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U.K. Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab has issued a statement following the mass DQ of pro-democracy candidates, stating “it is clear they have been disqualified because of their political views”.
Clamour for Magnitsky sanctions against HK & 🇨🇳 govt officials likely to increase.
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HK government press release says it supports returning officers’ decision to disqualify pro-democracy candidates en masse & appears to confirm ‘expressing an objection’ to the National Security Law constitutes grounds for disqualification.
This is the new normal in Hong Kong.
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Almost all the Civic Party’s candidates have been DQ’d too, which includes Alvin Yeung, Tat Cheung, Dennis Kwok and Kwok Ka-ki. Joshua Wong has also reportedly been disqualified, but he hasn’t confirmed on social media yet.
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Breaking: Pro-democracy candidates just received notice en masse that they’ve been disqualified from Sep’s LegCo election. Said to incl. Ventus Lau, Lester Shum, Tiffany Yuen, Fergus Leung, Cheng Kam-mun & Kenneth Leung. Election expected to be suspended for 1 year imminently.
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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.
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Further to this — I didn’t realise until now but I’m also friends with Tony Chung (鍾翰林) on Facebook, and as of 00:40 HKT his account still shows him as active, despite him currently being in custody. HK Police likely searching his device & social media right now as we speak. twitter.com/JackHHazlewood…
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A screenshot is being widely circulated showing former @studentlocalism convenor Tony Chung (鍾翰林) is active on Facebook, despite him being in custody after his arrest under the National Security Law. Many believe it’s the HK Police searching his phone & social media accounts. twitter.com/JackHHazlewood…
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Senior Superintendent Steve Li of the HK Police’s national security taskforce confirms at a police press conference that 3 men & 1 woman aged 16 to 21 (all former members of @studentlocalism) were arrested today under the National Security Law’s provisions concerning secession. twitter.com/JackHHazlewood…
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Now unconfirmed reports emerging that other members of @studentlocalism have also been arrested, including former spokesperson Ho Luk-chang (何諾恆). As yet unverified, also unclear if arrested under the National Security Law or not. twitter.com/JackHHazlewood…
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Grainy photos are starting to emerge on Telegram purporting to show 19-year-old Tony Chung (鍾翰林), former convenor of HK pro-democracy group @studentlocalism being arrested by state security agents (de facto secret police) on suspicion of inciting secession. 1984 is here & now.
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HK01 (& other local media) reporting the HK govt will request the NPC in Beijing agree to an unprecedented postponement of September’s LegCo election for a whole year. Pandemic cited but the real reason is pro-Beijing parties are set for a crushing defeat.
hk01.com/%E6%94%BF%E6%8…
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Breaking: Professor Benny Tai (戴耀廷), one of the leaders of the umbrella movement & organiser of the pro-democracy camp’s primaries, has been fired from his job by HKU’s Council by 18 votes to 2. HK CE Carrie Lam appoints the chair so hardly a surprise.
thestandnews.com/politics/%E6%B…
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That a year later it takes a British newspaper to unveil one of the culprits of the 721 triad attack - when 120+ faces were caught on CCTV - is proof enough of the HK govt’s de facto protection of them; all while protestors are pursued & jailed ruthlessly.
thetimes.co.uk/article/cambri…
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The UK government has released the details of a new visa for the 2.9 million BNO’s (plus dependents) residing in HK, who’ll be entitled to 5 years leave to remain in the UK - providing a path to 🇬🇧 citizenship.
Huge move. A lifeline for so many people.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…
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The HK Police now routinely take it upon themselves to decide who is and isn’t a journalist.
Small outlet journos are fined under the gathering ban now, soon they’ll be being arrested for participating in an illegal assembly.
Press also subject to the National Security law too. twitter.com/laurelchor/sta…
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Breaking: 🇬🇧 Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab confirms to the Commons that the UK will immediately suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, & launch an arms embargo & a new "bespoke immigration route" for BNOs & their dependents, to be set out in the next few weeks. Progress.
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Today’s @AppleDaily_HK leads with the triumph of young radical localists over more moderate democrats in the pro-democracy camp’s primary.
Also covered is CE Carrie Lam’s claim last night that the primary could constitute subversion, a crime under the new National Security Law.
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Breaking: The results of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy primary have just been released - only currently formatted as a spreadsheet in Chinese but young radical democrats have triumphed across Hong Kong, incl. Ventus Lau in NTE & Sunny Cheung in KW. Joshua Wong tops the poll in KE.
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Around 610,000 people voted in HK’s pan-democratic primary yesterday, & today’s @appledaily_hk praises organiser Benny Tai for all his efforts.
Whatever your politics, it’s undeniable pro-🇨🇳 politicians could not get even 20% of 610k people to vote in a pro-Beijing primary...
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Primary organiser Power for Democracy (民主動力) have confirmed 412,478 ballots have been cast in HK’s pan-Democratic primary as of 16:00 HKT. With just under 5 hours until polls close, turnout is set to break 500,000. Lines look longer than yesterday, too.
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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.
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Benny Tai confirms 228,000 people voted in HK’s pan-democratic primary today - very high turnout in spite of the co-organisers being raided by police last night, resurgent virus cases & the National Security Law. Voting continues tmr, pro-🇨🇳 politicians will be watching in fear.
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Turnout looking extremely strong in the pan-democratic primary in HK - almost 60,000 have voted in the first 3 hours - despite the co-organisers being raided by police last night, an explosion in coronavirus cases & the national security law. Voting continues thru tomorrow too.
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「凡是毛主席作出的決策，我們都堅決維護；凡是毛主席的指示，我們都始終不渝地遵循」— 華國鋒
Vote in the pan-democratic primaries today & tomorrow — if anyone asks, tell them Chairman Mao told you to. 為人民服務 ✊🚩
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Breaking: HK Police are raiding the offices of PORI - HK’s leading pollster; & also involved in the pro-democracy primaries this weekend. Some govt officials have said it is illegal & today PORI released a poll in which 60% agreed HK “is not a free city”.
hk.appledaily.com/local/20200710…
前蘋果日報專欄作家. Words/investigations @TheSundayTimes @Telegraph @TheEconomist @ForeignPolicy @Australian etc, docs @PopularFront_