#Censorship
Hong Kong government considers blocking social platform Telegram
Hong Kong's Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data is considering invoking regulations to restrict access to #Telegram, a popular social media platform it found to be "rampant" with doxxing.
Such an action, if taken, is likely to stoke fears that the #NationalSecurityLaw will further encroach on civil liberties, as part of a continuing effort by Beijing to exert its influence over the city.
It’s unclear how the privacy watchdog intends to carry out such an action. The authorities may choose to fully block public access, or remove the app from the city’s stores.
Francis Fong Po-kiu, honorary president of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, noted that it is technically difficult to ban public access of an internet platform.
Fong cited Russia's attempt to sanction Telegram in 2018 by blocking its IP addresses, which failed because IP addresses of such platforms are constantly changing. The action caused collateral damage, however, accidentally taking down unrelated websites and causing disruptions. Russia ultimately gave up and unblocked the app in 2020.
Telegram channels are still widely used in Hong Kong to help residents stay up-to-date on court cases involving pro-democracy activists, a means for 2019 anti-government protest supporters to stay connected amid a crackdown on dissent by the authorities.
Sources: Headline Daily
https://tinyurl.com/y69mnux4
Bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-17/hong-kong-considers-blocking-telegram-local-paper-says
#May19 #GreatFirewall #Suppression
Hong Kong government considers blocking social platform Telegram
Hong Kong's Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data is considering invoking regulations to restrict access to #Telegram, a popular social media platform it found to be "rampant" with doxxing.
Such an action, if taken, is likely to stoke fears that the #NationalSecurityLaw will further encroach on civil liberties, as part of a continuing effort by Beijing to exert its influence over the city.
It’s unclear how the privacy watchdog intends to carry out such an action. The authorities may choose to fully block public access, or remove the app from the city’s stores.
Francis Fong Po-kiu, honorary president of the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, noted that it is technically difficult to ban public access of an internet platform.
Fong cited Russia's attempt to sanction Telegram in 2018 by blocking its IP addresses, which failed because IP addresses of such platforms are constantly changing. The action caused collateral damage, however, accidentally taking down unrelated websites and causing disruptions. Russia ultimately gave up and unblocked the app in 2020.
Telegram channels are still widely used in Hong Kong to help residents stay up-to-date on court cases involving pro-democracy activists, a means for 2019 anti-government protest supporters to stay connected amid a crackdown on dissent by the authorities.
Sources: Headline Daily
https://tinyurl.com/y69mnux4
Bloomberg:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-17/hong-kong-considers-blocking-telegram-local-paper-says
#May19 #GreatFirewall #Suppression
頭條日報 Headline Daily
群組每周發200起底訊息 私隱署研「封鎖」Telegram
政府打擊起底行為，將之刑事化，新條例去年十月生效後，相關行為仍舊猖獗。個人資料私隱專員鍾麗玲昨日向立法會表示，去年私隱公署共發現八百...
#Article23 #Suppression
Hong Kong government pushes for local national security legislation
In Hong Kong, the Secretary for Security Chris Tang said in February 2022 that the government planned to begin consultation efforts on Article 23 in May.
In April, Chief Executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu told reporters that legislating Hong Kong’s own security law would be “one of the priorities” of his administration.
When being asked in a legislative council meeting, the authorities refused to disclose related head counts and expenses claiming national security as the reason.
Article 23 of the city’s Basic Law – which is different from the Beijing-imposed national security law – stipulates that the Hong Kong government shall enact its own laws to prohibit acts of treason, secession, sedition or subversion against the central government.
Source: Inmediahk; #April
https://bit.ly/3Jvhwpz
Hong Kong government pushes for local national security legislation
In Hong Kong, the Secretary for Security Chris Tang said in February 2022 that the government planned to begin consultation efforts on Article 23 in May.
In April, Chief Executive-elect John Lee Ka-chiu told reporters that legislating Hong Kong’s own security law would be “one of the priorities” of his administration.
