[Anderson:] Bottom of the hour in Abu Dhabi. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson. Back to our top story this hour, the Presidential impeachment inquiry in the United States. Lawyers for the whistleblower who revealed Donald Trump`s phone calls with Ukraine`s President now say that President`s attacks are putting their client`s life in danger. Mr. Trump`s allies say he did nothing wrong when he froze military aid to Ukraine and asked for an investigation of political rival Joe Biden. Meanwhile in Ukraine, there is growing concern over the potential fallout in all of this. It`s one of the poorest countries in Europe. The President there and his government depends on the United States and other allies, both for security and economic aid. Next hour, we hear from a U.S. Democratic Congressman for more on this. Do stay tuned for that. While China is gearing up to celebrate National Day, Hong Kong bracing for more protests. Beijing wants Tuesday`s celebrations marking 70 years since the People`s Republic of China was founded to go off without a hitch. But Hong Kong police say months of protests have now moved one step closer to terrorism, as they describe it. Over the weekend we saw fires being set and petrol bombs being throw. Police predicted this year`s National Day will be dangerous. Well 70 years ago China was a remarkably different place than it is now. David Culver takes a look at the country`s rapid rise.
[David Culver, Cnn International Correspondent:] If practice makes perfect then preparation for China`s National Day will make for a seamless ceremony. For weeks students, soldiers and residents meticulously rehearsing their choreographed steps of military might and nationalistic pride, reflecting China`s meteoric rise. What was a struggling nation, today China is the world`s second largest economy and growing. October 1st marks 70 years since the founding of Communist China. On that day, all eyes will be looking here Tiananmen Square. It is the symbol center of the People`s Republic, drawing folks from all over the country to its capital, Beijing. Photographer, Gao Yuan, has been capturing the changes here through his lens.
[Gao Yuan, Photographer:] We`ve gone from solving the basic problem of having enough food to eat and clothes to wear, to today people having money to travel for fun.
[Culver:] China today is the world`s leading manufacturer and exporter. It boasts the world`s largest standing army. And if global success was not enough, they`ve become the first nation to ever land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon. [on camera]: All of this happening under a single Communist Party, led today by President Xi Jinping. A leader who has become increasingly powerful as his country has become wealthier. [voice-over]: But China`s many advancements have come at a cost with pollution and air quality issues, widespread development is also taking a toll on the environment. The ongoing trade war, slowing China`s economy. These mounting concerns now driving away many of its elites. Yang Zi has called Beijing home for the past 20 years. She works long hours as a sales director. It`s afforded her a life of leisure and middle-class luxury. But at 40 years old she`s burnt out and now wants out. [on camera]: When the average person looks at you, they would see somebody who seemingly has everything. Beautiful home, a car, access to technology. Why leave?
[Yang Zi, Businesswoman:] Materially I`m very content, but this is not what I`m pursuing for my life. Everyone in China is busy and everyone is under pressure. Not just me. I`m an example of the majority of the middle class.
[Culver:] She worries about healthcare, education, food safety and fears social morality here in China has eroded beyond repair.
[Zi:] Everyone Russia`s about four work and it`s all about money and self-interests. This is not how I want to end up. I want a higher degree of happiness and a better quality of life.
[Culver:] She`s bought a place in Italy planning to leave behind her rapidly changing homeland. Change that`s led to the anniversary ahead, an elaborate show for both China and the world. Watching you`ll likely ask yourself, is it all a fancy facade destined to crumble or precursor to China becoming the new world leader? David Culver, CNN, Beijing.
[Anderson:] Well as Beijing fumes over the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong it`s putting immense pressure on major companies to take its side. Dozens of Cathay Pacific staffers, for example, have lost their jobs because as Andrew Stevens now reports, they say they express support for the pro-democracy movement. Have a look at this.
[Andrew Stevens, Cnn Correspondent/presenter:] Rebecca Sy worked as a cabin crew at Cathay Dragon for 17 years. It was her first and only job.
[Rebecca Sy, Former Cathay Dragon Flight Attendant:] I really loved my job. To me, it`s a very special.
[Stevens:] On August 21st, Rebecca was fired.
[Sy:] They asked me only one question, does this Facebook belong to you? I said yes. They immediately said, I`m sorry I have to go for the process. Now I announce that you are being terminated with immediate effect.
[Stevens:] She says that she was never told why she was sacked.
[Sy:] I was shocked, very disappointed, frustrated.
[Stevens:] Rebecca has participated in some legal protests but says her Facebook page did not violate the code of conduct. Rebecca also represented about 2,000 Cathay Dragon cabin crew in her union and says she had good relations with the company until the Hong Kong protests. Protests which forced the airport to close, canceling hundreds of Cathay flights. Cathay has crackdown on staff involved in demonstrations. The airline itself is under pressure from China its most important market. Beijing has banned any Cathay staff who are involved in protests from flying into China. The hardline from Cathay has had a chilling effect say staff. They call it white terror. This Cathay staff member who supports the protests spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity.
[Unidentified Male:] In terms of a white terror, I would say if you are unsafe, is uncertain, me and some of my colleagues, we have the time to say it, we want to know is it our last day today because tomorrow we may not be able to get into the building anymore.
[Stevens:] Cathay recently revised its staff code of conduct which includes posts on social media. Staff are told to speak up if they see a breach of the code. Employees tell CNN that dozens of workers have been fired. In response to CNN, Cathay says they don`t comment on specific cases but the dismissals are always in strict accordance which the terms of their relevant employment contracts. They added that they are required to follow regulations prescribed by the authorities in mainland China. There is no ground for compromise. And it`s not just the airlines that are caught up in the protests.
[Lee Cheuk-yan, Hong Kong Federation Of Trade Unions:] It`s also spreading to other sectors. It creates an atmosphere of fear among the workers that you have to be in line with the political stand of the company.
[Stevens:] Many of Hong Kong`s biggest companies, including its biggest bank HSBC, are now publicly condemning the violent protests and calling for a peaceful resolution. But it`s clear that the protests are moving from the streets to the offices and factories of Hong Kong. In this new less defiant battle line it`s freedom of speech that`s coming under threat. Andrew Stevens, CNN, Hong Kong.
[Anderson:] Connecting your world here on CNN. Coming up, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on a tour of all African countries. The latest on their ten-day trip is after this. Plus, the fastest woman in the world also a new mom. How the Jamaican sprinter is balancing motherhood and breaking barriers.