Our commitment to Hongkongers shouldn’t stop with the visa programme January 30, 2021 On Sunday, the historic Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa programme will open; a fitting end to a week of celebrations and activism marking the 180th anniversary of the founding of modern Hong Kong. The scheme will allow Hongkongers who hold British National (Overseas) citizenship, an offer that was made to people who were [...]
China will no longer recognise Hong Kong citizens’ British overseas passports January 29, 2021 China said today it will “no longer recognise” British National Overseas (BNO) passports for Hong Kong citizens as the UK prepares to welcome those fleeing the National Security Law. A foreign ministry spokesperson for the Chinese government said: “From January 31, China will no longer recognise the so-called BNO passport as a travel document and [...]
HSBC chiefs to face MPs’ questions over Hong Kong protesters’ frozen accounts January 22, 2021 Two HSBC executives are set to face questions from MPs next week over the bank’s stance on Hong Kong, amid mounting pressure to reverse a decision to freeze the accounts of pro-democracy activists in the region. HSBC faced backlash last summer after it issued a statement in favour of a new National Security Law in [...]
British lawyer pulls out of high-profile Hong Kong case following ‘pressure’ from UK January 20, 2021 A British prosecutor set to lead the case against media mogul Jimmy Lai and several pro-democracy activists has withdrawn after ‘pressure’ from the UK, Hong Kong’s Department of Justice said this morning. Hired by the Hong Kong government, David Perry QC indicated that “the trial should proceed without him”, the Department of Justice said in [...]
Former Hong Kong lawmaker rejects HSBC explanation over frozen bank accounts January 18, 2021 Former Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui has renewed his criticism of HSBC despite the bank’s CEO expressing regret for freezing his bank accounts. Noel Quinn, HSBC chief executive, had written to Hui last week explaining that the bank was unable to operate the accounts and was instructed to act by the police. Hui, who fled [...]
Nathan Law: I’m not entitled to lose hope in Hong Kong’s struggle January 17, 2021 Morning Wire Editor Andy Silvester talks to Nathan Law, a pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong and one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential people on the planet – discussing the territory’s battle against repression, Beijing’s war on free expression and the need for a global solution to authoritarianism Nathan Law should not be in London [...]
Hong Kong police arrest 53 pro-democracy activists in dawn raids January 6, 2021 Hong Kong police have today arrested 53 pro-democracy activists in a series of dawn raids in Beijing’s biggest crackdown on the city-state since introducing controversial new security legislation last year. Almost 1,000 police officers were involved in raids on 72 premises across the city, which saw some of the former British province’s most prominent activists [...]
UK jobs market attracts global interest after visa offer to Hong Kong December 8, 2020 Interest in the UK jobs market from non-EU workers has jumped 20 per cent, driven by a surge in job seekers from Hong Kong, according to a new survey. Interest in the London jobs market from non-EU workers has overtaken that from EU ones for the first time in seven years, according to data released [...]
Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai detained following fraud charge December 3, 2020 Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy supporter, has been charged with fraud and detained until a court hearing in April next year. Lai was arrested on Wednesday night along with two other senior executives from media company Next Digital, of which Lai is the founder. The three men appeared in court the [...]
Editorial: Those who profit in Hong Kong must speak up in its defence November 11, 2020 US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s four freedoms, which he promised Americans in the face of economic strife and growing authoritarianism abroad, are freedoms that this newspaper is more than happy to sign up for. Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear? Well, they work for us. In London – [...]