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The Hong Kong Police are setting up a dedicated unit to enforce the national security law “the very first day” the legislation comes into effect — security minister John Lee.
This shows how the nat sec law will be taken by the HK govt. Deeply worrying.
scmp.com/news/hong-kong…
177
Well over half of British voters (56%) support giving BNO passport holders from HK the right to live & work in the UK with a pathway to citizenship, with just 12% opposed. Support across parties too - Tory voters 57%, Labour 57%, Lib Dems 65%.
Fantastic.
redfieldandwiltonstrategies.com/widespread-sup…
178
Gruesome Stand News photos emerging of reporters in agony after being pepper sprayed by riot police, which occurs at virtually every protest now.
The official HK Police press release claims officers "deployed the minimum necessary force to enforce the law" tonight. What a farce.
179
Awesome shots as ever from @StandNewsHK from tonight’s protest in central. Saw scenes of police brutality as we’ve come to expect, with a decent crowd size & pro-democracy tycoon Jerome Lau Ting-sing flashing ‘5 demands not one less’ hand gestures in one of his inimitable shirts.
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Riot police just charged down Pedder Street and into an entrance to Central MTR station, barring reporters from entry and sealing off the exit. Possible there is some kind of disturbance inside the station. Vid: 恒大編委報導/HSUSU
181
Riot police have pepper sprayed & fired pepper balls at protestors and bystanders on Queens Road & Des Voeux Road as demonstrators mark the first anniversary of the protests. Several people have also been wrestled to the ground & arrested.📸: Apple Daily, Stand News.
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Riot police pressed a man (apparently a bystander) against a tram stop and pulled at his clothes at the protest in central before arresting him. HK police marking the first anniversary of the protests as you would expect. Vid: HSUSU
183
🔥@AppleDaily_HK on the 1st anniversary of the protests. Police have refused permission for a rally on 612; the day police instigated the violence. Instead an ‘exhibition of resistance’ across HK is planned, with organisers calling for HKers to ‘遍地開花’ - ‘blossom everywhere’.
184
When Simon Cheng, the British consulate staff member who was detained & tortured in the mainland says the new national security laws endanger every single Hong Konger, believe him.
‘I know I don’t have a second chance. That’s why I chose to resist.’
hk.appledaily.com/us/20200608/67…
185
LIHKG users have hit out at Edward Yau (邱騰華) after he announced Ocean Park can re-open & large gatherings incl. HK’s annual book fair can proceed, but protests remain restricted. HK govt clearly weaponising the pandemic against the pro-democracy camp.
lih.kg/2055611
186
Recordings obtained by @AP prove the Chinese government withheld data on coronavirus.
The recordings show WHO officials complaining in January that Beijing wasn’t sharing data needed to evaluate the worldwide risk. Great report by @lilkuo theguardian.com/world/2020/jun…
187
After reports new national security legislation is set to bar foreign judges from nat sec cases, ExCo member Ip Kwok-him has called for special courts to rule on nat sec cases with judges hand-picked by the NPCSC in Beijing. Would crucify HK's rule of law.
hk.appledaily.com/local/20200608…
188
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/…
189
Oriental Daily (東方日報) sources claim Beijing is considering countermeasures if the UK government proceeds with expanding BNO rights, incl. revoking the Chinese citizenship & right of abode in HK for all HKers who don't renounce BNO citizenship. Insane.
hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/new…
190
Failed Taiwan presidential candidate Han Kuo-yu of the KMT - often accused as being weak & too willing to concede to China - has been impeached following the successful recall vote in Kaohsiung City. Unprecedented for such a powerful mayor of a large city.
191
This is the 1989 video that former HK Chief Executive CY Leung doesn't want you to see:
"Promises made by the 🇨🇳 government, such as not sending in the army [on Tiananmen], have been empty"
"When they break their own promises, it's inevitable HK people will lose trust in them"
192
So the justification for the Hong Kong Police brutally assaulting peaceful demonstrators tonight, including an elderly man is they “blocked roads”. The Police’s FB also described them as “rioters”
You heard it here first: peacefully commemorating the Tiananmen Massacre = rioting twitter.com/hkpoliceforce/…
193
Video of the arrests in Mong Kok has now emerged:
As with earlier pictures, they show undercover HK police assaulting peaceful demonstrators, including an elderly man, & pepper spraying the crowd (including reporters).
All this on the anniversary of Tiananmen.
Hong Kong, 2020. twitter.com/JackHHazlewood…
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Stand News has more photos of the arrests here:
As with the immediate pictures, they clearly show peaceful demonstrators, including an elderly man, being assaulted by undercover officers (clearly identifiable by them brandishing police-issued pepper spray canisters). Sickening. twitter.com/JackHHazlewood…
195
Aaaaand right on cue, the HK Police disturb the peace again, on the anniversary of Tiananmen of all days, by having undercover police arrest peaceful demonstrators at a memorial event in Mong Kok.
Pictures clearly show an unarmed older man being thrown to the ground. Disgusting. twitter.com/JackHHazlewood…
196
The Victoria Park vigil isn’t the only memorial service for the 6.4 Tiananmen Massacre in Hong Kong tonight. Following the vigil ban, organisers arranged alternative events across the city. Pictured are attendees in Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Mong Kok & Tai Wai. 📸: @appledaily_hk
197
Great @StandNewsHK photograph of the football pitches in Victoria Park as they begin to fill. Many have chosen to head to the Tiananmen anniversary vigil in spite of the police ban on it, despite the risk of arrest & clashes. No sign of police in the immediate vicinity so far.
198
Another day, another Orwellian law passes in Hong Kong. Mocking the Chinese national anthem will now become illegal, punishable by a prison sentence.
HK’s steady descent into authoritarianism continues unabated, as Beijing weaponises the pandemic to pick up the pace. So sad.
199
Per Now News, police have stated they will not enter Victoria Park; site of the now-banned Tiananmen anniversary vigil, unless there is ‘chaos’. But Telegram groups show a large policing operation is in progress across HK. Unclear how this’ll develop or if there will be clashes.
200
As the 6.4 Tiananmen anniversary arrives with draconian national security laws hanging over the city, HK wakes to find thousands of cops are poised to arrest anyone who demonstrates. Protestors initiating violence looks unlikely but police may provoke it.
scmp.com/news/hong-kong…
前蘋果日報專欄作家. Words/investigations @TheSundayTimes @Telegraph @TheEconomist @ForeignPolicy @Australian etc, docs @PopularFront_