#HongKong Bashes #GlobalMedia With Hundreds of Complaint Letters
//From Slovakia to Japan, top Hong Kong officials have fired off at least 500 letters in 2022 blasting critical foreign media coverage, as the city wages a global battle to safeguard its reputation as a liberal financial hub.
At least 174 media outlets in almost 30 countries received missives from city leaders -- including its now chief executive, #JohnLee -- since China announced in May 2020 that it would impose a national security law on the former British colony. The correspondence, often written both in English and the publication’s native language, was uploaded to the “Clarifications” tab of the government’s communications platform known as Brand Hong Kong.
About half of the letters, which responded to a mix of reports and editorials, hit back at criticism of Beijing’s sweeping security law, while roughly a third defended a mandate that only Communist Party loyalists can hold office in the city. Neighboring Asian nations got 42% of the complaints, led by Japan and South Korea, while business publications including the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist got the most letters. Bloomberg received seven...
Hong Kong’s crackdown on freedoms has eroded the city’s reputation among many foreign governments...
Hong Kong’s press freedom ranking has plummeted since the security law clamped down on free speech. The city came 148 in the Reporters Without Borders 2022 World Press Freedom Index, representing a fall of 68 places from last year.//
Source: Bloomberg #Jul25
https://t.co/OHZN4fVjye
#Whitewash #Censorship #PressFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #Authoritarianism
//From Slovakia to Japan, top Hong Kong officials have fired off at least 500 letters in 2022 blasting critical foreign media coverage, as the city wages a global battle to safeguard its reputation as a liberal financial hub.
At least 174 media outlets in almost 30 countries received missives from city leaders -- including its now chief executive, #JohnLee -- since China announced in May 2020 that it would impose a national security law on the former British colony. The correspondence, often written both in English and the publication’s native language, was uploaded to the “Clarifications” tab of the government’s communications platform known as Brand Hong Kong.
About half of the letters, which responded to a mix of reports and editorials, hit back at criticism of Beijing’s sweeping security law, while roughly a third defended a mandate that only Communist Party loyalists can hold office in the city. Neighboring Asian nations got 42% of the complaints, led by Japan and South Korea, while business publications including the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist got the most letters. Bloomberg received seven...
Hong Kong’s crackdown on freedoms has eroded the city’s reputation among many foreign governments...
Hong Kong’s press freedom ranking has plummeted since the security law clamped down on free speech. The city came 148 in the Reporters Without Borders 2022 World Press Freedom Index, representing a fall of 68 places from last year.//
Source: Bloomberg #Jul25
https://t.co/OHZN4fVjye
#Whitewash #Censorship #PressFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #Authoritarianism
Bloomberg.com
Hong Kong Bashes Global Media With Hundreds of Complaint Letters
From Slovakia to Japan, top Hong Kong officials have fired off at least 500 letters blasting critical foreign media coverage, as the city wages a global battle to safeguard its reputation as a liberal financial hub.
#Court
Student Activists from #StudentPoliticism plead guilty to "conspiring to incite subversion"
Four former members of the now-disbanded pro-democracy group "Student Politicism" were charged with "conspiring to incite subversion". Former convenor Wong Yat-chin (aged 21), ex-secretary general Chan Chi-sum (aged 21), and ex-spokespersons Jessica Chu (aged 19) and Alice Wong (aged 20) were presented at the District Court in Hong Kong on July 29, 2022. They pleaded guilty.
Apart from Chu, the other three members have been detained for more than 10 months.
They were prosecuted for holding street booths on seven occasions between October 2020 and June 2021. The prosecution alleged that the group called on fellow citizens to "keep on fighting" and chanted the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our times".
Source: InMedia #Jul29
https://bit.ly/3Q0eZr8
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliceState
Student Activists from #StudentPoliticism plead guilty to "conspiring to incite subversion"
Four former members of the now-disbanded pro-democracy group "Student Politicism" were charged with "conspiring to incite subversion". Former convenor Wong Yat-chin (aged 21), ex-secretary general Chan Chi-sum (aged 21), and ex-spokespersons Jessica Chu (aged 19) and Alice Wong (aged 20) were presented at the District Court in Hong Kong on July 29, 2022. They pleaded guilty.
