Australian-Chinese Writer Arrested in China Refuses to Plead Guilty to False Charges, Vows to “Fight to the End”
Source: Apple Daily #Sep04
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Source: Apple Daily #Sep04
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Australian-Chinese Writer Arrested in China Refuses to Plead Guilty to False Charges, Vows to “Fight to the End”
Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun has been allowed a meeting with his lawyer at a detention facility for the first time since being arrested in Guangzhou last January and charged with espionage. Yang told his family that he would fight to the end, refusing to admit a crime he did not commit. He believed his case would soon be brought to the court.
Feng Chongyi, a professor at the University of Technology Sydney and a friend of Yang, said Yang’s lawyer was allowed to meet him at a detention facility in Beijing on Thursday. Yang told his family that he is “innocent” and “will fight to the end.” “I will never confess to anything I didn’t do,” Yang said. “I will never plead guilty to any of the accusations. This is political persecution.” The Chinese authorities claimed that he had pleaded guilty, but Yang categorically denied having done so. He also hopes to appear in court to publicly respond to the charges against him while worrying that Beijing is spreading rumours that he has already confessed to the crime.
55-year-old Yang Hengjun was arrested at Guangzhou airport last January and formally charged with suspected espionage in March. Australia has since raised strong objections. His family has appointed Mo Shaoping, the Chinese human rights lawyer who defended Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, to handle Yang’s case. Feng said that under the Chinese judicial system, there were six weeks left to bring Yang’s case to the court, adding that Yang had been questioned for a long time in detention. Elaine Pearson, director of Human Rights Watch Australia, said, ”The Chinese system is really geared around forced confession. This is a system where acquittals are very rare. It is dominated by the Chinese Communist Party with very few checks to stop the abuse of evidence.”
Source: Apple Daily #Sep04
#Australia #China #YangHengjun #Espionage #Law #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/3iJTsTu
Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun has been allowed a meeting with his lawyer at a detention facility for the first time since being arrested in Guangzhou last January and charged with espionage. Yang told his family that he would fight to the end, refusing to admit a crime he did not commit. He believed his case would soon be brought to the court.
Feng Chongyi, a professor at the University of Technology Sydney and a friend of Yang, said Yang’s lawyer was allowed to meet him at a detention facility in Beijing on Thursday. Yang told his family that he is “innocent” and “will fight to the end.” “I will never confess to anything I didn’t do,” Yang said. “I will never plead guilty to any of the accusations. This is political persecution.” The Chinese authorities claimed that he had pleaded guilty, but Yang categorically denied having done so. He also hopes to appear in court to publicly respond to the charges against him while worrying that Beijing is spreading rumours that he has already confessed to the crime.
55-year-old Yang Hengjun was arrested at Guangzhou airport last January and formally charged with suspected espionage in March. Australia has since raised strong objections. His family has appointed Mo Shaoping, the Chinese human rights lawyer who defended Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, to handle Yang’s case. Feng said that under the Chinese judicial system, there were six weeks left to bring Yang’s case to the court, adding that Yang had been questioned for a long time in detention. Elaine Pearson, director of Human Rights Watch Australia, said, ”The Chinese system is really geared around forced confession. This is a system where acquittals are very rare. It is dominated by the Chinese Communist Party with very few checks to stop the abuse of evidence.”
Source: Apple Daily #Sep04
#Australia #China #YangHengjun #Espionage #Law #Diplomacy
https://bit.ly/3iJTsTu
China’s dodgy-debt double act
CHINA HAS been trying to clean up its bad corporate debts for years. Although it made some progress before the pandemic, the task often seems interminable, it remains crucial for the country’s long-run economic development—and for the growing ranks of global investors with exposure to Chinese stocks and bonds. The government insists it wants more market discipline and a transparent process for letting firms default without blowing up the financial system.
Now these claims are being tested by crises at Huarong, a state-run financial conglomerate, and Evergrande, the country’s largest property firm. Together they have some $540bn of liabilities, which they will struggle to repay. Their contrasting fates show that China’s approach is still driven by politics and improvisation not market forces and the rule of law.
