#FirstHand #Feb6
Pro-democracy Group's Flower Stall Runs for 20 Minutes Before Government's Forced Closure
On the early morning Feb 6, 2021, the flower stall which had been annually run by "The Alliance in Support of Democratic Patriotic Movements in China" at Victoria Park's Lunar New Year Market in Hong Kong for 32 years, was forced down by the Hong Kong government.
The authorities claimed that the Alliance had displayed "irrelevant banners" and terminate the contract of the stall rented by the Alliance with immediate effect.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28469
With everything already set, the Alliance tried their best to open the stall but for 20 minutes before the authorities sealed it off.
Founded in Hong Kong in 1989, The Alliance organizes the annual June Fourth candlelight vigil at Hong Kong's #VictoriaPark, in commemoration of the victims of the 1989 #June4th Tiananmen Square Massacre in China.
#PoliceState #CNYMarket #PoliticalOppression #Alliance
Pro-democracy Group's Flower Stall Runs for 20 Minutes Before Government's Forced Closure
On the early morning Feb 6, 2021, the flower stall which had been annually run by "The Alliance in Support of Democratic Patriotic Movements in China" at Victoria Park's Lunar New Year Market in Hong Kong for 32 years, was forced down by the Hong Kong government.
The authorities claimed that the Alliance had displayed "irrelevant banners" and terminate the contract of the stall rented by the Alliance with immediate effect.
Read more:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28469
With everything already set, the Alliance tried their best to open the stall but for 20 minutes before the authorities sealed it off.
Founded in Hong Kong in 1989, The Alliance organizes the annual June Fourth candlelight vigil at Hong Kong's #VictoriaPark, in commemoration of the victims of the 1989 #June4th Tiananmen Square Massacre in China.
#PoliceState #CNYMarket #PoliticalOppression #Alliance
#RealNameSimCard #Totalitarianism
#UnitedNations: Gov't's Implementation of real-name registration for sim card further erodes rights in Hong Kong
Source: Apple Daily #Jan31
Read more
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#UnitedNations: Gov't's Implementation of real-name registration for sim card further erodes rights in Hong Kong
Source: Apple Daily #Jan31
Read more
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#RealNameSimCard #Totalitarianism
#UnitedNations: Gov't's Implementation of real-name registration for sim card further erodes rights in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong government requested the local population to register their phone cards with real names, following the practice in mainland China and citing the need to crack down on crime as a reason.
A report published by an international organization, however, shows that phone blackmail increased by forty per cent after the implementation of real-name registration for a phone sim card.
The United Nations' (#UN) investigator also challenged this policy as an authorities' tool for surveying civilians and press media.
Real-name registration for phone sim card has been a controversial issue in many places. Even it is mandated in more than 155 countries, the 2019 statistics reported by the Global System for Mobile Communications (#GSMC) showed that only half of the European countries forced users to register their real name.
The GSMA's report stated that the EU explained to each member about the benefits of real-name registration in 2012. However, the conclusion was no evidence that it could reduce crime rate.
Source: Apple Daily #Jan31
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210131/4Q2JYPRW7NFWNNG3SLWMAYA7XU/
#UnitedNations: Gov't's Implementation of real-name registration for sim card further erodes rights in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong government requested the local population to register their phone cards with real names, following the practice in mainland China and citing the need to crack down on crime as a reason.
A report published by an international organization, however, shows that phone blackmail increased by forty per cent after the implementation of real-name registration for a phone sim card.
The United Nations' (#UN) investigator also challenged this policy as an authorities' tool for surveying civilians and press media.
Real-name registration for phone sim card has been a controversial issue in many places. Even it is mandated in more than 155 countries, the 2019 statistics reported by the Global System for Mobile Communications (#GSMC) showed that only half of the European countries forced users to register their real name.
The GSMA's report stated that the EU explained to each member about the benefits of real-name registration in 2012. However, the conclusion was no evidence that it could reduce crime rate.
Source: Apple Daily #Jan31
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210131/4Q2JYPRW7NFWNNG3SLWMAYA7XU/
#Injustice #Court #RulebyLaw
HK's Department of Justice suggests "No Bail Provision" for National Security suspects
Source: Stand News, #Feb1
Read more
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HK's Department of Justice suggests "No Bail Provision" for National Security suspects
Source: Stand News, #Feb1
Read more
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#Injustice #Court #RulebyLaw
HK's Department of Justice suggests "No Bail Provision" for National Security suspects
Apple Daily founder #JimmyLai appeared in court on February 1, 2021 to face the government’s appeal against the decision to extend his bail.
