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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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#HKProtest #University
Defiant University Students Carry Out Pop-Up Protests on Graduation Day, Calls Attention to Persecuted Students

November 4 marked the annual graduation ceremony of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK). Although no large-scale protests were seen this year under the iron grip of the National Security Law, traces of defiance still sprang up around the campus.

#NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #NeverForget #Academia #WallofDemocracy #CUSU

Sources: Citizen News, Chinese University Student Press; #Nov4

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#HKProtest #University
Defiant University Students Carry Out Pop-Up Protests on Graduation Day, Calls Attention to Persecuted Students

November 4 marked the annual graduation ceremony of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK). Although no large-scale protests were seen this year under the iron grip of the National Security Law, traces of defiance still sprang up around the campus.

Large Banners Protest Admin Interference in Student Governance

As early as 6:30am, a large vertical banner with the words “Restore Student Autonomy「還我學生自治」” was spotted, as was another smaller one that said “Consultation Must Precede Staff-Student Collaboration 員生共治,必先共議」” . By 8am, both banners had been removed by school staff.

On the #WallofDemocracy, a large notice board created for students to voice opinion, multiple posters were seen with the call “OSA and subsidiary faculty committee, join the provisional Administration”, protesting the school's new requirement for student organizations to be registered with the school administration.

During the graduation ceremony, defiant graduates from Nursing showed protest handbills that wrote “Dare to be different; Be Faithful to your belief 「棱角分明,毋負期許」”. Some social work graduates wore white ribbons on their graduation robes, and carried handbills with slogans such as “Grieve our Student Union”.

Ex-Police Security Chief Disrupts Students Handing Out White Ribbons, But Chastised by Parents

At around 12:30, 5 CUHK students held up a banner that wrote “Grieve my CUHK” on the University Mall, and set up a counter to hand out white ribbons.

Although the group of students did not obstruct the proceeding of graduation ceremony, they were quickly encircled by more than 10 campus security and were ordered to leave. The students demanded the security guards for reasons that they were not allowed to hand out white ribbons, as they were not obstructing the ceremony.

Lee Wing-kwong, head of Campus Security and a former Police Superintendent, ordered his staff to remove the students’ protest materials immediately. He was, however, stopped by members of Student Affairs Office, who asked him to “calm down”.

Some parents on the site stepped in to show their support to the protesting students. Quoting the classic Confucian text "Great Learning", they criticized the campus guards for abusing their powers: "Don't you officials remember the Way of the Great Learning?"

"We've Graduated, But They Couldn't"


Scattered protest activities continued around campus into the evening. Nine graduates, wearing their graduation robes, held up signs with names of fellow students who had been arrested and jailed for their involvement in the 2019 anti-ELAB movement.

Their names are Cheung Chun-ho, Tang Hei-man, Ko Tsz-bun, Lau Chun-yuk, Fu Ngai-Ching, Chen Lik-sik, Hui Yi-shui, Li Chun-ho.

The last sign read poignantly: "We've graduated, but they couldn't."

#NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #NeverForget #Academia #WallofDemocracy #CUSU

Sources: Citizen News, Chinese University Student Press; #Nov4
https://bit.ly/3nVrgRf
Governmdnt Official 'Recommends' Legal Aid Cases Use Government-Appointed Lawyers Only

Source: Stand News #Oct26

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Governmdnt Official 'Recommends' Legal Aid Cases Use Government-Appointed Lawyers Only

The Hong Kong SAR government and the pro-Beijing camp had made numerous accusations that the legal aid system is being abused. #JohnLee Ka-Chiu, the Chief Secretary for Administration, had evaluated the system and presented a series of recommendations to the Legislative Council on Oct 22, 2021.

The report recommended that lawyers for criminal cases be appointed by the Legal Aid Department (#LAD), rather than allowing aid recipients to nominate their own lawyer. Only "special cases" will be exempted, for example when the self-nominated lawyer has represented the defendant before.

They also suggested a limit of legal aid for cases related to judicial reviews, allowing a maximum of 3 cases for barristers and 5 for solicitors.

