Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PressFreedom #RTHK
Arrested News Docu Producer Reminds Journalists: Carry on what we ought to do
On Nov 3, 2020, the Hong Kong police arrested Bao Choy, a RTHK producer who took part in investigative reports about police brutality and misconduct.
The police accused Choy of making a false declaration while conducting licence plate searches of vehicles allegedly connected to the white-clad gangsters involved in the mob attack in Yuen Long on July 21, 219.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (#HKJA) comdemned the authorities for "exhausting every possible way to suppress" media workers who try to uncover the truth.
RTHK's director of broadcast Leung Ka-shu, who has been attacked by Beijing loyalists, expressed concern over the grave impact on RTHK staff and its consequence.
The chairman of HKJA, Chris Yeung, also pointed out that “the immediate question is whether reporters will still be comfortable to do regular vehicle licence checks, as they have been for years, because there is now a risk they may face charges”.
On the evening of Nov 3, 2020, Choy on bail met with the press outside Taipo Police Station. She thanked fellow media workers for their concern and hopes journalists in Hong Kong could stay unswayed and uphold professionalism. "Carry on what we ought to do," said Choy.
Source: Apple Daily; InMedia; RTHK #Nov3
https://bit.ly/2JzbGdB
#Arrest #WhiteTerror #BaoChoy #Journalism #HongKongConnection
=====
Police Arrests Journalist of News Programme Addressing Police-Triad Alleged Collusion during Yuen Long 7.21 Triad Attack
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/26379
Arrested News Docu Producer Reminds Journalists: Carry on what we ought to do
On Nov 3, 2020, the Hong Kong police arrested Bao Choy, a RTHK producer who took part in investigative reports about police brutality and misconduct.
The police accused Choy of making a false declaration while conducting licence plate searches of vehicles allegedly connected to the white-clad gangsters involved in the mob attack in Yuen Long on July 21, 219.
The Hong Kong Journalists Association (#HKJA) comdemned the authorities for "exhausting every possible way to suppress" media workers who try to uncover the truth.
RTHK's director of broadcast Leung Ka-shu, who has been attacked by Beijing loyalists, expressed concern over the grave impact on RTHK staff and its consequence.
The chairman of HKJA, Chris Yeung, also pointed out that “the immediate question is whether reporters will still be comfortable to do regular vehicle licence checks, as they have been for years, because there is now a risk they may face charges”.
On the evening of Nov 3, 2020, Choy on bail met with the press outside Taipo Police Station. She thanked fellow media workers for their concern and hopes journalists in Hong Kong could stay unswayed and uphold professionalism. "Carry on what we ought to do," said Choy.
Source: Apple Daily; InMedia; RTHK #Nov3
https://bit.ly/2JzbGdB
#Arrest #WhiteTerror #BaoChoy #Journalism #HongKongConnection
=====
Police Arrests Journalist of News Programme Addressing Police-Triad Alleged Collusion during Yuen Long 7.21 Triad Attack
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/26379
獨立媒體
《鏗鏘集》編導蔡玉玲被控虛假陳述 勉勵同業續「無畏無懼無私」 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
（獨媒報導）參與製作港台節目《鏗鏘集：7.21誰主真相》編導蔡玉玲，被指以不正當資料作車輛查冊，涉嫌違反《道路交通條例》，遭警方以作出虛假陳述起訴。蔡玉玲傍晚保釋後，在大埔警署外見記者。她先感謝記者關心，又希望香港的新聞工作者能繼續信守「無畏無懼無私」的價值，「繼續做我哋應該做嘅嘢」。 蔡玉玲見記者時表現冷靜，表示案件涉及香港電台作為新聞機構的角色
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Professionalism #Solidarity
5 Heads of i-Cable News and Entire China News Team Resign En Masse Against Laying Off of Journalists
On Dec 1, 2020, i-Cable News laid off 40 employees with immediate effect, angering staff at the TV news station.
According to the source, the head of i-Cable China News Szeto Yuen was the first to protest by resigning, followed by the rest of the journalists on the team. In total, one journalist was fired, and the other ten on the team, including Szeto, quit in protest. Some members from other teams also resigned to protest against the company's decision.
A senior journalist told Stand News that they felt it was better to take action together and alert the public that i-Cable News had deteriorated, instead being slowly and quietly weakened. He added that it was not worth staying anymore, since the management has intervened in the reporting again and again.
After recent salary cuts, a few junior journalists were only earning around 13,000 HKD a month. Operations at i-Cable News has nearly ground to a halt on Dec 1, 2020.
An upper-mid-level manager said that the top management had not consulted any department heads about this round of firing. The video editors and graphic designers who were fired were widely praised for their abilities by their colleagues. Many of the fired staff played important roles in middle and senior management.
i-Cable China News had investigated corrupt practices in China many times, and followed up the situation of activists; the team was long regarded to be in high reputation.
They were among the few public broadcasters in Hong Kong with a dedicated team for China news; its 11 members, including the team leader, are responsible for the daily China news reporting and the night-time “China Report”. They also have journalists regularly stationed in Beijing and Guangzhou.
