Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
The National Anthem Law to be Enforced; Bypasses Legislative Process
(Editor’s Note: The National People’s Congress (NPC) passed the nationwide National Anthem Law in 2017 and listed it in Annex III to the Basic Law. According to the Basic Law Article 18, the nationwide laws, confined to those relating to defence and foreign affairs as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy, shall be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation .
However, the National Anthem does not, in any way, land itself in the category of defence or foreign affairs. The NPC’s decision is undoubtedly undermining the autonomy of Hong Kong, just like what they did with the decisions and interpretations of the Basic Law.)
Pro Establishment Legislator: “the National Anthem Law” will be enforced regardless of whether or not it passes through legislative process.
Priscilla Leung, a member of the Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong, claimed that pro-democracy legislators were attempting to cripple the Legislative Council House Committee in an effort to obstruct the National Anthem Law from being passed. The Business and Professional Alliance for Hong Kong (BPAHK) legislator also said that if the law cannot go through the local legislative procedures, it will have be enforced directly.
Leung said it is more befitting for Hong Kong’s political and justice system for a law to be passed through regular legislative process. However, should controversies arise regarding this law, the Common Law can be used to settle the difference in court.
She emphasized that enforcing the National Anthem Law is necessary because on numerous occasions, people responded to the Anthems with jeers in public. The draft for the bill has been reviewed by the relevant committees within the Legislative Council.
Source: RTHK
#10Jan #NationalAnthemLaw #Authoritarianism #BypassLegCo #CCP
(Editor’s Note: The National People’s Congress (NPC) passed the nationwide National Anthem Law in 2017 and listed it in Annex III to the Basic Law. According to the Basic Law Article 18, the nationwide laws, confined to those relating to defence and foreign affairs as well as other matters outside the limits of the autonomy, shall be applied locally by way of promulgation or legislation .
However, the National Anthem does not, in any way, land itself in the category of defence or foreign affairs. The NPC’s decision is undoubtedly undermining the autonomy of Hong Kong, just like what they did with the decisions and interpretations of the Basic Law.)
Pro Establishment Legislator: “the National Anthem Law” will be enforced regardless of whether or not it passes through legislative process.
Priscilla Leung, a member of the Committee for the Basic Law of the Hong Kong, claimed that pro-democracy legislators were attempting to cripple the Legislative Council House Committee in an effort to obstruct the National Anthem Law from being passed. The Business and Professional Alliance for Hong Kong (BPAHK) legislator also said that if the law cannot go through the local legislative procedures, it will have be enforced directly.
Leung said it is more befitting for Hong Kong’s political and justice system for a law to be passed through regular legislative process. However, should controversies arise regarding this law, the Common Law can be used to settle the difference in court.
She emphasized that enforcing the National Anthem Law is necessary because on numerous occasions, people responded to the Anthems with jeers in public. The draft for the bill has been reviewed by the relevant committees within the Legislative Council.
Source: RTHK
#10Jan #NationalAnthemLaw #Authoritarianism #BypassLegCo #CCP
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
7 Forbidden Topics in Universities in China
Editor's note: Colleges and universities in China have been instructed to steer clear of seven topics in their courses. Reasons provided by Xi Jinping administration showed an inconceivable retrogression in Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ideology, probably an explicit evidence of the leader's sense of insecurity and his anxiety in losing powers to rivalries.
1. Universal Values
Cause: they challenges or even expels Chinese commmunist party leaders and the party's leadership
2. Freedom of Press
Cause: The idea upsets the stability of CCP and society
3. Civil Society
Cause: It creates a new force at grassroots level independent of the CCP
4. Civil Rights
Cause: they upset the CCP’s macro-control over citizens
5. CCP's historical aberrations Cause: this might undermine CCP’s legitimacy to rule or overturn CCP
6. Elite Cronyism / privileged capitalist class
Cause: it 'distorts' the fact that political reform necessitates economic liberalization.
