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#PoliticalOppression #WhiteTerror #PressFreedom
5 members of Law Society warned Beijing mouthpiece to “stop unfounded attacks on HK's judiciary”

Source: Apple Daily, #Dec30

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#PoliticalOppression #WhiteTerror #PressFreedom
5 members of Law Society warned Beijing mouthpiece to “stop unfounded attacks on HK's judiciary”

On December 30, 2020, five members of the Law Society's governing body demanded mainland state media to stop their "unfounded attacks" on Hong Kong's judiciary.

Mark Daly, Michelle Tsoi, Davyd Wong, Kenneth Lam, and Janet Pang singled out an editorial by the People's Daily last weekend that said pro-democracy media tycoon and national security suspect #JimmyLai should be tried on the mainland. The editorial claimed that the High Court’s decision to grant Lai bail had drastically hurt the SAR's rule of law, and described the #AppleDaily founder as an “extremely dangerous” person.

In their statement, the five lawyers warned that the editorial could be seen as putting pressure on the judiciary ahead of an appeal hearing over the bail decision, and could also prejudice Lai's right to a fair trial.

They called for an end to “unfounded attacks against the judiciary” by state media and for Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng to defend the judiciary against such “unwarranted actions.”

This type of commentary appearing in a newspaper run/controlled by the central government... is particularly worrying and borders on an attempt to interfere with the due administration of justice by Hong Kong’s independent judiciary," they said.

Source: Apple Daily, RTHK; #Dec30
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20201230/TV2ACBXJXBDBPHL6KET3BCZ7Q4/
#Save12 #BringThemBack
British Lawmakers Condemn China for Breaching Sino-British Joint Declaration

Source: Stand News #Dec30

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#Save12 #BringThemBack
British Lawmakers Condemn China for Breaching Sino-British Joint Declaration

In the 12 Hong Kongers case, 10 adult defendants were sentenced to seven months to three years in prison in Yantian, Shenzhen on December 30, 2020. The other two minors were handed over to the Hong Kong police. The Hong Kong police stated that they could charge them with offence of failing to surrender to custody as shall have been appointed.

The “All-Party Parliamentary Group Hong Kong” of the British Parliament issued a statement on Dec 30, 2020, criticizing the incident as a fierce attack on Hong Kong people’s freedom and is a repeated violation of the "Sino-British Joint Declaration”. The group reiterated that Britain will continue to fight for freedom for Hong Kong people.

Baroness Bennett and Alistair Carmichael, co-chairs of the "All-Party Parliamentary Group Hong Kong” of the British Parliament, said that the arrests represented how Hong Kong people’s freedom were being attacked and was another "shocking" violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. “It seems likly they are hoping to warn all the pro-democracy activists, politicians and leaders and show that these people cannot escape the strict National Security Law through these arrests,” they said.

The group states that they hope to send a clear and firm message to Hong Kong people: "We in the UK will not stop fighting for your freedom. We welcome BNO passport holders to live in the UK, where your rights and freedoms will be protected instead of being weaponized.”

The organization "Stand with Hong Kong" also stated that the sentence was unacceptable. They believed that the only "crime" committed by these brave young people was to speak out for democracy and freedom and to protect their own safety. The organization calls on the international community to hold the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities responsible for their violations of the international human rights law.

Source: Stand News #Dec30

#SinoBritishJointDeclaration
China Jails Citizen Journalist Zhang Zhan
EU said She was Being Tortured, and Pompeo said the Case Reflects CCP Fears of Truthtellers

Source: Stand News #Dec30

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China Jails Citizen Journalist Zhang Zhan
EU said She was Being Tortured, and Pompeo said the Case Reflects CCP Fears of Truthtellers


Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan traveled to Wuhan to make the news coverage regarding the Wuhan Virus pandemic. She was accused of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, putting her in prison for four years. The European Union (EU) said in a statement yesterday calling for an immediate release of Zhang and cited from credible sources that she had been tortured during detention. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also issued a statement condemning China strongly for its false prosecution and conviction of Zhang, which reflected the CCP's fears of citizens who speak the truth.