When being asked in a legislative council meeting, the authorities refused to disclose related head counts and expenses claiming national security as the reason.
Article 23 of the city’s Basic Law – which is different from the Beijing-imposed national security law – stipulates that the Hong Kong government shall enact its own laws to prohibit acts of treason, secession, sedition or subversion against the central government.
Source: Inmediahk; #April
https://bit.ly/3Jvhwpz
#FirstHand #Jun30
Hong Kong Authorities Seal Off Wanchai North to 'welcome' Xi Jinping
Since June 29, 2022, Hong Kong police sealed off a large area completely including car ways and pavements in Wanchai North, to prepare for the arrival of the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) leader #XiJinPing. From the midnight of June 30, the Exhibition and Convention Center station will also be closed.
On July 1, Xi will be present at the Exhibition and Convention Center to observe the ceremony celebrating the establishment day of the Hong Kong SAR and the officiation of the new Chief Executive.
On the eve of July 1, Hong Kong police sent in the anti-terrorism squad to patrol the area in their new uniform. Police dogs were also deployed. Reporters on the flyover were stopped and searched for 4 times.
During Xi's visit to Hong Kong, the metro will not stop at the
Exhibition and Convention Center station until 2pm on July 1. Buses will also be rerouted.
It was reported that some pro-democracy groups like the League of Social Democrats were warned by the authorities of the consequence of carrying out protests on the day.
#PoliceState #FailedState #Authoritarianism #Suppression #Handover
Hong Kong Authorities Seal Off Wanchai North to 'welcome' Xi Jinping
Since June 29, 2022, Hong Kong police sealed off a large area completely including car ways and pavements in Wanchai North, to prepare for the arrival of the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) leader #XiJinPing. From the midnight of June 30, the Exhibition and Convention Center station will also be closed.
On July 1, Xi will be present at the Exhibition and Convention Center to observe the ceremony celebrating the establishment day of the Hong Kong SAR and the officiation of the new Chief Executive.
On the eve of July 1, Hong Kong police sent in the anti-terrorism squad to patrol the area in their new uniform. Police dogs were also deployed. Reporters on the flyover were stopped and searched for 4 times.
During Xi's visit to Hong Kong, the metro will not stop at the
Exhibition and Convention Center station until 2pm on July 1. Buses will also be rerouted.
It was reported that some pro-democracy groups like the League of Social Democrats were warned by the authorities of the consequence of carrying out protests on the day.
#PoliceState #FailedState #Authoritarianism #Suppression #Handover
#NationalSecurityPolice in Hong Kong Demands Pro-democracy Groups to Cancel Protest on #HandoverAnniversary
On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the handover, chairperson Chan Po-ying, of the pro-democracy group League of Social Democrats (#LSD), released a statement. She said some volunteers working for thr group were visited by the national security police. The friends of these volunteers have also become the target of the police. After evaluating the situation, the group decide not to pursue any protest on the day.
Meanwhile, #AveryNg, a core member of the grouo who was recently released from the prison, was reportedly under the police surveilance. Ng posted the sentence "I'm in prison, if you know what I mean" on his social media page. Many associated the incident to how the Chinese police surveyed and monitored dissidents like Lu Xia before important days.
This time in Hong Konh Ng commented on his own post by saying, "I'm not being detained" and "I will be happy in the 'prison'."
Source: Mingpao; whatsapp news #Jube29
https://link.mingpao.com/74403.htm
https://www.whatsnewsmedia.com/9685/22/50/22/
#PoliceState #FailedState #Authoritarianism #Suppression #Handover
On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the handover, chairperson Chan Po-ying, of the pro-democracy group League of Social Democrats (#LSD), released a statement. She said some volunteers working for thr group were visited by the national security police. The friends of these volunteers have also become the target of the police. After evaluating the situation, the group decide not to pursue any protest on the day.