Their most visible reporting in recent years were the 2012 interview of pro-democracy activist Li Wangyang, who served the longest sentence among those from the 1989 Tiananmen protests.
After broadcasting the interview, Li died in Daxiang Hospital, where he was found dead and leaning against the window, with a rope wrapped around his neck, though his legs were touching the ground. The Chinese authorities initially reported that he committed suicide, but they later changed the conclusion to “accidental death”. This incident caused strong repercussions in Hong Kong, with over ten thousand Hongkongers marching in protest, believing that Li "had been suicided".
In 2017, journalist Lam Kin-Shing covered the memorial at sea for Liu Xiaobo by a group of dissenters, the event was broadcast on Facebook live. Afterwards, Liu’s friends were arrested by China police, and the driver hired by i-Cable China News was detained for three days. Lam was transferred back to Hong Kong and barred from reporting in China again; he resigned soon after.
At the early stage of the Wuhan Pneumonia outbreak last year, China News team sent journalists to Wuhan for investigation. They were among the very few Hong Kong media who sent journalists to Wuhan for on-site reporting.
Moreover, the iCable China News team's reporting had won many awards, including Human Right Press Award and awards in the School of Journalism and Communication in CUHK. Their award-winning programs included “Damage of Nuclear weapons tests”, “The land acquisitions incident of Wukan village”, “ Li Wangyang”, “Even China police are protesting”, “Decoding the future of 30 years later”, “Tiananmen massacre 30th year anniversary”, “Poison milk powder: 10 years later”.
Source: Stand News #Dec1
=====
Related News:
All Department Heads from iCable News Quit After the Company Sacks 40 Staff in News Team
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/27039
#WuhanPneumonia #LiWangYang #ChinaNewsTeam #iCable #MassResignation #SzetoYuen #Respect #Integrity #Journalism
5 Heads of i-Cable News and Entire China News Team Resign En Masse Against Laying Off of Journalists
On Dec 1, 2020, i-Cable News laid off 40 employees with immediate effect, angering staff at the TV news station.
According to the source, the head of i-Cable China News Szeto Yuen was the first to protest by resigning, followed by the rest of the journalists on the team. In total, one journalist was fired, and the other ten on the team, including Szeto, quit in protest. Some members from other teams also resigned to protest against the company's decision.
A senior journalist told Stand News that they felt it was better to take action together and alert the public that i-Cable News had deteriorated, instead being slowly and quietly weakened. He added that it was not worth staying anymore, since the management has intervened in the reporting again and again.
After recent salary cuts, a few junior journalists were only earning around 13,000 HKD a month. Operations at i-Cable News has nearly ground to a halt on Dec 1, 2020.
An upper-mid-level manager said that the top management had not consulted any department heads about this round of firing. The video editors and graphic designers who were fired were widely praised for their abilities by their colleagues. Many of the fired staff played important roles in middle and senior management.
i-Cable China News had investigated corrupt practices in China many times, and followed up the situation of activists; the team was long regarded to be in high reputation.
They were among the few public broadcasters in Hong Kong with a dedicated team for China news; its 11 members, including the team leader, are responsible for the daily China news reporting and the night-time “China Report”. They also have journalists regularly stationed in Beijing and Guangzhou.
Their most visible reporting in recent years were the 2012 interview of pro-democracy activist Li Wangyang, who served the longest sentence among those from the 1989 Tiananmen protests.
After broadcasting the interview, Li died in Daxiang Hospital, where he was found dead and leaning against the window, with a rope wrapped around his neck, though his legs were touching the ground. The Chinese authorities initially reported that he committed suicide, but they later changed the conclusion to “accidental death”. This incident caused strong repercussions in Hong Kong, with over ten thousand Hongkongers marching in protest, believing that Li "had been suicided".
In 2017, journalist Lam Kin-Shing covered the memorial at sea for Liu Xiaobo by a group of dissenters, the event was broadcast on Facebook live. Afterwards, Liu’s friends were arrested by China police, and the driver hired by i-Cable China News was detained for three days. Lam was transferred back to Hong Kong and barred from reporting in China again; he resigned soon after.
At the early stage of the Wuhan Pneumonia outbreak last year, China News team sent journalists to Wuhan for investigation. They were among the very few Hong Kong media who sent journalists to Wuhan for on-site reporting.
Moreover, the iCable China News team's reporting had won many awards, including Human Right Press Award and awards in the School of Journalism and Communication in CUHK. Their award-winning programs included “Damage of Nuclear weapons tests”, “The land acquisitions incident of Wukan village”, “ Li Wangyang”, “Even China police are protesting”, “Decoding the future of 30 years later”, “Tiananmen massacre 30th year anniversary”, “Poison milk powder: 10 years later”.
