šŸ“”Guardians of Hong Kong aka BeWater HK
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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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#SmallCircleElection #CCPRules
Former Security Head Nominated for Chief Executive Election in Hong Kong Without Any Program

In Hong Kong, #JohnLee, a former police commissioner and the secretary for secutity until recently, claimed that he has submitted 786 nominations to the Election Committee, making him the sole candidate in Hong Kong's #ChiefExecutiveElection.

Lee was known for his pro-Beijing stance and hardliner attitude in suppressing the city's prodemocracy protests.

Lee was asked by journalists to comment on the legitimacy of the election, as he has been nominated without having any program nor statement.

Lee did not give a direct response, but said, "it takes time to write a statement." Lee claimed that he is a pragmatic person and would be able to realise the policy he proposed.

Source: InMedia #Apr15
https://bit.ly/378khQJ

#Regime #PoliceState
#YouTube terminates campaign channel of sole Hong Kong chief executive candidate #JohnLee, citing need to comply with #US #sanctions on ex-official

//Online video sharing platform YouTube has terminated the campaign channel of Hong Kongā€™s sole chief executive candidate John Lee Ka-chiu, citing the need to comply with US sanctions placed on the former official.

The platform, operated by US giant #Google, made the rare move in taking down Leeā€™s YouTube channel early on Wednesday, clipping the Beijing-endorsed candidateā€™s ability to share videos of him meeting different sectors publicly.//

Source: SCMP #Apr19
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3174862/youtube-terminates-campaign-channel-sole-hong-kong-chief

#ChiefExecutiveElection #SmallCircle
#PoliceState #SmallCircleElection
Hong Kong small-circle leadership race: Meet John Lee ā€“ the ex-police officer #Beijing trusts

[On May 8, 2022, #JohnLee, the sole candidate in the election, was selected by an election committee with 1,000 or so members to be the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong SAR, after the end of #CarrieLam's term. Lee received 1,416 votes to become the political leader of a city of more than seven million people. Read: https://hongkongfp.com/2022/05/08/breaking-sole-candidate-john-lee-selected-as-hong-kongs-next-leader/]

//As a former beat cop who rose to become Hong Kongā€™s security chief, John Lee is the one person Chinaā€™s leaders trust to run the city as their loyal lieutenant, analysts and insiders say.

Lee, 64, is expected to be anointed Hong Kongā€™s next chief executive by a small committee on Sunday, the culmination of a choreographed, Beijing-blessed race with no other candidates...

It also places a security official in the cityā€™s top job for the first time, a man who played a key role in the suppression of huge democracy protests and Beijingā€™s subsequent political crackdown.

Insiders say Leeā€™s unwavering commitment to that role won Chinaā€™s confidence at a time when other Hong Kong elite were seen as insufficiently loyal or competent...

Given his security background, it seems unlikely Lee ā€” already sanctioned by the United States ā€” will reverse Beijingā€™s campaign against dissent.

Where he will enter less familiar territory is the world of business, an area where Hong Kong is suffering...//

Source: Hong Kong Free Press #May8

#Regime #ChiefExecutiveElection
#PoliceStare
Hong Kong Police Surround Pro-democracy Group Calling for Universal Suffrage on Election Day

In the past it would have been common to see protests during the #ChiefExecutive Election in Hong Kong.

It is, however, not the case anymore, as almost all the pro-democracy legislators have been jailed, coupled with the reformation of the electoral system.

On the early morning of May 8, 2022, the League of Social Democrats (#LSD), a pro-democracy group, tried to head towards the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (#HKCEC) to protest; however, their members were stopped and searched by the police in Central Plaza, and were thereby banned from entering HKCEC.

As early as at 7:30am, over 30 policemen, all wearing stabproof vest, were stationed outside the clinic of Family Planning Association of Hong Kong in Wan Chai.

The chairperson of the League of Social Democrats Chan Po-ying comdemned the newly formed government for not tolerating opposing ideas, ā€˜Does #JohnLeeā€™s ā€œStarting a New Chapterā€ mean banning peaceful petition?ā€™ she asked.

