📡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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#FirstHand #Video #Jan19
Riot police boarded on police vehicles, and could return to clean roadblocks

2353 | #MongKok

Riot police boarded police vehicles at the junction of Nathan Road and Shan Tung Street. Bystanders at the scene speculated that riot police could return soon to remove roadblocks.

#PoliceState
#Education #Censorship #PoliticalProsecution
Beijing Loyalists Attack University Management,
Vice-President of
#CUHK: Students to be Penalized for Involving in Anti-ELAB Movement

Source: Stand News #Jan19

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#Education #Censorship #PoliticalProsecution
Beijing Loyalists Attack University Management,
Vice-President of
#CUHK: Students to be Penalized for Involving in Anti-ELAB Movement

On January 19, 2021, the Panel on Education of the Legislative Council (#LegCo) discussed topics on governance and security concerning recent incidents on university campuses.

Eric Ng, Vice President of Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), expressed that disciplinary action had been taken against less than 10 students of the university for their involvement in social movement, breaches of school rules, violence and bullying. He added that disciplinary actions against those students being arrested would continue after legal proceedings.

Responding to legislator’s comment that the CUHK has earned its nickname “Riot University” after anti-ELAB movement, Ng expressed disappointment and rage to that stigmatization. He explained that there had been challenges faced by the university, such as confining public entrance, as the campus is required to open to the public according to the land lease.

Another pro-Beijing legislator, Ann Chiang Lai-wan, slammed the university, calling it “a hotbed of [the concept of] Hong Kong Independence”, which “destroyed” students' life - sending them to prison and runining their future. She carried on condemning the university for spoiling students, pointing out that “teachers should be strict in teaching”.

Source: RTHK; Stand News #Jan19

https://bit.ly/3oTly1z

#University #BeijingLoyalist
#US #StateDepartment Demands Hong Kong Government to Drop #PoliticalPersecution on Pro-democracy Civilians

On Jan 19, 2021, Morgan Ortagus, the spokeperson of the State Department of the United States vocally condemned the January-14 arrest of 11 Hongkongers who were accused by the Hong Kong police of aiding 12 pro-democracy Hongkongers to flee the city.

The US State Department demanded all charges to be "immediately dropped" and reiterates that the latest sanctions announced by the US government are "a direct response to Beijing’s evisceration of Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms".

Source: #MorganOrtagus' Twitter; Stand News #Jan19

https://t.co/IhUavzOuU0

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Read more:

Pro-democracy lawyer and 10 more arrested by HK National Security Police
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27944

US announces new #sanctions against 6 linked to Mass Arrest of pro-democracy activists in HK
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/27977
#Court #PoliticalProsecution
#EU expresses “grave concern” over #NationalSecurityLaw in Hong Kong, Questioning China’s Determination in Fulfilling International Obligations

On Jan 19, 2021, Apple Daily revealed that 27 European Union (EU) member states launched a series of joint measures to monitor the impact of Hong Kong’s national security law.

These acts include sending representatives to attend the court hearings in Hong Kong in the prosecution of the democrats since last year – a practice usually reserved for the political trials of human rights activists in mainland China.

An EU spokesperson confirmed the arrangement and expressed “grave concern” about the National Security Law which was forcefully imposed by Beijing.

The law “raised doubts about China’s determination in fulfilling its international obligations, damaged trust in the Chinese government, and affected the relationship between China and the EU,” the spokesperson said.

Source: Apple Daily #Jan19
https://bit.ly/3sA2zLG
#PoliceState #PressFreedom #Court
Alleged police officers threatened to “arrest whoever films” when escorting witness officers out of court

Source: Stand News #Jan19

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#PoliceState #PressFreedom #Court
Alleged police officers threaten to “arrest whoever films” when escorting witness officers out of court


Senior Inspector Chan Hiu-Chi attended the court on Jan 19, 2021 as a witness to give evidence on several cases including illegal assembly and possession of explosive materials on August 10, 2019.

As Chan left the building under the escort of several alleged police officers and arrived at the the UB level of the parking lot which was not part of the court area, reporters who attempted to film Chan were stopped by the alleged officers who claimed that they would “arrest whoever films”.

In the police’s reply to Stand News’ inquiry later in the evening, they promised to remind officers to mind their language and enhance their professional sensibility.

This was actually not the first time that reporters were forbidden from filming when police witnesses were escorted by their alleged colleagues.

During a case in May 2020, a 16-year-old female student and a couple who had helped the injured student to stand up during a clash were charged with rioting. An police inspector who attended the court as a witness was also escorted by several alleged police officers as he took the elevator. When the inspector arrived at the parking lot, the alleged officers yelled at the reporters “No photos are allowed here. Whoever shoots will be arrested. Show me your IDs!”.

The Hong Kong Police Force had the same reply when responding to the Stand News back then, that they would remind police officers to mind their language and enhance their professional sensibility.