7. Judicial Independence
Cause: it challenges CCP's rule and authority if the courts are no longer under the direct control of CCP
Source : BBC
#Jan16 #StateTerrorism #Authoritarianism #Brainwash
Editor's note: Colleges and universities in China have been instructed to steer clear of seven topics in their courses. Reasons provided by Xi Jinping administration showed an inconceivable retrogression in Chinese Communist Party (CCP) ideology, probably an explicit evidence of the leader's sense of insecurity and his anxiety in losing powers to rivalries.
1. Universal Values
Cause: they challenges or even expels Chinese commmunist party leaders and the party's leadership
2. Freedom of Press
Cause: The idea upsets the stability of CCP and society
3. Civil Society
Cause: It creates a new force at grassroots level independent of the CCP
4. Civil Rights
Cause: they upset the CCP’s macro-control over citizens
5. CCP's historical aberrations Cause: this might undermine CCP’s legitimacy to rule or overturn CCP
6. Elite Cronyism / privileged capitalist class
Cause: it 'distorts' the fact that political reform necessitates economic liberalization.
7. Judicial Independence
Cause: it challenges CCP's rule and authority if the courts are no longer under the direct control of CCP
Source : BBC
#Jan16 #StateTerrorism #Authoritarianism #Brainwash
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#HongkongersVoice #Injustice
Musician #RonoFok Encourages Hongkongers to Fight On After Being Arrested over National Security Probe
Hong Kong musician Rono Fok wrote his reflection on facebook on January 18, 2021, after he was arrested and detained by the Hong Kong police for national security violation on January 14:
"I was detained by the National Security police for more than 40 hours. During which, I was once handcuffed to a chain around my waist when being escorted from the Chai Wan police station to the North Point police station. I have also subjected to dozens times of body search. One time I had to strip all my clothes from my upper body.
Around 6am on January 14, 2021, six National Security police officers arrested me at my home in Shau Kei Wan. They accused me of aiding 12 pro-democracy Hongkongers to flee to Taiwan.
Except me, all my family members suffered permanent mental disabilities. I am always thankful for their love and care. When the police arrested me and raided my home, no one from my family has shed one drop of tear, until the moment when the police dragged me away to the lift lobby.
My mother, who is immobile and her right hand disabled, followed closely behind just to have one last look at me. She growled and asked, “What is Hong Kong becoming of?”
I was tranported between the Chai Wan and the North Point police stations, where I interrogated for 3 times under recordings. The National security officers asked me around 300 to 400 questions.
Although meals and drinks were provided, I suffered from hallucination and very mild incontinence when detained in the North Point police station.
It was a cold evening when the temperature dropped below 10 degrees celsius.
When I was escorted from North Point Police Station to Chai Wan, we drove by King’s Road. I recalled the time I went to the nursery, primary school, secondary school and university. I miss my friends and schoolmates. I used to hang out at the park and the ball courts, grab lunch with my schoolmates and play video games in internet café after school.
Perhaps, I will be charged and I will sit for court hearing or even face jail, but I will never give up music and art. I will keep on learning to become your favourite artist.
In case of imprisonment, I will write about my music and stories. My mother is not eloquent, but I hope to share her words to all of you, 'Hongkongers, fight on!'”
Source: Rono Fok's Facebook; Stand News, #Jan18
https://www.facebook.com/RONOFOK/posts/1154216091675415
#PoliceState #Authoritarianism
#NationalSecurityLaw #Save12 #Save12HongKongYouths #Musician
Musician #RonoFok Encourages Hongkongers to Fight On After Being Arrested over National Security Probe
Hong Kong musician Rono Fok wrote his reflection on facebook on January 18, 2021, after he was arrested and detained by the Hong Kong police for national security violation on January 14:
"I was detained by the National Security police for more than 40 hours. During which, I was once handcuffed to a chain around my waist when being escorted from the Chai Wan police station to the North Point police station. I have also subjected to dozens times of body search. One time I had to strip all my clothes from my upper body.
Around 6am on January 14, 2021, six National Security police officers arrested me at my home in Shau Kei Wan. They accused me of aiding 12 pro-democracy Hongkongers to flee to Taiwan.
