1930 | Yuen Long

District Councilor calls for Hongkongers to continue the fight for democracy

Lam Chun, Yuen Long District Councilor and organizer of today’s 7.21 photo display, spoke to citizens attending the memorial tonight. He expressed his understanding that Hongkongers might be disappointed and disillusioned when seeing pro-democracy protesters being arrested or jailed, or even forced to flee the city and seek asylum in foreign countries.

Lam reassured citizens of his support, and expressed his strong belief in street-level activism. stating that it is the only way out for Hongkongers to rally for democracy.

#FirstHand #Dec21 #721YuenLongAttack

#FirstHand
"Winter Solstice With You": District Councillor Spreads Christmas Cheer at Street Booth

Tonight is winter solstice, traditionally a night of dinner and gathering with family and friends. With the epidemic, however, it is not so feasible to go out and celebrate the solstice, or the coming Christmas neither. With so much disheartening news of Hongkongers facing political persecution in the city, and even in China - as in the case of #Save12HKYouths - many in the city find themselves with little Christmas joy this year.

Tonight, Mongkok North District Councillor Siu Tak-kin set up a street-side Christmas display, with a 4-meter Christmas tree and a 2-meter-tall snowman figure. Many citizens passing by posed for Christmas photos. Siu's district council team had originally ordered wall calendars to be handed out to citizens, but the shipment was detained in China. Instead, Siu's team printed new calendar posters, and handed them out to passing citizens.

They also set up a table for "Christmas cards for 12 HKers", where citizens could write their thoughts to the 12 detained Hongkongers. Siu will later mail them to the 12's detention center in Shenzhen.

#Dec21 #WinterSolstice #Heartwarming

#WorldAgainstCCP
#US Impose Additional #Visa Restrictions on Chinese Officials Engaged in Human Rights Abuse

//The United States on Dec 21, 2020 imposed additional visa restrictions on Chinese officials over alleged human rights abuses, taking further action against Beijing.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the restrictions affected officials believed to be responsible for or complicit in repressing religious practitioners, ethnic minority groups, dissidents and others:

“China’s authoritarian rulers impose draconian restrictions on the Chinese people’s freedoms of expression, religion or belief, association, and the right to peaceful assembly..."

On Friday, Washington added dozens of Chinese companies, including top chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp and drone manufacturer SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd, to a trade blacklist.//

Image: Apple Daily
Source: Reuters #Dec21

Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-rights-idUSKBN28V2B5

#Huawei #MengWanZhou Caught Wearing 'Made in Taiwan' Mask

//Meng Wanzhou, who is the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, appeared in a Canadian court on Dec 21, 2020.

Most notable to Taiwanese observers was the fact that she was wearing a purple surgical face mask with the words "Made in Taiwan" in plain sight on the lower righthand corner of the face covering.

The fact that she was wearing a mask manufactured in Taiwan was extraordinary given that Meng is at the eye of the storm for an intense geopolitical rivalry between China and the U.S. and its ally — Taiwan. Meng's company, which is a national champion for China and has numerous ties to the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) and People's Liberation Army (#PLA), has become a major target of sanctions and litigation by the Trump administration amid the trade war between the U.S. and China.//

Source: Taiwan News #Dec21

Read full article:
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4019525

#WuhanPneumonia

What it’s like living next to a Belt and Road Project

A lot reviews and analysis have been written about China’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative by economists, political scientists, and climate experts; however, it’s rare to hear from the people whose lives are directly affected by the program.

It was a chance for them to express their concerns, such as disputes over land use rights, water and air pollution, deforestation, and loss of indigenous culture are just some of the issues they raised. The stories are a powerful reminder to governments and investors to consider the environmental and social impact of the BRI.

Source: Bloomberg #Dec21

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-21/what-it-s-like-living-next-to-a-belt-and-road-project

#BRI #BeltRoadInitiative #China #Environmental

India may ease rules for non-Chinese investments from Hong Kong

India may reduce scrutiny of deal by Hong Kong-based investors in which Chinese firms don’t involve in the transaction. The proposals under consideration include making it mandatory for beneficial owners from nations sharing a land border with India to seek the government’s permission to acquire more than 10% stake in the local firms.

With escalating border tension with China, India has been taking a series of steps in retaliation by banning Chinese apps, tightening visa rules for Chinese nationals and imposing curbs on companies from nations sharing a land border from bidding for government contracts.

