Tag: Hong Kong

Hong Kong protester allegedly beaten at Chinese consulate in UK | CNN

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Hong Kong
CNN
—

Police in Manchester have launched an investigation after a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was allegedly beaten on the grounds of the Chinese consulate in the English city.

A pro-democracy group called Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force had staged a protest outside the consulate in the northern city on Sunday, in opposition to the Chinese Communist Party Congress happening the same day in Beijing.

Video of the incident shared widely on social media shows a confrontation breaking out on the sidewalk outside the consulate, with loud shouts heard as people rush towards the gated entrance. The video then appears to show one Hong Kong protester being dragged through the gate into the consulate grounds and beaten by a group of men.

The video appears to show local police entering the grounds of the consulate to break up the violence.

Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force alleges that Chinese consular staff were involved in the alleged beating, and that the protester was taken to hospital in stable condition.

Greater Manchester Police said Monday they were investigating the incident, in which a man “suffered several physical injuries.”

“We understand the shock and concern that this incident will have caused not just locally, but for those much further afield who may have connections with our communities here in Greater Manchester,” assistant chief constable Rob Potts said in a statement.

“Shortly before 4 p.m. a small group of men came out of the building and a man was dragged into the Consulate grounds and assaulted. Due to our fears for the safety of the man, officers intervened and removed the victim from the Consulate grounds.”

“The man – aged in his 30s – suffered several physical injuries and remained in hospital overnight for treatment. He is continuing to receive our support for his welfare.”

The statemented added that currently “no arrests have been made” and that the investigation was ongoing.

A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Liz Truss described the incident as “deeply concerning.”

On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he was “not aware of the situation.”

“Chinese Embassy and consulates in the UK have always abided by the laws of the countries where they are stationed,” he said in a regular news briefing. “We also hope that the British side, in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, will facilitate the normal performance of the duties of the Chinese Embassy and consulates in the UK.”

CNN approached the Chinese Embassy in London for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

Video of the scuffle has been shared online by multiple UK lawmakers, who have called for an investigation into the alleged involvement of Chinese consular staff.

“The UK Government must demand a full apology from the Chinese Ambassador to the UK and demand those responsible are sent home to China,” ruling Conservative Party lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith wrote on Twitter.

Conservative Party member of Parliament Alicia Kearns also tweeted on Sunday that authorities “need to urgently investigate,” and that the Chinese Ambassador should be summoned. “If any official has beaten protesters, they must be expelled or prosecuted,” she wrote.

Both lawmakers have previously been vocal critics of the Chinese Communist Party.

Prominent Hong Kong activists have also spoken out. Nathan Law, a former lawmaker and pro-democracy figure who fled to the UK in 2020, tweeted: “If the consulate staff responsible are not held accountable, Hong Kongers would live in fear of being kidnapped and persecuted.” He urged the British government to “investigate and protect our community and people in the UK.”

Britain is home to large numbers of Hong Kong citizens, many of whom left the territory following the introduction of a sweeping national security law in 2020 that critics say stripped the former British colony of its autonomy and precious civil freedoms, while cementing Beijing’s authoritarian rule.

According to an online statement by organizers of Sunday’s protest, around 60 demonstrators had gathered outside the Manchester consulate to protest “the re-election of Xi Jinping.”

The Chinese Communist Party Congress, a twice-a-decade leadership reshuffle and meeting of the party’s top officials, kicked off on Sunday. Chinese leader Xi, who came to power in 2012, is widely expected to break with convention and take on a third term, paving the way for lifelong rule.

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October 18, 2022
Tourists flock to Taiwan as COVID entry restrictions eased

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TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan lifted all its COVID-19 entry restrictions on Thursday, allowing tourists unfettered access to the self-ruled island after over 2 1/2 years of border controls.

Hong Kong and Taiwan, together with mainland China, required most visitors to complete a mandatory quarantine period throughout the pandemic, even as most countries reopened their borders to tourists.

