350,000 Hongkongers paraded on the streets again on Oct. 20, while Hong Kong police admitted that the government is trying to come up with ways to officially register journalists, drawing criticism from local trade and press freedom groups. For months, there were rumors among protesters and local reporters that the authorities would launch a government-authorized […]

The U.S. House of Representatives on Oct. 15 unanimously passed a series of measures expressing support for the ongoing pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong against Beijing’s encroachment. “If America does not speak up for human rights in China because of commercial interests, then we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights anyplace […]

Local media recently reported that Hong Kong’s central banking institution has begun monitoring capital flows.  Worried this could signal that the government would soon limit bank withdrawals, many Hongkongers have begun lining up in front of ATM machines to pick up cash. Such fears first arose after Hong Kong government leader Carrie Lam on Oct. […]

HONG KONG—Hundreds of black clad pro-democracy demonstrators outside Hong Kong’s High Court on Oct. 9 chanted “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” as a leading activist appeared to appeal a six-year jail sentence for rioting in 2016. The court’s walls were scrawled with graffiti reading: “History will absolve us,” “If we burn you burn […]

Hong Kong is on the brink of totalitarianism as unlimited support from Chief Executive Carrie Lam is rapidly turning the city into a police state. Protesters say the government is unaccountable to the people. And that leaves pro-democracy legislators like Tanya Chan vulnerable. As Beijing tries to purge politicians not loyal to the Party line, […]

Hongkongers marched in heavy rain on Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon district on Oct. 6, defying a mask ban that the government enacted in an attempt to quell protests. They marched despite not having applied for the demonstration with the police force. Riot police later fired tear gas to disperse protesters. Dozens of protesters […]

A young protester in Hong Kong has been shot by a live round and is in critical condition, according to local media reports. Footage of the incident on Oct. 1 apparently shows him being shot at close range with a pistol during clashes with several riot police in Tsuen Wan. Other footage shows him bleeding […]

HONG KONG—Thousands of black-clad pro-democracy protesters defied a police ban and marched in central Hong Kong on Oct. 1, urging China’s Communist Party to “return power to the people” as the party celebrated its 70th year of rule. Thousands of other people amassed for rallies at multiple locations in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory, which was […]

HONG KONG– Hong Kong police warned on Sept. 30 of the potential for protesters in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory to engage in violence “one step closer to terrorism” during this week’s National Day events, an assertion ridiculed by activists as propaganda meant to scare people from taking to the streets. Police public relations chief Tse […]

Hong Kong protesters have a new target—the Chinese Communist Party. After over 100 days of protest, protesters have shifted their focus from the Hong Kong government and Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, to Beijing, Xi Jinping, and the Chinese Communist Party itself. This weekend was the Global Anti-Totalitarianism March and the 5 year anniversary […]

Colorful placards, umbrellas, and water cannon again filled Hong Kong streets on Sept. 28 as hundreds of thousands of protesters turned out to mark the fifth anniversary of mass pro-democracy protests known as the Umbrella Movement. The rally organizer, Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), said that around 200,000 to 300,000 showed up for the 7:00 […]

The director of national intelligence testifies before Congress; ICE's acting director warns of the risks of sanctuary policies; One senator wants to offer Hong Kong protesters refuge in the U.S.; Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam met with protesters. 

Commentary Top Communist official Zeng Qinghong, who became the head of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs work team in 2003, had been following the “elite puppet” tactic—controlling Hong Kong through local elites—in governing the former British colony. In addition, communist China’s “red families” and their assets have been continuously flowing into Hong Kong after […]

Those “despicable” Hong Kong Protesters are at it again! At least that’s what the Chinese Communist Party is saying. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam is calling for dialogue after months of not listening to anyone. And credit rating agency Moody’s is downgrading Hong Kong to negative because of China’s destruction of Hong Kong’s independence. […]

HONG KONG—Credit rating agency Moody’s changed its outlook on Hong Kong’s rating to negative from stable on Sept. 16, reflecting what it called the rising risk of “an erosion in the strength of Hong Kong’s institutions” amid the city’s ongoing protests. The move follows Fitch Ratings’ downgrade earlier this month on Hong Kong’s long-term foreign-currency-issuer […]

