#Discrimination #AsiasFinest #PressFreedom
Police Demand Stand News Reporter to prove identity through income

3 reporters, including one from Stand News, were stopped and searched by the police while reporting the commemoration of university student Chow Tsz-lok on Aug 8, 2020, which marked 9 months after his death.

After showing the press pass and ID card, the Stand News reporters was asked by the police for proof that he is a salaried employee of the news agency. Police demanded the reporter to call his colleagues to provide proof. In the end, the police ticketed the other two reporters for violating the gathering ban because they "failed" to prove their identity as a journalist. “You’re on the borderline,” said the police to the Stand News reporter, “but I trust that you are just here to do your job”.

Source: Stand News #Aug9
#ChowTszLok #9Months #StandNews

#AppleDaily #PressFreedom
"We will Walk Together"

Hong Kong artist Kit Man released this comic strips after Apple Daily, a Hong Kong newspaper with a pro-democracy stance, was raided by 200 police on August 10, 2020.

On the same day, police arrested 10 people including pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow Apple Daily's founder Jimmy Lai, his two sons, Next Media's CEO and COO, on suspicion of national security law infringement.

Despite the raid and arrest, Apple Daily staff continued to bring the 11 August edition to print, while Hongkongers queued up in front of many newspaper stalls and convenience stores to buy the newspaper as they still can to show support to a newspaper that has strived to speak the voice of the local.

Source: Kit Da Sketch #Aug10
#KitMan #Comics #NationalSecurityLaw #AgnesChow #PoliticalOppression #Xinnie

Conversation between a father and daughter about why people were purchasing multiple copies of #AppleDaily

Daughter: Why are you buying so many copies [of Apple Daily]?
Father: We are buying them for your future

This is a conversation between a father and a daughter in Hong Kong on August 11, 2020. In this family of three, each parent has bought 3 copies of Apple Daily:

👧🏻：We have a lot newspapers at home. Why are you buying more?
👨🏼‍🦰：We are buying them for the sake of your future.
👧🏻: But why so many!
👨🏼‍🦰：There's never enough freedom.
👧🏻：Is 200 policemen a lot?
👨🏼‍🦰：Yes.
👧🏻：Then why were there no police officers when the white-clad triads* attacked people?
👨🏼‍🦰：...

#SupportAppleDaily
#WeNeedAppleDaily

*Referring to the 7.21 (21 July 2019) Yuen Long attacks, where there was no response from the police despite numerous reports being made when white-clad gangsters attacked both civilians and people deemed to be pro-democracy supporters at Yuen Long.

Source: Facebook #Aug11
#Future

#Education #Censorship
#NationalEducation from home: Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong urge schools to foster stronger national identity

Due to the third-wave of pandemic in Hong Kong, all on-campus classes will be suspended this fall. Students will be conducting home-based learning again. It is highly likely that national education will be inserted into the home-based learning curriculum.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong sent a letter to chancellors and principals of Catholic primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong.

In the letter, it reminded the chancellors and principals that the Education Bureau (EDB) has been a partner and a major sponsoring body of the Catholic schools, and because of this, schools are required to be supportive of this new notion to promote national education through home-based learning.

Guidelines have been proposed to assist school staffs in enhancing students' understanding in the #NationalSecurityLaw (NSL) #NationalAnthemLaw and also to foster a stronger national identity in the students.

During the social movements in 2019, many alumni from different schools petitioned to show their support in actions against the government's Extradition Bill. Some of the petitions also included students and existing staffs. The Parish has stated that school policies should be strict in the prevention of political activities from happening on campuses and in schools. It also stated that schools need to clarify immediately in the event of a petition, in the name of the school, is found to be carried out. Also, the parish encouraged chancellors and principals to respond to the EDB's actions positively, and also called for parents to understand and work closely with the schools if special arrangements are needed.

In the beginning of July 2019, after the enactment of NSL, Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan, Permanent Secretary for Education, sent a letter to sponsoring bodies for aided schools and direct subsidy schools to recommend them to explain the NSL to their students. If any of the students violate schools' rules and fail to display any improvements after reminders, the school should impose punishment.

Source: Apple Daily #Aug7
#RomanCatholicDiocese #EDB

#AppleDaily #YellowEconomy
Pro-democracy 'Yellow' Shop Owner: Persist and Hongkongers will walk with You

Despite raided by 200 police with multiple arrests including the founder and the head of the company, Next Media persisted to publish their newspaper Apple Daily as usual on August 11, 2020.

Many Hongkongers showed support by buying the newspaper. A pro-democracy "yellow" shop owner Mr Wong has paid for more than a hundred copies of Apple Daily in a convenient store and offered them for free.

