The Odyssey - Democracy in Hong Kong

[Randy W]

One country, two systems means "ONE COUNTRY", by golly.

 

from the SCMP

 

Beijing not backing down from brewing battle over Hong Kong jurisdiction

• Flurry of Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office statements includes call for opposition lawmaker to step down, face legal consequences of breaking oath
• While office does not intervene ‘in general’, Beijing has duty to react when city’s fundamental interests are harmed, office says

“Does [Kwok] truly agree with the ‘one country’ principle? [Does he] truly support the Basic Law and have loyalty to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region?” the spokesman asked.

 

The Beijing-based office said there was solid evidence Kwok was guilty of misconduct in public office, and could also be in violation of his oath as stated in Article 104 of the Basic Law.

 

. . .

 

Political analyst Johnny Lau Yui-siu, commenting on the recent raft of central government statements, said the public attacks on pan-democrats signalled the kick-off of a Beijing propaganda campaign designed to boost pro-establishment lawmakers ahead of September’s Legco elections.

 

“They want to give eligible voters the perception that pan-democrats have been paralysing society. They will continue to speak up frequently in these few months,” he predicted.

 

[Randy W]

from the WaPo

 

One country, one system: The week that China shredded its promise on Hong Kong

 

 

Last weekend, the police came knocking. Seven officers appeared at Lee’s home and arrested the 81-year-old for participating in an unauthorized protest last year that 1.7 million people attended. More than a dozen other democracy activists were detained the same day.

The arrests buttressed a week of coordinated actions by Beijing that experts say have redefined the status of Hong Kong. The effect was to demolish the “one country, two systems” framework that prohibits Beijing’s involvement in local affairs and is supposed to afford the financial center a high level of autonomy.

With the world distracted by the novel coronavirus pandemic, China has carried out a power grab in the former British colony, whose way of life it had pledged to preserve until 2047. In recent days, authorities have said for the first time that Beijing’s representative offices in the territory can “supervise” Hong Kong’s internal affairs — a step that legal experts say violates its constitutional firewall with the mainland. The Basic Law stipulates that the city should run its own affairs, including the police and immigration system, apart from defense and foreign relations.

Beijing officials also called for Hong Kong to introduce a national security law — shelved when an earlier attempt at its introduction sparked massive protests in 2003 — and reached further into the city’s legislature with attacks on pro-democracy lawmakers.

The shift “signals the death of the ‘two systems,’ ” said Eric Cheung, a legal scholar at the University of Hong Kong. “It is quite clear that they are now bringing the mainland system, the mainland idea of supervision and rule of law, here.”

. . .

The upshot is that the Hong Kong the world knew — a capitalist enclave where political freedoms were protected and the rule of law applied — is severely compromised.

 

 

 

 

 

[Randy W]

 

 

 

China's explanation?

 

from the China Law Blog

 

China Imposes Blackout on Hong Kong Bookseller’s Revelations

 

the Global Times editorial followed a predictable line — at least initially. It warned that although Hong Kong is governed by different laws from the rest of China, “all different forces in Hong Kong must respect the political system in China. It’s not right to take actions which may harm the state security and the political stability in mainland China.”

 

. . .

 

But by later on Friday morning, the link to the Global Times article had been severed.

 

 

 

And again ?? from the SCMP

 

Taiwanese man missing after entering Hong Kong ‘being investigated by mainland’

• Mainland authorities say they are investigating Lee Meng-chu for ‘activities that endanger state security’

 

Chinese military vehicles parked by Shenzhen Bay Stadium on August 16. Photo: AP

 

Lee entered Hong Kong on August 18, Taiwan’s government-run Central News Agency reported. He apparently sent photos to his brother and to a Taiwanese township chief showing the paramilitary troops and equipment on the Hong Kong border with mainland China, the agency said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE Feb 25, 2020 from the HKFP

Bookseller Gui Minhai jailed for 10 years in China for ‘illegally providing intelligence’ to overseas parties

https://www.hongkongfp.com/2020/02/25/bookseller-gui-minhai-jailed-10-years-china-illegally-providing-intelligence-overseas-parties/

 

Detained bookseller Gui Minhai was sentenced to 10 years in jail in China on Monday after being found guilty of “illegally providing intelligence” to overseas parties.

