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☆ Shares of Cartier owner Richemont climb 6% on record full-year sales, new CEO
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shoppers line up to enter a Cartier store, a unit of Cie. Financiere Richemont SA, on Canton Road in the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Hong Kong. Shares of Swiss luxury group Richemont climbed as much as 6.3% Friday after the company reported record full-year sales, even as Asia-Pacific spending waned. The Cartier owner said group sales rose 3% at actual exchange rates to an all-time high of 20.6 billion euros ($22.38 billion) in the financial year ending in March, despite a weakening outlook for luxury brands. Fiscal fourth-quarter sales fell 1% to 4.8 billion euros at actual rates, driven by a slowdown in Asia-Pacific. In a separate statement, the company announced Nicolas Bos, CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels, as its new group CEO, effective June 1.

Persons: Financiere, Cartier, Johann Rupert, Nicolas Bos, Van Cleef Organizations: Cartier, Cie, Financiere Richemont SA Locations: Canton, Tsui, Hong Kong, Asia, Pacific, London, Asia Pacific

☆ YouTube says it will block videos of Hong Kong protest anthem following court order
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Alphabet's YouTube on Tuesday said it would comply with a court decision and block access inside Hong Kong to 32 video links deemed prohibited content, in what critics say is a blow to freedoms in the financial hub amid a security clampdown. The action follows a government application granted by Hong Kong's Court of Appeal requesting the ban of a protest anthem called "Glory to Hong Kong." In comments criticizing the court order, YouTube said the ruling would raise skepticism around the Hong Kong government's work to foster the digital economy and reclaim its reputation as a predictable place for doing business. "If you start to send platforms 100 or 1,000 links for takedown every day, this will drive platforms crazy and also make global investors more worried about Hong Kong's free market environment. How predictable and how stable the policy environment is matters a lot to foreign investors, and Hong Kong is now at a crossroads to defend its reputation."

Persons: Hong Kongers, We'll, George Chen, Chen, Hong Organizations: YouTube, Hong, Appeal, U.S ., Asia Group, Washington DC, Meta Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong's, Washington, Greater China

☆ YouTube blocks videos of Hong Kong protest song after local court order
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —YouTube has blocked access to a popular protest song in Hong Kong, a week after a court in the city granted a government request to ban the anthem. The ballad contains lyrics that reference the phrase “liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” a protest slogan that was already outlawed in 2020. The Hong Kong government and courts had said the phrase had secessionist and subversive connotations. CNN has reached out to the Hong Kong Department of Justice for comment. Hong Kong was promised key freedoms and autonomy to run its own affairs after it was handed over from British rule to China in 1997.

Persons: We’ll, ”, Hong Kong ”, Jeff Paine, Paul Lam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s Organizations: CNN, YouTube, Google, ” CNN, Spotify, Hong, Asia Internet Coalition, Meta, Hong Kong Department of Justice, Hong Kong, “, Volunteers, ”, Hong Kong’s Department of Justice Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Hong, China

Hong Kong CNN —Hong Kong’s leader responded on Tuesday after three people were charged by British police for allegedly spying on behalf of the city’s intelligence services. Relations between Hong Kong and its former colonial ruler Britain have soured in recent years following mass pro-democracy protests in the Chinese city in 2019 and 2020. The British government has criticized Hong Kong’s Beijing-backed crackdown on almost all opposition in the years following the protests, while Hong Kong authorities have bristled at Britain providing a safe haven for pro-democracy leaders sought by the Hong Kong police. Hong Kong leader Lee noted in his Tuesday news conference that one of the men charged was the office manager of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London but did not directly address a question over whether it was involved in surveillance of Hong Kong dissidents in the UK. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee is speaking at a press conference on April 30, 2024.

