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#Conscience #Professionalism
HK Journalist Reporting Police Brutality Does Not Back Down Despite Threats

Wanchai district councilor #LeungPakKin was a journalist for #RicePost on the scene of the 8.31 Prince Edward Attack, and had recorded video of the attack as it unfolded in 2019.

Earlier in August 2021, someone had mailed him a box cutter blade, along with a threatening letter: "Shut up about 8.31, and your family will stay safe".

In response to inquiries by Stand News, Leung saif that he will not keep quiet because of the letter. He says that the attack had been a collective memory of everyone, and it will not disappear simply because he stopped talking.

He elaborates on his thoughts on the letter on his Facebook page, stating that it didn't have to be him talking about the 8.31 attack by the police. "The video already showed everything. The people and events in the video are the most important [proof]. The violence dealt by the armed men in the video, whether they're reasonable, whether they're proportional - there's no need for me to say more."

Leung said that he had turned down all interviews since last year.

Source: Stand News #Aug30

https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%9B%BE%E6%8B%8D%E7%89%87%E7%B4%80%E9%8C%84-831-%E5%A4%AA%E5%AD%90%E7%AB%99%E5%85%A7%E6%83%85%E6%B3%81-%E6%A2%81%E6%9F%8F%E5%A0%85%E6%94%B6%E5%88%80%E7%89%87%E6%81%90%E5%9A%87%E4%BF%A1

#831PrinceEdward #WhiteTerror #Censorship #Threat #DistrictCouncillor #Journalism
#PoliceState
Next Digital Directors Resign to Protect Staff: "When the freedom of expression has been eroded, no rights can be guaranteed"

#NextDigital is the parent company of #AppleDaily, a pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong that has been forced to shut down by the authorities in June 2021.

In the past few months, the Hong Kong police arrested the executives, editors and writers of Apple Daily; and charged the company's former CEO Cheung Kim-hung and Apple Daily editor-in-chief Ryan Law of breaching national security.

On Sunday, September 5, 2021, all four directors of Next Digital including chairman Ip Yut Kin announced their resignation in order to protect shareholders, creditors, employees and former employees.

In the statement, the directors pointed out that an orderly liquidation would serve the best interests of shareholders, creditors, staff and other stakeholders. Since the Hong Kong government has frozen Next Digital assets, the company cannot even pay the salary of their newspaper staff.

The latest statement of Next Digital also pointed out that "the Hong Kong government has never indicated which articles published by Apple Daily allegedly violated the National Security Law."

Next Digital condemned the government for spreading white terror, "This uncertainty created a climate of fear, resulting in many resignations among the remaining staff at the company in Hong Kong."

In closing the statement, the directors thanked all Apple Daily readers for not just their support, but also sharing their values and beliefs.

"You entrusted us with the work of journalism. You know well the free flow of information is key to a free society and a free market."

The statement also warned solemnly, "When the freedom of expression has eroded away, no rights can be guaranteed."

Source: Stand News; RTHK #Sept5

#Conscience #Integrity #MediaLandscape #JimmyLai
#Solidarity
Newly married pro-democracy activist faces imprisonment for the fourth time, Wong Ho-Ming: will give birth to three after that

The former chairman of the League of Social Democrats Raphael Wong Ho-Ming and other six persons were charged with organizing and taking part in unauthorized assembly on 20 October 2019. Wong was sentenced to 14 months in prison.

Being the only person that outside the wall in the case, Wong interviewed by inmedia.net before going to prison for his fourth time. Wong said, “after getting out from prison, I would try my best to “make men”, I want to have three and my wife wants to have two”.

Wong claimed that “I am insane”, he believes and hopes each democratic family shall give birth to at least three. One of them will participate in the struggle and bear the price of imprisonment, and the other two would take the responsibility of looking after the family.


[Editor’s Note: The term “making men” in Cantonese may have two distinct meanings, one literally meaning “to produce young” and a metaphoric meaning of “being the person you are supposed to be in society”.]

Source: Inmedia #Sept4

https://bit.ly/2WUW2Af

#Hongkongers #WongHoMing #Conscience #Integrity #Unafraid
#Cantopop #HongKongSinger
Denise Ho Sing On After Arrest and Thank Cantopop Diva Anita Mui: "Do what you should do in the limited time you have"


Pro-democracy Hong Kong Cantopop singer #DeniseHo (#HOCC) is among the 6 Stand News staff members and directors who were arrested by National Security Police on suspicion of "conspiring to publishing seditious publications."