Visitors are no longer required to quarantine upon entry, or take any PCR tests. Instead, they will need to monitor their health for a week after arriving, and obtain a negative result on a rapid antigen test the day they arrive. If people want to go out during the weeklong monitoring period, they need a negative test from either that day or the day before.

There are also no longer any restrictions on certain nationalities being allowed to enter Taiwan.

Dozens of visitors from Thailand were among the first to arrive under the new rules at Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport, which serves the capital Taipei, on a Tiger Air flight that landed shortly after midnight.

Tourists like 32-year-old Mac Chientachakul and his parents were excited to visit the island.

“Hot pot is my favorite dish in Taiwan,” Chientachakul said. “It’s my first thing to do … I miss it so much.”

Sonia Chang, a travel agent, said the changes are good for both the the tourism industry and Taiwanese residents, who can now travel abroad without having to quarantine when they get home.

Valaisurang Bhaedhayajibh, a 53-year-old business development director of a design firm, called the new rules convenient.

“We don’t have to do the test before coming here, and also after arriving,” he said. “We are still required to do the self-test every two days, and everything has been provided” by Taiwanese authorities, including the rapid testing kits.

At a welcome ceremony in the Taoyuan airport’s arrival hall, the travelers from Thailand were met by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s director, Chang Shi-chung, who handed out gifts.

Taiwan’s tourism bureau estimated that a total of 244 tourists from some 20 tour groups will arrive Thursday.

With both Hong Kong and Taiwan getting rid of restrictions and welcoming back tourists, mainland China remains one of the few places in the world adamant in keeping borders closed and sticking to a “zero-COVID” strategy to stamp out the virus. Hong Kong ended its mandatory quarantine policy for inbound travelers late last month, requiring just a three-day self-monitoring period.

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Associated Press writer Zen Soo contributed from Singapore.

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October 15, 2022
Elon Musk’s unsolicited idea for Taiwan welcomed by Beijing, slammed in Taipei | CNN Business

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Hong Kong
CNN Business
—

As tensions between China and Taiwan simmer at their highest point in decades, officials in both places have clashed in recent days over an unsolicited idea from billionaire Elon Musk.

The world’s richest man suggested in an interview that hostilities between the two could be resolved if Taipei handed some control of the democratically governed island to Beijing, prompting praise from China and predictable outrage in Taiwan.

“My recommendation … would be to figure out a special administrative zone for Taiwan that is reasonably palatable, probably won’t make everyone happy,” Musk told the Financial Times in an interview published on Friday. “And it’s possible, and I think probably, in fact, that they could have an arrangement that’s more lenient than Hong Kong.”

China’s ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang, thanked Musk for his suggestion in a tweet Saturday, calling for “peaceful unification and one country, two systems.”

But Taiwan’s representative to the US, Bi-khim Hsiao, wrote: “Taiwan sells many products, but our freedom and democracy are not for sale.”

China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never governed it, and has long vowed to “reunify” the island with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary. Taiwan, a democracy of 23 million people, strongly objects to Beijing’s claims to the island.

Beijing has offered Taiwan a “one country, two systems” system of governance, similar to Hong Kong, but that has been rejected by all of the island’s mainstream political parties and the proposal has received very little public support.

In a briefing on October 7, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the “Taiwan question is China’s internal affair.”

“China’s position on resolving the Taiwan question is consistent and clear. We remain committed to the basic principle of peaceful reunification and ‘one country, two systems,’” she said. “At the same time, we will resolutely defeat attempts to pursue the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist agenda, push back interference by external forces, and safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Wang Ting-yu, a senior lawmaker for Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, slammed Musk in a Facebook post on Saturday. “Musk’s solution is all about victim concessions,” he said.

Musk’s comments about Taiwan come days after he angered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for tweeting a “peace” plan between Russia and Ukraine, proposing that Kyiv permanently cede Crimea to Moscow and hold new referendums in regions annexed by Russia – this time under the supervision of the United Nations.

“Which Elon Musk do you like more?” Zelensky asked his Twitter followers, using the social media platform’s poll function.