Apart from Chu, the other three members have been detained for more than 10 months.
They were prosecuted for holding street booths on seven occasions between October 2020 and June 2021. The prosecution alleged that the group called on fellow citizens to "keep on fighting" and chanted the slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our times".
Source: InMedia #Jul29
https://bit.ly/3Q0eZr8
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliceState
#Court
Man who Posted Video of Olympic Gold Ceremony with "Glory to Hong Kong" Now Charged with "Insulting National Anthem of China"
When Hong Kong fencer #CheungKaLong won a #GoldMedal at the #TokyoOlympics in July 2021, many Hongkongers were overjoyed. Among them, a 27-year-old man published a video of the medal ceremony on the Internet, replacing the audio of China's national anthem with "Glory to Hong Kong," an anthem of the 2019 #AntiELAB movement.
One year later, the man was now charged with "insulting the national anthem of China" and "insulting the emblem of the Hong Kong SAR."
The case was heard in the Eastern Magistrates on July 22, 2022. The man was not represented by any counsel. The magistrate accepted the man's request to postpone the hearing to September 2, 2022, so that the man can look for a lawyer.
Source: InMedia #Jul22
https://bit.ly/3aVGjYS
#NationalAnthemOrdinance #PoliceState #Censorship #GlorytoHongKong #Sport #OnlineVideo #HongKongAthlete
Man who Posted Video of Olympic Gold Ceremony with "Glory to Hong Kong" Now Charged with "Insulting National Anthem of China"
When Hong Kong fencer #CheungKaLong won a #GoldMedal at the #TokyoOlympics in July 2021, many Hongkongers were overjoyed. Among them, a 27-year-old man published a video of the medal ceremony on the Internet, replacing the audio of China's national anthem with "Glory to Hong Kong," an anthem of the 2019 #AntiELAB movement.
One year later, the man was now charged with "insulting the national anthem of China" and "insulting the emblem of the Hong Kong SAR."
The case was heard in the Eastern Magistrates on July 22, 2022. The man was not represented by any counsel. The magistrate accepted the man's request to postpone the hearing to September 2, 2022, so that the man can look for a lawyer.
Source: InMedia #Jul22
https://bit.ly/3aVGjYS
#NationalAnthemOrdinance #PoliceState #Censorship #GlorytoHongKong #Sport #OnlineVideo #HongKongAthlete
#Report: Security concerns over compulsory app launched by Hong Kong government
This is part of a report published by #TechOpenFund on July 27, 2022. The investigation was conducted by #7ASecurity and #OTFRedTeamLab in 2022:
//...This exercise involved both a privacy audit and a security audit of the #LeaveHomeSafe #Android and #iOS apps.
The privacy audit could not conclusively prove malicious intent or unauthorized tracking of Hong Kong citizens. However, the security audit demonstrated that these applications have not been professionally audited by any competent security firm before, and that significant flaws exist in the current software security development lifecycle.
This is particularly concerning given that the app was originally introduced more than a year and a half ago, was made mandatory in some fashion for 9 months and recently began requesting real name registration and tracking user’s movements.
While no clear privacy violation could be conclusively proven during the audit at runtime, a number of application artifacts, likely inherited from underlying dependencies or simply security vulnerabilities introduced by mistake, were found during this exercise.//
Read the full article:
https://www.opentech.fund/news/7asecurity-otf-red-team-lab-partner-completes-blackbox-pentest-and-privacy-audit-of-leavehomesafe-app/
Source: Open Tech Fund #Jul27
#MassSurveillance #Track #Privacy #App #PoliceState #Pandemic
This is part of a report published by #TechOpenFund on July 27, 2022. The investigation was conducted by #7ASecurity and #OTFRedTeamLab in 2022:
//...This exercise involved both a privacy audit and a security audit of the #LeaveHomeSafe #Android and #iOS apps.
