Malaysian PM says Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam should quit

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's prime minister said Friday Hong Kong's embattled leader should resign over the city's increasingly violent pro-democracy protests and warned China would take "harsh action" to end the demonstrations.

Hong Kong has been rocked by unprecedented protests for nearly four months, with millions taking to the streets angered by what they see as Beijing's authoritarian rule of the semi-autonomous city.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad -- who at 94 is the world's oldest leader -- said Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam "is in a dilemma".

"She has to obey the masters, at the same time she has to ask her conscience," he told a press conference.

"Her conscience says that the people of Hong Kong are right in rejecting the (extradition) law.

"But on the other hand, she knows the consequence of rejecting the law."

The protests were sparked by opposition to a now-scrapped law that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China but have morphed into a wider movement calling for democratic freedoms.

"For the administrator (Lam), I think (the) best thing is to resign," Mahathir added.

Referring to the bloody 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing, Mahathir said eventually China sent the military in and "took action, harsh action to put an end to the demonstration.

"I think in the end, that is what China will do (in Hong Kong)."

On Friday, thousands of masked protesters took to the streets of Hong Kong again as the government readied to use emergency powers to ban face coverings in a bid to end the demonstrations.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Cathay Pacific Airways CEO Rupert Hogg resigns amid mounting Chinese scrutiny

HONG KONG  — Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways said CEO Rupert Hogg had resigned and named Augustus Tang as the new chief, following a week of scrutiny by the Chinese aviation regulator that has hurt its reputation in the mainland.

Tang was the head of Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company, which like Cathay is managed by Swire Pacific Ltd.

The airline said Paul Loo had resigned as chief customer and commercial officer, to be replaced by Ronald Lam, head of its low-cost arm Hong Kong Express.

Cathay Chairman John Slosar said recent events had called into question Cathay's commitment to flight safety and security and put its reputation and brand under pressure.

"This is regrettable as we have always made safety and security our highest priority," he said in a statement. "We therefore think it is time to put a new management team in place who can reset confidence and lead the airline to new heights."

Hogg said these had been "challenging weeks" for the airline and it was right for Loo and him to take responsibility as leaders of the company.

Hogg's resignation was first announced by Chinese state television CCTV.

source: news.abs-cbn.com