Except me, all my family members suffered permanent mental disabilities. I am always thankful for their love and care. When the police arrested me and raided my home, no one from my family has shed one drop of tear, until the moment when the police dragged me away to the lift lobby.
My mother, who is immobile and her right hand disabled, followed closely behind just to have one last look at me. She growled and asked, “What is Hong Kong becoming of?”
I was tranported between the Chai Wan and the North Point police stations, where I interrogated for 3 times under recordings. The National security officers asked me around 300 to 400 questions.
Although meals and drinks were provided, I suffered from hallucination and very mild incontinence when detained in the North Point police station.
It was a cold evening when the temperature dropped below 10 degrees celsius.
When I was escorted from North Point Police Station to Chai Wan, we drove by King’s Road. I recalled the time I went to the nursery, primary school, secondary school and university. I miss my friends and schoolmates. I used to hang out at the park and the ball courts, grab lunch with my schoolmates and play video games in internet café after school.
Perhaps, I will be charged and I will sit for court hearing or even face jail, but I will never give up music and art. I will keep on learning to become your favourite artist.
In case of imprisonment, I will write about my music and stories. My mother is not eloquent, but I hope to share her words to all of you, 'Hongkongers, fight on!'”
Source: Rono Fok's Facebook; Stand News, #Jan18
https://www.facebook.com/RONOFOK/posts/1154216091675415
#PoliceState #Authoritarianism
#NationalSecurityLaw #Save12 #Save12HongKongYouths #Musician
立場新聞 Stand News
《立場新聞》編採獨立自主，不受任何贊助人、財團、權力機構及黨派左右。我們以非牟利原則營運，所有經營盈餘和贊助，只會用於傳媒事業。
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Sanction #InternationalCommunity
HK Pro-democracy Activists urge #GermanParliament to Sanction Hong Kong and Chinese Officials
A pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, #GlacierKwong, and a German student who studied in Hong Kong, #DavidMissal, led a petition in September 2020, calling on Germany to sanction Hong Kong officials over the national security law passed by Beijing in June 2020.
As the online petition reached the required 50,000 signatures, a parliamentary hearing was scheduled on January 25, 2021.
At the hearing, Kwong urged Germany to put in place “a real and robust policy on China” and “implement targeted sanction against individuals in Hong Kong and China… to hold China accountable and honour Germany’s commitment to democratic values.”
Kwong elaborated that under the National Security Law, initiating a petition or a signature campaign, attending a hearing overseas could be deemed “colluding with foreign forces” and therefore violation of the Law.
“Drastically, the national security law erodes the crumbling pillars of the city’s rule of law and democracy,” Kwong said in her opening speech. “Hongkongers now live in a quasi-police state and mass surveillance. The vaguely-termed law overrides the Basic Law and the Common Law system.”
She also cited prevailing oppressions in Hong Kong such like mass arrests, city-wide surveillance as pro-establishment legislators proposed installation of surveillance camera in classrooms to monitor teachers' speech and freezing of dissident bank accounts and blocking of websites.
Source: Stand News, #Jan26
#MassSurveillance #PoliceState #Authoritarianism #NationalSecurityLaw
#OnlinePetition #Germany
HK Pro-democracy Activists urge #GermanParliament to Sanction Hong Kong and Chinese Officials
A pro-democracy activist from Hong Kong, #GlacierKwong, and a German student who studied in Hong Kong, #DavidMissal, led a petition in September 2020, calling on Germany to sanction Hong Kong officials over the national security law passed by Beijing in June 2020.
As the online petition reached the required 50,000 signatures, a parliamentary hearing was scheduled on January 25, 2021.
At the hearing, Kwong urged Germany to put in place “a real and robust policy on China” and “implement targeted sanction against individuals in Hong Kong and China… to hold China accountable and honour Germany’s commitment to democratic values.”
Kwong elaborated that under the National Security Law, initiating a petition or a signature campaign, attending a hearing overseas could be deemed “colluding with foreign forces” and therefore violation of the Law.
