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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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Largest HK Trade Union Group Said to be Preparing to Disband

Sources claim that the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) has begun preparations to disband, following a committee meeting last night (Sept 16).

Responding to Stand News' inquiry, Chairperson Wong Nai-yuen says he has no comment regarding the claims, published by Pro-Beijing Wen Wei Po this morning (Sept 17). "I think everyone understands," He adds.

He further confirms that the union group will hold a press conference on the 19th to give further details to the public.

The HKCTU was founded in 1990. It is the first labor organization in Hong Kong to emphasize autonomy and democracy. Aiming to break the pattern of past labor unions having close ties to the regime, the union sought to dedicate itself to the labor sector, staying clear from the control of outside forces.

The CTU has 97 affiliated unions with 145,000 members in total. Affiliated unions represent various occupation sectors, including property management, cleaning, transportation, aviation, household and personal services, catering, construction, retail, business services, theme parks, beauty, education sectors, social welfare industries, civil servants, and more.

#WongLaiYuen #WenWeiPo #autonomy #democracy

Source: Stand News #Sep17
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%B6%88%E6%81%AF-%E8%81%B7%E5%B7%A5%E7%9B%9F%E9%80%9A%E9%81%8E%E5%95%9F%E5%8B%95%E8%A7%A3%E6%95%A3%E7%A8%8B%E5%BA%8F-%E4%B8%BB%E5%B8%AD%E9%BB%83%E8%BF%BA%E5%85%83%E6%98%9F%E6%9C%9F%E6%97%A5%E9%96%8B%E8%A8%98%E8%80%85%E6%9C%83%E4%BA%A4%E4%BB%A3
#PrisonerRights
Solitary Confinement in HK Prison: 10 Days for Hugging, 7 Days for Sharing Books; Maximum Above UN Rule

#HumanRights #PoliceState

Source: Stand News; #Sept2

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#PrisonerRights
Solitary Confinement in HK Prison: 10 Days for Hugging, 7 Days for Sharing Books; Maximum Above UN Rule

"You stay in bed all day. For seven days straight. You can only go to the toilet, and it's right next to the bed."

Stand News interviewed four former prisoners who had faced solitary confinement in Hong Kong's prisons. In their experience, this punishment was handed out often, and the experience is long and painful. As sleeping pills are not permitted in prisons, they could only take painkillers to help themselves sleep.

In July, news broke that pro-democracy district councilor #TiffanyYuen had endured 10 days of solitary confinement as punishment for hugging a fellow prisoner. Lawyer and chairperson of Hong Kong Alliance #ChowHangTung, who was also in prison at the time, also faced the same punishment for 3 days for sharing postage stamps with other inmates. Others had been penalized for 7 days for exchanging books and photographs, or 3 days for sharing chocolate.

What is the metric for such punishments? According to Correctional Services' response to Stand News: "Any prisoner who commit offenses against prison discipline as described under clause 61 of the Prison Rules [1] will be prosecuted by the Services according to the rules. If a disciplinary hearing determines that the prisoner have violated the rules, then the Services will impose punishments according to clause 63 of the Prison Rules. If the prisoner disagrees with the ruling, they may appeal it according to established procedures."

The prison rules of Hong Kong sets an upper limit for solitary confinement at 28 days. However, according to the United Nations' "Nelson Mandela Rules" - adopted in 2015 and named in honor of the former president of South Africa and activist for human rights, equality, democracy, and peace - prisons should prohibit solitary confinement longer than 15 days.

Furthermore, the UN Committee Against Torture had published a report in 2016, in which the committee expressed concern with the maximum length of solitary confinement in Hong Kong prisons. It also called to attention the rule of "removal from association" - forbidding prisoners from associating with others on vague grounds such as "for the maintenance of good order or discipline or in the interests of a prisoner".

Though the report made several recommendations to Hong Kong for clarifying the rules and bringing the limits of punishments to be closer to the Nelson Mandela Rules, prisoners released this year still reports that solitary confinement remains a common punishment. According to data from Correctional Services, there were 3181 instances of solitary confinement handed out among 14689 prisoners in 2019. This number had been above 3000 every year since 2016.

The Correctional Services did not comment when asked if it had implemented the UN committee's suggestions, and if it would reduce or abolish solitary confinement as a punishment.

