#FirstHand
Media tycoon Jimmy Lai granted bail before Christmas, on a heap of conditions including home detention

2315 | Admiralty

After clearing necessary procedures lasting as long as 5 hours, #JimmyLai was sighted departing the High Court Detention Centre around 11pm tonight (Dec 23, 2020). A large crowd of citizens waited for him outside, including Lai’s supporters and media representatives.

As condition of bail from his #NationalSecurityLaw charges, the pro-democracy tycoon was ordered to surrender his travel documents, and cannot post on social media, give interviews, publish articles, meet overseas officials, or ask foreign countries, institutions, or individuals to impose sanctions, blockade, or engage in any other "hostile activities" against Hong Kong or China.

#Court #Dec23
#PoliceState #HumanitarianCrisis
#NextDigital #AppleDaily

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#JimmyLai Granted Bail by High Court; Department of Justice Files Appeal Immediately and Requests Re-Detention
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27477

Barrister Worries National Security Law’s Imprisonment Before conviction: ‘To be released on bail is basic human rights’
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27272

#FirstHand
Jimmy Lai Released on Bail, Forbidden to Speak to Press

2315 | Admiralty

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai is released on HK$100 million bail.

The video footage showed Lai leaving the High Court by a car without speaking to any media representatives on the scene, because the bail condition forbade him from speaking publicly.

#AppleDaily #NationalSecurityLaw #SpeechCrimes #Dec23

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#FreedomofSpeech #StandWithMorey
NBA's Morey is defiant in his support to Hong Kong democracy

Source: Apple News #Dec23

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#FreedomofSpeech #StandWithMorey
NBA's Morey is defiant in his support to Hong Kong democracy

In October 2019, NBA team Houston Rockets Director #DarylMorey posted a “#StandwithHongKong” photo on Twitter to show his ardent support for Hong Kong democracy.

Not only did his belief in freedom of speech triggered a storm of intense political dispute, it also almost jeopardized his career in #NBA.

In an interview with Apple Daily published on Dec 23, 2020, Morey expressed that he came to understand Hong Kong’s predicament from his EMBA classmates. He decided to show his support to Hong Kong on Twitter.

When being asked whether he regrets his action, Morey paused for a few seconds and responded, “I am comfortable with what I have done.”

Although Morey didn’t regret showing his support to pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, he was concerned about the safety of his wife and his children. “I have been dreadfully worried. I was lucky to have many people offering me assistance to handle this incident. If possible, you won’t want to antagonize the world’s second strongest country … .” Morey said.

Source: Apple Daily #Dec23

https://hk.appledaily.com/sports/20201223/G6EENEKQFFECLDQKFA2NXHBIMQ/

#Interview

Reuters: Telecom Italia Intends to Reduce Purchases of Huawei 5G Equipment

Reuters reported on 23 December that Telecom Italia has decided to retain Nokia as a supplier of its 5G network equipment to reduce the proportion of that supplied by Huawei. Among the suppliers whose contracts have been reviewed, Sweden’s Ericsson will supply most of the equipment with Huawei and Nokia winning 20 to 25% of the contracts. Negotiations on reducing the proportion of contracts awarded to Huawei are still in progress.

According to the report, the US has been persuading Italy and other European countries to avoid using Huawei’s equipment, which may pose a threat to national security, an allegation denied by Huawei. Italy still refuses to completely prohibit the use of Huawei equipment.

Source: Stand News #Dec23

#Huawei #TelecomItalia #Ericsson #Nokia #5G

https://bit.ly/3nPTzPH

‘Politics come first’ as ban on Australian coal worsens China’s power cuts

Mid of December, more than a dozen Chinese cities have imposed restrictions on electricity use as growing demand for energy owing to the country’s post-coronavirus economic recovery collides head on with a shortage of thermal coal. The shortage underscores the dilemma Chinese authorities face in balancing their muscular approach to international diplomacy with the needs of the economy.

Authorities in at least four Chinese provinces have recently asked residents and businesses to cut electricity consumption, according to public announcements.

“The import curb is enough to change the industry landscape,” said a director at China Huadian Corporation, one of the nation’s largest energy groups. “Many local power plants depend on Australian coal due to its higher efficiency and now they are having trouble finding an alternative.”