The privacy audit could not conclusively prove malicious intent or unauthorized tracking of Hong Kong citizens. However, the security audit demonstrated that these applications have not been professionally audited by any competent security firm before, and that significant flaws exist in the current software security development lifecycle.
This is particularly concerning given that the app was originally introduced more than a year and a half ago, was made mandatory in some fashion for 9 months and recently began requesting real name registration and tracking user’s movements.
While no clear privacy violation could be conclusively proven during the audit at runtime, a number of application artifacts, likely inherited from underlying dependencies or simply security vulnerabilities introduced by mistake, were found during this exercise.//
Read the full article:
https://www.opentech.fund/news/7asecurity-otf-red-team-lab-partner-completes-blackbox-pentest-and-privacy-audit-of-leavehomesafe-app/
Source: Open Tech Fund #Jul27
#MassSurveillance #Track #Privacy #App #PoliceState #Pandemic
#Save12
Chinese Prison Penalises Hongkonger for "Failing" Mindset, Lawyer: May Loss Communication Right
#TangKaiYin, one of the 12 pro-democracy Hongkongers who tried to flee to Taiwan but was captured by the Chinese authorities, is serving a prison sentence in Conghua in China.
His family in Hong Kong said they had not received any letters from him since February, 2022, and he did not collect letters sent to him.
Tang's brother checked the prison's online system yesterday and found that Tang still has a few transactions in June and July, 2021. But his prison score was deducted twice for "violating the rule," including "failing to pass the ideological, cultural and technical learning assessment for that month."
A China human rights lawyer, who has assisted these 12 Hongkongers, told #InMedia that prisoners who are not willing to plead guilty or "accept the mind conversion" might be forbidden from receiving letters and may be further deprived of consumption or communication rights.
According to the lawyer's analysis, not receiving letters, in this case, may not be related to plead of guilt, as Tang had already been sentenced earlier. It is more likely because he doesn't change his mind, "something like indoctrination, perhaps some kind of non-cooperation," he said.
In addition, prisoners sent to prison hospitals due to illness or physical punishment would not be allowed to receive or write letters, "It is also possible that he cannot write letters because of his health condition," the lawyer explained.
Source: InMedia #Jul28
https://bit.ly/3Jcs6mL
#12Hongkongers #China #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliceState #HumanRights #ThoughtPolice
Chinese Prison Penalises Hongkonger for "Failing" Mindset, Lawyer: May Loss Communication Right
#TangKaiYin, one of the 12 pro-democracy Hongkongers who tried to flee to Taiwan but was captured by the Chinese authorities, is serving a prison sentence in Conghua in China.
His family in Hong Kong said they had not received any letters from him since February, 2022, and he did not collect letters sent to him.
Tang's brother checked the prison's online system yesterday and found that Tang still has a few transactions in June and July, 2021. But his prison score was deducted twice for "violating the rule," including "failing to pass the ideological, cultural and technical learning assessment for that month."
A China human rights lawyer, who has assisted these 12 Hongkongers, told #InMedia that prisoners who are not willing to plead guilty or "accept the mind conversion" might be forbidden from receiving letters and may be further deprived of consumption or communication rights.
According to the lawyer's analysis, not receiving letters, in this case, may not be related to plead of guilt, as Tang had already been sentenced earlier. It is more likely because he doesn't change his mind, "something like indoctrination, perhaps some kind of non-cooperation," he said.
In addition, prisoners sent to prison hospitals due to illness or physical punishment would not be allowed to receive or write letters, "It is also possible that he cannot write letters because of his health condition," the lawyer explained.
Source: InMedia #Jul28
https://bit.ly/3Jcs6mL
#12Hongkongers #China #PoliticalPrisoner #PoliceState #HumanRights #ThoughtPolice
#Court
Hong Kong court quashes decision to enforce reporting ban on activist’s national security case in landmark ruling
//Reporting restrictions on proceedings regarding the transfer of criminal cases to the High Court must be lifted if the defendant makes such a request, a Hong Kong court has ruled.