[1] Cap. 234A Prison Rules: https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap234A!en-zh-Hant-HK?xpid=ID_1438402870147_001&INDEX_CS=N

#HumanRights #PoliceState

Source: Stand News; #Sept2
https://www.thestandnews.com/society/%E5%9B%9A%E6%AC%8A%E6%B0%B4%E9%A3%AF%E6%88%BF%E7%9B%B8%E6%93%81%E5%9B%9A%E4%B8%83%E6%97%A5-%E6%8F%9B%E6%9B%B8%E5%9B%B0%E5%8D%81%E5%A4%A9-%E7%8D%A8%E5%9B%9A%E6%9C%80%E9%95%B728%E6%97%A5-%E8%B6%85%E5%87%BA%E8%81%AF%E5%90%88%E5%9C%8B%E8%A6%8F%E5%89%87
The Hong Kong University Student Union passed a resolution of mourning the death of Leung Kin-Fai, who stabbed a police officer on 1/7. Afterwards, the institution council banned members involved from entering the campus.

#HKU #StudentUnion #July1 #LeungKinFai #GoHKgraphics
#HKElection #PoliceState
More Police Officers than Voters for Sunday's CE Election Committee Vote

An election for the election committee for the coming Chief Executive election will be held this Sunday, September 19. Police said that more than 5,000 officers will be deployed to patrol the voting stations and "high-risk locations".

According to government records, eligible voters for this election number less than 8,000. As many sectors had only one candidate for each seat and are thus automatically decided, only 13 sectors with 364 seats need to go through the election process, resulting in a maximum of 4,889 voters voting tomorrow.

#ChineseDemocracy #FailedState

Source: Stand News; #Sept18
https://m.facebook.com/standnewshk/photos/a.720050934747196/4550788935006691/
#HKElection #ChineseDemocracy
CE Election Committee Candidate Sets Up Promotion Booth, But Tells Citizens "Most People Don't Need to Participate"


Source: Stand News; #Sept12

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CE Election Committee Candidate Sets Up Promotion Booth, But Tells Citizens "Most People Don't Need to Participate"

An election for the election committee for the upcoming Chief Executive election will be held Sunday, September 19. This will be the first election after China revamped the city's election rules earlier this year.

Many seats are set to go uncontested, as their sectors only had a single candidate nominated per seat; nevertheless, it does not stop the candidates from setting up promotional street booths. Convenor of the Executive Council Bernard Chan, who is to be automatically elected onto the committee in the Social Welfare sector, handed out pamphlets at his street booth outside the Shek Tong Tsui Market.

Many seniors seemed puzzled by the new election rules. An elderly lady received a pamphlet from Chan and asked, "Why is there no [candidate] name?"

In response, Chan explained: "Most people - unless they're voters in the sector - don't need to participate next week."

#HKElection #ChineseDemocracy #NewElectionRule

Source: Stand News; #Sept12
https://thestandnews.page.link/MHXJmJ4VYchA61xi7
The Civil Human Rights Front was founded in 2002 but disbands in 2021 due to the national security investigation, ending their 19-years accompaniment with Hong Kong people.

#CivilHumanRightsAlliance #NationalSecurity #GoHKgraphics
Government-Support Candidates Face Almost No Competition in Election Committee After Electoral Revamp in Hong Kong

On September 19, 2021, the Election Committee poll took place in Hong Kong, to "elect" a committee which will vote to decide the city's Chief Executive; however, only a selected number of people are allowed to vote in the Election Committee poll. Meanwhile, the police has deployed 5,000 officers across Hong Kong to "monitor" the election.

Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31072

After the electoral system revamp by the Hong Kong SAR Government, the eligible electorates for the Election Committee poll drops drastically from 250,000 in the 2016 election to less than 8,000 people in the 2021 election.

Among 1,500 seats in the Election Committee, 1,136 seats will be automatically elected, of which 533 seats have been appointed by the government and 603 seats face no competition.

Source: Stand News #Sept19
https://thestandnews.page.link/t6qr6BFbozCGnr6L8

#PoliceState #Regime #Election
#FirstHand #Sept19
Leading Trade Unions Confederation in Hong Kong disbands after leaders received death threats


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#FirstHand #Sept19
Leading Trade Unions Confederation in Hong Kong disbands after leaders received death threats

On September 19, 2021, the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (#CTU) announced disbandment.

