Patten urges independent probe, political reform

//The last British governor of Hong Kong on Monday called on the Carrie Lam Administration to hold an independent inquiry into the months of anti-government protests as well as police conduct and political reform in the SAR.

Delivering Hong Kong Watch’s inaugural Paddy Ashdown Memorial Lecture, Chris Patten said an independent inquiry, reform of public order legislation and political reforms should all form part of a road map towards the reconciliation of Hong Kong society.

"Most important of all, if Hong Kong is to return to normal and to rehabilitate the reputation of the police there should be a proper independent public inquiry into the reasons for the demonstrations, the behaviour of the demonstrators, and the conduct of the police," Patten said.

"The idea that the existing police complaints machinery is adequate to the task is plainly nonsense. The international experts who were asked by the government to advise on how this body could become more credible resigned rather than associate themselves with an impossible task," Patten said.

"Would such an inquiry destroy the morale of the police service? More likely it would demonstrate that the police were put in an impossible position by the government."

He warned that it would be difficult to restore faith in the police "without a transparent accounting".

He compared such an inquiry with the commission that he led in Northern Ireland, which reformed the police.

"We had a series of open, public meetings that gave transparency to the whole question of reform. An inquiry could do the same as well as providing a pause in the on-going turbulence," Patten said.

He also called for reform, including a possible amnesty.

"There is also a case for revising at the same time, or subsequently, public order legislation and its relationship to the terms of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which is written into Hong Kong's constitution," Patten said.

He also called for reform on broader political issues, including the election of the Chief Executive,

He also urged Beijing to engage in dialogue with political parties and the community on "how to begin a process leading to the outcome Hong Kong was promised by Communist leaders before and immediately after 1997".//

Source: RTHK #Feb4
https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1506459-20200204.htm?spTabChangeable=0

Need-based approach to reduce mask consumption?

In response to media inquiry on the wearing of face mask during a press conference on Feb 3, Chief Executive Carrie Lam cited the government's "not-so-successful acquisition of mask" and the global shortage of mask supply as reasons to deploy a need-based approach to reduce the consumption of face masks.

It was also said that the Chief Executive has reminded Principal Officials to lead by example. According to Lam, she personally reviewed every official who was going to meet the media. Masks, even being worn by officials, should be removed, said Carrie Lam. "It is a waste to use several masks a day."

Carrie Lam claimed that masks are allocated to medical staff and frontline officers; however, the Hospital Authority stated that they have received no mask produced by the correctional services industry in Hong Kong.

Source: RTHK https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1506508-20200204.htm?spTabChangeable=0

#Feb4 #CarrieLam #Masks

CTS Increases Bus Services at Border Checkpoint Upon Government's Partial Closure of Ports

While the Hong Kong government shut down 4 more ports, CCP-owned China Travel Services (CTS) announced more bus routes to facilitate Hong Kong-China transit at Shenzhen Bay, one of the three ports that remain open.

While Carrie Lam argued that leaving Shenzhen Bay port open is due to its "low accessibility", CTS described the additional services as “fulfilling the mission and responsibilities of the central government” and “meeting the needs of the public across the border.”

In reaction to this , pro-democracy district councillor in Tuen Mun Au Chuen-wing set up a “community checkpoint” nearby the cross-border bus station to monitor passengers' temperature. Au also called on drivers of these buses to go strike as they could be in close contact with coronavirus carriers. As at HKT1600 on Feb 5, Hong Kong has confirmed 21 cases of Wuhan pneumonia.

Source: InMedia; Apple Daily #Feb4
#ShenzhenPort #CTS

Where are the CSI masks - a classic Rashomon case?

In two consecutive days, HKSAR Chief Executive, Carrie Lam repeatedly said, face masks produced by Correctional Services Industries (CSI) would be provided to medical staff in priority.

However, Dr Deacons Yeung Tai-kong, Director of Cluster Services of Hospital Authority responded on February 4 that the Authority has never received any CSI masks. Yeung also said that it is unclear whether any colleague would purchase masks through other channels.

Source: RTHK

https://www.facebook.com/RTHKVNEWS/videos/176300717044002/

#Feb4 #Healthcrisis #WuhanPneuminia #Masks

"Carrie Lam Made This Protest Happened": Sai-Kungers Against Isolation Site Proposal

On #Feb4, Sai Kung residents protested against the government's plan to quarantine people who have contact with Wuhan Coronavirus carriers at Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Center. Worse still, the government has never sought consultation nor approval from the District Council.

The march took place from 9pm to 10pm from Sai Kung Town Centre to Tui Min Hoi Chuen, the residential area just a road across the designated quarantine site.

"Carrie Lam made this protest happened!" Resident Mr. Fong pointed out there were already two quarantine facilities in Sai Kung, namely Lady MacLehose Holiday Village and Pak Tam Chung Holiday Camp. "We were not protesting against setting up quarantine center, but what's the point of setting up one so close to residences?"

He added that the coronavirus can be spread by stool, concerns were raised as the center's sewage treatment facilities is connected to the Seafood Street.

Source: Stand News

Sai-Kungers Standing Up Against Isolation Site Proposal

On evening #Feb4, Sai Kung residents staged a protest against the government's proposal to turn Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Center into quarantine facilities.

Residents approached district councillors for help, but some had already spotted government agents transporting quarantine program materials into the holiday camp. "Have they ever even thought of discussing it with us?" a resident asked.

Mr. Cheung, another resident, said that there were many elderly people living in Tui Min Hoi Chuen. "Even they are against the proposal, they may not have the energy to step up to protest," he expressed his worries, "we must protest for them." He also mentioned that the government released the announcement with little publicity, that many residents have not even heard of the plan, "I hope this march can make more residents know about this."

