#DailyUpdate #Apr25 #COVID19
COVID-19 Updates (25/4)
At the time of writing, 2,896,946 cases of coronavirus had been confirmed with 201,737 deaths. US, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany are the worst affected countries by the pandemic. 825,376 have recovered so far.
Hong Kong has reported 2 new cases, both of them are recent returned from the United Kingdom.
8 recovery cases in Hong Kong has still tested positive, experts believed it is the residue.
HKSAR government is looking into sending chartered planes to retrieve Hongkongers in India and Pakistan.
A 17 years old DSE student in Fanling, Hong Kong has a fever and cough, he was sent to hospital and are currently waiting for the virus test result.
Russia has reported 5966 new cases today, giving a total of 74,588.
The Chinese government has reported 12 new cases, with 11 of them being imported.
A plane returned to Shaanxi province from Russia has 30 passengers infected.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, member of the Japanese government cabinet, is required to home quarantine because one of his colleagues has contracted the virus.
Sources said the European Union deleted a part about Chinese agents running fake news programs in a coronavirus report due to pressure from the Chinese communist party.
An Italian cruise ship docked at Nagasaki, Japan has an additional 60 passengers contracting the virus.
Studies suggest there were coronavirus cases in Italy back in January.
Eredivisie, the top level football league in Netherlands announced an early end to this season, no champion and promotions would be conducted.
A US review of the repatriation of people from Wuhan says safety protocols were not followed.
President Donald Trump says the US will send ventilators to Ecuador, El Salvador and Indonesia.
Pakistan has extended its lockdown measures till May.
Source: CNN, Worldometer, Now News
COVID-19 Updates (25/4)
At the time of writing, 2,896,946 cases of coronavirus had been confirmed with 201,737 deaths. US, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany are the worst affected countries by the pandemic. 825,376 have recovered so far.
Hong Kong has reported 2 new cases, both of them are recent returned from the United Kingdom.
8 recovery cases in Hong Kong has still tested positive, experts believed it is the residue.
HKSAR government is looking into sending chartered planes to retrieve Hongkongers in India and Pakistan.
A 17 years old DSE student in Fanling, Hong Kong has a fever and cough, he was sent to hospital and are currently waiting for the virus test result.
Russia has reported 5966 new cases today, giving a total of 74,588.
The Chinese government has reported 12 new cases, with 11 of them being imported.
A plane returned to Shaanxi province from Russia has 30 passengers infected.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, member of the Japanese government cabinet, is required to home quarantine because one of his colleagues has contracted the virus.
Sources said the European Union deleted a part about Chinese agents running fake news programs in a coronavirus report due to pressure from the Chinese communist party.
An Italian cruise ship docked at Nagasaki, Japan has an additional 60 passengers contracting the virus.
Studies suggest there were coronavirus cases in Italy back in January.
Eredivisie, the top level football league in Netherlands announced an early end to this season, no champion and promotions would be conducted.
A US review of the repatriation of people from Wuhan says safety protocols were not followed.
President Donald Trump says the US will send ventilators to Ecuador, El Salvador and Indonesia.
Pakistan has extended its lockdown measures till May.
Source: CNN, Worldometer, Now News
#Court #LennonWall
Judge for Lennon Wall Assault Praises Defendant for “showing noble qualities”; Traumatised Victim Cries for Justice
A tour guide,by the name of Hung Chun, stabbed 3 pro-democracy protesters with a 31cm (12-inch) knife at a Lennon Wall in Tseung Kwan O last August. The frenzied attack left the victims, aged 24 to 35, needing hospital treatment, with a reporter in critical condition after the blade pierced her back with a force that fractured a rib and bruised a lung, while another of the injured required seven stitches after being slashed in the head. The 3 victims were later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder at varying degrees.
