The Odyssey - Democracy in Hong Kong

[Randy W]

‘This award belongs to you all’: controversial hit Ten Years claims top prize at Hong Kong Film Awards

But Port of Call storms to seven wins by dominating acting categories

 

 

The dystopian film painting a grim picture of life in Hong Kong in 2025 scored its lone victory in the biggest category of last night’s celebration of the local movie industry.

Ten Years’ executive producer Andrew Choi said: “Thanks to the Film Awards for daring to give us this award.”

. . .

Choi responded calmly when asked about the mainland’s ban on Ten Years.

“Our film is for Hongkongers,” he said. “There are places where the film is welcome and places where it’s not.”

Mainland media made no mention of the film’s victory in its coverage of the annual awards.

 

[Randy W]

in the SCMP - other outlets have since picked up on the story

 

‘Nintendo is disregarding our distinctiveness’: Protesters rail against maker of Pokemon over Chinese name of Pikachu

Global games giant plans to switch to mainland version of cute yellow icon’s name, even in Hong Kong releases

The source of their anger is Pikachu – the yellow mascot of the Pokemon gaming franchise – and the translation of its Chinese name.

Japanese video game maker Nintendo touched a nerve with localists earlier this year by announcing it would use the Putonghua pinyin version for over a hundred Pokemon in the Hong Kong version of an upcoming game.

Those names are rendered into different Chinese characters in Hong Kong and the mainland, to get the closest approximation to the Japanese original when the characters are read by Cantonese and Putonghua speakers.

. . .

 

“We don’t want Pikaqiu! Bring back Beikaaciu! Respect Cantonese! Follow local traditions!” the protesters chanted as they marched from Chater Garden to the Japanese consulate in Central.

 

[Randy W]

The bookseller incident appears to, quietly, be over - in the SCMP

Eight months on, fourth bookseller finally allowed to return to Hong Kong

Like his associates before, Lam Wing-kee asked that police drop their investigation into his case, saying he did not need help from them or government

 

 

 

In February, Lam told mainland media he was willing to be punished for his “mistakes”.

Those close to Lam suggested he was the last of the four to be released because the he had no family members on the mainland for authorities to hold “hostage” in return for his compliance.

. . .

Michael Tien Puk-sun, a local delegate to the National People’s Congress, wrote a letter to the NPC’s Standing Committee.

“I asked if any Chinese agents had carried out law enforcement actions in Hong Kong. It usually takes six months for the Standing Committee to reply and it has been three months now,” he said.

 

[Randy W]

Pretty much as you'd expect, if you've been paying attention - in the SCMP

 

Bookseller Lam Wing-kee details his detention on mainland, claims Lee Po told him he was “taken away from Hong Kong”

The Causeway Bay Books associate who disappeared in Shenzhen last October also describes 24-hour watch and his staged televised confession

 

 

He said mainland police had offered to release him if he could hand over a Causeway Bay Bookstore hard drive containing lists of readers who had bought books from his business and that they had asked him to return to the mainland today with the database.

“I did not return,” he said before a packed briefing room at the Legislative Council complex. “Of course, I dared not return.”

. . .

Lam said he was taken from Shenzhen to Ningbo by train, one day after he was intercepted at Lo Wu Control Point in the New Territories.

“I was handcuffed and my eyes were covered,” he said. “It took about 13 or 14 hours. I noticed I was taken to Ningbo, because I glimpsed the station when we got off the train.”

 

[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.

 

[Randy W]

Outrage expressed in Hong Kong over missing bookseller, but no answers forthcoming

Chinese foreign ministry says mainland authorities were entitled to handle Lam Wing-kee’s case as he had violated local laws, but Democrat Albert Ho maintains Lam is embroiled in a political conflict

 

The foreign ministry would only say on Friday that Causeway Bay bookseller Lam Wing-kee, a Hongkonger and Chinese national, had broken mainland laws and the authorities across the border were within their rights to handle his case.

 

. . .

 

“Mailing books is not illegal in Hong Kong, regardless of the books’ contents, and Lam mailed the books in Hong Kong,” she said. “The central government should also explain if the two people who followed Lam in Hong Kong were law enforcement officers because that would be indeed illegal.”

 

 

In the Global Times - http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/989070.shtml?utm_content=buffer1e2ee&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

 

Some bookstores in Hong Kong sell books about rumors surrounding senior political figures, making use of a special legal framework that protects them from the consequences publishing such claims would have on the mainland.

