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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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#FailedState #LegCoElection #1C1S #Delay
The Hong Kong government is to announce as early as on July 28 the plans for delaying the Sept 6 Legislative Council Election

After the third wave of Wuhan pneumonia outbreak in Hong Kong, a number of pro-Beijing figures have demanded to delay the Legislative Council election.

The Hong Kong Economic Times reported that the Executive Council (ExCo) held a special meeting on July 28, in which they agreed to delay the election on the grounds of "lowering the risks of gathering". The election is said to likely be delayed "by a year or so".

Another newspaper Ming Pao Daily reported that the ExCo meeting was not attended by members who are running for, or are related to the upcoming election. Sources say that the issue was also raised at the ExCo meeting last week, but the government declined discussing it due to it being a "sensitive" topic.

The nomination process for the LegCo election has already begun; it was to end on July 31, 2020, with the election being held on Sept 6, 2020. A number of pro-democracy candidates have not yet received confirmation of their nomination, but instead, they received letters from the election's returning officer requiring them to to answer extra questions.

Jasper Tsang, ex-chairperson of LegCo and founding chairperson of pro-Beijing DAB, had earlier suggested to delay the election by at least a year, pushing the election date to September 2021, with the next term of the council beginning in the following October, almost a year later than scheduled. He also suggested that the Chief Executive can instruct the LegCo to hold special meetings, with the existing members carrying out their duties in the meantime. The PRC's NPCSC member Tam Yiu Chung, who is also a member of thd pro-Beijing DAB, said that "many Hong Kong citizens" may be unable to vote because they have moved to live and work in the Greater Bay Area, and thus have no place of residence in Hong Kong.

Source: Stand News #Jul28
#GreaterBayArea #ExecutiveCouncil
#FailedState #ProBeijingCamp
Government Appoints 99 pro-Beijing member voted out in 2019 District Council Election to Area Committees,
Violating the Conventional Practice by Not Offering to Elected Councillors

Home Affairs Department (HAD) released the membership list of 2020-2022 Area Committee on 28 July, 2020. Current district councillors haven't been offered anymore, but the list showed the appointment including at least 99 pro-government camp people who lost in the district council election.

Ramon Yuen Hoi-man, Sham Shui Po district councillor and member of the Democratic Party, angered with this nasty appointment and denounced the government to create another district council placing above the existing one. "HAD not even dared to talk about that in public. What is the appointment requirement? Can't share openly?"

Source: InMedia #Jul28
#DistrictCouncil
#Poll #HKPORI
40% of citizens rated Chief Executive Carrie Lam with zero mark
Chung Kim-wah: The result indicates complete rejection

On 28 July, Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institue (PORI) published the latest result of popularities of Chief executive and HKSAR, and the assessment of the social environment by citizens. Chief Executive Carrie Lam was rated with score 28.9 in the latest survey with 40% of people giving zero mark. Her net popularity was negative 53%.

Honour director of PORI Chung Kim-wah stated that the popularity of Chief Executive had been low in the last half-year, and at least 40% of interviewees on average gave her zero mark. Carrie Lam's act in the past has cemented the public's disapproval of the government, as shown by the zero marks given, which indicated complete rejection of Carrie Lam.

Director of PORI Dr. Chung Ting-yiu emphasised PORI will not participate in anything related to election coordination, and they will only publish results with the spirit of science. "It is up to the public on how to analyse and use the result of survey."

Source: Immedia HK #Jul28
#PressFreedom #PressPass
Are Journalists in China, Singapore, UK and US Required to Obtain Government-Issued Press Cards? 
 
Source: Stand News #Jul28

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#PressFreedom #PressPass
Are Journalists in China, Singapore, UK and US Required to Obtain Government-Issued Press Cards? 
 
An image widely circulating on Facebook claims that many countries have official journalist accreditation systems.  Information on the image compares the issuance of press cards in Hong Kong with China, Singapore, UK and US.
 
However, verification shows that the information on the image only provides an accurate description of the system in China, but its description of Singapore is only partially correct.  Although Singapore does offer a system to apply for Press Accreditation Cards (PAC) through the Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore does not require a journalist to obtain a PAC to report news in Singapore.
 
In the UK, government-recognised press cards are issued by the UK Press Card Authority (UKPCA), but UKPCA is not a governmental organisation.  Journalists are also not required to hold official press cards to conduct interviews or report news.
 
Some US government agencies issue media credentials, but their main function is to allow reporters to enter certain venues.  Journalists in the US do not need official accreditation to interview or report in public places.
 
Out of the four countries mentioned on the image, only journalists in China are required to obtain official press cards issued by the Chinese government.  Thus, the information on the circulating image is largely incorrect.
 
