Apr 10, 2020
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by Jasmine Leung and Yan Zhao From doing homework by torchlight to hurling flaming molotov cocktails at riot police: the character of Hong Kong’s protests has changed dramatically in five years, with young demonstrators hardened by the failure of their peaceful Umbrella Movement. Then-student Bunny was one of thousands of Hong Kongers who camped out on …
Further reading:
SCMP: Hong Kong police give go-ahead for rally marking fifth anniversary of start of Occupy movement, September 26, 2019
SCMP: Hong Kong’s June 4 museum puts on special exhibit marking Occupy anniversary, and says movement has inspired 2019 anti-government protests, September 27, 2019
RTHK: Exhibition marks anniversary of Occupy protests, September 27, 2019
CY Leung: 'Democracy would see poorer people dominate Hong Kong vote'
Just a reminder of the established political culture Hong Kong’s protesters are up against.
Hongkongers could be jailed or fined if they attend meetings of, or give any aid to the banned pro-independence Hong Kong National Party (HKNP), security chief John Lee has said. The terms “meeting” and “aid” are not clearly defined in the Societies Ordinance. The government issued a notice to officially ban the party on Monday, …
Maya Wang, senior researcher at the NGO Human Rights Watch, said the ban was “a milestone in the Beijing and Hong Kong governments’ assault on Hong Kong’s freedoms.”
“Although the Hong Kong police stated that the party ‘has not yet used any violence,’ it justified the ban as necessary as a pre-emptive move to eliminate ‘a real threat to national security,'” she said. “This justification sets a dangerous precedent, where more non-violent pro-democracy political groups may be similarly banned.”
“The ban violates a range of human rights guaranteed to Hong Kong people, including the rights to freedom of association and assembly. The ban is particularly worrying together with recent news that members and families of other pro-democracy groups are being harassed and interrogated in the mainland.”
Pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo said that the ban showed the government’s “imperial attitude” and expressed concerns that it would harm freedom of association in Hong Kong.
Benny Tai has decided to appeal against his dismissal as associate law professor at the University of Hong Kong to the Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the university’s chancellor.
Benny Tai has decided to appeal against his dismissal as associate law professor at the University of Hong Kong to the Chief Executive Carrie Lam, the university’s chancellor.
On Tuesday, the university's governing council voted overwhelmingly to dismiss Tai from his post over his criminal convictions related to the 2014 Occupy movement.
In a statement published on social media on Wednesday, Tai acknowledged that the appeal would be "a futile process", but he said he could not let Lam stay out of what he sees as an incident that deals a blow to academic freedom in Hong Kong.
He added that he’s still discussing with his legal team on whether he will launch a judicial review over the matter, but stressed that he will not stop his research and teaching on the rule of law, and plans to complete a book on that for the general public.
Tai – one of the founders of the 2014 civil disobedience movement – was sentenced to 16 months in prison over public nuisance charges related to the mass protests. He's out on bail, pending an appeal.
RTHK
The Hong Kong government declared an unprecedented 12 pro-democracy politicians’ candidacies for September’s legislative elections invalid on Thursday, saying it would not rule out the possibility of further disqualifications. HKFP has rounded up reactions to the move from local as well as international politicians and human rights groups.
Further reading:
RTHK: Govt no longer cares what world thinks: Alvin Yeung, July 31, 2020
RTHK: Disqualification reasons ridiculous: Joshua Wong, July 31, 2020
RTHK: 'Beijing trying to prevent hostile Legco takeover', July 31, 2020
RTHK: Govt wrong to praise disqualifications: Ronny Tong, July 31, 2020
Five years apart, here is a look at the key differences between the two movements in Hong Kong
Beijing wants global companies to back its power over the city, even as their workers join protests calling for greater say in the fate of their home.