Source: The Economist #Sep04
https://t.co/XD94fwjUHr
#China #Debt #Huarong #Evergrande
CHINA HAS been trying to clean up its bad corporate debts for years. Although it made some progress before the pandemic, the task often seems interminable, it remains crucial for the country’s long-run economic development—and for the growing ranks of global investors with exposure to Chinese stocks and bonds. The government insists it wants more market discipline and a transparent process for letting firms default without blowing up the financial system.
Now these claims are being tested by crises at Huarong, a state-run financial conglomerate, and Evergrande, the country’s largest property firm. Together they have some $540bn of liabilities, which they will struggle to repay. Their contrasting fates show that China’s approach is still driven by politics and improvisation not market forces and the rule of law.
Source: The Economist #Sep04
https://t.co/XD94fwjUHr
#China #Debt #Huarong #Evergrande
[Pets migration: Part 1]
Two Tearful Farewell Stories, Migrating with Love Ones
Translated by Guardians of Hong Kong
"Sometimes it is hard to predict when to say goodbye. Sometimes weather goes against forecast. Sometimes hope and dream gets lost.
In front of sudden departures, we are always unprepared to bid farewell properly…
'I hope this place can finally return to normal. I wish I can come back some day.'
With tears standing in her eyes, Phyllis smiled to her companions from a distance, separated by a crowd of people.
Then she turned around. What was her destination? Australia? UK? It wouldn’t matter as it wasn’t Hong Kong anyway."
Read the Fully Translated Story Here:
https://telegra.ph/Pets-migration-part-1-Two-Tearful-Farewell-Stories-Migrating-with-Love-Ones-01-02
Source: Stand News #Sep04
Author and photographer: PANG Lok-ching
#MigrationWave #PetsMigration #Pet #Hongkongers #Diaspora
Two Tearful Farewell Stories, Migrating with Love Ones
Translated by Guardians of Hong Kong
"Sometimes it is hard to predict when to say goodbye. Sometimes weather goes against forecast. Sometimes hope and dream gets lost.
In front of sudden departures, we are always unprepared to bid farewell properly…
'I hope this place can finally return to normal. I wish I can come back some day.'
With tears standing in her eyes, Phyllis smiled to her companions from a distance, separated by a crowd of people.
Then she turned around. What was her destination? Australia? UK? It wouldn’t matter as it wasn’t Hong Kong anyway."
Read the Fully Translated Story Here:
https://telegra.ph/Pets-migration-part-1-Two-Tearful-Farewell-Stories-Migrating-with-Love-Ones-01-02
Source: Stand News #Sep04
Author and photographer: PANG Lok-ching
#MigrationWave #PetsMigration #Pet #Hongkongers #Diaspora
Hong Kong Schools Schedule National Security Education Activities, Mainland Exchange Tours
source: In-Media HK #Sep04
#NationalEducation #NationalSecurityLaw #NationalFlagLaw #Education #Mainlandization
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source: In-Media HK #Sep04
#NationalEducation #NationalSecurityLaw #NationalFlagLaw #Education #Mainlandization
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Hong Kong Schools Schedule National Security Education Activities, Mainland Exchange Tours
Following the Education Bureau's (#EDB) push to increase emphasis on "Citizenship and National Security Education", many Hong Kong schools have scheduled numerous activities around patriotic topics.
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Hong Kong's “National Education Calendar” suggests discussing #ChineseCommunistParty development and watching three "patriotic anti-Japanese" films a year
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/866
According to the "Primary School Profiles 2022" published by the EDB in September, these activities include exchange trips with schools in mainland China and quiz competitions. Out of the 500-plus primary schools in Hong Kong, 59 will be organizing flag-raising teams this year.
HKFEW Wong Cho Bau School, run by the pro-Beijing Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (#HKFEW), plans to establish exchange tours with sister schools in mainland China. The school aims to "deepen the students' knowledge of the history and culture of the motherland" through poetry reading, studying Chinese music and water painting.
