#SocialCreditSystem #MassSurveillance #HealthCode
#JoshuaWong: Health Code is an eHandcuff, a path to CCP's Social Credit System

Read More
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24382

#SocialCreditSystem #MassSurveillance #HealthCode
#JoshuaWong: Health Code is an eHandcuff, a path to CCP's Social Credit System

Recently in Hong Kong, pro-China newspapers and Beijing royalists have been ferociously pushing for the implementation of Health Code in eateries and shopping centers. They even blustered of taking on the same system straightly from Mainland China.

Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong criticized on his Facebook that Health Code is effectively no difference than an "eHandCuff". He called it a means for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to tighten their grip on Hong Kong, and pave way for Social Credit System and masd surveillance.

Wong pointed out that there is no scientific evidence showing Health Code is useful in epidemic prevention, as health experts reiterated.

Given that coronavirus has an incubation period, negative test result at one point of time does not mean that there is no risk of infection in the future. That is to say, implementing health code, could actually deceive citizens to believing that they are safe to commute, which inadvertently, would speed up the spread of Coronavirus.

Wong further elaborated that Health Code was implemented in China as an integral element to #NationalSurveillance. A source, claiming responsible for data management of Health Code in Hang Zhou said, “once the health code is activated, its database will start running, examining and analyzing across all available data-sets relevant to the user, including location data on Alipay and the shop the user frequented.”

In Wong’s opinion, Health Code is just a step away from a big data enabled “point-to-point” or “people-to-people” surveillance system, not only monitoring citizen’s daily routine, but also confining their mobility by restricting how they travel and where to go. The real function of Health Code is like an electronic handcuff.

Source: Stand News #Aug18 #FailedState #CCP #HangZhou

#LegCo #DQ #NoElection #ProvisionalCouncil #BeijingIntervention

Pro-democracy Lawmakers Eddie Chu and Raymond Chan Lean on Leaving LegCo to Denounce Beijing's Political Arrangement

Source: Stand News #Aug18

Read Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24384

Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24385

Part 3:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24386

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

#LegCo #DQ #NoElection #ProvisionalCouncil #BeijingIntervention

Pro-democracy Lawmakers Eddie Chu and Raymond Chan Lean on Leaving LegCo to Denounce Beijing's Political Arrangement: Consensus Via Polls

Part 1/3

While the Hong Kong government, backed by Beijing, postponed the #LegCo Election for a year, it has sparked intense debate among citizens whether incumbent pro-democracy legislators should stay for an extension of the Sixth Legislative Council under the current "arrangement" approved by Beijing.

The Democracy Camp Caucus had released a statement on Monday, stating that the "majority" of legislators lean towards staying for the extension. But Raymond Chan of People Power and Eddie Chu of Council Front have made an opposite stance, advocating for the pro-democracy camp to boycott the upcoming "Provisional Legislative Council".

Chu had stated in an interview that he believes that the CCP intends to make the pro-democracy camp "painlessly accept their political appointments" while destroying the results of the pro-democracy primaries. He stated that this is the second time since 1997 for Hong Kong to have an appointed parliament, that as Beijing is changing Hong Kong society through the National Security Law and other laws, pro-democracy legislators have a single chance and the responsibility to make a strong political stance.

As to rumours regarding Chu's earlier supposed stance of staying, Chu declined to comment on the issue, while emphasising that he wished for there to be a "trustworthy platform" for the pro-democracy camp to decide whether to leave or stay.

Chan explained that leaving sends the message of opposing Chief Executive Carrie Lam's decision to delay the elections using the epidemic as an excuse and the NPC's decision, stating that, "The NPC represents Beijing's wishes, not the will of Hongkongers." He wished the pro-democracy camp could "come and go together", but stated that "it's okay if they can't manage it."

Chu and Chan met with journalists separately on Tuesday, accepting interviews to explain their stance. Chu stated the pro-democracy primaries were an important milestone, that for pro-democracy supporters, winners of the primaries "were supposed to enter the Legislative Council". He continued that as the spotlight fell upon the four disqualified councillors and their extension of service as Beijing announced their decision to extend the Sixth Legislative Council, "it made everyone ignore the heart of the problem: that this is a de facto appointment of service", stating that the pro-democracy camp's decision to accept the "appointment" would mean sabotaging the primaries results.