“One who supports Ukraine,” or “One who supports Russia.”

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October 12, 2022
Elon Musk draws rebuke by suggesting Taiwan accept rule by China

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Taiwan’s premier on Tuesday said Elon Musk “doesn’t know much” about the self-ruled island, after the billionaire suggested it should become part of China. The world’s richest man has sparked anger in Taiwan over an interview he gave to the Financial Times which touched on Taiwan’s fraught relationship with its giant neighbor.

Taiwan lives under constant threat of invasion by Beijing, which claims the democracy as part of its territory, to be taken one day.

“This is not a matter of if they will invade, it’s a matter of when they will invade,” Admiral Lee Hsi-min, who used to head Taiwan’s armed forces, told correspondent Lesley Stahl about China on “60 Minutes” on Sunday amid escalating tension between the democratic, self-governing island and China.

Life in Taiwan with China flexing its military might | 60 Minutes

13:33

In the Financial Times interview published Friday, Musk said he believed Taiwan should strike a “reasonably palatable” agreement with Beijing to become a “special administrative zone” of China.

That model is used by Beijing to run Macau and Hong Kong.

Beijing’s leaders have long suggested the same model for Taiwan although it has always been a non-starter for the vast majority of Taiwanese.

Hong Kong observes 25 years of independence from British rule

02:15

Premier Su Tseng-chang — Taiwan’s most senior politician after the president — became the highest-ranking official yet to address Musk’s comments, which he dismissed on Tuesday.

“Musk is a businessman,” Su told a parliamentary session. “He has a big car factory in Shanghai and he wants to promote his electric vehicles… a businessman may say this today and say that tomorrow”.

“Musk only speaks for himself but he really doesn’t know much about Taiwan and he also doesn’t understand cross-strait relations,” Su added.

Elon Musk, center, reacts as Robin Ren, vice president of sales, second left, Ying Yong, mayor of Shanghai, second right, and Wu Qing, vice mayor of Shanghai, right, applaud during an event at the site of Tesla’s manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China, January 7, 2019.

Qilai Shen/Bloomberg/Getty

Polls have consistently shown that a large majority of Taiwan’s people have no appetite to be ruled by China, something that has deepened after Beijing deployed a sweeping political crackdown in Hong Kong.

Musk is a notoriously outspoken business figure, especially on Twitter, where he frequently wades into social and geopolitical causes.

His comments on Taiwan were praised by multiple Chinese officials, including Beijing’s ambassador to Washington Qin Gang.

Last week Musk became embroiled in a social media spat with Ukrainian officials including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over his ideas on ending Russia’s invasion.

Russia launches biggest attack on Ukraine in months

07:43

Musk proposed a peace deal involving re-running under U.N. supervision annexation referendums in Moscow-occupied Ukrainian regions, acknowledging Russian sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula and giving Ukraine neutral status.

Kyiv’s ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk replied bluntly: “F*** off is my very diplomatic reply to you.”

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October 11, 2022
Superyacht linked to Russian billionaire mysteriously shows up in Hong Kong | CNN

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Hong Kong
CNN
—

A megayacht linked to a sanctioned Russian oligarch has dropped anchor in Hong Kong, amid efforts by the West to seize the luxury assets of Russian elites in allied ports as the war in Ukraine drags on.

The Nord, a nearly 142-meter (466-foot) yacht that is said to be one of the world’s largest, was spotted by CNN on Friday in Hong Kong’s waters, just minutes from the central downtown district. The vessel is estimated to be worth at least $500 million and widely believed to belong to Alexey Mordashov, an industrial billionaire, according to a yacht broker who spoke with CNN.

The yacht, 1.5 times the size of an American football field, arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday from the Russian port of Vladivostok, according to the Chinese city’s Marine Department. The government agency told CNN on Friday that it hadn’t been notified about when the yacht would depart for its next destination.

As of Friday afternoon, the Nord was seen flying a Russian flag, with the name of its home base, “Vladivostok,” emblazoned on its stern. A few people, apparently crew members dressed in uniform, were spotted on the vessel’s deck.

