HKFP Lens: Artist displays ‘overlapping memories’ of Hong Kong and UK on film

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/28/hkfp-lens-artist-displays-overlapping-memories-of-hong-kong-and-uk-on-film/

Explainer: Over 50 groups gone in 11 months – how Hong Kong’s pro-democracy forces crumbled

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/28/explainer-over-50-groups-gone-in-11-months-how-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-forces-crumbled/

The case of Tennis star Peng Shuai only widens China’s credibility gap

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/28/the-case-of-tennis-star-peng-shuai-only-widens-chinas-credibility-gap/

Disney+ appears to censor episode of The Simpsons in Hong Kong referencing Tiananmen Massacre

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/29/disney-appears-to-censor-episode-of-the-simpsons-in-hong-kong-referencing-tiananmen-massacre/

Covid-19: Gov’t quarantine and daily testing for Hong Kong returnees from southern Africa amid Omicron fears

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/29/covid-19-govt-quarantine-and-daily-testing-for-hong-kong-returnees-from-southern-africa-amid-omicron-fears/

Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for two self-exiled ex-politicians after they urged election protest votes, boycott

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/29/hong-kong-issues-arrest-warrants-for-two-self-exiled-ex-politicians-after-they-urged-election-protest-votes-boycott/

Security law: Dozens of Hong Kong democrats to spend festive season in detention – subversion trial date still unclear

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/30/security-law-dozens-of-hong-kong-democrats-to-spend-festive-season-in-detention-subversion-trial-date-still-unclear/

Public, media barred from observing ballot counts at special Hong Kong-mainland border voting stations

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/30/public-media-barred-from-observing-ballot-counts-at-special-hong-kong-mainland-border-voting-stations/

#Award
Director of Drifting Petals – a film takes anti-ELAB movement as background – clinches Golden Horse Best Director Award

The Kong Kong raised Melbourne film maker Clara Law snatched Best Director at the 58th Golden Horse Awards, after being nominated for a Golden Horse award for the seventh time.

The film, Drifting Petals, took 2019 anti-ELAB movement in Hong Kong as background. With protest scenes and images intertwined in the film, Law illustrated not only changes that Hong Kong has undergone, but also the fear and anxiety among Hong Kong people.

The jury praised Law for using a "poetic" way to examine history and reality, showcasing her talent and vision.

Now residing in Australia, Law thanked the jury for bringing the film to Taiwan. Actress Lin Lai received the best director award for Law and spoke on her behalf in the ceremony.

Lai quoted Law that “perhaps, Taiwan and European countries are the only places in the world where her work could be officially shown.”

Lai carried on saying, “She (Clara Law) is a Hong Kong Director. She made this film in Hong Kong but it remains unclear whether the film can be shown there.”

#GoldenHorse #HKProtest #HKmovie #Censorship

Source: Stand News; #Nov27
https://publielectoral.lat/thestandnews/6611

#Censorship #RedLine
Hong Kong Film Censorship Authorities reject two student movies citing national security violations

Two movie screenings in the 4th Ground Up Student Film Festival have been cancelled after the films failed to obtain a Certificate of Approval from Hong Kong’s Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (#OFNAA).

The news came shortly after the amended Film Censorship Ordinance came into effect on 5 November 2021. The amended ordinance sets out the need to put an end to acts and activities that may endanger national security and it also allows the Chief Secretary of Administration to withdraw already-issued screening permits.

On November 19, 2021, Hong Kong Film Censorship Authority first turned down approval for #TheCage, a short film directed by Hong Kong Baptist University (#HKBU) graduate Tsoi Wing-chau. The film depicts totalitarian rule, capitalism, freedom and resistance.

Two days later, another film Piglet Piglet that sets around Taiwan's Presidential election also failed to obtain an approval certificate. The screening of #PigletPiglet was cancelled just over five hours before it was set to be held.

Director of the film, Lin Tsung-yen, wrote on his Facebook page, saying that “local authorities expressed disapproval. They asked me to cut all scenes and information linked to Taiwanese Presidential election and Tsai Ing-wen.”

#GroundUp #FilmFestival #FilmCensorshipAmendment #NationalSecurityLaw #TsaiIngWen #Cinema

Source: Stand News, #Nov21
https://thestandnews.page.link/CgCJg1s5p4D1XvFF8

#RuleByLaw
Hong Kong pro-democracy defendants face much heavier sentences than before 2019 protests

Since outbreak of the anti-ELAB movement in Hong Kong in 2019, over 2,000 citizens have been convicted for their involvement in pro-democracy protests.

Stand News, a local newspaper consolidated relevant public data from June 2019 through November 2021, which showed a total of 34 people being charged over "behaving in disorderly manner in public places".

Among them, 8 (24%) were accused of obstructing road; another 8 (24%) being charged over hurling objects, while the remaining 18 (52%) were found guilty for making noises (swearling, chanting protest slogans, or hurling insults at Hong Kong Police).  These cases saw a high conviction rate exceeding 60%.

With regards to sentencing, a large proportion of nearly 60% (12 people) of those being convicted were imprisoned for a period ranging from 3 weeks to 7 months. 

Another 5% of the defendants were sent to the Correctional Services' training centers. The rest faced lighter penalties such as signing bind-over orders for conduct and probation (14%); and community service orders (24%).

In comparison, most convicts in cases of similar nature in the past were not sentenced to jail.

A legal professional group in Hong Kong explained that in the past, only some defendants with criminal records would likely be put behind bars.

However, in recent cases, even first offenders are often imprisoned.

The group added that this showed the court's intention to deploy heavier penalties against defendants from the pro-democracy movement, particularly for cases under Public Order Ordinance, as deterrence.

#RuleofLaw #RuleByLaw #PoliceState #FailedState

Source: Stand News, #Nov14
https://thestandnews.page.link/kZ66FKVG9sBLL9pA6

Some opinion survey questions could breach Hong Kong law, anti-graft chief warns

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/30/some-opinion-survey-questions-could-breach-hong-kong-law-anti-graft-chief-warns/

Covid-19: Hong Kong designates more countries ‘high risk’ amid Omicron fears, tracing app exemptions unclear

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/11/30/covid-19-hong-kong-designates-more-countries-high-risk-amid-omicron-fears-tracing-app-exemptions-unclear/

Covid-19: University of Hong Kong research team isolates Omicron variant

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/12/01/covid-19-university-of-hong-kong-research-team-isolates-omicron-variant/

Hong Kong gov’t refuses to meet with animal concern group, as 2 more wild pigs killed

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/12/01/hong-kong-govt-refuses-to-meet-with-animal-concern-group-as-2-more-wild-pigs-killed/

Education sector polls hopeful backs amnesty for minors convicted over Hong Kong’s 2019 protests

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/12/01/education-sector-polls-hopeful-backs-amnesty-for-minors-convicted-over-hong-kongs-2019-protests/

Explainer: Hong Kong’s national security crackdown – month 17

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/12/02/explainer-hong-kongs-national-security-crackdown-month-17/

WTA suspends all tournaments in China over Peng concerns

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/12/02/wta-suspends-all-tournaments-in-china-over-peng-concerns/

Former Hong Kong democrat’s disclosure of probe into police officer over 2019 Yuen Long attacks was not illegal – defence

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/12/02/former-hong-kong-democrats-disclosure-of-probe-into-police-officer-over-2019-yuen-long-attacks-was-not-illegal-defence/

Hong Kong public broadcaster to ‘pause’ social media pages of 12 shows

https://hongkongfp.com/2021/12/02/hong-kong-public-broadcaster-to-pause-social-media-pages-of-12-shows/