Chu stated that Beijing is "altering" Hong Kong society after the establishment of the National Security Law, arresting Jimmy Lai and Agnes Chow, while giving the Legislative Council preferential treatment, "as if they are welcoming us in open arms", making him more vigilant, as the Legislative Council is one of the few places the pro-democracy camp could publicly protest the government's political decision.

Continue Reading
Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24385

Part 3:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24386

Source: Stand News #Aug18
#EddieChu #RayChan

#LegCo #DQ #NoElection #ProvisionalCouncil #BeijingIntervention

Pro-democracy Lawmakers Eddie Chu and Raymond Chan Lean on Leaving LegCo to Denounce Beijing's Political Arrangement

Part 2/3
Eddie Chu: Actively Attempting to Initiate Discussions

There had been recent rumours regarding pro-democracy lawmaker Eddie Chu's earlier stance of staying in the Legislative Council.

Chu denied the rumours twice during the interview, emphasising his efforts at initiating discussions on all sides and establishing a trustworthy platform for deciding the pro-democracy camp's place in the Legislative Council, stating that his previous stances "isn't important".

Chu emphasised that he was not attempting to sabotage the unity of the pro-democracy camp, instead stating that Beijing's decision to "appoint" the Legislative Council was the true sabotager.

He called for pro-democracy legislators and legislative candidates that won the primaries to form a "working platform" in the following two weeks for them to explain their stance, and to hold a trustworthy poll "to show the public opinion for all to see". He stated that this could make the pro-democracy legislators' actions have legitimacy whether or not they decide to leave or stay while undoing the CCP's sabotage.

But since Chu had expressed his stance on boycotting the "Provisional Legislative Council", and several pro-democratic parties' supposed stance of staying, debates sparked as to their decisions, with opinions for boycotting the extension of the Legislative Council bombarding pro-democratic legislators. Sunny Cheung, seen by many to be an ally of Chu, stated that "If the pan-democracy camp continues to be stubborn, they would be the ones who sabotage the democracy movement,"; simultaneously in Chu's declaratory article, he stated that was the pro-democracy camp to ignore the lack of public authorisation and chose to stay, they would reduce to "political retainers of the CCP who lack dignity".

When confronted with the possibility of the condemning damaging the prospects of reaching a consensus, Chu compared the situation during the primaries. "Condemnations are common," stating that while emotional attacks are meaningless, politicians should not be afraid of "such squabblings", as "many more negatives would arise" if people avoided discussions.

Despite his current stance, Chu believed that staying has its advantages, but stated that some Hongkongers had coursed away from full parliamentary resistance from last year, "Don't think that you can block one evil law at a time. When the situation becomes dire enough, people won't care, or may even welcome even worse situations."

Continue Reading Part 3:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24386

Source: Stand News #Aug18
#EddieChu #RayChan

#LegCo #DQ #NoElection #ProvisionalCouncil #BeijingIntervention

Pro-democracy Lawmakers Eddie Chu and Raymond Chan Lean on Leaving LegCo to Denounce Beijing's Political Arrangement

Part 3/3

Wishing Legislators Would Prove Their Decisions With Action, Raymond Chan: "Hadn't Done Their Best Last Year."

Pro-democracy lawmaker Raymond Chan, of People Power, agreed that the pro-democracy camp should decide with a referendum or a poll, stating that legislators should not stay without public authorisation.

"Although a lack of elections means a lack of public authorisation, they should only be allowed to stay if the public supports their decision." He continued that although he and
Pro-democracy lawmaker
Eddie Chu had suggested random polls around Hong Kong, not many people within the pro-democracy camp found interest with the suggestion.

When confronted with the dilemma of whether those who choose to stay could use to "Provisional Legislative Council"s power well", Chan expressed his concern, as he "[doesn't] know whether they are up to the task". He stated that he did not believe in denigrations from some members of the public, such as accusations that claimed "greediness" as the reason behind their stay. But he stated that those who lean towards staying should prove their decisions with actions, not repeating mantras such as "fight 'til the end".

