Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PoliceState #AsiasFinest
Two more ministers with a police background in Hong Kong; Pro-China lawmaker: "I don’t think there’s any problem with a police state"
On June 25, 2021, the Hong Kong SAR government announced personnel change in the top adminstration, where at least two more officials with law enforcement backgrounds will take up key senior positions.
The current Secretary for Security #JohnLee has been appointed as the new chief secretary. He is the city's first top minister with a police background.
Police Commissioner #ChrisTang will become the Secretary for Security. One of his deputies, #RaymondSiu, is promoted to the police chief.
The personnel change was announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam in Hong Kong and officiated by the State Ministry of the PRC in Beijing.
The "promotion" has stirred up discontent among the public. Many deemed it as a blatant manifestation of a "police state" in Hong Kong.
However, pro-Beijing lawmaker Alice Mak, of the Federation of Trade Unions, said, "If it’s a police state, why not? I don’t think there’s any problem with a police state."
The government's announcement came one day after the police and the Security Bureau had cracked down the city's pro-democracy newspaper #AppleDaily, by forcing the newspaper and related magazine under #NextDigital to close down on June 24, 2021. The police arrested and charged several editors, news commentators and executives under the #NationalSecurityLaw, while the Security Bureau froze the assets of the newspaper and three related companies.
Source: InMedia #Jun25
https://bit.ly/3dvEvE3
#FailedState #PoliticalSuppression
Two more ministers with a police background in Hong Kong; Pro-China lawmaker: "I don’t think there’s any problem with a police state"
On June 25, 2021, the Hong Kong SAR government announced personnel change in the top adminstration, where at least two more officials with law enforcement backgrounds will take up key senior positions.
The current Secretary for Security #JohnLee has been appointed as the new chief secretary. He is the city's first top minister with a police background.
Police Commissioner #ChrisTang will become the Secretary for Security. One of his deputies, #RaymondSiu, is promoted to the police chief.
The personnel change was announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam in Hong Kong and officiated by the State Ministry of the PRC in Beijing.
The "promotion" has stirred up discontent among the public. Many deemed it as a blatant manifestation of a "police state" in Hong Kong.
However, pro-Beijing lawmaker Alice Mak, of the Federation of Trade Unions, said, "If it’s a police state, why not? I don’t think there’s any problem with a police state."
The government's announcement came one day after the police and the Security Bureau had cracked down the city's pro-democracy newspaper #AppleDaily, by forcing the newspaper and related magazine under #NextDigital to close down on June 24, 2021. The police arrested and charged several editors, news commentators and executives under the #NationalSecurityLaw, while the Security Bureau froze the assets of the newspaper and three related companies.
Source: InMedia #Jun25
https://bit.ly/3dvEvE3
#FailedState #PoliticalSuppression
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#SupportAppleDaily #GlobalSupport
#ReportersWithoutBorders protests #AppleDaily closure at Chinese embassies in Paris and Berlin
The press freedom advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (#RSF) marched through the streets of Paris and Berlin on June 25, 2021.
They protested the closure of the Hong Kong's pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, after Hong Kong's Beijing-backed authorities froze the paper's assets and arrested several executives.
The NGO said on their website that they held "funeral-style processions" to denounce the "killing" of Apple Daily by the Hong Kong government, and to "raise alarm of the threats" posed by the Beijing regime to press freedom globally.
In Paris, RSF placed a coffin and funeral flowers for the Hong Kong paper in front of the #ChineseEmbassy. At the same time, they buried copies of the newspaper in front of the embassy in Berlin.
RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said, "today's funeral is for Apple Daily, but tomorrow's may be for press freedom in China. It's time for the international community to act in line with their own values and obligations and defend what's left of the ,free press in Hong Kong before China's model of information control claims another victim."
