#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
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
#Black: Hongkongers' Favourite Color in 2021
The year 2021 is a year of censorship, and silencing in Hong Kong. If one can longer use language to express, what color will one use to describe the impression of 2021?
As of 5pm on December 25, 2021, the poll held by Stand News received 25,205 responses. 54.6% of the respondents (13,788) chose the color Black.
Source: Stand News #Dec25
https://2021color.thestandnews.com
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution #Arrest
The year 2021 is a year of censorship, and silencing in Hong Kong. If one can longer use language to express, what color will one use to describe the impression of 2021?
As of 5pm on December 25, 2021, the poll held by Stand News received 25,205 responses. 54.6% of the respondents (13,788) chose the color Black.
Source: Stand News #Dec25
https://2021color.thestandnews.com
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution #Arrest
#Court
8 Pro-democracy Hongkongers jailed for 4.5 months to 14 months for inciting June 4 rallies
The Hong Kong police banned the June 4 rally in Victoria Park in 2020 on the grounds of pandemic prevention, and a number of members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HKASPDMC; the Alliance) and pan-democrats were later charged with inciting, holding and participating in an unauthorised rally.
Among them, five pleaded guilty before the trial, while three pleaded not guilty and were convicted after the trial, and were jailed for four months and two weeks to 14 months on 13 December, 2021.
#TonyeeChow Hang-tung made her own plea, stressing that the collapse of political space struck a harder blow to Hongkongers than the epidemic, and that the court dismissed the political suppression of Hongkongers in the name of epidemic prevention.
#JimmyLai Chee-ying also wrote a letter of plea, saying, “If commemorating those who died because of injustice is a crime, then inflict on me that crime and let me suffer the punishment of this crime”.
However, Judge Amanda Jane Woodcock criticised the defendants for ignoring the risks posed by the pandemic and for their arrogance and misconception of believing that the right to assembly was more important than safeguarding public health.
Among them, Lee Cheuk-yan, Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong and Leung Yiu-chung, who committed the offences while on bail then, had their sentences were increased by three months.
Lee Cheuk-yan, who had a leading role in inciting, organising and participating in the rally, received the heaviest sentence of 14 months. For incitement and participation, Richard Tsoi, Leung Yiu-chung and Leung Kam-wai were sentenced to 12 months, 9 months and 9 months of imprisonment respectively. Wu Chi-wai was sentenced to four months and two weeks of imprisonment for his participation.
Of the three who pleaded not guilty, Jimmy Lai was sentenced to an additional three months for offences committed while on bail, totaling out to 13 months in imprisonment for incitement. Tonyee Chow was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment for incitement and participation, while Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam was sentenced to six months of imprisonment for participating.
Lee Cheuk-yan and Jimmy Lai’s sentences were to be served concurrently with the other assembly cases and no additional prison time was required, leaving the total sentence for all cases at 20 months for the time being.
Source: HK Citizens' News #Jan13
https://www.hkcnews.com/article/49003/%E9%BB%8E%E6%99%BA%E8%8B%B1-%E9%84%92%E5%B9%B8%E5%BD%A4-%E4%BD%95%E6%A1%82%E8%97%8D-49015/%E3%80%90%E7%85%BD%E6%83%91%E5%85%AD%E5%9B%9B%E9%9B%86%E6%9C%83%E6%A1%88%E3%80%918%E8%A2%AB%E5%91%8A%E5%9B%9A4%E5%80%8B%E5%8D%8A%E6%9C%88%E8%87%B314%E6%9C%88-%E5%AE%98%E6%96%A5%E8%87%AA%E5%A4%A7%E5%8F%AA%E9%87%8D%E9%9B%86%E6%9C%83%E6%AC%8A%E5%88%A9%E6%BC%A0%E8%A6%96%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85-%E9%BB%8E%E6%99%BA%E8%8B%B1%EF%BC%9A%E8%8B%A5%E6%82%BC%E5%BF%B5%E5%85%AD%E5%9B%9B%E6%98%AF%E7%BD%AA-%E5%B0%B1%E8%AE%93%E6%88%91%E8%83%8C%E8%B2%A0
#June4 #Massacre #Vigil #PoliticalProsecution
8 Pro-democracy Hongkongers jailed for 4.5 months to 14 months for inciting June 4 rallies
The Hong Kong police banned the June 4 rally in Victoria Park in 2020 on the grounds of pandemic prevention, and a number of members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HKASPDMC; the Alliance) and pan-democrats were later charged with inciting, holding and participating in an unauthorised rally.
