#FirstHand #Feb28 #Video
Hongkongers Chant "Liberate Hong Kong", Police Warn of National Security Violation

1800 | Mong Kok

On Sunday, Feb 28, 2021 in Mongkok, the Hong Kong Police caused chaos in the crowd as they wrestled a civilian to the ground.

See video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28806

On the same day, the police announced charging 47 pro-democracy politians and acitivists with "conspiracy to subverting state powers".

It was reported that civilians chanted "liberate Hong Kong, revolution of the times". The police then hastily raised a warning flag and cautioned nearby citizens for violating the #NationalSecurityLaw.

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Read more from the same day:

Student and Hospital Workers Call for Boycott of Govt Tracking App and Support for Arrested Pro-Dem Candidates

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28813

Hong Kong Pro-democracy Activist: We've Decided to Not Surrender to the Authoritarian Regime

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28805

#PoliceState #Arrest #AuthoritarianRegime

#FailedState #Fake #MassSurveillance
#LeaveHomeSafe App Download Rate Surges; Top Downloads in Pacific and Caribbean Islands Causes Suspicion on Possible Scam Downloads

The Hong Kong government announced a more relaxed social distance measure in Hong Kong on February 18, 2021 and allowed dinner dine-in until 10pm where 4 customers can share a table.

However, for those dining-in, there is a requirement to scan a QR code with the government's “LeaveHomeSafe” app which authorities use for contact tracing or to provide personal information to the restaurant.

Rhe app has triggered worries over surveillance and privacy in the city. According to the government, there is, however, a surge in the number of downloads for the “LeaveHomeSafe” app.

The government reported an "overwhelming response" from the public, with over 2.3 million downloads. But data from an app analysis website shows that the Android app has the most downloads in the Health category in many countries outside of Hong Kong and Macau.

Most of which are from the Pacific and Caribbean island countries. This raises some suspicion and the situation suggests that some might have turned to individual companies for help in “tampering with the numbers”, or “paid listing boost” which are prevalent in China, to create the illusion of high download rates.

As for App Store Optimization (#ASO) services, netizen and travel writer Pazu Kong (薯伯伯) mentioned that in China that “it only takes a couple of cents for a machine to do this, and a few bucks for a person. One person can operate more than 100 SIM cards and more than 100 smartphones to artificially build up junk download rates to boost their rankings, increase visitation volume, and give 5-star ratings. Usually, if it was done by humans, it will be less likely to be noticed.”

One of the ASO companies quoted the price stating that purchasing 500 downloads from Google Play cost just a bit over HK$100.

Source: Stand News #Feb22

#Clickrate #FakeDownloads

LIHKG listed out locations where the LeaveHomeSafe app ranks at the top download. Even travel gurus may not know some of the places' Chinese name’

#LeaveHomeSafe #LIHKG #GoHKgraphics

#MassSurveillance #BigData
HK Gov't's COVID-tracing App Keeps Visit Records For Up to 7 Years and Shares Data with Enforcement Personnel

Recently, a revised privacy statement of the Hong Kong government-endorsed COVID-tracing app, #LeaveHomeSafe, showed that users’ visit records would be uploaded to the Department of Health and stored for a period of up to seven years.

The statement also mentioned that such records could be provided to law enforcement agents, aiding their tracking work.

This statement is different from the earlier version in February 2021, in which it stressed that records of users’ visits would only be stored in their handsets and will not be used for other track-and-trace matters.

It seems that users’ visit records have already been sent to the Government database. It was said that users’ visit records lodged via the mobile app would be first collected in the cloud database for statistical reports compilation.

Once a confirmed #COVID19 case is identified, the relevant information is downloaded to the user's mobile phone to track down his/her close contacts.

The new Privacy Statement also stated that in the face of an offence or prosecution, the Privacy Commission could authorize the use of relevant data for enforcement purposes.