He hoped Apple Daily could stand until the end, “I hope you [Next Media] can persist. As the largest 'yellow' media, it will be sad that we lose you. I hope you can stand until the end and Hongkongers will walk with you.”

Source: InMedia #Aug11

#PoliceState #1C1S
Police Arrest Freelance Reporter for Britain's ITV for "Colluding with Foreign Powers" under the National Security Law

Wilson Li Chung-chak, a freelancer for Britain's ITV and former member of Scholarism, was released from Hung Hom Police Station after midnight on Aug 12. He paid a bail of HKD20,000 in cash and HKD180,000 in personnel. Like Agnes Chow, his passport was confiscated by the police.

Li was arrested by the police on Aug 10 for "collusion with a foreign country or external elements".

Other arrestees including pro-democracy activist and member of "Hong Kong Story" Andy Lee Yu-hin, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, his 2 sons, and the 4 executives of Next Media including CEO Cheung Kim-hung were all released on bail.

Source: RTHK; Apple Daily; USP; itv #Aug12 #NationalSecurityLaw
#Freedomofpress

Beijing Loyalists condemn US, calling the #Sanction "disgusting"

The US Treasury sanctioned 11 Hong Kong and Chinese officials, including HK and Macau Affairs Office director Xiao Baolong, Liaison Office head Luo Huining, Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Police Commissioner Tang Ping-keung.

The #DAB, a pro-Beijing party, issued a statement on Aug 8 condemning the sanction, calling the accusations “baseless and arbitrary” and that the action was to “comply with the Trump administration and his anti-China policies, aiming to benefit Trump’s re-election campaign”.

The DAB claimed that tge “majority in HK supported the implementation of the #NationalSecurityLaw” and “believed in the Central Government and One Country Two Systems”.

They condemn the U.S. government for "hegemonism and double standards" and "intervening with HK and China’s domestic affairs": “The US defames One Country Two Systems and its healthy operation in HK" and "it is disgusting".

Source: Stand News #Aug7

#HongKongChronicles
Reflection of a Hongkonger Who Organized a Rally on #Aug4 in 2019

//- Countless meetings
- The controversy about the doubling of the rally
- The Leisure and Cultural Services Department refused to lend venues as the assembly point
- “Blown fuses” after the rally in Shatin
- Our volunteers crunching to design publicity posters
- Having 1-2 hours of sleep before going to work
- Replying Telegram messages non-stop
- Changing locations everyday to collect supply to avoid dogs that unreasonably confiscate whatever they see

All vivid memories:
We would be satisfied if even only 20,000 to 30,000 people joined us.
In the end, our Tseung Kwan O fielded 150,000 people.

I remember one time when I was distributing flyers,
an elderly woman told us to stay safe with tears on her face.

A man took our flyer, much to the protest of his wife, and then he whispered to us “Add Oil”

Hongkongers' ability to move people is surely world class.

#LoveHongKong
#ItsAPleasureFightingWithYou //

Source: TKO84

HK Government Appoint Chinese Companies without License to Handle COVID19 Testing in HK

Source: Ming Pao #Aug4

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24193

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HK Government Appoint Chinese Companies without License to Handle COVID19 Testing in HK

The Hong Kong government purchased services from three private laboratory organizations to provide virus testing for the local population without a tender. The government claimed that only these three laboratories in the market can provide data in a short period of time and Nucleic acid testing services in the scale of thousands.

Ming Pao found that one of the companies, China Inspection Co., Ltd. ("China Inspection") and its testing center, China Dragon Inspection and Certification (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. ("China Dragon"), mainly provide services such as product or automobile inspection and certification in Hong Kong and does not operate in the medical laboratory business. Its laboratory has not been approved by the government medical laboratory.

Questioned by Ming Pao, the government revealed that the relevant testing services are provided by China Dragon partnering with local laboratories that meet the requirements, but declined to disclose details such as procurement fees.

Civic Party Legislative Councillor Kwok Ka-ki said that Hong Kong has specific regulations on medical testing. If a qualified medical laboratory is not available, it should not be allowed to provide high-risk medical testing. He said that the government has appointed CCIC and other companies as testing contractors without bidding, and now CCIC suspects that it will "outsource" the testing services, and questioned why it was looking for CCIC instead of directly contacting the relevant local laboratory to provide services.

Many had questioned the validity of these designated companies and how come other companies can only cooperate with these designated companies. The government was condemned for exploiting local companies through intermediate "contractors".