Source: Financial Times #Dec23

https://www.ft.com/content/e83fffeb-3ef2-4b67-8989-6d17f153d8d4

#AustraliaChina #Coal #ElecricityChina

Hong Kong’s courts are the last check on Beijing’s growing power

Source: Japanese Times #Dec23

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Hong Kong’s courts are the last check on Beijing’s growing power

Prosecutors charged Lai under a sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing in June, saying he colluded with foreigners by calling for sanctions against China. The trial of Lai, who denies wrongdoing, will test just how drastically Hong Kong has changed over the past six months. After decades of enjoying freedoms that don’t exist in mainland China, residents of the financial hub now face prosecution for voicing political views deemed threatening to the Communist Party — a breach of promises China made when Britain handed over the former colony in 1997.

The courts are on the front lines of this clash between two very different legal systems, Communist Party in power and English Common Law. As the first security law trials get under way next year, Hong Kong’s independent judiciary is emerging as the last check on Beijing’s power.

“The Communist Party views the judiciary system differently than western democracies,” said Dongshu Liu, assistant professor of Chinese politics at the City University of Hong Kong.

Source: Japanese Times #Dec23

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/23/asia-pacific/crime-legal-asia-pacific/hong-kong-courts/

#HongKongCourt #JimmyLai #CommonLaw #CCP

'Good riddance,' China says as Germany leaves UN Security Council

Germany's UN envoy Christoph Heusgen during his last scheduled UN Security Council meeting, appealed to 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," Heusgen, who plans to retire after more than 40 years as a diplomat, said.

China's deputy UN envoy to respond promptly, "out of the bottom of my heart: Good riddance."

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald #Dec23

https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/good-riddance-china-says-as-germany-leaves-un-security-council-20201223-p56ppb.html

#GermanyUNEnvoy #ChinaHostageDiplomacy #China #Canada

Germany's UN envoy urged China to release the 2 captive Canadians, China replied “Good Riddance”

Source: Apple daily #Dec23

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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/

Telephone Call between Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers Accuses US of Unilateral Sanctions, Indicating Cooperation between the Two Countries in Resistance to Suppression from US 
 
Source: The Stand News  #Dec23

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Telephone Call between Chinese and Russian Foreign Ministers Accuses US of Unilateral Sanctions, Indicating Cooperation between the Two Countries in Resistance to Suppression from US 
 
Tension between US-China and US-Russia relationship continues to heighten. In a telephone call on December 22 between Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councillor Wang Yi and Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, the two foreign ministers stated that the two countries shall continue to work closely together to combat suppression from the US. 
 
Wang told Lavrov that China and Russia share a “high quality and special” relationship. He also agreed with Russia President Putin that leaders from the two countries have built a highly mutually trusting and friendly relationship, and that both countries share much common ground on multiple issues. 
 
Wang criticised the US of “going against the current trends and still waving its huge stick of unilateral sanctions”, and that the US “would only leave undignified records in the world”. Lavrov responded that the two nations shall firmly oppose the US’s destructive actions towards multilateralism, reinstating that suppression from the US must be resisted. He claimed that such could effectively protect international law, the mutual benefits for the two countries, as well as international stability and cooperation. 
 
#China #ChineseDiplomacy #WangYi #USDiplomacy #US #Russia #RussiaDiplomacy #SergeyLavrov #unilateralsanctions
 
Source: The Stand News  #Dec23

https://bit.ly/2OMDE8E

#BreakingNews
The pillar of Shame is being destroyed in these minutes : Jen Galschiot calls for public record on Twitter

According to the Undergrad, at around 2200 on #Dec22, the Pillar of Shame located inside HKU grounds were closed off by construction workers, authorised by the school authorities.

White cloth and yellow barriers could be seen barricading the view of the Pillar from the pedestrian bridge above and near it on the ground. School personnel watched over the site, with construction noise emanating nearby.

Sources revealed that the school Council have convened a meeting on #Dec22 and has come to the conclusion of disassembling the Pillar of Shame. People at HKU believed that this decision was spurred on by pressure from the National Security Department, which could be seen as direct pressure from the Chinese Central Government.

At around 0000 on #Dec23, a crane and a truck carrying a container could be seen arriving at HKU.

The Pillar of Shame, sculpted by artist Jens Galschiøt to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre, has stood in HKU grounds for 24 years. The school authorities had initially remained cooperative with its display on school grounds, but had recently called for removal of the sculpture since October. As the University could not determine who the sculpture belonged to, the fate of the sculpture had remained undecided.

Many have regarded the Pillar of Shame as a symbol of freedom in Hong Kong as the creator, Jen Galschiøt, wrote in 1997, "it [the Pillar of Shame] was put on permanent public display to serve, as a test of the authorities’ “guarantees for human rights and freedom of expression in Hong Kong.”

