#Asylum #Refugee
#Germany grants a 3-year refugee status to pro-democracy student protester from Hong Kong
Germany has officially granted a 3-year refugee status for a 22-year-old Hong Kong pro-democracy protester on October 14, 2020.
While the person was the first protester of Hong Kong's anti-extradition law movement to receive asylum in Germany, the country had received two Hong Kong activists, Ray Wong Toi-Yeung and Alan Li Tung-Sing, of #HongKongIndigenous.
This student of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) who was charged with riotting, fled Hong Kong last November.
In Germany, she had faced many hardships during the asylum application process. She had lived in refugee camps for nearly 11 months. During the time, she was hospitalised due to emotional issues and sexually assaulted by a refugee camp staff.
She expressed her gratitude towards the German government and hoped that the authorities could "consider simplifying the asylum application process for Hong Kong protesters, such as allowing them to choose freely their place of residence while waiting for the decision". She believed this would bring "great convenience and support" to the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
[Editor's note: "Haven Assistance" is a group founded by four Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in exile, namely Ray Wong in Germany, Simon Cheng in the UK, Lam Wing-kee in Taiwan and Leung Gai-ping in the US.]
Source: Stand News; Haven Assistance #Oct19
https://bit.ly/2ILVC7Z
https://www.facebook.com/104852664625056/posts/158219392621716/?extid=0&d=n
#HavenAssistance
#Germany grants a 3-year refugee status to pro-democracy student protester from Hong Kong
Germany has officially granted a 3-year refugee status for a 22-year-old Hong Kong pro-democracy protester on October 14, 2020.
While the person was the first protester of Hong Kong's anti-extradition law movement to receive asylum in Germany, the country had received two Hong Kong activists, Ray Wong Toi-Yeung and Alan Li Tung-Sing, of #HongKongIndigenous.
This student of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) who was charged with riotting, fled Hong Kong last November.
In Germany, she had faced many hardships during the asylum application process. She had lived in refugee camps for nearly 11 months. During the time, she was hospitalised due to emotional issues and sexually assaulted by a refugee camp staff.
She expressed her gratitude towards the German government and hoped that the authorities could "consider simplifying the asylum application process for Hong Kong protesters, such as allowing them to choose freely their place of residence while waiting for the decision". She believed this would bring "great convenience and support" to the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
[Editor's note: "Haven Assistance" is a group founded by four Hong Kong pro-democracy activists in exile, namely Ray Wong in Germany, Simon Cheng in the UK, Lam Wing-kee in Taiwan and Leung Gai-ping in the US.]
Source: Stand News; Haven Assistance #Oct19
https://bit.ly/2ILVC7Z
https://www.facebook.com/104852664625056/posts/158219392621716/?extid=0&d=n
#HavenAssistance
Hong Kong National Security Law: Joint Statement by 39 Nations Urges China to Protect Hong Kong’s Autonomy, Claudia Mo Says the Law Obviously "Went Too Far"
On Tuesday (Oct 6), Germany delivered a joint statement on behalf of 39 countries, including the US, the UK and France, at the Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, raising their deep concerns over China’s human rights records and the erosion of freedom in Hong Kong. The signatories of the statement rose from 23 countries to 39 this year, which Human Rights Watch welcomed. A Hong Kong Legco member opined that the statement reflected that the CCP’s forced implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong seriously trampled the universal values of democratic countries. The Hong Kong government’s direct denial of the separation of power earlier also prompted democratic countries to re-evaluate Hong Kong’s status as an international society.
Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN, issued a joint statement on behalf of allies during the 75th UN General Assembly Third Committee General Debate, a session dedicated to social, humanitarian and cultural issues. The countries expressed deep concerns over the Hong Kong national security law. They also called on Beijing to protect the autonomy, rights and freedoms in Hong Kong and to respect the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary. In the statement, the countries raised concerns over China’s establishment of “re-education camps” in Xinjiang and suppression of Uyghur Muslim minorities as well. It pointed out that “Widespread surveillance disproportionately continues to target Uyghurs and other minorities and more reports are emerging of forced labour and forced birth control including sterilization”, and urged Beijing to “allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers”.