 

 

. . . or the SCMP article

 

https://amp.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3052197/china-jails-hong-kong-bookseller-gui-minhai-10-years

 

 

Gui, a Swedish national, ran Causeway Bay Books in Hong Kong – an outlet known for selling gossipy titles about Chinese Communist Pary officials. He was one of five booksellers who disappeared in 2015. The Monday court statement also said Gui “agreed to restore his Chinese citizenship” in 2018, a move which Beijing could use to deny him consular assistance from European diplomats.

 

 

 

. . . and now this, from Al Jazeera

 

Hong Kong dissident reopens bookshop in Taiwan, defying Beijing

Lam Wing-kee, previously detained by Chinese authorities, has reopened his bookstore in Taiwan.

 

The opening of Lam Wing-kee's Causeway Bay Books came a year after he fled to the island when the Hong Kong government announced a now-scrapped proposal to allow extraditions to China.

 

"Causeway Bay Books was destroyed by China through violent means. The reopening proves Taiwan is a place with freedom and democracy, and we still have the right to read books," he added.

On Tuesday, a man threw red paint at Lam while he was at a cafe, just a day after he received a letter threatening legal action from a person who claimed to have already trademarked the bookstore's name.

Lam's attacker reportedly said his fundraising project for the bookstore "damaged" Taiwan's relations with China.

. . .

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, who is disliked by Beijing, sent a bouquet of flowers to the opening with a note quoting a Chinese proverb about justice and fairness.

 

[Randy W]

Revisiting the Bo Xilai case - with the arrest of a foreign national for interfering in Hong Kong affairs

 

See

 

http://candleforlove.com/forums/topic/44550-the-fall-of-bo-xilai/?p=645015

[Randy W]

from the SCMP - yep this bill is still around

 

Hong Kong lawmakers urged to prioritise national anthem bill

• Controversial bill will receive its second reading in the legislature on May 27 and could be approved as early as June
• But opposition camp warns city’s leader that public concerns over the law should be addressed, pointing to upheaval caused by extradition bill

Critics say the law, which penalises anyone for misusing or insulting March of the Volunteers with a fine of up to HK$50,000 (US$6,450) and three years in prison, will erode freedom of expression.

 

“The national anthem is a symbol and sign of the nation. The national anthem law is to enact the law of the People’s Republic of China by local legislation,” Cheung said in the letter, adding the government had a “constitutional responsibility” to carry out the enactment as soon as possible.

 

“Let me remind the chief executive: the city has yet to recover from the chaos sparked by the extradition bill,” Chan said. “I do believe that the members of the public understand who should be responsible for the problems arising from the bill … Again the government ignored our demands and put the blame on Hong Kong people and pan-democrats in Legco.”

 

 

 

[Randy W]

from the WaPo

 

China to impose sweeping national security law in Hong Kong, bypassing city’s legislature

HONG KONG — China's Communist Party will impose a sweeping national security law in Hong Kong by fiat during the annual meeting of its top political body, officials said Thursday, criminalizing "foreign interference" along with secessionist activities and subversion of state power.

The move is the boldest yet from Beijing to undercut Hong Kong’s autonomy and bring the global financial hub under its full control, as it works to rewrite the “one country, two systems” framework that has allowed the territory to enjoy a level of autonomy for the past 23 years.

After steadily eroding Hong Kong’s political freedoms, Beijing signaled that the national security law will be a new tool that allows it to directly tackle the political dissent that erupted on Hong Kong’s streets last year.

. . .

“Beijing has opted for the most risky route,” said Ho-Fung Hung, a professor of international relations at Johns Hopkins University. “It will show the world that ‘one country, two systems’ is, if not already over, almost over.”

 

He added: “It will be very difficult for anyone, especially the United States, to say Hong Kong is still autonomous and viable.”

 

. . .

 

On Thursday, China made clear it was asserting control over Hong Kong through “improvement” of its governance.

“We will ensure the long-term stability of ‘one country, two systems,’ ” Wang Yang, head of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said at the opening of the annual meeting of China’s top political advisory body. The meeting is the first part of the Two Sessions political gatherings, which will continue Friday with the National People’s Congress (NPC), the rubber-stamp parliament.

“We will continue to support the improvement of the implementation of the systems and mechanisms of the constitution and Basic Law,” Wang said in a report to the meeting.

 

 

 

[Randy W]

. . . and the SCMP

Beijing ‘out of patience’ after long wait for Hong Kong national security law

[The arrests of activists] make it more difficult to assess that Hong Kong remains highly autonomous from mainland China
- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

“If the national security legislation is not done during the annual session of the NPC or shortly afterwards, is there any guarantee that it can be passed by the Legco in the next two years?

