#Newspaper

Coronavirus lockdown in China has air pollution levels tumbling, NASA satellites reveal

//Air pollution over China has plummeted in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that forced the shutdown of industry and transport, NASA says.

//NASA and the European Space Agency's pollution monitoring satellites have detected a significant decline in the amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO2).

//"There is evidence that the change is at least partly related to the economic slowdown following the outbreak of coronavirus," NASA said in a statement.

//NASA's Earth Observatory said that: "While the Lunar New Year may have played a role in the recent drop-off, researchers believe the decrease is more than a holiday effect or weather-related variation."

//It noted that pollution levels had not risen as expected after the New Year holiday.

Full Article: ABC News, (01-Mar)
https://ab.co/2TBnFsw

#Coronavirus #Pollution #NO2 #China

COVID-19 Updates (5/3)

Today the global numbers climb to 94782 with 3308 deaths. China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran continue to be the worst affected countries.

China’s reported figures now state that some 80430 people are infected with 3013 deaths.

The South Korean government has announced another 467 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. South Korea now has a total of 6088 cases and 34 deaths.

Iran has reported a total of 3513 cases, with 107 deaths.

Another 2 chartered planes sent by HKSAR government to Wuhan had returned, passengers were sent to Chun Yeung Estate for quarantine.

In Hong Kong, the Office of the Ombudsman started to investigate the distribution and accessibility for masks produced by Correctional Services Industries inmates (commonly known as CSI masks).

Starting from tomorrow, South Korea fully bans face mask exports. From next week(09-Mar) onwards, every individual can only purchase 2 masks per week.

Two more American soldiers in South Korea were confirmed infected by the coronavirus, raising the total to 6.

South Korean authorities marked Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang as a main epidemic containment area, after Cheongdo-gun.

South Korean authorities carried out investigations to the headquarters of Shincheonji Church.

Japan suspended the visa-free entries for Hong Kong and Macau citizens. It is also announced that tourists from China and Korea would be suspended from issuing visas. Incoming Chinese, Korean, Hong Kong and Macau citizens would be quarantined for 2 weeks upon arrival.

Italy announced class suspension till 15th March, ban of all public activities and closed-door matches for sports leagues.

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovenia, Palestine and South Africa reported their first cases of coronavirus infection.

The number of confirmed cases in UK reached a historical high. A total of 90 cases were reported. Experts estimate the virus is spreading in the society.

In USA, California reported the first death in the state, the individual was a passenger on the cruise ship Grand Princess. The government has barred the cruise from boarding as dozens of passengers show symptoms of infection.

WHO claimed Hong Kong set example of using more effective measures to halt virus transmission instead of fully closing down of borders.

At least 2 European Union staff members were confirmed infected.

Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health announced COVID-19 as a “worldwide pandemic”, despite WHO general secretary Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus repeatedly denial. Germany also prohibits the export of masks and gloves.

Thailand Announces 14-Day Compulsory Quarantine for Arrivals From South Korea, China, Macao, Hong Kong, Italy and Iran.

Source: Now news, HKET, am730, US News, N1, i24 news, CNBC Africa, France24, RTHK, World Meter

【今個星期日 晚上7點半 將軍澳見 他只有22歲】

手足由兩個到三個，三個到四個，彼此日以繼夜堅持不熄的怒火，並不停鍛練身體，為將來的逆境奮鬥。

香港人保護手足之心，從抗爭中顯得鉅細無遺 — 真香港人， 真有情。


「請保持憤怒
保持🖤嘅熱度
一日未光復香港
革命還須繼續
2020抗爭到底」

煲底見

#香港人 #光復香港時代革命 #文宣馬拉松 #保持憤怒 #保持熱度 #抗爭到底 #感動 #兄弟爬山各自努力 #neverforgetneverforgive #文宣抗爭 #遍地開花 #是香港人 #遍地開花

===
See you in Tseung Kwan O this Sunday.
Remember he was only 22 years old.

From two to three; from three to four,

We light up each other with our burning flames,

We train up our mind and our physic for an uphill battle ahead,

Looking out for fellow protesters, the loving heart of Hongkongers can never die.

