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Chinese Army Ready To Step In Against Rioters – HK’s Carrie Lam Warns For First Time
Chinese Army Ready To Step In Against Rioters – HK’s Carrie Lam Warns For First Time
Following a renewed surge in protest unrest and violence in the wake of the controversial mask ban which went into effect on Saturday, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has for the first time issued public warning that the Chinese military could step in, saying this drastic step would only happen if it “becomes so bad”.
Expressing hope it won’t come to that, and that the situation will resolve itself under local authorities, she noted that the four month-long raging protests were no longer “a peaceful movement for democracy” and urged outside critics to understand this.
“I still strongly feel that we should find the solutions ourselves. That is also the position of the central government, that Hong Kong should tackle the problem on her own, but if the situation becomes so bad, then no options could be ruled out if we want Hong Kong to at least have another chance,” Lam said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Over the past month especially, demonstrations have increasingly involved a smaller but more hardline crowd of mostly face-masked youth relying on extreme tactics such as hurling molotov cocktails at police, and setting stores and infrastructure on fire, along with increased vandalism.
The anti-Beijingers have attempted to bring the city to a complete halt, using various tactics such as erecting barriers on busy roadways, occupying the international airport, and vandalizing train stations including attempting to disable trains. The protests seem to have entered a new, more dangerous phase, which further suggests the Chinese military could be inching closer to direct intervention.
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As Hong Kong ATMs Run Out Of Cash, Central Bank Steps In To Prevent “Panic Among The Public”
As Hong Kong ATMs Run Out Of Cash, Central Bank Steps In To Prevent “Panic Among The Public”
As the violence in Hong Kong escalates with every passing week, culminating on Friday with what was effectively the passage of martial law when the local government banned the wearing of masks at public assemblies, a colonial-era law that is meant to give the authorities a green light to finally crack down on protesters at will, one aspect of Hong Kong life seemed to be surprisingly stable: no, not the local economy, as HK retail sales just suffered their biggest drop on record as the continuing violent protests halt most if not all commerce:
We are talking about the local banks, which have been remarkably resilient in the face of the continued mass protests and the ever rising threat of violent Chinese retaliation which could destroy Hong Kong’s status as the financial capital of the Pacific Rim in a heart beat, and crush the local banking system. In short: despite the perfect conditions for a bank run, the locals continued to behave as if they had not a care in the world.
Only that is now changing, because one day after a junior JPMorgan banker was beaten in broad daylight by the protest mob, a SCMP report confirms that the social upheaval has finally spilled over into the financial world: according to the HK publication, the local central bank, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, was forced to issue a statement warning against a “malicious attempt to cause panic among the public” after rumors were spread online about the possibility of the government using emergency powers to impose foreign-exchange controls.
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Unsettled Weather
Unsettled Weather
After leaving the Bahamas for dead, Hurricane Dorian barely grazed the US mainland en route to the Canadian shoals of oblivion, perhaps saving America’s insurance industry. But the steamy west coast of Africa is hurling out a cavalcade of replacements as the high season for Atlantic storms commences, so better keep the plywood sheets at hand. Lots of things are looking stormy around the world just now: nations, markets, politics — everything really except all three divisions of the American League… yawn….
The world is in a nervous place these days The US is something like the world’s crazy old auntie, whom everyone else would like to lock in the attic. Except she happens to be cradling a bazooka, so they’ll go on trying to ignore her a while longer, hoping she doesn’t launch any rockets at the neighbors.
Britain courts chaos in its attempt to keep staving off the Brexit quandary, which itself seems to promise a hearty dose of chaos as thousands of unresolved trade issues threaten the country’s economic future walking out on Europe. The majority who voted Brexit feel that the EU is already crushing them under bureaucratic diktat and immigration quotas. New Prime Minister Bo-Jo has tried one ploy after another in his quest to reach the Halloween Brexit ramp. Everyone is ganging up on him, even his own brother, Jo Johnson, who has quit the cabinet and is ditching his seat in parliament. Bo-Jo wants to call an election because there is no one else to take his place, and many of those piling on him also detest the opposition Labor Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn. Events are outrunning anybody’s ability to see what happens next. Street violence is not out of the question.
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Martial Law Considered in Hong Kong to Crush Pro-Democracy Protests
Martial Law Considered in Hong Kong to Crush Pro-Democracy Protests
Could lead to “total destruction” of Hong Kong’s capitalist system.
Authorities in Hong Kong are considering whether to impose draconian martial law powers in a bid to crush pro-democracy protests.
According to a report in the South China Morning Post, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is not ruling out invoking the Emergency Regulations Ordinance for the first time in half a century.
The ordinance would grant the government sweeping powers, including authorizing the entry and search of properties, censoring the media and imposing maximum terms of life imprisonment.
Lawmaker Au Nok-hin warned that imposing emergency powers would lead to the “total destruction” of Hong Kong’s capitalist system, while law professor Simon Young of the University of Hong Kong said the ordinance meant “basically a state of martial law.”
With the government refusing to meet the five demands of the protesters, which includes withdrawing a bill that would allow suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to China, escalation seems inevitable.
Beijing still has troops massing nearby, but experts agree that they are unlikely to be deployed inside Hong Kong.
As we previously highlighted, riot police deployed water cannons for the first time during violent demonstrations on Sunday, protesters also being hit with tear gas and rubber bullets.
Hong Kong Activist Leader Calls For a Run on the Bank
Hong Kong Activist Leader Calls For a Run on the Bank
Chen Haotian asks citizens to withdraw cash deposits to target Chinese banks.
