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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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China to Send 200-300 Chinese Officers to Hong Kong to Enforce National Security Law; Metropark Hotel is Used For National Security Bureau

The authorities are using the Metropark Hotel located in Causeway Bay to be the provisional office for National Security Bureau in Hong Kong. Water-filled barricades had been installed outside of the hotel.

According to Apple Daily, the name of the hotel was covered and the staff said the hotel would not be opened to the public for half a year.

Clarisse Yeung, chairman of Wan Chai district council, said the Police Public Relations Branch has confirmed that an opening ceremony would be held at the hotel in the morning of 8 July.

Japan's Kyodo News on July 5 quoted from a source that Beijing will send 200-300 officers from the Chinese People's Armed Police Force to Hong Kong to facilitate the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong.

Source: Commercial Radio; Apple Daily
#Jul7 #NationalSecurityLaw #MetroparkHotel
#PublicOpinion
HKPORI: Level of Concern over politics reached the highest in 15 years; Residents don't blindly trust the government

Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institue (#HKPORI) published research results of social situation. Ratings of civilians' concern over politics and livelihood achieved the highest score since 2005.

Dr Chung Kim-wah, Deputy CEO of HKPORI, stated Hong Kongers "do not believe other problems can be sorted out by solely imprvoing the economy", according to the statistics. Residents don't blindly trust the words from the government.

Source: InMedia HK #Jul7
#Research #Poll
#COVID19
Health Prevention Centre: Third Wave COVID-19 Outbreak in Hong Kong; Secretary for Food and Hygiene Evades Question on School Suspension

On July 7, Hong Kong has discovered 14 new cases of COVID-19 infection, of which 9 are locally transmitted. The Health Prevention Centre warned of a community outbreak as the third wave of COVID-19 infection is taking place and the newly infected patients had visited many places in Hong Kong. Hong Kong has recorded a total of 1,299 cases so far.

The Secretary for Food and Hygiene Sophia Chan was asked if the government has plan to suspend schools. Chan, however, asked schools to make a decision, as the summer holidays are drawing near.

When asked if the new outbreak would affect the implementation of "health code" as used in China, Chan said they would have to discuss with Guangdong Province and Macau governments.

Sources:
https://www.881903.com/news/local/2345862
https://www.881903.com/news/local/2345870 #Jul7

#SophiaChan #SchoolSuspension #ThirdWave #Coronavirus
#Court
Hong Kong Plainclothed Police to Senior Civilian: ”Holding baton is the same as wearing uniform”

On November 2, 2019, pro-democracy candidates running for the district council election had an assembly, but faced police suppression.

A plainclothed police demanded a 60-year-old civilian at the gate of the Victoria Park for his Identity card. The elderly asked for a proof of the identity of the plainclothed but was refused.

The man was charged of not refusing to present his identity card and smoking in restricted area. The case was heard in Eastern Magistrates' Court on 7 July. The defence explained that the man wanted to confirm the identification of the plainclothed police, before presenting his identity card; however, the plainclothed said his riot-control equipment meant his uniform: “holding the baton is the same as wearing uniform".

Source: InMedia #Jul7
#Baton #Plainclothes
#TikTok #US #Australia #NationalSecurity
US and Australia Considering a Ban on TikTok; US Lawmakers Raise Concerns over the App’s Impact on US National Security
 
Following India’s ban on TikTok, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed that the US is also "looking at" a potential ban on TikTok.  Some Australian officials have also called for the ban over suspicions that the platform is collecting excessive user data, and have requested TikTok's representatives to face the committee to respond to the concerns.
 
According to Reuters, Pompeo said his administration is "certainly looking at" banning Chinese social media apps, including TikTok.  TikTok has emphasised independence from its parent company, China-based ByteDance, yet US lawmakers still worry that Chinese legislation may force corporations to support and cooperate with the government's intelligence collection, giving rise to concerns that TikTok's handling of user information may threaten US national security.
 
Meanwhile, Australian media has reported that some Australian legislators are also advocating a ban on TikTok, which has approximately 1.4 million users in Australia.  The legislators have requested TikTok representatives to face the Select Committee on Foreign Interference Through Social Media.  The chair of the committee, Senator Jenny McAllister has noted, "There have been credible reports that TikTok takes more data than its users would expect, and moderates content for reasons that its users may not be comfortable with."  She has further stated, "I think Australians would expect that TikTok and other platforms will appear before the Senate committee to answer questions.”  However, TikTok Australia's general manager Lee Hunter has insisted that Australia's user data is stored in Singapore, and that it "does not share information of [its] users in Australia with any foreign government, including the Chinese government".
 
