Tag: Hong Kong

28Jun By Grace TsoiNo Comments

EU to consider lawsuit against China if it imposes national security law on Hong Kong

In a resolution adopted on June 19, the European Union voted in favour of bringing China before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its decision to adopt a new national security law for semi-autonomous Hong-Kong.“MEPs call on the EU and its Member States to consider, in the event the new security law is applied, filing a case before the International Court of Justice alleging that China's decision to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong violates the Sino-British Joint Declaration and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),” the text of the resolution that was published on European parliament's official website read.The resolution to file a case against China at the ICJ if the new security law for Hong Kong is applied was adopted in the Europ
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EU likely to discuss Hong Kong during virtual summit with China
28Jun By Grace TsoiNo Comments

EU likely to discuss Hong Kong during virtual summit with China

In the upcoming 22nd China-EU summit, the European Union leaders are expected to put direct pressure on China as Hong Kongers call out for help from the international community to save their special status from Beijing’s draconian national security law.“We are trying to exercise influence in expressing our concerns by reaching out actively over the last few days and weeks – and this will be the highest-ranking reaching out on Monday, to our partners in Beijing,” an EU official said.Another EU source said that the issue of Hong Kong needs to be addressed as “this affects our ability to further develop our relations between EU and China.”It will be the first encounter between the Chinese leader and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. Joining them on an hour long call will be
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Pro-China national anthem law muzzles creative activity in Hong Kong
28Jun By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Pro-China national anthem law muzzles creative activity in Hong Kong

A documentary on the protests in Hong Kong has become the first casualty of the recently passed national anthem protection law by the pro-China Hong Kong Legislative Assembly.Although an uncut version of New York-based director Evans Chan's "We Have Boots" had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands earlier this year, a political art segment will be cut from the new expanded two-hour documentary.The segment, which will be cut involves local performance artist Kacey Wong playing music from March of the Volunteers on the accordion during a protest march in 2018. Wong's performance of The Patriot juxtaposes a portable jail cell on wheels with music from the Chinese and UK national anthems, as well as "Do you hear the people sing?" from the musical Le...
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US Senate approves sanctions on Chinese officials over Hong Kong
26Jun By Grace TsoiNo Comments

US Senate approves sanctions on Chinese officials over Hong Kong

The US Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a Bill that would lay out sanctions on Chinese officials who undermine Hong Kong's autonomy as Beijing pushes forward with its draconian security law.The House of Representatives still needs to pass the Bill, which would allow sanctions in the United States against Chinese officials and the Hong Kong police as well as banks that conduct "significant transactions" with them.The vote comes as China presses forward with a security law that would enforce punishment over subversion and other perceived threats in Hong Kong."They are moving forward in their process to take away the liberties of the people of Hong Kong. So time is of the essence," said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat who helped lead the charge on the Bill."Passing a Senate resolu...
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24Jun By Grace TsoiNo Comments

Save Hong Kong: Pro-democracy protesters cry for help from international community

With China releasing draft of the national security law, the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong are making desperate attempts to save their country’s special status under the ‘One country two systems’ regime.While desperately calling out for help, Patrick Poon, an independent human rights researcher, said that the content of the draft law could have a far-reaching impact on universal values.“The details mean that it’s really the end of not only ‘One Country, Two Systems,’ but also really the end of Hong Kong’s autonomy and judicial independence,” he said.“The international community needs to respond to such arrangement more strongly than ever,” he said while adding “It will be a disaster for everyone if Beijing’s interference in Hong Kong’s affairs is not effectively countered with real
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24Jun By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Hong Kong questions China’s intention over giving Carrie Lam power to appoint judges for trials under security law

As the pro-democracy and anti-national security law protests in Hong Kong continue, China has made another arbitrary decision to empower Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to appoint judges to hear trials under the national security law, leaving many lawyers and opposition party leaders confused about Beijing’s real intentions.“It is very odd for a person [who has] a stake in the prosecution to select the judges,” Hong Kong Bar Association chairman Philip Dykes said.For some people, like the leader of the opposition Civic Party, Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, it puts a big question on the impartiality of judges who will be appointed by pro-Beijing leader Lam, as a new mainland adviser would sit on a top-level national security commission to be set up to “give orders” to Hong Kong authorities.Ling Bing, a
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To impose dominance over Hong Kong, China legislation bans ‘collusion’ with world
24Jun By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

To impose dominance over Hong Kong, China legislation bans ‘collusion’ with world

In the bid to muzzle the growing dissent voices, the Chinese government has included the word "collusion" in the national security law, criminalizing "activities of foreign and external forces to interfere in the affairs" of Hong Kong.With this move, anyone who "colludes with foreign states in plotting to harm the motherland's sovereignty, territorial integrity and security" will be sentenced between 10 years and life in jail.According to the state media, the draft law discussed by the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) has clearly outlined the crimes of secession, subversion of state power, terrorist activities and collusion with foreign and external forces to endanger national security, as well as lays out their penalties.The Beijing government seems to have become mor...
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23Jun By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

About 110 teachers, 3,600 students arrested over social incidents in Hong Kong since June last year

About 110 teachers or staffs from educational institutions and nearly 3,600 students have been arrested over social incidents in Hong Kong from June 2019 to May 2020, Hong Kong’s education chief said.Answering questions raised by a member of HKSAR's Legislative Council in a written reply on Wednesday, Kevin Yeung, secretary for education of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said that among the people arrested during the period in relation to the social incidents, about 10 of them were staff members of post-secondary institutions and about 100 of them were staff or teachers of primary and secondary schools.“Among the students arrested in the same period, about 2,000 were from post-secondary institutions and the remaining about 1,600 were aged under 18 who we
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Hong Kong kickstarts unofficial memorandum to stop China from imposing national security law
23Jun By Joanne SerriehNo Comments

Hong Kong kickstarts unofficial memorandum to stop China from imposing national security law

As China sets to impose its national security law in Hong Kong despite several protests and worldwide condemnation, students and labour unions here have started an unofficial referendum among members on whether to stage a walkout.The referendum has been organized by a group of 30 labour unions across more than 20 industries and a student platform. They were quoted as saying that they aim to secure a two-thirds majority to carry motions, including the industrial strike and class boycott.According to local media, 20 polling stations alone had opened at 10 am and voters were seen trickling into the main station in Tsz Wan Shan."Our action will prove that we are not puppets... We are Hong Kong citizens," Demosisto activist Isaac Cheng, who represents organiser the Secondary School Student Prep...
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China displays ‘rogue’ attitude in neighborhood, creates wedge between US, Europe: Pompeo
21Jun By Grace TsoiNo Comments

China displays ‘rogue’ attitude in neighborhood, creates wedge between US, Europe: Pompeo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday criticized the Chinese government for not only displaying its "rogue" attitude in its neighborhood, particularly the recent escalation of border tension with India, but also for "pushing disinformation and malicious cyber campaigns so as to drive a wedge between the US and Europe.".“I think all across the world it's becoming more apparent each and every day. Chinese Communist Party decreed an end to freedom in Hong Kong, violating UN-registered treaty and rights of its citizens-one of many int'l treaties that the Chinese Communist Party has violated,” Pompeo said during an online conference on democracy held in Copenhagen, Denmark.Earlier this week, Pompeo met a Senior Chinese official in Hawaii where he held closed door talks when relations betw
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