#FaceMask #Shortage #Feb17
Pro-democracy Group Demosisto Announces the Procurement of another 1.2 million Face Masks for Hongkongers

From Joshua Wong's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/joshuawongcf/status/1229331096933978113?s=197

#JoshuaWong #Demosisto

#DailyUpdate #Feb17 #COVID19

COVID-19 Updates (17/2):

- The total number of infected is now standing at 71441 where the numbers of deaths are now at 1775, of which 70553 confirmed cases and 1770 deaths are from mainland China.

- Wuhan authorities strengthened public space management using QR code, including identification upon arrival and leave, registrations for medicine purchases in pharmacies and closure of non-compulsory places.

- Xiaogan, located in Hubei province issued injunction onto its residents. Vehicles were also banned from driving.

- The new General Secretary of Hubei province Ying Yong suggested Hubei society to implement “the strictest 24 hours closed measures” to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak.

- Reports speculated an annual conference in December with 5000 attendants, held in Wuhan, may be the cause of viruses spreading to 3 provinces, namely Hunan, Guizhou and Guangdong.

- Macau has no new case confirmed in 13 consecutive days, entertainments would be partially reopened with conditions starting on 20th Feb

- Additional 99 confirmed cases are found on cruise ship Diamond Princess, giving the total of 454.

- HKSAR government is sending 30 representatives to Japan, evacuating the 350 Hong Kong residents onboard Diamond Princess on Thursday. Passengers are going to be quarantined for 14 days upon return.

- The USA sent charter flights to retrieve more than 300 US nationals onboard Diamond Princess, 44 individuals who are confirmed with COVID-19 or showed symptoms would be staying in Japan for treatment.

- 2020’s Lianghui of PRC (annual plenary sessions of People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) is delayed due to the epidemic outbreak.

- 30 cases have been confirmed in South Korea, the authorities are going to perform COVID-19 virus tests on ordinary pneumonia patients.

- American scientists pointed out the outlook of COVID-19 virus does not differ much from SARS and MERS viruses.

Source: Now News, Commercial Radio Hong Kong, RTHK, Xiaogan Gov Official Website

#HongKongPolice #AsiasFinest
Hong Kong Police Commissioner Pays Tribute to Actors Who "Inspired" Him to Act and Speak like A Policeman

“In the past, I didn’t know how to be a police officer; however, after watching Jackie Chan and Alex Fong, I know how to act and speak like one!” said Hong Kong Police Commissioner Tang Ping-keung.

Tang also explained the reason why he could speak "well" at the District Council meetings is because he has learnt some speaking techniques from television shows hosted by actor Eric Tsang.

Read Further: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17444

Source: Stand News #Feb17
#Showbiz #Idol
#PoliceCommissioner #PKTang #ChrisTang

What Exactly Can the Hong Kong Police Learn From Jackie Chan?
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17453

Mafia state: Police allegedly feasted with mob bosses
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17457

#HongKongPolice #AsiasFinest
Hong Kong Police Commissioner Pays Tribute to Actors Who "Inspired" Him to Speak and Act Like A Policeman

Watch the video: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17443

A video went viral on the Internet on February 17, as Hong Kong Police Commissioner Tang Ping-keung was sighted hanging out with some showbiz celebrities in a dinner party that took place on February 16.

In the name of "exchanging" with the all-star soccer team, the police commissioner said in the party that he learnt how to act and speak as a policeman from the stars who attended the dinner, including actors Jackie Chan, Eric Tsang and Alex Fong Chung-sun as well as singer Alan Tam. “In the past, I didn’t know how to be a police officer; however, after watching Jackie Chan and Alex Fong [Chung-sun], I know how to act and speak like one!” said Commissioner Tang, who openly referred them as his idols.

Moreover, Tang explained the reason why he could speak "well" at the District Council meetings is because he has learnt some speaking techniques from television shows hosted by actor Eric Tsang.

Tang was not the only high-ranking police officer in the party. Other prominent participants of this party include both the current and former police spokesmen, Kwok Ka-chuen and John Tse Chun-Chung.

Another unexpected face included the retired police officer Chu King-wai, who was arrested and charged with assault after hitting a random pedestrian with his baton during the 2014 Umbrella Movement.

Based on the pictures taken at the party, the participants did not wear facemasks while making close contact; some were even eating without using utensils. In addition, a lady allegedly smoked inside the indoor restaurant before the police. The Hong Kong government has long outlawed smoking in indoor areas since 1 January 2007.