Persons: Hong, Chi Leung, Peter, Wai, Matthew Trickett, Chung Biu Yuen, Hong Kong’s, John Lee, ” Lee, Chi Leung Wai, Yui Mok, Jonathan Brady, Yuen, Louisa Cieciora, Lee, Vernon Yuen, ”, Dominic Murphy Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, British, Hong, city’s Metropolitan Police, Hong Kong, Embassy, Westminster Magistrates, Administrative, Police, Hong Kong Economic, Trade Office, . Hong, Economic, Trade, Metropolitan Police, UK National Security, Crown Prosecution Service, Command, Met Police Locations: Hong Kong, Westminster, London, city’s, Britain, Hong Kong’s Beijing, . Hong Kong, England

☆ U.K. Police Charge 3 Men With Aiding Hong Kong Intelligence Service
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Stephen Castle | More About Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Three men have been charged with assisting the Hong Kong intelligence service, the London Metropolitan Police said on Monday, following an investigation in which arrests and searches were carried out across England. The three people charged under Britain’s National Security Act were identified as Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 38, of Staines-upon-Thames, Matthew Trickett, 37, of Maidenhead, and Chung Biu Yuen, 63, of Hackney, East London. “The foreign intelligence service to which the above charges relate is that of Hong Kong,” the police said in a statement. All three men were to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday. As court proceedings are now active, Britain’s reporting restrictions apply, preventing speculation about the case.

Persons: Chi Leung, Peter, Wai, Matthew Trickett, Chung Biu Yuen Organizations: Hong, London Metropolitan Police, Britain’s National Security, ’ Locations: Hong Kong, England, Staines, Maidenhead, Hackney, East London, Westminster

☆ He left his desk job in the US to run a food stall in Hong Kong. He earns more now — but plans to walk away from it soon.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Faye Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Toby To Yan Choi left his accounting job in California to help his father run a food stall in Hong Kong. Dai pai dongs — Hong Kong's open-air stalls serving food with a no-frills approach — are disappearing. The number of dai pai dongs in all of Hong Kong has dwindled to just over 20, according to the Hong Kong Tourism Board. The braised white pepper pork hock is one of the signature dishes at Dai Lee Dai Pai Dong. AdvertisementHe's gotten married since moving to Hong Kong and plans to move back to the US if he and his wife have kids.

Persons: Toby, Yan Choi, Dai pai dongs, —, Santa Barbara, Choi, Dai Lee Dai Pai Dong, pai, Hong Kong, He's, Hong Kong Dai pai dongs, Hong, sizzling woks, Agnes Chee Yan, Wei, pai dongs, Tiffany Leung, Faye Bradley, wasn't, Shawn Cai, Law Chun Chuen, Dai Lee Dai Pai, Yan Choi There's, they've, Tony Lee, Mok Wah Ho, Ales, Yan Choi He's, Betty Richardson, dongs, Chee, I'm Organizations: Service, University of California, Kong's, Hong Kong Tourism Board, China Morning Post, Young Locations: California, Hong Kong, Santa, Hong, Sham Shui, Sham, China, Shanghai

☆ Hong Kong stocks are back from the dead. Here’s why
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng Index surged more than 7% in April as the best-performing major index in the world. The valuation of Hong Kong stocks has also become more “compelling” relative to the rest of the Asian region after the pullback last year, said Zhikai Chen, head of Asian equities at BNP Paribas Asset Management. He added that there is a shift in investors’ sentiments as Chinese economic data turned more positive. Innes said global investors are currently “underweight” in Chinese markets, including Hong Kong, because of geopolitical tensions and concerns surrounding potential fallout from the upcoming US elections. Stock exchange data showed that southbound investors (meaning investment from mainland China into Hong Kong) have bought nearly $20 billion of Hong Kong-listed stocks in March and the first three weeks of April on a net basis.

