'Endure, everyone': final messages from Hong Kong democracy figures before detention
On Sunday (28 Feb), 47 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion over accusations of participating in or organising an unofficial primary election last year. All face terms of up to life in prison if convicted. Before they reported to police stations across the city to be detained, some sent messages to their supporters about justice, hope and endurance.
Fergus Leung Fong-wai, 23, district councillor and student, “continue to hold on. Remember the reasons why we chose to stand out.”
Owen Chow Ka-shing, 24, intended to run in the elections, “whether we are in the streets, in prison or overseas, hope will always be needed for us to keep fighting this endless battle ... Good luck to all of you out there.”
Lester Shum Ngo-fai, 27, district councillor, disqualified in July 2020, “do not feel demoralised, this road is our own. It is for Hong Kong people to choose together, it is the one we must walk together. History has no turnback points, only predecessors.”
Source: The Guardian #Mar01
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/01/endure-everyone-hong-kong-democracy-figures-messages-detention?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#HongKong #HKNationalSecurityLaw #HKNSL #MassArrest
On Sunday (28 Feb), 47 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion over accusations of participating in or organising an unofficial primary election last year. All face terms of up to life in prison if convicted. Before they reported to police stations across the city to be detained, some sent messages to their supporters about justice, hope and endurance.
Fergus Leung Fong-wai, 23, district councillor and student, “continue to hold on. Remember the reasons why we chose to stand out.”
Owen Chow Ka-shing, 24, intended to run in the elections, “whether we are in the streets, in prison or overseas, hope will always be needed for us to keep fighting this endless battle ... Good luck to all of you out there.”
Lester Shum Ngo-fai, 27, district councillor, disqualified in July 2020, “do not feel demoralised, this road is our own. It is for Hong Kong people to choose together, it is the one we must walk together. History has no turnback points, only predecessors.”
Source: The Guardian #Mar01
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/01/endure-everyone-hong-kong-democracy-figures-messages-detention?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
#HongKong #HKNationalSecurityLaw #HKNSL #MassArrest
the Guardian
'Endure, everyone': final messages from Hong Kong democracy figures before detention
Politicians and campaigners - facing up to life in prison - sent messages of hope, justice and unity before reporting to police
Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai denied another bid for bail in national security case
Hong Kong’s High Court denied another bail application on Feb 18 to media tycoon and Beijing critic Jimmy Lai, the most high-profile person to be charged under the Chinese-ruled city’s national security law.
The Court of Final Appeal ruled early Feb that a lower court’s decision last year to grant him bail applied “an erroneous line of reasoning,” but allowed Lai’s team to make a new application for bail to the High Court.
Lai has been in custody since Dec. 3, except for when he was released for about a week last year before his bail was appealed by the prosecutors and subsequently overturned.
Source: Reuters #Feb18
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security/hong-kong-tycoon-jimmy-lai-denied-another-bid-for-bail-in-national-security-case-idUSKBN2AI0ZO
#HKNSL #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #JimmyLai #China #CCP
Hong Kong’s High Court denied another bail application on Feb 18 to media tycoon and Beijing critic Jimmy Lai, the most high-profile person to be charged under the Chinese-ruled city’s national security law.
The Court of Final Appeal ruled early Feb that a lower court’s decision last year to grant him bail applied “an erroneous line of reasoning,” but allowed Lai’s team to make a new application for bail to the High Court.
Lai has been in custody since Dec. 3, except for when he was released for about a week last year before his bail was appealed by the prosecutors and subsequently overturned.
Source: Reuters #Feb18
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security/hong-kong-tycoon-jimmy-lai-denied-another-bid-for-bail-in-national-security-case-idUSKBN2AI0ZO
#HKNSL #HongKong #NationalSecurityLaw #JimmyLai #China #CCP
Hong Kong: Prosecution of opposition figures an unprecedented attack on human rights
As regards a Hong Kong court’s decision to deny bail to 32 of 47 pro-democracy lawmakers and activists charged with “conspiracy to subversion” under Hong Kong’s national security and criminal laws, Amnesty International Hong Kong’s Programme Manager Lam Cho Ming said:
“These prosecutions are an unprecedented attack on freedom of expression and association in Hong Kong.”
