#Censorship
#China censors #ZeroCovid debate after #WHO criticises policy

Source: Hong Kong Free Press #May12

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#Censorship
#China censors #ZeroCovid debate after #WHO criticises policy

//China’s censors scrambled to wipe out online debate over its zero-Covid strategy on Wednesday after the World Health Organisation (WHO) criticised the country’s hardline approach to crushing the virus.

China is the last major economy glued to a zero-Covid policy and enforces some of the most stringent virus controls anywhere in the world...

Those restrictions have trapped most of Shanghai’s 25 million people in a lockdown with no clear end date, while Beijing has also gradually coralled many of its residents indoors as it battles its biggest outbreak since the pandemic began.

On Tuesday WHO chief #Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged China to change tack, saying the approach “will not be sustainable” in the face of new fast-spreading variants.

The intervention prompted China’s army of internet censors to race to snuff out his comments.//

Read more:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/05/12/china-censors-zero-covid-debate-after-who-criticises-policy/

Source: Hong Kong Free Press #May12

#Censorship #PressFreedom
Hong Kong Public Broadcaster cuts pro-democracy representation in Advisory Panel overseeing programme quality

A Hong Kong public broadcaster, Radio & Television Hong Kong (#RTHK), announced on May 10 that it is set to streamline its consultation framework.

Under the new framework, the advisory panel on programme standards that comprised several members of pro-democracy parties have ceased operation since April 2022. However, panellists from the pro-establishment camp can be retained.

Although Tik Chi-yuen, a member of the Advisory Panel, told the reporters that he was surprised by the RTHK's action, he defended it and said that it doesn't mean RTHK is not listening to public opinion.

Another member Fung Ying-him, a representative of Our Hong Kong Foundation supporting the new framework, said such an arrangement was "fine", as the Advisory Panel did not have an active role, but only met once a year.

Source: Inmediahk, #May12
https://bit.ly/3sviEny

#TikChiYuen #FungYingHim

Scholars see arrests of Humanitatian Fund trustees as an attempt to silence dissidents and vengeance against international criticism

Source: Chaser News; #May12

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Scholars see arrests of Humanitatian Fund trustees as an attempt to silence dissidents and vengeance against international criticism

Dr. Chung Kim-Wah, former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) said it was widely rumored that President Xi Jinping may attend the 25th handover ceremony in Hong Kong on July 1.

In Chung's view, the National Security Police's high-profile arrests of 5 trustees of 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund was a deliberate attempt to "clean out" dissidents in the city.

The Fund provided legal and financial assistance to more than 2,200 people prosecuted for their part in the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

"Although it remains uncertain whether Xi Jing-ping would be in Hong Kong," Chung elaborated, "the period before July 1, say May and June would be sensitive times when National Security Department may take organised efforts to silence dissidents in Hong Kong."

Dr. Wong Wai-kwok, former Deputy Professor of Politics and International Relationships of the Hong Kong Baptist University, considered the arrest a "vengeance" for international criticism over the Chief Executive election in Hong Kong.

Following the small-circle CE election in early May, G7 foreign ministers issued a joint statement to express their grave concern over the steady erosion of political and civil rights and Hong Kong’s autonomy, calling it Chief Executive "Selection" instead of "Election".

Source: Chaser News; #May12

#HKPORI #612 #HumanitarianReliefFund #NationalSecurityLaw

https://publielectoral.lat/the_chaser_news/670