A sentence???

[Dot.dot.dot]

It comes as tensions escalate in Hong Kong over China's increasing influence and the influx of mainland visitors.

1. Why do this sentence include two verbs? (comes, escalate)

2. What is the meaning of this sentence?
It refers to a group of Hong Kong residents have placed an advertisement in a
popular tabloid calling people from mainland China "locusts".

3. Why 'over' is used in this sentence? used to show the contrast?

thanks

[Dozy]

1. There are two clauses, each with a verb, connected by the conjunction "as": "It comes" is one clause; "tensions escalate in Hong Kong..." is another.

2. "It comes" = something previously mentioned begins/happens

"as" = at the same time as

"escalate" = get worse

"over" = about, regarding, concerning (i.e. the tensions are caused by China's increasing influence and the influx of mainland visitors)