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Overseas lawyers banned from working on national security cases without government approval
On 10 May 2023, the Hong Kong legislature passed a law which bars overseas lawyers from working on national security cases unless they receive permission from the government. This is yet another instance where the Hong Kong government, after losing its case in court, sought the intervention of Beijing by making an “interpretation” of the law –…
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“Winnie the Pooh” horror movie axed under shadow of self-censorship
A screening of the British horror movie “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” was cancelled after cinemas in Hong Kong collectively declined to show it, according to its distributor. One of the organisers of the screening cited “technical” reasons for the cancellation. The director of the movie commented that “The cinemas agreed to show it, then…
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Two arrested for shooting water-guns during Songkran festival celebrations
In April 2023, two men were arrested for shooting water guns at police officers during the Songkran water festival. The festival had taken place on 9 April 2023 in Kowloon City, an area of Hong Kong nicknamed “Little Thailand” for its large number of ethnic Thai residents. In Thai traditions, it is customary to celebrate the Thai…
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Joshua Wong sentenced to 3 months in prison for revealing personal details of police officer
On 17 April 2023, pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was jailed for 3 months for posting on social media in 2020 personal details of a police officer. The officer had shot an unarmed protestor with a live round during the 2019 extradition bill protests, leaving the protestor in critical condition. The protestor was later convicted of protest-related offences and sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment, whereas by…
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Arrests of veteran activists Elizabeth Tang and Frederick Ho; Albert Ho’s bail also revoked
On 9 March 2023, Hong Kong police arrested Elizabeth Tang, the General Secretary of the International Domestic Workers Federation and former chief executive of the now disbanded Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, for allegedly “colluding with foreign forces” and “endangering national security”. The arrest happened after Tang visited her husband, Lee Cheuk-yan (a former pro-democracy legislator…
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Extraterritorial reach of National Security Law demonstrated by arrest of Hong Kong student studying in Japan
In March 2023, a Hong Kong student studying at a Japanese university was arrested on a visit back to Hong Kong for allegedly “inciting secession”. The arrest was based on online comments about Hong Kong’s independence which the student had made two years ago when she was in Japan. Her passport was confiscated by Hong Kong police,…
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UN human rights experts call for review of the National Security Law
Numerous UN human rights bodies have expressed serious concerns regarding the NSL in recent months, highlighting the significant impact the law has had on every corner of civil society in Hong Kong. In February 2023, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights conducted its periodic review of Hong Kong, which saw Hong Kong…
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Journalists complain of being stalked while reporting on court cases
Several journalists reported that they were harassed by surveillance from unidentified persons. Some of them were court reporters who covered the Stand News trial. (The non-profit Stand News was raided by police and ultimately forced to shut down its former chief editor is facing prosecution for the publication of 17 allegedly seditious articles.) According to the Hong Kong Journalists Association…
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Tiananmen activists convicted in a sham trial for refusing to divulge information to police
In another weaponised legal action against the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China (which was well-known for organizing the annual vigils to mark the Tiananmen Square massacre, before being forced to disband in 2021), three members of the group were convicted and sentenced to four and a half months in jail in March 2023 for refusing…
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Hong Kong police intimidate rally organizers
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong police have consistently banned public gatherings for ‘health’ reasons. In March 2023, the police ostensibly started granting permission for public gatherings again, but the reality is that there remain grossly unacceptable fetters on the freedom of assembly. In March to April 2023, there were several…