Text: Deutsche Welle #Jun25
Photos: Reporters Without Borders
https://twitter.com/rsf_inter/status/1408397332190744579?s=21
#Paris #Berlin #Protests #NGO #Funeral
#ReportersWithoutBorders protests #AppleDaily closure at Chinese embassies in Paris and Berlin
The press freedom advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (#RSF) marched through the streets of Paris and Berlin on June 25, 2021.
They protested the closure of the Hong Kong's pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, after Hong Kong's Beijing-backed authorities froze the paper's assets and arrested several executives.
The NGO said on their website that they held "funeral-style processions" to denounce the "killing" of Apple Daily by the Hong Kong government, and to "raise alarm of the threats" posed by the Beijing regime to press freedom globally.
In Paris, RSF placed a coffin and funeral flowers for the Hong Kong paper in front of the #ChineseEmbassy. At the same time, they buried copies of the newspaper in front of the embassy in Berlin.
RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said, "today's funeral is for Apple Daily, but tomorrow's may be for press freedom in China. It's time for the international community to act in line with their own values and obligations and defend what's left of the ,free press in Hong Kong before China's model of information control claims another victim."
Text: Deutsche Welle #Jun25
Photos: Reporters Without Borders
https://twitter.com/rsf_inter/status/1408397332190744579?s=21
#Paris #Berlin #Protests #NGO #Funeral
Twitter
RSF
Today RSF staged parallel “funeral protests” outside the Chinese embassies in Paris & Berlin following the closure of #AppleDaily, warning that without concrete action by democracies, the death of press freedom in #HongKong could follow. Read more here 👉…
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Solidarity #Hongkongers
Pro-democracy Optical shop claims no surprise to nuisance and vows no regrets to exhibiting support to #AppleDaily
ipoint Optical is an optical shop in Hong Kong, known for its voluntary service and free eyewear to detained and arrested pro-democracy protesters.
On June 20, 2021, the shop placed a front-page advertisement on Apple Daily, following the police's raid, arrests and the freezing of assets.
Soon after that, the shop has been spitefully harassed, receiving nearly a hundred anonymous phone calls in one morning.
Without much alternative, the shop must stop answering all phone calls which impacted badly on their business operation. The shop called for their customers to contact them via other means.
Owner of the optical shop, Michael expressed that someone put up pro-government posters outside their shop to indicate disagreement, so he was not surprised and concerned about more nuisance.
He reiterated that he took no regrets in putting up an advertisement on Apple Daily. There were also new customers visiting them after seeing the ad, Michael said.
Source: Apple Daily, #Jun20
https://bit.ly/3gGScC3
#YellowEconomy #Optician #Ipoint
Pro-democracy Optical shop claims no surprise to nuisance and vows no regrets to exhibiting support to #AppleDaily
ipoint Optical is an optical shop in Hong Kong, known for its voluntary service and free eyewear to detained and arrested pro-democracy protesters.
On June 20, 2021, the shop placed a front-page advertisement on Apple Daily, following the police's raid, arrests and the freezing of assets.
Soon after that, the shop has been spitefully harassed, receiving nearly a hundred anonymous phone calls in one morning.
Without much alternative, the shop must stop answering all phone calls which impacted badly on their business operation. The shop called for their customers to contact them via other means.
Owner of the optical shop, Michael expressed that someone put up pro-government posters outside their shop to indicate disagreement, so he was not surprised and concerned about more nuisance.
He reiterated that he took no regrets in putting up an advertisement on Apple Daily. There were also new customers visiting them after seeing the ad, Michael said.
Source: Apple Daily, #Jun20
https://bit.ly/3gGScC3
#YellowEconomy #Optician #Ipoint
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Propaganda #MainMelody
"Perfect Harmony": A July 1 without #AppleDaily and Annual Pro-democracy March
July 1, 2021 marks the 24th year since Hong Kong was handed over to China, and is also the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP). It is also the first July 1 after the outspoken #AppleDaily was shut down and the annual pro-democracy march has been banned by the police.
The headlines of the remaining printed newspapers in the city sing praises in "perfect harmony" for the CCP and the HKSAR.