The government also proposed to "enhance case management". If the LAD believes there is a conflict of interest of the original-appointed lawyer, they will suspend the legal aid or appoint another lawyer. And if the client seeks voluntary legal advice without LAD consent, the LAD will also withdraw the aid.

#LegalAidDepartment #LegalAssistance #RightToCounsel #JudicialReview

Source: Stand News #Oct26
https://bit.ly/3jucdMX

See also:

Protesters' Fund In Support of Hong Kong Pro-democracy Movement Will Cease Operation
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30820
Cambodia: China’s ‘Belt and Road’ Dam is a Rights Disaster

A large-scale, Chinese-financed hydroelectric dam in northeastern Cambodia, completed in 2018, has undermined the lives and livelihoods of thousands of Indigenous and ethnic minority people, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The Lower Sesan 2 dam, one of Asia’s widest dams, flooded large areas upstream of the confluence of the Sesan and Srepok Rivers, two tributaries of the Mekong River.

Source: Human Rights Warch #Aug10

https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/08/10/cambodia-chinas-belt-and-road-dam-rights-disaster

#China #BeltAndRoad #Sesan #Srepok #Mekong
#PressFreedom
Nearly half of journalists considering leaving Hong Kong, citing decline in press freedom : FCC survey

#FCC #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #FreedomOfSpeech

Sources: FCC, HKFP, RTHK; #Nov5

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Nearly half of journalists considering leaving Hong Kong, citing decline in press freedom : FCC survey

Working conditions have markedly worsened for journalists in Hong Kong since Beijing imposed national security law for the city in June 2020, an anonymous survey conducted by the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club (#FCC) has found.

The survey results released on November 5 showed 46% of respondents were considering or had plans to leave the city citing the decline in press freedom, while 56% admitted to self-censoring or avoiding reporting on sensitive topics to at least some degree.

70 correspondents and 29 journalist members had responded to the survey. More than 80 of them said the general working environment for journalists in Hong Kong had deteriorated since the introduction of the national security law. 86% saying sources were not willing to speak or be quoted on issues deemed to be sensitive.

Sources: FCC, HKFP, RTHK; #Nov5

Read full survey result
https://www.fcchk.org/membership-survey-on-press-freedom/
Government Removes #HongKongAlliance from Company Registry, Accuses Subversion of State Power

#NSL #NationalSecurityLaw #SubversionStatePower #CCP #CarrieLam #HongKongAllianceinSupportofPatrioticDemocraticMovementsofChina

Source: Stand News; #Oct26

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Government Removes #HongKongAlliance from Company Registry, Accuses Subversion of State Power

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, which for 32 years had continuously fought to demand accountability for the 1989 June 4th Tiananmen Massacre in Beijing and supported the Chinese democracy movement, had been accused of incitement of subverting state power, and formally disbanded last month.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the Executive Council ordered the Companies Registry to unlist the organisation from the record on October 26.

According to a government press release, Carrie Lam believed the organisation's operation aimed to end the CCP's rule in China, which the government equates to overthrowing the fundamental system in the Chinese Constitution, thus classifying it as subverting state power.

Lee Ka-Chiu: "Ending One-Party Dictatorship Equals to Subversion"

John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Secretary for Administration, said that the organisation continuously promotes the goal of "end one-party dictatorship".

Chief Executive Carrie Lam and the Executive Council had concluded that the meaning behind this goal is equivalent to ending the CCP's leadership.

Lee also indicated the decision was not related to the incitement of subversion charges against the organisation's committees members, and that the court trial would not be affected by other factors.

#NSL #NationalSecurityLaw #SubversionStatePower #CCP #CarrieLam #HongKongAllianceinSupportofPatrioticDemocraticMovementsofChina

Source: Stand News #Oct26

https://thestandnews.page.link/asKVYG4WX7jikuh97

https://thestandnews.page.link/fEM92BWpLSHyKqhc8
U.S. Steps Up Pressure on Businesses Over Forced Labor in China

U.S. lawmakers and Biden administration officials are stepping up pressure on American businesses to stop imports from the Western Chinese region of Xinjiang as Beijing’s alleged use of forced labor emerges as a top item on their bilateral trade agenda.