Persons: ”, Kelly Chung, Zhikai Chen, Stephen Innes, David Chao, Nomura, Xiaomei Chen, Angelina Lai, Innes, Kong, BNP Paribus Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, Value Partners, BNP, Management, P Global, PMI, Kong's, Reuters, US, People’s Bank of, HK, “ Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Beijing, India, James’s, People’s Bank of China

☆ HSBC CEO announces surprise retirement
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong — HSBC has announced its chief executive Noel Quinn will retire — a surprise departure by its hard-nosed leader of five years who has overseen a sweeping series of asset sales across the globe. “We do hope that the next CEO would lay out more plans, execution-wise, to further increase the bank’s businesses in Asian countries,” he added. “I’ve held intensive leadership roles since I took on a commercial bank role in October 2008, so I’m personally ready for a change,” Quinn told reporters on a call. HSBC also faced criticism in recent years from Western lawmakers over its dealings with China amid growing geopolitical tensions. The London-headquartered bank also announced $3 billion worth of share buybacks on top of $2 billion in share purchases announced in February.

Persons: Noel Quinn, —, Georges Elhedery, Quinn, ”, Simon Yuen, “ I’ve, I’m, ” Quinn, “ It’s, Mark Tucker, “, ” Tucker, China’s Organizations: HSBC, HSBC’s, Management, China’s Ping An Insurance Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, United States, France, Argentina, Canada, Europe, China, The London

☆ Asia's first spot bitcoin and ether ETFs debut in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Dado Ruvic | ReutersHong Kong on Tuesday launched six spot bitcoin and ether exchange traded funds — becoming the first in Asia to offer retail investors the ability to trade the cryptocurrencies at spot prices. The cryptocurrency ETFs were issued by three Chinese firms — China Asset Management, Bosera Asset Management, and Harvest Global Investments — on the Hong Kong exchange. Spot bitcoin ETFs by ChinaAMC, Bosera HashKey and Harvest were above 3% higher in early trading, but subsequently gave up some gains to trade by about 1.5% higher. The three ether ETFs were trading above 1% in the morning, but fell into negative territory by the late afternoon. The spot crypto ETFs had received regulatory approval under the provision of virtual asset management services, but crypto futures ETFs have been trading on the HKEX since late 2022.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Bosera, Bitcoin, Antoni Trenchev, Nexo, Trenchev, Han Organizations: Reuters, Tuesday, China Asset Management, Bosera Asset Management, Harvest Global, Hong, Hong Kong's Securities, Futures Commission, ChinaAMC, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, CNBC, Stock Exchange of Hong, ., Harvest Global Investments Locations: Reuters Hong Kong, Asia, China, Hong Kong, U.S, Singapore, Dubai, Japan, South Korea, Stock Exchange of Hong Kong

☆ A viral conspiracy theory on TikTok says nice people don’t get promoted. But experts disagree
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

One viral TikTok has young workers up in arms about the perils of being pleasant in the workplace. A TikToker who goes by the name Jacqueline recently posted a TikTok video where she claimed that people who are "a pleasure to work with" will "never get promoted." She added: "You will never be promoted out of a hardworking more junior position where a lot of the hard work exists ... There's a lot of benefits to being other-oriented like we like nice people and we do nice things for those people," he added. 'Pleasant people don't bend over backwards'In Jacqueline's TikTok video, she conflates having a pleasant personality with being a pushover, according to Vogel.

Persons: Jacqueline, Cameron Anderson, Andrew Brodsky, Brodsky, Ryan Vogel, Vogel Organizations: Haas School of Business, University of California, University of Texas, McCombs School of Business, CNBC, Chinese University of Hong, University of Iowa, Purdue University, Fox School of Business, Management, Temple University Locations: Berkeley, Chinese University of Hong Kong, agreeableness

☆ Professor discusses whether ByteDance will sell TikTok's algorithm
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHighly unlikely Beijing will allow ByteDance to sell TikTok's algorithm to foreign buyers: ProfessorAngela Zhang, director of the Philip K. H. Wong Centre for Chinese Law and associate professor of law at the University of Hong Kong, says the Chinese government's stance is aligned with TikTok's position.

