#Court
#HongkongersVoice #Letter
Former #StudentsUnion President #OwenAu: "We can still strive for the future we want by our actions from moment to moment"

Part 1 / 3

Source: InMedia #May18

Read more
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29797

#Court
#HongkongersVoice #Letter
Former #StudentsUnion President #OwenAu: "We can still strive for the future we want by our actions from moment to moment"

Part 1 / 3

[Editor's note:

The following is a letter written by Owen Au Cheuk-hei, the former president of the Students' Union of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK). The letter was submitted to the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong on May18, 2021, where the 22-year-old Au was trialed for "participating in an unauthorized assembly", "possessing weapons" and "obstructing justice" among other charges in a pro-democracy protest on October 20, 2019.

On the same day in court, Au has been convicted and the court will deliver his sentence on June 2, 2021.]

"That year, the feeling of hopelessness led to a wave of student suicides. One youth after another became overwhelmed by the feeling of darkness as they could not see their future, and ended their brief lives.

One of my best friends was among them; he departed suddenly, without leaving a word behind. After that, I spent countless days and nights curled up on my bed, watching countless sunrises and sunsets outside my window, berating myself for being unable to prevent the tragedy from happening.

It was then that I began to doubt the phrase 'determining my own destiny'. No matter how my self-determined spirit struggles, it could not slow down the fall and corruption of this land by even a little bit.

So I began to think that, in this cruel society, self-determination was probably only an absurd joke.

I was caught up in all these depressing emotions when I came to find Buddhism. I reached a relevation one day, and understood that all things came from dependent arising, and are emptiness by nature; whether times are good or bad, nothing is permanent, and nothing lasts forever.

From this, I learned to put aside my own preconceptions, and let go of my own honor and disgrace. I no longer worry whether every effort I paid would be rewarded. I only concern myself with whether what I think and do are improving myself, those around me, and the world I live in. The past cannot be changed; the present is bound by the past; but the future is determined by our choices today.

Even though much of the world is beyond our control, even beyond our knowledge, we can still strive for the future we want by our actions from moment to moment. Perhaps this is what 'determining my own destiny' really meant. This is how, through faith, I found the strength to carry on living, and the courage to meet my own future destiny."

Continue Reading Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29805

Source: InMedia #May18
https://bit.ly/3tQqQg0

#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliticalSuppression #PoliceState #HongKongProtests #AntiELAB

#Court #HongkongersVoice #Letter
Former #StudentsUnion President #OwenAu: "I see hope...many people are still striving for Hong Kong"

Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29797

Source: InMedia #May18
https://bit.ly/3tQqQg0

Read Part 2
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29805

#Court #HongkongersVoice #Letter
Former #StudentsUnion President #OwenAu: "I see hope...many people are still striving for Hong Kong"

Part 2 / 3

[Editor's note:

The following is a letter written by Owen Au Cheuk-hei, the former president of the Students' Union of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK). The letter was submitted to the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong on May18, 2021, where the 22-year-old Au was trialed for "participating in an unauthorized assembly", "possessing weapons" and "obstructing justice" among other charges in a pro-democracy protest on October 20, 2019.

On the same day in court, Au has been convicted and the court will deliver his sentence on June 2, 2021.]

Previously, Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29797

Continue with Part 2:

"...As stated in my case, I was arrested during a protest on Oct 20, 2019, which was 576 days ago.

During this period of time, nearly ten thousand citizens had come under arrest due to the movement or other political reasons. More and more people are forced to leave Hong Kong, with no chance in sight for their return.

This development is surely the opposite of the outcome that many had hoped for: 'determining our own destiny', or democratic self-governance.

After my arrest, a police officer asked me mockingly: What did I feel I've achieved by taking to the streets?

Thinking back now, over these 576 days, it certainly seemed like I've achieved nothing, except losing more and more fellow students and friends. Undoubtedly, this caused me more pain than the court case now being brought against me.

However, different from the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness in the years past, today I do not feel hopeless at all, and have not given up on my belief in 'determining our own destiny'.

These 576 days had been long and full of changes. There had been trauma and pain, but at the same time, I see hope. Because I know that, outside of the courts and prisons, out of sight of others, many people are still striving quietly for Hong Kong, taking up the fight in place those who have fallen.

Local business owners absorb losses to make their Hong Kong brands shine; artists and creative minds are working day and night to reclaim the city's coveted reputation of 'number one in Asia'.

These Hongkongers are full of life and dreams, and I can feel the immeasurable bravery and wisdom in them. Before such great people, I feel humble, and have no more excuses to wallow in self-pity.

