Thread by @ThoughtsHk

Li Ka-shing sponsored 2 full-page ads over protests. One says "the best cause could lead to the worst result. Love China. Love HK. Love Oneself. Love Freedom. Love Tolerance. Love Rule of Law. Against Violence." 1/7

The other cited a Tang Dynasty poem, "why keeping picking the melons on the yellow platform." 2/7

Li's spokesperson further elaborated, telling RTHK that Li urged the youth "not let today's enthusiasm become tmr's regrets". Li thought HK's prosperity and stability depends on One Country Two Systems and violence should be stopped. 3/7
news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/compon…

BKG 1: it's a tradition for tycoons and pro-Beijing organisations to publish ads on newspapers to show they r loyal and support Beijing when there r big issues in HK. Many other tycoons and companies have done so. 4/7

BKG 2: compared to other similar ads, Li's wordings are ambiguous. He did not blame the protests directly. He did not say who is violent. The ads can be interpreted that govt / HK Police should stop violence, or make concessions, too. 5/7

BKG 3: the poem was written by Li Xian, the second son of Wu Zetian, the only empress in Chinese history. Wu took the throne from Tang Dynasty and killed her sons, who would have been heirs to Tang Dynasty. Li Xian, in the poem, urged his mother to stop killing her sons. 6/7

BKG 4: while the poem looks difficult, Li Ka-shing cited this 3 yrs ago. So most ppl in HK should know the meaning. And he, both in 2016 or in 2019, never say who is the one who r destroying HK. Again the citing of poem can be interpreted in both ways. 7/7