#Poll #PublicOpinion #LegCoElection
Results From HKPORI Shows Polarised Views Regarding Delaying LegCo Elections

Source: InMedia #Jul30

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/23955

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#Poll #PublicOpinion #LegCoElection
Results From HKPORI Shows Polarised Views Regarding Delaying LegCo Elections

The Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (HKPORI) interviewed 9,092 random individuals with online questionnaires between 27 July and 30 July. 73% of pro-democracy interviewees believed that the elections should resume as usual, while 53% of non pro-democracy interviewees believed that the elections should be delayed.

Eric Lai, member of the Election Observation Project, criticised that the government did not do its best at fighting the pandemic, such as not restricting requirements for quarantine exemption, stating that choosing to delay the elections now as clearly a "political decision".

Lai stated that delaying the election would severely damage the fairness of the elections, as it amounts to giving the government and the pro-Beijing camp amnesty. He further stated that ridding citizens of their political privileges would only widen the schism between different camps in society instead of narrowing it.

12 pro-democracy candidates were disqualified from the Legislative Council Elections last Thursday (30 July). Lai feared that more disqualifications would come, with the government continuously using political maneuverings to rid it of "unfavourable candidates", thereby weakening the reason for a democratic election. He stated that even if elections were to be held in the future, they would only be "fake elections without competition [from the opposite camp]"

Lai also believed that the government may continue to weaken the civic society in the following year, such as enacting laws restricting freedom of the press.

Chung Kim-wah, vice Chief Executive Officer of HKPORI, also criticised the disqualifications, calling the power to disqualify an "unauthorised power" ignoring the legal basis of the Basic Law. "Those aren't objective standards: Hong Kong Independence and having been to the USA warrants a disqualification; vetoing a government motion as is their function or not sincerely servicing the government also warrants a disqualification." He stated that no matter the government disqualifies opposition candidates or delays the election, those are "brutal" political maneuverings that seriously decays Hongkongers' political rights, as it only takes a word of distrust from a Returning Officer to disqualify a candidate.

Source: InMedia #Jul30

#US #Taiwan
U.S. Congressman introduced "Taiwan Invasion Prevention Act" to authorize military defence against a Chinese invasion, citing blatant intentions

Source: Stand News #Jul30

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#AcademicFreedom #WhiteTerror #Academia #University

The End of Academic Freedom in Hong Kong: Purge of Educators and Scholars

Law professor Benny Tai was fired from the University of Hong Kong while social worker Bottle Shiu’s contract was not renewed by Hong Kong Baptist University.

Source: Stand News #Jul27 #Jul28, (https://bit.ly/2EQiAZr ; https://bit.ly/30ulyLK)

Related article:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/23814

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Dr. Ip Iam-chong, assistant professsor in Cultural Studies at Hong Kong Lingnan University and founder of InMediaHK, was rejected in his professorship substantiation. His employment was reduced to a one-year contract.

Source: Ming Pao #Aug2 ; Stand News #Aug3

Related Article:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24020

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An American professor's contract was not renewed.

Source: InMedia #Jul18

Related article:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/23749

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Po Kok Primary School teacher Mok Tak-wai was forced to copy and sign a pre-written resignation letter while awaiting trial relating to the Anti-ELAB movement.

Source: Apple Daily #Jul30

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Further reading:
Teacher shot in the eye during demonstration did not get his contract renewed by school
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22640

School principal resigned amidst white terror and growing political oppression
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22755

Teacher who created political cartoon fired
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/23763

#Taiwan #China #Seeds
Unknown Origin! Mysterious Packages Transhipped Through Taiwan, Chunghwa Post Clarifies

Following recent reports of people in the US, the UK and Taiwan receiving mysterious packages of seeds and soil, news on similar incidents in Canada have also surfaced. The Canadian police tweeted, “If you receive an unsolicited shipment of foreign seeds in the mail from China or Taiwan DO NOT plant or dispose of them. Call the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ... Unsolicited seeds could be invasive & threaten our environment.”