Source: Bloomberg #Dec21

https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/india-may-ease-rules-for-non-chinese-investments-from-hong-kong

#India #IndiaMA #China #HongKong

I left Hong Kong for London so I could tell Britain the truth about China: Nathan Law

Source: The Guardian #Dec21

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I left Hong Kong for London so I could tell Britain the truth about China: #NathanLaw

Due to the implementation of the national security law, Nathan Law, who is the first lawmaker and the youngest elected in history in Hong Kong to exile, decided to flee. The departure of a prominent activist signalled that something very wrong had happened in the city. My story was broadcast globally, raising awareness about Hong Kong’s plight.

But people wonder: why London, not New York, not Washington DC?

When the US moved towards “decoupling” in 2018, the CCP’s attention switched rapidly to the EU. The US has adopted an assertive approach to China and positioning it as one of the country’s greatest enemies. This is not the case in the UK and EU; that consensus needs to be built.

This is the reason why I boarded a plane destined for London and stayed here to be a political refugee.

Source: The Guardian #Dec21

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/dec/21/hong-kong-london-uk-eu-china-asulum

#HongKong #NathanLaw #HKLawmakerExile #UK #EU

#Interview #HongKongProtesters
Advert Designer imprisoned for possessing two cans of Spray Paint; Fiancée—Justice no longer exists. Trial verdict only depends on luck

According to The Stand News, there were 247 cases of possession charges, such as possession of offensive weapons in a public place, possession of any object with intent to destroy or damage property, etc.. More than 60% of the cases ended up having the charges dismissed or with binding over. Only 17% of the defendants were found guilty.

In the 17% of cases tried and convicted, 23-year-old Chun Man was the first person to be sentenced to imprisonment for possession of spray paint.

Read the full translated article here:
https://telegra.ph/Interview-Advert-Designer-imprisoned-for-possessing-two-cans-of-Spray-Paint-FiancéeJustice-no-longer-exists-Trial-verdict-only-d-01-21

Source: Stand News #Dec21

#ProtestersStory #Designer #SprayPaint #Justice #Luck

Prince Wong Ji-yuet Granted Bail In Time for Winter Solstice

(Editor's note: Winter Solstice falls on Dec 21 this year. It is traditionally celebrated in Hong Kong with a family dinner, which locals treat as even more important than family visits during Lunar New Year.)

Prince Wong Ji-yuet, one of the #47Democrats in the Primary Election case, was granted bail by the High Court after having been remanded for 10 months.

The Primary Election case, which saw 47 people charged with “conspiracy to subvert state power” under the National Security Law (#NSL), was heard by the West Kowloon Magistracy earlier, and will be postponed until March 4 next year. 14 defendants have been granted bail, while the rest remain in custody since their arrest 10 months ago, including Wong.

NSL-designated judge Toh Lye-ping approved Wong's bail application this afternoon after hearing the statements of both parties. Wong was calm when she received the approval, while her husband looked skyward and seemed relieved. As one of her bail conditions was that she must remain at the designated address, the judge reminded Wong that she must obey the bail conditions and take them seriously, and not to take a "staycation" at another location.

Wong left the court around 6:30pm by private car. She looked back at reporters before getting in the car, and raised her right fist with a smile.

#PrimaryElection #NationalSecurityLaw
 
Source: Stand News #Dec21

https://www.facebook.com/710476795704610/posts/4875149819237266/

#Statement
#G7, #EU and the #Five Eyes Express Concerns Over China's Control of Hong Kong #LegCoElection

Source: Hong Kong Watch #Dec21

Read more
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#Statement
#G7, #EU and the #Five Eyes Express Concerns Over China's Control of Hong Kong #LegCoElection

//The Five Eyes and G7 together with the high representatives of the European Union, have issued joint statements expressing deep concern that the Chinese Communist Party has taken away the few remaining democratic elements of Hong Kong's electoral system.

Both statements pointed out that the newly reformed electoral system, with fewer directly elected seats and new vetting procedures that restrict voter choice, undermines the high degree of autonomy promised to Hong Kong in the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Both joint statements call on China to act in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration and other legal obligations, and to respect the basic human rights and freedoms of Hong Kong as promised in the Basic Law.

They also called on the Chinese and Hong Kong governments to stop suppressing dissenting voices and to stop unreasonably suppressing those who advocate democratic values and defend freedom and human rights.//

[Editor's notes: The Five Eyes countries are the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand.

The G7 countries are US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.]

Read the statements by the UK Foreign Ministry:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-issues-joint-statement-with-international-partners-on-hong-kong-elections-20-december-2021

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/g7-foreign-ministers-issue-joint-statement-on-hong-kong-elections

Source: Hong Kong Watch #Dec21
https://www.facebook.com/HongKongWatchOrg/posts/4540172279436543

#HongKongWatch #LegcoElection #FakeElection