Hong Kong National Security Law has been implemented for a year. Until May 23, 2021, 77% of National Security Law defendants have already lost their freedom without a conviction.
#NationalSecurityLaw #Freedom #GoHKgraphics
#NationalSecurityLaw #Freedom #GoHKgraphics
Red lines must be drawn more clearly to reaffirm press freedom in Hong Kong
Life in Hong Kong under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law is not quite a year old. But it has reached a watershed with the national security raids on Apple Daily’s office and the arrests of its executives. The most frequently cited cornerstone of Hong Kong’s success is “the rule of law”.
Another value often coupled with it is “a free flow of information”. So fundamental is this to the city’s way of life that it is safeguarded in the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, with guarantees of freedom of speech, of the press and of publication.
Source: SCMP #Jun19
https://t.co/iIbjJs7KSp
#RedLine #Beijing #NationalSecurityLaw #Press #Freedom #HongKong
Life in Hong Kong under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law is not quite a year old. But it has reached a watershed with the national security raids on Apple Daily’s office and the arrests of its executives. The most frequently cited cornerstone of Hong Kong’s success is “the rule of law”.
Another value often coupled with it is “a free flow of information”. So fundamental is this to the city’s way of life that it is safeguarded in the Basic Law, Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, with guarantees of freedom of speech, of the press and of publication.
Source: SCMP #Jun19
https://t.co/iIbjJs7KSp
#RedLine #Beijing #NationalSecurityLaw #Press #Freedom #HongKong
Hong Kong has lost so much thing in the previous month. The highlighted are the June 4th Assembly, Apple Daily, and the July 1st March.
#Freedom #FreedomofPress #FreedomofSpeech #AppleDaily #July1 #June4 #GoHKgraphics
#Freedom #FreedomofPress #FreedomofSpeech #AppleDaily #July1 #June4 #GoHKgraphics
DN Debatt. ”To the People’s Republic of China”
Four leading newspapers from the Nordic countries join in a protest against China’s violation of freedom of the press in Hong Kong. The protest follows the closure of the newspaper Apple Daily and is published on the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Chinese Communist Party.
It has been too much for a long time. Now, enough is enough. The world can no longer stand idly by as China gradually sucks the air out of freedom of the press in Hong Kong. Our hope that China would live up to its assurances and promises that basic democratic civil liberties would be defended and protected in Hong Kong has been dwindling lately, while our fear and disdain has been growing.
Source: DN SE #Jul01
https://www.dn.se/debatt/to-the-people-s-republic-of-china/
#PRC #Freedom #Press #Newspaper #AppleDaily
Four leading newspapers from the Nordic countries join in a protest against China’s violation of freedom of the press in Hong Kong. The protest follows the closure of the newspaper Apple Daily and is published on the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Chinese Communist Party.
It has been too much for a long time. Now, enough is enough. The world can no longer stand idly by as China gradually sucks the air out of freedom of the press in Hong Kong. Our hope that China would live up to its assurances and promises that basic democratic civil liberties would be defended and protected in Hong Kong has been dwindling lately, while our fear and disdain has been growing.
Source: DN SE #Jul01
https://www.dn.se/debatt/to-the-people-s-republic-of-china/
#PRC #Freedom #Press #Newspaper #AppleDaily
How Press Freedom Is Being Eroded in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s raucous and politically diverse news media, though free from the constraints placed on journalism next door in mainland China, has contended with various threats over the years. But after a draconian national security law went into effect a year ago, those challenges have multiplied dramatically.
The growing pressure on the media was underscored on Wednesday when Apple Daily, a pro-democracy tabloid that is often critical of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, said it had no choice but to close. The newspaper, which had been one of the most widely read in Hong Kong, is the subject of a national security investigation that has also imprisoned its founder, Jimmy Lai.
Source: NY Times #Jun24
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/23/world/asia/hong-kong-press-freedom.amp.html
#Press #Freedom #HongKong #AppleDaily #JimmyLai #China
Hong Kong’s raucous and politically diverse news media, though free from the constraints placed on journalism next door in mainland China, has contended with various threats over the years. But after a draconian national security law went into effect a year ago, those challenges have multiplied dramatically.