Among them, five pleaded guilty before the trial, while three pleaded not guilty and were convicted after the trial, and were jailed for four months and two weeks to 14 months on 13 December, 2021.
#TonyeeChow Hang-tung made her own plea, stressing that the collapse of political space struck a harder blow to Hongkongers than the epidemic, and that the court dismissed the political suppression of Hongkongers in the name of epidemic prevention.
#JimmyLai Chee-ying also wrote a letter of plea, saying, “If commemorating those who died because of injustice is a crime, then inflict on me that crime and let me suffer the punishment of this crime”.
However, Judge Amanda Jane Woodcock criticised the defendants for ignoring the risks posed by the pandemic and for their arrogance and misconception of believing that the right to assembly was more important than safeguarding public health.
Among them, Lee Cheuk-yan, Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong and Leung Yiu-chung, who committed the offences while on bail then, had their sentences were increased by three months.
Lee Cheuk-yan, who had a leading role in inciting, organising and participating in the rally, received the heaviest sentence of 14 months. For incitement and participation, Richard Tsoi, Leung Yiu-chung and Leung Kam-wai were sentenced to 12 months, 9 months and 9 months of imprisonment respectively. Wu Chi-wai was sentenced to four months and two weeks of imprisonment for his participation.
Of the three who pleaded not guilty, Jimmy Lai was sentenced to an additional three months for offences committed while on bail, totaling out to 13 months in imprisonment for incitement. Tonyee Chow was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment for incitement and participation, while Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam was sentenced to six months of imprisonment for participating.
Lee Cheuk-yan and Jimmy Lai’s sentences were to be served concurrently with the other assembly cases and no additional prison time was required, leaving the total sentence for all cases at 20 months for the time being.
Source: HK Citizens' News #Jan13
https://www.hkcnews.com/article/49003/%E9%BB%8E%E6%99%BA%E8%8B%B1-%E9%84%92%E5%B9%B8%E5%BD%A4-%E4%BD%95%E6%A1%82%E8%97%8D-49015/%E3%80%90%E7%85%BD%E6%83%91%E5%85%AD%E5%9B%9B%E9%9B%86%E6%9C%83%E6%A1%88%E3%80%918%E8%A2%AB%E5%91%8A%E5%9B%9A4%E5%80%8B%E5%8D%8A%E6%9C%88%E8%87%B314%E6%9C%88-%E5%AE%98%E6%96%A5%E8%87%AA%E5%A4%A7%E5%8F%AA%E9%87%8D%E9%9B%86%E6%9C%83%E6%AC%8A%E5%88%A9%E6%BC%A0%E8%A6%96%E7%96%AB%E6%83%85-%E9%BB%8E%E6%99%BA%E8%8B%B1%EF%BC%9A%E8%8B%A5%E6%82%BC%E5%BF%B5%E5%85%AD%E5%9B%9B%E6%98%AF%E7%BD%AA-%E5%B0%B1%E8%AE%93%E6%88%91%E8%83%8C%E8%B2%A0
#June4 #Massacre #Vigil #PoliticalProsecution
眾新聞
【煽惑六四集會案】8被告囚4個半月至14月 官斥自大只重集會權利漠視疫情 黎智英：若悼念六四是罪 就讓我背負
警方去年以防疫為由禁止維園六四集會，多名支聯會成員和泛民主派人士事後被控煽惑、舉行及參與未經批准集結等罪。8人於開審前認罪或審訊後被定罪，今（13日）被判囚4個月2星期至14個月。
#Court
8 Pro-democracy Hongkongers jailed for 4.5 months to 14 months for inciting June 4 rallies
The Hong Kong police banned the June 4 rally in Victoria Park in 2020 on the grounds of pandemic prevention, and a number of members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HKASPDMC; the Alliance) and pan-democrats were later charged with inciting, holding and participating in an unauthorised rally.