The EU called for the immediate release of Zhang in a statement yesterday (29th). They also disclosed according to reliable sources, Zhang had been subjected to torture and ill-treatment during her detention, resulting in the severe deterioration of her health condition. They added that Zhang must receive adequate medical assistance. "The increasing restrictions on freedom of speech, access to information, intimidation and surveillance of journalists, as well as detentions, trials, and sentencing of human rights defenders, lawyers, and intellectuals in China will continue to be a major concern."

#US #China #EU #ZhangZhan #MikePompeo #CCP #CitizenJournalist #Jail #Detention #FreedomofSpeech #Surveillance #Suppression

Source: Stand News #Dec30

https://bit.ly/38aq8Tb
Singaporean Spies on US for China, Arrested on Return

Source: Stand News #Dec30

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Singaporean Spies on US for China, Arrested on Return

Dickson Jun Wei Yeo, a Singaporean citizen who admitted to collecting sensitive information about the US for Chinese intelligence agencies and jailed in America, was arrested upon return to Singapore after serving his sentence. In a statement released on 30 December, Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) said Yeo had been arrested and would be questioned to see if he had engaged in activities that endanger Singapore’s national security.

In their statement, the ISD stressed that the Singaporean government “takes a very serious view on any Singaporean who enters into a clandestine relationship with a foreign government and engages in espionage or subversive activities at the behest of the foreign power”. They said that the authorities would not allow “nationals to be subverted or used by any foreign actors for activities prejudicial to our security and national interests”.

Source: Stand News #Dec30

#Singapore #US #China #NationalSecurity #Espionage

https://bit.ly/2NycukN
Chinese Communist Party present at many global companies, group says

Source: Nikkei Asia #Dec30

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Chinese Communist Party present at many global companies, group says

An international group of lawmakers has shared an apparent list of nearly 2 million Chinese Communist Party members with multiple governments, flagging the fact that many party members are employed by global companies, Nikkei has learned.

Dating back to 2016, the list covers about 80,000 party branches, mainly around Shanghai, along with their members. The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China has distributed it to a number of countries.

The data -- and the furious response to it in some quarters -- underscores the dilemma that companies face in hiring party members. Party membership is highly competitive, making the body a source of exceptional talent. But as suspicion toward China grows, critics warn of the potential economic security risks involved in hiring Beijing loyalists.

Source: Nikkei Asia #Dec30

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Chinese-Communist-Party-present-at-many-global-companies-group-says

#CCP #China #Beijing #Global
#Court #PoliticalProsecution
Former #StandNews editors Denied Bail; UK office Ceases Operation a Day after crackdowns by Hong Kong Authorities

Source: Inmediahk.net, RTHK; #Dec30

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#Court #PoliticalProsecution
Former #StandNews editors Denied Bail; UK office Ceases Operation a Day after crackdowns by Hong Kong Authorities

In Hong Kong, two former Stand News editors #ChungPuiKuen and Patrick #LamSiuTung were denied bail by West Kowloon Court on 30 December, 2021, one day after they were arrested by Hong Kong national security police.

Former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen, and former acting editor-in-chief #PatrickLam were accused of "conspiring with others to publish or reproduce seditious publications" between July 7, 2020 and December 29, 2021.

Chung was the only defendant appeared at the hearing while Lam could not attend due to health reasons. Both defendants were remanded in custody as the magistrate was not convinced that they would not carry out acts endangering national security.

Outside the magistrate court, tens of former employees of Stand News gathered to bid farewell to Chung Pui-kuen. Many of them broke into tears as they waved goodbye to Chung. Others called out words of encouragement for Chung to stay strong.

Police on the site, however, shouted at the crowd disrespectfully, ordering them to go away and leave.

Meanwhile, #YeungTinShui, head of Stand News’ office in the UK, announced on Facebook on December 30, 2021 that the office has ceased operations and he had resigned.

