#Censorship #PoliceState
HK National Security Police cracks down even Speech Therapists over children’s books

On July 22, 2021, the Hong Kong Police’s National Security Department arrested 5 committee members of the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists (#GUST) on "seditious publications", accusing them of "violating the Criminal Offences Ordinance".

Li Kwai-wah, a senior superintendent in the Police’s National Security Department, said in a news briefing that the book and others published by the Union are "instilling hatred among children".

He claimed that the book titled “The Guardians of Sheep Village” is taking the background of Anti-extradition Law Amendment Bill (Anti-ELAB) Movement in Hong Kong.

Li said the story of the wolves invading the village and devouring the sheeps is referring to the conflicts between mainland Chinese (the wolves) and HongKonger (the sheeps). He explained the Force's interpretation based on the book's depiction of wolves entering the village in sheep’s clothing as an allegory of local people’s livelihood being messed up.

Li also condemned that the book for depicting the sheeps retaliating the wolves’ attack with their horns.

According to Li. it is provoking violence and criminal behavior, “sheep, although mild and timid, is portrayed as ferocious and capable of inflicting violence.”

Some reporters pointed out that another book “The Cleaner of Sheep Village”, which describes the COVID-19 pandemic, is not from the same series.

Li, however, insisted that all the Union’s storybooks are connected and "part of a series”.

“Once you have read the first book and the second book, you’ll come to know who the sheeps and the wolves are alleging to. Readers will naturally follow the same logic when they read the third book.”

Li taunted the reporters in the briefing, “Is it necessary to portray wolves in such a vulgar manner that they are filthy and spit everywhere? Are these facts?”

#FreedomOfSpeech #SheepVillage #RedLine #NationalSecurityLaw #ThoughtPolice #Children #sedition

Source: InMedia; #Jul22
https://bit.ly/36QsAgj

#Court #FreedomOfSpeech
Chanting ‘Hongkongers, add oil’ could be seditious

#NSL #NationalSecurityLaw #TamTakChi #FastBeat #Sedition #Secession

Source: InmediaHK; #Oct18
https://bit.ly/3n5hpIg

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

#Court #FreedomOfSpeech
Chanting ‘Hongkongers, add oil’ could be seditious

The prosecution’s expert witness, History Prof. Lau Chi-pang at #LingnanUniversity in Hong Kong testified in the trial of former radio presenter Tam Tak-chi (a.k.a Fast Beat) on October 18.

Lau told the District Court that “Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times” or “Hongkongers, add oil” were capable of inciting others to break the national security law.

He said "Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times” was originated with the activist and later picked up by protesters who vandalised Beijing’s liaison office in Sai Wan on July 21, 2019. He maintained that it is secessionist in nature. Other expressions such as “Hongkongers, add oil” and “no rioters but tyranny” could also have breached the law.

Lau was also an expert witness in Hong Kong’s first national security law trial in which defendant Tong Ying-kit was jailed for nine years.

Besides, Standard Chartered Hong Kong #Marathon 2021 would be the first high profile athletic event after the National Security Law implementation in Hong Kong.

Reporters queried in the briefing sessions whether a runner's outfit bearing controversial slogans could be disqualified and whether the organiser would report the case to local police. The organiser declined to address the question initially.

When being pressed afterwards, the organiser suggested runners to amend the slogan to "Runners Add Oil" instead of "Hong Kong Add Oil", as "Hong Kong has always been progressing, never regressing".

They declined to comment on how the display of the protest flag, Liberate Hong Kong Revolution of our Times, would be handled, "it's not a Marathon's matter".

#NSL #NationalSecurityLaw #TamTakChi #FastBeat #Sedition #Secession

Source: InmediaHK; #Oct18
https://bit.ly/3n5hpIg

#Censorship #RulebyLaw
Hong Kong’s top court applies stringent #NationalSecurityLaw bail requirement to general Crimes Ordinance

Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal has rejected an application to challenge a lower court’s bail refusal to a speech therapist, who was accused of publishing "seditious" children’s books about sheep and wolves.

Speech therapists Lai Man-ling, Melody Yeung Yat-yee, Sidney Ng Hau-yi, Samuel Chan Yuen-sum and Marco Fong Tsz-ho were arrested by Hong Kong national security police in July, 2021. They are accused of conspiring with Wong Hoi-ching, another member of the General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists, in printing, publishing, and distributing three children’s books, Guardians of the Sheep Village, 12 Warriors of the Sheep Village, and Dustman of the Sheep Village.

The were accused of intending to “bring into hatred of contempt or to excite disaffection” against the Hong Kong government and “the administration of justice in Hong Kong.”

They were charged with two counts of conspiring to publish, distribute, display or reproduce seditious publications, a breach of a colonial-era law under the Crimes Ordinance, and were denied bail.

Ng, one of the five defendants, took the case up to the Court of Final Appeal seeking leave to challenge the lower courts’ decisions.

