#FailedState #CoronavirusPandemic
Dismissing Privacy Concern, HK Gov't Insists in Carrying Out Universal Test and Health Code
The Chief Executive Carrie Lam on August 21 urged Hongkongers to take part in the COVID19 test run by the Chinese companies appointed by the HK government from September 1 onwards. Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip reassured that information will "not be sent outside of Hong Kong".
Despite public concern over data collection and privacy, Lam said that the government will implement a health code plan to exempt qualified Hong Kong-China travellers from quarantine restrictions, similar to what China had already installed in Macau and Guangdong.
Secretary for Innovation and Technology Alfred Sit dismissed privacy concern. He stated that the health code users will have to acknowledge that they 'agree' to have their data sent to their destination, i.e. the Chinese authorities, if travelling to China.
Meanwhile, microbiologist Ho Pak-leung, head of the University of Hong Kong's Centre for Infection, has doubt in universal COVID-19 testing. He called it "a waste of bullets" if people with higher risk of infection are not tested.
Ho suggested to test all patients in public hospitals, and carry out repeated tests for elderly home workers and frontline medical staff, instead.
Source: RTHK #Aug21
#BigData #HealthCode #CarrieLam #AlfredSit #HoPakLeung #PersonalPrivacy #DNA
Dismissing Privacy Concern, HK Gov't Insists in Carrying Out Universal Test and Health Code
The Chief Executive Carrie Lam on August 21 urged Hongkongers to take part in the COVID19 test run by the Chinese companies appointed by the HK government from September 1 onwards. Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip reassured that information will "not be sent outside of Hong Kong".
Despite public concern over data collection and privacy, Lam said that the government will implement a health code plan to exempt qualified Hong Kong-China travellers from quarantine restrictions, similar to what China had already installed in Macau and Guangdong.
Secretary for Innovation and Technology Alfred Sit dismissed privacy concern. He stated that the health code users will have to acknowledge that they 'agree' to have their data sent to their destination, i.e. the Chinese authorities, if travelling to China.
Meanwhile, microbiologist Ho Pak-leung, head of the University of Hong Kong's Centre for Infection, has doubt in universal COVID-19 testing. He called it "a waste of bullets" if people with higher risk of infection are not tested.
Ho suggested to test all patients in public hospitals, and carry out repeated tests for elderly home workers and frontline medical staff, instead.
Source: RTHK #Aug21
#BigData #HealthCode #CarrieLam #AlfredSit #HoPakLeung #PersonalPrivacy #DNA
news.rthk.hk
Universal tests like wasting bullets: Ho Pak-leung
University of Hong Kong microbiologist Ho Pak-leung on Friday cast doubt on the effectiveness of the universal coronavirus tests, saying the government would be "wasting bullets" if the plan is not targeted at people with higher risk of infection. Ho said…
#PublicOpinionPoll #Anaylsis
Should Incumbent Lawmakers Serve in Extended Term Under Beijing's LegCo Arrangement?
HK Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) released two sets of survey results from online discussion groups and phone interviews, randomly sampled.
Q: The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has extended the current LegCo term for no less than 1 year. Do you agree or disagree for incumbent lawmakers to serve in the extended term?
Survey results:
• Online opinion groups: Agree 35%；Disagree 47% Sampling threshold +/- 1%
• Random phone interview: Agree 37%；Disagree 41% Sampling threshold +/- 3%
==============
A few reflections are offered by CUHK lecturer and research Dr. Leung Kai-chi:
1. Methodology
Two sets of survey results were devised from different methodologies,
Since netizens and political figures were involved in mobilizing citizens to register and take part in this survey, this set of survey result can be used as a reference to those being politically influenced.
Interviews via phone calls (including landline and mobile) were randomly sampled, not being directly influenced by political opinion leaders. These set of survey result can be regarded as an overall reflection of the mass population in Hong Kong.
2. Beyond Methodology
Leading researcher of the survey, Dr Leung Kai-chi explained, “methodology cannot be a solution to all the problems as some are matters of value judgement.” For instance, should a lawmaker make a deciaion in accordance to HK people’s opinion or his potential supporters? In the same light, should legislators of Functional Constituencies only look into opinions of his/her constituency, disregarding the rest? Should there also be a middle-ground / alternative solution, or should lawmakers only follow a dominant opinion with an absolute majority support?
