#TaxpayersMoney
Hong Kong Free Press: Hong Kong govt’s spends multi-million dollar in US lobbying operation
//HKFP has reviewed years worth of disclosure filings submitted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (#HKTDC) and its lobbying firms as part of requirements under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (#FARA), and found that the Hong Kong government lobbied US politicians specifically on the Act in at least six in-person meetings, after massive protests broke out in Hong Kong in 2014, and again in 2019.
The HKTDC paid close to HK$84 million (US$10.8 million) to US lobbying firms from 2014 to 2020, according to data provided by the Centre for Responsive Politics. It also received a total of HK$374 million (US$48.2 million) from its head office to cover expenses that require FARA disclosure during this time.
The HKTDC was just one of the myriad of entities among the China lobby that tried to influence US policies by making a case for mutual economic interests to American legislators, Hong Kong Democracy Council activist Samuel Chu said.
“Instead of them going directly [to say] that ‘we wanted to push back on the human rights and democracy part of the law,’ they send the trade and business people to say that the bill is bad,” said Chu.//
Read full article:
hongkongfp.com/2021/04/19/inside-hong-kong-govts-multi-million-dollar-lobbying-operation-on-capitol-hill/
Source: HKFP #Apr19
#FailedState #Interference #Lobby #Capitol
Hong Kong Free Press: Hong Kong govt’s spends multi-million dollar in US lobbying operation
//HKFP has reviewed years worth of disclosure filings submitted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (#HKTDC) and its lobbying firms as part of requirements under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (#FARA), and found that the Hong Kong government lobbied US politicians specifically on the Act in at least six in-person meetings, after massive protests broke out in Hong Kong in 2014, and again in 2019.
The HKTDC paid close to HK$84 million (US$10.8 million) to US lobbying firms from 2014 to 2020, according to data provided by the Centre for Responsive Politics. It also received a total of HK$374 million (US$48.2 million) from its head office to cover expenses that require FARA disclosure during this time.
The HKTDC was just one of the myriad of entities among the China lobby that tried to influence US policies by making a case for mutual economic interests to American legislators, Hong Kong Democracy Council activist Samuel Chu said.
“Instead of them going directly [to say] that ‘we wanted to push back on the human rights and democracy part of the law,’ they send the trade and business people to say that the bill is bad,” said Chu.//
Read full article:
hongkongfp.com/2021/04/19/inside-hong-kong-govts-multi-million-dollar-lobbying-operation-on-capitol-hill/
Source: HKFP #Apr19
#FailedState #Interference #Lobby #Capitol
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Exclusive: Inside the Hong Kong govt’s multi-million dollar US lobbying operation
When celebrity Hong Kong activists Joshua Wong and Denise Ho flew to the United States to testify before Congress about protests in the city and to lobby its members on a law that paved way for US …
#YouTube terminates campaign channel of sole Hong Kong chief executive candidate #JohnLee, citing need to comply with #US #sanctions on ex-official
//Online video sharing platform YouTube has terminated the campaign channel of Hong Kong’s sole chief executive candidate John Lee Ka-chiu, citing the need to comply with US sanctions placed on the former official.
The platform, operated by US giant #Google, made the rare move in taking down Lee’s YouTube channel early on Wednesday, clipping the Beijing-endorsed candidate’s ability to share videos of him meeting different sectors publicly.//
Source: SCMP #Apr19
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3174862/youtube-terminates-campaign-channel-sole-hong-kong-chief
#ChiefExecutiveElection #SmallCircle
//Online video sharing platform YouTube has terminated the campaign channel of Hong Kong’s sole chief executive candidate John Lee Ka-chiu, citing the need to comply with US sanctions placed on the former official.
The platform, operated by US giant #Google, made the rare move in taking down Lee’s YouTube channel early on Wednesday, clipping the Beijing-endorsed candidate’s ability to share videos of him meeting different sectors publicly.//
Source: SCMP #Apr19
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3174862/youtube-terminates-campaign-channel-sole-hong-kong-chief
#ChiefExecutiveElection #SmallCircle
#Court
Hong Kong democrat and DJ #TamTakChi jailed for 40 months over 11 charges, including ‘uttering seditious words’
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Apr19
Read more
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Hong Kong democrat and DJ #TamTakChi jailed for 40 months over 11 charges, including ‘uttering seditious words’
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Apr19
Read more
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#Court
Hong Kong democrat and DJ #TamTakChi jailed for 40 months over 11 charges, including ‘uttering seditious words’
//Hong Kong pro-democracy activist “Fast Beat” Tam Tak-chi has been sentenced to 40 months in jail and given a HK$5,000 fine after being convicted of 11 charges, including seven counts under the colonial-era sedition law.
