📡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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WHO Appointed Independent Investigations criticizing China for lack of Aggressive Reactions, and the WHO for Slow Reactions

The People's Vaccine Alliance, which was appointed by WHO to investigate the global COVID-19 pandemic, published an interim report. It criticized that China could be more proactive in public health precautions to stop the epidemic in January 2020 while the WHO took too long to announce COVID-19 as an international hygiene emergency.

COVID-19 was firstly found in Wuhan City, China in late 2019 and then spread to outside China which caused over 2 million deaths with a countless economic loss so far.

Alliance criticized that the regional and national hygiene department “obviously” could take more active public health precautions in January 2020. WHO convened an emergency committee meeting until the 22nd. They even were unable to immediately agree to announce the COVID-19 outbreak as a public health emergency for international concern. The verdict confirmed the agreement a week later, which was one month from the first announced case.

The report clearly expressed, “not sure why the committee had the meeting till the third week of January and why they cannot have a consensus at the first meeting”.

#WHO #investigation #pandemic #Wuhan #China #COVID19 #pandemic #PublicHealth #InterimReport #PeoplesVaccineAlliance

Source from: The Stand News #Jan19

https://bit.ly/2Y5EmPi
China authorises coastguard to fire on foreign vessels in disputed waters of East China and South China Seas

China has maritime sovereignty disputes with Japan in the East China Sea and with several South-East Asian countries in the South China Sea. It has sent its coastguard to chase away fishing vessels from other countries, sometimes resulting in the sinking of these vessels.

The National People's Congress standing committee, passed the Coastguard Law on 22nd Jan explicitly allowing its coastguard to fire on foreign vessels. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the laws are in line with international practices. The new law allows the coastguard to use a variety of weapons.

Source: ABC.Net #Jan22

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-23/china-authorises-coast-guard-to-fire-on-foreign-ships-if-needed/13084754

#China #CoastguardLaw
WHO research team expected to travel to Wuhan to investigate coronavirus origin

Source: The Guardian #Dec16

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WHO research team expected to travel to Wuhan to investigate coronavirus origin

A World Health Organization (WHO) research mission to China is expected to arrive in Wuhan in Jan 2021 to investigate how the novel coronavirus jumped from animals to humans. Most scientists think the virus Sars-Cov-2 began in animals in China, most likely bats, before jumping to human.

Initial attempts by Chinese authorities to cover up the outbreak, including detaining citizen journalists and punishing doctors, and a reported reluctance to allow the WHO or others to investigate inside China only added to hostilities throughout the year.

Chinese authorities and state media have also stepped up an apparent campaign, Covid-19 did not originate in China. State-run media said in a social media post that “all available evidence suggests that the coronavirus did not start in central China’s Wuhan”.

However Michael Ryan, director of health emergencies programme at WHO, told reporters in Nov 2020 that it would be “highly speculative” to argue that the disease did not emerge in China.

Source: The Guardian #Dec16

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/16/who-research-team-expected-to-travel-to-wuhan-to-investigate-coronavirus-origin?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

#Covid19 #WHO #Covid19Origina #Covid19Investigation #China
China no longer accepts BNO as travel and identification document, stating it "is not the original BNO anymore"

Source: Stand News, #Jan29
#BNO #CCP #UK #SinoBritishJointDeclaration

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28251
China no longer accepts BNO as travel and identification document, stating it "is not the original BNO anymore"

Today (29 Jan, 2021), the UK government published details of British National Overseas (BNO) visa application. In a press conference in the afternoon of the same day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China declared that BNO passport would not be recognized as a travel document and Hong Kong identification document from 31 Jan.

Lijian Zhao, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, denounced that the UK went back on their promise by disregarding Hong Kong's 24-year reunification to China and the stance of China. "BNO visa is customized for Hong Kong citizens who can stay in the UK and apply for UK citizenship," Zhao said. Also, the UK government intended to turn Hongkongers to "second-class British citizens" by further expanding the scope of BNO visa, which original nature was completely changed.

Zhao continued that BNO mentioned by the UK government at the moment was not the original BNO anymore. This action severely invaded China's sovereignty and interfered in Hong Kong general affairs and China internal affairs. It violated the international law and basic norms of international relations, expressing "great indignation and firm objection."

