Chinese public figures ditch western brands as Xinjiang row escalates
Chinese celebrities and politicians were racing to distance themselves from western brands as Beijing stepped up a campaign to penalise those making accusations of abuses in Xinjiang, including fashion companies that boycott the region’s cotton.
Burberry was one high-profile target, as the award-winning actor Zhou Dongyu ended her “brand ambassador” role, the company’s hallmark tartan was scrubbed from a popular video game, and a Hong Kong lawmaker shared a widely mocked photograph of herself staring mournfully at a trio of scarves she promised not to wear again.
Some brands including Muji and Fila responded to the boycotts by underlining their commitment to using cotton from Xinjiang, a reminder of China’s importance as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets for fashion.
Source: The Guardian #Mar26
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/26/chinese-actor-quits-as-burberry-ambassador-as-xinjiang-cotton-row-escalates?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#China #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #Burberry #Muji #Fila
Chinese celebrities and politicians were racing to distance themselves from western brands as Beijing stepped up a campaign to penalise those making accusations of abuses in Xinjiang, including fashion companies that boycott the region’s cotton.
Burberry was one high-profile target, as the award-winning actor Zhou Dongyu ended her “brand ambassador” role, the company’s hallmark tartan was scrubbed from a popular video game, and a Hong Kong lawmaker shared a widely mocked photograph of herself staring mournfully at a trio of scarves she promised not to wear again.
Some brands including Muji and Fila responded to the boycotts by underlining their commitment to using cotton from Xinjiang, a reminder of China’s importance as one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets for fashion.
Source: The Guardian #Mar26
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/26/chinese-actor-quits-as-burberry-ambassador-as-xinjiang-cotton-row-escalates?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#China #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #Burberry #Muji #Fila
the Guardian
Chinese public figures ditch western brands as Xinjiang row escalates
Burberry and H&M among brands targeted over stance on region at centre of Uighur abuses allegations
#XinjiangCotton Incident: China's Lawyer Claims Termination Of Contract Due To Damage Of National Interest Would Not Require Any Compensation
Source: Stand News #Mar26
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29288
Source: Stand News #Mar26
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29288
Muji Operator Shares Tumble as Brand Seen at Risk of China Boycott
Japanese brands Muji and Uniqlo are embroiled in the escalating controversy over cotton sourced from China’s Xinjiang region. Shares of Muji operator tumble nearly 7% in Tokyo trade. Als, several Chinese celebrities say they will cut ties with Uniqlo.
Shares in Ryohin Keikaku, which is the operator of the Muji chain of minimalist furniture and lifestyle
Stores and advertises items using Xinjiang cotton, fell as much as 6.8% in Tokyo, the most since July. It said it had vetted its supply chain and would continue to monitor compliance with law.
Source: Bloomberg #Mar26
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-26/muji-operator-tumbles-as-brand-seen-at-risk-of-china-boycott
#HM #Muji #Uniqlo #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #ChinaGenocide
Japanese brands Muji and Uniqlo are embroiled in the escalating controversy over cotton sourced from China’s Xinjiang region. Shares of Muji operator tumble nearly 7% in Tokyo trade. Als, several Chinese celebrities say they will cut ties with Uniqlo.
Shares in Ryohin Keikaku, which is the operator of the Muji chain of minimalist furniture and lifestyle
Stores and advertises items using Xinjiang cotton, fell as much as 6.8% in Tokyo, the most since July. It said it had vetted its supply chain and would continue to monitor compliance with law.