The growing pressure on the media was underscored on Wednesday when Apple Daily, a pro-democracy tabloid that is often critical of the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, said it had no choice but to close. The newspaper, which had been one of the most widely read in Hong Kong, is the subject of a national security investigation that has also imprisoned its founder, Jimmy Lai.
Source: NY Times #Jun24
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/23/world/asia/hong-kong-press-freedom.amp.html
#Press #Freedom #HongKong #AppleDaily #JimmyLai #China
In a Muffled Hong Kong, Bookstores Offer Freedom of Thought
When Hong Kong public libraries pulled books about dissent from circulation last month, Pong Yat Ming made an offer to his customers: They could read some of the same books, free, at his store.
Mr. Pong, 47, founded the shop, Book Punch, in 2020, after Beijing imposed a national security law in response to the antigovernment protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019. The law broadly defined acts of subversion and secession against China, making much political speech potentially illegal, and it threatened severe punishment, including life imprisonment, for offenders.
Source: NY Times #Jun29
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/20/world/asia/hong-kong-bookstores-nsl.amp.html#click=https://t.co/hqZaQ5zmT2
#HongKong #Bookstore #Freedom
When Hong Kong public libraries pulled books about dissent from circulation last month, Pong Yat Ming made an offer to his customers: They could read some of the same books, free, at his store.
Mr. Pong, 47, founded the shop, Book Punch, in 2020, after Beijing imposed a national security law in response to the antigovernment protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019. The law broadly defined acts of subversion and secession against China, making much political speech potentially illegal, and it threatened severe punishment, including life imprisonment, for offenders.
Source: NY Times #Jun29
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/20/world/asia/hong-kong-bookstores-nsl.amp.html#click=https://t.co/hqZaQ5zmT2
#HongKong #Bookstore #Freedom
China links pose a threat to academic freedom in Britain
The writer is Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling and chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
Cardiff University published a job advertisement last month with an unusual requirement: prospective applicants “must have native or near-native fluency in Mandarin”. Perhaps not so unusual in a language school, but this was for the position of lecturer in music composition.
Britain’s universities have changed. Over the past decade, our higher education system has become increasingly reliant on China for a steady stream of students, research partnerships and funding.
Source: Financial Times #Jun20
https://t.co/tCXkY7Efac
#China #Academic #Freedom #Britain
The writer is Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling and chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
Cardiff University published a job advertisement last month with an unusual requirement: prospective applicants “must have native or near-native fluency in Mandarin”. Perhaps not so unusual in a language school, but this was for the position of lecturer in music composition.
Britain’s universities have changed. Over the past decade, our higher education system has become increasingly reliant on China for a steady stream of students, research partnerships and funding.
Source: Financial Times #Jun20
https://t.co/tCXkY7Efac
#China #Academic #Freedom #Britain
The break up with its student union reminds of changes of University of Hong Kong in 10 years
A lot can change in 10 years.
Ten years ago in 2011, I just became a student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
Like other students, we looked forward to the university life. We wanted to grow in knowledge and complete “the five things of university life”. To fully utilise the time in university to live another future might well be the hopes of many youngsters at the time.
Read our fully translated article here:
https://telegra.ph/The-break-up-with-its-student-union-reminds-of-changes-of-University-of-Hong-Kong-in-10-years-06-22
Source: Stand News #May02
#AlexChow #freedom #persevere #HKU #HKUSU
A lot can change in 10 years.
Ten years ago in 2011, I just became a student at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
Like other students, we looked forward to the university life. We wanted to grow in knowledge and complete “the five things of university life”. To fully utilise the time in university to live another future might well be the hopes of many youngsters at the time.
Read our fully translated article here:
https://telegra.ph/The-break-up-with-its-student-union-reminds-of-changes-of-University-of-Hong-Kong-in-10-years-06-22
Source: Stand News #May02
#AlexChow #freedom #persevere #HKU #HKUSU
Honoring Jimmy Lai
The Committee to Protect Journalists was founded 40 years ago to fight for journalists who are “attacked, imprisoned or killed.” In this spirit, the CPJ on Monday announced it is honoring Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai with its 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. Mr. Lai, the founder, owner and contributor to the Apple Daily newspaper, won’t be able to accept the award in person because he sits in prison in Hong Kong.
