📡Guardians of Hong Kong
9.57K subscribers
21.6K photos
1.88K videos
27 files
9.99K links
We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
Facebook: http://bit.ly/BeWaterHongKong
Instagram: @guardiansofhk
Website: https://guardiansofhk.com/
Download Telegram
Arrested Firefighter: “Between fighting fires and saving lives -- I choose to save Hong Kong”

Prior to the Support Rally for Firefighters and Paramedics on 14 November, the organizers collected voices of 105 frontline firefighters and paramedics. One of them, from arrested Firefighter F, encouraged Hongkongers to carry on.

F noted that he originally stationed in Kowloon. He went to the front line in the recent months and was arrested in one of the protests. He stated in his letter: “I have two kids, one is about to be born. Unfortunately, I have no chance to witness the childbirth. I feel sorry to my wife. My job is about fighting fires or saving lives, but in the end, I choose to save Hong Kong because I don’t want to look on with folded arms. My child will be born in 2019. I don’t know what Hong Kong would become as it inches towards 2047, when my child grows up as a youth. If we lost, history would only remember us as rioters. That’s why Hongkongers must carry on.”

The organizers also read the messages of F’s colleagues. Here are some of their voices:

-“You have done nothing wrong, bro. It is the tyrannical government who, using all Hongkongers as betting chips, is at fault.”

-“Not the Disciplinary Services Department will be the puppet of the merciless regime!”

-“You have done nothing wrong -- not even a nuclear blast can divide us.”

-“I support you, brother,” “With you arrested, Hong Kong has lost a firefighter with conscience.”

Source: Stand News #Nov14
#Firefighters #FightforFreedom #LiberateHongKong
Hong Kong Firefighter Arrested during Protests: “Between fighting fires and saving lives -- I choose to save Hong Kong”

"My child will be born in 2019. I don’t know what Hong Kong would become as it inches towards 2047, when my child grows up as a youth. If we lost, History would only remember us as rioters. That’s why Hong Kong people must carry on.”

Source: Stand News #Nov14
#Firefighters #FightforFreedom
A Peep Inside the Sealed Off University

The canteen in the Polytechnic University (PolyU) is turned into a distribution centre for supplies. Students categorize what they have gathered by type and organize them in a systematic and tidy style.

Some volunteers processed and prepared raw ingredients in the kitchen to provide decent meals for the protesters. Those who had tried the food claimed that it tasted better than what the canteen originally served.

Source: City Broadcasting Channel #Nov14
Adaptive Measures Show Hongkongers' Wittiness

The MTR Company claimed that they will be closing down exit A of Lam Tin Station due to the barricades installed. Citizens are required to scale a long staircase to reach Kai Tin Road. Out of sympathy for the locals, some citizens have set up “priority seats” along the staircase for the needy to take a break while walking up the stairs.

Source: HKBU Students’ Union Editorial Board #Nov14
Hong Kong SAR Government
accused legislators and political figures of "spreading of untrue claims overseas"

The Hong Kong SAR government issued press release on December 6 to condemn unnamed legislators and political figures for urging "foreign governments or legislatures to interfere with the affairs of the HKSAR".

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong SAR Government is found repeating itself in the press releases issued on November 14 and December 6, both praising the practice of "one country two systems" in Hong Kong while condemning the world's attention to the human rights crisis in Hong Kong.

In addition, it is worrying that the Hong Kong SAR Government has been appying very similar speech pattern as Beijing does: "foreign legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR".

Source:
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201912/06/P2019120600908.htm

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201911/14/P2019111400851.htm

#PressRelease #StateTerrorism #HKSARGov #Dec6 #Nov14
#FirstHand #Nov14
Hongkongers' Concern Over Labour Rights: Pro-democracy
Employees' Unions to Compete in Labour Advisory Board Election

Since the Anti-ELAB movement in 2019, employees' unions were formed in many professions, in a hope of voicing out democratic values and balancing the year-long domination by pro-Establishment bodies.

From November 7 to 20, 2020, these newly formed employees' unions are organizing a referendum in five districts, for members to vote for a representative who will then compete in the Labour Advisory Board election.

The Labour Advisory Board is a consultative organization in Hong Kong which gives advise to the government's Labour Department. Currenly, it is dominated by pro-Establishent representatives.

