#Academia #Oppression #FreedomOfSpeech #University
Lingnan University Terminates Adjunct Appointment of 2 Outspoken Professors

#LingnanUniversity #HongKong #TearGas #NationalSecurityLaw”

Source: Stand News; #Sept30

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#Academia #Oppression #FreedomOfSpeech #University
Lingnan University Terminates Adjunct Appointment of 2 Outspoken Professors

In response to inquiries by Stand News, the Hong Kong Lingnan University (#HKLU) indicated the adjunct appointment of Law Wing-Sang and Hui Po-Keung have ended in September 2021, and their names have been removed from the school website's list of faculty members. They were professors of Cultural Studies.

The university did not mention the reason for not renewing their contracts.

Law and Hui are scholars active in pro-democracy protest movements, commenting often on current affairs. At the beginning of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, after the police fired tear gas on the gathering crowds, the two publicly condemned the government's actions and went on strike as teachers.

Hui is also a trustee of the “612 Humanitarian Relief Fund”, a fund supporting those injured or arrested during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement.

After the implement of National Security Law, Law continued to comment on newspapers. He published an opinion piece in MingPao on September 3, 2021, saying that the implementation of the National Security Law had 'perfected' Hong Kong's democratic 'election' system overnight. It also put an end to the ongoing controversy over the pace of democratization since the city's “return to China”: “Hong Kong strides into the era of “authoritarian rule”.

Source: Stand News; #Sept30
https://www.thestandnews.com/society/a_%E5%B6%BA%E5%A4%A7%E8%88%87%E7%BE%85%E6%B0%B8%E7%94%9F%E8%A8%B1%E5%AF%B6%E5%BC%B7%E5%90%88%E7%B4%84%E7%B5%82%E7%B5%90-%E6%95%99%E8%81%B7%E5%93%A1%E5%90%8D%E5%96%AE%E5%B7%B2%E9%99%A4%E5%90%8D

#LingnanUniversity #HongKong #TearGas #NationalSecurityLaw #Censorship #Professor #LawWingSang #HuiPoKeung

#FailedState
#PandoraPapers Expose Undisclosed Assets of Former Hong Kong #ChiefExecutives

Source: Stand News #Oct4

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#FailedState
#PandoraPapers Expose Undisclosed Assets of Former Hong Kong #ChiefExecutives

Hong Kong Stand News took part in the Pandora Papers investigations by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (#ICIJ), joining forces with over 600 journalists across 117 countries and territories in uncovering secret finances of the rich and powerful of the world.

The papers uncovered undisclosed assets held by two former chief executives of Hong Kong, #LeungChunYing and TungCheeWah, both of whom are now serving on the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (#CPPCC) as vice-chairmen.

(1) Leung Chun-ying's Undisclosed #UGL-Related Sales May Constitute Misconduct, Says Ex-ICAC Officer

Leung was found to have made undisclosed sales of shares worth HKD $2.3 million in EuroAsia Properties, a subsidiary of international property services firm DTZ, which he held through a convoluted string of ownership via two offshore companies.

Notably, the undisclosed sale occurred during an anti-corruption investigation on Leung in 2015, in which he was said to have received HKD $50 million as part of an agreement with Australian firm UGL when it acquired DTZ Holdings. The details of the newly found sales agree with those of the UGL agreement, which was disclosed by Sydney Morning Herald.

The ICIJ and Stand News had inquired Leung regarding the new findings, without receiving a reply.

Since the Pandora Papers were published, however, Leung published a statement on the same day, claiming that the government's reporting rules did not require declaring changes in subsidiary companies. He also said that he had initiated procedures for resigning from his director's position at EuroAsia before becoming chief executive, and that it may not be immediately effective due to the differing legal processes in different countries.

However, barrister and former ICAC Chief Investigation Officer Stephen Char said that this shows that loopholes exist in the government's procedures of declaring assets. If there is sufficient evidence that the omission is deliberate, Char added, it may constitute an offence of Misconduct in public office.

(2) Tung Chee-Wah and Family Involved in Over 72 Offshore Companies

The Pandora Papers also show former chief executive Tung Chee-wah and his family to be involved in at least 72 offshore companies, of which 7 are owned by Tung.

One company's HSBC bank account was found to have current assets worth an estimated USD $1 million.

Tung's youngest son also has a Bank of China account via another offshore company. Tung's brother Chee-chen allegedly also has bank accounts through 4 offshore companies, and owns mansions in opulent neighborhoods via yet another two offshore companies.

Of the 7 companies owned by Tung, the papers show that he has either full or partial ownership in his name or in a company name. These 7 are all established in March 2005, after Tung's resignation from his chief executive position.