On December 29, 2021, the national security police arrested senior staff members and board directors of Stand News and froze the outlet's assets that worth HK$61 million. The Force raided the news outlet's newsroom and offices in Hong Kong, seized 62 computers, 27 storage devices and six boxes of documents in the operation. Stand News, a popular pro-democracy online media outlet, was forced to fold its operation and dismissed all employees on the same day.

#Media #PoliticalOppression #PressFreedom #Arrest #Regime #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution

Source: Inmediahk.net, RTHK; #Dec30
https://bit.ly/31bUO5L

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Related News:

Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31757

Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31751

Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on Stand News
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752

Stand News Thanks Hongkongers for Their Support Despite #PoliticalOppression
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31765

Hong Kong Police Issues Arrest warrant for Stand News founder
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31766
#WhiteTerror #PressFreedom
“Is there any trustworthy media outlet left in Hong Kong?” ask Readers of now-defunct Stand News

Source: Inmediahk.net; #Dec30

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#WhiteTerror #PressFreedom
“Is there any trustworthy media outlet left in Hong Kong?” ask Readers of now-defunct Stand News

In Hong Kong, Stand News, an independent pro-democracy media outlet, was forced into closure on December 29, 2021 when 7 personnel linked to the outlet were arrested by the National Security police on suspicion of “conspiracy to distribute seditious publications”.

In late evening on the same day, a young couple, Ah Wai and his girlfriend, who resides in Wong Tai Sin went all the way to the news outlet’s office in Kwun Tong to bid farewell to the reporters.

“We want to thank the reporters of Stand News," said the couple. "We’ve been reading their news reports. Without their hard work, there won’t be anything worth reading [in Hong Kong].”

The young couple used to read #AppleDaily. After Apple Daily was forced to close down in June this year, they switched to Stand News. Although both acknowledged that local authorities were set to crackdown on Stand News, they didn’t expect it to happen that day.

The couple told reporters that they were astonished to learn that senior staff members of Stand News were arrested, and the newsroom being raided. It took a long time for Ah Wai’s girlfriend to settle her mind before she could get back to work. They watched the latest video published by Stand News on its social media, "2021 Tree Cave" and shared that with their friends, regardless of their political orientation.

“I believe disseminating their work is the best way to show our respect to Stand News. Reporters who produced the video would certainly want more people to know about it.”

Ah Wai’s girlfriend continued saying that the last video produced by Stand News has been keeping her company and heartened. “[The video] tells more than how gloomy an era we are facing, it tried to shed lights for us to carry on our lives.”

It is for the same reason that took the young couple to the office of Stand News. “[we] perhaps can’t do anything for the reporters, but we can at least keep them companied.”

She added that pro-democracy media outlets in Hong Kong have been targeted and cracked down one after another in the past 6 months. Stand News was among the few trusted outlets left for her to “learn the fact and true happenings in Hong Kong.”

With Stand News closing down, she sighed and felt losing connection with society.

In her keen voice, she asked the reporters, “is there any trustworthy news outlet left in Hong Kong?”

Inside the office of Stand News in this late evening, many staff members lingered on chatting with each other. Some of them walked by the door where Ah Wai and his girlfriend were standing. Ah Wai’s girlfriend waved to them to say thank you, “thank you for the hard work. I read news reports on Stand News almost every day. They become my long-time companion. I hope you all can find your own way and carry on.”

Source: Inmediahk.net; #Dec30
https://bit.ly/3sHeZUq

#Solidarity #Humanity #Crackdown #PressFreedom #PoliticalOppression #StandNews #Readers #Hongkongers
World Muslim Leaders Boycott Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

On December 30, 2021, The Global Imams Council (#GIC) made a decision to boycott the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

The Council is, according to its website, the "largest transnational non-governmental body of Muslim religious leaders from all Islamic Denominations and Schools of thought."

In a statement, the Council described China as a "tyrannical and oppressive regime that is responsible for the genocide and ethnic cleansing of Uyghurs".

