📡Guardians of Hong Kong
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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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#PoliticalOppression #FreedomofPress #Discrimination
Police head announces new rule in onsite news reporting to "benefit" "trust-worthy" media, calling "ticketing trouble-making reporters" a trial measure

August 8, 2020 marked the 9th month since pro-democracy university student Chow Tsz-lok fell from height in a car park in an anti-ELAB demonstration last year. Police set up cordon lines and frisked civilian who went to pay tribute to the deceased. They also ticketed 16 reporters on the scene, saying that they were not “carrying out reporting activities while wearing reflective vest.” Police further issued statement on their Facebook, condemning that some people were “wearing reflective vest in disguise to cover up their violation of the gathering ban.”

In an exclusive interview, Chris Tang Ping-keung, Commissioner of HK Police Force announced new measures introduced to regulate onsite reporting activities, stating that all citizen journalists can still cover news beyond the orange police cordon line. However, police will allow “trust-worthy” media to enter the cordoned area to report. He pointed out that criteria for “trust-worthy media” is based on past behaviour of respective media outlet, whether they have committed any behaviour that are "regarded unprofessional by police", including whether the reporting is balanced, whether they have participated in activities beyond reporting, and whether they have obstructed police's work and causing danger to police officers. He believed that such measure would “benefit” the “trust-worthy media”.

When being asked whether such measure is a quasi-licensing system for reporters, Tang denied and reiterated that the decision will be made onsite by Police Public Relations Bureau based on “operation needs”. As to implementation details, objective and timeline, Tang did not provide further information. He did mention that no consensus has been reached with media. Despite that, police force has been putting the measure in practice for trial.

Source: Stand News; HK01 #Aug10
#PoliceState #WhiteTerror
#Discrimination #AsiasFinest #PressFreedom
Police Demand Stand News Reporter to prove identity through income

3 reporters, including one from Stand News, were stopped and searched by the police while reporting the commemoration of university student Chow Tsz-lok on Aug 8, 2020, which marked 9 months after his death.

After showing the press pass and ID card, the Stand News reporters was asked by the police for proof that he is a salaried employee of the news agency. Police demanded the reporter to call his colleagues to provide proof. In the end, the police ticketed the other two reporters for violating the gathering ban because they "failed" to prove their identity as a journalist. “You’re on the borderline,” said the police to the Stand News reporter, “but I trust that you are just here to do your job”.

Source: Stand News #Aug9
#ChowTszLok #9Months #StandNews
#AsiasFinest #Discrimination
HK Police Accuse Resident Distributing Mooncakes of "having an extramarital affair"

Source: Apple Daily #Oct1

Read more
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#AsiasFinest #Discrimination
HK Police Accuse Resident Distributing Mooncakes of "having an extramarital affair"

On October 1, 2020, To Kwa Wan residents organized a Mid-Autumn Festival event with the theme, "never forget 12 Hong Kong youths" at the outdoor To Kwa Wan Playground.

Besides giving mooncake to residents, the organiser collected postcards to send to #12HongKongYouths who have been detained in China since August 23.

After the event had started for an hour, the police warned the residents on the spot of violating the group gathering ban. The police intercepted participants and threatened to issue fine tickets to civilians and journalists on the spot .

Super, a To Kwa Wan resident, was of those being stopped and searched by the police. She learnt about this event from the internet and felt that it’s a meaningful activity to attend. She helped distribute mooncakes when she passed by a playground.

While Super was being searched, a young police officer asked her directly she is married. "He said I must be having an affair after I said I am married," Super said. "Why did he need to say such bad things?” Sugar reiterated that the police officer’s attitude was terrible and she felt humiliated.

Although the residents were frightened by the massive number of police, “the police said that we scared residents. Inexplicable!” Super said.

Source: Apple Daily #Oct1
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201001/BRUJVBGKXRGTZKWQWB2L3FLQ6I/
#Injustice #Court
HK's Department of Justice Cancels Private Prosecution Launched by Pro-dem Ray Chan Chi-chuen: 'No Evidence is Offered'

Ray Chan Chi-chuen, the chairman of People Power and a former pro-democracy lawmaker, was dragged on the floor by the pro-Beijing lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung of the Federation of Trade Union, during the House Committee meeting on May 8, 2020 at the Legislative Council.

