#FirstHand #Feb2
HK Gov't Rolls Out Multi-District Lockdowns in Consecutive Days
On Feb 2, 2021, the Hong Kong government imposes mandatory lockdowns in three districts, namely Jordan, Shum Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai.
This is the second day that multiple lockdowns take place on the same day. A day ago, the government enforced lockdowns in Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Yuen Long and Hung Hom.
Meanwhile, the government found no positive #covid19 case in the latest six mandatory lockdowns it conducted.
#FailedState #JordanLockdown
HK Gov't Rolls Out Multi-District Lockdowns in Consecutive Days
On Feb 2, 2021, the Hong Kong government imposes mandatory lockdowns in three districts, namely Jordan, Shum Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai.
This is the second day that multiple lockdowns take place on the same day. A day ago, the government enforced lockdowns in Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, Yuen Long and Hung Hom.
Meanwhile, the government found no positive #covid19 case in the latest six mandatory lockdowns it conducted.
#FailedState #JordanLockdown
#FirstHand #Feb2
Residents Frustrated by Government's Arbitrary Lockdown Measures Hurl Insults at Carrie Lam
On Feb 2, 2021, the Hong Kong government imposes mandatory lockdowns on Jordan, Shum Shui Po and Tin Shui Wei.
In the evening, government officials including Secretary for Food and Health #SophiaChan, Secretary for Home Affairs #CasperTsui Ying-wai, Secretary for the Environment #WongKamSing and assistant police commissioner #RupertDover were standing by at the site to receive Chief executive #CarrieLam for a visit at 11pm.
Lam, who stayed for 15 minutes, was followed around by over ten staff. Civilians who were lining up for mandatory #covid19 tests were asked to give way to Lam.
According to InMedia, a reporter asked Lam to comment on the effectiveness of the lockdown measures while discontent civilians at the scene shout "bixch". Lam did not react to the press nor the civilians.
#FailedState #ShumShuiPoLockdown
Residents Frustrated by Government's Arbitrary Lockdown Measures Hurl Insults at Carrie Lam
On Feb 2, 2021, the Hong Kong government imposes mandatory lockdowns on Jordan, Shum Shui Po and Tin Shui Wei.
In the evening, government officials including Secretary for Food and Health #SophiaChan, Secretary for Home Affairs #CasperTsui Ying-wai, Secretary for the Environment #WongKamSing and assistant police commissioner #RupertDover were standing by at the site to receive Chief executive #CarrieLam for a visit at 11pm.
Lam, who stayed for 15 minutes, was followed around by over ten staff. Civilians who were lining up for mandatory #covid19 tests were asked to give way to Lam.
According to InMedia, a reporter asked Lam to comment on the effectiveness of the lockdown measures while discontent civilians at the scene shout "bixch". Lam did not react to the press nor the civilians.
#FailedState #ShumShuiPoLockdown
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#FirstHand #Feb2
HK Authorities Refuses to Let Non-resident Leave the Lockdown Site: "You Hong Kong Citizens are Unreasonable!"
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28358
HK Authorities Refuses to Let Non-resident Leave the Lockdown Site: "You Hong Kong Citizens are Unreasonable!"
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28358
#FirstHand #Feb2
HK Authorities Refuses to Let Non-resident Leave the Lockdown Site: "You Hong Kong Citizens are Unreasonable!"
A woman who worked in Shum Shui Po expressed her utmost frustration and disappointment towards the Hong Kong government's organization at the lockdown zone.
On the evening of Feb 2, 2021, the woman found herself suddenly in the "restricted area" after the government ambushed 17 buildings in Shum Shui Po for a mandatory lockdown.
She spent hours talking to different officers from the disciplinary force to the Home Affairs Bureau (#HAB), hoping to leave the site after being tested negative. After all, she is not a resident of the area and has nowhere to stay until the end of the government's operation at 7am the next day. Worse still, she has 2 hamsters to feed at home.
The woman recounted the mistreatment by the officers on site and the ridiculous conversations she had with different government officials:
One staff from HAB claimed that she can call the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (#SPCA) and ask them to "go to her place and feed her pet".
Video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28357
Moreover, a customs officer claimed that she can sue him if anything happened to her hamsters. While almost all government's staff she talked to refused to show their pass and give their name, a female staff from the HAB surnamed Cheng proclaimed as the head of the Bureau. In reality, the Secretary for Home Affairs is Casper Tsui Ying-wei.