Source: Stand News #Dec1
=====
Related News:
All Department Heads from iCable News Quit After the Company Sacks 40 Staff in News Team
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/27039
#WuhanPneumonia #LiWangYang #ChinaNewsTeam #iCable #MassResignation #SzetoYuen #Respect #Integrity #Journalism
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Hope
Daring Chief Editor in #CitizenNews Welcomes Journalists who Left #CableNews on #MassResignation: “We Have Nothing to Lose”
On December 1, 2020, Cable News in Hong Kong announced a major layoff plan after a series of personnel change in the management. The move has triggered a resignation en masse in the station’s newsroom, including 11 journalists and editors of the #ChinaNews team, as a sign of protest.
On January 18, 2021, the 11 of them announced joining of an online news platform, #CitizenNews, and continue their work on China News.
Former Assignment Editor of Cable News, Wong Lai-ping, expressed that it was a spontaneous action in last December when they resigned together in response to the station’s arbitrary layoff plan.
“We have never thought about coming together again. We even doubted whether we should continue working in the media industry.” However, many encouraged them to carry on their journalistic profession and continue to work as a team.
“So we talked among ourselves and agreed to work together with a focus on China News as we always do.”
The Chief Editor of Citizen News, Li Yue-wah said that the collaboration is “unplanned” and the consensus was reached after discussions following the mass resignation in last December.
She stressed that “This is worth trying as we have nothing to lose.” She called it an act “to smash the cooking pots and sink the boats.”
Li also revealed that since its launch 4 years ago, Citizen News has yet to balance its book. They initially set a target at 4,000 subscribers, for each paying a monthly fee of HK$100. “We are still falling short of this target,” Li sighed.
Adding 11 members of the former China News team from Cable News will double the current workforce of Citizen News. In addition, the news platform is planning to move to a bigger office with live-broadcast facilities. “This is going to double our expenses.” Li added.
She further explained that the platform is not going to pend on crowdfunding, which impact is believed to be short-lived. Instead, it is keen on expanding its subscription base to facilitate long-term development.
Source: Stand News #Jan18
#Pheonixism #Journalism #Professionalism
Daring Chief Editor in #CitizenNews Welcomes Journalists who Left #CableNews on #MassResignation: “We Have Nothing to Lose”
On December 1, 2020, Cable News in Hong Kong announced a major layoff plan after a series of personnel change in the management. The move has triggered a resignation en masse in the station’s newsroom, including 11 journalists and editors of the #ChinaNews team, as a sign of protest.
On January 18, 2021, the 11 of them announced joining of an online news platform, #CitizenNews, and continue their work on China News.
Former Assignment Editor of Cable News, Wong Lai-ping, expressed that it was a spontaneous action in last December when they resigned together in response to the station’s arbitrary layoff plan.
“We have never thought about coming together again. We even doubted whether we should continue working in the media industry.” However, many encouraged them to carry on their journalistic profession and continue to work as a team.
“So we talked among ourselves and agreed to work together with a focus on China News as we always do.”
The Chief Editor of Citizen News, Li Yue-wah said that the collaboration is “unplanned” and the consensus was reached after discussions following the mass resignation in last December.
She stressed that “This is worth trying as we have nothing to lose.” She called it an act “to smash the cooking pots and sink the boats.”
Li also revealed that since its launch 4 years ago, Citizen News has yet to balance its book. They initially set a target at 4,000 subscribers, for each paying a monthly fee of HK$100. “We are still falling short of this target,” Li sighed.
Adding 11 members of the former China News team from Cable News will double the current workforce of Citizen News. In addition, the news platform is planning to move to a bigger office with live-broadcast facilities. “This is going to double our expenses.” Li added.
She further explained that the platform is not going to pend on crowdfunding, which impact is believed to be short-lived. Instead, it is keen on expanding its subscription base to facilitate long-term development.
Source: Stand News #Jan18
#Pheonixism #Journalism #Professionalism
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Censorship
Board Of Advisors Issued Statement Criticizing Director Of Broadcasting's Attempt To Turn #RTHK Into Government Propaganda Machine
Patrick Li, former Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs and current Director of Broadcasting, has been seen constantly interfering with the public broadcaster RTHK’s programs since he took office in early March 2021.
In a statement issued on March 27, 2021, 19 members of the RTHK Board of Advisors criticized Li's intention to turn RTHK into a government propaganda machine.
The statement mentioned that Li has misinterpreted editorial independence as “editorial independence of RTHK” and stressed that it should not be defined by a small group of management on their personal stance and political mission.
The statement demanded Patrick Li to immediately explain the reasons and criteria for canceling or changing programs, and abolish the mechanism of sending program proposals to the Editorial Board for pre-screening.
The petition included signatures including Barrister Randy Shek, Mr. Francis Fong, Honorary President of The Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, Ms. Phyllis Cheung, Executive Director of Hong Kong Unison, Professor Lisa Leung, Associate Professor of Department of Cultural Studies at Lingnan University, Ms. Leticia Wong, District Council member , Mr. Warren Tam Ka-chun and Mr. Sin Chung-kai.
This petition listed a series of incidents related to Li, including the request for previewing programs such as “Hong Kong Connection”《鏗鏘集》 , “Viewpoint 31” 《視點31》; removing parts of the interview within programs of “Hong Kong Stories: The Pandemic Walker” 《香港故事：疫行者》, “LegCo Review” 《議事論事》and “The Pulse” 《脈搏》; and requesting staff to submit program proposals to an editorial committee composed of the Director and directorate staff for approval in early stages of program production.