Prominent Hong Kong pro-independence political activist Chen Haotian has called for a run on Chinese banks, asking that everyone withdraw their money on the same day.
Haotian is a founding member and the convenor of the Hong Kong National Party.
Arguing that large scale protests have only led to injuries and escalating police brutality, Haotian believes another method could be used to severely undermine China’s influence – a good old fashioned run on the bank.
He suggested that another method could be used, namely, impacting the financial system,” reports China Press.
“He called on Friday (August 16) that Hong Kong citizens take out all bank deposits. The primary goal is Chinese banks, but he said other banks should also be targeted, otherwise Chinese banks can borrow money from other banks to solve problems.”
Hong Kong has been rocked by weeks of violent protests by pro-independence campaigners. Earlier this week, riot police stormed Hong Kong International Airport to clear them out.
As we reported on Tuesday, while China is unlikely to invade using PLA troops, experts have suggested that soldiers could be disguised as Hong Kong police.
Tiananmen Square 2.0? Beijing Warns Hong Kong Protesters Will Be ‘Punished’ — Military Intervention Possible
Tiananmen Square 2.0? Beijing Warns Hong Kong Protesters Will Be ‘Punished’ — Military Intervention Possible
As the situation in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate, Beijing has issued a warning that protesters would soon be punished for “criminal acts,” and has refused to rule out military force to quell ongoing anti-government demonstrations, according to The Telegraph.
According to a spokesman for the Beijing-controlled Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, demonstrators are causing “Hong Kong to slide into a dangerous abyss,” adding “As for their punishment, it’s only a matter of time.“
The Chinese government will never allow any acts that challenge national unity, sovereignty or security, he said, sternly reminding residents that the People’s Liberation Army was a “strong and reliable force that defends every inch of its territory.”
In a jab at protesters, Mr Yang referred to their main slogan, “Reclaim Hong Kong, revolution of our times,” by reminding them Hong Kong was a part of China, saying, “I want to ask those people shouting this, ‘what of Hong Kong do you want to reclaim? Where exactly do you want to reclaim Hong Kong to?” –Telegraph
Meanwhile, over 12,000 Shenzhen police officers conducted a publicly broadcasted crowd-control drill – offering protesters a taste of what’s to come.
“A drill will be held to increase troop morale, practise and prepare for the security of celebrations, [and] maintain national political security and social stability,” according to police.
In live videos of the police drills shown on the Yizhibo network, officers in body armour, helmets and shields confronted groups of people in black shirts and red or yellow construction safety helmets – similar to those worn by Hong Kong protesters – who were holding flags, banners, batons and wooden boards. –SCMP
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Hong Kong police pepper spray protesters as hundreds try to surround govt office — RT News
Hong Kong police pepper spray protesters as hundreds try to surround govt office — RT News.
Hong Kong police have used pepper spray to prevent hundreds of protesters from encircling the government headquarters, as China’s special administrative region continues to be gripped by demonstrations which began two months ago.
Demonstrators chanting “Surround government headquarters” and “Open the road,” as well as “I want true democracy,” made their way into the city’s government neighborhood of Admiralty, where scuffles with police occurred.
Protesters with wooden shields and metal barricades charged police as officers warned them to retreat.
Many in the crowd carried umbrellas, which have become a symbol of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy push, due to providing protection from pepper spray. Others had surgical masks, hard hats, goggles, and construction-style eye protectors.
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Hong Kong Umbrella Movement Day 52 Live Stream and Blog Updates
Hong Kong Umbrella Movement Day 52 Live Stream and Blog Updates.
HONG KONG—Police began moving in Tuesday morning to clear out metal barricades, tents, and protesters from a section of road outside a shopping mall and office building near Hong Kong’s government complex, executing orders the High Court handed down recently.
But they were quickly stymied by pro-democracy protesters and their lawyer, former legislator Albert Ho. He successfully argued that the injunction should not extend to the whole area as originally anticipated.
The operation is the first time in weeks that the Hong Kong government has moved against the pro-democracy activists, as the standoff over the right for Hong Kong people to freely elect their leaders enters its eighth week.
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Hong Kong protesters march after fruitless talks with government | Reuters
Hong Kong protesters march after fruitless talks with government | Reuters.
(Reuters) – About 200 Hong Kong protesters marched to the home of the city’s Beijing-backed leader on Wednesday to push their case for greater democracy a day after talks between student leaders and senior officials failed to break the deadlock.
Others continued to occupy main streets in the Chinese-controlled city, where they have camped for nearly a month in protest against a central government plan that would give Hong Kong people the chance to vote for their own leader in 2017 but tightly restrict the candidates to Beijing loyalists.
A wide chasm separates the protesters and the government, which has labelled their actions illegal and repeatedly said their demand for open nominations is impossible under the laws of the former British colony.
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Protesters take back key parts of Hong Kong – Asia-Pacific – Al Jazeera English
Protesters take back key parts of Hong Kong – Asia-Pacific – Al Jazeera English.
Some of the worst violence since demonstrations began erupts after police try to clear key protest site.Last updated: 18 Oct 2014 09:50
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| Protesters in Hong Kong have reoccupied the Mong Kok site, a key zone in the heart of the city, after police had cleared the area on Friday, sparking some of the most violent confrontations since the demonstrations began three weeks ago.
On Saturday, police used batons and pepper spray against protesters who were shielding themselves with umbrellas on the central district, but were forced into a partial retreat as the sun began to rise, to cheers from the crowd. …click on the link above for the rest of the article… |