Among them, five pleaded guilty before the trial, while three pleaded not guilty and were convicted after the trial, and were jailed for four months and two weeks to 14 months on 13 December, 2021.
#TonyeeChow Hang-tung made her own plea, stressing that the collapse of political space struck a harder blow to Hongkongers than the epidemic, and that the court dismissed the political suppression of Hongkongers in the name of epidemic prevention.
#JimmyLai Chee-ying also wrote a letter of plea, saying, “If commemorating those who died because of injustice is a crime, then inflict on me that crime and let me suffer the punishment of this crime”.
However, Judge Amanda Jane Woodcock criticised the defendants for ignoring the risks posed by the pandemic and for their arrogance and misconception of believing that the right to assembly was more important than safeguarding public health.
Among them, Lee Cheuk-yan, Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong and Leung Yiu-chung, who committed the offences while on bail then, had their sentences were increased by three months.
Lee Cheuk-yan, who had a leading role in inciting, organising and participating in the rally, received the heaviest sentence of 14 months. For incitement and participation, Richard Tsoi, Leung Yiu-chung and Leung Kam-wai were sentenced to 12 months, 9 months and 9 months of imprisonment respectively. Wu Chi-wai was sentenced to four months and two weeks of imprisonment for his participation.
Of the three who pleaded not guilty, Jimmy Lai was sentenced to an additional three months for offences committed while on bail, totaling out to 13 months in imprisonment for incitement. Tonyee Chow was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment for incitement and participation, while Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam was sentenced to six months of imprisonment for participating.
Lee Cheuk-yan and Jimmy Lai’s sentences were to be served concurrently with the other assembly cases and no additional prison time was required, leaving the total sentence for all cases at 20 months for the time being.
Source: HK Citizens' News #Jan13
https://bit.ly/3A6Xj6n
#June4 #Massacre #Vigil #PoliticalProsecution
8 Pro-democracy Hongkongers jailed for 4.5 months to 14 months for inciting June 4 rallies
The Hong Kong police banned the June 4 rally in Victoria Park in 2020 on the grounds of pandemic prevention, and a number of members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China (HKASPDMC; the Alliance) and pan-democrats were later charged with inciting, holding and participating in an unauthorised rally.
Among them, five pleaded guilty before the trial, while three pleaded not guilty and were convicted after the trial, and were jailed for four months and two weeks to 14 months on 13 December, 2021.
#TonyeeChow Hang-tung made her own plea, stressing that the collapse of political space struck a harder blow to Hongkongers than the epidemic, and that the court dismissed the political suppression of Hongkongers in the name of epidemic prevention.
#JimmyLai Chee-ying also wrote a letter of plea, saying, “If commemorating those who died because of injustice is a crime, then inflict on me that crime and let me suffer the punishment of this crime”.
However, Judge Amanda Jane Woodcock criticised the defendants for ignoring the risks posed by the pandemic and for their arrogance and misconception of believing that the right to assembly was more important than safeguarding public health.
Among them, Lee Cheuk-yan, Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong and Leung Yiu-chung, who committed the offences while on bail then, had their sentences were increased by three months.
Lee Cheuk-yan, who had a leading role in inciting, organising and participating in the rally, received the heaviest sentence of 14 months. For incitement and participation, Richard Tsoi, Leung Yiu-chung and Leung Kam-wai were sentenced to 12 months, 9 months and 9 months of imprisonment respectively. Wu Chi-wai was sentenced to four months and two weeks of imprisonment for his participation.
Of the three who pleaded not guilty, Jimmy Lai was sentenced to an additional three months for offences committed while on bail, totaling out to 13 months in imprisonment for incitement. Tonyee Chow was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment for incitement and participation, while Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam was sentenced to six months of imprisonment for participating.
Lee Cheuk-yan and Jimmy Lai’s sentences were to be served concurrently with the other assembly cases and no additional prison time was required, leaving the total sentence for all cases at 20 months for the time being.
