#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

#Court #Oppression
Former Hong Kong student leader jailed for 9 months for resisting police and perverting course of justice

Former Hong Kong Baptist University (#HKBU) students’ union president #KeithFong has been jailed for 9 months for resisting police and perverting the course of justice, in a case linked to his purchase of 10 laser pointers during the 2019 protests.

The District Court on April 7 passed sentence on Fong, who has been in custody since early February, 2022 after he was convicted of the two offences.

Judge Douglas Yau rejected the defence’s suggestions of a fine and a suspended sentence, saying only immediate imprisonment could reflect the seriousness of the crimes.

#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliticalOppression

Source: HKFP, #Apr7
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/07/former-hong-kong-student-leader-jailed-for-9-months-for-resisting-police-and-perverting-course-of-justice/

#FailedState #Oppression #PressFreedom
Satisfaction with Hong Kong’s press freedom slumps to record low: Survey

On April 1, 2022, the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) published the results of a telephone survey involving 1,004 respondents’ “appraisal of news media.”

Findings revealed record low results since 1997 - only 28% of respondents are satisfied with #PressFreedom in Hong Kong.

The survey also reported a record-high proportion of respondents saying that local news outlets did not utilise their freedom of speech, the highest rate since September 1997.

The overall satisfaction with media outlets’ performance also dropped from 8% (2021) to 2% (2022), a record low since records began in September 1997.

Chris Yeung, former chairperson of the Hong Kong Journalist Association said that the closure of media outlets was “definitely” a factor contributing to people’s dissatisfaction with press freedom.

Source: LuminantHK, #Apr1
https://t.me/luminanthk/5403

#Oppression
Polytechnic University cuts ties with student union

#PolyUseige #StudentsUnion

Sources: Ming Pao, RTHK; #Apr15

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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

#Solidarity #Conscience
Hongkongers flock to support pro-democracy bubble tea shop despite #NationalSecurityPolice Presence

In Hong Kong, two staff members of #RoyalTea, a bubble tea shop in Mong Kok that is known for its pro-democracy stance, were taken away by the police on April 11, 2022 to "assist with an investigation".

When the shop reopened on April 14, 2022, about 10 customers patronized it in the first 15 minutes.

A regular customer who came to show support said that the bubble tea shop could be forced to close down for making known its pro-democracy stance.

"I would do whatever I can to show my support when the shop still opens."

A British student in Hong Kong, Sam visited RoyalTea for the first time. Sam said, althought he doesn't know the local political situation well, he has witnessed "a lot of political changes going on in Hong Kong" in the past year. Sam said that the community has been "oppressed".

Sam is hoping to show his support for those still clinging tight to their beliefs in Hong Kong.

Jessica, one of the two staff members being taken away by the police for "investigation" said she felt "terrified and lost" during police investigation.

However, she asked the supporters of the shop not to worry. She also wishes Hongkongers to stay blissful and hopeful for freedom.

Source: Inmediahk, #Apr14
https://bit.ly/3KKGK4H

#Oppression #ScareTactics #Regime #PoliceState

#Oppression #CCPRule
Over 1,000 convicted for partaking pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong

#HKProtest #AntiExtradition #FreedomofExpression

Source: Inmediahk; #Apr6

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#Oppression CCPRule
Over 1,000 convicted for partaking pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong

According to the latest data released by the Hong Kong Police Force, as of January 31, 2022, a total of 10,277 people have been arrested in relation to the anti-Extradition movement in 2019. Among them, 2,810 have been prosecuted.

Of the 1,858 people who have completed judicial proceedings, 1,465 were found legally liable for their offences, including 1,158 being convicted.

297 agreed to bind-over order, 6 minors were subjected to child protection order, leaving the remaining 4 being charged of "contempt of court" in civil procedure.

Among those being convicted, some were sentenced to a prison term from 4 days to 12 years. While some were granted suspended sentence from 12 to 24 months, for others various penalties were imposed, including community service order, restorative order, detention center order, rehabilitation order, reeducation order or training centre order.

Besides, there were 85 cases linked to the National Security Law, the inquest of 64 cases have reportedly been completed.

