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Primrose Riordan Profile
Primrose Riordan

@primroseriordan

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Journalist @FinancialReview covering wealthy families and their businesses. Fmr China correspondent and foreign affairs reporter primrose.riordan @afr .com

Sydney, New South Wales
Joined February 2012
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 months
Belatedly realising Signal now has usernames: Primrose.55 All msgs are considered completely off the record, confidential *and* you can msg without revealing your name. Here is my signal link as well
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
4 years
"Even HSBC won’t want anything to do with me." Exclusive: Senior Carrie Lam advisor says HK officials are finding it harder to bank with global financial institutions after he has his account closed by a US bank jv w @nicolle_liu
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Zhong Nanshan is seen as a pandemic hero in China & had a prominent role in Beijing’s covid response. But he’s also been accused of repeatedly pushing yet to be proven treatments w/out revealing his personal & business ties to them. 🚨Our new deep dive:
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
1 year
🚨After chasing down North Korean “businessmen” & encounters with HK’s pro-Beijingers, I’m finishing up as the FT’s South China correspondent⌛️ My time here has been during one of Hong Kong’s toughest periods and was a privilege as well as heartbreaking to cover it…
@sumlokkei
Lok
5 years
#LIVE : A foreign journalist refused to shake hands with pro-govt lawmaker Junius Ho. She asked him why he shook hands with men in white clothes last night, when civilians were beaten to bloody pulps. #antiELAB #freedomhk
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
The chief executive of SBI Holdings, the financial conglomerate that owns Japan’s biggest online brokerage, said he plans to pull his company’s 100 person operation out of Hong Kong because “without freedom, there is no financial business”. @Urbandirt
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
This week is my last at the Oz & in Canberra before heading off for a new gig. Been v lucky to work w a truckload of talented journos here. Thanks to all who’ve let me write their stories, loaned me their expertise, or given me a leg up...& sorry to those who I’ve disappointed!
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
SUPER clear tonight 🔍
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
Strong statement from @MarisePayne on India Pakistan tensions, appears to be backing in Indian arguments
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
The attempt to erase collective memory continues in Hong Kong today:
@berthawangg
Bertha Wang
3 years
After the removal of the Pillar of Shame at #HKU , the June4 slogan has been covered up by fences now. Workers are covering up the words “冷血” (cold blood) now. #HongKong #June4
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
New: top bank chief economist says he was forced out for being a Hong Konger, while executives tell the FT they’re considering or implementing an unofficial hiring freeze on young locals over the protests. #HongKongProtests #HongKong 🇭🇰
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Super clear tonight, even a few stars out of frame…
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
Exclusive: Mandarin Oriental chief pushes for his top execs to temporarily relocate from Hong Kong and says the city has become a “very, very poor” base for business due to border controls w/ @ThomasHHChan
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
Thanks all but the truth is I’m being completely schooled here by the HK press corps! Pity the pollie facing their qs...
@sumlokkei
Lok
5 years
#LIVE : A foreign journalist refused to shake hands with pro-govt lawmaker Junius Ho. She asked him why he shook hands with men in white clothes last night, when civilians were beaten to bloody pulps. #antiELAB #freedomhk
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
4 years
I'm going to be following in the oversized footsteps of @suelinwong & @benjaminbland to work as the FT's South China Correspondent. Any ideas on what you think we need to write more about or any tips🙏: primrose.riordan @ft .com, primrose.riordan @protonmail .com or dm for signal/WA
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
It’s hard to describe the despair in the room each time they bring the Hong Kong 47 into the dock, as family try to spot their loved ones faces & hold back tears. Facing life in jail, Claudia Mo, a fmr AFP journalist & prominent lawmaker, is among them
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Exclusive: China demands foreign diplomats provide floor plans of Hong Kong missions as it tightens control in the wake of local political turmoil
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
6 years
“North and South Korea are in talks to announce a permanent end to the officially declared military conflict between the two countries, daily newspaper Munhwa Ilbo reported Tuesday, citing an unnamed South Korean official”
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
“So anyway, then we murdered all the hamsters…” #zerocovidHK
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
Apple Daily, Jimmy Lai's paper which is being raided, has pubbed pics of police going though reporter's materials in the newsroom, as well of their editor-in-chief's arrest & they are livestreaming from outside: #HongKong
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
Muslim countries are silent about the persecution of Uyghurs "because China is a very powerful nation": Mahathir
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Breaking: Davis Polk's Martin Rogers has withdrawn from the HK government's national security law event:
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
US law firm criticised for joining event to mark Hong Kong security law
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
Former Liberal minister and lobbyist, Santo Santoro, has just updated his listing on the foreign influence register to include a heap of Chinese companies...
