📡Guardians of Hong Kong
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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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#Oppression #WhiteTerror
Pro-democracy Independent Bookshop closes down due to Political Oppression

Located in San Po Kong, Hong Kong has an independent bookshop, Bleak House Books, which has closed down on October 15.

Many supporters and customers went there to bid farewell and take photographs. Some put down words of encouragement on wish cards for the owner, Albert, who decided to return to the US.

Although most of the bookshelves have been left empty, many customers lingered on in the shop till the very last moment.

Finally, Albert switched off the light and walked out of the shop. He closed the door and put up a placard on the door that writes “Hong Kong is my home”.

When talking about the current situation in Hong Kong, Albert felt “being suffocated” every day.

He said, “the politics in the US is a mess too. But they are barely possible to arrest all democrats. At least there are some spaces left … I am not sure how risky it has become, but I felt being muffled and could hardly breathe every day.”

#Closure #FreedomOfSpeech #FreedomOfPublication

Source: inmediahk.net; #Oct15
https://bit.ly/3mYCqnW
#NeverForget #Art
HK Lennon Walls recreated through frames of photographs

#LennonWalls #IPA #AddOil

Source: Stand News; #Oct15
https://thestandnews.page.link/A4CdKHKFbhDDSzZL8

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#NeverForget #Art
HK Lennon Walls recreated through frames of photographs

During the pro-democracy anti-Extradition Bill Movement in Hong Kong in 2019, HKers in many districts spontaneously built #LennonWalls to voice their democratic wishes.

Two years have gone by, the Lennon Walls have been destroyed and washed away.

A Hong Kong photographer, Harvey, recreated the Lennon Wall by collating frames of panoramic photographs.

Harvey called it “Assembly”. His work won a third place in a "Professional Event, Social Cause" of the #IPA International Photography Awards this year.

The 27-year-old photographer Harvey told the press that he was happy to win the prize.

Humbly, he said the works belong to Hong Kong people. He added, "these two years have been tough for Hongkongers". He is hoping that people still remember the cause of the movement, and still remember to support each other and #AddOil.”

View Harvey's Lennon Wall artwork: https://bit.ly/3aH7fI6

Source: Stand News; #Oct15
https://thestandnews.page.link/A4CdKHKFbhDDSzZL8
The Times: Hongkongers are Passionate to Help Afghanistan Immigrants;
MP in the UK: Hongkongers Understand How a Subverted Life is


Source: Stand News #Sep21

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The Times: Hongkongers are Passionate to Help Afghanistan Immigrants;
MP in the UK: Hongkongers Understand How a Subverted Life is

According to The Times, new Hong Kong immigrants to the UK shared the happiness and warmth of “first arrived in the UK” with Afghans who fled the Taliban regime. David Alton, a Member of the UK House of Lords, reposted the report on Twitter and stated that Hongkongers were taken everything, which they deeply understood Afghan's life changes and often took the lead in reaching out to those in need.

Recently, the Hillsong Church organises a volunteer plan to help Afghans, who escape to the UK, starting a new life. To get away from Taliban rule as soon as possible, many Afghans only brought some clothes with them when they left. According to the report, the plan gained support from Hongkongers who recently moved to the UK. Ginu Chacko, one of the church members, said he saw a Hong Kong couple brought some games and played with Afghan children.

Source: Stand News #Sep21

https://bit.ly/3FWGFZF

#TheTimes #Hongkongers #UnitedKingdom #Afghanistan #Taliban #Twitter #Afghan #HillsongChurch #DavidAlton #Fled
#Disband #HumanRights
Amnesty shuts offices in Hong Kong as freedom meltdown in this once most free city in the world

#Amnesty #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #Democracy #Freedom #PoliticalOppression

Sources: Stand News, Reuters, Amnesty; #Oct25

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#Disband #HumanRights
Amnesty shuts offices in Hong Kong as freedom meltdown in this once most free city in the world

International rights group Amnesty International said on October 25 that it would close its Hong Kong offices due to the China-imposed national security law.

Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, the chair of Amnesty’s international board, said in a statement that the two offices in Hong Kong would close by year-end, noting an intensification of a crackdown forcing at least 50 groups to disband under the law this year.

"This decision, made with a heavy heart, has been driven by Hong Kong’s national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organisations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals from the government,” said Singh Bais.

"The environment of repression and perpetual uncertainty created by the national security law makes it impossible to know what activities might lead to criminal sanctions," she added.

In the past, Hong Kong had served as one of Asia's leading NGO hubs, with groups drawn to its robust rule of law and wide-ranging autonomy -- guaranteed for Hong Kong when control over the former British colony was returned to Beijing in 1997.

Among the groups to have disbanded this year are several leading trade unions, NGOs and professional groups, while a number of other NGOs, including the New School for Democracy, have relocated to the democratic island of Taiwan.

Sources: Stand News, Reuters, Amnesty; #Oct25
https://thestandnews.page.link/H9RZt5adP9FKugXA7
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/hong-kong-amnesty-international-close-offices-amid-rising-threat-government

#Amnesty #NationalSecurityLaw #NSL #Democracy #Freedom #PoliticalOppression
#Censorship #PoliticalSuppression
"Barbarious", "Mafia Tactic":
#PillarofShame Creator Shocked as the University of Hong Kong Demands Removal

Sources: Stand News; InMediaHK; #Oct18

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31299
#Censorship #PoliticalSuppression
"Barbarious", "Mafia Tactic":
#PillarofShame Creator Shocked as the University of Hong Kong Demands Removal

Part 1/2

On October 7, 2021, the University of Hong Kong (#HKU) called for the removal of a statue commemorating the pro-democracy protesters killed during the 1989 Tiananmen massacre in Beijing, with a 6-day deadline.

The "Pillar of Shame" had been placed on long-term display inside the HKU campus since 1998 with support from the HKU Student Union.

Representing the university, US law firm Mayer Brown issued a letter demanding the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance (#HKASPDMC) – the organiser of Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen vigil – to “immediately … make arrangements for the sculpture (the 8-meter-tall Pillar of Shame) to be removed from the university’s premises”.

“If you fail to remove the sculpture … it will be deemed abandoned,” the letter said, “if the Alliance fails to take it away, and the university will deal with the sculpture at such time and in such manner as it thinks fit without further notice.”

Danish artist #JensGalschiot, the statue's creator, was shocked at the demand, calling it “barbarous” and a “mafia” tactic. He told reporters that he remains the owner of the sculpture, and he has hired a lawyer to protect his property, which was only on loan to the Alliance.

“I hope that my ownership of the sculpture will be respected and that I will be able to transport the sculpture out of Hong Kong under orderly conditions and without it having suffered from any damage,” he said, adding that any damage would be the university’s responsibility.

Galschiot described the act as an attempt to erase China's collective historical memory. In a statement, he wrote in contempt, “China has made the Pillar of Shame ever taller and bigger in the eyes of the world.”

Read Part 2:
Law Firm Refuses to Represent Hong Kong's Top University
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31306

#TiananmenMassacre #Memorial #Art #CollectiveMemory

Sources: Stand News; InMediaHK; #Oct18

https://thestandnews.page.link/cWZQyyVUAc2Z255J7

https://thestandnews.page.link/ExESJ1tzktLMiEoR6

https://bit.ly/3vq26O4
China Bans the Import of Taiwan Sugar Apple and Java Apple,
Taiwan Plans to Increase Export to Hong Kong and Other Places and Will Complain to WTO


Source: Stand News #Sep19

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China Bans the Import of Taiwan Sugar Apple and Java Apple,
Taiwan Plans to Increase Export to Hong Kong and Other Places and Will Complain to WTO


China banned the import of Taiwan pineapple in March 2021. Chinese General Administration of Customs announced the suspension of importing sugar apples and java apples from September 20. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council counterattacked this evening, expressing dissatisfaction that China is unwilling to negotiate with Taiwan in accordance with the cross-strait agreement mechanism, damaging Taiwan’s agriculture and cross-strait relations. Taiwan Agricultural Committee indicated that they would send complaints to WTO and would increase the export to markets, such as Hong Kong.

