Latest news with #JessiePang
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hong Kong police arrest father and brother of wanted activist Anna Kwok
By Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong national security police have arrested the father and brother of wanted activist Anna Kwok for allegedly dealing with her finances, local media reported on Friday, in the first use of the city's security law on family members. Kwok is the executive director of the Washington-based Hong Kong Democracy Council and one of 19 overseas activists wanted by the city's national security police. She is accused of colluding with foreign forces and police have offered a bounty of HK$1 million ($127,656) for her arrest. The national security police said in a press release on Friday that they had arrested two men aged 35 and 68 on April 30 on suspicion of "attempting to deal with, directly or indirectly, any funds or other financial assets" belonging to Kwok. Local media cited unnamed sources saying the two men were Kwok's father and brother. Police said they formally charged the 68-year-old man on Friday morning for attempting to deal with the finances. They specified the two arrestees were involved in changing the details of Kwok's insurance policy and attempting to withdraw its remaining value. He will appear in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts later in the day while the younger man has been released on bail pending further investigation. A lawyer for Kwok's relatives could not be reached for comment. Police warned the public that handling an absconder's funds was a serious offence punishable by a maximum of seven years in jail. The United States has strongly condemned Hong Kong's ongoing harassment of the family members of pro-democracy activists living overseas. Chinese and Hong Kong authorities say the law has restored the stability necessary for preserving Hong Kong's economic success. ($1 = 7.7550 Hong Kong dollars)
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
J-pop star Kenshin Kamimura pleads not guilty to indecent assault in Hong Kong
By Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) - J-pop star Kenshin Kamimura pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecent assault before a Hong Kong court on Tuesday, after he was accused of assaulting a woman at a Hong Kong restaurant in March. Kamimura, 25, is a former member of the six-member boy group ONE N' ONLY but was fired by his management agency, Stardust Promotion in March over "the discovery of a serious compliance violation", according to the company statement. Kamimura's hands were shaking before the hearing began, and he broke out in tears after loudly pleading "not guilty" at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court. When Magistrate Li Chi-ho asked if he needed a break, he said he could continue, adding "no problem" in Hong Kong's Cantonese language. Under Hong Kong law, indecent assault carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment. Reuters was unable to reach Kamimura's lawyers for comment. Dozens of his fans started queuing up outside the court early in the morning to get passes to enter the courtroom. Some said they had flown in from Japan and China to see the star, known for his role in the Japanese drama "Our Youth". A judiciary clerk said they have given away over 170 passes. Kamimura was granted bail, with the next hearing scheduled for July 31 and expected to last 3 days. According to the charge sheet seen by Reuters, he was charged with indecently assaulting a woman in a restaurant in the city's busy Mong Kok district on March 2 this year. The charge sheet did not provide further details.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hong Kong's rocky democratic road under Chinese rule
By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's main opposition Democratic Party is considering disbanding amid a years-long national security crackdown by China after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019. Following is a timeline of key events in the democratic development of Hong Kong before and after the financial hub's handover from Britain to China in 1997. Dec. 1984 - China and Britain sign a Joint Declaration on how Hong Kong will be governed, including a "One Country, Two Systems" formula granting a high degree of autonomy under Chinese Communist Party rule. June 1989 - Beijing's Tiananmen Square crackdown prompts millions in Hong Kong to take to the streets to call for more democratic safeguards. April 1990 - Beijing ratifies Hong Kong's Basic Law as a mini-constitution promising "universal suffrage" as an ultimate aim. 1994 - The Democratic Party is founded through the merger of two opposition groups: United Democrats of HK and Meeting Point. Sept. 1995 - The Democratic Party wins 42% of the popular vote in legislative council elections, becoming the largest party during the final years of British colonial rule. July 1997 - Hong Kong returns to Chinese sovereignty. July 2003 - Half a million people protest against a proposed national security bill, also known as Article 23, causing it to be scrapped. Aug. 2014 - China's parliament rules out a fully democratic election for Hong Kong's leader in 2017, by imposing tight rules on nominations of candidates who want to run. Sept. 2014 - The civil disobedience movement known as "Occupy Central" draws hundreds of thousands of protesters who block and set up encampments in three districts including a highway outside government headquarters for 79 days to demand China allow full democracy. 2019 April 3 – Hong Kong introduces a proposed extradition bill to allow criminal suspects to be sent to China for trial. June 12 – Police fire non-lethal rounds and tear gas to disperse hundreds of thousands of protesters calling for the extradition bill to be scrapped, marking the beginning of months long protests that turn increasingly violent. Nov. 24 - Hong Kong's pro-democracy candidates win a landslide victory in district council elections, securing 90% of 452 seats in what is seen as a symbolic vote against China. 2020 June 30 - China's parliament imposes a sweeping national security law, drawing condemnation from the U.S. amid concerns it will be used to crack down on opposition democrats. July 11-12 - More than 600,000 people cast ballots in an unofficial primary election to select the strongest pro-democracy candidates to contest an upcoming election. July 30 - Hong Kong disqualifies a dozen pro-democracy candidates from running in the Sept. election, citing reasons including collusion with foreign forces. July 31 - The September election is postponed on COVID grounds. Nov. 11 - Hong Kong expels four democrats from the legislature. Nov. 12 - The remaining 15 pro-democracy lawmakers resign from the 70-seat Legislative Council in protest. 