Defence counsel Hectar Pun argued that the five defendants are facing charges under Section 10 of the Crimes Ordinance and not the National Security Law, and therefore the stricter threshold for granting bail should not apply.

Prosecutors argued that the Court of Final Appeal had ruled that sedition is considered an act that endangers national security. Violations of the Crimes Ordinance with relevance to the national security law may also endanger national security.

#FreedomOfSpeech #SheepVillage #RedLine #NationalSecurityLaw #ThoughtPolice #Children #sedition

Source: inmediahk; #Dec14
https://bit.ly/325iVU0

====
Related News

HK National Security Police cracks down even Speech Therapists over children’s books
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30705

#Arrest #Sedition
Singer activist Tommy Yuen arrested under National Security Law

Sources: Inmediahk, Luminant, RTHK; #Feb15

#TommyYuen #NSL #MoneyLaundering

#Arrest #Sedition
Singer activist Tommy Yuen arrested under National Security Law

Tommy Yuen Man-on was arrested in the morning of February 15 by the Hong Kong national security on suspicion of sedition and money laundering.

In a press briefing, the police said the 41-year-old singer was arrested over content he published on social media since last September that incites hatred towards the government, the police and judges.

The Senior superintendent of the force’s national security unit, also accused the singer of smearing the government’s Covid policies, and singing a song that contains a banned protest slogan during an online concert.

Yuen, a former member of boyband E-kids, has been an activist supporting the pro-democracy camp over the past few years and at the height of the 2019 social unrest.

He had actively participated in the city's political events, including the Human Rights Day Rally on December 8, 2019, where he led the protest march.

Sources: Inmediahk, Luminant, RTHK; #Feb15
https://bit.ly/3sNZqZQ

#TommyYuen #NSL #MoneyLaundering

#Arrest #StandNews
Hong Kong journalist Allan Au arrested by national security police

#NationalSecurityLaw #FreedomOfSpeech #Sedition #Crackdown

Source: Inmediahk, HKFP; #Apr11

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️

#Arrest #StandNews
Hong Kong journalist Allan Au arrested by national security police

Hong Kong veteran journalist #AllanAu was arrested by national security police in the morning of April 11 for allegedly conspiring to publish seditious materials, under the colonial-era anti-sedition legislation.

Linked to the Stand News case, Au is the 8th member being arrested following 7 others in December 2021.

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

Hong Kong Police Issues Arrest warrant for Stand News founder
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31766

The 54-year-old journalist was previously a columnist for outlets including Stand News and Ming Pao. Au was taken away from his home in Lai Chi Kok by the National Security police to the police station in Kwai Chung.

#NationalSecurityLaw #FreedomOfSpeech #Crackdown #Sedition

Source: Inmediahk, HKFP; #Apr11

https://bit.ly/3E1djc5

"Wishing peace for Mr. Allan Au and all Hongkongers," wrote Ar To. "Outlive them. See you in the future."

Hong Kong artist #ArTo posted this comic today, after veteran journalist #AllanAu was arrested by national security police.

Au was accused of "conspiring to publish seditious materials", though the police refused to give details on which of his writings broke the law.

See also:
Hong Kong journalist Allan Au arrested by national security police
https://t.me/BeWaterHK/392

#Art #FreedomOfSpeech #NationalSecurityLaw #Sedition

#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 Man Arrested for Sedition Outside British Consulate after Playing Songs while Mourning the Queen

Large crowds of Hongkongers gathered outside the British Consulate in Central on Monday evening, as the Queen's state funeral took place in London at the same time. Many lit candles in remembrance of the late queen.

One man brought his harmonica and allegedly performed various songs, including #GodSaveTheQueen and #GloryToHongKong. This reportedly caused a commotion in the gathered crowd, and the police arrested him after around half an hour.

Police announced today (20th) that the man was suspected to have taken actions with seditious intent, and is currently under arrest for investigation.

source: Hong Kong Economic Times #Sep20

https://topick.hket.com/article/3357355/【英女王逝世】43歲男昨悼念疑奏英國國歌及榮光等歌曲%E3%80%80涉作出具煽動意圖行為被捕

editor's note: The sedition law, under which the man was charged, dated back to Hong Kong's colonial days. Britain has repealed the offence of seditious libel in 2009. In July 2022, the UN Human Rights Committee had urged Hong Kong to abolish its sedition law as well as the National Security Law as they violated the freedom of expression in the city.

see also: Explainer: Hong Kong’s sedition law – a colonial relic revived after half a century (Hong Kong Free Press)
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/07/30/explainer-hong-kongs-sedition-law-a-colonial-relic-revived-after-half-a-century/

#Sedition #FreedomOfExpression #FreedomOfSpeech

Authors of "Sheep Village" Illustrated Books Handed 19-Month Sentence; Judge Questions Lack of Mention that "Sheep Village is Part of Wolf Village"

Five former committee members of the de-registered General Union of Hong Kong Speech Therapists, accused of publishing three illustrated books of the "Sheep Village" series, were found guilty of conspiring to print, publish, distribute and display with seditious intent. After being detained for more than a year, they were sentenced in the District Court to 19 months imprisonment on Saturday Sept 10, the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

It was the first case in which the defendant pleaded not guilty to seditious publication charges. Designated #NationalSecurityLaw judge Kwok Wai-kin set 21 months as the starting point of the sentence for each defendant, with a discretionary deduction of two months, resulting in a sentence of 19 months imprisonment.