Source: Stand News #Jan19
https://bit.ly/3qrG3CW

#AsiasFinest #PoliceBrutality
#Injustice #Court
HK Magistrate dismisses pro-democracy protester’s defense, calling it "impractical"

Source: Stand News, #Jan19

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#Injustice #Court
HK Magistrate dismisses pro-democracy protester’s defense, calling it "impractical"

In October 2019, when the authorities forcefully imposed the anti-mask law in Hong Kong, citizens took to the street. The protest later turned into police-civilian clashes in several districts.

A 22-year-old shopkepper, Wong Tsz-shun, was arrested for obstructing a police officer in Yuen Long on that day and his case was heard in Tuen Mun Magistrate Court on January 19, 2021.

In the concluding statement, the defense pointed out numerous inconsistencies of the charge and challenged the contradictatory evidence and testimonies presented by the Hong Kong Police Force.

Surprisingly, Magistrate Wong Chin-yue was provoked and rebuked in defense of the Police Force, “it seems a common practice for defending lawyers to pick on the time evidence and distance evidence presented by the prosecution, without considering practicality. It is impossible for the police officers to take these cases like an industrial accident where they take precise measurement of time and distance.”

In anger, the Magistrate banged the table and walked away.

Defending for himself in the hearing, Wong said he was hanging out in Yuen Long where he ran into Chief Inspector Leung Chi-hang. He wasn’t sure whether Leung was speaking to him, so he carried on moving forward. Soon after he walked pass Leung, he felt being pulled from behind and was about to lose balance.

He stepped forward in an attempt to catch his balance, only to be tripped by debris and fell forward. At that moment, he heard someone shouting, “stand still!”.

When he reached out to roadside railings for support, so that he could stand up again, the police officers pepper-sprayed him on his face at close range.

Wong said, “they pepper-sprayed my entire face.” As a result, he could not see clearly, and found it hard to breathe.

Wong said the police instruction was confusing. Moments after one officer asked him not to move, another one told him to stand up. When he felt someone was grabbing him by his hands, he was terrified and tried to hold on to something, but to no avail.

He later was pressed down to the ground by a police officer. He struggled to avoid a head injury, but quickly he was pinned to the ground and cuffed.

Wong stressed that the police officer put handcuff on him without cautioning him.

Source: Stand News, #Jan19

#PoliceState #Arrest #Magistrate #MaskBan #PoliceBrutality #FailedState
WHO Appointed Independent Investigations criticizing China for lack of Aggressive Reactions, and the WHO for Slow Reactions

Source: The Stand News #Jan19

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WHO Appointed Independent Investigations criticizing China for lack of Aggressive Reactions, and the WHO for Slow Reactions

The People's Vaccine Alliance, which was appointed by WHO to investigate the global COVID-19 pandemic, published an interim report. It criticized that China could be more proactive in public health precautions to stop the epidemic in January 2020 while the WHO took too long to announce COVID-19 as an international hygiene emergency.

COVID-19 was firstly found in Wuhan City, China in late 2019 and then spread to outside China which caused over 2 million deaths with a countless economic loss so far.

Alliance criticized that the regional and national hygiene department “obviously” could take more active public health precautions in January 2020. WHO convened an emergency committee meeting until the 22nd. They even were unable to immediately agree to announce the COVID-19 outbreak as a public health emergency for international concern. The verdict confirmed the agreement a week later, which was one month from the first announced case.

The report clearly expressed, “not sure why the committee had the meeting till the third week of January and why they cannot have a consensus at the first meeting”.

#WHO #investigation #pandemic #Wuhan #China #COVID19 #pandemic #PublicHealth #InterimReport #PeoplesVaccineAlliance

Source from: The Stand News #Jan19

https://bit.ly/2Y5EmPi
#Interview #Save12 #HumanRights
“My law license has received its well deserved honour": Chinese civil rights lawyer representing the 12 pro-democracy HongKongers inside the high wall

Ren Quanniu has been a civil rights lawyer for 7 years in China. His appointees include members of Falun Gong, Zhao Wei, a legal assistant arrested in the 709 crackdown and Zhen Jianghua, a human rights activist accused of inciting subversion of state power.

Ren continued his work despite being arrested by police and his wife being beaten up. However, Ren never thought the case of the twelve Hong Kong pro-democracy youths would become the end of his career.

Continue reading our fully translated article here:
https://telegra.ph/Exclusive-Interview-with-Ren-Quanniu-the-mainland-Chinese-lawyer-representing-the-twelve-Hong-Kong-youths-inside-the-high-wall-M-04-01

Source:Stand News #Jan19

#RenQuanniu #HumanRightsLawyer #Honour #PoliticalOppression #ChineseCourt #Save12HKYouths
US Urges China to Publicise the Virus Information and Suggests Taiwan to Participate WHO as an Observer

Source: Apple Daily #Jan19

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US Urges China to Publicise the Virus Information and Suggests Taiwan to Participate WHO as an Observer

The US and China were tit-for-tat in a WHO meeting about expert group investigation on Monday (Jan 18). The US called on China to allow the expert group of the WHO to interview carers, recovered patients, laboratory staffs in Wuhan, and also checking the medical data and examining samples. However, China believed that was a political suppression.

