Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Condemns Alleged #PoliticalCensorship at #OzAsiaFestival
//The future of government funding for #Adelaide's OzAsia Festival is under threat, after claims that Hong Kong's strict national security laws have extended to Australia's biggest Asian festival.
Hong Kong Cultural Association of South Australia (#HKCASA) chairwoman Janet Leung said it all started with a dispute over yellow umbrellas.
HKCASA was booked to host an interactive workshop and performance at the opening weekend of the festival last week.
"The workshop was supposed to show a historical timeline of how Hong Kong was transformed from a fishing village to an international financial hub," Ms Leung said.
The performance was locked in by OzAsia organisers in August, but a crucial detail then changed everything.
The workshop stall was to be decorated with yellow umbrellas.
The organiser pasted a link to a Wikipedia article detailing Hong Kong's so-called 'umbrella movement' of 2014, in which pro-democracy protesters held umbrellas in acts of passive defiance.
"Unfortunately, we are unable to approve the use of the yellow umbrellas as props decor," the email said.
Ms Leung said she was "shocked".//
Sourcs: ABC #Oct28
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-28/ozasia-participant-warns-censorship-after-workshop-canned/100575240
#Australia #Censorship #ForeignMinister #ForeignAffairs #MarisePayne #CreativeFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #YellowUmbrella
//The future of government funding for #Adelaide's OzAsia Festival is under threat, after claims that Hong Kong's strict national security laws have extended to Australia's biggest Asian festival.
Hong Kong Cultural Association of South Australia (#HKCASA) chairwoman Janet Leung said it all started with a dispute over yellow umbrellas.
HKCASA was booked to host an interactive workshop and performance at the opening weekend of the festival last week.
"The workshop was supposed to show a historical timeline of how Hong Kong was transformed from a fishing village to an international financial hub," Ms Leung said.
The performance was locked in by OzAsia organisers in August, but a crucial detail then changed everything.
The workshop stall was to be decorated with yellow umbrellas.
The organiser pasted a link to a Wikipedia article detailing Hong Kong's so-called 'umbrella movement' of 2014, in which pro-democracy protesters held umbrellas in acts of passive defiance.
"Unfortunately, we are unable to approve the use of the yellow umbrellas as props decor," the email said.
Ms Leung said she was "shocked".//
Sourcs: ABC #Oct28
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-28/ozasia-participant-warns-censorship-after-workshop-canned/100575240
#Australia #Censorship #ForeignMinister #ForeignAffairs #MarisePayne #CreativeFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #YellowUmbrella
www.abc.net.au
Marise Payne labels alleged censorship at OzAsia Festival 'unacceptable' after canning of Hong Kong group's performance
The future of government funding for Adelaide's OzAsia Festival is under threat, after claims that Hong Kong's strict national security laws have extended to Australia's biggest Asian festival.
Hong Kong Filmmakers Sign #Manifesto to Uphold #CreativeFreedom
On July 13, 2022, thirty Hong Kong filmmakers released a manifesto, stating their determination to uphold creative freedom despite oppression.
The manifesto was initiated by Ren Xia, the director of May You Stay Young Forever, on the eve of the Hong Kong Film Awards. The manifesto aims to show solidarity and raise awareness among filmmakers. "[I] hope to let all of us [filmmakers] know we are not alone," said Ren.
The manifesto states that the filmmakers will not be deterred from speaking out. The filmmakers believe that films are most needed at these times; and that they "will be the change", and their "films will bring about changes and create a future for Hong Kong."
According to a previous survey by InMediaHK.net, at least 9 films failed to obtain a screening license or were required to censor part of their content in the past two years. The government had amended the Film Censorship Ordinance in 2021, banning films that "violate the #NationalSecurityLaw".
Source: InMediaHK.net #Jul13
https://bit.ly/3c7Vu1g
#HongKongCinema #Hongkongers
On July 13, 2022, thirty Hong Kong filmmakers released a manifesto, stating their determination to uphold creative freedom despite oppression.
The manifesto was initiated by Ren Xia, the director of May You Stay Young Forever, on the eve of the Hong Kong Film Awards. The manifesto aims to show solidarity and raise awareness among filmmakers. "[I] hope to let all of us [filmmakers] know we are not alone," said Ren.
The manifesto states that the filmmakers will not be deterred from speaking out. The filmmakers believe that films are most needed at these times; and that they "will be the change", and their "films will bring about changes and create a future for Hong Kong."
According to a previous survey by InMediaHK.net, at least 9 films failed to obtain a screening license or were required to censor part of their content in the past two years. The government had amended the Film Censorship Ordinance in 2021, banning films that "violate the #NationalSecurityLaw".
Source: InMediaHK.net #Jul13
https://bit.ly/3c7Vu1g
#HongKongCinema #Hongkongers