The 73-year-old pro-democracy media tycoon had been kept in custody since December 2020 pending trial for alleged "violations of the national security law and fraud".
A panel of five national security judges, including the new Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, permanent judges Roberto Ribeiro and Joseph Paul Fok Shiu-kong and non-permanent judges Patrick Chan Siu-oi and Frank Stock presided over the hearing.
The hearing is set to determine the meaning of Article 42 of the national security law, which stipulates that no bail shall be granted to a criminal suspect or defendant unless the judge has sufficient grounds for believing he or she will not continue to commit acts endangering national security.
Representing the Department of Justice (#DoJ), Anthony Chau, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, argued that when handling bail application for cases linked to national security offences, the court should adopt a “two-stage approach” to give priority to Article 42, paragraph 2, which that stipulated a “no bail unless” condition.
Chau stressed that the court must consider a national security law clause first, which says no “bail will be granted to a defendant unless the judge has sufficient grounds for believing that the defendant will not continue to endanger national security.”
Other factors – such as bail terms offered by the defendant – should only be considered in the latter stage, Chau said, adding the judge must always bear in mind the nature of the offences endangering national security, which could be “difficult to detect.”
Source: Stand News, #Feb1
#Article42 #Bail #NationalSecurityLaw #Regime
HK's Department of Justice suggests "No Bail Provision" for National Security suspects
Apple Daily founder #JimmyLai appeared in court on February 1, 2021 to face the government’s appeal against the decision to extend his bail.
The 73-year-old pro-democracy media tycoon had been kept in custody since December 2020 pending trial for alleged "violations of the national security law and fraud".
A panel of five national security judges, including the new Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, permanent judges Roberto Ribeiro and Joseph Paul Fok Shiu-kong and non-permanent judges Patrick Chan Siu-oi and Frank Stock presided over the hearing.
The hearing is set to determine the meaning of Article 42 of the national security law, which stipulates that no bail shall be granted to a criminal suspect or defendant unless the judge has sufficient grounds for believing he or she will not continue to commit acts endangering national security.
Representing the Department of Justice (#DoJ), Anthony Chau, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, argued that when handling bail application for cases linked to national security offences, the court should adopt a “two-stage approach” to give priority to Article 42, paragraph 2, which that stipulated a “no bail unless” condition.
Chau stressed that the court must consider a national security law clause first, which says no “bail will be granted to a defendant unless the judge has sufficient grounds for believing that the defendant will not continue to endanger national security.”
Other factors – such as bail terms offered by the defendant – should only be considered in the latter stage, Chau said, adding the judge must always bear in mind the nature of the offences endangering national security, which could be “difficult to detect.”
Source: Stand News, #Feb1
#Article42 #Bail #NationalSecurityLaw #Regime
HKChronicles is a website consisting of pro-democracy articles, police's personal information, police brutality records, etc. However, the website cannot be accessed with 9 internet service providers out of 11, and the blocklist is perhaps not up-to-date.
#HKChronicles #HKprotest #Censorship #GoHKgraphics
#HKChronicles #HKprotest #Censorship #GoHKgraphics
New U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: Rejects Beijing's Claim to Sovereignty in the South China Sea, Joins Southeast Asia to Counter China
Source: Standnews #Jan28
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Source: Standnews #Jan28
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New U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: Rejects Beijing's Claim to Sovereignty in the South China Sea, Joins Southeast Asia to Counter China
On his first day in office, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he rejects China's claim to sovereignty over the South China Sea and stresses that the United States will stand up for Southeast Asian countries if conflict breaks out in the South China Sea. He also said his judgment that China is genocidal against the Uighurs remains unchanged, but that the United States and China can still work together on mutual concern issues, such as climate change.
The U.S. Senate approved Blinken's nomination to be secretary of state on Tuesday. On his appointment, Blinken told staff in his State Department office that he would mend U.S. relations with allies and prove to the world that the United States is capable of leading.
The U.S. will stand with Southeast Asia to counteract CCP pressure
The State Department issued a statement stating that Blinken called Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin after taking office, affirming U.S.' rejection of China's claims of sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea. He also said China's claims went beyond the scope of their rights under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
#China #SouthChinaSea #US #Blinken #SoutheastAsia
Source: Standnews #Jan28
https://bit.ly/2Lonu3G
On his first day in office, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he rejects China's claim to sovereignty over the South China Sea and stresses that the United States will stand up for Southeast Asian countries if conflict breaks out in the South China Sea. He also said his judgment that China is genocidal against the Uighurs remains unchanged, but that the United States and China can still work together on mutual concern issues, such as climate change.
