Hong Kong’s John Lee asks court to ‘relieve’ penalties for failing to comply with election regulations

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/08/hong-kongs-john-lee-asks-court-to-relieve-penalties-for-failing-to-comply-with-election-regulations/

Xinjiang Police Files: Inside a Chinese internment camp

The highly coercive and potentially lethal systems of control used against minority groups in China’s internment camps have been revealed in a giant cache of secret documents shared with the BBC.

China insists the network of secure facilities built across its far western region of Xinjiang are simply “schools” for combatting extremism to which “students” sign up willingly. But the contents of the leaked Xinjiang Police Files suggest a different story.

Taking information from the leaked documents, the BBC has reconstructed one of the camps – the Shufu County New Vocational Skills Education and Training Centre - to reveal the methods used inside.

Source: BBC #May24

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-8df450b3-5d6d-4ed8-bdcc-bd99137eadc3?fbclid=IwAR0G6lCZ5J8OgJCy9O-taSz-8zjWZQRAh7eQVeTQw-2LzIWf3KECKZLVG0A&fs=e&s=cl

#Xinjiang #Police #Champ

Report: Gathering Penalty Ticket has no effect on the Controlling Coronavirus Outbreak


Mingpao, a Hong Kong newspaper, compared the monthly enforcement figures of the "Prohibition on group gatherings" (Cap. 599G*) and "Compulsory mask-wearing" rule (Cap. 599I**).

It was found that the Hong Kong police issued 2,460 fixed penalty tickets on 599G in April 2021, highest in a single month, but there was only 60 confirmed local cases of Covid-19 infection in that month.

On the other hand, the maximum number of fixed penalty tickets on 599I was issued in March last year, when the 5th wave of the pandemic peaked.

Dr. Ho Pak-leung, President of the Carol Yu's Centre for Infection at the University of Hong Kong, believes that the variation in fixed penalty tickets issued is not correlated with that of infection cases, and the fixed penalty is not an effective way to control the pandemic.

According to Dr. Ho Pak-leung, the government stepped up the enforcement of the compulsory mask-wearing rule during the 5th wave of the pandemic, which led to a significant increase in the number of fixed penalty tickets. However, the variation in the group gatherings prohibition ticket issued is not correlated to the pandemic but is probably more related to places and police verbal warnings rather than pandemic risk assessment.

Ramon Yuen Hoi-man, a member of the Sham Shui Po District Council and the spokesman of the Democratic Party on medical policy, questions if it is necessary to issue fixed penalty tickets so relentlessly when the pandemic subsides, "the government should not make an impression that there's a hidden agenda proceed in the name public health".

* Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Gathering) Regulation

** Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation

Source: Mingpao #May19

#599G #599I #GatheringBan #FailedState

https://life.mingpao.com/general/article?issue=20220519&nodeid=1652897733454

Taiwan’s Apple Daily finds buyer after Hong Kong edition shuttered, will retain most staff

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/09/taiwans-apple-daily-finds-buyer-after-hong-kong-edition-shuttered-will-retain-most-staff/

As Hong Kong clamps down, ‘burden of remembering’ #TiananmenMassacre shifts overseas

// In the decades since the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing on June 4, 1989, one of the most indelible images associated with the event, alongside “Tank Man” and the Goddess of Democracy statue, has been a sea of candles, lighting up the night.

Every year, tens of thousands gathered in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park to commemorate the dead and echo their calls for democracy in China.

No more. The 30th anniversary of the massacre in 2019 was the last time it was marked by a mass gathering in Hong Kong. Memorials since then have been banned on coronavirus grounds, as is the case this year, with public gatherings still limited to four people...

“With the last symbol of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech in Hong Kong being taken away it is crucial for Hong Kongers and all persons of conscience around the world to pick up the torch and make sure that the flame of freedom and democracy remain burning,” said Mabel Tung, chair of the Vancouver Society in Support of Democratic Movement (#VSSDM), a group founded by Chinese Canadians in support of the 1989 protests.

...Amnesty International said it is arranging events in more than 20 cities this year, and will call on participants not only to remember those killed in Beijing, but also “stand in solidarity with those in Hong Kong whose peaceful acts of commemoration are now criminalized.”

