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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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Residents in Uproar over Government Setting Up Isolation Camp Site Close to Residential Area

Editor's note: Citizens questioned the government's forceful choice of the location of the isolate camp in the populated Fanling, rather than distant sites like Shek Kong Camp. The latter could be a much wiser choice for an isolation camp in terms of its location and size (152 hectares vis-a-vis 0.82 hectares in Fai Ming Estate, Fanling).

Without prior consultation, the government announced in January 25 that a public housing estate Fai Ming Estate in Fanling would be transformed into a temporary residence for medical staff handling coronavirus cases or an isolation camp for people with close contact with patients of the Wuhan pneumonia.

This provoked outrage among nearby residents, as the site is very close to secondary schools and residential buildings. In fear of a community outbreak, immediately after the announcement made by the government, the residents launched a petition.

About 14000 signatures had been collected by 17:45. Some district councilors questioned the government regarding the choice of the location. On January 26, many residents gathered around the estate and used bricks and water-filled barriers to set up roadblocks. Some residents demanded the government to remove all materials for the reconstruction in Fai Ming Estate at once.

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) staff arrived to appease the crowds by promising to remove the construction material later. Nonetheless, the gathering residents pointed to the urgency of the issue and the hypocrisy of the government, and hence persisted with their demands.

Source: Stand News #Jan26
Hong Kong Secretary for Food and Health: To shut down Hong Kong-China Border Has to Consider China's Feeling

On January 26, a total of 8 cases of Wuhan pneumonia were confirmed in Hong Kong, of which 7 patients had travelled from China via the high speed railway. At least 2,000 cases of the new coronavirus infection were reported in China.

Sophia Chan, Head of Hong Kong's Food and Health Bureau, however, insisted in a television interview aired on January 26 that shutting down the Hong Kong-China border is not feasible. She claimed that the decision has to "consider China's feeling". When asked if she would remind Hong Kong citizens to wear mask, Chan hesitated and answered only later that citizens should consider wearing a mask in "crowded areas".

Source: InMedia #Jan26
Medical Doctor from China Might Have Contaminated Hospital in Hong Kong

A 23-day newborn whose father is medical doctors in China was admitted to United Christian Hospital in Hong Kong. The parents coveted the fact that one of then have worked in a hospital in China that takes in patients with Wuhan pneumonia. Although the baby was relocated to a quarantined ward, all babies previously sharing the same ward have a risk of being infected.

As of HKT22:47 on January 26, the Chinese authorities claimed that confirmed cases of the new coronavirus infection might increase by 1,000 in Wuhan, China.

According to the mayor of Wuhan, over 5 million people had left Wuhan during the Lunar New Year and 9 million people remained in Wuhan.

Source: RTHK #Jan26
Shantou Authorities Lift City Lockdown, Stepping up on Preventive Measures Instead
 
In an attempt to halt Wuhan Pneumonia from affecting the city with a population of around 5 million, the Shantou authorities announced at the dawn of January 26 to partially lockdown the city, barring vehicles and boats from entering the city starting from this coming Monday, January 27.   
 
However, the partial lockdown was lifted in the early afternoon.  According to local state media, the city will strengthen disease control measures such as disinfection efforts instead, reversing the earlier announcement.  
 
Editor’s note:  
The Chinese idiom “the order of the morning is countermanded at night” is often used by historians to describe the appalling public administration practice of imposing unpredictable policies with frequent changes.  Thanks to the digital era, things move in a speedy pace and policies can change even quicker nowadays, clearly exemplified by how a city lockdown imposed in the morning could be lifted in the early afternoon on the same day.  
 
The city of Shantou is situated on the southern coast of China in Guangdong province, around 800km away from Wuhan, the epicentre of Coronavirus Pneumonia.  It is also the first city outside of Hubei province to order a lockdown. 

