CHINA vs the NBA.

[hgb]

Can someone explain to me or link me to an explanation of Hong Kong and China.

UK had a lease on Hong Kong for 99 years from 1898, then as part of that deal returned it to China in 1997. There was, however, a deal that says that Hong Kong would remain capitalist, and without significant interference from the Chinese legal system (probably with some exceptions, and also lots of other agreements) for 50 years. The people of Hong Kong are now seeing this agreement threatened, and they protest. China considers all foreign interference with any domestic issue as a pretty serious insult, so they go mad if other countries act up.
(I'm from Norway, the Nobel peace prize was awarded to a Chinese dissident some years back, they were pissed as hell for years and years.)

 

[candrew]

This is the consequence of a worldview in which growth is the most important thing, at the expense of everything else.

To us maybe. Tencent Holdings, which is at least partially, if not fully, owned and operated by the Chinese Government is going to lose money in this as well.

So they put enforcing authoritarianism over profit while we put profit over paying merely lip service to freedom.

Unsettling if you think about it.

 

[Gameface]

Can someone explain to me or link me to an explanation of Hong Kong and China.

So you see, there's this stuff called opium...

 

[yamers]

NIKE china store removed all rockets related items.

 

[checkbookdoc]

I am disappointed that Locke deleted his twitter comments. He must have deleted them because of 1) pressure from the Jazz, and 2) concern about being blacklisted from other podcasts/media. In other words, he was worried about money. I don't blame Locke, he has a family to take care of and a job he loves. It does sour me on his past (and any future) political/social takes, although he does seem to try and avoid them for the most part.

I wish the Jazz would just come out and say, we support human rights everywhere and for that reason stand with the HK protestors. It might piss off DM (I think he is the only player with much to lose due to the shoe contract), but it would endear them to lots of other people. Also, if the Jazz are serious about fighting the reputation of being racist, why not be the first (and maybe only) team to take the obvious stance that 80% of NBA fans agree with?

 

[Jazzmix]

Chinese people are lucky, they won't have to watch Harden.

 

[infection]

I am disappointed that Locke deleted his twitter comments. He must have deleted them because of 1) pressure from the Jazz, and 2) concern about being blacklisted from other podcasts/media. In other words, he was worried about money. I don't blame Locke, he has a family to take care of and a job he loves. It does sour me on his past (and any future) political/social takes, although he does seem to try and avoid them for the most part.

I wish the Jazz would just come out and say, we support human rights everywhere and for that reason stand with the HK protestors. It might piss off DM (I think he is the only player with much to lose due to the shoe contract), but it would endear them to lots of other people. Also, if the Jazz are serious about fighting the reputation of being racist, why not be the first (and maybe only) team to take the obvious stance that 80% of NBA fans agree with?

I don't fault anyone for trying to avoid controversy and stay out of issues and simply take care of their family, but those who have been very vocal politically over the past number of years, acting like they're making such a huge sacrifice to speak up, now have the opportunity to, literally, put their money where their mouth is, and so far they're silent. What will be ballsy is when they return back to 'courageously' tweeting about American politics, as if they really have something to lose by doing so, and doing that in light of the elephant in the room.

 

[aussietin]

Can someone explain to me or link me to an explanation of Hong Kong and China.

Basically, Hong Kong was British colony returned to China in 1997. During the time as a colony, Hong Kong operated under British law. When it came time to be returned to China, HKers obviously didn't want to just become part of China. So a deal was made operate under a 'one country, two systems' method going forward. Hong Kong has a mini constitution that details the powers the rights people enjoy under Hong Kong, and the degree of interference China can have with Hong Kong. So our current system has separation of powers (administrative, judicial, and legislative branches), unlike China. Chinese national laws do not apply to us because we have our own legal system. We also have our own government (which answers to China), and no censorship on the internet etc.

Within the mini constitution, there is a provision that says things would remain relatively unchanged for 50 years (until 2047). However, a lot of Hong Kong people believe that China is starting to exert more and more power on Hong Kong, in breach of the promise made prior to the handover.

The current fiasco comes from a now-withdrawn extradition bill that would have meant China can extradite people from, despite no extradition treaty being made with them. People were afraid of China claiming people committed crimes then extraditing them to the lawless and corrupt China, so over 1 million people took the streets multiple times to protest (total population of HK around 7+ million). The dumbass leader of Hong Kong (called the Chief Executive) refused to withdraw the bill for a long *** time, and made people really pissed off, and this ended up bringing up a lot more deep rooted anger people had against the government, leading to today.