In Asia, one of the largest memorials will be in Taipei, where organizers plan to unveil a replica of the “Pillar of Shame,” a statue commemorating the Tiananmen victims that was forcibly removed from Hong Kong last year...//

Source: Globe and Mail #June3

Read the full article:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-as-hong-kong-clamps-down-burden-of-remembering-tiananmen-massacre/

#Remembrance #Solidarity #Overseas #Resistance #Diaspora #Hongkongers

Covid-19: Hong Kong urged to scrap vaccine pass requirement at clinics as unvaxxed patients skip check-ups

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/09/welfare-groups-urge-hong-kong-govt-to-scrap-vaccine-pass-requirement-at-clinics-as-unvaxxed-patients-skip-check-ups/

Hong Kong gov’t should review poverty relief measures for elderly, Oxfam says

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/10/hong-kong-govt-should-review-poverty-relief-measures-for-elderly-oxfam-says/

Shooting in Hong Kong’s Central district leaves 3 injured

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/10/breaking-shooting-in-hong-kongs-central-district-leaves-3-injured/

3 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists have honours revoked by gov’t

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/10/3-hong-kong-pro-democracy-activists-have-honours-revoked-by-govt/

#China fighter jet intercepts Australian plane - Canberra

// #Australia has accused the pilot of a Chinese fighter jet of carrying out a dangerous manoeuvre near one of its aircraft over the South China Sea.

It says the Chinese aircraft released flares and cut in front of the Australian surveillance plane.

The Chinese jet then released "chaff" - an anti-radar device which includes small pieces of aluminium which entered the Australian plane's engine.

Beijing claims most of the region as its own territory.

But the US, neighbouring countries and others, including Australia, dispute its claim.

In February, Australia accused a Chinese navy ship of shining a military grade laser towards one of its warplanes over the Arafura Sea off northern Australia.

Source: BBC #Jun4

Read the full article:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-61696973

#Beijing #WolfWarrior #Jet #AirSpace

Hong Kong investigative news platform Factwire disbands – 4th outlet to shutter in under a year

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/10/breaking-hong-kong-investigative-news-platform-factwire-disbands/

Central shooting linked to organised crime, Hong Kong police say, as some suspects still at large

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/10/central-shooting-linked-to-organised-crime-hong-kong-police-say-as-some-suspects-still-at-large/

EXCLUSIVE: Some foreign English teachers employed by gov’t must swear allegiance to Hong Kong or risk their job

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/10/exlcusive-some-foreign-english-teachers-employed-by-govt-must-swear-allegiance-to-hong-kong-or-risk-their-job/

Covid-19: 3 arrested over providing false rapid test results

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/11/covid-19-3-arrested-over-providing-false-rapid-test-results/

Forget the apologists, there’s no excuse for Putin’s bloody land grab

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/11/forget-the-apologists-theres-no-excuse-for-putins-bloody-land-grab/

"Glory HK": #Hongkongers Raise Glowing Signs amid Storm Clouds on Lion Rock

In Hong Kong, a group of pro-democracy citizens braved the heavy rain and hiked to the top of the #LionRock on the evening of June 9, 2022.

On the mountain, they displayed the light signs that spelled "Glory HK", to commemorate the third anniversary of the 2019 June 9 #AntiExtradition protest march.

When the group reached the summit, however, the hill was shrouded by dense clouds and heavy rain, with a thunderstorm warning from the weather observatory. After discussing their options, the group decided to carry through and set up the sign while they waited for the clouds to clear. Their patience was rewarded after waiting for over an hour; the clouds cleared for a brief moment, and Hong Kong's city lights come into view behind their glowing sign.

Speaking to a reporter, the organizer likened the weather atop the mountain to the outlook for Hong Kong's future: full of dark clouds, but there will be light for those who hold on to the end.

"The oppression keeps Hongkongers from speaking our minds, and even rational debates on the Internet risk violating the authority's red line; however, the beliefs of Hongkongers 3 years ago surely remain engraved in our hearts, and they will never change," said one of the participants.

Source: Boomhead #Jun9

#June9 #GloryToHongKong #AntiELAB #KeepTheFaith #NeverForget #3Years

See also:

Two Years into Hongkongers' #FightForFreedom: "Keep the Faith, Until Darkness Gives Away to the Glorious Dawn and Freedom Returns to Our Land"

https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/30108

June 9, 2019: 1 Million Pro-Democracy #Hongkongers in #AntiExtradition Protest

https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/32866

‘They haven’t gone away’: Hong Kong’s pro-democracy ‘yellow economy’ has paled, but support for it remains

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/12/they-havent-gone-away-hong-kongs-pro-democracy-yellow-economy-remains-even-if-support-for-it-has-paled/

Photographer withdraws photo donated to FCC, saying Hong Kong press club failed to stand up for press freedom

https://hongkongfp.com/2022/06/13/photographer-withdraws-fundraising-photo-from-fcc-saying-hong-kong-press-club-failed-to-stand-up-for-press-freedom/