Attempts by Hong Kong’s leadership to gloss over 100 days of protests in the city have been stalled by a refusal from public relations firms to act on the government's behalf.
The country’s leader Carrie Lam admitted on Tuesday that the firms responded that “the time is not right” as the violence and unrest in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory have shown no sign of ending, Ms Lam said at a news conference. She didn’t give details on the firms or when they were approached.
The city’s reputation has likely been tarnished not just by the protests but also by what many view as the government’s slow response to the crisis.
“It would perhaps be not the most cost-effective way to use government resources to launch any campaign to rebuild Hong Kong’s reputation, but sooner or later, we will have to do it because I have every confidence in Hong Kong’s fundamentals,” Ms Lam said.
“The time will come for us to launch a major campaign to restore some of the damage done to Hong Kong’s reputation.”
Covering over the ructions in the city will be a difficult task as fighting in the streets continued this week. Scuffles erupted between rival political groups at the weekend as supporters of China clashed with pro-democracy demonstrators.
Fights have begun breaking out with increased frequency after pro-democracy supporters began holding impromptu singalongs of a popular protest anthem, and in return, pro-Beijing supporters have held rival gatherings to sing China's national anthem. On Monday the city reached the landmark of 100 days of protests.
Despite Ms Lam's September 4 climbdown on the extradition bill which started the demonstrations, pro-democracy protesters are showing no signs of slowing down. Instead they made renewed demands, including an amnesty for all those arrested during the turmoil, an independent inquiry into police violence and universal voting rights.
Constant rolling news of clashes with police deterring visitors and Ms Lam’s refusal to meet the other demands from the demonstrators aren’t helping the economy. Already reeling from the US-China trade war, Hong Kong is facing its first recession in years, with tourist arrivals plunging and businesses being hit by the unrest.
Ms Lam’s admission came as US politicians considered a bill designed to scare Beijing straight by requiring annual assessments of whether Hong Kong was sufficiently autonomous from Beijing to continue its special trading status and allow sanctions on Chinese officials.
The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act is backed by some prominent American lawmakers, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying earlier this month that Congress would advance a bill supporting “democracy, human rights and the rule of law in the face of Beijing’s crackdown.” Revoking Hong Kong’s special trading status could devastate the city’s economy.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
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1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
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16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