Chan subsequently initiated a private prosecution against Kwok. Chan said in his Facebook post on November 6, 2020 that he was notified by the Department of Justice (#DoJ) that the authorities would step in and discontinue the private prosecution against Kwok as 'no evidence is offered' in the case.

Source: Stand News #Nov6

#RuleofLaw #PrivateProsecution #RayChan #KwokWaiKeung #Discrimination
#FailedState #Border
HK Government Suspends Local School and Welcomes HK-China Border-Crossers With Quarantine Exemption

The Health Authorities in Hong Kong announced on November 20, 2020 that face-to-face classes for primary 1-3 students will be suspended for two weeks starting on Nov 23.

With more new cases confirmed in the city, the Heath Secretary said the coronavirus situation has worsened.

Nevertheless, on the same day that primary schools will partially be suspended in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government is opening the Hong Kong-China border and exempting the border-crossing people from the 14-day quarantine.

The government called it the "Return2HK" scheme, which will allow registered people to leave Macau and Southern China and go to Hong Kong without the need to undergo 14 days of quarantine. 

The daily quota is initially set to be 5,000 people. Among them, up to 3,000 people will be allowed to enter through the Shenzhen Bay and 2,000 via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge per day.

According to pro-Beijing newspaper Sing Tao Daily, the government has plans to increase the quota, and extend the quarantine-free arrangement to other provinces in China, even before the scheme is launched.

Source: RTHK #Nov18 #Nov20

news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1561016-20201120.htm

news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1560592-20201118.htm

#HeathCode #Discrimination #WuhanPneumonia #CoronavirusPandemic
#Academia #Censorship #Discrimination
Academic Organization Bars Taiwanese Scholar from Attending Event Due to his Taiwanese Nationality


A Taiwanese scholar was rejected by the ICTP's winter school of Quantitative Systems Biology (http://indico.ictp.it/event/9131/overview?fbclid=IwAR0wrp8d0AJVZriQcMMBpqxaIW2K3IBoTjqdSwDt7HNNNIGJz4a0T72Ppxw) due to his Taiwanese nationality.

According to the affected scholar, the organizer of th event told him a "new United Nations' rule" since 2019 that "Taiwanese are not allowed to attend any event under UNESCO". The reason is that "Taiwan is not a member state of the UN".

Source: Chih-fu Yeh's Facebook #Nov30
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4458474867500152&id=100000130488460

#UN #ICTP #Taiwan
“Treasure my root,” Chinese-American Actor Apologize as “Monster Hunter” Dialogues Accused of “Insulting Chinese”

The movie “Monster Hunter” released a few days ago was dropped from the Chinese market due to an insulting incident. MC Jin (Jin Au-Yeung), who was accused of insulting China, issued a video clip to apologize. He wrote “treasure my root” in simplified Chinese and emphasize that he will always be proud of his lineage.

The incident originated from a scene in the movie where a soldier played by MC Jin said, “Look at my knees,” and another person ask, “What kind of knees are these?”. Then MC Jin answered, “Chinese”. The Chinese subtitle didn’t translate the dialogue as “Chinese” but as “There is gold under men's knees”. However, Chinese netizens still lambasted the dialogue, with online comments saying that the dialogue is originated from a World War II-era nursery rhyme, “Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees, look at these,” which was seen as a mockery of the Chinese and Japanese tradition of kneeling and was considered discriminatory. After the insulting controversy, Chinese cinemas were notified by the authorities to take down the film, and those who had bought tickets were refunded, while the producer is working on a new version.

Source: Stand News #Dec08

#Insulting #Chinese #Japanese #MonsterHunter #MCJin #Discrimination
#AsiasFinest #BreachingLaw #Discrimination
HK Police Only Receive Warning For Allegedly Violating Telecommunications Ordinance

Source: Apple Daily #Dec17

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#AsiasFinest #BreachingLaw
#Discrimination
HK Police Only Receive Warning For Allegedly Violating Telecommunications Ordinance

Apple Daily revealed earlier that a policeman in Hong Kong was found using a non-official walkie-talkie during work.