Source: Stand News, #Jan29
#BNO #CCP #UK #SinoBritishJointDeclaration
#PoliceState
Pregnant Woman in Hong Kong Suffers Premature Delivery and Severe Bleeding after Police Brutality

Source: Stand News #Jan24

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#PoliceState
Pregnant Woman in Hong Kong Suffers Premature Delivery and Severe Bleeding after Police Brutality

A Hong Kong civilian in her 7 months of pregnancy was intercepted and searched for unknown reason by police officers on January 20, 2021.

During the search operation, she was reportedly being cuffed with her hands at her back, pulled and dragged by officers on the ground. Later on, she was arrested on suspicion of “obstructing police officer for conducting duties”.

The pregnant woman surnamed Lau told reporters that with concern for COVID19, she asked to stand aloof to three other civilians at the scene of the police operation while handing in her ID card for police investigation as requested.

In response to her request, a police officer hurled insults at her, calling her “damn fat woman”. Lau said she repeatedly told the police officers that she is pregnant. The officers ignored her even when she hunched on the ground due to acute pain and plead for immediate medical assistance.

A couple of days later, she was hospitalized on January 23, 2021 for symptoms of premature birth and severe bleeding. She later delivered a baby boy prematurely who was admitted to the intensive care ward for critical conditions.

Source: Stand News, #Jan24
#PoliceState #AsiasFinest #Pregnancy
Student Activist Cuts Ties with Chinese Relatives and Friends, Hopes Chinese Police Force Stops Bothering Them

Source: Stand News #Jan24
#WhiteTerror #CCP #StudentPoliticism #Oppression #WongYatChin

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#Oppression
Student Activist Cuts Ties with Chinese Relatives and Friends, Hopes Chinese Police Force would Stop Bothering Them

In a Facebook post published on Jan 23, 2021, Student Localism convenor Wong Yat-Chin said that his family and friends in mainland China were approached by police at their homes, and were questioned about Wong's activities in Hong Kong. At least 10 relatives and friends were approached that way, Wong said, including primary school classmates with whom he had no contact for 10 years.

This was a worrying development, Wong said. "It's like I've become CCP's number one public enemy." He announced on his Facebook page that he had cut off all ties with those being targeted by Chinese police; he hopes that Chinese authorities would no longer bother them because of him.

Meanwhile in Hong Kong, Wong's parents have also been "doxxed": their personal details have been posted online some time ago. Wong himself was being followed when hosting street booths, by individuals who claimed to be police officers. He felt that the threat was becoming more imminent, worrying that authorities would also harass his family members in Hong Kong one day.

If worse comes to worst, Wong said he would also cut ties with his family. "[My family] doesn't even know what I'm doing, and they wouldn't interfere," he said. "If even Hong Kong authorities are taking action, then I might need to cut off from my family too."

Source: Stand News #Jan24
#WhiteTerror #CCP #StudentPoliticism #Oppression #WongYatChin

Read More:
Pro-democracy Student Group Convener: “I was not born in Hong Kong, but I am willing to die for it”
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/26874
#Censorship
HK #University imposes penalties for initiating memorial ceremony for deceased pro-democracy student

On Nov 4, 2019, 22-year-old student from Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (#HKUST), Alex Chow Tsz-lok fell to his death in a pro-democracy protest in Tsueng Kwan O. In Chow’s remembrance, a half-year memorial ceremony was organized on university campus in 2020.

Surprisingly, the University was reportedly seeking reprisal in January 2021 as member of the Student Union has been stripped of rights to use campus facilities for half a year. They were imposed of 75 hours mandatory campus service order while President and Vice-president of Student Union were suspended for one semester. Besides, disciplinary records would be kept for respective students.

The Union expressed utter disappointment at the University’s rule.

Source: Apple Daily, #Jan25
#WhiteTerror #Oppression #AlexChow
#PoliceState #LockDown
Only less than 2% police officers deployed in support of the City’s first district lockdown, far less than officers involved in PR campaign

Source: Stand News, #Jan25

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#PoliceState #LockDown
Only less than 2% police officers deployed in support of the City’s first district lockdown, far less than officers involved in PR campaign

On January 23, 2021, Hong Kong government willfully locked down four main locations in Yau Ma Tei and Jordan to carry out compulsory COVID19 test. Over 1,000 officers from five enforcement units were involved in this operation.