Mainland-born Hung pleaded guilty to three counts of wounding with intent last December. Defending him in a District Court last Friday (April 24), Hung’s lawyer said the attack happened amidst “the social unrest unprecedented” in Hong Kong, which had forced his client out of work for about two months. Hung, therefore, blamed pro-democracy protesters for the economic downturn, putting him in his financial predicament. In mitigation, the lawyer implored that Hung was not a violent person and was genuinely remorseful and had apologised to his victims, the court, and the community.
The defendant’s plea was readily accepted by the district judge, Kwok Wai-kin, who agreed that Hung had acted irrationally and that his actions were not of his character, and it happened only because his emotions were uncontrollable after months of protests and that it was further fueled as he walked through the tunnel filled with messages he disagreed with.
Kwok also expressed extraordinary sympathy towards the defendant, describing Hung as “an involuntary sacrifice and a bloodstained victim hanging by his last breath” as the protesters had “ruthlessly trampled on his right to work, live and survive” and put the final nail in his coffin when they openly attacked mainlanders at the airport.
Apparently unrelated to the case hearing, the judge weighed in on the protests with remarks on how black-clad protesters armed with umbrellas had ganged up like an army and fundamentally changed Hong Kong with extremist conduct reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution. “It’s ironic that such ugly behaviour should come from those claiming to pursue democracy,” Kwok said.
Kwok, on the other hand, praised Hung for “showing noble qualities” when he wrote to the court expressing his wish that his punishment could help relieve what the victims had gone through. “Such qualities are not to be found even in some well-educated intellectuals and professionals,” Kwok claimed. For these reasons barely laid, Kwok slashed sentencing substantially by 1/3 from 72 months imprisonment to 45 months.
The journalist who was severely injured in the attack, responded with grave disappointment, “this [the sentencing] is unacceptable. Apologizing after intentionally knifing three persons is hypocritical act and unacceptable.” In the face of injustice, she called for Hong Kong people to fight on, not giving up.
Source: Stand News, SCMP, RTHK #Apr25 #KwokWaiKin #RuleofLaw #Judiciary
Judge for Lennon Wall Assault Praises Defendant for “showing noble qualities”; Traumatised Victim Cries for Justice
A tour guide,by the name of Hung Chun, stabbed 3 pro-democracy protesters with a 31cm (12-inch) knife at a Lennon Wall in Tseung Kwan O last August. The frenzied attack left the victims, aged 24 to 35, needing hospital treatment, with a reporter in critical condition after the blade pierced her back with a force that fractured a rib and bruised a lung, while another of the injured required seven stitches after being slashed in the head. The 3 victims were later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder at varying degrees.
Mainland-born Hung pleaded guilty to three counts of wounding with intent last December. Defending him in a District Court last Friday (April 24), Hung’s lawyer said the attack happened amidst “the social unrest unprecedented” in Hong Kong, which had forced his client out of work for about two months. Hung, therefore, blamed pro-democracy protesters for the economic downturn, putting him in his financial predicament. In mitigation, the lawyer implored that Hung was not a violent person and was genuinely remorseful and had apologised to his victims, the court, and the community.
The defendant’s plea was readily accepted by the district judge, Kwok Wai-kin, who agreed that Hung had acted irrationally and that his actions were not of his character, and it happened only because his emotions were uncontrollable after months of protests and that it was further fueled as he walked through the tunnel filled with messages he disagreed with.
Kwok also expressed extraordinary sympathy towards the defendant, describing Hung as “an involuntary sacrifice and a bloodstained victim hanging by his last breath” as the protesters had “ruthlessly trampled on his right to work, live and survive” and put the final nail in his coffin when they openly attacked mainlanders at the airport.
Apparently unrelated to the case hearing, the judge weighed in on the protests with remarks on how black-clad protesters armed with umbrellas had ganged up like an army and fundamentally changed Hong Kong with extremist conduct reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution. “It’s ironic that such ugly behaviour should come from those claiming to pursue democracy,” Kwok said.
Kwok, on the other hand, praised Hung for “showing noble qualities” when he wrote to the court expressing his wish that his punishment could help relieve what the victims had gone through. “Such qualities are not to be found even in some well-educated intellectuals and professionals,” Kwok claimed. For these reasons barely laid, Kwok slashed sentencing substantially by 1/3 from 72 months imprisonment to 45 months.
