Exclusive: China plans further Hong Kong crackdown after mass arrest - sources
Two individuals with direct knowledge of China’s plans said the mass arrests in 2021 were part of a wave of ongoing actions to silence activists and to “make sure Hong Kong doesn’t slide back to what we saw 18 months ago”.
He said that Chinese officials were now discussing ways to change the electoral system to address “deficiencies” in the political structure and elections might be further delayed. Beijing remained concerned the opposition could still muster a majority in the legislature.
Among the next steps, authorities could focus on disqualifying hundreds of democratic “district councillors”; entrenching loyalty to China within the civil service; squeezing businesses whose bosses explicitly support the democratic cause and creeping censorship of the internet and media under the auspices of national security.
Source: Reuters #Jan12
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-democracy-idUSKBN29H0E8
#ChinacrackdownHongKong #HongKongElection
Two individuals with direct knowledge of China’s plans said the mass arrests in 2021 were part of a wave of ongoing actions to silence activists and to “make sure Hong Kong doesn’t slide back to what we saw 18 months ago”.
He said that Chinese officials were now discussing ways to change the electoral system to address “deficiencies” in the political structure and elections might be further delayed. Beijing remained concerned the opposition could still muster a majority in the legislature.
Among the next steps, authorities could focus on disqualifying hundreds of democratic “district councillors”; entrenching loyalty to China within the civil service; squeezing businesses whose bosses explicitly support the democratic cause and creeping censorship of the internet and media under the auspices of national security.
Source: Reuters #Jan12
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-democracy-idUSKBN29H0E8
#ChinacrackdownHongKong #HongKongElection
U.S.
Exclusive: China plans further Hong Kong crackdown after mass arrest - sources
The arrest of more than 50 democrats in Hong Kong last week intensifies a drive by Beijing to stifle any return of a populist challenge to Chinese rule and more measures are likely, according to two individuals with direct knowledge of China's plans.
American Fashion Group VF to Relocate from Hong Kong to Shanghai and Singapore
Source: Stand News #Jan12
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Source: Stand News #Jan12
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
American Fashion Group VF to Relocate from Hong Kong to Shanghai and Singapore
American fashion group VF announced on January 11 that it will be moving its brand operations centre and Asia product supply hub from Hong Kong to Shanghai and Singapore respectively. The parent company of brands including North Face, Timberland, and Supreme stated that its relocation to Shanghai can help establish a closer relationship with Chinese consumers.
In its press release, VF said the transformation will take place over the next 12 to 18 months with the first stage of the plan commencing this April. Steve Rendle, VF’s chairman and CEO, said the company has built on the many opportunities in Asia since it began its expansion in the region 25 years ago. “Now,” he continued, “we’re further transforming our Asia operations so we can better serve this fast-moving, technology-driven market with increased speed and capabilities.”
VF added that it is seeking to establish closer relations with its Chinese consumers by moving its brand operations centre from Hong Kong to Shanghai. The relocation of its Asian product supply hub, on the other hand, is an effort to consolidate its global supply chain network, of which European and American hubs are key parts. Workforces and other resources will also be allocated to primary sourcing countries in the region to strengthen cooperation with suppliers and boost efficiency.
Source: Stand News #Jan12
#HK #Shanghai #Singapore #VFGroup #Supreme #NorthFace #Timberland #Economy
https://bit.ly/2Px6pGB
American fashion group VF announced on January 11 that it will be moving its brand operations centre and Asia product supply hub from Hong Kong to Shanghai and Singapore respectively. The parent company of brands including North Face, Timberland, and Supreme stated that its relocation to Shanghai can help establish a closer relationship with Chinese consumers.
In its press release, VF said the transformation will take place over the next 12 to 18 months with the first stage of the plan commencing this April. Steve Rendle, VF’s chairman and CEO, said the company has built on the many opportunities in Asia since it began its expansion in the region 25 years ago. “Now,” he continued, “we’re further transforming our Asia operations so we can better serve this fast-moving, technology-driven market with increased speed and capabilities.”
VF added that it is seeking to establish closer relations with its Chinese consumers by moving its brand operations centre from Hong Kong to Shanghai. The relocation of its Asian product supply hub, on the other hand, is an effort to consolidate its global supply chain network, of which European and American hubs are key parts. Workforces and other resources will also be allocated to primary sourcing countries in the region to strengthen cooperation with suppliers and boost efficiency.