The judge said that the audience of the illustrated books is children aged four and above, who are like "plain paper". He criticises the defendants' books for using sheep and wolves as an analogy for Hong Kong and China, respectively. He claimed that the books accused China of doing something illegal and improper, and "sowed the seeds of instability" for the Central government and Hong Kong by indicating that China had no sovereignty over Hong Kong and that Hong Kong was not part of China. He also accused the defendants of "brainwashing" younger readers, poisoning their minds, and mobilising parents to participate.

Before sentencing, the judge asked the defendant several questions: "When will you leave the prison of your mind?" "Did you put the truth in the illustrated books? Why didn't the books tell readers that the shepherds left because they had no right to continue to govern the place?" "Why not mention that the sheep village is part of the wolf village?" "Why is freedom of speech used to deny China's indisputable sovereignty over Hong Kong?"

The judge quoted the defense's plea that the defendants are "elite" and "smart people", and that they could understand what he meant.

As the five defendants entered the detention room, they waved to the bystanders. Someone in the gallery shouted, "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"

They will still serve their sentences for about one more month, and are expected to be free by next month.

Source: The Witness #Sep10

https://bit.ly/3BtQL3Z

#SpeechTherapists #SheepVillage #sedition #NSL #KwokWaiKin

Lorie Lai Man-ling and Melody Yeung Yat-yee, two among five defendants of the case of "Sheep Village", dismissed their defence counsel in the morning and made their submissions.

The first defendant Lorie Lai shared her reflections and experiences from the five-day trial and the 13-month remand over the court. She rebuttal the prosecutor, who took extremist terrorists as an example to argue that freedom of speech must not conflict with national security, and question whether "freedom with restrictions is freedom?"

She was interrupted by Judge Kwok Wai-kin, "If you continue that way, it would be a political statement. If you think I am wrong, then appeal my decision. If you think the prosecution's interpretation is wrong, then appeal theirs!" Kwok continues, "Hong Kong has the Court of Final Appeal, with foreign judges sitting there. I don't think we can single-handedly hide the sky."

The second defendant Melody Yeung said in pleading the case, “rather than judging us for seditious intent and spreading rumours, I think it’s about judging the correct view of history.” She said that Athens could judge Socrates, but not philosophy; The Catholic church could judge Galileo, but not heliocentrism, and that “in history, there’s no single, absolutely corrected view, but a diversity of perspectives. There’s no absolute correctness, only the ability to withstand repeated tests.”

She said only the people’s hearts could judge whether the illustrated books were a genuine reflection of Hong Kong’s social sentiment, a record of the community’s historical perspective, or a spread of rumours.

"If national security only means the security of the ruling group, without respect for personal freedom, then even peace and prosperity is an illusion based on fear," she said, "countless Hong Kong people have come and gone hoping to change uneven political power like this, but they were beaten and shot."

The judge again stopped her speech and said, "All right, all right, Miss Yeung, I think it's over."

Yeung responded, “now it's the relevant part.” Then she points out that the series of political offences affect only not a "handful of people" such as the case's defendants but would lead to a self-silencing civil society and a long-term regression in thought and civilisation.

Yeung was interrupted a second time as she explained the “interchangeable” roles of sheep and wolf in the story. This time she was interrupted by the prosecutor Ng Shuk-kuen, the acting Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, who stood up and said to the judge , “I believe [Yeung] has gone too far.”

Yeung said, "ok, last words. I never regret being on the side of the sheep. The only thing I regret is that I couldn't get more books done before I was arrested, or that I wasn't more obsessed with the quality of my books." provoking tears among some court spectators.

The third defendant Sidney Ng Hau-yi quoted the speech of Nobel Laureate Camus, who said, "A writer cannot serve today those who make history; he must serve those who are subject to it. Otherwise, he will be alone and deprived of his art."

"The essence of education should be inspiration and guidance, not intimidation and indoctrination, and the same is true when explaining the relationship between individual and country to children," she added.

"Rather than inciting hatred, the three illustrated books are meant to explain the source of these feelings and why they are intensifying so rapidly after 2019; Rather than inciting disobedience, the aim is to make children reflect on the basis of law-abiding, rather than blindly obeying out of fear; Rather than inciting anything, I would like to record acts of bravery."

Source: The Witness #Sep10

#SpeechTherapists #sheepVillage #sedition #NSL #KwokWaiKin #NgShukKuen

https://bit.ly/3BtQL3Z