Source: HK Citizens' News #Jan13
https://bit.ly/3A6Xj6n
#June4 #Massacre #Vigil #PoliticalProsecution
眾新聞
【煽惑六四集會案】8被告囚4個半月至14月 官斥自大只重集會權利漠視疫情 黎智英：若悼念六四是罪 就讓我背負
警方去年以防疫為由禁止維園六四集會，多名支聯會成員和泛民主派人士事後被控煽惑、舉行及參與未經批准集結等罪。8人於開審前認罪或審訊後被定罪，今（13日）被判囚4個月2星期至14個月。
#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
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
美国之音
壹传媒前高层：香港打压《立场新闻》是中共试图控制世界话语权的一步
香港网媒《立场新闻》被迫关闭事件持续发展之际，长期关心香港局势发展的外籍传媒人士与法律学者促请，国际社会不应袖手旁观，应关注事态发展，这不仅事关香港新闻自由遭受攻击，还关系到世界将来会否受到中国操控等重要挑战。
#FirstHand #NSL #Arrest
Barrister Dr. #MargaretNg allowed to leave Police Station at midnight
At mid-night on May 11, 2022, barrister Dr Margaret Ng ngoi-yee, stepped out of the Wanchai Police Station in Hong Kong.
Ng was one of the five Trustees of the 612 Humanitatian Relief Fund which provided support for pro-democracy protesters in 2019 and 2020. Together with the other 4 trustees, she was arrested by the police on May 10, 2022 on "collusion with foreign forces".
She put her hands together on prayer pose to thank the reporters on the scene.
Earlier, 90-year-old #JosephZen Ze-kiun, a former cardinal and a trustee of the Fund, left the Police Station at 11:15pm.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32700
See also:
All 5 Trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund arrested and accused of collusion with foreign powers
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32694
#612HumanitatianReliefFund #PoliticalProsecution #PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw
Barrister Dr. #MargaretNg allowed to leave Police Station at midnight
At mid-night on May 11, 2022, barrister Dr Margaret Ng ngoi-yee, stepped out of the Wanchai Police Station in Hong Kong.
Ng was one of the five Trustees of the 612 Humanitatian Relief Fund which provided support for pro-democracy protesters in 2019 and 2020. Together with the other 4 trustees, she was arrested by the police on May 10, 2022 on "collusion with foreign forces".
She put her hands together on prayer pose to thank the reporters on the scene.
Earlier, 90-year-old #JosephZen Ze-kiun, a former cardinal and a trustee of the Fund, left the Police Station at 11:15pm.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32700
See also:
All 5 Trustees of the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund arrested and accused of collusion with foreign powers
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32694
#612HumanitatianReliefFund #PoliticalProsecution #PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw
#WhiteTerror #FreedomofReligion
Cardinal Joseph Zen appears in court in Hong Kong on day of prayer for China
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution #Oppression
Image source: #FirstHand
Sources: Reuters, HKFP, UCA News; #May25
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32790
Cardinal Joseph Zen appears in court in Hong Kong on day of prayer for China
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution #Oppression
Image source: #FirstHand
Sources: Reuters, HKFP, UCA News; #May25
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32790
#WhiteTerror #FreedomofReligion
Cardinal Joseph Zen appears in court in Hong Kong on day of prayer for China
Ninety-year-old retired Catholic cardinal #JosephZen hosted a packed mass in Hong Kong on the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, just hours after a brief court hearing over charges linked to pro-democracy protests.
In his homily after pleading not guilty to charges of failing to register a pro-democracy association to Hong Kong Police, Zen chose not to speak about his legal case, but to highlight how Catholics in some parts of China cannot attend Mass right now — for they have no freedom now.
Zen dedicated the mass to churches in China where believers are still split between a so-called “underground” church resistant to the government, and a state-sanctioned church belonging to the Chinese Communist Party’s Patriotic Catholic Association.
In his remarks at Mass, Zen again criticised the deal between China and the #Vatican that allows Beijing to nominate bishops for the pope’s approval, calling it “unwise” despite being made with “good intention”.
"There is an urge to unify those above the ground and those underground but it seems that time is not ripe yet,” Zen said.
Implying that there may be more difficult times ahead, Zen said that “we may have to bear some pain and steel ourselves for our loyalty to our faith.”
He also dedicated prayers to churches in Myanmar led by #CardinalBo, his most outspoken supporter in Asia, as well as “brothers and sisters who cannot join tonight because they are not free”.
