Kiwi CHOW, Director of <Revolution of Our Times>: I would sacrifice myself for justice, movie is only a path

By Translated by Guardians of Hong Kong December 28, 2021 • 30 December 2021

At the age of 18, when he already abandoned school life for three years, Chow asked himself how much he would sacrifice for movies. With weak English and poor HKCEE (HK Certificate of Education Examination) results, he was standing at a crossroad in his life. The question was “Should I return to school and try to get into the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and learn how to make movies (which I love so much)? Or should I abandon this path?”. “It seemed that I must do something most painful (take examinations) before something I will…

 Source: InMediaHK.net #Nov28

Author: LEUNG Ho-yee

#Documentary #Movie #ChowKwunWai #RevolutionOfOurTimes

Full Story：

https://telegra.ph/Interview-Kiwi-CHOW-Director-of-Revolution-of-Our-Times-I-would-sacrifice-myself-for-justice-movie-is-only-a-path-12-30

Hong Kong Civil Servants Arrested for "Seditious" Social Media Posts

Source:
Channel C, HK01 #Aug09

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Hong Kong Civil Servants Arrested for "Seditious" Social Media Posts

On Aug 9, national security police arrested 4 men, two of whom are civil servants, for allegedly publishing seditious posts online, Hong Kong Police said. 

Sources claim that the two civil servants are the administrators for the "Civil Servants Secrets" Facebook page, which publishes stories submitted anonymously by civil servants of the city.  The relevant Facebook page and Instagram are both currently down.

Police said that the two, aged 28 and 29, published seditious posts that "promoted feelings of hostility between different classes of the city's population".

Police had further investigated 5 other men, two of whom were arrested for allegedly committing fraud.  Police searched their homes and workplaces, and confiscated electronic communication devices.  Police said that the operation is ongoing, and there may be more arrests connected to the case.

Oscar Kwok, Head of the Hong Kong Civil Service College, spoke to reporters from HK01 last Friday that he reads the "Civil Servants Secrets" page to understand their feelings.  Kwok had served in the police force for 32 years, and said that he hopes the public - particularly the media - would speak more positively of civil servants and show gratitude for their work, so that they could be more motivated to serve the public.

A message from someone who claimed to have witnessed one of the arrests at a government office quickly circulated online.  The message said that police arrived at their office in large numbers, and the staff was told not to touch their computers.  Several computers were confiscated, including one that was said to contain very sensitive data.  The whole office was shocked. The source said: the managers looked sombre, and the rest of the staff kept their heads down as they quietly went back to work.

Source:
Channel C, HK01 #Aug09

https://bit.ly/3vQxSVQ

#CivilServants #Suppression #FreedomOfSpeech #NationalSecurityLaw
#FacebookPage #CivilServantSecret #Seditious

Pelosi Taiwan visit - US will not abandon commitment to Taiwan, says Speaker

Source: Inmediahk #Aug03

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Pelosi Taiwan visit - US will not abandon commitment to Taiwan, says Speaker

In a meeting with Taiwaness President Tsai Ing-wen at the Presidential Palace on August 3, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reiterated their steadfast support to Taiwan, referring to the Taiwan Relations Act signed 43 years ago.

"Today, our delegation... came to Taiwan to make unequivocally clear we will not abandon our commitment to Taiwan and we are proud of our enduring friendship,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi pointed out that the Taiwan's story is one of passion for democracy and freedom, showcasing the Taiwanese hope, perseverance and determination towards building a peaceful and prosperous future in the face of challenges.

She emphasized that America’s solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important than ever as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy. The United States stands ready to defend democracy in Taiwan.

In her 7-minute address, Pelosi made reference to Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, stressing that the US will continue to work on this basis to establish prosperous cooperative relationship with Taiwan, honoring America’s unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan’s vibrant Democracy.