Alliance Primary School in Kowloon Tong, ranked among the top primary schools in the city, will host a "Life in the Mainland Experience Tour" in primary year 5, "to let students gain a deeper understanding of student life in poorer areas, and to learn to give and be thankful". ELCHK Hung Hom Lutheran Primary School will have "scholarship tours", sending students abroad on exchanges with sister schools in places such as Canada and Beijing, so they could learn more about the world and the motherland. Several schools belonging to the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals will also participate in the EDB's mainland exchange program.
Many schools have followed the EDB's suggested calendars and planned events on "important dates". ELCHK Faith Love Lutheran School explains: "Through activities such as Nanjing Massacre memorial day, constitution day, flag-raising ceremonies, and Speeches under the National Flag, students will learn National Security Education, and develop their concept of their country and respect for rule of law."
[editor's note: "Speeches under the National Flag" is a routine part of flag-raising ceremonies in China's schools, featuring speeches by teachers and outstanding students, as well as individuals deemed "model workers" by the Communist Party. The practice is prescribed under China's National Flag Law, so that students from kindergarten onward could "develop a sense of duty to love the country."]
In addition to events on "important dates", many schools are integrating national security education into their regular curriculum. Diocesan Girls' Junior School and SKH Chi Fu Chi Nam Primary School are among the schools who stated this intention.
source: In-Media HK #Sep04
https://bit.ly/3CXtNDM
#NationalEducation #NationalSecurityLaw #NationalFlagLaw #Education #Mainlandization
Following the Education Bureau's (#EDB) push to increase emphasis on "Citizenship and National Security Education", many Hong Kong schools have scheduled numerous activities around patriotic topics.
Read more:
Hong Kong's “National Education Calendar” suggests discussing #ChineseCommunistParty development and watching three "patriotic anti-Japanese" films a year
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/866
According to the "Primary School Profiles 2022" published by the EDB in September, these activities include exchange trips with schools in mainland China and quiz competitions. Out of the 500-plus primary schools in Hong Kong, 59 will be organizing flag-raising teams this year.
HKFEW Wong Cho Bau School, run by the pro-Beijing Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (#HKFEW), plans to establish exchange tours with sister schools in mainland China. The school aims to "deepen the students' knowledge of the history and culture of the motherland" through poetry reading, studying Chinese music and water painting.
Alliance Primary School in Kowloon Tong, ranked among the top primary schools in the city, will host a "Life in the Mainland Experience Tour" in primary year 5, "to let students gain a deeper understanding of student life in poorer areas, and to learn to give and be thankful". ELCHK Hung Hom Lutheran Primary School will have "scholarship tours", sending students abroad on exchanges with sister schools in places such as Canada and Beijing, so they could learn more about the world and the motherland. Several schools belonging to the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals will also participate in the EDB's mainland exchange program.
Many schools have followed the EDB's suggested calendars and planned events on "important dates". ELCHK Faith Love Lutheran School explains: "Through activities such as Nanjing Massacre memorial day, constitution day, flag-raising ceremonies, and Speeches under the National Flag, students will learn National Security Education, and develop their concept of their country and respect for rule of law."
[editor's note: "Speeches under the National Flag" is a routine part of flag-raising ceremonies in China's schools, featuring speeches by teachers and outstanding students, as well as individuals deemed "model workers" by the Communist Party. The practice is prescribed under China's National Flag Law, so that students from kindergarten onward could "develop a sense of duty to love the country."]
In addition to events on "important dates", many schools are integrating national security education into their regular curriculum. Diocesan Girls' Junior School and SKH Chi Fu Chi Nam Primary School are among the schools who stated this intention.
source: In-Media HK #Sep04
https://bit.ly/3CXtNDM
#NationalEducation #NationalSecurityLaw #NationalFlagLaw #Education #Mainlandization
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📡Guardians of Hong Kong aka BeWater HK
Hong Kong's “National Education Calendar” suggests discussing #ChineseCommunistParty development and watching three "patriotic anti-Japanese" films a year
In a letter to all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, the Education Bureau (#EDB) "strongly…
In a letter to all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, the Education Bureau (#EDB) "strongly…
"Politically corrected" textbooks in the New Hong Kong Era
Source: InMedia #Sep04
#NationalSecurityLaw #NationalEducation #RewritingHistory
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Source: InMedia #Sep04
#NationalSecurityLaw #NationalEducation #RewritingHistory
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"Politically corrected" textbooks in the New Hong Kong Era
6 publishing companies amended their #LiberalStudies textbooks after "inquiring" the #EducationBureau for comments in August 2020. Journalists discovered that some contents are removed, including #June4th, #CulturalRevolution, #MongKokCivilUnrest, #LocalConsciousness and #HongKongIndependenceClaims.