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
“This arrest will be very troubling to people of faith” All eyes are now on the Vatican as to how they respond to the arrest of Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen, a campaigner for democracy and fierce opponent of the diplomatic deal Rome struck with Beijing
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
The all-important cat vote 😂 #HongKong
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
1/ Chinese regulators desperately tried to convince international investors they have misread the party congress where Xi Jinping grabbed even more power at Hong Kong's reopening banker conference today where they appeared via video - not in person.
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
Penny Wong has asked whether US Amb Joe Hockey has used the official Ambassador’s residence address in Washington DC as the registered address for two businesses, Xia Family Pty Ltd and Rahbah Pty Ltd
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
“Anyone who makes policy should experience it for themselves. How can they know what it is like?" 🚨New: Hong Kong officials on international trips to sell the city to the financial world escape quarantine that has battered the territory’s reputation
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
“Harris has been chased out of Hong Kong…this rule by fear is having a tremendous effect on us” Hong Kong lawyers wonder if they are safe after Paul Harris SC, a target of attacks by pro-Beijing media, abruptly leaves the city w/ @ThomasHHChan
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
Senator Penny Wong is pursuing the issue of US Ambassador Joe Hockey and his connection to travel company Helloworld in #estimates . DFAT Sec Frances Adamson said she spoke to the Ambo after the last estimates to "made clear my expectations of heads of mission".
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
After HK's security law was introduced, many of those w faith in the city's legal system said the courts would be able to mediate its impact 1/
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
4 years
Australia will suffer its first recession in 29 years due to the impact of the coronavirus, according to revised economic forecasts by Westpac. via @JamieSmythF
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
Hong Kong today: - broadcaster Steve Vines says he's left for the UK in part due to safety fears - same goes for Kacey Wong, a contemporary & political artist, but ✈️for Taipei -Initium Media to move its headquarters out of Hong Kong to Singapore
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 months
Incredible image of the exactly zero women included in Xi's meeting with US business...
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
1 year
NEW: A FT/RUSI investigation reveals the Chinese criminal connections behind how North Korea🇰🇵 gets hold of oil🛢️. This colourful tale involves gangsters, spies, ghost ships, casino barons, and racing car drivers operating out of Hong Kong🇭🇰 and Macau🇲🇴:
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Every photographer and his dog up at the pretty place tonight ✨☁️
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
When the soup clears post-typhoon 🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞🌞
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
“I’m really furious about this” Exclusive: London School of Economics plan for new China programme funded by pro-Beijing businessman Eric X. Li sparks outrage from academics
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
New: Jimmy Lai's international legal team are appealing to four UN rapporteurs to raise his mounting court cases w the HK gov, saying he is facing "legal harassment"
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
Research from the UK & Denmark indicates Omicron's tricky cousin BA.2 could be between 30 and 34 per cent more infectious than BA.1. While it might be “slightly more immune evasive,” experts say there's no sign yet its causing more severe illness:
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
7 years
Penny Wong attacks Julie Bishop over NZ election:"It is now incumbent on the FM to undo the damage caused by her irresponsible remarks"
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
At least three of the 47 Hong Kong democracy activists arrested in raids earlier this year will be defended by a pro-Beijing lawmaker’s law firm, as those arrested under the NSL grow increasingly gloomy about their prospects: #HongKong
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
“Ultimately Lee has been rewarded for helping to crush the pro-democracy movement…His promotion is a signal that Beijing views this process as far from over” John Lee is @ft person in the news this week: #HongKong
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Running hour for the moon tanned 🌙☁️
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
Exclusive: Coalition failed to allocate any funding to a proposed new fleet of drones worth hundreds of millions in the budget. Min Peter Dutton announced the move with great fanfare last year and said they were “critical to maintainin­g secure borders”
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
Gov has made cuts to Asia & South Asia aid programs - esp Pakistan - and cuts to cash payments to international orgs to make up for $500m toward the new pacific infrastructure bank. Aid group @WorldVisionAus : “This is not a Pacific step-up; it is a Pacific shuffle”
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Last week China jailed one of the biggest figures in global gambling💰, whose biz had revenues which eclipsed 🇺🇸US casinos, and an online betting biz *twice* the size of China’s national lottery. But his name is hardly known in the west: /1
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
4 years
FT commenters😍😆
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Primrose Riordan
3 years
Exclusive: Deep in the Sumatran forest lives the last 800 of the world rarest great ape. But now a Jardine Matheson subsidiary is accused of expanding a mine into their habitat even while negotiating a halt to carry out a study of the mine’s impact.