Mordashov is one of Russia’s wealthiest billionaires, with an estimated net worth of $18.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. That’s down by $10 billion so far this year, according to the wealth tracker.

The tycoon is chairman of Severstal, a Russian steel and mining giant that at last count had 54,000 employees across 69 countries.

The US State Department sanctioned him and Severstal in June, in addition to three of Mordashov’s other companies, his wife and two adult children.

In a statement at the time, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Treasury Department was taking further action to “degrade the networks allowing Russia’s elites, including President [Vladimir] Putin, to anonymously make use of luxury assets around the globe.”

But the United States isn’t the only country cracking down. Several superyachts tied to Russian businessmen have been seized this year in high-profile cases around the world, including in Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Mordashov has challenged sanctions against him in European courts. In May, he argued that an EU court should annul the decision to add him to a list of those penalized over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to European Union filings.

“I have absolutely nothing to do with the emergence of the current geopolitical tension and I do not understand why the EU has imposed sanctions on me,” he said this spring, at the beginning of the war, according to TASS, Russia’s state news agency.

Hong Kong may provide some refuge. Reached for comment by CNN on Friday, the Hong Kong Marine Department said that it would “not comment on any individual cases of vessel entry.”

The city requires overseas yacht owners to gain permission from authorities to enter, including showing proof of insurance, according to the Marine Department.

“We note that certain countries may impose unilateral sanctions against certain places on the basis of their own considerations,” it said.

But the government “does not implement, nor do we have the legal authority to take action on, unilateral sanctions imposed by other jurisdictions,” the department added, saying only that it would enforce “sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council.”

On Tuesday, Hong Kong leader, Chief Executive John Lee, said the city had “no legal basis” to act on Western-imposed sanctions – referring to the United States– but “will comply with any United Nations resolution on sanctions.”

Lee himself is among nearly a dozen people sanctioned by the US in 2020 for undermining the city’s autonomy and democratic processes, to which he described as a “a very barbaric act” on Tuesday.

“Hong Kong respects the rule of law. As an international financial city, Hong Kong’s regulatory system is on par with international standards. We will not do anything that has no legal basis,” Lee said.

Russia and China — of which Hong Kong is a part — are two of the five members on the Security Council with veto power. Russia has consistently vetoed resolutions on the council in recent months, impeding action on Ukraine.

Severstal did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mordashov on Friday.

MarineTraffic, the global maritime analytics provider, shows that the Nord arrived in Hong Kong this week after a seven-day journey through the Sea of Japan and East China Sea.

It’s hard to know exactly why the crew chose to come to the Asian hub now, said Michael Maximilian Bognier, a yacht broker with Next Wave Yachting in Hong Kong.

But he noted that the port of Vladivostok could get relatively cold in the winter, making it tougher to maintain such a vessel.

“Not [an] ideal climate to keep a boat like that,” Bognier told CNN.

Asked whether the lack of sanctions could be a draw, Bognier acknowledged the current political climate wasn’t helping.

“This could be a reason why she’s here,” he said, referring to the yacht. “It could be a free ticket.”

It’s rare to see proof of direct ownership of such lavish vessels. Bognier noted, however, that word usually got around about top industry sales and said it was common knowledge that Mordashov was the owner of the yacht.

“Running a boat this size is almost [like] running a city or a business,” he added.

The Nord was built by German shipping giant Lürssen.

“This is definitely one of the most iconic yachts,” said Bognier. “It’s got a very flat bow, not unlike an aircraft carrier actually. That’s a very distinctive feature about this yacht. So it’s very, very difficult, let’s say, to mistake it for something else.”

Sky-high carrying costs could make it tough for even the world’s wealthiest to maintain such assets. Bognier estimated that it could range from approximately $45 million to $70 million just to keep the yacht running each year, not factoring in variable costs of fuel or maintenance after any long journeys.

That would break down to an average bill of $100,000 to $200,000 a day.

