#PoliticalProsecution
Former Reporter Charged with Rioting in Hong Kong: Losing the 612 Fund is Like Losing a Backing
Since 2019, the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund have been providing financial support to the pro-democracry protesters arrested in the #AntiELAB movement in Hong Kong. On August 18, 2021, the Fund annouced that they would suspend their operation. Their record shows that there are still 1,274 ongoing cases as of May 2021.
Ari (a pseudonym), who was previously a #AppleDaily reporter and currently unemployed, was charged with rioting during the AntiELAB movement in 2019. She is one of the arrested persons receiving support from the 612 Fund.
She described the 612 Fund as a firm backing the arrested people who were unsure about their future and struggle to live normally. The Fund relieved part of their financial burden; however, after the suspension of the Fund, Ari would hesitate before filing a legal review, if she would be convicted.
Source: InMediaHK #Oct02
https://bit.ly/3aoZeY3
#612Fund #612HumantarianReliefFund #Court #Freedom #Trial #Riots #Appeal
Former Reporter Charged with Rioting in Hong Kong: Losing the 612 Fund is Like Losing a Backing
Since 2019, the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund have been providing financial support to the pro-democracry protesters arrested in the #AntiELAB movement in Hong Kong. On August 18, 2021, the Fund annouced that they would suspend their operation. Their record shows that there are still 1,274 ongoing cases as of May 2021.
Ari (a pseudonym), who was previously a #AppleDaily reporter and currently unemployed, was charged with rioting during the AntiELAB movement in 2019. She is one of the arrested persons receiving support from the 612 Fund.
She described the 612 Fund as a firm backing the arrested people who were unsure about their future and struggle to live normally. The Fund relieved part of their financial burden; however, after the suspension of the Fund, Ari would hesitate before filing a legal review, if she would be convicted.
Source: InMediaHK #Oct02
https://bit.ly/3aoZeY3
#612Fund #612HumantarianReliefFund #Court #Freedom #Trial #Riots #Appeal
獨立媒體
【牆外的人5】失業記者身負暴動罪：失612似失去後盾 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
（獨媒報導） 8 月 18 日，為反送中被捕者提供經濟援助的 612 人道支援基金，宣佈將停止運作。根據 612 提供的數據，截止 5 月尾，尚有 1,274 宗案件未結案，而受支援的還柙者、在囚者和他們的親友，以
#Disband #HumanRights
Amnesty shuts offices in Hong Kong as freedom meltdown in this once most free city in the world
#Amnesty #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #Democracy #Freedom #PoliticalOppression
Sources: Stand News, Reuters, Amnesty; #Oct25
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
Amnesty shuts offices in Hong Kong as freedom meltdown in this once most free city in the world
#Amnesty #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #Democracy #Freedom #PoliticalOppression
Sources: Stand News, Reuters, Amnesty; #Oct25
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
#Disband #HumanRights
Amnesty shuts offices in Hong Kong as freedom meltdown in this once most free city in the world
International rights group Amnesty International said on October 25 that it would close its Hong Kong offices due to the China-imposed national security law.
Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, the chair of Amnesty’s international board, said in a statement that the two offices in Hong Kong would close by year-end, noting an intensification of a crackdown forcing at least 50 groups to disband under the law this year.
"This decision, made with a heavy heart, has been driven by Hong Kong’s national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organisations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals from the government,” said Singh Bais.
"The environment of repression and perpetual uncertainty created by the national security law makes it impossible to know what activities might lead to criminal sanctions," she added.
In the past, Hong Kong had served as one of Asia's leading NGO hubs, with groups drawn to its robust rule of law and wide-ranging autonomy -- guaranteed for Hong Kong when control over the former British colony was returned to Beijing in 1997.
Among the groups to have disbanded this year are several leading trade unions, NGOs and professional groups, while a number of other NGOs, including the New School for Democracy, have relocated to the democratic island of Taiwan.
Sources: Stand News, Reuters, Amnesty; #Oct25
https://thestandnews.page.link/H9RZt5adP9FKugXA7
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/hong-kong-amnesty-international-close-offices-amid-rising-threat-government
#Amnesty #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #Democracy #Freedom #PoliticalOppression
Amnesty shuts offices in Hong Kong as freedom meltdown in this once most free city in the world
International rights group Amnesty International said on October 25 that it would close its Hong Kong offices due to the China-imposed national security law.
Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, the chair of Amnesty’s international board, said in a statement that the two offices in Hong Kong would close by year-end, noting an intensification of a crackdown forcing at least 50 groups to disband under the law this year.
