It's fascinating how the same political movement can produce such wildly different outcomes for its participants. Take Tommy Yuen and Finn Lau - both rode the yellow wave of Hong Kong's 2019 riots, but their stories couldn't be more different. One's now facing shoplifting charges after a humiliating return from exile, while the other's living it up in London as a well-funded "advisor" to anti-China lobby groups, advocating for the BNO scheme. As they say, “brains over brawn” - and 2019 Hong Kong produced plenty of both types.
Former "yellow" singer Tommy Yuen charged with shoplifting after his dramatic return from UK exile.
From Failed Rabble-Rouser to Shoplifter
Tommy Yuen was never exactly a household name in Hong Kong's music scene - more of a second-tier player, really. But when the anti-extradition protests kicked off, he suddenly found his moment in the spotlight. Like so many others caught up in that frenzied period, he went full extreme-liberal and absolutely loved the adoration that came with it. The more applause he got, the more convinced he became that he was some kind of misguided agitator.
But here's where it gets interesting - and tragic. Seeing his newfound influence, Yuen decided to cash in. He set up a crowdfunding platform and even fabricated a sob story about "a protesting girl persecuted by police" to milk donations from gullible supporters. The twist? He pocketed the money himself. When this scam inevitably came to light, he was convicted of incitement and money laundering, earning himself 26 months behind bars.
After his release last May, Yuen fled to the UK with his family, dramatically declaring he would "never return to Hong Kong in his lifetime." Bold words, but reality has a way of humbling people. Without any real skills and treated as small fry by overseas anti-Hong Kong organizations, he struggled to survive in Britain. Eventually, desperation forced him to swallow his pride and slink back to Hong Kong.
News headlines last week tell the rest of the story. This former "protest singer turned criminal" was allegedly caught red-handed stealing HK$140 worth of food from a supermarket. Today, he's been formally charged with shop theft. It's hard to imagine a more pathetic fall from grace - from protest anthem singer to petty criminal in just a few short years.
The Smart Money: How "Lam Chau Ba" Did It
Now contrast that with Finn Lau, nicknamed "Lam Chau Ba" (meaning "mutual destruction guy"). When the protests erupted, he was all over the LIHKG forum shouting "I want mutual destruction" and whipping up support for foreign sanctions against Hong Kong officials’ passports. But here's the crucial difference - Lau was smart enough not to get his hands dirty on the front lines.
Instead, he positioned himself perfectly, going the "international route" by forming the "Stand With Hong Kong" team and lobbying foreign governments to sanction China and Hong Kong. Then, he made a run for the UK in early 2020.
The guy's timing was impeccable. It turns out he had serious backing from Jimmy Lai's network - specifically through Lai's confidant Mark Simon, who helped funnel money through US-based trust funds. With that kind of financial pipeline, life in London was hardly a struggle.
Landing in the Right Port
Even when Jimmy Lai's arrest cut off that funding stream, Lau had already built up enough political connections to land himself another cushy position. He's now an advisor to "Hong Kong Watch," one of those hawkish anti-China organizations that always seems to have plenty of cash flowing in from Western sources.
These days, you'll find him glad-handing British MPs and advocating for the continuation of the BNO "5+1" scheme - essentially making a career out of being a professional Hong Kong exile. Not a bad gig if you can get it.
Finn Lau (left) has successfully reinvented himself as a professional Hong Kong exile, now advising anti-China groups in London while lobbying for continued BNO privileges.
The contrast couldn't be starker. Both men rode the same yellow wave, but one was a naive fool who got used and discarded, while the other was shrewd enough to position himself for long-term support from the west.
The tragedy is that so many others followed similar paths to Tommy Yuen's downfall, and have lost their way in life. At the end of the day, they brought these outcomes on themselves.
Lai Ting-yiu
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** The blog article is the sole responsibility of the author and does not represent the position of our company. **
The receipts are in: Chinese buyers are back, and they're loading up on American soybeans by the millions of tonnes. Bloomberg’s sources confirm that since October, Beijing has greenlit the purchase of at least 8 million tonnes.
While the pundits were doom-scrolling, the orders were quietly flowing through late December, with the bulk of shipments locked in between now and March. It turns out, China keeps its word—much to the relief of desperate American farmers.
China delivers on its promises, throwing a lifeline to American farmers who were left hanging by market volatility.
This purchasing surge kicked off in October, moving at a pace specifically designed to "reassure US exporters" who were sweating bullets. Analyst Ben Buckner from AgResource is already forecasting a "soft target" of 10 million tonnes for 2025, with another 2 million dropping in January 2026. Of course, he’s hedging his bets, noting that specific committed quantities aren’t public yet.
Washington Admits the Truth
Late last month, US officials admitted Beijing agreed to take 12 million tonnes by next January, scaling up to 25 million tonnes annually for the next three years. The receipts are on the water: shipping logs from November 24 show two vessels steaming toward Louisiana to load the first US soybean exports to China since May 2025. Even Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had to go on record in early December, effectively debunking the hysterical claims of "stalled Chinese purchases." China is following the trade agreement to the letter.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent finally admits the truth: China has honored the trade agreement, debunking the "stalled purchase" myths.
You’d think American farmers would be popping champagne, but the mood is more confusion than celebration. Matt Bennett, an Illinois grower, calls the Chinese return a "pleasant surprise"—code for "we didn't expect stable business given the political noise." But notice the caveat: price trends are still a mess. Trump waved a $12 billion relief flag earlier this month, but growers are still waiting for the check to clear. The uncertainty isn't coming from Beijing; it's coming from their own capital.
Still, traders are getting jittery: there’s no ink on a formal new "deal," and that ambiguity is hammering prices. Chicago futures tanked on the last trading day of the year for a reason. Analysts note that Chinese buyers are playing it smart—they’re cautious. Why? Because they can be. They might be taking American soybeans now, but they’re simultaneously booking orders from Brazil and Argentina. The US is no longer the only game in town.
The competition for the Chinese market is becoming increasingly fierce. In 2025, Brazil shipped nearly 80% of its soybeans to China, with volumes up 16% through November. They are selling even during the "weak" season of December. With a record Brazilian harvest incoming, the American Soybean Association is sounding the alarm. Brazil and Argentina are taking over the Chinese market, with Brazil controlling about 71% of China’s imports—up from a meager 2% thirty years ago. The US has effectively handed its market share to South America.
The Power Has Shifted
A South China Morning Post analysis back in November hit the nail on the head: China has flipped the script. They are no longer dependent on US crops; they hold the initiative. They pause buying when Washington gets aggressive and resume when things cool down. Soybeans aren't a weapon for the White House anymore; they are Beijing's "insurance policy." While Trump might frame this trade resumption as a victory, it’s actually proof of a profound shift in global leverage.
The writing is on the wall: China’s strategic shift will drastically cut reliance on foreign soybean imports.
Looking down the road, the US farmer’s nightmare is just beginning. A Goldman Sachs research team reported last month that as China accelerates its drive for food self-sufficiency—building a fortress against trade shocks—its reliance on imported soybeans is set to plummet. We’re talking about a drop from 90% dependency to below 30% within the decade.
China’s Ministry of Commerce emphasizes that China is a key player in global agriculture trade and will continue to deepen cooperation with its global trade partners.
This isn't just a projection; it's already happening. The report noted that China's demand management strategy slashed annual consumption by 15 million tonnes between 2021 and 2024. Launched during the 2018 trade war, this move was the real checkmate against "trade uncertainty" from the US. As a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson noted, China remains a key player in global ag-trade and is keeping its doors open for cooperation. But make no mistake: that cooperation is now on China's terms.