Chan emphasised that he had no intention of leaving people out to die or state that "only by fighting or landing in prison would it justify their purpose". But he recalled that some legislators had not "did their best" during their term, "even the pro-Beijing camp has better attendance, more speeches, and more votes." He agreed with Wu Chi-wai, chairman of the Democratic Party's opinion that having the opposition in the parliament could delay new "evil laws", but continued to emphasise the importance of proving their decisions with action, saying that, "If you're sitting there only to give speeches and vote "objection" or "abstain", I don't believe that supporters would accept this."

Addressing the fear of losing the right to speak once legislators leave the Legislative Council, Chan stated that it depends on the people for the resistance to survive, that people could have very high recognition despite not being in the Legislative Council, such as some YouTubers or key opinion leaders. He continued that no matter when people suggest a mass resignation would there be opinions against the decision, believing that staying in the Legislative Council has its advantages.

Chan also called for pro-democracy camp members who lean towards staying to listen to public opinion before making their decision or risk a more intense emotional backlash, stating that, "People would respect you or feel disappointed if you leave when they have voted for you to stay; but if you stubbornly refuse to leave when the people called for it, you attract hatred."

Source: Stand News #Aug18
#EddieChu #RayChan

Read the 3-part Series on Democracy Front's Debates on Whether Incumbent Pro-dem Lawmakers shall Serve in Extended Term Under Beijing's LegCo Arrangement:

Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24384

Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24385

Part 3:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24386

The so-called counter-attack (2)

Image content translation
[The bear wearing a red shirt with 5 Chinese characters “star”]
“The most powerful counteraction: Buy all of their agricultural products so that they have nothing to eat”
“Let’s see if they are scared”

[The crowd of supporters]
“This is the strongest iron fist!!”
“Hail to our strong country”

Editor’s note:
Strong
Strong in digesting
Strong in being thick-skinned
Strong in being shameless
The Strong country
Is really different from other countries

They are probably really short of #soybeans & #sweetcorns, due to the flood.

Image: Kit Da Sketch Facebook
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo

#Newspaper #Water #China #FoodSupply
 
China’s Ministry of Water Resources: A year of high water is a year of good harvests. Food supplies are not affected

(13 Aug) Over 60 million people have been affected by the floods in Mainland China. The authorities predicted that the flood season would be extended until September, stressing that a year of high water was a year of good harvests, which would not affect food supplies. They will continue to take strict precautions to provide disaster relief.
 
Source: Now News

⬇️⬇️⬇️ Continue

⬆️⬆️⬆️
#Newspaper
 
China’s Ministry of Water Resources: A year of high water is a year of good harvests. Food supplies are not affected
 
Severe flooding has occurred in the Yangtze River and Huaihe River valleys of mainland China since June, with rainfall reaching 759.2mm for 62 days, the highest and longest since 1961. There are 634 rivers in China that flooded above the alarm level, and the water levels of some parts of Yangtze River, Dongting Lake, Poyang Lake and Taihu Lake are still above the alarm level.
 
A total of 63.46 million people were affected by the floods, 219 died and disappeared, and 54,000 houses collapsed, causing direct economic losses of nearly $180 billion, over 10% higher than the average of the past five years. The authorities have evacuated more than 4 million people, and stressed that the flooding would not affect the country's food supply.
 
Zhou Xuewen, Vice Minister of Emergency Management and Vice Minister of Water Resources said, “A year of high water is often a year of good harvests, and late rice harvests will be plentiful. Why would the harvests be plentiful? The soil and water conditions are good, which makes the soil fertile. Through our disaster relief measures, through our post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, we would strengthen our plantation management and through some technical means, I think this year's crops should not be affected.”
 
The authorities predicted that the main flood season would be extended until the end of September, especially in the northern part of the country, and the possibility of flooding in the next phase remained high.
 
Source: Now News
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo

#Floods #China #FoodSupply #Harvest #YangtzeRiver

#Newspaper

A Ban on Food and Beverage Waste in China

Image: China News

⬇️⬇️⬇️ Continue

⬆️⬆️⬆️

#Newspaper
A Ban on Food and Beverage Waste in China

(16 Aug) China's General Secretary Xi Jinping recently ordered a ban on food and beverage waste, and there has been widespread support for the plate-cleaning campaign, but a restaurant in Changsha, Hunan province, yesterday launched a weigh-and-order program that required customers to weigh their weight before they could be served with food according to its calories content.

