Xi defends vision of Hong Kong on 25th anniversary of return
Chinaโs leader Xi Jinping has marked the 25th anniversary of Hong Kongโs return with a speech that emphasized Beijingโs control over the former British colony under its vision of โone country, two systems."
China's Xi visits changed Hong Kong for handover anniversary
Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the British handover of a city that his rule has transformed from a global hub known for its political freedoms to one that is much more tightly controlled by the Communist Party.
Victim of pandemic, Hong Kong floating restaurant towed away
A floating restaurant that fed Cantonese cuisine to Queen Elizabeth II, Tom Cruise and millions of other diners has been towed from its Hong Kong harborfront location after falling victim to the pandemic.
Lam says Hong Kong now has China patriots firmly in charge
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says Chinese patriots are now firmly in charge of the city following the election of its new leader, who ran unopposed in a process controlled by Beijing.
Beijing loyalist John Lee elected as Hong Kong's next leader
John Lee, a hard-line security chief who oversaw a crackdown on Hong Kongโs pro-democracy movement, has been elected as the cityโs next leader in a vote cast by a largely pro-Beijing committee.
China installing former security chief as Hong Kong leader
China is installing a career security official as the new leader of Hong Kong in the culmination of a sweeping political transformation that has gutted any opposition in the Asian financial center and placed it ever more firmly under Beijingโs control.
YouTube takes down Hong Kong leader candidate's channel
YouTube has taken down the campaign channel of Hong Kongโs sole candidate to become its next leader, John Lee, citing compliance with U.S. sanctions imposed against the former No. 2 official.
Hong Kong to ease COVID-19 restrictions as infections fall
Hong Kong will ease some social distancing measures later this month, allowing people to dine in at restaurants in the evening and lifting restrictions on private gatherings, as the number of COVID-19 infections declined in recent weeks.
Hong Kong's ex-No. 2 official to stand for leadership polls
Hong Kongโs former No. 2 official John Lee has formally declared his candidacy for the upcoming leadership election, entering the race for chief executive viewed by many as Beijingโs preferred candidate.
Staunch crackdown supporter to run for Hong Kong's top job
Hong Kongโs No. 2 official has submitted his resignation and plans to seek the top job in a sign of Beijing further tightening its grip on the city and its politics.
Hong Kong leader Lam won't seek new term after rocky 5 years
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says she wonโt seek a second term after five rocky years marked by huge protests, a security crackdown and an overwhelming COVID-19 wave.
Hong Kong urges testing, Shanghai struggles under lockdown
Hong Kong authorities are asking the entire population of more than 7.4 million to voluntarily test themselves for COVID-19 for three days in a row starting next week.
WHO: COVID-19 cases rise for 2nd straight week, deaths fall
The World Health Organization says the number of new coronavirus cases globally increased by 7% in the last week, driven by rising infections in the Western Pacific.
Hong Kong will review COVID-19 restrictions as cases decline
Hong Kongโs leader says the government will consider lifting strict social distancing measures as new COVID-19 infections in the city continue trending downward.
China tightens controls as more virus cases reported
China has instituted new COVID-19 restrictions that included urging the public not to leave Beijing and closing schools in Shanghai while the leader of Hong Kong warned that its coronavirus outbreak has yet to reach its peak.
Hong Kong puts mass testing on hold as COVID-19 deaths rise
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says reducing the skyrocketing number of deaths in the latest coronavirus surge is the cityโs priority, putting a plan to test the entire population on hold in the latest flip-flop in the governmentโs pandemic response.
Hong Kong reports record cases; movements may be restricted
Hong Kongโs leader says peopleโs movements may be restricted during mandatory testing this month of the entire population for the coronavirus, as health officials reported more than 55,000 daily infections, a new record, and over a hundred deaths.
Grumbling grows as Hong Kong sticks with zero-COVID policy
Hong Kong residents are becoming increasingly annoyed with the administrationโs insistence on sticking to Beijingโs zero-COVID strategy as the city posted another record number of new cases.
Xi urges Hong Kong to get control as COVID-19 cases surge
Hospitals in Hong Kong are struggling to keep up with an influx of coronavirus patients amid record numbers of new infections as the city doggedly adheres to its โzero-COVIDโ strategy.
Hong Kongers rush for haircuts, produce ahead of new curbs
Hong Kong residents are lining up outside hair salons and snapping up fresh vegetables a day before tightened coronavirus restrictions go into effect, as new daily cases in the city ballooned to more than 1,100.
