💨 Abstract

Since 2020, Hong Kong's once-vibrant pro-democracy movement has been crushed by Beijing's national security law, leading to mass arrests and the suppression of dissent. Now, the crackdown is extending to small businesses, including restaurants and bookstores, through increased inspections and regulatory checks. Owners, many with past ties to the pro-democracy movement, report frequent, often unrelated, inspections and anonymous complaints, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty.

Courtesy: WTOP Staff