We will celebrate our triumph under “the pot”.

See you in Tseung Kwan O this Sunday at 7pm.

#FiveDemandsNotOneLess #HongKongersResist #HongKongersRevenge

Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times

Hong Kong Police Force: Only Reasonable Force would be Applied and False Accusations are Ridiculous

The police stressed that the planclothes police would apply reasonable force to control suspects and they would also indicate their identity during arrests. They condemned people with “ulterior motives” for releasing false information to discredit the police. They also criticised the accusations of young people “being disappeared” or “being suicided” are ridiculous. The police reiterated that they are a force enforcement agent, not criminals.

The police said that on Feb 19, dozens of demonstrators participated in an unlawful assembly and blocked the interaction of Po Hong Road and Tong Ming Street in Tseung Kwan O. The demonstrators were fleeting the scene and the special force unit immediately got out of the car and successfully intercepted a 24 year old local man and arrested him for unlawful assembly.

Source: Stand News #Mar4

Meanwhile...
Plainclothes police deliberatly drove a car towards citizens: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16867

Citizens Violently Beaten by Plainclothes police: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16523

#PoliceState #PoliceBrutality

#AsiasFinest #Coronavirus
Amidst Supply Shortage, Hong Kong Police Wear Excessive Protection but Still Unwilling to Enter Hospital Ward

The following is posted by DJ Poon Siuto on Facebook:

"A patient in the isolated ward tried to leave the hospital without permission. Police were asked to help with the situation but only stood outside the ward.

For common medical practice, wearing a N-95 mask provides enough protection. Despite the shortage of supply, the over-reacted police wasted sets of protective clothing only for themselves to feel more comfortable.

Source: DJ Poon Siuto’s Facebook

#Interview #ChuMokMan

In Epidemic Hongkongers show the ability of Self-help 1/2

(12 Feb) The Wuhan Pneumonia epidemic continues spreading rapidly. Even the 7-month long wave of the Anti-Extradition Movement needs to shift its focus towards the epidemic. One of the advocates who successfully helped pass the Human Rights and Democracy Act of the US is Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC) managing director Samuel CHU Mok-man. He thinks that the Five Demands have not been forgotten. Rather, the epidemic is letting the world see through the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and understand how their system's lack of transparency and democratic accountability put the world in jeopardy. Meanwhile, Hongkongers demonstrated their aptitude to save themselves in the "7-month drill". HKDC joined forces with overseas Hongkonger organisations to help Demosistō purchase 100,000 masks to aid Hongkongers' fight against the epidemic. "The Anti-Extradition Movement has built an immensely strong base among the people. When the virus invaded, the general public turned their anger into actions of political pressure and demands for accountability."

"Be Water" is the core spirit of the Anti-Extradition Movement. Samuel believes that confronting the CCP is like confronting the virus. Eventually, saving our Hong Kong will require getting our own hands dirty and adapting to changing circumstances like water.

Source: Stand News

#SelfHelp #Coronavirus #AntiELAB #FiveDemands #BeWater

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Continue reading:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/18172

#Interview #ChuMokMan

In Epidemic Hongkongers show the ability of Self-help 2/2

Anti-Extradition Movement refines Hongkongers' capability for self-reliance

(12 Feb) Presently, the world is preparing to battle the Wuhan Pneumonia. Samuel feels that many mainland Chinese residents are angry with their government for failing to control the epidemic and especially for arresting one of the whistleblowers, known as the "Eight Warriors", for spreading rumours. Wuhan Central Hospital ophthalmologist LI Wenliang died of Wuhan Pneumonia just days ago. A large number of netizens held vigils online. Many scholars even called for 6 Feb to be designated as National Freedom of Speech Day, emphasising "no safety without freedom of speech". It caused a ripple effect. "This incident allowed the world to see more clearly how the lack of transparency and democratic accountability caused the epidemic to spread around the globe."