Meanwhile, #AveryNg, a core member of the grouo who was recently released from the prison, was reportedly under the police surveilance. Ng posted the sentence "I'm in prison, if you know what I mean" on his social media page. Many associated the incident to how the Chinese police surveyed and monitored dissidents like Lu Xia before important days.
This time in Hong Konh Ng commented on his own post by saying, "I'm not being detained" and "I will be happy in the 'prison'."
Source: Mingpao; whatsapp news #Jube29
https://link.mingpao.com/74403.htm
https://www.whatsnewsmedia.com/9685/22/50/22/
#PoliceState #FailedState #Authoritarianism #Suppression #Handover
Hongkongers' Book Fair Cancelled, but Presses On with Online Store: "We'd Rather Be Naive than Give Up"
The annual Hong Kong Book Fair is set to take place in late July this year. However, many books that had political undertones or highlighted local culture had been banned from the book fair by local the government's Trade Development Council, who refused to explain the ban or give a list of exhibitors that they have turned away.
In light of this, local publisher Hillway Culture partnered with other like-minded exhibitors to organize the first-ever "Hongkongers' Book Fair," set to take place on July 14 in Causeway Bay.
The day before the fair was set to take place, however, the organizers received a notice from the venue owner saying that the book fair may be in breach of the fair's lease agreement, and they may need to terminate the lease, explained Hillway Culture's spokesperson Raymond Yeung during a press conference on the same afternoon.
Yeung explained in tears that he had expected all kinds of unexpected complaints against the book fair, including fire ordinances, anti-pandemic ordinances, or even the #NationalSecurityLaw. They had expressed willingness to fully cooperate with the venue owners, only so that #Hongkongers can have a book fair that belonged to themselves.
A journalist at the press conference mentioned that the pro-Beijing group "Politihk Social Strategic" had called on citizens to visit the book fair and "inspect the books for law violations". Plain-clothes officers were also said to have visited the venue, and inquired about the fair at the mall's management office.
By 9pm, the organizers announced that the venue owner had terminated the lease. The owner claimed that the book fair violated the venue's usage agreement by "sub-letting" booths to exhibitors - despite the venue having been previously used to host bazaars in a similar setup. The owner had even provided photos and promoted contractors who had previously provided booth setup works. Though the fair organizers expressed that they were willing to make any adjustments necessary, the owners insisted on terminating the contract, forcing the event to be cancelled.
News of the sudden shutdown was met with quick responses from Hongkongers who looked forward to the book fair. Many commenters pledged not to refund their VIP tickets and to visit the participating bookstores. In a subsequent Facebook post, the organizers thanked Hongkongers for their "encouragements, comfort, affirmations, and suggestions. This is an unexpected gift that came after such terrible news."
The organizers have continued on with the online version of the book fair, letting Hongkongers everywhere participate despite the lack of a physical venue. They had also secured a distributor in Manchester to ship out orders made in the UK.
Borrowing a quote from the participating Boundary Bookstore, the organizers wrote: "You can mock our naivete for staying behind, but we'd rather be naive than give up."
Source: #FirstHand #Jul13
Hongkongers' Book Fair Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/hkersbookfair/
#HKersBookFair #Suppression #Culture #BookBanning
The annual Hong Kong Book Fair is set to take place in late July this year. However, many books that had political undertones or highlighted local culture had been banned from the book fair by local the government's Trade Development Council, who refused to explain the ban or give a list of exhibitors that they have turned away.
In light of this, local publisher Hillway Culture partnered with other like-minded exhibitors to organize the first-ever "Hongkongers' Book Fair," set to take place on July 14 in Causeway Bay.
The day before the fair was set to take place, however, the organizers received a notice from the venue owner saying that the book fair may be in breach of the fair's lease agreement, and they may need to terminate the lease, explained Hillway Culture's spokesperson Raymond Yeung during a press conference on the same afternoon.
Yeung explained in tears that he had expected all kinds of unexpected complaints against the book fair, including fire ordinances, anti-pandemic ordinances, or even the #NationalSecurityLaw. They had expressed willingness to fully cooperate with the venue owners, only so that #Hongkongers can have a book fair that belonged to themselves.
