Author: Yusara Askari

“Hong Kong’s ‘romantic fusion of East and West’ is evaporating”
1Jun By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

“Hong Kong’s ‘romantic fusion of East and West’ is evaporating”

China's ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai on Sunday said that the central government has the ultimate responsibility for upholding national security in Hong Kong, and that a proposed legislation for the city "will protect law-abiding citizens"."Hong Kong was a romantic fusion of the East and the West. To our regret, such romance is evaporating," the envoy said adding that the violent actions of protesters against police, citizens and property there had crossed "a red line" for Beijing."Hong Kong is in disarray. China's national security is at risk. That is why the central government has chosen to act," he said.Separately, a newspaper in China wrote that the plans outlined by US President Donald Trump at the White House were a "gross interference" in Beijing's affairs and were "do...
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Trump ‘completely wrong’ for curbing ties with Hong Kong, top officials say
30May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Business, China

Trump ‘completely wrong’ for curbing ties with Hong Kong, top officials say

Hours after US President Donald Trump moved toward stripping Hong Kong of its special treatment in a bid to punish China, senior government officials of the global financial hub lashed out at the US President saying the move made by Trump is “completely false and wrong”.Security minister John Lee said that Hong Kong's government could not be threatened and would push ahead with the new laws."I don't think they will succeed in using any means to threaten the (Hong Kong) government, because we believe what we are doing is right," Lee said.Justice Minister Teresa Cheng said the basis for Trump's actions was "completely false and wrong", saying the need for national security laws were legal and necessary.Trump said Beijing had broken its word over Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy from Beiji
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Hong Kong legislation is for city’s stability, prosperity: Chinese Premier Li
29May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

Hong Kong legislation is for city’s stability, prosperity: Chinese Premier Li

Moments after China's parliament on Thursday approved Hong Kong's national security Bill, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that the passage of this legislation is for the city’s long-term “stability and prosperity”.“The decision adopted at the National People’s Congress (NPC) session is designed for study implementation of 'one country, two systems' and Hong Kong’s long-term prosperity and stability,” Premier Li said at an annual press conference rounding up China’s parliamentary season.The NPC, China’s Parliament, passed the resolution on the final day of its annual parliamentary session with 2,878 votes for, one against, and six abstaining, paving the way for the law to be enacted in Hong Kong.Asked if the new law means the Central Government is abandoning the "one country, two systems" p
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Hong Kong police fire pepper pellets as hundreds rally against Beijing’s security law
27May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

Hong Kong police fire pepper pellets as hundreds rally against Beijing’s security law

Hong Kong riot police have made arrests and fired pepper pellets on Wednesday to disperse protesters in the city, as new national security laws proposed and national anthem bill by Beijing revived anti-government demonstrations.At around 1pm, some protesters in Central occupied parts of Pedder Street, disrupting traffic in the area. This prompted the police to fire pepper pellets to disperse the crowd. Over in Causeway Bay, about 100 people were stopped and searched.Police were also deployed to Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, following calls for people to gather there to protest. Heavy police presence and searches in the morning had dented protesters' initial plans to block roads and disrupt traffic.Some drivers had tried to disrupt the traffic at the cross-harbour tunnel at about 8.30am by dr...
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Beijing’s national security law might bar foreign judges from national security cases
26May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

Beijing’s national security law might bar foreign judges from national security cases

Adding more to Hong Kong’s worries, Beijing's national security legislation for the city is set to block its foreign judges from handling national security trials, which would exacerbate concerns about the city's judicial independence, people familiar with the matter said.Having lost patience with Hong Kong's failure to adopt national security legislation on its own, China announced on Thursday that it would directly enact laws to tackle secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in the city.The legislation, which remains subject to change, would also see both central and city government security agencies set up in Hong Kong.The Hong Kong government has said the legislation would not affect its judicial independence.Beijing's push for the legislation follows months of anti-g
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Hong Kong comes out in protest, police launches tear gas, water cannons
25May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

Hong Kong comes out in protest, police launches tear gas, water cannons

It was chaos on Sunday as police arrested more than 100 people and fired tear gas and pepper spray after thousands of Hong Kong protesters gathered in opposition to a controversial security law proposed by China last week.As the demonstrators and police faced off in Hong Kong, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi insisted that the proposed law be imposed "without the slightest delay".The national security law is expected to ban treason, subversion and sedition. The legislation comes after Hong Kong was shaken last year by months of massive, often-violent protests, and repeated warnings from Beijing that it would not tolerate dissent.With campaigners warning the proposal could spell the end of the city's treasured freedoms, thousands gathered in the busy Causeway Bay and Wan Chai districts, cha...
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China says ‘political virus’ pushing Sino-US ties to brink of new cold war
25May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

China says ‘political virus’ pushing Sino-US ties to brink of new cold war

China said on Sunday that relations with the United States were on “the brink of a new cold war” with US politicians not leaving any opportunity to attack and discredit China."This political virus is spreading in the US, and jumping at any opportunity to attack and slander China. Some politicians ignore the basic facts and make up countless lies and conspiracy theories against China," China’s Foreign minister Wang Yi said.But while the top Chinese diplomat hit back at the US politicians who were pushing the two sides to "the brink of a new Cold War" at the risk of reversing decades of cooperation, he also struck a conciliatory tone at times, urging the Americans to cooperate with China.Wang was speaking at a news conference on the sidelines of China's annual legislative meetings in Beijing
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China has betrayed Hong Kong so West should stop fooling itself, says former HK governor
23May By Yusara AskariNo Comments
China

China has betrayed Hong Kong so West should stop fooling itself, says former HK governor

Former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten on Saturday opined that China has betrayed the people of Hong Kong so the West should stop kowtowing to Beijing for an illusory great pot of gold.“The Hong Kong people have been betrayed by China,” Patten said adding that Britain has a “moral, economic and legal” duty to stand up for Hong Kong.Beijing is set to impose new national security legislation on Hong Kong after a sustained campaign of pro-democracy protests last year in the city, which enjoys many freedoms not allowed on mainland China.Patten, now 76, watched as the British flag was lowered over Hong Kong when the colony was handed back to China in 1997 after more than 150 years of British rule.Hong Kong’s autonomy was guaranteed for 50 years under the “one country, two systems” agreement pri
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