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Protests in Hong Kong ahead of Bannon speech: ‘Nazis are not welcome here’

by Rebecca Savransky - 09/12/17 7:35 AM ET

Protesters lined up in Hong Kong ahead of a scheduled speech by former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

The group of about 15 protesters shouted phrases including “No Bannon, no racism” and held up a black banner that said “Nazis are not welcome here,” Reuters reported.

The demonstrations were held outside a hotel in Hong Kong, where Bannon was scheduled to give a speech at an investor conference hosted by CLSA, a subsidiary of state-backed Citic Securities.

{mosads}Bannon’s remarks were closed to the press, according to a CLSA spokeswoman.

“We reserve the right to open or close sessions as we see fit,” a spokeswoman said in an email to Reuters.

“The CLSA Investors’ Forum provides an agnostic platform for diverse views and opinions from people who influence policy, economies and markets. Mr Bannon is one of these, hence our decision to invite him.”

Bannon left his White House role last month.

In a recent interview on CBS News’s “60 Minutes,” Bannon offered blunt criticism of some of his former White House colleagues, GOP leaders, the Catholic Church and Trump’s decision to fire FBI Director James Comey.

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