#Court #PoliticalPrisoner
Remanded Former Pro-democracy Legislator Chu Hoi-Dick: I'll never forget the beautiful times I spent working with my teammates

On May 20, 2021 in Hong Kong, former legislator, citizen journalist and pro-democracy activist #ChuHoiDick -- who was nicknamed the “king of votes” for his 2016 election success, but is currently detained in Stanley Prison -- announced through his facebook page that he would no longer participate in politics, as he believed that he would not enjoy any freedom for a long period of time. Chu also decided to disband the "Team Chu Hoi-dick of New Territories West" group.

The group members including Yuen Long district councillor Lai Kwok-wing said the decision would not affect the community work run by individual members, as the group has never been a political party.

Chu said he is preparing for a long time behind bars, as he is currently charged in 6 criminal cases including the violation of the #NationalSecurityLaw for his involvement in the pro-democracy camp's primary election for Legco.

The statement ends with Chu saying that "he will never forget the beautiful times he spent working together with his teammates. He wishes everyone peace".

Source: Stand News #May20
https://bit.ly/340DTB6

#NewTerritoriesWest #PoliticalProsecution #PoliceState #Disband

#NeverGiveUp #YellowEconomy
Pro-democracy Fruit Store in Hong Kong Vandalized after Opening Day, Owner Undeterred: "I'll Keep Doing the Right Things"

In Hong Kong on May 19, 2021, the fruit store chain #BrosFruit, outspoken for their pro-democracy stance, opened their Tung Lok street branch in Yuen Long. The very next morning, the store was vandalized by unknown people with red paint, leaving red trails at the storefront and shutters.

The owner #LeungTungKee continued business despite the red paint on the walls, a common intimidation tactic of gangs in the city.

He says that this has never happened in other branches before, and believes the attack is related to their outspoken political stance. He also said that his conscience is clear, and will continue with the fresh fruit business: "I'll keep doing the right things." Although, he admits, it is hard to prevent similar attacks.

BrosFruit was established in mid-2018 as an e-shop with fruit delivery, then expanded to three brick-and-mortar stores. Since the anti-ELAB movement broke out in Hong Kong 2019, Leung had condemned the police brutality multiple times, and supported the strike. Many of his staff had also been contributors to the pro-democracy movement.

Source: InMedia #May20
https://bit.ly/3fubsAU

#PoliticalOppression #Intimidation #ScareTactics
#Conscience

The European Parliament freezes China investment pact by majority

Source: Stand News #May20

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The European Parliament freezes China investment pact by majority

The EU–China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) has been under negotiation since 2014. It is generally considered to be of great significance to China’s diplomacy and trade. The European Parliament voted to freeze the ratification at around 2 p.m. local time today (20May), it was passed with 599 votes in favour, 30 votes against, and 58 abstentions. According to the latest decision, European Parliament will halt the ratification and no further negotiations on the agreement will take place until China lifts sanctions on EU officials, academics, and diplomats in March.

According to reports in foreign media, chair of the European Parliament's China Delegation Reinhard Bütikofer
said that China wants to reach the agreement, but has miscalculated, and underestimated European Parliament's will in defending European interests and values.

Source: Stand News #May20

https://bit.ly/3vsqGNx

#Europe #EU #China #Parliament #Investment #Agreement

Samoa Suspends Beijing’s Port Plan;
Prime Minister-Elect: Samoa Has Long Owed China a Heavy Debt

Source: Stand News #May20

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Samoa Suspends Beijing’s Port Plan;
Prime Minister-Elect: Samoa Has Long Owed China a Heavy Debt

Fiame Naomi Mataafa, the Prime Minister-elect of Pacific Island Samoa, promised to suspend the port plan led by Beijing, costing about 100 million USD. She also pointed out that a small country with huge debts to China does not need such a large port.

Prime Minister-elect Fiame Naomi Mataafa defeated opponents last month, becoming the first woman prime minister in Samoa. She indicated that Samoa would keep a favourable relation with China, but there are more pressing issues to deal with at the moment. The port plan has already caused controversy in China and is one of the most influential issues in the local election in April.

Mataafa stated in a Reuters interview, “Samoa is a small country. Our seaports and airports cater for our needs. It's very difficult to imagine that we would need the scale that's being proposed under this particular project when there are more pressing projects that the government needs to give priority to.”.

Source: Stand News #May20

https://bit.ly/3vAxBnQ

#Samoa #Beijing #China #Debts #PacificIsland #Port #Mataafa #Reuters

Pelosi calls for the international community for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics; Zhao Lijian accuse US to be afraid of seeing China's "vigorous development of human rights"

Source: The Stand News #May20

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Pelosi calls for the international community for a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics; Zhao Lijian accuse US to be afraid of seeing China's "vigorous development of human rights"

As international community demands for boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics growing, US Congress held a hearing on 18th, in which the House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi proposed leading countries to diplomatic boycott the Beijing Winter Olympics. Chinese Spokesperson of Foreign Affairs Zhao Lijian responded on the 19th that U.S. were calling on countries not to participating the Winter Olympics because they are afraid that people from all over the world would see the "fact" of China's "vigorous development of human rights".

In a US Congress hearing on Tuesday, Nancy Pelosi proposed a diplomatic boycott of 2002 Beijing Winter Olympics, called for countries leaders not to go there to honour China. “For heads of state to go to China in light of a genocide that is ongoing – while you’re sitting there in your seat – really begs the question: what moral authority do you have to speak again about human rights any place in the world?” she said.

Source: The Stand News #May20

https://bit.ly/3c9OCO5

#NancyPelosi #InternationalCommunity #Boycott #UnitedStates #China #Xinjiang #Beijing #HumanRights #Diplomatic #Genocide #WinterOlympics #MoralAuthority

#WhiteTerror #June4
Facebook banned authentic Beijing June 4th massacre photograph

Just two weeks before the 33rd Memorials of June 4th Massacre, a media veteran in Hong Kong found a photograph linked to the Tiananmen crackdown had been banned by Facebook.

The photograph that she posted many years ago showed a tank running over protest student Fang Zhang's legs.

Facebook claimed the photography is inappropriate content linked to "violence and bloodshed".

Even though, Facebook said it didn't violate "Community Standards', it argued that the photograph could be "deemed sensitive to some people."

Notes to editors:
Fang Zheng is a former student protester who was seriously injured during the Tiananmen massacre in 1989 in Beijing, China. During the evacuation of the Square in the early morning of June 4, Fang was run over by a People’s Liberation Army tank, which led to the amputation of both his legs.

Source: RFA Cantonese; #May20
https://www.facebook.com/454004001340790/posts/7424609714280149/?d=n