China State Media Confirms Hong Kong Cabinet Change Before Carrie Lam Announces, Pro-democracy legislator: Nothing but a power game at the highest level

On April 22, before Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced the reshuffling of her cabinet, China's state media Xinhua Agency first published details about the new appointments.

The change of 5 principal officials is the most prominent reshuffle since the Hong Kong's sovereignty handover in 1997.

Pro-democracy legislator and Civic Party chair Alvin Yeung pointed out that the reshuffle was nothing but a power game at the highest level, "[It] is designed to enhance the powers of the Chief Executive, and those behind her." Yeung called it a shameful exercise as the most unpopular ministers like John Lee and Teresa Cheng had not been removed.

In response to a reporter's question, the Chief Executive Carrie Lam denied that anyone was being sacked as a form of punishment, reinstating that the departing Officials had all "served with dedication". She also emphasized that the move has nothing to do with an embarrassing saga at the weekend involving confusion over whether Beijing's liaison office needs to abide by Article 22 of the Basic Law.

The DAB brushed aside concerns that the appointment of two of its members as principal officials means the government is showing favouritism towards the pro-Beijing party. Chairwoman Starry Lee even reiterated it wouldn't be necessary for the two officials to quit the DAB to maintain their political neutrality.

Source: RTHK #Apr22
#OneCountryTwoSystems #Xinhua #Officials #HKSARGovernment

#Newspaper

“Fake news” - China News Agency Xinhua deliberately reported disinformation of protest in Minsk

(16 Aug) China official state-run News Agency, Xinhua, reported a mass rally held in Minsk, Capital of Belarus, supporting government on 16 August. Around 70 thousand people gathered in Independence Square, Minsk. Pro-government camp organised the protest showing their support to the government, Alexander Lukashenko, and prosperity and peace of the country. Mr Lukashenko said on the scene no vote-rigging in the election of the president and not instigating people for violence. He continued that army of Northern Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been already garrisoned at the border of Belarus and the country will be turmoil if re-election of the president.

The presidential election of Belarus held on 9 August with five candidates including the incumbent president, Alexander Lukashenko. The Central Election Commission finalised the result on 14 August and announced Mr Lukshenko won with 80.1% votes.

Editor’s Note: News in many western media such as the Guardians, BBC, CNN, etc., reported that tens of thousands gathered in Minsk for the biggest protest in Belarus history against the government.

Source: The Guardian, Xinhau News
Summary by: Hong Kong Echo

Further reading:
Beijing softened rhetoric after being attacked repeatedly by the US but critics believes it is only stopgap
https://telegra.ph/Beijing-softened-rhetoric-after-being-attacked-repeatedly-by-the-US-but-critics-believes-it-is-only-stopgap-08-21
Thanks to our motherland
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/23993

#Belarua #Protest #Minsk #FakeNews #Xinhua #ChinesePropaganda

#Newspaper

Xinhua News criticised forced closure of Confucius Institutes as political persecution

(28 Sep) Xinhua News Agency published a commentary stating that forced closure of Confucius Institutes was a form of political persecution. The article indicated that anti-China politicians from the US were unable to see the good in others and were intolerant of other cultures. Wielding their big stick [policy] of political oppression against Confucius Institutes that promote Chinese culture, it lambasted, was "isolationist rhetoric" possessed by "McCarthyism". There was no cure to pursuing political self-interest in lieu of virtue and suppressive paranoid delusions.

The article also pointed out that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent threat to shut down all Confucius Institutes in higher education institutions by the end of this year constituted further defamation and suppression. It stated that Confucius Institutes adopted a collaborative method of operations; it was the US universities that voluntarily applied for their establishment according to their own needs, based on "mutual respect, friendly negotiation and mutual benefit". Its operations and management were open and transparent, [it claimed,] strictly complying with local laws and university administration standards. Statistics show that the US currently has 81 Confucius Institutes.

Source: RTHK News, #Sep28

Translated by: Hong Kong Echo

#Xinhua #PoliticalPersecution

#CCPRules #PoliceState #Sanction
#China delays implementing Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law in Hong Kong

The 4-day meeting of China's CCP Standing Committee of the National People's Congress was ended on August 20, 2021. It was reported earlier that the Committee will deliberate over adding the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law into the Annex III of the Hong Kong Basic Law in the Congress meeting.

The decision, however, has been delayed.

Alibaba-owned South China Morning Post (#SCMP) cited sources who said the sudden decision to postpone the deliberation was that the Committee "could consider more views".

The Pro-Beijing newspaper Sing Tao Daily slso published an "analysis” based on an internal memo of #XinHua news agency, a CCP mouthpiece. It hinted that including the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law into the Annex III of the Hong Kong Basic Law “may not be among motions to be passed.”

Responding to media inquiry, Hong Kong senior delegate Tam Yiu-chun, a pro-Beijing figure, said that the Stand Committee did review the agenda item, but decided not to take a vote on it.

The Hong Kong SAR Government issued a statement stating that the Central People's Congress is "concerned about the well-being of Hong Kong people". The statement continued saying decisions of the Standing Committee on Hong Kong matters are "based on local interests", and the SAR Government is determined to give its full support.

#CCP #1C1S #AntiSanctionsLaw

Source: Stand News; #Aug20
https://www.thestandnews.com/china/%E5%8F%8D%E5%A4%96%E5%9C%8B%E5%88%B6%E8%A3%81%E6%B3%95%E7%B4%8D%E5%85%A5%E9%99%84%E4%BB%B6%E4%B8%89%E7%8F%BE%E8%AE%8A%E6%95%B8-%E8%AD%9A%E8%80%80%E5%AE%97%E6%8C%87%E4%BA%BA%E5%A4%A7%E5%B8%B8%E5%A7%94%E6%8A%BC%E5%BE%8C%E8%A1%A8%E6%B1%BA