#Court #Sedition
Police Charge Pro-democracy activist with Sedition for Chanting "Five Demands and Not One Less" and Other Protest Slogans

Pro-democracy activist Tam Tak-chi, deputy chairman of People Power, was mentioned in Fanling Magistrates' Court on Sept 8, 2020, after being detained for more than 50 hours.

The police arrested Tam in Tai Po at noon on Sept 6, charging him with “sedition” and "causing others to hate or despise the government" under Article 10 of the Cap. 200 Crimes Ordinance.

In court, the prosecution claimed that the following phrases incite hatred for the government and the police.

1. "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times"
2. "Five Demands Not One Less"
3. "Corrupt Cop, May Your Whole Family Die"
4. "Disband the Police Force"
5. "[Police] Disppeared on 7.21, Murdered on 8.31 and Shot People on 10.1"

The court refused Tam's application for bail and the next hearing will be held on November 27, 2020. Tam was sent to Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre for further detention.

One day before the court, pro-Beijing channel TVB News had already released information: it was said that Tam from the end of June to August had been disseminating "seditious materials" by running street stations, speaking via loudspeakers, and publishing on social media platforms. These messages included "Down with the Communist Party" and slogans "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times", and calling for "sanctions against officials". The pro-Beijing news channel described his behavior as "an attempt to provoke surrounding people."

Source: Stand News #Sept7 ;
Apple Daily #Sept8
https://www.facebook.com/710476795704610/posts/3434549639963965/

https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20200908/U7AJ64X7WVDFVEUQDA2RQD5GDI/

#WhiteTerror #Censorship #RulebyLaw #FreeSpeech #TamTakChi

#Education #HeungToMiddleSchool
Pro-China School in HK Harshly Penalizes Student for Showing Pro-democracy Slogan on Communication App and Threatens to Boot Him Out

The Heung To Middle School Students' Concern Group informed the media that the school principal and the discipline master met with a Form 4 student on Sept 7, 2020, as pro-democracy slogan was displayed as the student’s profile image on Microsoft Teams.

The student was severely penalized by the school for immediately suspending schooling for a week. Should the student want to continue his study, 2 major demerits are to be recorded to reflect his 'misconduct'. Besides, the school warned him from taking part in any pro-democracy activities in the future, or face expulsion straightaway.

In the presence of the student’s parents, the principal stressed that the school is handling the incident strictly, as it has "dented the school's reputation". It was said that the student has been "working against the school, blowing trivialities into a huge problem to attract public attention", which forced the school to make explanation to the public.

The school is well-known for being a pro-Chinese Communist Party education institution in Hong Kong. The principal even hinted for the student to “seek a new school” in the meeting, saying they did not believe the student would change his behavior. The school went on stressing that a dismissal could be the best solution.

Earlier in June this year, the same school dismissed a teacher for letting the students sing the song "May Glory To Hong Kong".

Source: Apple Daily; Stand News; Heung To Indigenous #Sept8
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20200908/PC4SKIXJEFC2VGF7XBMCNOI5BA/

https://www.facebook.com/710476795704610/posts/3439293389489590/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CE1Vdb7lIAi/?igshid=106wjttp9k1r4

#FailedState #WhiteTerror #Censorship #FreeSpeech #HongKongYouth

#GoHKSubtitles

#RTHK's Hong Kong Connection: Episode on "Freedom and Fear" (2020-06-08)

"The day we all fear being arrested for assembling, will be the day we truly lose our freedom of assembly"

#HongKongConnection #FreeSpeech

#Court #WhiteTerror #FreeSpeech
First Conviction Based on "Online Comments" in Hong Kong Protests, Jugde Insists Message Leads to "Violent Actions"

A 38-year old construction worker, with the online alias “Kim Jong Un”, were charged with inciting others to take part in unlawful assembly. He was convicted on October 19, 2020.

The man had posted 4 comments in a public group on Facebook in 2019, expressing that “everyone besieges San Uk Ling” and that “rescuing the righteous ones is the most important”. The San Uk Ling Reception Center that is located near the Hong Kong-China border is known to be a site where police tortured pro-democracy protesters by means of physical, verbal and sexual violations.

The judge claimed it was "obvious" that the defendant tried to mobilise more than a few dozen citizens, as he used the word “everyone”. The Judge said the action of “besieging San Uk Ling” would not result in the release of the arrestees and the participants of assembly would probably "perform other acts", which "must involve violence". Based on these beliefs, the judge ruled that the the defendant is guilty.