Voting Booths in 5 Districts:

Date: November 7-20, 2020
Time: 7pm-9pm (Mon - Fri)
2pm-8pm (Sat, Sun)
Location: Mongkok, Kwun Tong, Tsuen Wan, Causeway Bay, Shatin

*Exact location to be announced on the day via: https://fb.me/fight4lab/
#PrideParade #LGBTQRights
Hong Kong Pride Parade 2020 Tells the World "Here and Proud" Despite Police Disapproval

Source: InMedia #Nov14

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26667
#PrideParade #LGBTQ
Hong Kong Pride Parade 2020 Tells the World "Here and Proud" Despite Police's Objection

The Hong Kong Pride Parade was issued a Letter of Objection by the Hong Kong Police Force for the first time in 12 years. The original parade was prohibited, and it will now be held online.

This year’s theme is "Here and Proud". Before the gathering, spokesperson Jimmy Sham told the press that he was disappointed by the objection of the police, making it the first time the parade cannot be held under sunlight. Concerning the difficulty to calculate the number of participants online, Sham suggested that nowadays in Hong Kong, number of participants no longer matters.

Sham thanked 17 District Councils for supporting the parade and promoting it locally. Over 20 district councillors joined the event.

Sham, who is also a member of the Sha Tin District Council, pointed out that he was once told “it is very hard for gay people to become a district councillor”. This term, 3 gay people were elected, marking a new age for LGBTQ+ group. He also gave a special shout-out to the District Council members who promoted LGBTQ+ rights locally.

Singer Siufay, who came out earlier, was appointed the Rainbow Ambassador this year. He shared his experiences of coming out, “it is easier to step up than step back”. He said he had a lot of limitations before coming out, but now he can say whatever he wants.

Another Rainbow Ambassador is Figo Chan, the convener of Civil Human Rights Front. Chan added, Hong Kong is not familiar with gender issues, which creates discrimination. He hoped that one day these misunderstandings can be eliminated.

Source: InMedia #Nov14 https://bit.ly/32LOWxA

#HKPride #HereAndNow #DistrictCouncil #SiuFay #JimmySham #FigoChan
#LastYearToday #Interview
One Year On: PolyU Student Recalls Traumatic Memory of #PolyUSiege

[Editor's note: The Hong Kong Police attacked the Polytechnic University for the first time on Nov 11, 2019 and intensively since Nov 17. On Nov 18, thousands of Hongkongers protested in areas nearby the university, hoping to rescue the civilians entrapped inside the campus.

The violent dispersal operation by the police had caused a stampede, injuring many along Nathan Road.

Having besieged the university for 13 days, the police arrested more than a thousand civilians and injured countless.]

Source: Citizens News #Nov14
Image: Kelvin Cheng / USP

Read the Interview With Ken Woo of PolyU Student Union:
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26738
#LastYearToday #Interview
One Year On: PolyU Student Recalls Traumatic Memory of #PolyUSiege

Part 1/4

[Editor's note: The Hong Kong Police attacked the Polytechnic University for the first time on Nov 11, 2019 and intensively since Nov 17. On Nov 18, thousands of Hongkongers protested in areas nearby the university, hoping to rescue the civilians entrapped inside the campus.

The violent dispersal operation by the police had caused a stampede, injuring many along Nathan Road.

Having besieged the university for 13 days, the police arrested more than a thousand civilians and injured countless.]

It has been one year into the police's siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU).

During the siege in November 2019, Citizens News had conducted an interview with the acting president of the university's student union Ken Woo Kwok-wang. The 22-year-old Ken was wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, slightly showing exhaustion on his face.

He was reserved when talking about the condition of those who stayed behind in defence of the PolyU campus. The reporter of Citizens News did not ask further, so as to not provoke the emotion of the protesters.

One year has passed, the reporter met with Ken again, hoping to learn more about what had happened.

Ken is not wearing his glasses anymore. He cut his hair short and has apparently lost some weight. It is as if he needs to look like a different person, in order to part way with that traumatic memory.

Ken admitted frankly that he is afraid of bringing it up with friends, as his friends think he has experienced a lot. Ken said, "I've seen those who were much worst than me [during the siege]. I don’t think I did anything extraordinarily well. I felt a little bit guilty. My friends and other people have some
expectation for me and think I have done something, but I don't really think so."

Whenever he hears sayings like that, he has a headache. There is something he cannot overcome, still.

Continue Reading Part 2/4:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26748

Source: CNews #Nov14
https://tinyurl.com/y3vspxq7

#KenWoo #PolySU #Trauma #HongKongProtests #ProtestersStory #AntiElab #HongKongChronicles
#Interview
#PolyUSiege #LastYearToday
Student Recalling Police Siege of University: No Place is Always Safe, and There's Nothing the Police Wouldn't Dare to Do

Part 1/4:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26738

Part 2/4

According to the then-acting president of the Student Union Ken Woo, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) was the first university attacked by the police during the Anti-Extradition Bill Protest in 2019.