A full-page ad adorned the front page of Ming Pao, Economic Journal, Oriental Daily, Sing Tao Daily, Hong Kong Economic Times, South China Morning Post, all wishing the SAR and the Party a happy birthday.
#July1Protest #Newspaper #MediaLandscape
Source: Stand News #July1
https://www.facebook.com/standnewshk/posts/4303698696382384
"Perfect Harmony": A July 1 without #AppleDaily and Annual Pro-democracy March
July 1, 2021 marks the 24th year since Hong Kong was handed over to China, and is also the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party (#CCP). It is also the first July 1 after the outspoken #AppleDaily was shut down and the annual pro-democracy march has been banned by the police.
The headlines of the remaining printed newspapers in the city sing praises in "perfect harmony" for the CCP and the HKSAR.
A full-page ad adorned the front page of Ming Pao, Economic Journal, Oriental Daily, Sing Tao Daily, Hong Kong Economic Times, South China Morning Post, all wishing the SAR and the Party a happy birthday.
#July1Protest #Newspaper #MediaLandscape
Source: Stand News #July1
https://www.facebook.com/standnewshk/posts/4303698696382384
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
The timeline of Apple Daily being shut down under the Hong Kong National Security Law.
#NationalSecurityLaw #JimmyLai #AppleDaily #GoHKgraphics
#NationalSecurityLaw #JimmyLai #AppleDaily #GoHKgraphics
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PoliticalProsecution
Former Reporter Charged with Rioting in Hong Kong: Losing the 612 Fund is Like Losing a Backing
Since 2019, the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund have been providing financial support to the pro-democracry protesters arrested in the #AntiELAB movement in Hong Kong. On August 18, 2021, the Fund annouced that they would suspend their operation. Their record shows that there are still 1,274 ongoing cases as of May 2021.
Ari (a pseudonym), who was previously a #AppleDaily reporter and currently unemployed, was charged with rioting during the AntiELAB movement in 2019. She is one of the arrested persons receiving support from the 612 Fund.
She described the 612 Fund as a firm backing the arrested people who were unsure about their future and struggle to live normally. The Fund relieved part of their financial burden; however, after the suspension of the Fund, Ari would hesitate before filing a legal review, if she would be convicted.
Source: InMediaHK #Oct02
https://bit.ly/3aoZeY3
#612Fund #612HumantarianReliefFund #Court #Freedom #Trial #Riots #Appeal
Former Reporter Charged with Rioting in Hong Kong: Losing the 612 Fund is Like Losing a Backing
Since 2019, the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund have been providing financial support to the pro-democracry protesters arrested in the #AntiELAB movement in Hong Kong. On August 18, 2021, the Fund annouced that they would suspend their operation. Their record shows that there are still 1,274 ongoing cases as of May 2021.
Ari (a pseudonym), who was previously a #AppleDaily reporter and currently unemployed, was charged with rioting during the AntiELAB movement in 2019. She is one of the arrested persons receiving support from the 612 Fund.
She described the 612 Fund as a firm backing the arrested people who were unsure about their future and struggle to live normally. The Fund relieved part of their financial burden; however, after the suspension of the Fund, Ari would hesitate before filing a legal review, if she would be convicted.
Source: InMediaHK #Oct02
https://bit.ly/3aoZeY3
#612Fund #612HumantarianReliefFund #Court #Freedom #Trial #Riots #Appeal
獨立媒體
【牆外的人5】失業記者身負暴動罪：失612似失去後盾 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
（獨媒報導） 8 月 18 日，為反送中被捕者提供經濟援助的 612 人道支援基金，宣佈將停止運作。根據 612 提供的數據，截止 5 月尾，尚有 1,274 宗案件未結案，而受支援的還柙者、在囚者和他們的親友，以
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Award
#AppleDaily Founder #JimmyLai awarded 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award
The Committee to Protect Journalists (#CPJ) awarded Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who is currently in jail, the 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award on November 19, 2021 for his extraordinary and sustained achievement in the cause of press freedom.
