Tag: Hong Kong

“Glory to Hong Kong” Injunction Ruling Will Be Made Next Week

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A Hong Kong judge said on Friday that he would rule next week on a government request to ban a popular pro-democracy song from the internet, in a case that could force Google and other companies to restrict access to the song. At issue is “Glory to Hong Kong,” which was the anthem of the 2019 protests that ended with Beijing taking tighter control over Hong Kong. The authorities argue that the song is an insult to China’s national anthem and could make people believe that Hong Kong is an…

Hong Kong police raid homes of relatives of two exiled activists

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Hong Kong’s national security police raided the homes of relatives of two exiled activists this week, stepping up pressure on the dissidents who have HK$1m (£99,500) bounties on them. The elder brother of Dennis Kwok, a former legislator, was taken away for questioning by police in Hong Kong on Thursday, according to the South China Morning Post. The brother was summoned along with another man and two women, whose identities could not be determined. A spokesperson for Hong Kong police said: “Relevant operations are still ongoing, and other law enforcement…

We’re a Tory MP and a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, and China is trying to silence us both | Finn Lau and Tim Loughton

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We are from two different backgrounds and political traditions – you’d think we might have little in common. Yet China has sought to silence us both, and we have seen at first hand how the state is trying to exert more and more power abroad. Finn Lau woke up in London on Tuesday morning to the news that he had received an arrest warrant, and that the Beijing-controlled Hong Kong authorities were offering a HK$1m bounty for any information that could lead to his arrest. Seven other Hongkongers who fight…

Hong Kong: fifth person arrested for allegedly supporting overseas pro-democracy activists

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Hong Kong police have arrested a fifth person accused of supporting overseas activists who allegedly endangered national security, in a further expansion of a government crackdown on pro-democracy dissidents. Police detained a 24-year-old man at the city’s airport on Thursday, a day after four other people were arrested for allegedly using companies, social media and mobile applications to receive funds for the overseas activists. “Investigation revealed that the arrested person was suspected of having connection with the group of persons arrested yesterday,” police said in a statement relating to the…

The Guardian view on Hong Kong’s pursuit of exiles: these bounties should backfire | Editorial

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Unless the forces of history conspire in their favour, the fate of most exiled dissidents is a slow fade into obscurity. However admirable their cause or brilliant their tactics, it is hard to maintain the world’s interest and support as time passes. Hong Kong’s exiles are conscious of this problem. But it is Hong Kong’s government which has catapulted them back into the spotlight, by placing a bounty of 1m Hong Kong dollars each – around £100,000 – on eight activists. Three of them – Nathan Law, Finn Lau and…

MPs call for sanctions on Hong Kong officials targeting UK-based activists

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Hong Kong officials involved in targeting UK-based pro-democracy activists who had bounties placed on them should be subject to sanctions, opposition and Tory backbenchers have urged the UK government. A Foreign Office minister responding to concerns raised in parliament was also challenged by one of her Conservative colleagues over her recent meeting with a Chinese official whom the Tory MP Tim Loughton described as “China’s chief dissident snatcher”. MPs were discussing an urgent question in the House of Commons after Hong Kong police on Monday offered a reward equal to…

UK Hong Kong scheme ‘funding charity with links to Chinese Communist party’

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A consortium of Hong Kong community groups have accused the UK government’s flagship programme for welcoming Hongkongers of funding an organisation with alleged links to the Chinese Communist party (CCP). Last week, the government announced grants worth more than £3m to a range of organisations that support east and south-east Asian communities, including Hongkongers who have recently arrived in the UK via the bespoke British National (overseas) (BNO) immigration route. Of the grants issued, £39,990 went to Wai Yin Society, a charity that runs three community centres in Manchester. In…

Albanese urged to cancel China trip as Hong Kong vows to pursue exiled democracy activists ‘for life’

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The Coalition has urged the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to reconsider plans to travel to China after Hong Kong authorities vowed to pursue exiled democracy advocates “for life”. The Labor government has also warned that it would not tolerate any foreign interference on Australian soil as it promised to protect the principle of free speech, but China’s foreign ministry said western countries should “stop providing a safe haven for fugitives”. Two people based in Australia are among eight pro-democracy advocates named by Hong Kong police as being wanted for alleged…

Hong Kong: activist will ‘never back down’ despite bounty on her head – video

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Democracy activist Anna Kwok has said she will never stop fighting for the values she believes in, despite the Hong Kong police issuing arrest warrants and bounties for her and seven other overseas-based protesters. Announcing the warrants, John Lee, the Hong Kong chief executive, accused the activists of offences including foreign collusion and incitement to secession and offered a reward of HK$1m (£101,000) for information leading to each arrest. The activists, based in several countries, including the US, UK and Australia, are wanted under a national security law Beijing imposed…

Hong Kong leader says overseas activists will be ‘pursued for life’ – video

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Hong Kong chief executive John Lee said the only way for eight overseas-based Hong Kong activists to end their lives ‘on the run’ was ‘through surrender’. Hong Kong police issued arrest warrants for the activists 24 hours earlier, accusing them of offences including foreign collusion and incitement to secession, and offered rewards of HK$1m (£101,000) for information leading to each possible arrest. The accused activists – based in several countries, including the US, Britain and Australia – are wanted under a national security law that Beijing imposed on Hong Kong…