 

Edited June 18, 2016 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Be aware, if you have a Chinese passport . . . in the SCMP

 

Lesson from booksellers: if you’re Chinese, don’t upset Beijing

It may be argued there has been no breach of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle if extrajudicial rendition applies to Chinese anywhere in the world

 

 

Clearly, whether or not you think it’s perfectly within their right to sell whatever books they like in Hong Kong, distributing banned books allegedly on a large scale made Lam, Cheung and Lui offenders subject to arrest under Chinese law – once they were on the mainland. Pan-democrats and Beijing’s critics may praise Lam’s personal heroics all they want, but he and the other two were fair game to mainland authorities given their offences.

Gui and Lee are entirely different, given the way they were detained. Since there are no records of them leaving Hong Kong or Thailand, or any hint of notification or cooperation between mainland and local law enforcement agencies, the natural conclusion – one that mainland authorities have never tried to deny or confirm – is that they were captured and sent back to the mainland under some version of extrajudicial rendition. Furthermore, because Gui was born a Chinese citizen, the fact that he holds a Swedish passport cuts no ice on the mainland.

[Randy W]

A bit of whining here, since Hong Kong's Basic Law seems to spell this out, but it seems like the policy would apply to ANYONE (Hong Kong residents, that is) with dual passports from ANY country, including the U.S.


Ottawa seeks answers: HK-born Canadians are denied 10-year mainland visas, and told to travel as Chinese citizens, reports claim

Canada’s foreign ministry is pressing Beijing for an explanation, after reports that Hong Kong-born naturalised Canadians are being denied the right to travel to mainland China on 10-year visas that are extended to other Canadians, and are being told they can only visit as Chinese nationals.

Chinese-language media say that since early June, first-generation Hong Kong-born Canadian dual citizens are being told they can only apply to travel to China as Chinese nationals. Previously, they could choose to travel either as Canadian or as Chinese citizens.

If true, the changes could be seen as an encroachment on Hong Kong’s autonomy under the “one country, two systems” principle.

 

 

 

Under the Basic Law Annex III,

 

Annex III : National Laws to be Applied in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region*

 

The following national laws shall be applied locally with effect from 1 July 1997 by way of promulgation or legislation by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region:

 

. . .

 

5. Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China

 

Edited June 29, 2016 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

"Democracy" - with Chinese Characteristics - in the SCMP

‘Accept Hong Kong is part of China or you can’t run in Legco elections’

Rights groups condemn ‘political censorship’ while one advocate of independence says he will not sign form

 

 

 

In a surprise move targeting independence advocates running in September’s Legislative Council elections, the government will ­require all candidates to declare their acceptance of Hong Kong as an inalienable part of China or face disqualification.

Those who sign the declaration would be bound by it to the extent that they could face criminal sanctions if found to have lied.

. . .

Pro-Beijing lawmaker Starry Lee Wai-king said the new rule was reasonable because legislators would have to pledge allegiance to the Basic Law after being elected anyway.

 

Yeah, it seems pretty cut-and-dry to me - 2047 will arrive soon enough - right on schedule.

[Randy W]

in the Shanghaiist

 

China threatens to punish new LegCo lawmakers that back independence

 

Sunday's Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo) elections turned a number of young anti-Beijing activists into lawmakers. Before they start their new job, China wants to make sure that they know the ground rules first.

Following the record-breaking election, the Chinese government issued its "firm opposition" to any pro-independence activities, either on the council or outside of it, and warned that they will impose punishment in accordance with the law on legislatures who back independence.

According to AFP, a Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council spokesperson said that some of the LegCo candidates had used the tumultuous election campaign as a platform to publicly advocate for independence, which goes against China's constitution and Hong Kong's Basic Law.

Pro-democracy legislatures took 19 out of the 35 seats that were up for grabs in the election, giving them 30 total seats in the 70-member LegCo. The new lawmakers include at least five young candidates who have advocated in the past for Hong Kong's right to self-determination.

 

[Randy W]

The flap over the elections is still going on and has gotten ongoing coverage in the SCMP. Here it is in the New York Times

Separatist Hong Kong Lawmakers Draw Blunt Response From China

Yau Wai-ching and Mr. Leung outside the Legislative Council building in Hong Kong on Wednesday. Hong Kong’s government, loyal to Beijing, has asked the court system to rule on whether the council can let the two lawmakers retake their oaths.Credit...Vincent Yu/Associated Press

Quote

In addition to substantially revising the pledge of loyalty that all members of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council are required to take, the lawmakers, Yau Wai-ching and Sixtus Leung, known as Baggio, displayed a banner with the words “Hong Kong Is Not China” at their swearing-in.

And China is responding with some bluntness of its own.

Hong Kong’s government, loyal to Beijing, has asked the court system in the city, a former British colony, to review whether the council can let the lawmakers retake their oaths of office. The Hong Kong government and Beijing want the two representatives, who support independence for the territory, to vacate their seats rather than simply retake the oaths. A court in Hong Kong is set to hold a hearing on the matter on Thursday.