"This decision, made with a heavy heart, has been driven by Hong Kong’s national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organisations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals from the government,” said Singh Bais.
"The environment of repression and perpetual uncertainty created by the national security law makes it impossible to know what activities might lead to criminal sanctions," she added.
In the past, Hong Kong had served as one of Asia's leading NGO hubs, with groups drawn to its robust rule of law and wide-ranging autonomy -- guaranteed for Hong Kong when control over the former British colony was returned to Beijing in 1997.
Among the groups to have disbanded this year are several leading trade unions, NGOs and professional groups, while a number of other NGOs, including the New School for Democracy, have relocated to the democratic island of Taiwan.
Sources: Stand News, Reuters, Amnesty; #Oct25
https://thestandnews.page.link/H9RZt5adP9FKugXA7
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/hong-kong-amnesty-international-close-offices-amid-rising-threat-government
#Amnesty #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #Democracy #Freedom #PoliticalOppression
#Art #Freedom
Italian city defies China bid to scrap dissident's art show
An Italian city is going ahead with plans to host an art exhibition by a Chinese dissident despite a request from China's embassy to cancel it.
The show, called "China is (not) near," is due to run from November 13 to February 13, 2021 in the northern Italian city of Brescia.
The exhibition by #Badiucao, a cartoonist also known as "The Chinese Banksy", is expected to denounce Chinese political repression and censorship of information on the COVID pandemic.
Brescia Mayor #EmilioDelBono told local press that his office would not comply with a request from the Chinese embassy in Italy to scrap it.
He said the friendship between the Italian and Chinese people "is not in question", but "I think it is important to show that you can stay friends while criticising some things".
The deputy mayor, #LauraCastelletti, earlier tweeted that "For us art and freedom of expression are an essential combination".
#Italy #FreedomOfExpression
Source: Stand News, #Oct23 https://thestandnews.page.link/PHgLpzQ5HDsT9fKR8
Italian city defies China bid to scrap dissident's art show
An Italian city is going ahead with plans to host an art exhibition by a Chinese dissident despite a request from China's embassy to cancel it.
The show, called "China is (not) near," is due to run from November 13 to February 13, 2021 in the northern Italian city of Brescia.
The exhibition by #Badiucao, a cartoonist also known as "The Chinese Banksy", is expected to denounce Chinese political repression and censorship of information on the COVID pandemic.
Brescia Mayor #EmilioDelBono told local press that his office would not comply with a request from the Chinese embassy in Italy to scrap it.
He said the friendship between the Italian and Chinese people "is not in question", but "I think it is important to show that you can stay friends while criticising some things".
The deputy mayor, #LauraCastelletti, earlier tweeted that "For us art and freedom of expression are an essential combination".
#Italy #FreedomOfExpression
Source: Stand News, #Oct23 https://thestandnews.page.link/PHgLpzQ5HDsT9fKR8
#Judiciary
US Report Condemns Judges Handpicked for National Security Cases in Hong Kong: Judiciary Independence "In Name Only"
The United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (#USCC) released its annual report to the US Congress on November 18, 2021.
In the Chapter on Hong Kong, the Commission stated that Hong Kong's judiciary independence has been impaired under Beijing's imposition of the #NationalSecurityLaw.
The report also criticized that the judge's impartiality in handling national security law cases has been questioned. The report especially named three judges involved in such cases. They are District Court Judge Stanley CHAN Kwong-chi; Magistrate Victor SO Wai Tak; and judge Johnson Lam. These pro-establishment judges are handpicked by the Hong Kong authorities to handle national security charges.
The report reiterated that the National Security Law has impaired media freedon and subverted Hong Kong's social and political environment. The report pointed out that the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong was "in name only," as the judiciary is no longer impartial especially when dealing with cases relating to the Chinese government under National Security Law.
To make It worse, Beijing decides which judges in which jurisdiction to trial national security cases, so as to ensure an outcome that is what the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) wants.
While US and Taiwan scholars commented that the possibility for the US to impose sanctions against Hong Kong judges shall not be ruled out, it takes time to evaluate the strategy. In any case, the "distrust" of the rule of law in Hong Kong will continue to be a concern of foreign companies and will seriously weaken Hong Kong's business status.
Full report:
https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/2021_Annual_Report_to_Congress.pdf
Source from: RFA #Nov19
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/us-hk-11192021072903.html/ampRFA
#PoliceState #Freedom #USCongress #Beijing #Report #Court #Judges
US Report Condemns Judges Handpicked for National Security Cases in Hong Kong: Judiciary Independence "In Name Only"
The United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (#USCC) released its annual report to the US Congress on November 18, 2021.
