WHO Experts Visit Market in Wuhan to Trace the Pandemic’s Origin, Reporters Shut Out by Chinese Authorities
As the Wuhan virus pandemic enters its second year, a group of specialists sent by the WHO arrived in Wuhan on 14 January to investigate the pandemic’s origin. During their visit to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market on 31 January, local authorities cordoned off the market with water-filled barriers with officers standing in front of reporters to keep them out.
Footage by Reuters show that a number of officers stopped reporters and other people from following vehicles that carried the WHO specialists into the market and set up barriers on the perimeter. The specialists, wearing visitor badges, did not respond to questions from reporters when they got out of their cars. They also visited the Jinyintan Hospital, where early Wuhan disease patients had been treated, and exhibitions showcasing efforts to combat the pandemic that day.
Source: Stand News #Jan31
#China #WHO #Wuhan #WuhanVirus #WuhanPneumonia #COVID19 #Pandemic
https://bit.ly/3oR2D6V
As the Wuhan virus pandemic enters its second year, a group of specialists sent by the WHO arrived in Wuhan on 14 January to investigate the pandemic’s origin. During their visit to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market on 31 January, local authorities cordoned off the market with water-filled barriers with officers standing in front of reporters to keep them out.
Footage by Reuters show that a number of officers stopped reporters and other people from following vehicles that carried the WHO specialists into the market and set up barriers on the perimeter. The specialists, wearing visitor badges, did not respond to questions from reporters when they got out of their cars. They also visited the Jinyintan Hospital, where early Wuhan disease patients had been treated, and exhibitions showcasing efforts to combat the pandemic that day.
Source: Stand News #Jan31
#China #WHO #Wuhan #WuhanVirus #WuhanPneumonia #COVID19 #Pandemic
https://bit.ly/3oR2D6V
Exclusive: China plans further Hong Kong crackdown after mass arrest - sources
Source: Reuters #Jan12
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Source: Reuters #Jan12
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Exclusive: China plans further Hong Kong crackdown after mass arrest - sources
Two individuals with direct knowledge of China’s plans said the mass arrests in 2021 were part of a wave of ongoing actions to silence activists and to “make sure Hong Kong doesn’t slide back to what we saw 18 months ago”.
He said that Chinese officials were now discussing ways to change the electoral system to address “deficiencies” in the political structure and elections might be further delayed. Beijing remained concerned the opposition could still muster a majority in the legislature.
Among the next steps, authorities could focus on disqualifying hundreds of democratic “district councillors”; entrenching loyalty to China within the civil service; squeezing businesses whose bosses explicitly support the democratic cause and creeping censorship of the internet and media under the auspices of national security.
Source: Reuters #Jan12
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-democracy-idUSKBN29H0E8
#ChinacrackdownHongKong #HongKongElection
Two individuals with direct knowledge of China’s plans said the mass arrests in 2021 were part of a wave of ongoing actions to silence activists and to “make sure Hong Kong doesn’t slide back to what we saw 18 months ago”.
He said that Chinese officials were now discussing ways to change the electoral system to address “deficiencies” in the political structure and elections might be further delayed. Beijing remained concerned the opposition could still muster a majority in the legislature.
Among the next steps, authorities could focus on disqualifying hundreds of democratic “district councillors”; entrenching loyalty to China within the civil service; squeezing businesses whose bosses explicitly support the democratic cause and creeping censorship of the internet and media under the auspices of national security.
Source: Reuters #Jan12
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-democracy-idUSKBN29H0E8
#ChinacrackdownHongKong #HongKongElection
U.S.
Exclusive: China plans further Hong Kong crackdown after mass arrest - sources
The arrest of more than 50 democrats in Hong Kong last week intensifies a drive by Beijing to stifle any return of a populist challenge to Chinese rule and more measures are likely, according to two individuals with direct knowledge of China's plans.
China’s Digital Silk Road Initiative: A Boon for Developing Countries or a Danger to Freedom?
Source: The Diplomat #Dec17
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Source: The Diplomat #Dec17
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China’s Digital Silk Road Initiative: A Boon for Developing Countries or a Danger to Freedom?
Beijing launched the Digital Silk Road (DSR) as part of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2015 with a loose mandate.
DSR offers supports Chinese exporters, including many well-known Chinese technology companies. The DSR assistance goes toward improving recipients’ telecommunications networks, artificial intelligence capabilities, cloud computing, e-commerce and mobile payment systems, surveillance technology, smart cities, and other high-tech areas.
