Carrie Lam

A landmark floating restaurant that fed Cantonese cuisine and seafood to Queen Elizabeth II, Tom Cruise and millions of other diners was towed from the Hong Kong harbor front on June 14 after being closed by the pandemic.

The parent company of Jumbo Floating Restaurant couldn't find a new owner and lacked funds to maintain it after months of COVID-19 restrictions.

A former security chief who oversaw the crackdown on Hong Kong's democracy movement was anointed the business hub's new leader on Sunday by a small committee of Beijing loyalists.

John Lee, 64, was the only candidate in the Beijing-backed race to succeed outgoing leader Carrie Lam.

Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam announced Monday that she will step down in June, ending a divisive term that saw democracy protests squashed and strict pandemic curbs plunge the business hub into international isolation.

Ending months of speculation, Lam confirmed she would not seek a second term when a committee made up of the city's political elite chooses a new leader next month.

Hong Kong authorities activated a newly created "serious response" level on Jan. 4 as fears spread about a mysterious infectious disease that may have been brought back by visitors to a mainland Chinese city.

Hong Kong authorities have formally withdrawn the controversial bill that allowed the extradition of citizens to mainland China, fulfilling one of five demands of pro-democracy protesters, BTA reported.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam apologized on Oct. 21 after police hit a major mosque with water cannon as they battled protesters during another day of political unrest in the Asian financial hub.

Hong Kong's under-fire leader Carrie Lam on Oct. 8 said China intervening to end months of pro-democracy protests is an option following a particularly violent week of unrest that paralysed the city.

Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, said on Sept. 17 she and her team would begin dialogue sessions with the community next week, while reiterating that violence that has roiled the city over three months of protests must end.   

The protesters in Hong Kong succeeded. The leader of an autonomous Chinese city has announced that the controversial extradition law will be withdrawn.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Aug. 27 that she has met with a group of young people about ongoing pro-democracy protests, but she showed no sign of budging on any of the protesters' demands.