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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.
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Today’s @AppleDaily_HK runs with leading HK academics warning the National Security Law threatens free speech, intellectual & academic freedoms, as universities are subject to many of its provisions.
Meanwhile CE Carrie Lam is claiming the Law can “get HK back on track”... lol
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HK Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng: none of my business if Hong Kongers get sentenced to death in the mainland under the national security law.
The HK government doesn’t care about the lives of anyone in HK, and if you’re pro-democracy you’re now considered more than worthless. twitter.com/rthk_enews/sta…
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HK government: Chanting or displaying the slogan ‘光復香港，時代革命’ (liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times’) is now in contravention of the national security law as it “connotes Hong Kong independence”, which is illegal under prohibition on secession. Orwell is that you?
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These are idle threats from Beijing. Even if the government banned HKers from travelling to the UK, they could easily enter via a third country. In order to stop them they would literally have to ban HKers from all international travel, indefinitely.
theguardian.com/world/2020/jul…
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It’s possible this video of the HK Police taking aim at a journalist with their water cannon will become one of the defining scenes of the #HongKongProtests.
The reporter was standing alone with no protestors nearby or even visible, yet the police aimed directly for their head.
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Today’s @AppleDaily_HK leads with pics of the 7.1 march - total of ~370 arrests
Also seen unverified reports & images of the man accused of stabbing a police officer yesterday apparently being arrested at the door of a Cathay plane at 11pm attempting to board a flight to London.
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This would be nice & all but can we please not forget all non-BNOs born after 1997 (~70% of frontline protestors) are still in limbo. Focus must be on pushing the UK govt to go further as the situation continues to deteriorate & offer *all* HKers the right to settle in the UK. twitter.com/tomhfh/status/…
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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
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Graphic photos emerging of a journalist who was pepper sprayed by the police next to the Percival Street flyover. Police routinely pepper spray journalists, bystanders and protestors indiscriminately. Pic: HKBU
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A former police officer was detained for a short time before being released for shouting “long live Liverpool!" earlier, celebrating their league title win.
As an Everton fan I believe this was justified action by the police. Support HK Police. Love the motherland. Love HK. 🇨🇳
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In CWB riot police have aimed firearms at members of the public & ordered them to return to the walkway (out of shot) & leave the area. Not immediately clear what ammunition said weapons can fire. Pics: HSUSU
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A number of older people were seen in agony after being targeted with pepper spray by police in CWB. Police regularly use pepper spray indiscriminately against protestors, bystanders and journalists. Pics: CBC
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In CWB a small crowd of people were judged to have violated the national security law by using vulgar language toward police. Riot police used pepper spray at point blank range on people who were pinned up against a wall, on the ground & already in custody. Vid: CBC
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HKBU student journalists captured the moment a police officer in riot gear forced his foot into the knee joint of a man in custody who was struggling to squat. Treatment like this can be witnessed at literally every protest the police are present at these days. Vid: HKBUSU
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HK riot police officers just charged through the crowd & wrestled a man to the ground on Jardine Street, CWB. One of the officers grabs his neck during the take-down followed by other officers trampling on him.
Normal service has resumed. Vid: HSUSU
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Telegram users have noticed the man who is the first person arrested under the national security law had wrote ‘不要’ or ‘don’t want’ in tiny characters on his Hong Kong independence flag
This will be a case to watch in court. If convicted he will get at least 3 years in prison. twitter.com/hkpoliceforce/…
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The HK Police's new national security department is using the Royal HK Police's Special Branch as a template. British colonial administration bodies & laws have repeatedly been used to justify & give cover to Beijing's bastardised versions of them. Thread:news.mingpao.com/pns/%E5%89%AF%…
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Breaking: Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has confirmed the national security law will come into effect tonight in a press release welcoming the passage of the law. Publication of the legislation’s provisions is expected in The Gazette at midnight HKT. twitter.com/JackHHazlewood…
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Breaking: 🇨🇳 state media Xinhua reports the NPCSC has voted to approve the HK national security law being added to Annex III of the Basic Law - its provisions should be published in The Gazette imminently. Also announced President Xi Jinping has signed the decree ordering it.
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HK01 reports sentences under the national security law will come in 3 bands, each with a minimum of 3 yrs, 5 yrs & 10 yrs respectively. Still rumoured HKers face life imprisonment or even the death penalty for the trials that’ll take place in mainland 🇨🇳.
hk01.com/article/491988…
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HK01 reports Edwina Lau (劉賜蕙) will head up what security chief John Lee admitted will be a secret national security police unit. Lau's duties may incl. overseeing indefinite detention of suspects w/out trial in special detention centres under the NS law.hk01.com/%E7%A4%BE%E6%9…
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With the HK national security law just days away, yesterday saw 53 arrests, incl. district councillors, the elderly, & a father in front of his child.
Also reports high-profile democrats Joshua Wong & Jimmy Lai will be arrested on July 1st, *the first day the law takes effect*.
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Tam Yiu-chung, HK’s sole delegate to the NPCSC (🇨🇳’s top legislative body) is pushing for the national security law to be retroactive & increased sentencing to “enhance its deterrent effect”.
Not only a traitor but someone actively trying to kill off HK.
scmp.com/news/hong-kong…
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HK01 reporting HK’s public broadcaster RTHK hasn’t been invited by the government to film the the flag raising ceremony & 🍾 reception on July 1st for the first time, but TVB - criticised by many for excessively pro-🇨🇳 coverage - have. Changing times... hk01.com/%E7%A4%BE%E6%9…
前蘋果日報專欄作家. Words/investigations @TheSundayTimes @Telegraph @TheEconomist @ForeignPolicy @Australian etc, docs @PopularFront_