Now 84 years of age, Tung was conspicuously absent at the flag-raising ceremony on China's national day last Friday, Oct 1. His spokesperson said that Tung was not feeling well that day, and was resting at home.

See also:

Ex-Hong Kong leader CY Leung sold shares for HK$2.3 million during anti-corruption probe

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/10/04/ex-hong-kong-leader-cy-leung-sold-shares-for-hk2-3-million-during-anti-corruption-probe-report/

Source: Stand News #Oct4

https://bit.ly/3a8mlG6

#Collusion #Corruption #ICIJ #UGL #HKCE

The Famous Reporter Jonathan Mirsky, being Beaten up in the June 4 Incident, has Passed Away at Aged 88

Source: Stand News #Sep12

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The Famous Reporter Jonathan Mirsky, being Beaten up in the June 4 Incident, has Passed Away at Aged 88

A famous reporter Jonathan Mirsky had passed away in Britain on September 5, at the age of 88. Jonathan had been concerning about China throughout his life. He once had a live report on the June 4th incident in Tiananmen Square. He was beaten by armed police until his left arm was broken and three teeth fell out. Jonathan has worked for The Times in Hong Kong since 1993 and resigned in 1998 due to the soft attitude to China from owner Rupert Murdoch.

During the Vietnam War, like many intellectuals at the time, Jonathan Mirsky, as a scholar, actively criticised the United States. He also opposed the United States for isolating the policies of China, which he used to believe the protest of Mao was beneficial to China. In 1972, he was invited to visit China for six weeks as a Committee of Concerned Asian Scholars member. He noticed that the organiser tried to hide a few terrible situations in China. Because of this, he changed his mind from a Mao fan to a counter-revolutionary.

Source: Stand News #Sep12

https://bit.ly/3kwVxFz

#JonathanMirsky #June4 #China #TiananmenSquare #HongKong #VietnamWar #UnitedStates #Mao #Protest

#WhiteTerror
Rumour swirls that University of Hong Kong attempts to remove "#PillarofShame" from its campus

Source: Stand News #Oct2

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#WhiteTerror
Rumour swirls that University of Hong Kong attempts to remove "#PillarofShame" from its campus

A Hong Kong media revealed in recent days that the University of Hong Kong (#HKU) plans to remove the Pillar of Shame, an artwork which pays tribute to victims of June 4 Tiananmen massacre in Beijing in 1989, from its campus.

The university declined to comment, although the spokesperson stressed that the university will regularly conduct campus-wide risk assessment.

Richard Tsoi, who was vice-chairman of the now-defunct Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, urged the university to allow the display of statue as in past 20 years.

Tsoi saw no reason for authorities to make change to its current practice.

A year 4 student, Leung, came to take picture of the statue after the news swirled. Leung claimed that the authority would be in delusion to think that by removing the statue, it could also remove people's memory of the Tiananmun Massacre in China in 1989.

Leung, however, admitted that he is pessimistic that no one would defend the statue from being removed from the campus, amidst national security law and tightened CCP grip cracking down freedom in Hong Kong.

The Pillar of Shame, an eight-metre tall statue of twisted bodies created by Danish artist #JensAlschiøt, has stood at the university for 24 years.

Galschiøt was shocked to learnt the University attempts to remove the statue. He said removing the statue is
blasphemous to victims of the incident and unethical.

Source: Stand News; #Oct2

https://thestandnews.page.link/zBwQn9r8E14fpqyK9

#ArtWork #June4 #Tiananmen #Regime #University

#CUSU
50-year-old Student Union of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Announces Its Dissolution Under Political Pressure

Source: CUSU’s Official Facebook Page #Oct7

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31205

#CUSU
50-year-old Student Union of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Announces Its Dissolution Under Political Pressure

On October 7, 2021, the Student Union of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUSU) stated that the University Management had announced in February 2021 that the they would stop collecting fees on behalf of the Student Union starting this academic year, and had demanded that the Union register independently of the University to government agencies instead of recognising their registration in the campus as was wont.

The Student Union had sought professional legal opinion on this matter, who advised that the Union that “the ordinance does not apply to CUSU”.

The Union stated that the 50-year-old history of the Student Union may be put to an end were they to follow the legal opinion, and put them in a dilemma if they didn’t.

For the welfare of the student body, the Union stated, the Union called a joint meeting on 10 September, 2021, and accepted the resignation of all student representatives of the Union Council and the motion to dissolve the Student Union.