Complimenting Lai's achievement, CPJ said, "Lai has become a powerful symbol of the struggle to maintain press freedom in Hong Kong as China’s Communist Party exerts ever greater control over the territory."
The Committee further stated that "In prison, denied bail, the outspoken critic of the Chinese government and advocate for democracy faces charges that could keep him in jail for the rest of his life."
Source: Stand News; #Nov18
https://bit.ly/3nXrw3D
#Recognition #PressFreedom #Arrestee #Dissident #GwenIfill
#AppleDaily Founder #JimmyLai awarded 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award
The Committee to Protect Journalists (#CPJ) awarded Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who is currently in jail, the 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award on November 19, 2021 for his extraordinary and sustained achievement in the cause of press freedom.
Complimenting Lai's achievement, CPJ said, "Lai has become a powerful symbol of the struggle to maintain press freedom in Hong Kong as China’s Communist Party exerts ever greater control over the territory."
The Committee further stated that "In prison, denied bail, the outspoken critic of the Chinese government and advocate for democracy faces charges that could keep him in jail for the rest of his life."
Source: Stand News; #Nov18
https://bit.ly/3nXrw3D
#Recognition #PressFreedom #Arrestee #Dissident #GwenIfill
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PressFreedom #Award
Jimmy Lai and Apple Daily Editors win Golden Pen of Freedom Award
Hong Kong media mogul #JimmyLai and the staff of the shuttered Apple Daily newsroom have been awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom award of the World Association of News Publishers.
Lai, who founded #AppleDaily, has been detained for nearly a year on charges under the National Security Law, including colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security. He is expected to spend his 74th birthday on Dec 8 behind bars.
Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, accepted the award on behalf of his father. He said that “journalism is at the forefront of history,” and that “it records the present and informs the future. It is a check against the powerful, and the voice of the people in times of strife.”
Apple Daily, one of Hong Kong’s most popular Chinese-language newspapers, closed in June after authorities used the controversial National Security Law to arrest the editor-in-chief and four other senior executives.
“With Apple Daily closing in Hong Kong, and a crackdown against journalism across the region, there will be less and less people shining light in these dark corners.”
Sebastien Lai said, adding “Thank you very much for this award but please keep dad, the Apple Daily newsroom in Hong Kong, and the people of Hong Kong in your thoughts as these events unfold.”
#GoldenPen #Media #Award #PoliticalOppression #NationalSecurityLaw
Source: Citizen News; #Dec2
https://bit.ly/3EkUSyy
Jimmy Lai and Apple Daily Editors win Golden Pen of Freedom Award
Hong Kong media mogul #JimmyLai and the staff of the shuttered Apple Daily newsroom have been awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom award of the World Association of News Publishers.
Lai, who founded #AppleDaily, has been detained for nearly a year on charges under the National Security Law, including colluding with foreign forces and endangering national security. He is expected to spend his 74th birthday on Dec 8 behind bars.
Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, accepted the award on behalf of his father. He said that “journalism is at the forefront of history,” and that “it records the present and informs the future. It is a check against the powerful, and the voice of the people in times of strife.”
Apple Daily, one of Hong Kong’s most popular Chinese-language newspapers, closed in June after authorities used the controversial National Security Law to arrest the editor-in-chief and four other senior executives.
“With Apple Daily closing in Hong Kong, and a crackdown against journalism across the region, there will be less and less people shining light in these dark corners.”
Sebastien Lai said, adding “Thank you very much for this award but please keep dad, the Apple Daily newsroom in Hong Kong, and the people of Hong Kong in your thoughts as these events unfold.”