In the Chapter on Hong Kong, the Commission stated that Hong Kong's judiciary independence has been impaired under Beijing's imposition of the #NationalSecurityLaw.
The report also criticized that the judge's impartiality in handling national security law cases has been questioned. The report especially named three judges involved in such cases. They are District Court Judge Stanley CHAN Kwong-chi; Magistrate Victor SO Wai Tak; and judge Johnson Lam. These pro-establishment judges are handpicked by the Hong Kong authorities to handle national security charges.
The report reiterated that the National Security Law has impaired media freedon and subverted Hong Kong's social and political environment. The report pointed out that the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong was "in name only," as the judiciary is no longer impartial especially when dealing with cases relating to the Chinese government under National Security Law.
To make It worse, Beijing decides which judges in which jurisdiction to trial national security cases, so as to ensure an outcome that is what the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) wants.
While US and Taiwan scholars commented that the possibility for the US to impose sanctions against Hong Kong judges shall not be ruled out, it takes time to evaluate the strategy. In any case, the "distrust" of the rule of law in Hong Kong will continue to be a concern of foreign companies and will seriously weaken Hong Kong's business status.
Full report:
https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/2021-11/2021_Annual_Report_to_Congress.pdf
Source from: RFA #Nov19
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/us-hk-11192021072903.html/ampRFA
#PoliceState #Freedom #USCongress #Beijing #Report #Court #Judges
US and EU Responded to the Mass Disqualification of District Councillors
#HKSAR government demanded all #DistrictCouncillors (DC) in Hong Kong to take an oath earlier. 55 DC lost their seats in total as 49 councillors in democratic parties were disqualified due to invalid vows. 6 directly lost their seats due to the absence of #oath. More than 200 DC had resigned earlier due to the oath request.
The US State Department issued a statement on Oct 21, keeping their concerns to the #HumanRights and the #Freedom in Hong Kong, including the continuous erosion of political participation, especially under the National Security Law (#NSL) which increases prosecution with political motivation.
The statement also said that the prosecution was directed to teachers, unions, lawyers, journalists, medical staff, student unions and citizens. The mass DC disqualification is simply to stop HKers to manage their homeland meaningfully.
US State Department again called Beijing and the Hong Kong authority to release people who are detained unfairly, and stop the suppression of peaceful civil organizations. They also pointed out that HKers and the energetic civil society are always the biggest resources in Hong Kong, as well as the foundation of being a successful international finance hub. The US will continue to support HKers, their rights and their freedom.
EU: Chilling effect occurs under NSL
The #EU External Action Service issued another statement on the same day, saying that HK government disqualifying most of the democratic councillors means denying the DC #election result in 2019. And that excluding the democratic parties from the political participation would weaken Hong Kong democratic governance structure.
The EU indicated that the pressure of civil society is increasing as many unions and organizations in Hong Kong have disbanded. This, again, shows the chilling effect on the rights and freedom in Hong Kong under the NSL and becomes the core of suppressing dissidents.
Source: Stand News #Oct22
https://bit.ly/3DeyQgm
#Disqualification #TakeOath #US StateDepartment
#HKSAR government demanded all #DistrictCouncillors (DC) in Hong Kong to take an oath earlier. 55 DC lost their seats in total as 49 councillors in democratic parties were disqualified due to invalid vows. 6 directly lost their seats due to the absence of #oath. More than 200 DC had resigned earlier due to the oath request.
The US State Department issued a statement on Oct 21, keeping their concerns to the #HumanRights and the #Freedom in Hong Kong, including the continuous erosion of political participation, especially under the National Security Law (#NSL) which increases prosecution with political motivation.
The statement also said that the prosecution was directed to teachers, unions, lawyers, journalists, medical staff, student unions and citizens. The mass DC disqualification is simply to stop HKers to manage their homeland meaningfully.
US State Department again called Beijing and the Hong Kong authority to release people who are detained unfairly, and stop the suppression of peaceful civil organizations. They also pointed out that HKers and the energetic civil society are always the biggest resources in Hong Kong, as well as the foundation of being a successful international finance hub. The US will continue to support HKers, their rights and their freedom.
EU: Chilling effect occurs under NSL
The #EU External Action Service issued another statement on the same day, saying that HK government disqualifying most of the democratic councillors means denying the DC #election result in 2019. And that excluding the democratic parties from the political participation would weaken Hong Kong democratic governance structure.