Chan also expressed that Hong Kong is ruled by fear, and that organisations often have to think twice before conducting any activity. She added that the League of Social Democrats understood the ineffectiveness in protesting, but still wished that the community was not silence. She then moved on to encourage organisations in the society to persevere, whilst lamenting over John Leeā€™s ā€˜lack of competitorā€™ in his run for Chief Executive, that the pro-establishment camp ā€˜didnā€™t even try to find him (John Lee) an opponentā€™, showing how pathetic the society was.

Source: InMedia #May8
Chief Executive-Elect Rejects Needs to Defend Freedom in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Chief Executive-Elect, John Lee visited the Legislative Council in early May and was asked why defending the freedom of speech and the press freedom was not in his election platform.

Lee argued that the city's mini-constitution, Basic Law has offered freedom in Hong Kong in many ways.

"We have all the freedom." He defended, "But this doesn't mean we have the freedom to violate the law."

Lee also added, "so long as permitted by the law, everyone has absolute freedom."

Source: Inmediahk; #May09

#ChiefExecutive #JohnLee #PressFreedom #FreedomOfSpeech

https://bit.ly/398Qbxa
Cartoon by #AhTo: "We & Us"

"All animals are equal, bur WE are more equal than US."

[in Simplified Chinese] "This is WE"

[in Simplified Chinese] "This is US."

"But WE is not US."

[Editor's note: Taking the ideaā€”some animals are more equal than othersā€”from #GeorgeOrwell's Animal Farm, the 4-frame cartoon by Hong Kong artist Ah To is a satire on Hong Kong Chief Executive-elect #JohnLee's election campaign.

Amidst criticism, Lee defended his campaign slogan "We and Us" as a reflection of "his belief in fairness and togetherness".

Source: Ah To
https://www.facebook.com/100044541035098/posts/561762701985093/

#FailedState #AnimalFarm #ChiefExecutive #English #SmallCircleElection
#Court #FailedState
Upcoming Chief Executive Violates Election Regulations and Asks to be Exempted

#JohnLee, former chief of police and the next Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, was found violating the election regulations, as he failed to submit the Consent of Support forms on the day when his advertisement was published.

The consent forms concerned table tennis team coach Li Ching, lawmaker Nelson Lam and artist Alex Fong.

The penalties can go up to a fine of HK$5,000 and a sentence of six months in jail; however, Lee asked the High Court to ā€œexemptā€ him from the regulations, and ā€œrelieveā€ him from the penalties.

According to Hong Kong Free Press, Lee also urged the court to waive the costs of his application for the penalties to be waived.

Source: Ming Pao; Hong Kong Free Press #Jun8

Image: ReNews
#HongKong Bashes #GlobalMedia With Hundreds of Complaint Letters

//From Slovakia to Japan, top Hong Kong officials have fired off at least 500 letters in 2022 blasting critical foreign media coverage, as the city wages a global battle to safeguard its reputation as a liberal financial hub.

At least 174 media outlets in almost 30 countries received missives from city leaders -- including its now chief executive, #JohnLee -- since China announced in May 2020 that it would impose a national security law on the former British colony. The correspondence, often written both in English and the publicationā€™s native language, was uploaded to the ā€œClarificationsā€ tab of the governmentā€™s communications platform known as Brand Hong Kong.

About half of the letters, which responded to a mix of reports and editorials, hit back at criticism of Beijingā€™s sweeping security law, while roughly a third defended a mandate that only Communist Party loyalists can hold office in the city. Neighboring Asian nations got 42% of the complaints, led by Japan and South Korea, while business publications including the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist got the most letters. Bloomberg received seven...

Hong Kongā€™s crackdown on freedoms has eroded the cityā€™s reputation among many foreign governments...

Hong Kongā€™s press freedom ranking has plummeted since the security law clamped down on free speech. The city came 148 in the Reporters Without Borders 2022 World Press Freedom Index, representing a fall of 68 places from last year.//

Source: Bloomberg #Jul25
https://t.co/OHZN4fVjye

#Whitewash #Censorship #PressFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #Authoritarianism
Hong Kong govā€™t to refund HK$147K fee for hanging #Chinaflags on lampposts, hours after leader #JohnLeeā€™s request

Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Jul22

Read more
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Hong Kong govā€™t to refund HK$147K fee for hanging #Chinaflags on lampposts, hours after leader #JohnLeeā€™s request

//A group who applied to hang Chinese national flags on lampposts over multiple highways in Hong Kong last year will see fees totalling HK$147,000 refunded by the Highways Department, following instructions from #ChiefExecutive John Lee.