The U.S. Senate approved Blinken's nomination to be secretary of state on Tuesday. On his appointment, Blinken told staff in his State Department office that he would mend U.S. relations with allies and prove to the world that the United States is capable of leading.
The U.S. will stand with Southeast Asia to counteract CCP pressure
The State Department issued a statement stating that Blinken called Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin after taking office, affirming U.S.' rejection of China's claims of sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea. He also said China's claims went beyond the scope of their rights under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
#China #SouthChinaSea #US #Blinken #SoutheastAsia
Source: Standnews #Jan28
https://bit.ly/2Lonu3G
Twitter deletes China embassy's Xinjiang 'emancipation' tweet
Twitter has deleted a post from China's US embassy which claimed Uighur women had had their minds "emancipated" by their policies in Xinjiang.
The post linked to an article by state-run media which claimed Uighur women were "more confident and independent" as a result of "reproductive health" being "promoted" to them.
In 2020, a report by China scholar Adrian Zenz alleged Uighur and other ethnic minority women were being threatened with internment in camps for refusing to abort pregnancies that exceeded birth quotas. The findings were based on a combination of official regional data, policy documents and interviews with ethnic minority women in Xinjiang.
Source: BBC #Jan10
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55608089
#Xinjiang #Uighurwomen
Twitter has deleted a post from China's US embassy which claimed Uighur women had had their minds "emancipated" by their policies in Xinjiang.
The post linked to an article by state-run media which claimed Uighur women were "more confident and independent" as a result of "reproductive health" being "promoted" to them.
In 2020, a report by China scholar Adrian Zenz alleged Uighur and other ethnic minority women were being threatened with internment in camps for refusing to abort pregnancies that exceeded birth quotas. The findings were based on a combination of official regional data, policy documents and interviews with ethnic minority women in Xinjiang.
Source: BBC #Jan10
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55608089
#Xinjiang #Uighurwomen
Facebook confirms data-sharing agreements with Chinese firms
Facebook confirmed to have data-sharing partnership with Chinese firms including Huawei, a company US intelligence previously flagged as a security threat.
The agreements gave the Chinese firms some access to users' data to help them build Facebook "experiences" on their smartphones.
The New York Times reported that Facebook had given at least 60 device-makers access to users' data and their Facebook friends without obtaining explicit consent and that in some cases the details were stored on the firms' own servers.
A report by the committee asked whether the firms were too close to China's Communist Party and its military. It also suggested their products and services could pose a long-term security threat to the US.
Source: BBC #Jun06
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44379593?fbclid=IwAR1pz0PUZpD_MKewFO-ueUimKqZ6I6Ihz3g_DLiUQVTvOX9-KsnBPuoKKzA
#Facebook #DataSharing #FacebookChina
Facebook confirmed to have data-sharing partnership with Chinese firms including Huawei, a company US intelligence previously flagged as a security threat.
The agreements gave the Chinese firms some access to users' data to help them build Facebook "experiences" on their smartphones.
The New York Times reported that Facebook had given at least 60 device-makers access to users' data and their Facebook friends without obtaining explicit consent and that in some cases the details were stored on the firms' own servers.
A report by the committee asked whether the firms were too close to China's Communist Party and its military. It also suggested their products and services could pose a long-term security threat to the US.
Source: BBC #Jun06
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44379593?fbclid=IwAR1pz0PUZpD_MKewFO-ueUimKqZ6I6Ihz3g_DLiUQVTvOX9-KsnBPuoKKzA
#Facebook #DataSharing #FacebookChina
#FailedState
Students Trapped in Tutorial School During HK Government's #SuddenLockdown
Mrs Ng came into a heated argument with the staff of Hong Kong government's Home Affairs Bureau (#HAB).
Her 15-year-old daughter and three other students went for after-school classes in a building in Jordan and were trapped as the Hong Kong government imposed a sudden lockdown at 7pm on Feb 1, 2021, to enforce #COVID19 mandatory test.
The government staff told Mrs Ng that her daughter would be released after being tested, but without letting her know an estimated time.
In distress, Mrs Ng expressed, “Of course I am angry. They don't let us know when the test will be done.” Worrying about her daughter, she said “Does it mean that my daughter has to sleep overnight on the floor or in the corridor?”
Source: InMedia #Feb3
https://bit.ly/3j8hTLn
#Tutorial #Students #JordanLockdown
Students Trapped in Tutorial School During HK Government's #SuddenLockdown
Mrs Ng came into a heated argument with the staff of Hong Kong government's Home Affairs Bureau (#HAB).
Her 15-year-old daughter and three other students went for after-school classes in a building in Jordan and were trapped as the Hong Kong government imposed a sudden lockdown at 7pm on Feb 1, 2021, to enforce #COVID19 mandatory test.