Source: Ming Pao #Aug4

#PoliticalOppression #NationalSecurityLaw #AppleDaily #NextMedia
Bailed Out After 30-hour Detention
Next Media CEO Cheung Kim Hung: "I'll Proceed Despite the Hardships, My Passion Burns Despite the Weariness

Graphic source: Apple Daily #Aug12

Read full article: ⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24195

#PoliticalOppression #NationalSecurityLaw #AppleDaily #NextMedia
Bailed Out After 30-hour Detention
Next Media CEO Cheung Kim Hung: "I'll Proceed Despite the Hardships, My Passion Burns Despite the Weariness"

CEO of Next Digital Limited and Apple Daily Cheung Kim Hung was detained for about thirty hours before being released on bail at Sau Mau Ping Police Station on Tuesday night (11 August).

Cheung stated that "justice will prevail", and that he could "handle this" and would strive to do better. He also cited from the New Asia College anthem, "I'll proceed despite the hardships, my passion burns despite the weariness" (艱險我奮進，困乏我多情), thanking Hong Kongers for defending Apple Daily with herculean effort.

According to sources, Cheung was arrested for "conspiracy to defraud". When asked whether he would be charged with crimes related to the National Security Law, Cheung stated that it was unlikely.

Source: RTHK #Aug11

Editor's Note: Ch'ien Mu, lyricist for the anthem of New Asia College, fled the Chinese Communist Party at October 1949 and founded New Asia College. Despite being in financial stress, he, along with other famous New Confucianism Scholars at the time, strove to establish Chinese higher education in Hong Kong as well as promoting Chinese culture. Ch'ien had thought that with New Asia College's merge into the then-new Chinese University of Hong Kong, it would be unable to promote Chinese culture and use Chinese in teachings, and gave his request to resign to then Chairman Dr Li Choh-ming. He denied his pension (which could be given if he chose to retire) to state his discontent, stating that a resignation is a kind of attitude, while a retirement is only a natural end to his career.

Such is the spirit of New Asia College, putting their principles and conscience above of their personal interests.

#PressFreedom #WhiteTerror
#NewAsiaCollege #CUHK #CheungKimHung

#US #Sanction #BankofChina #ChinaConstructionBank #ChinaMerchantsBank #CarrieLam
Chinese Banks Comply with US Sanctions in Hong Kong

China’s largest state-run banks operating in Hong Kong are taking steps to comply with U.S. sanctions imposed on officials in the city, seeking to safeguard their access to crucial dollar funding and overseas networks.

Major lenders with operations in the U.S. including Bank of China Ltd., China Construction Bank Corp., and China Merchants Bank Co. have turned cautious for opening new accounts for the 11 sanctioned officials, including Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, according to people familiar with the matter. At least one bank has already suspended such activity.

Source: Bloomberg, iCable News #Aug12

#US#Sanction #CreditUnion
Hong Kong Police Credit Union moves HK$11 billion assets from foreign to Chinese banks amid concerns over US sanctions

Police chief Chris Tang and his predecessor, Stephen Lo, were among the 11 Hong Kong and Chinese officials sanctioned by the U.S. since one week.

vUnder the sanctions brought by the US Treasury Department, the US-based assets of individuals or entities are blocked and Americans and businesses are generally prohibited from dealing with them.

In a letter to its member, the Hong Kong Police Credit Union said its members had expressed concerns over the union’s assets as the US government “has been taking a series of measures against the city’s administration”.

The union notified its members they have been ‘gradually withdrawing or relocating most of our assets and investments from foreign banks’ since May this year.

The union’s website, however, has been offline since Tuesday, citing maintenance.

Source: Apple Daily #Aug12

Chinese Banks Comply with US Sanctions

#CoronavirusPandemic
Despite #COVID19 Threats, #HongKongAirport to Allow Travellers from China to Make Transit to World Destinations, But Not the Other Way Round

In a statement released after midnight on August 13, the Hong Kong International Airport (#HKIA) announced that travellers from China could transit in Hong Kong and head to different destinations around the world. Despite the menace of the COVID19 pandemic, the aarrangement will be effective from 15 August to October 15, 2020.

Meanwhile, the statement also said "transfer/transit services to destinations in Mainland China will remain unavailable at HKIA". As travellers can leave but not enter China via Hong Kong, the travel restrictions on one side of the borders seem to suggest that China has imposed strict measures to prevent Covid-19 cases from entering the country.

Source: RTHK; InMedia #Aug13
#TravelBan

#TsaiIngWen #Taiwan #Freedom #HumanRights

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen Voices Support for Hongkongers

"Taiwan has suffered at the hands of an authoritarian regime & media persecution in the past. Because of this experience, we know the value of defending freedom & human rights, and support the people of #HongKong in striving for a society that upholds these ideals."