Source: Inmediahk; #Aug3
https://bit.ly/3brC9YQ

#NancyPelosi #Taiwan #TsaiIngWan #LamWingKee #WuerKaixi #LeeMingChe #CrossStraits #CausewayBayBookstore

[47 in primary election case] After running for 12 hours, hearing adjourned to next month; defendants only given three packs of crackers for dinner

By Translated by BeWater HK on Feb 5, 2022 • 17 May 2022

[Independent media report] 47 persons involved in organizing and participating in a pan-democrats primary election last year were charged with "conspiracy to subvert state power". Only 14 of them were granted bail (Owen CHOW’s bail was revoked recently).  The other 33 have been detained for nearly eleven month since their arrests. The hearing at West Kowloon Magistracy today deals with some of the defendants, including LAM Cheuk-Ting and Gwyneth HO’s requests. 23 defendants attended the hearing…

Court case number: WKCC813/2021

 Source: InMediaHK #Jan27

#ChanChiChuen #WongPikWan #NSL #LamCheukTing #JoshuaWong

Full Story：

https://telegra.ph/47-in-primary-election-case-After-running-for-12-hours-hearing-adjourned-to-next-month-defendants-only-given-three-packs-of-crac-05-17

Former HK Chief Executive mocks Nancy Pelosi tarnishing pro-democracy pursuits in Hong Kong

Source: CY Leung Facebook; #Aug04

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Former HK Chief Executive mocks Nancy Pelosi tarnishing pro-democracy pursuits in Hong Kong

At the height of military tension over Taiwan following the visit by U.S. House Speaker #NancyPelosi, CY Leung shared six old photographs on his Facebook page on August 4.

Among these pictures were Pelosi meeting renowned pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong, including #JimmyLai, #AnsonFong, #MartinLee, #NathanLaw and #JoshuaWong.

Mockingly, Leung remarked, “Everyone she touched…”

Source: CY Leung Facebook; #Aug4

Who is CY Leung?
Official name Leung Chun-Ying, he was Hong Kong’s 3rd Chief Executive, elected by a 1,200-strong small circle electoral college in 2012. He was the only Chief Executive who delivered inaugural speech in Mandarin at that time, although 95% of local population speaks in Cantonese. His business interests have close tie with the Chinese Community Party and utter pro-China stance alienated the people in Hong Kong, which eventually led to the outbreak of Umbrella Movement in 2014. On only the third day of protests, Leung ordered deployment of tear gas on the protesters.

Although Leung decided not to run for the Chief Executive election in 2016 citing family problems, he earned himself a nickname, “wolf-Ying” when he started a dedicated Facebook page in 2018 to defend China’s interests. His abusive remarks on the city’s pro-democracy pursuits, characterized by unapologetic, “dare to struggle” instincts resembled those of China’s "wolf warrior" diplomats.

#LeungChunYing #FacebookPosts

Non-jury trial ordered for Hong Kong’s 47 democrats national security case

Hong Kong’s justice minister has ordered a non-jury trial for the city’s largest national security case to date in which dozens of pro-democracy politicians face up to life in prison, according to documents seen by AFP.

Trial by jury has been used by Hong Kong’s common law legal system for 177 years but legislation imposed by China in 2020 to curb dissent allows cases to be heard by dedicated national security judges.

Source: HKFP #Aug16

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/08/16/non-jury-trial-ordered-for-hong-kongs-47-democrats-national-security-case/

#Jury #NationalSecurity #Democracy

Hong Kong's “National Education Calendar” suggests discussing #ChineseCommunistParty development and watching three "patriotic anti-Japanese" films a year

Source: In-Media HK #Aug02

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Hong Kong's “National Education Calendar” suggests discussing #ChineseCommunistParty development and watching three "patriotic anti-Japanese" films a year

In a letter to all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, the Education Bureau (#EDB) "strongly recommended" schools to "fully and systematically" implement learning activities for #NationalSecurityEducation.

The bureau attached a calendar of "important dates" on the national education curriculum, as well as suggested learning activities for each. These recommendations include watching patriotic or anti-Japanese war movies on three memorial dates related to the anti-Japanese war; holding memorial ceremonies on "mourning day for Nanjing Massacre Victims"; celebrating the "102nd Anniversary of the founding of the #CCP" with discussions on the Party's development, etc.

