Hong Kong bust first crypto-crime ring which funnelled $155m in dirty cash July 15, 2021 Hong Kong officials have undergone their first crypto laundering bust today, catching a syndicate funnelling some $155m in illegal funds. Four men have been arrested and bailed, while a separate stash of cash has been frozen. “It is the first time in Hong Kong that a money-laundering ring involved in using cryptocurrency to wash dirty [...]
Didi’s $1.5bn share plunge looms over China’s electric carmaker XPeng debut July 7, 2021 Shares in electric carmaker XPeng debuted on the Hong Kong stock exchange today, while Didi’s $1.5bn share plunge looms over the fellow Chinese tech firm. China-based firms trading in the US have pivoted towards trading closer to home, in an attempt to ease hawkish regulators amid Beijing’s tech and security crackdown. Nasdaq-listed XPeng, which has [...]
Facebook, Google and Twitter threaten to quit Hong Kong over new data laws July 5, 2021 Facebook, Google and Twitter have reportedly threatened to withdraw from Hong Kong if authorities push ahead with planned changes to laws around sharing private information online. The Hong Kong government is considering new rules that could make platforms liable for the malicious sharing of individuals’ information — a practice known as doxing. An industry group [...]
Next Digital to shut tomorrow after assets are frozen by Hong Kong authorities June 30, 2021 Hong Kong media group Next Digital, owned by jailed tycoon Jimmy Lai, will cease operating from 1 July after the company’s assets were frozen as part of a national security investigation, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. Watch the full report.
Hong Kong’s National Security Law one year on: Pockets of activism still exist June 30, 2021 It’s been a year since Beijing implemented a sweeping national security law in Hong Kong, aiming to crack down on months of pro-democracy protests. Pockets of activism still exist in the city today, with people regrouping behind an invisible front line that is harder to disrupt with tear gas and rubber bullets. Watch the full [...]
Hong Kong paper Apple Daily to close after Beijing crackdown June 23, 2021 Hong Kong pro-democracy paper Apple Daily will shut down after 26 years following a fierce crackdown by Beijing. The tabloid, which was known for its criticism of mainland China, will end its print and digital editions on Saturday 26 June. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has said today that it marks a “chilling blow” to freedom [...]
Hong Kong races ahead of London and New York in bid to get bankers back in the office June 21, 2021 Hong Kong races ahead of London and New York in bid to get bankers back in the office
China passes law to retaliate against foreign sanctions June 10, 2021 China has passed a law today that will allow it to counter foreign sanctions, according to state broadcaster China Centra Television (CCTV). The bill was passed by China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) standing committee after a second review, after a secret first review in April. Little is yet known of the law, but it comes [...]
Wealthy Chinese and Hong Kong nationals flock to the UK via investor visa June 8, 2021 Research by real estate firm Astons has found that wealthy Chinese and Hong Kong nationals are the most likely to head to the country via the UK Tier One Investor visa during the pandemic. Meanwhile, over 34,000 Hong Kong citizens so far this year have applied for the UK’s bespoke BNO visa scheme that was launched [...]
Foreigners’ flight from Hong Kong means Britain must step up even more June 4, 2021 Earlier this month, a survey by The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong found that 42 per cent of foreigners were planning or considering leaving the city, with more than half citing fears over the draconian national security law imposed by China last year. However on Tuesday, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam brushed aside [...]