Source: Stand News #March27
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%95%B4%E8%82%85%E6%B8%AF%E5%8F%B0-19-%E5%90%8D%E7%AF%80%E7%9B%AE%E9%A1%A7%E5%95%8F%E5%9C%98%E7%99%BC%E8%81%B2%E6%98%8E-%E6%96%A5%E6%9D%8E%E7%99%BE%E5%85%A8%E4%BB%A4%E6%B8%AF%E5%8F%B0%E6%B7%AA%E6%94%BF%E5%BA%9C%E5%AE%A3%E5%82%B3%E6%A9%9F%E5%99%A8/
#Journalism #Propaganda #PatrickLi #StateMachine #FailedState
Board Of Advisors Issued Statement Criticizing Director Of Broadcasting's Attempt To Turn #RTHK Into Government Propaganda Machine
Patrick Li, former Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs and current Director of Broadcasting, has been seen constantly interfering with the public broadcaster RTHK’s programs since he took office in early March 2021.
In a statement issued on March 27, 2021, 19 members of the RTHK Board of Advisors criticized Li's intention to turn RTHK into a government propaganda machine.
The statement mentioned that Li has misinterpreted editorial independence as “editorial independence of RTHK” and stressed that it should not be defined by a small group of management on their personal stance and political mission.
The statement demanded Patrick Li to immediately explain the reasons and criteria for canceling or changing programs, and abolish the mechanism of sending program proposals to the Editorial Board for pre-screening.
The petition included signatures including Barrister Randy Shek, Mr. Francis Fong, Honorary President of The Hong Kong Information Technology Federation, Ms. Phyllis Cheung, Executive Director of Hong Kong Unison, Professor Lisa Leung, Associate Professor of Department of Cultural Studies at Lingnan University, Ms. Leticia Wong, District Council member , Mr. Warren Tam Ka-chun and Mr. Sin Chung-kai.
This petition listed a series of incidents related to Li, including the request for previewing programs such as “Hong Kong Connection”《鏗鏘集》 , “Viewpoint 31” 《視點31》; removing parts of the interview within programs of “Hong Kong Stories: The Pandemic Walker” 《香港故事：疫行者》, “LegCo Review” 《議事論事》and “The Pulse” 《脈搏》; and requesting staff to submit program proposals to an editorial committee composed of the Director and directorate staff for approval in early stages of program production.
Source: Stand News #March27
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%95%B4%E8%82%85%E6%B8%AF%E5%8F%B0-19-%E5%90%8D%E7%AF%80%E7%9B%AE%E9%A1%A7%E5%95%8F%E5%9C%98%E7%99%BC%E8%81%B2%E6%98%8E-%E6%96%A5%E6%9D%8E%E7%99%BE%E5%85%A8%E4%BB%A4%E6%B8%AF%E5%8F%B0%E6%B7%AA%E6%94%BF%E5%BA%9C%E5%AE%A3%E5%82%B3%E6%A9%9F%E5%99%A8/
#Journalism #Propaganda #PatrickLi #StateMachine #FailedState
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#OpinionArticle #Court #PoliticalSuppression
"I Do Not Plead Guilty": Hong Kong Journalist Facing Legal Challenge for Unveiling Suspected Police-Triad Collusion
[Editor's note: This is an opinion article written by Au Ka-lun, a veteran journalist in Hong Kong.
In this article, Au recounted what happened during a court hearing where Bao Choy, a journslist working for the public broadcaster RTHK, was charged by the Hong Kong authorities for "giving false statement". The case has stirred up the population's outcry for censoring media freedom and infringing free speech.]
On March 24, 2021, in the courtroom of the Western Magistrate’s Courts in Hong Komg, veteran journalist Bao Choy Yuk-ling resonantly said “I do not plead guilty”.
It is noteworthy that Choy said “I do not plead guilty" (我不認罪) instead of “I plead not guilty” (我唔認罪).
Bao Choy is a professional broadcaster who knows well the subtle difference between “do not” (不) and “Not” (唔) in Cantonese.
In Cantonese, the negation word that is pronounced “ng” is hard to sound out loudly, making it more difficult to be heard and message less affirmative.
Comparatively speaking, the sentence “I do not plead guilty” is more resounding and powerful.
Although I cannot see Bao Choy’s eyes and face through the screen, her clear response to the Court--by saying “I do not plead guilty” twice--found resonance outside the wall of the courtroom.
I heard not only her determination and defiance, but also her unyielding spirit with no fear, complaint and regret.
During the court hearing, the entire news documentary program, Hong Kong Connection: The Truth of 721. Perhaps, which was produced by Choy, was shown.
All those inside and outside the courtroom watched the investigative news programme, which is about the triad attack on pro-democracy protesters and passersby in Yuen Long on July 21, 2019, together.
We saw footages where a large group of white-clad gangsters gathered in the early afternoon; we even saw plain-clothes police officers witnessing the gathering of these Triad members.