But a fusillade of invective against the pair in China’s state-controlled news media on Wednesday is leading to fears, backed by reports in Hong Kong news outlets, that Beijing may circumvent Hong Kong’s legal process by issuing a rare interpretation of the city’s mini-constitution that would effectively bar Ms. Yau and Mr. Leung from office.

. . .

The independence of Hong Kong’s judiciary is one of the reasons that so many multinational companies, banks and law firms have their Asian headquarters in the city.

. . .


In the issue involving the two lawmakers, the principal relevant law is a local ordinance on oath-taking, said Mr. Cheung, the legal scholar. That shouldn’t be in the jurisdiction of the National People’s Congress, he said.

What’s more, the congress would be acting pre-emptively and not allowing the court proceedings in Hong Kong to run their course. Since 1997, China’s legislature has made only four interpretations of Hong Kong’s Basic Law, and customarily that has been only after a request by Hong Kong’s highest court.

. . . and the SCMP


Beijing interpretation on Legislative Council oath taking rattles Hong Kong

Beijing’s decision to opt for a Basic Law interpretation over two Youngspiration legislators’ insulting oaths is contentious, but there may be logic to the move
 

Quote

During their oath-taking on October 12, the duo pledged allegiance to “the Hong Kong nation” and pronounced China as “Chee-na”, a variation of the derogatory Shinaused by Japan during the second world war. To add insult to injury, they displayed a banner with the words “Hong Kong is not China”.

That was not all. The pair popped up in Taipei at a seminar and urged Hong Kong to “insulate” itself from the ­mainland, just two days before the sixth plenum began on October 24. Their Taiwan tirade further irritated Beijing leaders wary of any “collusion” among separatist forces in Hong Kong, Taiwan and even Tibet and Xinjiang.

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

[Greg.D.]

Uncle Xi: "Democracy is overrated. I mean, what good is an election if you can't alter the results?"

[Randy W]

For those who want to keep up with the events . . . in the SCMP

 

2,000 Hong Kong police ready round the clock as protests over Beijing’s ruling on Basic Law loom

 

Post learns force’s manpower enhanced after violent clashes overnight and additional concern following central government review of Legco oath saga

 

Quote

Some 2,000 police officers will be deployed round the clock this week to handle possible chaos following violence early Monday and as at least two more protests loom in light of Beijing’s interpretation of the Basic Law over Hong Kong legislative oaths.

Force insiders told the Post that police have enhanced manpower in response to any eventuality caused by demonstrators when they protest in light of Beijing’s announced interpretation of the Basic Law on Monday.

 

 

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

[Randy W]

If you are interested, there are links to further coverage in this SCMP article

 

First two, now 15 Hong Kong lawmakers face prospect of being expelled from Legislative Council

Wang Zhenmin comments on legislators ‘messing up’ their oaths, while former Beijing official lambasts prosecution and judiciary for failing to live up to people’s expectations

 

 

Speaking at the same seminar, Wang Zhenmin, legal department head of Beijing’s liaison office and a former law dean of Tsinghua University, said 15 lawmakers had “messed up” their oaths. He did not name them but the Post could identify only 14.

 

Among the 14 identified, all said they had taken their oaths solemnly and sincerely, and questioned Chen’s authority to cite categories of misconduct.

Chen, now president of the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies think tank, also said there were “a lot of people” who did not meet the legal requirements.

He listed eight types of “insincere swearing-in” last month, such as “adding things to the ceremony ... or spending 12 minutes to finish the oath” – a reference to localist Lau Siu-lai.

 

[Randy W]

Deadline is 2047 - not much time to waste

 

IMMATURE AND UNINSPIRED? HOW YOUNGSPIRATION PAIR LEFT HONG KONG LOCALISTS RETHINKING THEIR VOTES

Shambolic performance by two pro-independence candidates disqualified from Hong Kong’s Legco may have kicked away the ladder for future localists – raising a troubling question for their supporters

 

Had the pair waited until after they were sworn in to turn up the rhetoric, Youngspiration would still have a voice in the legislative chamber.

Yet in striking prematurely, their actions effectively forced Beijing to issue an interpretation of the Basic Law – the national legislature ruled on November 7 that lawmakers who refuse to pledge allegiance to Hong Kong as part of China would lose their seats – a development that undermines and prevents any future localist candidate from gaining traction.

That hasn’t gone down well with their supporters, many of whom told This Week in Asia they had been put off choosing another Youngspiration candidate, and some saying they would not even vote for another localist group.