The signatories include Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, the US and Germany. Former Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN Karen Pierce issued a similar statement on behalf of 23 countries at the Third Committee in the previous year. The signatories rose to 39 countries this year, which was welcomed by human rights organisations. Louis Charbonneau, the United Nations director at Human Rights Watch, said, “The 39 states took a stand despite China’s persistent threats and intimidation tactics against those who speak out.”
Source: Apple Daily #Oct07
#China #HongKong #Xinjiang #Germany #UN #UnitedNations #JointStatement #HumanRights #Uyghurs #HumanRightsWatch #NationalSecurityLaw #GeneralAssembly #ThirdCommittee
https://bit.ly/3dIslXe
On Tuesday (Oct 6), Germany delivered a joint statement on behalf of 39 countries, including the US, the UK and France, at the Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, raising their deep concerns over China’s human rights records and the erosion of freedom in Hong Kong. The signatories of the statement rose from 23 countries to 39 this year, which Human Rights Watch welcomed. A Hong Kong Legco member opined that the statement reflected that the CCP’s forced implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong seriously trampled the universal values of democratic countries. The Hong Kong government’s direct denial of the separation of power earlier also prompted democratic countries to re-evaluate Hong Kong’s status as an international society.
Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN, issued a joint statement on behalf of allies during the 75th UN General Assembly Third Committee General Debate, a session dedicated to social, humanitarian and cultural issues. The countries expressed deep concerns over the Hong Kong national security law. They also called on Beijing to protect the autonomy, rights and freedoms in Hong Kong and to respect the independence of the Hong Kong judiciary. In the statement, the countries raised concerns over China’s establishment of “re-education camps” in Xinjiang and suppression of Uyghur Muslim minorities as well. It pointed out that “Widespread surveillance disproportionately continues to target Uyghurs and other minorities and more reports are emerging of forced labour and forced birth control including sterilization”, and urged Beijing to “allow immediate, meaningful and unfettered access to Xinjiang for independent observers”.
The signatories include Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, the US and Germany. Former Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN Karen Pierce issued a similar statement on behalf of 23 countries at the Third Committee in the previous year. The signatories rose to 39 countries this year, which was welcomed by human rights organisations. Louis Charbonneau, the United Nations director at Human Rights Watch, said, “The 39 states took a stand despite China’s persistent threats and intimidation tactics against those who speak out.”
Source: Apple Daily #Oct07
#China #HongKong #Xinjiang #Germany #UN #UnitedNations #JointStatement #HumanRights #Uyghurs #HumanRightsWatch #NationalSecurityLaw #GeneralAssembly #ThirdCommittee
https://bit.ly/3dIslXe
#Authoritarianism
HK Gov't blasts Germany for offering asylum to pro-democracy protester
The Hong Kong government condemned #Germany for “harbouring criminals” after Germany had granted #asylum to a Hong Kong student activist facing a riot charge.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26088
The 22-year-old student of Chinese University of Hong Kong skipped bail and fled to Germany last November after being arrested during the citywide pro-democracy protests, according to Haven Assistance, a group that offers immigration and asylum advice to Hongkongers.
Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung and Secretary for Security John Lee met with the German Consul-General Dieter Lamlé on October 21, 2020, expressing their stern opposition. The HK government representatives told Lamlé that Germany should “stop interfering with Hong Kong affairs, which are internal matters within the People’s Republic of China.”
Source: Apple Daily #Oct22
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201021/UJ2UMON6HRH33O2N7EFMBUMTWU/
HK Gov't blasts Germany for offering asylum to pro-democracy protester
The Hong Kong government condemned #Germany for “harbouring criminals” after Germany had granted #asylum to a Hong Kong student activist facing a riot charge.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26088
The 22-year-old student of Chinese University of Hong Kong skipped bail and fled to Germany last November after being arrested during the citywide pro-democracy protests, according to Haven Assistance, a group that offers immigration and asylum advice to Hongkongers.
Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung and Secretary for Security John Lee met with the German Consul-General Dieter Lamlé on October 21, 2020, expressing their stern opposition. The HK government representatives told Lamlé that Germany should “stop interfering with Hong Kong affairs, which are internal matters within the People’s Republic of China.”