After being released on bail on December 30, 2021, Ho carried on with her online concert "HOCC MINILIVE" on 2 January 2022, as scheduled.

At the end of the concert, Ho thanked her mentor and Cantopop legend, the late #AnitaMui, for mentoring her and taking her in as family. "Without her, I believe I wouldn't find the courage to stand up at this very important moment."

During her detention, Ho resorted to meditation and chanting scriptures to pass time. Later she started singing songs by fellow pro-democracy musicians Anita Mui and Anthony Wong. "As I sang, I realized the power of music," Ho recalled. "It goes beyond entertaining people; it offers healing and companionship."

Ho has been insistent at holding this concert. In a broken voice, she thanked her supporting staff; with only a brief exchange of glances, her crew members understood that she wanted to go ahead with this concert, "no matter if she would be here or not."

She also offered words of encouragement to herself and her supporters, "Do what you should do in the limited time you have," and "do well at what you do best."

Source: InmediaHK; #Jan2
https://bit.ly/3sRBLZY

#DeniseHo #HongKongMusic #StandNews #Crackdown #Culture #Conscience

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Related articles
Pro-democracy Hong Kong Singer #DeniseHo Arrested by National Secutity Police: I feel Alright
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31773

Hong Kong Authorities' #Crackdown on #StandNews
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31752
#Court #PoliticalProsecution
#ChowHangTung References #TiananmenMassacre Against Accusations by Hong Kong Authorities

On January 4, 2022, Hong Kong court found Barrister Chow Hang-tung, chairperson of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, guilty of "inciting others to join an unauthorized assembly" in 2020 — being the annual June 4th vigil in Victoria Park. The Alliance has been the organizer of the annual candlelight vigil in Hong Kong in commemoration of the victims of the June 4 Tiananmen Massacre in Beijing since 1989.

West Kowloon Magistrate Amy Chan made the ruling according to a newspaper article and two social media posts published by Chow. Chow was sentenced to 15 months in jail. In addition to the sentence for another June 4 case, Chow will be jailed for 22 months in total.

As Chow defended herself, her speech won applause from the attendees of the court session.

Chow pointed out how commemorating June 4 was turned from the "bottomline of conscience" to a "dangerous red line". Following the removal https://bit.ly/3zoJArf June 4 related monuments and the closure of Stand News and Citizen News, this left no room to publicly talk about the 1989 June 4 Tiananmen Massacre. Nevertheless, Chow said that she believes in the power of words, "Words have life which cannot be determined by the authorities nor the court." Chow said she would continue to speak up, regardless of the sentence.

In her conclusive statement, Chow cited the testimonies of the families of the Tiananmen Massacre and recounted how military tanks ran over civilians and pro-democracy protesters on the streets of Beijing in 1989. The judge interrupted Chow, questioning the relevance to the case. Chow said the victims of the Tiananmen Massacre are the victims of the case, "their voices should be heard in court more than mine."

The attendees of the court session applaused, while the judge ordered the police to "mark down their names and ID card numbers."

Chow concluded, "those who should plead for forgiveness are those executioners who destroyed families and those who called the Pillar of Shame ugly." Chow said she will preserve the candle of June 4 and bear the consequence of white terror.

Source: Ming Pao; InMedia; RTHK #Jan4
#Conscience #Perseverance #NeverGiveUp #Resistance #June4 #Alliance
#Court
Facing 38 to 40 months in jail, Pro-democracy citizen: I am "honored to be born a Hongkonger"

On January 15, 2022, the District Court in Hong Kong sentenced seven pro-democracy citizens to up to three years and four months in jail. In the same case, two citizens who are under 20 years old are sent to an education center.

All of them were arrested on the street of Kowloon on November 18, 2019, and were convicted of "rioting" near the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (#PolyU) in November 2019. During the police siege of the university campus, thousands of pro-democracy Hongkongers tried to help the entrapped protesters, students, and civilians to escape.

During the trial, the defence counsel recited a letter written by one of the defendants, 24-year-old Tang Kam-Lok. In his letter, Tang cited the French-Algerian author and 1958 Nobel Prize laureate Albert Camus:

"Each generation doubtless feels called upon to reform the world. Mine knows that it will not reform it, but its task is perhaps even greater. It consists in preventing the world from destroying itself."

Tam expressed his belonging to Hong Kong and realised how special Hong Kong was during his studies in the UK. Tam said he is "honored to be born a Hongkonger" and hopes to return "like a phoenix".