Having gone through seven months of protests, Hongkongers are now trained in "alternative resistance". Faith in the government tossed aside, they had no second thoughts in using "self-help" when the virus wreaked havoc. Some shops purchased large quantities of masks to meet the urgent demands of the general public. Enterprises even invested in mask production lines to enable "self-sufficient" epidemic control. Health care and aviation sectors took turns with labour strikes to pressure the government to close the borders and save Hong Kong. The government turned Fai Ming Estate and Jao Tsung-I Academy into quarantine camps. Respectively, Fanling and Mei Foo residents demonstrated in opposition. Even the "blue ribbon" elderly took to the streets and joined in the blockade for the first time.

Samuel pointed out that Hongkongers have learned to organise and protest during the Anti-Extradition Movement. The response to the epidemic crisis is just another stage of evolution.

"This is civic, democratic participation. The Anti-Extradition Movement has established a strong base among the people. When the virus crisis hit, the public turned anger into action. They used political pressure and demanded accountability. This is the vibrant mobilisation of civil society.... Be Water, evolve."

Source: The Stand News
https://bit.ly/2To84xr

#SelfHelp #Coronavirus #BeWater #FreedomOfSpeech #CCP

#Interview #ChuMokMan

Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act Pusher - Chu Mok Man

//over the past 30 years, whenever a large-scale democracy movement took place in Hong Kong like the million people against Article 23 in 2003 and the Umbrella Movement in 2014, the international community would pay attention. Hongkonger civil society would go to Washington to lobby.

//"Without money to hire professional lobbyist, what can one do?" Samuel's answer is to build his political power, familiarise himself with the "rules of the game" in political procedures, and motivate himself to advocate for agendas requiring attention.

//A lobbyist and their target could unexpectedly switch roles and become the helper.

//"I didn’t need to persuade her; I just brought up this memory. This is a part of her political and personal life."

//"This NBA incident made average Americans understand what it was like to be bullied by China." The police brutality and injustices from the past few months are naturally vivid in the minds of Hongkongers but are very remote to the general American populace. To gain their support and put pressure on Congress, it must be relevant to their daily lives and interests.

//HKDC can help Americans and the Congress understand why they should not be passive bystanders.

Full translation:
https://telegra.ph/In-Epidemic-Hongkongers-show-the-ability-of-Self-help-03-05

Source: Stand News
https://bit.ly/2To84xr

#HKHRDA #NBA #USCongress #SelfHelp

#Newspaper

Unions of Customs & Excise & Correction Services are unhappy about huge salary gaps with HK Police

Editor's note: Union representatives of the Customs & Excise Services called for an equal pay structure for all enforcement staff at the Panel on Civil Services meeting, but pro-establishment legislators defended the current pay scale, and giving the police preferential treatment. This is the first time that a former senior bureau official has openly admitted that the Hong Kong police force have taken up the role of a paramilitary - and even full military - in its operations to “curb the violence and social unrest” by suppressing Hong Kong protests as citizens demand for Beijing to uphold Hong Kong’s status as an autonomous and democratic administrative region under the “One Country Two Systems” framework.

(20 Jan)Numerous disciplined services unions, including the Hong Kong Customs & Excise Custom Officer Grade Association (HKCEOGA), Hong Kong Customs & Excise Staff General Association (HKCESGA), Hong Kong Correctional Services Department Assistant Officers General Association (HKCSDAOGA), and Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants Association (HKCCSA), urged the government to standardize the pay scale and structure for all disciplined and related civil servants at today's Legislative Council Panel on Public Services meeting (where panel members met to examine and discuss the disciplined forces pay grade & structure).

Continue reading:
https://telegra.ph/Unions-of-Customs--Excise--Correction-Services-are-unhappy-about-huge-salary-gaps-with-HK-Police-03-05

Source : Apple Daily HK
http://bit.ly/3aqapOX

#PoliceState #ReginaIp #SalaryGaps

Recovering Coronavirus Patient Dies as the Virus Attack Returns

A Wuhan citizen surnamed Mei spoke to a Bloomberg reporter on Wednesday (March 3) saying that her 36 year-old husband, Lee Liang, was a recovering Coronavirus patient and was isolated in a hotel for rehabilitation.

