Hong Kong Police Arrests Girl Within British Consulate Bounds; British Parliament Member Expresses Concern

According to information on-site, at around 1700 HKT, around 20 teenagers were sticking posters regarding the anti-extradition bill movement before 2 to 3 police cars suddenly arriving on the scene, with the police claiming they received news of someone vandalizing the site. Therefore, all teenagers were frisked and their ID cards were recorded.

The police found a bottle of spray paint on a teenage girl named Chu, who is a student at Holy Trinity College, of which she was arrested after the frisk, according to Facebook Page ‘Fei Ying’. Alternatively, a number of people were carrying promotive material at the time, but no one else were arrested. Protestors were informed previously by the UK embassy that the area paved with grey bricks, which included the Main Gate and the Guard Post, is of British territory. Thus they thought the police would not enforce the law in this area.

Luke de Pulford, Conservative Party Human Rights Commissioner, expressed his attention in this incident, especially pointing out the fact that a young girl was arrested only because she was sticking up posters that was promoting peace. Moreover, Pulford emphasized one point that this incident should garner immediate attention as the girl was arrested in the Consulate territory (as she was standing at the ‘grey bricks’ which was labelled as a part of the British Consulate).

Riot police claimed that someone had committed criminal damage and thus they had the right to enforce the law. Protesters have stayed there for around sixty days to request aid from the United Kingdom.

Source: Stand News; Studio Incendo

#11Jan #Consulate #PoliceState #Diplomacy #UK

Pompeo: Chinese Diplomats Banned from Visiting US Unis or Meeting US Officials Without Authorization

The US state secretary Mike Pompeo has issued a statement announcing that Chinese diplomats will need the US state department’s permission to visit American universities or meet with American officials. The statement said also that if the Chinese embassy or a Chinese consulate wishes to host a cultural event with more than 50 participants outside of its property, approval from the state department will also be needed. Pompeo added that the state department will take actions to ensure all the Chinese diplomatic missions’ official social media accounts are correctly identified as the accounts of the Chinese government.

Explaining the actions against the Chinese government’s social media accounts, the statement said that the US embassy is not given full access to Chinese social media and that Chinese citizens are prevented from using Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms.

At the beginning of the statement, Pompeo said that China has deviated significantly from diplomatic norms in making American diplomatic missions there immensely difficult. He also criticized the Chinese authorities’ vetting processes for being opaque and for preventing US diplomats from conducting normal operations and keeping in touch with Chinese citizens. He further pointed out that US diplomats often run into obstructions when organizing cultural events, formal meetings, and university visits.

The statement said in contrast, Chinese diplomats in the US have free access to American society. Pompeo notes that the new policy is a response to the limitations China has imposed on American diplomats over the years. It is hoped that the Chinese government will make improvements, he said. Should China lift the restrictions it has imposed on American diplomats, the statement added, the US is ready to respond in kind.

Source: Stand News #Sep03

#US #China #Pompeo #Embassy #Consulate #Diplomacy

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