Some democracies have raised serious concerns that China may use DSR to enable recipient countries to adopt its model of technology-enabled authoritarianism. Chinese technology companies have already helped governments in other countries develop surveillance capabilities and Beijing has provided training for interested DSR recipient countries on how to monitor and censor the internet.
Building 5G network with Chinese companies could risk espionage and coercion of other states’ politics if Beijing used data breaches to blackmail political elites in those states. DSR could also help recipient countries better control their internets through filtering, content moderation, data localization, and surveillance.
Source: The Diplomat #Dec17
https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/chinas-digital-silk-road-initiative-a-boon-for-developing-countries-or-a-danger-to-freedom/
#BRI #DSR #China #ChinaDigitalThreat #ChineseTechnologySurveillance
Beijing launched the Digital Silk Road (DSR) as part of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2015 with a loose mandate.
DSR offers supports Chinese exporters, including many well-known Chinese technology companies. The DSR assistance goes toward improving recipients’ telecommunications networks, artificial intelligence capabilities, cloud computing, e-commerce and mobile payment systems, surveillance technology, smart cities, and other high-tech areas.
Some democracies have raised serious concerns that China may use DSR to enable recipient countries to adopt its model of technology-enabled authoritarianism. Chinese technology companies have already helped governments in other countries develop surveillance capabilities and Beijing has provided training for interested DSR recipient countries on how to monitor and censor the internet.
Building 5G network with Chinese companies could risk espionage and coercion of other states’ politics if Beijing used data breaches to blackmail political elites in those states. DSR could also help recipient countries better control their internets through filtering, content moderation, data localization, and surveillance.
Source: The Diplomat #Dec17
https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/chinas-digital-silk-road-initiative-a-boon-for-developing-countries-or-a-danger-to-freedom/
#BRI #DSR #China #ChinaDigitalThreat #ChineseTechnologySurveillance
The Diplomat
China’s Digital Silk Road Initiative: A Boon for Developing Countries or a Danger to Freedom?
Some observers worry that it will equip authoritarian governments with next-generation surveillance technologies.
#ProtestArt
From "the Leaning Liberty" to "the Almost Truth"
District Councilor Kisslan Chan Puts Up #StreetArt Yet Again
Source: Stand News; #Jan27
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From "the Leaning Liberty" to "the Almost Truth"
District Councilor Kisslan Chan Puts Up #StreetArt Yet Again
Source: Stand News; #Jan27
Read more
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#ProtestArt
From "the Leaning Liberty" to "the Almost Truth"
District Councilor Kisslan Chan Puts Up #StreetArt Yet Again
The "Leaning characters" slogans have once again appeared on streets in Yuen Long, Hong Kong.
The street art is set up and created by district councilor Kisslan Chan Ling-lun, who used "the Almost Truth" as a theme for his new work. The art is also created from several wooden planks, with the planks arranged to show the Chinese characters for "truth" (真相) when looked at with head tilted.
Chan revealed to Stand News that this served as a continuation of his previous work "The Leaning Liberty", which like "The Almost Truth", is arranged to show the Chinese characters for "liberty" (自由) when looked at from the sides. He stated that he had at first thought that the 木 radical in 相 didn't look artistic, and had removed a dot in a flash of inspiration, stating that "there's still some distance until we reach the truth". He hoped that one day he could "add that dot in" when the truth is reached.
Chan also expressed that the recent political incidents and court cases had showed that "it's hard to reach 100% truth", and that his work expresses the values many believe in in this environment, believing that "citizens would resonate with the words".
Chan studied art in University, and hoped that art would make the public notice what is happening around them more, and revealed the release of several similar works in the near future.
Source: Stand News; #Jan27
#ChanLingLun #KisslanChan #DistrictCouncilor #PublicSpace #LeaningCharacters #AlmostTruth
From "the Leaning Liberty" to "the Almost Truth"
District Councilor Kisslan Chan Puts Up #StreetArt Yet Again
The "Leaning characters" slogans have once again appeared on streets in Yuen Long, Hong Kong.
The street art is set up and created by district councilor Kisslan Chan Ling-lun, who used "the Almost Truth" as a theme for his new work. The art is also created from several wooden planks, with the planks arranged to show the Chinese characters for "truth" (真相) when looked at with head tilted.
Chan revealed to Stand News that this served as a continuation of his previous work "The Leaning Liberty", which like "The Almost Truth", is arranged to show the Chinese characters for "liberty" (自由) when looked at from the sides. He stated that he had at first thought that the 木 radical in 相 didn't look artistic, and had removed a dot in a flash of inspiration, stating that "there's still some distance until we reach the truth". He hoped that one day he could "add that dot in" when the truth is reached.