The Nord yacht boasts two helipads, and would likely have an extensive staff on board, including a full-time chef, fitness instructor, massage therapist, and possibly a helicopter pilot, according to Bognier.

“When we talk about boats this size, these are standard items,” he said.

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October 10, 2022
Taiwanese politician on what would happen if China annexed Taiwan | 60 Minutes

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Taiwanese politician on what would happen if China annexed Taiwan | 60 Minutes – CBS News

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“If they annex Taiwan, people like me… will be perished,” Taiwanese Politician Wang Ting-Yu tells 60 Minutes if China annexes Taiwan, it’s unlikely to honor existing freedoms. His proof? Look at Hong Kong. cbsn.ws/3ytLyHI

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October 10, 2022
Elon Musk Backs China Special Zone For Taiwan That’d Be “More Lenient Than Hong Kong” — Report

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk (L) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as he arrives for a meeting at … [+] the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in Beijing on January 9, 2019. (Photo by Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP)

AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, suggested in an interview published on Friday that Taiwan become a special administrative zone of China, according to a report in The Guardian.

Musk told the Financial Times: “My recommendation … would be to figure out a special administrative zone for Taiwan that is reasonably palatable, probably won’t make everyone happy. And it’s possible, and I think probably, in fact, that they could have an arrangement that’s more lenient than Hong Kong,” the Guardian reported.

Tesla, though headquartered in the U.S., made about half of its cars last year in mainland China, the world’s largest auto market.

Chinese Communist Party-led Beijing claims sovereignty over democratic, self-governed Taiwan; the two sides have been divided since the end of a civil war in China in 1949.

Musk was born in South Africa and is currently a U.S. citizen. He has a fortune worth $219 billion on the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List today.

The auto entrepreneur also waded into global politics recently by suggesting that the Ukraine cede the Crimea to Russia, drawing criticism from Ukraine.

See related posts:

Taiwan Businesses Support Reduction in Dependence on Mainland China

Warren Buffett-Backed BYD’s Sales Soared To Record In September

@rflannerychina

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Russell Flannery, Forbes Staff

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October 7, 2022
Pink diamond sells for $49.9m, breaks auction record

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Originally estimated at $21m, the 11.15-carat Williamson Pink Star diamond was sold for $49.9m at Hong Kong auction.

An 11.15-carat pink diamond has been sold for $49.9m in Hong Kong, setting a world record for the highest price per carat for a diamond sold at auction.

Auctioned on Friday by Sotheby’s Hong Kong, the Williamson Pink Star diamond was originally estimated at $21m.

The gem draws its name from two legendary pink diamonds.

The first is the 23.60-carat Williamson diamond which was presented to the late British Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding gift in 1947; the second is the 59.60-carat Pink Star diamond that sold for a record $71.2m at auction in 2017.

The Williamson Pink Star is the second-largest pink diamond to appear at auction.

Pink diamonds are among the rarest and most valuable of the coloured diamonds.

“When you consider an alluring link to Queen Elizabeth, the rising prices for pink diamonds thanks to their increasing rarity, and the backdrop of an unstable global economy, this diamond could prove to be a very compelling proposal for the right person,” said Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds.

“Hard assets such as world-class diamonds have a history of performing well. Some of the world’s highest quality diamonds have seen prices double over the last 10 years,” he said.

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October 7, 2022
The city without TikTok offers a window to America’s potential future | CNN Business

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Hong Kong
CNN
—

Across the United States, more than 150 million people are being faced with the possibility of a new reality: life without TikTok.

The wildly popular short-form video app has been at the center of an ongoing battle, with lawmakers calling for an outright ban, and the company portraying itself as a critical community space, educational platform and just plain fun.

In Hong Kong, there’s no need to imagine that reality: TikTok discontinued its services there in 2020.

Its abrupt departure was met with mixed reactions: disappointment from some users and content creators, but also relief from others who say life is better without the app’s infinite scroll.

At the time of its exit, TikTok had a relatively modest presence in the city and was not ubiquitous like it is in the US today.