Hong Kong cuts foreign arrival quarantine from 21 to 14 days
Hong Kong is cutting the length of mandatory quarantine for people arriving from overseas from 21 to 14 days, even as the southern Chinese city battles a new surge in COVID-19 cases.
Hong Kong bans transit flights from over 150 countries
Hong Kong International Airport says it will ban passengers from over 150 countries and territories from transiting in the city for a month, as it seeks to stem the transmission of the highly contagious omicron variant.
Hong Kong suspends officials, isolates some 170 party guests
Hong Kong authorities have suspended several government officials from duty and will order about 170 people to be quarantined at a government facility after they attended a birthday party where two guests later tested positive for the coronavirus.
Hong Kong news outlet to close amid crackdown on dissent
A Hong Kong online news site says it will cease operations in light of deteriorating press freedoms, days after police raided and arrested seven people for sedition at a separate pro-democracy news outlet.
Renowned Tiananmen massacre monument removed in Hong Kong
A monument at a Hong Kong university that was the best-known public remembrance of the Tiananmen Square massacre on Chinese soil has been removed as one of the cityโs last places of public commemoration of the bloody 1989 crackdown.
China's Xi endorses Hong Kong's 'patriots only' election
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has endorsed Hong Kong's first legislative elections held under new laws ensuring that only โpatriotsโ loyal to Beijing could run as candidates.
Pro-Beijing candidates sweep Hong Kong elections
Pro-Beijing candidates have won a landslide victory in Hong Kongโs legislative elections, beating out moderates and independents in the cityโs first polls since Beijing passed a resolution to amend the cityโs election laws to ensure that only โpatriotsโ loyal to Beijing could run the city.
Voter turnout plunges in Hong Kong under new election laws
Voter turnout in Hong Kong sank to 30 percent Sunday in the first legislative election since Beijing amended the laws to reduce the number of directly elected lawmakers and vet candidates to ensure that only those loyal to China could run.
Hong Kong election defines dramatic changes by Beijing
Elections for Hong Kongโs Legislative Council on Sunday mark the culmination of Beijingโs campaign to rein in the body that had once kept it from imposing its unrestrained will over the semi-autonomous territory.
![Hong Kong to tighten COVID-19 rules, hopes China reopens](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/s9dNZa9ktSMQR_MXBLP2C4pnAi8=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/BEGN7EEXQNH7VJ4DT6M6SKJDKA.jpg)
Hong Kong to tighten COVID-19 rules, hopes China reopens
Hong Kong will tighten COVID-19 restrictions despite its lack of outbreaks to align with Chinaโs policies and increase chances of quarantine-free travel between the territory and mainland.
![New Hong Kong electors decided with only 1 opposition member](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/gg4iT-1FeGNkdIzQkTnbnuge2mo=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CUHQXRIQBZE35FTNDQAVY2ZI6Y.jpg)
New Hong Kong electors decided with only 1 opposition member
Results for the vote for members of Hong Kongโs Election Committee have been finalized after hours of delays, with just one opposition-leaning candidate elected to the 1,500-strong committee.
![Voters choose new Hong Kong electors under pro-Beijing laws](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Znb_NspAYAR6-yPsPLH2WdDP5Yg=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/56GIGWUDOFDNTBNSD3DB422L34.jpg)
Voters choose new Hong Kong electors under pro-Beijing laws
Select Hong Kong residents are voting for members of the Election Committee that will choose the cityโs leader in the first polls following reforms meant to ensure candidates with Beijing loyalty.
![Hong Kong activists slam government for foreign agent label](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Tg2HQow4LjdHZOiWH-W2vhkgY4E=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Y6OCUGHRXZGLNAEOJE66KISWEM.jpg)
Hong Kong activists slam government for foreign agent label
A pro-democracy group says the Hong Kong government is arbitrarily labeling it a foreign agent, making it subject to prosecution under a tough national security law.
![Hong Kong leader: Groups crossing 'red lines' should disband](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/QjLGAdJK9mW884KnXnDplSwRcvI=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MQVA5KXPOFEMRLOUVJXXRQYJBA.jpg)
Hong Kong leader: Groups crossing 'red lines' should disband
Hong Kongโs leader Carrie Lam says organizations that cross โred linesโ and disregard national security should disband, though that wouldn't protect them if they are found to break the law.
![The Latest: Famed Minneapolis club requiring vaccination](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/VIMh01lu7SHPMmnhILxwVik7O9M=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/SNEVXDKHOFBJVLLGOE4JOB2QTI.jpg)
The Latest: Famed Minneapolis club requiring vaccination
The First Avenue music venue in Minneapolis made famous in Princeโs movie โPurple Rainโ is requiring that all concertgoers provide proof of vaccination against the coronavirus or show a negative virus test.
