#PrimaryElection
Queuing under the blazing sunny, Hongkongers Promise to Do their Best, Despite Uncertainty

11 and 12 July are the dates set for the primary election organized by the pro-democracy camp. Due to some technical issues for security, the opening hours of the polling stations were delayed to 12 noon on July 11. In Tuen Mun, there was a long queue at the Sun Hui polling station.

40-year-old Mr Cheung said he insisted in voting under the blazing sun, although he didn't have much expectation about "35+" goal advocated by the pro-democracy camp. "We may not be able to get enough seats in the functional constituency, but we shall do our best: to treasure freedom and our rights while we can. It may be the last time for us to vote. Later, all pro-democracy candidates might be disqualified [by the authorities]," said Mr Cheung.

Mr. Cheung said the police raid at the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Center is an example of suppression and that Hongkongers cannot back down.

Source: Stand News #Jul11

#PrimaryElection #LegCoElection
A Hong Kong Elector: "Hundreds of Hongkongers are expected to be cracked down, but we won't surrender because of the unreasonable suppression by the government"

11 July is the first day of the pro-democracy primary elections. A non-air-conditioned “hot dog bus” was modified into a polling station at Jordon West near Kowloon Station High-Speed Train. Electors filled in information and chose a candidate while they were waiting, then they were arranged to get into the bus at the front door and complete the voting at the upper level by scanning the QR code. The whole procedure of voting took around a few minutes, excluding waiting time. Press reported that the staff controlled the number of people on the bus and measured their body temperatures.

Au Nok-hin, a former legislator coordinating the primary election, said even a "hot dog bus" could be the polling station if it fulfilled the requirement. Although there was no air-conditioning, “all helpers are working hard”.

A West Kowloon elector named Ms Chiu reached this polling station and hoped to vote for a younger candidate. She thought the existing lawmaker wouldn’t improve Hong Kong’s situation, so it was time to let new people join the legislative council. She believes that new people can also “internationalize” the council. She also hopes the selected candidate can help to voice out in the council, but she was concerned about the possible the governmental suppression in the council. Regardless, she chose not to worry too much.

She was asked if she worried about any possible interruption in the election process during these two days, and she replied, “In the past, no matter what we do or if we participate in the election, hundreds of Hongkongers are prepared to be cracked down. But we can’t surrender because of the unreasonable suppression by the government. Hongkongers should come out and fight for our rights." She thought that the more they surrender, the more severe suppression by the government would be.

Source: Stand News #Jul11

Primary Elections Update:
https://bit.ly/3fuMBeI

List of Candidates: https://legco2020.thestandnews.com/primaries/

Benny Tai: No matter how many highs and lows are ahead, one day we will see Hong Kong enter into a true golden age

Dr. Benny Tai, one of the organizers of this weekend's primary election as well as conveners in Occupy Central campaign in 2014, shares his thoughts of the first day of the primary election on Facebook:

"At this moment, my feelings are conflicted.

On one hand, I breathe a sigh of relief. The turnout for the primary election was far larger than I expected. On the other hand, past experience tells me that every time Hongkongers accomplish a miraculous feat, those in power feel gravely threatened. And they will definitely scheme to strike back even harder.

Until the September election, they will suppress Hongkongers in every conceivable manner, and as much revenge on us as they can. We must be mentally prepared.

Again, from past experience, every 'high' in our movement would be followed by a period of lows, but every low builds up energy to push ourselves on to a higher peak, because of the undefeatable resolve that is rooted deep within every Hongkonger. And this is why I believe, no matter how many highs and lows are ahead, one day we will see Hong Kong enter into a true golden age.

For now, let's not think too much. Let's work hard and make this miracle happen!"

Source: Benny Tai's Facebook #Jul11 #BennyTai #PrimaryElection

#PrimaryElection #Attack
Volunteer Attacked by Pro-Establishment Fraction

According to an assistant of pro-democracy legislator Jeremy Tam Man-ho, a volunteer setting up the street booth at Lok Fu in the afternoon of July 11 was attacked.