At some point, the government staff yelled back at the woman, "you Hong Kong citizens are unreasonable!". The woman said to the press, "Who is the unreasonable one here? It is the Hong Kong government!"
#FailedState #ShumShuiPoLockdown
#Hamster #Hate
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Residents Frustrated by Government's Arbitrary Lockdown Measures Hurl Insults at Carrie Lam
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28356
HK Authorities Refuses to Let Non-resident Leave the Lockdown Site: "You Hong Kong Citizens are Unreasonable!"
A woman who worked in Shum Shui Po expressed her utmost frustration and disappointment towards the Hong Kong government's organization at the lockdown zone.
On the evening of Feb 2, 2021, the woman found herself suddenly in the "restricted area" after the government ambushed 17 buildings in Shum Shui Po for a mandatory lockdown.
She spent hours talking to different officers from the disciplinary force to the Home Affairs Bureau (#HAB), hoping to leave the site after being tested negative. After all, she is not a resident of the area and has nowhere to stay until the end of the government's operation at 7am the next day. Worse still, she has 2 hamsters to feed at home.
The woman recounted the mistreatment by the officers on site and the ridiculous conversations she had with different government officials:
One staff from HAB claimed that she can call the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (#SPCA) and ask them to "go to her place and feed her pet".
Video:
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28357
Moreover, a customs officer claimed that she can sue him if anything happened to her hamsters. While almost all government's staff she talked to refused to show their pass and give their name, a female staff from the HAB surnamed Cheng proclaimed as the head of the Bureau. In reality, the Secretary for Home Affairs is Casper Tsui Ying-wei.
At some point, the government staff yelled back at the woman, "you Hong Kong citizens are unreasonable!". The woman said to the press, "Who is the unreasonable one here? It is the Hong Kong government!"
#FailedState #ShumShuiPoLockdown
#Hamster #Hate
====
Residents Frustrated by Government's Arbitrary Lockdown Measures Hurl Insults at Carrie Lam
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28356
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📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#FirstHand #Feb2
HK Authorities Refuses to Let Non-resident Leave the Lockdown Site: "You Hong Kong Citizens are Unreasonable!"
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28358
HK Authorities Refuses to Let Non-resident Leave the Lockdown Site: "You Hong Kong Citizens are Unreasonable!"
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28358
#FirstHand #Feb2
HK Gov't Commissions China-owned Gene Testing Company #BGI to Collect Samples from the Locals
On Feb 2, 2021, the Hong Kong government enforced multi-district lockdowns for consecutive days, despite a record of zero positive rate in its last six operation.
Just like one day ago in Yuen Long, the China-owned company Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), which has been sanctioned by the US for collecting genetic information of the Uighur population in Xinjiang for the Chinese Communist Party government, was again sighted in the lockdown site in Tin Shui Wai.
The HK government has commissioned the Chinese company to conduct #Covid19 test on the local population.
#FailedState #MassSurveillance #BigData #CCP
HK Gov't Commissions China-owned Gene Testing Company #BGI to Collect Samples from the Locals
On Feb 2, 2021, the Hong Kong government enforced multi-district lockdowns for consecutive days, despite a record of zero positive rate in its last six operation.
Just like one day ago in Yuen Long, the China-owned company Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), which has been sanctioned by the US for collecting genetic information of the Uighur population in Xinjiang for the Chinese Communist Party government, was again sighted in the lockdown site in Tin Shui Wai.
The HK government has commissioned the Chinese company to conduct #Covid19 test on the local population.
#FailedState #MassSurveillance #BigData #CCP
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#FirstHand #Feb2
#DistrictCouncillor: HK Government's Arbitrary Lockdown is a Show for Beijing
Speaking to the media at the Shum Shui Po lockdown zone on Feb 2, 2021, Yu Tak-po, the vice chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong district council questioned the effectiveness of the government's mandatory lockdowns.
Insofar, the highest positive rate was recorded at 0.017% on Jan 23, 2021. Otherwise, the government found no positive cases at all in the last six lockdowns.
Yu also pointed out the temporal 'coincidence' between Carrie Lam's duty report meeting with Chinese Communist Party leader #XiJinping and the Hong Kong government's incessant implementation of lockdowns.