Dr Leung admitted that many disagreements may arise. He said “I do not have an answer to them. Hopefully, we can face these questions unruffled and in unity.”
Source: Dr Leung Kai-chi’s Facebook #Aug21
https://www.facebook.com/594642803906393/posts/3197828276921153/
#ProvisionalLegCo #Methodology #LeungKaiChi
=========
Further Reading:
#HKPORI Public opinion poll: a large majority of 76% Hong Kong citizens reject “Health Code” https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24410
Should Incumbent Lawmakers Serve in Extended Term Under Beijing's LegCo Arrangement?
HK Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) released two sets of survey results from online discussion groups and phone interviews, randomly sampled.
Q: The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has extended the current LegCo term for no less than 1 year. Do you agree or disagree for incumbent lawmakers to serve in the extended term?
Survey results:
• Online opinion groups: Agree 35%；Disagree 47% Sampling threshold +/- 1%
• Random phone interview: Agree 37%；Disagree 41% Sampling threshold +/- 3%
==============
A few reflections are offered by CUHK lecturer and research Dr. Leung Kai-chi:
1. Methodology
Two sets of survey results were devised from different methodologies,
Since netizens and political figures were involved in mobilizing citizens to register and take part in this survey, this set of survey result can be used as a reference to those being politically influenced.
Interviews via phone calls (including landline and mobile) were randomly sampled, not being directly influenced by political opinion leaders. These set of survey result can be regarded as an overall reflection of the mass population in Hong Kong.
2. Beyond Methodology
Leading researcher of the survey, Dr Leung Kai-chi explained, “methodology cannot be a solution to all the problems as some are matters of value judgement.” For instance, should a lawmaker make a deciaion in accordance to HK people’s opinion or his potential supporters? In the same light, should legislators of Functional Constituencies only look into opinions of his/her constituency, disregarding the rest? Should there also be a middle-ground / alternative solution, or should lawmakers only follow a dominant opinion with an absolute majority support?
Dr Leung admitted that many disagreements may arise. He said “I do not have an answer to them. Hopefully, we can face these questions unruffled and in unity.”
Source: Dr Leung Kai-chi’s Facebook #Aug21
https://www.facebook.com/594642803906393/posts/3197828276921153/
#ProvisionalLegCo #Methodology #LeungKaiChi
=========
Further Reading:
#HKPORI Public opinion poll: a large majority of 76% Hong Kong citizens reject “Health Code” https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24410
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Poll #HealthCode
Public opinion: a large majority of 76% Hong Kong citizens reject “Health Code”
Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) conducted an online poll “We Hongkonger Survey” from August 17 to 20, collecting citizens’ view on the…
Public opinion: a large majority of 76% Hong Kong citizens reject “Health Code”
Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) conducted an online poll “We Hongkonger Survey” from August 17 to 20, collecting citizens’ view on the…
#HongKongChronicles #LastYearToday #MassSurveillance
What Next After the Fall of the Smart Lamposts at the East Kowloon March on #24Aug2019 ?
"One of the most representative moments of the #AntiELAB Movement is the fall of the smart lamposts in the East Kowloon March which were reported to have survillance function.
A tyrannical regime never ceases to monitor its people. After the plan with the lamposts was busted, they came up with the #HealthCode.
In addition to monitoring your personal health, they track your whereabouts. Whether you are infected or not, it is up to them to send you to a quarantine camp, or bar you from accessing the public space.
If we let the health code get by today, then the China-modelled "#SocialCreditSystem" will be in place next. By then, Hong Kong will become the new #Xinjiang.
Under the totalitarian rule, one has everything but freedom and human rights."
Text and Photo: Kevin Cheng Photography #Aug21
https://www.facebook.com/194035600634409/posts/3148723068498966/
What Next After the Fall of the Smart Lamposts at the East Kowloon March on #24Aug2019 ?
"One of the most representative moments of the #AntiELAB Movement is the fall of the smart lamposts in the East Kowloon March which were reported to have survillance function.
A tyrannical regime never ceases to monitor its people. After the plan with the lamposts was busted, they came up with the #HealthCode.
In addition to monitoring your personal health, they track your whereabouts. Whether you are infected or not, it is up to them to send you to a quarantine camp, or bar you from accessing the public space.
If we let the health code get by today, then the China-modelled "#SocialCreditSystem" will be in place next. By then, Hong Kong will become the new #Xinjiang.