The landmark judgement, which could extend to cases prosecuted under the national security law, came after activist #ChowHangTung challenged a magistrate’s decision to retain reporting restrictions in a national security case.
In a ruling published on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, High Court Judge Alex Lee said that magistrates had no say in whether to lift reporting restrictions on committal proceedings if the accused had applied to do so.
Chow, along with the Alliance, and the group’s former leaders #LeeCheukYan and #AlbertHo, were charged under the Beijing-imposed #NationalSecurityLaw over alleged incitement to subversion.
The Alliance, before it was disbanded in September last year, organised Hong Kong’s annual candlelight vigils commemorating victims of the #TiananmenCrackdown, where it is estimated that hundreds, perhaps thousands, died when the People’s Liberation Army cracked down on protesters in #Beijing on June 4, 1989.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/08/02/hong-kong-court-quashes-decision-to-enforce-reporting-ban-on-activists-national-security-case-in-landmark-ruling/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Aug2
#Alliance #PoliceState #Censorship #JudicialReview #NSL
Hong Kong court quashes decision to enforce reporting ban on activist’s national security case in landmark ruling
//Reporting restrictions on proceedings regarding the transfer of criminal cases to the High Court must be lifted if the defendant makes such a request, a Hong Kong court has ruled.
The landmark judgement, which could extend to cases prosecuted under the national security law, came after activist #ChowHangTung challenged a magistrate’s decision to retain reporting restrictions in a national security case.
In a ruling published on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, High Court Judge Alex Lee said that magistrates had no say in whether to lift reporting restrictions on committal proceedings if the accused had applied to do so.
Chow, along with the Alliance, and the group’s former leaders #LeeCheukYan and #AlbertHo, were charged under the Beijing-imposed #NationalSecurityLaw over alleged incitement to subversion.
The Alliance, before it was disbanded in September last year, organised Hong Kong’s annual candlelight vigils commemorating victims of the #TiananmenCrackdown, where it is estimated that hundreds, perhaps thousands, died when the People’s Liberation Army cracked down on protesters in #Beijing on June 4, 1989.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/08/02/hong-kong-court-quashes-decision-to-enforce-reporting-ban-on-activists-national-security-case-in-landmark-ruling/
Source: Hong Kong Free Press #Aug2
#Alliance #PoliceState #Censorship #JudicialReview #NSL
Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Hong Kong court quashes decision to enforce reporting ban on activist’s national security case in landmark ruling
Reporting restrictions on proceedings regarding the transfer of criminal cases to the High Court must be lifted if the defendant makes such a request, a Hong Kong court has ruled. The landmark judg…
#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
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
#PoliceBrutality #PoliceState
What is the Truth that Hong Kong Police are trying to conceal
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
What is the Truth that Hong Kong Police are trying to conceal
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#PoliceBrutality #PoliceState
What is the Truth that Hong Kong Police are trying to conceal
831 Prince Edward Attack remains one of the most remembered incidents of the year-long pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong in 2019.
The incident took place in Prince Edward subway station in late evening of August 31 2019, when large groups of riot police stormed into train cabinets, where they brutally attacked train passengers who were on their way home.
For hours, the subway station was shut from public entry, including journalists and even medics.
The media condemned police brutality against unarmed civilians and the general public demanded for disclosure of CCTV footage at the train station, hoping that police would be held responsible for use of excessive force.
Hong Kong Police, however, denied beating civilians and reaffirmed using appropriate force.
Three years on, defiant Hongkongers continued to seek for the truth of #831PrinceEdwardAttack despite threats and arrests for act of remembrance at the station.
This year, Hong Kong Police even put up a large wall poster outside the Prince Edward station. Against a blue background, it wrote "Don't be misled by lies." "Believe and See Truth in Facts".
On August 31 2022, dozens of uniformed police and plainclothes officers were seen deployed outside the Prince Edward station on a peaceful day.