They make me firmly believe that this city is not fated to spiral downward forever; this city will create infinite possibilities for the future."

Read Part 3 here:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29816

Source: InMedia #May18
https://bit.ly/3tQqQg0

#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliticalSuppression #PoliceState #HongKongProtests #AntiELAB

#Court #HongkongersVoice #Letter
Former #StudentsUnion President #OwenAu: "No matter what awaits us in the future, I believe that our generation is one who determines our own destiny"

Previously, Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29797

Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29805

Source: InMedia #May18

Continue Reading Part 3:
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29816

#Court #HongkongersVoice #Letter
Former #StudentsUnion President #OwenAu: "No matter what awaits us in the future, I believe that our generation is one who determines our own destiny"

[Editor's note:

The following is a letter written by Owen Au Cheuk-hei, the former president of the Students' Union of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK). The letter was submitted to the Kowloon City Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong on May18, 2021, where the 22-year-old Au was trialed for "participating in an unauthorized assembly", "possessing weapons" and "obstructing justice" among other charges in a pro-democracy protest on October 20, 2019.

On the same day in court, Au has been convicted and the court will deliver his sentence on June 2, 2021.]

Previously, Part 1:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29797

Part 2:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29805

Part 3:

"...Nobel Prize laureate Albert Camus used to say, 'Each generation doubtless feels called upon to reform the world. Mine knows that it will not reform it, but its task is perhaps even greater. It consists in preventing the world from destroying itself.'

Due to historical reasons, our generation has no choice but to be born into a Hong Kong where political rights and the room for free speech are dwindling day by day.

Two summers ago, we chose to fight back against the fate that was forced upon us, demonstrating to the world our determination to take hold of our own destiny. Now is the time that we take up the responsibility for our choice.

The world is changing, perhaps for better, or perhaps it is crumbling. But no matter what awaits us in the future, I believe that our generation is one who determines our own destiny:

we all hold fast to our own duties in our own ways, striving to create a new, beautiful era that we can truly call our own."

Source: InMedia #May18
https://bit.ly/3tQqQg0

#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliticalSuppression #PoliceState #HongKongProtests #AntiELAB

#FirstHand #Jun12
HK Police Suppresses Street Booth Run by University Students on Protest Anniversary

On June 12, 2021, members of Hong Kong Federation of Students (#HKFS) and #ChanWingYan, vice-president of the #StudentsUnion of #LingnanUniversity, set up a street booth on a footbridge in Mongkok.

Numerous police officers arrived and intervened within 10 miniutes after the pro-democracy youth set up the booth.

The students called on Hongkongers not to forget the day two years ago on June 12, 2019.

June 12 marks the first large-scale police-civilian clash in the 2019 #AntiELAB movement.

#HongKongProtests #PoliceState #2Years #WeShallNeverSurrender

#WhiteTerror #Censorship
Hong Kong University Management Continues Crackdown on Pro-democracy Students

According to the #CampusTV and the journal #Undergrad run by the students of the University of Hong Kong (#HKU), the University management has been removing pro-democracy slogans and materials posted on campus.

These targeted locations include the Democracy Wall, the building where the office of Students Union was located, and notice boards in general.

The #StudentsUnion (#HKUSU) said this is a continuous crackdown by the University authorities following the deprival of the Union's right to use the office on campus.

Source: Stand News #Jul11
https://thestandnews.page.link/2nHip7rFwDUZaxSY7

#University #Students #DemocracyWall #FailedState

#WhiteTerror
#CarrrieLam Insists Actions Against HKU Students; University Management Deregisters Students' Union

On July 13, 2021, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam demands the University of Hong Kong (#HKU) to take action against students. This is followed by the #StudentsUnion Council passing a motion on July 8 to express condolences to a Hong Kong man who died after knifing a policeman and stabbing himself on July 1.

Even the Students' Union's Council has already apologized by resigning on July 9, Lam insisted disciplinary actions on students.

On the same day, the University Management announced that the Students' Union would no longer be recognised as an independent registered association.

Previously, the government, the police and pro-Beijing figures have condemned students for breaching the #NationalSecurityLaw and claimed to invite the National Security Police for investigation.

Source: RTHK; InMedia #Jul13

#Education #University #FailedState #FreeSpeech #StateTerrorism

#PoliceState #Arrest #NSL
Hong Kong Police Arrest 3 University Students under #NationalSecurityLaw

At 9:40am on August 18, 2021, Hong Kong police arrested at least three members of the students' union of the University of Hong Kong under the National Security Law.