But the varied reactions to its departure, and the way users have pivoted to other platforms or even real-life offline communities, offer Americans a glimpse into their potential TikTok-less future.

TikTok announced its exit from Hong Kong in July 2020, a week after China imposed a controversial national security law in the city. The decision came as the app tried to distance itself from China and its Beijing-based parent company ByteDance, in the face of growing pressure in the US under the Trump administration.

But it meant a jarring halt for creators like Shivani Dukhande, who had roughly 45,000 followers at the time the app left Hong Kong.

Dukhande, 25, saw her account take off in early 2020 during the pandemic, with lifestyle content such as cooking and wellness videos flourishing on the platform.

“There were a lot of new creators emerging,” she said. “We used to all collaborate together, we had a chat where we would all speak and share ideas and it created a community.”

Momentum began to build. Companies started reaching out to Dukhande, paying for sponsored content and collaborating on ad campaigns. Brands began partnering with creators on trending “challenges” in a bid to attract young new consumers.

“More people were joining and it was becoming such a fun thing to do,” she said. “Then, it just kind of went away one morning.”

“If it continued, then I probably could have made enough to have quit my 9 to 5,” she said. “If I had the chance to grow, it could have been a potential career path.”

This is one of the main arguments TikTok has made in recent weeks in the US. In March, as the company’s CEO prepared to testify before Congress, TikTok produced a docuseries highlighting American small business owners who rely on the platform for their livelihoods.

The platform is used by nearly five million businesses in the US, TikTok said in March. And it’s set to surpass rivals: London-based research firm Omdia projected in November that TikTok’s advertising revenues will exceed the combined video ad revenues of Meta – home of Facebook and Instagram – and YouTube by 2027.

This is partly because people are spending more time on TikTok. In the second quarter of 2022, TikTok users globally spent an average of 95 minutes per day on the app, according to data analytics firm SensorTower – nearly twice as much time as users spent on Facebook and Instagram.

But in Hong Kong, other platforms have jumped in to fill the gap. Reels, Instagram’s short-form video product, with similar features as TikTok such as an endless scroll, is growing quickly – and Dukhande has gotten on board.

She had to rebuild her audience from scratch, and now has 12,500 Instagram followers, but she feels optimistic about its growth. Still, the loss of TikTok was a “missed opportunity,” she said, and the burgeoning community of creators has largely faded from sight.

“The amount of jobs, the amount of content creation, the amount of marketing opportunities that were there with TikTok – we sort of missed out on that whole chunk of it.”

But for some people, TikTok’s departure was a welcome change.

Poppy Anderson, 16, has been using TikTok since its launch in 2018. And, like many others in her generation, she would spend hours “scrolling and scrolling” – even when feeling unfulfilled.

“It was very easy to kind of find exactly what you like on there, because the [algorithm-run] For You page kept you there,” she said. “And it’s entertaining, but you don’t really get anything from it.”

She described TikTok as often being a toxic environment that breeds narrow thinking, herd mentality, a misguided “cancel culture” and inappropriate online behavior such as critiquing the bodies of girls and women. Even people she knew in real life began acting differently after joining the app, which strained friendships, she said.

Martin Poon, 15, also grew weary of TikTok, but it was hard to quit.

“Everyone was using it, so I feel like there was a sense that you have to use it, you have to be on top of things, you have to know what’s going on. And I think that was stressful to me,” he said.

Misinformation and misogyny ran rampant on TikTok, with accounts like those of Andrew Tate, the self-styled “alpha male” recently detained in Romania on allegations of human trafficking and rape, gaining popularity among boys at Poon’s school.

“It’s just concerning how [these accounts] have so much impact on the youth, and it has so much grip on what we think and how it affects our behavior,” said Poon – though he added that misinformation is a major problem on all social media platforms, not just TikTok.

Experts have long worried about the impact of TikTok on young people’s mental health, with one study claiming the app may surface potentially harmful content related to suicide and eating disorders to teenagers within minutes of them creating an account.

In response to growing pressure, TikTok recently announced a one-hour daily screentime limit for users under 18, though users will be able to turn off this default setting.

