#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState
Hong Kong Watch, the first overseas organisation accused of National Security Violations
The National Security unit of Hong Kong Police issued letters to the UK-based human rights watchdog, Hong Kong Watch, accusing the organisation's Chief Executive, #BenedictRogers of “collusion with foreign forces”.
The Bureau asked Rogers to remove published contents on #HongKongWatch within 72 hours, threatening him with prison and fines for allegedly breaching the city’s national security law.
A second letter, dated March 10 and signed by Annette Cheng for the Commissioner of Police, warned Rogers not to disclose details: “You are reminded to keep confidential any information pertaining to the case and not to make any disclosure that may prejudice investigation or other law enforcement action by the Hong Kong Police Force.”
UK Foreign Secretary, #LizTruss said, “The unjustifiable action taken against the UK-based NGO HKW is clearly an attempt to silence those who stand up for human rights in HK.”
She called on the Chinese government and the Hong Kong government to abide by international agreements, to respect and maintain freedom of speech in Hong Kong.
Truss also pointed out that any attempt to silence voices for democracy and freedom around the world is unacceptable and will never succeed.
Read Hong Kong National Security Police's letter to Hong Kong Watch
https://www.hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2022/3/14/hong-kong-watch-co-founder-and-ceo-benedict-rogers-threatened-under-national-security-law
Sources: The Chaser News, HKFP; #Mar14
https://t.me/the_chaser_news/165
Hong Kong Watch, the first overseas organisation accused of National Security Violations
The National Security unit of Hong Kong Police issued letters to the UK-based human rights watchdog, Hong Kong Watch, accusing the organisation's Chief Executive, #BenedictRogers of “collusion with foreign forces”.
The Bureau asked Rogers to remove published contents on #HongKongWatch within 72 hours, threatening him with prison and fines for allegedly breaching the city’s national security law.
A second letter, dated March 10 and signed by Annette Cheng for the Commissioner of Police, warned Rogers not to disclose details: “You are reminded to keep confidential any information pertaining to the case and not to make any disclosure that may prejudice investigation or other law enforcement action by the Hong Kong Police Force.”
UK Foreign Secretary, #LizTruss said, “The unjustifiable action taken against the UK-based NGO HKW is clearly an attempt to silence those who stand up for human rights in HK.”
She called on the Chinese government and the Hong Kong government to abide by international agreements, to respect and maintain freedom of speech in Hong Kong.
Truss also pointed out that any attempt to silence voices for democracy and freedom around the world is unacceptable and will never succeed.
Read Hong Kong National Security Police's letter to Hong Kong Watch
https://www.hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2022/3/14/hong-kong-watch-co-founder-and-ceo-benedict-rogers-threatened-under-national-security-law
Sources: The Chaser News, HKFP; #Mar14
https://t.me/the_chaser_news/165
Hong Kong Watch
Hong Kong Watch co-founder and CEO Benedict Rogers threatened under National Security Law — Hong Kong Watch
Hong Kong Watch has received a formal warning from the Hong Kong Police Force’s National Security Department regarding its website possibly breaching the National Security Law. This makes Hong Kong Watch one of the first foreign organisations to be targeted…
UK judges quit Hong Kong's top court over national security law concerns while Canadian and Australian judges decide to remain
Two senior British judges, including the president of the UK Supreme Court, Lord #RobertReed and his deputy Lord #PatrickHodge resigned from Hong Kong's highest court. Four of the ten remaining overseas judges, however, said they would remain to defend the city's "last surviving strong institution of democracy".
Reed said in a statement on March 30, 2022, that they could no longer serve in Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal "without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from values of political freedom."
The judges resignation was endorsed by the UK prime minister as #BorisJohnson told MPs: “They have evidently concluded the constraints of the national security law make it impossible for them to serve in the way they would want.”
British Foreign Secretary #LizTruss also said that the situation had reached a tippingpoint "untenable" for judges to serve independently without risk legitimising oppression.
"We have seen a systematic erosion of liberty and democracy in Hong Kong. Since the National Security Law was imposed, authorities have cracked down on free speech, the free press and free association."
Four of the ten remaining overseas judges, however, have said on the next day that they will remain, including former Canadian chief justice Beverley McLachlin, Australian judges William Gummow, Anthony Murray Gleeson and Robert French.
Sources:
InmediaHK, #Mar30;
https://bit.ly/3LqiLrr
HKFP, #Mar31
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/03/31/australian-canadian-judges-to-stay-on-hong-kong-top-court-after-2-uk-judges-quit-citing-security-law/
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Related articles
Barrister #PaulHarris Leaves Hong Kong After Being Approached by National Security Police
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32345
Hong Kong Watch, the first overseas organisation accused of National Security Violations
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32404
.
Two senior British judges, including the president of the UK Supreme Court, Lord #RobertReed and his deputy Lord #PatrickHodge resigned from Hong Kong's highest court. Four of the ten remaining overseas judges, however, said they would remain to defend the city's "last surviving strong institution of democracy".
Reed said in a statement on March 30, 2022, that they could no longer serve in Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal "without appearing to endorse an administration which has departed from values of political freedom."
The judges resignation was endorsed by the UK prime minister as #BorisJohnson told MPs: “They have evidently concluded the constraints of the national security law make it impossible for them to serve in the way they would want.”
British Foreign Secretary #LizTruss also said that the situation had reached a tippingpoint "untenable" for judges to serve independently without risk legitimising oppression.
"We have seen a systematic erosion of liberty and democracy in Hong Kong. Since the National Security Law was imposed, authorities have cracked down on free speech, the free press and free association."
Four of the ten remaining overseas judges, however, have said on the next day that they will remain, including former Canadian chief justice Beverley McLachlin, Australian judges William Gummow, Anthony Murray Gleeson and Robert French.
Sources:
InmediaHK, #Mar30;
https://bit.ly/3LqiLrr
HKFP, #Mar31
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/03/31/australian-canadian-judges-to-stay-on-hong-kong-top-court-after-2-uk-judges-quit-citing-security-law/
-----
Related articles
Barrister #PaulHarris Leaves Hong Kong After Being Approached by National Security Police
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32345
Hong Kong Watch, the first overseas organisation accused of National Security Violations
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32404
.
獨立媒體
韋彥德、賀知義辭任終院非常任法官 稱不願為港府背書 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
【獨媒報導】終審法院現時有12名海外非常任法官，特首林鄭不時以此強調香港司法獨立，惟12席法官去留出現變數。英國最高法院今宣布，英國最高法院院長及副院長韋彥德勳爵及賀知義勳爵，辭去香港終審法院非常任法官職務，即時生效。韋彥德在聲明指，《港區國安法》實施後不時權衡終院工作與英國國家利益，最終認為若繼續出任工作，將難免予人感覺正為一個遠離自由民