Source: Apple Daily #Oct22
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201021/UJ2UMON6HRH33O2N7EFMBUMTWU/
US Media: Senior German Official Stopped the Publication of an Internal Report on Chinese Influence due to Worries of Possible Damage to German-Chinese Relations
American media company, Axios exclusively reported that a senior German official suppressed the publishing of an intelligence report document as officials worry that it would possibly damage the economic relationship between Germany and China. The report described China’s expansion of influence in Germany.
The exclusive report quoted two former US intelligence officials, they stated that this report is highly-confidential report has been completed since 2018. The content of the report examines China’s intention to influence Germany government, their community and business market. However, a senior German official stopped the report circulating within the German government. It was reported that only the German Chancellor Markel and several officials had read the report. When Axios asked the spokesperson of the German Federal Government, the spokesperson said that the German government would not comment on intelligence discovery or the activity of an intelligence company, as a matter of principle. The Federal Intelligence Service in Germany had also not commented on it yet.
The German policies towards China have been affected by economic factors, and sometimes, this would influence the perspective of the German government on the human right and national security issues. A former German Ambassador in China Volker Stanzel said in an interview that “Germany depends on exports to a high degree, and that gives the business a large influence. Business representatives talk to the government and are used to being listened to. The Chinese Communist Party succeeded in globalising its economy because it was able to join itself to foreign business interests.”
Businesses tend to discourage their local government from implementing policies that would harm China’s economic relations. However, Beijing authorities increasingly conflict commercial trade with politics, including threats in order to implement punitive economic measures on companies which criticised the human rights in China. As a result, Peter Altmaier, a German Businessman and the Economy Minister, is incentivised to fade out the seriousness of the human rights violation and security challenges in China.
#China #Germany #Axios #Economy #GermanChinaRelation #Business #Export #Politics
Source: Apple Daily #Oct07
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201007/XG2SEAX2FZCTDDDU6ODB6A3SMA/
Axios #Oct06
https://www.axios.com/exclusive-top-german-official-hushed-up-report-on-chinas-influence-8c6aeef3-0f71-405f-a902-a215399f2068.html
American media company, Axios exclusively reported that a senior German official suppressed the publishing of an intelligence report document as officials worry that it would possibly damage the economic relationship between Germany and China. The report described China’s expansion of influence in Germany.
The exclusive report quoted two former US intelligence officials, they stated that this report is highly-confidential report has been completed since 2018. The content of the report examines China’s intention to influence Germany government, their community and business market. However, a senior German official stopped the report circulating within the German government. It was reported that only the German Chancellor Markel and several officials had read the report. When Axios asked the spokesperson of the German Federal Government, the spokesperson said that the German government would not comment on intelligence discovery or the activity of an intelligence company, as a matter of principle. The Federal Intelligence Service in Germany had also not commented on it yet.
The German policies towards China have been affected by economic factors, and sometimes, this would influence the perspective of the German government on the human right and national security issues. A former German Ambassador in China Volker Stanzel said in an interview that “Germany depends on exports to a high degree, and that gives the business a large influence. Business representatives talk to the government and are used to being listened to. The Chinese Communist Party succeeded in globalising its economy because it was able to join itself to foreign business interests.”
Businesses tend to discourage their local government from implementing policies that would harm China’s economic relations. However, Beijing authorities increasingly conflict commercial trade with politics, including threats in order to implement punitive economic measures on companies which criticised the human rights in China. As a result, Peter Altmaier, a German Businessman and the Economy Minister, is incentivised to fade out the seriousness of the human rights violation and security challenges in China.