![Guilty verdict in first trial under Hong Kong security law](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/uj93N0ZN7Oe89uOIQTXJQdvLEcM=/800x512/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/K2AVO5BOFNG7FKVU4IVGYZMKFI.jpg)
Guilty verdict in first trial under Hong Kong security law
The first person to be tried under Hong Kongโs sweeping national security law has been found guilty of secessionism and terrorism in a ruling condemned aby human rights activists.
![6 students among 9 arrested in alleged Hong Kong bomb plot](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/04l-ORe16efTE_NGvzrkgYsXoCk=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QEKXHTE36JAC5ELUZLFM4UXKOE.jpg)
6 students among 9 arrested in alleged Hong Kong bomb plot
Hong Kong police say nine people have been arrested for allegedly plotting to set off homemade bombs in courts, tunnels and trash cans as political tensions rise in the city where China is tightening its grip.
![Marking centenary, China heralds Communist Party's influence](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/YQByZIV3KmEUlIwd0_FbkQaEb0Y=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/7O5BPMCQHJHHZLCBQ7AWDNDRLA.jpg)
Marking centenary, China heralds Communist Party's influence
China is marking the centenary of its ruling Communist Party this week by heralding what it says is its growing influence abroad, along with success in battling corruption at home.
![Get a jab, win a condo: Hong Kong tries vaccine incentives](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/OBqA9SwX1baK-0Up3WIZCsbyPHM=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/YTRH22IT7ZFAHH3RE55IOMD4KM.jpg)
Get a jab, win a condo: Hong Kong tries vaccine incentives
Coronavirus vaccine incentives offered by Hong Kong companies, including a lucky draw for an apartment, a Tesla car and even gold bars, are helping boost the cityโs sluggish inoculation rate.
![Hong Kong watching Chinese nuclear plant after leak reported](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/nqdFp0bpysWoPcsZS5mdG2_O75U=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IA6M4T3RIFFNBI54KWK3KTYSKE.jpg)
Hong Kong watching Chinese nuclear plant after leak reported
China's government says no abnormal radiation has been detected outside a nuclear power plant near Hong Kong following a news report of a leak, while Hong Kong's leader says her administration is closely watching the facility.
![Hong Kong democracy activist Agnes Chow released from jail](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/TLCGDRS3cmPtwLpDyzA1bHAB0Tg=/800x549/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JIN66U5EGNCVHLWRA24JHS6ZS4.jpg)
Hong Kong democracy activist Agnes Chow released from jail
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow has been released from jail after serving more than six months for taking part in unauthorized assemblies during massive 2019 anti-government protests that triggered a crackdown on dissent.
![Lam defends freezing of publisher's assets as safety measure](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/MIreQyw3mVN7IR32MId7T_ao1cU=/800x539/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/DIY4MWDL3RHETJA7BX4GUL7LRA.jpg)
Lam defends freezing of publisher's assets as safety measure
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam is defending the freezing of pro-democracy publisher Jimmy Laiโs assets as a necessary move under the cityโs new national security law to protect the safety of all Chinese people.
![Hong Kong's new bishop wants differing views respected](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/_elNmbel33vXLXhTnXAmftQpiwQ=/800x521/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65):fill(FFF)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/64GBLWZV7VAI3MTGTG6OVZYITI.jpg)
Hong Kong's new bishop wants differing views respected
Hong Kongโs incoming Roman Catholic bishop Stephen Chow has called for respect for different views as he prepares to lead a diocese that has been polarized by the cityโs deteriorating political situation.
![Hong Kong's delayed legislative elections set for December](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/VYzBQ0CwyDKqK7du6DbPs4tEkUQ=/1600x1121/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RF6LN7V2ZBEMLJMC4O7IQ6PZVM.jpg)
Hong Kong's delayed legislative elections set for December
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says the semiautonomous Chinese territoryโs legislative elections will take place in December, more than a year after they were postponed by authorities citing public health risks from the coronavirus pandemic.