Source:  Stand News  #Jul7
 
#HumanitarianCrisis #OathofOffice
230 Directly Elected #DistrictCouncillors to be Disqualified by HK Gov't

According to Cable News and Now News in Hong Kong on July 7, 2021, about 230 directly elected district councillors would face "#disqualification" by authorities, for not having taken an oath of #allegiance to uphold the #BasicLaw.

The government will reportedly demand the district councillors to return their entire salary received during the term they have served. The estimated amount per person is HKD1million.

Since one day ago, a resignation wave took place across different districts. These include Chan Shu-ying (Tuen Mun), Cheung Kwan-kiu (Kwai Ching), Lee Wing-shing (Shatin), Lo Chun-yu (Tuen Mun), Lee Chun-hei (Shum Shui Po), Yau Man-chun (Shatin) and Chan Siu-yeung (Shatin).

Source: Stand News #Jul7

https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E5%8D%80%E8%AD%B0%E5%93%A1%E5%AE%A3%E8%AA%93%E5%85%A8%E6%B8%AF%E5%A4%9A%E5%8D%80%E5%8D%80%E8%AD%B0%E5%93%A1%E7%B4%9B%E5%AE%A3%E5%B8%83%E8%BE%AD%E8%81%B7
#AsiasFinest #PoliceState
Hong Kong Woman searched by the police for holding chives

On the night of July 1, 2021, #LeungKinFai stabbed himself after injuring a police officer outside the SOGO Department Store in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

Many citizens gathered to mourn Leung's passing, yet the government repeatedly warned that the gathering could incite hatred, and people should stop mourning.

On July 7, a group of police was deployed in the area. A woman holding chives was stopped and searched by the police at around 7pm.

The woman was emotional during the search and prayed with flowers which was kept in her bags. She expressed her fear to the police but was warned to stop her behaviour. The woman was let go after being warned and she left with the flower tied on her head.

She did not respond to the reporter's questions and only stated she wanted to walk to SOGO, and left immediately afterwards.

Source: Stand News #Jul7
#WhiteTerror #Mourning #Death #NeverForget
#PoliceState #WhiteTerror
HK Police Intercept #Elderly in Wheelchair

On July 1, 2021, a 50-year-old Hong Kong man, #LeungKinFai, passed away after kniving a policeman and stabbing himself in Causeway Bay. One week after, police were still stationed in the area, in order to stop citizens from paying tribute to Leung.

On July 7, 2021, an elderly lady in wheelchair was selling some small packets of white champaca outside the Sogo Department Store. She told InMedia that she has "read the news" and felt sorry for the incident. She said Leung died innocently and his sacrifice was in vain.

The elderly lady said she is not afraid of the police, "The police should be fear of the citizens, but not the other way round."

She said, "Hong Kong is getting worse and worse". She hoped that the city can "become as free as before" and encouraged Hongkongers to hang on and persevere, in order to welcome hope.

Source: InMedia #Jul7
https://bit.ly/3qPubvK

#AsiasFinest
#Court
#Opinion: Tong Ying-Kit Case Puts "Liberate Hong Kong" Slogan on Trial, with a Predetermined Verdict

Source: Simon Shen facebook #Jul7

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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/30498
#Court
#Opinion: Tong Ying-Kit Case Puts "Liberate Hong Kong" Slogan on Trial, with a Predetermined Verdict

[Editor's note:
24-year-old Tong Ying-kit is the first person to be charged under the National Security Law in Hong Kong, for displaying a flag with the words "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times" on his motorbike and driving towards police officers. The trial is now underway.

The following is an opinion article published by #SimonShen, a public intellectual specialized in international relations, on July 7, 2021.]

"On the surface, this is a case against the man #TongYingKit.

To the Hong Kong authorities, however, this case will effectively set the legal characterization for the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, the Revolution of Our Times".

This is exactly why the Department of Justice insisted not to allow a trial by jury. Instead, they turned it into a trial by "designated National Security judges", giving them the power to determine the definition of the slogan.

