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Hong Kong Police blocks annual Tiananmen vigil; Resident's rush to apply for UK passports
ABC News ^ | 06/01/2020 | Zen Soo

Posted on 06/01/2020 8:22:36 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Hong Kong police rejected an application Monday by organizers for an annual candlelight vigil marking the anniversary this week of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, as residents rushed to apply for passports that could allow them to move to the United Kingdom

It would be the first time in 30 years that the vigil, which draws a huge crowd to an outdoor space, is not held in Hong Kong. The vigil commemorates China's deadly military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

The decision follows a vote by China’s ceremonial parliament to bypass Hong Kong’s legislature and enact national security legislation for the semi-autonomous territory. Democracy activists and many legal experts worry that the law could curtail free speech and opposition political activities.

Throngs of people lined up on Monday at DHL courier outlets across the city, many to send documents to the U.K. to apply for or renew what is known as British National (Overseas) passport.

“My BNO passport expired in 2004, but at the time I didn’t renew it because I trusted China,” said 40-year-old Peter Chan, who works in asset management and waited in line for more than two hours.

Chan said he was worried about political and security issues in Hong Kong stemming from the national security law as well as a push by the territory’s legislature to enact a bill that would make it illegal to insult the Chinese national anthem.

Even though there is rising anti-immigrant and anti-Asian sentiment in the U.K., “it’s still better than Hong Kong,” he said.

“In Hong Kong, you never know what will happen tomorrow,” Chan said.

The police, in a letter to organizers of the candlelight vigil, said it would violate coronavirus social distancing rules that ban gatherings of more than eight people.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: china; hongkong; tienanmen; vigil

1 posted on 06/01/2020 8:22:36 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Why did you change the title, and why, for God’s sake, did you put an apostrophe in “residents?” smh


2 posted on 06/01/2020 8:26:14 AM PDT by dinodino
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To: dinodino

OK, give me a failing grade in English for the typo and for trying to clarify the title.


3 posted on 06/01/2020 8:29:26 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: SeekAndFind
Last week I believe, Taiwan offered Citizenship to Hong Kong escapee's.
4 posted on 06/01/2020 8:44:08 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Make American Intelligence Great Again.)
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To: ASA Vet

RE: Last week I believe, Taiwan offered Citizenship to Hong Kong escapee’s.

If I were a HK resident who can leave the city, I’d choose the UK over Taiwan, not because the UK is a better place to live (Taiwan is arguably a more peaceful, healthy and economically vibrant place for now ), but because of China’s imminent THREAT to invade Taiwan.

With Taiwan, the fleeing HK resident will simply be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.


5 posted on 06/01/2020 8:49:01 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: SeekAndFind
China’s imminent THREAT to invade Taiwan.

Imminent since 1949.

6 posted on 06/01/2020 8:52:43 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Make American Intelligence Great Again.)
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To: ASA Vet

It surprised me they didn’t do it during Obongo. He would have let them with a whimper.


7 posted on 06/01/2020 8:56:21 AM PDT by gibsonguy
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To: ASA Vet

RE: Imminent since 1949.

Let’s not forget that in 1949, China was a poor, economically backward country with a rag tag military that just went through a devastating war with Japan and then a civil war with Chiang Kai Shek.

This time, it’s different. They are a military superpower with nukes and ballistic missiles.


8 posted on 06/01/2020 8:56:29 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: SeekAndFind
It's naive to think Taiwan isn't also nuclear.

The CCP nuking Taiwan gains them nothing. They want the place intact.

The Free Chinese nuking an invading fleet, and the offensive air bases in China as a self defense action would not reap the same scorn.

9 posted on 06/01/2020 9:21:28 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Make American Intelligence Great Again.)
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To: ASA Vet

RE: It’s naive to think Taiwan isn’t also nuclear.

There are two places where people say they have nukes but I have never seen proof of this — Israel and Taiwan.

I know that Taiwan has a formidable military and all able bodied males are required to go to military training every year, But When did Israel and Taiwan ever TEST a nuclear bomb or in the case of Taiwan, even test an offensive ballistic missile?


10 posted on 06/01/2020 9:26:49 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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To: SeekAndFind
I won't discuss Israel's test.

If you were the Commie dictator would you be willing to test the assumption that Taiwan isn't nuclear?

Taiwan doesn't need long range ballistic missiles. An invading fleet is well within range, as are bases launching any offensive strike.

11 posted on 06/01/2020 9:34:29 AM PDT by ASA Vet (Make American Intelligence Great Again.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Vela Incident, 1979


12 posted on 06/01/2020 10:03:46 AM PDT by RitchieAprile (available monkeys looking for the change..)
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To: RitchieAprile

RE: Vela Incident, 1979

OK, I’m open to that incident as an Israeli nuclear test.

But that doesn’t answer the question of Taiwan having nukes.


13 posted on 06/01/2020 10:06:41 AM PDT by SeekAndFind (look at Michigan, it will)
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