Read the official statement here:
https://www.facebook.com/416069858455429/posts/4661717883890584/?d=n

Source: CUSU’s Official Facebook Page #Oct7

#Dissolution #CUHK #StudentUnion #University #PoliticalOppression #Regime

#GlobalSolidarity
Czech Terezín Memorial Exhibits Portraits of Hong Kong Political Prisoners

Source: Stand News #Oct1

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#GlobalSolidarity
Czech Terezín Memorial Exhibits Portraits of Hong Kong #PoliticalPrisoners

A painting installation by Hong Kong artist #LorettaLau depicting some Hong Kong political prisoners will open on 7 October 2021 in Terezín Memorial, a former #NAZI concentration camp in the #CzechRepublic.

Lau was invited to take part in Fortress 1980 exhibition and human rights conference. Titled ‘The Cells’, the paintings are installed in solitary confinement cells, a stark reminder of ‘the nature of the dictators has never changed,’ said Lau.

'The Cells' features 13 political prisoners under the Hong Kong National Security Law, including Jimmy Lai Chi-ying, Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, Tony Chung Hon-lam, Agnes Chow Ting, and more.

A faint portrait of each prisoner is painted on a piece of white door curtain installed at the entrance to a solitary confinement cell.

To have a clear view of the portraits, visitors must walk into the cells. Looking from inside out, the images will be lit up by the light outside.

The design aims to arouse the visitor’s empathy with those imprisoned. ‘I hope by having them walking into the cells, they will have a direct and personal experience of how being confined feels like,’ said Loretta.

*Note: The artist Loretta Lauwill stage a live performance at Terezín Memorial at 5pm Thursday Oct 7 (HKT 2300). She will use her movements and voices to commemorate the countless people who suffered in the concentration camps, to resonate between the tragedies in the past and the happening misfortunes.

The performance will be streamed live at: https://youtu.be/IZ6b-KPctOk

Source: Stand News #Oct1

https://www.thestandnews.com/art/%E6%8D%B7%E5%85%8B%E7%B4%8D%E7%B2%B9%E9%9B%86%E4%B8%AD%E7%87%9F%E7%B4%80%E5%BF%B5%E9%A4%A8%E5%B1%95%E8%A6%BD-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E8%97%9D%E8%A1%93%E5%AE%B6%E7%8D%B2%E9%82%80%E5%8F%83%E8%88%87-%E5%B1%95%E5%87%BA%E5%9C%8B%E5%AE%89%E6%B3%95%E8%A2%AB%E6%8D%95%E8%80%85%E8%82%96%E5%83%8F

#Art #Culture #Installation #Exhibition #TheCell #ProtestArt #ConcentrationCamp

#Newspaper #CCPRules
‘Red Roulette’ Uncovers Covert Hands in Hong Kong

Source: Bloomberg #Oct3
Photo: Chan Long Hei

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#Newspaper #CCPRules
‘Red Roulette’ Uncovers Covert Hands in Hong Kong

//#China has long accused foreign elements of being behind the protests that convulsed Hong Kong in 2019. Authorities returned to the theme in recent days, with the foreign ministry releasing a 6,300-word “fact sheet” of U.S. interference in the territory.

None of the material in either report offers proof of the so-called black hands that Beijing has frequently invoked in its denunciations of external meddling...

There is, though, an account of behind-the-scenes manipulation by an external presence that sought to incite demonstrations in Hong Kong. It’s just that it comes from the other side. 

Red Roulette: An Insider's Story of Wealth, Power, Corruption, and Vengeance in Today's China is a memoir by Shanghai-born businessman #DesmondShum that was published this month. The book has created a stir among China scholars because of its ringside view of the nexus of business and politics in Beijing. But Shum’s description of China’s actions in Hong Kong is also revealing. 

In Shum’s words, he was enlisted by the Communist Party to serve as a foot soldier in its campaign to undermine Hong Kong’s political system. As a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, an advisory body that is part of the party’s united front operations, Shum says officials ordered him to go to Hong Kong to organize and fund counter-demonstrations during the 2014 #UmbrellaMovement. Those with businesses in Hong Kong were told to pay employees to march in support of China’s position, he says.

The businessman, who was raised in Hong Kong, relates how he joined one march, making sure that he was seen by officials from the Liaison Office, the central government’s main agency in the city, so that he would receive credit.

“I found the whole exercise laughable,” Shum writes. “Everyone, from the Liaison Office officials to all of us marchers, was acting. Few, if any, believed in the main idea underlying the action — that Hong Kong needed less democracy or less freedom. Everyone was there because of self-interest and to gain brownie points in Beijing.”//

Read the full article:

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-10-03/china-worried-about-foreign-meddlers-in-hong-kong-plays-its-own-tacit-role

Source: Bloomberg #Oct3
Photo: Chan Long Hei

#Regime #Infiltration #ForeignPower