Source: Apple Daily, Strait Times  
 
#Jan26  #ChinesePneumonia #Wuhan #GlobalOutbreak #Shantou
Suspected Carrier of the New Coronavirus without HKID Card Causes Risks in Public Hospital

According to sources, a pregnant woman with fever was admitted to the Eastern Hospital in Hong Kong. After giving birth to triplet babies, she suffered breathing difficulties. The newly borns were admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

It was found that the woman from Fujian, China had no Hong Kong ID. Having hospitalized for three days, she might already have contaminated the ward if she was a carrier of the new coronavirus.

The photo shows a China ID card found in Mongkok, downtown Hong Kong on January 26. The identification card indicates the origin of the man in Wuhan, China.

Source: Internet #Jan26

People from China rushed to Hong Kong for Treatment, Endangering Hong Kong with Unimaginable Health Risks
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/15912
Question Over Hong Kong Government's Claim of the Lack of Mask Supply and the 'Need' to Request China's Assistance

On January 25, the Hong Kong government held a press conference. Despite the varied instructions from government officials about wearing face masks or not, Chief Executive Carrie Lam mentioned the lack of face masks and the Hong Kong government's willingness to request help from China.

However, in a press release titled "Inmates assist in epidemic prevention" issued by The Correctional Services Department on May 3, 2013,
50,000 filter masks are produced by Lo Wu Correctional Institution everyday

As in 2013, special measures like increasing working hours were adopted to cope with increasing demand for the products in anticipation of a possible H7N9 outbreak. According to the government, the stock of raw materials was increased from one month to three to stablize production. The authorities also stated that the workshop’s output can be raised to 60,000 masks daily to meet demand.

Source: Apple Daily #Jan26
Reference: https://www.csd.gov.hk/tc_chi/news/news_pr/news_pr_20130503.html?print=1
Pro-Democracy and Pro-Government Camps Unite to Thwart Govt's Plan for Quarantine Camp Near Homes in Hong Kong

Read Full Story:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16153

Source: TMHK, In-Media #Jan26
Pro-Democracy and Pro-Government Camps Unite to Thwart Govt's Plan for Quarantine Camp Near Homes in Hong Kong

On Jan 25, the government announced unconsulted plans to use the as-yet-uninhabited Fai Ming Estate as quarantine housing for people who had came in contact with Wuhan Pneumonia patients. This alarmed residents living within the vicinity of Fanling, as the proposed location is very near inhabited housing estates, as well as a number of primary and secondary schools.

In the evening of Jan 26, at around 5pm, over 200 residents gathered at the roundabout leading to Fai Ming Estate, blocking it off with plastic barricades, road signs, metal rods, bricks, and other debris. Police arrived to negotiate with district councillors in an attempt to reopen the road, but were yelled at by residents. They retreated without giving any warnings, neither did they drive away the crowd.

A bystander near the roadblock showed his support to the actions. "It doesn't matter if you're yellow or blue ribbon (pro-democracy or pro-government) anymore. We all live here in the Northern District. What they're doing (blocking the road) is completely reasonable!"

He said that the government cannot guarantee that the virus would not escape from this location and cause an even larger outbreak in the community. There are more remote locations within Fanling for quarantine use, such as the golf courses, and he finds it unreasonable that Fai Ming Estate was the only option that the government chose. "Just use the CE's residence. Easy!"

The government later issued a clarification that Fai Ming Estate has in fact not been designated as a "Quarantine Camp". The Health Department had only modified it, just in case it needs to be used in the near future. They also said that that currently, there are no plans to use it.

According TMHK reporters who took a drone footage of the estate, a number of units already have working lights, and are furnished with basics fixtures such as tables, chairs, and water kettles. There were no adjacent units furnished, and no one is seen within the units.

Source: TMHK, In-Media #Jan26
#Newspaper
More than 5 million people had left Wuhan, China because of Lunar New Year

With the outbreak of Wuhan novel coronavirus for almost a-month time, the epidemic in Wuhan was still beyond control. In the “Hubei novel coronavirus epidemic prevention and control work press conference” held on 26 Jan, Zhou Xianwang, Wuhan mayor, said more than 5 million people had left Wuhan because of Lunar New Year and influence of the epidemic , while 9 million of the population remained in the city. Zhou also said that currently there were 2,209 suspected cases which were receiving treatments in the hospitals, and 643 outpatients had fever and were monitored. Zhou estimated the number of people who required medical treatments and monitoring could increase by another 1,000 cases in the future.