The photo showed a package of seeds of unknown origin labelled with the texts "Taiwan Free Zone”.

Chunghwa Post clarified that the packages were transhipments from outside of Taiwan, and subsequently shipped to its destination through the Taiwanese post. Chunghwa Post said that the logistics company would be fined NT$100,000 for violating mailing regulations. The company has stated that it would terminate its contract with their sending client, but refused to confirm whether the packages came from China as it involved trade secret.

Chunghwa Post emphasized that this violation was the first of its kind. It said that it would request the logistics company to make a genuine declaration for the transhipped packages and strengthen inspection efforts at customs.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/1246772398777670/posts/3111967562258135/ #Jul30

#LegCoElection #DQ #FailedState
When the Hong Kong SAR Government Disqualify 12 Pro-democracy Candidates, They Deny At Least 169,304 Votes from Hongkongers

Out of the 12 candidates being barred from running for election, 9 of them had joined and won the primary election organized by the pro-democracy camp on July 11 and 12, 2020:

Hong Kong Island:
- Tiffany Yuen (19,844 votes)
- Fergus Leung (14,743 votes)
-Tat Cheng (11,090 votes)

Kowloon East:
- Joshua Wong (31,398 votes)

New Territories West:
- Kwok Ka-ki (13,354 votes)

New Territories East:
- Gwyneth Ho (26,802 votes)
- Ventus Lau (26,707 votes)
- Alvin Yeung (25,366 votes)

District Council (Second):
- Lester Shum (129,074 votes)

Adding up together, these 169,304 votes obtained by these 9 candidates in the democratic primary are the will of the people of Hong Kong.

Editor's note: The Carrie Lam government delayed the Legislative Election by a year to Sept 5, 2021.

Source: Tuen Mun Community Network; Cheung Ho-sum #Jul30

#BREAKING
Hong Kong #Court Sentences First #NationalSecurityLaw Convict #TongYingKit to 9 years in Jail

The first National Security Law case against 24-year-old Hongkonger Tong Ying-Kit resulted in a conviction on "inciting secession" and "terrorism", after a trial without jury.

He has been remanded for more than year since July 1, 2020, with no bail. It was one day after the National Security Law was forcefully imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong on June 30.

The court on July 30, 2021 sentenced him to 9 years in jail.

Source: Stand News #Jul30

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Read more:

Is National Security Law Turning Hong Kong Into a Launchpad for China's #LegalTerrorism?

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22449

First #NSL Case in Hong Kong: Prosecution Cites Chinese Law Books to Assist Judge's Sentencing

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30651

Pleading for the First #NationalSecurityLaw Conviction -- Hongkonger Raises Sign in Silence: "If there is no jury, does #CommonLaw still exist?"

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30649

Nobel Prize winners say China tried to 'bully' scientists into disinviting Dalai Lama from meeting

More than 100 Nobel laureates are expressing outrage over what they say was an attempt by the Chinese government to "bully the scientific community" earlier this year by seeking to censor two Nobel laureates during the Nobel Prize Summit in April held by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and the Nobel Foundation.

They say the Chinese Embassy in Washington demanded that the summit disinvite two speakers, the Dalai Lama and the Taiwanese chemist Yuan T. Lee — both Nobel Prize winners who have criticized Chinese policy regarding their native lands.

After they rejected the Chinese demands, the Nobel laureates allege, a video transmission during the session was disrupted "by a presumed cyberattack," though they are not able to attribute it to China.

Source: NBC #Jul30

https://nbcnews.to/3i8hucS

#Nobel #Prize #China

Lawyers say China using Interpol to seek dissident’s return

Attorneys are asking the Biden administration to release from immigration custody a Chinese democracy advocate who could be deported to his homeland to face what they say are false charges — despite the lack of an extradition treaty between the United States and China.

Human rights advocates say this is one of a handful of cases in which China has used the Interpol “red notice” system to try to force the return of dissidents from the United States. Under the red notice system, a member country of the international police consortium can ask other countries to arrest and return fugitives living abroad. It’s not clear how often, if ever, this tactic has resulted in the U.S. turning over detainees to Chinese authorities.