 
Source: Stand News #Jul28
 
U.S. ends preferential treatment for Hong Kong and #Fulbright Scholar Programme.
American scholars informed to not visit Hong Kong

Many scholars visited Hong Kong through a well-know exchange program, Fulbright Scholar Programme every year. A professor of Government and Public Administration Department, Wilson Wong shared a post in FB today. A Fulbright Scholar informed him that they will not coming to Hong Kong next January as planned before because the U.S. government formally ended the Fulbright Scholar programme in China, including Hong Kong. And that they will seek other countries to visit.

In the statement of U.S. President Trump to China released earlier, it was mentioned that the U.S. government is taking steps to terminate the Fulbright exchange program with China and Hong Kong. Wilson Wong thought at first Trump might react slowly by just stopping new applications and therefore have no impact on approved cases. "Now, Trump is effective and takes immediate action."

Source: Stand News #Jul28
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#AcademicFreedom #WhiteTerror #Academia #University

The End of Academic Freedom in Hong Kong: Purge of Educators and Scholars

Law professor Benny Tai was fired from the University of Hong Kong while social worker Bottle Shiu’s contract was not renewed by Hong Kong Baptist University.

Source: Stand News #Jul27 #Jul28, (https://bit.ly/2EQiAZr ; https://bit.ly/30ulyLK)

Related article:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/23814

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Dr. Ip Iam-chong, assistant professsor in Cultural Studies at Hong Kong Lingnan University and founder of InMediaHK, was rejected in his professorship substantiation. His employment was reduced to a one-year contract.

Source: Ming Pao #Aug2 ; Stand News #Aug3

Related Article:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24020

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An American professor's contract was not renewed.

Source: InMedia #Jul18

Related article:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/23749

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Po Kok Primary School teacher Mok Tak-wai was forced to copy and sign a pre-written resignation letter while awaiting trial relating to the Anti-ELAB movement.

Source: Apple Daily #Jul30

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Further reading:
Teacher shot in the eye during demonstration did not get his contract renewed by school
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22640

School principal resigned amidst white terror and growing political oppression
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22755

Teacher who created political cartoon fired
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/23763
#TokyoOlympics
Hong Kong Swimmer Wins Silver in Women's 200m Freestyle


Hong Kong swimmer Siobhan Bernadette Haughey wins silver in the women's 200m freestyle, bringing home the city's first ever Olympic swimming medal and the second one in this year's Olympics.

She led the race during the second lap, though finished second behind Australian Ariarne Titmus. Her time of 1:53.92 sets a new Hong Kong and Asia record in the event.

Source: Stand News
Photo: AP/Petr David Josek
#Jul28 #Sports #HongKongers

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Read more:

Gold Medal for Hong Kong Fencer Cheung Ka Long

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30609?
#TokyoOlympics
Pro-China Party Angers Hong Kong Sport Fans for Attacking #Badminton Star for Wearing Black

Source: Stand News; InMedia; RTHK #Jul28

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#TokyoOlympics
Pro-China Party Angers Hong Kong Sport Fans for Attacking
#Badminton Star for Wearing Black

After being attacked by a member of DAB, a pro-China party, for donning black in Tokyo Olympics, Hong Kong Badminton athlete Angus Ka-long Ng lost his latest match in the elimination round on July 28, 2021. Ng expressed immense disappointment but thanked his supporters for rooting for him.

Ng has won in an earlier match against Mexican representative Lino Munoz on July 25. Despite his victory, Ng had to spend time between matches to respond to the criticism sparked by the pro-Beijing camp--its members had demanded Ng to withdraw from the Olympics, all because he has worn a black tee shirt.

It can only be assumed that the pro-Beijing party associated the color black to pro-democracy movement which they oppose.

Ng explained on his social media page that he has no sponsor and received no authorization to print the Hong Kong SAR emblem on his own tee shirt.

The criticism of the pro-Beijing camp led to the rapid change of Ng's tee shirt by the Hong Kong Olympics Commitee within days.

On July 28, Ng was given a new tee-shirt in white and green, printed with the Hong Kong SAR emblem, sponsored by Fila, in a competion with Kevin Cordon, representative of Guatemala. However, the tee-shirt was not Ng's first choice for his match. During the match, he kept wiping the sweat that was not absorbed by the tee shirt.

After losing the match, Ng expressed his frustration and thanked his supporters on Instagram. "I am moved by all the support and encouragement. I know I'm not alone. Maybe some people are destined to play tragic roles in life," the Hong Kong Badminton star wrote. "I will stand up again, but it'll take some time."

The pro-Beijing camp's criticism over Ng's black tee shirt has angered many people in Hong Kong. Many netizens felt for Ng and pointed out that the incident has imposed unnecessary pressure on Hong Kong athletes in international games.