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
4 years
HK pro-democracy fmr lawmaker Ted Hui says HSBC CEO Noel Quinn has now personally emailed him to say the bank had no choice but to close his accounts My column here on how police action over activists could weigh on the bank
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 years
While we’re on the topic of debates, re foreign affairs understand Labor’s @SenatorWong has agreed to a debate but FM @MarisePayne is yet to confirm. #ausvotes #auspol
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
8 years
Asylum seeker protests interrupt major speech by PM Turnbull #auspol
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
1 year
Excited to go home to take on a new challenge as a senior reporter covering private companies & family wealth: (That or starting a new CSI: Sydney🔍🕵🏻‍♀️😆)
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
HK’s leader, Carrie Lam, is making a rare appearance on RTHK’s English program. She asked “What rights and freedoms have we lost and what vibrancy have we lost?” Then backs up this claim by saying the stock market, property & “even arts and culture” are all “booming”.
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Latest in Hong Kong national security culture: these free “run, hide, report” bags were given out to runners in today’s @StanChart Hong Kong marathon
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Virgin Atlantic will suspend its London – Hong Kong services and close their Hong Kong office, despite HK dropping quarantine. VA cite issues with Russian airspace but the move comes after the HK gov's pandemic policies caused havoc for airlines:
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
Not going to jinx things but I might be seeing my family before the end of the yr 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
4 years
Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Ivan Lam were sentenced today to prison over 2019’s HK protests. @FinancialTimes Below, supporters send them off on their way to prison:
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Despite the lifting of the flight ban it’s still hard to get in and out of Hong Kong as the gov hasn’t yet lifted a rule which bans airlines if they have too many covid-positive travellers. Cathay says it’s only putting on one flight a fortnight per route:
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
While the world has moved on from 🇭🇰Hong Kong, the national security crackdown rumbles on. Today the 47 pro-democracy activists arrested in dawn raids in early 2021, many of whom have been in pretrial detention for ~2yrs, finally go to trial /1
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
4 years
NEW🚨: Hong Kong’s regulator has privately assured banks they can implement US sanctions without breaking Beijing's tough national security law as the local government rushes to stop international business leaving
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
Usually the media seats at court cases in HK are so packed you have to be up at the crack of dawn to get a good seat Today, after a series of news outlet closures in the city, it was easy to get a spot and the benches weren’t full. An eerie feeling…
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
excess (expats) to requirements… #HongKong
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
6 years
BREAKING: the Palestinian delegation to Australia says 15 Middle Eastern embassies are likely to hold an emergency meeting today to discuss PM Morrison’s comments on Jerusalem. Story soon @australian
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
sooo many worse things happening rn in hk (i.e. in aged care homes) but interesting how the unscientific outdoor mask rules + constant loudspeaker announcements at parks actively encourages ppl to eat indoors…
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
“I’m quite worried Singapore will replace Hong Kong not just as a financial centre but also as an aviation centre” International airline execs, frustrated by constantly changing crew rules, fear Hong Kong airport risks falling off the radar
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Wrote previously on the dilemma facing commercial law firms in Hong Kong post-crackdown:
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
❗️A HK lawyer who represented prominent activists has reportedly left HK after being chased around the city’s airport by pro-Beijing media, likely tipped off in advance. V similar situation to Paul Harris, fmr chair of the bar, earlier this year:
@ThomasHHChan
Chan Ho-him
2 years
#NEW Pro-BJ media outlets Wen Wei Po & Dot Dot News released videos of human rights lawyer Michael Vidler leaving #HK , days after news broke that Vidler & Co would be closing down in June “Are you afraid of being arrest by police officer?” a reporter was heard questioning Vidler
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Primrose Riordan
2 years
That bizarre institutionalised sense of achievement which is making it back into HK, out of a “community isolation facility” & onto the street 🙈☀️
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
“Hong Kong is back, write that in your report" Hong Kong sevens brings back atmosphere to a covid rule-weary city, but there is a herd of elephants in the room
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
HK’s new normal of an empowered police punctures the expat/finance crowd bubble…
@tripperhead
Aaron Busch
2 years
FEHD and Hong Kong Police "raid" on Carbone restaurant tonight in LKF. Reports all staff were fined $5k for not checking RATs (though not required at the restaurant), and customers were made to sit in silence for an hour. Asia's World City on the path to normalcy.