A journalist at the press conference mentioned that the pro-Beijing group "Politihk Social Strategic" had called on citizens to visit the book fair and "inspect the books for law violations". Plain-clothes officers were also said to have visited the venue, and inquired about the fair at the mall's management office.
By 9pm, the organizers announced that the venue owner had terminated the lease. The owner claimed that the book fair violated the venue's usage agreement by "sub-letting" booths to exhibitors - despite the venue having been previously used to host bazaars in a similar setup. The owner had even provided photos and promoted contractors who had previously provided booth setup works. Though the fair organizers expressed that they were willing to make any adjustments necessary, the owners insisted on terminating the contract, forcing the event to be cancelled.
News of the sudden shutdown was met with quick responses from Hongkongers who looked forward to the book fair. Many commenters pledged not to refund their VIP tickets and to visit the participating bookstores. In a subsequent Facebook post, the organizers thanked Hongkongers for their "encouragements, comfort, affirmations, and suggestions. This is an unexpected gift that came after such terrible news."
The organizers have continued on with the online version of the book fair, letting Hongkongers everywhere participate despite the lack of a physical venue. They had also secured a distributor in Manchester to ship out orders made in the UK.
Borrowing a quote from the participating Boundary Bookstore, the organizers wrote: "You can mock our naivete for staying behind, but we'd rather be naive than give up."
Source: #FirstHand #Jul13
Hongkongers' Book Fair Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/hkersbookfair/
#HKersBookFair #Suppression #Culture #BookBanning
Facebook
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Hong Kong Civil Servants Arrested for "Seditious" Social Media Posts
On Aug 9, national security police arrested 4 men, two of whom are civil servants, for allegedly publishing seditious posts online, Hong Kong Police said.
Sources claim that the two civil servants are the administrators for the "Civil Servants Secrets" Facebook page, which publishes stories submitted anonymously by civil servants of the city. The relevant Facebook page and Instagram are both currently down.
Police said that the two, aged 28 and 29, published seditious posts that "promoted feelings of hostility between different classes of the city's population".
Police had further investigated 5 other men, two of whom were arrested for allegedly committing fraud. Police searched their homes and workplaces, and confiscated electronic communication devices. Police said that the operation is ongoing, and there may be more arrests connected to the case.
Oscar Kwok, Head of the Hong Kong Civil Service College, spoke to reporters from HK01 last Friday that he reads the "Civil Servants Secrets" page to understand their feelings. Kwok had served in the police force for 32 years, and said that he hopes the public - particularly the media - would speak more positively of civil servants and show gratitude for their work, so that they could be more motivated to serve the public.
A message from someone who claimed to have witnessed one of the arrests at a government office quickly circulated online. The message said that police arrived at their office in large numbers, and the staff was told not to touch their computers. Several computers were confiscated, including one that was said to contain very sensitive data. The whole office was shocked. The source said: the managers looked sombre, and the rest of the staff kept their heads down as they quietly went back to work.
Source:
Channel C, HK01 #Aug09
https://bit.ly/3vQxSVQ
#CivilServants #Suppression #FreedomOfSpeech #NationalSecurityLaw
#FacebookPage #CivilServantSecret #Seditious
On Aug 9, national security police arrested 4 men, two of whom are civil servants, for allegedly publishing seditious posts online, Hong Kong Police said.
Sources claim that the two civil servants are the administrators for the "Civil Servants Secrets" Facebook page, which publishes stories submitted anonymously by civil servants of the city. The relevant Facebook page and Instagram are both currently down.
Police said that the two, aged 28 and 29, published seditious posts that "promoted feelings of hostility between different classes of the city's population".
Police had further investigated 5 other men, two of whom were arrested for allegedly committing fraud. Police searched their homes and workplaces, and confiscated electronic communication devices. Police said that the operation is ongoing, and there may be more arrests connected to the case.
