OT: Hong Kong, China, United States and NBA

[matchman]

A thorough interview with Chris Patten, the last HK governor before 1997.

Watch on YouTube

[DOLPHIN2020]

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3024789/thousands-gather-metoo-rally-demand-hong-kong-police-answer

[Clyde_Style]

The people of HK are showing such courage

RESPECT!

[aq_ua]

You're welcome. I haven't seen this written anywhere yet, but it is what I figured out on my own. IMO, it is the most likely outcome give or take a few wrinkles like perhaps they off-loaded the debt multiple times until the final debt purchase is made. But even those shell corps can be traced if the banks cooperate. It is all a form of money laundering.

In a nutshell, whom Trump is obligated and beholden to is likely to be proven prior to the 2020 election.

There would be quite a bit of irony if Trump were beholden to Russian creditors after having filed bankruptcy four times.

I'd be inclined to say it would be Un-Ironic for some basic reasons.

BTW, he has 6 corporate bankruptcies, not 4. Here's a concise summary:

https://www.thoughtco.com/donald-trump-business-bankruptcies-4152019

And one of the simplest ways to understand why he is a chronic loser in business would be to read this piece (it's quite short, just pay particular attention to this paragraph:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/donald-trumps-business-failures-were-very-real

Spoiler:

The tax code is certainly friendly to real-estate developers like Trump. The I.R.S. allows developers and landlords to deduct from their profits and income every year a certain portion of the value of their buildings for “depreciation.” But there are limits to this practice. Owners of residential real estate have to depreciate a building over the course of twenty-seven and a half years, which means that each year they can deduct about 3.6 per cent of its value. For owners of commercial real estate, the depreciation period is thirty-nine years, which means that they can deduct about 2.5 per cent of a building’s worth annually. Say that a property is worth two hundred million dollars. If it’s a residential building, its owner can reduce his or her taxable income by about $7.2 million dollars a year. If it’s a commercial building, the deduction is worth about five million dollars.

The article clearly explains why the myth that Trump could use real estate tax loss carryovers and still be considered to be running a liquid enterprise is false. He has failed to maintain mortgage payments as a rule, not an exception. It is because he has had cash flow negative businesses time and again. This pattern was cemented in the early 90s when he vainly tried to build up a second casino in Atlantic City without making the first one successful. He had no cost controls. He just figured out how to make others eat his losses without having to declare personal bankruptcy. And the end result is many of his equity possessions were repossessed.

So this is where it becomes Un-ironic instead of ironic if Russia starting being his de facto credit line. When these failures started to burn the banks that backed him, Trump was blacklisted by American banks and eventually most banks worldwide. He played the too large to fail ruse on domestic banks one time too many and if he was going to stay afloat he had to find money from somewhere.

So why would Russian money flow to him pre-presidency? Because he was a willing seller of condos to shell corporations which allowed off-shore money to launder itself in the form of a convertible American-based real estate asset. Many condos were bought for cash and then flipped for double, sometimes in the space of one month. And Putin and his oligarch had a big need to spread their wealth to Western accounts and Trump became their go-to guy for RE transactions.

The side hustle in all of this was the long game politically because Trump flirted with the idea of running for President for over two decades. Countries like Russia, Israel and China will invest in people like that if they think it may pay them back later. Keep in mind, Putin is rumored to be the richest man on the planet with hundreds of billions of wealth extracted from Russia and seeded around the world in who knows how many asset classes. Spending a few billion on Trump is not even even 1% of Putin's net worth so it would be easy to do financially.

Long story short, it was beneficial to Russian interests in the short-term and the long-term and not ironic because American lenders had shut out Trump a very long time ago.

And it is not just the Russians. It is clear that the Saudis and the UAE have given money to the Trumps and Kushner. But Deutsche Bank was the middle man for Russia and that's what is on deck in the courts now. The pay for play deals with the Arab countries may never come to light (though George Nader, another pedophile, who has dirt on these countries was arrested recently), but even the GOP shut down Trump's attempt to do an end run around Congress and give the Saudis our nuclear technology. It was that blatant and obvious a private deal for nuclear tech.

