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"The revisions would drastically reduce the 117 seats assigned to district councillors, a bloc now dominated by opposition groups..."
From Myanmar to HK the totalitarian playbook is the same.
Got the wrong result in the election? Change the rules.
wsj.com/articles/beiji…
377
"It is increasingly clear that President Xi and his acolytes in the Hong Kong SAR see the Basic Law as a lump of clay to be moulded, contorted, and broken apart as they see fit," says @benedictrogers commenting on the new oath of allegiance requirements.
hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2021…
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ICYMI: UK applicants for the Hong Kong BN(O) visa with certain biometric passports will be able to apply from a smartphone app to scan their passport from now. 👇 gov.uk/government/new…
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While the BNO offer is generous, under 23s are not covered and may be forced to apply for asylum. Integration must also be a priority for the UK Government, says @Johnny_HKWatch.
| @freddiejh8
newstatesman.com/politics/uk/20…
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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/…
381
Breaking: #hk police have charged 47 pro-democracy activists with conspiracy to subvert state powers under the National Security Law.
news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/compon…
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"It is now beyond repute that the NSL is designed with the aim of dismantling the city’s pro-democracy movement, silencing dissent, & restricting participation in elections to CCP apparatchiks, in direction violation of China’s obligations under the Joint Declaration."
383
"The international community cannot stand idle. It must call for the immediate release of all those arrested under the NSL, push for the introduction of Magnitsky sanctions, & ensure that it won't be business as usual with Beijing while it continues to dismantle HK's autonomy.”
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"Today marks the first time that almost every prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist is either in jail, exile, or on trial awaiting sentencing." @benedictrogers on the charging of 47 pro-democracy activists under the NSL. hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2021…
385
.@SenatorMunson is right. We must speak louder.
Thank you for your stand with Hong Kong. twitter.com/SenatorMunson/…
386
We welcome the publication of the Special Committee on Canada-China Relations report on Hong Kong, particularly the recommendations calling for the expansion of Canada's lifeboat scheme, Magnitsky sanctions, & the creation of a UN Special Envoy for HK. ourcommons.ca/Content/Commit…
387
THREAD: Today we publish which provides a warning to democratic governments about the way that Beijing has used ‘economic coercion’ as a key strategy of control in Hong Kong. The world must learn from how red capital has changed HK politics. hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2021… 1/
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Recommendations? Western policymakers and financial firms should direct foreign capital away from China, where such money could be complicit in human rights abuses, and enact legislation to allow for economic sanctions, recommends the report. 5/
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"Beijing ensured that it could guarantee the increasing involvement of ‘red capital’ and growing mainland investment" as a strategy of control.
HK killed as much by red capital as repressive laws | @SamGoodman22 and @benedictrogers on our new report.
hk.appledaily.com/opinion/202103…
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"Earlier, @hk_watch said in a report that red capital - money originating from mainland China - had fundamentally shaped HK’s politics, media & city’s status as a business hub."
HK dropped from Economic Freedom Index as policies 'controlled from Beijing'.
reuters.com/article/us-hon…
391
32 defendants denied bail. A sad day for Hong Kong. twitter.com/phoebe_kongwy/…
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Bail denials and electoral reform a 'further blow to Hong Kong', says @benedictrogers.
'Electoral reform proposals ensure there is never hope of democrats winning - doubtless this is Beijing's intention, but it is another breach of international law.'
hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2021…
393
Chris Patten: "China's communist parliament has taken the biggest step so far to obliterate Hong Kong's freedoms and aspirations for greater democracy under the rule of law."
"This completely destroys the pledge of one-country, two-systems."
hongkongwatch.org/all-posts/2021…
394
The Home Office has lifted a ban on access to public funds for Hong Kongers settling in the U.K. who might be at risk of falling into poverty.
Very welcome step. We've been underlining that it is vital this is not a policy for the privileged.
politico.eu/article/uk-hom…
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.@benedictrogers said: "Under these reforms, the majority of Hong Kongers face permanent political disenfranchisement, with any candidate who offers criticism of Beijing effectively barred.
"Of course, most of the democratic slate are now in jail anyway" bbc.co.uk/news/world-asi…
396
Writing for the Diplomat, @benedictrogers lays out a three part strategy for the UK in response to the crackdown in Hong Kong:
1) Sanctions of individuals and key CCP-linked firms;
2) Coordinated international diplomacy;
3) Securing accountability
thediplomat.com/2021/03/after-…
397
Starting in a few minutes: Civil Society side event at the United Nations on Hong Kong, featuring @AileenCalverley and @jooeysiiu.
Watch here 👇
twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…
398
Today on #IWD2021 we would like to honour the bravery of 8 outstanding female leaders, now in custody.
Carol Ng Man-yee
Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam
Helena Wong Pik-wan
Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai
Prince Wong Ji-yuet
Winnie Yu Wai-ming
Claudia Mo
Clarisse Yeung
Their courage is an inspiration.
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THREAD: Our patron @DavidAltonHL called a debate on the situation of Hong Kong today.
He underlines that the time has come for the application of Magnitsky sanctions. 1/3 twitter.com/ipacglobal/sta…
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"Britain has rightly offered a lifeline to BNOs, but this step cannot be seen to be a complete and coherent strategy in response. The UK must take further action - considering sanctions, diplomacy and avenues for accountability," writes @Johnny_HKWatch.
cityam.com/as-china-signs…
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