Australia and New Zealand "Deeply Concerned" Over China's Electoral Changes in Hong Kong
The National People's Congress recently passed a bill to modify Hong Kong's electoral system in order to ensure only "China-lovers" can run for the election. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, together with ministers from Australia and New Zealand, released a joint statement on Mar 12 criticizing the move, as it undermines Hong Kong's freedom and democracy guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration:
"These changes run contrary to the ultimate aim of a Hong Kong Chief Executive elected through universal suffrage, weaken Hong Kong’s democratic institutions, and erode freedom of speech and association – all of which are set out in the Basic Law. This is a significant step that will further undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy."
"We urge the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to uphold their commitments, allow genuine avenues for the people of Hong Kong to participate in their governance, and protect the role of the Legislative Council as a forum for the expression of diverse views and scrutiny of government."
Source: Stand News #Mar12
https://bit.ly/38SSYHD
Full text of joint statement; https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/joint-statement-electoral-changes-hong-kong
#Australia #NewZealand #NationalPeopleCongress #ElectoralChanges
The National People's Congress recently passed a bill to modify Hong Kong's electoral system in order to ensure only "China-lovers" can run for the election. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, together with ministers from Australia and New Zealand, released a joint statement on Mar 12 criticizing the move, as it undermines Hong Kong's freedom and democracy guaranteed under the Sino-British Joint Declaration:
"These changes run contrary to the ultimate aim of a Hong Kong Chief Executive elected through universal suffrage, weaken Hong Kong’s democratic institutions, and erode freedom of speech and association – all of which are set out in the Basic Law. This is a significant step that will further undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy."
"We urge the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to uphold their commitments, allow genuine avenues for the people of Hong Kong to participate in their governance, and protect the role of the Legislative Council as a forum for the expression of diverse views and scrutiny of government."
Source: Stand News #Mar12
https://bit.ly/38SSYHD
Full text of joint statement; https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/joint-statement-electoral-changes-hong-kong
#Australia #NewZealand #NationalPeopleCongress #ElectoralChanges
China to try two Canadians charged with espionage 'soon': Global Times
Two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, were arrested in December 2018 shortly after Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada on a U.S. warrant. She faces charges of misleading HSBC Holdings Plc about the Chinese tech giant’s business dealings with Iran, which is under U.S. sanctions. They were formally charged with espionage in June 2020
The Global Times reported, citing an unnamed source, China will “soon” hold its first trial for Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig.
Canada and the United States have repeatedly demanded that China release Kovrig and Spavor, with Ottawa calling their arrest an act of “hostage diplomacy”.
Source: Reuters #Mar12
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-canada-trial-idUSKBN2B400Q?taid=604ababcb7d77200018e3c76&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter
#Canada #HostageDiplomacy #China #MichaelSpavor #MichaelKovrig
Two Canadians, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, were arrested in December 2018 shortly after Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada on a U.S. warrant. She faces charges of misleading HSBC Holdings Plc about the Chinese tech giant’s business dealings with Iran, which is under U.S. sanctions. They were formally charged with espionage in June 2020
The Global Times reported, citing an unnamed source, China will “soon” hold its first trial for Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig.
Canada and the United States have repeatedly demanded that China release Kovrig and Spavor, with Ottawa calling their arrest an act of “hostage diplomacy”.
Source: Reuters #Mar12
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-canada-trial-idUSKBN2B400Q?taid=604ababcb7d77200018e3c76&utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter
#Canada #HostageDiplomacy #China #MichaelSpavor #MichaelKovrig
#EU report: #Beijing "Consciously dismantling" HK's One Country Two Systems
The European Commission and the High Representative have on Mar 12, 2021 reported on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said: “Over the course of 2020, we have witnessed an alarming political deterioration in Hong Kong. The National Security Law imposed by Beijing is being used to crack down on pro-democracy forces, stifle dissent and pluralism, and erode fundamental freedoms. The arrest of dozens of pro-democracy activists in January this year confirmed that this trend is accelerating.
"China is consciously dismantling the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle in violation of its international commitments and the Hong Kong Basic Law. The regressive electoral changes approved yesterday in Beijing are yet another step down this path.”
The report highlights that, over the course of last year, Hong Kong experienced a further severe erosion of its high degree of autonomy, its democratic principles, and the fundamental freedoms that the Chinese authorities committed to protect until at least 2047. This rapid deterioration calls into question China's willingness to uphold its international obligations and its commitments to the people of Hong Kong under the ‘One Country, Two Systems' principle and the Hong Kong Basic Law.
Full press release from European Commission:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_1086
Source: Stand News #Mar12 #OneCountryTwoSystems #NationalSecurityLaw #PoliticalSuppression
#ElectoralOverhaul
The European Commission and the High Representative have on Mar 12, 2021 reported on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said: “Over the course of 2020, we have witnessed an alarming political deterioration in Hong Kong. The National Security Law imposed by Beijing is being used to crack down on pro-democracy forces, stifle dissent and pluralism, and erode fundamental freedoms. The arrest of dozens of pro-democracy activists in January this year confirmed that this trend is accelerating.