“Drastically, the national security law erodes the crumbling pillars of the city’s rule of law and democracy,” Kwong said in her opening speech. “Hongkongers now live in a quasi-police state and mass surveillance. The vaguely-termed law overrides the Basic Law and the Common Law system.”
She also cited prevailing oppressions in Hong Kong such like mass arrests, city-wide surveillance as pro-establishment legislators proposed installation of surveillance camera in classrooms to monitor teachers' speech and freezing of dissident bank accounts and blocking of websites.
Source: Stand News, #Jan26
#MassSurveillance #PoliceState #Authoritarianism #NationalSecurityLaw
#OnlinePetition #Germany
立場新聞 Stand News
鄺頌晴發起制裁中國聯署 德國會召開聽證會 德官員：歐盟正考慮制裁 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞
被稱為「滑鼠娘娘」、現於德國漢堡留學的鄺頌晴去年與曾在港就讀德國學生 David Missal 發起聯署，要求...
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#FirstHand #Feb28
Hong Kong Police charge 47 Pro-democracy Figures for "Subverting State Powers"; Lester Shum: Hongkongers Will Not Surrender to the Authoritarian Regime
See photos:
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/28801
The photos captured moments before Hong Kong pro-democracy activist #LesterShum arrived at the Police Station on Feb 28, 2021. Shum had been become known as a student activist during the 2014 Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong. Currently, he is a district councillor of the Tsuen Wan District in Hong Kong and is likely to lose his seat while facing political persecution and oppression.
The 27-year-old Shum went hand in hand with his newly-wedded wife to the police station. He talked to the media calmly before heading in to face the unknown.
Shum said in 2019 he had made his decision to fight on, regardless of what might happen. He hoped like himself, Hongkongers would not surrender to the authoritarian regime.
Shum was among those 55 pro-democracy figures arrested by the police on Jan 5, 2021 for their involvement in the pro-democracy camp's primary elections in July 2020.
2 days ago, on Feb 26, they had been ordered by the police to report to the police station on Sunday, Feb 28 ahead of the scheduled date in April. Many suspected that detention and charges would be made.
The Hong Kong Police announced on Jan 28, 2021 that 47 people are charged with "conspiracy to subvert state powers" under the #NationalSecurityLaw.
The large group of pro-democracy politicians and activists include district councilor Lester Shum (see photos); 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung and Jimmy Sham of Social Democrats; activist Ventus Lau.
The police said they would detain them overnight and the case will be mentioned in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court the next day on March 1, 2021.
#MassArrest #Regime #Authoritarianism #PoliceState #PoliticalPersecution
======
Read more:
Pro-Democracy Activists in Hong Kong Face #PoliticalPersecution
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/28795
Hong Kong Police charge 47 Pro-democracy Figures for "Subverting State Powers"; Lester Shum: Hongkongers Will Not Surrender to the Authoritarian Regime
See photos:
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/28801
The photos captured moments before Hong Kong pro-democracy activist #LesterShum arrived at the Police Station on Feb 28, 2021. Shum had been become known as a student activist during the 2014 Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong. Currently, he is a district councillor of the Tsuen Wan District in Hong Kong and is likely to lose his seat while facing political persecution and oppression.
The 27-year-old Shum went hand in hand with his newly-wedded wife to the police station. He talked to the media calmly before heading in to face the unknown.
Shum said in 2019 he had made his decision to fight on, regardless of what might happen. He hoped like himself, Hongkongers would not surrender to the authoritarian regime.
Shum was among those 55 pro-democracy figures arrested by the police on Jan 5, 2021 for their involvement in the pro-democracy camp's primary elections in July 2020.
2 days ago, on Feb 26, they had been ordered by the police to report to the police station on Sunday, Feb 28 ahead of the scheduled date in April. Many suspected that detention and charges would be made.
The Hong Kong Police announced on Jan 28, 2021 that 47 people are charged with "conspiracy to subvert state powers" under the #NationalSecurityLaw.