It's ironic because Trump has managed to survive bankruptcy (corporate - not personal as you say) as he has avoided entering into agreements with personal liability. It would be ironic if what brings him down is exactly that. Which is to say, maybe there is Russian interaction with Trump and maybe there is influence because of it, but I doubt there's a smoking gun in all of this, at least one that is sufficient enough to bring the Trump presidency down, and it all seems like a set up for disappointment.

[DOLPHIN2020]

T

[matchman]

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/08/30/just-hong-kong-lawmaker-cheng-chung-tai-arrested-round-pro-democracy-figures/

5 pro democracy activists arrested, 2 activists beaten by masked men, organized March banned

Yup so a massive weekend is coming.

[DOLPHIN2020]

T

[matchman]

The pic you need to know about Hong Kong today, and this time not the mob like that of 721 in a subway train, it is the cops who did all the damage.

[DOLPHIN2020]

The pic you need to know about Hong Kong today, and this time not the mob like that of 721 in a subway train, it is the cops who did all the damage.

[DOLPHIN2020]

The pic you need to know about Hong Kong today, and this time not the mob like that of 721 in a subway train, it is the cops who did all the damage.

[DOLPHIN2020]

T

[matchman]

The pic you need to know about Hong Kong today, and this time not the mob like that of 721 in a subway train, it is the cops who did all the damage.

matchman, nothing from you for a few days, hopefully all is ok?

On a more positive note, the government finally appears to be backing down on one of the key demands and has announced its intention to formally withdraw the extradition bill

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/09/04/breaking-hong-kongs-carrie-lam-set-formally-withdraw-extradition-bill-months-protest-report/
BREAKING: Hong Kong’s Carrie Lam set to formally withdraw extradition bill after months of protest – report

Four other key demands remain outstanding but this is a step in the right direction

One for the good guys...

Have to say it is a progress for prayers being listened to have the government declaring withdrawal of the extradition law. However, it is a little bit late and after so much damage done by the police, it is kinda like a fake hustle.

So 1 of 5 demands is fulfilled but the protest will probably be still on.

Yesterday a kid like 15 yo is seriously injured in the neck by six cops in a subway station and his current condition is still unclear, while the police press conference has claimed this kid is a dangerous man who have various kinds of weapons like that "laser gun", "angry bird catapult" and some "smoke generator", which fails to make a laugh.

If US Congress keep pushing the new act, I suspect things may continue to change in the coming days.

[matchman]

Local forums saying 3 protesters in their early 20s have been killed by the police at Prince Edward MTR station over the weekend protests.

The MTR station was closed for a few hours after the police brutally attacked protesters on the train which was followed by a multi hour ban for the media entering the station. News has been buried in all media.

Dont think the protesters will step back until the government agrees on an independent inquiry into the actions of HKPF.

https://youtu.be/xG8zzs3KWbw


Or this kid who "slipped" and lost 2 teeth

Watch on YouTube

The students' bravery are simply remarkable, to be against the adult society and in the school and outside the school for the justice and democracy. I have to say they are much braver than me when I am their age.

[DOLPHIN2020]

Local forums saying 3 protesters in their early 20s have been killed by the police at Prince Edward MTR station over the weekend protests.

The MTR station was closed for a few hours after the police brutally attacked protesters on the train which was followed by a multi hour ban for the media entering the station. News has been buried in all media.

Dont think the protesters will step back until the government agrees on an independent inquiry into the actions of HKPF.

https://youtu.be/xG8zzs3KWbw


Or this kid who "slipped" and lost 2 teeth

Watch on YouTube

The students' bravery are simply remarkable, to be against the adult society and in the school and outside the school for the justice and democracy. I have to say they are much braver than me when I am their age.

[matchman]

Local forums saying 3 protesters in their early 20s have been killed by the police at Prince Edward MTR station over the weekend protests.

The MTR station was closed for a few hours after the police brutally attacked protesters on the train which was followed by a multi hour ban for the media entering the station. News has been buried in all media.

Dont think the protesters will step back until the government agrees on an independent inquiry into the actions of HKPF.

https://youtu.be/xG8zzs3KWbw


Or this kid who "slipped" and lost 2 teeth

Watch on YouTube

The students' bravery are simply remarkable, to be against the adult society and in the school and outside the school for the justice and democracy. I have to say they are much braver than me when I am their age.

https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/9419

Excerpt from Nancy Pelosi's statement.

