NEWSLETTER: Hong Kong news - 28 January 2022
Welcome to the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) weekly newsletter.
Every week, this newsletter will bring you the latest updates and developments concerning freedom in Hong Kong.
To subscribe to our newsletter, click here.
Every week, this newsletter will bring you the latest updates and developments concerning freedom in Hong Kong.
To subscribe to our newsletter, click here.
Happy Chinese New Year
A message from CFHK Chairman, James Cunningham
“As Chairman of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK), I would like to wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year. As the year ends, I would like to take this time to reflect and look back on the events of the last 12 months. Our committee is just shy of its one-year anniversary, and it has been a privilege to be a part of CFHK and watch it develop. Our team continues to ensure that the overwhelming majority of Hong Kong people who support democracy are heard.
“As we enter the year of the Tiger, we hope that prosperity and peace is brought to those living in Hong Kong. Those born in the year of the Tiger are known for possessing traits such as bravery, power and strength. These qualities are similar to those already shown by the people of Hong Kong and it is hoped it will continue in the new year. As a committee we will continue to fight for freedoms in Hong Kong in the hope that democracy is restored.”
Prisoners of Conscience
This week modern Hong Kong marked 181 year since British colonialists established their colony as a spoil of the First Opium War. What started as a sparsely populated area of farming and fishing villages has become one of the world’s most significant financial centres and commercial posts. In recent years it has witnessed dramatic changes to the political landscape, as China has imposed oppressive restrictions. The introduction of the National Security Law has seen many pro-democracy activists and journalists arrested, due to the crackdown on freedoms by China. News stories have as a result been dominated by reports of arrests, attempts at censorship, and long sentences for those who break the National Security Law.
Hong Kong’s Chief Justice Andrew Cheung has defended the length of trials for opposition activists arrested in January 2021. The South Morning China Post reported that during a speech he made this week, Cheung said the courts should not sidestep necessary procedural steps “for the sake of having a speedy trial.” The activists he refers to were arrested over a year ago and most of them have been denied bail and remain behind bars pending trial. His excuse of not having trials for the sake of having rushed ones, is just yet another way of keeping pro-democracy activists in prison and off the streets.
Hong Kong musicians who have continually supported pro-democracy protests against growing Chinese power have had their work banned by the city’s public broadcaster. The Times Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) claims to have been instructed not to play songs by popular artists including Denise Ho. The order has been reported to have come from a powerful senior executive who has now said that DJs are required to seek prior approval of their guests and playlists. It is the latest in a long list of attempts to censor information that goes out to the public in Hong Kong.
For the reasons highlighted in the above stories, as we mark modern Hong Kong’s 181st anniversary, it is important that the fight for freedom in Hong Kong continues, and the international community shows their support to Hong Kongers in their fight for liberty from the Chinese Communist Party regime.
Press
The end of last week saw Hong Kong’s Registry of Trade Unions (RTU) launch a probe into the city’s largest press group. The Hong Kong Journalists Association were asked to provide answers to how certain events they held were relevant to their objectives, reported the Hong Kong Free Press. The Hong Kong Journalists Association has been criticised by Secretary of Security Chris Tang, as he accused it of “infiltrating” campuses to recruit student journalists as members last year. Hong Kong authorities continue in their crackdown on press freedoms and freedom of speech. The Orwellian tale continues.
Olympics
Ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony next week, it has been reported that China has been hiring western social media influencers to police its image. The Guardian stated that an army of social media influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers has been paid to spread positive stories about China throughout the duration of the Games. Many of the influencers are from the US, at a time of precarious bilateral relations between China and the US particularly since the US announced their diplomatic boycott of the Games. The US boycott, along with many others from western countries has sparked China to use social media celebrities from these very countries as propaganda tools to spread an alternative narrative to their leaders.