The large group of pro-democracy politicians and activists include district councilor Lester Shum (see photos); 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung and Jimmy Sham of Social Democrats; activist Ventus Lau.
The police said they would detain them overnight and the case will be mentioned in the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court the next day on March 1, 2021.
#MassArrest #Regime #Authoritarianism #PoliceState #PoliticalPersecution
======
Read more:
Pro-Democracy Activists in Hong Kong Face #PoliticalPersecution
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/28795
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PoliticalOppression #MassArrest
Arrested Pro-Democracy Figures tell Hongkongers: "Hang in there", "Be a Human, be yourself"
On Sunday, Feb 28, 2021, in Hong Kong, Tsuen Wan district councillor #RoyTam Hoi-pong of Neo-democrat and former lawmaker #WanSiuKin of Democractic Party reported to the Tsuen Wan Police Station in the afternoon, as instructed by the Hong Kong Police 2 days ago.
They are among the 55 pro-democracy activists who were arrested on Jan 5, 2021 on suspicion of "subverting state powers" and violating the #NationalSecurityLaw.
As the group was ordered to report to the police over 1 month ahead of the scheduled date, many had prepared for the worst. It was proven to be the case, as on the afternoon of Feb 28, the Hong Kong police announced charging 47 pro-democracy figures with "conspiracy to subverting state powers", and that they would be detained overnight before sending them to court the next day.
Before walking into the Tsuen Wan Police Station to face whatever plans the authorities have for them, Roy Tam, who came hand in hand with his wife, hugged his friends and families. He told the media that he would "face it with a calm spirit". Tam raised his fists high and said, "Hongkongers, hang in there!"
Wan Siu-kin arrived moments later. He said he was not surprised, as arbitrary arrests are nothing new in Hong Kong. A former lawmaker himself, he firmly believed that he did not violate the #NationalSecurityLaw, nor the Hong Kong's Basic Law. He told his friends that he is not afraid and will embrace the challenges. He hopes all the pro-democracy figures arrested would show the same fighting spirit.
Wan added, "To be frank, I don't know what to tell you, if you ask me for methods to resist against the authoritarian regime. But there is one thing you can do: Be a human-being, be yourself."
When asked to comment on Beijing's reported plan to amend Hong Kong's electoral system, Wan said, "I cannot comprehend the logic of the authoritarian regime, and do not want to."
Wan emphasized that the crux of the problem is the erosion of the social, economic, and political structure of the city. He concluded that the "#OneCountryTwoSystems" policy should be genuinely practiced, but "not by way of any twisted interpretation".
Source: InMedia #Feb28
#PoliceState #Authoritarianism
=====
Read more:
Hong Kong Pro-democracy Activist #LesterShum: We've Decided to Not Surrender to the Authoritarian Regime and We'll Continue with this Road
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/28804
Arrested Pro-Democracy Figures tell Hongkongers: "Hang in there", "Be a Human, be yourself"
On Sunday, Feb 28, 2021, in Hong Kong, Tsuen Wan district councillor #RoyTam Hoi-pong of Neo-democrat and former lawmaker #WanSiuKin of Democractic Party reported to the Tsuen Wan Police Station in the afternoon, as instructed by the Hong Kong Police 2 days ago.
They are among the 55 pro-democracy activists who were arrested on Jan 5, 2021 on suspicion of "subverting state powers" and violating the #NationalSecurityLaw.
As the group was ordered to report to the police over 1 month ahead of the scheduled date, many had prepared for the worst. It was proven to be the case, as on the afternoon of Feb 28, the Hong Kong police announced charging 47 pro-democracy figures with "conspiracy to subverting state powers", and that they would be detained overnight before sending them to court the next day.
Before walking into the Tsuen Wan Police Station to face whatever plans the authorities have for them, Roy Tam, who came hand in hand with his wife, hugged his friends and families. He told the media that he would "face it with a calm spirit". Tam raised his fists high and said, "Hongkongers, hang in there!"