Source: Bloomberg #Mar26
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-26/muji-operator-tumbles-as-brand-seen-at-risk-of-china-boycott
#HM #Muji #Uniqlo #XinjiangCotton #Xinjiang #ChinaGenocide
#Court #PoliticalOppression
3-Year #Backlog of Court Cases Mean Hong Kong Protesters may be "Jailed for Nothing", Says Concerned Barrister
Source: Apple Daily #Mar26
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29332
3-Year #Backlog of Court Cases Mean Hong Kong Protesters may be "Jailed for Nothing", Says Concerned Barrister
Source: Apple Daily #Mar26
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29332
#Court #PoliticalOppression
3-Year #Backlog of Court Cases Mean Hong Kong Protesters may be "Jailed for Nothing", Says Concerned Barrister
Hong Kong's courts are experiencing a large backlog of protest-related cases, with some trials scheduled as late as 2024.
The riot case against pro-democracy protesters entering into the Legislative Council (#LegCo) chambers on July 1, 2019, which had its first hearing last week, is scheduled for trial in May 2023, more than 2 years later.
An anonymous barrister pointed out that the jail terms handed out for recent riot cases are 4 to 5 years, though the sentences are often reduced to around 3 years for good behavior in prison.
Time spent in custody while awaiting trial also counts toward time served, therefore some of the accused may have already served their sentences by the time the court has found them guilty. If they are found innocent, however, then "they would have been jailed for nothing these three years. We're talking three years, not a couple of months."
The situation is effectively handing down a punishment before the trial, the barrister said, and is unfair to the accused.
Though some arrestees in riot cases are released on bail, the terms include night-time curfews and prohibitions from being in certain locations, or from leaving the city.
The barrister calls the bail conditions harsh and disruptive to the lives of the accused, "as if it's meant for punishing them first." Bail conditions in other criminal cases are not nearly as numerous or complicated, he says, "I don't quite understand why riot cases nowadays need so many bail conditions."
Source: Apple Daily #Mar26
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210326/WWXAESVWLBCGXDRMFJYGDOCDRE/
#PoliceState #Bail #Injustice #Detention #RightToSpeedyTrial
3-Year #Backlog of Court Cases Mean Hong Kong Protesters may be "Jailed for Nothing", Says Concerned Barrister
Hong Kong's courts are experiencing a large backlog of protest-related cases, with some trials scheduled as late as 2024.
The riot case against pro-democracy protesters entering into the Legislative Council (#LegCo) chambers on July 1, 2019, which had its first hearing last week, is scheduled for trial in May 2023, more than 2 years later.
An anonymous barrister pointed out that the jail terms handed out for recent riot cases are 4 to 5 years, though the sentences are often reduced to around 3 years for good behavior in prison.
Time spent in custody while awaiting trial also counts toward time served, therefore some of the accused may have already served their sentences by the time the court has found them guilty. If they are found innocent, however, then "they would have been jailed for nothing these three years. We're talking three years, not a couple of months."
The situation is effectively handing down a punishment before the trial, the barrister said, and is unfair to the accused.
Though some arrestees in riot cases are released on bail, the terms include night-time curfews and prohibitions from being in certain locations, or from leaving the city.
The barrister calls the bail conditions harsh and disruptive to the lives of the accused, "as if it's meant for punishing them first." Bail conditions in other criminal cases are not nearly as numerous or complicated, he says, "I don't quite understand why riot cases nowadays need so many bail conditions."
Source: Apple Daily #Mar26
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210326/WWXAESVWLBCGXDRMFJYGDOCDRE/
#PoliceState #Bail #Injustice #Detention #RightToSpeedyTrial
China imposes sanctions on UK MPs, lawyers and academic in Xinjiang row
China has imposed sanctions on 10 UK organisations and individuals, including the former leader of the Conservative party Iain Duncan Smith, over what it called the spreading of “lies and disinformation” about human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
The sanctions are a response to Britain’s decision to implement measures against four Chinese officials on Mar 22.
The British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, responding to the expected Chinese countermeasures, said: “It speaks volumes that, while the UK joins the international community in sanctioning those responsible for human rights abuses, the Chinese government sanctions its critics.
