Pro-Beijing Supporters Petitioning for Pro-democracy Legislator’s resignation allegedly violates gathering ban

Forner Liberal party member Dominic Lee Tsz-king, spokesperson of Civil Force, Eddie Lam Yu Sing and a defeated candidate of District Council election last year, Ivan Mok Ka-kit formed an alliance calling Pro-democracy legislator Tanya Chan of Civic Party to step down.

The Alliance organized a petition on April 12. The public responded. quite indifferently. Some thought that such street counter manned by more than 4 people was a breach of the gathering ban during the coronavirus pandemic.

After pro-democracy legislator Tanya Chan appeared in a group of 40 in a bar in Sham Shui Po on April 9, pro-Beijing politicians heavily criticized Chan for flouting the gathering ban.

Source: Inmedia #Apr12

#HongKongProtests #Freedom
President of Public Doctors Association Calls for HongKongers to Defend Social Distancing as Their Rights to Gather and Protest

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If citizens are getting relaxed about social distancing, the epidemic could dwell and last even longer, providing excuses for the government to extend the gathering ban.

Chapter 599 of the Prevention and Control of Diseases Ordinance confers on the Secretary for Food and Health, the Chief Executive and the Executive Council the power to prevent, cope with or mitigate the effects of public health emergencies. It also gives law enforcement officers a lot of power to enter private premises without a search warrant. If the government and the police are not using the powers of this Ordinance to control disease, but to control citizens’ freedom, such consequence could be detrimental, e.g. during the remembrance activities held on March 31, a female police officer stated her wish to charge 5 arrestees nearby Prince Edward subway station of breaching the gathering restriction, despite the fact that the five people were not even acquainted with each other.

At times, preventing the spread of disease and preventing exploitation of human rights could cause a conflict of values. The crux relies on how the government strikes a balance in implementing and enforcing restrictions and the duration of such restrictions. A civil society that honors self-discipline counts less on laws to resolve public health problems which avoids giving excuses to those in power.

Lastly, Ma calls for citizens to understand when to take to the streets and when to seek entertainment. With today's socio-political environment skewed towards the rule of man in absence of the rule of law, the remaining rights of the Hong Kong people could easily be striped away without a fight.

Source: Stand News
#Apr12 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak

Cantopop Legend Sam Hui Hosts Concert to Support Unemployed Workers in Music Industry

On Sunday #Apr12, Sam Hui, a pioneer in Cantopop, organised an online concert to raise money for former employees of Tom Lee Music's service department, which had been disbanded since March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This concert has raised criticism in society as Chief Executive Carrie Lam posted a photo of her watching the concert with her officials during a government meeting. This caused some voices in the society to call for a boycott on the online concert.

Despite the negative response brought about by Carrie Lam, Sam Hui's live-stream concern had attracted over 160 thousand people near the end of the event. After saying, "let others say whatever they like", a lyric from a popular song performed by Leslie Cheung and Hui titled "Silence Is Golden" （沉默是金）, the concert ended with Hui waving his hand and leaving the venue.

Sam Hui is highly regarded as an icon of Hong Kong culture and Cantopop. One of his signature song "Iron Towers that Reach the Skies" （鐵塔凌雲）relessed in 1972 describes a longing for home (Hong Kong) in foreign countries. His other songs like "The Private Eyes" （半斤八兩）also accurately described grassroot lives in Hong Kong in the 1970s.

Hui's contribution to Hong Kong culture and Cantonese pop music precisely reminds people of the need to propagate and develop local culture.

Source: Ming Pao #Apr16
#HongKongCulture #Cantopop #SamHui

#YellowEconomy #Solidarity
Long Queues at #AbouThai for 3 Straight Days as Hongkongers Show Support After Customs Raid

On April 8, 2021, Hong Kong Customs raided pro-democracy 'yellow' retailer AbouThai with over 100 officers. The authorities have seized goods valued nearly $400,000HKD, and arrested a 33-year-old board member.

Customs claimed that the operation was not a suppression.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29339.

AbouThai was founded by #MikeLam, who is one of the 47 pro-democracy figures charged with "conspiracy to subverting state powers" for joining the Primary Election of the pro-democracy camp in 2020.

In a show of disapproval against the authorities' action, Hongkongers called for a massive shopping spree at AbouThai shops. Long queues were seen at multiple locations for three straight days.

Watch video:
https://www.facebook.com/spendtohelp/posts/3854617311325832

On the afternoon of Sunday, April 11, 2021, nearly a hundred customers lined up outside AbouThai branch in Kornhill Plaza. The queues extended all the way to the back staircase of the shopping mall. The staff of AbouThai distributed bottles of water to the queuing customers as a token of appreciation.

Many customers bought snacks, face masks, and sanitizer. Many even brought their own trolleys, so that they can buy as much as they can.

On the contrary, a pro-China shop 360°, located in the same shopping mall, was empty.