Chan also expressed that the recent political incidents and court cases had showed that "it's hard to reach 100% truth", and that his work expresses the values many believe in in this environment, believing that "citizens would resonate with the words".
Chan studied art in University, and hoped that art would make the public notice what is happening around them more, and revealed the release of several similar works in the near future.
Source: Stand News; #Jan27
#ChanLingLun #KisslanChan #DistrictCouncilor #PublicSpace #LeaningCharacters #AlmostTruth
#MassArrest #HongkongersVoice #LegCoElectionPrimaries
#VentusLau believes he has done his best and the next generation will do better
Source: InMedia #Jan30
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#VentusLau believes he has done his best and the next generation will do better
Source: InMedia #Jan30
Read more
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#MassArrest #HongkongersVoice #LegCoElectionPrimaries
#VentusLau believes he has done his best and the next generation will do better
Ventus Lau has been arrested four times since 2019. Seven years ago, he thought he could change Hong Kong if he took part in politics. However, he felt his political life was over after he was disqualified from Legislation Council elections.
In 2019, the anti-ELAB (Extradition Law Amendment Bill) movement led to his political life's resurgence.
In this movement, as an organizer of rallies and marches, he submitted applications for Letters of No Objection. In the end, he was arrested thrice and was accused of four different crimes. The maximum term of imprisonment is ten years in jail for the crime of rioting.
After participating in the pro-democracy primary election, Ventus Lau was quiet for a while and planned to enjoy his last period of freedom until he would be sent to prison. However, he was unexpectedly arrested again because of participating in the primary election and felt like fodder this time. "53 people, including me, have done all we could. What else I can do…," he said.
He didn't complain and feel regret, but he felt sorry that he didn't do his best. "if we use Baggio's rhetoric, we are building a path [for the future]. If the authority wants to arrest me and I need to sacrifice, it's fine. But I hope someone behind can pick it up this tough job, so that my sacrifice will have meaning," he said.
"I have strong feeling that the younger generation will do much better than me," he said.
Source: Inmedia HK #Jan30
https://bit.ly/3iZ17Ow
#NextGeneration #Future
#VentusLau believes he has done his best and the next generation will do better
Ventus Lau has been arrested four times since 2019. Seven years ago, he thought he could change Hong Kong if he took part in politics. However, he felt his political life was over after he was disqualified from Legislation Council elections.
In 2019, the anti-ELAB (Extradition Law Amendment Bill) movement led to his political life's resurgence.
In this movement, as an organizer of rallies and marches, he submitted applications for Letters of No Objection. In the end, he was arrested thrice and was accused of four different crimes. The maximum term of imprisonment is ten years in jail for the crime of rioting.
After participating in the pro-democracy primary election, Ventus Lau was quiet for a while and planned to enjoy his last period of freedom until he would be sent to prison. However, he was unexpectedly arrested again because of participating in the primary election and felt like fodder this time. "53 people, including me, have done all we could. What else I can do…," he said.
He didn't complain and feel regret, but he felt sorry that he didn't do his best. "if we use Baggio's rhetoric, we are building a path [for the future]. If the authority wants to arrest me and I need to sacrifice, it's fine. But I hope someone behind can pick it up this tough job, so that my sacrifice will have meaning," he said.
"I have strong feeling that the younger generation will do much better than me," he said.
Source: Inmedia HK #Jan30
https://bit.ly/3iZ17Ow
#NextGeneration #Future
#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
"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
#FailedState #WuhanPheumonia
Hong Kong’s COVID Rules Are Screwing Over The Poor At Every Turn
Source: Vice #Feb2
Read more
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Hong Kong’s COVID Rules Are Screwing Over The Poor At Every Turn
Source: Vice #Feb2
Read more
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#FailedState #WuhanPheumonia
Hong Kong’s COVID Rules Are Screwing Over The Poor At Every Turn
//The effects of the pandemic had driven almost a hundred people into homelessness, a survey by the local advocacy group Society for Community Organization (#SOCO) found in May.
[These cases are] ... among at least a thousand homeless people in Hong Kong who have been pushed deeper into the abyss by government efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, in a stark illustration of how the crisis is disproportionately hurting the poor and worsening inequality in one of the world’s richest cities.