Based on media reports and further information that Stand News collected directly from HK Police Force, it showed that only 600 officers (1.67%) of the 35,000-strong Police Force were deployed.

This was even less than the officers took part in the production of the Force’s latest advertising video and the least, in proportion to its total staff, among five enforcement units involved in the operation.

All Bureau heads of the five enforcement units visited the lock-down location. The Director of Immigration mentioned that 300 officers were deployed. The Correctional Services Department said 230, while the Fire Services and the Customs & Excise deployed 650 and 350 staff respectively.

Source: Stand News, #Jan25

#Coronavirus #AsiasFinest #DisciplinaryForce #WuhanPneumonia
A journalist in exile suspected of being kidnapped back to Iran across the border and being executed

Source: Stand News #Dec13

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A journalist in exile suspected of being kidnapped back to Iran across the border and being executed

Iran government sentenced the 47-year-old journalist Ruhollah Zam, who was once in exile to France, to death because of "corruption" on Saturday (12th December). The journalist was accused of cooperating with foreign intelligence departments, sharing protest information as well as making teachings on gasoline bombs on his Telegram channel. The French government, human rights organisations, Reporters Without Borders and Committee to Protect Journalists all condemned the execution, describing it as “a fatal blow to Iran’s freedom of speech”.

Zam fled to Paris after being accused of cooperating with foreign intelligence departments in 2009. He subsequently started operating website “AmadNews” and his telegram channel, having over 1 million followers. He shared Iran protest information and scandals of Iran officials on his channel in 2017, and tutorials for making gasoline bomb. Telegram has once blocked his channel due to complaints from the Iranian government.

#Iran #RuhollahZam #Journalist #Paris #FreedomofSpeech #Iranprotests #Telegram #InExile #AmadNews

Source: Stand News #Dec13

https://bit.ly/3orlO6I
UAE Claims 86% effectiveness of Sinopharm COVID Vaccine, Experts Question Failure to Account for Clinical Test Data

Source: Stand News #Dec11

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UAE Claims 86% effectiveness of Sinopharm COVID Vaccine, Experts Question Failure to Account for Clinical Test Data

The UAE health authorities announced on Wednesday (Dec 9) that the Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine has been tested and confirmed to be 86% effective, making it the first country in the world to certify the effectiveness of a Chinese-made vaccine. However, some academics, holding a wait-and-see attitude, believe that the UAE authorities have not provided key and detailed information, including data from the Phase 3 clinical trials.

The UAE is one of the ten countries where two of Sinopharm’ vaccines are undergoing clinical trials. UAE indicated that it had approved an interim analysis of the vaccine’s Phase 3 clinical trial data, which showed 100% effectiveness in preventing mild symptoms from turning into moderate to severe conditions. They also claimed an overall effective protection rate of 86%, adding that the vaccine poses no serious safety concerns.

The Sinopharm Group did not confirm the news or comment to the media for several hours after UAE’s announcement. The New York Times even reported that it was disconnected when it tried to reach the group on the phone. It was only at dusk on Thursday (Dec 10) that Sinopharm uploaded its vaccine registration statement for the UAE. Still, it did not provide further data on the Phase 3 tests, such as the number of people infected with the vaccine and the volunteers’ age. The group also did not make any “welcome” remarks.

#UAE #China #Sinopharm #COVID19 #Vaccines #Trials #TestData #NewYorkTimes

Source: Stand News #Dec11

https://bit.ly/3i0j9zj
#YellowEconomy
Hongkongers organize local pro-democracy #LunarNewYearMarket

A 'yellow' pro-democracy bazaar, “Sky One”, for Lunar New Year starts from Jan 30, 2021 for 13 days in Mongkok, Hong Kong.

The bazaar has two entrances and two floors. Each floor has 15 stalls. In addition to products about the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong, one can find Lunar New Year-themed Fai Chun and red pockets which read "we love Hong Kong so dam much", "may dream come true" and other creative wishes.

The bazaar also presents many seasonal hand-made products, such as knitted products with the “LIHKG Pig” logo, colourful facemasks and tote bags marked with “Hong Kong Add oil”.

Details:
Date: 30 Jan – 11 Feb 2021
Time: 12:00 – 22:00
Address: MPM Plaza, G/F and 1/F, Portland Street, Mongkok