Tag: Hong Kong

After Baltic Sabotage, Chinese Vessel Hits Taiwan Telecom Cable
23Jan By Grace TsoiNo Comments

After Baltic Sabotage, Chinese Vessel Hits Taiwan Telecom Cable

On January 3, around 12:40 PM, Chunghwa Telecom reported to Taiwan’s Coast Guard that an undersea communications cable near Keelung had been severed. The Coast Guard sent a patrol vessel to intercept the Hong Kong freighter Shunxin-39. Although they made radio contact and conducted an external inspection, rough seas prevented boarding. International law barred seizing the ship as too much time had passed since the incident. Tracking data indicated Shunxin-39 dragged its anchor where the cable was damaged. Marine Traffic analysts reported that the freighter had been crisscrossing waters near Taiwan's northern coast since December 1, leading Taiwanese officials to suspect the cable rupture was not an innocent accident. Retired US Air Force Colonel Ray Powell noted that the vessel
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UK unveils package to support Hong Kong families escaping Beijing’s draconian law
8Apr By Desk TeamNo Comments

UK unveils package to support Hong Kong families escaping Beijing’s draconian law

For the people who are escaping Hong Kong due to China’s draconian National security law, the UK government has announced a 43 million pound (USD 59.6 million) package with an aim to support British National (Overseas) families that settle in the country, funding local councils nationwide to help the new arrivals from Hong Kong with housing, education and employment.The scheme, announced on Thursday, comes after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to four Hong Kong families that moved to the country on a special visa for those with BN(O) status last month.Under the new programme, 30.7 million British Pounds will go to councils across England, to provide help for the arrivals, covering English language and housing support for those in need. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will delive
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EU warns China to tread carefully on Hong Kong electoral reform
7Mar By Grace TsoiNo Comments

EU warns China to tread carefully on Hong Kong electoral reform

The European Union has warned China to “carefully consider the political and economic implications” of its decision to alter Hong Kong’s electoral system saying that the bloc is “ready to take additional steps” in response to any further serious deterioration of political freedoms and human rights in the city.On March 4, the National People’s Congress in China announced that it would deliberate on amending the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. A decision can be expected by March 11.“If enacted, such reform would have potentially far-reaching negative consequences for democratic principles and democratically elected-representatives in Hong Kong,” the EU said in a statement.The EU further stated that the amendment would also run counter to previous electoral re
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EU-China investment deal faces flak in European Parliament
25Feb By Grace TsoiNo Comments

EU-China investment deal faces flak in European Parliament

In a session of the European Parliament on international trade on Wednesday, the Ministers of the Parliament (MEPs) lashed out at the European Commission on its investment deal with China overlooking human rights conditions in China and Hong Kong.According to media reports, MEPs accused Brussels of overlooking concerns over the prevailing human rights conditions in China, glossing over Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong, and not bothering about the Biden administration.The Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) was signed in December last year, however, it still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament and approved by the EU Council.German MEP Reinhard Butikofer, who chairs the parliament’s delegation for relations with China, said the deal was a “Christmas present for (Chinese P
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“Beautiful Sight”: China mocks US as protestors break into US Capitol
7Jan By Grace TsoiNo Comments

“Beautiful Sight”: China mocks US as protestors break into US Capitol

After supporters of US President Donald Trump broke into the US Capitol, Beijing took to social media on Thursday to criticise the "sharp contrast" between Washington's response to the chaos and the 2019 Hong Kong anti-government protests.China’s mouthpiece Global Times tweeted side-by-side photo comparisons of Hong Kong protesters occupying the city's Legislative Council Complex in July 2019 with Wednesday's Washington riots.The latter saw Trump fans invade the US Capitol to protest the election defeat, taking selfies, scuffling with security and ransacking parts of the building."@SpeakerPelosi once referred to the Hong Kong riots as 'a beautiful sight to behold'," the Global Times said in the tweet, referring to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's June 2019 comment about Hong Kong's mass
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China threatens to revoke licence of lawyer who helped HK activist
5Jan By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

China threatens to revoke licence of lawyer who helped HK activist

Authorities in China’s Sichuan province has informed a mainland lawyer, who helped one of the 10 Hong Kong activists for crossing the border, that his licence could be revoked for 'making inappropriate remarks on the internet'.This is seen as yet another instance of China's growing crackdown on dissent in the country after it imposed the draconian National Security Law in Hong Kong.According to an official statement, Lu Siwei was told by the Department of Justice in Sichuan province that he had three days to request a hearing before authorities would make a final decision on his professional qualification.If the department does not hear from him in that deadline, the lawyer will be regarded as having given up his rights, according to media reports.In their statement, the Department of Just
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Five Eyes alliance question postponement of Hong Kong Legislative Council elections
28Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Five Eyes alliance question postponement of Hong Kong Legislative Council elections

The Five Eyes alliance have expressed concern after the Hong Kong government disqualified candidates and postponed elections of Legislative Council.In a joint statement, the foreign secretaries of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States (the Five Eyes), said that the Hong Kong government’s decision have undermined the democratic process that has been fundamental to the city’s stability and prosperity.“We the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State are gravely concerned by the Hong Kong government’s unjust disqualification of candidates and disproportionate postponement of Legislative Council elections,” the statement read.“We express deep concern at Beijing’s imposition of the new Nat
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Hong Kong police arrest four members of Hong Kong pro-independence group
17Aug By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Hong Kong police arrest four members of Hong Kong pro-independence group

With Beijing’s draconian national security law in power, Hong Kong’s new police unit arrested four student members of a pro-independence group, aged 16 to 21 in a first ever crackdown on anti-government activists.Senior Superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah of the National Security Department under the police force said the group had declared the establishment of a body to promote pro-independence political ideals “using any means possible” and build a “Republic of Hong Kong”.Studentlocalism was a pro-independence group that was disbanded on June 30, hours before the Beijing-imposed national security law came into effect.The national security law, which came into effect ahead of July 1, sets up a vast security apparatus in the territory and gives Beijing broad powers to crack down on a variety
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AUSMIN 2020: US-Australia reaffirm commitment to Quad consultation with India, counter China
15Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments

AUSMIN 2020: US-Australia reaffirm commitment to Quad consultation with India, counter China

At the 30th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) 2020, both the countries reaffirmed their commitment to trilateral dialogues with Japan and Quad consultations with Japan and India."The Secretaries and Ministers reaffirmed that the Indo-Pacific is the focus of the Alliance and that the United States and Australia are working side-by-side, including with ASEAN, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Five Eyes partners, to strengthen our networked structure of alliances and partnerships to maintain a region that is secure, prosperous, inclusive, and rules-based," a joint statement released on the occasion said.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper hosted Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds o...
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China suspends extradition treaties with Canada, Australia, Britain
14Aug By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China suspends extradition treaties with Canada, Australia, Britain

Angered over Canada, Australia and Britain’s decision to suspend extradition treaties with China, Beijing, in a tit-for-tat move has announced the suspension of Hong Kong's extradition treaties with the three countries. Canada, Australia and Britain are part of the 'Five Eyes' intelligence alliance. The other members, New Zealand, which suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong earlier, and the United States, which has signaled it is preparing to do the same."The wrong action of Canada, Australia and the UK in politicizing judicial cooperation with Hong Kong has seriously hurt the basis of judicial cooperation," Hong Kong Free Press quoted Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin as saying."China has decided to suspend extradition treaties between Hong Kong and Canada, Australi
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