The Office of the Communications Authority confirmed that owning that type of walkie-talkie requires a permit, but only issued a warning to the police. In previous cases, civilians have been fined for over HK$10,000.

A barrister suggested that the police did not seek approval before using the said walkie-talkie and violated the Telecommunications Ordinance.

Human rights group criticised that the police should not handle a criminal offence just by internal instructions, because “the said party did not just offended internal rules, but the Hong Kong law. Things should be done according to the law.”

Source: Apple Daily #Dec17

https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201217/XBRZHVC5QBGFZC6PQB7N66XWKM/

#WalkieTalkie #Telecommunications #HKPF
#Censorship #NationalSecurity
HK Police Demands Journalists to Remove Black-Coloured Masks

April 15, 2021 is named the “National Security Education Day” in Hong Kong, and in conjunction with such day, the five training schools of the HKSAR Government disciplinary forces are open to the public.

The press were present at the Police College in Wong Chuk Hang in the afternoon to cover the opening ceremony. Chris Tang Ping-Keung, the Commissioner of the Police Force is reported to be present.

As the journalists enter the academy, at least three of them were asked to remove their black-coloured masks.

The Police Public Relations Branch claimed that black-coloured masks are "not allowed to be worn" inside the academy. When the journalist asked for the reason, the police officer said that “black-coloured ones are definitely not allowed today, either you remove it or cover it, don’t waste your breath with me.”

The officers provided masks in other colors for the journalists to change. “You can either change into this one, or you cover yours up.”

Source: In-Media HK #April15 #PoliceState #Mask #Discrimination
Canadian PM Asks Trudeau Whether to Ban the PLA Scientists into Sensitive Research Facilities and Trudeau Indicates Against Racial Discrimination

Is criticizing the Chinese government an action to discriminate against Asians? Recently, the Chinese government's infiltrating the Canadian laboratories attracts attention. A Parliament Member questioned whether the Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau would prohibit the Chinese government and the military from sending scientists to Canada’s sensitive research facilities. Trudeau indicated that he “will not greet and succumb to anti-Asian's discrimination”. Michael Chong, a Canadian Parliament Member being sanctioned by China for Hong Kong issues, announced a joint statement with Kenny Chiu to criticize Trudeau for conflating the two matters and falling into the trap of the CCP, and to ask him to withdraw his remarks.

Source: Stand News #May28

https://bit.ly/3pRQ8Ka

#Canada #China #Trudeau #PrimeMinister #Discrimination #CCP #Military
#FailedState #Discrimination
Discriminatory Treatment: HK Authorities Approve Pro-Beijing Events while Banning Pro-democracy March

In 2021, the annual July 1 March was for the first time banned by the police. While the authorities used epidemic prevention as a reason to ban public events, the flag raising ceremony and the cocktail reception celebrating the establishment of the HKSAR were exempted.

According to the Home Affairs Department, celebrating the "Hong Kong-China reunification" is a key event.

Source: Stand News, #Jun30

https://bit.ly/3yVCuJq

#GatheringBan #FlagRaising #July1 #July1Protest
#Court
‘Heaviest sentence yet’ in Hong Kong #doxxing case, but site targeting democrats, journalists still online

//Despite a crackdown on the sharing of personal data, a huge doxxing website targeting over 2,000 Hong Kong democrats and journalists remains online despite HKFP's enquiries seven weeks ago.

Hung Wing-sum was sentenced to 45 months behind bars on Monday after admitting to publicly divulging the personal details of government officials, judges, celebrities, police officers and their family members over the Telegram messaging app.

“This is the heaviest sentence imposed by a court in a doxxing case so far,” Privacy Commissioner Ada Chung said in a statement.

Monday’s sentencing comes as a website targeting democrats and journalists remains online almost two months after HKFP alerted the authorities with media enquires. Since 2019, the “HK Leaks” website has openly maintained an online database of personal data belonging to over 2,000 Hong Kong democrats, protesters and journalists.

ID card numbers, headshots, home addresses and phone numbers are often included. Historically, the site has been hosted on Russian servers and promoted by groups linked to the Chinese Communist Party.

When asked in early August if any action would be take against the domain, or whether the site violated existing laws, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data refused to comment on individual cases...

