#NewZealand and #Australia condemn electoral overhaul forced on Hong Kong by China
On 12 March 2021, New Zealand and Australia have issued a joint statement expressing deep concerns about changes to Hong Kong's electoral system.
Issued by Foreign Affairs Minister #NanaiaMahuta and her Australian counterpart, senator #MarisePayne, it said the changes passed by China further undermine rights, freedoms and the high degree of autonomy guaranteed to Hong Kong until 2047 under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
The two urged Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to uphold their commitments to allow Hong Kong people’s genuine participation in their governance, and their rights to scrutinise the government and express diverse views.
"These changes run contrary to the ultimate aim of a Hong Kong Chief Executive elected through universal suffrage, weaken Hong Kong's democratic institutions, and erode freedom of speech and association - all of which are set out in the Basic Law," the statement from Mahuta and Payne said.
https://bit.ly/30TQEM6
Read full statement here:
Joint statement on electoral changes in Hong Kong on 12 March 2021
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/joint-statement-electoral-changes-hong-kong
#ElectoralOverhaul #CCPControl #Regime
Source: Stand News #Mar13
On 12 March 2021, New Zealand and Australia have issued a joint statement expressing deep concerns about changes to Hong Kong's electoral system.
Issued by Foreign Affairs Minister #NanaiaMahuta and her Australian counterpart, senator #MarisePayne, it said the changes passed by China further undermine rights, freedoms and the high degree of autonomy guaranteed to Hong Kong until 2047 under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
The two urged Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to uphold their commitments to allow Hong Kong people’s genuine participation in their governance, and their rights to scrutinise the government and express diverse views.
"These changes run contrary to the ultimate aim of a Hong Kong Chief Executive elected through universal suffrage, weaken Hong Kong's democratic institutions, and erode freedom of speech and association - all of which are set out in the Basic Law," the statement from Mahuta and Payne said.
https://bit.ly/30TQEM6
Read full statement here:
Joint statement on electoral changes in Hong Kong on 12 March 2021
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/joint-statement-electoral-changes-hong-kong
#ElectoralOverhaul #CCPControl #Regime
Source: Stand News #Mar13
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Condemns Alleged #PoliticalCensorship at #OzAsiaFestival
//The future of government funding for #Adelaide's OzAsia Festival is under threat, after claims that Hong Kong's strict national security laws have extended to Australia's biggest Asian festival.
Hong Kong Cultural Association of South Australia (#HKCASA) chairwoman Janet Leung said it all started with a dispute over yellow umbrellas.
HKCASA was booked to host an interactive workshop and performance at the opening weekend of the festival last week.
"The workshop was supposed to show a historical timeline of how Hong Kong was transformed from a fishing village to an international financial hub," Ms Leung said.
The performance was locked in by OzAsia organisers in August, but a crucial detail then changed everything.
The workshop stall was to be decorated with yellow umbrellas.
The organiser pasted a link to a Wikipedia article detailing Hong Kong's so-called 'umbrella movement' of 2014, in which pro-democracy protesters held umbrellas in acts of passive defiance.
"Unfortunately, we are unable to approve the use of the yellow umbrellas as props decor," the email said.
Ms Leung said she was "shocked".//
Sourcs: ABC #Oct28
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-28/ozasia-participant-warns-censorship-after-workshop-canned/100575240
#Australia #Censorship #ForeignMinister #ForeignAffairs #MarisePayne #CreativeFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #YellowUmbrella
//The future of government funding for #Adelaide's OzAsia Festival is under threat, after claims that Hong Kong's strict national security laws have extended to Australia's biggest Asian festival.
Hong Kong Cultural Association of South Australia (#HKCASA) chairwoman Janet Leung said it all started with a dispute over yellow umbrellas.
HKCASA was booked to host an interactive workshop and performance at the opening weekend of the festival last week.
"The workshop was supposed to show a historical timeline of how Hong Kong was transformed from a fishing village to an international financial hub," Ms Leung said.
The performance was locked in by OzAsia organisers in August, but a crucial detail then changed everything.
The workshop stall was to be decorated with yellow umbrellas.
The organiser pasted a link to a Wikipedia article detailing Hong Kong's so-called 'umbrella movement' of 2014, in which pro-democracy protesters held umbrellas in acts of passive defiance.
"Unfortunately, we are unable to approve the use of the yellow umbrellas as props decor," the email said.
Ms Leung said she was "shocked".//
Sourcs: ABC #Oct28
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-28/ozasia-participant-warns-censorship-after-workshop-canned/100575240
#Australia #Censorship #ForeignMinister #ForeignAffairs #MarisePayne #CreativeFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #YellowUmbrella
www.abc.net.au
Marise Payne labels alleged censorship at OzAsia Festival 'unacceptable' after canning of Hong Kong group's performance
The future of government funding for Adelaide's OzAsia Festival is under threat, after claims that Hong Kong's strict national security laws have extended to Australia's biggest Asian festival.
The Australian Senate unanimously passed the Australian version of the Magnitsky Bill, which can sanction human rights violators and hackers
The #AustralianSenate unanimously passed the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and other Thematic Sanctions) Bill 2021.
This bill empowers the Australian government to sanction #HumanRights violators, corrupted officials, and hackers by the entry prohibition and freezing of assets.
#MarisePayne, Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, states that they have to ensure the evildoers not to gain benefit from a democratic free world.
In the past, in addition to the mandatory #UnitedNations sanctions, #Australia will also follow its own diplomatic policy through Autonomous Sanctions Amendment Bill 2011.
As the bill uses “country” as a unit for sanction, the sanctions are distinct.
A human rights organization, #HumanRightsWatch, criticizes the current sanctions are “vague and non-permanent” and does not need the Australian government to examine human rights considerations.
The Australian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defence and Trade Committee issued a report at the end of last year discussing whether Australia should establish the Magnitsky Bill.
Payne indicated in August this year that Australia would strengthen the laws of sanctions by empowering the government to impose economic sanctions and travel bans on individuals or entities that cause the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, major human rights violations, malicious network activities, and serious corruption. The bill is no longer setting up separate sanction plans on a national basis.
Source: Stand News #Dec02
https://bit.ly/3ebfCNB
#Australia #Sanction #HumanRights #Democracy
The #AustralianSenate unanimously passed the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and other Thematic Sanctions) Bill 2021.
This bill empowers the Australian government to sanction #HumanRights violators, corrupted officials, and hackers by the entry prohibition and freezing of assets.
#MarisePayne, Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, states that they have to ensure the evildoers not to gain benefit from a democratic free world.
In the past, in addition to the mandatory #UnitedNations sanctions, #Australia will also follow its own diplomatic policy through Autonomous Sanctions Amendment Bill 2011.
As the bill uses “country” as a unit for sanction, the sanctions are distinct.
A human rights organization, #HumanRightsWatch, criticizes the current sanctions are “vague and non-permanent” and does not need the Australian government to examine human rights considerations.
The Australian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defence and Trade Committee issued a report at the end of last year discussing whether Australia should establish the Magnitsky Bill.
Payne indicated in August this year that Australia would strengthen the laws of sanctions by empowering the government to impose economic sanctions and travel bans on individuals or entities that cause the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, major human rights violations, malicious network activities, and serious corruption. The bill is no longer setting up separate sanction plans on a national basis.
Source: Stand News #Dec02
https://bit.ly/3ebfCNB
#Australia #Sanction #HumanRights #Democracy