151
In her press conference Carrie Lam decried pro-democracy activists for 'spreading lies' & 'stoking hatred through propaganda posters'
...while in front of a huge propaganda poster proclaiming 'The Truth About Hong Kong', without a hint of irony.
Orwellian doesn't do it justice.
152
Me, @BenGartside & @CitySamuel reveal the CCP membership of senior execs in major 🇬🇧 & international financial institutions for the @Telegraph. One StanChart exec encouraged party branch involvement in company affairs & was personally praised by Xi Jinping telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/…
153
In an unprecedented move by a sitting PM, the British Prime Minister has authored an op-ed in a HK newspaper (the SCMP) outlining the UK govt’s pledge to expand BNO rights.
Now a lifeboat scheme for HK refugees *must* follow.
More to do, but v positive.
scmp.com/comment/opinio…
154
Breaking: HK pro-democracy activist Andy Li, missing after returning from mainland China, has been held at a psychiatric hospital in secret according to @AppleDaily_HK sources - who claim it’s to prevent him speaking about details of his detention in China.hk.appledaily.com/news/20210329/…
155
A year & a half ago, I had a reporting gig & was standing outside the British Consulate in HK as people demonstrated for expanded BNO rights. If you’d asked me then what are the chances of it happening, I’d have told you, emphatically, 0%.
Today, the UK’s BNO visa scheme opens.
156
Many of HK’s remaining democrats that were not arrested today under the National Security Law are now holding a press conf.
@HKDemocrats chair @lokinhei urged HKers not to give in & look out for each other; questioning why the govt felt the need to arrest the primary organisers.
157
Just in: Lester Shum (岑敖暉) becomes the first pro-democracy candidate to be officially disqualified ahead of September’s LegCo election. Arguably inconsequential as the election looks all but certain to be postponed for an entire year — rumour is HK govt will announce tomorrow.
158
Though peaceful mass marches have been rendered impossible due to rampant police violence, public transport closures & the National Security Law, be in no doubt the desire for democracy among HK people is as strong as ever. Set for 500,000 votes in just the *primary*. Incredible.
159
Absolutely obsessed with this HK protestor. Supremely cool style.
Pics: @StandNewsHK
160
As coronavirus cases subside in HK, you know the protests are restarting in earnest when you see 香港人日程表/HongKongers’ Schedule pics flying round Telegram
This is despite a ban on gatherings of more than 8 people that renders any mass protests de facto illegal under the law.
161
Summary of the blatantly politicised 'independent' IPCC report into the HK Police: Little criticism; just 'room for improvement' & 'no evidence' of police-triad collusion (!!). Total whitewash concluding pro-democracy protestors are 'dragging HK into an era of terrorism'. Thread:
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Don’t forget that the HK police officer shown fraternising with triads in this video from 721 was later revealed to be Superintendent John Carroll - a senior British expatriate officer.
The men were wielding blunt instruments. Carroll didn’t arrest them, he went over to chat. twitter.com/nytimes/status…
163
The HK Bar Association has issued a statement savaging Beijing’s plans to railroad through draconian national security laws in HK - argues HK’s judicial independence undermined & ‘unclear’ Beijing even has the legal authority to enact the laws. @AppleDaily_HK (蘋果日報) report 👇
164
Epic op-ed in the @guardian by @majian53:
"In China & Hong Kong, the only source of hope will be the stubborn refusal to forget, & the fierce clinging to the humane ideals of the peaceful protesters who filled Tiananmen Square in 1989."
Words of wisdom.
theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
165
The Hong Kong Police have confirmed there have been over 180 arrests as of 21:30 HKT, saying 'a large group of rioters' have 'wreaked havoc in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai under the pretext of protest'.
No mention of the police brutalising bystanders, journalists & protestors then.
166
Student reporters from HSU captured the moment HK riot police fired pepper balls inside Times Square & attempted to pursue demonstrators up escalators. People reportedly threw rubbish at them, to which they angrily responded. Vid: HSUSU
167
Update: Top British HK Police officer Rupert Dover’s property scandals never seem to end - @AppleDaily_HK has now revealed Dover’s been illegally occupying & building on government land to connect an adjacent property to his house & construct a garden. hk.appledaily.com/local/20200617… twitter.com/JackHHazlewood…
168
Tong Ying-Kit (唐英傑), the first person to be charged under the National Security Law, has just been found guilty of inciting secession and engaging in terrorist activities.
169
A nasty picture showing an unarmed member of the public being pepper sprayed by riot police.
This is why e.g. the IPCC report is so discredited when it claims the HK Police's conduct has been broadly proportionate and acceptable. The guy poses no threat whatsoever. Pic: 學媒新聞
170
Stand News reporting an undercover HK Police officer threatened bystanders, journalists & protestors with a telescopic baton & pepper spray upon his identity being discovered at the peaceful #ShopWithYou protest in TKO. A uniformed officer escorted him away. Blue flag now raised.
171
Last night, under cover of darkness, a Chinese state-owned hotel in HK was transformed into Beijing’s ‘Office for Safeguarding National Security’, complete with the 🇨🇳 national emblem & flag.
A physical representation of the continued rise of creeping authoritarianism in HK.
172
Spoke with @Jake_Hanrahan for the @PopularFrontCO podcast on the National Security Law, Beijing’s attempt to crush all dissent in Hong Kong, and where the protests could be heading long term.
> podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-s…
> patreon.com/popularfront
Our doc: youtu.be/MWh_EXPj9JI
173
Horrendous images & video emerging of a pregnant woman being pushed to the ground by the HK police in MK. Her husband berates officers on-scene while police used pepper spray to hold back reporters & bystanders. Excruciating cries in the video. Pics: @studioincendo, Cupid News. t.co/Y140UggVPP
174
Stand News: British Superintendents of HK Police Justin Shave & Vasco Williams *PROMOTED*. Shave is infamous for ordering a tear gas canister to be fired directly at unarmed legislator Wu Chi-Wai (胡志偉); Williams for his racist 'yellow object' comments. thestandnews.com/politics/%E7%A…
175
Apple Daily reporting how Hong Kong Police officers in Sha Tin made a blind lawyer suffer the indignity of removing her artificial eyes to 'prove she was blind' when she was attending to a client (an arrested pro-democracy protestor) in custody. Sickening.
hk.news.appledaily.com/local/20200514…
前蘋果日報專欄作家. Words/investigations @TheSundayTimes @Telegraph @TheEconomist @ForeignPolicy @Australian etc, docs @PopularFront_