Tag: National security law

24Jun By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

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
China

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
China

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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Hong Kong kickstarts unofficial memorandum to stop China from imposing national security law
23Jun By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

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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G7 foreign ministers urge China to reconsider new security law on Hong Kong
20Jun By Grace TsoiNo Comments
World

G7 foreign ministers urge China to reconsider new security law on Hong Kong

Foreign Ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) member countries on Wednesday issued a joint statement strongly urging China to reconsider its decision to impose national security legislation on Hong Kong, saying that it would “seriously” undermine the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle."The proposed national security law would risk seriously undermining the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle and the territory's high degree of autonomy. It would jeopardize the system which has allowed Hong Kong to flourish and made it a success over many years," the foreign ministers of United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the EU's High Representative said in the statement.The group said it was writing to underscore their "grave concern" regarding China's decision,
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As Xi Jinping takes on an offensive mode, let’s pray for China
19Jun By Stuart WhiteNo Comments
Opinion

As Xi Jinping takes on an offensive mode, let’s pray for China

What a difference a year makes! A year ago, on June 4, Xi Jinping – the boss of China and the unelected master of the country’s fate – was confident enough to brush off the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square atrocity, and was gearing up to push back against a rampaging US President who seemed to have the roughest of touches on the delicate issues of diplomacy.Today, after a complete year, Xi is besieged due to the outright lies and cover-up of the novel coronavirus since late 2019.As in any country, it is the domestic situation that tends to be a catalyst for foreign overtures, and so is the case with China.Millions of Chinese today believe even less the lies coming out from the leadership of the Communist Party of China. They know that their leaders kept mum when hundreds of thousan
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Hong Kong police blame youngsters for committing crimes under shadow of protest
17Jun By Yusara AskariNo Comments
Asia

Hong Kong police blame youngsters for committing crimes under shadow of protest

Justifying its aggressive tactics towards pro-democracy demonstrators, the pro-China Hong Kong police are now accusing young Hong Kongers of committing crimes under the shadow of unrest.Expressing his concerns, Commissioner of police of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, Chris Tang Ping-keung said that young people committing crimes have become a trend in the territory amid protests against China.The Hong Kong police have been called out of its excessive use of forces against the demonstrators in the territory. On June 12, the police arrested 35 people protesting against China's plan to impose national security legislation on the territory.In 2019, a total of 4,268 young people were arrested, an increase of more than 50 per cent from 2018. Of the 8,057 people a...
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Hong Kong protests might have serious impact on its special status ending in 2047: China
17Jun By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
China

Hong Kong protests might have serious impact on its special status ending in 2047: China

China has warned that widespread demonstrations might have a serious impact on the Hong Kong's special status which will end in 2047 under Beijing's 'one country, two systems' principle, especially at a time when pro-democracy protests in the city are showing no signs of abetting."Many people in Hong Kong have been thinking about the future of one country, two systems after 2047. We also need to think of this -- what kind of record is Hong Kong going to bring, to win a new mandate from the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese people that it represents at that time," Zhang Xiaoming, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) was quoted as saying.In the name of strengthening the 'one country, two systems', Chinese authorities have recently revealed that the...
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With its actions in Hong Kong, China has let known its scant respect for rule of law
17Jun By Nectar GanNo Comments
Conflict

With its actions in Hong Kong, China has let known its scant respect for rule of law

With Beijing pushing ahead with its plan for the controversial security legislation, the Hong Kong government will have to set up new institutions to safeguard national security and also allow mainland Chinese agencies to operate in the city "when needed". All moves were widely criticized by opposition politicians as a means to suppress dissent.The legislation has sparked fears that it would undermine the principle of "one country, two systems", eventually leading to erosion of Hong Kong's autonomy as stated under the Sino-British joint declaration of 1997.The Sino-British joint declaration on the question of Hong Kong was signed in Beijing on December 19, 1984, by the Prime Ministers of China and Britain, Zhao Ziyang and Margaret Thatcher. The two governments agreed that China would reass...
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Fearful Hong Kongers rush to secure limited British passports
13Jun By Joanne SerriehNo Comments
Business, World

Fearful Hong Kongers rush to secure limited British passports

As China continues with its plan to roll out the new Security Law, Hong Kongers are in a rush to avail the citizenship offered by Britain and leave the troubled territory.Shortly before Hong Kong was handed back to China, Simon Ng applied for a British National (Overseas) passport, a document he never thought he would need.His predicament is not new for the people in that region, as thousands of Hong Kongers rush for British passports with China tightening its grip on the territory.China's plan to impose a sweeping national security law on the city in response to huge pro-democracy protests has Ng mulling the prospect of leaving, the first time he has contemplated such action since Britain returned the former colony in 1997."Back then, like many of my peers, I thought China would reform an...
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