Statement from Kids’ Dream, a Child Rights Group about Chalk Girl’s Detention

kidsdream.org.hk

31st December 2014

Hong Kong has been going through a challenging time since the launching of the ‘Umbrella Movement’. Different stakeholders seize the chance to express their views in different forms, children no exceptional. A 14-year-old child drew flowers on the ‘Lennon Wall Hong Kong’, but her freedom of expression is not being respected.

We question the procedures of police handling the child. As children, we thought that detaining a child for 17 hours, as reported by the media, is way too much for a 14-year-old child. According to article 37b of the UNCRC, effective in Hong Kong since 1994 states, “The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time.” We also request an explanation from the law enforcers for their disproportional force applied to the child during arrest.

Secondly, we seek to reinforce the importance of upholding ‘the best interest of the child’ principle in any legal case involving children. The magistrate decision to send the child to ‘children’s home’ for more than half a month, which would separate her from her parent and schooling. We hope this decision is made based on the principle of ‘best interest of the child’ in the full knowledge of all circumstances. ‘Best interest of the child’, according to the UN guidelines, should consider aspects in the following checklist:

(a) the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned (considered in the light of his age and understanding);
(b) his/her physical, emotional and educational needs;
(c) the likely effect on him/her of any change in his/her circumstances;
(d) his/her age, sex, background and any characteristics of his/her which the court considers relevant;
(e) any harm which he/she has suffered or is at risk of suffering;
(f) how capable each of his/her parents, and any other person in relation to whom the court considers the question to be relevant, is of meeting his/her needs;
(g) the range of powers available to the court under this Act in the proceedings in question.

In a child’s perspective, we are aware of that the separation of her and her parent might not meet the standard of point (b), (c). Besides, we are also concerned about whether the child is fully informed of her rights in the court and given the chance to express her opinions. We hope that the authorities concerned will explain to the public the rationale of the handling procedures of this case.

Thirdly, the UNCRC entitles children’s freedom of expression. ‘The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child’s choice’, Article 13 clearly states. We urge the government to ensure that there are sufficient and effective channels for children to express their views.

Moreover, after this issue, children may be discouraged to exercise their freedom of expression. In children’s perspective, we are afraid that we would face similar consequences the girl faces. Therefore, we wish to highlight that children’s right to expression should not be deprived of for any political reasons.

Children have the rights to participate in socio-political activities and express themselves in a comfortable way. They deserve effective channels to speak up for themselves. We hope stakeholders of society, including law enforcers, justice authorities, and the community will safeguard children’s rights to expression hand in hand.

KIDS’ DREAM

Kids’ Dream is the first child-led organization established in 2006 with members mainly aged below 18. We aim at promoting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and children’s rights. We advocate “Children speaking for Children” across issues related to 1.1 million children aged under 18 in HK. www.kidsdream.org.hk/

Umbrella Movement – New Year’s Eve

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Multiple Lennon walls, carol singing, Banayaooyoo, chalking, a new garden and free hugs
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New Year’s Eve @ HK Cafe

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Chalk Girl Released on Bail

Chalk Girl

The ‘Chalk Girl’ story is front and centre in the international media with stories filed by Time, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and the New York Times – giving the Police, the ‘independent’ courts and the government another massive black eye and more loss of face (not that they had any left). The attention probably has something to do with why she’s now suddenly being released on bail.

http://blogs.wsj.com/…/hong-kong-police-try-to-take-14-yea…/
http://time.com/…/hong-kong-teen-protesters-chalk-girl-cha…/
http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/…/hong-kong-police-cri…/

Chalk

Umbrella Movement – Christmas Eve

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9wu, carol singing, Banayaooyoo @ Dark Corner
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Umbrella Movement – 22 December, 2014

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Outside Legco and Civic Square the Umbrella Movement’s tented enclosure fights off the cold and government as the struggle to bring competence and accountability to those ‘elected’ to run Hong Kong continues.
A ‘Lennon’ chair, re-cycling, study corner 2…
Click on the photos to see more.

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Umbrella Movement: Yellow Market – 20 December, 2014

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The Yellow Market is/was an open market about art in the pursuit of democracy. Participants at the Yellow Market were/are part of the Umbrella Movement. Amongst the many creative participants are some making yellow brass ribbons, others unique Lego figurines while other are knitting floor mats from old clothing.

Foo Tak Building at 365 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong is a creative nub where many small companies us art and creativity to wake up those still asleep to the reality of the world around them. If you’re in the area, take a look sometime.
Click on the photos to see more 

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Kennedy Town and HKU MTR Stations open on 28 December, 2014

hku-mtr

The MTR’s Island line gets two new stops on the 28 December as the Kennedy Town and Hong Kong University stations open. A third stop in Sai Ying Pun has been delayed until early 2015. The first train will leave Kennedy Town for Chai Wan at 6:00am

Fares for the new stops have yet to be announced.

The details of the Sai Ying Pun discounts are as follows:
“Sai Ying Pun Station Pre-opening Special Discount Promotion”
Due to difficult ground conditions in Sai Ying Pun Station, the required number of entrances will not be completed in time to open the station in December. Instead, Sai Ying Pun Station is expected to open at the end of the first quarter in 2015. To encourage commuters living and working in the vicinity of Sai Ying Pun Station to use the new rail service from Sheung Wan Station or HKU Station, a special HK $2 “Sai Ying Pun Station Pre-opening Special Discount” will be offered to Adult Octopus users (HK$1 discount for concession Octopus) from 28 December until the opening of Sai Ying Pun Station. The discount can be obtained at self-service machine s located inside four 7-Eleven convenience stores in the Sai Ying Pun area as follows:
Shop E, Tai Hing Building, 125 Des Voeux Road West, Sai Ying Pun
Shop A, Kaiser Centre, 18 Centre Street, Sai Ying Pun
55 Bonham Road, Sai Ying Pun
240 Queen’s Road West, Sai Ying Pun