#China #Germany #Axios #Economy #GermanChinaRelation #Business #Export #Politics
Source: Apple Daily #Oct07
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201007/XG2SEAX2FZCTDDDU6ODB6A3SMA/
Axios #Oct06
https://www.axios.com/exclusive-top-german-official-hushed-up-report-on-chinas-influence-8c6aeef3-0f71-405f-a902-a215399f2068.html
After Obtaining 50k Petitions, the German Parliament Agrees to Hold a Hearing on China Sanction, said German Hongkonger Glacier Kwong
In September, Glacier Kwong Chung-ching, a Hong Kong resident in German and a former spokesperson of the "Keyboard Frontline", an NGO advocated for Human rights on the Web, submitted a proposal to the petition committee at the German Parliament. The petition called on the German Bundestag to formulate policies and to impose sanctions on China for the Hong Kong National Security Law. Glacier Kwong has got 50,000 signatures for the petition and posted on Facebook today that she had received an official document from the German Parliament confirming her eligibility for the hearing but was yet to know the date. She intends to reflect issues such as the 12 Hong Kong people detained in the mainland, describing it one of the small steps to liberate Hong Kong.
She said that due to the pandemic lockdown in Germany, she could only hold the hearing after lockdown, at the start of next year as the earliest, but she believes that as long as the hearing is held before the German election next year, the result will not be too far off. She also hoped that the hearing would address issues such as the importance of rescuing the 12 Hong Kong people detained in the mainland, the remaining freedom in Hong Kong, and the crumble of its political system. She hoped that the committee members of the German Parliament would take a stand on the China issues and that the hearing would be one of the formal occasions to discuss before the German elections. She also hopes that more people would pay attention to the China problem, as well as the situation in Taiwan and Xinjiang.
Source: The Stand News #Nov15
https://bit.ly/2Hg2CJW
#Germany #China #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #GermanParliament #Petition #GlacierKwong #KeyboardFrontline #Save12HKYouth
In September, Glacier Kwong Chung-ching, a Hong Kong resident in German and a former spokesperson of the "Keyboard Frontline", an NGO advocated for Human rights on the Web, submitted a proposal to the petition committee at the German Parliament. The petition called on the German Bundestag to formulate policies and to impose sanctions on China for the Hong Kong National Security Law. Glacier Kwong has got 50,000 signatures for the petition and posted on Facebook today that she had received an official document from the German Parliament confirming her eligibility for the hearing but was yet to know the date. She intends to reflect issues such as the 12 Hong Kong people detained in the mainland, describing it one of the small steps to liberate Hong Kong.
She said that due to the pandemic lockdown in Germany, she could only hold the hearing after lockdown, at the start of next year as the earliest, but she believes that as long as the hearing is held before the German election next year, the result will not be too far off. She also hoped that the hearing would address issues such as the importance of rescuing the 12 Hong Kong people detained in the mainland, the remaining freedom in Hong Kong, and the crumble of its political system. She hoped that the committee members of the German Parliament would take a stand on the China issues and that the hearing would be one of the formal occasions to discuss before the German elections. She also hopes that more people would pay attention to the China problem, as well as the situation in Taiwan and Xinjiang.
Source: The Stand News #Nov15
https://bit.ly/2Hg2CJW
#Germany #China #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #GermanParliament #Petition #GlacierKwong #KeyboardFrontline #Save12HKYouth
Germany Former BND President Warned that China Almost Dominates the World, and Urged Europe to Reduce Reliance on China
The former President of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) in Germany, Gerhard Schindler, spoke to the British press The Times that China was almost ‘dominating the world’, and that all European countries should be alert to this issue, lowering the ‘tactic reliance’ to China, especially for Germany.
Schindler, who served as the President of BND between 2011 and 2016, raised that China becomes more proactive in recent years, including aggressive actions in the South China Sea, the monopoly in the economy of African countries, and the Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects in Eurasia. He said, 'China is very clever and silent in conducting these dominating actions activities that we can hardly spot in Europe.'
China is the largest trade partner of Germany which the bilateral import and export trade volume reached EUR 206 billion (HKD 1.9 trillion) last year. Schindler pointed out that Germany must reflect on the situation of 'Business relationships dominate the stance on China'. He believed that there was a need to revise the Germany-China relationship. ‘We have some industries relying on China, such as our vehicle manufacturing industry, but we should not rely more heavily on others to reduce this reliance. We should try to reduce dependence.’ Schindler said.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct26
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201026/YCUISDO4CFDGHG3H3EXBLYVX3A/
#China #Germany #TradeWar #GerhardSchindler #BND #TheTimes #DominatingActions
The former President of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) in Germany, Gerhard Schindler, spoke to the British press The Times that China was almost ‘dominating the world’, and that all European countries should be alert to this issue, lowering the ‘tactic reliance’ to China, especially for Germany.