Source: The Global Imams Council #Dec30

#WinterOlympics #Boycott #CCP #Genocide #Uyghurs
#CCP
Crackdown on Stand News is China's First Step in Controlling the World's Narrative, says Former #NextDigital Director

Source: VOA Chinese #Dec30

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#CCP
Crackdown on Stand News is China's First Step in Controlling the World's Narrative, says Former #NextDigital Director

The day after Stand News was forced to shut down by Hong Kong Police, Hong Kong Democracy Council (#HKDC) held a rapid response virtual briefing on December 30, 2021, in which the speakers urged the international community to closely monitor the developing situation.

Not only is freedom of press under attack in Hong Kong, they said, the incident also signifies important future challenges, such as the possibility of China manipulating the world in the future.

The invited speakers were #ThomasKellogg, executive director of the Center for Asian Law at Georgetown University; and #MarkClifford, former independent non-executive director of Next Digital.

As a former director of Next Media, Clifford saw firsthand the government's oppression against Apple Daily, which began even before the National Security Law (#NSL) took effect on June 30, 2020. The crackdown against Stand News had been rumored to be coming for some time; even so, when it finally became reality, Clifford felt it deeply.

"What's happening at Stand News is tragic," Clifford said, "Perhaps not a complete surprise, because we have seen what happened at Apple Daily. It's extraordinary when you're on the other end of state power - unchecked state power. In a city like Hong Kong, it's hard to believe."

The arrests and forced closure of Stand News happened soon after the conclusion of the legislative elections. Hong Kong Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang had twice written to the Wall Street Journal to criticize their reporting of the Hong Kong Elections, even calling its editorials "sickening".

Clifford said that this had not been a coincidence; rather, it reflects the Chinese Communist Party's ambitions to control the world's narrative.

Source: VOA Chinese #Dec30
https://www.voachinese.com/a/experts-analysis-on-hong-kong-standard-news-forced-closure-20211230/6376727.html

Video of the HKDC Rapid Response Virtual Briefing:
https://www.facebook.com/hkdc.us/videos/958932114740331/

#StandNewsCrackdown #NationalSecurityLaw #FreedomOfPress #Media #PoliticalProsecution
Beijing gives Hong Kong leader power to bar foreign lawyers after loss at top court

China’s top lawmaking body gave Hong Kong leader John Lee the power on Friday to bar foreign lawyers from national security trials, removing the decision from the city’s courts.

Critics said the decision created a “dual state” in Hong Kong’s justice system and turned its national security committee, controlled by top Hong Kong and Beijing officials, into an “omnipotent authority” that could overthrow any national security rulings.

Beijing imposed the sweeping national security law in 2020 after huge, and sometimes violent, pro-democracy protests rocked the city a year earlier.

Source: HKFP #Dec30

#Beijing #HongKong #Foreign #Lawyer #Court

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/12/30/beijing-gives-hong-kong-leader-power-to-bar-foreign-lawyers-after-loss-at-top-court/
Italian Health Secretary: China Teaches the World What Not to Do in a Pandemic

Source: Europe Chinese #Dec30

http://europechinese.blogspot.com/2022/12/blog-post_99.html

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Italian Health Secretary: China Teaches the World What Not to Do in a Pandemic

Italian Health Minister Orazio Schillaci sharply criticised China's anti-pandemic measures in a presentation at the Italian Parliament on Thursday.

He said that China has taught a lesson to the world on what not to do when fighting against the virus. He calls on all countries to never use China-style measures to fight a virus.

Schillaci also indicates that no new variant was found from the import cases from China as of 30/12. However, Italy has to be aware of the risks posed by China's pandemic, but there is no need to panic.

The health minister also commented on the anti-pandemic policy of China, calling it an exercise in self-contradiction. He added that the recent situation in some Chinese mega-cities would be unacceptable in democratic countries.

#Italy #China #OrazioSchillaci #COVID19 #Pandemic #Lockdown #Democracy

Source: Europe Chinese #Dec30

http://europechinese.blogspot.com/2022/12/blog-post_99.html