Source: The Guardian #Mar26
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/26/china-sanctions-uk-businesses-mps-and-lawyers-in-xinjiang-row
#China #ChinaRetaliatoryMeasure #UK
China has imposed sanctions on 10 UK organisations and individuals, including the former leader of the Conservative party Iain Duncan Smith, over what it called the spreading of “lies and disinformation” about human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
The sanctions are a response to Britain’s decision to implement measures against four Chinese officials on Mar 22.
The British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, responding to the expected Chinese countermeasures, said: “It speaks volumes that, while the UK joins the international community in sanctioning those responsible for human rights abuses, the Chinese government sanctions its critics.
Source: The Guardian #Mar26
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/26/china-sanctions-uk-businesses-mps-and-lawyers-in-xinjiang-row
#China #ChinaRetaliatoryMeasure #UK
China Sanctions 9 British Personnel and 4 Entities for Sanctioning China “Based on Lies and False Information”
Source: Stand News #Mar26
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Source: Stand News #Mar26
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China Sanctions 9 British Personnel and 4 Entities for Sanctioning China “Based on Lies and False Information”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced sanctions against nine British personnel and four entities, accusing the UK of interfering in China's internal affairs by sanctioning China over the Xinjiang issue "based on lies and false information". China also accused the UK of violating the international law and basic norms of international relations.
Recently, China and the western have imposed sanctions on each other. The Chinese government has set up "re-education camps" in Xinjiang in recent years to detain a large number of Uyghurs, and the international community has criticized China for violating human rights. On the 22nd of March, the European Union announced sanctions against four Chinese officials and one entity. Then, the United Kingdom immediately announced the same list of sanctions which is the first time in 30 years that the United Kingdom has punished China for human rights issues.
Source: Stand News #Mar26
https://bit.ly/3dSDllb
#China #UK #EU #SinoBritishRelations #sanctions #Xinjiang #reeducationCamp #Uyghurs #humanrights
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced sanctions against nine British personnel and four entities, accusing the UK of interfering in China's internal affairs by sanctioning China over the Xinjiang issue "based on lies and false information". China also accused the UK of violating the international law and basic norms of international relations.
Recently, China and the western have imposed sanctions on each other. The Chinese government has set up "re-education camps" in Xinjiang in recent years to detain a large number of Uyghurs, and the international community has criticized China for violating human rights. On the 22nd of March, the European Union announced sanctions against four Chinese officials and one entity. Then, the United Kingdom immediately announced the same list of sanctions which is the first time in 30 years that the United Kingdom has punished China for human rights issues.
Source: Stand News #Mar26
https://bit.ly/3dSDllb
#China #UK #EU #SinoBritishRelations #sanctions #Xinjiang #reeducationCamp #Uyghurs #humanrights
British Asia-Pacific Minister: UK Sanctions Chinese officials for Xinjiang Issue but How About Hong Kong Officials?
Source : Stand News #Mar26
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Source : Stand News #Mar26
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British Asia-Pacific Minister: UK Sanctions Chinese officials for Xinjiang Issue but How About Hong Kong Officials?
The protest organisation “Stand with Hong Kong” held an online roundtable meeting with UK Labour Party on Mar 24 to discuss its role in the Hong Kong issue. Stephen Kinnock, the Labour Party shadow minister, asked why the UK government had not sanctioned Hong Kong officials yet while sanctions had already put on related China officials. Recently, some public opinions question whether UK judges should still serve in Hong Kong judiciary institutions. Kinnock believes “the time of UK judges serving Hong Kong should be ended”.
The meeting was hosted by Siobhain McDonagh, the Labour Party Congressman. Stephen Kinnock, the shadow Asia-Pacific State Affairs Minister, Francis, representatives of “Stand with Hong Kong”, and Ted Hui, the former member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council who exiled to Australia, spoke in turn.
