#China #Education
Chinese Congress Delegate Suggests Cancelling English Classes in Mainland Schools

The 4th session of the 13th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (#CPPCC) opens in Beijing. Before the opening, many delegates spoke to mainland press about potential topics to be discussed. Among them is Xu Jin, Central Committee Member of the elite-ran Jiusan Society, who propose to remove English as a core subject for Chinese students.

“Students and parents have spent much time and effort in order to learn English. However, as our society and economy becomes more developed, does English really matter that much?” he said.

According to his research, he said, computer tools can provide translations for multiple languages, and is already sufficient for everyday usage. He believes with such translation tools that “match university standards,” translation will be one of the first occupations to die out in the age of artificial intelligence.

Source: Apple Daily #Mar5
#TranslateServerError

#CCP #Chinazi
Danish politician admits fear of personal safety, alleging threats from CCP

Source: Stand News; #Mar6

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#CCP #Chinazi
Danish politician admits fear of personal safety, alleging threats from CCP

Ted Hui, a prominent pro-democracy lawmaker in Hong Kong, who was heavily involved in the anti-ELAB movement went into an exile in the UK in December 2020. Several Danish politicians reportedly offered Hui their assistance. Among them was Anders Storgaard, ex-chairman of the Danish Conservative Youth Committee.

On March 6, Storgaard wrote on his Facebook, stating that a month ago, he received a phone call from local police in Denmark. The officer reminded him that if he is going to leave Denmark in the future, he should first coordinate with Danish intelligence agencies.

Storgaard admitted that he was startled to learn that his personal safety is in danger and he felt his body tremble when hearing the news.

Storgaard expressed that he enjoys international political affairs which brought to him unique experiences like involvement in Turkish hegemonism. However, owing to safety concern, he has to withdraw from most of these involvement.

Although Storgaard did not mention that the threat was coming from the CCP in China, he did pointed out that threats are means commonly deployed to silence dissidents in China. Storgaard stressed that it is wrong to think that he would be silenced.

He further elaborated that his sacrifice is insignificant compared to the young protesters in Hong Kong who risked their lives for democracy. He felt no regrets.

Source: Stand News; #Mar6

[Change of Term at Hong Kong Bar Association] Interviews with Philip John Dykes, Anita Yip and Eric Shum: What Kind of Future Does Hong Kong Face Under the National Security Law?

The Bar Association will have a change of term tomorrow (21st), with 67-year-old Philip John Dykes, SC, having served two terms as President of the Association and being expected to step down from his position this year, as required by the Association's charter. Paul Harris, a senior barrister and founding chairman of the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, is expected to take over unopposed.

Source: Stand News #Jan20

#Future #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw

https://telegra.ph/Change-of-Term-at-Hong-Kong-Bar-Association-Interviews-with-Philip-John-Dykes-Anita-Yip-and-Eric-Shum-What-Kind-of-Future-Does-H-03-09

The 1st death case after vaccination in Hong Kong was recorded on 28/2, but the Hospital Authority held a press briefing 3 days after the incident.

#COVID19 #SinovacBiotech #Vaccine #HospitalAuthority #GoHKgraohics

US moves to support Australian push to tackle China's 'human and labour rights abuses'

Since Australia’s existing laws against modern slavery are not strong enough, the U.S. offered qualified support for a new Australian bill to ban imports from the Xinjiang region.
The bill, proposed by the South Australian independent senator Rex Patrick, would prohibit the importation into Australia of goods from Xinjiang province “as well as goods from other parts of China that are produced by using forced labour”.

In Jan, the Australian government said “closely monitoring” the actions other countries were taking, as the United Kingdom and Canada also rolled out new actions targeting imports from Xinjiang.

Source: The Guardian #Feb22

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/23/us-moves-to-support-australian-push-to-tackle-chinas-human-and-labour-rights-abuses?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

#Xinjiang #Australia #ChinaForceLabour #China

U.S. Blacklisted China’s Xiaomi Because of Award Given to Its Founder

In a legal filing, the U.S. Department of Defense to blacklist Chinese company with military ties, Xiamo due to an award given to the company’s founder for his service to the state/

Lei Jun, the chief executive officer and founder of Xiaomi, received the award of “Outstanding Builder of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” in 2019 from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
he award was enough for the Defense Department in January to add Xiaomi to a list of companies that support China’s military.

The second reason cited by the Defense Department was Xiaomi’s plans to invest 50 billion yuan, equivalent to $7.7 billion, over five years into 5G technology and artificial intelligence.