The public relations bureau of the Police responded to The Stand News on the matter, claiming that this dinner was a "private social event" and the expenses were shared equally among the police officers and other participants at their own cost. They added that the police have developed a close and fruitful relationship with the Hong Kong all-star soccer team for a long time as they are all soccer-lovers.

Sources: Stand News; HKCNews #Feb17
#PoliceSocialEvents #HongKongShowbiz #LearnFromJackieChan #HappyDinner #FootballConnects
#JackieChan #EricTsang #AlanTam #PoliceCommissioner

More photos: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17445

Mafia state: Police allegedly feasted with mob bosses
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17457

Three robbers with knives snatched 50 packs of toilet paper from a supermarket delivery man on February 17.

The population's fear of the lack of daily necessities is extremely vocal. This reflects how people lost trust in the Hong Kong government for their failure in handling the coronavirus outbreak.

Source: Apple Daily #Feb17
#FailedState #ToiletRollPanic

Chinese Hotpot Chain Remains Open for Business Under the Risk of Spreding Coronavirus

HaiDiLao Hotpot, the well-known hotpot chain in China, remains open for business at its two-storey Yau Ma Tei branch. One of the two floors is open despite the recent news on hot pot being the “super-spreader”.

A family of 19 members was sharing a hotpot meal and 13 of them were infected with the coronavirus. On Feburary 10th, Yoshinoya, Café de Coral and Fairwood have announced that they would suspend their hot pot menu.

[Editor's note: HaiDiLao was, according to the police broadcast made to Hong Kong protesters, a place where the police like to go after work, especially their branches in Shenzhen, China]

Source: United Social Press #Feb17
#ChinesePneumonia #Hotpot #HaiDiLao

#SelfHelp #GovernanceCrisis
Free Face Masks Distributed by the Nepali Youth Campaigner in Yuen Long, Hong Kong to elderly and people in need.

Photo: Internet #Feb17
#NepaliYouthCampaigner

#PoliceState
Hong Kong's National Security Police Charges Lawyer's Assistant for Collusion and Assisting 12 Pro-democracy Hongkongers

Source: Stand News #Feb17

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#PoliceState
Hong Kong's National Security Police Charges Lawyer's Assistant for Collusion and Assisting 12 Pro-democracy Hongkongers

The Hong Kong Police laid charges on a lawyer's assistant under the #NationalSecurityLaw, making him the 5th person charged under the law.

The Police confirmed that the National Security Department has arrested a 29-year-old man on Feb 17, 2021, for his activities from July 1 to Aug 31, 2020.

The man was accused of "colluding with foreign powers" by participating in lobbying work, as well as assisting the 12 pro-democracy protesters in fleeing the city.

The man is charged on one count of "conspiracy to collude with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security", and one count of "conspiracy to assist criminals". His case was quickly brought to court on the afternoon of his arrest.

According to sources, the man had been previously arrested by the National Security Department in October 2020. He was arrested together with 8 others, including friends of the 12 Hongkongers and district councilors' assistants.

The police accused them for assisting fugitives in various roles, including being the boat operator, supplying funds, providing lodging and transportation to the pier, making arrangements for their lives after arriving in Taiwan, and so on.

Sources further state that the authorities had already frozen the man's bank accounts, both local and overseas, though the police denied the allegations.

The Hong Kong Police further stated that there had been 98 arrests under the National Security law up to Feb 16, 2021. The arrestees are aged 16 to 79, and are accused for activities "endangering national security".

Source: Stand News #Feb17

#Regime #Arrest #Court

#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #Court #Save12HKYouths

Myanmar protesters accuse China of backing coup plotters

Activists allege Beijing setting up ‘great firewall’ and call for boycott of Chinese products.

Since a week ago, Myanmar social media has been alight with rumours after a series of cargo flights confirmed by flight tracker websites from the Chinese city of Kunming landed in Yangon when the country’s airspace was restricted.

Protesters have speculated that the flights contained internet-blocking information technology software, or Chinese soldiers.

Anti-coup demonstrators have massed outside the Chinese embassy in Yangon over the past week, holding placards attacking Beijing or showing President Xi Jinping dangling senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the junta chief, by marionette strings.

Source: FT #Feb17

https://www.ft.com/content/43e6ecfe-081a-4390-aa18-154ec87ff764

#MyanmarCoup #ChinaBackMyanmarCoup #ChinaFireWall

U.K. Points to Political Risk in New Hong Kong Business Guidance

The U.K. highlighted increasing political risks in its latest guidance on conducting business in Hong Kong, pointedly dropping references to relations with its former colony as “positive” and “beneficial.”