Source : Stand News #Mar26
https://bit.ly/3vrSnWl
#UK #LabourParty #StandwithHongKong #OnlineMeeting #StephenKinnock #TedHui #sanctions
The protest organisation “Stand with Hong Kong” held an online roundtable meeting with UK Labour Party on Mar 24 to discuss its role in the Hong Kong issue. Stephen Kinnock, the Labour Party shadow minister, asked why the UK government had not sanctioned Hong Kong officials yet while sanctions had already put on related China officials. Recently, some public opinions question whether UK judges should still serve in Hong Kong judiciary institutions. Kinnock believes “the time of UK judges serving Hong Kong should be ended”.
The meeting was hosted by Siobhain McDonagh, the Labour Party Congressman. Stephen Kinnock, the shadow Asia-Pacific State Affairs Minister, Francis, representatives of “Stand with Hong Kong”, and Ted Hui, the former member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council who exiled to Australia, spoke in turn.
Source : Stand News #Mar26
https://bit.ly/3vrSnWl
#UK #LabourParty #StandwithHongKong #OnlineMeeting #StephenKinnock #TedHui #sanctions
立場新聞 Stand News
英工黨影子亞太國務大臣﹕英國就新疆問題制裁中國官員 香港官員呢？ | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
抗爭組織 Stand with Hong Kong（「重光團隊」）與英國工黨本月 24 日舉行網上圓桌會議，探...
As Hong Kong’s Covid crisis continues, Beijing makes its presence felt stronger than ever
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Mar26
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Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Mar26
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As Hong Kong’s Covid crisis continues, Beijing makes its presence felt stronger than ever
1. Chinese workers sent to Hong Kong
//Recently, the traffic has been busier than usual in Lok Ma Chau, a village on Hong Kong’s northern border. Heavy-duty trucks shuttle mainland Chinese workers to and from the mostly wetland district, where they are building a makeshift hospital to treat Covid-19 patients...//
2. Arrival of Chinese Medics, and Caregivers
//With mainland Chinese medics and caregivers now staffing Hong Kong’s coronavirus facilities, the two-lane crossing in the city’s northernmost district has emerged as a physical manifestation of the shrinking space between Beijing and the semi-autonomous territory...//
3. HK Government's Distribution of Chinese medication that is not registered
//Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced during a Covid-19 press briefing on Friday that the city would start distributing kits to households with rapid test kits, face masks and traditional Chinese medication – Lianhua Qingwen – donated by the mainland.
The medication has not been registered with the city’s pharmaceutical board, a requirement that was waived under the emergency laws...//
4. Construction Projects by Chinese Companies
//While infrastructure projects typically involve construction firms submitting tenders to compete for billion-dollar contracts, all of the facilities being built with mainland aid have been handed over to Chinese State Construction Engineering, a state-owned company.//
5. Mainlandization
//At an opening ceremony for the newest centre in the northern district of Yuen Long on Thursday, top Hong Kong officials stood at attention as they watched a video of toiling construction workers, portrayed as worked-to-the-bone heroes. A song in Mandarin, instead of the Cantonese language spoken in Hong Kong, played in the background.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/03/26/as-hong-kongs-covid-crisis-continues-beijing-makes-its-presence-felt-stronger-than-ever/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Mar26
#Mainlandization #Beijing #HongKong #FailedState #Covid19 #Pandemic
1. Chinese workers sent to Hong Kong
//Recently, the traffic has been busier than usual in Lok Ma Chau, a village on Hong Kong’s northern border. Heavy-duty trucks shuttle mainland Chinese workers to and from the mostly wetland district, where they are building a makeshift hospital to treat Covid-19 patients...//
2. Arrival of Chinese Medics, and Caregivers
//With mainland Chinese medics and caregivers now staffing Hong Kong’s coronavirus facilities, the two-lane crossing in the city’s northernmost district has emerged as a physical manifestation of the shrinking space between Beijing and the semi-autonomous territory...//
3. HK Government's Distribution of Chinese medication that is not registered
//Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced during a Covid-19 press briefing on Friday that the city would start distributing kits to households with rapid test kits, face masks and traditional Chinese medication – Lianhua Qingwen – donated by the mainland.
