Hong Kong
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@antipodean said in Hong Kong:
@Paekakboyz said in Hong Kong:
@antipodean what alternatives do they have? peaceful protest? wasn't that met with force as well?
The extradition bill has been withdrawn. Objective met. Stop poking the bear.
Protestors have crossed a few lines now and are starting to lose a fair bit of support.
I'm not sticking up for the police or anything, as undoubtedly alot of their responses / behaviour has been completely unacceptable. However, all I see is very very one sided. As an example, a protestor has shot a police officer with an arrow, and its' barely reported on.
Petrol bombs, bow and arrows etc etc. Thats just nuts.
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@antipodean said in Hong Kong:
@Paekakboyz said in Hong Kong:
@antipodean what alternatives do they have? peaceful protest? wasn't that met with force as well?
The extradition bill has been withdrawn. Objective met. Stop poking the bear.
That was the original aim. However, the view is that the police response was very "China", in that they could do what they want and face zero repurcussions. The rule / law of state makes them untouchable.
Hence, the aim has now gotten much wider.
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@antipodean said in Hong Kong:
It's a good way to play into China's hands; create an ongoing state of lawlessness to ensure they send in troops.
Have heard a conspiracy theory from some HK folk that some of the "protesters" are mainland plants and or triads sent in to cause civil unrest - hence playing in to China's hands.
Not out of the realms of possibility. Some of this is well out of character for HK people.
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@antipodean said in Hong Kong:
It's a good way to play into China's hands; create an ongoing state of lawlessness to ensure they send in troops.
Have heard a conspiracy theory from some HK folk that some of the "protesters" are mainland plants and or triads sent in to cause civil unrest - hence playing in to China's hands.
Not out of the realms of possibility. Some of this is well out of character for HK people.
Oldest trick in the Asia book that one. Exactly that happened in the Bangkok riots between red and yellow shirts. Protesters running away getting shot face on.
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@MajorRage said in Hong Kong:
Protestors have crossed a few lines now and are starting to lose a fair bit of support.
What's your thoughts on the election? Surprised? Or is the support for the pro democracy parties distinct from the support for the protesters?
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@MajorRage said in Hong Kong:
Protestors have crossed a few lines now and are starting to lose a fair bit of support.
What's your thoughts on the election? Surprised? Or is the support for the pro democracy parties distinct from the support for the protesters?
Directly, pointless. There are already a few articles floating around about how the actual result of the votes is more 60/40.
Indirectly, at least a calming period ahead. Small victories for protesters which don't mean anything in the big scheme of things should help with peace. Carrie Lam should use this time to work out the path forwards. Although I do fear that her well known lack of any actual power will come to the front as Beijing looks to continue to "crack down".
If protesters can cease violence for a while (Police are taking all the criticism, and they may be the main instigators, but protest action has crossed many a line), then a resolution may appear forthcoming.
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June 4th. Tough day in HK this one today, as it seems to move further further and further down the China line.
Police all over Victoria park stopping people attending, the tunnels onto HK island have police checks on them. Genuine fear of the government / police arresting and charging under the China system for even mentioning anything to do with this date.
IT's not gone yet, but it does seem only a matter of time before the HK I knew and loved disappears.
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@majorrage bro that is really sad to hear, also terrifying
I keep wondering how many people will leave, and how many want to but can't. Haven't seen as much about the business side of things. Like will big global companies leave or ?
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@majorrage said in Hong Kong:
IT's not gone yet, but it does seem only a matter of time before the HK I knew and loved disappears.
I know exactly how you feel. It sucks. The writing was on the wall but that doesn't really help. Most of our ex pat friends have left already, but still have friends with SAR passports that are having to make tough decisions.
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@paekakboyz said in Hong Kong:
I keep wondering how many people will leave, and how many want to but can't. Haven't seen as much about the business side of things. Like will big global companies leave or ?
There will be an exodus of sorts I think. BNO passport holders have an out as far as people go.
Hard to know with business. @MajorRage will probably know more than me. I knew a few financiers and bankers (mostly dead now, one suicide, one drugs I think) but not so many business people.
There is still a lot of money in HK. Some big players moved when I was there, most just after the handover as they saw this coming. Jardine Matheson was one of the original Hongs but they moved their head office to Bermuda. They still hold a lot of assets in HKG though. One of the top 200 in market capitilisation over the globe. Actually think they have two companies in the top 200. Swires still there of course, but in reality they are both multi national conglomerates with major assets and interests in HKG. What they do with those assets is more of the question I suppose.
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@paekakboyz said in Hong Kong:
@majorrage bro that is really sad to hear, also terrifying
I keep wondering how many people will leave, and how many want to but can't. Haven't seen as much about the business side of things. Like will big global companies leave or ?
Business won't leave. It's still a great access point and (as far as I've seen anyway) the best place to live in China. Shanghai is an incredible vibrant city, but it's no world city. Beijing isn't even comparable.
Don't get me wrong, both are incredible, massive, fast, exciting cities. But if you had to choose to live in one of them or Hong Kong, 99 out of 100 people would choose Hong Kong.
Hence, given its' access to the colossal economic powerhouse of China, it will be fine. The percentage of gweilo though will (and has) diminish.