“None of them have committed a recognized crime, but they have fallen victim to a national security law that deems people a ‘threat’ simply for the peaceful expression of political views and for taking part in the conduct of public affairs.”
“The targeting of these lawmakers and activists signals the government’s intention to close off any space for meaningful political participation in Hong Kong and discourage any future such activities.”
Source: Amnesty #Mar04
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/03/hk-opposition-prosecutions-an-unprecedented-attack-on-human-rights/
#HKNSL #HKNationalSecurityLaw #MassArrest #47ProDemocracyActivists
As regards a Hong Kong court’s decision to deny bail to 32 of 47 pro-democracy lawmakers and activists charged with “conspiracy to subversion” under Hong Kong’s national security and criminal laws, Amnesty International Hong Kong’s Programme Manager Lam Cho Ming said:
“These prosecutions are an unprecedented attack on freedom of expression and association in Hong Kong.”
“None of them have committed a recognized crime, but they have fallen victim to a national security law that deems people a ‘threat’ simply for the peaceful expression of political views and for taking part in the conduct of public affairs.”
“The targeting of these lawmakers and activists signals the government’s intention to close off any space for meaningful political participation in Hong Kong and discourage any future such activities.”
Source: Amnesty #Mar04
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/03/hk-opposition-prosecutions-an-unprecedented-attack-on-human-rights/
#HKNSL #HKNationalSecurityLaw #MassArrest #47ProDemocracyActivists
Amnesty International
Hong Kong: Opposition prosecutions an unprecedented attack on human rights
Hong Kong activists urge EU not to ratify new deal with China
24 Hong Kong democracy activists including 13 in exile have warned the EU it must not ratify its planned new investment deal with China at a time when Beijing is tearing up international obligations to the people in Hong Kong
They have written to the EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, to call for the EU to refuse to sign the treaty until China’s national security laws are repealed and restrictions on who can stand for election are lifted.
The letter, facilitated by Hong Kong Watch, is co-signed by leading activists including Ted Hui, Lam Wing-kee, Brian Leung, Nathan Law, Joe Tay, Ray Wong, Glacier Kwong, Finn Lau, Simon Cheng and Joey Siu.
The activists write: “Given that Beijing is in the process of rewriting Hong Kong’s electoral system in direct contravention to its international obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, is currently undertaking mass arrests and trials of pro-democracy lawmakers and activists under the draconian National Security Law, and is infringing on basic freedoms guaranteed both under the Basic Law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, we do not see how the EU can move ahead with ratification of this investment treaty.”
Source: The Guardian #Mar11
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/11/hong-kong-activists-urge-eu-not-to-ratify-new-deal-with-china
#HongKong #EUChinaInvestmentDeal #EU #HKNationalSecurityLaw #HKNSL
24 Hong Kong democracy activists including 13 in exile have warned the EU it must not ratify its planned new investment deal with China at a time when Beijing is tearing up international obligations to the people in Hong Kong
They have written to the EU commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, to call for the EU to refuse to sign the treaty until China’s national security laws are repealed and restrictions on who can stand for election are lifted.
The letter, facilitated by Hong Kong Watch, is co-signed by leading activists including Ted Hui, Lam Wing-kee, Brian Leung, Nathan Law, Joe Tay, Ray Wong, Glacier Kwong, Finn Lau, Simon Cheng and Joey Siu.
The activists write: “Given that Beijing is in the process of rewriting Hong Kong’s electoral system in direct contravention to its international obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, is currently undertaking mass arrests and trials of pro-democracy lawmakers and activists under the draconian National Security Law, and is infringing on basic freedoms guaranteed both under the Basic Law and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, we do not see how the EU can move ahead with ratification of this investment treaty.”