The EDB had also made it mandatory for all primary and secondary schools to fly the Chinese flag on all school days, as well as to hold a weekly flag-raising ceremony, complete with singing the Chinese national anthem. Secretary of Education Christine Choi says that, as the youth is the future pillars of society, schools must instill in students the concept of the nation, as well as national identity and pride, in order to develop them into a new generation of "knowledgeable, responsible youths who love the country and love Hong Kong".

[Editor's notes: Many China-produced television dramas and films about fighting the Japanese during World War 2 are characterized by their nationalistic nature. They are also known for "over-the-top violence and implausible plot events." For more information, check out this report by Hong Kong Free Press:

Patriotic comedies? Japanese author compiles an encyclopaedia of Chinese anti-Japan dramas
https://hongkongfp.com/2018/05/06/patriotic-comedies-japanese-author-compiles-encyclopaedia-chinese-anti-japan-dramas/ ]

Source: In-Media HK #Aug02
https://bit.ly/3zSgzGw

#Education #EducationBureau #NationalSecurityLaw #AntiJapan #Brainwashing #Nationalism

#MassSurveillance
#TikTok Browser Can Track Users’ Keystrokes, According to New Research

Source: New York Times #Aug19

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#MassSurveillance
#TikTok Browser Can Track Users’ Keystrokes, According to New Research

// The web browser used within the TikTok app can track every keystroke made by its users, according to new research that is surfacing as the Chinese-owned video app grapples with U.S. lawmakers’ concerns over its data practices.

The research from Felix Krause, a privacy researcher and former Google engineer, did not show how TikTok used the capability, which is embedded within the in-app browser that pops up when someone clicks an outside link. But Mr. Krause said the development was concerning because it showed TikTok had built in functionality to track users’ online habits if it chose to do so.

Collecting information on what people type on their phones while visiting outside websites, which can reveal credit card numbers and passwords, is often a feature of malware and other hacking tools. While major technology companies might use such trackers as they test new software, it is not common for them to release a major commercial app with the feature, whether or not it is enabled, researchers said. //

Read more:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/19/technology/tiktok-browser-tracking.html

Source: New York Times #Aug19

#BigBrother #CreditCard #Privacy

#HongKong Government publishes "correct" view of Hong Kong #History, claims 1997 was not a "#handover"

In the name of reforming the secondary school curriculum, the Hong Kong government had replaced Liberal Studies with “Civic and Social Development”. The textbook content has also been changed to explicitly state that Hong Kong was never a British colony.

In an article uploaded to its website on August 2, 2022, the Education Bureau (#EDB) explained the government's official version of history, saying that the ceremony on 1st July 1997 was not a “handover of Hong Kong” but a “transfer of sovereignty”. The education bureau argues that denying Hong Kong being a former British colony doesn’t mean it rejects Hong Kong’s history of being occupied by Britain, but stresses that the word “colony” was inappropriate.

The 1,500-word article is available in Chinese only.

Source: In-Media #Aug02
https://bit.ly/3OMSxRr

#Education #CCP #EducationBureau #BritishColony #NationalSecurityEducation #RewritingHistory

The Countries Most In Debt To China

Source: Forbes #Aug19

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The Countries Most In Debt To China

//Countries heavily in debt to China are mostly located in Africa, but can also be found in Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, data from The World Bank shows. China is currently the preferred lender to the world’s low-income countries, which owe 37% of their debt to China in 2022, compared to just 24% in bilateral debt to the rest of the world...

The Chinese "New Silk Road" project, a program to finance the construction of port, rail and land infrastructure across the globe, has been a major source of debt to China for participating countries. At the end of 2020, of the 97 countries for which data was available, those with the highest external debt to China were all involved in the project, namely Pakistan ($77.3 billion of external debt to China), Angola (36.3 billion), Ethiopia (7.9 billion), Kenya (7.4 billion) and Sri Lanka (6.8 billion)...