Western officials say the Chinese government uses forced labor of Uyghur and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang, the world’s leading producer of cotton and raw materials used in solar panels. Beijing strongly denies the claim.

Imports of cotton and tomato products have already been effectively banned since January, and penalties on purchases of some solar materials were implemented in June.

Source: WSJ #Aug09

https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-steps-up-pressure-on-businesses-over-forced-labor-in-china-11628501400

#US #Labor #China #Biden #Xinjiang #Uyghur #Muslim
#PreferentialTradeTreatment
32 countries cancelled China’s preferential trade treatment

China will no longer be eligible for Gereralised System of Preferences (#GSP) trade benefits from 27 EU nations, the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Ukraine, and Liechtenstein as of December 1, leaving the country with only three options: Norway, New Zealand, and Australia.

On October 28, the General Administration of Customs of the Communist Party of China (#GACC) issued the “Announcement on No longer issuing GSP certificates of origin for goods exported to EU member states, the United Kingdom, Canada, Turkey, Ukraine, Liechtenstein and other countries.”

Although the GACC louds the action as "an acknowledgement by other advanced economies, economists have predicted that labor-intensive enterprises will face the brunt of the change.

#China #EU #TradeWar

Sources: Taiwan News, Epoch Times; #Nov2
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4333651
#PoliceState #FreedomOfExpression
Four seniors arrested on suspicion of “seditious intent” for displaying banner demanding genuine universal suffrage in Hong Kong

The group of older pro-democracy activists, between the ages of 61 to 85, was reportedly standing next to a yellow banner displaying the words “I want genuine universal suffrage,” the central slogan of the 2014 Umbrella Movement which saw thousands occupy the city’s main streets to demand wider democracy.

The group has held vigil regularly in Mong Kok, Hong Kong. Two members of the group were seen wearing yellow-coloured clothing, a symbol of the city’s flagging pro-democracy movement.

#SeditiousIntent #HKProtest #Oppression #FreedomOfSpeech #GuiltOfWords

Source: HKFP; #Nov2
https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/02/hong-kong-police-arrest-4-for-seditious-intent-over-banner-calling-for-democracy/
Pentagon: Chinese nuke force growing faster than predicted

A Pentagon report released on 3 Nov (Wednesday) mentioned China’s nuclear arsenal growing faster than expected. Also, the number of Chinese nuclear warheads could increase to 700 within 6 years and may top 1000 by 2030. It makes China more capable of coercing Taiwan.

Wednesday’s report is the latest reminder to Congress that the Pentagon’s frequent promises to focus more intently on countering China have moved only incrementally beyond the talking stage. The Biden administration is expected to take a new step by following through on its announcement in September of plans to increase the U.S. military presence in Australia, in addition to a controversial decision to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

Source: AP news #Nov04

https://apnews.com/article/china-united-states-beijing-nuclear-weapons-congress-5a8c5ceb9d248810b9dd513894f195f8

#PentagonReport #ChinaNclearArsenal #China
#Netflix removes episodes showing China's arbitrary nine-dash line after Philippines' Complaints

Source: Stand News; #Nov2

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#Netflix removes episodes showing China's arbitrary nine-dash line after #Philippines' Complaints

The Philippine government has ordered Netflix to remove parts of the Australian drama series "#PineGap" on its platform for "violating Philippine #sovereignty".

The series features a map of the #NineDashLine, an invisible demarcation controversially used by China to claim its territories in the #SouthChinaSea.

The second and third episodes of the series were no longer available in the Philippines by November 1, 2021. Netflix announced that those episodes had been "removed by government's demand". It did not elaborate further.

China lays claim to most of the South China Sea waters within the so-called nine-dash line, a U-shaped feature used on Chinese maps. Parts of the resource-rich waters are also contested by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration handed down a ruling on July 12, 2016, stating that China's historic-rights claim over the maritime areas inside the nine-dash line has no lawful effect. There has also no evidence supporting China's exclusive rights over the waters and resources.