The U.K. government updated its guidance Tuesday for the business risk level in Hong Kong to include a warning that a China-drafted national security law imposed last year was “already reducing the extent to which the people of Hong Kong are able to exercise their fundamental rights and freedoms.” The guidance also lays out recent political changes in Hong Kong, citing “increasing concerns” about

#Bloomberg

https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/u-k-points-to-political-risk-in-new-hong-kong-business-guidance

#Feb17 #PoliticalRiskInHongKong #HongKong #HKBusinessGuidance

#Court #818Rally #PoliticalPersecution
German Parliament Member: We should not give up on Hong Kong democracy advocates

Source: Stand News #Feb17

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#Court #818Rally #PoliticalPersecution
German Parliament Member: We should not give up on Hong Kong democracy advocates

In Hong Kong, a number of pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong were accused of "organising and participating in the an assembly at Victoria Park on August 18, 2019 during the Anti-ELAB movement.

Among them were Lee Chu-Ming, Founding Chairman of the Democratic Party; Margaret Ng Ngoi-Yee, barrister and ex-Legislative Councillor; and Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Founder of Apple Daily. They were charged of "oganising and taking part in an unauthorised assembly". The trial began in court on Feb 16, 2021.

In Germany, #GydeJensen, the youngest female member of the #GermanParliament, showed support for the pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. She uploaded photos of her holding up a sign which said “WE STAND WITH HONGKONG”. She also mentioned that she had made motion in the parliament, urging #Germany and the #EU to show more concern on human rights issues.

Jensen stated that the prosecution of the pro-democracy figures was undoubtedly a political one, and was part of Xi Jinping’s plan to silence the democratic movement in Hong Kong, so that Hong Kong people would give up their hope on freedom and democracy.

Jensen warns that the agenda also applied to the international level. She stressed that international figures could not let themselves get numbed by Hong Kong’s current situation, nor give up on Hong Kong’s democratic advocates.

Source: Stand News #Feb17

#GlobalSupport #JimmyLai #MargaretNg #StandWithHongKong #InternationalSociety

Virtual control: the agenda behind China’s new digital currency

Source: Financial Time #Feb17

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Virtual control: the agenda behind China’s new digital currency

Although no official launch date has been announced, China is intent on becoming the first large economy to introduce a digital currency, showcasing its position as the global leader in payments technology to the world at next year’s Winter Olympics.

China’s digital plan dovetails with broader ambitions for its currency as Beijing hopes the
technology will help promote the renminbi internationally and weaken the US dollar’s
supremacy.

China’s digital renminbi is a “central bank digital currency”, making it in some ways the
opposite of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin. Its digital format enables the central bank to track all transactions at the individual level in real time. Beijing aims to use this feature to combat money laundering, corruption and the financing of “terrorism” at home by strengthening the already formidable surveillance powers of the ruling Communist party.

Source: Financial Time #Feb17

https://www.ft.com/content/7511809e-827e-4526-81ad-ae83f405f623#uk

#DigitalYuen #China #CBDC #DigitalRenminbi

#WinterOlympics #HumanRights #Shame
Natalie Geisenberger: I’d never returned to China

#NatalieGeisenberger #Luge #IOC #LGBT

Source: Deutsche Welle; #Feb17

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#WinterOlympics #HumanRights #Shame
Natalie Geisenberger: I’d never returned to China

#NatalieGeisenberger, Germany’s #luge champion who took home a sixth gold medal at #WinterOlympic Games this year. She went to Beijing having previously criticised China and even considered boycotting.

“When there’s #HumanRights and the country’s stance on #LGBT, those issues should be taken into consideration by the #IOC (in selecting host nations).”

Geisenberger refused to speak about the human rights issue during the Games.

“You have to be careful when you say what, and where you say it, and I think many are feeling this way. Here on location, I think it’s better not to say too much,” she said on February 8.

Having now returned to Germany, she told newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung that she will never return to China.

“It’s just not a holiday destination for me, and I wouldn’t go to China for a World Cup either,” Geisenberger continued saying, “it has nothing to do with the pandemic. I wasn’t there because I really wanted to go to China, but because the IOC decided that the Olympic Games would take place in Beijing.

Source: Deutsche Welle; #Feb17
https://p.dw.com/p/47AoV