#Oppression #PoliceState
Pro-democracy activists Henry Tong and wife left Hong Kong; Managed to overcome bouts of depression

Source: InMediaHK; #Jan18


#WhiteTerror #JointEnterprise #Taiwan #NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState

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#Oppression #PoliceState
Pro-democracy activists Henry Tong and wife left Hong Kong; Managed to overcome bouts of depression

Henry Tong and his wife Elaine To announced on #Jan17 on their Facebook page that they have left Hong Kong. Due to concerns over the safety of his family and the changing Hong Kong judicial environment, he stated that he “had to physically move away [from Hong Kong]”.

Tong and To (then fiancée) were convicted of rioting in a protest in Sheung Wan on 28 July 2019 (known as the “728 case”) and were later cleared of all charges.

Initially Tong thought the transition should be relatively straightforward, but in reality “it isn’t easy to leave a place where you grew up”. “We have done nothing wrong. Poor governance and policies in the past 20 odd years have turned our lives upside down. In the end it is us who have to go. Why?” He could not help asking himself, in tears with his wife on the plane flying out.

Tong shared his experience of depression after arrival in the first two months. The pain of separation [from his loved ones in Hong Kong] was so raw that he even had suicidal thoughts.

Thanks to the encouragement from his fellow remand prisoners in the 728 case, he managed to overcome this trying time. The group named themselves “turnips” after the worst ever dish they had in custody. Fellow turnips kept reminding him that “the physical distance will not prevent one from pursuing the cause”. Tong said his “primary goals right now are to equip himself and seek opportunities”. He added, regardless of what lies ahead and where he is, his determination will not waver and hope “everyone takes care and we will meet again in Hong Kong”.

See report by HKCNews in Chinese.
https://www.hkcnews.com/article/32370/728%E4%B8%8A%E7%92%B0%E8%A1%9D%E7%AA%81-%E6%9A%B4%E5%8B%95-%E8%B5%B4%E6%B9%AF%E6%9D%9C%E7%81%AB-32392/%E6%9A%B4%E5%8B%95

He posted a photo of him holding a yellow umbrella at Liberty Square in Taipei. He added two lines of text in the photo, showing “wishing everyone a life that is free and equal” and “looking forward to meeting again in Hong Kong”.

In addition, he stated, “afterall, I will stay true to what I believe regardless of what will happen and where I am”.

Henry Tong and his wife used to be fitness coaches and operated a gym together. They closed the gym following Hong Kong’s LeaveHomeSafe app was mandated on 18 February 2021 due to privacy concerns. They also stopped coaching due to suspicious people lurking around where they worked.

See Henry Tong's announcement in Chinese on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/Futongtofor/posts/640198240737765

Source: InMediaHK; #Jan18
https://www.inmediahk.net/node/%E7%A4%BE%E9%81%8B/%E8%B5%B4%E6%B9%AF%E6%9D%9C%E7%81%AB%E9%9B%A2%E6%B8%AF-%E6%B9%AF%E5%81%89%E9%9B%84

#WhiteTerror #JointEnterprise #Taiwan #NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState

====
Related News

"Joint Enterprise" Not Applicable to #Rioting, Hong Kong Top Court Rules; "Only Restoring What the Government Illegally Changed", Says Hongkonger
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31388

Chanting protest slogan at home could risk an offence of rioting, legal practitioner warns
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/25566
.

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

5 Universities in Hong Kong Crackdown on Students' Unions
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30534

Editorial Committee of Hong Kong Baptist University's Students' Union resigns en masse due to #Censorship
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32063

Executive Committee of UCSU CUHK Dissolves
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31261

#CarrrieLam Insists Actions Against HKU Students; University Management Deregisters Students' Union
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30489
.

#PressFreedom
Hong Kong Police Commissioner: Media cannot claim themselves as not having intention to incite with a disclaimer

#NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #PoliceState #Censorship #WhiteTerror #Oppression

Source: Inmedia #Jan29

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#PressFreedom
Hong Kong Police Commissioner: Media cannot claim themselves as not having intention to incite with a disclaimer

Seven #StandNews staff were arrested last year due to conspiracies of publishing seditious material. Stand News had ceased operation on the same day, followed in the following month by a few web-based media.