Source: Stand News #Jan12
#HK #Shanghai #Singapore #VFGroup #Supreme #NorthFace #Timberland #Economy
https://bit.ly/2Px6pGB
The UK Intends to Introduce New Measures to Ban Industries From Purchasing Xinjiang Forced-Labor Products
Source: Stand News #Jan12
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Source: Stand News #Jan12
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
The UK Intends to Introduce New Measures to Ban Industries From Purchasing Xinjiang Forced-Labor Products
China setting up "re-educational camps" in Xinjiang to detain a million Uyghur Muslims and forcing the locals to engage in labor have aroused international attention to the human rights issues. The UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, has announced a new measure proposal to prevent any forced-labor product from involving in the UK supply chain.
Dominic Raab announced in the Parliament today that he will formulate stronger guidelines regarding the purchase with due diligence, strengthening the Modern Slavery Act to fine violating organizations, and banning the related agency from bidding for any contract from the government. The UK will also impose censorship on exports to Xinjiang.
Raab stated that the policies would help to ensure British organizations, the government, and private agencies not getting profit from the human rights infringement action in Xinjiang, intentionally or unintentionally.
Source: Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/395CQCA
#Xinjiang #UK #Uyghurs #DominicRaab #HumanRights #ModernSlaveryAct #ForcedLabor #ReeducatonCamps
China setting up "re-educational camps" in Xinjiang to detain a million Uyghur Muslims and forcing the locals to engage in labor have aroused international attention to the human rights issues. The UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, has announced a new measure proposal to prevent any forced-labor product from involving in the UK supply chain.
Dominic Raab announced in the Parliament today that he will formulate stronger guidelines regarding the purchase with due diligence, strengthening the Modern Slavery Act to fine violating organizations, and banning the related agency from bidding for any contract from the government. The UK will also impose censorship on exports to Xinjiang.
Raab stated that the policies would help to ensure British organizations, the government, and private agencies not getting profit from the human rights infringement action in Xinjiang, intentionally or unintentionally.
Source: Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/395CQCA
#Xinjiang #UK #Uyghurs #DominicRaab #HumanRights #ModernSlaveryAct #ForcedLabor #ReeducatonCamps
New-Elected Senates Asked for Pelosi's Explanation on Having China Daily in the Office without Requests
Source: Apple Daily #Jan12
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Source: Apple Daily #Jan12
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
New-Elected Senates Asked for Pelosi's Explanation on Having China Daily in the Office without Requests
Ashley Hinson, a new Republican member of the House of Representatives, sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi last week, asking for an explanation on the appearance of the CCP media China Daily in the Congress office. She also stated her will of prohibiting China official publication from appearing in the Congress.
Hinson saw China Daily appearing in her office on Friday without asking for it. "Neither I nor my staff has requested, so I am shocked. I demand Pelosi, with her power of being the Head of the Congress, to stop the CCP from distributing their official publication in our godly building."
China Daily is being classified as communism propaganda by the State Council that it catches attention due to frequently reporting CCP's brutal claims. These reports include helping millions of Uyghurs women not only to be "childbirth machine" in the re-educational camps, and claiming the US has the first case of AIDS then spreading to the world.
Source: Apple Daily #Jan12
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210112/WWMPMXH57VD6TK3ZFUGNAQ7YM4/
#US #China #CCP #Propaganda #Congress #NancyPelosi #AshleyHinson #ChinaDaily
Ashley Hinson, a new Republican member of the House of Representatives, sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi last week, asking for an explanation on the appearance of the CCP media China Daily in the Congress office. She also stated her will of prohibiting China official publication from appearing in the Congress.
Hinson saw China Daily appearing in her office on Friday without asking for it. "Neither I nor my staff has requested, so I am shocked. I demand Pelosi, with her power of being the Head of the Congress, to stop the CCP from distributing their official publication in our godly building."
China Daily is being classified as communism propaganda by the State Council that it catches attention due to frequently reporting CCP's brutal claims. These reports include helping millions of Uyghurs women not only to be "childbirth machine" in the re-educational camps, and claiming the US has the first case of AIDS then spreading to the world.
Source: Apple Daily #Jan12
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210112/WWMPMXH57VD6TK3ZFUGNAQ7YM4/
#US #China #CCP #Propaganda #Congress #NancyPelosi #AshleyHinson #ChinaDaily
'Our souls are dead': how I survived a Chinese 're-education' camp for Uighurs
The man on the phone said he worked for the oil company, “In accounting, actually”. His voice was unfamiliar to me. At first, I couldn’t make sense of what he was calling about. It was November 2016, and I had been on unpaid leave from the company since I left China and moved to France 10 years earlier. There was static on the line; I had a hard time hearing him.
