HONG KONG ¨C Thousands have signed an online petition denouncing reported comments by an HSBC Holdings board member in which she likened Hong Kong protesters¡¯ demands for democracy to the emancipation of slaves.
Laura Cha, who is also a member of Hong Kong¡¯s policymaking Executive Council, chairwoman of the city¡¯s Financial Services Development Council and a member of China¡¯s parliament, was quoted as making the comments at an event in Paris.
¡°American slaves were liberated in 1861 but did not get voting rights until 107 years later. So why can¡¯t Hong Kong wait for a while?¡± the Standard newspaper on Thursday quoted Cha as saying, referring to demands for free elections in the former British colony.
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