The defendant was remanded in custody before a sentence will be announced on November 3, 2020.

This is the first conviction based on online comments in a Hong Kong's court since the 2019 Anti-Extradition Law Movement.

Source: InMedia #Oct19
https://bit.ly/3k7zu5H

#SanUkLing #OnlineComments

#WhiteTerror #University
CityU bans any modifications of its anthem and emblem; Students' violations will stay on record till 7 years after graduation

The City University of Hong Kong (#CityU) has added a new clause banning any acts that may "tarnish the image and reputation of the university", including the unauthorized use, modification, damage and/or parody of the school anthem, emblem, and/or any element representative of the university.

Source: Apple Daily; Stand News #Nov2
https://bit.ly/382NdHV

#Education #FreeSpeech

#Censorship #Freespeech
#University in HK to Tighten Control of the Opinion Expression: Posts on #DemocracyWall Requires Real Name and Restricts Content

In the universities in Hong Kong, the "Democracy Wall", a free posting notice board on campus, has been a symbol of free speech.

After the forceful enactment of National Security Law (#NSL) in Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) has pressured the Students Union for several times about the setting up of the pro-democracy #LennonWall.

Recently, the Student Union committee members received an email from the Staff-Student Central Management Committee about an online meeting to be held on Dec 8, 2020, which will discuss "new rules" for the Democracy Wall. The new rules proposed by the university include real-name posting and content which cannot "go against the facts".

The students union acting president Au Cheuk-hei said that the university intended to tighten the freedom of speech inside the campus.

Source: Apple Daily #Dec4

#Education #BrainWash
Pro-Beijing School Allegedly Imposes Political Censorship, Forbidding Students to Wear Black or Yellow Masks

Wong Kam Fai Primary and Secondary School, affiliated with Hong Kong Baptist University, was suspected of imposing #PoliticalCensorship. Stand News was informed that the school's annual journal had blurred the background in some class pictures to obscure drawings of “Pepe”, a cartoon popular amongst pro-democracy protesters.

The school was also said to have banned students from wearing black or yellow masks. Students who broke the new rule would be given demerit points. The informant told Stand News that the new rules, already being enforced by the school, were only announced verbally during morning assembly, instead of via official written notices to parents.

Source: Stand News #Dec11
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/王錦輝中小學年刊河蟹-pepe-壁報-禁戴黑-黃色口罩-規管學生校外及網上-不當行為/

#Censorship #FaceMask #FreeSpeech

#Censorship #CCPControl
China Blocks Shipments of "Freedom and Democracy" Calendars to Hong Kong

Chinese customs may have held up an order of new year calendars printed for district councils in Hong Kong, Yau Tsim Mong District councillor Lee Wai-fung wrote in a Facebook post.

The calendars, with the text "Pursue Freedom and Democracy" in golden calligraphy, was scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong in mid-November, so that they will be given out to civilians on Dec 16, 2020.

However, Lee was later informed that order was detained in China, without an official explanation from either the print shop nor the Chinese customs. The councillors ended up printing labels with their names and pictures, and handing out regular calendars with their labels attached.

Yuen Long District councillor Henry Wong Pak-yu experienced similar issues with the Chinese customs. He was informed by the print shop in China that printed products for district councils in Hong Kong are now being scrutinized much more closely by Chinese customs, because some of their previous materials contained "sensitive content". The printer was not allowed to send out the shipment, and Wong may not be able to receive his calendars in time for the new year.

Source: Stand News #Dec16

#NewYearCalendar #FreeSpeech #ChineseCustoms #DistrictCouncil

#University #Censorship
#HKU Denies Contract Renewal for Renowned & Outspoken Hepatologist

At the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the Faculty of Medicine's Professor of Medicine and Hepatology, Lai Ching-lung, rejected from renewing his contract.

This decision of the University management will possibly lead to the departure of Lai as early as in June 2021.

It was reported that the HKU's Faculty of Medicine had already recommended Lai to have his contract renewed, but the recommendation was not taken by the University Selection and Promotion Committee.

The 72 year-old professor is socially conscious, and had participated in a sit-in during the 2019 anti-ELAB movement wearing a black mask, holding a slogan condemning the police for "obscuring the truth".

In 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, Lai also appeared at the rally for healthcare professionals fighting to lock Hong Kong's borders with China.

Source: Apple Daily, #Mar2
https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210302/X7FFHG4DWBCCVL4MZEU5U4FNFQ/

#LaiChingLung #Scholar #AcademicFreedom #FreeSpeech