Yu suspected that the continuation of the lockdown measures was a show for Beijing.
The councillor also demanded the government to withdraw its plan to break into residents' flats in the restricted area by force if no one answers the door, for that the act is a blatant infringement of rights.
#ShumShuiPoLockdown #FailedState
#DistrictCouncillor: HK Government's Arbitrary Lockdown is a Show for Beijing
Speaking to the media at the Shum Shui Po lockdown zone on Feb 2, 2021, Yu Tak-po, the vice chairman of the Yau Tsim Mong district council questioned the effectiveness of the government's mandatory lockdowns.
Insofar, the highest positive rate was recorded at 0.017% on Jan 23, 2021. Otherwise, the government found no positive cases at all in the last six lockdowns.
Yu also pointed out the temporal 'coincidence' between Carrie Lam's duty report meeting with Chinese Communist Party leader #XiJinping and the Hong Kong government's incessant implementation of lockdowns.
Yu suspected that the continuation of the lockdown measures was a show for Beijing.
The councillor also demanded the government to withdraw its plan to break into residents' flats in the restricted area by force if no one answers the door, for that the act is a blatant infringement of rights.
#ShumShuiPoLockdown #FailedState
#FailedState #ShumShuiPoLockdown
HK Authorities Force Clients at Hair Salon to Undergo Immediate #Covid19 Test
During the Hong Kong government's "ambush-style" lockdown on Feb 2, 2021, civilians who were having their hair dyed in hair salon in Shum Shui Po were forced out on the street to undergo mandatory #covid19 test.
Source: Stand News #Feb2
#HairDye
HK Authorities Force Clients at Hair Salon to Undergo Immediate #Covid19 Test
During the Hong Kong government's "ambush-style" lockdown on Feb 2, 2021, civilians who were having their hair dyed in hair salon in Shum Shui Po were forced out on the street to undergo mandatory #covid19 test.
Source: Stand News #Feb2
#HairDye
#PoliceState #SecretArrests #NationalSecurityLaw
HK Police Makes National Security Arrests in “Black-box-Operation”
Source: Stand News #Feb2
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28466
HK Police Makes National Security Arrests in “Black-box-Operation”
Source: Stand News #Feb2
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/28466
#PoliceState #SecretArrests #NationalSecurityLaw
HK Police Makes National Security Arrests in “Black-box-Operation”
The Hong Kong Police Commissioner #ChrisTang Ping-keung stated on February 2, 2021 that a total number of 97 people in Hong Kong have been arrested under the charges of #NationalSecurityLaw since the new law’s enforcement in July 2020.
However, media found that only 94 arrestees have been publicly announced. The police have never announced nor explained the arrests of at least three suspects.
Four hours after the media’s inquiry, the Hong Kong Police Force issued a statement in the late evening.
It then stated that 2 men and 1 woman, aged between 28 and 58, were arrested on January 29, 2021 under the charges of “financing others to secede the country” as well as money laundering.
It was said that the arrests were linked to Giggs, a radio host who was arrested on suspicion of "money laundering" and "incitement of secession" under the national security law on November 21, 2020.
Source: Stand News #Feb2
https://bit.ly/2LapEnh
#WhiteTerror #Oppression #PoliticalPersecution #BlackBox
HK Police Makes National Security Arrests in “Black-box-Operation”
The Hong Kong Police Commissioner #ChrisTang Ping-keung stated on February 2, 2021 that a total number of 97 people in Hong Kong have been arrested under the charges of #NationalSecurityLaw since the new law’s enforcement in July 2020.
However, media found that only 94 arrestees have been publicly announced. The police have never announced nor explained the arrests of at least three suspects.
Four hours after the media’s inquiry, the Hong Kong Police Force issued a statement in the late evening.
It then stated that 2 men and 1 woman, aged between 28 and 58, were arrested on January 29, 2021 under the charges of “financing others to secede the country” as well as money laundering.
It was said that the arrests were linked to Giggs, a radio host who was arrested on suspicion of "money laundering" and "incitement of secession" under the national security law on November 21, 2020.
Source: Stand News #Feb2
https://bit.ly/2LapEnh
#WhiteTerror #Oppression #PoliticalPersecution #BlackBox
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#FailedState #AsiasFinest
"Police Shall Breach Law Knowingly": Hong Kong Top Police's Freudian Slip?