Persons: Angela Zhang, Philip K Organizations: Wong Centre, Chinese Law, University of Hong Locations: Beijing, University of Hong Kong

☆ The 'sandwich generation' faces pressure as the world ages — here are 3 tips to prevent burnout
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Ernestine Siu | In Ernestinesiu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"There's this tendency in the welfare state to sort of outsource the elderly care," Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, director of the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University told CNBC Make It. Although home-care for the elderly improves their wellbeing, it can also place pressure on younger generations. The so-called sandwich generation refers to middle-aged people who have elderly parents to care for, as well as their own children who are still dependent on them. The younger generations have to support their elderly parents or grandparents. "This would entail defining one's family value system, setting out personal goals, life aspirations, allocating and committing personal resources," Wong suggested.

Persons: Momo, John Wong, Jan, Emmanuel De Neve, Wong, Jialu Streeter, boomers, Streeter Organizations: WHO, Getty, National University of Singapore's, Science, CNBC, World Health Organization, United Nations, Economic, Oxford University, Loo Lin, of Medicine, NUS, Stanford Institute for Economic, Pew Research, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research Locations: Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan

☆ Hong Kong Sevens 2024 will be a 'significant' contribution to the economy: HKRU chairman
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHong Kong Sevens 2024 will be a 'significant' contribution to the economy: HKRU chairmanChris Brooke, chairman of Hong Kong China Rugby, discusses how the event was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the opportunities ahead.

Persons: Chris Brooke Organizations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong China Rugby Locations: Hong Kong China

☆ What’s it like to dine at Asia’s ‘best’ restaurant?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Chris Dwyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But his career and trajectory have always been defined by global experience, exposure and a passion for embracing other cultures and cuisines. Back in 2006, Australian Chef Shane Osborn of Hong Kong’s acclaimed Arcane hired Calvert to work at his two Michelin-starred Pied à Terre restaurant in London. The culinary Holy Grail of Paris followed, with a stint at Epicure, which like Per Se is also a three Michelin-starred restaurant. His global culinary journey continued with a move to Hong Kong and the contemporary Parisian bistro Belon, where he earned the restaurant a Michelin star and reached fourth place on the list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Calvert is happy to modestly take the considerable accolade of the best restaurant in Asia with a pinch of salt, as it were.

Persons: Daniel Calvert, “, ”, It’s, Shane Osborn, Hong Kong’s, Arcane, Calvert, who’ve, ” Osborn, Daniel Calvert's, Chef Thomas Keller’s, Paris, “ I’ve, ” Calvert, Hong, André Fu, morel, SÉZANNE Calvert, Ashley Caley, shima, botan ebi, there’s, sommelier Nobuhide Otsuka, “ I’m, ” Chris Dwyer Organizations: CNN, Champions League, Michelin, Sézanne Locations: Sézanne, “ Tokyo, Marunouchi, Tokyo, London, British, London , New York, Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Epicure, France’s Champagne, Hokkaido, France’s Jura, Yamaguchi Prefecture, morel, bouillon, Asia, @chrismdwyer, Instagram

☆ Asia’s 50 best restaurants for 2024 revealed
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Karla Cripps | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —After losing the number one spot to Bangkok in 2023, Tokyo has reclaimed its crown as the city with the top eatery in the region at the annual Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards, which were announced in Seoul, South Korea on Tuesday evening. The list – part of the global “World’s 50 Best” brand – is compiled by the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, which is made up of more than 300 food critics, writers, chefs and restaurateurs, all selected for their knowledge of Asia’s restaurant scene. Though Singapore didn’t have any restaurants in the top five, nine of its venues made the top 50 list – more than any other city. Courtesy The World's 50 BestThe “Asia’s Best Female Chef” award went to Pichaya ‘Pam’ Soontornyanakij, owner of Bangkok restaurant Potong, which came in at 17 on this year’s list. Mineko Kato of restaurant Faro in Tokyo won the Asia’s Best Pastry Chef award and Kevin Lu of Logy, in Taipei, was voted Asia’s Best Sommelier.