![China sharply reduces elected seats in Hong Kong legislature](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/QbnJ1Fse9HJqFXlR76mhtEdrsPY=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/2MT56GJXEJEGTHPD3LYUQQKWPM.jpg)
China sharply reduces elected seats in Hong Kong legislature
From left, Hong Kong Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Chief Executive Carrie Lam and permanent Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Roy Tan attend a press conference on the Hong Kong electoral system reform in Hong Kong, Tuesday, March 30, 2021. China imposed a national security law on Hong Kong last year and is following up this year with a revamp of the electoral process. Election hopefuls will undergo vetting by the national security police and a committee that oversees national security in the city. Beijing, which prioritizes political stability, sees these actions as interfering with the governing of Hong Kong and wants to keep these actors out of government. AdA statement by Beijing's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office said the Hong Kong national security law provided a solid legal foundation to safeguard national security and that the electoral reforms provide a โsolid institutional guaranteeโ of the cityโs โone country, two systemsโ framework and ensure that only โpatriotsโ rule Hong Kong.
![No Oscars or sensitive art spark Hong Kong censorship fears](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/eL9TAkoZsSr4oJ9Tz_TiuEYNeFM=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/B2KQNKH4LVE2FEBISFKBUP6YHU.jpg)
No Oscars or sensitive art spark Hong Kong censorship fears
People walk in front of "M+" visual culture museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong, Monday, March 29, 2021. Hong Kong authorities have taken a tougher stance on opposition following Beijingโs imposition of a national security law on the city, arresting prominent pro-democracy activists and participants in anti-government protests in 2019. Earlier this month, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said authorities were on โfull alertโ to ensure that exhibitions in the city do not violate the national security law. Pro-Beijing lawmakers have said that some of M+โs artwork is politically sensitive and could be in breach of the legislation. Searches for โNomadlandโ were blocked on the Chinese internet, which is heavily censored and filtered to scrub content deemed politically sensitive by the government.
![Hong Kong vaccination drive struggles to gain public trust](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/REzxjqE_WAXHmfY_FtTMuGAIPSE=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/LQQV6BJ4LFFOTNN7POWYAZ5ZIQ.jpg)
Hong Kong vaccination drive struggles to gain public trust
For now, Hong Kong residents can only get the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine, which is reported to have an efficacy rate of 62%, compared with Pfizer's 97%. Hong Kong is still grappling with coronavirus outbreaks and stringent social distancing measures that are especially hard on bars, restaurants and the tourism industry. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and health officials are urging people to get vaccinated. Unease over the vaccines, which were developed in under a year using varying levels of clinical trials, are not confined to Hong Kong. Martin Wong, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, co-authored a survey published in January that showed only 37% of Hong Kong residents were willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
![US sanctions 24 China and Hong Kong officials ahead of talks](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/xAlXjR5Hsq8J1yW3UzMnKAMSInE=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/UVNAJIDZ65F6DBUV6DPMM3P5MM.jpg)
US sanctions 24 China and Hong Kong officials ahead of talks
The U.S. sanctioned an additional 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials over Beijing's ongoing crackdown on political freedoms in the semi-autonomous city, including a decision to overhaul Hong Kong's electoral system. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)HONG KONG โ The U.S. sanctioned an additional 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials over Beijingโs ongoing crackdown on political freedoms in the semi-autonomous city, just ahead of the Biden administration's first face-to-face talks with China. The planned changes to Hong Kong's electoral law give a pro-Beijing committee power to appoint more of Hong Kongโs lawmakers. Last June, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on the city and Hong Kong authorities have arrested most of the prominent pro-democracy supporters and outspoken critics. Starting last October, the U.S. had already sanctioned 10 officials including Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam and Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Zhang Xiaoming.
![China legislature endorses reducing public vote in Hong Kong](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/GJdheEkJIK4YOM0L6-_JMO0hc9Q=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/33NYH6ESV5D3XC5JZJM6WX7TFQ.jpg)
China legislature endorses reducing public vote in Hong Kong
It adds to a crackdown against a protest movement in Hong Kong calling for greater democracy. Hong Kong news reports said earlier the committee will pick one-third of the members of the Legislative Council, or LegCo. AdBeijing wants to see โpatriots ruling Hong Kong,โ the premier said. โThe Hong Kong people will be disenfranchisedโ under the latest changes, said Emily Lau, a former Hong Kong legislator. ___AP writers Zen Soo in Hong Kong and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.