Under the totalitarian rule, one has everything but freedom and human rights."
Text and Photo: Kevin Cheng Photography #Aug21
https://www.facebook.com/194035600634409/posts/3148723068498966/
#HealthCode #SocialCreditSystem #MassSurveillance
District Councillors: Universal COVID-19 Test is a tool for mass surveillance and suppression
Source: Stand News #Aug23
Read More
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24494
District Councillors: Universal COVID-19 Test is a tool for mass surveillance and suppression
Source: Stand News #Aug23
Read More
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24494
#HealthCode #FailedState #SocialCreditSystem #MassSurveillance
District Councillors: Universal COVID-19 Test is a tool for mass surveillance and suppression
The Hong Kong SAR Government announced that the voluntary universal COVID-19 Test will take place starting from 1 September, 2020. Many Hong Kong Citizens have been worried that their personal information might be collected and sent to China. Pro-democracy district councillors have been opposing this plan of the government.
In a street both held on 21 August, Tsuen Wan district councillor Roy Tam Hoi-pong, of New Democrats, pointed out that the Hong Kong government has appointed a China owned company, Sunrise Diagnostics Center (#SCD), for running the test. As a Chinese company, they are not qualified for Hong Kong standard and they do not have a valid license to handle the COVID-19 testing. Tam said the government's intention is to achieve its political agenda in the name of “public health concern”.
Tsuen Wan district councillor, Roy Pun Long-Chung, also stated that the government has borrowed several Caritas Community Centers as temporary testing centers. Many community centers are equipped with an elderly home. He worried that this would increase the infection risk of the elderly, “the Government has completely ignored their lives.” Pun has received many residents’ complaints and was told that many employers has requested their employees to provide COVID-test result before going to the work.
Sai Kung district councillor Gary Fan Kwok-wai criticised the government for failing to put public health as the first priority. Instead, the authorities has postponed the LegCo election and suppressed civilians' rights in the name of pandemic prevention. He described the universal COVID-19 test is a needle in a haystack. The test is not an effective pandemic prevention measure due to its high cost and low efficiency. Moreover, civilians worry that the government may collect and send their DNA sample to China.
Moreover, the “Health Code” might be transformed into a “social credit system” as in China for mass surveillance and further suppression of rights.
Fan said, “China has set many bad examples. With a health code, the code of a healthy reporter changed to yellow and red. (In the health code, yellow means medium risk and red means high risk.) Thus, he couldn’t go anywhere or get onto any transportation. The hotel became his prison.” He called for civilians to boycott the universal testing scheme.
Jeff Au, Strategy Director of the think tank Community Development Initiative (#CDI), said that the current privacy ordinance doesn’t include DNA and biometrics data and Privacy Commission for Personal Data Hong Kong should extend the ordinance to cover these areas. He has recommended the establishment of an independent committee to monitor the testing procedure, technology management and laboratory operation.
Source: Stand News #Aug23
#RoyTam #RoyPun #GaryFan #JeffAu #NeoDemocrats
District Councillors: Universal COVID-19 Test is a tool for mass surveillance and suppression
The Hong Kong SAR Government announced that the voluntary universal COVID-19 Test will take place starting from 1 September, 2020. Many Hong Kong Citizens have been worried that their personal information might be collected and sent to China. Pro-democracy district councillors have been opposing this plan of the government.
In a street both held on 21 August, Tsuen Wan district councillor Roy Tam Hoi-pong, of New Democrats, pointed out that the Hong Kong government has appointed a China owned company, Sunrise Diagnostics Center (#SCD), for running the test. As a Chinese company, they are not qualified for Hong Kong standard and they do not have a valid license to handle the COVID-19 testing. Tam said the government's intention is to achieve its political agenda in the name of “public health concern”.
Tsuen Wan district councillor, Roy Pun Long-Chung, also stated that the government has borrowed several Caritas Community Centers as temporary testing centers. Many community centers are equipped with an elderly home. He worried that this would increase the infection risk of the elderly, “the Government has completely ignored their lives.” Pun has received many residents’ complaints and was told that many employers has requested their employees to provide COVID-test result before going to the work.
Sai Kung district councillor Gary Fan Kwok-wai criticised the government for failing to put public health as the first priority. Instead, the authorities has postponed the LegCo election and suppressed civilians' rights in the name of pandemic prevention. He described the universal COVID-19 test is a needle in a haystack. The test is not an effective pandemic prevention measure due to its high cost and low efficiency. Moreover, civilians worry that the government may collect and send their DNA sample to China.
