#UniversalTesting #BigData #Poll
Only 20.9% Willing to Join COVID-19 Test Carried out by Chinese Company in Hong Kong

The HKSAR Government has commissioned the China-owned Beijing Genomics Institute (#BGI) to conduct universal COVID-19 tests in Hong Kong.

In a telephone survey conducted by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies at Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK), only 20.9% of the respondents said they would participate in the scheme while 55.4% refused to be tested. Similarly, 53.8% of the respondents considered it "unnecessary" and "very unnecessary" to take part in the government's scheme. This leaves only 35.8% who found it "needed" and "very needed" to be tested.

Regarding the government's performance in controlling the pandemic, 62.5% of the respondents rated "quite bad" and "very bad", marking an increase of 6.5 percent from the same series of surveys conducted in June 2020.

Source: Stand News #Aug31

https://www.facebook.com/standnewshk/posts/3412588718826724

#PublicOpinion

#BigData #MassSurveillance #CyberSecurity
China's Alipay Enters Hong Kong Schools, Worry Over the Collection Personal Data by China

Source: CUPID News; Apple Daily #Aug31

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#BigData #MassSurveillance #CyberSecurity
China's Alipay Enters Hong Kong Schools, Worry Over the Collection Personal Data by China

Under the menace of the new coronvirus, "virtual classroom" will be adopted in all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong in the new term.

Meanwhile, it is reported that more than 20 schools have switched to China-owned Alipay to handle fees. Parents and students expressed worries over Alipay infiltration on campus.

According to a student from the Chinese Christian Church Cheun Chun Middle School, the school in mid-August suddenly issued a notice through the its online platform, informing parents that they will have to pay by Alipay, instead of the previously used Hong Kong's Octopus system. In other words, parents are forced to install thd apps and open an Alipay account on or before August 31.

When downloading the App and signing up for an account, the user's mobile phone status and identification code will be accessed, and the user's identity may be tracked through the identification code.

Source: CUPID News; Apple Daily #Aug31

#Alipay #CCPControl

#GoHKInterview #FirstHand #31Aug2020
#Interview With an American Man Living in Hong Kong : "It's not Hong Kong anymore. We're run by a dictatorship"

J (alias) comes from the United States and has been living in Hong Kong since four years ago.

On the evening of 31 August 2020, J was violently shoved by the Hong Kong police out of the shopping mall Pioneer Centre.

Watch the video: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24762

In the interview, J recounted the police violence he witnessed and shared his views on living in Hong Kong before and after 2019.

Read the Full Interview Here:

telegra.ph/Interview-With-an-American-Man-Living-in-Hong-Kong--Its-not-Hong-Kong-anymore-Were-run-by-a-dictatorship-09-04

#Expats #US

#Czech
Wang Yi Warns Czech will Pay Heavy Price for Taiwan Visit
Hopes Europe Will Help Resolve China and the US Tension

Source: Stand News #Aug31

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#Czech
Wang Yi Warns Czech Will Pay Heavy Price for Taiwan Visit
Hopes Europe Will Help Resolve China and the US Tension

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, visiting Europe, hopes that France and other European countries will help ease the tension between China and the United States. In response to Taiwan visit of the delegation of the Czech senate president, Wang reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. Anyone challenging the one-China principle is making themselves enemies of 1.4 billion Chinese people and will pay a heavy price for their moves.

In a speech on Sunday (Aug 30) at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), Wang said that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century; the threat of the pandemic has not receded; the global economy is in a deep recession. In order to face the waves of unemployment, bankruptcies, broken links and so on, Wang called for China and Europe to unite against the disruption of the world.

He said that China is against any conspiracy of the new cold war and firmly defends multilateralism. Unilateralist and bullying acts have been intensified and posed the biggest challenge to the multilateralism. He urged Europe against unilateralism and bullying acts to prevent the return of politics power. He continued that decoupling from China, a huge and the most dynamic market, meant to disconnect opportunities.