The government staff told Mrs Ng that her daughter would be released after being tested, but without letting her know an estimated time.
In distress, Mrs Ng expressed, “Of course I am angry. They don't let us know when the test will be done.” Worrying about her daughter, she said “Does it mean that my daughter has to sleep overnight on the floor or in the corridor?”
Source: InMedia #Feb3
https://bit.ly/3j8hTLn
#Tutorial #Students #JordanLockdown
#Interview #AwardWinningSpeech
Hongkonger Won Harvard Conference Speech Writing Competition: I want to tell the world about police brutality in Hong Kong
Source: Radio Free Asia #Jan29
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Hongkonger Won Harvard Conference Speech Writing Competition: I want to tell the world about police brutality in Hong Kong
Source: Radio Free Asia #Jan29
Read more
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#Interview #AwardWinningSpeech
Hongkonger Won Harvard Conference Speech Writing Competition: I want to tell the world about police brutality in Hong Kong
Felix, a university student from Hong Kong, won the Finalist Award of #HPAIR 2021 Harvard Conference Speech Writing Competition in mid-January 2021, among over 300 contestants.
Wearing a yellow hamlet that embodies Hongkongers’ belief and courage, Felix told the world how Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters have fought in against police brutality in 2019.
He recounted in his speech some most-remembered events on July 21, August 31 and Oct 1, 2019, including the police shooting of students with live rounds.
Watch the video https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/video?v=1_w74tt1uu
Felix said, “youngsters at my age are being assaulted and injured by the Hong Kong Police. There is no excuse for anyone to stand aside and do nothing. Our fate remains a mystery - some might be imprisoned, others put their lives at risk in the face of police brutality."
"Although the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam once said that we have no stake in the society, our belief in freedom will never be crushed."
"Getting prepared for the competition in 24 hours is never easy. Looking back at the pro-democracy movement in 2019 has been a touching and painful task." Felix said, “this is like going through the same events once again. I can only describe it as painful.”
He struggled for multiple times before handing in his speech material. Felix elaborated, “I hesitated when I was about to make this submission. I was concerned about my personal safety and worried that I could be prosecuted by making this speech.”
At the end of the interview, Felix said, “I call on Hong Kong people to continue the fight and never give up. These crackdowns that we are going through are part of our quest for democracy and are expected even at the beginning of the movement."
"Our efforts are not fruitless. If we give up, our fellow protesters who made sacrifice for this movement will not forgive us. I hope we can all hold on tightly to our belief and carry on fighting."
Source: Radio Free Asia; #Jan29
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/hk-harvard-01292021055414.html
#HongKongYouth #Future #NeverGiveUp #UniversityStudent
Hongkonger Won Harvard Conference Speech Writing Competition: I want to tell the world about police brutality in Hong Kong
Felix, a university student from Hong Kong, won the Finalist Award of #HPAIR 2021 Harvard Conference Speech Writing Competition in mid-January 2021, among over 300 contestants.
Wearing a yellow hamlet that embodies Hongkongers’ belief and courage, Felix told the world how Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters have fought in against police brutality in 2019.
He recounted in his speech some most-remembered events on July 21, August 31 and Oct 1, 2019, including the police shooting of students with live rounds.
Watch the video https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/video?v=1_w74tt1uu
Felix said, “youngsters at my age are being assaulted and injured by the Hong Kong Police. There is no excuse for anyone to stand aside and do nothing. Our fate remains a mystery - some might be imprisoned, others put their lives at risk in the face of police brutality."
"Although the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam once said that we have no stake in the society, our belief in freedom will never be crushed."
"Getting prepared for the competition in 24 hours is never easy. Looking back at the pro-democracy movement in 2019 has been a touching and painful task." Felix said, “this is like going through the same events once again. I can only describe it as painful.”
He struggled for multiple times before handing in his speech material. Felix elaborated, “I hesitated when I was about to make this submission. I was concerned about my personal safety and worried that I could be prosecuted by making this speech.”
At the end of the interview, Felix said, “I call on Hong Kong people to continue the fight and never give up. These crackdowns that we are going through are part of our quest for democracy and are expected even at the beginning of the movement."
"Our efforts are not fruitless. If we give up, our fellow protesters who made sacrifice for this movement will not forgive us. I hope we can all hold on tightly to our belief and carry on fighting."
Source: Radio Free Asia; #Jan29
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/hk-harvard-01292021055414.html
#HongKongYouth #Future #NeverGiveUp #UniversityStudent
Radio Free Asia
RFA 自由亞洲電台粵語部