#FirstHand
Media tycoon Jimmy Lai granted bail before Christmas, on a heap of conditions including home detention

2315 | Admiralty

After clearing necessary procedures lasting as long as 5 hours, #JimmyLai was sighted departing the High Court Detention Centre around 11pm tonight (Dec 23, 2020). A large crowd of citizens waited for him outside, including Lai’s supporters and media representatives.

As condition of bail from his #NationalSecurityLaw charges, the pro-democracy tycoon was ordered to surrender his travel documents, and cannot post on social media, give interviews, publish articles, meet overseas officials, or ask foreign countries, institutions, or individuals to impose sanctions, blockade, or engage in any other "hostile activities" against Hong Kong or China.

#Court #Dec23
#PoliceState #HumanitarianCrisis
#NextDigital #AppleDaily

=======
Related article

#JimmyLai Granted Bail by High Court; Department of Justice Files Appeal Immediately and Requests Re-Detention
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27477

Barrister Worries National Security Law’s Imprisonment Before conviction: ‘To be released on bail is basic human rights’
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27272

#FirstHand
Jimmy Lai Released on Bail, Forbidden to Speak to Press

2315 | Admiralty

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai is released on HK$100 million bail.

The video footage showed Lai leaving the High Court by a car without speaking to any media representatives on the scene, because the bail condition forbade him from speaking publicly.

#AppleDaily #NationalSecurityLaw #SpeechCrimes #Dec23

=======
Related article

#JimmyLai Granted Bail by High Court; Department of Justice Files Appeal Immediately and Requests Re-Detention
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27477

#FreedomofSpeech #StandWithMorey
NBA's Morey is defiant in his support to Hong Kong democracy

Source: Apple News #Dec23

Read more
⬇️⬇️

#FreedomofSpeech #StandWithMorey
NBA's Morey is defiant in his support to Hong Kong democracy

In October 2019, NBA team Houston Rockets Director #DarylMorey posted a “#StandwithHongKong” photo on Twitter to show his ardent support for Hong Kong democracy.

Not only did his belief in freedom of speech triggered a storm of intense political dispute, it also almost jeopardized his career in #NBA.

In an interview with Apple Daily published on Dec 23, 2020, Morey expressed that he came to understand Hong Kong’s predicament from his EMBA classmates. He decided to show his support to Hong Kong on Twitter.

When being asked whether he regrets his action, Morey paused for a few seconds and responded, “I am comfortable with what I have done.”

Although Morey didn’t regret showing his support to pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, he was concerned about the safety of his wife and his children. “I have been dreadfully worried. I was lucky to have many people offering me assistance to handle this incident. If possible, you won’t want to antagonize the world’s second strongest country … .” Morey said.

Source: Apple Daily #Dec23

https://hk.appledaily.com/sports/20201223/G6EENEKQFFECLDQKFA2NXHBIMQ/

#Interview

Reuters: Telecom Italia Intends to Reduce Purchases of Huawei 5G Equipment

Reuters reported on 23 December that Telecom Italia has decided to retain Nokia as a supplier of its 5G network equipment to reduce the proportion of that supplied by Huawei. Among the suppliers whose contracts have been reviewed, Sweden’s Ericsson will supply most of the equipment with Huawei and Nokia winning 20 to 25% of the contracts. Negotiations on reducing the proportion of contracts awarded to Huawei are still in progress.

According to the report, the US has been persuading Italy and other European countries to avoid using Huawei’s equipment, which may pose a threat to national security, an allegation denied by Huawei. Italy still refuses to completely prohibit the use of Huawei equipment.

Source: Stand News #Dec23

#Huawei #TelecomItalia #Ericsson #Nokia #5G

https://bit.ly/3nPTzPH

‘Politics come first’ as ban on Australian coal worsens China’s power cuts

Mid of December, more than a dozen Chinese cities have imposed restrictions on electricity use as growing demand for energy owing to the country’s post-coronavirus economic recovery collides head on with a shortage of thermal coal. The shortage underscores the dilemma Chinese authorities face in balancing their muscular approach to international diplomacy with the needs of the economy.

Authorities in at least four Chinese provinces have recently asked residents and businesses to cut electricity consumption, according to public announcements.

“The import curb is enough to change the industry landscape,” said a director at China Huadian Corporation, one of the nation’s largest energy groups. “Many local power plants depend on Australian coal due to its higher efficiency and now they are having trouble finding an alternative.”

Source: Financial Times #Dec23

https://www.ft.com/content/e83fffeb-3ef2-4b67-8989-6d17f153d8d4

#AustraliaChina #Coal #ElecricityChina

Hong Kong’s courts are the last check on Beijing’s growing power

Source: Japanese Times #Dec23

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Hong Kong’s courts are the last check on Beijing’s growing power

Prosecutors charged Lai under a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing in June, saying he colluded with foreigners by calling for sanctions against China. The trial of Lai, who denies wrongdoing, will test just how drastically Hong Kong has changed over the past six months. After decades of enjoying freedoms that don’t exist in mainland China, residents of the financial hub now face prosecution for voicing political views deemed threatening to the Communist Party — a breach of promises China made when Britain handed over the former colony in 1997.

The courts are on the front lines of this clash between two very different legal systems, Communist Party in power and English Common Law. As the first security law trials get under way next year, Hong Kong’s independent judiciary is emerging as the last check on Beijing’s power.

“The Communist Party views the judiciary system differently than western democracies,” said Dongshu Liu, assistant professor of Chinese politics at the City University of Hong Kong.

Source: Japanese Times #Dec23

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/23/asia-pacific/crime-legal-asia-pacific/hong-kong-courts/

#HongKongCourt #JimmyLai #CommonLaw #CCP