In Other News
The Australian Open is currently taking place in Melbourne, and many attendees used the opportunity to protest the disappearance of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai. Fans wore t-shirts and held banners asking, “Where is Peng Shuai?”. As The Guardian reported, they were initially asked to leave by officials. Peng Shuai’s situation became a grave cause for concern in November when the player alleged that a former Chinese vice premier had sexually assaulted her in the past. After the accusation, she was absent from public view for nearly 3 weeks and has since only appeared on Chinese media. Tennis Australia stated the reason for removing the banner was that no political protests are allowed at their events. Tennis Australia’s decision to remove the banners sparked a large backlash both in the media and social media, with former international player Martina Navratilova marking it “pathetic”.
Following backlash over the removal of “Where is Peng Shuai?” t-shirts and banners at the Australian Open and a large social media campaign, Tennis Australia reversed its ban, stating the t-shirts would be allowed as long as their wearers were peaceful, reported the Hong Kong Free Press. A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money to print more t-shirts has now reached over AUS$10,000, making them available to whoever wants to wear them. It turns out that Tennis Australia is not as controlled by their Chinese investors as was first thought.
The European Union has this week moved forward with plans to outlaw goods made using forced labour, citing allegations of widespread use of such practices in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. However, there is now an ongoing internal battle on how such a ban should be structured and implemented, and under whose remit it should fall. The South China Morning Post reported that the European Commission is adamant that the ban should not follow the same path as the US in attempting to rid its supply chain of goods made in Xinjiang. Instead, it has put forward that the ban rolls onto another piece of legislation which requires companies to conduct due diligence on their supply chains. With the US and the EU banning goods being produced in Xinjiang, it is hoped that other countries and political unions will follow suit.
The EU vs. China metaphorical war continued this week. Last week Slovenia announced plans to liaise with Taiwan and set up trade offices in each other’s countries, the same move which China is currently punishing Lithuania for. The trade conflict comes after a months-long Chinese pressure campaign aimed at punishing Lithuania for allowing the democratic island of Taiwan to open a representative office in its capital Vilnius. The situation developed further this week as the European Union launched a World Trade Organisation case against China over what it calls “discriminatory trade practices” against Lithuania, reported Politico. European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the decision was not made lightly but that China left them with no option. The latest action by the EU will be seen by Beijing as an escalation and a fierce response can be expected next week.
A message from CFHK Chairman, James Cunningham
“As Chairman of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK), I would like to wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year. As the year ends, I would like to take this time to reflect and look back on the events of the last 12 months. Our committee is just shy of its one-year anniversary, and it has been a privilege to be a part of CFHK and watch it develop. Our team continues to ensure that the overwhelming majority of Hong Kong people who support democracy are heard.
“As we enter the year of the Tiger, we hope that prosperity and peace is brought to those living in Hong Kong. Those born in the year of the Tiger are known for possessing traits such as bravery, power and strength. These qualities are similar to those already shown by the people of Hong Kong and it is hoped it will continue in the new year. As a committee we will continue to fight for freedoms in Hong Kong in the hope that democracy is restored.”
Prisoners of Conscience
This week modern Hong Kong marked 181 year since British colonialists established their colony as a spoil of the First Opium War. What started as a sparsely populated area of farming and fishing villages has become one of the world’s most significant financial centres and commercial posts. In recent years it has witnessed dramatic changes to the political landscape, as China has imposed oppressive restrictions. The introduction of the National Security Law has seen many pro-democracy activists and journalists arrested, due to the crackdown on freedoms by China. News stories have as a result been dominated by reports of arrests, attempts at censorship, and long sentences for those who break the National Security Law.
Hong Kong’s Chief Justice Andrew Cheung has defended the length of trials for opposition activists arrested in January 2021. The South Morning China Post reported that during a speech he made this week, Cheung said the courts should not sidestep necessary procedural steps “for the sake of having a speedy trial.” The activists he refers to were arrested over a year ago and most of them have been denied bail and remain behind bars pending trial. His excuse of not having trials for the sake of having rushed ones, is just yet another way of keeping pro-democracy activists in prison and off the streets.