The journalist who was severely injured in the attack, responded with grave disappointment, “this [the sentencing] is unacceptable. Apologizing after intentionally knifing three persons is hypocritical act and unacceptable.” In the face of injustice, she called for Hong Kong people to fight on, not giving up.
Source: Stand News, SCMP, RTHK #Apr25 #KwokWaiKin #RuleofLaw #Judiciary
#Article23
Beijing Narrates Hong Kong Pro-democracy Movement into 'homegrown terrorism threatening National Security'
Two news reports in late April were indicative of Beijing’s new approach to Hong Kong affairs by linking social unrest to 'homegrown terrorism'.
• On April 22, Security Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu warned that seizures of “explosive material” by the police in recent months were an indication of sprouting 'homegrown terrorism' in Hong Kong. Under the city’s United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance, Hong Kong’s leader could apply to the court for an order to specify that a suspect was a terrorist or terrorist associate, in such case, the defendant may lose the right to remain silent.
• On April 28, Alibaba-owned South China Morning Post quoted a media report that a Belizean citizen (a Chinese) was prosecuted in China for allegedly financing terrorists in the U.S., threatening China’s national security, and fuelling unrest in Hong Kong.
Source: Stand News #Apr25 #StateTerrorism
Beijing Narrates Hong Kong Pro-democracy Movement into 'homegrown terrorism threatening National Security'
Two news reports in late April were indicative of Beijing’s new approach to Hong Kong affairs by linking social unrest to 'homegrown terrorism'.
• On April 22, Security Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu warned that seizures of “explosive material” by the police in recent months were an indication of sprouting 'homegrown terrorism' in Hong Kong. Under the city’s United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance, Hong Kong’s leader could apply to the court for an order to specify that a suspect was a terrorist or terrorist associate, in such case, the defendant may lose the right to remain silent.
• On April 28, Alibaba-owned South China Morning Post quoted a media report that a Belizean citizen (a Chinese) was prosecuted in China for allegedly financing terrorists in the U.S., threatening China’s national security, and fuelling unrest in Hong Kong.
Source: Stand News #Apr25 #StateTerrorism
#FailedState
Restaurants Show Discontent Over Government's Anti-Epidemic Measures
According to Passion Times, over 80 restaurants and shops in Kowloon City put up banners on Apr 25 that read "Stupid government screwed Kowloon City", "Today's Kowloon City is your home tomorrow".
Source: Passion Times
#Apr25 #KowloonCity #AntiEpidemic
Restaurants Show Discontent Over Government's Anti-Epidemic Measures
According to Passion Times, over 80 restaurants and shops in Kowloon City put up banners on Apr 25 that read "Stupid government screwed Kowloon City", "Today's Kowloon City is your home tomorrow".
Source: Passion Times
#Apr25 #KowloonCity #AntiEpidemic
#Oppression #FailedState
Hong Kong law firm Vidler & Co, which handled protest-related cases announced closure after 19 years
A Hong Kong law firm, which specialised in Human Rights and handled multiple cases related to the 2019 protests will soon cease practising.
The Law Society of Hong Kong notified members that Vidler & Co. intended to cease practice on June 3 after 19 years of operations.
The firm took on several controversial incidents, including an alleged police gang rape and the case of Indonesian journalist Veby Mega Indah, who was allegedly shot in the face with a police projectile.
#MichaelVidler, owner of the firm, has also represented Joshua Wong Chi-fung and protester Ken Tsang Kin-chiu, who was beaten by several police officers in a dark corner in Admiralty.
4 days after the company announced its closure, Vidler was seen leaving the city on 25 April. In the airport, he was bombarded by a group of reporters from Ta Kung Pao, a CCP mouthpiece with questions in Chinese.
Reporters urged him to explain whether his departure is related to #PaulHarris who has left in March this year.