Anderson acknowledged some positives about TikTok, like open conversations about mental health. Still, she was glad when the app became inaccessible. Falling asleep became easier without the lure of TikTok. “I didn’t have the self control to get off it on my own,” she said.

For Poon and his friend Ava Chan, also 15, TikTok’s disappearance sparked new beginnings.

When the app left in 2020, they were doing online classes, isolated from friends and bored at home. At the time, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts had yet to arrive in Hong Kong.

“We had to figure out how to use our time other than being on TikTok,” said Chan. “For us, that was exploring our passions more.”

For both, that came in advocating for the neurodiverse community. They launched a club at school that spreads education and awareness about neurodiversity, as well as participating in volunteer activities with neurodiverse people.

Both said it lent them a sense of purpose, and as time went on, they saw other benefits.

Their friends, who would previously spend time filming and watching TikToks together, began having more face-to-face conversations. They noticed peers begin exercising outdoors more, which was made easier as Covid restrictions lifted. Their mental health improved.

Of course, being teenagers, they’re not off social media entirely and use it as a tool to promote their club – but it’s far from the previous hours of scrolling. And while they occasionally wonder what’s happening on TikTok outside Hong Kong, the allure of it is lost when nobody else around them uses it either.

“A lot of people, they’ve just kind of forgotten about it,” said Anderson. “People move to different platforms – or just move on.”

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April 12, 2021
International Campaign Launched to ‘Stop Fighting Start Voting’

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Citizens in Charge Foundation ad campaign promotes direct democracy as a peaceful means of resolving conflict

Press Release
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updated: Jun 25, 2020

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2020 (Newswire.com)
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Today, an international educational campaign called Stop Fighting Start Voting was launched to highlight the use of direct democracy as a peaceful means to resolve conflict.

“The Stop Fighting Start Voting campaign was launched to highlight direct democracy as a critical tool to help peacefully resolve long-simmering conflicts – like those we see over in Hong Kong, Catalonia, Taiwan, and the Tamils in Sri Lanka,” said Paul Jacob, president of Citizens in Charge Foundation.

Stop Fighting Start Voting was launched by the non-profit Citizens in Charge Foundation with support from direct democracy experts and organizations from around the world – researchers, advocates, NGOs, and academics. The campaign does not advocate for or against the underlying issues in these conflicts but advances the idea that the peaceful resolution to these conflicts can be achieved through the use of direct democracy – in the form of initiatives and referendum – as long as the use is conducted under accepted international norms and procedures.

“The use of direct democracy must be exercised within internationally recognized legal frameworks so as to be recognized by the league of nations as a legitimate expression of the will of the people,” said Daniela Bozhinova, chair of Bulgarian Association for the Promotion of Citizens Initiative.

The Stop Fighting Start Voting campaign kicked off today with a 60-second ad running globally on social digital platforms as a way to increase awareness of unresolved conflicts in Hong Kong and concerning the establishment of a separate Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. The campaign will be creating an ongoing series of video spots to highlight conflicts around the world that can be peacefully resolved with direct democracy.

“The world is filled with conflict. Not just fighting resulting in bloodshed but fighting with words and actions that simply increase division that will make resolution of these conflicts unlikely. Stop Fighting Start Voting is a campaign where experts on direct democracy are uniting and doing what they can to increase awareness of a peaceful and legitimate path to resolving these conflicts – voting using direct democracy,” said Dane Waters, chair of the Initiative and Referendum Institute at the University of Southern California.

The campaign will also increase awareness of efforts around the world to either improve or restrict the tools of direct democracy or use them in a way that is inconsistent with internationally accepted norms and procedures. Direct democracy is being proposed today in both Romania and Ukraine but with rules and regulations that make its use highly unlikely, certainly out of reach of the citizens who need it most in resolving these conflicts. Additionally, there are referendums currently scheduled – for instance, in Russia – that will likely not be done within the standards to make the results of the referendum legitimate.