Wan Siu-kin arrived moments later. He said he was not surprised, as arbitrary arrests are nothing new in Hong Kong. A former lawmaker himself, he firmly believed that he did not violate the #NationalSecurityLaw, nor the Hong Kong's Basic Law. He told his friends that he is not afraid and will embrace the challenges. He hopes all the pro-democracy figures arrested would show the same fighting spirit.
Wan added, "To be frank, I don't know what to tell you, if you ask me for methods to resist against the authoritarian regime. But there is one thing you can do: Be a human-being, be yourself."
When asked to comment on Beijing's reported plan to amend Hong Kong's electoral system, Wan said, "I cannot comprehend the logic of the authoritarian regime, and do not want to."
Wan emphasized that the crux of the problem is the erosion of the social, economic, and political structure of the city. He concluded that the "#OneCountryTwoSystems" policy should be genuinely practiced, but "not by way of any twisted interpretation".
Source: InMedia #Feb28
#PoliceState #Authoritarianism
=====
Read more:
Hong Kong Pro-democracy Activist #LesterShum: We've Decided to Not Surrender to the Authoritarian Regime and We'll Continue with this Road
https://publielectoral.lat/guardiansofhongkong/28804
Telegram
📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#FirstHand #Feb28
Hong Kong Pro-democracy Activist #LesterShum: We've Decided to Not Surrender to the Authoritarian Regime and We'll Continue with this Road
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Hong Kong Pro-democracy Activist #LesterShum: We've Decided to Not Surrender to the Authoritarian Regime and We'll Continue with this Road
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#PoliticalOppression
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit: Hope the world knows HongKongers are the glory of Hong Kong
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit said he once understood the differences between abiding and breaking the law. However, the world has inverted black and white. Even under the authorities' suppression, he still believes that the Hong Kong government cannot detain all freedom fighters. Also, he always believes Hongkongers who had participated in the 2 million march persisted in their belief. He described, "Today is to temper our willpower." He hopes the world can see it and "Hongkongers are the glory of Hong Kong."
Jimmy Sham also apologised to Helena Wong Pik-wan, stating he feels sorry for The Democratic Party, and they hugged each other outside the police station.
Source: InMedia HK #Feb28
#MassArrest #Regime #Authoritarianism #PoliceState #PoliticalPersecution #JimmySham
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit: Hope the world knows HongKongers are the glory of Hong Kong
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit said he once understood the differences between abiding and breaking the law. However, the world has inverted black and white. Even under the authorities' suppression, he still believes that the Hong Kong government cannot detain all freedom fighters. Also, he always believes Hongkongers who had participated in the 2 million march persisted in their belief. He described, "Today is to temper our willpower." He hopes the world can see it and "Hongkongers are the glory of Hong Kong."
Jimmy Sham also apologised to Helena Wong Pik-wan, stating he feels sorry for The Democratic Party, and they hugged each other outside the police station.
Source: InMedia HK #Feb28
#MassArrest #Regime #Authoritarianism #PoliceState #PoliticalPersecution #JimmySham
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Satire #SurveillanceState
Down with the live-with-COVID believers
Above four-panel-cartoon is created by a popular artist in Hong Kong, Ar To. The cartoonist attempts to bring out real intention behind the COVID-control measures purposefully imposed in the city in the face of Omicron outbreak.
Inscriptions from upper right panel:
"So it's come to this ..."
"We've got to live with the vir-"
"..."
"We've got to live with surveillance!"
Hong Kong is reeling under an outbreak of Omicron infections, recording nearly 7,000 cases in a day on February 20, straining hospitals and testing centers to their limits.
An opinion poll taken last month -- at the beginning of the current outbreak -- shows that nearly two-thirds of citizens are receptive of a "live with the virus" approach similar to other countries such as the UK.