They include the elected president of the Students' Union #KwokWingHo; the Faculty of Arts Student's Union representative #YungChungHei ; and the president of the students' union council #CheungKingSun.

The police accused the three university students of "promoting terrorism".

According to sources, it is related to a withdrawn motion of the students' union council in July 2021. The Union has passed a motion to extend condolences to the 50-year-old Hong Kong man #LeungKinFai who passed away after stabbing himself and knifing one policeman.

Image: #FirstHand
Source: Now News; Stand News #Aug18

https://thestandnews.page.link/6fuSBWh3LsdKkm178

#StateTerrorism #StudentsUnion #HKU

#Suppression #WhiteTerror
The 7th University in Hong Kong ceases recognition of its Students’ Union

#StudentsUnion #Authoritarianism #Censorship #Education

Source: inmediahk; #Jan20
https://bit.ly/3FJOnoP

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32097

#Suppression #WhiteTerror
The 7th University in Hong Kong ceases recognition of its Students’ Union

In an internal email sent to students and faculty members on January 20, 2022, the Education University of Hong Kong (#EdUHK) criticized governance of the student union, saying that the Union has been operating under a ‘provisional’ body for the past four consecutive years, without proper mandate and therefore lack of student representation.

The university said it will stop offering support to the union, including the collection of membership fees, providing network accounts and services, and offering IT support. Additionally, the student union will lose access to its office space and the right to book and use campus facilities and venues.

The union’s HK$9 million reserve will also be “kept under the custody” of the university’s Finance Office.

In just one year, seven of eight universities in Hong Kong has cut ties with their students’ union, including the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK), the University of Hong Kong (#HKU), the City University of Hong Kong (#CityU), the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong (#PolyU), the Baptist University of Hong Kong (#BUHK) and the Lingnan University of Hong Kong (#LingnanU).

#StudentsUnion #Authoritarianism #Censorship #Education

Source: inmediahk; #Jan20
https://bit.ly/3FJOnoP

=====
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Editorial Committee of Hong Kong Baptist University's Students' Union resigns en masse due to #Censorship
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#StudentsUnion #Rights #FreedomOfSpeech
“Resist till the end”: Hong Kong Student Union vow to carry on the fight for student rights and academic freedom

The Student Development Services of City University (#CUHK) in Hong Kong has demanded its Student Union to vacate and return its premises by February 14, claiming that the union failed to comply with a request to submit 16 years of audited financial records within two weeks.

On February 14, representatives of the student union executive committee staged a parting ceremony before returning the office space. They marched from the office to Cut Price, a store run by the student union which offered stationery, snacks and other items to CityU students at a discounted price.

Using a calligraphy brush, a student wrote the phrases “freedom of thought,” “academic autonomy,” “[we will] not yield a single step” and “resist till the end” at the store entrance.

The march ended at the “democracy wall,” a message board previously used by students to share their views on political events. Next to the wall was the Goddess of Democracy statue, a monument commemorating Beijing’s military crackdown on a student-led democracy movement in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989.

Some students pushed over the red barricades surrounding the wall to put up memo stickers with final messages to the student union.

“Thank you, student union,” one note read.

Another one read: “Grateful that we have walked together for 37 years. Add oil, hang in there!”

Source: Inmediahk, HKFP, CityU Students Union Facebook; #Feb14
https://www.facebook.com/387603714763860/posts/1841380409386176/

=====
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#University in Hong Kong demands #StudentUnion to hand over 17 years of audit reports in 2 weeks
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32072

The 7th University in Hong Kong ceases recognition of its Students’ Union
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32096
.

#Oppression
Polytechnic University cuts ties with student union

#PolyUseige #StudentsUnion

Sources: Ming Pao, RTHK; #Apr15

Read more
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#Oppression
Polytechnic University cuts ties with student union

The student union of Polytechnic University (#PolyU) said on April 15, 2022 that the university had cut ties with it by demanding that it stop using the university's name or claiming affiliation with the institution.

The union's Ad-hoc Executive Committee said the university had also demanded that all of its affiliated organisations must move out of the university campus by July 15, 2022.

The student union said the move came after it had refused to sign an agreement with the university requiring it not to carry out any acts that would damage the institution's reputation.

The union said it decided not to accept the agreement after the majority of its members had voted against signing it in January.

It expressed deep regret over the university’s move, saying the union had been serving PolyU students for half a century and been a bridge between the study body and the university.

It said the university’s decision means it no longer recognises the union's official status and that it amounted to an erosion of students' rights.

#PolyUseige #StudentsUnion

Sources: Ming Pao, RTHK; #Apr15

https://bit.ly/38ZtdbL