 

“We can no longer allow acts like desecrating national flags or defacing of the national emblem in Hong Kong.”

Beijing’s move also comes against the backdrop of rapidly escalating tensions between the United States and China. The US has until the end of this month to certify Hong Kong’s autonomy under the Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

[Randy W]

. . . and the reaction in Hong Kong and overseas

https://www.facebook.com/355665009819/posts/1625383917627883/

Edited June 25, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

from Xinhua on Facebook

Quote

反“港”，反覆，反恐怖，救香港。

Fǎn “gǎng”, fǎnfù, fǎn kǒngbù, jiù xiānggǎng

Anti-Hong Kong, anti-terrorism, anti-terrorism, save Hong Kong.

 

https://www.facebook.com/369959106408139/posts/3680230518714298/?substory_index=0

Edited June 25, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

from the Shanghaiist - http://shanghaiist.com/2020/05/22/china-pulls-the-trigger-presents-controversial-new-national-security-law-for-hong-kong/

 

The new national security law includes seven articles. The fourth is likely to prove the most controversial, allowing Chinese security organs to set up agencies in Hong Kong in order to “fulfill relevant duties to safeguard national security in accordance with the law.”

The law’s obvious internet is to make it easier for Beijing to respond to political unrest, like the large-scale pro-democracy, anti-government demonstrations that wracked Hong Kong for much of last year, by prohibiting sedition, subversion, and secession along with foreign interference in Hong Kong affairs.

 

 

[Randy W]

Because, well, of course they do. From China Xinhua News on Facebook

Quote

香港市民xSž名支持野踩⒎

Hong Kong people sign their signatures in support of national security legislation

https://www.facebook.com/369959106408139/posts/3687136524690364/

Edited June 25, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

from China Pictorial - justification, but still nothing on what it says

 

 

Safeguarding National Security: For a Better Tomorrow in Hong Kong

TEXT BY RU YUAN

MAY 24, 2020

Facts have shown that the whole society will pay a heavy price for the national security loophole. The HKSAR must not become a weak link in national security. Now, it is imperative, timely and important for the NPC and its standing committee to formulate relevant laws on establishing and improving at the state level the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national security. This move will better safeguard national security, lay a solid institutional foundation for the steady and enduring growth of the cause of “One Country, Two Systems,” and promote the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.

 

. . .

 

On the morning of May 22, 2020, a draft decision on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to safeguard national security was submitted to China’s national legislature for deliberation at the third session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing. This means that the national security loophole in the HKSAR since its return to the motherland will be fixed by establishing institutional mechanisms to safeguard national security under the framework of law.

 

[Randy W]

. . . and here's why

 

What Beijing’s national security law for Hong Kong covers, who should worry?

 

• The possibility of new security bodies in the city, or ‘one-size-fits-all’ charges being used against activists are among issues prompting concern
• Despite the central government’s move, local leadership is still expected to craft their own national security law under the Basic Law’s Article 23

 

The NPC is expected to vote on the resolution at the end of the annual session, likely on May 28. The resolution will then be forwarded to the NPC Standing Committee, which will craft the bill’s details. The draft law will then be presented at the start of the bimonthly meeting of the Standing Committee as early as June. Tam Yiu-chung, Hong Kong’s sole representative on the NPC standing committee, said it usually took one or two of the weeklong meetings for the committee to pass a law, meaning it could be passed by either June or August.

 

 

 

Hong Kong’s Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma issues rare public rebuke of judge who compared protesters to ‘terrorist army’

• District Judge Kwok Wai-kin caused controversy after expressing sympathy with man he jailed for 45 months over triple stabbing
• Ma says judges should refrain from expressing ‘unwarranted and unnecessary political views’

[Randy W]

from the SCMP

 

 

What to expect now US deems Hong Kong no longer autonomous

 

• US official says it will be up to the White House how it responds to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s assessment
• ‘A lot of’ options are being considered. ‘It can be personnel, it can be sanctions’

 

 

US President Donald Trump has to decide what actions to take after the US state department told Congress on Wednesday that Hong Kong was no longer considered autonomous from China, an assessment that could threaten the city’s long-standing special trading status.

 

. . .

 

“A lot of” options were being considered, including personnel and sanctions “as determined in the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 and in the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act [of 2019],” Stilwell said.

 

 

[Randy W]

The US granted special economic and security status to Hong Kong, based on the autonomy from China granted in Hong Kong's Basic Law. This status may be reviewed as necessary under the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 and in the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act [of 2019.