However, when Wang was asked about the tension between China and the US, he hoped France and other European countries assisting in meditation, added that the door of dialogue with Washington is always open. He believed to reach consensus if they could have a serious talk. He emphasised that China always insists peaceful development and oppose confrontation; even some radical forces in the US intend to provoke disputes.

Source: Stand News #Aug31
#Taiwan #China #WangYi #Europe #France

Calls mount, frustration grows over Trudeau’s promise to help Hong Kong

After launching the first series of actions aimed at supporting the people of Hong Kong, neither Trudeau nor his government has made any new pronouncements on Hong Kong despite the worsening situation in the area, causing frustrations from activists, human-rights groups and others.

That stands in contrast to Britain and Australia, both of which have announced some measures to make it easier for people to leave Hong Kong and make new lives in those two countries.

Source: The Star #Aug31

https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/08/31/calls-mount-frustration-grows-over-trudeaus-promise-to-help-hong-kong.html

#Canada #Sanctions #Britain #Australia #HumanRights #Trudeau

#Solidarity
Hongkongers in Toronto Present Flowers at Prince Edward MTR Display in Memory of 8.31 Attack; Frontliner Shares Experiences of Protests, Encourages Supporters to Remain United

On August 31, 2021, Hongkongers gathered at Mel Lastman Square in Toronto, Canada to commemorate the #831PrinceEdwardAttack, which took place two years ago in Hong Kong.

The event was organized by Canada-Hong Kong Link (#CHKL), who had decorated a nearby wall to resemble an exit of Hong Kong's Prince Edward MTR station, and attendees presented flowers in memory of the terrifying attack by riot police officers against passengers inside the station that evening two years ago.

Also on display is a replica of a banner sign held up by a first-aider during the attack, demanding police to respect the humanitarian right for the injured to receive medical attention.

Videos of the first-aider pleading in tears with police - and the police ignoring him through locked gates - was among many that had gone viral on the night of the attack, stoking the city's anger against the escalating police brutality.

This video and others taken during the attack was also shown at the rally, as well as interviews with victims of the attack. CHKL president #GloriaFung said that they want to remind attendees of what happened in Hong Kong that night; more importantly, "We want to show all Hongkongers that we have never forgotten Hong Kong, and we will never give up speaking up for Hong Kong on the international stage."

In preparation for the upcoming Canadian federal election this month, CHKL had also organized a nationwide survey on foreign policy and national security issues, particularly towards China. The results is set to be announced next week, and Fung expects it to send a clear message to all political parties of the concerns shared among Canadian Hongkongers, as well as other groups under the persecution of the Chinese Communist Party.

Also speaking at the meeting was Hei, A frontline protester who had moved to Canada, shared stories of his experience in the protests. He said that he felt unity in the city that he never felt before, even though he was a construction worker and assumed that he belonged to the lower class of society.

"That year was when I began to really identify with the label 'Hongkonger'," he said. "Hongkongers are actually still full of love, especially since the events of 2019; we care very much about the people around us."

Since the regime crushed the protests, however, Hei felt that the peaceful protesters thought the frontliners had gone missing. He hoped that they are not forgotten, even though they're no longer in the spotlight. "I hope all organizations and supporters of the movement can remain united," he said.

The title "frontliner" is sometimes a glorification, he says, but more often it's a responsibility. "This responsibility follows us for the rest of our lives," he says, "because we'll always be Hongkongers. We'll always stand in the frontline for all Hong Kong."

