#FirstHand #May23

1817 | New Jade Shopping Arcade, Chai Wan

In the face of a tyranny, silent acquiescence is no different from outright subservience regarding Beijing’s recent moves to impose the National Security Law in Hong Kong, which might include controversial policies like extradition to China and National Security education.

The further erosion of freedom prompted outcry in Hong Kong and many more to take to the streets, including protesting at shopping malls.

“There is no rioters, only tyranny,” people chanted once again at New Jade Shopping Arcade in Chai Wan on May 23.

Among the numerous protests upon which the slogan has been chanted, the atmosphere is exceptional this time. Over 100 protestors were packed in the tiny shopping mall, waving, chanting, as if bidding farewell to the charade of democracy, or perhaps, to an old order. Or, could this as well be the painful birth of a new nation of Hongkongers?

#SingWithYou #HongKongProtests #NationalSecurityLaw #EvilLaw
#OneCountryOneSystem

#OneCountryOneSystem #NationalSecurityLaw
Full Draft Exposed by Beijing:
China's national security officials to "perform their duties” in Hong Kong

The Standing Committee of National People’s Congress (NPCSC) plenary sessions commenced on 22 May, where the deliberation on the draft of the “National Security Law in Hong Kong" is scheduled on the agenda. The draft states that the Law will be included in Annex III of the Basic Law “to be implemented by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region through local announcements”. In other words, the law will be promulgated without passing though a review at the Legislative Council.

Eddie Chu Hoi-dik, Hong Kong Legislative Councillor, described point four of the draft as an indication that "the secret police will be entering the house" and "the Chinese secret police can arrest people in Hong Kong with legitimate reason“, adding that the law will lead to a series of problems.

Firstly, Chu was concerned that in the process of arrest, interrogation and detention by the "secret police", "are the arrested still protected by the relevant laws in Hong Kong?” As the law of Hong Kong stipulates that a suspect can be detained for a maximum of 48 hours has the right to remain silent, see a lawyer and apply for habeas corpus.

Secondly, if the “secret police” torture (the arrested), "there is not even a fake mechanism for accountability,” said Chu.

Thirdly, if a Hong Kong person is "disappeared" and suspected of being arrested by the "secret police", "what can the family do? Report it to the Hong Kong Police?” asked Chu.

The fifth point of the draft mentions that the Chief Executive of Hong Kong is required to submit regular reports to the Central People’s Government on the performance of his/her duties in safeguarding national security, promoting education on national security and (prohibiting) conduct which endangers national security.

The sixth point of the draft relates to authorization for the NPCSC to establish in Hong Kong "institutions and enforcement mechanisms for the preservation of national security", and expressly states that “organs of the Central People's Government for the protection of national security may set up institutions in Hong Kong in accordance with the law" to perform their duties for safeguarding national security.

Source: Stand News #May22
#ChuHoiDick #SecretPolice #EvilLaw
#StateTerrorism

#Censorship #Economy #CCP
The Financial Sector are Already Feeling the Impact of the National Security Law

Following Beijing's forceful imposition if the "National Security Law" in Hong Kong, the financial sector has already silenced itself.

Local and foreign analysts and traders received instructions that they are not allowed to explain to the media in any capacity that the discussion of the national security laws is the cause of the recent dip.

After the market closed on 21 May, rumors about the "Hong Kong National Security Law" began to spread. After 5pm, the exchange rate of the Hong Kong dollar dropped from 7.7500 to 7.7539 within an hour. At the same time, the forward exchange rate, which expires one year later, also fell from 7.7746 to 7.7977, down 231 pips, which is 440 pips less than the spot price.

In time, the media reports that the "Hong Kong version of the National Security Law" is about to be released, but it is strange that many Chinese, foreign, and Hong Kong-funded stock market analysts, and even traders have been demanded by "higher-ups" tp stay silent. The have been ordered not to claim the fluctuation of the stock market and the weakening of the Hong Kong exchange rate to be related to the "Hong Kong version of the National Security Law". They were asked to say that the "return of violent protests, the United States intent to withdraw from the Chinese stock market, and the increasing risk of aversion" are the cause to the stock market fluctuations.

Considering foreign exchange reports in the past two days regarding the sharp decline in the Hong Kong dollar and the stock market, the analysts did cite different reasons to explain rather than the national security laws.

Under the united front of the Chinese Communist Party, even the freedom of expression and basic human rights were censored and restricted. Apparently, Chinese and Hong Kong investors are afraid of the Chinese Communist Party and some analysts have become mouthpieces.

Some unnamed fund brokers described the "Hong Kong version of the National Security Act" to be more dangerous than Article 23. The stock market panic-sold on May 22, and the foreign investment sell-off were the most intense. Under China's "Stability first" policy, the role of analysts will be reduced to mouthpieces, and the financial markets that Hong Kong is proud of will become a thing of the past.

Source: Apple Daily #May23

Hang Seng Index plummets after Beijing made bold moves
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/21071

American Chamber: Security Law may jeopardize future prospects for international business in Hong Kong
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/21072

#SecretPolice #EvilLaw
#StateTerrorism #OneCountryOneSystem #NationalSecurityLaw

#OneCountryOneSystem
Concerns over the broad coverage of the National Security Law,
Hong Kong Law Professor: The idea that "national security should overrules everything" will only result in tyranny

Read more:

#NationalSecurityLaw #CCP #EvilLaw #Authoritarianism #Tyranny #JohannesChan

#OneCountryTwoSystems
Concerns over the broad coverage of the National Security Law,
Hong Kong Law Professor: The idea that "national security should overrules everything" will only result in tyranny

A three-day meeting was held by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in Beijing last week, with details of the National Security Law draft being discussed during the meeting.

According to China state media Xinhua News Agency, the definition and the criminal responsibility of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities, collusion with foreign or abroad forces to endanger national security were discussed. Moreover, the wordings in one of the four criminal offences described by the Xinhua Agency has been changed from "foreign or abroad forces to intervene in affairs in HKSAR" to "collusion with foreign or abroad forces to endanger national security"; which some interpreted the amendment as a target to local individuals and organisations.

The Xinhua Agency also indicated that drafting the law itself is an important process that affirms the Committee's hope and need to pass the Law.

In an interview, Johannes Chan, Chair Professor of Law at the University of Hong Kong, said in the details of the draft announced, "collusion with foreign or abroad forces to endanger national security" includes inciting, conspiring, convincing, or even unilaterally planning of criminal activities. With the Chinese government vesting the power of interpretation, Chan worried that the definition of criminal offences can become arbitrary, and might vary from time to time. He also expressed concern that the promise of "one country two systems" and Hongkongers' protection under the Basic Law are no longer valid since the new Law overrides the Basic Law, and charged Hongkongers can be sent to the mainland for trials.

Chan also emphasized that protecting national security does not justify random accusations and sentencing or even executing without going through trials. The idea that "national security should overrules everything" is an misleading concept, and will only result in tyranny.

Source: Now News; Commercial Radio #Jun19

#NationalSecurityLaw #CCP #EvilLaw #Authoritarianism #Tyranny #JohannesChan