As of early morning of Jan 26, Wuhan has accumulated 618 infections. Among which, 45 people died, 87 people are in serious condition, 53 people are in critical condition and only 40 of them are discharged. All patients are isolated at designated hospitals for treatments.

Zhou says the authorities have requisitioned 24 hospitals and 10,000 beds to provide treatments to patients with fever, and is extending the requisition. Meanwhile, the government is also building “Huoshenshan Hospital” and “Leishenshan Hospital” which could provide 700 to 1,000 beds and 1,300 beds respectively.

Wang Xiaodong, Governor of Hubei Province, says the epidemic has made the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the whole country heart-wrenching, and he feels extremely distressed, guilty and self-condemned for that.

In early morning on 23 Jan, the Wuhan authorities announced that, all city transports, including buses and underground railways, would be suspended starting from 10 in the morning, and airport and train stations would also be closed until further notice. The authorities had asked the citizens not to leave Wuhan unless they had special reasons. Immediately after the notice was released, a flock of citizens tried to leave Wuhan and fled for other cities and countries.

Source: Stand News #Jan26
https://bit.ly/31eFWPT
#EscapeFromWuhan
#WuhanPneumonia
#Newspaper

Group led by PRC's Premier Li Keqiang in response to the nCoV outbreak

Confirmed nCoV cases continues to rise in China. On 26 Jan, the Central leading group in response to the nCoV outbreak, led by Premier Li Keqiang, convened the first meeting in Beijing. The meeting pointed out the most important work each level of the government should do in the outbreak.

It also emphasizes the importance to prevent the outspread inside and outside of Hubei Province and Wuhan. The group called for transparency in the information regarding the epidemic, account the responsibilities for those who miss out or conceal epidemic information. Also China would strengthen the cooperation with WHO and other countries.

Source: Now #Jan26
https://news.now.com/home/international/player?newsId=378219

Further reading:
Dictatorship leading to the epidemic out of control
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16497

Personally Led by Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16537

#WuhanCoronavirus #LiKeqiang
#Sanction #InternationalCommunity
HK Pro-democracy Activists urge
#GermanParliament to Sanction Hong Kong and Chinese Officials

Source: Stand News, #Jan26

Read more
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#Sanction #InternationalCommunity
HK Pro-democracy Activists urge #GermanParliament to Sanction Hong Kong and Chinese Officials

A pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, #GlacierKwong, and a German student who studied in Hong Kong, #DavidMissal, led a petition in September 2020, calling on Germany to sanction Hong Kong officials over the national security law passed by Beijing in June 2020.

As the online petition reached the required 50,000 signatures, a parliamentary hearing was scheduled on January 25, 2021.

At the hearing, Kwong urged Germany to put in place “a real and robust policy on China” and “implement targeted sanction against individuals in Hong Kong and China… to hold China accountable and honour Germany’s commitment to democratic values.”

Kwong elaborated that under the National Security Law, initiating a petition or a signature campaign, attending a hearing overseas could be deemed “colluding with foreign forces” and therefore violation of the Law.

“Drastically, the national security law erodes the crumbling pillars of the city’s rule of law and democracy,” Kwong said in her opening speech. “Hongkongers now live in a quasi-police state and mass surveillance. The vaguely-termed law overrides the Basic Law and the Common Law system.”

She also cited prevailing oppressions in Hong Kong such like mass arrests, city-wide surveillance as pro-establishment legislators proposed installation of surveillance camera in classrooms to monitor teachers' speech and freezing of dissident bank accounts and blocking of websites.