The EU indicated that the pressure of civil society is increasing as many unions and organizations in Hong Kong have disbanded. This, again, shows the chilling effect on the rights and freedom in Hong Kong under the NSL and becomes the core of suppressing dissidents.
Source: Stand News #Oct22
https://bit.ly/3DeyQgm
#Disqualification #TakeOath #US StateDepartment
WTA: Immediate suspend competitions in China including Hong Kong, the method which China handle Peng Shuai incident “unacceptable“
World Tennis Association (WTA) announced to suspend competitions in China (including Hong Kong) with immediate effect. WTA chairman Steve Simon indicated that he felt worried with Peng Shuai’s safety and freedom, “Conscientiously, when Peng Shuai was not allowed to freely express and communicate, and seems to be forced to overturn the accusation of being sex assaulted, how could I request our players to play games in China”.
China well-known female tennis player Peng Shuai accused that she was sex assaulted
by vice-premier of State Council of the People’s Republic of China, WTA has published an announcement to urge China to investigate the incident.
Steve Simon indicated that Peng Shuai’s accusation must be seriously handled but China did not take any valid ways to respond the incident, even though everyone know where Peng Shuai is. He feels highly doubt about Peng Shuai’s freedom and safety, and her words and deeds being checked or not. He re-appeals China to proceed comprehensive and transparent investigations for sex assault accusation without any checking.
Source: Stand News #Dec02
https://bit.ly/32zeP6G
#Pengshuai #WTA #Stevesimon #sexassault #safety #freedom
World Tennis Association (WTA) announced to suspend competitions in China (including Hong Kong) with immediate effect. WTA chairman Steve Simon indicated that he felt worried with Peng Shuai’s safety and freedom, “Conscientiously, when Peng Shuai was not allowed to freely express and communicate, and seems to be forced to overturn the accusation of being sex assaulted, how could I request our players to play games in China”.
China well-known female tennis player Peng Shuai accused that she was sex assaulted
by vice-premier of State Council of the People’s Republic of China, WTA has published an announcement to urge China to investigate the incident.
Steve Simon indicated that Peng Shuai’s accusation must be seriously handled but China did not take any valid ways to respond the incident, even though everyone know where Peng Shuai is. He feels highly doubt about Peng Shuai’s freedom and safety, and her words and deeds being checked or not. He re-appeals China to proceed comprehensive and transparent investigations for sex assault accusation without any checking.
Source: Stand News #Dec02
https://bit.ly/32zeP6G
#Pengshuai #WTA #Stevesimon #sexassault #safety #freedom
#Award
A 19-year-old Hongkonger wins National Poetry Competition
#EricYip #NationalPoetryCompetition #Fricatives #Freedom #Emigration
Source: Initial Media #Mar31
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
A 19-year-old Hongkonger wins National Poetry Competition
#EricYip #NationalPoetryCompetition #Fricatives #Freedom #Emigration
Source: Initial Media #Mar31
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#Award
A 19-year-old Hongkonger wins National Poetry Competition
#EricYip, who is from Hong Kong, won for his poem #Fricatives in the #NationalPoetryCompetition. The 19-year-old economics student from the University of Cambridge has become the youngest person to ever win the competition.
The poem plays with ideas about language to also comment on colonialism, race, migration, belonging and the guilt of leaving one’s home behind.
Yip’s work was chosen by judges Fiona Benson, David Constantine and Rachel Long, who read all the entries anonymously.
Benson said: “Fricatives is an immensely ambitious and beautifully achieved poem. It puts its reader into the position of a student of English as a second language, the fricative consonants tangling our mouths as we speak the poem, and intriguing us with the alternate meanings that rest precariously on the pronunciation. ‘Proper’ achievements – the correct pronunciation, the good education abroad, and the proud parents – are countered by an underworld of political prisoners and risky, grim sex.”
In an interview, Eric Yip told reporters that he was shocked to have won. “Poetry is definitely one of the arts where you get better with age because you have more lived experiences and you read more and you write more.”
Yip, who cites Ocean Vuong as a writer who made him realise he “had a right” to be heard, speaks Cantonese and Mandarin, but writes poetry in English.
Yip won £5,000 for the first prize. The National Poetry Competition also named nine other winners, including 92-year-old MR Peacocke for her poem Out of School.
#EricYip #NationalPoetryCompetition #Fricatives #Freedom #Emigration
Source: Initial Media #Mar31
https://t.me/theinitiumnews/79
A 19-year-old Hongkonger wins National Poetry Competition
#EricYip, who is from Hong Kong, won for his poem #Fricatives in the #NationalPoetryCompetition. The 19-year-old economics student from the University of Cambridge has become the youngest person to ever win the competition.