The DJ and former vice-chair of People Power has been held in custody since he was arrested in September 2020. He appeared in front of handpicked national security judge Stanley Chan at the District Court on Wednesday.
The 50-year-old activist faced 14 charges, including “uttering seditious words,” disorderly conduct in a public place, conspiracy to utter seditious words, holding or convening an unauthorised assembly, incitement to knowingly take part in an unauthorised assembly, and refusing to obey an order given by an authorised officer...
After the court session ended, Tam shouted: “Mum, take care of yourself, you will have to live longer to wait for me.”
Tam’s ex-DJ partner, former lawmaker Raymond Chan, was among those sitting in the public gallery. People stood up and waved at Tam as he stepped into the dock, and the activist waved back.
Tam is among the 47 pro-democracy figures awaiting trial under the #NationalSecurityLaw over their roles in a primary election for the 2020 Legislative Council election, which was later postponed.//
Read more:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/20/breaking-hong-kong-democrat-and-dj-jailed-for-40-months-over-11-charges-including-uttering-sedition-words/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Apr19
#FastBeat #Sedition #Censorship #Save47
Hong Kong democrat and DJ #TamTakChi jailed for 40 months over 11 charges, including ‘uttering seditious words’
//Hong Kong pro-democracy activist “Fast Beat” Tam Tak-chi has been sentenced to 40 months in jail and given a HK$5,000 fine after being convicted of 11 charges, including seven counts under the colonial-era sedition law.
The DJ and former vice-chair of People Power has been held in custody since he was arrested in September 2020. He appeared in front of handpicked national security judge Stanley Chan at the District Court on Wednesday.
The 50-year-old activist faced 14 charges, including “uttering seditious words,” disorderly conduct in a public place, conspiracy to utter seditious words, holding or convening an unauthorised assembly, incitement to knowingly take part in an unauthorised assembly, and refusing to obey an order given by an authorised officer...
After the court session ended, Tam shouted: “Mum, take care of yourself, you will have to live longer to wait for me.”
Tam’s ex-DJ partner, former lawmaker Raymond Chan, was among those sitting in the public gallery. People stood up and waved at Tam as he stepped into the dock, and the activist waved back.
Tam is among the 47 pro-democracy figures awaiting trial under the #NationalSecurityLaw over their roles in a primary election for the 2020 Legislative Council election, which was later postponed.//
Read more:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/20/breaking-hong-kong-democrat-and-dj-jailed-for-40-months-over-11-charges-including-uttering-sedition-words/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Apr19
#FastBeat #Sedition #Censorship #Save47
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Hong Kong democrat and DJ Tam Tak-chi jailed for 40 months over 11 charges, including ‘uttering seditious words’
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist “Fast Beat” Tam Tak-chi has been sentenced to 40 months in jail and given a HK$5,000 fine after being convicted of 11 charges, including seven counts un…
#Court #PoliceState
2 handed suspended 2-month sentences for inciting others to cast invalid votes in Hong Kong’s ‘patriots only’ election
//Two people who were convicted of inciting others to cast invalid votes in Hong Kong’s “patriots only” legislative election last December have been given suspended sentences of two months’ in prison.
...The pair were accused of sharing a Facebook post by self-exiled pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui calling on Hongkongers to cast blank or invalid votes in the Legislative Council (#LegCo) election. As part of Beijing’s sweeping electoral overhaul, the authorities amended electoral laws last year, making it illegal to incite others to cast invalid votes and obstruct others from voting.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/19/2-handed-suspended-2-month-sentences-for-inciting-others-to-cast-invalid-votes-in-hong-kongs-patriots-only-election/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Apr19
#Election #ICAC
2 handed suspended 2-month sentences for inciting others to cast invalid votes in Hong Kong’s ‘patriots only’ election
//Two people who were convicted of inciting others to cast invalid votes in Hong Kong’s “patriots only” legislative election last December have been given suspended sentences of two months’ in prison.