![Hong Kong leader 'fully welcomes' proposed electoral changes](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/7KF5z9rdug9k6JCzQF6hk5zlJpI=/1600x1107/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HWCLEMUXZVDVFDNJUG4C223ELQ.jpg)
Hong Kong leader 'fully welcomes' proposed electoral changes
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam listens to reporters' questions during a press conference in Hong Kong, Monday, March, 2021. Lam said Monday that the Hong Kong government "fully welcomes" the reforms to the city's electoral system, after Beijing proposed a major revamp that will increase central government control over Hong Kong politics. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)HONG KONG โ Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Monday said the city's government โfully welcomesโ changes to the cityโs electoral system that will substantially increase central government control over Hong Kong politics and exclude critics of Beijing. The planned electoral changes have drawn criticism in Hong Kong and abroad, including from the United States. Universal suffrage would give Hong Kong voters the right to vote for the cityโs leader, although only candidates approved by Beijing would be allowed to run.
![Hong Kong court keeps 47 democracy activists in custody](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/P4-tQukDjCWCuRQEGowU5D54aQM=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/I5XP5HOHFRFC5DNY4Q4EQ5VKQI.jpg)
Hong Kong court keeps 47 democracy activists in custody
Former lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, known as "Long Hair," second left, shows a victory sign and some of the 47 pro-democracy activists are escorted by Correctional Services officers to a prison van in Hong Kong, Thursday, March 4, 2021. A marathon court hearing for 47 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong charged with conspiracy to commit subversion enters its fourth day on Thursday, as the court deliberates over whether the defendants will be granted bail. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)HONG KONG โ A Hong Kong court on Thursday ordered all 47 pro-democracy activists charged under a Beijing-imposed national security law to be kept in custody after the Department of Justice appealed an initial decision to grant 15 of them bail. The national security law criminalizes secession, subversion, collusion with foreign forces to intervene in the cityโs affairs as well as terrorism. U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab earlier called the charges โdeeply disturbingโ and said the national security law was being used to eliminate political dissent.
![EXPLAINER: How a primary got Hong Kong activists in trouble](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/XoZOdAK-S3eDY_8iuAj_NOegq5s=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QQZ473GAGZG5VNS6MJ4RZOSZUY.jpg)
EXPLAINER: How a primary got Hong Kong activists in trouble
A supporter raises a British flag as supporters queue up outside a court to try get in for a hearing in Hong Kong Monday, March 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)HONG KONG โ Hong Kong democracy supporters are being locked up in jail, charged with being a threat to national security. Their arrests come under a new security law imposed on the semi-autonomous Chinese territory by Beijing that has largely silenced dissent in Hong Kong. Those now facing charges held a primary election for legislators picked through one of the last vestiges of direct democracy in Hong Kong. China's central government signaled last week that it may take steps to restrict who can run for office in Hong Kong.
![Hong Kong detains 47 activists on subversion charges](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/tfL6fZGGZ2O7PN2CfPmaQx0E324=/1600x1074/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GTZYH7GZ3JD3BHARASK6EH52JQ.jpg)
Hong Kong detains 47 activists on subversion charges
John Clancey, right, an American lawyer who became the first foreigner arrested under Hong Kong's national security law, displays a book before appearing at a police station in Hong Kong Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)HONG KONG โ Hong Kong police on Sunday detained 47 pro-democracy activists on charges of conspiracy to commit subversion under the city's national security law, in the largest mass charge against the semi-autonomous Chinese territory's opposition camp since the law came into effect last June. They allegedly violated the national security law that was imposed by Beijing for participating in unofficial election primaries for Hong Kong's legislature last year. AdโThank you to the people of Hong Kong for giving me the opportunity to contribute to society in the past 15 years,โ Chu said in a post on his Facebook page. The security law criminalizes acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers to intervene in Hong Kong's affairs.
![The Latest: Navajo Nation new virus cases on downward trend](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/kZVhmnekVCi8QXF19kFCd6ijTWo=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/IRFU3PJLYVDGTMWHI3L7DFOL3Q.jpg)
The Latest: Navajo Nation new virus cases on downward trend
(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. -- The Navajo Nation has continued on a downward trend in the number of daily coronavirus cases. Canada regulators have approved AstraZenecaโs coronavirus vaccine. Gavin Newsom expects California to start administering the new Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine next week. Addition of the J&J vaccine would come as California is seeing dramatic drops in virus cases and hospitalizations after record highs in early January. While they only comprise about 48% of coronavirus cases, they account for 74% of vaccinations.
