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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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Pro-democracy Hong Kong Singer #DeniseHo Arrested by National Secutity Police: I feel Alright

On December 29, 2021, the National Security Police in Hong Kong arrested singer #DeniseHo and 5 other current and former #StandNews senior personnel.

The authorities accused them of "conspiring to publish seditious publications."

Through the administrator of her facrbook page, after the arrest Denise Ho told Hongkongers, "I feel alright. To those who care about me, please don’t be worried."

Source: Yseedsmedia #Dec29

#HOCC #Media #PoliceState #Regime #Arrest

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Related News:

Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31757

Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31751

Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on #StandNews
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752

#StandNews Thanks Hongkongers for Their Support Despite Political Oppression
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31765
#Taiwan Condemns Hong Kong Authorities' Crackdown on #StandNews

On December 29, 2021, Taiwan's three major political parties all issued statements in response to Hong Kong Police's crackdown on Stand News, expressing their concern and condemnation.

Taiwan's ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (#DPP), expressed "indignation and resentment" at the Hong Kong police's flagrant actions, searching media offices and arresting promoters of freedom and democracy. They consider these acts as strangling Hong Kong's freedom of expression and creating a chilling effect among media and public opinion. The DPP calls on the international community and Taiwan to continue observing Hong Kong's development.

The statement by New Power Party (#NPP) calls the actions by Hong Kong's national security police "disproportional", causing serious damage to the freedom of press, and effectively nullifies the rights laid out in the Basic Law: "Hong Kong residents shall have freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration; and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions, and to strike."

#Kuomintang, Taiwan's current opposition party, expressed deep concern that the authorities shut down a media company that spoke up for different public opinions and upheld principles of democracy, freedom, and human rights. They called on Chinese authorities to respect the younger generation's view of democratic values and freedom of speech. As Hong Kong had been the revolutionary headquarter of Dr Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of modern China, Hong Kong's democracy and freedom are deeply tied to the pursuit of democracy and freedom on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Source: Citizen News; Liberty Times #Dec29
https://www.facebook.com/366243453719070/posts/1618965958446807/

https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/3784313

#Media #PoliticalOppression #PressFreedom #Arrest #Regime #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution
#Court #PoliticalProsecution
Former #StandNews editors Denied Bail; UK office Ceases Operation a Day after crackdowns by Hong Kong Authorities

In Hong Kong, two former Stand News editors #ChungPuiKuen and Patrick #LamSiuTung were denied bail by West Kowloon Court on 30 December, 2021, one day after they were arrested by Hong Kong national security police.

Former editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen, and former acting editor-in-chief #PatrickLam were accused of "conspiring with others to publish or reproduce seditious publications" between July 7, 2020 and December 29, 2021.

Chung was the only defendant appeared at the hearing while Lam could not attend due to health reasons. Both defendants were remanded in custody as the magistrate was not convinced that they would not carry out acts endangering national security.

Outside the magistrate court, tens of former employees of Stand News gathered to bid farewell to Chung Pui-kuen. Many of them broke into tears as they waved goodbye to Chung. Others called out words of encouragement for Chung to stay strong.

Police on the site, however, shouted at the crowd disrespectfully, ordering them to go away and leave.

Meanwhile, #YeungTinShui, head of Stand News’ office in the UK, announced on Facebook on December 30, 2021 that the office has ceased operations and he had resigned.

On December 29, 2021, the national security police arrested senior staff members and board directors of Stand News and froze the outlet's assets that worth HK$61 million. The Force raided the news outlet's newsroom and offices in Hong Kong, seized 62 computers, 27 storage devices and six boxes of documents in the operation. Stand News, a popular pro-democracy online media outlet, was forced to fold its operation and dismissed all employees on the same day.

#Media #PoliticalOppression #PressFreedom #Arrest #Regime #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution

Source: Inmediahk.net, RTHK; #Dec30
https://bit.ly/31bUO5L

====
Related News:

Stand News: Operation ceased; social media accounts will be removed
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31757

Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31751

Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on Stand News
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752

Stand News Thanks Hongkongers for Their Support Despite #PoliticalOppression
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31765

Hong Kong Police Issues Arrest warrant for Stand News founder
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31766
#Breaking #PressFreedom
Hong Kong Citizen News announces its closure 5 years after its establishment

Established on 1 Jan 2017, the online news media Hong Kong Citizen News (#hkcnews) announces its closure on its social media platforms. This 6-time Human Rights Press Award recipient will cease its operation on 4 Jan 2022, shortly after the closure of the Stand News. Below is the press’ open letter to its readers.