Schindler, who served as the President of BND between 2011 and 2016, raised that China becomes more proactive in recent years, including aggressive actions in the South China Sea, the monopoly in the economy of African countries, and the Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects in Eurasia. He said, 'China is very clever and silent in conducting these dominating actions activities that we can hardly spot in Europe.'
China is the largest trade partner of Germany which the bilateral import and export trade volume reached EUR 206 billion (HKD 1.9 trillion) last year. Schindler pointed out that Germany must reflect on the situation of 'Business relationships dominate the stance on China'. He believed that there was a need to revise the Germany-China relationship. ‘We have some industries relying on China, such as our vehicle manufacturing industry, but we should not rely more heavily on others to reduce this reliance. We should try to reduce dependence.’ Schindler said.
Source: Apple Daily #Oct26
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201026/YCUISDO4CFDGHG3H3EXBLYVX3A/
#China #Germany #TradeWar #GerhardSchindler #BND #TheTimes #DominatingActions
#Manner #CCP
"Good Riddance": China Tells Off Germany's UN Envoy Who Asks Beijing to Release 2 Detained Canadians for Christmas
Germany's UN envoy Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, during his last UN Security Council meeting, asked China to free two detained Canadians for Christmas:
"Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture."
Shortly after Canadian police arrested China's Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant in 2018, the Chinese Communist Party government detained Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat and cuurent advisor for the International Crisis Group think tank, and businessman Michael Spavor in China.
China's deputy UN envoy Geng Shuang immediately comdemned Heusgen for "malicious attack" and fired:
"I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen. I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfil the responsibilities...for maintaining international peace and security."
Heusgen plans to retire after working as a diplomat for more than 40 years.
Source: CBC; Apple Daily #Dec22
https://bit.ly/3pgL2FR
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-n-germany-kovrig-spavor-1.5852655
#Kovrig #Spavor #2Michaels #ChristophHeusgen #Germany #GengShuang #UN #Christmas2020
"Good Riddance": China Tells Off Germany's UN Envoy Who Asks Beijing to Release 2 Detained Canadians for Christmas
Germany's UN envoy Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, during his last UN Security Council meeting, asked China to free two detained Canadians for Christmas:
"Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture."
Shortly after Canadian police arrested China's Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant in 2018, the Chinese Communist Party government detained Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat and cuurent advisor for the International Crisis Group think tank, and businessman Michael Spavor in China.
China's deputy UN envoy Geng Shuang immediately comdemned Heusgen for "malicious attack" and fired:
"I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen. I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfil the responsibilities...for maintaining international peace and security."
Heusgen plans to retire after working as a diplomat for more than 40 years.
Source: CBC; Apple Daily #Dec22
https://bit.ly/3pgL2FR
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/u-n-germany-kovrig-spavor-1.5852655
#Kovrig #Spavor #2Michaels #ChristophHeusgen #Germany #GengShuang #UN #Christmas2020
Twitter Blocked Trump’s Account; Merkel Thinks it was a Problematic Approach; French Finance Minister: Internet Giants Threaten Democracy
The personal Twitter account of the US President Donald Trump has been permanently blocked. Leaders of various countries have successively spoken out on the incident. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated through her spokesperson that the approach of Twitter is problematic, and believed that the measure, which limited the freedom of speech, should be based on the legal framework and the legislature, rather than, decided by the social media management. Michael McCormack, the Acting Prime Minister of Australia, also indicated that he disagrees with the censorship. However, opposition leaders expressed their supports on Twitter’s decision and believed that people who spread hatred and lies should lose their voicing platform.
Angela Merkel responded through her spokesperson Steffen Seibert that the freedom of speech is “the fundamental rights with core meanings”. “Limitations on the basic right must be based on law and complying with the framework defined by the legislator, instead of based on the decision made by the management of social media”. Seibert also said that social media operations have a great social responsibility for hate, incitement to violence and other speeches, which should not be ignored. The platform’s practices of making relevant speeches in the past few months were commendable.