Responding to HKFP, the police also refused to comment on individual cases last month, and did not say whether any action would be taken...//

Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Sept28

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/09/28/privacy-chief-welcomes-heaviest-sentence-yet-for-doxxing-case-but-a-site-targeting-democrats-journalists-still-online/

#CCP #Privacy #PoliticalOppression #Discrimination
#PoliceState
Hong Kong Police Targets Pro-democracy Restaurants under the #Pandemic

Several pro-democracy restaurants in Hong Kong have reportedly become the targets of police inspection as soon as the government rolled out mandatory contact-tracing app at the premises on December 9, 2021.

These pro-democracy "yellow" restaurant were ordered by the authorities to halt dinner dine-in services for two weeks after some customers allegedly failed to scan the #LeaveHomeSafe app.

On December 18, 2021, the police and the staff from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (#FEHD) inspected the Kwong Wing Catering branch in Mong Kok. They claimed that one male customer did not scan the, a defecto tracing app, as required by the government.

It was the third Kwong Wing Catering branch to be penalised within a week for similar alleged violations. The inspection was “suspicious,” the eatery wrote on Facebook, saying police arrived less than 20 minutes after the customer concerned sat down.

After reviewing the security footage, Kwong Wing Catering said the male customer came in with another person, who did scan the app. That person then put the device in the man’s backpack while he appeared to be searching for his phone. He eventually presented his companion’s phone to the restaurant staff.

Other affected pro-democracy restaurants included Kabo Burger, Dine Inn, Explorer Fusion Restaurant, Thai Cool, DK Pizza Cafe, WE TIME CAFE, Santgria Kitchen and more.

Source: #FirstHand; #Dec18

#COVID #Discrimination #Planting #Regime
#PoliceState
Hong Kong Customs officers suspected of framing an Indian youth


On January 14, 2022, an Instagram user, named “azmat_karavan,” claimed he witnessed how officers from the Hong Kong Customs & Excise Department (C&ED) “framed an ethnic minority youth” in Hong Kong.

According to the post, the witness saw an “undercover agent”, who was carrying a cardboard box, approach an individual, whom he described as a South Asian man and asked him to sign for the items.

The witness said the man — reportedly named Ashuk Kumar — responded by saying the goods did not belong to him and said he did not want to receive the parcel.

But he eventually signed for the box after the parcel holder kept asking for his signature — shortly afterwards, a group of customs officers emerged and arrested the man.

In a nine-minute video, a group of plainclothes officers, who said they were from Customs, appeared to surround an ethnic-minority man on Pei Ho Street in Sham Shui Po.

In a statement from the C&ED released a day later, Customs “immediately conducted a surveillance operation on the delivery and arrested a 34-year-old male consignee under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance” “to combat the sale of counterfeit goods”, stressing that “all operations are conducted with fairness, impartiality and professionalism based on facts and evidence” and denouncing “any such irresponsible remarks regarding the allegation of so-called "planting of evidence" by Customs posted on social media platform”.

Sources: InMediaHK; HK Free Press; Statement from Customs #Jan15

https://bit.ly/324uJWK

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/01/17/hong-kong-customs-condemn-unfounded-rumours-over-planting-of-evidence-on-southeast-asian-man/

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202201/15/P2022011500452.htm

#Framing #Plotting #Customs #Discrimination #EthnicMinorities
#CCPinfluence #Discrimination
Hong Kong Lawmaker: Legalizing same sex marriage destroys social value and violates national security law

In a reply to Legislative Council member Regina Ip, chairperson of the New People Party, about the legislation schedule of the Sex Discrimination Ordinance (#SDO), the Equal Opportunities Commission (#EOC) chairperson Chu Man-kin said that there was no timetable for the ordinance at the moment and should not have a rigid one.

But he said that an internal study has reached a consensus on some of the issues.

However, another legislator Junius Ho Kwan-yiu said that legalising homosexual marriage is a matter of right and wrong, and will directly destroy the composition of society and families.

He claims that the dissemination of undesirable ideologies like this was prohibited under Article 23 of the National Security Law of the People's Republic of China.

Source: Inmediahk, #May16

#SDO #LegislativeCouncil #EOC

https://bit.ly/3LnlWjg