Head of the global affairs office at the US Department of Health and Human Services, Garrett Grigsby, publicly confirmed Taiwan at the WHO Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday (Jan 19) for their anti-pandemic experience and contribution, emphasising that Taiwan should participate in the WHO organisation as an observer. He said that the US encouraged the WHO and all country members should cooperate on fighting against the pandemic, and preparing for the future pandemic or other sudden public health issues. He urged every country to learn the lesson from this pandemic in order to rebuild the economy.

Source: Apple Daily #Jan19

https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20210119/QKGRNRW74RFELKZIH6KHLBTUMA/

#China #US #Taiwan #WHO #COvID19 #GarrettGrigsby
#AnimalCruelty
Hong Kong seizes #hamsters from pet store for mass cull

Source: BBC #Jan19

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#AnimalCruelty
Hong Kong seizes
#hamsters from pet store for mass cull

//Authorities in Hong Kong have swooped in on a pet shop, seizing a number of hamsters to be euthanised following a Covid outbreak.

Crowds gathered outside the shop as the animals were carried away in boxes.

Families who have bought a hamster from the Little Boss pet store since 22 December have been told to hand over their pet for euthanasia.

Some 2,000 hamsters and other small mammals are set to be culled because of the outbreak linked to the shop.

Thousands of people have signed a petition against the move.

Unlike many other places, Hong Kong has maintained a "zero Covid" strategy focused on eliminating the disease.//

Read the full article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-60038551

Source: BBC #Jan19

#FailedState #Covid19 #Pandemic #Pet #Kill
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#AnimalCruelty #Trauma
HK Authorities' mass cull order rips a hamster-loving child's heart into pieces

Sources: Cupid Producer; #Jan19

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#AnimalCruelty #Trauma
HK Authorities' mass cull order rips a hamster-loving child's heart into pieces


In the video, a young boy in Hong Kong is seen howling continuesly while bidding farewell to his beloved #hamster in order to comply with the Hong Kong government's mass cull order.

Sitting on a stairway in front of the hamster's home cage, the young boy took pictures of his hamster, named "Pudding".  In desperation, he wailed and questioned why he has to send Pudding away for culling.

Parents of the young boy bought the hamster for him for his birthday present recently on January 8, 2022.  In an attempt to comfort their son, the parents agreed to buy another hamster once the pandemic ceased. The boy, however, refused to replace Pudding with a new one, saying that even small animals are unique and they have lives too.

The Hong Kong government ordered on January 18, 2022 that 2,000 hamsters from dozens of pet shops and storage facilities to be culled after tracing a coronavirus outbreak to a worker in the Little Boss petshop, where 11 hamsters subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.

Although scientists around the world and Hong Kong veterinary authorities have said there was no evidence that animals play a major role in human contagion with the coronavirus, Hong Kong government insisted that their hands are forced to make quick decision to safeguard the "zero covid" objective.

The authorities' mass cull order brought anguish from families and criticism from animal protection agencies, including the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (#SPCA).

“The SPCA is shocked and concerned over the recent government announcement on the handling of over 2,000 small animals, which did not take animal welfare and the human-animal bond into consideration,” the SPCA of Hong Kong said in a Facebook post. “We urge pet owners not to panic or abandon their pets.”

Over 23,000 Hongkongers have signed a petition asking the government to stop the cull and quarantine the small animals instead. 

Sources: Cupid Producer; #Jan19
https://fb.watch/aDGjbPr0r_/

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Related News
Hong Kong seizes #hamsters from pet store for mass cull
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31943
#WinterOlympics #MassSurveillance
Official #Beijing 2022 Olympics #MobileApp Is Marred by Security Flaws, Researchers Say

//In a report released Tuesday, Citizen Lab also said the app didn’t properly encrypt sensitive metadata transmitted through the app’s messaging function, which meant any eavesdropper operating a Wi-Fi hot spot could discover who users are communicating with and when.

The Beijing 2022 handbook for athletes and officials says My 2022 is intended to ensure the safety of all Games participants and “is in accordance with international standards and Chinese law.”//

Read the full article:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/official-beijing-2022-olympics-mobile-app-is-marred-by-security-flaws-researchers-say-11642511957

Source: WSJ #Jan19

#BigData #Regime #Cybersecurity #ChineseInternet #PoliceState #ChineseLaw
U.S. lawmakers call for U.N. Uyghur rights report before China's Olympics

U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday urged the United Nations' human rights office to release its assessment of China's policies in Xinjiang before next month's Beijing Winter Olympics, which the U.S. government is boycotting on a diplomatic level over what it says is ongoing genocide in the region.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has lamented that her office has been unable to gain access to the western Chinese region to probe allegations of rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups.

Source: Reuters #Jan19

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-lawmakers-call-un-uyghur-rights-report-before-chinas-olympics-2022-01-18/

#China #Olympics #Uyghur #boycott