The Hong Kong government, however, had taken this outbreak as an opportunity to tighten gathering restrictions, enforce mandatory use of its controversial #LeaveHomeSafe tracking app, and carry out sudden, community-wide lockdowns and mandatory testing that last for days. As China is growing more concerned with Hong Kong's seeming inability to contain the outbreak, Carrie Lam and her government may be hard pressed into enacting more Orwellian surveillance measures in order to satisfy Beijing's demands for "dynamic zero covid" -- whatever that now means.
image source: Ar To
https://www.facebook.com/100044541035098/posts/513031630191534/
See also;
New York Times: Hong Kong Can’t Live With the Virus. It Can’t Stop It, Either.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/16/world/asia/hong-kong-covid-omicron-wave.html
#Omicron #FailedState #CCP #Authoritarianism
Down with the live-with-COVID believers
Above four-panel-cartoon is created by a popular artist in Hong Kong, Ar To. The cartoonist attempts to bring out real intention behind the COVID-control measures purposefully imposed in the city in the face of Omicron outbreak.
Inscriptions from upper right panel:
"So it's come to this ..."
"We've got to live with the vir-"
"..."
"We've got to live with surveillance!"
Hong Kong is reeling under an outbreak of Omicron infections, recording nearly 7,000 cases in a day on February 20, straining hospitals and testing centers to their limits.
An opinion poll taken last month -- at the beginning of the current outbreak -- shows that nearly two-thirds of citizens are receptive of a "live with the virus" approach similar to other countries such as the UK.
The Hong Kong government, however, had taken this outbreak as an opportunity to tighten gathering restrictions, enforce mandatory use of its controversial #LeaveHomeSafe tracking app, and carry out sudden, community-wide lockdowns and mandatory testing that last for days. As China is growing more concerned with Hong Kong's seeming inability to contain the outbreak, Carrie Lam and her government may be hard pressed into enacting more Orwellian surveillance measures in order to satisfy Beijing's demands for "dynamic zero covid" -- whatever that now means.
image source: Ar To
https://www.facebook.com/100044541035098/posts/513031630191534/
See also;
New York Times: Hong Kong Can’t Live With the Virus. It Can’t Stop It, Either.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/16/world/asia/hong-kong-covid-omicron-wave.html
#Omicron #FailedState #CCP #Authoritarianism
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Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#Oppression #Authoritarianism
Hong Kong University forces boarding students to leave dormitories and stops them from protesting
Claiming pandemic-control, at least five tertiary institutions in Hong Kong told dormitory residents to return home.
On February 10, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) told occupants of its student residences to leave in two days’ time by February 12 – 13.
Polytechnic University (#PolyU), Baptist University and City University (#CityU) said they also had plans to “encourage” residents to leave.
The university’s decision has caught many students in surprises, putting them through unnecessary disturbances and therefore, elicited resentment.
In just a few hours after #CUHK’s announcement, over 500 students of the university joined a discussion group on social media, calling to protest the school’s arrangement.
Although these students reiterated that their actions would remain peaceful and they would only attempt to hand in petition letter to the university, the university reacted fervently with tens of uniformed security officers stationed visible at where the students gathered.
The security guards were seen pointing video cameras at protesting students and shouting through loudspeakers for students to leave the site or they might risk violating the COVID-19 gathering restrictions.
Source: inmediahk; #Feb11
https://bit.ly/3BcsRbI
Hong Kong University forces boarding students to leave dormitories and stops them from protesting
Claiming pandemic-control, at least five tertiary institutions in Hong Kong told dormitory residents to return home.
On February 10, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (#CUHK) told occupants of its student residences to leave in two days’ time by February 12 – 13.
Polytechnic University (#PolyU), Baptist University and City University (#CityU) said they also had plans to “encourage” residents to leave.
The university’s decision has caught many students in surprises, putting them through unnecessary disturbances and therefore, elicited resentment.
In just a few hours after #CUHK’s announcement, over 500 students of the university joined a discussion group on social media, calling to protest the school’s arrangement.
Although these students reiterated that their actions would remain peaceful and they would only attempt to hand in petition letter to the university, the university reacted fervently with tens of uniformed security officers stationed visible at where the students gathered.
The security guards were seen pointing video cameras at protesting students and shouting through loudspeakers for students to leave the site or they might risk violating the COVID-19 gathering restrictions.
