UK backs facial recognition project that helps Beijing catch masked protesters March 15, 2020 The government has partnered with Beijing to back a project aimed at developing facial recognition technology that can identify people wearing masks. The Home Office and the Metropolitan Police are both involved in a programme that carries out research jointly funded by the Chinese state — despite the country’s reported use of surveillance technology to [...]
Hong Kong retail sales plummet as coronavirus continues to dent economy March 2, 2020 Hong Kong’s retail sales fell 21.4 per cent in January on a year-on-year basis, as fears over the spread of the coronavirus kept tourists away from the city’s shopping centres. Sales dropped to $4.9bn according to government data, the 12th consecutive month of decline. The coronavirus outbreak has compounded an already challenging environment for the [...]
Coronavirus: Hong Kong closes 10 of 13 China borders February 3, 2020 Hong Kong has suspended 10 of its 13 border crossings with mainland China as the coronavirus outbreak spreads. Leader Carrie Lam stopped short of closing the entire border despite calls to do so as the city fights to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which has now claimed 361 lives. Hong Kong has now seen [...]
Hong Kong shuts mainland travel links as coronavirus spreads January 28, 2020 Hong Kong has shut down a large proportion of its transport links with mainland China in a attempt to limit the spread of the deadly coronavirus, which has infected eight people in the city. Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s chief executive, who was wearing a green face mask as she briefed the media this morning, said [...]
Hong Kong mulls ‘competitive’ tax measures to attract private equity funds January 13, 2020 Hong Kong’s finance secretary has said its government is considering a more “competitive” tax arrangement to attract private equity funds to the territory and help support its struggling economy. Speaking at a regional finance forum on Monday, finance secretary Paul Chan said Hong Kong’s banking system was running smoothly and had ample liquidity despite the [...]
Beijing appoints new envoy to Hong Kong as frustration grows over protests January 7, 2020 China has appointed a new envoy to Hong Kong in a sign of Beijing’s growing frustration at the ongoing protests in the financial hub. Luo Huining, a previous governor of Qinghai province, has replaced the previous head of the liaison office, the Chinese government’s most important office in the special administrative region. Read more: Hong [...]
Hong Kong protesters march on shopping centres as Christmas clashes continue December 26, 2019 Hundreds of protesters descended on shopping centres in Hong Kong today in a bid to disrupt business on the third day of Christmas demonstrations. The so-called shopping protests have targeted malls in the financial hub since Christmas Eve, with police firing tear gas to disperse protesters and tourists in the busy areas. Read more: Hong [...]
Hong Kong protests to continue throughout Christmas week December 23, 2019 Hong Kong is facing a Christmas week of protests, with demonstrators planning to gather across the city over the coming days. Protesters plan to gather in five malls on Christmas eve, and will count down to Christmas near the city’s harbour front in the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui shopping district. Read more: Clashes as police [...]
Clashes as police try to clear Hong Kong protesters after rally December 22, 2019 Hong Kong riot police pepper sprayed protesters to disperse crowds in the heart of the city’s financial district on Sunday after a largely peaceful rally in support of China’s Uighur ethnic minority turned chaotic. Dozens of police marched across a public square overlooking Hong Kong’s harbour to face off with protesters who hurled glass bottles and rocks at them. [...]
Carrie Lam: China to offer Hong Kong economic support amid continued protests December 16, 2019 China will continue to support Hong Kong and offer the troubled financial hub favourable economic policies, leader Carrie Lam said on Monday. Speaking in Beijing after a closed-door meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Lam said she believed the level of violence that has plagued the city for months and the number of “rioters” were [...]