![Asia Today: 1st vaccines reach arms in S. Korea, Hong Kong](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/YmzLzFz96F8I6F6Rs7I6FISTJ-E=/1600x1039/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/HZNTNBQ2VZDL5I3J6G6COJDNQI.jpg)
Asia Today: 1st vaccines reach arms in S. Korea, Hong Kong
People age 60 and older and health care workers are among the some 2.4 million people currently prioritized to receive vaccines at community centers and outpatient clinics across Hong Kong. Hong Kong has struck deals to buy 22.5 million doses of vaccines, from Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Fosun Pharma, which will deliver the vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNTech. Those 65 years or older are scheduled to get vaccines after health workers. Adโ China has approved two more COVID-19 vaccines for wider use. A military researcher told state media CanSino can produce up to 300 million doses per year, and the Wuhan Institute said it can produce up to 100 million doses per year.
![Hong Kong kicks off COVID-19 vaccinations with Sinovac jab](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/aN-rHgEapaC1b36hv9FR6KX3nyM=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MYXSDJ2OLBHCFL6LSAG3HCF6LA.jpg)
Hong Kong kicks off COVID-19 vaccinations with Sinovac jab
People line up to receive China's Sinovac COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine at a community vaccination center in Hong Kong, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. Hong Kong began administering its first COVID-19 vaccines to the public Friday, kicking off its program offering free vaccinations to all 7.5 million residents. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)HONG KONG โ Hong Kong began administering its first COVID-19 vaccines to the public Friday, kicking off its program that will eventually offer free vaccinations to all 7.5 million residents. Iโll take a wait-and-see approach," said Ken Cheung, a Hong Kong resident. A panel of Hong Kong experts said the efficacy of the Sinovac vaccine after two doses, 21 days apart, was 62.3%.
![Lam backs Hong Kong electoral changes excluding opponents](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/QFiIEqXuuX8DNPDMUMsmiJ2lWG4=/1600x1088/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OQSHXQ7EBFCX3IOVEDGAM7WBQY.jpg)
Lam backs Hong Kong electoral changes excluding opponents
FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2021, file photo, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam listens to reporters' questions during a press conference in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)HONG KONG โ Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave her clear support Tuesday to electoral reforms that would likely further exclude opposition voices and cement Beijingโs control over the semi-autonomous Chinese cityโs politics. Currently, only the chief executive, high officials, executive council members, lawmakers and judges are required to take an oath of office. Hong Kong's legislature is expected to deliberate the draft legal amendments on March 17. AdIt remains unclear whether Lam, who is deeply unpopular among Hong Kong's population, will seek a second five-year term in next yearโs poll.
![Thousands of Hong Kongers locked down to contain coronavirus](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/I7_gmFmBJu7ByiaUcXvitiMAv0k=/1600x1079/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/B2HQMWJFPFEFHO6G3KVXDXF73M.jpg)
Thousands of Hong Kongers locked down to contain coronavirus
Thousands of Hong Kong residents were locked down Saturday in an unprecedented move to contain a worsening outbreak in the city, authorities said. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)HONG KONG โ Thousands of Hong Kong residents were locked down in their homes Saturday in an unprecedented move to contain a worsening coronavirus outbreak in the city. The restrictions, which were announced at 4 a.m. in Hong Kong, were expected to end within 48 hours, the government said. Hong Kong has been grappling to contain a fresh wave of the coronavirus since November. Coronavirus cases in Yau Tsim Mong district represent about half of infections in the past week.
![Hong Kongers call US violence a setback for democracy](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/zSg65q4X9tdk7yd-o5-Ku5wvI-Q=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/I5EWMEYNXRAOVKGQXH5RGH6QNA.jpg)
Hong Kongers call US violence a setback for democracy
FILE - In this July 1, 2019, file photo, protesters try to break the glass walls of the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. From across the political spectrum, Hong Kong residents condemned mob violence at the U.S. Capitol, 18 months after they saw protesters storm their own local legislature. โItโs very sad for us in Hong Kong to see mobs attacking Capitol Hill and trying to overthrow the election results. We in Hong Kong are fighting for a democracy in which everyone has a right to vote,โ Lee said. In Hong Kong, elections are canceled,โ said Leslie Chan, a district councilor in Hong Kong, referring to a year-long postponement of the cityโs legislative elections by Lam, who cited public health risks from the coronavirus.
![Wong questioned, US lawyer released in Hong Kong crackdown](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/CdXrJMfwpptoRV5epp_RA7HXXAE=/1600x1122/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/JHEBNFQXHNF7FO5772XM7HUTRI.jpg)
Wong questioned, US lawyer released in Hong Kong crackdown
FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2019, file photo, pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong stands outside the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)HONG KONG โ Jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was arrested on a new charge under the national security law on Thursday while an American rights lawyer who was detained in a sweeping crackdown was granted bail. The security law criminalizes acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers to intervene in the cityโs affairs. โChinaโs taking a big gamble by picking away at parts of the Hong Kong system that it doesnโt like,โ he said. โIt really risks damaging parts that it values.โ___Associated Press video journalist Alice Fung in Hong Kong and writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.
