarantined at a government facility after they attended a birthday party where two guests later tested positive for the coronavirus.
Pro-Beijing candidates sweep Hong Kong elections
Pro-Beijing candidates have won a landslide victory in Hong Kong’s legislative elections, beating out moderates and independents in the city’s first polls since Beijing passed a resolution to amend the city’s election laws to ensure that only “patriots” loyal to Beijing could run the city.
Hong Kong officials distance themselves from Nanking footage
Hong Kong officials distanced themselves from the screening of a 1937 Nanking massacre video in a primary school that left some children in tears, saying schools are not required to screen such graphic footage. The clip, which came from a documentary of the Nanking massacre, depicted Japanese soldiers killing civilians in the former Chinese capital. “While learning history is of paramount importance, how to learn is something that we will defer to the education sector, because we have very well-trained teachers, we have well-run schools,” Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said during a press conference on Tuesday.
news.yahoo.comHong Kong district councilors must take oath despite exodus
Hong Kong’s leader said Tuesday that remaining elected district councilors will still need to take an oath pledging allegiance to the city despite the resignation of dozens of their peers who are refusing to do so. The resignations follow media reports that councilors may have to repay their wages if they are later disqualified from office. The requirement that the city’s more than 400 district councilors take the oath was introduced this year.
news.yahoo.comHong Kong watching Chinese nuclear plant after leak reported
Hong Kong’s leader said Tuesday her government is closely watching a nearby Chinese nuclear power plant following a news report that it might be leaking. Government data showed radiation levels in Hong Kong were normal Monday night, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said. Data on Tuesday from the Hong Kong Observatory showed radiation still normal.
news.yahoo.comHong Kong democracy activist Agnes Chow released from jail
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow was released from jail Saturday after serving more than six months for taking part in unauthorized assemblies during massive 2019 anti-government protests that triggered a crackdown on dissent in the former British colony. Chow, 24, was greeted by a crowd of journalists as she left the Tai Lam Center for Women. Only a small group of supporters were on the scene, an apparent reflection of the government’s threats to jail those it deems in violation of a sweeping national security law that Beijing imposed on the territory a year ago.
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