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
🪄✨
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
French nuclear operator EDF has said it would shut the Taishan reactor in Southern China if it were in France "to accurately assess the situation in progress and stop its development"
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
HK sometimes 😯😍
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
8 years
Labor has called on Attorney-General George Brandis to resign via @latingle
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
8 years
Ricky Muir concedes, says hopes his legacy was to motivate people to have a go #auspol
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
8 years
Cory Bernardi crashes Bill Shorten presser "at least I'm not a homophobe, mate", Shorten quips #auspol
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
The HK alliance was established in the wake of the 1989 democratic protests in China & they organised the June 4 vigils in HK. Police recently demanded info on members & their activities, against a backdrop of civil society folding after the nat security law. Their response:
@ChloecLoNews
Chloe Lo
3 years
Now #HongKong : "we will not hand in any information to the #NationalSecurity unit." "it's absurd and abuse of power." @hka8964 's @zouxingtong said in press conferences. "The alliance strongly denied we are 'foreign agent'," "we will not transmit the fear through the alliance!"
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 months
It’s no coincidence these pile ons are nearly always directed at women…
@QuentinDempster
Quentin Dempster
3 months
Laura Tingle statement
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Primrose Riordan
11 months
National Australia Bank will shut down its office in Hong Kong 🇭🇰 after deciding that Shanghai, Singapore + Tokyo are the preferred APAC centres. 👉follows hot on the heels of Westpac, which shuttered its branch there in June
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Huge: Two top UK judges have resigned as non-permanent judges from Hong Kong's top court
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Primrose Riordan
2 years
Not only is Hong Kong seeing record deaths despite following a zero covid policy, but business are up in arms about an exodus of local talent they say is stifling the economy and could lead it back into contraction👇 @ThomasHHChan @imandylin2
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
6 years
New: Adelaide student, who estimates about 18 of her family members are detained in China, says her Australian grandpa was detained earlier this year in Guangzhou for a night while trying to visit his locked up children
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
Two reporters quit the South China Morning Post last year after a senior editor axed their three-month investigation into human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region, according to a editor who resigned shortly after
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
3 years
China's crackdown in Hong Kong has already targeted opposition politicians, teachers, students, academics and journalists. We looked at whether Beijing now has its sights on the city's pro-China elite👇 @nicolle_liu
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
4 years
Also in this piece: the HK gov has repeatedly told global biz the NSL won't touch them, but when asked for rock solid guidance on how to avoid breaking the law, the gov told them not to take their answers as legal advice 🤷‍♀️
@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
4 years
NEW🚨: Hong Kong’s regulator has privately assured banks they can implement US sanctions without breaking Beijing's tough national security law as the local government rushes to stop international business leaving
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Primrose Riordan
3 years
Civil Human Rights Front, an umbrella group behind some of the largest mass protests in Hong Kong’s history, announced on Sunday that it had disbanded amid a looming police crackdown: via ⁦ @jeffielam
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Primrose Riordan
2 years
“Old Lady Boss”: Exiled Hong Kong democrats remember legacy of Queen Elizabeth II via @financialtimes
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Primrose Riordan
4 years
Retail in Hong Kong, 2020 (this replaced a Swatch store)
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Primrose Riordan
6 years
I repeat politicians can't decide which qs get asked at press conferences...
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Primrose Riordan
5 years
Breaking: Hong Kong chief Carrie Lam offered to step down over protests but Beijing refused to accept her resignation 🇭🇰🇨🇳 Scoop via Henny Sender @suelinwong @nicolle_liu
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
6 years
Labor's Penny Wong says she's asked for more info from FM Marise Payne on the Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun case, says the woman is in a distressing situation. Earlier Immigration Min Coleman declined to comment on the case #auspol
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
2 years
🐈🇭🇰 cc @sheungwancats
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Primrose Riordan
3 years
Weather hasn’t quite got on board w the homecoming celebration but I’ll take it ☁️☁️☺️☺️
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Primrose Riordan
2 years
The thick of it HK series finale right here:
@krislc
Kris Cheng
2 years
The Jumbo Floating Restaurant, which left Hong Kong a few days ago, has sunk near Paracel Islands, according to a statement. No one was injured. The area is over 1,000 metres deep and it would be very difficult to salvage it, the statement said.
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Primrose Riordan
2 years
As of this weekend, Hong Kong has now surpassed mainland China in terms of total confirmed cases in the pandemic via @imandylin2
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Primrose Riordan
3 years
The same day as Amnesty announces its exiting Hong Kong, a 31 year old delivery driver is convicted under the security law and faces 7 yrs in prison for chanting slogans... w @ThomasHHChan
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@primroseriordan
Primrose Riordan
5 months
Australian media were also barred from the Wang Yi - Paul Keating meeting in Sydney while a Chinese state media crew were spotted inside Australian media forced to rely on a Chinese state account of the meeting
@Ben_G_Scott
Ben Scott
5 months
“The Australia China Business Council, for example, banned Australian journalists from their lunch meeting with Wang Yi, while Chinese media were allowed in. It was an incredible double standard for an event held in Canberra, not Beijing.”
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