By , HONG KONG (Reuters) - A man carrying a “Liberate Hong Kong” sign as he drove a motorcycle into police at a protest against the territory’s Chinese rulers became on Friday the first person charged with inciting separatism and terrorism under a new security law.Beijing imposed the legislation on the former British colony earlier this week despite protests from Hong Kongers and Western nations, setting China’s freest city and a major financial hub on a more authoritarian track.Critics say the law - which punishes crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces...…By , HONG KONG (Reuters) - A man carrying a “Liberate Hong Kong” sign as he drove a motorcycle into police at a protest against the territory’s Chinese rulers became on Friday the first person charged with inciting separatism and terrorism under a new security law.Beijing imposed the legislation on the former British colony earlier this week despite protests from Hong Kongers and Western nations, setting China’s freest city and a major financial hub on a more authoritarian track.Critics say the law - which punishes crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces...WW…

By , LONDON/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Britain will not walk away from the people of Hong Kong if China imposes a national security law that would conflict with its international obligations under a 1984 accord, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.The United Kingdom has urged China to step back from the brink over the national security legislation for Hong Kong that it says risks destroying one of the jewels of Asia’s economy while ruining the reputation of China.“Hong Kong succeeds because its people are free,” Johnson wrote in the Times of London newspaper. “If China proceeds, this...…By , LONDON/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Britain will not walk away from the people of Hong Kong if China imposes a national security law that would conflict with its international obligations under a 1984 accord, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.The United Kingdom has urged China to step back from the brink over the national security legislation for Hong Kong that it says risks destroying one of the jewels of Asia’s economy while ruining the reputation of China.“Hong Kong succeeds because its people are free,” Johnson wrote in the Times of London newspaper. “If China proceeds, this...WW…

By , LONDON/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Britain will not walk away from the people of Hong Kong if China imposes a national security law that would conflict with its international obligations under a 1984 accord, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.The United Kingdom has urged China to step back from the brink over the national security legislation for Hong Kong that it says risks destroying one of the jewels of Asia’s economy while ruining the reputation of China.“Hong Kong succeeds because its people are free,” Johnson wrote in the Times of London newspaper. “If China proceeds, this...…By , LONDON/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Britain will not walk away from the people of Hong Kong if China imposes a national security law that would conflict with its international obligations under a 1984 accord, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.The United Kingdom has urged China to step back from the brink over the national security legislation for Hong Kong that it says risks destroying one of the jewels of Asia’s economy while ruining the reputation of China.“Hong Kong succeeds because its people are free,” Johnson wrote in the Times of London newspaper. “If China proceeds, this...WW…

By , , HONG KONG (Reuters) - Embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said she has caused “unforgivable havoc” by igniting the political crisis engulfing the city and would quit if she had a choice, according to an audio recording of remarks she made last week to a group of businesspeople.At the closed-door meeting, Lam told the group that she now has “very limited” room to resolve the crisis because the unrest has become a national security and sovereignty issue for China amid rising tensions with the United States.“If I have a choice,” she said, speaking in English, “the first thing is to...…By , , HONG KONG (Reuters) - Embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said she has caused “unforgivable havoc” by igniting the political crisis engulfing the city and would quit if she had a choice, according to an audio recording of remarks she made last week to a group of businesspeople.At the closed-door meeting, Lam told the group that she now has “very limited” room to resolve the crisis because the unrest has become a national security and sovereignty issue for China amid rising tensions with the United States.“If I have a choice,” she said, speaking in English, “the first thing is to...WW…

By , HONG KONG (Reuters) - The Hong Kong government on Thursday confirmed a Reuters report that it had told 14 countries to stop accepting a British travel document that many of its young people use to apply for working holiday visas in Europe, North America and parts of Asia.In a move seen by some envoys as a diplomatic affront, the government informed the foreign consulates in a letter that it no longer considered the British National Overseas (BNO) passport a valid travel document as of Jan. 31.The letter, seen by Reuters and confirmed by the Hong Kong government after the story was...…By , HONG KONG (Reuters) - The Hong Kong government on Thursday confirmed a Reuters report that it had told 14 countries to stop accepting a British travel document that many of its young people use to apply for working holiday visas in Europe, North America and parts of Asia.In a move seen by some envoys as a diplomatic affront, the government informed the foreign consulates in a letter that it no longer considered the British National Overseas (BNO) passport a valid travel document as of Jan. 31.The letter, seen by Reuters and confirmed by the Hong Kong government after the story was...WW…

By HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong police searched the office of an independent political pollster on Friday, 10 days after Beijing imposed sweeping national security legislation that has sent a chill across the former British colony.The raid came ahead of weekend primary elections for which pollster Robert Chung’s Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) is a co-organiser.The primaries for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp aim to select candidates who will stand the best chance of achieving a 35-plus majority in Legislative Council polls in September.Chung told Reuters authorities...…By HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong police searched the office of an independent political pollster on Friday, 10 days after Beijing imposed sweeping national security legislation that has sent a chill across the former British colony.The raid came ahead of weekend primary elections for which pollster Robert Chung’s Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) is a co-organiser.The primaries for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy camp aim to select candidates who will stand the best chance of achieving a 35-plus majority in Legislative Council polls in September.Chung told Reuters authorities...WW…

By HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong released additional details of China’s new national security law for the former British colony on Monday, saying security forces had overriding authority to enter and search properties for evidence and stop people from leaving the city.Slideshow Hong Kong returned to China on July 1, 1997, under a “one country, two systems” formula guaranteeing wide-ranging autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, including an independent judiciary.But under China’s new legislation, crimes of secession and sedition will be punishable by up to life in prison,...…By HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong released additional details of China’s new national security law for the former British colony on Monday, saying security forces had overriding authority to enter and search properties for evidence and stop people from leaving the city.Slideshow Hong Kong returned to China on July 1, 1997, under a “one country, two systems” formula guaranteeing wide-ranging autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland, including an independent judiciary.But under China’s new legislation, crimes of secession and sedition will be punishable by up to life in prison,...WW…

US firms in Hong Kong worried as Trump vows to curb economic tiesWe’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.DismisscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeAdvertisementHong Kong: The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong said Saturday was "a sad day" for the global financial centre, hours after US President Donald Trump moved toward stripping the city of its special treatment in a bid to punish China.In some of his toughest rhetoric yet, Trump said Beijing...…US firms in Hong Kong worried as Trump vows to curb economic tiesWe’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.DismisscloseAdvertisementBy Log in, or to save articles for later.Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text sizeAdvertisementHong Kong: The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong said Saturday was "a sad day" for the global financial centre, hours after US President Donald Trump moved toward stripping the city of its special treatment in a bid to punish China.In some of his toughest rhetoric yet, Trump said Beijing...WW…