Adult female customers weighing less than 40 kg could only have two dishes, namely yellow beef stir-fry and chop bell pepper fish head, while adult male customers weighing more than 80 kg could have three dishes, including braised pork.

The restaurant issued an apology on its official Weibo page today, stressing that the original purpose of the event was to advocate the elimination of waste and healthy ordering, and that they also did not require mandatory weighing. They thanked the active cooperation of nearly 1,000 tables of customers on the day of the event.

Image Source: China News
Translated by: Hong Kong Echo

#Xi #FoodBan #FoodSupply #China

We HKers stand with #Belarus in the fight for democracy.

#WeAreAllTogether #policebrutality #GoHKGraphics

#GoHKGraphics
#FailedState #CarrieLam #Trust
Why do you think HKers can't trust Carrie Lam?

Source : ArmChannelTV

#Breaking #Court #NationalSecurityLaw
HK Court Rejects Challenges on National Security Law, Civilian Detained Since July 1

HK High Court rejected a legal challenge against the constitutionality of the National Security Law that was forcefully enacted by Beijing. The courst also refused the writ of habeas corpus of defendent Tong Ying-kit, who has been detained since 1 July 2020.

Tong is the first man in Hong Kong charged under the law after he was accused of driving with a flag reading "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times".

Justices Anderson Chow and Alex Lee dismissed arguments that bail conditions imposed under the law violates the presumption of innocence vua arbitrary detention.

They also rejected claims by defence lawyers that the law restricts the independence of the judiciary; and that judges cannot be free from government influence just because those responsible for adjudicating national security cases are all appointed by the Chief Executive.

Image: iCable
Source: RTHK; Stand News #Aug21

#GlobalSupport #ThomasRohden
#Denmark stands with Hong Kong, not with CCP

Chairman of Danish Social-Liberal Youth, Thomas Rohden recently condemned China for its authoritarian attacks on Hong Kong. He stated "Denmark stands with Hong Kong" and further suggested to enable the Magnitsky act sanctions on people responsible for the destruction of freedom and democracy.

Source: Thomas Rohden's Twitter

https://twitter.com/ThomasRohden/status/1292017650034446336

#Canada #GlobalSupport
"For Hong Kong it is five minutes to midnight," activists urge Canada to act quickly for Hong Kong

Activists and human rights groups fighting for freedom in Hong Kong told Canadian MPs in a special committee on Canada-China relations that there is only a "short window to act" before basic freedoms in Hong Kong completely disappeared. They urged Canada to sanction officials in China and Hong Kong responsible for human rights abuses and to offer help and permanent residence to those at risk of political persecution.

“For Hong Kong it’s five minutes to midnight. We hope the Canadian government will play its part and have the courage to enact sanctions,” Aileen Calverley, co-founder of Hong Kong Watch, told the MPs.

Source: National Post #11Aug

https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/were-running-out-of-time-to-help-hong-kong-activists-warn-canadian-mps

#AileenCalverley #Sanction #HongKongWatch

#YuenLong721 #PoliceState
HK Police Clamping Down 7.21 Remembrance in Yuen Long with National Security Violation Warning

August 21, 2020 marked 13 months since the 7.21 Yuen Long Attack, where white-clad assaulted civilians and police allegedly turned a blind eye to these brutal attackd.

At 8pm today in Yuen Long's Yoho Mall, some civilians shout slogans. Riot police arrived less than 10 minutes later and hoisted a Purple Flag. Police warned people around might be in violation of the Hong Kong National Security Law.

Police moved forward quickly and suddenly and intercepted lots of civilians. More police then arrived on the spot to support, and police continued to extend cordoned line until the whole shopping mall was completely blocked. Police yelled at the civilians to leave the mall at once, or otherwise they would violate the group gathering ban.

Source: Apple Daily #Aug21
#NationalSecurityLaw #PurpleFlag

#COVID19 #FailedState #CoronavirusPandemic

330,000 people off the COVID-monitoring radar

According to latest data of the Department of Health, 330,000 people entered into the community unrestricted - without any actual COVID testing or tracking of their whereabouts but they were issued 'medical surveillance notices’. They simply went through a one-time temperature check and self-claimed 'health declaration form’ upon entering Hong Kong.