With such an arrangement, the outcome is a foregone conclusion to nearly every observer. No matter what kind of outrageous scenes would happen during the proceedings, when all is said and done, the slogan would become a legally banned phrase, having been deemed unlawful by the 'British-designed judiciary system'.

After all, what would be the alternative? If the courts determined that "Liberate Hong Kong, the Revolution of Our Times" is not equivalent to "Hong Kong independence", then wouldn't it defeat the purpose of establishing the HKSAR National Security Law?

Thus, the authorities had first determined the desired verdict, then began rummaging through the records to dig up evidence that match their narrative.

This process is the exact opposite of the logical reasoning that the world is accustomed to; unfortunately, this is the norm in China. And this is has now become our times."

Source: Simon Shen facebook #Jul7

Read original article in full: patreon.com/posts/53365694

#NationalSecurityLaw #KangarooCourt #CrimeOfSpeech

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See also:

Prosecutors Deny Hongkongers' Right to Jury Trial; Judge Has Difficulties in Comprehending Law Written in English

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/29698

#Opinion: National Security Law Turns Hong Kong Into a Launchpad for China's Legal Terrorism

https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22449
#PoliceState
#Taiwan #Scholar refutes HK government's labelling of police knifing incident as “local terrorism”

Source: HKCnews; #Jul7

Read more
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#PoliceState
#Taiwan #Scholar refutes HK government's labelling of police knifing incident as “local terrorism”

In less than 4 hours after the police knifing incident took place in Causeway Bay on 1 July, 2021, the Hong Kong government's Secretary for Security #ChrisTang, hastily concluded the attack as a “lone-wolf terrorist act”.

Tang further condemned those attempted to pay tribute to the deceased man, calling such action as “glorifying terrorism and encouraging violence."

Meanwhile, Chief Secretary #JohnLee warned citizens against what he called "local terrorism" in his first blog post as the city’s second ranking official.

Taiwan scholar, #ShihChienGu who specializes in global counter-terrorism, however, considered such allegations unfounded.

He did not agree that public mourning advocates terrorism. Instead, he asked the Hong Kong Government to investigate reasons for the incident to render public sympathy.

Shih further explained that there are two basic concepts to Terrorism, one is whether it causes panic in society and the other is whether it has a political purpose.

The man who knifed the police officer didn’t cause social alarm. If the action was out of the man's discontentment, it is neither politically driven.

Shih opined that the assault against pro-democracy protesters in Yuen Long on 21 July 2019 was a terrorist attack as it shocked and provoked panic in local community. If the collusion between assailants and police is evident, the attack could be deemed a “state terrorism”. That is to say, the regime is using illegal means to intimidate its own people.

Shih Chien-yu is a guest professor in the Taiwan Tsinghua University.

Source: HKCnews; #Jul7

https://bit.ly/3wEWRZT

#StateTerrorism #Propaganda #WhiteTerror #Censorship
#WhiteTerror #Censorship
Would Karaoke become a crime?: Hong Kong School Politicizes Cantopop Lyrics and Censors Singing Contest

Source: Stand News #Jul7

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#WhiteTerror #Censorship
Would Karaoke become a crime?: Hong Kong School Politicizes Cantopop Lyrics and Censors Singing Contest

In Hong Kong, two students from the ELCHK Yuen Long Lutheran Secondary School decided to perform a Cantonese pop song titled "銀河修理員” (Translated as: Galatic Repairman) at the school's singing contest.

The song was originally performed by the local band #DearJane.

The school, however, rejected the song, calling certain lyrics "political". The students were forced to modify their performance and only allowed to perform a makeover version call 疫情加油(Translated as: Pandemic Add Oil").

In the end, the two students entered the finals and performed on stage. They sang the song with the original lyrics and chanted "HongKongers Add Oil" after the performance.

The two were disqualified for performing the song without the school's approval and each were given a demerit. They were also banned from performing for the school in the future which could affect their chances of going to college.

Stand News made inquiries to the school about the incident, but the vice principal, Tam refused to give a response.

Source: Stand News #Jul7

https://thestandnews.page.link/eVu9qPBVGz6S9cvq6

#Karaoke #School #Cantopop #SingCon
#UN rights committee seeks assurances hearing participants from Hong Kong won’t be targeted under security law

Source: Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Jul7

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