Source: InMedia #Apr12

https://bit.ly/3d9yuwO
https://bit.ly/2RuzLq5

China, Russia 'primary culprits' behind 'Cold War' levels of espionage and foreign interference towards Canada: CSIS

OTTAWA – Canada’s spy agency says that it “observed espionage and foreign interference activity at levels not seen since the Cold War” last year and that many security threats have become “much more serious.”

“The key national security threats facing Canada, namely violent extremism, foreign interference, espionage and malicious cyber activity, accelerated, evolved and in many ways became much more serious for Canadians,” warns Canadian Security Intelligence Service Director (CSIS) David Vigneault in the organization’s 2020 annual report.

Source: NationalPost #Apr12

https://nationalpost.com/news/intelligence-committee-warns-china-russia-targeting-canadian-covid-19-research

#China #Russia #ColdWar #Canada #CSIS

Senator warns China might not free Spavor and Kovrig in Meng deal if Canada not part of effort

An expert in Canada-Asian relations is warning a future U.S. deal to set free Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou may not lead to the immediate release of two Canadians locked up in China – particularly if Ottawa is not seen as having played a significant role in her release.

Senator Yuen Pau Woo, as facilitator of the Independent Senators Group in the Red Chamber, is the leader of the largest bloc in the Senate. Prior to his appointment to the Senate, he served as president and CEO of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada in Vancouver.

Source: TheGlobeAndMail #Apr12

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-senator-warns-china-might-not-free-spavor-and-kovrig-in-meng-deal-if/

#Canada #Senator #China #Spavor #Kovrig #Meng

China’s sanctions on me and others are a clumsy attempt to silence debate

Michael Chong is the Conservative foreign affairs critic and MP for Wellington-Halton Hills.

China is trying to silence the truth abroad, after having silenced it at home.

Just over two weeks ago, I woke up to news that China’s government had sanctioned me, adding me to a list of officials in the United States, Britain and Europe who have been sanctioned for simply speaking. Speaking against Beijing’s genocide of its Uyghur Muslim minority. Speaking against its crackdown on Hong Kong.

Source: GlobeAndMail #Apr12

#China #Sanction #MichaelChong #MP #Canada

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-chinas-sanctions-on-me-and-others-are-a-clumsy-attempt-to-silence/

#Propaganda
Kindergartens in Hong Kong Distribute National Security Pamphlets as Govt Promotes "Education Day"

Source: Stand News #Apr12

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#Propaganda
Kindergartens in Hong Kong Distribute National Security Pamphlets as Govt Promotes "Education Day"

The government has been promoting with great fanfare a "National Security Education Day", the first of its kind since the National Security Law was introduced, on Apr 15, 2021.

A reader of Stand News reported that a kindergarten student had received related promotional materials from school, in the form of stickers and bookmarks.

The slogan "Uphold national security, safeguard our home" is printed in both Chinese and English. In dense, smaller font, the materials listed 16 areas of security, including "space security", "deep sea security", "polar security", and so on. According to the Education Day's government website, these are the 16 "chief areas" covered under the concept of national security.

Since the introduction of the National Security Law, the Education Bureau had "reminded" all Hong Kong schools - primary, secondary, kindergarten, and even special education schools - to let students "understand" and "be reminded" to obey the National Security Law.

In an article earlier this week, the Bureau chief also suggested schools to promote national security education by "multiple venues". He suggested activities such as flag-raising ceremonies and playing the national anthem, speeches explaining important security concepts in morning assemblies and classrooms, and so on.

The bureau will also be hosting security-themed bulletin board design competitions and online Q&A contests, available for schools and students to participate in.

Source: Stand News #Apr12
https://bit.ly/3a7ixFD

#NationalSecurity #Propaganda #Education #Brainwashing #Kindergarten #HongKongStudents #Youth

City University of Hong Kong Demands Students to respond to allegations linked to National Security Violations

Source: Inmediahk, Ming Pao; #Apr12

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City University of Hong Kong Demands Students to respond to allegations linked to National Security Violations

The City University of Hong Kong (#CityU) demanded a response from a group of students in connection with a farewell ceremony for the students’ union in February 2022.

The move came almost two months after national security police launched a probe into the event.

At least 35 students received emails from the university’s Facilities Management Office on 11 April, 2022 accusing them of committing various offences and misconduct at a rally staged on campus on February 14, 2022.

According to a local media, the email was sent by the Lau Tak-keung, Senior Facilities Manager of the university. Lau is a retired police superintendent. He was a diatrict commander in Sham Shui Po and retired in 2013.

In response to media enquiries, CityU said that its departments handled matters in accordance with “well-established mechanisms and procedures.” Outsiders should not “interfere” with the university’s administration, it said.

However, when responding to Ming Pao, another local media, it stated that "the university management is not aware of the matter."

Source: Inmediahk, Ming Pao; #Apr12
https://bit.ly/3xkkKK8