Source: Citizen News; #Jan2
#Media #CloseDown

Read below: ⬇️⬇️
#Breaking #PressFreedom
Hong Kong Citizen News announces its closure 5 years after its establishment

Below is the press’ open letter to its readers:

A farewell from Hong Kong Citizen News

Today is 2 Jan 2022, hkcnews has to say goodbye to all our readers 5 years after our establishment.

It is still in our vivid memory that on 1 Jan 2017, hkcnews was established. During the press conference for announcment, many experienced reporters had expressed their concerns over press freedom in Hong Kong, hoping that hkcnews could uphold the spirit of professionaism, stay true to the essence of journalism, and serve the public. During that time, we "hoped that this tiny step we take could gradually encourage the industry to protect the freedom of press".

Then, albeit facing extremely scarce resources, hkcnews slowly made our tiny stpes, paving our way into the news reporting world. We strove our best to cover exclusive news, data analysis, interviews, investigative reports, feature articles, court news, Chinese news, etc.. Although our coverage might not be the broadest, nor the fastest, but this little team of us has never stopped striving for depth and accuracies in our reports.

We started from having only 10 people in our team, now we are proud colleagues of dozens professionals, and from being a nobody, to hearing people saying they have been reading our articles.

It’s been 5 years. We truly thank all for your support.

─────────

The first news article of hkcnews, published on 1 Jan 2017.

"Hong Kong Citizen News was born on this special new year because we want you all to remember, regardless of situations, that 'This land we cherish, into our bones this love we’ve etched, happy or sad, in life or death, it's still Hong Kong, our land'."

We all love this place, yet with regret, we are not only facing a storm, but a tornado and tsunami.

We have never forgotten the reason we started. Unfortunately, with the radical change in our society, the environment for journalism has been deteriorating. We can no longer strive for our aim fearlessly.

Right in the eye of the typhoon, the little boat of us is in severe situation of waves and winds. We have to first make sure everyone in hkcnews is safe under such dangerous situation.

Therefore it is with utmost sadness that we announce:

Starting from 4 Jan 2022, Hong Kong Citizen News will cease operation. We will stop updating our websites, which will be shut down sometime later.

We sincerely thank our subscribers and readers for all of your support, which we will hold dearly onto, and remember, forever.

All those we have gone through in the past 5 years will be cherished memories of ours.

Hong Kong Citizen News

Source: Citizen News; #Jan2
#Media #CloseDown #Solidarity #Humanity #PressFreedom #PoliticalOppression #Readers #Hongkongers #WhiteTerror
#Solidarity
Prosecution of #StandNews by HK Authorities Causes #CitizenNews to Close; Chief Editors: Do Not Give Up

On January 2, 2022, Hong Kong Citizen News annouced the closure of the indepedent news outlet starting from January 4, 2022.

On the morning of January 3, chief editor Daisy LEE Yuet Wah and chief writer Chris YEUNG Kin Hing explained their decision. Yeung in a broken voice mentioned the authorities' prosecution of Stand News management was one of the causes. Yeung said their priority is the safety of their journalists; however, Yeung himself will not stop writing.

Lee added that Citizen News has always been professional since its establishment in 2017, "we haven't changed." Lee asked young journalists not to give up and not to be affected by their decision.

Photo: #FirstHand
Source: HKCNews; InMedia #Jan3
https://bit.ly/3qB5nrO

https://bit.ly/3zkrWor

#PressFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #Media #PoliticalProsecution #WhiteTerror
#WhiteTerror #Crackdown
At least 6 more pro-democracy online
media closed down in Hong Kong

Ten days after Hong Kong authorities' crackdown on pro-democracy media outlet, Stand News, on December 29, 2021, at least six online media have announced closesure in the new year.