Source: Unwire.hk; #Mar24

https://unwire.hk/2021/03/24/stayhomesafeappprivacyongpnermsoft/software/

#LeaveHomeSafe #Privacy #TrackandTrace #DepartmentofHealth

#Privacy #Tracking
HK Police Tracks Location with #LeaveHomeSafe, Police Officer Arrested in Assault Case

Source: Stand News #Sept18

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#Privacy #Tracking
HK Police Tracks Location with #LeaveHomeSafe, Police Officer Arrested in Assault Case

On September 18, 2021, a 32-year-old Hong Kong policeman was arrested for assault. He has allegedly inflicted "bodily harm", to another man in Tsim Sha Tsui in the early hours of the same day.

The Hong Kong Police issued a statement emphasizing that they take discipline among their officers very seriously, and will not tolerate any personnel committing criminal acts. They will conduct criminal investigations and disciplinary reviews accordingly.

According to HK01's report, the victim was together with four other officers when he was struck. When he called the police, the others had left the scene.

Police investigations found that the four had used the government's LeaveHomeSafe contact tracing app to record their visit to the venue. One of the four have been identified as inspector in the Police Public Relations Branch (#PPRB).

[Editor's note:
The government had issued a media statement in February 2021 to alleviate the public's privacy concerns towards the LeaveHomeSafe app. The statement, from the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, explain that "visit records are kept on users’ mobile phones only, not in any government systems. There is no transfer of personal data to the Government’s system or operators of premises for retention."

https://www.pcpd.org.hk/english/news_events/media_statements/press_20210219.html ]

Source: Stand News #Sept18
https://thestandnews.page.link/gqQm8zbWM1cKWUr68

#AsiasFinest #Privacy #HKPolice #FailedState

#MassSurveillance
All Government buildings Will Require LeaveHomeSafe Starting November

#LeaveHomeSafe #COVID19 #Surveillance #HomelessPeople #StreetSleepers

Source: Stand News #Oct21

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#MassSurveillance
All Government buildings Will Require LeaveHomeSafe Starting November

The Hong Kong government announced yesterday that all citizens are required to record their visit with LeaveHomeSafe before entering government buildings and offices, such as public libraries, sports centres, museums, etc. It will be strictly enforced starting from November.

The Hospital Authority (HA) and the Police Force said that the new rule covers the HA Headquarters, public hospital administrative buildings, police headquarters, and police stations.

The Society for Community Organization said that many homeless people rely on the drinking water and showering facilities in government sports halls, and sometimes need to visit government offices for various procedures. However, most of them do not have a smartphone or even a mobile phone. As a result, many had expressed anxiety about making LeaveHomeSafe mandatory for these facilities.

When LeaveHomeSafe was first released in November last year, government officials said using it would be voluntary, and only a convenience for one's own visits electronically. However, days afterwards, officials stated on a radio programme that they would not rule out making it compulsory.

Updates: The government has announced that cemeteries, public toilets, public bathhouse and rubbish collection points are exempted.

Editor's note: LeaveHomeSafe is a digital contact tracing app launched by the Hong Kong Government in response to the pandemic, for recording visit history (eg. date, time, and venue). Unlike many countries who made their app open-source and welcomed public scrutiny, Hong Kong's app is proprietary, and its privacy statement acknowledges that user records would be uploaded and stored by the government.

#LeaveHomeSafe #COVID19 #Surveillance #HomelessPeople #StreetSleepers #BigData #Privacy

Source: Stand News #Oct21
https://bit.ly/3ErUfCS

see also: HK Gov't's COVID-tracing App Keeps Visit Records For Up to 7 Years and Shares Data with Enforcement Personnel
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29224

#MassSurveillance
Government Makes #LeaveHomeSafe app Compulsory in Hong Kong Starting from Nov 1; Police Makes Arrests

Source: InMedia; RTHK #Nov1
https://bit.ly/3EsNyAq

Read more
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#MassSurveillance
Government Makes #LeaveHomeSafe app Compulsory in Hong Kong Starting from Nov 1; Police Makes Arrests

The Hong Kong SAR Government implemented yet another controversial rule on November 1, 2021, mandating the population to check in with the LeaveHomeSafe tracking app when entering government premises. These locales include libraries, wet markets, courts, and sports facilities.

On the first day of its implementation, the Hong Kong Police arrested at least 5 people in the morning at Immigration Tower in Wan Chai, accusing them of using a fake app.

RTHK reported that the arrestees included two immigration officers, one staff member of the Audit Commission and two contractors.