In response to questions from VICE World News about what the government has done to aid rough sleepers during the pandemic, a spokesperson said it “stepped up their efforts to proactively reach out to street sleepers, providing them with up-to-date health related information and in-kind assistance such as face masks and hand sanitizers as well as referring them to hostels.”
Such a response highlighted how little Hong Kong officials understood the needs of people who don’t have a home. //
Source: Vice #Feb2
Read full article:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7aky8/hong-kong-covid-economic-inequality
#covid19 #MandatoryLockdown #Elderly #Inequality
Hong Kong’s COVID Rules Are Screwing Over The Poor At Every Turn
//The effects of the pandemic had driven almost a hundred people into homelessness, a survey by the local advocacy group Society for Community Organization (#SOCO) found in May.
[These cases are] ... among at least a thousand homeless people in Hong Kong who have been pushed deeper into the abyss by government efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, in a stark illustration of how the crisis is disproportionately hurting the poor and worsening inequality in one of the world’s richest cities.
In response to questions from VICE World News about what the government has done to aid rough sleepers during the pandemic, a spokesperson said it “stepped up their efforts to proactively reach out to street sleepers, providing them with up-to-date health related information and in-kind assistance such as face masks and hand sanitizers as well as referring them to hostels.”
Such a response highlighted how little Hong Kong officials understood the needs of people who don’t have a home. //
Source: Vice #Feb2
Read full article:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7aky8/hong-kong-covid-economic-inequality
#covid19 #MandatoryLockdown #Elderly #Inequality
Vice
Hong Kong’s COVID Rules Screw Over The Poor At Every Turn
Talk about unintended consequences. And oversights.
Only 45.9% of the interviewees in Hong Kong are willing to be vaccinated, with less than 30% willing to receive Sinovac Biotech vaccine
#COVID19 #vaccine #SinovacBiotech #GoHKgraphics
#COVID19 #vaccine #SinovacBiotech #GoHKgraphics
An Espionage War: Afghanistan detains 10 Chinese spies suspected of plotting assassination against Uighur leader, urges China to apologise
Source: Apple Daily #Dec27
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Source: Apple Daily #Dec27
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An Espionage War: Afghanistan detains 10 Chinese spies suspected of plotting assassination against Uighur leader, urges China to apologise
The Afghan intelligence department announced the recent bust of a Chinese spy team with 10 Chinese nationals arrested. At least two of them have ties with the Taliban branch "Haqqani", with weapons, ammunition, explosives and Ketamine seized from the mastermind's apartment. The Afghan government said the Chinese spies are suspected of committing espionage crimes, allegedly collecting Uighur intelligence in Afghanistan and cooperating with Pakistani spy agencies to engage in terrorist activities, and demanded an apology from the Chinese authorities.
Disguised as an East Turkistan branch to lure Uighurs into traps
The arrested Chinese spy team leader, Li YangYang, who had been working for Chinese intelligence since around July-August, primarily sought information on Al Qaeda and investigated possible Uighur activity in Afghanistan's eastern provinces. He was arrested in his apartment near Kabul on Dec. 10. Another person arrested was reportedly a woman named Sha Hung, the owner of a restaurant in Kabul, in whose residence investigators found explosives.
Sources said that Sha Hung and Li Yangyang were both associated with Haqqani. They joined other Chinese spies to disguise themselves as an offshoot of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement to recruit Uighurs opposed to the Chinese government, as an attempt to "eliminate" Uighur leaders hiding in Afghanistan with the help of terrorists. Some of the Uighurs who fled China would go to Afghanistan, and the Chinese government would also immediately detain any Uighurs entering China from Afghanistan. Sources said that Beijing had previously held secret meetings with the Taliban about the Uighurs.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec27
#Uighurs #China #Afghanistan #Espionage #Taliban #EastTurkestanIslamicMovement
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201227/KIED4CBZTRAX5GQYCHMQEPFBB4/
The Afghan intelligence department announced the recent bust of a Chinese spy team with 10 Chinese nationals arrested. At least two of them have ties with the Taliban branch "Haqqani", with weapons, ammunition, explosives and Ketamine seized from the mastermind's apartment. The Afghan government said the Chinese spies are suspected of committing espionage crimes, allegedly collecting Uighur intelligence in Afghanistan and cooperating with Pakistani spy agencies to engage in terrorist activities, and demanded an apology from the Chinese authorities.
Disguised as an East Turkistan branch to lure Uighurs into traps
The arrested Chinese spy team leader, Li YangYang, who had been working for Chinese intelligence since around July-August, primarily sought information on Al Qaeda and investigated possible Uighur activity in Afghanistan's eastern provinces. He was arrested in his apartment near Kabul on Dec. 10. Another person arrested was reportedly a woman named Sha Hung, the owner of a restaurant in Kabul, in whose residence investigators found explosives.