Despite the fact that Hong Kong is still under the second wave of outbreak, 50,000 medical surveillance notices were issued to people who were exempted in the past month.

During the first wave of outbreak in February this year, nearly 100,000 people entered into Hong Kong under this exemption arrangement. Endless exemption, endless community outbreaks risk.

[X axis: month
Y axis: number of medical surveillance notices issued]

Sources: HKC News; Hong Kong Governmemt
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202007/26/P2020072600666.htm?fontSize=1

https://tinyurl.com/HKC-News

#OpinionArticle #HongKongChronicles #ProvisionalLegCo

Hong Kong 1997: When the Beijing-Controlled Provisional Legislative Council Passed So Many Draconian Laws

How long does it take for a Legislature Fully Controlled by the Establishment to Pass a Draconian Law?

Answer: Overnight

Source: InMedia #7Feb2016
#BeijingIntervention #Handover1997 #LegCo

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24400

#OpinionArticle #HongKongChronicles #ProvisionalLegCo

Hong Kong 1997: When the Beijing-Controlled Provisional Legislative Council Passed So Many Draconian Laws

How long does it take for a Legislature Fully Controlled by the Establishment to Pass a Draconian Law?

Answer: Overnight

Editor's Note:
The Provisional Legislative Council was formed in January 25, 1997 unilaterally by Beijing due to China's rejection of Hong Kong governor Chris Patten’s democrarization plan. The unelected Provisional Legislative Council was deemed illegal before the handover, as the members were solely appointed by Beijing.

However, soon after the sovereignty transfer, Beijing dissolved the pro-democracy legislature directly elected by Hong Kong people in 1995. The Beijing-backed Provisional Council became the 'official' legislature serving a term until June 30, 1998.

The following are some draconian laws practiced in current Hong Kong which were passed by the Beijing-arranged legislature after the handover:

The Return of the Public Security Ordinance

In 1995, in accordance with the Hong Kong Bill of Rights Ordinance, some provisions of the Public Security Ordinance were ruled to be in conflict with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and therefore abolished. These included the bans on demonstrations of more than 30 people and gatherings of more than 50 people.

The licensing system is changed to a notification system, and the organizer must notify the police 7 days before the event. In this regard, the Chinese government believes that the 1995 version of the regulations violates the Hong Kong Basic Law. Therefore, the Provisional Legislative Council of Hong Kong re-enacted some of the abolished provisions in 1997, including changing the notification system for processions and assemblies to the "letter of no objection" system.

The Beijing controlled legislature went through three readings in just one day on June 14, 1997.

Since then, Hong Kong people have lost their freedom of assembly. Every July 1st, the democracy front has to negotiate with the police for the latter to issue a letter of no objection .

The Right to Collective Bargaining Abolished

On June 26, 1997, fours days before the handover, the directly elected Legislative Council passed the "Employees’ Representative Rights, Consultation Rights, and Collective Bargaining Rights Ordinance" (referred to as the "Collective Bargaining Rights Ordinance") submitted by the Secretary-General of the Trade Union, Lee Cheuk-yen.

With concern for labor rights, the new ordinance enabled the right to collective bargaining. The arrangement is applicable to enterprises with more than 50 employees; and, the number of union members must exceed 15% of the number of employees and the authorization of more than 50% of the employees is required to obtain the right to collective bargaining.

However, after the transfer of sovereignty, the Beijing- controlled Council immediately overturned many laws that were considered "obstructive to the operation of the SAR government".

These included the "Employee Representative Rights, Consultation Rights and Collective Bargaining Rights Ordinance" on July 16 of the same year. The law was officially repealed in November 1997.

Since then, Hongkongers have been fighting for the restoration of collective bargaining rights, but there has been little progress in face of the establishment.

*This is an article written by columnist Chan Yu-ming and published by InMedia on 7 Feb, 2016.

Source: InMedia
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/1040693

#BeijingIntervention #Handover1997 #LegCo

#LegCoElection #ProvisionalLegCo #PublicOpinionPoll
HK's Democratic Party announces to entrust a third party to conduct a public scientific survey to decide whether to serve the extended LegCo terms arranged by Beijing

Source: Stand News #Aug20
#NoElection #Postponement #DemocraticParty

Read Full Article: ⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24402