The documentary recorded the suspected collusions between the police and the gangsters; questioned the police’s leniency towards the Triad; and demonstrated the journalists’ persistence in reporting the truth.
However, the Hong Kong authorities has deliberately tossed these facts aside. They charge a journalist for checking the car plates and owners' information.
It is a simple case, in which both the prosecution and the defendant did not summon a witness.
The case is upright and aboveboard, leaving Bao Choy nothing to defend for herself but holding her head high and said, “I do not plead guilty.”
Source: Stand News; #Mar24
https://www.thestandnews.com/court/%E8%94%A1%E7%8E%89%E7%8E%B2-%E6%88%91%E4%B8%8D%E8%AA%8D%E7%BD%AA/
#BaoChoy #AuKaLun #Journalism #Professionalism #RTHK
"I Do Not Plead Guilty": Hong Kong Journalist Facing Legal Challenge for Unveiling Suspected Police-Triad Collusion
[Editor's note: This is an opinion article written by Au Ka-lun, a veteran journalist in Hong Kong.
In this article, Au recounted what happened during a court hearing where Bao Choy, a journslist working for the public broadcaster RTHK, was charged by the Hong Kong authorities for "giving false statement". The case has stirred up the population's outcry for censoring media freedom and infringing free speech.]
On March 24, 2021, in the courtroom of the Western Magistrate’s Courts in Hong Komg, veteran journalist Bao Choy Yuk-ling resonantly said “I do not plead guilty”.
It is noteworthy that Choy said “I do not plead guilty" (我不認罪) instead of “I plead not guilty” (我唔認罪).
Bao Choy is a professional broadcaster who knows well the subtle difference between “do not” (不) and “Not” (唔) in Cantonese.
In Cantonese, the negation word that is pronounced “ng” is hard to sound out loudly, making it more difficult to be heard and message less affirmative.
Comparatively speaking, the sentence “I do not plead guilty” is more resounding and powerful.
Although I cannot see Bao Choy’s eyes and face through the screen, her clear response to the Court--by saying “I do not plead guilty” twice--found resonance outside the wall of the courtroom.
I heard not only her determination and defiance, but also her unyielding spirit with no fear, complaint and regret.
During the court hearing, the entire news documentary program, Hong Kong Connection: The Truth of 721. Perhaps, which was produced by Choy, was shown.
All those inside and outside the courtroom watched the investigative news programme, which is about the triad attack on pro-democracy protesters and passersby in Yuen Long on July 21, 2019, together.
We saw footages where a large group of white-clad gangsters gathered in the early afternoon; we even saw plain-clothes police officers witnessing the gathering of these Triad members.
The documentary recorded the suspected collusions between the police and the gangsters; questioned the police’s leniency towards the Triad; and demonstrated the journalists’ persistence in reporting the truth.
However, the Hong Kong authorities has deliberately tossed these facts aside. They charge a journalist for checking the car plates and owners' information.
It is a simple case, in which both the prosecution and the defendant did not summon a witness.
The case is upright and aboveboard, leaving Bao Choy nothing to defend for herself but holding her head high and said, “I do not plead guilty.”
Source: Stand News; #Mar24
https://www.thestandnews.com/court/%E8%94%A1%E7%8E%89%E7%8E%B2-%E6%88%91%E4%B8%8D%E8%AA%8D%E7%BD%AA/
#BaoChoy #AuKaLun #Journalism #Professionalism #RTHK
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Censorship #PoliticalSuppression
#RTHK terminates the contract of critically acclaimed reporter #NabelaQoser
In Hong Kong, the public broadcaster RTHK refused to renew the contract of journalist Nabela Qoser, who is known for her professionalism and critical stance.
Since 2019, the pro-Beijing camp and figures have been attacking Qoser after she raised sharp questions during government press conferences.
Although the station has earlier announced that Qoser was wrongly accused by the complaints, RTHK reopened the investigation in October 2020. Citing the ongoing probe as a reason, RTHK terminated Qoser's civil service contract in January 2021, though she was employed in 2017. The public broadcaster further switched her to a 120-day contract, before terminaring it in May 2021.
Qoser has to leave the station by the end of May 2021.
Source: Stand News #May3
https://bit.ly/3vD3Ylr
#Journalism
#RTHK terminates the contract of critically acclaimed reporter #NabelaQoser
In Hong Kong, the public broadcaster RTHK refused to renew the contract of journalist Nabela Qoser, who is known for her professionalism and critical stance.
Since 2019, the pro-Beijing camp and figures have been attacking Qoser after she raised sharp questions during government press conferences.
Although the station has earlier announced that Qoser was wrongly accused by the complaints, RTHK reopened the investigation in October 2020. Citing the ongoing probe as a reason, RTHK terminated Qoser's civil service contract in January 2021, though she was employed in 2017. The public broadcaster further switched her to a 120-day contract, before terminaring it in May 2021.
Qoser has to leave the station by the end of May 2021.
Source: Stand News #May3
https://bit.ly/3vD3Ylr
#Journalism
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#WhiteTerror #FrozenAsset
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
//Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut “in a matter of days” after authorities froze the company’s assets under a national security law, Mark Simon, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on June 21, 2021.