Source: Tsai Ing-wen's Twitter
#Aug12 #GlobalSupport

#FreeAgnes
23 years old, Hong Kong Girl, Enjoys anime, Speaks Japanese, a threat to [redacted] security.

Source: Walker Machine

#Aug12 #NationalSecurityLaw #AgnesChow #Art

#Newspaper

When China Met Iran

//China and Iran had come to the verge of signing a 25-year trade and military partnership agreement that promises to bring a huge Chinese presence into Iran’s economic development, in exchange for a regular supply of heavily discounted Iranian oil.

//This potential partnership threatens the United States’s predominant position in the Middle East, the reaction in Iran and China themselves was also hardly ebullient. The deal was referred to as a new Treaty of Turkmenchay by critics of Iran’s beleaguered president while a Chinese government spokesman dodged inquiries. China’s partnership with Iran in recent years which includes buying Iranian oil in small quantities at a steep discount and crowding out Iranian domestic producers with low-cost imports has also been unhelpful in engendering affection.

//China has been quietly expanding its economic, diplomatic, and even military activities in the region in recent years. Beijing motives are straightforward but varied as it seeks to advance its powers and establish itself in the eyes of the world. Chinese leaders are however aware that few of the great powers have emerged unscathed from Middle East adventures with the region’s deep political fissures, which poses a risk for a China that aims to be a friend of everyone.

//Coincidently, the leak of the China-Iran agreement roughly coincided with the biannual China-Arab States Cooperation Forum early this month, which prompted numerous proclamations of Chinese friendship with Iran’s Arab rivals.

//Nonetheless, the China-Iran relationship is still likely to grow closer in the coming years as China tries to project power westward and Iran seeks to insulate itself from the debilitating effects of American power.

//The United States should then, at every step, aim to exacerbate the conundrums each party faces and enlist regional partners.

Full Article: The New York Times, (21-Jul)
https://nyti.ms/3ir29l6

#ChinaIranRelations #globalpolitics #ChinaUSRelations #Iran

Street busker arrested for singing “Do You Hear the People Sing”

Street busker Oliver Ma, of Chinese-Filipino descent, was surrounded by police officers while busking in Central on August 8. He was arrested when he sang “Do You Hear the People Sing”. Legislative Council Member, Ted Hui, said on Facebook that Oliver Ma was charged for obstructing police, and he has contacted a team of lawyers to follow up.

Oliver Ma was seen in online videos dressed in a black and white striped shirt and sang the English version of “Glory to Hong Kong” on Theater Lane, Central, while four police officers observed nearby. After a while, when Oliver Ma sang “Do You Hear the People Sing”, the other police officers moved forward to surround him and turned off his speaker. A citizen filming the incident asked the police, “What crime did he commit?” when Oliver Ma was in handcuffs.

Previously on July 28, Oliver Ma was arrested on suspicion of criminal intimidation, alleging that he argued with a 65-year-old woman on the street in Central because of noise problems. He was released on bail pending the investigation. He explained the incident on his Facebook, stating that the old woman suddenly snatched away his microphone stand while he was performing, and kicked his guitar case on the ground. Police arrested him on suspicion of criminal intimidation against the old lady, even though they did not any record voice or video evidence of him doing so. He denied having committed any crimes, believing that he was a victim of false accusations.

He suspected that his latest arrest was the police punishing him for his persistence in singing “Glory to Hong Kong”.

Source: Stand News #Aug8 #PoliceState #Busking #Music #GloryToHongKong #OliverMa #NationalSecurityLaw #FailedState

#Sanction
Carrie Lam’s son fled US two weeks before the sanction was imposed

The US Department of Treasury imposed sanction on 11 Hong Kong officers including the Chief Executive Carrie Lam on 7 August. The location of Lam Yuk-hei, the younger son of Carrie Lam who is a PhD candidats in the US, drew media attention.

FactWire has tried to contact him in the US and found that he was missing since 25 July. His roommate got his message on Facebook that he went back to Hong Kong for “family emergency”. However, on 27 July, Lam Yuk-hei had confirmed with the landlord to renew the lease until August 2021. After that, he was out of touch, and his whereabouts was unknown.

The Chief Executive’s office hasn’t replied yet to media inquiry.

Source: Factwire News Agency
#Aug9 #Sanction #US #CarrieLam #LamYukHei

#HongKongProtests #PoliticalOppression
Brave One-man Protester Commemorates Airport Protests Alone and Forcibly Removed by Security

Source: Stand News #Aug13
#NeverForget #FlywithYou #HKAirport #David

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24206