On March 2, Lee succumbed to the virus again and died after being taken to hospital. On his death certificate issued by Wuhan City Health Commission, Lee’s cause of death was “Novel Coronavirus”.

However, Bloomberg has since deleted the story, while Tencent, Sina and other news channels which had forwarded the news story have also subsequently deleted the news.

Source: Apple Daily
#Mar5 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak

The latest confirmed case of COVID-19 is a Mainland Chinese student studying in Queensland, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in Queensland to 10. There are a few universities offering subsidies to students who have been quarantined, in order to aid them financially during their 14 days of quarantine. This quarantine order applies to Chinese students returning Australia.

These universities are offering these options to the Chinese students, without breaking rules set by the Australia Government, such as "Entering Australia after staying in a third country for 14 days."

However, the above-mentioned patient travelled to Dubai for at least 14 days before entering Austalia.

This is substantial proof that the virus has the ability to incubate in a host for more than 2 weeks. The risk of carriers bringing the virus into Australia will rise exponentially, given the nature of how this illness spreads, if universities continue to offer such subsidies to attract more students entering Australia from affected countries, such as China.

At the same time, community spread is imminent. Most citizens are still largely unaware of the risks of spread. Taking a stroll down the street, one would be hard-pressed to find anyone in a mask.

Meanwhile, contact tracing is still being carried out in order to contain the spread. People who have come into contact with the above-mentioned patient are also being tested for the virus.

Such measures that are neccessary in the prevention of any further spread stifles the usual operations of many agencies, and of course, the univeristies. The costs incurred due to these interruptions would be much higher than the loss of tuition fees collected from the Chinese students.

Panic-buying and xenophobia against Chinese and Asians have been on an upward trend in the recent weeks in Australia. Universities that offer subsidies to coerce students from China to come back to Australia should consider whether or not this is a good move for both the students and the country.

#China #Australia

Further reading:
https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-03/coronavirus-queensland-man-20-toowong-dubai-china/12018268?pfmredir=sm

#ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak
One seasame-sized droplet can contain 100,000 coronavirus

Head of the University of Hong Kong's Centre for Infection, Dr. Ho Pak-leung and leading microbiologist Dr. Yuen Kwok-yung jointly analysed the viral load of the first 23 confirmed infection cases in Hong Kong.

Ho pointed out that the viral volume of confirmed patients reached peak level on admission day. “One sesame-sized droplet contains 100,000 viruses; one tenth of a sesame seed has as many as 10,000 viruses.” Since the general public does not have antibodies to Wuhan pneumonia, exposure to only a few would cause infection.

Ho reminded medical staff to wash their face and immediately after handling a patient, and wash their hair after returning home. Meanwhile, it is better to buy takeaway rather than eating in. Masks removed during meals should not be worn again.

The public shall refrain from chatting during meals, and keep a distance of around 6 floor tiles (around 6 ft) from each other.

#Mar3

#MTR #EmptyR
Pro-Democracy Legislator accuses MTR of passing the buck in derailment incident

When MTR East Rail train derailed in September 2019, Chan Fan, Secretary for Transport and Housing immediately put the blame on protesters without any proof.

The investigation report released on Monday, March 2, confirmed that the derailment was caused by screw failure as the maintenance crew was not aware of the stiffness between the old and new sleepers.

Pro-democracy legislator Jeremy Tam said on Facebook, it was obvious that the MTR corporation wanted to blame the frontline maintenance staff. He pointed out that the "new sleeper" has been used for 10 years, so it was logical to ask: why was there not a similar incident in the past? Did MTR ever issue maintenance guidelines in this regard?

Tam said that this incident was the biggest derailment in Hong Kong history and the investigation report showed management of MTR denied responsibility, palming off on the frontline.

Source: Jeremy Tam's facebook

#Newspaper

Exclusive: Newly obtained documents show Huawei role in shipping prohibited U.S. gear to Iran

//China’s Huawei Technologies, which for years has denied violating American trade sanctions on Iran, produced internal company records in 2010 that show it was directly involved in sending prohibited U.S. computer equipment to Iran’s largest mobile-phone operator.