Source: me, from Hong Kong

 

[checkbookdoc]

Basically, Hong Kong was British colony returned to China in 1997. During the time as a colony, Hong Kong operated under British law. When it came time to be returned to China, HKers obviously didn't want to just become part of China. So a deal was made operate under a 'one country, two systems' method going forward. Hong Kong has a mini constitution that details the powers the rights people enjoy under Hong Kong, and the degree of interference China can have with Hong Kong. So our current system has separation of powers (administrative, judicial, and legislative branches), unlike China. Chinese national laws do not apply to us because we have our own legal system. We also have our own government (which answers to China), and no censorship on the internet etc.

Within the mini constitution, there is a provision that says things would remain relatively unchanged for 50 years (until 2047). However, a lot of Hong Kong people believe that China is starting to exert more and more power on Hong Kong, in breach of the promise made prior to the handover.

The current fiasco comes from a now-withdrawn extradition bill that would have meant China can extradite people from, despite no extradition treaty being made with them. People were afraid of China claiming people committed crimes then extraditing them to the lawless and corrupt China, so over 1 million people took the streets multiple times to protest (total population of HK around 7+ million). The dumbass leader of Hong Kong (called the Chief Executive) refused to withdraw the bill for a long *** time, and made people really pissed off, and this ended up bringing up a lot more deep rooted anger people had against the government, leading to today.

Source: me, from Hong Kong

Doesn't HK vote for the Chief Executive but only those approved by China can run? If this is correct, was this always the rule or did it change at some point?

 

[checkbookdoc]

Wow, this article is brutal. It calls out hypocrisy at all levels of the NBA. Some targets: the term "Governors", offense at "shut up and dribble", moving the All-star game from North Carolina. The author is clearly angry.
https://www.outkickthecoverage.com/the-woke-nbas-response-to-china-is-pathetic/

 

[Archie Moses]

Is it me or is it weird the NBA is distancing themselves from being political? I mean, isn't what's going on in Hong Kong wrong?


Gotta make dat money doe.

 

[Archie Moses]

Wow, this article is brutal. It calls out hypocrisy at all levels of the NBA. Some targets: the term "Governors", offense at "shut up and dribble", moving the All-star game from North Carolina. The author is clearly angry.
https://www.outkickthecoverage.com/the-woke-nbas-response-to-china-is-pathetic/

They're hypocrites and money tone deaf.

 

[aussietin]

Doesn't HK vote for the Chief Executive but only those approved by China can run? If this is correct, was this always the rule or did it change at some point?

no, thats something that was proposed, but was voted down at the legislative council because its a bs attempt to look like democracy when its not at all.

right now, i think its called the election council (?) that consists of like 1200 people, with representatives from different industries vote for the chief executive.

 

[Archie Moses]

I am disappointed that Locke deleted his twitter comments. He must have deleted them because of 1) pressure from the Jazz, and 2) concern about being blacklisted from other podcasts/media. In other words, he was worried about money. I don't blame Locke, he has a family to take care of and a job he loves. It does sour me on his past (and any future) political/social takes, although he does seem to try and avoid them for the most part.

I wish the Jazz would just come out and say, we support human rights everywhere and for that reason stand with the HK protestors. It might piss off DM (I think he is the only player with much to lose due to the shoe contract), but it would endear them to lots of other people. Also, if the Jazz are serious about fighting the reputation of being racist, why not be the first (and maybe only) team to take the obvious stance that 80% of NBA fans agree with?

We should start a #utahjazzstandswithhongkong tag on Twitter and see if we can get it going.

 

[Jazzmix]

It's not only NBA. FIFA, Olympics comitee and the others maintain always that sport should not be mixed with politics, that it's above it, should get people together etc. It's very noble point of view which allows you to sell your product everywhere.

 

[checkbookdoc]

We should start a #utahjazzstandswithhongkong tag on Twitter and see if we can get it going.

I personally would rather sports and politics be separate, so maybe this will be a good step in that direction.

There has been a vibe over the last few years that a lot of players/executives/media members that were critical of Michael Jordan not being more politically active (republicans buy sneakers too). I wonder if they feel differently now.

 

[Keefe]

Not as much as China suck

That was my point.

 

[lauriandres]

Are there any public figures - who more important money wise to NBA - chinese fans or US based fans? Even if all the arenas are sold out (at the current list prices), wouldn't the huge chinese shopping power still overcome it? Technically, if China wants, they might even somewhat "occupy" NBA - assuming that Chinese market (and money) is much bigger compared to the income provided directly or indirectly by US citizens. I wonder, how many offers have the Jazz owners received from China?

 

[Jazzmix]

That whole situation is actually ridiculous at so many levels: GM of Rockets who tweets something like that knowing how big interests his team and the whole league has in China, China reacting to his tweet by cursing whole Rockets, Harden apologising on the account of his manager, NBA who tries to apologise and protect freedom of speech at the same time, comentators suddenly exposing hypocrisy of NBA like it's only now that China did something bad but there was nothing wrong with it hosting Olympics and other events before.

 

[NUMBERICA]

Yeah, this all is absolutely ****ing pathetic.