The idea that China could gain significant leverage over countries and their infrastructure in the case of repayment issues has been cited often, like in the case of a troubled Sri Lankan port that was built with Chinese funds and that China ultimately took a 70% stake in. The Laotian railway that has been burdening the country with debt is also 70% Chinese-owned.//

Read more:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/katharinabuchholz/2022/08/19/the-countries-most-in-debt-to-china-infographic/

Source: Forbes #Aug19

#Debt #RiseofChina #WorldEconomy #InternationalRelations

#Court
High Court Judge Claims First Aiders "Encourage" Fighting, as First Aider Appeals 4-Year Rioting Sentence

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#Court
High Court Judge Claims First Aiders "Encourage" Fighting, as First Aider Appeals 4-Year Rioting Sentence

In Hong Kong, the High Court has heard an appeal against the conviction of a 26-year-old man sentenced to four years for rioting in a 2019 #AntiELAB protest.

The man is one of 16 charged with rioting in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai on 31 August 2019, the fifth anniversary of the Chinese congress’ ’31 August decision’ to limit candidacy and representation in Hong Kong’s elections.

While six of the accused were acquitted, the man, who maintained that he was volunteering as a #FirstAider on the scene, was found guilty and handed a four-year sentence in 2021. He has now been incarcerated for over two years.

Citing the Lo Kin-man case, the appellate judge Derek Pang said on 28 July that a first aider can still be considered to have had a part in the riot.

“[Let’s say] you show up in a battle in a certain country’s military uniform. You have a red cross on your arm, and you’re a medic. Does that mean you’re not part of the frontline fighting? Isn’t that still a kind of support or encouragement?” Mr Pang said.

He added that helping someone of the same side in a riot to wash tear gas out their eyes is also a form of support. The appellant, he said, must have acted with the same purpose in mind as the rest of his camp.

“Why is it that you can’t possibly be one of the rioters if you’re a first aider? It’s not like you were with St John [Ambulance], is it?” Mr Pang said.

The prosecutor said it is for the court to decide if the appellant was a genuine first aider.

“A mere claim of having been a first aider [on the scene] doesn’t give one immunity,” she said.

Source: InMedia #Jul28
https://bit.ly/3S4TFTh

#HongKongProtests #PoliceState #FirstAider #PoliticalPersecution #Crackdown

#Surveillance
Portable charger in China Turned into Eavesdropping Device and GPS Locator

Source: RFA #Jul27

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#Surveillance
Portable charger in China Turned into Eavesdropping Device and GPS Locator

In China, a portable charger can become an eavesdropping device and a GPS locator. Acoording to Chinese media, with the installation of SIM card, such portable charger can eavesdrop a long distance away and locate the user accurately.

These devices come in various colours and models, but most have the functionality of "remote monitoring recording" and "precise positioning".

They cost from RMB300 to RMB600 and can be bought on some online platforms.

In China, a journalist from #Banyuetan (#半月談) successfully modifies a portable charger from a store with RMB300. He downloads a "#GPS365" app onto his phone. After logging in with the username and password given by the seller, the screen shows the device location, tracking record, contact list, messages etc.

The journalist puts "location" in trial and finds out that the activity tracking of the user can be seen clearly with the portable charger. Even places like underground and car parks can still be accurately shown on the system.

The staff told the journalist that the charger could record sound from the surroundings and automatically send the recording to the phone once the environment noise exceeds 50dB with "Sound Control Convo (#聲控語聊到)" installed in the app. The portable charger can also pick up phone calls automatically.

Source: RFA #Jul27
https://www.facebook.com/454004001340790/posts

#GPS #SoundControl #Tracking #Taobao #Privacy #Security #PrecisePositioning #MadeinChina

Congressional-Executive Commission on China (#CECC) published a statement in mid-July, urging Biden to sanction 15 named #NSL prosecutors and the new Secretary of Justice.

Hong Kong government strongly condemns the "threats" as "reasonable bullying acts", claiming the CECC violates international principles.

#Sanction #DOJ #GoHKgraphics