//Two Huawei packing lists, dated December 2010, included computer equipment made by Hewlett-Packard Co and destined for the Iranian carrier, internal Huawei documents reviewed by Reuters show.

//The packing lists and other internal documents provide the strongest documentary evidence to date of Huawei’s involvement in alleged trade sanctions violations.

//The United States is trying to persuade allies to avoid using Huawei equipment in their next-generation mobile telecommunications systems, known as 5G. Separately, U.S. authorities are battling Huawei on a legal front.

//A U.S. indictment alleges that Huawei and Meng participated in a fraudulent scheme to obtain prohibited U.S. goods and technology for Huawei’s Iran-based business, and move money out of Iran by deceiving Western banks.

Full Article: Reuters, (2-Mar)
https://reut.rs/2TzrrlW

#Iran #Huawei #5G #Meng

#Newspaper

U.S. officials worried about Chinese control of American drug supply

//"Basically we've outsourced our entire industry to China," retired Brig. Gen. John Adams told NBC News. "That is a strategic vulnerability.”

//The vast majority of key ingredients for drugs that many Americans rely on are manufactured abroad, mostly in China.

//If China shut the door on exports of medicines and their key ingredients and raw material, U.S. hospitals and military hospitals and clinics would cease to function within months, if not days

//China could potentially "weaponize our medicines"

//"The last penicillin plant in the United States closed in 2004.”

//"China is the world's largest exporter of vitamins and antibiotic raw materials,”… ”Once the export is reduced, the medical systems of some developed countries will not work.”

//If relations decline further, the Chinese government could look for 'pressure points' where it can wield outsize leverage or force a change of U.S. policy.

//We need to move away from any country having a monopoly on the ingredients that we depend upon our antibiotics

//We have a lot of empty manufacturing facilities in the United States, and what it takes is refurbishing those with newer technology

Full Article: NBC News, (Sep 2019)
https://nbcnews.to/3cvPhIg

#US #DrugSupply #Coronavirus

#PoliceState
When Police Officers Are only “Reprimanded” For Inflicting Physical and Verbal Violence on Civilians; Pro-democracy Legislators: An Insufficient Deterrent

Police Commissioner, Chris Tang Ping-keung told media on Monday, March 2 that the Complaints Against Police Office had received 1639 complaints related to the anti-extradition protests, of which 125 have been investigated.

Related officers had been "reprimanded" in 21 incidents: These include the traffic police who rammed into the crowd with his motocycle in November 2019 and the two officers showing a journalist's identity card on live broadcast. However, nothing from the Yuen Long 721 attack was covered.

Source: Ming Pao

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/18186

#PoliceState
When Police Officers Are only “Reprimanded” For Inflicting Physical and Verbal Violence on Civilians; Pro-democracy Legislators: An Insufficient Deterrent

Police Commissioner, Chris Tang Ping-keung told media on Monday, March 2 that the Complaints Against Police Office had received 1639 complaints related to the anti-extradition protests, of which 125 have been investigated.

Related officers had been "reprimanded" in 21 incidents: These include the traffic police who rammed into the crowd with his motocycle in November 2019 and the two officers showing a journalist's identity card on live broadcast. However, nothing from the Yuen Long 721 attack was covered.

The Police Force claimed that in view of the long time required for investigation, verbal warning can deter other officers from following suit, stressing that the reprimand would not affect subsequent investigation.

Looking through past records, "reprimands" were commonly used for mild offences such as police officers found watching World Cup or browsing pornographic websites during duty sessions.

Pro-democracy legislator, To Kun-sin pointed out that if a civilian had done the same thing as the traffic police did, they would be charged with criminal offences such as “reckless driving”. In any case, he considered “reprimands” insufficient to deter the police. He asked the Force to give further account of the cases, including arrangements of the final disciplinary action.

Likewise, member of the Civil Rights Watch, Wong Hau-yin urged the police to give details of the 21 cases and the allegations of excessive use of force.

Source: Ming Pao #Mar3
https://tinyurl.com/wdno32t

#StateTerrorism #CPAO #PoliceBrutality