The CPJ honor comes after another police raid on the newsroom last week. Five Apple Daily execs were arrested, and two—editor-in-chief Ryan Law and chief executive officer Cheung Kim-hung—were charged under the new national security law and thus denied bail. The CPJ notes that Mr. Lai “fights for the right of his Apple News organization to publish freely, even as China and its backers in Hong Kong use every tool to quash them.”
Source: WSJ #Jun21
https://www.wsj.com/articles/honoring-jimmy-lai-11624248153
#JimmyLai #Journalist #Freedom #Award
The Committee to Protect Journalists was founded 40 years ago to fight for journalists who are “attacked, imprisoned or killed.” In this spirit, the CPJ on Monday announced it is honoring Hong Kong’s Jimmy Lai with its 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. Mr. Lai, the founder, owner and contributor to the Apple Daily newspaper, won’t be able to accept the award in person because he sits in prison in Hong Kong.
The CPJ honor comes after another police raid on the newsroom last week. Five Apple Daily execs were arrested, and two—editor-in-chief Ryan Law and chief executive officer Cheung Kim-hung—were charged under the new national security law and thus denied bail. The CPJ notes that Mr. Lai “fights for the right of his Apple News organization to publish freely, even as China and its backers in Hong Kong use every tool to quash them.”
Source: WSJ #Jun21
https://www.wsj.com/articles/honoring-jimmy-lai-11624248153
#JimmyLai #Journalist #Freedom #Award
Blinken: "Tiananmen" is a Synonym of China's brutal actions, the protest at the time echoes Hongkongers' struggle today
On the 32nd Anniversary of the June 4th Massacre, the US Secretary of State Blinken issues a statement saying that Tiananmen had already been a synonym of brutal actions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1989. He also describes the Tiananmen demonstrations in 1989 echoing the struggles for democracy and freedom in Hong Kong.
The statement said that the people at the Tiananmen Square by then had a noble and simple request: Recognize and respect the human rights. Blinken criticises the PRC authorities for failing to meet the people's request and responded it with violence. He said that the courage of the protesters on the June 4th incident reminds him never stop seeking transparency on the events of that day, including a full accounting of all those killed, detained, or missing. He also pointed out that the Tiananmen demonstrations echoes the struggles for democracy and freedom in Hong Kong, where a planned vigil to commemorate the event was banned by local authorities.
He emphasises that the US will continue to stand with the people of China as they demand their government to respect universal human rights.
Source: Stand News #Jun04
https://bit.ly/3wO2QeQ
#US #China #Tiananmen #Blinken #HumanRights #Tyranny #June4 #Freedom #Democracy
On the 32nd Anniversary of the June 4th Massacre, the US Secretary of State Blinken issues a statement saying that Tiananmen had already been a synonym of brutal actions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1989. He also describes the Tiananmen demonstrations in 1989 echoing the struggles for democracy and freedom in Hong Kong.
The statement said that the people at the Tiananmen Square by then had a noble and simple request: Recognize and respect the human rights. Blinken criticises the PRC authorities for failing to meet the people's request and responded it with violence. He said that the courage of the protesters on the June 4th incident reminds him never stop seeking transparency on the events of that day, including a full accounting of all those killed, detained, or missing. He also pointed out that the Tiananmen demonstrations echoes the struggles for democracy and freedom in Hong Kong, where a planned vigil to commemorate the event was banned by local authorities.
He emphasises that the US will continue to stand with the people of China as they demand their government to respect universal human rights.
Source: Stand News #Jun04
https://bit.ly/3wO2QeQ
#US #China #Tiananmen #Blinken #HumanRights #Tyranny #June4 #Freedom #Democracy
The Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union dismissed 2 weeks after being criticised by official media.
