#English
#0711
#0712
#PrimaryElection

#PrimaryElection
Queuing under the blazing sunny, Hongkongers Promise to Do their Best, Despite Uncertainty

11 and 12 July are the dates set for the primary election organized by the pro-democracy camp. Due to some technical issues for security, the opening hours of the polling stations were delayed to 12 noon on July 11. In Tuen Mun, there was a long queue at the Sun Hui polling station.

40-year-old Mr Cheung said he insisted in voting under the blazing sun, although he didn't have much expectation about "35+" goal advocated by the pro-democracy camp. "We may not be able to get enough seats in the functional constituency, but we shall do our best: to treasure freedom and our rights while we can. It may be the last time for us to vote. Later, all pro-democracy candidates might be disqualified [by the authorities]," said Mr Cheung.

Mr. Cheung said the police raid at the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Center is an example of suppression and that Hongkongers cannot back down.

Source: Stand News #Jul11

#PrimaryElection #LegCoElection
A Hong Kong Elector: "Hundreds of Hongkongers are expected to be cracked down, but we won't surrender because of the unreasonable suppression by the government"

11 July is the first day of the pro-democracy primary elections. A non-air-conditioned “hot dog bus” was modified into a polling station at Jordon West near Kowloon Station High-Speed Train. Electors filled in information and chose a candidate while they were waiting, then they were arranged to get into the bus at the front door and complete the voting at the upper level by scanning the QR code. The whole procedure of voting took around a few minutes, excluding waiting time. Press reported that the staff controlled the number of people on the bus and measured their body temperatures.

Au Nok-hin, a former legislator coordinating the primary election, said even a "hot dog bus" could be the polling station if it fulfilled the requirement. Although there was no air-conditioning, “all helpers are working hard”.

A West Kowloon elector named Ms Chiu reached this polling station and hoped to vote for a younger candidate. She thought the existing lawmaker wouldn’t improve Hong Kong’s situation, so it was time to let new people join the legislative council. She believes that new people can also “internationalize” the council. She also hopes the selected candidate can help to voice out in the council, but she was concerned about the possible the governmental suppression in the council. Regardless, she chose not to worry too much.

She was asked if she worried about any possible interruption in the election process during these two days, and she replied, “In the past, no matter what we do or if we participate in the election, hundreds of Hongkongers are prepared to be cracked down. But we can’t surrender because of the unreasonable suppression by the government. Hongkongers should come out and fight for our rights." She thought that the more they surrender, the more severe suppression by the government would be.

Source: Stand News #Jul11

Primary Elections Update:
https://bit.ly/3fuMBeI

List of Candidates: https://legco2020.thestandnews.com/primaries/

Benny Tai: No matter how many highs and lows are ahead, one day we will see Hong Kong enter into a true golden age

Dr. Benny Tai, one of the organizers of this weekend's primary election as well as conveners in Occupy Central campaign in 2014, shares his thoughts of the first day of the primary election on Facebook:

"At this moment, my feelings are conflicted.

On one hand, I breathe a sigh of relief. The turnout for the primary election was far larger than I expected. On the other hand, past experience tells me that every time Hongkongers accomplish a miraculous feat, those in power feel gravely threatened. And they will definitely scheme to strike back even harder.

Until the September election, they will suppress Hongkongers in every conceivable manner, and as much revenge on us as they can. We must be mentally prepared.

Again, from past experience, every 'high' in our movement would be followed by a period of lows, but every low builds up energy to push ourselves on to a higher peak, because of the undefeatable resolve that is rooted deep within every Hongkonger. And this is why I believe, no matter how many highs and lows are ahead, one day we will see Hong Kong enter into a true golden age.

For now, let's not think too much. Let's work hard and make this miracle happen!"

Source: Benny Tai's Facebook #Jul11 #BennyTai #PrimaryElection

#PrimaryElection #Attack
Volunteer Attacked by Pro-Establishment Fraction

According to an assistant of pro-democracy legislator Jeremy Tam Man-ho, a volunteer setting up the street booth at Lok Fu in the afternoon of July 11 was attacked.

At around 5:30 pm, several people shouted and insulted the volunteer at the street. One of them attacked the volunteer with a long umbrella. The assistant said the volunteer was not seriously injured, and they reported it to the police. However, the police still haven't arrived at 6 pm.

Jeremy Tam said besides suppression by the government, pro-Beijing camp also tends fo use violence. He urged electors to vote. "The more people come out, the less afraid we are." He also reminded volunteers, "If any risk arises, please leave. Don't let people have excuse to make things worse."

Source: Stand News #Jul11

#JeremyTam

#PrimaryElection #Attack
Urine Bomb Attack on Polling Station Fails to Disrupt Voting

Before the polling station in Tin Ping Estate, Sheung Shui opened at noon, on the first day of the primary election on July 11 someone dropped a “urine bomb” from above, nearly hitting the tens of citizens waiting in line to vote.