Moreover, the “Health Code” might be transformed into a “social credit system” as in China for mass surveillance and further suppression of rights.
Fan said, “China has set many bad examples. With a health code, the code of a healthy reporter changed to yellow and red. (In the health code, yellow means medium risk and red means high risk.) Thus, he couldn’t go anywhere or get onto any transportation. The hotel became his prison.” He called for civilians to boycott the universal testing scheme.
Jeff Au, Strategy Director of the think tank Community Development Initiative (#CDI), said that the current privacy ordinance doesn’t include DNA and biometrics data and Privacy Commission for Personal Data Hong Kong should extend the ordinance to cover these areas. He has recommended the establishment of an independent committee to monitor the testing procedure, technology management and laboratory operation.
Source: Stand News #Aug23
#RoyTam #RoyPun #GaryFan #JeffAu #NeoDemocrats
#BigData #Surveillance
The #HealthCode is really handy, powerful and effective.
#DNADatabase
Caption by: Hong Kong Echo
Image source: kit da sketch - Kit Man Facebook #KitMan
The #HealthCode is really handy, powerful and effective.
#DNADatabase
Caption by: Hong Kong Echo
Image source: kit da sketch - Kit Man Facebook #KitMan
#Rumours
Over 600 PRC medical officers exempt from compulsory quarantine arrangements, checked in at Metropark Hotel Mongkok
(28 Aug)The Hong Kong Hotel Employees Union confirmed that more than 600 unqualified PRC medical officers would arrive in Hong Kong with exemption from mandatory quarantine rules.
Testing for the Wuhan Pneumonia virus will be the responsibility of the BGI Group. [The genome sequencing company] is well-known for its forcible collection of DNA samples from locals working under the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which is sanctioned by the US for its human rights abuses and fostering terrorist groups.
The epidemic's third wave was a result of quarantine exemptions on travellers to Hong Kong, which led to difficulties in contact tracing. The relentless SAR government not only extended gathering restrictions [for social distancing] under the pretence of disease prevention, but it also began the rollout of a "health code" system to monitor and control Hongkongers' freedom of entry.
The HKSAR did not prioritise outsourcing these public services to local medical professionals and testing labs. Instead, they chose to deploy PRC officers with unknown qualifications and an endorsed company. The Chinese Communist Party's purpose in Hong Kong is obviously to make preparations for the monitoring and control of Hongkongers under the guise of disease prevention.
Hongkongers, are you ready for this?
Editor's Note:
The original source has since been deleted by Facebook. The Hong Kong Hotel Employees Union made a new post condemning its deletion. It explained the situation to maintain transparency, upholding its responsibility for keeping the public informed and advocating for truth and self-reliance among Hongkongers.
[Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=201620357976085&id=107866584018130]
Source: Hong Kong Hotel Employees Union
https://bit.ly/3lH64fJ
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo
#HealthCode #surveillance #CCPHK #Coronavirus #unlicensed #BGIGroup #QuarantineExemption #PRCmedicine
Over 600 PRC medical officers exempt from compulsory quarantine arrangements, checked in at Metropark Hotel Mongkok
(28 Aug)The Hong Kong Hotel Employees Union confirmed that more than 600 unqualified PRC medical officers would arrive in Hong Kong with exemption from mandatory quarantine rules.
Testing for the Wuhan Pneumonia virus will be the responsibility of the BGI Group. [The genome sequencing company] is well-known for its forcible collection of DNA samples from locals working under the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which is sanctioned by the US for its human rights abuses and fostering terrorist groups.
The epidemic's third wave was a result of quarantine exemptions on travellers to Hong Kong, which led to difficulties in contact tracing. The relentless SAR government not only extended gathering restrictions [for social distancing] under the pretence of disease prevention, but it also began the rollout of a "health code" system to monitor and control Hongkongers' freedom of entry.
The HKSAR did not prioritise outsourcing these public services to local medical professionals and testing labs. Instead, they chose to deploy PRC officers with unknown qualifications and an endorsed company. The Chinese Communist Party's purpose in Hong Kong is obviously to make preparations for the monitoring and control of Hongkongers under the guise of disease prevention.
Hongkongers, are you ready for this?