Lee said he learnt that a community group was asked to pay administrative fees and inspection fees by the government after applying to hang national flags over some highways in the New Territories for National Day last year.

The leader wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday night that he had asked the relevant department to educate the public on how to properly hang the national and Hong Kong flags. Lee said he also required the government body to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

ā€œThe government values the promotion of patriotic education and has been actively pushing community groups and the public to celebrate special dates such as the National Day, with respect to the flags and symbols of the nation and Hong Kong,ā€ Lee added.

Less than two hours after Leeā€™s post, the Highways Department published a statement saying that it had approved the waiver and will inform the group of refund arrangements ā€œas soon as possible.ā€

Pro-Beijing backlashes

The issue was first raised by pro-Beijing columnist Chris Wat in an opinion piece published on Tuesday in Headline Daily.

Wat said a group was asked to pay HK$147,670 by the Highways Department for hanging some 1,200 national flags on lampposts around Kam Tin Road and Fan Kam Road between September 20 to October 9 last year.

ā€œWhen the people self-initiated to do what the government didnā€™t, why are you still punishing these patriots who gave their heart and sweat?ā€ Wat wrote in her article.

A day after, lawmakers Michael Lee and Rock Chen wrote to the department to ask what legal grounds the fees were based on.

ā€œDuring the riots in 2019, many political parties and groups were hanging flags and leaflets on streets as well ā€“ how were you dealing with those items?ā€ Lee and Chen wrote.

After John Lee announced that he had asked the department to waive the fees in question, Michael Lee thanked the leader for his ā€œimmediate concernā€ on Facebook on Thursday night as well.//

Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Jul22

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/07/22/hong-kong-govt-to-refund-hk147k-fee-for-hanging-china-flags-on-lampposts-hours-after-leader-john-lees-request/

#ChineseNationalism #FailedState #Taxpayers #GovernmentExpenses
US bars Hong Kongā€™s sanction-hit John Lee from APEC meeting in San Francisco ā€“ report

Washington will bar Chief Executive John Lee from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum meeting in the US this November, along with ten other Hong Kong officials, the Washington Post reported on Friday citing sources. Lee is still under US sanctions.

The annual APEC CEO Summit 2023 will be held in San Francisco on November 15 and 16. The economic conference involves political leaders from the Asia-Pacific region. However, Lee is one of multiple Chinese officials who were sanctioned by the US in 2020 for their alleged role in cracking down on political freedoms in the city.

The move comes despite recent efforts by the Joe Biden administration to reset relations with Beijing.

Sourceļ¼šHKFP #Jul28

https://hongkongfp.com/2023/07/28/just-in-us-bars-hong-kongs-sanction-hit-john-lee-from-apec-meeting-in-san-francisco-report/

#HongKong #US #JohnLee #APEC #Sanction
Regina Ip Criticised APEC having "Unfair Condition" that Beijing has to Decide whether to Attend with this Insult

The #WashingtonPost reported earlier that the #US #DepartmentofState denied #JohnLee to enter the US border for the #APEC summit. Yet, the Hong Kong government can still send other senior officials to participate.

The pro-establishment camp criticised the US's practice with statements and journals yesterday. Among them, #ReginaIp, the convenor of the Executive Council, wrote in #ChinaDaily that the APEC summit has an "unknown future" because of John Lee. She also questioned whether it is worthwhile for the government to send another official to attend if the ban is "harmful and unreasonable". She pointed out that the Chinese "highest leader" should decide whether he should accept "the insult".

Besides, #TaKungPao quoted statements from various politicians in a report, including #MargaretChan from #CPPCC, #KingsleyWong from #HKFTU and #BraveChan from #DAB.

Note:
CPPCC refers to Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
HKFTU refers to Hong Kong Federation of Trade Union
DAB refers to Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong

Source: Inmedia #Aug03

https://tinyurl.com/245traxv