2021 Jan 6 - More than 50 pro-democracy campaigners, including pro-democracy lawmakers, are arrested in the biggest crackdown to date under the national security law. March 11 - China's parliament overhauls Hong Kong's electoral system, effectively shutting out the opposition from future elections, which some countries call an erosion of democracy in the financial hub. Dec 19 - The turnout for an overhauled, "patriots"-only legislative election hits a record low of 30.2%. 2023 May 27 - Hong Kong's second-largest opposition group, the Civic Party, said it would disband after 30 of 31 members voted to wind up the party. July 3 - Hong Kong police issue arrest warrants and offer bounties of HK$1 million against eight overseas-based activists. July 6 - Hong Kong's legislature unanimously voted to overhaul district-level elections by drastically reducing the number of directly elected seats. Dec 10 - A "patriots only" district council election, with no participation of opposition democrats, had a record low voter turnout as many spurned what was seen as an undemocratic poll. 2024 March 19 - Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously pass a new national security bill, also known as Article 23 that punishes offences including treason, sabotage, sedition, the theft of state secrets, external interference and espionage. Nov 19 - Hong Kong's High Court sentences 45 pro-democracy activists to up to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit subversion over the 2020 "primary election". Dec 24 - Hong Kong offered bounties of HK$1 million for six more pro-democracy campaigners deemed to have violated national security laws, and revoked the passports of seven more. 2025 Feb 20 - Hong Kong's Democratic Party said it would start preparations to disband and wind up its affairs after a meeting of its leadership.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China censors some tariff-related content on social media
By Farah Master and Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) - China began censoring some tariff-related content on social media on Wednesday after U.S. "reciprocal" tariffs on dozens of countries took effect, including massive 104% duties on Chinese goods, while posts criticising the U.S. were top hits. Hashtags and searches for "tariff" or "104" were mostly blocked on social media platform Weibo, with pages showing an error message. Other hashtags, particularly the U.S. having an egg shortage, were amongst the most viewed on Weibo. State broadcaster CCTV started a hashtag "#UShastradewarandaneggshortage." The U.S. is "waving the tariff stick in a high profile manner, imposing tariffs on EU steel and aluminium products.. but also writing letters to European countries in a low voice, urgently asking for eggs," CCTV said in a post on Weibo. Beijing announced counter-tariffs on the U.S. last week and has vowed to fight what it views as blackmail. Internet censors have also allowed mocking U.S. comments to proliferate on Chinese social media, depicting the United States as a globally irresponsible trading partner, as China prepares the stage for a wider trade fight with the world's biggest economy China controls the internet through a system known as the "Great Firewall" and social media posts are routinely censored when deemed detrimental to national interests. Foreign social media networks such as Instagram and X are blocked, a system that has created a captive market for domestic alternatives. Beijing lawyer Pang Jiulin, who has more than 10.5 million followers on his Weibo account, said China's share of exports to the U.S. would quickly be replaced by countries such as Vietnam and India, and Chinese companies would lose the opportunity to continue exporting to the U.S. In the face of U.S. economic aggression, China has no way out but to "fight to the end" he said. "If China also increases tariffs to 104%, the prices of American goods including Apple and Tesla will soar, and Chinese will pay a greater price for their favourite American goods." Hitting back with its own tariffs and export controls may not be very effective, given China ships to the U.S. about three times as much goods than around the $160 billion it imports. But it may be the only option if Beijing believes it has a higher pain threshold than Washington has. Chinese stocks tumbled on Monday with the Shanghai Composite Index down 7% on Monday in its worst day in five years, but they closed higher on Wednesday, buoyed by state pledges to support local markets. Prominent Chinese commentator Hu Xijin said on Wednesday that Trump's team was "really delusional". "They are at war not only with the whole world, but also with the most basic rules of human society, so their chances of victory are zero," Hu said. "Their reciprocal tariffs will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history for future generations to laugh at."
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Hong Kong police chief to increase security work despite US sanctions
By Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's new police commissioner played down the impact of recent U.S. sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials, while pledging to do more to safeguard national security in the financial hub. The U.S. sanctioned six senior Chinese and Hong Kong officials for "transnational repression" and further eroding the autonomy of Hong Kong this week, the first major move by the Trump administration to punish China over its years-long crackdown under sweeping national security laws. But Hong Kong's newly appointed police chief Joe Chow said the U.S. sanctions were "barbaric" and proved Hong Kong's national security work had been successful and effective. "This means we should do even more," Chow told reporters. "This should not be a question of whether I should be worried about being sanctioned, but how to do better and more," he added. China imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 after mass pro-democracy protests, punishing acts such as subversion with up to life imprisonment. A second set of national security laws known as Article 23 was enacted last year. Some Western governments say these laws have been used as a tool of repression, with media outlets and civil society groups shuttered and 316 people arrested, mostly democratic advocates. Chow added that although Hong Kong's national security laws and enforcement since mass pro-democracy protests in 2019 had brought stability to Hong Kong, there were still what he called pockets of "soft resistance". He singled out those trying to incite others through the media, culture and art sectors, which the police would focus on. Chow succeeded Raymond Siu, who was among those sanctioned by the United States partly for coercing and placing HK$1 million ($128,500) bounties on the heads of 19 overseas Hong Kong activists, including some in the United States. Chow declined to comment on whether the police would issue more bounties in the future. ($1 = 7.7805 Hong Kong dollars)