Oscar Kwok, Head of the Hong Kong Civil Service College, spoke to reporters from HK01 last Friday that he reads the "Civil Servants Secrets" page to understand their feelings. Kwok had served in the police force for 32 years, and said that he hopes the public - particularly the media - would speak more positively of civil servants and show gratitude for their work, so that they could be more motivated to serve the public.
A message from someone who claimed to have witnessed one of the arrests at a government office quickly circulated online. The message said that police arrived at their office in large numbers, and the staff was told not to touch their computers. Several computers were confiscated, including one that was said to contain very sensitive data. The whole office was shocked. The source said: the managers looked sombre, and the rest of the staff kept their heads down as they quietly went back to work.
Source:
Channel C, HK01 #Aug09
https://bit.ly/3vQxSVQ
#CivilServants #Suppression #FreedomOfSpeech #NationalSecurityLaw
#FacebookPage #CivilServantSecret #Seditious
Channelchk
國安處拘4男 據悉2人為「公務員Secrets」Admin 被指發佈煽動帖文 | Channel C
警方國安處拘捕4名男子，其中2名分別28及29歲的男子為社交平台管理員，涉嫌違反「作出具煽動意圖的作為」罪，多間傳媒引述消息指，2人為「公務員Secrets」的管理員，目前facebook專頁「公務員Secrets」及Instagram帳戶已無法登入。
China Consulate in Manchester Drags Hong Kong Protesters Inside Gate and Assaults Them, Damaging Props and Tearing Out Hair
At the China Consulate in Manchester, UK yesterday (Oct 16), a group of Hongkongers gathered for a peaceful protest as the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) Congress begins in Beijing.
Less than 2 minutes after a protester began a speech, however, several consulate staff, dressed in riot helmets and body armor, rushed out at the gathered crowd. The staff began destroying protest props and posters, and dragged at least one protester into the consulate grounds from outside the gate. A scuffle quickly developed.
Several consulate staff was seen surrounding and beating one protester that they pulled inside the consulate gates, holding down the victim and apparently tearing out a handful of hair, discarding it in a pile of signs that they had snatched from protesters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj45YCaF4yE
Police officers quickly intervened, rescuing several protesters that had been dragged into the consulate grounds. They quickly formed a line to prevent consulate staff from any further attempts at abducting protesters.
Bob, a Hongkonger at the protest, had several cuts on his face from the altercation with consulate staff. He told Chaser News that he saw at least 6 men came out "looking to beat up people". Sensing trouble, he stepped up to stop them, "but they dragged me inside and beat me up."
He said he was punched and kicked by the men, with injuries all over his body, and thought that he might die there. Fortunately a police officer went inside the consulate grounds and rescued him. The officers later told him that once the gate was closed, they wouldn't be able to do anything.
The man in the trench coat and face mask who came out to kick down the protesters' banners caught the attention of netizens, who noted his similar appearance to Consul-General Zhen Xiyuan in multiple pictures. He was also seen patting the back of one staff member in an armor vest as they retreated after their assault.
https://twitter.com/McWLuke/status/1581705603100995584?s=20&t=ZcjB2FgQiGzvQGyDxE-7iw
https://twitter.com/McWLuke/status/1581705603100995584?s=20&t=ZcjB2FgQiGzvQGyDxE-7iw
In a tweet sharing the video of the beating, Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Melton, calls for the UK government to urgently investigate their violence on British soil and their violation of free speech. "Chinese Ambassador should be summoned and if any officials has beaten protesters, they must be expelled or prosecuted."
https://twitter.com/aliciakearns/status/1581703837915971585
The activist group Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force sharply criticized the Chinese Consulate's actions. As consulates are sovereign territory of its represented state, if they were allowed to drag citizens into the consulate grounds, then it meant they could forcibly abduct and detain anyone in Britain who displeased them. The group urges the world to "seriously re-examine the legitimacy of the CCP's overseas consulates".