The medication has not been registered with the city’s pharmaceutical board, a requirement that was waived under the emergency laws...//
4. Construction Projects by Chinese Companies
//While infrastructure projects typically involve construction firms submitting tenders to compete for billion-dollar contracts, all of the facilities being built with mainland aid have been handed over to Chinese State Construction Engineering, a state-owned company.//
5. Mainlandization
//At an opening ceremony for the newest centre in the northern district of Yuen Long on Thursday, top Hong Kong officials stood at attention as they watched a video of toiling construction workers, portrayed as worked-to-the-bone heroes. A song in Mandarin, instead of the Cantonese language spoken in Hong Kong, played in the background.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/03/26/as-hong-kongs-covid-crisis-continues-beijing-makes-its-presence-felt-stronger-than-ever/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Mar26
#Mainlandization #Beijing #HongKong #FailedState #Covid19 #Pandemic
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
As Hong Kong’s Covid crisis continues, Beijing makes its presence felt stronger than ever
This article was published as part of a new affiliation with The Guardian. Recently, the traffic has been busier than usual in Lok Ma Chau, a village on Hong Kong’s northern border. Heavy-dut…
#Poll: One out of four #Hongkonger wants to emigrate; #CarrieLam: Not interested
Source: Inmediahk; #Mar26
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Source: Inmediahk; #Mar26
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#Poll: One out of four #Hongkonger wants to emigrate; #CarrieLam: Not interested
On March 25, 2022, the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) announced some alarming survey findings that a quarter of the city population plans to emigrate, citing political uncertainty as the key reason.
Reporters took this issue to the #ChiefExecutive, Carrie Lam and asked whether measures are in place to retain talents.
Lam brushed the question aside as she responded in contempt, "I am not interested in these surveys in general. So I am not going to comment."
Lam asked Hong Kong people to stay confident as she foresees the #COVID19 pandemic receding in 4 weeks.
Lam's colleague, a member of the Executive Council, Bernard Charnwut Chan, apparently has a different view.
Chan expressed concerns over Hong Kong's role as the financial center in Asia when multinational corporations are moving their Asia Pacific headquarters away from Hong Kong.
Chan told reporters on a radio talk show that chances for these headquarters to be relocated back to Hong Kong are slim.
Although Hong Kong has lifted flight bans against 9 countries, inbound restrictions remained in force while many countries have removed COVID-19 restrictions altogether.
Source: Inmediahk; #Mar26
https://bit.ly/3tEWzDW
#BernardChan #FailedState #BrainDrain #EmigrationWave
#Exodus
On March 25, 2022, the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) announced some alarming survey findings that a quarter of the city population plans to emigrate, citing political uncertainty as the key reason.
Reporters took this issue to the #ChiefExecutive, Carrie Lam and asked whether measures are in place to retain talents.
Lam brushed the question aside as she responded in contempt, "I am not interested in these surveys in general. So I am not going to comment."
Lam asked Hong Kong people to stay confident as she foresees the #COVID19 pandemic receding in 4 weeks.
Lam's colleague, a member of the Executive Council, Bernard Charnwut Chan, apparently has a different view.
Chan expressed concerns over Hong Kong's role as the financial center in Asia when multinational corporations are moving their Asia Pacific headquarters away from Hong Kong.
Chan told reporters on a radio talk show that chances for these headquarters to be relocated back to Hong Kong are slim.
Although Hong Kong has lifted flight bans against 9 countries, inbound restrictions remained in force while many countries have removed COVID-19 restrictions altogether.