![EXPLAINER: Hong Kong mass arrests chill democracy movement](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/5NvUeN8wyW62Ya_8zWVIv-dNABw=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/QMOT7ZAZDRHGJJV7ZB7GL6N5CI.jpg)
EXPLAINER: Hong Kong mass arrests chill democracy movement
FILE - In this July 15, 2020, file photo, pro-democracy activists who were elected from unofficial pro-democracy primaries, including Joshua Wong, left, attend a press conference in Hong Kong. Police detained about 50 people, far more than in previous cases under the 6-month-old national security law. The subversion section of the national security law criminalizes โseriously interfering in, disrupting, or undermining the performance of duties and functionsโ of the Chinese or Hong Kong governments. They plunged Hong Kong into its biggest political crisis since its return to Chinese rule in 1997. ___This story has been corrected to show that the age of the security law is six months, not seven months.
![Hong Kong arrests 53 activists under national security law](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/3tZObkZ3o3aqduzNNLfdxZ1UCPw=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Z57R6EANHNFIDMCYPE6RZ2MSUE.jpg)
Hong Kong arrests 53 activists under national security law
(AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)HONG KONG โ Hong Kong police arrested 53 former lawmakers and democracy proponents Wednesday for allegedly violating the new national security law by participating in unofficial election primaries for the territory's legislature last year. The security law criminalizes acts of subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers to intervene in the cityโs affairs. โThe Biden-Harris administration will stand with the people of Hong Kong and against Beijingโs crackdown on democracy,โ Blinken wrote in his tweet. The security law is being used โto crush dissent and stifle the exercise of human rights and political freedoms.โHuman Rights Watch senior China researcher Maya Wang said the national security law is a blanket law that allows the government to arrest people for exercising their rights. โHong Kong is looking more like mainland China but where one ends and the other begins is hard to discern,โ she said.
![Asia Today: Hong Kong secures 15 million vaccine doses](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/cY343rvGmfd3HOHczyiI0rgheXc=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/FXP4K47BMFBGJHOAW5RHTI32UU.jpg)
Asia Today: Hong Kong secures 15 million vaccine doses
HONG KONG โ Hong Kong has secured delivery of 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with the first million to arrive as early as January, the cityโs leader said Friday. Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam said the city has reached agreements for 7.5 million doses each from Sinovac and Pfizer/BioNTech. She said Hong Kong is also negotiating with AstraZeneca and another manufacturer with the goal of securing a total of 30 million doses. And the amount of procurement will be twice the population of Hong Kong,โ she said. โ India has recorded 29,398 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, a continuing downward trend.
![The Latest: Hong Kong re-imposes restaurant dining bans](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/eMHsCf_yIjOR6zKHkHl60XAKyHE=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/CCOK2VNUPVD6HB42AL5K23G4KY.jpg)
The Latest: Hong Kong re-imposes restaurant dining bans
Hong Kong on Wednesday reported an additional 100 cases, bringing its two-week total to 1,274. Hong Kong has reported a total of 7,075 confirmed cases since the start of the pandemic, with 112 deaths. The Texas Department of State Health Services also said 9,028 people were hospitalized across the state. Since late November, the new daily cases have soared past 10,000 on several days, with 15,103 new cases reported Tuesday, according to state health officials. ___BOISE, Idaho โ Idaho public health officials abruptly ended a meeting Tuesday evening after the Boise mayor and chief of police said intense anti-mask protests outside the health department building โ as well as outside some health officialsโ homes โ were threatening public safety.
![Asia Today: Hong Kong to tighten measures amid virus surge](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/wLshPh5vvzsoDZdwW5j3yWfdGIA=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/OGH7WEHZ5VCZPBRUZ2YSC3ME3M.jpg)
Asia Today: Hong Kong to tighten measures amid virus surge
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a press conference in Hong Kong, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. Lam says social distancing measures will be tightened as cases of the coronavirus continue to surge, with a ban on nighttime dining and more businesses ordered to close. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)HONG KONG โ Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says social distancing measures will be tightened as cases of the coronavirus continue to surge, with a ban on nighttime dining and more businesses ordered to close. Hong Kong is grappling with the latest surge of coronavirus infections, with nearly 1,200 new cases in the last two weeks after a three-month lull. โ Three coronavirus vaccine developers -- AstraZeneca, Pfizer Inc. and Bharat Biotech -- have applied for emergency approval for their use in India, health officials said Tuesday.