Zen, one of Asia’s highest-ranking Catholic clerics, was among five prominent democracy advocates — including activist and singer #DeniseHo and veteran human rights barrister #MargaretNg — who were arrested in early May. His arrest is part of a national security police probe into foreign collusion over a legal support fund for pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.
Instead, all five of the fund’s former trustees and its secretary were charged on May 24 with failing to register it as a “society” with police — a non-national security offence. All plead not guilty.
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution #Oppression
Image source: #FirstHand
Sources: Reuters, HKFP, UCA News; #May25
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-catholic-cardinal-criticises-china-deal-after-national-security-arrest-2022-05-24/
-----
Related News
Hong Kong Catholic group will not hold Tiananmen crackdown masses citing fears over national security law
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32764
612 Fund Trustees and Secretary Plead Not Guilty for "Non-registered organisation" Charge
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32751
.
Cardinal Joseph Zen appears in court in Hong Kong on day of prayer for China
Ninety-year-old retired Catholic cardinal #JosephZen hosted a packed mass in Hong Kong on the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, just hours after a brief court hearing over charges linked to pro-democracy protests.
In his homily after pleading not guilty to charges of failing to register a pro-democracy association to Hong Kong Police, Zen chose not to speak about his legal case, but to highlight how Catholics in some parts of China cannot attend Mass right now — for they have no freedom now.
Zen dedicated the mass to churches in China where believers are still split between a so-called “underground” church resistant to the government, and a state-sanctioned church belonging to the Chinese Communist Party’s Patriotic Catholic Association.
In his remarks at Mass, Zen again criticised the deal between China and the #Vatican that allows Beijing to nominate bishops for the pope’s approval, calling it “unwise” despite being made with “good intention”.
"There is an urge to unify those above the ground and those underground but it seems that time is not ripe yet,” Zen said.
Implying that there may be more difficult times ahead, Zen said that “we may have to bear some pain and steel ourselves for our loyalty to our faith.”
He also dedicated prayers to churches in Myanmar led by #CardinalBo, his most outspoken supporter in Asia, as well as “brothers and sisters who cannot join tonight because they are not free”.
Zen, one of Asia’s highest-ranking Catholic clerics, was among five prominent democracy advocates — including activist and singer #DeniseHo and veteran human rights barrister #MargaretNg — who were arrested in early May. His arrest is part of a national security police probe into foreign collusion over a legal support fund for pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.
Instead, all five of the fund’s former trustees and its secretary were charged on May 24 with failing to register it as a “society” with police — a non-national security offence. All plead not guilty.
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #PoliticalProsecution #Oppression
Image source: #FirstHand
Sources: Reuters, HKFP, UCA News; #May25
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-catholic-cardinal-criticises-china-deal-after-national-security-arrest-2022-05-24/
-----
Related News
Hong Kong Catholic group will not hold Tiananmen crackdown masses citing fears over national security law
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32764
612 Fund Trustees and Secretary Plead Not Guilty for "Non-registered organisation" Charge
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/32751
.
Reuters
Hong Kong Catholic cardinal criticises China deal after national security arrest
Hong Kong's Cardinal Joseph Zen - in his first public remarks since he was arrested in a national security case earlier this month - on Tuesday criticised the Vatican for its "unwise" deal with China that is due for renewal in September.
#Court #PoliceState
66-year-old #GrandmaWong sentenced to 32-week jail after waving Union Jack Flag in Hong Kong
On 13 July, 2022, 66-year-old Wong Fung-yiu, known as “Grandma Wong”, a pro-democracy Hongkonger, pleads guilty to unlawful assembly and is sentenced to 32 weeks imprisonment for waving the Union Jack flag in Hong Kong. She claims that she was interrogated by China's Public Security authorities two days after the flag waving incident.
“Grandma Wong” was charged for two counts of unlawful assembly in August 2019 at Quarry Bay Station and Taikoo Station, waving the Union Jack flag at demonstrations and verbally abusing the police.
In February 2022, Grandma Wong pleaded not guilty and initiated to cancel her bail. She was escorted to the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on 13 July, 2022. During trial, she was not happy with the “snail speed” of the trial and thus changed her plea, stating “I will take the rap” as she does not want to die in jail like Liu Xiaobo [deceased Nobel Peace Prize winner]. She was jailed for 32 weeks by magistrate Ada Yim.