The closure of Apple Daily would undermine the former British colony's reputation as an open and free society and send a warning to other companies that could be accused of colluding with a foreign country, media advocacy groups said.
Next Digital (0282.HK), publisher of the top-selling 26-year-old newspaper, would hold a board meeting on Monday [June 21, 2021] to discuss how to move forward after its lines of credit were frozen, the adviser, Mark Simon, said.
"Vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected," he said by phone from the United States.
"We thought we'd be able to make it to the end of the month. It's just getting harder and harder. It's essentially a matter of days."
Apple Daily said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left the liberal newspaper with cash for “a few weeks” for normal operations.”
In May, Reuters reported exclusively that Hong Kong's security chief had sent letters to tycoon Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years' jail for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city...
Authorities are also prosecuting three companies related to Apple Daily for alleged collusion with a foreign country and have frozen HK$18 million ($2.3 million) of their assets...
Simon told Reuters it had now become impossible to conduct banking operations in the global financial hub.
"We can't bank. Some vendors tried to do that as a favour ... and it was rejected."
The newspaper has come under increasing pressure since owner and Beijing critic Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen...
Simon said some reporters had received threatening phone calls from unknown sources.
"Our staff are now just worried about personal safety," he said...//
Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/exclusive-adviser-jailed-hk-tycoon-jimmy-lai-says-apple-daily-shut-within-days-2021-06-21/
Source: Reuters #Jun21
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #MarkSimon #FreeJimmy
====
Related stories:
[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30130
"We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30142
Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30140
[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30149
#Reuters: HK’s Pro-democracy Newspaper #AppleDaily to shut within days according to #JimmyLai adviser
//Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut “in a matter of days” after authorities froze the company’s assets under a national security law, Mark Simon, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on June 21, 2021.
The closure of Apple Daily would undermine the former British colony's reputation as an open and free society and send a warning to other companies that could be accused of colluding with a foreign country, media advocacy groups said.
Next Digital (0282.HK), publisher of the top-selling 26-year-old newspaper, would hold a board meeting on Monday [June 21, 2021] to discuss how to move forward after its lines of credit were frozen, the adviser, Mark Simon, said.
"Vendors tried to put money into our accounts and were rejected," he said by phone from the United States.
"We thought we'd be able to make it to the end of the month. It's just getting harder and harder. It's essentially a matter of days."
Apple Daily said on Sunday the freezing of its assets had left the liberal newspaper with cash for “a few weeks” for normal operations.”
In May, Reuters reported exclusively that Hong Kong's security chief had sent letters to tycoon Lai and branches of HSBC and Citibank threatening up to seven years' jail for any dealings with the billionaire's accounts in the city...
Authorities are also prosecuting three companies related to Apple Daily for alleged collusion with a foreign country and have frozen HK$18 million ($2.3 million) of their assets...
Simon told Reuters it had now become impossible to conduct banking operations in the global financial hub.
"We can't bank. Some vendors tried to do that as a favour ... and it was rejected."
The newspaper has come under increasing pressure since owner and Beijing critic Lai, who is now in jail, was arrested under the national security law last August and has since had some of his assets frozen...
Simon said some reporters had received threatening phone calls from unknown sources.
"Our staff are now just worried about personal safety," he said...//
Read full article:
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/exclusive-adviser-jailed-hk-tycoon-jimmy-lai-says-apple-daily-shut-within-days-2021-06-21/
Source: Reuters #Jun21
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #PoliticalSuppression #MarkSimon #FreeJimmy
====
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[June 17, 2021] HK Police Raids Apple Daily Again and Arrests 3 Editors and 2 Executives
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30130
"We Will Press On": Apple Daily Prints 500,000 Copies Despite Police Raid
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30142
Hongkongers Rush to Support Apple Daily After Midnight
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30140
[June 18, 2021] HK Police Charges Apple Daily Editor-in-chief and #NextDigital CEO with #NationalSecurityLaw
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30149
Reuters
EXCLUSIVE HK’s Apple Daily to shut within days, says Jimmy Lai adviser
Hong Kong pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily will be forced to shut "in a matter of days" after authorities froze the company's assets under a national security law, an adviser to jailed owner Jimmy Lai told Reuters on Monday.
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#OpinionArticle #SaveAppleDaily
Former Apple Daily Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper
[Editor's note: The following was written by veteran media worker Terry Yeung, who used to work at Apple Daily and is now publishing regularly on different social media platforms. Yeung recounted his visit to the Apple Daily office after learning the news of the newspaper's forced closure on June 21, 2021]
"After receiving the news, I broke into tears during a meeting. I bought some cakes and hurried back to my 'old home'.
I left Next Digital for some time, but this place is always my alma mater.
Entering through the gate, I bumped into Ms S, who hired me seven years ago. She took me in and let a dumb kid have his first taste in the media industry.
I just took this photo with a banner that writes “Great Work, colleagues!”. It was hanged on the second floor, visible from the lobby.