source #Oct16:
WinAndMac
https://www.winandmac.com/2022/10/hong-kongers-are-beaten-up-by-the-chinese-people-in-uk/
The Chaser News
https://www.facebook.com/the.chaser.news/posts/pfbid02eU6UCXSm5hXRvikq2gFEePA8f5ZnJ1VnELnmEY7GVq8NzyCT4xGYkq5gwGfpAHfjl
Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force
https://www.facebook.com/100078098827369/posts/pfbid0289p53aDGLEBEAC813VMetGwYwGLaH1tJqwZPcJNiyFDRJWPNrTsTo3vvYKQruczxl/
#Manchester #HongKongProtest #CCPCongress #Suppression
At the China Consulate in Manchester, UK yesterday (Oct 16), a group of Hongkongers gathered for a peaceful protest as the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP) Congress begins in Beijing.
Less than 2 minutes after a protester began a speech, however, several consulate staff, dressed in riot helmets and body armor, rushed out at the gathered crowd. The staff began destroying protest props and posters, and dragged at least one protester into the consulate grounds from outside the gate. A scuffle quickly developed.
Several consulate staff was seen surrounding and beating one protester that they pulled inside the consulate gates, holding down the victim and apparently tearing out a handful of hair, discarding it in a pile of signs that they had snatched from protesters:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj45YCaF4yE
Police officers quickly intervened, rescuing several protesters that had been dragged into the consulate grounds. They quickly formed a line to prevent consulate staff from any further attempts at abducting protesters.
Bob, a Hongkonger at the protest, had several cuts on his face from the altercation with consulate staff. He told Chaser News that he saw at least 6 men came out "looking to beat up people". Sensing trouble, he stepped up to stop them, "but they dragged me inside and beat me up."
He said he was punched and kicked by the men, with injuries all over his body, and thought that he might die there. Fortunately a police officer went inside the consulate grounds and rescued him. The officers later told him that once the gate was closed, they wouldn't be able to do anything.
The man in the trench coat and face mask who came out to kick down the protesters' banners caught the attention of netizens, who noted his similar appearance to Consul-General Zhen Xiyuan in multiple pictures. He was also seen patting the back of one staff member in an armor vest as they retreated after their assault.
https://twitter.com/McWLuke/status/1581705603100995584?s=20&t=ZcjB2FgQiGzvQGyDxE-7iw
https://twitter.com/McWLuke/status/1581705603100995584?s=20&t=ZcjB2FgQiGzvQGyDxE-7iw
In a tweet sharing the video of the beating, Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Melton, calls for the UK government to urgently investigate their violence on British soil and their violation of free speech. "Chinese Ambassador should be summoned and if any officials has beaten protesters, they must be expelled or prosecuted."
https://twitter.com/aliciakearns/status/1581703837915971585
The activist group Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force sharply criticized the Chinese Consulate's actions. As consulates are sovereign territory of its represented state, if they were allowed to drag citizens into the consulate grounds, then it meant they could forcibly abduct and detain anyone in Britain who displeased them. The group urges the world to "seriously re-examine the legitimacy of the CCP's overseas consulates".