Source: InMedia #Feb2
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"Police Shall Breach Law Knowingly": Hong Kong Top Police's Freudian Slip?
Source: InMedia #Feb2
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#FailedState #AsiasFinest
"Police Shall Breach Law Knowingly": Hong Kong Top Police's Freudian Slip?
In response to a media inquiry about the number of police officers arrested in 2020, Hong Kong Police Commissioner #ChrisTang Ping-keung stated that 45 officers have been arrested in 2020, which is 21 more than that in 2019.
Despite condemning the officers' misconduct, the police commissioner slipped tongue by saying “as police officers who know the law shall breach the law knowingly.”
A few minutes later, he made a correction, “officers who know the law should abide by the law".
When commenting on the police-civilian relationship, Tang said the social sentiment has improved considerably, citing examples like, “Nobody would hurl Molotov cocktail for unknown reasons, and nobody would be assaulted for unknown reasons.”
He reiterated that after one full year, civilians have seen clearly “the damage of rioters to society”. He carried on saying that frontline officers have often been complimented when executing duties, “Citizens usually thank officers and encourage them to keep up their good work.”
Source: InMediahk; #Feb2
https://bit.ly/3auK9ng
#Delusion #Denial #FreudianSlip
"Police Shall Breach Law Knowingly": Hong Kong Top Police's Freudian Slip?
In response to a media inquiry about the number of police officers arrested in 2020, Hong Kong Police Commissioner #ChrisTang Ping-keung stated that 45 officers have been arrested in 2020, which is 21 more than that in 2019.
Despite condemning the officers' misconduct, the police commissioner slipped tongue by saying “as police officers who know the law shall breach the law knowingly.”
A few minutes later, he made a correction, “officers who know the law should abide by the law".
When commenting on the police-civilian relationship, Tang said the social sentiment has improved considerably, citing examples like, “Nobody would hurl Molotov cocktail for unknown reasons, and nobody would be assaulted for unknown reasons.”
He reiterated that after one full year, civilians have seen clearly “the damage of rioters to society”. He carried on saying that frontline officers have often been complimented when executing duties, “Citizens usually thank officers and encourage them to keep up their good work.”
Source: InMediahk; #Feb2
https://bit.ly/3auK9ng
#Delusion #Denial #FreudianSlip
#FailedState
Government Staff Wearing #Gucci Bag Enrages Residents in Lockdown Area
Source: InMedia #Feb2
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Government Staff Wearing #Gucci Bag Enrages Residents in Lockdown Area
Source: InMedia #Feb2
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#FailedState
Government Staff Wearing #Gucci Bag Enrages Residents in Lockdown Area
On Feb 2, 2021, the Hong Kong government imposed a sudden lockdown of 17 buildings in Sham Shui Po for mandatory #COVID19 tests.
The residents queued up in a long line on Ta Nan Street awaiting to be tested. The government staff at the scene, however, kept on urging the crowd to line up and to stay in order.
In response, some residents muttered disgruntlements, “we have been lining up for a long time without complaining. Cut your reminder.”
Meanwhile, a government staff in protective gown and face shield walked by. She was sighted wearing an expensive Gucci-brand crossbody bag outside her protective layer.
In sarcasm, one resident taunted her, “Are you coming with a Gucci bag to comfort us? The bag costs too much that I can’t afford even a knock-off. This is way too much for us.”
In embarrassment, the female staff quickly walked away in utter silence.
Source: InMedia #Feb2
#ShumShuiPoLockdown #PublicOutcry #Discontent
Government Staff Wearing #Gucci Bag Enrages Residents in Lockdown Area
On Feb 2, 2021, the Hong Kong government imposed a sudden lockdown of 17 buildings in Sham Shui Po for mandatory #COVID19 tests.
The residents queued up in a long line on Ta Nan Street awaiting to be tested. The government staff at the scene, however, kept on urging the crowd to line up and to stay in order.
In response, some residents muttered disgruntlements, “we have been lining up for a long time without complaining. Cut your reminder.”
Meanwhile, a government staff in protective gown and face shield walked by. She was sighted wearing an expensive Gucci-brand crossbody bag outside her protective layer.
In sarcasm, one resident taunted her, “Are you coming with a Gucci bag to comfort us? The bag costs too much that I can’t afford even a knock-off. This is way too much for us.”
