Countries Signal Doubts About Delta Protection From Chinese Vaccine
Thailand became the latest country to signal waning confidence in a Chinese vaccine against the highly contagious Delta variant, saying it would offer booster shots of Western doses to healthcare workers.
Healthcare workers who received two doses of the vaccine developed by Sinovac Biotech Ltd. would be given a third shot made by either Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE or AstraZeneca PLC, Thailand’s health ministry said Monday. Those who had only one dose would receive AstraZeneca as their second.
The decision to mix the vaccines makes Thailand the latest country to show reservations about whether Chinese vaccines work well enough to protect medical workers against the Delta variant, which was first detected in India and is thought to be far more contagious than earlier versions of the virus. The strain has spread to at least 98 countries.
Source: WSJ #Jul13
https://t.co/TkCKN0gyaz
#Thailand #Vaccine #BioNTech #AstraZeneca #Covid19
Thailand became the latest country to signal waning confidence in a Chinese vaccine against the highly contagious Delta variant, saying it would offer booster shots of Western doses to healthcare workers.
Healthcare workers who received two doses of the vaccine developed by Sinovac Biotech Ltd. would be given a third shot made by either Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE or AstraZeneca PLC, Thailand’s health ministry said Monday. Those who had only one dose would receive AstraZeneca as their second.
The decision to mix the vaccines makes Thailand the latest country to show reservations about whether Chinese vaccines work well enough to protect medical workers against the Delta variant, which was first detected in India and is thought to be far more contagious than earlier versions of the virus. The strain has spread to at least 98 countries.
Source: WSJ #Jul13
https://t.co/TkCKN0gyaz
#Thailand #Vaccine #BioNTech #AstraZeneca #Covid19
Hong Kong Filmmakers Sign Manifesto to Uphold Creative Freedom
Source: InMediaHK.net #Jul13
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Source: InMediaHK.net #Jul13
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Hong Kong Filmmakers Sign #Manifesto to Uphold #CreativeFreedom
On July 13, 2022, thirty Hong Kong filmmakers released a manifesto, stating their determination to uphold creative freedom despite oppression.
The manifesto was initiated by Ren Xia, the director of May You Stay Young Forever, on the eve of the Hong Kong Film Awards. The manifesto aims to show solidarity and raise awareness among filmmakers. "[I] hope to let all of us [filmmakers] know we are not alone," said Ren.
The manifesto states that the filmmakers will not be deterred from speaking out. The filmmakers believe that films are most needed at these times; and that they "will be the change", and their "films will bring about changes and create a future for Hong Kong."
According to a previous survey by InMediaHK.net, at least 9 films failed to obtain a screening license or were required to censor part of their content in the past two years. The government had amended the Film Censorship Ordinance in 2021, banning films that "violate the #NationalSecurityLaw".
Source: InMediaHK.net #Jul13
https://bit.ly/3c7Vu1g
#HongKongCinema #Hongkongers
On July 13, 2022, thirty Hong Kong filmmakers released a manifesto, stating their determination to uphold creative freedom despite oppression.
The manifesto was initiated by Ren Xia, the director of May You Stay Young Forever, on the eve of the Hong Kong Film Awards. The manifesto aims to show solidarity and raise awareness among filmmakers. "[I] hope to let all of us [filmmakers] know we are not alone," said Ren.
The manifesto states that the filmmakers will not be deterred from speaking out. The filmmakers believe that films are most needed at these times; and that they "will be the change", and their "films will bring about changes and create a future for Hong Kong."
According to a previous survey by InMediaHK.net, at least 9 films failed to obtain a screening license or were required to censor part of their content in the past two years. The government had amended the Film Censorship Ordinance in 2021, banning films that "violate the #NationalSecurityLaw".
Source: InMediaHK.net #Jul13
https://bit.ly/3c7Vu1g
#HongKongCinema #Hongkongers
#Court #PoliceState
66-year-old #GrandmaWong sentenced to 32-week jail after waving Union Jack Flag in Hong Kong
Source: InMedia #Jul13
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66-year-old #GrandmaWong sentenced to 32-week jail after waving Union Jack Flag in Hong Kong
Source: InMedia #Jul13
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#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
Hongkongers' Book Fair Cancelled, but Presses On with Online Store: "We'd Rather Be Naive than Give Up"
Source: #FirstHand #Jul13
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Source: #FirstHand #Jul13
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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
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