Other European leaders also responded to this incident. French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, indicated that a private entrepreneur should not decide whether to block an account. He was shocked by the action of Twitter blocking Trump’s account. He added internet giants bring threats to the US and democracy, and that countries and legislative council should take the responsibility to manage social media.
#US #UnitedStates #France #BrunoLeMaire #Germany #AngelaMerkel #SteffenSeibert #Australia #Twitter #FreedomOfSpeech #FreedomIsNotFree #Democracy #SocialMedia #AcountBlocked
Source from: The Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/3982hEh
The personal Twitter account of the US President Donald Trump has been permanently blocked. Leaders of various countries have successively spoken out on the incident. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated through her spokesperson that the approach of Twitter is problematic, and believed that the measure, which limited the freedom of speech, should be based on the legal framework and the legislature, rather than, decided by the social media management. Michael McCormack, the Acting Prime Minister of Australia, also indicated that he disagrees with the censorship. However, opposition leaders expressed their supports on Twitter’s decision and believed that people who spread hatred and lies should lose their voicing platform.
Angela Merkel responded through her spokesperson Steffen Seibert that the freedom of speech is “the fundamental rights with core meanings”. “Limitations on the basic right must be based on law and complying with the framework defined by the legislator, instead of based on the decision made by the management of social media”. Seibert also said that social media operations have a great social responsibility for hate, incitement to violence and other speeches, which should not be ignored. The platform’s practices of making relevant speeches in the past few months were commendable.
Other European leaders also responded to this incident. French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, indicated that a private entrepreneur should not decide whether to block an account. He was shocked by the action of Twitter blocking Trump’s account. He added internet giants bring threats to the US and democracy, and that countries and legislative council should take the responsibility to manage social media.
#US #UnitedStates #France #BrunoLeMaire #Germany #AngelaMerkel #SteffenSeibert #Australia #Twitter #FreedomOfSpeech #FreedomIsNotFree #Democracy #SocialMedia #AcountBlocked
Source from: The Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/3982hEh
#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
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
立場新聞 Stand News
鄺頌晴發起制裁中國聯署 德國會召開聽證會 德官員：歐盟正考慮制裁 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
被稱為「滑鼠娘娘」、現於德國漢堡留學的鄺頌晴去年與曾在港就讀德國學生 David Missal 發起聯署，要求...
#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
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
Germany's UN envoy urged China to release the 2 captive Canadians, China replied “Good Riddance”
Christoph Heusgen, UN envoy of Germany, attended his last meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday (Dec 22). At the meeting, he call on China to free the two detained Canadian citizens, but China deputy UN envoy Geng Shuang promptly respond with “good riddance”.
As Germany end its 2-years term as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this month, and Ambassador Christoph Heusgen's retirement after being a diplomat for over 40 years. He utilises his parting message to call on China, “Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture,”
However, Geng accused Huesgen of abusing the Security Council to launch “malicious” attack on other members “in an attempt to poison the working atmosphere.” He said, “I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen. I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfill the responsibilities...for maintaining international peace and security.”
#GengShuang #ChristophHuesgen #China #Germany #Canada #UN #SecurityCouncil #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor
Source: Apple daily #Dec23
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201223/Z5NPPCONDZC6HHRDMAUPUVM2YU/
Christoph Heusgen, UN envoy of Germany, attended his last meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday (Dec 22). At the meeting, he call on China to free the two detained Canadian citizens, but China deputy UN envoy Geng Shuang promptly respond with “good riddance”.
As Germany end its 2-years term as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this month, and Ambassador Christoph Heusgen's retirement after being a diplomat for over 40 years. He utilises his parting message to call on China, “Let me end my tenure on the Security Council by appealing to my Chinese colleagues to ask Beijing for the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor. Christmas is the right moment for such a gesture,”
However, Geng accused Huesgen of abusing the Security Council to launch “malicious” attack on other members “in an attempt to poison the working atmosphere.” He said, “I wish to say something out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance, Ambassador Heusgen. I am hoping that the council in your absence in the year 2021 will be in a better position to fulfill the responsibilities...for maintaining international peace and security.”
