1. One day after G7 leaders backed HK's autonomy, CE Carrie Lam is now planning to impose a "#MartialLaw" to #HongKong. HK's commerce minister even claimed that such martial law will have no effect on this Asia Financial Hub & should be accepted by the international community.
2. This Emergency Regulations Ordinance (ERO) HKGov planning to use, would allow HKGov to do whatever it wants. It is a de facto Martial Law, with no PLA marching on the streets, but would bring an equivalent threat of violence to the city.
3. According to ERO, Lam can "make any regulations whatsoever which (s)he may consider desirable in the public interest" without check and balance from the legislature, include declaring curfew. #HumanRights and freedom of expression are under threat.
4. Censorship is one thing. The law enables HKGov to take "control and suppression of publications, photographs, communications and means of communication". Social platforms like Telegram might be cut off under public speculations.
5. #PressFreedom will no longer exist, as ERO gives HKGov the power to censor all news reports, including those written by foreign journalists in Hong Kong, in the name of maintaining public order.
6. Besides, the law can authorise HK police to arbitrarily enter and search private premises, including churches. Private property rights can be hardly protected under such an arbitrary, politically driven intervention by the Govt.
7. The law will definitely kill the city, as it might be more detrimental than Chinese troops marching into the city. The world has anticipated the use of PLA in Hong Kong, but has never imagined #PressFreedom & Property rights will one day vanish into thin air.
9. Offenders of this “martial law” can be entitled to life imprisonment. Doubtless that the HKGov is not solving the conflict, but putting HK's next generation to prison.
10. Regarding the hard-line policy of President Xi and Carrie Lam, I urge world leaders and international media to send a clear message: impose "#MartialLaw" is never a solution for HK. This political crisis must solve by political reform. Free-election is the only way out.
Emergency Regulations Ordinance. Reference from Stand News.
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[MSG IN CUSTODY] 1. Comparing to remanded, #save12hkyouths in China deserves more of our attention. Today marks the 93rd day of their detention. Their families finally received letters from the dozen, signifying that they are still alive. #SAVE12 campaign managed pressure China.
2. But from the content of the letters, they might have been tortured until they agreed to make forced confessions, saying they had appointed lawyers assigned by the authorities, saying they regretted taking part in activism.
3. I wish to pay tributes to our fellow activists who are about to face trials and prison, or to whom in distress for not being able to return home: We're not fearless, but you are the braver ones.
1/ On June 17 last year, it was the day after 2m of freedom-seeking HKers took to the street and called for the withdrawal of the evil law. I was released for the third time in my life on that day. More than one year, I now once again face 3 cases.
2/ Never have I underestimated the chance of imprisonment at the upcoming hearing on Mon, especially at the time when lawmakers were expelled, journalists were sued for mentioning police brutality, and universities were probed in the pretext of national security claims.
3/ After consulting with lawyers, @chowtingagnes, @ivanlamviiv and I will plead guilty, which implies that Mon’s hearing will skip trials and go straight into sentencing. Compare to with 2k HKers are prosecuted and 12 HKers detained in China, the charges that I face are minimal.
1/ No doubt there is a terrible price to pay in standing up to the Beijing and HK government. But after serving a few brief jail sentences and facing the continuing threat of harassment...
2/ I learnt to cherish the freedom I have for now, and I shall devote every bit what I have to strive for the freedom of those who have been ruthlessly denied. Courtroom, visiting prisoners and battle of university remind me of the fact that the fight has not ended yet.
3/ In the coming months, I will be facing a maximum of 5 years in jail for unauthorized assembly and up to one ridiculous year for wearing a mask in protest. But prison bars would never stop me from activism and thinking critically.
1/ Behind the notion of Milk Tea Alliance, we can see gradually there’s a calling for pan-Asian solidarity “to fend off all forms of authoritarianism from China’’.
2/ While the military government in Thailand has fostered a quite good economic partnership with China, under the Belt and Road Initiatives. In return, the military government has been extremely helpful to assist Beijing to oppress dissidents outside China such as Gui Minhai.
3/ The innovative ‘Milk Tea Alliance’ is more about how netizens and key opinion leaders on social media can take a leadership role and generate pressure against the momentum of Beijing’s propaganda machine. It will enhance more students to push forward global solidarity.
1/ ‘’If we are in the new Cold War, HK is the new Berlin.’’ -- for we are now standing between the free world and the dictatorship of China. I’m not an expert in academic but perhaps the historical context would help us shed light on many similarities.
2/ First of all, during the Cold War, Berlin was the forefront of the two competing ideologies - Capitalism & Communism; ironically, at present, Hong Kong has become the wrestling ground for two ideologies-- Democratic values, liberties versus absolute dictatorship.
3/ The communist party is very eager in expanding its influence in the world and setting up satellite states through economic means. The free world is realizing its intention and preparing itself to resist its threat.
[My comment on the mass resignation of pro-democratic camp lawmakers]
1/ After Beijing stepped in and appointed the “provisional legislature” in August, it simply explains that they can't ensure a majority had the election taken place on time. All lawmakers are lack of mandate.
2/ While the authorities decided to unseat four more lawmakers, it's time for all democratic camp lawmakers to resign from this appointed legislature. Act as decorative flower vases inside the institution may just let Beijing take advantage to calm down global discontent.
3/ We wish to warn the world that now the existence of legislature never implying the existence of check and balance. Also, it's time to rise to the fact that win seats in the election and street clash are not the two only scenes in a democratic movement.