One may wonder what makes act of remembrance of #831Attack a crime? What does Hong Kong police want to cover up so desperately?
Source: Renews; #Aug31
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02WfHRYvJ1rE3yXo4iwjdrTLkj6udgyPozNrYa34YpaNY6RsPxP9hTZb5Z9Pnq4DfLl&id=104007775607135&mibextid=t3xTKS
What is the Truth that Hong Kong Police are trying to conceal
831 Prince Edward Attack remains one of the most remembered incidents of the year-long pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong in 2019.
The incident took place in Prince Edward subway station in late evening of August 31 2019, when large groups of riot police stormed into train cabinets, where they brutally attacked train passengers who were on their way home.
For hours, the subway station was shut from public entry, including journalists and even medics.
The media condemned police brutality against unarmed civilians and the general public demanded for disclosure of CCTV footage at the train station, hoping that police would be held responsible for use of excessive force.
Hong Kong Police, however, denied beating civilians and reaffirmed using appropriate force.
Three years on, defiant Hongkongers continued to seek for the truth of #831PrinceEdwardAttack despite threats and arrests for act of remembrance at the station.
This year, Hong Kong Police even put up a large wall poster outside the Prince Edward station. Against a blue background, it wrote "Don't be misled by lies." "Believe and See Truth in Facts".
On August 31 2022, dozens of uniformed police and plainclothes officers were seen deployed outside the Prince Edward station on a peaceful day.
One may wonder what makes act of remembrance of #831Attack a crime? What does Hong Kong police want to cover up so desperately?
Source: Renews; #Aug31
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02WfHRYvJ1rE3yXo4iwjdrTLkj6udgyPozNrYa34YpaNY6RsPxP9hTZb5Z9Pnq4DfLl&id=104007775607135&mibextid=t3xTKS
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#FirstHand #Sept7
Police Arrests Hong Kong Journalists Association's Chair
On September 7, 2022, veteran journalist and chairman of Hong Kong Journalists Association (#HKJA) #RonsonChan was arrested in Hong Kong for "obstructing police officers and disorder in public place".
It was reported that Chan and a photographer were on their way to a press briefing in Mong Kok, where they were intercepted by two plainclothes police officers for no apparent reason.
As Chan asked the officers for
police ID, they refused and accused Chan of being not cooperative. Within minutes, he was warned for multiple times and arrested.
Before mid-night, Chan was released on bail after being held at the Mong Kok police station for about 11 hours.
In an interview with local press, Chan told reporters that one of the police officers scoffed at him, "HKJA is trash". Later, he also taunted that "when will you die?"
Chan recited that his wrist was being forcefully held together, leaving a visible bruise mark.
Source: #FirstHand #Sept7
#PoliceState #Journalism #PressFreedom
Police Arrests Hong Kong Journalists Association's Chair
On September 7, 2022, veteran journalist and chairman of Hong Kong Journalists Association (#HKJA) #RonsonChan was arrested in Hong Kong for "obstructing police officers and disorder in public place".
It was reported that Chan and a photographer were on their way to a press briefing in Mong Kok, where they were intercepted by two plainclothes police officers for no apparent reason.
As Chan asked the officers for
police ID, they refused and accused Chan of being not cooperative. Within minutes, he was warned for multiple times and arrested.
Before mid-night, Chan was released on bail after being held at the Mong Kok police station for about 11 hours.
In an interview with local press, Chan told reporters that one of the police officers scoffed at him, "HKJA is trash". Later, he also taunted that "when will you die?"
Chan recited that his wrist was being forcefully held together, leaving a visible bruise mark.
Source: #FirstHand #Sept7
#PoliceState #Journalism #PressFreedom
HK Police Forced Restaurant to Stop Business and Take Down "Sensitive" Wishing Notes
Hong Kong police had forced a noodle shop to suspend business until it removes customers' wishing notes with "sensitive wordings".