As of January 6, 2022, news outlets that announced closure or ceased news reporting include:

- Independent Media News (香港獨媒新聞);
- IBHK Internet media (IBHK網絡媒體);
- Citizen News (衆新聞);
- Mad Dog News (癲狗日報);
- Dare Media Hong Kong (够薑媒體); and
- Polymer (聚言時報)

#FreedomOfPublication #PoliticalProsecution #PressFreedom #Media #PoliceState #Regime #Censorship

Source: Inmediahk; #Jan6
https://bit.ly/3f0tE4Y

====
Related News

Prosecution of #StandNews by HK Authorities Causes #CitizenNews to Close; Chief Editors: Do Not Give Up
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31819

Hong Kong National Security raid pro-democracy newspaper, arrested 6 senior staff
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31751
#Solidarity
Over 500 #Hongkongers Form #HumanChain to Voice Support for Hong Kong Journalists in Reading, UK

On 2 January, 2022, over 500 Hongkongers gathered in Reading, UK, forming a human chain to offer support for the journalists in Hong Kong, despite the heavy rain.

The action was a response to the subsequent closure of Stand News and Citizens News, few of the independent news outlets remaining in Hong Kong. Stand News was shut down on December 27, 2021 after the authorities arrested its former and current managementon the sme day. Citizens News announced its closure on January 2, 2022, as the safety of their journalists is at risk.

Source: RFA Cantonese #Jan5

#UK #Resistance #Media #PressFreedom
#CCP
Crackdown on Stand News is China's First Step in Controlling the World's Narrative, says Former #NextDigital Director

The day after Stand News was forced to shut down by Hong Kong Police, Hong Kong Democracy Council (#HKDC) held a rapid response virtual briefing on December 30, 2021, in which the speakers urged the international community to closely monitor the developing situation.

Not only is freedom of press under attack in Hong Kong, they said, the incident also signifies important future challenges, such as the possibility of China manipulating the world in the future.

The invited speakers were #ThomasKellogg, executive director of the Center for Asian Law at Georgetown University; and #MarkClifford, former independent non-executive director of Next Digital.

As a former director of Next Media, Clifford saw firsthand the government's oppression against Apple Daily, which began even before the National Security Law (#NSL) took effect on June 30, 2020. The crackdown against Stand News had been rumored to be coming for some time; even so, when it finally became reality, Clifford felt it deeply.

"What's happening at Stand News is tragic," Clifford said, "Perhaps not a complete surprise, because we have seen what happened at Apple Daily. It's extraordinary when you're on the other end of state power - unchecked state power. In a city like Hong Kong, it's hard to believe."

The arrests and forced closure of Stand News happened soon after the conclusion of the legislative elections. Hong Kong Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang had twice written to the Wall Street Journal to criticize their reporting of the Hong Kong Elections, even calling its editorials "sickening".

Clifford said that this had not been a coincidence; rather, it reflects the Chinese Communist Party's ambitions to control the world's narrative.

Source: VOA Chinese #Dec30
https://www.voachinese.com/a/experts-analysis-on-hong-kong-standard-news-forced-closure-20211230/6376727.html

Video of the HKDC Rapid Response Virtual Briefing:
https://www.facebook.com/hkdc.us/videos/958932114740331/

#StandNewsCrackdown #NationalSecurityLaw #FreedomOfPress #Media #PoliticalProsecution
#StandwithUkraine #StopWar
"They Are Lying to You": A Russian Journalist Stormed a Live Broadcast to Protest Against Russian Invasion in Ukraine

During the newscast, Russian TV editor, Marina Ovsyannikova, came out holding a handwritten sign that read: "No war. Stop the war. Don’t believe propaganda. Here they’re lying to you. Russians against war.” She was also chanting, "Stop the war! No to war!"

Ovsyannikova who has been hailed as 'the bravest woman in Russia' for her protest, live on Channel One, has reportedly been arrested.

Her actions are likely to have dire consequences, however, it is not immediately clear if she will face more serious consequences as a result of her demonstration.

Source: Vice; #Mar14
https://www.vice.com/en/article/88gbnx/russian-protester-maria-ovsiannikova-no-war

#Journalist #Media #Ukraine