Photos: netizens
Full video of the rally: https://www.facebook.com/CHKLink/videos/457215711939067

#Aug31 #831PrinceEdward #PoliceBrutality #hkdarkage #speakup4hk #831hk

#Interview #Hongkonger
#Frontliner in Hong Kong Protest Speaks Up in #Canada:
"Don't forget the frontliners even though they're no longer in the spotlight"


Photo: Netizen #Aug31

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#Interview #Hongkonger
#Frontliner in Hong Kong Protest Speaks Up in #Canada: "Don't forget the frontliners even though they're no longer in the spotlight"

Part 1

On August 31, 2021, many Hongkongers assembled in a rally in Toronto, Canada, commemorating the police brutality victims of the 8.31 Prince Edward Station Attack by the police during the 2019 #AntiELAB movement.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30945

At the rally, Hei, a frontliner who fled Hong Kong in 2020, shared his experiences and thoughts of his part in the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

"The 2019 Anti-ELAB movement happened very suddenly. Hongkongers did not learn how to protest when growing up," Hei said. "We the younger generation, in particular, were not taught about protests in school. Hong Kong did not have any violent protests before. Hongkongers are actually still full of love, especially after the events of 2019; we care very much about the people around us."

After all, the pro-democracy movement reflects Hongkongers' belonging to the city. Hei is one of them. "That year was also when I began to really identify with the name 'Hongkonger''," Hei recounted.

"Before that, I didn't really feel a sense of belonging, or feel any 'Hong Kong spirit' that was often mentioned on TV. Hong Kong people were all strangers going to school or work; we would never say hello."

"I couldn't represent all frontliners, though I could say that I had barely missed any protests in 2019," Hei looked back and said. "I was on Lion Rock. I went to the airport. Before the movement, I never thought going on a hike could be so meaningful."

Yet, the authorities' crackdown on pro-democracy protesters never stop. "Many of us, the frontliners who went on the streets over these 2 years, are now in prison," Hei said.

"Some escaped police and are have returned to their studies or work. Some have moved away from Hong Kong. Many peaceful-nonviolent protesters seem to think we've gone missing, and now pay attention only to political commentators, many of whom I don't know."

Hei urged Hongkongers not to forget why frontliners have to go into hiding, whether they want it or not. "Although we're no longer in the spotlight, I hope you haven't forgotten about us. Some of us are even sitting here right next to you. We had all been frontliners."

Photo: Netizens #Aug31

Full video of the rally: https://www.facebook.com/CHKLink/videos/457215711939067

#Aug31 #831PrinceEdward #PoliceBrutality #hkdarkage #speakup4hk #831hk

Part 2 coming up next

#Interview #Part2
Hong Kong Protester Recalls #Hongkongers' Kindness during Pro-democracy Movement

Hei is a frontliner in Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. He fled the city in 2020 and in Canada he shared his past experiences in a rally, commemorating the police brutality victims of the 8.31 Prince Edward Station Attack.

Read Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30959

"Sometimes when I'm working and helping people move house, I see posters of protesters in full gear; they looked just like me'," Hei said. All these bring back his memories of 2019.

"I actually didn't wear helmets very often; in later protests, I didn't even bring my gas mask. Many things go through my mind when I see images like this, some happy, some not so much."

After an emotional moment, Hei asked the rally participants, "If the fight for Hong Kong comes to us here one day, and us frontliners come out again to stand against injustice, will you still support us?"

At this time, the audience responded with loud clapping.

Inspired by the conscience of his coworker, Hei put his construction skills to use in protests.

Hei asked his audience again, "Do people here feel that construction workers are uneducated, or that their job is undesirable? When I was young, I thought that way. When I became a construction worker myself, I thought I would never let students block police batons for us, or leave it to them to fight against a totalitarian regime for the rights and freedom of people like me."

"I want to say that Hong Kong protesters included many students and white-collars, of course. But there are also blue-collar workers, such as construction workers like me, people who build bamboo scaffolding for a living."

"I was at the Chinede University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) during the siege, and helped build bamboo barricades at the No. 2 Bridge. [Editor's notes: Hong Kong Police fired over 1000 rounds of tear gas at protesters at this bridge in one night while attempting to breach into the campus] Where did the bamboo come from? They're from a kind-hearted scaffolding company who dropped off a truckload of bamboo at the campus, saying 'oh, we suddenly didn't need these anymore; we'll just leave these here.' We carried the bamboo from the front gate all the way over to No. 2 Bridge."