"China is consciously dismantling the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle in violation of its international commitments and the Hong Kong Basic Law. The regressive electoral changes approved yesterday in Beijing are yet another step down this path.”
The report highlights that, over the course of last year, Hong Kong experienced a further severe erosion of its high degree of autonomy, its democratic principles, and the fundamental freedoms that the Chinese authorities committed to protect until at least 2047. This rapid deterioration calls into question China's willingness to uphold its international obligations and its commitments to the people of Hong Kong under the ‘One Country, Two Systems' principle and the Hong Kong Basic Law.
Full press release from European Commission:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_1086
Source: Stand News #Mar12 #OneCountryTwoSystems #NationalSecurityLaw #PoliticalSuppression
#ElectoralOverhaul
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International Olympics Commission Purchasing Chinese Vaccines. Japan’s Olympic Minister: Did Not Know about This Beforehand and Japanese Athletes Will Not Be Administered with the Chinese Vaccines
Source: Stand News #Mar12
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Source: Stand News #Mar12
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International Olympics Commission Purchasing Chinese Vaccines. Japan’s Olympic Minister: Did Not Know about This Beforehand and Japanese Athletes Will Not Be Administered with the Chinese Vaccines
According to a report from Asahi Shimbun, after attending a cabinet meeting on 12th March, Japan’s Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa was asked by reporters about International Olympics Commission (IOC) Chairperson Thomas Bach’s announcement of purchasing COVID-19 vaccines from China. Marukawa indicated that she did not know about this beforehand. She said there is no arrangement with IOC and no adjustments are needed regarding this issue. She also emphasized that having received COVID-19 vaccines will not be a prerequisite for participating in the Tokyo Olympics, that this principle remains the same. Marukawa further indicated that the Japanese government does not have more information about this issue, that “all the information we know is from IOC’s website and reports from news media”.
#Olympics #China #Japan #Vaccine #COVID19 #VaccineDiplomacy
Source: Stand News #Mar12
https://bit.ly/3c79oy9
According to a report from Asahi Shimbun, after attending a cabinet meeting on 12th March, Japan’s Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa was asked by reporters about International Olympics Commission (IOC) Chairperson Thomas Bach’s announcement of purchasing COVID-19 vaccines from China. Marukawa indicated that she did not know about this beforehand. She said there is no arrangement with IOC and no adjustments are needed regarding this issue. She also emphasized that having received COVID-19 vaccines will not be a prerequisite for participating in the Tokyo Olympics, that this principle remains the same. Marukawa further indicated that the Japanese government does not have more information about this issue, that “all the information we know is from IOC’s website and reports from news media”.
#Olympics #China #Japan #Vaccine #COVID19 #VaccineDiplomacy
Source: Stand News #Mar12
https://bit.ly/3c79oy9
China’s Dirty Recovery Will Make Curbing Climate Change Tougher
A carbon analyst at Refinitiv Carbon said that efforts to meet a growth target of more than 6% set out by Premier Li Keqiang would likely keep an emphasis on polluting industries. The local governments or state-owned enterprises could use short-term lenience to usher through carbon-intensive projects. It might screw up of hitting objectives to reach peak emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
Climate plans of China’s 14th five-year plan didn’t set a hard target for cutting emissions.
“It’s also crucial to change the economic structure in a cleaner direction, with less reliance on the most polluting smokestack industries,” said CREA’s lead analyst Lauri Myllyvirta.
Source: Bloomberg #Mar12
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-11/china-s-dirty-recovery-will-make-curbing-climate-change-tougher
#ChinaCO2Emission #ChinaDirtyIndustry #China14FiveYearPlan
A carbon analyst at Refinitiv Carbon said that efforts to meet a growth target of more than 6% set out by Premier Li Keqiang would likely keep an emphasis on polluting industries. The local governments or state-owned enterprises could use short-term lenience to usher through carbon-intensive projects. It might screw up of hitting objectives to reach peak emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2060.
Climate plans of China’s 14th five-year plan didn’t set a hard target for cutting emissions.
“It’s also crucial to change the economic structure in a cleaner direction, with less reliance on the most polluting smokestack industries,” said CREA’s lead analyst Lauri Myllyvirta.
Source: Bloomberg #Mar12
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-11/china-s-dirty-recovery-will-make-curbing-climate-change-tougher
#ChinaCO2Emission #ChinaDirtyIndustry #China14FiveYearPlan
Biden Administration Further Limits the Exportation of Components to Huawei. Global Times: Two Canadians Will Soon Stand Trial
The Biden administration amended licences for companies to sell Huawei technology, further restricting companies from supplying items that can be used with 5G devices. Two sources quoted in Reuters said the change could distrust the exiting contract with Huawei. Global Times said trials of two Canadians on an espionage charge, Michael Kovrig and Michael Kovrig, would be closed soon. There are signs that the Huawei case cannot be solved through a diplomatic channel.
According to a Reuters report, the Biden administration has taken action this week, indicating Biden is stepping up their hard line against Huawei. US Department of Commerce Spokesperson and spokesperson of Huawei have both declined to comment.