#TeachersUnion #Freedom #GoHKgraphics
#TeachersUnion #Freedom #GoHKgraphics
#PoliticalProsecution
Former Reporter Charged with Rioting in Hong Kong: Losing the 612 Fund is Like Losing a Backing
Since 2019, the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund have been providing financial support to the pro-democracry protesters arrested in the #AntiELAB movement in Hong Kong. On August 18, 2021, the Fund annouced that they would suspend their operation. Their record shows that there are still 1,274 ongoing cases as of May 2021.
Ari (a pseudonym), who was previously a #AppleDaily reporter and currently unemployed, was charged with rioting during the AntiELAB movement in 2019. She is one of the arrested persons receiving support from the 612 Fund.
She described the 612 Fund as a firm backing the arrested people who were unsure about their future and struggle to live normally. The Fund relieved part of their financial burden; however, after the suspension of the Fund, Ari would hesitate before filing a legal review, if she would be convicted.
Source: InMediaHK #Oct02
https://bit.ly/3aoZeY3
#612Fund #612HumantarianReliefFund #Court #Freedom #Trial #Riots #Appeal
Former Reporter Charged with Rioting in Hong Kong: Losing the 612 Fund is Like Losing a Backing
Since 2019, the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund have been providing financial support to the pro-democracry protesters arrested in the #AntiELAB movement in Hong Kong. On August 18, 2021, the Fund annouced that they would suspend their operation. Their record shows that there are still 1,274 ongoing cases as of May 2021.
Ari (a pseudonym), who was previously a #AppleDaily reporter and currently unemployed, was charged with rioting during the AntiELAB movement in 2019. She is one of the arrested persons receiving support from the 612 Fund.
She described the 612 Fund as a firm backing the arrested people who were unsure about their future and struggle to live normally. The Fund relieved part of their financial burden; however, after the suspension of the Fund, Ari would hesitate before filing a legal review, if she would be convicted.
Source: InMediaHK #Oct02
https://bit.ly/3aoZeY3
#612Fund #612HumantarianReliefFund #Court #Freedom #Trial #Riots #Appeal
獨立媒體
【牆外的人5】失業記者身負暴動罪：失612似失去後盾 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
（獨媒報導） 8 月 18 日，為反送中被捕者提供經濟援助的 612 人道支援基金，宣佈將停止運作。根據 612 提供的數據，截止 5 月尾，尚有 1,274 宗案件未結案，而受支援的還柙者、在囚者和他們的親友，以
#Disband #HumanRights
Amnesty shuts offices in Hong Kong as freedom meltdown in this once most free city in the world
#Amnesty #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #Democracy #Freedom #PoliticalOppression
Sources: Stand News, Reuters, Amnesty; #Oct25
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Amnesty shuts offices in Hong Kong as freedom meltdown in this once most free city in the world
#Amnesty #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #Democracy #Freedom #PoliticalOppression
Sources: Stand News, Reuters, Amnesty; #Oct25
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
#Disband #HumanRights
Amnesty shuts offices in Hong Kong as freedom meltdown in this once most free city in the world
International rights group Amnesty International said on October 25 that it would close its Hong Kong offices due to the China-imposed national security law.
Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, the chair of Amnesty’s international board, said in a statement that the two offices in Hong Kong would close by year-end, noting an intensification of a crackdown forcing at least 50 groups to disband under the law this year.
"This decision, made with a heavy heart, has been driven by Hong Kong’s national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organisations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals from the government,” said Singh Bais.
"The environment of repression and perpetual uncertainty created by the national security law makes it impossible to know what activities might lead to criminal sanctions," she added.
In the past, Hong Kong had served as one of Asia's leading NGO hubs, with groups drawn to its robust rule of law and wide-ranging autonomy -- guaranteed for Hong Kong when control over the former British colony was returned to Beijing in 1997.
Among the groups to have disbanded this year are several leading trade unions, NGOs and professional groups, while a number of other NGOs, including the New School for Democracy, have relocated to the democratic island of Taiwan.
Sources: Stand News, Reuters, Amnesty; #Oct25
https://thestandnews.page.link/H9RZt5adP9FKugXA7
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/hong-kong-amnesty-international-close-offices-amid-rising-threat-government
#Amnesty #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #Democracy #Freedom #PoliticalOppression
Amnesty shuts offices in Hong Kong as freedom meltdown in this once most free city in the world
International rights group Amnesty International said on October 25 that it would close its Hong Kong offices due to the China-imposed national security law.
Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, the chair of Amnesty’s international board, said in a statement that the two offices in Hong Kong would close by year-end, noting an intensification of a crackdown forcing at least 50 groups to disband under the law this year.
"This decision, made with a heavy heart, has been driven by Hong Kong’s national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organisations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals from the government,” said Singh Bais.
"The environment of repression and perpetual uncertainty created by the national security law makes it impossible to know what activities might lead to criminal sanctions," she added.
In the past, Hong Kong had served as one of Asia's leading NGO hubs, with groups drawn to its robust rule of law and wide-ranging autonomy -- guaranteed for Hong Kong when control over the former British colony was returned to Beijing in 1997.
Among the groups to have disbanded this year are several leading trade unions, NGOs and professional groups, while a number of other NGOs, including the New School for Democracy, have relocated to the democratic island of Taiwan.
Sources: Stand News, Reuters, Amnesty; #Oct25
https://thestandnews.page.link/H9RZt5adP9FKugXA7
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/hong-kong-amnesty-international-close-offices-amid-rising-threat-government
#Amnesty #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #Democracy #Freedom #PoliticalOppression
#Art #Freedom
Italian city defies China bid to scrap dissident's art show
An Italian city is going ahead with plans to host an art exhibition by a Chinese dissident despite a request from China's embassy to cancel it.
The show, called "China is (not) near," is due to run from November 13 to February 13, 2021 in the northern Italian city of Brescia.
The exhibition by #Badiucao, a cartoonist also known as "The Chinese Banksy", is expected to denounce Chinese political repression and censorship of information on the COVID pandemic.
Brescia Mayor #EmilioDelBono told local press that his office would not comply with a request from the Chinese embassy in Italy to scrap it.
He said the friendship between the Italian and Chinese people "is not in question", but "I think it is important to show that you can stay friends while criticising some things".
The deputy mayor, #LauraCastelletti, earlier tweeted that "For us art and freedom of expression are an essential combination".
#Italy #FreedomOfExpression
Source: Stand News, #Oct23 https://thestandnews.page.link/PHgLpzQ5HDsT9fKR8
Italian city defies China bid to scrap dissident's art show
An Italian city is going ahead with plans to host an art exhibition by a Chinese dissident despite a request from China's embassy to cancel it.
The show, called "China is (not) near," is due to run from November 13 to February 13, 2021 in the northern Italian city of Brescia.
The exhibition by #Badiucao, a cartoonist also known as "The Chinese Banksy", is expected to denounce Chinese political repression and censorship of information on the COVID pandemic.
Brescia Mayor #EmilioDelBono told local press that his office would not comply with a request from the Chinese embassy in Italy to scrap it.
He said the friendship between the Italian and Chinese people "is not in question", but "I think it is important to show that you can stay friends while criticising some things".
The deputy mayor, #LauraCastelletti, earlier tweeted that "For us art and freedom of expression are an essential combination".
#Italy #FreedomOfExpression
Source: Stand News, #Oct23 https://thestandnews.page.link/PHgLpzQ5HDsT9fKR8
#Judiciary
US Report Condemns Judges Handpicked for National Security Cases in Hong Kong: Judiciary Independence "In Name Only"
The United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (#USCC) released its annual report to the US Congress on November 18, 2021.
In the Chapter on Hong Kong, the Commission stated that Hong Kong's judiciary independence has been impaired under Beijing's imposition of the #NationalSecurityLaw.
The report also criticized that the judge's impartiality in handling national security law cases has been questioned. The report especially named three judges involved in such cases. They are District Court Judge Stanley CHAN Kwong-chi; Magistrate Victor SO Wai Tak; and judge Johnson Lam. These pro-establishment judges are handpicked by the Hong Kong authorities to handle national security charges.
The report reiterated that the National Security Law has impaired media freedon and subverted Hong Kong's social and political environment. The report pointed out that the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong was "in name only," as the judiciary is no longer impartial especially when dealing with cases relating to the Chinese government under National Security Law.