Persons: Daniel Calvert, Calvert, “, ”, Sézanne, I’ve, we’d, Gaggan, Seroja, Gaggan Anand, Thitid “, Sühring, Le Du –, Ton, Bangkok –, Odette, Pichaya, Pam ’ Soontornyanakij, Ton’s Nusara, Mineko Kato, Kevin Lu, Logy, Sung Anh, Mosu, Danny Yip, Hong, Le, Fu, Hui, Samrub, Villa, Ling Long, Ando, Les Amis, Baan, Goh, Anan, Tam’s Organizations: CNN, Marunouchi, Restaurants Academy, Hospitality, Toyo, Meta, Studio, Bund Locations: Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, South Korea, Japan, France’s Champagne, Maronouchi, Asia, ”, Kolkata, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thai, ” Singapore, Faro, Taipei, Nusara, Suhring, Osaka, Odette, Sorn, Le Du, Potong, Shanghai, Logy, Masque, Mumbai, Manila, Delhi, Seroja, Taichung, Taiwan, Mume, Wakayama, Lolla, Avartana, Chennai, India, Fukuoka, Jakarta, Kyoto, Anan Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Macao

☆ Don’t Look Away From What’s Happening in Hong Kong - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Maya Wang | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“What should I do with those copies of Apple Daily?”Someone in Hong Kong who I was chatting with on the phone recently had suddenly dropped her voice to ask that question, referring to the pro-democracy newspaper that the government forced to shut down in 2021. “Should I toss them or send them to you?”My conversations with Hong Kong friends are peppered with such whispers these days. Last week, the city enacted a draconian security law — its second serious legislative assault on Hong Kong’s freedoms since 2020. It had rule of law, a rowdy press and a semi-democratic Legislature that kept the powerful in check. Anyone who grew up in China in the 1980s and 1990s could sing the Cantopop songs of Hong Kong stars like Anita Mui, and that was a problem for Beijing: Freedom was glamorous, desirable.

Persons: “, Hong Kong, —, Anita Mui, Beijing’s Organizations: Apple Daily, Britain Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing

☆ China is trying to connect Southeast Asia by high-speed rail. Here’s how that’s going
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Imagine jumping on a train in southwestern China, traveling some 2,000 miles and arriving in Singapore – less than 30 hours later. Southeast Asia is the “obvious” choice because of its “proximity to China,” Bowerman adds. “Beijing, I think, ultimately wants to see Southeast Asian countries within its sphere of geopolitical influence. A staff member waits for passengers to board the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train during a week-long public trial phase at the Halim station in Jakarta on September 17, 2023. “In the example of a high-speed railway line between Malaysia and Singapore, Singapore would likely have just one stop – Malaysia would have more,” Wong told CNN.

Persons: China’s, Gary Bowerman, ” Bowerman, ”, Pon Souvannaseng, Peerapon Boonyakiat, Bowerman, Pan Wenbo, Pan, Mei Wei, Wei, “ I’m, Xi Jinping’s, Souvannaseng, Hong Kong –, Hong Kong’s, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Wong Muh Rong, ” Wong Organizations: CNN, Initiative, China Railway, Reuters, East Japan Railway Co, Malaysian, Bentley University, of, Communist Party, Laos Railway, Laos Railway cumulatively, Orient Express, Getty Locations: China, Singapore, Asia, Laos, Kunming, Vientiane –, Indonesia, Jakarta, Bandung, West Java, Thailand, Bangkok, Thai, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Southeast Asia, “ China, Peerapon, Cities, Penang, Malacca, Phuket Old Town, Beijing, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Wat, Siem Reap, ”, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Halim, AFP, “

☆ 'Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong': Beijing hits back at U.S. for 'slandering' city's new security law
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The flags of China and Hong Kong displayed in rows. China's embassy hit back against U.S. criticism of Hong Kong's new national security law on Thursday, saying the U.S. should "respect China's sovereignty." Hong Kong lawmakers passed a new national security law on Tuesday which critics say grants the government more power to quash dissent. "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, which no country is in the position to point fingers at or interfere in," a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Persons: Hong, Hong Kong's, Vedant Patel, John Lee, Wang Yi, — CNBC's Evelyn Cheng, Clement Tan Organizations: U.S . State Department, Kong's Legislative, China's, Beijing, China - Locations: China, Hong Kong, U.S, China's, Hong Kong . Hong Kong, Kong's, China - U.S