Source: The Guardian #Mar11
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/11/hong-kong-activists-urge-eu-not-to-ratify-new-deal-with-china
#HongKong #EUChinaInvestmentDeal #EU #HKNationalSecurityLaw #HKNSL
the Guardian
Hong Kong activists urge EU not to ratify new deal with China
Exclusive: Activists say EU should refuse to sign treaty until national security laws and election restrictions are lifted
Why China’s Hong Kong crackdown could backfire
The Year of the Ox has begun darkly for Hong konger.
leaders ultimately must respond to voters, many of whom care deeply about human rights and are demanding tougher policies toward China. When European democracies finally join the Biden administration’s nascent anti-China coalition, the credit should go not to America, but to Xi.
Such a coalition could impose painful costs on China for its actions in Hong Kong. After all, financial sanctions would cause chaos in global markets. But they still have a wide array of other options to squeeze China.
Decoupling China from global technology supply chains currently seems inconceivable, but could become a reality if the coalition agrees to a new arrangement similar to the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls, which choked off Western technology transfers to the Soviet bloc during the Cold War.
Western democracies could also deny Chinese leaders the international prestige they seek by curtailing high-level exchanges and vigorously contesting Chinese influence in multilateral organizations.
Source: The Japan Times #Mar17
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021/03/17/commentary/world-commentary/china-hong-kong-eu-u-s-xi-jinping-joe-biden/
#CCp #HKNSL #HongKongProtest
The Year of the Ox has begun darkly for Hong konger.
leaders ultimately must respond to voters, many of whom care deeply about human rights and are demanding tougher policies toward China. When European democracies finally join the Biden administration’s nascent anti-China coalition, the credit should go not to America, but to Xi.
Such a coalition could impose painful costs on China for its actions in Hong Kong. After all, financial sanctions would cause chaos in global markets. But they still have a wide array of other options to squeeze China.
Decoupling China from global technology supply chains currently seems inconceivable, but could become a reality if the coalition agrees to a new arrangement similar to the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls, which choked off Western technology transfers to the Soviet bloc during the Cold War.
Western democracies could also deny Chinese leaders the international prestige they seek by curtailing high-level exchanges and vigorously contesting Chinese influence in multilateral organizations.
Source: The Japan Times #Mar17
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021/03/17/commentary/world-commentary/china-hong-kong-eu-u-s-xi-jinping-joe-biden/
#CCp #HKNSL #HongKongProtest
The Japan Times
Why China’s Hong Kong crackdown could backfire
The Year of the Ox has begun darkly for the people of Hong Kong. On Feb. 16, nine pro-democracy activists, including 82-year-old Martin Lee, the revered lo
With tighter grip, Beijing sends message to Hong Kong tycoons: fall in line
Beijing has a new mandate for the city's powerful property tycoons: pour resources and influence into backing Beijing's interests, and help solve a potentially destabilising housing shortage.
Chinese officials delivered the message in closed meetings amid broader efforts to bring the city to heel under a sweeping national security law and make it more "patriotic," according to three major developers and a Hong Kong government adviser familiar with the talks.
Developers have already taken measures to show the message was received. New World and Henderson Land have donated rural land as reserves for social housing. Most developers have published statements and newspaper advertisements, along with other Chinese corporations, to support the national security legislation and electoral changes.
Source: Reuters #Sep17
https://reut.rs/3tLFF4W
#CCP #HKNSL #NSL #HKProperty
Beijing has a new mandate for the city's powerful property tycoons: pour resources and influence into backing Beijing's interests, and help solve a potentially destabilising housing shortage.
Chinese officials delivered the message in closed meetings amid broader efforts to bring the city to heel under a sweeping national security law and make it more "patriotic," according to three major developers and a Hong Kong government adviser familiar with the talks.
Developers have already taken measures to show the message was received. New World and Henderson Land have donated rural land as reserves for social housing. Most developers have published statements and newspaper advertisements, along with other Chinese corporations, to support the national security legislation and electoral changes.
Source: Reuters #Sep17
https://reut.rs/3tLFF4W
#CCP #HKNSL #NSL #HKProperty