Source: WSJ #Mar05

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-blacklisted-chinas-xiaomi-because-of-award-given-to-its-founder-11614947281

#USBlacklistChineseCompany #Xiaomi #USBlacklist #China

#ChineseVaccine
Significant drop in bookings following first death after receiving Chinese vaccine

Since the first case of death after receiving the China-made #Sinovac vaccine, vaccination centers have seen a significant drop in bookings.

Samuel Kwok Po-yin, medical director of Kwai Chung COVID vaccination center where the deceased man was vaccinated, had this to say:

“Our job is to administer the vaccine and make sure it is injected at the correct site. But as for consultation or medical diagnosis, our center is not responsible for that. The recipients are responsible for their own medical condition. They know their own body best."

Source: Facebook@onaclearday903, #Mar4

#FirstHand #Court
"Break free from fate!" District councillor had bail revoked, but exhorts Hongkongers to fight on

#47Democrats #YNWA

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"Break free from fate!" District councillor had bail revoked, but exhorts Hongkongers to fight on

Yuen Long district councillor Ng Kin-wai, one of the 47 charged under national security law for taking part in last year's primary election, had his bail revoked today after the Department of Justice's appeal. Members of Tin Shui Wai Connection, of which he is the convener, attended the court hearing and spoke to media afterwards.

Fellow #TSWConnection member Lam Chun recounted that Ng had remained strong throughout the difficult time in custody. "Even though he may be facing a very long jail term," Lam said, "he hopes to see Hongkongers continue to stand up for their beliefs."

When Ng heard the judge revoking his bail, he called out to the citizens in attendance: "Stay strong, everyone! See you in 10 years!" He also shouted the group's slogans in call-and-answer fashion, to roaring replies from their members in attendance: "May my life be purified for the defense of our city!" "Citizens saving ourselves; break free from fate!"

Lam felt that these slogans aptly describe the path they had walked in this past year and a half. He urged Hongkongers to continue to pay attention to the court cases, both for the 47 and for activists arrested in other cases, so that none of them would feel left behind.

#FirstHand #Mar11 #Court #YNWA

#Index #EconomicFreedom
HK kicked from the world's freest economies league table

For more than two decades, Hong Kong occupied the top position in the Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom at a high score of 89.1. The Washington-based foundation expelled Hong Kong from the top list, saying the city no longer has autonomy over its economic policies.

Hong Kong is included in China's ranking, way down the league table in 107th place. Macau is also now included with the rest of China.

"No doubt both Hong Kong and Macau, as special administrative regions, enjoy economic policies that in many respects offer their citizens more economic freedom than is available to the average citizen of China," the foundation said. "But developments in recent years have demonstrated unambiguously that those policies are ultimately controlled from Beijing."

"China remains a mostly unfree economy," said the foundation in its report.

Source: Apple Daily, RTHK; #Mar4
https://bit.ly/2O0nXu7

Pompeo Lifts All Self-Imposed Restrictions Against US-Taiwan Relations

Sources: StandNews #Jan10

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Pompeo Lifts All Self-Imposed Restrictions Against US-Taiwan Relations

Michael Pompeo, Secretary of State of the US, said in a statement that for decades, the Department of State had created complex self-limiting measures in US-Taiwan relation to regulate the interactions between Taiwan and the US diplomats and government officials. He also said that this is a unilateral action, aiming to please the Beijing Government.

“Today, I am announcing to lift all of these self-imposed restrictions. The administration department should invalidate all contact guidelines with Taiwan issued by the Department of State.” According to the Taiwan Relations Act, the America Institute in Taiwan, a non-profit making organisation, should manage the relationship between the US administration department and Taiwan.

Pompeo added that Taiwan is one of the US government unofficial partners from the globe, describing that the democratic system of the US and Taiwan jointly supports personal freedom, the rule of law, respect for individual dignity and other values. He suggested that the statement is to confirm that US-Taiwan relations is non-essential, nor being tied up by the longstanding bureaucracy and self-imposed restrictions.

#MichaelPompeo #MikePompeo #USDiplomacy #US #Taiwan #DepartmentOfState #USTaiwanRelations #China

Sources: StandNews #Jan10

https://bit.ly/3t3nPsx

U.S., Canada hail Taiwan's 'freedom pineapples' after Chinese ban

On March 2, the de facto U.S. and Canadian embassies in Taiwan praised the quality of pineapples grown on the island, depicting photographs of their top diplomats in Taipei with the fruit after an import ban by China.