To make It worse, Beijing decides which judges in which jurisdiction to trial national security cases, so as to ensure an outcome that is what the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) wants.
While US and Taiwan scholars commented that the possibility for the US to impose sanctions against Hong Kong judges shall not be ruled out, it takes time to evaluate the strategy. In any case, the "distrust" of the rule of law in Hong Kong will continue to be a concern of foreign companies and will seriously weaken Hong Kong's business status.
Full report:
https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/2021_Annual_Report_to_Congress.pdf
Source from: RFA #Nov19
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/us-hk-11192021072903.html/ampRFA
#PoliceState #Freedom #USCongress #Beijing #Report #Court #Judges
US Report Condemns Judges Handpicked for National Security Cases in Hong Kong: Judiciary Independence "In Name Only"
The United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (#USCC) released its annual report to the US Congress on November 18, 2021.
In the Chapter on Hong Kong, the Commission stated that Hong Kong's judiciary independence has been impaired under Beijing's imposition of the #NationalSecurityLaw.
The report also criticized that the judge's impartiality in handling national security law cases has been questioned. The report especially named three judges involved in such cases. They are District Court Judge Stanley CHAN Kwong-chi; Magistrate Victor SO Wai Tak; and judge Johnson Lam. These pro-establishment judges are handpicked by the Hong Kong authorities to handle national security charges.
The report reiterated that the National Security Law has impaired media freedon and subverted Hong Kong's social and political environment. The report pointed out that the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong was "in name only," as the judiciary is no longer impartial especially when dealing with cases relating to the Chinese government under National Security Law.
To make It worse, Beijing decides which judges in which jurisdiction to trial national security cases, so as to ensure an outcome that is what the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) wants.
While US and Taiwan scholars commented that the possibility for the US to impose sanctions against Hong Kong judges shall not be ruled out, it takes time to evaluate the strategy. In any case, the "distrust" of the rule of law in Hong Kong will continue to be a concern of foreign companies and will seriously weaken Hong Kong's business status.
Full report:
https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/2021_Annual_Report_to_Congress.pdf
Source from: RFA #Nov19
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/us-hk-11192021072903.html/ampRFA
#PoliceState #Freedom #USCongress #Beijing #Report #Court #Judges
US and EU Responded to the Mass Disqualification of District Councillors
#HKSAR government demanded all #DistrictCouncillors (DC) in Hong Kong to take an oath earlier. 55 DC lost their seats in total as 49 councillors in democratic parties were disqualified due to invalid vows. 6 directly lost their seats due to the absence of #oath. More than 200 DC had resigned earlier due to the oath request.
The US State Department issued a statement on Oct 21, keeping their concerns to the #HumanRights and the #Freedom in Hong Kong, including the continuous erosion of political participation, especially under the National Security Law (#NSL) which increases prosecution with political motivation.
The statement also said that the prosecution was directed to teachers, unions, lawyers, journalists, medical staff, student unions and citizens. The mass DC disqualification is simply to stop HKers to manage their homeland meaningfully.
US State Department again called Beijing and the Hong Kong authority to release people who are detained unfairly, and stop the suppression of peaceful civil organizations. They also pointed out that HKers and the energetic civil society are always the biggest resources in Hong Kong, as well as the foundation of being a successful international finance hub. The US will continue to support HKers, their rights and their freedom.
EU: Chilling effect occurs under NSL
The #EU External Action Service issued another statement on the same day, saying that HK government disqualifying most of the democratic councillors means denying the DC #election result in 2019. And that excluding the democratic parties from the political participation would weaken Hong Kong democratic governance structure.
The EU indicated that the pressure of civil society is increasing as many unions and organizations in Hong Kong have disbanded. This, again, shows the chilling effect on the rights and freedom in Hong Kong under the NSL and becomes the core of suppressing dissidents.
Source: Stand News #Oct22
https://bit.ly/3DeyQgm
#Disqualification #TakeOath #US StateDepartment
#HKSAR government demanded all #DistrictCouncillors (DC) in Hong Kong to take an oath earlier. 55 DC lost their seats in total as 49 councillors in democratic parties were disqualified due to invalid vows. 6 directly lost their seats due to the absence of #oath. More than 200 DC had resigned earlier due to the oath request.