The China Custom General Administration (GACC) Animal and Plant Quarantine indicated that quarantine pests, Planococcus minor, were found in Taiwan sugar apples and java apples several times this year. In order to prevent the risk of plant disease, GACC announced the suspension on importing Taiwan sugar apple and java apple from tomorrow.

Source: Stand News #Sep19

https://bit.ly/3mXJfGl

#Taiwan #China #Pineapple #Import #Export #WTO #GACC #AnimalandPlantQuarantine #MainlandAffairsCouncil #SugarApple #JavaApple
#Art #Freedom
Italian city defies China bid to scrap dissident's art show

Source: Stand News, #Oct23

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#Art #Freedom
Italian city defies China bid to scrap dissident's art show

An Italian city is going ahead with plans to host an art exhibition by a Chinese dissident despite a request from China's embassy to cancel it.

The show, called "China is (not) near," is due to run from November 13 to February 13, 2021 in the northern Italian city of Brescia.

The exhibition by #Badiucao, a cartoonist also known as "The Chinese Banksy", is expected to denounce Chinese political repression and censorship of information on the COVID pandemic.

Brescia Mayor #EmilioDelBono told local press that his office would not comply with a request from the Chinese embassy in Italy to scrap it.

He said the friendship between the Italian and Chinese people "is not in question", but "I think it is important to show that you can stay friends while criticising some things".

The deputy mayor, #LauraCastelletti, earlier tweeted that "For us art and freedom of expression are an essential combination".

#Italy #FreedomOfExpression

Source: Stand News, #Oct23 https://thestandnews.page.link/PHgLpzQ5HDsT9fKR8
US Law Firm Withdraws from Representing the University of Hong Kong Amid Outcry from Civic Groups and US Politicians

Sources: Stand News; InMedia; #Oct18

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US Law Firm Withdraws from Representing the University of Hong Kong Amid Outcry from Civic Groups and US Politicians

On behalf of the University of Hong Kong (#HKU), the law firm #MayerBrown issued a letter to Danish artist #JensGalschiot, demanding the removal of his famous sculpture #PillarofShame, which has beena symbol commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre and on display on campus since 2003, within six days.

The action prompted an outcry from pro-democracy and human rights groups, who expressed dismay that a US law firm was helping the Chinese regime to suppress the commemoration of the massacre.

28 civil society groups signed an open letter calling for Mayer Brown to withdraw from representing the university, citing the importance of safeguarding the firm’s “integrity in defending the right of freedom of expression”.

US Republican senators including Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham also condemned the firm.

Mayer Brown initially defended its representation of the university, saying the dispute was simply a real estate matter. But on October 15, 2021, the firm backed down, saying, "going forward, Mayer Brown will not be representing its longtime client in this matter.”

Following Mayer Brown's withdrawal, former Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying took to Facebook to denounce the firm as having been "infiltrated by foreign powers" and calling on all "Chinese" clients to withdraw their business.

The sculpture was still in the university campus as the deadline for its removal passed.

The debate over removal of the Pillar of Shame from #HKU was brought to a legislative meeting on October 18, 2021, when pro-Beijing legislator Luk Chung-hung, a representative from the pro-CCP Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, took it in a verbal inquiry.

Luk referred the sculpture as “trash” three times, calling it a "totem of anti-CCP sentiments" that has confused and poisoned youngsters in Hong Kong. He called for local police to assist the university in handling the case.