#Mingpao, a Chinese-language newspaper in Hong Kong, included in its editorial a disclaimer that the newspaper has no intention to incite hatred.

More details on Mingpao's disclaimer
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/16

Raymond Siu Chak-yee, the commissioner of Hong Kong Police, described the disclaimer as meaningless, that it is just for self-hypnosis and narcissism, since claiming in a statement that they did not do said act does not mean they had not done so.

He said in a TV interview that the #BasicLaw protects #PressFreedom, from the past to now, and to the future. He emphasised that their decisions to suspend their operations were their own choices. "No one can say freedom if they go against the law, whether or not their actions has disturbed others."

#NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #PoliceState #Censorship #WhiteTerror #Oppression

Source: Inmedia #Jan29

https://bit.ly/3HSSoJB

#PoliticalOppression #Court
#47democrats in Hong Kong detained for almost a year while awaiting trial

The national security case involving 47 pro-democracy figures continued its third time hearing on February 8, 2022 in a Hong Kong Court.

The case was again adjourned for next hearing scheduled on February 28, 2022. By then, most of the defendants have remanded in custody for almost one year.

The 47 defendants – including activist #JoshuaWong, former law professor #BennyTai and ex-lawmakers #LamCheukTing, #WuChiWai and #LeungKwokHung – stand accused of taking part in an unofficial primary election in July 2020 with a view to subverting the state power.

Only 14 of the accused democrats are currently on bail pending trial. Others have been in custody for almost one year while they await trial.

#NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #PoliceState #WhiteTerror

Source: InmediaHK, #Feb8
https://bit.ly/3GEDTrc

#NationalSecurityLaw #FreedomOfSpeech #WhiteTerror
CityU student union under national security investigation following parting ceremony in campus

Source: Inmediahk; #Feb20

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#NationalSecurityLaw #FreedomOfSpeech #WhiteTerror
CityU student union under national security investigation following parting ceremony in campus

City University of Hong Kong (#CityU) Student Union is being investigated by national security police after an on-campus parting ceremony on February 14, sources claimed. 

On February 7, the university announced it would take back the student union's premises in seven days, saying the union failed to submit its audit report for years.

The union held a farewell ceremony at its office on the afternoon of February 14 before moving out.

Around 30 students dressed in black gathered at the student union office, before leading the march on campus.

Over 100 have joined the march at its peak.

It was understood that the National Security Department has begun gathering evidence on campus.

When asked if CityU had reported the protest to the authorities, the school said: "the national security issues that arose was unforeseen. As it had attracted widespread attention, it didn't necessitate the school's reporting the incident."

Source: Inmediahk; #Feb20
https://bit.ly/3s1uRjP

===
Related Article
“Resist till the end”: Hong Kong Student Union leaders vow to carry on their fight for students’ right and academic freedom
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32271?single
.

#Oppression #WhiteTerror
Chinese University of Hong Kong tells Tiananmen artist to bear all legal liability and costs if he wants statue back

Legal documents showed that a law firm representing the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) told #ChenWeiMing, the sculptor behind the #GoddessOfDemocracy statue, that it would arrange for the artwork’s return if he agrees to bear any legal consequences and costs that may arise from its transfer and years-long display on campus.

Read full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/03/17/exclusive-cuhk-tells-artist-of-tiananmen-monument-to-bear-all-legal-liabilities-costs-if-he-wants-work-returned/

Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Mar17

#WhiteTerror #Oppression
Over a dozen companies refuse to transport #PillarofShame, citing concerns over Chinese government's reprisal

Source: Inmediahk; #Apr19

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#WhiteTerror #Oppression
Over a dozen companies refuse to transport #PillarofShame, citing concerns over Chinese government's reprisal

The Pillar of Shame - the Tiananmen memorial at the University of Hong Kong (#HKU) which stood for more than 20 years - has been dismantled and packed away in cargo containers by the University management in the middle of the night in December 2021.