source #Oct16:
WinAndMac
https://www.winandmac.com/2022/10/hong-kongers-are-beaten-up-by-the-chinese-people-in-uk/
The Chaser News
https://www.facebook.com/the.chaser.news/posts/pfbid02eU6UCXSm5hXRvikq2gFEePA8f5ZnJ1VnELnmEY7GVq8NzyCT4xGYkq5gwGfpAHfjl
Hong Kong Indigenous Defence Force
https://www.facebook.com/100078098827369/posts/pfbid0289p53aDGLEBEAC813VMetGwYwGLaH1tJqwZPcJNiyFDRJWPNrTsTo3vvYKQruczxl/
#Manchester #HongKongProtest #CCPCongress #Suppression
YouTube
HD原片4🤬曼城香港示威者大束髮被扯掉！HongKong protestor's hairs had been pulled off from the Chinese consulate staffs
More photo and video 事件其他詳情：
https://t.me/HongkongFlagTeam/266
Organizer's press release 主辦單位新聞稿
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02BU2EnGYcGEE5AhNEKifPicgqRJnA8QrgtY38jgQhNW56Z48v9ipyB6UJtnrXSi4ql&id=100078098827369&sfnsn=scwspmo
🤬🤬🤬香港…
https://t.me/HongkongFlagTeam/266
Organizer's press release 主辦單位新聞稿
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02BU2EnGYcGEE5AhNEKifPicgqRJnA8QrgtY38jgQhNW56Z48v9ipyB6UJtnrXSi4ql&id=100078098827369&sfnsn=scwspmo
🤬🤬🤬香港…
HK Police Forced Restaurant to Stop Business and Take Down "Sensitive" Wishing Notes
Hong Kong police had forced a noodle shop to suspend business until it removes customers' wishing notes with "sensitive wordings".
The restaurant, Betsutenjin Hakata Ramen in Tsim Sha Tsui, had a wall where customers could write their wishes on stickers resembling prayer plaques at Japanese shrines. Many wishes were related to the 2019 #AntiELAB protests, and the pro-democracy shop owner had left them up in the two years since as a record of the times.
However, police received a tip from a woman who alleged that the shop was displaying slogans that violate the #NationalSecurityLaw, Officers arrived and verbally warned the owner, who agreed to remove the offending messages on their own. Police listed the incident under "miscellaneous" and made no arrests, nor sent the National Security Department for follow-up.
Restaurant staff told Ming Pao that police had visited during the busy dinner hours, and demanded customers to leave the shop immediately. The staff had since removed over a hundred notes and resumed business the next day. The notes had only been used for decoration, they said, and no new notes had been added since the National Security Law came into effect in 2020.
The shop apologized to its customers with a Facebook post for having to take down its wishing wall after persisting for 3 years. The staff had read every single wish left by the customers, the post said; "We will not forget a single word from everyone."
From previous photos on the shop's Facebook page, some customers' wishing notes included "disband the police", "China implode", and "6.12" [ed: commemorating the date when protesters stopped the passing of the ELAB bill]. After the police visit, only a few stickers remain that read, "Hong Kong, add oil."
Source: Ming Pao #Nov16
https://bit.ly/3CMXOoF
Betsutenjin Hakata Ramen Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ramenbetsu/posts/pfbid0GUZuVz89q1BA1LZLBw3aWMgPBQXjtgm4Wmqx2JZuhsuGP8C2vHmJ9nr8siew9U2ql
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #harassment #suppression #YellowEconomy
Hong Kong police had forced a noodle shop to suspend business until it removes customers' wishing notes with "sensitive wordings".
The restaurant, Betsutenjin Hakata Ramen in Tsim Sha Tsui, had a wall where customers could write their wishes on stickers resembling prayer plaques at Japanese shrines. Many wishes were related to the 2019 #AntiELAB protests, and the pro-democracy shop owner had left them up in the two years since as a record of the times.
However, police received a tip from a woman who alleged that the shop was displaying slogans that violate the #NationalSecurityLaw, Officers arrived and verbally warned the owner, who agreed to remove the offending messages on their own. Police listed the incident under "miscellaneous" and made no arrests, nor sent the National Security Department for follow-up.
Restaurant staff told Ming Pao that police had visited during the busy dinner hours, and demanded customers to leave the shop immediately. The staff had since removed over a hundred notes and resumed business the next day. The notes had only been used for decoration, they said, and no new notes had been added since the National Security Law came into effect in 2020.
The shop apologized to its customers with a Facebook post for having to take down its wishing wall after persisting for 3 years. The staff had read every single wish left by the customers, the post said; "We will not forget a single word from everyone."