Read more:
Hong Kong Athlete Attacked by Pro-China Camp for Wearing Black
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30602

Source: Stand News; InMedia; RTHK #Jul28

#AngusNg #NgKaLong #TeamHongKong #Sport #HongKongAthlete #DAB #WhiteTerror #Censorship
U.S. lawmakers blast Coca-Cola, Visa and other sponsors of Beijing Olympics

A bipartisan panel in the U.S. Congress on Tuesday blasted U.S.-based corporate sponsors of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, including Coca-Cola, Visa Inc and Airbnb, accusing them of putting profits ahead of accusations of genocide in China.

Republican Representative Chris Smith said in a hearing of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China that the sponsors needed to reconcile their "ostensible commitment to human rights" with subsidizing an Olympics where the host country is "actively committing human rights abuses."

Source: Reuters #Jul28

https://reut.rs/3i711Wn

#US #CocaCola #Visa #Sponsor #Beijing #Olympics
Morocco authorities arrest Uyghur activist at China’s request

Moroccan authorities have arrested a Uyghur activist in exile because of a Chinese terrorism warrant distributed by Interpol, according to information from Moroccan police and a rights group that tracks people detained by China.

Activists fear Yidiresi Aishan will be extradited to China and say the arrest is politically driven as part of a broader Chinese campaign to hunt down perceived dissidents outside its borders.

Morocco’s national security directorate said on Tuesday that a Chinese citizen was arrested after landing at Mohammed V international airport in Casablanca on 20 July, upon arrival from Istanbul.

Source: The Guardian #Jul28

 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/morocco-authorities-arrest-uyghur-activist-at-chinas-request

#Moroccan #Uyghur #China #Arrest
China Prepares New Anti-Sanction Laws for Hong Kong and Macau

China’s government is planning to introduce new laws in Hong Kong and Macau that could bar foreign entities and individuals in the cities from complying with sanctions against China, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The new laws are expected to mirror China’s own “antiforeign sanctions law,” which Beijing rushed through in June in response to sanctions imposed on the country by the U.S. and Europe, the people said.

China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday that the country’s legislature was scheduled to add provisions to the mini-constitutions of Hong Kong and Macau during a four-day session beginning Aug. 17, though it didn’t specify what changes would be made.

Source: WSJ #Jul28

https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-prepares-new-anti-sanction-laws-for-hong-kong-and-macau-11627475091?st=r0lq99ql8jrm0kj&reflink=article_copyURL_share

#China #AntiSanction #HongKong #Macau
China hits back after EU official joins call for cooperation on pandemic origins probe

A joint statement asks Beijing ‘to reconsider its decision to not engage in the WHO’s proposal for the next phase of the COVID-19 origins study.’

In a veiled warning to Brussels, Chinese officials urged Wednesday an end to "politicizing the issue of origins tracing" amid growing pressure on Beijing to allow for a more thorough investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

The statement, made by China's mission to the EU, comes after Research and Innovation Commissioner Mariya Gabriel added her name on Tuesday to a group of scientific experts and government representatives from the U.S., Australia and Japan. In a statement, they called on the "Chinese government to reconsider its decision to not engage in the World Health Organization's proposal for the next phase of the COVID-19 origins study."

Source: Politico #Jul28

https://t.co/PRgbH8QYkw

#EU #Statement #China #Covid19
Committee to Protect Journalists: At least 32 journalists jailed, Myanmar’s Fake News Act turns independent reporting into a crime.

Source: Stand News #Jul28

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Committee to Protect Journalists: At least 32 journalists jailed, Myanmar’s Fake News Act turns independent reporting into a crime.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an organization concerned with the state of press freedom worldwide, has released a report on the state of press freedom in Myanmar, saying that at least 32 journalists have been jailed since the coup in February and at least 45 as of July 1, before the military government released about 2,000 of those arrested in late June. The CPJ report said that at least 24 of the journalists were imprisoned because of Article 505(a) of the military's new post-coup Penal Code, which is used locally to combat “false news”.

CPJ's Southeast Asia representative and veteran journalist Shawn Crispin, who authored the report, said at an online press conference that the Burmese military government is fighting the last vestiges of press freedom in Myanmar through arrests, Internet bans, and the withdrawal of news agency licenses, calling for international attention to the press freedom and humanitarian crisis in Myanmar.

Source: Stand News #Jul28

#Burma #Myanmar #BurmaCoup #MyanmarCoup #Burmesemilitary #CPJ #CommitteeToProtectJournalists #pressfreedom #pressfreedominBurma #pressfreedominMyanmar

https://bit.ly/3BMA41J
#Save12
Chinese Prison Penalises Hongkonger for "Failing" Mindset, Lawyer: May Loss Communication Right

Source: InMedia #Jul28

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