“The pro-Beijing leadership in Hong Kong must ensure a political system accountable to the people, including granting universal suffrage and investigating police violence.  The escalating violence and use of force perpetrated by the Hong Kong authorities against their own people in recent weeks, which has led to tragic loss of life, must end now."

Is this a reference to the rumored 6 protesters killed in police action on August 31, and has been covered up by the police?

Hopefully US congress really puts pressure to HK government to leave our youngsters alone. So many being arrested or hurt in the head by the popo with not much reason right now.

[DOLPHIN2020]

The students' bravery are simply remarkable, to be against the adult society and in the school and outside the school for the justice and democracy. I have to say they are much braver than me when I am their age.

https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/9419

Excerpt from Nancy Pelosi's statement.

“The pro-Beijing leadership in Hong Kong must ensure a political system accountable to the people, including granting universal suffrage and investigating police violence.  The escalating violence and use of force perpetrated by the Hong Kong authorities against their own people in recent weeks, which has led to tragic loss of life, must end now."

Is this a reference to the rumored 6 protesters killed in police action on August 31, and has been covered up by the police?

Hopefully things remain peaceful. Be safe

[DOLPHIN2020]

The students' bravery are simply remarkable, to be against the adult society and in the school and outside the school for the justice and democracy. I have to say they are much braver than me when I am their age.

https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/9419

Excerpt from Nancy Pelosi's statement.

“The pro-Beijing leadership in Hong Kong must ensure a political system accountable to the people, including granting universal suffrage and investigating police violence.  The escalating violence and use of force perpetrated by the Hong Kong authorities against their own people in recent weeks, which has led to tragic loss of life, must end now."

Is this a reference to the rumored 6 protesters killed in police action on August 31, and has been covered up by the police?

Hopefully US congress really puts pressure to HK government to leave our youngsters alone. So many being arrested or hurt in the head by the popo with not much reason right now.

[DOLPHIN2020]

The students' bravery are simply remarkable, to be against the adult society and in the school and outside the school for the justice and democracy. I have to say they are much braver than me when I am their age.

https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/9419

Excerpt from Nancy Pelosi's statement.

“The pro-Beijing leadership in Hong Kong must ensure a political system accountable to the people, including granting universal suffrage and investigating police violence.  The escalating violence and use of force perpetrated by the Hong Kong authorities against their own people in recent weeks, which has led to tragic loss of life, must end now."

Is this a reference to the rumored 6 protesters killed in police action on August 31, and has been covered up by the police?

Hopefully US congress really puts pressure to HK government to leave our youngsters alone. So many being arrested or hurt in the head by the popo with not much reason right now.

all ok on your front? it's been some time.

[matchman]

https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/9419

Excerpt from Nancy Pelosi's statement.

“The pro-Beijing leadership in Hong Kong must ensure a political system accountable to the people, including granting universal suffrage and investigating police violence.  The escalating violence and use of force perpetrated by the Hong Kong authorities against their own people in recent weeks, which has led to tragic loss of life, must end now."

Is this a reference to the rumored 6 protesters killed in police action on August 31, and has been covered up by the police?

Hopefully US congress really puts pressure to HK government to leave our youngsters alone. So many being arrested or hurt in the head by the popo with not much reason right now.

all ok on your front? it's been some time.

Thanks for caring man, I have been away from Hong Kong for nearly 2 weeks, and my first time in North America.

The trip is all business for the first week, travelling to Austin, Texas via LA, then the 2nd week I left Texas, went to visit my relatives in Edmonton, Alberta.

Then right now, layover in LA again for the night flight back to Hong Kong. Heading to Staples Center like a casual basketball fan. Hence I may not know more than you do, but hey the ultimate conspiracy right now is whether there are casualties being covered by cops or not. So the theme is so far away from the lawmaking, but about the freedom and liberty and promises being broken
.

[matchman]

Wanna share a rick roll remastered in Hong Kong style

Watch on YouTube

This weekend is the 5th anniversary of umbrella movement and October 1st is 70th birthday of PRC, sk it's gonna be very busy.