#Huawei #China #Canada #US #UnitedStates #Biden
Source: The Stand News #Mar12
https://bit.ly/2PybRbV
The Biden administration amended licences for companies to sell Huawei technology, further restricting companies from supplying items that can be used with 5G devices. Two sources quoted in Reuters said the change could distrust the exiting contract with Huawei. Global Times said trials of two Canadians on an espionage charge, Michael Kovrig and Michael Kovrig, would be closed soon. There are signs that the Huawei case cannot be solved through a diplomatic channel.
According to a Reuters report, the Biden administration has taken action this week, indicating Biden is stepping up their hard line against Huawei. US Department of Commerce Spokesperson and spokesperson of Huawei have both declined to comment.
#Huawei #China #Canada #US #UnitedStates #Biden
Source: The Stand News #Mar12
https://bit.ly/2PybRbV
"Ten Years" Director Organizes #HongKongFilmFestival in the UK
Ka-Leung Ng, a Hong Kong director who produced the dytopian film #TenYears, has moved to the UK for almost a year; however, he did not announce his whereabouts until September 2021. When asked about the reason, Ng said, "I don't even know how to explain."
Being away for a year, #KaLeungNg still has his mind on Hong Kong, like many other Hong Kong people. Therefore, he organized the 1st Hong Kong Film Festival (UK) with fellows. It was held between March and April in #London, #Manchester, #Bristol and #Edinburgh.
Among his 16 film productions, there are videos related to social movements which are not allowed to be screened in Hong Kong. However, even more are small-scaled independent movie productions that even Hongkongers may not know them.
He knows that it is difficult to produce a movie freely in Hong Kong's current situation. Therefore, he hopes to promote Hong Kong movies in the #UK in various areas, topics and presentation ways throughout the Film Festival. He added, "Even if Hongkongers are emotionally eager to watch some of the movies, we have the responsibility to promote a breadth of movies. Therefore, more people can understand Hong Kong culture and stories... How Hong Kong films move further depends on how we continue to promote overseas."
Since people in the UK would like to watch HK movies but he does not have relevant experience, he and #ChingWong, with the aid of other people such as local film festival hosts and professors for HK movies, organise the event, titled "Rupture and Rebirth". "Rupture" can be understood as the change of not only interpersonal relationships due to imprisonment and being apart, but also the identity of #HKers and movie cultures. "Rebirth" indicates hope -- people try to find a way out of a bad situation. "Good artworks can still be seen in bad times". He emphasises that he does not intend to choose banned movies to screen, "when a place becomes abnormal, normal actions will be treated as weird".
Source: Inmedia #Mar12
https://bit.ly/3MLcRTa
#HongKongCinema
Ka-Leung Ng, a Hong Kong director who produced the dytopian film #TenYears, has moved to the UK for almost a year; however, he did not announce his whereabouts until September 2021. When asked about the reason, Ng said, "I don't even know how to explain."
Being away for a year, #KaLeungNg still has his mind on Hong Kong, like many other Hong Kong people. Therefore, he organized the 1st Hong Kong Film Festival (UK) with fellows. It was held between March and April in #London, #Manchester, #Bristol and #Edinburgh.
Among his 16 film productions, there are videos related to social movements which are not allowed to be screened in Hong Kong. However, even more are small-scaled independent movie productions that even Hongkongers may not know them.
He knows that it is difficult to produce a movie freely in Hong Kong's current situation. Therefore, he hopes to promote Hong Kong movies in the #UK in various areas, topics and presentation ways throughout the Film Festival. He added, "Even if Hongkongers are emotionally eager to watch some of the movies, we have the responsibility to promote a breadth of movies. Therefore, more people can understand Hong Kong culture and stories... How Hong Kong films move further depends on how we continue to promote overseas."
Since people in the UK would like to watch HK movies but he does not have relevant experience, he and #ChingWong, with the aid of other people such as local film festival hosts and professors for HK movies, organise the event, titled "Rupture and Rebirth". "Rupture" can be understood as the change of not only interpersonal relationships due to imprisonment and being apart, but also the identity of #HKers and movie cultures. "Rebirth" indicates hope -- people try to find a way out of a bad situation. "Good artworks can still be seen in bad times". He emphasises that he does not intend to choose banned movies to screen, "when a place becomes abnormal, normal actions will be treated as weird".
Source: Inmedia #Mar12
https://bit.ly/3MLcRTa
#HongKongCinema
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【專訪】移英後創辦香港電影節 《十年》導演伍嘉良：想繼續講香港故事 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
（獨媒報導）「你去咗英國一年？但你舊年九月先公布自己離開⋯⋯」伍嘉良不好意思的回應：「係，差唔多一年⋯⋯呢啲嘢有時唔知道點開口。」 離開了一年，但和許多人一樣，伍嘉良心裡還是記掛著有關香港的事，例如電影。而既然放不下，不如想辦法在外地延續下去。籌備半年，伍嘉良和《十年》另一編劇黃靜等人創辦的第一屆香港電影節（英國），終敲定在3月至4月，於倫敦、曼徹