The US State Department issued a statement on Oct 21, keeping their concerns to the #HumanRights and the #Freedom in Hong Kong, including the continuous erosion of political participation, especially under the National Security Law (#NSL) which increases prosecution with political motivation.
The statement also said that the prosecution was directed to teachers, unions, lawyers, journalists, medical staff, student unions and citizens. The mass DC disqualification is simply to stop HKers to manage their homeland meaningfully.
US State Department again called Beijing and the Hong Kong authority to release people who are detained unfairly, and stop the suppression of peaceful civil organizations. They also pointed out that HKers and the energetic civil society are always the biggest resources in Hong Kong, as well as the foundation of being a successful international finance hub. The US will continue to support HKers, their rights and their freedom.
EU: Chilling effect occurs under NSL
The #EU External Action Service issued another statement on the same day, saying that HK government disqualifying most of the democratic councillors means denying the DC #election result in 2019. And that excluding the democratic parties from the political participation would weaken Hong Kong democratic governance structure.
The EU indicated that the pressure of civil society is increasing as many unions and organizations in Hong Kong have disbanded. This, again, shows the chilling effect on the rights and freedom in Hong Kong under the NSL and becomes the core of suppressing dissidents.
Source: Stand News #Oct22
https://bit.ly/3DeyQgm
#Disqualification #TakeOath #US StateDepartment
WTA: Immediate suspend competitions in China including Hong Kong, the method which China handle Peng Shuai incident “unacceptable“
World Tennis Association (WTA) announced to suspend competitions in China (including Hong Kong) with immediate effect. WTA chairman Steve Simon indicated that he felt worried with Peng Shuai’s safety and freedom, “Conscientiously, when Peng Shuai was not allowed to freely express and communicate, and seems to be forced to overturn the accusation of being sex assaulted, how could I request our players to play games in China”.
China well-known female tennis player Peng Shuai accused that she was sex assaulted
by vice-premier of State Council of the People’s Republic of China, WTA has published an announcement to urge China to investigate the incident.
Steve Simon indicated that Peng Shuai’s accusation must be seriously handled but China did not take any valid ways to respond the incident, even though everyone know where Peng Shuai is. He feels highly doubt about Peng Shuai’s freedom and safety, and her words and deeds being checked or not. He re-appeals China to proceed comprehensive and transparent investigations for sex assault accusation without any checking.
Source: Stand News #Dec02
https://bit.ly/32zeP6G
#Pengshuai #WTA #Stevesimon #sexassault #safety #freedom
World Tennis Association (WTA) announced to suspend competitions in China (including Hong Kong) with immediate effect. WTA chairman Steve Simon indicated that he felt worried with Peng Shuai’s safety and freedom, “Conscientiously, when Peng Shuai was not allowed to freely express and communicate, and seems to be forced to overturn the accusation of being sex assaulted, how could I request our players to play games in China”.
China well-known female tennis player Peng Shuai accused that she was sex assaulted
by vice-premier of State Council of the People’s Republic of China, WTA has published an announcement to urge China to investigate the incident.
Steve Simon indicated that Peng Shuai’s accusation must be seriously handled but China did not take any valid ways to respond the incident, even though everyone know where Peng Shuai is. He feels highly doubt about Peng Shuai’s freedom and safety, and her words and deeds being checked or not. He re-appeals China to proceed comprehensive and transparent investigations for sex assault accusation without any checking.
Source: Stand News #Dec02
https://bit.ly/32zeP6G
#Pengshuai #WTA #Stevesimon #sexassault #safety #freedom
#Award
A 19-year-old Hongkonger wins National Poetry Competition
#EricYip #NationalPoetryCompetition #Fricatives #Freedom #Emigration
Source: Initial Media #Mar31
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A 19-year-old Hongkonger wins National Poetry Competition
#EricYip #NationalPoetryCompetition #Fricatives #Freedom #Emigration
Source: Initial Media #Mar31
Read more
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