#TiananmenMassacre #Memorial #Art #CollectiveMemory

Sources: Stand News; InmediaHK; #Oct18

https://thestandnews.page.link/cWZQyyVUAc2Z255J7

https://thestandnews.page.link/ExESJ1tzktLMiEoR6

https://bit.ly/3vq26O4
China’s Corporate Crackdown Is Just Getting Started. Signs Point to More Tumult Ahead.

In recent months, China has blown up what would have been the world's largest initial public offering, launched probes into some of its biggest technology companies, and wiped out more than $1 trillion in market value while investors scramble for cover.

There are many signs it isn't over yet.

Investors, analysts and company executives believe the government is just getting started in its push to realign the relationship between private business and the state, with a goal of ensuring companies do more to serve the Communist Party's economic, social and national-security concerns.

Source: WSJ #Aug05

https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-corporate-crackdown-tech-markets-investors-11628182971

#China #Investors #Analysts #Company
#University #Admissions
Steep Drop in Applications to Political Science and Journalism Programmes in HK following China-imposed National Security Law

#PoliticalFreedom #WhiteTerror

Source: Stand News, #Oct23

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#University #Admissions
Steep Drop in Applications to Political Science and Journalism Programmes in HK following China-imposed National Security Law

The Joint University Programmes Admissions System (#JUPAS) published its 2021 admission numbers. The number of applicants to faculties of Political Science and Journalism saw a significant drop this year.

Admissions to the Government and Public Policy in both Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) and City University had dropped by 20% last year, and by another 40% this year.

A 15% drop was seen in admissions to Journalism among Hong Kong universities last year, and a further 13% this year.

Ronson #ChanLongSing, chairman of Hong Kong Journalists Association, said that the National Security Law has aggravated the political environment in the city, leading to the decline in these numbers. Students saw that becoming a reporter could lead to being sent behind bars; "It is reasonable for those with a rational mind to not choose Journalism."

Tommy #CheungSauYin, a Political Science graduate at Chinese University of Hong Kong and former President of CUHK Students Union, added more depressing facts.

Cheung noted that in 2019, 18 CUHK political science graduates won seats in the District Council election, but all of them have now been disqualified by the government. "There is no future for political science undergraduates," he said.

#PoliticalFreedom #WhiteTerror

Source: Stand News, #Oct23
https://thestandnews.page.link/um3G228riSQDNtRD6
#PoliticalOppression #Disqualification
16 More District Councillors Disqualified over Oath-Taking; Total of 326 Pro-Dem Seats Lost

#DistrictCouncil #DQ #Oath

Source: Stand News; #Oct21

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#PoliticalOppression #Disqualificafion
16 More District Councillors Disqualified over Oath-Taking; Total of 326 Pro-Dem Seats Lost

16 pro-democracy district councillors have been disqualified from office after authorities ruled that their government-required oaths were invalid.

They are from New Territories West, and are the last batch of councillors to take their oaths, a new requirement created after the pro-democracy camp's landslide victory in 2019.

Across all 18 districts in Hong Kong, a total of 49 pro-democracy district councillors have been ousted due to their oaths being ruled as invalid. 6 councillors directly lost their seats.

In the district council elections in 2019, the democrats had won a historic victory, winning 389 seats among the 452 elected seats in the 18 districts.

However, the number of members of the Democrats has gradually decreased in the past 2 years, some due to prison sentences longer than 3 months, some due to the councillors themselves leaving Hong Kong.

It was the government's oath-taking requirement, however, that led to the largest drop in numbers of democratic councillors.

In July this year, the government made use of the media to indicate their intention to disqualify large numbers of district councillors, and those disqualified would have to pay back all of their salaries since taking office in 2020, a sum exceeding $1M HKD. In light of this threat, 260 district councillors have resigned.

#DistrictCouncil #PoliticalOppression #Oath #DQ

Source: Stand News; #Oct21
https://thestandnews.page.link/hnKqV2DR8Ev7wBVp6

see also:
District Council election results, Nov 25, 2019
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/12233
https://www.facebook.com/BeWaterHongKong/posts/2519661708255300