Since then, the creator of the Pillar, Danish artist #JensGalschiøt, had been attempting to ship the Pillar back to Denmark.

In a statement, Galschiøt said that his team, including lawyers, 2 shipping companies, and even the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs were involved in the effort, but they had yet to find a company to move the cargo container from storage to the container wharf.

12 shipping companies turned them down, all citing concerns over the Chinese government taking vengeance on them.

Galschiøt reiterated that he is still hopeful for success, but it remains unclear as to when the Pillar can be shipped out of Hong Kong.

Source: Inmediahk; #Apr19
https://bit.ly/3918PH7

See also:
The Pillar of Shame is being destroyed in these minutes : Jen Galschiot calls for public record on Twitter (Dec 23, 2021)
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31702

New School for Democracy Announces Rebuilding Pillar of Shame in Taiwan: "One Pillar Falls, Thousands More Will Be Raised" (Jan 27, 2022)
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/15

#June4 #TiananmenMassacre #Memorial

#HumanRights #WhiteTerror
Hong Kong’s Human Rights Press Awards cancelled, citing legal risks

Source: Hong Kong Free Press

#PressFreedom

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#HumanRights #WhiteTerror
Hong Kong’s Human Rights Press Awards cancelled, citing legal risks

Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club (#FCC) has cancelled this year’s Human Rights Press Awards, citing “significant areas of uncertainty” under the law.

In a statement emailed to members on Monday, club president Keith Richburg said the FCC board met on Saturday and “after a lengthy discussion, regretfully decided to suspend the Human Rights Press Awards pending further review.”
The winners of the Human Rights Press Awards were expected to be announced on May 3, which is also World Press Freedom Day.

“Over the last two years, journalists in Hong Kong have been operating under new ‘red lines’ on what is and is not permissible, but there remain significant areas of uncertainty and we do not wish unintentionally to violate the law,” Richburg wrote. “This is the context in which we decided to suspend the Awards.”

“I know this is an unusual step to take so late in the process, just weeks before we were set to announce the winners,” he added.

According to FCC's website, “The Human Rights Press Awards recognise top rights-related reporting from around Asia, with the goal of increasing respect for people’s basic rights and focusing attention on threats to those freedoms.”

Since the onset of Hong Kong’s national security law in 2020, two of the city’s newsrooms have been raided and their top editors arrested, as press freedom NGOs have sounded the alarm. #AppleDaily, #StandNews and #CitizenNews are among the outlets that have shuttered.

Full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/25/breaking-hong-kongs-human-rights-press-awards-cancelled/

Source: Hong Kong Free Press

#PressFreedom #HumanRights #WhiteTerror

#Exodus #Oppression
Senior member of Hong Kong pollster leaves city for the UK, citing ‘red lines’

A senior member of Hong Kong’s leading independent pollster, #ChungKim-wah has left for the UK, calling the city a place where one may “no longer live normally and without intimidation.”

In his lengthy statement on Facebook, Chung said he had not initially considered emigrating.

“Now, I can only hope that the skies will be broader, the air fresher… and that I don’t have to think about whether the red lines that move arbitrarily will one day target me,” deputy CEO of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) Chung wrote.

He added that he did not want his friends and loved ones – especially his elderly parents – to worry about him. “I am apologetic that I left without saying goodbye, and I regret that I couldn’t say farewell to you all,” Chung said.

#NationalSecurityLaw #WhiteTerror

Source: Inmediahk, HKFP; #Apr
https://bit.ly/3kb6J9X

#PressFreedom #Censorship
Why the days of Hong Kong’s Foreign Correspondents’ Club may be numbered

//I fear the days of the FCC itself are numbered. ...//

// The end could happen suddenly, given the news on Monday [Ed. April 25] that the club had cancelled its annual Human Rights Press Awards because of the “red lines” China has drawn on what is permissible to be published and the club’s fear the awards could inadvertently cross into dangerous territory for the club, its members, and participants in the awards. //

Read full article
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/05/01/why-the-days-of-hong-kongs-foreign-correspondents-club-may-be-numbered/

#FCC #RedLine #HumanRights #WhiteTerror

#Exodus #Oppression
Pro-democracy political cartoonist announces departure from Hong Kong citing ‘great mental stress’

The comic artist, #AhTo, who has drawn satirical cartoons about local politics for 11 years, made the announcement on social media.