“We must help bring light to these issues so that the media, opinion leaders, and the people know what to look for when deciding if that specific form of direct democracy, or its use, is legitimate based on internationally accepted norms and procedures,” said Matt Qvortrup, Professor of Political Science at Coventry University.

Stop Fighting Start Voting established an Advisory Board consisting of direct democracy experts and organizations from around the world. Here are some of their comments:

“Democracy is a conversation that never ends. Countries with political systems that enable such conversations are doing far better than those where confrontations are permanently cultivated. Therefore, forms of modern direct democracy like citizens’ initiatives and popular referendums need to be designed as smart screwdrivers for a society to fix problems instead of being stupid hammers to hit on others’ heads. Today’s world needs more conversations and less confrontations. Stop fighting, start voting.” – Bruno Kaufmann, co-president of the Global Forum on Modern Direct Democracy

“Democracy is the simple idea that the people ought to have a say in the public decisions that affect their lives. It Is the best system so far discovered to resolve conflicts peacefully and fairly. This campaign aims to spread the word about two of democracy’s most powerful tools – the initiative and referendum – and how to use them to give the people a voice in important decisions.” – John Matsusaka, Executive Director of Initiative and Referendum Institute, USC

“In a scenario of growing disenchantment with the transformative capacity of politics, tools of direct democracy can help to both limiting the power of representatives, holding back unpopular decisions and opening the agenda of policy-making. However, the regulation and practice of tools of direct participation must be consistent with internationally accepted norms and procedures. This is why the Stop Fighting Start Voting campaign is so important.” – Yanina Welp, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy.

Source: Citizens in Charge Foundation

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June 25, 2020
As Political Unrest Continues, HK-Based Businesses and Professionals Look to Singapore

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A veteran immigration consultant noted that there has been a sharp increase in interested entrepreneurs and professionals who are looking to move to Singapore as Hong Kong’s political future remains uncertain.

Press Release
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updated: Sep 12, 2019

SINGAPORE, September 12, 2019 (Newswire.com)
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Amid a volatile political climate, Hong Kong-based entrepreneurs and professionals are looking to migrate their businesses and careers to another Asian powerhouse.

According to One Visa Immigration Consultant Cheng King Heng, there has been “200% increase” in inquiries about migrating to Singapore, mostly from workers and business owners who are currently based in Hong Kong. The heightened interest is driven by the uncertainty of Hong Kong’s current political situation, following months of pro-democracy protests that began over a proposed and now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extradition to mainland China.

“As Asia’s Lion City, Singapore is a known business hub. This shift in interest is not at all unusual,” he said. “Both Hong Kong and Singapore are top destinations for entrepreneurs and professionals who want access to a global market from a strategic regional headquarters.”

Earlier this year, Singapore was named as the world’s most competitive economy because of its business-friendly landscape, favourable immigration policies, competitive labour market and advanced IT infrastructure. Hong Kong was ranked second in the report and former number one U.S. moved down two spots to third.

A World Bank list released last year also cited Singapore as the top country when it comes to “success in developing human capital.” The ranking was based on factors such as health, education, earning potential, future productivity as well as mortality and survivability rates.

And in another survey among expatriates, it was found that, even though expats earned more in Hong Kong, Singapore was still considered the “best place to live.”

For global companies and entrepreneurs, Singapore has always been a top choice because of tax benefits including tax-free dividends, world-class transport hubs particularly the Changi Airport which has been ranked as the World’s Best Airport since 2013, and a generally accommodating business environment.

Heng added, “As it is, employment and business applications to Singapore are competitive. With the current developments in Hong Kong and the influx of interested parties, it is best to stay ahead of the curve and get professional help when it comes to relocation plans. There are many ins and outs that must be navigated, and the insights of an immigration expert are invaluable to a successful outcome.”

Visit www.one-visa.com for more information.

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One Visa is a Singapore-based global immigration agency specialising in visa solutions for corporate professionals, entrepreneurs and investors.

Media Contact:

Zac Wong
media@one-visa.com

Source: One Visa Pte Ltd

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September 11, 2019