Source: Stand News, #Jan26

#MassSurveillance #PoliceState #Authoritarianism #NationalSecurityLaw
#OnlinePetition #Germany
India announces permanent ban on 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat and Baidu

Source from: Stand News #Jan26

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India announces permanent ban on 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat and Baidu

As tensions between India and China continue, India's ministry of electronics and information technology (IT) has issued its latest notice to permanently ban 59 Chinese mobile apps, including TikTok, Baidu, WeChat and UC Browser from June this year.

Indian media and Reuters report that Indian authorities have announced a "permanent ban" on 59 Chinese mobile apps, including TikTok, Baidu, WeChat, UC Browser, Helo, Likee and others. The Times of India quoted sources saying that the companies were notified of the ban last week. It also stated that the tightening of the policy came after officials in the IT ministry expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the Chinese companies involved to various queries raised by the government, including their data collection and data processing methods, as well as issues surrounding data security and privacy.

#India #China #TikTok #IT #TikTokban

Source from: Stand News #Jan26

https://bit.ly/3oS7rc4
Chinese and U.S. military aircraft co-exist in the southwest airspace of Taiwan, two sides flew staggered: Taiwan Air Force dispatched surveillance 
 
Source: Stand News #Jan26

Read more
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Chinese and U.S. military aircraft co-exist in the southwest airspace of Taiwan, two sides flew staggered: Taiwan Air Force dispatched surveillance 
 
After US President Biden took office, Chinese Air Force moves frequently in Taiwan’s airspace. “Aircraft Spots”, the Twitter account which specifically tracks aircraft dynamics, tweeted today (26th January). It indicated that there was an EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft from US navy in Bashi Channel, heading towards China via Taiwan’s southwest airspace; at the same time, a Y-8 electronic jammer from People’s Liberation Army in southwest airspace, heading towards Bashi Channel, two sides flew staggered. According to the report from “Liberty Times”, Taiwan Air Force fighter planes also took off to monitor the situation.  
 
Less than a week after US President Biden took office, China has dispatched 28 military aircraft to interfere with Taiwan’s southwest airspace on the 23rd and 24th for two consecutive days. The aircraft types are mainly fighters, bombers, and other combat aircraft. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence dispatched air patrol troops to respond, broadcast the drive away, and used air defence missiles to track and monitor.  
 
Source: Stand News #Jan26

 https://bit.ly/3dxGxnj

#China #Taiwan #UnitedStated #JoeBiden #AirForce #Aircraft #LibertyTimes #Twitter  
#University in Hong Kong demands #StudentUnion to hand over 17 years of audit reports in 2 weeks

Source: Inmediahk; #Jan26

Read more
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32073
#University in Hong Kong demands #StudentUnion to hand over 17 years of audit reports in 2 weeks

The Students’ Union of the City University of Hong Kong (#CityU) said it is facing “the largest crisis since its establishment,” as the university management demanded 16 years of audit reports within two weeks and warned of possible punishment if the union did not comply.

In a statement, the student organisation said it had received a letter from the Student Development Services saying that the university was “extremely concerned about the union’s inability to provide the audit reports from 2005 to 2020.”

According to the student union the university also said it may take back its premises and stop the organisation from using “City University of Hong Kong” in its name if it failed to handover the related reports on February 5, 2022.

Acting Internal Affairs of the Student Union, Lee Chun-rui stressed that so much the Union is willing to hand over the audit report, they need more time to compile reports in past 17 years.

In distress and frustrated, Lee said he was only 5 years old, 17 years ago.

Source: Inmediahk; #Jan26
https://bit.ly/3o0Tued

#Suppression #HongKongYouth #University #PoliticalSuppression
Yale to begin investigating potential Chinese investments in light of human rights concerns

The committee that recommends areas for divestment to Yale’s board of trustees will begin investigating companies in China to determine whether some may be deemed ineligible for Yale investment in light of the Chinese government’s widespread human rights violations.

Source: Yale Daily News #Jan26

https://t.co/4RyX8gYkg3

#Yale #Investigate #Chinese #HumanRights