Hong Kong activists suspended protests on Sept. 11 to commemorate the 2001 terror attacks on U.S. soil. They also lambasted Chinese state media for spreading fake news that protesters were planning to stage “terror attacks” in the city on the same day. “We Hong Kongers have been taken on this decision as the attacks on […]

As U.S. lawmakers return from recess and prepare to discuss legislation that seeks to safeguard Hong Kong’s autonomy, Chinese state media has lashed out at the United States for initiating such a proposal. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government used rhetoric similar to the Chinese regime to accuse U.S. Congress of trying to interfere with the […]

HONG KONG–Hong Kong visitor arrivals plunged nearly 40 percent in August from a year earlier, deepening from July’s 5 percent fall, the finance secretary said as sometimes violent anti-government protests take a rising toll on the city’s tourism, retail and hotel businesses. Hotels in some locations had seen occupancy rates drop to about half, while […]

Following a massive march in Hong Kong where protesters called on the U.S. Congress to pass a human rights bill, the Hong Kong government responded by saying no to “foreign” interference. “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government expresses regret over the re-introduction of the Act and reiterates that foreign legislatures should not interfere […]

The 14th consecutive weekend of protests in Hong Kong was marked by an appeal to the U.S. government to pass legislation in support of the city’s autonomy, and calls for the police to be held accountable for making violent arrests last weekend. Mass demonstrations since June were initially over a controversial extradition bill that would […]

HONG KONG—Thousands of Hong Kong protesters on Sunday chanted the Star Spangled Banner and called on U.S. President Donald Trump to “liberate” the city, the latest in a series of demonstrations that have gripped the territory since June. Police stood by as protesters, under a sea of umbrellas against the sub-tropical sun, waved the Stars […]

A committee of China experts has appealed to President Donald Trump to respond to the Hong Kong extradition bill crisis with more solidarity. “We write to you at a critical moment for freedom and American interests in the Far East,” the Aug. 30 open letter issued by the Committee on the Present Danger: China began. […]

Mounting calls from U.S. lawmakers to pass a bill that would require an annual review determining whether Hong Kong should continue to be afforded special trading privileges has drawn a stern response from the Chinese regime. The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, first introduced in June, has seen increasing support from U.S. officials […]

WASHINGTON—Hong Kong is a critical financial gateway for mainland China, therefore increased meddling in the city’s affairs by Beijing would backfire, causing significant capital flight, experts say. Hong Kong is one of the largest hubs for equity and debt financing in the world. Thanks to its long history of good governance, ease of doing business, […]

An investigation by an Australian think tank found that Beijing bought Twitter spam accounts to spread misleading information about not just the Hong Kong protests, but also multiple events dating as far back as 2015. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a nonpartisan defense and strategic policy think tank, recently released a report analyzing Twitter […]

HONG KONG—The chairman of Cathay Pacific Airways on Sept. 4 became the second top figure to resign from the Hong Kong carrier following pressure by Beijing over participation by some of its employees in anti-government protests. The airline, one of the Chinese territory’s most prominent businesses, announced John Slosar was retiring. Cathay CEO Rupert Hogg […]

HONG KONG—Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong on Aug. 28 to denounce Cathay Pacific Airways for dismissing crew taking part in or supporting anti-government rallies that have swept the Chinese-ruled city for weeks. The Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) switched the protest venue, originally planned to be outside the […]

The federal government is clamping down on foreign interference at Australian universities, a senior member of parliament announced on Aug. 28. Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan announced the formation of a new task force to address cases of undue foreign influence and damage to tertiary educational institutions. One of the federal government’s priorities will be to […]

An ancillary development to the worsening social-political situation unfolding in Hong Kong is that the city’s global standing as an international financial center has been irreparably damaged.

HONG KONG—Hong Kong university student leaders said on Aug. 22 they’ll call for a boycott of the start of classes to pressure the government to respond to the protest movement gripping the city since June. Student union leaders from 10 universities said they want students to skip the first two weeks of classes in September. […]