Ms C of Finance News rushed over for a hug. Her eyes were all red.
Ms F and Mr. H from the same team patted me on the shoulder. The silence said all.
I visited the 'Apple Seed' team and greeted Ms I, who was burying herself in work in order to make sure every colleague is well.
Animal News reporter Ms A hugged me as soon as she saw me. We have known each other for seven years.
I ran into Manager B, a very good friend of mine. We used to go buy siu mei at the Canteen on the fifth floor together.
The cashier screamed when she spotted me. Another familar face from the canteen cried out: “Why are you coming back? Are you paying me a visiting?”
Some former colleagues were taking group photos in the lobby, while some others were still busy in meetings as usual.
If there is still Apply Daily tomorrow, there are articles to be written and printed.
This is the daily routine in Next Digital--things got to be done. It is a sad moment, but there is no time to be immersed in sadness.
Today, many people cried while hugging me. After that, they continued to write articles and work in silence.
As long as Apple Daily is still here, there are news to be published.
The office of Mr. Cheung Kim-hung is vacant.
The seat of Mr. Lai Chee-ying is empty.
The staff of the newspaper vow to work until the end, until they can report news no more.
It is my honour to have been a part of Apple Daily."
Source: Terry’s Lazy Class #Jun21
https://www.facebook.com/108102623935984/posts/529270185152557/
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #FreeJimmy #SaveAppleDaily
====
Related News:
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30172
Voices are Disappearing in Face of "Stability and Prosperity"
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30175
Former Apple Daily Staff Bids Farewell to the Newspaper
[Editor's note: The following was written by veteran media worker Terry Yeung, who used to work at Apple Daily and is now publishing regularly on different social media platforms. Yeung recounted his visit to the Apple Daily office after learning the news of the newspaper's forced closure on June 21, 2021]
"After receiving the news, I broke into tears during a meeting. I bought some cakes and hurried back to my 'old home'.
I left Next Digital for some time, but this place is always my alma mater.
Entering through the gate, I bumped into Ms S, who hired me seven years ago. She took me in and let a dumb kid have his first taste in the media industry.
I just took this photo with a banner that writes “Great Work, colleagues!”. It was hanged on the second floor, visible from the lobby.
Ms C of Finance News rushed over for a hug. Her eyes were all red.
Ms F and Mr. H from the same team patted me on the shoulder. The silence said all.
I visited the 'Apple Seed' team and greeted Ms I, who was burying herself in work in order to make sure every colleague is well.
Animal News reporter Ms A hugged me as soon as she saw me. We have known each other for seven years.
I ran into Manager B, a very good friend of mine. We used to go buy siu mei at the Canteen on the fifth floor together.
The cashier screamed when she spotted me. Another familar face from the canteen cried out: “Why are you coming back? Are you paying me a visiting?”
Some former colleagues were taking group photos in the lobby, while some others were still busy in meetings as usual.
If there is still Apply Daily tomorrow, there are articles to be written and printed.
This is the daily routine in Next Digital--things got to be done. It is a sad moment, but there is no time to be immersed in sadness.
Today, many people cried while hugging me. After that, they continued to write articles and work in silence.
As long as Apple Daily is still here, there are news to be published.
The office of Mr. Cheung Kim-hung is vacant.
The seat of Mr. Lai Chee-ying is empty.
The staff of the newspaper vow to work until the end, until they can report news no more.
It is my honour to have been a part of Apple Daily."
Source: Terry’s Lazy Class #Jun21
https://www.facebook.com/108102623935984/posts/529270185152557/
#PoliceState #NationalSecurityLaw #PressFreedom #HongKongMedia #Journalism #FreeJimmy #SaveAppleDaily
====
Related News:
Arrests, National Security Charges and Frozen Assets: Apple Daily Might Shut Down in 5 Days
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30172
Voices are Disappearing in Face of "Stability and Prosperity"
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30175
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Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Hongkongers
Pro-democracy media chief: “We’ve tried and enjoyed media freedom in the past. We have no regrets.”
#LouiseWong Lai-Sheung, editor-in-chief of the #NextMagazine in Hong Kong wrote an open letter on the magazine’s Facebook on June 23, 2021 to bid farewell to readers.
Wong wrote that the Magazine has gone through many tough times in the past, including deep profit losses in 2016. Back then, vocal media tycoon, #JimmyLai Chee-yin, owner of the Next Magazine “warned” to roll-off the magazine and set a timeline to put pressure on his staff to work hard. Wong wrote, “He knows we are “attached” to the magazine. Not letting it fold is our biggest motivation.”
Wong continued in her letter, it took them 3 years to “remodel it” from traditional magazine to online media when readership and profits gradually picked up and meeting new highs. When subscription model was first put in place in Next Magazine in 2019, they were surprised to acquired over 100,000 subscribers. Despite that the magazine could not turn around its profits, but reduce loss.
Until June 21, “the editorial believes the big era has come to an end.”
Wong expressed in the letter that she is a sentimental person. But she didn’t shed tears. In the office that filled with shocks and anxieties, she told herself to remain calm and get on to an exit plan. Facing those staff who are still hopeful to continue operating the Magazine, she couldn’t help but told them to cut it off. “We’ve tried in the past and enjoyed media freedom. We have no regrets.”