Source: Inmediahk; #Mar26
https://bit.ly/3tEWzDW
#BernardChan #FailedState #BrainDrain #EmigrationWave
#Exodus
#PoliceBrutality #NeverForget
VICE News Report on 7.21 Yuen Long Attack is Geo-Blocked in Hong Kong
Source: RFA, #Mar26
#721YuenLong #Censorship #NationalSecurityLaw #NeverForget
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VICE News Report on 7.21 Yuen Long Attack is Geo-Blocked in Hong Kong
Source: RFA, #Mar26
#721YuenLong #Censorship #NationalSecurityLaw #NeverForget
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#PoliceState #Neverforget
VICE News Report on 7.21 Yuen Long Attack is Geo-Blocked in Hong Kong
On March 26, 2022, a video titled "Hong Kong's Organized Crime Societies", was released on the YouTube channel of VICE News, a popular US-based news platform with over 7.6 million subscribers.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARB-z8B7bHs
However, netizens found that the video was "geo-blocked" in Hong Kong. Viewers with a Hong Kong IP address are met with a "video unavailable" message, stating that "the uploader has not made this video available in your country". The video description was also hidden, and its comment section disabled.
The video remains viewable to netizens outside of Asia. Viewers within the blocked region could only access it with a VPN service. It is not yet known whether VICE News chose to block the region, or if the Hong Kong authorities demanded that it did so.
The video covered interviews with victims of Yuen Long attack on July 21, 2019, when hundreds of white-clad gangsters indiscriminately attacked civilians at the Yuen Long MTR train station. Hong Kong police force was accused of colluding with the gangsters in this incident, as they render slow and minimal efforts to respond to the violence.
The geo-blocking is seen as part of the growing, organised online censorship effort following the enactment National Security Law, under which outspoken media outlets such as Apple Daily, Stand News, and Citizen News have been forced to disband or were shut down by authorities. Other documentary videos of the 7.21 incident, including those produced by RTHK, have also been taken offline, raising concerns that history is being concealed in Hong Kong, and memories of the incident are being whitewashed.
Source: RFA, #Mar26
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/hk-youtube-03292022080949.html
See also:
2.5 years after #721YuenLong Mob Attack: Who Owns the Truth Now in 2022 Hong Kong?
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31957
#721YuenLong #Censorship #NationalSecurityLaw5
VICE News Report on 7.21 Yuen Long Attack is Geo-Blocked in Hong Kong
On March 26, 2022, a video titled "Hong Kong's Organized Crime Societies", was released on the YouTube channel of VICE News, a popular US-based news platform with over 7.6 million subscribers.
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARB-z8B7bHs
However, netizens found that the video was "geo-blocked" in Hong Kong. Viewers with a Hong Kong IP address are met with a "video unavailable" message, stating that "the uploader has not made this video available in your country". The video description was also hidden, and its comment section disabled.
The video remains viewable to netizens outside of Asia. Viewers within the blocked region could only access it with a VPN service. It is not yet known whether VICE News chose to block the region, or if the Hong Kong authorities demanded that it did so.
The video covered interviews with victims of Yuen Long attack on July 21, 2019, when hundreds of white-clad gangsters indiscriminately attacked civilians at the Yuen Long MTR train station. Hong Kong police force was accused of colluding with the gangsters in this incident, as they render slow and minimal efforts to respond to the violence.
The geo-blocking is seen as part of the growing, organised online censorship effort following the enactment National Security Law, under which outspoken media outlets such as Apple Daily, Stand News, and Citizen News have been forced to disband or were shut down by authorities. Other documentary videos of the 7.21 incident, including those produced by RTHK, have also been taken offline, raising concerns that history is being concealed in Hong Kong, and memories of the incident are being whitewashed.
Source: RFA, #Mar26
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/hk-youtube-03292022080949.html
See also:
2.5 years after #721YuenLong Mob Attack: Who Owns the Truth Now in 2022 Hong Kong?
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31957
#721YuenLong #Censorship #NationalSecurityLaw5
YouTube
Hong Kong's Organized Crime Societies | Open Secrets
In this episode, we explore the rise of triads from running underground societies to influencing national politics between China and Hong Kong. On July 21st, 2019, Hong Kong’s ongoing protests demanding independence were met with a violent attack by men in…