Vidler is on the panel of solicitors for the Legal Aid Department, the Duty Lawyer Scheme and is an approved solicitor for a number of consulates in Hong Kong.
He was twice elected in 2011 and 2017 as a representative of the legal functional constituency on the 1,200-member Election Committee, which is tasked with nominating and choosing Hong Kong's chief executive.
Sources: Ming Pao, Chaser News
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20220421/s00001/1650518079447
The Chaser News; #Apr25
Related article
Barrister #PaulHarris Leaves Hong Kong After Being Approached by National Security Police
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32345
.
Hong Kong law firm Vidler & Co, which handled protest-related cases announced closure after 19 years
A Hong Kong law firm, which specialised in Human Rights and handled multiple cases related to the 2019 protests will soon cease practising.
The Law Society of Hong Kong notified members that Vidler & Co. intended to cease practice on June 3 after 19 years of operations.
The firm took on several controversial incidents, including an alleged police gang rape and the case of Indonesian journalist Veby Mega Indah, who was allegedly shot in the face with a police projectile.
#MichaelVidler, owner of the firm, has also represented Joshua Wong Chi-fung and protester Ken Tsang Kin-chiu, who was beaten by several police officers in a dark corner in Admiralty.
4 days after the company announced its closure, Vidler was seen leaving the city on 25 April. In the airport, he was bombarded by a group of reporters from Ta Kung Pao, a CCP mouthpiece with questions in Chinese.
Reporters urged him to explain whether his departure is related to #PaulHarris who has left in March this year.
Vidler is on the panel of solicitors for the Legal Aid Department, the Duty Lawyer Scheme and is an approved solicitor for a number of consulates in Hong Kong.
He was twice elected in 2011 and 2017 as a representative of the legal functional constituency on the 1,200-member Election Committee, which is tasked with nominating and choosing Hong Kong's chief executive.
Sources: Ming Pao, Chaser News
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20220421/s00001/1650518079447
The Chaser News; #Apr25
Related article
Barrister #PaulHarris Leaves Hong Kong After Being Approached by National Security Police
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32345
.
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韋智達律師行擬6月停止執業 曾處理多宗反修例相關案 (13:19) - 20220421 - 港聞
律師會今（21日）向會員發通告，表示收到韋智達律師行（Vidler & Co. Solicitors）發出擬停止執業的通知書（Notice of intention to cease practice），打算於今年6月3日停止執業。
#PressFreedom #Award #FCC #HKJournalistsAssociation
Hong Kong journalists win Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan press freedom prize
While the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (#FCC) in Hong Kong scrapped its annual human rights press awards just days before it was due to announce winners, claiming fear over the city’s wide-ranging national security law, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan offered Freedom of the Press Asia Award to all Hong Kong journalists.
Freelance journalist Ilgin Yorulmaz, co-chair of the club’s press freedom committee, said that the award recognised journalists and media organisations who fight for free speech, the free exchange of information, and fight against censorship.
Upon receiving the award, Ronson Chan, Associate Chairman of Hong Kong Journalists Association, said "although the environment changed, most of us have remained in our position and try our best to find the truth for the Hong Kong community.”
Source: Inmediahk, #Apr25
https://bit.ly/3Mn4lsK
Hong Kong journalists win Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan press freedom prize
While the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (#FCC) in Hong Kong scrapped its annual human rights press awards just days before it was due to announce winners, claiming fear over the city’s wide-ranging national security law, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan offered Freedom of the Press Asia Award to all Hong Kong journalists.
Freelance journalist Ilgin Yorulmaz, co-chair of the club’s press freedom committee, said that the award recognised journalists and media organisations who fight for free speech, the free exchange of information, and fight against censorship.
Upon receiving the award, Ronson Chan, Associate Chairman of Hong Kong Journalists Association, said "although the environment changed, most of us have remained in our position and try our best to find the truth for the Hong Kong community.”
Source: Inmediahk, #Apr25
https://bit.ly/3Mn4lsK