He shared a drawing of one of his iconic characters standing in front of what appeared to be the London cityscape and said he left because he “wanted to continue creating for HK.”

"Staying in HK to produce political cartoon [causes] great mental stress. [I] have no alternative but to leave,” the artist wrote on Facebook, without stating his destination.

Ah To said he had considered giving up on political cartoons in 2017 when HK’s social movement was “at low tide.” He also thought about changing the theme of his work last year.

But he deemed that HK “needed political cartoons,” and said he wanted to “persist” by remotely creating cartoons for his home city.

#WhiteTerror #NationalSecurityLaw

Source: Inmediahk, HKFP; #Apr26
https://bit.ly/3MwJfIk

#WhiteTerror #June4
Facebook banned authentic Beijing June 4th massacre photograph

Just two weeks before the 33rd Memorials of June 4th Massacre, a media veteran in Hong Kong found a photograph linked to the Tiananmen crackdown had been banned by Facebook.

The photograph that she posted many years ago showed a tank running over protest student Fang Zhang's legs.

Facebook claimed the photography is inappropriate content linked to "violence and bloodshed".

Even though, Facebook said it didn't violate "Community Standards', it argued that the photograph could be "deemed sensitive to some people."

Notes to editors:
Fang Zheng is a former student protester who was seriously injured during the Tiananmen massacre in 1989 in Beijing, China. During the evacuation of the Square in the early morning of June 4, Fang was run over by a People’s Liberation Army tank, which led to the amputation of both his legs.

Source: RFA Cantonese; #May20
https://www.facebook.com/454004001340790/posts/7424609714280149/?d=n

#WhiteTerror #FreedomofReligion
Cardinal Joseph Zen appears in court in Hong Kong on day of prayer for China

Ninety-year-old retired Catholic cardinal #JosephZen hosted a packed mass in Hong Kong on the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, just hours after a brief court hearing over charges linked to pro-democracy protests.

In his homily after pleading not guilty to charges of failing to register a pro-democracy association to Hong Kong Police, Zen chose not to speak about his legal case, but to highlight how Catholics in some parts of China cannot attend Mass right now — for they have no freedom now.

Zen dedicated the mass to churches in China where believers are still split between a so-called “underground” church resistant to the government, and a state-sanctioned church belonging to the Chinese Communist Party’s Patriotic Catholic Association.

In his remarks at Mass, Zen again criticised the deal between China and the #Vatican that allows Beijing to nominate bishops for the pope’s approval, calling it “unwise” despite being made with “good intention”.

"There is an urge to unify those above the ground and those underground but it seems that time is not ripe yet,” Zen said.

Implying that there may be more difficult times ahead, Zen said that “we may have to bear some pain and steel ourselves for our loyalty to our faith.”

He also dedicated prayers to churches in Myanmar led by #CardinalBo, his most outspoken supporter in Asia, as well as “brothers and sisters who cannot join tonight because they are not free”.

Zen, one of Asia’s highest-ranking Catholic clerics, was among five prominent democracy advocates — including activist and singer #DeniseHo and veteran human rights barrister #MargaretNg — who were arrested in early May. His arrest is part of a national security police probe into foreign collusion over a legal support fund for pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

Instead, all five of the fund’s former trustees and its secretary were charged on May 24 with failing to register it as a “society” with police — a non-national security offence. All plead not guilty.

#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution #Oppression

Image source: #FirstHand
Sources: Reuters, HKFP, UCA News; #May25
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-catholic-cardinal-criticises-china-deal-after-national-security-arrest-2022-05-24/

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Related News
Hong Kong Catholic group will not hold Tiananmen crackdown masses citing fears over national security law
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32764

612 Fund Trustees and Secretary Plead Not Guilty for "Non-registered organisation" Charge
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32751
.