![Hong Kong leader lauds new security law despite criticism](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/pkjc2qemgMemJPGQkWbo1HoqJxg=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/56K46V7ZMZG6FPSIVJGEZMGEC4.jpg)
Hong Kong leader lauds new security law despite criticism
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a news conference after delivering her policy address in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. Beijing imposed the security law on Hong Kong in June, aiming to crack down on dissent following months of anti-government protests in the city that at times descended into violence. Earlier this month, China passed a resolution disqualifying four pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmakers after they were accused of violating their oaths of office. The move prompted all of Hong Kongโs pro-democracy legislators to resign en masse as a show of solidarity. โShe bet the future of Hong Kong on the Greater Bay Area and the mainland economy.
![Hong Kong orders building inspections after deadly fire](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Vets_PaAdI2tkD8QJqS2_p39dF4=/1600x1094/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/L7BW3JXKVZBOFJPV4BCHZHF42Q.jpg)
Hong Kong orders building inspections after deadly fire
Flowers are placed at a fire site, top center with broken windows, in Hong Kong Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. City authorities said a fire in a crowded residential district in Hong Kong has "caused a number of deaths and injuries". The fire highlights lingering safety issues in older buildings in Hong Kong, one of the worldโs most densely populated cities. Pun T. Prakash, president of the Hong Kong Nepalese Business Association, said his group will also reach out to the community. โWe should be following the rules and regulations of Hong Kong, how to open a restaurant, how to open a shop.
![Fire in Hong Kong apartment building kills 7, injures 11](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/CdALzn9-R0YwOGKk6H9bLR_Aeb0=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/WSYHIGRFLFAVBA6KDIF2YRA4DA.jpg)
Fire in Hong Kong apartment building kills 7, injures 11
A police cordon line is set at a fire site, top center with broken windows, in Hong Kong Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. City authorities said a fire in a crowded residential district in Hong Kong has "caused a number of deaths and injuries". (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)HONG KONG โ Authorities in Hong Kong said at least seven people were killed and 11 injured in a fire at an apartment building that may have started at a gathering of people from the city's Nepalese community. The Hong Kong government said four men and three women died. Deadly fires used to be a regular occurrence in Hong Kong, one of the worldโs most densely populated cities, but have dwindled in recent years as the government implemented stricter fire safety measures.
![Hong Kong pro-democracy legislators hand in resignations](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/-4HUJ4k6fZE4cSI0xbhq0qP6r5Y=/1600x1098/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/GUN35ZLYF5CV5M3FNBBMBZCX2I.jpg)
Hong Kong pro-democracy legislators hand in resignations
Hong Kong's pro-democracy lawmakers have handed in their resignations following a move by the city's government to disqualify four pro-democracy legislators. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)HONG KONG โ Pro-democracy legislators in Hong Kong began resigning Thursday to protest the expulsion of four other lawmakers, heightening a conflict with Beijing over the semi-autonomous Chinese territoryโs future. Its Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office called the mass resignation โan open challengeโ to the authority of the central government and the Basic Law, Hong Kongโs constitution. โWe lost our check-and-balance power, and all the constitutional power in Hong Kong rests in the chief executive's hands,โ Wu said. The mass departure will leave Hong Kongโs legislature with just 43 legislators, 41 of whom belong to the pro-Beijing bloc.
![Hong Kong's pro-democracy lawmakers to resign en masse](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/12t8haZFqHAjpV73-BvOS8bWHKk=/1600x1073/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/KD6PG66Q5JEP3CGYPT2UDB3HHE.jpg)
Hong Kong's pro-democracy lawmakers to resign en masse
HONG KONG โ Hong Kongโs pro-democracy lawmakers announced Wednesday they would resign en masse after four of them were ousted from the semiautonomous Chinese territory's Legislature in a move one legislator said could sound the โdeath knellโ for democracy there. The mass departure will also leave Hong Kongโs Legislature with only pro-Beijing lawmakers, who already made up a majority but can now pass bills favored by Beijing without much opposition. The announcement came hours after the Hong Kong government said it was disqualifying the four legislators โ Alvin Yeung, Dennis Kwok, Kwok Ka-ki and Kenneth Leung. During the news conference, the lawmakers held hands and chanted, โHong Kong add oil! Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defended their removal, saying legislators must act properly and that the city needs a body comprised of patriots.