Although exemptions are given to children, the elderly and disabled people, they are still required to submit their personal details.

Civil Service Secretary #PatrickNip claimed the government will "exercise flexibility"; however, according to InMedia, outside the Tai Po Municipal Complex, many domestic helpers and elderly had difficulties in adapting to the policy. Some had to download the app on the site, while some left for the street market instead.

As the people of Hong Kong expressed concern over the privacy issue of the government-monitored app, many citizens bought a new phone just for installing the app and to prevent personal information from being tracked.

Source: InMedia; RTHK #Nov1
https://bit.ly/3EsNyAq

#FailedState #BigData #Privacy #Obstruction #Elderly #Regime

#PoliceState
Hong Kong Police Targets Pro-democracy Restaurants under the #Pandemic

Several pro-democracy restaurants in Hong Kong have reportedly become the targets of police inspection as soon as the government rolled out mandatory contact-tracing app at the premises on December 9, 2021.

These pro-democracy "yellow" restaurant were ordered by the authorities to halt dinner dine-in services for two weeks after some customers allegedly failed to scan the #LeaveHomeSafe app.

On December 18, 2021, the police and the staff from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (#FEHD) inspected the Kwong Wing Catering branch in Mong Kok. They claimed that one male customer did not scan the, a defecto tracing app, as required by the government.

It was the third Kwong Wing Catering branch to be penalised within a week for similar alleged violations. The inspection was “suspicious,” the eatery wrote on Facebook, saying police arrived less than 20 minutes after the customer concerned sat down.

After reviewing the security footage, Kwong Wing Catering said the male customer came in with another person, who did scan the app. That person then put the device in the man’s backpack while he appeared to be searching for his phone. He eventually presented his companion’s phone to the restaurant staff.

Other affected pro-democracy restaurants included Kabo Burger, Dine Inn, Explorer Fusion Restaurant, Thai Cool, DK Pizza Cafe, WE TIME CAFE, Santgria Kitchen and more.

Source: #FirstHand; #Dec18

#COVID #Discrimination #Planting #Regime

An executive director of an organisation for the blind said, "Mandatorily using the app "LeaveHomeSafe" for government buildings and other areas seems to punish people with disability".

#LeaveHomeSafe #surveillance #GoHKgraphics

[translator note: the Personal Information Collection Statement of "LeaveHomeSafe" paper version cannot be found from government website (https://www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk/en/personal-information-collection-statement/)]

#FailedState #Covid19
Hong Kong Government Officials and Politicians Reportedly Breach Gathering Ban, Carrie Lam dodges responsibility

#CasparTsui, the Hong Kong SAR Government's Secretary for Home Affairs, was found attending a birthday party with over 100 guests organized by a Hong Kong delegate to PRC’s top legislature. Photos were leaked out showing the attendees without wearing any mask and violating the gathering ban. It was reported that Tsui did not record his whereabouts in the compulsory government-made #LeaveHomeSafe App.

Less than a week ago, following reports of a #CathayPacific aircrew staffer violating quarantine restrictions and prompting a cluster outbreak in the city, Hong Kong's Chief Executive #CarrieLam summoned the chairman and the CEO of the airline to “express strong discontent.”

On January 4, 2022, Lam was recorded saying saying that although senior management may not be aware of their staff member’s actions, it should not be exploited as a “disclaimer” to shirk responsibility.

Sternly Lam told Cathay Pacific,
"you, being the head of an organization, are in similar capacity as me, being the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. I am accountable for every happenings in the city.”

However, Lam changed the saying after the scandal of the government officials broke out on January 2, 2022 Since a guest had contracted COVID, Caspar Tsui and other guests were sent to compulsory Covid-19 quarantine at Penny’s Bay.

This time. when asked if the Chief Executive should take similar responsibility over the case involving the banquet, Carrie Lam apparently bent "accountability" to her own interests, saying that being accountable was not equal to “taking personal responsibility for the personal decision and actions of every colleague.”

Source: Cable News, #Jan6

Hong Kong Health Code has starts registration on Dec 10, 2021. Yet, it requires personal information as well as the LeaveHomeSafe records.

#HealthCode #LeaveHomeSafe #COVID19 #GoHKgraphics