“You must come back to Karamay to sign documents concerning your forthcoming retirement, Madame Haitiwaji,” he said. Karamay was the city in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang where I’d worked for the oil company for more than 20 years.
Source: The Guardian #Jan12
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/12/uighur-xinjiang-re-education-camp-china-gulbahar-haitiwaji
#China #ReEducation #Uighurs #Xinjiang
The man on the phone said he worked for the oil company, “In accounting, actually”. His voice was unfamiliar to me. At first, I couldn’t make sense of what he was calling about. It was November 2016, and I had been on unpaid leave from the company since I left China and moved to France 10 years earlier. There was static on the line; I had a hard time hearing him.
“You must come back to Karamay to sign documents concerning your forthcoming retirement, Madame Haitiwaji,” he said. Karamay was the city in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang where I’d worked for the oil company for more than 20 years.
Source: The Guardian #Jan12
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/12/uighur-xinjiang-re-education-camp-china-gulbahar-haitiwaji
#China #ReEducation #Uighurs #Xinjiang
According to reports, the Australian Ministry of Financial has rejected the Chinese state-owned enterprise China State Construction Company’s acquisition of an Australian construction company in response to national security risks
Source: Stand News #Jan12
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Source: Stand News #Jan12
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
According to reports, the Australian Ministry of Financial has rejected the Chinese state-owned enterprise China State Construction Company’s acquisition of an Australian construction company in response to national security risks
China state-owned enterprise China State Construction Group planned to acquisition Australian Construction Company Probuild up to 300 million USD, which is 23.4 million HKD. However, Australian Finance Minister Josh Frydenberg and Foreign Investment Review Committee believed that the trade may constitute risks of national security in Australia. This is not in the interests of Australia, the Australian Federal Government will veto the transaction, and China State Construction will eventually cancel the acquisition.
According to ABC, South African parent company of Probuild Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) confirmed to the local media, China State Construction already cancel acquisition. The reason is Frydenberg, and Foreign Investment Review Committee thought that the trade is harmful to national security, so that Australian Government rejected the trade. WBHO also stated, they already communication with potential acquirer in very long time, both had reached consensus, but the transaction fell through.
Australian Financial Department had not response to report and indicated to not commenting on foreign investment review arrangements. Australian Acting Prime Minister McCormack confirmed that China Construction withdraw the acquisition but said it could not disclose the reason for the rejection of foreign investment review.
Source: Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/33sXZU9
#Australia #NationalSecurity #China #Construction #Finance #Risk #Probuild #WBHO
China state-owned enterprise China State Construction Group planned to acquisition Australian Construction Company Probuild up to 300 million USD, which is 23.4 million HKD. However, Australian Finance Minister Josh Frydenberg and Foreign Investment Review Committee believed that the trade may constitute risks of national security in Australia. This is not in the interests of Australia, the Australian Federal Government will veto the transaction, and China State Construction will eventually cancel the acquisition.
According to ABC, South African parent company of Probuild Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon (WBHO) confirmed to the local media, China State Construction already cancel acquisition. The reason is Frydenberg, and Foreign Investment Review Committee thought that the trade is harmful to national security, so that Australian Government rejected the trade. WBHO also stated, they already communication with potential acquirer in very long time, both had reached consensus, but the transaction fell through.
Australian Financial Department had not response to report and indicated to not commenting on foreign investment review arrangements. Australian Acting Prime Minister McCormack confirmed that China Construction withdraw the acquisition but said it could not disclose the reason for the rejection of foreign investment review.
Source: Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/33sXZU9
#Australia #NationalSecurity #China #Construction #Finance #Risk #Probuild #WBHO
立場新聞 Stand News
據報澳洲財政部因應國家安全風險 拒絕中國國企中國建築 收購澳洲建築公司 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
中國國企中國建築集團，計劃收購澳洲建築公司 Probuild，作價高達 3 億美元，即約 23.4 億港元。但...
#Arrest
Hong Kong Police arrested #GrannyWong for attending illegal assembly
Vocal pro-democracy activist, Wong Fong-yiu, (a.k.a Granny Wong), aged 65, was arrested on January 12, 2022 for attending an illegal assembly on 11 August 2019.