#GoldenPen #Media #Award #PoliticalOppression #NationalSecurityLaw
Source: Citizen News; #Dec2
https://bit.ly/3EkUSyy
眾新聞
黎智英、《蘋果日報》獲頒新聞自由金筆獎
世界新聞出版協會（World Association of News Publishers）將年度新聞自由金筆獎頒發予正身陷囹圄的壹傳媒集團創辦人黎智英，以及香港蘋果日報編輯部人員，表彰他們為了捍衛新聞自由犧牲的精神。創立於1961年的自由金筆獎，每年會頒發給對捍衛和促進新聞自由有傑出貢獻者。黎智英兒子黎崇恩代表領獎，他致辭表示，由於蘋果日報停刊，加上香港新聞自由持續遭打壓，「在黑暗中發光的人將越來越少」，他感謝主辦單位頒發獎項，「也請別忘記我的父親、香港《蘋果日報》編輯部、以及香港人民」。
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PoliticalOppression #PressFreedom
2021 marks a sad milestone for Journalists in HK : Committee to Protect Journalists
In the Committee to Protect Journalists (#CPJ) annual report 2021, it revealed that the number of journalists jailed around the world had set another record in 2021, with #China remains the world’s worst jailer of journalists for the third year in a row, with 50 behind bars.
As for Hong Kong, it said that 2021 "marked a sad milestone".
"For the first time journalists in the former British colony appear on CPJ’s annual survey of journalists unjustly imprisoned for their work. Eight. Zero to eight in one year."
READ FULL ARTICLE:
https://cpj.org/2021/12/hong-kongs-sad-media-milestone/
RELATED ARTICLE:
https://cpj.org/2021/12/attacks-on-the-press-in-2021/
The number of reporters jailed for their work hit a new global record of 293 in CPJ’s 2021 prison census, up from a revised total of 280 in 2020. Also so far in 2021, at least 24 journalists were killed as a result of their coverage.
#NationalSecurityLaw #FreedomOfSpeech #PressFreedom #JimmyLai #AppleDaily
Source : Committee to Protect Journalists; #Dec9
2021 marks a sad milestone for Journalists in HK : Committee to Protect Journalists
In the Committee to Protect Journalists (#CPJ) annual report 2021, it revealed that the number of journalists jailed around the world had set another record in 2021, with #China remains the world’s worst jailer of journalists for the third year in a row, with 50 behind bars.
As for Hong Kong, it said that 2021 "marked a sad milestone".
"For the first time journalists in the former British colony appear on CPJ’s annual survey of journalists unjustly imprisoned for their work. Eight. Zero to eight in one year."
READ FULL ARTICLE:
https://cpj.org/2021/12/hong-kongs-sad-media-milestone/
RELATED ARTICLE:
https://cpj.org/2021/12/attacks-on-the-press-in-2021/
The number of reporters jailed for their work hit a new global record of 293 in CPJ’s 2021 prison census, up from a revised total of 280 in 2020. Also so far in 2021, at least 24 journalists were killed as a result of their coverage.
#NationalSecurityLaw #FreedomOfSpeech #PressFreedom #JimmyLai #AppleDaily
Source : Committee to Protect Journalists; #Dec9
Committee to Protect Journalists
‘Taken into a cage’: Hong Kong’s sad media milestone - Committee to Protect Journalists
The year 2021 marks a sad milestone in Hong Kong. For the first time journalists in the former British colony appear on CPJ’s annual survey of journalists unjustly imprisoned for their work. Eight. Zero to eight in one year. I first visited Hong Kong nearly…
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PressFreedom
Pro-democeacy news anchor stumbles in career development in Hong Kong
Young news anchor, Ingrid #TseHingYee worked for three media outlets in three years. Her disrupted career, is a sad reflection of Hong Kong's stifled media and banished press freedom.
Most recently, Tse was seen hosting a press briefing for the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institution.
She thanked her supporters after the briefing, saying that she is pondering possible developments in her career.
Tse joined #AppleDaily in 2021 after resigning from i-Cable in 2019 due to arguments about editorial decisions.
The 25-year-old journalist moved to work in online media Hong Kong #CitizenNews after Apple Daily was folded in June 2021.