In November 2020, then-Secretary of Education, Kevin Yeung, announced to reform the Senior Secondary Liberal Studies (LS) syllabus. Course content was re-organised, and some were removed in order to grow students’ national identity with a mainland visit opportunity.
Less than a year later, the new subject “Citizenship and Social Development” replaced LS in school curricula. However, its textbooks were only approved in June 2022. Journalists discovered that the new books did not only modify a few photos or comics, but completely overthrew statements made in past textbooks. Notable changes include stating that Hong Kong was “not a #colony”, and the #AntiELAB movement was “an illegal incident that is violent and endangers national security”.
In the new era of Hong Kong, are the textbooks becoming "politically correct"? InMedia found #LiberalStudies textbooks published between 2014 and 2020, and compared them to the new #CitizenshipandSocialDevelopment textbooks.
Under the new syllabus, concepts including "#CivilDisobedience", "Separation of Powers", "4 levels of the Rule of Law" and "Multiple identities" are removed. Topics that took their place are #NationalSecurity, #NationalIdentity, and #NationalAchievement. The topic of Rule of Law no longer covered #RestrictionofLaw, #HumanRightProtection without affecting others’ rights, social order and national security.
Additional materials are taken mainly from official government sources, such as Information Service Department and blogs of government officials. Students are no longer required to discuss topics with controversial views. They only need to answer questions such as “Why does the National People's Congress interpreting the law not affect judiciary independence?”
Source: InMedia #Sep04
https://bit.ly/3wUtMww
See also:
Hong Kong Schools Schedule National Security Education Activities, Mainland Exchange Tours
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/1006
#NationalSecurityLaw #NationalEducation #RewritingHistory
6 publishing companies amended their #LiberalStudies textbooks after "inquiring" the #EducationBureau for comments in August 2020. Journalists discovered that some contents are removed, including #June4th, #CulturalRevolution, #MongKokCivilUnrest, #LocalConsciousness and #HongKongIndependenceClaims.
In November 2020, then-Secretary of Education, Kevin Yeung, announced to reform the Senior Secondary Liberal Studies (LS) syllabus. Course content was re-organised, and some were removed in order to grow students’ national identity with a mainland visit opportunity.
Less than a year later, the new subject “Citizenship and Social Development” replaced LS in school curricula. However, its textbooks were only approved in June 2022. Journalists discovered that the new books did not only modify a few photos or comics, but completely overthrew statements made in past textbooks. Notable changes include stating that Hong Kong was “not a #colony”, and the #AntiELAB movement was “an illegal incident that is violent and endangers national security”.
In the new era of Hong Kong, are the textbooks becoming "politically correct"? InMedia found #LiberalStudies textbooks published between 2014 and 2020, and compared them to the new #CitizenshipandSocialDevelopment textbooks.
Under the new syllabus, concepts including "#CivilDisobedience", "Separation of Powers", "4 levels of the Rule of Law" and "Multiple identities" are removed. Topics that took their place are #NationalSecurity, #NationalIdentity, and #NationalAchievement. The topic of Rule of Law no longer covered #RestrictionofLaw, #HumanRightProtection without affecting others’ rights, social order and national security.
Additional materials are taken mainly from official government sources, such as Information Service Department and blogs of government officials. Students are no longer required to discuss topics with controversial views. They only need to answer questions such as “Why does the National People's Congress interpreting the law not affect judiciary independence?”
Source: InMedia #Sep04
https://bit.ly/3wUtMww
See also:
Hong Kong Schools Schedule National Security Education Activities, Mainland Exchange Tours
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/1006
#NationalSecurityLaw #NationalEducation #RewritingHistory