The restaurant, Betsutenjin Hakata Ramen in Tsim Sha Tsui, had a wall where customers could write their wishes on stickers resembling prayer plaques at Japanese shrines. Many wishes were related to the 2019 #AntiELAB protests, and the pro-democracy shop owner had left them up in the two years since as a record of the times.
However, police received a tip from a woman who alleged that the shop was displaying slogans that violate the #NationalSecurityLaw, Officers arrived and verbally warned the owner, who agreed to remove the offending messages on their own. Police listed the incident under "miscellaneous" and made no arrests, nor sent the National Security Department for follow-up.
Restaurant staff told Ming Pao that police had visited during the busy dinner hours, and demanded customers to leave the shop immediately. The staff had since removed over a hundred notes and resumed business the next day. The notes had only been used for decoration, they said, and no new notes had been added since the National Security Law came into effect in 2020.
The shop apologized to its customers with a Facebook post for having to take down its wishing wall after persisting for 3 years. The staff had read every single wish left by the customers, the post said; "We will not forget a single word from everyone."
From previous photos on the shop's Facebook page, some customers' wishing notes included "disband the police", "China implode", and "6.12" [ed: commemorating the date when protesters stopped the passing of the ELAB bill]. After the police visit, only a few stickers remain that read, "Hong Kong, add oil."
Source: Ming Pao #Nov16
https://bit.ly/3CMXOoF
Betsutenjin Hakata Ramen Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ramenbetsu/posts/pfbid0GUZuVz89q1BA1LZLBw3aWMgPBQXjtgm4Wmqx2JZuhsuGP8C2vHmJ9nr8siew9U2ql
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #harassment #suppression #YellowEconomy
Hong Kong police had forced a noodle shop to suspend business until it removes customers' wishing notes with "sensitive wordings".
The restaurant, Betsutenjin Hakata Ramen in Tsim Sha Tsui, had a wall where customers could write their wishes on stickers resembling prayer plaques at Japanese shrines. Many wishes were related to the 2019 #AntiELAB protests, and the pro-democracy shop owner had left them up in the two years since as a record of the times.
However, police received a tip from a woman who alleged that the shop was displaying slogans that violate the #NationalSecurityLaw, Officers arrived and verbally warned the owner, who agreed to remove the offending messages on their own. Police listed the incident under "miscellaneous" and made no arrests, nor sent the National Security Department for follow-up.
Restaurant staff told Ming Pao that police had visited during the busy dinner hours, and demanded customers to leave the shop immediately. The staff had since removed over a hundred notes and resumed business the next day. The notes had only been used for decoration, they said, and no new notes had been added since the National Security Law came into effect in 2020.
The shop apologized to its customers with a Facebook post for having to take down its wishing wall after persisting for 3 years. The staff had read every single wish left by the customers, the post said; "We will not forget a single word from everyone."
From previous photos on the shop's Facebook page, some customers' wishing notes included "disband the police", "China implode", and "6.12" [ed: commemorating the date when protesters stopped the passing of the ELAB bill]. After the police visit, only a few stickers remain that read, "Hong Kong, add oil."
Source: Ming Pao #Nov16
https://bit.ly/3CMXOoF
Betsutenjin Hakata Ramen Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ramenbetsu/posts/pfbid0GUZuVz89q1BA1LZLBw3aWMgPBQXjtgm4Wmqx2JZuhsuGP8C2vHmJ9nr8siew9U2ql
#NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #harassment #suppression #YellowEconomy
明報新聞網 - 每日明報 daily news
拉麵店指警趕食客 令除舖內涉違國安字眼貼紙 - 20221116 - 要聞
【明報專訊】警方前日曾到被視為「黃店」的尖沙嘴日式拉麵店「博多拉麵別天神」，要求餐廳清理所有「具敏感字眼」的繪馬貼紙才可繼續營業，職員指曾被警告觸犯《港區國安法》的後果。負責人表示已清理涉及2019年示威相關的繪馬，對此感可惜，形容只是紀錄，讓食客寫下願望，惟「現在不但不可許願，甚至『封廟』要求拆除」。