Cryptic, allusive messages from Hong Kong’s wealthiest tycoon
People have been wondering when Hong Kong’s magnates would speak out on the prolonged protests in their city. Finally one has. That’s Li Ka-shing, the richest of them all: “HK Billionaire Li Ka-Shing Breaks Silence Over Protests” (8/15/19 newscast on YouTube). He took out full page advertisements (both seem to be on the front page) in two of Hong Kong’s most influential financial newspapers: Hong Kong Economic Times and Hong Kong Economic Journal. Here’s the first:
It looks straightforward, simple, and heartfelt, with that big crossed-out “bàolì 暴力” (“[NO] violence”) in the center of a big, red circle. Here’s the rest of the entire text, which looks innocent and innocuous enough, especially with the striking repetition of “ài 愛” (“love”):