Editor's Note:
The original source has since been deleted by Facebook. The Hong Kong Hotel Employees Union made a new post condemning its deletion. It explained the situation to maintain transparency, upholding its responsibility for keeping the public informed and advocating for truth and self-reliance among Hongkongers.
[Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=201620357976085&id=107866584018130]
Source: Hong Kong Hotel Employees Union
https://bit.ly/3lH64fJ
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo
#HealthCode #surveillance #CCPHK #Coronavirus #unlicensed #BGIGroup #QuarantineExemption #PRCmedicine
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#FreeAgnes #RealMulan
Police Surround Agnes Chow and District Councillor's Anti-Health Code Booth
On the evening of Sept 7, 2020, Agnes Chow, former vice-secretary-general of Demosistõ and Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Ho Fu-wing set up a street booth in Jordan, expressing their opposition to the government's implementation of health code.
This has attracted police attention. Chow and Ho were encircled by the police and everyone at the booth was ticketed for "violating the gathering ban".
In August, police arrested Chow for "breaching the national security law". Chow has to report to the police again on Dec 2, one day before her birthday. Chow had mentioned earlier that her only wish is to be able to return home and spend her 24th birthday at home.
Source: Stand News #Sept7
https://www.facebook.com/710476795704610/posts/3435399803212282/
#599GTicket #HealthCode #MassSurveillance #BigData
====
I wish to spend my next #birthday at home: Agnes Chow
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1547305-20
Police Surround Agnes Chow and District Councillor's Anti-Health Code Booth
On the evening of Sept 7, 2020, Agnes Chow, former vice-secretary-general of Demosistõ and Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Ho Fu-wing set up a street booth in Jordan, expressing their opposition to the government's implementation of health code.
This has attracted police attention. Chow and Ho were encircled by the police and everyone at the booth was ticketed for "violating the gathering ban".
In August, police arrested Chow for "breaching the national security law". Chow has to report to the police again on Dec 2, one day before her birthday. Chow had mentioned earlier that her only wish is to be able to return home and spend her 24th birthday at home.
Source: Stand News #Sept7
https://www.facebook.com/710476795704610/posts/3435399803212282/
#599GTicket #HealthCode #MassSurveillance #BigData
====
I wish to spend my next #birthday at home: Agnes Chow
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1547305-20
#MassSurveillance
Urban Renewal Authority in Hong Kong Launches #HealthCode on Staff
Source: Apple Daily #Oct25
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Urban Renewal Authority in Hong Kong Launches #HealthCode on Staff
Source: Apple Daily #Oct25
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#MassSurveillance
Urban Renewal Authority in Hong Kong Launches #HealthCode on Staff
The Urban Renewal Authority (#URA) began a trial program of monitoring staff members’ whereabouts using the Health Code.
Wai Chi-Sing, Managing Director of the Bureau, revealed on his blog that their Population Census workers must install the “Infection Risk Reminder” application on their phone, and must put on electronic wristbands.
The application would warn them of entering premises with the risk of infection. When conducting home visits, they would display information on the app to the households, including their COVID-19 test results.
Wai explained that since the operation of the app on 9th October, 2020 about 110 staff members had installed, and more than 350 reminders had been issued. While some workers mocked the app and called it “URA’s health Code”, Wai stressed that the Bureau was developing a newer version, which allowed daily use and would “be available according to staff members’ will and need” by the end of November. Wai said that the itinerary recorded by the app would only be stored on individual phones, but not being sent to a central data base.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct25
#BigData
Urban Renewal Authority in Hong Kong Launches #HealthCode on Staff
The Urban Renewal Authority (#URA) began a trial program of monitoring staff members’ whereabouts using the Health Code.
Wai Chi-Sing, Managing Director of the Bureau, revealed on his blog that their Population Census workers must install the “Infection Risk Reminder” application on their phone, and must put on electronic wristbands.
The application would warn them of entering premises with the risk of infection. When conducting home visits, they would display information on the app to the households, including their COVID-19 test results.
Wai explained that since the operation of the app on 9th October, 2020 about 110 staff members had installed, and more than 350 reminders had been issued. While some workers mocked the app and called it “URA’s health Code”, Wai stressed that the Bureau was developing a newer version, which allowed daily use and would “be available according to staff members’ will and need” by the end of November. Wai said that the itinerary recorded by the app would only be stored on individual phones, but not being sent to a central data base.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct25
#BigData