#GengShuang #ChristophHuesgen #China #Germany #Canada #UN #SecurityCouncil #MichaelKovrig #MichaelSpavor
Source: Apple daily #Dec23
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201223/Z5NPPCONDZC6HHRDMAUPUVM2YU/
China has tried to intimidate Hong Kong activists in Germany, Berlin says
China has tried to intimidate Hong Kong residents living in Germany since pro-democracy protests broke out in the city two years ago.
The letter to the head of parliament’s human rights committee mentioned the increasing attempts by Chinese state actors in Germany to influence public opinion in favour of the Chinese government since the start of the protests in Hong Kong. Also, it citied that the Chinese pro-government counter-demonstrators filmed and photographed participants “presumably for the purpose of intimidation” in the protest of supporting Hong Kong activists in Hamburg on Aug. 17, 2019.
Jensen, a member of the liberal FDP party said it was about time that the German government realised that actors for the Chinese government could pose a threat to exiled Hong Kongers.
Source: Reuters #Feb23
https://reut.rs/2ZGgUsC
#Germany #China #HongKongActivist #ChinaIntimidate
China has tried to intimidate Hong Kong residents living in Germany since pro-democracy protests broke out in the city two years ago.
The letter to the head of parliament’s human rights committee mentioned the increasing attempts by Chinese state actors in Germany to influence public opinion in favour of the Chinese government since the start of the protests in Hong Kong. Also, it citied that the Chinese pro-government counter-demonstrators filmed and photographed participants “presumably for the purpose of intimidation” in the protest of supporting Hong Kong activists in Hamburg on Aug. 17, 2019.
Jensen, a member of the liberal FDP party said it was about time that the German government realised that actors for the Chinese government could pose a threat to exiled Hong Kongers.
Source: Reuters #Feb23
https://reut.rs/2ZGgUsC
#Germany #China #HongKongActivist #ChinaIntimidate
Germany is supplying Uighur ‘gulag’ in Xinjiang
German companies are supplying the technical backbone for the vast textile industry in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, where at least half a million members of the persecuted Uighur minority have allegedly been forced to labour in the cotton fields.
Leaked trade figures from the Chinese customs authority underline the extent of Germany’s commercial entanglement in the region despite numerous claims of human rights abuses and “cultural genocide”.
Source: Times #Feb19
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/germany-is-supplying-uighur-gulag-in-xinjiang-n3lqv7vmc
#Germany #Uighur #Xinjiang #HumanRights
German companies are supplying the technical backbone for the vast textile industry in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, where at least half a million members of the persecuted Uighur minority have allegedly been forced to labour in the cotton fields.
Leaked trade figures from the Chinese customs authority underline the extent of Germany’s commercial entanglement in the region despite numerous claims of human rights abuses and “cultural genocide”.
Source: Times #Feb19
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/germany-is-supplying-uighur-gulag-in-xinjiang-n3lqv7vmc
#Germany #Uighur #Xinjiang #HumanRights
Germany slams Hungary for blocking EU criticism of China on Hong Kong
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday lambasted Hungary for an “absolutely incomprehensible” decision to block an EU statement accusing Beijing of cracking down on democracy in Hong Kong.
EU foreign ministers have been unable to adopt the text even though diplomats said it had already been watered down to get Hungary’s backing. EU foreign policy decisions require unanimity to pass.
“This is not the first time that Hungary has broken away from [the EU’s] unity when it comes to the issue of China,” Maas told reporters after the latest meeting of the bloc’s Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.
Source: Politico #May11
https://t.co/ScFSOubnp3
#Hungary #Germany #Hungary #EU #China #HongKong
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Monday lambasted Hungary for an “absolutely incomprehensible” decision to block an EU statement accusing Beijing of cracking down on democracy in Hong Kong.
EU foreign ministers have been unable to adopt the text even though diplomats said it had already been watered down to get Hungary’s backing. EU foreign policy decisions require unanimity to pass.
“This is not the first time that Hungary has broken away from [the EU’s] unity when it comes to the issue of China,” Maas told reporters after the latest meeting of the bloc’s Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.
Source: Politico #May11
https://t.co/ScFSOubnp3
#Hungary #Germany #Hungary #EU #China #HongKong