Tag: democracy

HK Police Demand Wix Takedown Nathan Law’s Website

Hong Kong Police requested, under threat of prosecution under the National Security Law, that Israeli company Wix disable Nathan Law‘s website 2021hkcharter.com. Wix complied.

Update: Former lawmaker Sixtus Baggio Leung website hosted by WordPress appears to also have been forced offline.

Update 3 June: Law’s website has been restored by Wix after being taken down on 31 May.

The screenshots mentioned in the letter were not included in Law’s tweet about the website takedown, here is a quote from Law’s statement about the takedown.

Law’s statement in full is below

New Twitter Emoji #MilkTeaAlliance

Twitter has introduced a new emoji for the #MilkTeaAlliance hashtag to mark the first anniversary of a movement that has united people in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Myanmar and beyond in their quest to be heard.

 

Announcing the new emoji, an illustration featuring 3 different types of milk tea colours from the regions where the Alliance first formed online. Twitter said it will automatically appear when the #MilkTeaAlliance hashtag is tweeted in English, Chinese, Thai and Burmese.

Laurel Chor Honoured by IWMF

Congratulations to Hong Kong women’s rugby international Laurel Chor who was named an honoree in the 2020 Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award.

Chor has been given an honourable mention in the International Women’s Media Foundation’s (IWMF)awards for her coverage of the Hong Kong protests and showing the region’s struggle for democracy, freedom and human rights.

The award was created to celebrate the courageous work of female photojournalists. Learn more about this year’s awardees on website.

image: hkrugby

No Extradition Protest March – 21 July, 2019

When does a massive protest march seem small?

After the enormous So No to China Extradition protest marches of June which saw millions of HongKongers protesting. Today’s march which had around 350,000 participants seemed small – but it wasn’t! It was another blunt statement of anger at Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her disfunctio0nal and corrupt administration.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/No-Extradition-Protest-March-21-July-2019/i-z3cLGdp

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/No-Extradition-Protest-March-21-July-2019/i-pp7N8jN

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/No-Extradition-Protest-March-21-July-2019/i-6QzdLq9

Handover Anniversary Protest March – 1 July, 2019

It’s become a tradition to celebrate the handover of Hong Kong to China and the birth of the Hong Kong SAR on the 1 July with a march to raise awareness of freedom of speech, human rights etc.

A march of 500,00+ people, which closed both sides of Hennessy and Lockhart roads, is an impressive statement. Including the couple of hundred thousand already in Tamar Park and at Legco, this year’s Handover Protest was probably at least 5 times the average turnout.

But in truth, after the protest marches earlier in June when 1 million and 2 million + 1 respectively turned out to protest the extradition law. The Handover March felt small! There was space around you as you walked, the march rarely stopped and the pavements were empty.

It was a massive turnout – but sadly Chief Executive Carrie Lam (who boasted when accepting the job that she would listen to the people and resign if she felt they didn’t approve of her) has already shown that the only people she listens to and cares about are those Beijing.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Handover-anniversary-protest-1-july-2019/n-7XvDvj/i-phLRQMm

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Handover-anniversary-protest-1-july-2019/n-7XvDvj/i-jxG58xD

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Handover-anniversary-protest-1-july-2019/n-7XvDvj/i-sGJxhtq

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2019/Handover-anniversary-protest-1-july-2019/n-7XvDvj/i-S4wzPjP

Handover Protest March, 1 July 2018

As Hong Kong turns 21 it’s unique identity is being choked to death as Beijing ramps up the Chinafication of the SAR. What should be a ‘coming of age’ party feels more like a wake.

Xi’s oppressive clampdown on free speech, extensive intrusion into and monitoring of personal lives and the rewarding of his cronies north of the border has been mirrored locally over the last twelve months. Dissenting voices have been jailed, opposing viewpoints hidden, expanding corruption goes unchecked and the pillaging of the HK governments coffers to reward supporters with generous contracts increases yet further.

The annual 1 July pro democracy march has become diluted and unfocused as hundreds of different groups look to raise cash and promote their individual messages and agendas.