Hei then traced back to the moment he started to care about Hong Kong affairs, "The first protest I attended was June 16, 2019 - the '2 million plus one' march. The one who brought me was another construction worker. He didn't do very well in school, his jokes are crass, but he was a man with a conscience. He talked about how Hong Kong had been bullied every day by the Chinese regime, and even though I didn't care about politics at the time, he made me aware of these issues."

Photo: Netizens #Aug31

Full video of the rally: https://www.facebook.com/CHKLink/videos/457215711939067

#831PrinceEdward #PoliceBrutality #hkdarkage #speakup4hk #831hk

Part 3 coming up next

#Interview #Hongkongers
The name '#frontliner' is a responsibility, because we'll always stand in front of all Hongkongers: Self-Exiled Protester Supports himself with work in #Canada

Photo: Netizens #Aug31

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#Interview #Hongkongers
The name '#frontliner' is a responsibility, because we'll always stand in front of all Hongkongers: Self-Exiled Protester Supports himself with work in #Canada

Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30959

Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30969

At a rally held on August 31, 2021 in Toronto, Canada, Hei, a frontliner who fled Hong Kong in 2020, reflected on his experiences in the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30945

Hei told the rally participants, "Here in Canada, I hope you can take an extra step. Come out for demonstrations more often. Tell people around you, Chinese or otherwise, about what happened during those years, and Hong Kong's situation now."

Hei, self-exiled, talked about his diasporic experience in Canada, "Here in Toronto, I've worked for over 30 moving companies. All of them had Chinese owners. People kept telling me to be careful not to say so much about Hong Kong, but I can't. Those who know me know that I speak very frankly. When people ask where I'm from, I would always say: I'm a Hongkonger, I'm from Hong Kong."

"The next question they usually ask is: 'Did you get paid to go protesting?' I usually reply jokingly, 'I've been out dozens of times, and those 'foreign influences' still haven't paid me a single dime. Where are they anyway?'"

Hei also reminded all supporters of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, "Take care of your wallets; there are non-profits who had been raising money to support arrested protesters and pay for court fees. I think these are reasonable; please support them. You could always ask them where the money is going, and who it's helping. They can tell you."

"As for me, I don't need donations; I want job opportunities. If you need help moving, call me, or any of our frontliners who are here; we're all hard workers," Hei, though new to Canada, shows his perseverance in sustaining himself.

"All frontliners I've met are like this. They're all earning a living with their own hands; they live with their heads held high. These are our real brothers and sisters."

Hei also called for solidarity, which is something essential to fight against the united front. "I hope all organizations and supporters of the movement can remain united. Our opponent, Communist China, has incredible resources. We must use our own resources wisely."

Hei advised, "Also, equip yourselves, exercise and stay fit, work hard to survive and make a living. You have to be able to take care of yourself before you can take care of others."

Hei concluded, "The name 'frontliner' is sometimes a glorification, but more often it's a responsibility. This responsibility follows us for the rest of our lives, because we'll always be a Hongkonger. We'll always stand in front of all HongKongers."

Photo: Netizens #Aug31

Full video of the rally: https://www.facebook.com/CHKLink/videos/457215711939067

#Aug31 #831PrinceEdward #PoliceBrutality #hkdarkage #speakup4hk #831hk

China culture crackdown a sign of 'profound' political change - commentary

China's crackdown on celebrity culture and its moves to rein in giant internet firms are a sign of "profound" political changes under way in the country, a prominent blogger said in a post widely circulated across state media.

The Chinese government has recently taken action against what it has described as "chaotic" online fan club culture, and has also punished celebrities for tax evasion and other offences.

In a wide-ranging series of interventions in the economy, it has also promised to tackle inequality, "excessively high" incomes, soaring property prices and profit-seeking education institutions.

Source: Reuters #Aug31

https://reut.rs/2WvtGMV

#China #Crackdown #Profound #Chaotic

The 1st Female Reporter Interviewing Taliban has Fled from Afghanistan, "Fear the Taliban as the people are"

Source: Stand News #Aug31

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