In embarrassment, the female staff quickly walked away in utter silence.
Source: InMedia #Feb2
#ShumShuiPoLockdown #PublicOutcry #Discontent
#FailedState #WuhanPheumonia
Hong Kong’s COVID Rules Are Screwing Over The Poor At Every Turn
Source: Vice #Feb2
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Hong Kong’s COVID Rules Are Screwing Over The Poor At Every Turn
Source: Vice #Feb2
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#FailedState #WuhanPheumonia
Hong Kong’s COVID Rules Are Screwing Over The Poor At Every Turn
//The effects of the pandemic had driven almost a hundred people into homelessness, a survey by the local advocacy group Society for Community Organization (#SOCO) found in May.
[These cases are] ... among at least a thousand homeless people in Hong Kong who have been pushed deeper into the abyss by government efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, in a stark illustration of how the crisis is disproportionately hurting the poor and worsening inequality in one of the world’s richest cities.
In response to questions from VICE World News about what the government has done to aid rough sleepers during the pandemic, a spokesperson said it “stepped up their efforts to proactively reach out to street sleepers, providing them with up-to-date health related information and in-kind assistance such as face masks and hand sanitizers as well as referring them to hostels.”
Such a response highlighted how little Hong Kong officials understood the needs of people who don’t have a home. //
Source: Vice #Feb2
Read full article:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7aky8/hong-kong-covid-economic-inequality
#covid19 #MandatoryLockdown #Elderly #Inequality
Hong Kong’s COVID Rules Are Screwing Over The Poor At Every Turn
//The effects of the pandemic had driven almost a hundred people into homelessness, a survey by the local advocacy group Society for Community Organization (#SOCO) found in May.
[These cases are] ... among at least a thousand homeless people in Hong Kong who have been pushed deeper into the abyss by government efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, in a stark illustration of how the crisis is disproportionately hurting the poor and worsening inequality in one of the world’s richest cities.
In response to questions from VICE World News about what the government has done to aid rough sleepers during the pandemic, a spokesperson said it “stepped up their efforts to proactively reach out to street sleepers, providing them with up-to-date health related information and in-kind assistance such as face masks and hand sanitizers as well as referring them to hostels.”
Such a response highlighted how little Hong Kong officials understood the needs of people who don’t have a home. //
Source: Vice #Feb2
Read full article:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7aky8/hong-kong-covid-economic-inequality
#covid19 #MandatoryLockdown #Elderly #Inequality
Vice
Hong Kong’s COVID Rules Screw Over The Poor At Every Turn
Talk about unintended consequences. And oversights.
#FailedState #ChildAbuse
HK Government Asks a 10-year-old to Spend the Night Alone in a Motel During #SuddenLockdown
Source: Apple Daily #Feb2
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HK Government Asks a 10-year-old to Spend the Night Alone in a Motel During #SuddenLockdown
Source: Apple Daily #Feb2
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#FailedState #ChildAbuse
HK Government Asks a 10-year-old to Spend the Night Alone in a Motel During #SuddenLockdown
At 7pm on Feb 1, 2021, the Hong Kong Government imposed a sudden lockdown in fours districts, including Tsim Sha Tsui, a popular shopping area frequented by many locals.
A mother took her 10-year-old daughter for a haircut in Tsim Sha Tsui. She went for a quick grocery shopping, when her daughter was in the hair salon.
When the mother went back to pick up her daughter, the salon has been cordoned off by the authorities as a restricted area for mandatory #COVID19 testing.
Unable to reach her daughter, the mother waited in avail for hours outside the lockdown zone,
The authorities suggested renting a motel room for her 10-year-old daughter to stay alone overnight until the end of the government's operation at 7am the next day.
In frustration, the mother questioned, “will you yourself consider sleeping over in a motel in Tsim Sha Tsui?”
Showing her extreme disappointment, she described the options provided by the government as “useless.”
At around 22:30, the mother was told that her daughter would be released after being tested. The government staff stressed that it was a "discretionary" arrangement.
Source: Apple Daily #Feb2
https://bit.ly/3tqCL5g
#Child #TsimShaTsuiLockdown #Motel
HK Government Asks a 10-year-old to Spend the Night Alone in a Motel During #SuddenLockdown
At 7pm on Feb 1, 2021, the Hong Kong Government imposed a sudden lockdown in fours districts, including Tsim Sha Tsui, a popular shopping area frequented by many locals.
