Hong Kong’s political elite began selecting a powerful committee on Sunday which will choose the city’s next leader and nearly half the legislature under a new “patriots only” system imposed by Beijing.
Yan Zhao
I'm a multimedia journalist based in Hong Kong currently working with Agence France-Presse. For the past seven years, I've been covering politics and social issues in Hong Kong and the greater China region. My stories have been published on various media platforms, including television, print, and online media.
I developed an interest in photography and moving-images through my journey as a journalist and produce multi-media content for AFP with works featured on BBC, AJ+, The Guardian, CNN, and others.
Councilors Swear New Hong Kong Loyalty Oath after Hundreds Quit
Dozens of local community politicians in Hong Kong swore a newly required loyalty oath to China on Friday after hundreds of their colleagues quit in protest as authorities try to purge the city of “unpatriotic” elements.
Hong Kong Group Behind Huge Democracy Rallies Disbands
The Hong Kong protest coalition that organized record-breaking democracy rallies two years ago said Sunday it was disbanding in the face of China’s sweeping clampdown on dissent in the city.
China’s Anti-Sanctions Law a New Headache for Banks in Hong Kong
China’s plan to expand its anti-sanctions law into Hong Kong is a fresh compliance headache for international banks already caught up in deteriorating relations between Beijing and major western powers, analysts and insiders say.
Airport Echoes with Sobs and Farewells in Hong Kong Exodus
Twice a day Hong Kong’s virtually deserted airport fills with the sound of tearful goodbyes as residents fearful for their future under China’s increasingly authoritarian rule start a new life overseas, mostly in Britain.
Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Media Executives Denied Bail under Security Law
Two executives from Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Apple Daily appeared in court on Saturday on charges of collusion and were denied bail after authorities deployed a sweeping security law to target the newspaper, a scathing critic of Beijing.
Apple Daily: The Hong Kong Tabloid that Dared to Challenge China
Over the past 26 years Hong Kong’s Apple Daily newspaper has evolved into the city’s most popular tabloid by punching up against a particularly powerful entity that brooks little criticism: China’s communist leadership.
Phone Lights Signal Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Memories Still Shine
As the clock struck 8pm in Hong Kong’s shopping district of Mong Kok, dozens of people simultaneously turned their mobile phone lights on, a small gesture of defiance in a city where mass remembrance of Beijing’s Tiananmen crackdown has been banned.
Hong Kongers Get Creative as Authorities Ban Tiananmen Vigil
Hong Kongers are seeking innovative ways to commemorate the victims of China’s deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown after authorities banned an annual vigil and vowed to stamp out any protests come Friday’s anniversary.
‘Not the City I Used to Know’: Why Some Hong Kongers are Leaving
A new visa scheme is offering millions of Hong Kongers a pathway to British citizenship as the city’s former colonial master opens its doors to those wanting to escape China’s crackdown.
Hiking Surge Leaves Wild Cows Starving on Hong Kong Island
While many hope the Year of the Ox will herald times of plenty, a herd of wild cows in Hong Kong is going hungry after visitors to their habitat surged during the coronavirus pandemic.
Britain Opens Visa Scheme for Millions of Hong Kongers
A new visa scheme offering millions of Hong Kongers a pathway to British citizenship went live on Sunday as the city’s former colonial master opens its doors to those wanting to escape China’s crackdown on dissent.
Surviving Hong Kong’s 21 Days Quarantine
South Korean entrepreneur Lee Jung-soo was prepared for a two-week quarantine in a tiny Hong Kong hotel as a price to pay to start her new life, but its sudden extension by seven days filled her with anxiety.
Prison Pen Pals: Hong Kongers Keep in Touch With Jailed Protesters
When Hong Kong protester Hei saw fellow activists put behind bars for taking part in last year’s democracy protests, she was determined to keep the flame burning by writing them letters.
All Hong Kong Pro-Democracy Lawmakers to Resign as China Crushes Opposition
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy lawmakers said Wednesday they would all quit in protest at the ousting of four of their colleagues by the city’s pro-Beijing authorities.
No Regrets: Wounded Hong Kong Police Vow to Keep Enforcing Law
Nine months ago he was burned by corrosive liquid hurled during anti-government protests, but Hong Kong police officer Ling says he has no regrets and remains devoted to being a law enforcer.
‘Hidden Language’: Hong Kongers Get Creative against Security Law
Hong Kongers are finding creative ways to voice dissent after Beijing blanketed the city in a new security law and police began arresting people displaying now forbidden political slogans.
Hong Kongers Scrub Social Media History in Fear of Security Law
Hong Kongers are scrubbing their social media accounts, deleting chat histories and mugging up on cyber privacy as China’s newly imposed security law blankets the traditionally outspoken city in fear and self-censorship.
Hong Kong Makes First Security Law Arrests as Thousands Defy Protest Ban
Hong Kong police arrested about 370 people Wednesday — including 10 under China’s new national security law — as thousands defied a ban on protests on the anniversary of the city’s handover to China.
Shuttered Zoom Accounts Raise China Free Speech Fears
Several Zoom meetings involving Chinese users were “disrupted,” the video messaging app acknowledged Thursday, after activists in the United States and Hong Kong revealed discussions on the platform of Beijing’s deadly Tiananmen crackdown had been closed down.