#LIVE: It is Hong Kong’s historic moment. As police raise this flag indicating protesters could be arrested for secession/subversion under the new national security law, the city is experiencing a new era where speech can be criminalised/even sentenced for life. #HongKongProtests
#BREAKING: A man was found having a “Hong Kong independence” flag in his bag as being stopped and searched by the police in Causeway Bay. He’s become the first person arrested for violating the new national security law since it was enacted for about 14 hours. #HongKongProstests
Protesters march despite knowing the protest is illegal. Some raise a banner that reads: “We really f_ucking love Hong Kong.” In some part of the crowd, protesters have clearly refrained from chanting slogans suggesting Hong Kong independence. But some chant so more vigouroisly.
Meanwhile, police continue to launch water cannons to disperse crowds gathering on main thoroughfares in Causeway Bay. Although water cannons are especially spiced up, such dispersal measures do not seem to dissuade the crowds. #HongKongProtests
A: “Who is he on the flag?”
B: “The guy!”
A: “Who?!”
B: “The guy in jail. I’m not sure about his name.”
The footage has gone viral on Telegram. A person who appears to be a videographer is shot by police water cannon at a close distance and severely hit the ground. Luckily, he has his helmet on. And it helps absorb the shock. #HongKongProtests
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#BREAKING: A horrible accident erupted as a Hong Kong singing and dancing boy band was hosting their first concert, injuring at least two dancers. Both were said to be conscious when being sent to the hospital.
#BREAKING: Hong Kong’s leader has ordered authorities to investigative after 2 dancers performing with Canto-pop boy band Mirror were struck by a fallen screen during the show. One performer in serious condition in intensive care, suffering neck injuries. scmp.com/news/hong-kong…
Meanwhile, the concert organisers have announced to call off the remaining eight shows after the government ordered the remaining concerts to be suspended until stage sets at the venue were checked and proved to be safe.
The Wednesday victory of Olympic silver medallist Siobhán Haughey has revealed the very essence of Hong Kong’s decades-long success: openness, pluralism and meritocracy. It doesn’t matter if one is of Chinese descent or European origin. It’s about whether one works hard enough.
Instead of Hong Kong, the 23-year-old could have chosen to represent Ireland, which definitely puts more focus on athlete development. Yet, she insists on Hong Kong, saying in Cantonese: “I was born in Hong Kong, and live in Hong Kong......
... I am always connected with Hong Kong. I am proud to represent Hong Kong.”
#BREAKING: Beijing will give the “Hong Kong Chief Executive Election Committee the new power to nominate all candidates for Legislative Council members and directly elect some members to the legislature,” Wang Chen, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee vice-chairman.
Instead of the 35:35 balance between the Legislative Council’s geographical and functional constituencies, the overhaul will adopt a new 20:30:40 proportion and divide the legislature into three components, pro-Bejing media HK01 reported. hk01.com/article/595515
Meanwhile, with 40 seats, representatives from the Chief Executive Election Committee will be the most powerful division among the three. As pro-democracy voices are expected to be eradicated in the shake-up, pro-Beijing voices will likely overwhelm the new 90-seat legislature.
#BREAKING: Beijing is planning to increase the number of seats for the Hong Kong Chief Executive election committee from 1,200 to 1,500, and the Hong Kong Legislative Council from 70 to 90 seats, local news outlet Now News cites sources. #HongKongProtest
“The development in recent years show that the electoral system needs to be improved to keep abreast with the times and......
provide sound institutional guarantee for the full and accurate implementation of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ and the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’,” says Zhang Yesui, spokesperson of the National People’s Congress annual plenary session which starts Friday.
#THREAD: As a Hong Kong freelance journalist, I’d like to say something other in-house journalists may not dare say due to their code of conduct. Forgive me for being sentimental tonight. But it is important, as today, Sept 23, marks the darkest day for Hong Kong’s #PressFreedom.
Today is the first day when the new definition of media representative is applied to the police protocol. The new definition disavows credentials from the city’s most acclaimed journalists’ unions the HK Journalists Asso. and the HK Press Photographers Asso.
The police would only acknowledge media which had registered under the Government News and Media Information System and “internationally recognised and reputable” foreign media organisations in the name of “facilitating frontline duties of police officers”.
One of the 12 illegal border-crossers arrested by China on Aug 23 appeared to be Andy Li, a defendant arrested under the national security law: @RFA_Chinese. Mr Li was arrested the same day media mogul Jimmy Lai @JimmyLaiApple was arrested. He is now detained by Guangdong police.
Radio Free Asia continues that Andy Li, together with the 11 passengers, went aboard on the Kwo Chau Islands in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, other sources reveal that their destination was the Kinmen Islands, a Taiwanese enclave opposite to the Chinese Fujian province.
However, their boat was stopped as they were en route to Kinmen. It is suspected that Andy Li would want to leave Hong Kong before he had to report to the police on Sept 1, because he would not be granted a court bail if the police took him to the court directly that day.