Furthermore, Grandma Wong revealed that she went to China two days after the flag waving incident and was detained by the local “Public Security” for 40 days interrogating her about her case. Magistrate Yim raised questions about this and the prosecutor responded that they could contact the mainland police but it might take three to four months to get a reply. Defendant Grandma Wong indicated there was no need to wait. In the end, magistrate Yim pointed out that the defendant had not been prosecuted elsewhere, thus the sentence would not be commuted.
Source: InMedia #Jul13
https://bit.ly/3c4gAgR
#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #AntiELAB #UnionJack
66-year-old #GrandmaWong sentenced to 32-week jail after waving Union Jack Flag in Hong Kong
On 13 July, 2022, 66-year-old Wong Fung-yiu, known as “Grandma Wong”, a pro-democracy Hongkonger, pleads guilty to unlawful assembly and is sentenced to 32 weeks imprisonment for waving the Union Jack flag in Hong Kong. She claims that she was interrogated by China's Public Security authorities two days after the flag waving incident.
“Grandma Wong” was charged for two counts of unlawful assembly in August 2019 at Quarry Bay Station and Taikoo Station, waving the Union Jack flag at demonstrations and verbally abusing the police.
In February 2022, Grandma Wong pleaded not guilty and initiated to cancel her bail. She was escorted to the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on 13 July, 2022. During trial, she was not happy with the “snail speed” of the trial and thus changed her plea, stating “I will take the rap” as she does not want to die in jail like Liu Xiaobo [deceased Nobel Peace Prize winner]. She was jailed for 32 weeks by magistrate Ada Yim.
Furthermore, Grandma Wong revealed that she went to China two days after the flag waving incident and was detained by the local “Public Security” for 40 days interrogating her about her case. Magistrate Yim raised questions about this and the prosecutor responded that they could contact the mainland police but it might take three to four months to get a reply. Defendant Grandma Wong indicated there was no need to wait. In the end, magistrate Yim pointed out that the defendant had not been prosecuted elsewhere, thus the sentence would not be commuted.
Source: InMedia #Jul13
https://bit.ly/3c4gAgR
#PoliticalProsecution #PoliticalPrisoner #AntiELAB #UnionJack
#MyanmarJunta executes leading democracy activists
//Myanmar's military junta executed two prominent pro-democracy activists and two other men accused of terrorism, state media reported Monday, following a trial condemned by the #UN and rights groups.
Veteran democracy activist #KyawMinYu, better known as #KoJimmy, and former #NationalLeagueforDemocracy lawmaker #PhyoZayarThaw were executed, along with #HlaMyoAung and #AungThuraZaw, the Global New Light of Myanmar reported, without giving a date.
Their deaths mark the first judicial executions in the country in decades, andhuman rights groups fear more will follow. According to #HumanRightsWatch, 114 people have been sentenced to death in Myanmar since the military seized power in a coup in February 2021.//
Read the full article:
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/24/asia/myanmar-executions-pro-democracy-figures-intl-hnk/index.html
Source: CNN #Jul24
#DeathSentence #Authoritarianism #Tyranny #PoliticalProsecution #StandWithMyanmar
//Myanmar's military junta executed two prominent pro-democracy activists and two other men accused of terrorism, state media reported Monday, following a trial condemned by the #UN and rights groups.
Veteran democracy activist #KyawMinYu, better known as #KoJimmy, and former #NationalLeagueforDemocracy lawmaker #PhyoZayarThaw were executed, along with #HlaMyoAung and #AungThuraZaw, the Global New Light of Myanmar reported, without giving a date.
Their deaths mark the first judicial executions in the country in decades, andhuman rights groups fear more will follow. According to #HumanRightsWatch, 114 people have been sentenced to death in Myanmar since the military seized power in a coup in February 2021.//
Read the full article:
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/24/asia/myanmar-executions-pro-democracy-figures-intl-hnk/index.html
Source: CNN #Jul24
#DeathSentence #Authoritarianism #Tyranny #PoliticalProsecution #StandWithMyanmar