With Hong Kong’s economy still fairly robust and Lam’s leadership anonymous and bland, democracy advocates lack the focal point of the easily vilified 689. Stamping on Lam’s face stuck to the road, lacks the visceral feel and satisfaction of stamping on 689.

Sadly at 21 Hong Kong is dead, like a fish out of water it struggles and flaps around unaware of it’s demise. What does the future hold for Hong Kong China? Sadly the portents are not good.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Democracy-March-1-July-2018/i-vtJtxfG

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Democracy-March-1-July-2018/i-8z3mcJF

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Democracy-March-1-July-2018/i-3VNvQGr

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Democracy-March-1-July-2018/i-knJmGfT

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Democracy-March-1-July-2018/i-9GND3cm

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Democracy-March-1-July-2018/i-7jr9psF

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Democracy-March-1-July-2018/i-M6vGqL8

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2018/Democracy-March-1-July-2018/i-4Qdww3d

Click on any image for more photos.

Protest March – 1 July, 2017

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Democracy-Protest-March-1-July-2017/i-sNLSnm9

Someone spent a massive amount of money to stage a 3 day Chinese space exploration exhibition in Victoria Park, even bringing an actual rocket. On the first day it was only open to select Mainlanders. For the last two it was seldom busy, mainly perhaps because it was patriotic first and foremost, informative a distant second.

Why is that relevant to the annual 1 July protest march – because it’s exactly that an annual march… And a big deal was made across local media about the march being cancelled because access to the park had been denied to the organisers. Not true, the gathering point was simply moved to the lawn, with massive police barricades ensuring that march and indoctrination could not meet.

A big deal is made over numbers, and they are important. But Hong Kong has never really had a political or protest culture. That one has properly evolved over the last few years is a true indication of the depth of Hong Kongers frustrations with incompetence, nepotism and increasing corruption. Most people are lazy and it needs something like tear gas – or in the case of pro-China groups cold hard cash and a free meal – to stir them. That so many do still turn out should be statement enough.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Democracy-Protest-March-1-July-2017/i-2bjMQXS

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Democracy-Protest-March-1-July-2017/i-dfXp6gk

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Democracy-Protest-March-1-July-2017/i-jG49vzn

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Democracy-Protest-March-1-July-2017/i-2knnzFz

Raise the Umbrellas – Fundraising Screening

rasie-the-umbrellas

Evans Chan‘s documentary Raise the Umbrellas explores the origin and impact of Hong Kong’s 2014 Umbrella Movement through the inter-generational lenses of three post-Tiananmen democratic activists – Martin Lee, founder of the Hong Kong Democratic party; Benny Tai, Occupy Central initiator; and Joshua Wong, the sprightly student leader.

Alongside voices from unknown “umbrella mothers,” student occupiers (Yvonne Leung and Vivian Yip), star politicians (Emily Lau, and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok Hung, as well as the pro-Beijing heavyweight Jasper Tsang), prominent media professionals (Jimmy Lai, Cheong Ching, Philip Bowring), international scholars (Andrew Nathan, Arif Dirlik and Hung Ho-fung), and activist Canton-pop icons Denise Ho and Anthony Wong.

https://youtu.be/Q2kxtQW-nAA

Driven by on-site footage of a major Asian metropolis riven by peaceful protest, Umbrellas reveals the Movement’s eco-awareness, gay activism, burgeoning localism and the sheer political risk for post-colonial Hong Kong’s universal-suffragist striving to define its autonomy within China.

There will be a post screening discussion: panelists will include Dr. Au Yeung Shing, Eric Ng Man Kei, Au Lung Yu, Dr. Lau Siu Lai

Raise the Umbrellas – Fundraising Screening
When: 7:30pm, 4 December, 2016
Where: HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity, Multi-media Theatre
How much: $1,200, $600, $300
More info: 
Tel: 2891 8482, 2891 8488, 9800 7169
Fax 2891 8483
Cheque payable to “Centre for Community Cultural Development Ltd”or bank-in slip (Bank of China: 012-694-10049720). Tickets are also available at CCCD, L205-208 JCCAC, 30 Pak Tin Street