At around 5:30 pm, several people shouted and insulted the volunteer at the street. One of them attacked the volunteer with a long umbrella. The assistant said the volunteer was not seriously injured, and they reported it to the police. However, the police still haven't arrived at 6 pm.

Jeremy Tam said besides suppression by the government, pro-Beijing camp also tends fo use violence. He urged electors to vote. "The more people come out, the less afraid we are." He also reminded volunteers, "If any risk arises, please leave. Don't let people have excuse to make things worse."

Source: Stand News #Jul11

#JeremyTam

#PrimaryElection #Attack
Urine Bomb Attack on Polling Station Fails to Disrupt Voting

Before the polling station in Tin Ping Estate, Sheung Shui opened at noon, on the first day of the primary election on July 11 someone dropped a “urine bomb” from above, nearly hitting the tens of citizens waiting in line to vote.

Witness Kwok Long Fung, a district councilor, pointed out to journalists that the area was not a blackspot of incidents with objects being thrown from above, suspecting the incident was intentionally targeting the primary elections. He added that no one was splashed by the urine. The incident didn’t affect voters either. Long queues even appeared outside the polling station that afternoon.

Source: InMedia #Jul11

#WhiteTerror #Censorship
Hong Kong University Management Continues Crackdown on Pro-democracy Students

According to the #CampusTV and the journal #Undergrad run by the students of the University of Hong Kong (#HKU), the University management has been removing pro-democracy slogans and materials posted on campus.

These targeted locations include the Democracy Wall, the building where the office of Students Union was located, and notice boards in general.

The #StudentsUnion (#HKUSU) said this is a continuous crackdown by the University authorities following the deprival of the Union's right to use the office on campus.

Source: Stand News #Jul11
https://thestandnews.page.link/2nHip7rFwDUZaxSY7

#University #Students #DemocracyWall #FailedState

Former Political Satire Host Leaves Hong Kong for #Taiwan: "Sorry for Not Being Able to Say Goodbye"

On July 11, 2021, Tsang Chi-ho, a radio and TV host who was suddenly sacked by the public broadcaster #RTHK in June 2021, announced on Facebook that he has left Hong Kong for Taiwan. Tsang apologized for not being able to tell and say goodbye to his friends in advance.

Tsang wrote, "I woke up and realised that a 'Hong Kong' that is not Hong Kong anymore." He said he missed his friends a lot.

"In each of our heart, there lie many people, happenings and thousands of words. The path thereafter we will continue to walk," Tsang wrote in his post.

Many netizens left words of encouragement to Tsang: "Safety comes first," "As long as you and your family are well," and "Thank you for what you have done for Hong Kong" among others.

Taiwanese netizens also told Tsang "Welcome to Taiwan".

[Editor's note: #TsangChiHo is one of the hosts of the famous political satire #Headliner produced by RTHK. Under political pressure, the long-running popular program has been suspended. The public broadcaster RTHK termimated Tsang's contract with immediate effect in June 2021, despite the popularity of another radio show he was hosting.]

Source: Stand News #Jul11
https://bit.ly/2UCGq30

#PoliticalSuppression #Exile #Migration

Thousands in Henan protested banks for witholding their money, resulting in large scale police and public confrontation

The frozen deposits situation at banks in #Henan Province has not eased. In the early morning of Sunday (10 July), thousands of bank account holders, unable to withdraw their deposits, gathered and protested at Zhengzhou People's Bank.

Online videos showed protesters holding up banners demanding the bank to return their deposits. Police and a large number of unidentified men arrived at the scene, to whom protesters chanted "triads". Efforts to disperse the crowd turned into violent clashes, and many were injured.

Four rural banks in Henan Province began to close their online withdrawal and transfer channels in April, affecting more than 400,000 people, involving deposits of up to 40 billion yuan.

It was reported that when some depositors planned to go in person to Henan to withdraw money last month, their #HealthCode turned red, effectively restricting their movement. It is suspected that the concerned authority was behind this controversial act.

Source: Radio Free Asia #Jul11

Detailed report [in Chinese] ➡️ https://bit.ly/3OZ3r7v

#ChinaBankCrisis