The case will bring to the East magistrate court on January 13 2022.
Source: suprememedia, #Jan12
https://www.facebook.com/105835728286103/posts/271791341690540/?d=n
#PoliceState
Hong Kong Police arrested #GrannyWong for attending illegal assembly
Vocal pro-democracy activist, Wong Fong-yiu, (a.k.a Granny Wong), aged 65, was arrested on January 12, 2022 for attending an illegal assembly on 11 August 2019.
The case will bring to the East magistrate court on January 13 2022.
Source: suprememedia, #Jan12
https://www.facebook.com/105835728286103/posts/271791341690540/?d=n
#PoliceState
#Court #RulebyLaw
First Hong Kong pro-democracy activist jailed under #NationalSecurityLaw drops appeal citing disappointment in assigned legal representatives
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist #TongYingKit, the first person jailed under the national security law for inciting secession and committing terrorist acts, has withdrawn his appeal against his conviction and nine-year sentence on January 12, 2022.
Sources cited reasons for Tong's withdrawal as he was unable to trust the assigned legal representatives by Legal Aid Department.
During the November hearing in 2021, Tong was represented by a new solicitors’ firm founded by Vincent To, a former member of the Shenzhen committee of Beijing’s political advisory body.
The representation was assigned by the Legal Aid Department, which saw a recent administrative revamp including assigning lawyers to legal aid applicants rather than allowing them to pick who represents them.
#NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #PoliceState
Sources: Cable News, HKFP; #Jan12
First Hong Kong pro-democracy activist jailed under #NationalSecurityLaw drops appeal citing disappointment in assigned legal representatives
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist #TongYingKit, the first person jailed under the national security law for inciting secession and committing terrorist acts, has withdrawn his appeal against his conviction and nine-year sentence on January 12, 2022.
Sources cited reasons for Tong's withdrawal as he was unable to trust the assigned legal representatives by Legal Aid Department.
During the November hearing in 2021, Tong was represented by a new solicitors’ firm founded by Vincent To, a former member of the Shenzhen committee of Beijing’s political advisory body.
The representation was assigned by the Legal Aid Department, which saw a recent administrative revamp including assigning lawyers to legal aid applicants rather than allowing them to pick who represents them.
#NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #PoliceState
Sources: Cable News, HKFP; #Jan12
#PoliceState
Hong Kong Pro-democracy activist arrested again for posting on Facebook while on bail
Source: Inmediahk; #Jan12
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Hong Kong Pro-democracy activist arrested again for posting on Facebook while on bail
Source: Inmediahk; #Jan12
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#PoliceState
Hong Kong Pro-democracy activist arrested again for posting on Facebook while on bail
#OwenChow Ka-sing, on bail pending his subversion trial, was arrested when he reported back to Police Station on January 12, 2022.
Chow was told he had violated the bail conditions for making a remark on his Facebook regarding the Legislative Council election took place in December in Hong Kong.
On December 19, 2021 (the day set for the Legislative Council election in Hong Kong), Chow shared two quotes on his Facebook page.
The first one came from #ChrisTang, the Secretary for Security which stated "there could be local lone-wolf terrorist attack on election day".
The other one was from a police hotline operator, "If you are frightened, stay home." The quote was captured on July 21, 2019 when hundreds of citizens called police station in Yuen Long for their assistance when pro-democracy protesters were brutally attacked by white-clad local gangsters.
Along with these two quotes, Chow made a small remark that read, "you told me to stay home when being frightened."
Owen Chow is among the 47 democrats being arrested in January 2021 on suspicion of conspiring to subvert state power for their involvement in a legislative council primary election.
Chow was granted bail in June 2021.
Source: Inmediahk; #Jan12
https://bit.ly/3ti1bA3
#Arrest #SocialMedia #LegCoElection #YuenLong721 #StayHome
Hong Kong Pro-democracy activist arrested again for posting on Facebook while on bail
#OwenChow Ka-sing, on bail pending his subversion trial, was arrested when he reported back to Police Station on January 12, 2022.
Chow was told he had violated the bail conditions for making a remark on his Facebook regarding the Legislative Council election took place in December in Hong Kong.
On December 19, 2021 (the day set for the Legislative Council election in Hong Kong), Chow shared two quotes on his Facebook page.
The first one came from #ChrisTang, the Secretary for Security which stated "there could be local lone-wolf terrorist attack on election day".