Source: Stand News #Feb4

Read more: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16801

#Feb4 #FirstHand
Residents Ask If Carrie Lam Hates Them So Much to Lockdown #YauTsimMong for the 7th Time

On Feb 4, 2021, the Hong Kong government imposed what Chief Executive Carrie Lam called "ambush-style" lockdown in a large area of Yau Ma Tei and Mongkok.

According to #DistrictCouncillor Yu Tak-po, this is the 7th lockdown imposed in the area, in addition to other mandatory testing orders.

The residents in Tung On Mansion on Pitt Street were ordered to undertake #Covid19 test last week, but they were included in the lockdown area on Feb 4, 2021.

The District Council spoke to the media and shared residents' frustration and angst. Residents pondered everyday if they would need to face another lockdown that evening. Some also asked if Carrie Lam hated them so much.

The district councillor also questioned the government's rationale behind the lockdown and the use of taxpayers' money, as the number of positive cases has been decreasing in Hong Kong.

#FailedState #YMTLockdown
#YuTakPo

#FirstHand #Feb4
#DistrictCouncillor: Residents Live in Fear Due to Government's Arbitrary Lockdown

On Feb 4, 2021, the members of the Yau Tsim Mong District Council spoke to the media near the lockdown zone.

According to District Councillor #SiuTakKin, many residents found the government's lockdown arrangement confusing and the decision arbitrary.

For instance, Mandarin Court, a residential building on Shanghai Street, has 2 positive cases in the past and was included in the lockdown area on Feb 4, 2021; however, other buildings with more confirmed cases were not subjected to any lockdown.

Moreover, most shops were not notified before the government ambushed them with a lockdown. Many of them were in fear when the police suddenly sealed off the area without prior warning.

Meanwhile, residents also expressed concern after the government claimed that their staff would break in to flats that do not answer the door.

#YMTLockdown #FailedState #Fear #WhiteTerror #Regime

#PoliceState #AsiasFinest
HK Police Break Their Promise; Curry Shop Owner and Employees Trapped in Lockdown Zone

Salaam Namaste Curry House is located in Canton Road in Yau Ma Tei, falling within the lockdown area marked by the Hong Kong authorities on Feb 4, 2021.

Just five minutes before the "ambush-style" lockdown took effect, a police inspector told the owner Devi that he and his employees could still leave.

However, just after they hurried to have their clothes changed and the restaurant closed within two to three minutes, a group of police cordoned the area and forbade them from leaving.

Trapped in the lockdown area and unable to go home, Devi felt very disappointed for that the police had broken their promised.

Photo: #FirstHand
Text: InMedia #Feb4
https://bit.ly/3to1RBE

#YMTLockdown #Restaurant #LocalEconomy #SalaamNamasteCurryHouse

#FirstHand #Feb4 #Interview
Restaurant Owner and Staff Trapped in Lockdown Zone

The owner of Salaam Namaste Curry House, Devi, talked about the lockdown imposed by the Hong Kong government on Feb 4, 2021 in Yau Ma Tei.

Located in Canton Road, the restaurant falls within the lockdown area of Feb 4. Devi and his staff could have left the restaurant before the lockdown took effect, as the police told them to. However, in just three minutes later, the police changed their saying and sealed off the area without letting Devi and his employees leave.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28439

Devi told the media his missed his family. Although the authorities promised to bring him mattress for him and his employees to stay overnight at the shop, they had not shown up on time.

#YMTLockdown #Restaurant #SalaamNamasteCurryHouse

#Court #Regime
"No Such Thing as Separation of Powers in the World," National Security Judge Lectures Educators, Despite Claiming It's HK's System 10 Years Ago

Source: Apple Daily #Feb4

Read more
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#Court #Regime
"No Such Thing as Separation of Powers in the World," National Security Judge Lectures Educators, Despite Claiming It's HK's System 10 Years Ago

As the Hong Kong Government begins to enforce #NationalSecurityEducation in schools, the #EducationBureau held an online seminar on the rule of law, led by Judge Patrick Chan Siu-oi, in which high school teachers received the government's latest views on the rule of law.

Patrick Chan is a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal, and is part of the panel of judges handling the bail application of Next Digital's #JimmyLai, who is currently under custody on national security charges.

Chan began the seminar by telling the attending teachers that what he was about to say may be different from their past knowledge, and "if it's not the same, then please hear me out."

According to Chan, the term "separation of powers" was inaccurate, nor was the mention of "three" powers in the usual Chinese translation of the term. He claimed that many political systems do not have three branches, and calling it a separation of three powers "sounded like they're bracing themselves for a brawl". Instead, he called it a "distribution of duties", saying it was more accurate and "sounded more gentle". If checks and balances were too stringent, he added, it would make for an inefficient government.

Chan further claimed that no country in the world operates a true separation of powers. He cited the US government as an example, saying that the Senate, House of Representatives, and court judges consist of members from the two major political parties, thus the three branches overlap each other. In the British government, he said, the prime minister is the leader of the largest party in Parliament, therefore the legislative branch is also the executive branch.

Interestingly, in a 2011 seminar - merely 10 years ago - Judge Chan claimed that Hong Kong implements a separation of powers. At the time, he stated that the separation of powers prevents any one branch from becoming too powerful, leading to abuses of its power. He also noted that the Basic Law's clauses 59-65, 66-79, and 80-96 prescribe separate duties to the three branches of government. The key was whether the branches could keep each others' powers in check, he noted at the time.

source: Apple Daily #Feb4
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210204/EEP2GE3ZN5BBFPLL3N2BBZIGTQ/

#SeparationofPowers #Education #BrainWash

#GlobalSupport
US lawmakers nominate Hong Kong democracy movement for #NobelPeacePrize

Source: Stand News, #Feb4

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