From previous photos on the shop's Facebook page, some customers' wishing notes included "disband the police", "China implode", and "6.12" [ed: commemorating the date when protesters stopped the passing of the ELAB bill]. After the police visit, only a few stickers remain that read, "Hong Kong, add oil."
Source: Ming Pao #Nov16
https://bit.ly/3CMXOoF
Betsutenjin Hakata Ramen Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ramenbetsu/posts/pfbid0GUZuVz89q1BA1LZLBw3aWMgPBQXjtgm4Wmqx2JZuhsuGP8C2vHmJ9nr8siew9U2ql
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #harassment #suppression #YellowEconomy
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拉麵店指警趕食客 令除舖內涉違國安字眼貼紙 - 20221116 - 要聞
【明報專訊】警方前日曾到被視為「黃店」的尖沙嘴日式拉麵店「博多拉麵別天神」，要求餐廳清理所有「具敏感字眼」的繪馬貼紙才可繼續營業，職員指曾被警告觸犯《港區國安法》的後果。負責人表示已清理涉及2019年示威相關的繪馬，對此感可惜，形容只是紀錄，讓食客寫下願望，惟「現在不但不可許願，甚至『封廟』要求拆除」。
"Glory to Hong Kong 2023 Edition" Re-Released; Production Team Echoes Sentiments of "Not Wanting to Lose Freedom to Choose Music"
Source: In-Media HK #Jun19
#GloryToHongKong #FreedomOfSpeech #Suppression
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Source: In-Media HK #Jun19
#GloryToHongKong #FreedomOfSpeech #Suppression
Read more
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"Glory to Hong Kong 2023 Edition" Re-Released; Production Team Echoes Sentiments of "Not Wanting to Lose Freedom to Choose Music"
Hong Kong's protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong" was suddenly taken offline across multiple streaming platforms after the government filed an injunction to ban the song earlier this month. At the time, the production team cited "technical issues" unrelated to the streaming platforms, not political reasons, as the cause for the takedown.
Within a week, the team has re-released a "2023 Edition" of the anthem on KKBox, Spotify, YouTube Music, and other platforms. The newer version is labeled "remastered" in the title. The melody and lyrics have remained unchanged.
Prior to the takedown, the anthem had taken over the top spots on multiple streaming services within 24 hours of the government's injunction filing. The song's unannounced disappearance was met with reactions of dismay by netizens, as well as anger at what appeared to be the streaming platforms bowing to government pressure to silence the song.
Dgxmusic, the team behind the anthem, responded to the public's concerns through a Facebook post, expressing that they understand the sentiment of "not wanting to lose even the freedom to choose music", and will strive to uphold this aspiration. They also "firmly oppose any attempts to restrict freedom of thought and speech."
The High Court has scheduled the hearing for the injunction on July 21.
Source: In-Media HK #Jun19
#GloryToHongKong #FreedomOfSpeech #Suppression
Hong Kong's protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong" was suddenly taken offline across multiple streaming platforms after the government filed an injunction to ban the song earlier this month. At the time, the production team cited "technical issues" unrelated to the streaming platforms, not political reasons, as the cause for the takedown.
Within a week, the team has re-released a "2023 Edition" of the anthem on KKBox, Spotify, YouTube Music, and other platforms. The newer version is labeled "remastered" in the title. The melody and lyrics have remained unchanged.
Prior to the takedown, the anthem had taken over the top spots on multiple streaming services within 24 hours of the government's injunction filing. The song's unannounced disappearance was met with reactions of dismay by netizens, as well as anger at what appeared to be the streaming platforms bowing to government pressure to silence the song.
Dgxmusic, the team behind the anthem, responded to the public's concerns through a Facebook post, expressing that they understand the sentiment of "not wanting to lose even the freedom to choose music", and will strive to uphold this aspiration. They also "firmly oppose any attempts to restrict freedom of thought and speech."
The High Court has scheduled the hearing for the injunction on July 21.
Source: In-Media HK #Jun19
#GloryToHongKong #FreedomOfSpeech #Suppression