Source: AP News #Jul30

https://apnews.com/article/6463bf3d26c5a4ed3b799e83116edc45

#UnitedStates #China #Biden #RedNotice

#Court #PoliceState
HK Police Forbids Civilians from Seeing Sentenced Pro-democracy Protester Off

Hong Kong's first trial under #NationalSecurityLaw was concluded on July 30, 2021 without jury.

The Court found pro-democracy protester #TongYingKit guilty for “inciting secession” and “terrorism”.

Tong was arrested on July 1, 2020, after he drove his motorcycle around a Hong Kong neighborhood with a banner that bore the prominent protest slogan, “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times”. The motorcycle later collided with police officers who tried to stop him, injuring three.

Tong was the first person charged under the national security law and he was sentenced for 9-year imprisonment.

Around 50 of Tong’s supporters waited outside the High Court where Tong was being trialed and nearby shopping mall in a bid to show appreciation to Tong and see him off.

Without compassion, the police, dispersed citizens at the scene, saying “we won’t let you see him off. Piss off.” Pushing citizens to leave the scene, some shouted, “move forward and leave.”

Soon afterwards, the police cordon was set up forbidding citizens to gather and take photograph. In the end, around six pieces of handbills were left on the ground that wrote, “24-year-old Tong Yin-kit. God bless good man. Wish you peace and be safe.”

In a nearby tram station, police were seen intercepting tens of citizens, who were searched without apparent reasons and their ID being recorded.

#PoliticalSuppression #Injustice

Source: InMedia; #Jul30
https://bit.ly/3j7OdOV

#PoliticalSuppression
First Hongkonger Found Guilty of National Security Violation Encourage Fellow Citizens to Stay Strong

24-year-old pro-democracy #TongYingKit was the first Hongkonger found guilty under the #NationalSecurityLaw.

Tong was sentenced for 9-year imprisonment on July 30, 2021.

Through his representing barrister #LauWaiChung, Tong told HongKongers to stay strong and carry on their fight, “Time travels fast. Hold on to your good self. I hope you will be as good as Hong Kong athletes' spirits.”

When being asked whether Tong will appeal, Lau declined to reply.

Source: InMedia; #Jul30
https://bit.ly/3lbOWRN

#PoliticalPrisoner #PoliceState #Prison

#Hongkongers
Pro-democracy Citizen vows: I will be among the last ones to leave Hong Kong

Source: InMedia #Jul30

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#Hongkongers #Court
Pro-democracy Citizen vows: I will be among the last ones to leave Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, the first case of the #NationalSecurityLaw was trialed without jury but judges appointed by the authorities in late July, 2021. The Court put 24-year-old #TongYingKit behind bars for 9 years for "inciting secession and committing terrorist activities".

Disappointed by a trial without jury, some citizens found it still a “fortunate case” with a so-called “lenient” sentence term as many are anticipating a prison term for no less than 10 years.

Tong’s supporters said their support will continue, no matter how long it will be.

Outside the courtroom, around 50 citizens gathered to see Tong off. Among them, Jason said he couldn’t enter the viewing gallery to hear the trial, although he came half an hour earlier to queue for tickets.

Jason told reporters that although he has a Thai heritage which gives him a natural “exit plan” to leave Hong Kong at any time he wants, he finds root in Hong Kong. “I will be among the last ones to leave this city.”

Looking around at other supporters of Tong Ying-kit, Jason said he still has hope for Hong Kong, “some people might think I am naïve, but I see solidarity among pro-democracy supporters and there remains hope for Hong Kong.”

In the past two years, Jason has been following up on court cases and supporting those pro-democracy protesters being arrested and trialed. He refuted the rumors on social media that there were only few supporters in the court room to show support to every protester.

Jason claimed that he will not give up but live his life to witness the change. He asked HongKongers to hang on and support each other, “In this losing battle, what's better than supporting each other till the end?”

Source: InMedia; #Jul30
https://bit.ly/2WD0lQj

#Conviction #HongKongProtest #Hope