Sources: Stand News; Citizen News; Jen Galschiot's Twitter page; #Dec23

Images: Stand News; Citizen News; Roy Li and Stephanie Wu

#HKU #PillarOfShame

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Chinese Students Shocked Watching HKU's Removal of Pillar of Shame, Believes in Power of Witnesses

Source: Citizen News #Dec23

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Chinese Students Shocked Watching HKU's Removal of Pillar of Shame, Believes in Power of Witnesses

As the University of Hong Kong (#HKU) removed the Pillar of Shame without announcement durinv the night of December 22, 2021, two university students from China nearby until midnight, hoping to bear witness to history.

Wei and Wang (pseudonyms) are fourth-year Social Sciences students in HKU. They grew up in China and were educated in China's school system, only coming to Hong Kong 4 years ago to study in HKU.

They were planning to attend the university's Christmas party that night, they recounted. They were shocked when they received words that the Pillar of Shame was being destroyed, and so they rushed to the site immediately.

They said that the Pillar has great symbolic meaning to both HKU and Hong Kong itself; its removal, in turn, symbolizes the deterioration of freedom in Hong Kong.

"As long as this Pillar remains here, this university still has academic freedom. Now that it's gone, it seems that academic freedom is also gone."

The two felt the great significance of the Pillar as a memorial to the 1989 June 4th Tiananmen Massacre in Beijing. "The Pillar's existence means at least two things: one, that the incident took place; two, that we can discuss it publicly."

Now that the pillar is gone, it seems that June 4th can no longer be discussed in public. However, the two students believe that people's memory of history cannot be erased.

Growing up in China, the two students knew very little about the June 4th massacre, until they had come to Hong Kong. "Many students from China didn't even know about it before they saw the Pillar," Wei said. "After tonight, they might never get a chance at all."

The two came to study in Hong Kong for its freedom. However, after witnessing the political upheaval over the past 4 years, they felt the city is no longer free as it was in the past. They did not want to place blame for its loss. "It’s not Hong Kong to blame," said Wang. "We come to this place for freedom, and we see how people try to defend it, we don’t think Hong Kong or Hong Kong people are to blame."

The two stayed at the scene of the demolished Pillar until midnight, and they conceded that there is not much they could do as students. "But witnesses have power, to participate, to remember the thing," they said.

Source: Citizen News #Dec23
https://www.hkcnews.com/article/49522/國殤之柱-香港大學-內地留學生-49525/內地生震驚國殤之柱被拆-留守至深夜-「見證是有力量」

#June4 #PillarOfShame #JensGalschiøt #Censorship #AcademicFreedom #University

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#CUHK #GoddessOfDemocracyStatue
On Christmas Eve, there was candlelight on the CUHK campus, sorrowing where the Goddess of Democracy is

The annual June 4th candlelight vigils in Victoria Park that had been banned for two consecutive years has "reappeared" in the Chinese University in Hong Kong (#CUHK) on Christmas Eve, following authorities deliberate removal of the statue of the Goddess of Democracy overnight.

The statue which had been placed on the university campus for 11 years, was suddenly removed without a word of warning on December 24, a day after the Pillar of Shame was dismantled in the University of Hong Kong (#HKU) on December 23.

Read more about the Dismentaling of Pillar of Shame in #HKU
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31704

After lunch time, some students used dozens of pictures of the Goddess of Democracy statue to recreate the statue of Goddess of Democracy in CUHK.

Graduates and citizens even seen presenting flowers to the "new" statue in a bid to express their grief.

In the evening, they lit small candles that pieced together the appearance of “June 4th”, “democracy”, and “Goddess of Democracy”. It looked as if the long-lost candlelight vigils - held in remembrance of victims of June 4th massacre in Beijing - has actually "reappeared" on the campus of CUHK on Christmas Eve this year.

Brandon, a CUHK student, expressed that the statue of Goddess of Democracy symbolized not only the “June 4th incident”, it was also an indicator of freedom of speech and political climate in the university and the society at large.

He said the students knew that the school will remove the statue of Goddess of Democracy when HKU removed the Pillar of Shame. They believed it fell beyond the control of the university management.

“However we didn't expect that the statue literally disappeared overnight," added Brandon in distress.

Source : Stand News; #Dec24
https://thestandnews.page.link/2BeHeBaAcUuj6UzLA

#CUHK #June4 #GoddessOfDemocracyStatue #TiananmenMassacre #HKU #PillarOfShame #Candlelight

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