The other one was from a police hotline operator, "If you are frightened, stay home." The quote was captured on July 21, 2019 when hundreds of citizens called police station in Yuen Long for their assistance when pro-democracy protesters were brutally attacked by white-clad local gangsters.
Along with these two quotes, Chow made a small remark that read, "you told me to stay home when being frightened."
Owen Chow is among the 47 democrats being arrested in January 2021 on suspicion of conspiring to subvert state power for their involvement in a legislative council primary election.
Chow was granted bail in June 2021.
Source: Inmediahk; #Jan12
https://bit.ly/3ti1bA3
#Arrest #SocialMedia #LegCoElection #YuenLong721 #StayHome
獨立媒體
【初選47人案】鄒家成違保釋條件被捕 消息指涉立選相關FB帖文 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
【獨媒報導】涉初選47人案的鄒家成，被指違反保釋條件，現正扣留在北角警署。據悉，當局指他在去年12月19日，所發出一個關於立法會選舉的 Facebook 帖文「被視為危害國家安全」。他將於明日下午被帶上西九龍裁判法院提堂。 去年3月，鄒家成與46名民主派被控「串謀顛覆國家政權」罪，鄒當時被拒保釋，還柙於赤柱監獄。他於去年6月向高等法院
#Censorship #Silencing
China's Internet censors suggested contents mocking #XiJingping
Source: RFA; #Jan12
https://bit.ly/31Y8HVK
Read more
⬇️⬇️
China's Internet censors suggested contents mocking #XiJingping
Source: RFA; #Jan12
https://bit.ly/31Y8HVK
Read more
⬇️⬇️
#Censorship #Silencing
China's Internet censors suggested contents mocking #XiJingping
On January 12, 2022, a Twitter account in the name of "New Youth" (新青年) twitted several screenshots showing possible censorship on #Baidu, the most used search engine in China.
The screenshots are lists of search results on Baidu, which is said to be automatically generated by AI based on most popular searches and most used keywords.
"New Youth" claimed that on Baidu's search bar, it used to prompt multiple AI suggested contents associated to "The incumbent" (現在這位) in its dropdown box, such like:-
"The incumbent is going to reign forever?" (現在這位是一直要坐下去嗎);
"The incumbent is not stirring up economy but movement" (現在這位不搞經濟搞運動);
"The incumbent craves for grandiose deeds" (現在這位好大喜功);
"The incumbent sucks in promoting economy" (現在這位搞經濟不行);
"The incumbent brags everyday, incredible!" (現在這位天天吹, 厲害了).
These suggested contents are seemingly pointing at the top CCP leader, Xi Jingping, criticising and mocking his leadership.
Currently, Baidu has removed all these suggested contents associated to "The Incumbent".
#CCP #Manipulation #Regime #ChineseInternet
Source: RFA; #Jan12
https://bit.ly/31Y8HVK
China's Internet censors suggested contents mocking #XiJingping
On January 12, 2022, a Twitter account in the name of "New Youth" (新青年) twitted several screenshots showing possible censorship on #Baidu, the most used search engine in China.
The screenshots are lists of search results on Baidu, which is said to be automatically generated by AI based on most popular searches and most used keywords.
"New Youth" claimed that on Baidu's search bar, it used to prompt multiple AI suggested contents associated to "The incumbent" (現在這位) in its dropdown box, such like:-
"The incumbent is going to reign forever?" (現在這位是一直要坐下去嗎);
"The incumbent is not stirring up economy but movement" (現在這位不搞經濟搞運動);
"The incumbent craves for grandiose deeds" (現在這位好大喜功);
"The incumbent sucks in promoting economy" (現在這位搞經濟不行);
"The incumbent brags everyday, incredible!" (現在這位天天吹, 厲害了).
These suggested contents are seemingly pointing at the top CCP leader, Xi Jingping, criticising and mocking his leadership.
Currently, Baidu has removed all these suggested contents associated to "The Incumbent".
#CCP #Manipulation #Regime #ChineseInternet
Source: RFA; #Jan12
https://bit.ly/31Y8HVK
Radio Free Asia
【中國網禁】「現在這位」疑諷習 百度關聯想功能
推特網友稱，在百度搜索輸入「現在這位」會出現許多聯想內容，包括「現在這位是一直要坐下去嗎」、「現在這位不搞經濟搞運動」、「現在這位好大喜功」、「現在這位天天吹 厲害了」等，似乎都指向對習近平的批評。