Source: Stand News; #Nov2
https://www.thestandnews.com/international/%E6%BE%B3%E5%8A%87-pine-gap-%E7%8F%BE%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E7%89%88%E5%8D%97%E6%B5%B7%E5%9C%B0%E5%9C%96-%E8%8F%B2%E8%B6%8A%E6%8A%97%E8%AD%B0-netflix-%E6%92%A4%E7%89%87?

#NineDash
#WhiteTerror #Censorship
Film Censorship Ordinance Amended in HK, as Pro-China Lawmaker Claims a Hong Kong Film is Toxic to Teenagers


Source: WhatsNews Media #Oct29

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#WhiteTerror #Censorship
Film Censorship Ordinance Amended in HK, as Pro-China Lawmaker Claims a Hong Kong Film is Toxic to Teenagers

October 27, 2021 marks the final meeting of the Legislative Council after the extension of its terms. The last item on the agenda was the 2021 Film Censorship Ordinance Amendment Bill.

As only 5 councillors expressed their view, the legislation process took only 45 minutes to have the bill passed.

The bill authorises the #FilmCensorshipAuthority to check whether a film violates the national security law. It also allows the Chief Secretary of Administration to withdraw already-issued screening permits.

At the meeting, a pro-China lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-Fun comdemned a 2015-Hong Kong film called Ten Years for "hating the country", " romanticising hunger strike and self-immolaton", as well as "inciting Hong Kong independence".

She claimed that Hong Kong had lost "several generations of teenagers" and she hoped to remove what she called "toxic movies" by the censorship law.

Ng Ka-Leung, one of the producers of Ten years replied to media inquiry. He said that Hong Kong people have adequate ability to make judgement and logical thinking skills to proces the so called controversial content of the film.

He added, when some people manipulate power and suppress other people's thought, this is much more toxic not only to teenagers but also everyone in society.

He reiterated that a legal movie exhibition provides a reflective space and this has nothing to do with toxicity.

The producer agrees with Leung regarding the fact that "Hong Kong has lost a few generations of teenagers," but he emphasises that the imbalanced power and unmonitored system are the reasons to the loss of trust in the authority.

[Editor note: Ten Years is a Hong Kong dystopian speculative fictional film which depicts the deterioration human rights and freedom in future Hong Kong.]

#TenYears #Movie #NSL #LegCo #LeungMeiFun #Censorship #HongKongCinema

Source: WhatsNews Media #Oct29
https://t.me/WhatsNewsHK/2506
The Head of a Belarus Exile Group Hanged in a Park. Police Starts off by Murder Investigation

The BBC reported that the Belarus Exile Group Head Vitaly Shishov, who has lost recently, was found being hanged in a park in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, on August 3. The place was close to his house in Ukraine. The police force has already started an investigation in accordance with murder, not ruling the chance of homicide.

Vitaly Shishov is the Head of the Belarusian House in Ukraine, an exile group helping people in Belarus to flee to Ukraine. The organisation headquarter is in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, mainly helping Belarusians who fleed due to violent oppression to find accommodations, jobs and legal suggestions.

#Belarus #Ukraine #Kyiv #VitalyShishov #BelarusianHouseinUkraine #BBC

Source: Stand News #Aug03

https://bit.ly/3ChJ1jw
#Remembrance
Citizens Lay Down White Flowers on 2-Year Anniversary of Student Protester's Death

Today (November 8) marked the second year since the passing of pro-democracy Hong Kong student #ChowTszLok. Citizens around the city brought brocades of white flowers to the site of his fatal fall in remembrance.

During the anti-ELAB movement in 2019, Chow, a 22-year-old university student, fell from the 3rd floor of a car park in Tseung Kwan O as police clashed with civilians in nearby streets.

He died from his injuries in hospital 4 days later, on November 8, 2019.

A Coroner’s inquest was conducted in January 2021 to determine cause of Chow’s death. However, as the jury was unable to decide the causes and circumstances of his death, the coroner pronounced an open verdict.

#LestWeForget #PoliceBrutality #AlexChow #PoliceState

Source: Stand News; #Nov8
https://www.facebook.com/710476795704610/posts/4718291671589749/