Hong Kong musicians who have continually supported pro-democracy protests against growing Chinese power have had their work banned by the city’s public broadcaster. The Times Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) claims to have been instructed not to play songs by popular artists including Denise Ho. The order has been reported to have come from a powerful senior executive who has now said that DJs are required to seek prior approval of their guests and playlists. It is the latest in a long list of attempts to censor information that goes out to the public in Hong Kong.
For the reasons highlighted in the above stories, as we mark modern Hong Kong’s 181st anniversary, it is important that the fight for freedom in Hong Kong continues, and the international community shows their support to Hong Kongers in their fight for liberty from the Chinese Communist Party regime.
Press
The end of last week saw Hong Kong’s Registry of Trade Unions (RTU) launch a probe into the city’s largest press group. The Hong Kong Journalists Association were asked to provide answers to how certain events they held were relevant to their objectives, reported the Hong Kong Free Press. The Hong Kong Journalists Association has been criticised by Secretary of Security Chris Tang, as he accused it of “infiltrating” campuses to recruit student journalists as members last year. Hong Kong authorities continue in their crackdown on press freedoms and freedom of speech. The Orwellian tale continues.
Olympics
Ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony next week, it has been reported that China has been hiring western social media influencers to police its image. The Guardian stated that an army of social media influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers has been paid to spread positive stories about China throughout the duration of the Games. Many of the influencers are from the US, at a time of precarious bilateral relations between China and the US particularly since the US announced their diplomatic boycott of the Games. The US boycott, along with many others from western countries has sparked China to use social media celebrities from these very countries as propaganda tools to spread an alternative narrative to their leaders.
In Other News
The Australian Open is currently taking place in Melbourne, and many attendees used the opportunity to protest the disappearance of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai. Fans wore t-shirts and held banners asking, “Where is Peng Shuai?”. As The Guardian reported, they were initially asked to leave by officials. Peng Shuai’s situation became a grave cause for concern in November when the player alleged that a former Chinese vice premier had sexually assaulted her in the past. After the accusation, she was absent from public view for nearly 3 weeks and has since only appeared on Chinese media. Tennis Australia stated the reason for removing the banner was that no political protests are allowed at their events. Tennis Australia’s decision to remove the banners sparked a large backlash both in the media and social media, with former international player Martina Navratilova marking it “pathetic”.
Following backlash over the removal of “Where is Peng Shuai?” t-shirts and banners at the Australian Open and a large social media campaign, Tennis Australia reversed its ban, stating the t-shirts would be allowed as long as their wearers were peaceful, reported the Hong Kong Free Press. A GoFundMe page was set up to raise money to print more t-shirts has now reached over AUS$10,000, making them available to whoever wants to wear them. It turns out that Tennis Australia is not as controlled by their Chinese investors as was first thought.
The European Union has this week moved forward with plans to outlaw goods made using forced labour, citing allegations of widespread use of such practices in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. However, there is now an ongoing internal battle on how such a ban should be structured and implemented, and under whose remit it should fall. The South China Morning Post reported that the European Commission is adamant that the ban should not follow the same path as the US in attempting to rid its supply chain of goods made in Xinjiang. Instead, it has put forward that the ban rolls onto another piece of legislation which requires companies to conduct due diligence on their supply chains. With the US and the EU banning goods being produced in Xinjiang, it is hoped that other countries and political unions will follow suit.
The EU vs. China metaphorical war continued this week. Last week Slovenia announced plans to liaise with Taiwan and set up trade offices in each other’s countries, the same move which China is currently punishing Lithuania for. The trade conflict comes after a months-long Chinese pressure campaign aimed at punishing Lithuania for allowing the democratic island of Taiwan to open a representative office in its capital Vilnius. The situation developed further this week as the European Union launched a World Trade Organisation case against China over what it calls “discriminatory trade practices” against Lithuania, reported Politico. European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said the decision was not made lightly but that China left them with no option. The latest action by the EU will be seen by Beijing as an escalation and a fierce response can be expected next week.