Source: Apple Daily, #Jun23
https://bit.ly/3gVDndz
#SaveAppleDaily #ProtectAppleDaily #Journalism #PressFreedom
====
Related News
National Security Police Arrests News Commentator; Pro-democracy #AppleDaily Will Shut Down In One Day
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30198
Pro-democracy media chief: “We’ve tried and enjoyed media freedom in the past. We have no regrets.”
#LouiseWong Lai-Sheung, editor-in-chief of the #NextMagazine in Hong Kong wrote an open letter on the magazine’s Facebook on June 23, 2021 to bid farewell to readers.
Wong wrote that the Magazine has gone through many tough times in the past, including deep profit losses in 2016. Back then, vocal media tycoon, #JimmyLai Chee-yin, owner of the Next Magazine “warned” to roll-off the magazine and set a timeline to put pressure on his staff to work hard. Wong wrote, “He knows we are “attached” to the magazine. Not letting it fold is our biggest motivation.”
Wong continued in her letter, it took them 3 years to “remodel it” from traditional magazine to online media when readership and profits gradually picked up and meeting new highs. When subscription model was first put in place in Next Magazine in 2019, they were surprised to acquired over 100,000 subscribers. Despite that the magazine could not turn around its profits, but reduce loss.
Until June 21, “the editorial believes the big era has come to an end.”
Wong expressed in the letter that she is a sentimental person. But she didn’t shed tears. In the office that filled with shocks and anxieties, she told herself to remain calm and get on to an exit plan. Facing those staff who are still hopeful to continue operating the Magazine, she couldn’t help but told them to cut it off. “We’ve tried in the past and enjoyed media freedom. We have no regrets.”
Source: Apple Daily, #Jun23
https://bit.ly/3gVDndz
#SaveAppleDaily #ProtectAppleDaily #Journalism #PressFreedom
====
Related News
National Security Police Arrests News Commentator; Pro-democracy #AppleDaily Will Shut Down In One Day
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30198
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Conscience #Professionalism
HK Journalist Reporting Police Brutality Does Not Back Down Despite Threats
Wanchai district councilor #LeungPakKin was a journalist for #RicePost on the scene of the 8.31 Prince Edward Attack, and had recorded video of the attack as it unfolded in 2019.
Earlier in August 2021, someone had mailed him a box cutter blade, along with a threatening letter: "Shut up about 8.31, and your family will stay safe".
In response to inquiries by Stand News, Leung saif that he will not keep quiet because of the letter. He says that the attack had been a collective memory of everyone, and it will not disappear simply because he stopped talking.
He elaborates on his thoughts on the letter on his Facebook page, stating that it didn't have to be him talking about the 8.31 attack by the police. "The video already showed everything. The people and events in the video are the most important [proof]. The violence dealt by the armed men in the video, whether they're reasonable, whether they're proportional - there's no need for me to say more."
Leung said that he had turned down all interviews since last year.
Source: Stand News #Aug30
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%9B%BE%E6%8B%8D%E7%89%87%E7%B4%80%E9%8C%84-831-%E5%A4%AA%E5%AD%90%E7%AB%99%E5%85%A7%E6%83%85%E6%B3%81-%E6%A2%81%E6%9F%8F%E5%A0%85%E6%94%B6%E5%88%80%E7%89%87%E6%81%90%E5%9A%87%E4%BF%A1
#831PrinceEdward #WhiteTerror #Censorship #Threat #DistrictCouncillor #Journalism
HK Journalist Reporting Police Brutality Does Not Back Down Despite Threats
Wanchai district councilor #LeungPakKin was a journalist for #RicePost on the scene of the 8.31 Prince Edward Attack, and had recorded video of the attack as it unfolded in 2019.
Earlier in August 2021, someone had mailed him a box cutter blade, along with a threatening letter: "Shut up about 8.31, and your family will stay safe".
In response to inquiries by Stand News, Leung saif that he will not keep quiet because of the letter. He says that the attack had been a collective memory of everyone, and it will not disappear simply because he stopped talking.
He elaborates on his thoughts on the letter on his Facebook page, stating that it didn't have to be him talking about the 8.31 attack by the police. "The video already showed everything. The people and events in the video are the most important [proof]. The violence dealt by the armed men in the video, whether they're reasonable, whether they're proportional - there's no need for me to say more."
Leung said that he had turned down all interviews since last year.
Source: Stand News #Aug30
https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%9B%BE%E6%8B%8D%E7%89%87%E7%B4%80%E9%8C%84-831-%E5%A4%AA%E5%AD%90%E7%AB%99%E5%85%A7%E6%83%85%E6%B3%81-%E6%A2%81%E6%9F%8F%E5%A0%85%E6%94%B6%E5%88%80%E7%89%87%E6%81%90%E5%9A%87%E4%BF%A1
#831PrinceEdward #WhiteTerror #Censorship #Threat #DistrictCouncillor #Journalism