Sources said that Sha Hung and Li Yangyang were both associated with Haqqani. They joined other Chinese spies to disguise themselves as an offshoot of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement to recruit Uighurs opposed to the Chinese government, as an attempt to "eliminate" Uighur leaders hiding in Afghanistan with the help of terrorists. Some of the Uighurs who fled China would go to Afghanistan, and the Chinese government would also immediately detain any Uighurs entering China from Afghanistan. Sources said that Beijing had previously held secret meetings with the Taliban about the Uighurs.
Source: Apple Daily #Dec27
#Uighurs #China #Afghanistan #Espionage #Taliban #EastTurkestanIslamicMovement
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201227/KIED4CBZTRAX5GQYCHMQEPFBB4/
Ice cream shop owner stands up for Hong Kong protesters
A local ice cream shop owner is offering up her business as a space for people to support Hong Kong protesters demanding democratic reforms in their country. A "Lennon wall" was mounted at her store, where people can leave notes of encouragement for the protesters in her hometown.
Lennon walls which first appeared in Prague in 1980 as a tribute to John Lennon, have sprung up in Hong Kong and around the world in 2020, giving people spaces to share notes of encouragement and other messages with protesters
"There are many people out there that want to support Hong Kong as well. [This] was a chance for them to come together and do something tangible," the owner said.
Source: CBC #Aug06
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-ice-cream-shop-owners-stands-up-for-hong-kong-1.5236149
#YellowShopCircle #Canada #HongKonger #LennonWall #IceCream
A local ice cream shop owner is offering up her business as a space for people to support Hong Kong protesters demanding democratic reforms in their country. A "Lennon wall" was mounted at her store, where people can leave notes of encouragement for the protesters in her hometown.
Lennon walls which first appeared in Prague in 1980 as a tribute to John Lennon, have sprung up in Hong Kong and around the world in 2020, giving people spaces to share notes of encouragement and other messages with protesters
"There are many people out there that want to support Hong Kong as well. [This] was a chance for them to come together and do something tangible," the owner said.
Source: CBC #Aug06
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-ice-cream-shop-owners-stands-up-for-hong-kong-1.5236149
#YellowShopCircle #Canada #HongKonger #LennonWall #IceCream
Hong Kong residents now eligible for special UK visa
The visa, which is open to holders of a British National (Overseas) passport and their immediate dependents, will offer a fast track to UK citizenship. This scheme allows Hong Kong residents to come to the UK, with some 300,000 people expected to apply.
But the Chinese foreign ministry said it would no longer recognise the BNO passport as a travel document.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BNOs to live, work and make their home in our country. In doing so we have honoured our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and we have stood up for freedom and autonomy - values both the UK and Hong Kong hold dear."
Source: BBC #Jan30
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55847572
#BNOVisa #British #BNO #Hongkong
The visa, which is open to holders of a British National (Overseas) passport and their immediate dependents, will offer a fast track to UK citizenship. This scheme allows Hong Kong residents to come to the UK, with some 300,000 people expected to apply.
But the Chinese foreign ministry said it would no longer recognise the BNO passport as a travel document.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BNOs to live, work and make their home in our country. In doing so we have honoured our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and we have stood up for freedom and autonomy - values both the UK and Hong Kong hold dear."
Source: BBC #Jan30
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55847572
#BNOVisa #British #BNO #Hongkong
#Arrest #NationalSecurityLaw
Radio Host in Hong Kong Arrested by National Security Police for the Second time, Accused of “Acting with a Seditious Intention”
Source: Stand News #Feb7
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Radio Host in Hong Kong Arrested by National Security Police for the Second time, Accused of “Acting with a Seditious Intention”
Source: Stand News #Feb7
Read more
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#Arrest #NationalSecurityLaw
Radio Host in Hong Kong Arrested by National Security Police for the Second time, Accused of “Acting with a Seditious Intention”
In November 2020, 'Giggs' Wan Yiu-sing, a #D100Radio host, was accused by the Hong Kong police of "money laundering and providing funds in secession of the country" through organising a crowdfunding project to cover educational costs for protestors who left Hong Kong to Taiwan.
#Giggs was granted bail after the arrest. However, on Feb 7, 2021, he was arrested by the National Security Police again for the violation of section 10 of the Crimes Ordinance “act with a seditious intention”. His case has been scheduled to be trialed on Monday, Feb 8, 2021, at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.