It happened before the Battle of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK). On the morning of November 11, 2019, it began with the police firing two rounds of tear gas into the PolyU campus at around 6:30am.

As Woo recalled, he dashed from the campus D Core Exit to the bridge connecting to Hung Hom Train Station after he heard some noises from that direction.

When he arrived, the police were already inside the campus, passing by the Democracy Wall. An officer pointed his gun at his head and ordered him to leave.

15 minutes later, police fired tear gas inside the campus. At that point, Wu realized that there was no going back.

PolyU had become a thorn in the eyes of the police. Woo said that it was not new to have police monitoring the campus; after every demonstration on Hong Kong Island, there would always be about 60 to 70 uniformed officers at the Cross Harbour Tunnel bus stop beside PolyU, conducting bag and vehicle inspections.

On October 1st, 2019 [PRC's National Day], police were even guarding each exit of the university, searching the bags of everyone who left or entered the campus. 

Even so, Woo still felt that the university was his safe haven, until tear gas were fired into the campus. That was the moment when he realized that no place is always safe, and that there is nothing the police would not dare to do.

“The bridge was filled with happy memories of my 4 years of university life. I recalled every moment walking on the bridge with my committee members, laughing happily.” Woo said, "Witnessing that moment [the siege by the police] when everything I knew has irreversibly changed, that the campus I used to know has turned into a battle field, it was a shock."

Continue Reading Part 3 / 4
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26777

Source: CNews #Nov14
https://tinyurl.com/y3vspxq7

#KenWoo #PolySU #Interview #HongKongProtests #ProtestersStory #AntiElab
#HongKongChronicles
#Interview
#Sanction #UK
UK's Labour Party Urges Foreign Secretary to take a 'tougher stance' on HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank

Shadow foreign secretary of Labour Party Lisa Nandy urged minister Dominic Raab to take a 'tougher stance' on HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank. She also warned banks of the 'consequences' of failing to uphold human rights.

Nandy hopes to receive "a clear statement from HSBC and Standard Chartered disassociating themselves from that national security law” in Hong Kong.

Source: Telegraph #Nov14; Apple Daily #Nov16
www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/11/14/ministers-must-take-banks-task-hong-kong-warns-labour/

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201116/NJVIVLDHUNB4HOZU3O6EYRNTXI/

#LisaNandy #DominicRaab #ForeignSecretary #NationalSecurityLaw #HSBC #StandardChartered
#PolyUSiege #LastYearToday #NeverForget
Frontliners and Supporters: Be Valiant or Be Peaceful? To Stay or to Leave? How Far Can One Go?

Source: CNews #Nov14
Image: Hong Kong Free Press

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26777
#PolyUSiege #LastYearToday #NeverForget
Frontliners and Supporters: Be Valiant or Be Peaceful? To Stay or to Leave? How Far Can One Go?

Part 1/4:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26738

Part 2/4
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26748

Part 3 / 4

"The committee held discussions on whether to stay or to leave the campus," the acting president of #PolyU Student Union Ken Woo said.

“One of our members was a nursing student, and you could not become a nurse if you have a criminal record. We wanted those who had family responsibilities to leave and help from the outside where it's less risky, and those who were willing to shoulder the consequences to stay inside”.

The 18 members of the Students' Union did not spend a lot of time together, as each worked in their own ways towards the same goal in different places.

“I'm not the muscular type”, Ken said, “One might say that it doesn’t make much difference whether I stay at the frontline or not. But I think my participation was more of an emotional support to the frontliners. I had no reason to leave”.

When being asked whether he felt sad when he was the last among the 18 members to stay behind, Ken replied: “I actually wanted them to leave as soon as possible. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, especially my committee members. The longer they stayed, the higher the chance of getting arrested. Moreover, staying in the campus also was a heavy burden on one’s mind.”

Source: CNews #Nov14
https://tinyurl.com/y3vspxq7

#KenWoo #PolyU #StudentsUnion #Valiant #Frontliners #HongKongProtests #ProtestersStory #AntiElab #HongKongChronicles
#Interview
#PolyUSiege #LastYearToday
After the Police Siege, #PolyU Student: There are stories in every corner of this campus

Source: CNews #Nov14
Image: Lam Yik Fei / New York Times

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26802