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James Pomfret
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 25, 2022
China steps in to steer Hong Kong's COVID-19 crisis as risks loom
Hong Kong has stepped up anti-coronavirus measures, including plans for mass testing buttressed by equipment, testing vehicles and personnel from the mainland.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Jan 11, 2022
'Colonial wine from new, authoritarian bottles': Hong Kong retools sedition law
The Hong Kong government is expanding its use of a long-dormant sedition law in what some lawyers and democracy advocates say is intensifying a squeeze on press freedom.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 20, 2021
Pro-Beijing candidates sweep 'patriots'-only Hong Kong vote amid low turnout
The turnout of 30.2%, was almost half that of the previous legislative poll in 2016, with the latest results showing almost all of the seats being taken by pro-Beijing candidates.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Dec 16, 2021
Hong Kong's jailed and exiled democrats lament Sunday election
While there is little that can be done now, the jailed democrats have called on the people of Hong Kong to avoid letting the 'external environment corrode you.'
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 11, 2021
Hong Kong opens new modern art museum under national security cloud
The imposition of a sweeping national security law by China last year on its once freest city is casting a pall over the opening of Hong Kong's M+ contemporary art museum.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 26, 2021
Hong Kong's former chief judge says upholding rule of law is not political
The city's judges symbolize a core condition of its return to Chinese rule: the right to a fair trial and equality under the law, administered by an independent judiciary.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 25, 2021
Free speech or secession? 'Liberate Hong Kong' at heart of landmark case
Activists say a ruling to outlaw the slogan will tighten limits on free speech.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 18, 2021
Inside Hong Kong's Apple Daily, China's besieged liberal media icon
Thursday's early-morning raid by 500 police officers was a shock, not only to Apple Daily staffers but to journalists throughout China's freest city.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 11, 2021
China's attacks on 'foreign forces' threaten Hong Kong's global standing, top U.S. envoy says
The comments come as other envoys, business people and activists have spoken about the chilling effect on their relationships and connections across China's most international city.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 27, 2021
Hong Kong security chief threatens Jimmy Lai's bankers with jail if they deal in his accounts
Observers said the action extended the tightening national security apparatus into elite tiers of the banking system for the first time.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 2, 2021
China's electoral reform 'earthquake' set to upend Hong Kong politics
The proposed reform will put further pressure on pro-democracy activists, who are already the subject of a crackdown, and has ruffled the feathers of some Beijing loyalists.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Dec 1, 2020
Democracy darkens: Hong Kong activists reel from Chinese moves
A year after young activists, veteran democrats and others formed the boldest revolt against Beijing in decades, Hong Kong is rapidly being 'mainlandized,' democracy advocates say.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 26, 2019
China sets up Hong Kong crisis center in mainland and considers replacing chief liaison
Tightening its control over efforts to manage the upheaval in Hong Kong, the Chinese leadership has set up a crisis command center on the mainland side of the border and is considering replacing its official liaison to the restive semi-autonomous city, people familiar with the matter have said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 25, 2019
Fresh headache for China after Hong Kong pro-democracy residents rout pro-Beijing candidates
After months of sometimes violent unrest in Hong Kong, an election with record turnout handed a big victory to pro-democracy local district council candidates, posing a new conundrum for Beijing and adding pressure on the city's leader.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 4, 2019
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announces withdrawal of controversial extradition bill
The city's leader Carrie Lam on Wednesday announced the withdrawal of an extradition bill that triggered months of unrest and threw the Chinese-ruled city into its worst crisis in decades.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 2, 2019
Hong Kong leader says she would 'quit' if she could, fears ability to resolve crisis 'very limited'
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.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Aug 31, 2019
China rejected Hong Kong plan to appease protesters, sources say
Earlier this summer, Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, submitted a report to Beijing that assessed protesters' five key demands and found that withdrawing a contentious extradition bill could help defuse the mounting political crisis in the territory.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Jun 26, 2019
Pro-China groups step up offensive to win over Taiwan
When Taiwanese businessman Jhang Yun-nan wanted to find buyers for his company's new cleaning products in China, he turned to an unconventional channel: a Taiwanese party that advocates the unification of China with the self-ruled democratic island.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jun 16, 2019
How Hong Kong protests and Beijing pressure forced Carrie Lam to cave on extradition bill
With an escalating U.S. trade war, a faltering economy and tensions in the South China Sea vexing her bosses in Beijing, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam appeared in no mood to compromise on a planned extradition law at recent meetings, according to foreign envoys and business people who met with...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Mar 18, 2019
Activists in Hong Kong and Taiwan feel heat as China fears 'separatist' collusion
As Beijing grows wary of pro-independence groups seeking to forge closer ties in Hong Kong and Taiwan, activists say they are coming under increased surveillance and harassment from pro-China media outlets and unofficial "operatives."

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