Hong Kong Protesters

India a 'strategic ally', trade deal to be finalised soon: White House

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt highlighted the special relationship that US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share

Hong Kongers hold first protest in yrs since lifting of Covid restrictions

Dozens of people on Sunday joined Hong Kong's first authorised demonstration against the government since the lifting of major COVID-19 restrictions under unprecedentedly strict rules, including wearing a numbered badge around their necks. The rules set out by the police, who cited security reasons, came as the financial hub was promoting its return to normalcy after years of anti-virus controls and political turmoil. During the pandemic, protests were rare due to COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, many activists have been silenced or jailed after Beijing imposed a national security law following massive protests in 2019. Critics say the city's freedom of assembly has been eroded. Sunday's demonstration against the proposed reclamation and construction of rubbish-processing facilities was the first police-approved march of its kind after the city scrapped its mask mandate and social distancing limits. But organizers had to comply with police requirements such as taking measures t

HK jails pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai over fraud for 5 yrs 9 mths

A Hong Kong court sentenced a pro-democracy media tycoon to five years and nine months in prison on Saturday over two fraud charges linked to lease violations, the latest of a series of cases against prominent activists that critics say are aimed at crushing dissent in the city. Jimmy Lai, who was arrested during a crackdown on the city's pro-democracy movement following widespread protests in 2019 and under the National Security Law imposed by Beijing, was also fined 2 million Hong Kong dollars (USD 257,000). His media company, Next Digital, published the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. The publication was forced to close following the arrests of its top executives, editors and journalists last year. In October, Lai was found guilty of fraud for subletting part of the office space to a secretarial firm, which was also controlled by him, between 2016 and 2020. The second fraud count was for letting the same firm use the media outlet's office space in an alleged br

Hong Kongers who clapped, criticised judge in court guilty of sedition

Two Hong Kongers were found guilty on a sedition charge on Thursday after they clapped and criticised the judge during a previous trial over a banned Tiananmen Square vigil in the city. Garry Pang Moon-yuen, a pastor, and Chiu Mei-ying, a housewife, were arrested in April for disturbances they made in a court hearing in January when a leader of the group that organised the Hong Kong vigil was sentenced for inciting others to join the prohibited event last year. Hong Kong is undergoing a political crackdown following widespread protests in 2019 and the imposition of a sweeping national security law in 2020, with many prominent activists in the pro-democracy camp having been arrested or jailed. Besides the national security law, a growing number of dissidents have also been charged for colonial-era sedition offenses. Pang and Chiu, instead of being charged with contempt of court, were charged with uttering seditious words. Pang reportedly told the judge you have lost your conscience

After arrests, HK's last major pro-democracy outlet shuts forever

Stand News on Wednesday announced on Facebook that it would immediately lay off all staff and cease operations

8 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists on trial over banned Tiananmen vigil

A trial began Monday for Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai and seven other pro-democracy activists

Hong Kong freedoms fade as Beijing's security law muzzles dissent

Hong Kong is still China's wealthiest, most capitalist city. Its vistas of skyscraper and sea framed by dragon-backed emerald peaks are as stunning as ever.

Nine Hong Kong democracy leaders given jail terms amid crackdown

This relates to a march during the 2019 anti-government protests that triggered an overwhelming crackdown from Beijing

No longer the Hong Kong we knew: Thousands flee for UK amid China crackdown

Many say China's encroachment on their way of life and civil liberties has become unbearable

Hong Kong rights group stage protest for release of 'political prisoners'

A prominent rights group staged an act of defiance on New Year's Day for the first time in 12 months calling for release of "political prisoners"

Hong Kong's Carrie Lam vows closer Beijing ties to revive economy

Lam said her administration's aim was to restore confidence following another tumultuous year

Three former pro-democracy lawmakers arrested in Hong Kong by police

Hong Kong police arrested three former opposition lawmakers for disrupting legislative meetings several months ago, as concerns grow over a crackdown on the city's pro-democracy camp

Hong Kong legislature opens ahead of mass resignation of pro-democracy bloc

Hong Kong's legislature opened on Thursday ahead of the planned mass resignation of its pro-democracy bloc, one day after the government ousted four of its members

Hundreds march in Taiwan's capital to support 12 arrested Hong Kongers

Hundreds of people marched in Taiwan's capital on Sunday to demand the release of 12 Hong Kong anti-government protesters who were arrested by mainland Chinese authorities in August. The 12 were allegedly traveling illegally by boat to Taiwan when Chinese authorities detained them. They are now facing formal charges for illegal border crossings in Shenzhen, a southern Chinese city that borders Hong Kong, a semi-autonomous Chinese territory. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, people demonstrated in at least a dozen cities across the world from New York to Vancouver to Adelaide in Australia in support of those who were arrested, in a campaign called #save12hkyouths. Prominent Hong Kong activists Joshua Wong and Nathan Law helped launch the campaign on social media. In the crowd in Taipei on Sunday were activists from several Taiwanese organizations, as well as other residents of the self-ruled democratic island and many Hong Kongers. With many dressed in black and wearing face masks,

China envoy warns Canada against granting asylum to Hong Kong protesters

Protests against the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese governments swelled last year, and Beijing clamped down on expressions of anti-government sentiment in the city with a new national security law

China to Norway: Do not give Nobel Peace Prize to Hong Kong agitators

Wang's visit comes in the backdrop of Norway preparing to take up a rotational seat on the United Nations Security Council, of which China is a permanent member

In support of Jimmy Lai: Hong Kong protestors drive 1,100% stock gain

Now Hong Kong's pro-democracy supporters are wielding a new protest weapon: their stock-market trading accounts.

Australia to offer residence option to 10,000 Hong Kong citizens

PM Scott Morrison's government believes China's imposition of a new tough national security law on the semi-autonomous territory means pro-democracy supporters may face political persecution

US may ban Chinese social media apps, including TikTok, says Mike Pompeo

TikTok, along with 58 other Chinese apps, were banned in India last week following a border clash with China.

China appoints hardliner Zheng Yanxiong as Hong Kong security chief

Zheng Yanxiong, 56, most recently served as the secretary general of the Communist Party committee of Guangdong province