☆ Article 23: Hong Kong passes second national security law aligning city more closely with mainland China
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Coming into effect on Saturday, the law introduces 39 new national security crimes, adding to an already powerful national security law that was directly imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020 after huge and sometimes violent democracy protests the year before. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Lee described it as a “historical moment for Hong Kong.”Lawmakers attend a meeting for Basic Law Article 23 legislation at the Legislative Council on March 19, 2024 in Hong Kong, China. They argue their legislation is similar to other national security laws around the world. “This will surely increase the doubt, anxiety, and uncertainty of foreign businesses in Hong Kong.”In mainland China, national security laws have often ensnared both local and foreign businesses in opaque investigations. That is something Emily Lau, a former pro-democracy lawmaker, also worries about, that what made Hong Kong distinct is fast fading.

Persons: –, John Lee, Hong, Lee, Chen Yongnuo, ”, Hong Kong’s, Eric Lai, Lai, ” Lai, Hung Ho, fung, Capvision, Sarah Brooks, “, ” Brooks, ” Johannes Hack, Emily Lau, I’ve Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, ” Lawmakers, Legislative, China News Service, China’s Communist Party, CNN, Georgetown Center, Asian Law, Johns Hopkins University, Amnesty International, German Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s, Beijing, China, Amnesty International China, ”, Hong

☆ Hong Kong Security Law Could Damage City’s Standing as Financial Hub
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Keith Bradsher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Paul Chan, the top finance official of Hong Kong, traveled to Paris, London, Frankfurt and Berlin last September to lure foreign investors. Last month he abolished taxes on foreigners’ purchases of Hong Kong real estate. Mr. Chan’s brisk work pace represents an attempt to shore up Hong Kong’s role and image as the financial hub of Asia. Under its top leader, Xi Jinping, China has asserted greater influence in the past four years over Hong Kong’s laws and prosecutors. The mainland’s own economic struggles, especially in real estate, have further shaken confidence in Hong Kong as a place to put money.

Persons: Paul Chan, Xi Jinping Organizations: Hong Locations: Hong Kong, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Asia, Beijing, Hong, China

☆ Hong Kong lawmakers pass new national security law, giving government more power to curb dissent
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong lawmakers passed a new national security law on Tuesday that grants the government more power to quash dissent, widely seen as the latest step in a sweeping political crackdown that was triggered by pro-democracy protests in 2019. The legislature passed the Safeguarding National Security Bill during a special session Tuesday. The law threatens stringent penalties for a wide range of actions authorities call threats to national security, with the most severe — including treason and insurrection — punishable by life imprisonment. "I fully agree with what the Chief Executive said: the sooner the legislation is completed, the sooner national security will be safeguarded," he said. Hong Kong's political scene has changed dramatically since the massive 2019 street protests that challenged China's rule over the semi-autonomous territory, and the imposition of Beijing's National Security Law.

Persons: Hong, John Lee, Andrew Leung, Critics, China's Organizations: National, Kong's Legislative, Legislative, British, National Security Law Locations: Central, Hong Kong, Beijing, Kong's

WASHINGTON (AP) — If some U.S. lawmakers have their way, the United States and China could end up with something in common: TikTok might not be available in either country. But while U.S. lawmakers associate TikTok with China, the company, headquartered outside China, has strategically kept its distance from its homeland. Since its inception, the TikTok platform has been intended for non-Chinese markets and is unavailable in mainland China. Some have insisted they be called “global companies” instead of “Chinese companies.”But for TikTok, this may not be enough. “America’s foremost adversary has no business controlling a dominant media platform in the United States.