#HKProtest #AntiExtradition #FreedomofExpression

Source: Inmediahk; #Apr6
https://bit.ly/3xblSQq

#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

#Oppression #FailedState
Hong Kong law firm Vidler & Co, which handled protest-related cases announced closure after 19 years

Sources: Ming Pao, Chaser News

#HumanRights #HKLegalSystem #NationalSecurityLaw

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#Oppression #FailedState
Hong Kong law firm Vidler & Co, which handled protest-related cases announced closure after 19 years

A Hong Kong law firm, which specialised in Human Rights and handled multiple cases related to the 2019 protests will soon cease practising.

The Law Society of Hong Kong notified members that Vidler & Co. intended to cease practice on June 3 after 19 years of operations.

The firm took on several controversial incidents, including an alleged police gang rape and the case of Indonesian journalist Veby Mega Indah, who was allegedly shot in the face with a police projectile.

#MichaelVidler, owner of the firm, has also represented Joshua Wong Chi-fung and protester Ken Tsang Kin-chiu, who was beaten by several police officers in a dark corner in Admiralty.

4 days after the company announced its closure, Vidler was seen leaving the city on 25 April. In the airport, he was bombarded by a group of reporters from Ta Kung Pao, a CCP mouthpiece with questions in Chinese.

Reporters urged him to explain whether his departure is related to #PaulHarris who has left in March this year.

Vidler is on the panel of solicitors for the Legal Aid Department, the Duty Lawyer Scheme and is an approved solicitor for a number of consulates in Hong Kong.

He was twice elected in 2011 and 2017 as a representative of the legal functional constituency on the 1,200-member Election Committee, which is tasked with nominating and choosing Hong Kong's chief executive.

Sources: Ming Pao, Chaser News
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20220421/s00001/1650518079447

The Chaser News; #Apr25

Related article
Barrister #PaulHarris Leaves Hong Kong After Being Approached by National Security Police
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32345
.

#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

#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

#Oppression
Hong Kong Book Expo bans pro-democracy publisher without an explanation

Source: Luminant Hong Kong; #May18

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#Oppression
Hong Kong Book Expo bans pro-democracy publisher without an explanation

A pro-democracy publisher founded by a teacher who was injured in the anti-extradition bill protests in 2019 has been rejected from participating in the Hong Kong Book Fair.

In a statement published on May 17, #HillwayPress said it had been notified by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (#HKTDC) that its request to participate in July’s book fair had not been approved, “without any explanation.”

#RaymondYeung, the founder of Hillway Press said that Hong Kong’s annual book fair was a “thermometer measuring the freedom of publishing in Hong Kong.”

The HKTDC’s rejection of an institution which exhibited socio-political texts and was willing to abide by regulations… means that Hong Kong readers won’t have the opportunity to encounter these books,” the statement read.

The publisher said it was was “extremely regretful” that the organiser was “unwilling to give a reasonable explanation to ease people’s concerns.”

Hillway Press said in its statement that it was “always mentally prepared to have an alternative plan” for being rejected from taking part in the annual book expo.

The publisher announced in the same statement that it would be hosting its own book fair that “truly belongs to Hongkongers.”

Source: Luminant Hong Kong; #May18
https://t.me/luminanthk/5457

#Oppression #June4
Hong Kong authorities "blocked" venue booking for once-annual candlelight vigil for Tiananmen massacre victims for a third year running

Sources: Ming Pao; #May24, #May27

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#Oppression #June4
Hong Kong authorities "blocked" venue for once-annual candlelight vigil for Tiananmen massacre victims for a third year running

On May 24, a local daily, Ming Pao reported that the Leisure and Cultural Service Department (#LCSD), which administers the Victoria Park soccer pitches where the rally used to take place, has suspended any bookings on June 4, the 33rd anniversary of the #TiananmenMassacre, although bookings are available on other days in the same month.

Just 3 days afterwards, on May 27, the football pitches at Victoria Park were seen fully booked on June 4 from as early as 7am in the morning. No bookings, however, were seen for the rest of June. The same daily found. 

The vigil has been banned -- ostensibly for public health reasons -- for the past two years and the leaders of its organizing group, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, arrested for colluding with foreign powers under a national security law imposed by Beijing from July 1, 2020.

Sources:
Ming Pao; #May24

https://bit.ly/3avt8NF

Ming Pao; #May27

https://bit.ly/3M00GjM

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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
.