Witness Kwok Long Fung, a district councilor, pointed out to journalists that the area was not a blackspot of incidents with objects being thrown from above, suspecting the incident was intentionally targeting the primary elections. He added that no one was splashed by the urine. The incident didn’t affect voters either. Long queues even appeared outside the polling station that afternoon.

Source: InMedia #Jul11

#Interview
The true Hongkonger - Jeffrey Andrews

Jeffrey Andrews, despite his defeat in the 2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries, earns HongKongers' respect with his courage. As an ethnic minority, he uses Cantonese in his campaign, and withstands pressures from all those minority businessmen who are mostly pro-government.

Hong Kong, claimed to be an international city, still has a long way to go in racial harmony.


Full interview:
https://twitter.com/simonshen_glos/status/1283035534798082048

Video:
We Connect
https://youtu.be/ieaNwXzTCW8

Further reading:
Local South Asian Community Voiced Support for Fellow Hongkongers: "This is our home too", "We Stand United"
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/8796

#SimonShen #JefferyAndrews #HongKonger #ProDemocracyParties
#PrimaryElection

A year ago, 55 democrats from the LegCo primary election were accused of violating the #NSL. In this year, Hong Kong has changed a lot...

#LegCo #PrimaryElection #Democrats47 #GoHKgraphics

#47Democrats #PrimaryElection #SubvertionofStatePower

#LawrenceLauWaiChung said, "Not guilty, sir," elegant as usual.

#LamCheukTing almost roared, "I don't plead guilty!"

#LeungKwokHung (a.k.a. #LongHair) said, "[I'm] Innocent. Plead not guilty."

#WinnieYuWaiMing raised her right hand and stated, "Not guilty."

The magistrate, Peter Law Tak Chuen, referred the 17 defendants to the High Court for trial.

The other 29 of them chose to plead guilty. Among them, #TiffanyYuenKaWai, #FrankieFungTatChuen, #CarolNgManYee, #GaryFanKwokWai and #HendickLuiChiHang, refused to agree all facts of the cases.

Everyone has a different way of pleading guilty:

#TiffanyYuen whispered, "Plead ah! (認呀！)."

#FergusLeungFongWai said with a tone of no choice, "Plead guilty lo! (認囉！)."

#FrankieFung said in Cantonese, "I plead guilty," then repeated in Mandarin, "I plead guilty, I know I was wrong,” causing the auditorium to laugh and #KwokKaKi thumbs up with a smile.

#LauChakFung just left his seat for the washroom, and somebody said, "he will plead guilty even in the toilet."

#JoshuaWong slowly spoke out, "Plead~ guilty~."

#LiKaTat shouted, "PG!"

#TamTakChi (a.k.a. #FastBeat) confidently said while brushing his hair, "I am 'handsome'" [Handsome has a similar sound as "plead" in Cantonese]

#WuChiWai followed, "Plead ah! (認呀！)," looking at #TamTakChi, and they both laughed.

#SamCheungHoSum declared, "I plead, I plead, I plead (認啊認啊認啊)" in one go.

#VentusLauWingHong said, "For the love of my country, I plead guilty," raising uproar among defendants.

Law, the magistrate, asked whether the 26 defendants agreed with the case.

#AuNokHin stood up at that moment and expressed heavily, "I confirmed the case, and I would like to apologise to all defendants because I could not ensure the election was legal." He then slightly bowed to the defendants.

#AndrewChiuKaYin also apologized, but expressionless, "I confirm the overall case, and I apologise to everyone who helped in the pre-election." Some defendants jeered, "What are you saying (講呢啲)?"

#TamTakChi (a.k.a #FastBeat) shouted as usual, "I agree with the plot!", followed by a severe facial expression, "I agree, I agree (同意啊、同意啊)," which brought laughter to the courtroom. He then turned around, spoke to #ClaudiaMo, "Yes, excellent!" and raised his arms to the air with thumbs up.

#LeslieShumOFai interrupted, "I am not a comedy actor."

The magistrates confirmed whether Tam agreed with the entire case. He answered, "Yes, then I agree with the full case." Law raises the question once more, "You agree?" "The plot? Yes." Tam replied

It is understood that there will be no jury at the trial. This case will be handled by three designed judges, as in the case of #TongYingKit. It reminds us of #OwenChowKaShing, who did not plead guilty and yelled at the court after the restriction on reporting was lifted, "Trial without a jury is unjust."

This was probably the most potent conclusion in West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts for a year and a half.

Source: InMedia #Aug18

https://www.inmediahk.net/node/%E7%A4%BE%E9%81%8B/%E3%80%90%E5%88%9D%E9%81%B847%E4%BA%BA%E6%A1%88%E3%80%91%E8%A8%98%E4%B8%80%E6%AC%A1%E9%95%B7%E5%9B%9B%E5%A4%A9%E7%9A%84%E7%AD%94%E8%BE%AF-%E6%9C%89%E4%BA%BA%E8%AA%AA%E7%AC%91%E3%80%81%E6%9C%89%E4%BA%BA%E8%87%B4%E6%AD%89?utm_source=dable