After the sentence, families and friends shout in the direction of the defendents, "hang on!" "love you!"

Source: InMediaHK.Net #Jan15
https://bit.ly/3qqOrFA

#Conscience #NeverForget #Phoenix #AlbertCamus #Hongkonger #PolyUSiege
#Ukranian Sisters in #HongKong: "Humanity wins, even under these circumstances"

Oksana and Olena came to Hong Kong from Ukraine 17 years ago. 7 years ago, they opened Dacha, a restaurant in Central District, specialising in Eastern Euroean cuisine. After Russia launched its invasion in Ukraine, the sisters joined the #CookforUkraine campaign, raising funds with their signature Medovik cake.

Oksana and Olena grew up near the Eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, near the Russian border. The sisters were never confused of their national identity: "We are very clear, we are Ukrainians."

They also believed that most Russians were against the war and were victims of Putin's regime, being isolated by the international community.

"We have to do something together to stop this," Olena said. "This is affecting everyone, not only us, them [Russians] as well."

When they talked about their family and home in Ukraine, 7,600km away form Hong Kong, Oksana and Olena were visibly worried.

As they spoke, their cousin was hiding in a basement with her daughter in Kviv, while her husband was fighting in the frontline. The location of their family was far from the humanitarian corridor. If they tried to escape, it would be gambling with their lives.

Their 92-year-old grandfather, who lived through the Second World War, was now facing a war again.

The sisters were moved when they saw Russians in Hong Kong protesting in front of the Russian consulate. "We’re still human, and I’m so happy to see that humanity wins, even under this circumstance."

The added, "We don’t have to be all the same nationality to sit down together."

Oksana and Olena also expressed hope, despite the difficult circumstances, when they received the support of Hongkongers.

"When there is so much hatred, violence and ignorance in the world, these acts of kindness, courage and love still reminds us that the world is a good place."

Source: InMedia #Mar14
https://bit.ly/3MIKhSJ

#UkraineInHongKong #StandwithUkraine #Dacha #Conscience #Solidarity
#Solidarity #Conscience
Hongkongers flock to support pro-democracy bubble tea shop despite #NationalSecurityPolice Presence

Source: Inmediahk, #Apr14

Read more
⬇️⬇️
#Solidarity #Conscience
Hongkongers flock to support pro-democracy bubble tea shop despite #NationalSecurityPolice Presence

In Hong Kong, two staff members of #RoyalTea, a bubble tea shop in Mong Kok that is known for its pro-democracy stance, were taken away by the police on April 11, 2022 to "assist with an investigation".

When the shop reopened on April 14, 2022, about 10 customers patronized it in the first 15 minutes.

A regular customer who came to show support said that the bubble tea shop could be forced to close down for making known its pro-democracy stance.

"I would do whatever I can to show my support when the shop still opens."

A British student in Hong Kong, Sam visited RoyalTea for the first time. Sam said, althought he doesn't know the local political situation well, he has witnessed "a lot of political changes going on in Hong Kong" in the past year. Sam said that the community has been "oppressed".

Sam is hoping to show his support for those still clinging tight to their beliefs in Hong Kong.

Jessica, one of the two staff members being taken away by the police for "investigation" said she felt "terrified and lost" during police investigation.

However, she asked the supporters of the shop not to worry. She also wishes Hongkongers to stay blissful and hopeful for freedom.

Source: Inmediahk, #Apr14
https://bit.ly/3KKGK4H

#Oppression #ScareTactics #Regime #PoliceState
#Interview
#DeniseHO and the slogan #JMGGJ on her T-shirt

Translated by Guardians of Hong Kong, September 20, 2021

According to schedule, Hong Kong singer Denise HO (#HoCC) should be holding her concert at the Wanchai Art Centre at 8pm on 12 Sep 2021, but it did not happen.

Eight days before the show, Art Centre cancelled her venue booking in writing citing “it might endanger public safety”. Roughly at the same time, three pro-China newspapers coincidently criticised HoCC and that “she is closely watched by law enforcement agencies”.

Without the venue, HoCC decided to hold her concert online.

Read our fully translated article:
https://telegra.ph/InterviewDenise-HO-and-the-slogan-JMGGJ-on-her-T-shirt-01-01

Source: The Stand News #Sep13

Author: Ah Guo

Photography: Fred CHEUNG, Matthew MAK

#HoCC #PopMusic #Concert #Cantopop #Hongkonger #Conscience #HongKongMusic