Source: inmediahk; #Feb11
https://bit.ly/3BcsRbI
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#China uses #coronavirus warning app to stifle #dissent
//China's #COVID19 warning app enables health authorities to move quickly against a virus outbreak. But it seems officials also use the app to stop perfectly healthy people from doing what Beijing doesn't want them to do. And the target is dissidents.//
Watch the video:
https://www.dw.com/en/china-uses-coronavirus-warning-app-to-stifle-dissent/av-62501253
Source: DW #Jul17
#HealthCode #MassSurveillance #Beijing #Authoritarianism
//China's #COVID19 warning app enables health authorities to move quickly against a virus outbreak. But it seems officials also use the app to stop perfectly healthy people from doing what Beijing doesn't want them to do. And the target is dissidents.//
Watch the video:
https://www.dw.com/en/china-uses-coronavirus-warning-app-to-stifle-dissent/av-62501253
Source: DW #Jul17
#HealthCode #MassSurveillance #Beijing #Authoritarianism
Forwarded from 📡Guardians of Hong Kong
#HongKong Bashes #GlobalMedia With Hundreds of Complaint Letters
//From Slovakia to Japan, top Hong Kong officials have fired off at least 500 letters in 2022 blasting critical foreign media coverage, as the city wages a global battle to safeguard its reputation as a liberal financial hub.
At least 174 media outlets in almost 30 countries received missives from city leaders -- including its now chief executive, #JohnLee -- since China announced in May 2020 that it would impose a national security law on the former British colony. The correspondence, often written both in English and the publication’s native language, was uploaded to the “Clarifications” tab of the government’s communications platform known as Brand Hong Kong.
About half of the letters, which responded to a mix of reports and editorials, hit back at criticism of Beijing’s sweeping security law, while roughly a third defended a mandate that only Communist Party loyalists can hold office in the city. Neighboring Asian nations got 42% of the complaints, led by Japan and South Korea, while business publications including the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist got the most letters. Bloomberg received seven...
Hong Kong’s crackdown on freedoms has eroded the city’s reputation among many foreign governments...
Hong Kong’s press freedom ranking has plummeted since the security law clamped down on free speech. The city came 148 in the Reporters Without Borders 2022 World Press Freedom Index, representing a fall of 68 places from last year.//
Source: Bloomberg #Jul25
https://t.co/OHZN4fVjye
#Whitewash #Censorship #PressFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #Authoritarianism
//From Slovakia to Japan, top Hong Kong officials have fired off at least 500 letters in 2022 blasting critical foreign media coverage, as the city wages a global battle to safeguard its reputation as a liberal financial hub.
At least 174 media outlets in almost 30 countries received missives from city leaders -- including its now chief executive, #JohnLee -- since China announced in May 2020 that it would impose a national security law on the former British colony. The correspondence, often written both in English and the publication’s native language, was uploaded to the “Clarifications” tab of the government’s communications platform known as Brand Hong Kong.
About half of the letters, which responded to a mix of reports and editorials, hit back at criticism of Beijing’s sweeping security law, while roughly a third defended a mandate that only Communist Party loyalists can hold office in the city. Neighboring Asian nations got 42% of the complaints, led by Japan and South Korea, while business publications including the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist got the most letters. Bloomberg received seven...
Hong Kong’s crackdown on freedoms has eroded the city’s reputation among many foreign governments...
Hong Kong’s press freedom ranking has plummeted since the security law clamped down on free speech. The city came 148 in the Reporters Without Borders 2022 World Press Freedom Index, representing a fall of 68 places from last year.//
Source: Bloomberg #Jul25
https://t.co/OHZN4fVjye
#Whitewash #Censorship #PressFreedom #NationalSecurityLaw #PoliceState #Authoritarianism
Bloomberg.com
Hong Kong Bashes Global Media With Hundreds of Complaint Letters
From Slovakia to Japan, top Hong Kong officials have fired off at least 500 letters blasting critical foreign media coverage, as the city wages a global battle to safeguard its reputation as a liberal financial hub.