Persons: TikTok, Joe Biden, Zhiqun Zhu, ” Zhu, Alex Capri, Hinrich, ” Capri, Capri, Zhang Yiming, Mike Gallagher, ”, Gallagher, “, Sen, Tom Cotton, Shou Zi Chew, beholden, Chew, Nancy Pelosi, ” Chew, Thomas Zhang, Zhang, It's, Donald Trump, Trump Organizations: WASHINGTON, Bucknell University, “, National University of Singapore, Hinrich Foundation, Chinese Communist Party, CCP, Communist, Wired, Republicans Locations: United States, China, Beijing, Hong Kong, U.S, Washington, there's, Chinese, Chew

☆ Analysis: China worried about return of Trump, but also sees opportunities if he wins 2024 election
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Then-US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan at Beijing's Forbidden City in 2017. “If this decoupling is carried out by Trump 2.0 in a very forceful way, the impact on China is going to be very severe. But experts say China’s business and official sectors are likely already considering contingency plans. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin leave a reception following talks at the Kremlin in March 2023. “Whoever wins – the structure of (US) confrontation, competition, pressure to China are still there,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi, Donald Trump, didn’t, –, Biden, Wang Yi, Trump, He’s, Trump’s, Brian Wong, ” Wong, Lintao Zhang, Obama, Melania, “, Xi Jinping, Peng Liyuan, Xie Huanchi, he’s, ”, Bala Ramasamy, Shen Dingli, Premier Li Qiang, Ronald Reagan, “ Biden, Shen, ” Trump, skeptically, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Pavel Byrkin, Wong, it’s, Wang Yiwei Organizations: Beijing CNN —, Communist Party, Biden, Senior, Trump’s “, University of Hong Kong’s, Contemporary, House, oceanside, Trump, of, Forbidden, Huawei, Oxford Economics, China Europe International Business School, Premier, American, South Korea Navy, Asia –, Russia’s, NATO, Europe, Kremlin, Getty, South Korea –, White House, Renmin University Locations: China, Beijing, State, US, Russia, Communist, Contemporary China, Taiwan, Lago, City, Xinhua, Shanghai, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe, China's Qingdao Port, –, Asia, Seoul, Tokyo, Ukraine, United States, AFP, Japan, South Korea, America, Washington, Hong Kong, South China

☆ Hong Kong proposes new security bill with life imprisonment for 'treason' and 'insurrection'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The flag of Hong Kong flies from a ferry boat on July 2, 1997, a day after the former British colony returned to Chinese rule. Hong Kong on Friday unveiled a new draft security bill proposing up to life imprisonment for offences such as insurrection and treason following a month of public consultation period for the bill. The draft legislation is necessary for Hong Kong to fulfil its constitutional duty to safeguard national security, China's Ministry of National Security emphasized in its official WeChat account on Monday. Beijing imposed a controversial law four years ago, which stamped out dissent and led to the arrest of many Hong Kong pro-democracy activists. China's 2020 national security law aimed at prohibiting secession, subversion of state power, terrorism activities and foreign interference.

Persons: Hong, John Lee Organizations: British, China's Ministry of National Security, Hong, U.S . State Department, Kong's Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing

☆ In post-Covid China, the masks are off, but Xi’s tight control is here to stay
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

2 official, who is charged with running its economy – and one more move for Xi to cement his control over the official narrative. China's Premier Li Qiang speaks during a press conference after the closing session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 13, 2023. He used his first and likely last press conference last year to highlight the prominence of the Communist Party over the state government. The axing of the premier’s press conference came alongside a shortening of the “two sessions” overall – first imposed during the pandemic to prevent the spread of Covid. Traffic slowed due to checkpoints on surrounding streets, with security officials even stopping and checking IDs of some cyclists riding on a major throughfare along the square.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, ”, Liu Dongshu, Jinping, Li Qiang, Greg Baker, Premier Li Keqiang, Xi protégé Li Qiang, Li, “, ” Li, Liu, ” Changhao Wei, Paul Tsai, presser, Tatan Organizations: Beijing CNN, of, National People’s Congress, City University of Hong, National People's Congress, Premier, Communist Party, Paul Tsai China Center of Yale Law School, National People's, AP, Communist Locations: Beijing, Communist, China, City University of Hong Kong, AFP, Hong Kong, Tiananmen

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