The poem plays with ideas about language to also comment on colonialism, race, migration, belonging and the guilt of leaving one’s home behind.
Yip’s work was chosen by judges Fiona Benson, David Constantine and Rachel Long, who read all the entries anonymously.
Benson said: “Fricatives is an immensely ambitious and beautifully achieved poem. It puts its reader into the position of a student of English as a second language, the fricative consonants tangling our mouths as we speak the poem, and intriguing us with the alternate meanings that rest precariously on the pronunciation. ‘Proper’ achievements – the correct pronunciation, the good education abroad, and the proud parents – are countered by an underworld of political prisoners and risky, grim sex.”
In an interview, Eric Yip told reporters that he was shocked to have won. “Poetry is definitely one of the arts where you get better with age because you have more lived experiences and you read more and you write more.”
Yip, who cites Ocean Vuong as a writer who made him realise he “had a right” to be heard, speaks Cantonese and Mandarin, but writes poetry in English.
Yip won £5,000 for the first prize. The National Poetry Competition also named nine other winners, including 92-year-old MR Peacocke for her poem Out of School.
#EricYip #NationalPoetryCompetition #Fricatives #Freedom #Emigration
Source: Initial Media #Mar31
https://t.me/theinitiumnews/79
Telegram
端傳媒官方頻道 Initium Media
【史上最年輕冠軍！ 19歲香港學生獲英國國家詩比賽冠軍】
2021年英國國家詩比賽（National Poetry Competition）昨（31日）公布獲獎名單。來自香港的劍橋大學經濟系學生Eric Yip憑藉《Fricatives》一詩奪冠，年僅19歲的他成為該獎項有史以來最年輕的冠軍。
在詩中，Eric Yip以一個留學生的視角，結合香港政治環境背景，討論了殖民主義、種族、移民、歸屬感及背井離鄉的負罪感等議題。
「《Fricatives》是一首極其雄心勃勃、非常優美的詩歌，它將讀者置於…
2021年英國國家詩比賽（National Poetry Competition）昨（31日）公布獲獎名單。來自香港的劍橋大學經濟系學生Eric Yip憑藉《Fricatives》一詩奪冠，年僅19歲的他成為該獎項有史以來最年輕的冠軍。
在詩中，Eric Yip以一個留學生的視角，結合香港政治環境背景，討論了殖民主義、種族、移民、歸屬感及背井離鄉的負罪感等議題。
「《Fricatives》是一首極其雄心勃勃、非常優美的詩歌，它將讀者置於…
#SurveillanceState
HK Authorities Propose Real Name Registration and #HealthCode System like China's
Hong Kong's Secretary for Heath #LoChungMau said on July 11, 2022 that the government had plans to introduce a three-colour ‘health code’ system in the city, bringing the app in line with China's system.
It would be an additional function to #LeaveHomeSafe, the government's COVID contact-tracing app. Lo mentioned that reference was sought from the health code systems used China. He also claimed that it was important to implement real name registration.
[Editor's note: Since the LeaveHomeSafe app has been made compulsory by the authorities in Hong Kong, many citizens expressed concerns over its privacy issues. The health code system in China has been long regarded as a #MassSurveillance campaign of the #ChineseCommunistParty government.]
Source: InMediaHK.net #Jul11
https://bit.ly/3aqHE9C
see also:
LeaveHomeSafe app has built-in facial detection module, Hong Kong government admits
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/478
Down with the live-with-COVID believers (Satire)
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/148
#PrivacyBreach #Freedom #Authoritarianism
HK Authorities Propose Real Name Registration and #HealthCode System like China's
Hong Kong's Secretary for Heath #LoChungMau said on July 11, 2022 that the government had plans to introduce a three-colour ‘health code’ system in the city, bringing the app in line with China's system.
It would be an additional function to #LeaveHomeSafe, the government's COVID contact-tracing app. Lo mentioned that reference was sought from the health code systems used China. He also claimed that it was important to implement real name registration.
[Editor's note: Since the LeaveHomeSafe app has been made compulsory by the authorities in Hong Kong, many citizens expressed concerns over its privacy issues. The health code system in China has been long regarded as a #MassSurveillance campaign of the #ChineseCommunistParty government.]
Source: InMediaHK.net #Jul11
https://bit.ly/3aqHE9C
see also:
LeaveHomeSafe app has built-in facial detection module, Hong Kong government admits
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/478
Down with the live-with-COVID believers (Satire)
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/148
#PrivacyBreach #Freedom #Authoritarianism