#PoliceState
Scene of Hong Kong Protests

Video taken in Causeway Bay on May 24, 2020.

#DailyUpdate #May31 #COVID19

COVID-19 Updates (May 31)

At the time of writing, 6,197,756 cases of the coronavirus had been confirmed with 371,626 deaths. 2,761,300 have recovered.

Hong Kong confirms 2 new local cases of COVID-19 after 16 days gap, involving a couple. The woman is in critical condition.

The “CUMask” distributed by HKSAR government would stop online registration on 6th June.

The HKSAR government is sending 2 chartered planes to retrieve Hong Kong residents in Nepal.

The UK government agreed to restart sports matches including football, horse racing and snooker behind the doors, commencing on Monday.

Bars, gyms and restaurants in South Korea to keep a QR-code log of customers.

Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi urges caution as country gets ready to relax lockdown.

India announces 3-phase plan to lift restrictions outside containment zones

Pakistan makes face masks mandatory in public.

Source: CNN, Worldometer, Now News

#Press #HongKongProtest
Behind the Scene: Reporters' Work in Hong Kong

Video taken on May 24, 2020 in Causeway Bay

#FirstHand #May31
Elderly Gives Encouraging Words to HongKongers in the Fight for Freedom

Uncle Chan, an elderly citizen representing voluntary group "Protect the Children", encouraged Hongkongers to never give up. He asked fellow Hongkongers to be agile and cautious when fighting evil, and wished them to return home safely.

#NeverGiveUp #NeverForgive

Beijing Demands a "Speedy" legislation of #SecurityLaw in HK

Despite the U.S. plan to sanction China, the Chinese Communist Party government proceeds with the forceful legislation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong.

On May 31, China state media Xinhua News published a work report of the National People's Congress, demanding a "speedy legislation" of the security law.

Earlier, China even said its public security ministry would "direct and support" the Hong Kong police. According to analysts, this is a clear sign that the Communist Chinese Party organs would take a direct role in implementing the security legislation in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Secretary for Security John Lee revealed on May 30 that a new department might be set up in Hong Kong for the purpose. Lee, morever, downplayed the impacts of the Law by insisting that the press freedom would not be harmed. In his words, journalists won't face charges, if they "report the news truthfully".

Source: RTHK #May31
Image: New York Times
#JohnLee

The controversial Split voting mechanism of the LegCo explained

#LegCo #SplitVoting

#NationalSecurityLaw
Two Pro-China Groups Suspected of Colluding and Forging Public Support for National Security Law

Led by Starry Lee Wai-king, Chairwoman of Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), a cross-sector alliance was recently formed to support the enactment of National Security Law in Hong Kong which initiated a signature campaign last Tuesday (May 26). Several government officials graced the event, reportedly to express their fidelity to the Chinese government.

At the same venue, a pro-China organization, the New Home Association, was found handing out freebies while members of DAB were collecting supporters’ signatures for the National Security Law from those lining up for the giveaways. Some elderly put down their signatures without knowing its purpose.

Citizens suspected that the two groups were colluding and exhausting all means to collect citizens’ signatures to forge public support for the National Security Law.

Source: Apple Daily
#May31 #DAB #Forgeries

#DistrictCouncil
District Officer Leaves in Middle of Meeting after Pro-democracy Council Members Proposed to Oppose Implementation of National Security Law in Hong Kong

In the Security and Constitutional Affairs Committee in Kwun Tong District Council on May 29th, pro-democracy council members proposed a plan to oppose the implementation of the National Security law in Hong Kong on behalf of the Kwun Tong District Council.

The Home Affairs Department district officer disagreed with the proposal and stated that it was not the District Council did not have a say in such matters.

The officer then left the meeting and handed the secretarial service to the council. The proposal was passed in the end, with 28 members voting yes in the absence of the Home Affairs District officer.

Source: Facebook@Hinson Hung
#May31 #DistrictOfficer #NationalSecurityLaw

#Newspaper

Chinese state TV broke Ofcom rules with biased Hong Kong coverage

//China’s state television channel repeatedly breached British broadcasting rules with biased coverage of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, according to a decision by the media regulator that could set up a diplomatic clash between the two countries.

//the channel – which has been dubbed a propaganda outfit – often focused on violence by protesters against police officers, while downplaying attacks by the authorities on the public.

//However, as part of its efforts to avoid sanctions – which could include a substantial fine – CGTN found itself arguing that the protests by millions of Hong Kong residents were not entirely without purpose.

//In an attempt to avoid breaches of British broadcasting rules it had hired Nick Pollard, a former Ofcom board member, as an adviser. However, he resigned last year in the middle of the Hong Kong protests. CGTN is still facing separate ongoing investigations by Ofcom into claims it broadcast forced on-air confessions by Chinese prisoners, as well as wider questions about its ownership.

//The channel said one of its Hong-Kong-based correspondents had tried to approach or contact more than 50 young protesters or opposition figures while reporting on the demonstrations over the past few months. However, it said “most of them have rejected such approaches as they are hostile to the media from mainland China and to Mandarin-speaking reporters”.

//Ofcom concluded that simply because pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong were reluctant to appear on the channel, it did not mean CGTN should not seek to represent their views in order to meet the standards of due impartiality.

Full article: The Guardian, (26-May)

Further reading:
U.S. Hits Back at China With New Visa Restrictions on Journalists
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/09/us/politics/china-journalists-us-visa-crackdown.amp.html

#ChinesePropaganda #CGTN #HongKongProtest

#Newspaper

State-run CGTN faces sanctions from UK media regulator over coverage of Hong Kong protests

//Britain’s media regulator Tuesday found China’s English-language broadcaster CGTN in “serious failure of compliance” with UK impartiality laws during its coverage of last year’s Hong Kong protests.

//The most serious breaches are punished in Britain with fines and — in case of repeat or especially egregious violations — license suspensions.

//The five CGTN programmes cited by Ofcom were all aired during a seven month spell last year when Hong Kong was upended by huge and often violent pro-democracy protests.

//“Various news items on protests in Hong Kong were not duly impartial on a matter of major political controversy and a major matter relating to current public policy,” Ofcom said in a 61-page report.

//Ofcom said it has been in contact with CGTN about the programmes and now studying the channel’s defence of the case.

Full article: Hong Kong Free Press, (27-May)

#ChinesePropaganda #CGTN #HongKongProtest