Tag: National security law

UK unveils package to support Hong Kong families escaping Beijing’s draconian law
8Apr By Our NewsroomNo Comments
Business, China, World

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
China, World

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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China threatens to revoke licence of lawyer who helped HK activist
5Jan By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

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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Hong Kong police arrest four members of Hong Kong pro-independence group
17Aug By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

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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Japanese lawmakers move to protect Hongkongers from China’s national security law
27Jul By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

Japanese lawmakers move to protect Hongkongers from China’s national security law

With the enactment of Hong Kong security law by mainland China, Japan has come forward to assist Hong Kongers wanting to flee the city to save their lives and for the purpose, lawmakers in Japan are formulating plans to form a nonpartisan group.Former defense minister Nakatani Gen of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, Lower House member Yamao Shiori of the Democratic Party for the People, and others will launch the group on July 29.They will be urging the government to extend the period of stay of Hong Kongers in Japan without visas, and also ease the requirement for obtaining working visas.The new group seeks to protect the freedom and rights of Hong Kong citizens.They will also pursue the enactment of legislation that would allow the government or the Diet to investigate possible ca...
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Taiwan might see immigrant influx from Hong Kong as fear against security law grows
27Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Taiwan might see immigrant influx from Hong Kong as fear against security law grows

With the new Hong Kong security law in place, there is widespread concern among Hong Kongers with a growing number of them mulling over relocating to Taiwan to protect themselves from the Chinese crackdown.Its proximity and cultural similarities are the main factors which are attracting the people in Hong Kong.In response, the Taiwanese government has opened an office on July 1 to help Hong Kongers who seek legal residency in Taiwan, in anticipation of an influx of immigrants.“The new office was created precisely to more efficiently evaluate and process applications on a case-by-case basis,” said Kolas Yotaka, spokesperson at Taiwan’s presidential office, adding that existing resources are sufficient to handle the possible increase in arrivals.According to the Mainland Affairs Council in T
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Pompeo calls for ‘free and fair’ Hong Kong Legislative Council election
24Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Pompeo calls for ‘free and fair’ Hong Kong Legislative Council election

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has called for a free and fair Legislative Council election in the Hong Kong while congratulating the city’s pro-democrats for holding a successful primary, termed as “illegal” by China.Taking to Twitter, Pompeo congratulated the Hong Kong’s pro democrats for a successful primary.“Congratulations to Hong Kong’s pan-democrats for a successful primary. The Legislative Council election in September should be equally free and fair,” Pompeo tweeted.The territory-wide primary came less than two weeks after Beijing’s imposition of the national security law on the city.On July 13, Beijing’s top representatives in Hong Kong labelled the primaries “illegal” and accused organizers of colluding with foreign powers in a “serious provocation” of Hong Kong’s electoral
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Hong Kong’s top cop overshadows city Chief as China cracks down with its security law
20Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Hong Kong’s top cop overshadows city Chief as China cracks down with its security law

Hong Kong’s combative police Chief Chris Tang has, from the beginning, a law which has rocked the financial hub of Asia this year with several protests. He says, the new national security legislation was needed to extinguish calls for the city’s independence and restore order.On June 30th, he got his wish. Just an hour before the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China on July 1, the Communist Party of China imposed the law, arming Tang with a range of powerful tools to quell popular dissent. And within 24 hours, Tang’s officers had arrested 10 people under the new law along with about 360 others suspected of existing offenses as protests erupted over Beijing’s move.With the legislation in action, political groups disbanded. Activists fled overseas. Shops ripped down posters supp
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Hong Kong Journalists’ Association get slammed by Beijing for inciting sedition
19Jul By Nectar GanNo Comments
Conflict

Hong Kong Journalists’ Association get slammed by Beijing for inciting sedition

The Hong Kong Journalists' Association (HKJA) has been slammed for supporting "violence, terrorist attacks and inciting sedition" by the Beijing authorities shortly after it released its annual press freedom report titled 'Freedom in Danger'."The law itself has overriding power so that means in the name of national security... virtually all protections to free speech and free press are meaningless...I think the present situation now is that you're OK until you're not OK. When they think you're not OK, then you'll be in trouble," the HKJA was quoted saying during the launch of the report. Stanley Ng Chau-pei, deputy to the National People's Congress in Beijing and President of the pro-Beijing Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, in his Facebook account said, "For the past year, HKJA has su
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China’s new agency in Hong Kong to monitor national security law implementation
19Jul By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

China’s new agency in Hong Kong to monitor national security law implementation

After just a few days of imposing its national security law, Chinese authorities have opened up its national security office in Hong Kong that will be engaged in monitoring the implementation of the newly enacted law in the city with special administrative region.To develop the headquarters for the Central government's Office for Safeguarding National Security, the authorities have transformed the Metropark Hotel in Causeway Bay, according to media reports.The inauguration came as Hong Kong’s education bureau announced on July 8 that schools must not allow students to play, sing or broadcast the protest anthem “Glory to Hong Kong” because it contains political messages.Beijing security agents will be operating here under the new legislation which prohibits what Beijing views as secessionis
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