526
Hong Kong tells foreign governments to stop accepting BNOs.
“Most countries are going to ignore this,” said one senior Western diplomat who had seen the letter.
Another toothless counter-measure from the HK Government.
reuters.com/article/us-hon…
527
Hong Kong Watch initiated a letter co-signed by activists in exile and more than 18 U.S.-based Hong Kong groups to the United States Congress, urging Congress to adopt lifeboat measures urgently for Hongkongers who face political persecution.
📜HKW - hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2021…
528
🇨🇦Senator Leo Housakos, a patron of HKW in Canada, said:
“This bullying by the #CCP is a result of continued appeasement by the West. The CCP has grown increasingly belligerent and emboldened, not only toward #Hongkongers but also toward the rest of the world."
529
Great to see that Leave Outside the Rules has been extended until 21 June 2021, helping to ensure a smooth transition for BNOs who need it.
gov.uk/guidance/briti…
530
'Beijing may have temporarily silenced those in Hong Kong. But we know the true voice of a city that yearns to be free.' Our full statement marking the 2nd anniversary of #612 #HongKongProtests 👇hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2021…
531
Freezing Jimmy Lai's assets "is the biggest blow to date for press freedoms. While arrests naturally garner headlines, it is decisions like this one which are most likely to catalyse capital flight," writes @Johnny_HKWatch
cityam.com/beijing-has-do…
532
Great to hear that #Australia will soon join the UK, Canada, the EU, and the USA in having a #Magnitsky style sanctions regime. Hopefully once in place they will consider using this sanctions regime with key allies against #HK officials guilty of human rights violations. twitter.com/SenPaterson/st…
533
The U.S. has outlined eligibility criteria allowing HK residents to remain temporarily in the country to escape Beijing’s crackdown.
Great to see this policy enacted, but Congress must now take steps to offer a permanent lifeline through legislation.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
534
WEBINAR INVITATION: Why UK civil society must step up to welcome Hongkongers.
11th February 2021 | 11:00 GMT
Speakers including @benedictrogers, Debbie Weekes-Bernard, @krishk, @danny_kruger @SKinnock @NeilJamiesonUK. Co-hosts: @UkWelcomes.
Join us: eventbrite.co.uk/e/why-civil-so…
535
After questioning ministers, the House of Lords committee concluded: “It seems that the govt is using a policy of deliberate ambiguity to avoid making difficult decisions that uphold the UK’s values but might negatively affect economic relations.”
theguardian.com/politics/2021/…
536
Hong Kong's "future as an international financial hub must be in doubt. It may instead become increasingly a hub for Chinese Communist Party financing", says
our co-founder and Chief Executive @benedictrogers
telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/…
537
Important statement from US Secretary of State @SecPompeo today.
The arrests of 8 democrats is absolutely unacceptable and a politicised abuse of the law. twitter.com/SecPompeo/stat…
538
A Canadian Parliamentary Committee has voted unanimously to investigate providing safe haven for Hong Kongers.
Thank you @JennyKwanBC for introducing this vital motion. twitter.com/SamGoodman22/s…
539
UN decries further "chilling message" for Hong Kong media freedom.
reuters.com/world/asia-pac…
540
"Maybe China will change. We cannot accomplish that ourselves, but we can stop China changing us. And if we do that, perhaps one day Hong Kong will be free once more as well."
Hong Kong Watch patron, Lord Patten writing in @spectator
spectator.co.uk/article/how-sh…
541
President Biden to warn US companies of the risks of operating in Hong Kong, and is weighing further sanctions in the wake of the closure of Apple Daily.
ft.com/content/8ca8fb…
542
RECAP: Choy Yuk-ling should be commended for doing her job, rather than investigated by the police.
@benedictrogers writing on the decline of freedom of the press in Hong Kong.
hk.appledaily.com/opinion/202011…
543
"Today’s sentencing is a heart-breaking milestone in the campaign to free the 12 Hong Kong youths who have been detained in Shenzhen for 4 months. There is a risk that the 10 activists who have been charged could be tortured or face ill-treatment in jail."hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2020…
544
Opposition calls on Canadian government to stop contracting out visa applications to China-backed company.
With numbers of Hong Kongers moving to Canada likely to spike, its vital this is put under scrutiny.
@stevenchase
theglobeandmail.com/politics/artic…
545
"This is a wholly disproportionate sentence. The reference to the flag he was carrying is a blow to freedom of expression."
"It sets a precedent for trials to come. The cases of former legislators. The case of Jimmy Lai. Those are cases to watch very closely after today." twitter.com/benedictrogers…
546
We are HIRING
We are looking to hire a BNO Policy Advisor to join our team. You will be assisting our Policy Director in promoting the rights and integration of BNO holders and Hong Kong refugees.
w4mpjobs.org/JobDetails.asp…
547
European Parliamentarians sign open-letter to IOC underlining that it is inappropriate for China to host @Beijing2022 while crushing the democracy movement in HK and committing atrocity crimes against the Uyghurs. twitter.com/AnnaFotyga_PE/…
548
Hong Kong Watch hosted the annual fundraising dinner last week. #LordPatten, the patron of @hk_watch and former governor of #HongKong said, some brave people must stand up and defend what is right and good. #Fightforfreedom
549
UPDATE AFTER MINISTERS' STATEMENT:
Despite briefing @thetimes that they were considering offering young HKers a pathway to citizenship, it is deeply disappointing that the Govt did not take the opportunity that the Green Amendment presented to give under 25s access to BNO. 1/2 twitter.com/hk_watch/statu…
550
英國人權組織“香港監察”（Hong Kong Watch）行政總裁羅傑斯（Benedict Rogers）表示，事件“離譜”，不能接受中國共產黨在英國實行他們在中國“暴力、不人道、野蠻及嚴刑峻法的管治方式”。
港人組織英國反中共“二十大” 示威者遭扯入領事館毆打 voacantonese.com/a/kc-chinese-o…
Hong Kong Watch defends human rights, freedoms and the rule of law in Hong Kong. SUPPORT US: donorbox.org/defend-hong-ko…