#WhiteTerror #Censorship #FailedState
Hong Kong Authorities Try to Stop Double Ten Celebration for Taiwan in Hong Kong By All Means

October 10, also known as the "double ten day", is Taiwan's national day. In Hong Kong, pro-Taiwan supporters including the Kuomingtang (#KMT) supporters often gather and celebrate by raising Taiwan's 'Blue Sky, White Sun' flag on the New Year's Day and Oct 10.

The Red House (Hung Lau) located in Tuen Mun Park used to be their popular gathering spot to observe the flag raising ceremony, where the anthem of the Republic of China (#ROC) is played. The house is a historical site in Hong Kong, for its relation to the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, which brought the imperial system to an end and the Republican Government to form in China. Oct 10, 1911 was the day where the Wuchang Uprising, one important operation of the revolution, began. This house in Hong Kong used to be a base for revolutionary activities against the Qing imperial court in the early 20th Century.

On Oct 10, 2020, not many pro-Taiwan supporters had shown up, as they usually did in any other years, due to the fear over the infringement of the National Security Law in Hong Kong.

Nevertheless, over 50 police were deployed in Tuen Mun Park. Tens of security guards, who claimed to be sent by the 'owner of the Red Mansion', barred civilians from approaching the site. According to Apple Daily, the park, which is managed by the government's Leisure and Cultural Services Department (#LCSD), has also planted tall bushes with thorns near the Red House.

Source: InMedia; Apple Daily; Stand News #Oct10

https://bit.ly/3lxw0tq

https://bit.ly/2SJXkIM

https://bit.ly/33IPXrk

#DoubleTen #1911Oct10 #2020Oct10 #TodayinHistory #TuenMunPark #RedMansion #XinhaiRevolution #SunYatSen #Taiwan #QingDynasty

#FailedState
HK Government suspected of un-shelving another 16 books involving topics of #CivilDisobedience and #Protests in #PublicLibrary

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (#LCSD) of the Hong Kong Government is suspected of un-shelving 16 books from public libraries.

These include:

- The writings of pro-democracy activist and former law professor Benny Tai;

- Reverend Chu Yiu-ming's “Civil Disobedience and the Occupation of Central: Reflections on the Faith of Christians in Hong Kong” (公民抗命與佔領中環：香港基督徒的信仰省思);

- “To All of Those Who Have Worn Black Before” (給穿過黑衣的人) by Scholarism;

- Former legislator Raymond Wong Yuk-man’s book “I Wouldn’t Have Argued If I Did’t Have To” (予豈好辯哉).

In addition, the two issues of “#Breakazine!” about the Anti-Extradition Law (#AntiELAB) Protest, are also removed.

These 16 books were all published before the #NationalSecurityLaw came into effect, yet they are no longer available on the public library website.

So far, the government has removed at least 34 books in total.

Source: Apply Daily #May29

https://bit.ly/2R20IRR

#NSL #Censorship #BannedBooks #Regime #DissentLiterature

#Censorship #FreedomOfPublication
HK authorities refuse to disclose book titles banned in public libraries, citing National Security as concerns

Following China's imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong in July 2020, many book titles have subsequently been banned and taken off-the-shelf in public libraries.

These books are usually related to the June 4th Massacre in Beijing, the Umbrella Movement and the anti-extradition movement in Hong Kong. Even those written by pro-democracy authors were censored and restricted.

In response to a lawmaker's request for the list of book titles being removed off-the-shelf, the Hong Kong Leisure Cultural Services Department (#LCSD) refused to provide the list, saying that the list could be "maliciously used to criticise library collection." LCSD added that this is not beneficial to national security.

Based on media reports, at least 106 book titles have been taken off the shelf in the year after the National Security Law was imposed.

Among these book titles, 13 publications by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China have been banned and "delisted" from the website of public libraries.

A staff member of a public library told reporters that these book titles are no longer available because they "could have violated the National Security Law."

Source: InMediaHK; #Apr6
https://bit.ly/3v29u2t

#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

---

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

#FirstHand #June3
Hongkongers Insist on Remembering #June4th

In the past, #CandleVigil was held annually in Hong Kong on June 4 to commemorate the victims of 1989 #TiananmenMassacre in Beijing.

Starting from 11pm on June 3, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (#LCSD) of the Hong Kong SAR Government ordered to close the football pitches and the lawn area in #VictoriaPark, to "curb unauthorised assembly".

Over 100 police officers patrolled at all the entrances of the Park since 10:30pm. Some areas in the park were blocked by crowd control barriers.

Mr Sung, an artist who wore a black face mask, arrived at Victoria Park at 9:30pm. He sat on the ground with an umbrella and two e-candles, reading "The History of Modern Mime". The police stopped and searched him and asked him his purpose at the venue. He only answered "no comment".

Despite the heavy rain , Mr Sung didn't back down. He held up his umbrella and continued to sit-in until 11pm, the deadline given by the LCSD.

#Remembrance #PoliceState