Leaders of the group said a special general meeting is scheduled on October 3, 2021 to vote the decision through.

Chairman of the Confederation, #WongDikYuen, told press in a briefing that members of the group, one after another, have been receiving life-threatening messages, that if the Confederation continues its operation, their personal safety might be in risk.

Wong declined to divulge details of these messages nor sources. Chocked in emotions, he apologised to Hong Kong people, "Apologies, Hongkongers. #CTU can not carry on."

In the briefing, Wong also denied allegation of foreign collusion saying that it is a standing practice for the Conferation to stay in close connection with overseas organisations.

Vice-chairman, #LeoTang Kin-wah said members will showcase achievements of the Conferation in an exhibition planned to commemorate the group's 30th anniversary later this year.

In closing, Tang called for Hongkongers to "#AddOil".

Source: First Hand; #Sept19

#Crackdown #Regime #PoliticalSuppression #WhiteTerror #CivilSociety
Hong Kong's Secretary Chief Accuses Pro-democracy Groups for "Spreading hatred for HK and Beijing Governments" in Prisons with Chocolate

Source: InMedia #Sept7

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Hong Kong's Secretary Chief Accuses Pro-democracy Groups for "Spreading hatred for HK and Beijing Governments" in Prisons with Chocolate

On September 7, 2021, Hong Kong SAR Government's Secretary for Security, Chris Tang Ping-Keung, accused pro-democracy groups of "threatening national security" in the prisons of Hong Kong.

Tang said, "Somebody creates privilege with prison supplies, including chocolate, and solicits followers in prison, as a result to spread hatred for the Hong Kong and the Central Governments, threatening national security".

Tang also named 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund for sending letters to people in prison, calling them to keep up protesting.

Social worker and former legislator Bottle Shiu Ka-Chun, the founder of a prisoner rights organisation #Wallfare, spoke to InmediaHK. Shiu said that ordinary people can hardly understand Tang's jumpy logic. He emphasised that the so-called "followers" cannot be solicited with those childish method.

"Or you can give 2 packs of chocolate to the prison and ask for an immediate follow. Then, there is no point doing national security education to have a peaceful world," Shiu remarked.

Pro-Beijing newspaper agencies called the prison in Hong Kong as "a place for Anti-China and Anti-HK". Tang also used the exact same phrase. Shiu disagreed and said, "They [pro-democracy protesters] have already lost their freedom and are all arrested. They live according to your will everyday. How are they still messing up Hong Kong?"

[Editor's Notes: Wall-fare, a concern group supporting pro-democracy protesters, announced its disbandment on September 14, 2021 due to the "pressure" faced by the founder and the volunteers.]

Source: InMedia #Sept7
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31046

#BottleShiu #ChrisTang #Prison #NationalSecurity #MandMs #Chocolate #WhiteTerror
National Security Police arrests Pro-democracy Hong Kong Students, Seizing Snacks, Lotion and Books

Source: Stand News #Sept20

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National Security Police arrests Pro-democracy Hong Kong Students, Seizing Snacks, Lotion and Books

On September 20, 2021, the National Security Police in Hong Kong arrested three students. One of them belonged to the pro-democracy student group #StudentPoliticism, while the other are former members.

At around 6:40am, the police arrested the group's convenor #WongYatChin, former secretary #ChanChinSum and former spokeperson #ChuWaiYing.

According to the group's published on statement on Facebook, the police also raided the group's storage room in the Wah Sing Industrial Building in Kwai Chung at around 11am.

The police took away around 40 boxes which contain M&M's chocolate, baby powder, hand cream, wipes, snacks and books as "evidence".

All these items are allowed by the Correctional Sevices Department to be passed on to people in prison.

At around 12:40pm, the police took Wong with his hands cuffed at the back to a community space run by Student Politicism in Mongkok. The police violently broke the door to enter the space which hosts book drifting and exchange.

At around 16:40pm, the police admitted in a press briefing that the three students were charged with "conspiring to state subversion". One of the reasons claimed by the police is the group's caling for resistance against the "Communist Regime in Hong Kong."

Source: Stand News #Sept20
https://thestandnews.page.link/YyQBGvXciyaHPcrU7

#PoliticalSuppression #Regime #PoliceState #Arrest #Prison #Supply #M&Ms #NationalSecurityLaw