In January 2022, Citizen News announced plans to close after some 200 police raided #StandNews, another independent media outlet in Hong Kong, citing concerns about the safety of its staff.
Source: inmediahk; #Feb12
https://bit.ly/3gVtGwl
Pro-democeacy news anchor stumbles in career development in Hong Kong
Young news anchor, Ingrid #TseHingYee worked for three media outlets in three years. Her disrupted career, is a sad reflection of Hong Kong's stifled media and banished press freedom.
Most recently, Tse was seen hosting a press briefing for the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institution.
She thanked her supporters after the briefing, saying that she is pondering possible developments in her career.
Tse joined #AppleDaily in 2021 after resigning from i-Cable in 2019 due to arguments about editorial decisions.
The 25-year-old journalist moved to work in online media Hong Kong #CitizenNews after Apple Daily was folded in June 2021.
In January 2022, Citizen News announced plans to close after some 200 police raided #StandNews, another independent media outlet in Hong Kong, citing concerns about the safety of its staff.
Source: inmediahk; #Feb12
https://bit.ly/3gVtGwl
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PressFreedom
Hong Kong Drops to the 148th Ranking out of 180 in 2021 World Press Index
The Reporter Without Borders (#RSF) announced the latest World Press Index on May 3, 2022. The ranking of Hong Kong drops from the 80th to the 148th place, hitting the city's lowest record and claiming the largest drop among all 180 territories included in the survey.
RSF in their report called Hong Kong "once a bastion of press freedom" which "has seen an unprecedented setback since 2020 when Beijing adopted a National Security Law aimed at silencing independent voices."
Regarding the media landscape, RSF pointed out that "since the 1997 handover to China, most media have fallen under the control of the government or pro-China groups. In 2021, two major independent news outlets, #AppleDaily and #StandNews, were forcefully shut down while numerous smaller-scale media outlets ceased operations, citing legal risks."
RSF also detailsd how the Hong Kong SAR government "froze the assets of Apple Daily and Stand News, forcing them to cease operations and causing the unemployment of 860 of their staff."
The National Security Law is also a cause to the massive drop in Hong Kong's ranking in the World Press Index. According to RSF, the law is "a pretext to gag independent voices in the name of the fight against “terrorism”, “secession”, “subversion”, and “collusion with foreign forces”. Due to its ambiguous phrasing, the law looks like it could apply to any journalist covering Hong Kong, regardless of their location."
Source: RSF; Mingpao #May3
https://bit.ly/3FebcSL
https://rsf.org/en/country/hong-kong
Hong Kong Drops to the 148th Ranking out of 180 in 2021 World Press Index
The Reporter Without Borders (#RSF) announced the latest World Press Index on May 3, 2022. The ranking of Hong Kong drops from the 80th to the 148th place, hitting the city's lowest record and claiming the largest drop among all 180 territories included in the survey.
RSF in their report called Hong Kong "once a bastion of press freedom" which "has seen an unprecedented setback since 2020 when Beijing adopted a National Security Law aimed at silencing independent voices."
Regarding the media landscape, RSF pointed out that "since the 1997 handover to China, most media have fallen under the control of the government or pro-China groups. In 2021, two major independent news outlets, #AppleDaily and #StandNews, were forcefully shut down while numerous smaller-scale media outlets ceased operations, citing legal risks."
RSF also detailsd how the Hong Kong SAR government "froze the assets of Apple Daily and Stand News, forcing them to cease operations and causing the unemployment of 860 of their staff."
The National Security Law is also a cause to the massive drop in Hong Kong's ranking in the World Press Index. According to RSF, the law is "a pretext to gag independent voices in the name of the fight against “terrorism”, “secession”, “subversion”, and “collusion with foreign forces”. Due to its ambiguous phrasing, the law looks like it could apply to any journalist covering Hong Kong, regardless of their location."
Source: RSF; Mingpao #May3
https://bit.ly/3FebcSL
https://rsf.org/en/country/hong-kong