During his arrest in November 2020, the Hong Kong police indicated that Giggs, his wife and assistant were all arrested by the National Security Department for "money laundering and providing financial help to others in secessions of the country".
Giggs organised a crowdfunding project on social media to provide financial aid to prp-democracy activists who had left Hong Kong, and provided his bank account information to collect funds. Upon further investigation, said the police, the arrest was made because they discovered the funds were "unlawfully appropriated and mishandled by the arrestees", and that the funds were going to help individuals and organisations that were involved in secession of the country.
Giggs first introduced his crowdfunding project in his radio show on Feb 22, 2020. He said, a lot of young activists were being charged because of their involvement in the Anti-ELAB movement, and some of them decided to move to Taiwan. He said, “We can’t just give them up. Hong Kongers are responsible for helping our own comrades” He also hoped not to put that responsibility on Taiwan’s shoulders. Giggs emphasised that the project was not intended to encourage, direct others to abscond or to tell activists to escape from legal responsibilities by leaving Hong Kong; but if there were any activists who had already arrived in Taiwan, he hoped to support them through the project.
Source: Stand News #Feb7
Radio Host in Hong Kong Arrested by National Security Police for the Second time, Accused of “Acting with a Seditious Intention”
In November 2020, 'Giggs' Wan Yiu-sing, a #D100Radio host, was accused by the Hong Kong police of "money laundering and providing funds in secession of the country" through organising a crowdfunding project to cover educational costs for protestors who left Hong Kong to Taiwan.
#Giggs was granted bail after the arrest. However, on Feb 7, 2021, he was arrested by the National Security Police again for the violation of section 10 of the Crimes Ordinance “act with a seditious intention”. His case has been scheduled to be trialed on Monday, Feb 8, 2021, at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts.
During his arrest in November 2020, the Hong Kong police indicated that Giggs, his wife and assistant were all arrested by the National Security Department for "money laundering and providing financial help to others in secessions of the country".
Giggs organised a crowdfunding project on social media to provide financial aid to prp-democracy activists who had left Hong Kong, and provided his bank account information to collect funds. Upon further investigation, said the police, the arrest was made because they discovered the funds were "unlawfully appropriated and mishandled by the arrestees", and that the funds were going to help individuals and organisations that were involved in secession of the country.
Giggs first introduced his crowdfunding project in his radio show on Feb 22, 2020. He said, a lot of young activists were being charged because of their involvement in the Anti-ELAB movement, and some of them decided to move to Taiwan. He said, “We can’t just give them up. Hong Kongers are responsible for helping our own comrades” He also hoped not to put that responsibility on Taiwan’s shoulders. Giggs emphasised that the project was not intended to encourage, direct others to abscond or to tell activists to escape from legal responsibilities by leaving Hong Kong; but if there were any activists who had already arrived in Taiwan, he hoped to support them through the project.
Source: Stand News #Feb7
#NeverGiveUp #FightForFreedom
#Myanmar Protesters: "Prepare for Protest Like in Hong Kong"
Into the 4th consecutive day of the nation-wide protest in Myanmar on Feb 9, 2021, the population took it to the street in opposition to the
coup d'Ă©tat staged by the military junta on Feb 1, 2021.
The demonstrators not only showed the three-fingered salute as popularized in the protests in Thailand, but also mobilized the crowd like Hongkongers did. Civilians also held sign that read "Prepare for Protest Like in Hong Kong".
Source: Stand News
Photos: STR/AFP via Getty Images; SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images
https://www.facebook.com/710476795704610/posts/3883066828445575/?d=n
#MilkTeaAlliance #ThreeFingerSalute #HongKongProtests #GlobalImpacts
#Myanmar Protesters: "Prepare for Protest Like in Hong Kong"
Into the 4th consecutive day of the nation-wide protest in Myanmar on Feb 9, 2021, the population took it to the street in opposition to the
coup d'Ă©tat staged by the military junta on Feb 1, 2021.
The demonstrators not only showed the three-fingered salute as popularized in the protests in Thailand, but also mobilized the crowd like Hongkongers did. Civilians also held sign that read "Prepare for Protest Like in Hong Kong".
Source: Stand News
Photos: STR/AFP via Getty Images; SAI AUNG MAIN/AFP via Getty Images
https://www.facebook.com/710476795704610/posts/3883066828445575/?d=n
#MilkTeaAlliance #ThreeFingerSalute #HongKongProtests #GlobalImpacts