China announced end of Jan to stop importing Taiwanese pineapples and cite “harmful creatures” coming with the fruit.

Infuriated Taiwanese authorities called the ban a political move to further pressure the island, a charge that China denied.

While neither the United States nor Canada, like most countries, have formal diplomatic ties with the Chinese-claimed island, both have their own disputes with Beijing over human rights, trade and other issues.

Source: Reuters #Mar02

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-china-pineapple/u-s-canada-hail-taiwans-freedom-pineapples-after-chinese-ban-idUSKCN2AU1DD

#Taiwan #TradeWithChina #BanImportPineapple #US #Canada

U.S. doubles down on protecting university research from China

A U.S. national security commission is recommending that American universities take steps to prevent sensitive technology from being stolen by the Chinese military, a sign of growing concerns over the security of academic research.

The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) released a report on 26 Feb added a new section on university research to the final report, which also features numerous recommendations in areas including competition in artificial intelligence and the semiconductor supply chain.

Former Google Chairman Eric Schmidt said, ‘we did a great deal of research in looking at where China was, and they have a massive investment in this area with many, many, many smart people working on it.’

Source: Reuters #Mar01

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-universities/u-s-doubles-down-on-protecting-university-research-from-china-idUSKCN2AT0WB

#US #UniversityResearch #China #NSCAI

Canadian MPs call for sanctions against Chinese officials behind Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong

An all-party parliamentary committee studying how Canada should respond Beijing’s crackdown on civil rights in Hong Kong is urging the federal government to work with allies in slapping sanctions on the Chinese officials responsible.

That’s a challenge to the Chinese Communist Party, which controls the nominations for the top political post in Hong Kong and has begun barring pro-democracy politicians from seeking office.

In reference to warnings of Chinese state interference in Canada, the report also urges Ottawa to start scrutinizing the activities of China’s diplomats here.

Source: The Global and Mail #Feb25

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canadian-mps-call-for-sanctions-against-chinese-officials-behind/ #Canada

#HongKong #HK #HKNationalSecrutiyLaw #China #Canada #CCP

#RTHK #PressFreedom
Patrick Li Criticises LMF’s Cursing Songs as “Indecent” and Unsuitable as the Interviewee. All Programs in RTHK Need His Approval Before Airing

Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Li, who had no media experience, was brought as an outside manager and became the Director of Broadcasting. Only four days since his office, he unleashed his swaggering. Li held an Editor Meeting with all department heads of RTHK. In Apple Daily’s exclusive news, Li stated in the meeting that all programs within that week need his approval before airing. Among the Public Affair Programs in his “approval scope”, Hong Kong Connection will be about animal rights; This Week will focus on movies, while Hong Kong Stories will air an interview with the band LMF. Li criticised that LMF was indecent with their cursing in songs and suggested that other interview guests should be invited.

#LMF #PatrickLi #DirectorofBroadcasting #EditorialFreedom #Censorship

Source: Apple Daily, #Mar4

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#PressFreedom #RTHK
Li Biased against Public Affairs Department and Asked, ”Why aren’t we interviewing Raymond Cho”

Insiders from RTHK revealing Li repeatedly stressed that he was the Chief Editor of the channel who had the responsibility to ensure the fairness and the impartiality of their programs. He stated that “if you can’t pass my impartiality test, your programme can’t go on air”. Knowing LMF being interviewed at Hong Kong Stories, Li said that LMF was not a decent guest for a public broadcasting organisation like RTHK because they often cursed in their songs. He even played one of their songs, asking the meeting attendees to count the swear words in the song and questioning why another kind of voice was not sourced. Li described LMF as showing extreme political stance and saying their song as “Gil of organs”.


The insider added that Li was quite demanding even though RTHK should produce a broad spectrum of programs. “It is like all or nothing (and it makes you) feel like he doesn’t mind to withdraw a program and replace it with another.” Rumour was it that Li was obviously targeting the Public Affairs Department and the editorial freedom came from the bottom level. There has never been a Director of Broadcasting who demanded to approve of the programs before airing, arousing suspicion of political censorship.

#PublicAffairsDepartment #LMF #PatrickLi #DirectorofBroadcasting #EditorialFreedom #Censorship

Source: Apple Daily #Mar04
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210304/B3OIXJ5NKZCL5JFH7PQZA6NMTY/