Hong Kong Archives - Page 4 of 7

UK Minister urges Britain to act against China’s intention to destroy HK autonomy

8Jul

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

UK Minister urges Britain to act against China’s intention to destroy HK autonomy

United Kingdom MP Stewart McDonald has asked the UK government to act against China's intention to impose its draconian national security law which intends to destroy Hong Kong's autonomy and punish people for criticizing Beijing."China has recently decided to impose a national security law on Hong Kong, bypassing its legislature, which will criminalize any act of secession, subversion, terrorism and its broad scope could see people punished for criticizing Beijing - as they are in mainland China", McDonald said in an opinion piece in Hong Kong Free Press."I call on the UK government to match the courage of the protesters and not kowtow to China's bullying," he added.The controversial legislation comprises six chapters and 66 articles. The chapters, inter alia, cover general provisions, du...

Hong Kong police bans major protest on security law

8Jul

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Hong Kong police bans major protest on security law

Citing coronavirus social distancing measures, state-run Hong Kong police banned a major demonstration against China's planned national security law for the city, its organiser said on June 27.The Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) said the force had rejected its applications for rallies on July 1, the 23rd anniversary of the former British colony's handover to China.The official Letter of Objection, shared by the CHRF, cited a cap on group gatherings to no more than 50 people as well as previous cases of unrest during protests last year. Another letter sent by police on June 26 to District Councilor Andy Chui Chi-kin also denied permission for a protest on July 1.The pro-democracy group CHRF, which was responsible for some of last year's massive demonstrations, said they would appeal the dec...

CCP using pandemic as cover for expansionist agenda

8Jul

By Stuart WhiteNo Comments

CCP using pandemic as cover for expansionist agenda

As coronavirus continues to threaten millions of lives across the world, there has been plenty of discussion among China observers about how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has sought to use the pandemic to its advantage.Would the CCP use the country's control of a large proportion of the medical supplies market to hold the world to ransom over personal protective equipment (PPE)? Will it miraculously discover a vaccine sold to the world at a sky-high price, while simultaneously claiming credit for vanquishing the disease?The answer is simple and much more serious. The pandemic has provided the perfect cover for Xi Jinping’s regime to pursue its expansionist agenda more aggressively than ever before.The Communist Party’s National People’s Congress recently passed a controversial piece of

2Jul

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

US Senate passes bill to impose sanctions on China over Hong Kong security law

The US House of Representatives has approved a bill by unanimous consent that would impose sanctions on China after Beijing imposed a security law that was condemned by countries around the world.One of the bills, the Hong Kong Autonomy Act, would slap sanctions on individuals and businesses that help China restrict the autonomy of Hong Kong.The bill would have to be approved by the Senate before going to President Donald Trump for his signature."What the government of China is doing in Hong Kong is unacceptable. They are taking away the rights of people in Hong Kong. They are snuffing out freedoms that exist there right now," Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland was quoted as saying.A second measure from Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri is a resolution condemning Chin...

Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders concerned over prospect of indefinite detention without trial under new security law

2Jul

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Hong Kong pro-democracy leaders concerned over prospect of indefinite detention without trial under new security law

Amid incessant protests in defiance of sweeping security legislation introduced by China, Hong Kong democrats have now voiced concern over the security secretary’s failure to clarify whether suspects arrested under the impending national security law could be detained indefinitely without trial or charge.Officials in China have remained tight-lipped on the matter with Hong King's Secretary for Security John Lee seen clearly evading reporter’s question to confirm reports that arrested persons may be held in special detention centres for however long authorities like, in violation of international human rights laws."We have to wait until the proper promulgation of the law so that we will know exactly what the law says and requires us to do," Lee was quoted as saying."The preparation work is

Police detain protesters at busy Hong Kong mall during Dragon Boat Festival

2Jul

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Police detain protesters at busy Hong Kong mall during Dragon Boat Festival

Hong Kong police dispersed dozens of protesters who gathered at the Yuen Long shopping center on June 23, which marks the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the Hong Kong Police Force said."On #DragonBoatFestival, dozens of protestors are staging a protest inside a shopping mall in #YuenLong, disrupting families and shoppers. Police dispersal and arrest operations are underway. Disperse peacefully. #HKProtest," the police wrote on Twitter.City-wide protests have been taking place sporadically in Hong Kong since June 2019, with protesters claiming to oppose China's increasing influence on the special administrative region.The latest wave of protests was caused by a security bill specially tailored by Beijing for Hong Kong."#HKPolice strongly condemn the groundless and malicious accusatio...

Hong Kongers flee to other countries fearing persecution as China pushes national security law

2Jul

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Hong Kongers flee to other countries fearing persecution as China pushes national security law

With China all set to implement its draconian national security law on Hong Kong, the residents are making preparations to flee to Taiwan and other countries fearing persecution.According to reports, since last year, the number of applications for police certificates required to migrate to some other country has soared almost 80 per cent to nearly 21,000 in the latter half of 2019 from a year earlier.The protesters fearing persecution are also seeking refuge in Germany, the Netherlands and the United States.“You don’t know what they can accuse you of under the new law…Would joining a strike be considered a subversion of state?” Ho, a nurse at a hospital rehabilitation ward in Hong Kong said.She had joined a protest urging the pro-China government to close it borders with China amid coronav

China uses counter-terrorism as pretext to carry out repressive campaign against Uighurs: US Report

2Jul

By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China uses counter-terrorism as pretext to carry out repressive campaign against Uighurs: US Report

China uses counter-terrorism (CT) as a pretext to detain and carry out a repressive campaign against millions of Uighurs and members of other Muslim minority groups in internment camps in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, a US State Department report has said."The PRC government's CT attention remained on ethnic Uyghur so-called 'extremists' whom Beijing ascribes to the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, despite a lack of evidence that a group by that name is still active. The PRC government shared international concerns regarding other terrorist groups such as al-Qa'ida and ISIS, among others," said the State Department in its Congressional-mandated annual report 2019 Country Reports on Terrorism.The report alleged that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has detained more than one million Uygh...

Female protester accuses Hong Kong Police officer of sexual assault

29Jun

By Yusara AskariNo Comments

Female protester accuses Hong Kong Police officer of sexual assault

The infamous pro-China Hong Kong police now has another stain on its reputation with a minor student alleging that a Hong Kong police officer sexually assaulted her during a protest last September.The 17-year-old student, known as "Student K", was quoted as saying that she was arrested on September 25 last year at Sha Tin MTR station under the suspicion of unlawful assembly and assaulting a police officer.She said that a female officer had squeezed her breasts several times and used derogatory language to "harass" her.She also alleged that her requests to use the bathroom were repeatedly denied for more than an hour by the police officer."Human rights are based on your freedom. You are an arrested person so you do not enjoy that freedom," she quoted the police officer.On the accusation tha...

Security law puts Hong Kong pastors at risk of being extradited to China: Watchdog

29Jun

By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Security law puts Hong Kong pastors at risk of being extradited to China: Watchdog

As China plans to go ahead with the imposition of draconian national security law on Hong Kong, pastors including pro-democracy activists and religious leaders face a risk of being extradited to mainland China for trial, a US-based Christian watchdog has warned."Under such laws, vocal Hong Kong clergy who have been supportive of Hong Kong's democracy movement, such as Cardinal Joseph Zen and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Ha Chi-shing, could be extradited to mainland China to be tried, since Beijing considers them to be threats to the regime," International Christian Concern (ICC) said in a statement."Other hundreds of protestant leaders or Christian organizations who have actively spoken out against the Hong Kong government might face the same fate, since Beijing has said it considers the mass p...