...The pair were accused of sharing a Facebook post by self-exiled pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui calling on Hongkongers to cast blank or invalid votes in the Legislative Council (#LegCo) election. As part of Beijing’s sweeping electoral overhaul, the authorities amended electoral laws last year, making it illegal to incite others to cast invalid votes and obstruct others from voting.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/19/2-handed-suspended-2-month-sentences-for-inciting-others-to-cast-invalid-votes-in-hong-kongs-patriots-only-election/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Apr19
#Election #ICAC
PolyU becomes fifth Hong Kong university to fully cut ties with #Students’Union
//The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) has cut ties with its students’ union, becoming the fifth university to order its student body to vacate campus premises since the implementation of the #NationalSecurityLaw.
In an email sent to the union on Friday, the university said that it had repeatedly requested the union to sign an Acknowledgement of Compliance since 2013, according to former PolyU students’ union chief Alan Wu. The acknowledgement required the student body to abide by certain terms and conditions to use the university name.
The university ordered the 28-year-old students’ union to cease using the university name and using university resources, and to vacate campus premises by July 15, 2022.//
Read more:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/19/polyu-becomes-third-hong-kong-university-to-fully-cut-ties-with-students-union/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Apr19
#University #Censorship
//The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) has cut ties with its students’ union, becoming the fifth university to order its student body to vacate campus premises since the implementation of the #NationalSecurityLaw.
In an email sent to the union on Friday, the university said that it had repeatedly requested the union to sign an Acknowledgement of Compliance since 2013, according to former PolyU students’ union chief Alan Wu. The acknowledgement required the student body to abide by certain terms and conditions to use the university name.
The university ordered the 28-year-old students’ union to cease using the university name and using university resources, and to vacate campus premises by July 15, 2022.//
Read more:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/04/19/polyu-becomes-third-hong-kong-university-to-fully-cut-ties-with-students-union/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Apr19
#University #Censorship
#WhiteTerror #Oppression
Over a dozen companies refuse to transport #PillarofShame, citing concerns over Chinese government's reprisal
Source: Inmediahk; #Apr19
Read more
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Over a dozen companies refuse to transport #PillarofShame, citing concerns over Chinese government's reprisal
Source: Inmediahk; #Apr19
Read more
⬇️⬇️
#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
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
Around 1% of Hong Kong civil service employees quit in 2021/22
Source: Ming Pao; #Apr19
Read more
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Source: Ming Pao; #Apr19
Read more
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#Resignation
Around 1% of Hong Kong civil servants quit in 2021/22
In Hong Kong, a rise in civil servants and Administrative Officers of the Government quitting their jobs is noticeable in recent years.
In the first 9 months of 2021/22, 8,274 civil servants have left the government, among them, 2,800 handed in their resignation.
The resignations, which represented a 50% increase than last year, were said only made up a small percentage of those who left at the same period. An official source from Civil Service Bureau claimed.
Hong Kong has around 178,000 government workers as of the end of March 2022. Those resigned accounted 1.6%, the highest figure since the return of Hong Kong to China.
The labour union representing civil service employees raised their concern over the vacancy arising from the increase in departure and decline in recruitment, amidst also political and work pressure.
Source: Ming Pao; #Apr19
https://bit.ly/3KaPqAc
#FailedState #CivilServant
Around 1% of Hong Kong civil servants quit in 2021/22
In Hong Kong, a rise in civil servants and Administrative Officers of the Government quitting their jobs is noticeable in recent years.
In the first 9 months of 2021/22, 8,274 civil servants have left the government, among them, 2,800 handed in their resignation.
The resignations, which represented a 50% increase than last year, were said only made up a small percentage of those who left at the same period. An official source from Civil Service Bureau claimed.
Hong Kong has around 178,000 government workers as of the end of March 2022. Those resigned accounted 1.6%, the highest figure since the return of Hong Kong to China.
The labour union representing civil service employees raised their concern over the vacancy arising from the increase in departure and decline in recruitment, amidst also political and work pressure.
Source: Ming Pao; #Apr19
https://bit.ly/3KaPqAc
#FailedState #CivilServant
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2800公僕辭職 回歸後新高 工會：政治及工作壓力增 公務員局：涉多項因素 - 20220419 - 要聞
【明報專訊】近年公務員和政務職系（AO）辭職者趨增，公務員事務局回覆本報查詢，2021/22年度截至12月、即首9個月，有逾2800名公務員辭職，較2020/21全年度增五成，辭職人數佔公務員實際員額比率逾1％，兩者同為回歸以來新高。有公務員工會認為，公務員面對的政治和工作壓力增加，擔心近年投考數字下跌，未必能填補空缺。