Washington State Senator Jeff Wilson was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport on Friday night for possession of an unregistered firearm. Wilson, a Republican from Longview, was traveling with his wife for a five-week vacation in Southeast Asia when he reported the unloaded gun to customs officials. His office has not commented on the incident beyond a statement released on Monday, and it is unclear if Wilson will face any further charges or penalties. The incident has raised questions about the security measures at the Portland, Oregon airport, and sparked debate among Washington state residents.
Posts tagged as “Hong Kong”
On July 5, 2023, Hong Kong-born singer and songwriter Coco Lee passed away due to suicide after a long battle with depression. Her elder sisters Carol and Nancy Lee announced the news on social media, expressing their devastation and asking for privacy during this difficult time. Lee had been seeking professional help and fighting her depression, but ultimately the "demon inside of her took the better of her".
Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, has announced that eight pro-democracy activists living abroad will be pursued for life for alleged national security offenses. Police have issued wanted notices and rewards of 1 million Hong Kong dollars for information leading to any arrest, and Lam has warned the public not to support the accused financially. Human rights groups have criticized the move, which is seen as a test of Hong Kong's autonomy and commitment to the rule of law.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to China in the coming weeks for high-level talks, despite tensions between the two countries over issues such as trade, human rights, and the coronavirus pandemic. The trip was originally planned for February, but was postponed after the U.S. military shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina. It remains to be seen if the two sides will be able to reach an agreement during Blinken's visit.
On Sunday, dozens of people gathered in Hong Kong for the city's first authorized protest since the lifting of major COVID-19 restrictions. The protest was organized by the Civil Human Rights Front, a pro-democracy group, and was held under unprecedentedly strict rules set by the police. The protesters marched peacefully through the streets of Hong Kong, chanting slogans and holding signs that read "No Reclamation" and "Protect Our Home". The protest is a reminder of the freedom of assembly that was promised to Hong Kong when it returned to China from Britain in 1997, but which has been increasingly eroded in recent years.
VII Pillars Entertainment announced the cancellation of the release of the British horror film "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" in Hong Kong and Macau due to "technical reasons". This has sparked discussions over increasing censorship in the city, as authorities have been banning films and books deemed to be politically sensitive. The film, which follows the story of a group of teenagers terrorized by a killer dressed as Winnie the Pooh, was set to be released in the United States in April.
Ke Huy Quan, the second Asian to win Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars, reflected on his family's journey to flee Vietnam in the 1970s. He, his father, and five siblings escaped in a boat and were granted political asylum after a year in a refugee camp. Quan's win is a testament to the resilience of his family and the power of the human spirit, and serves as a reminder of the struggles of refugees around the world.
The US is planning to relax Covid-19 testing restrictions for travelers from China on Friday, following a surge in cases and lack of transparency from Chinese officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously announced a requirement for travelers to prove they had tested negative for the virus before flying to the US from China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This decision is part of an effort to protect US citizens from the spread of the virus, though it is unclear if the US will continue to require negative tests in the future.