A mother took her 10-year-old daughter for a haircut in Tsim Sha Tsui. She went for a quick grocery shopping, when her daughter was in the hair salon.
When the mother went back to pick up her daughter, the salon has been cordoned off by the authorities as a restricted area for mandatory #COVID19 testing.
Unable to reach her daughter, the mother waited in avail for hours outside the lockdown zone,
The authorities suggested renting a motel room for her 10-year-old daughter to stay alone overnight until the end of the government's operation at 7am the next day.
In frustration, the mother questioned, “will you yourself consider sleeping over in a motel in Tsim Sha Tsui?”
Showing her extreme disappointment, she described the options provided by the government as “useless.”
At around 22:30, the mother was told that her daughter would be released after being tested. The government staff stressed that it was a "discretionary" arrangement.
Source: Apple Daily #Feb2
https://bit.ly/3tqCL5g
#Child #TsimShaTsuiLockdown #Motel
#Court #RuleByLaw #Regime #Justice
Department of Justice Cites Unenacted #Article23 in Hong Kong Court
Source: Apple Daily #Feb2
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Department of Justice Cites Unenacted #Article23 in Hong Kong Court
Source: Apple Daily #Feb2
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#Court #RuleByLaw #Regime #Justice
Department of Justice Cites Unenacted #Article23 in Hong Kong Court
Founder of Apple Daily and Next Magazine, #JimmyLai Chee-ying, has been remanded in custody in Hong Kong since the end of 2020 on suspicion of "colluding with foreign forces and fraud".
On February 1, 2020 the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong heard an appeal against the decision to release him on a HK$10 million cash bail, pending trial over national security charges.
The appeal was heard before five hand-picked National Security judges, including the new Chief Justice #AndrewCheung Kui-nung, permanent justices Roberto Ribeiro and Joseph Fok, and non-permanent local judges Patrick Chan Siu-oi and Frank Stock.
Representative of the Department of Justice (#DoJ), Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Chau Tin-hang attempted to put meaning to “acts that endanger national security”. Chau stated that such acts are not limited to offences under the National Security Act, but also include local offences and any actions that would endanger national security.
Non-Permanent Judge Chan asked Chau to give examples of “acts endangering national security” which are not criminalised.
Chau quoted some behaviors covered in Basic Law #Article23, referring to the prohibition of political activities by foreign political organizations in Hong Kong, or the establishment of links between local and foreign political organizations. Article 23, however, has yet to be enacted.
Non-permanent local judge Patrick Chan Siu-oi questioned, “That is to say these are not a crime.” Chau agreed. Chan immediately responded, “Then why should we be bothered?”
Permanent judge Roberto Ribeiro pointed out that the purpose of the #NationalSecurityLaw is to prevent crimes against national security, and no one questions the importance of national security. He carried on saying that it would be “odd” for judges to be concerned with acts that are not yet criminalised.
Ribeiro elaborated that "I can't think of any behavior that endangers national security but won't be contravening the law and the arrest.” He asked the DoJ representative to supplement with examples.
In response, Anthony Chau cited actus reus as a possible offence letting alone the criminal intent and thus they do not constitute an act of complete crime. Ribeiro asked the government's prosecutor to explain how bail judges could reach a decision.
Chief judge Andrew Cheung Kui-nung also casted doubt in the prosecution's logic. He said, “a citizen can commit an act that violats the National Security Law, but the person may not get arrested. However, a national security suspect, committing the same act, would be detained in custody?”
Cheung remarked, “isn’t it odd?” The DOJ representative responded that this is up to the Judge to decide. He clarified that he is referring to "an act" in relation to the suspected charges of the National Security suspect, not "any act".
The prosecutor also mentioned that the National Security Law will not supersede the "presumption of innocence" and it is also in accordance with the Human Rights Act.
When speaking on the Rights of Freedom, the prosecutor insisted that the defence shall not rely on cases of the European Court on Human Rights, reiterating that The European Convention on Human Rights cannot be applied directly to Hong Kong.
