China to Impose Dictatorship on Hong Kong

[Strangelovesurfing + 737]

2 hours ago, frankfurter said:

the USA history for 200 years is nothing but lynchings and murders. this recent case is but one of many murders committed by police in recent years. 

Hunny bunny 😘, do you remember when we took that trip out west to Xinjiang and did that FABULOUS tour of the concentration camps? It was so much fun, the whole place was like a giant prison/slave labor amusement park!! Snookers let’s go again this summer! Not missing you, big kiss 💋 

Edited May 30, 2020 by Strangelovesurfing

[Douglas Buckland + 6,308]

 

”That's the same U.S. that still does not recognize Taiwan as an independent country and for decades took advantage of another ally, the Philippines, through onerous structuraladjustment policies, leading to the latter becoming one of the weakest economies in the region.”

 

The US was an ally with the Philippines for decades prior to and after WW2. The Philippines exercised their sovereign rights and booted the US out. This resulted in the closure of Clark Air Base and the Subic Naval Base and the loss of the rental from both, as well as the knock-on loss from supporting the troops at both bases.

 

The Filipino economy collapsed not from any action taken by the US. The political decision to remove the US military presence, and the resulting damage to the economy, rests solely with the Filipino government.

[Dan Warnick + 6,100]

2 hours ago, Strangelovesurfing said:

On 5/29/2020 at 10:04 AM, ralfy said:

That's the same U.S. that still does not recognize Taiwan as an independent country and for decades took advantage of another ally, the Philippines, through onerous structural adjustment policies, leading to the latter becoming one of the weakest economies in the region.

You’ve been to the PI?

Pretty foolish statement, isn't it?  The U.S. had a couple of military bases in the PI, one Air Force and one Navy.  Those bases contributed $Billions to the local economy in the forms of leases, taxes, a huge number of suppliers, forces utilizing the local businesses, etc.  One thing the Base Commanders are not assigned to do is to attempt to control the host government.  Local politics in the PI led to the cancellation of leases for the bases and they were closed, driving the PI into further financial dire straits.  

Ask anyone in the PI if they were once a "puppet" to the United States and see how far you get with that.  They will vehemently tell you they were not.

[Strangelovesurfing + 737]

4 hours ago, Dan Warnick said:

Pretty foolish statement, isn't it?  The U.S. had a couple of military bases in the PI, one Air Force and one Navy.  Those bases contributed $Billions to the local economy in the forms of leases, taxes, a huge number of suppliers, forces utilizing the local businesses, etc.  One thing the Base Commanders are not assigned to do is to attempt to control the host government.  Local politics in the PI led to the cancellation of leases for the bases and they were closed, driving the PI into further financial dire straits.  

Ask anyone in the PI if they were once a "puppet" to the United States and see how far you get with that.  They will vehemently tell you they were not.

Yeah they will, that original statement is unbelievably ignorant. i’ve spent a bit of time in the PI, diving is fantastic. Another post where the people being ‘defended’ don’t share the outrage. The place is like 90% pro-alliance with the US. 

For anybody who doesn’t know much about it, the reason the Philippines is poor is because:

1. Govt. policy dictated by the 5-6 ruling families.

2. They spend a tremendous amount of time screwing each other over, it’s endless. Slowly getting better thankfully, but the operative word is slowly.

Edited May 30, 2020 by Strangelovesurfing

[Dan Warnick + 6,100]

2 hours ago, Strangelovesurfing said:

Yeah they will, that original statement is unbelievably ignorant. i’ve spent a bit of time in the PI, diving is fantastic. Another post where the people being ‘defended’ don’t share the outrage. The place is like 90% pro-alliance with the US. 

For anybody who doesn’t know much about it, the reason the Philippines is poor is because:

1. Govt. policy dictated by the 5-6 ruling families.

2. They spend a tremendous amount of time screwing each other over, it’s endless. Slowly getting better thankfully, but the operative word is slowly.

At first I thought you said "DRiving is fantastic".  LOL!  You only have to go once to see that driving is madness, or the roads are parking lots.

But I have friends who make a trip at least once a year just for the diving.  Well, and, er, other types of entertainment, too.  But that's secondary. 

[Dan Warnick + 6,100]

Well, the votes are in, and not in, since the entire pro-democracy side of the house refused to vote and yelled in protest instead.

Hong Kong legislature passes controversial China national anthem Bill

HONG KONG: Hong Kong's Legislative Council passed a controversial Bill on Thursday (Jun 4) that would make disrespecting China's national anthem a criminal offence.

Lawmakers approved the Bill with 41 in favour and one against, but the chamber's pro-democracy faction refused to cast their votes and instead shouted slogans denouncing the law.

The Bill will govern the use and playing of the Chinese national anthem.

This includes provisions that threaten to punish those who insult the anthem with up to three years jail and with fines of up to HK$50,000 (US$6,450). 

PROTESTS BREAK OUT IN CHAMBER

Emergency services were called to the Legislative Council on Thursday after two pro-democracy lawmakers threw foul-smelling liquid in protest against the Tiananmen Square incident 31 years ago.

Lawmakers Eddie Chu and Ray Chan rushed to the front of the chamber during a debate over the national anthem Bill, splashing the reeking fluid as guards grappled with them. 

Both men were removed from the chamber shortly after.

(complete article at the link)

 

Edited June 4, 2020 by Dan Warnick

[Dan Warnick + 6,100]

Boris is helping you Brits with dwindling immigration numbers!  You must be happy about that?  In reality, Hong Kong's people are highly educated, by and large, and would most likely be a productive and welcome immigration group, wouldn't you say?  And they'd bring their money, which I'm sure Boris is not even thinking about!   

UK's Johnson offers visas for millions in Hong Kong

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday he would offer millions of Hong Kongers visas and a possible route to UK citizenship if China persists with its national security law.

"Many people in Hong Kong fear their way of life -- which China pledged to uphold -- is under threat," he wrote in an article for The Times newspaper and the South China Morning Post.

"If China proceeds to justify their fears, then Britain could not in good conscience shrug our shoulders and walk away; instead we will honour our obligations and provide an alternative."

About 350,000 people in Hong Kong currently hold British National (Overseas) passports, which allow visa-free access to Britain for up to six months, Johnson wrote.

Another 2.5 million people would be eligible to apply for one.

(complete article at the link)

[specinho + 475]

On 5/23/2020 at 12:18 PM, Dan Warnick said:

Hong Kong was leased to the UK for 99 years, at which point it was to be handed back to China. 

Macau was returned more than 20 years ago. No tax, no interference, no difference. Why is the neighbour Hong Kong making such a fuzzz though? HK and Singapore might be just snob... thinking visitors still need to use umbrellas to shield themselves up while using latrines. The least people realize, China might have some of the most creative toilet designs in the world and organizing world conference for toilets ( or something like that) now and then...

On 5/27/2020 at 9:34 AM, Douglas Buckland said:

If China does move ‘ham handed’ into HK, which is likely, the financial institutions will move out. The economy of HK will be decimated and will be of no further value to the CCP. HK will become a backwater.

HK, Singapore are similar i.e. they are founded by a handful of pioneers.... Easy to be controlled, easy to be done otherwise. Malaysia too....

 

[Tomasz + 1,608]