Source: Apple Daily, #Feb2
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210201/6KXCOOIP6VAOZK4SRCNQV5C72E/
Department of Justice Cites Unenacted #Article23 in Hong Kong Court
Founder of Apple Daily and Next Magazine, #JimmyLai Chee-ying, has been remanded in custody in Hong Kong since the end of 2020 on suspicion of "colluding with foreign forces and fraud".
On February 1, 2020 the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong heard an appeal against the decision to release him on a HK$10 million cash bail, pending trial over national security charges.
The appeal was heard before five hand-picked National Security judges, including the new Chief Justice #AndrewCheung Kui-nung, permanent justices Roberto Ribeiro and Joseph Fok, and non-permanent local judges Patrick Chan Siu-oi and Frank Stock.
Representative of the Department of Justice (#DoJ), Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Chau Tin-hang attempted to put meaning to “acts that endanger national security”. Chau stated that such acts are not limited to offences under the National Security Act, but also include local offences and any actions that would endanger national security.
Non-Permanent Judge Chan asked Chau to give examples of “acts endangering national security” which are not criminalised.
Chau quoted some behaviors covered in Basic Law #Article23, referring to the prohibition of political activities by foreign political organizations in Hong Kong, or the establishment of links between local and foreign political organizations. Article 23, however, has yet to be enacted.
Non-permanent local judge Patrick Chan Siu-oi questioned, “That is to say these are not a crime.” Chau agreed. Chan immediately responded, “Then why should we be bothered?”
Permanent judge Roberto Ribeiro pointed out that the purpose of the #NationalSecurityLaw is to prevent crimes against national security, and no one questions the importance of national security. He carried on saying that it would be “odd” for judges to be concerned with acts that are not yet criminalised.
Ribeiro elaborated that "I can't think of any behavior that endangers national security but won't be contravening the law and the arrest.” He asked the DoJ representative to supplement with examples.
In response, Anthony Chau cited actus reus as a possible offence letting alone the criminal intent and thus they do not constitute an act of complete crime. Ribeiro asked the government's prosecutor to explain how bail judges could reach a decision.
Chief judge Andrew Cheung Kui-nung also casted doubt in the prosecution's logic. He said, “a citizen can commit an act that violats the National Security Law, but the person may not get arrested. However, a national security suspect, committing the same act, would be detained in custody?”
Cheung remarked, “isn’t it odd?” The DOJ representative responded that this is up to the Judge to decide. He clarified that he is referring to "an act" in relation to the suspected charges of the National Security suspect, not "any act".
The prosecutor also mentioned that the National Security Law will not supersede the "presumption of innocence" and it is also in accordance with the Human Rights Act.
When speaking on the Rights of Freedom, the prosecutor insisted that the defence shall not rely on cases of the European Court on Human Rights, reiterating that The European Convention on Human Rights cannot be applied directly to Hong Kong.
Source: Apple Daily, #Feb2
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210201/6KXCOOIP6VAOZK4SRCNQV5C72E/
#AcademicFreedom #Suppression
Hong Kong denies visa for US human rights law scholar with no apparent reasons
On 2 February, an American legal scholar specialising in LGBTQ rights said he was denied a visa to teach at a Hong Kong university, as concerns deepen about academic freedom in the city.
Legal scholar Ryan Thoreson said he was hired by the University of Hong Kong (#HKU), the city’s oldest, to teach human rights law as a tenure-track assistant professor, but his visa application was rejected.
“(The government) hadn’t given an explanation for it, but it just showed up on the immigration website saying the application had been refused,” Thoreson said.
#RyanThoreson #HumanRights #LGBTQ #Visa
Source: Ming Pao, HKFP; #Feb2
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20220202/s00001/1643779715101
Hong Kong denies visa for US human rights law scholar with no apparent reasons
On 2 February, an American legal scholar specialising in LGBTQ rights said he was denied a visa to teach at a Hong Kong university, as concerns deepen about academic freedom in the city.
Legal scholar Ryan Thoreson said he was hired by the University of Hong Kong (#HKU), the city’s oldest, to teach human rights law as a tenure-track assistant professor, but his visa application was rejected.
“(The government) hadn’t given an explanation for it, but it just showed up on the immigration website saying the application had been refused,” Thoreson said.
#RyanThoreson #HumanRights #LGBTQ #Visa
Source: Ming Pao, HKFP; #Feb2
https://news.mingpao.com/ins/%e6%b8%af%e8%81%9e/article/20220202/s00001/1643779715101