Dozens arrested as Carrie Lam hails ‘return to stability’ on China’s national day

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The ban on the annual vigil to mark the Tiananmen Square Massacre, the first in 30 years, didn’t stop thousands of Hong Kongers from attending Thursday’s mass commemoration ceremony in Victoria Park. The occasion normally attracts tens of thousands of people every year — but police banned the annual tradition this year, citing the increased risk of coronavirus infection.

Citizens removed police barricades in order to make their way to the mass vigil, with people at the scene telling media they did not think police could arrest everyone. Candlelight vigils also took place in other parts of Hong Kong, with thousands gathering to pay tribute to the victims of the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989.

Earlier in the week, in reaction to the ban, organizers had called on people to hold their own vigils in different parts of the city. Lee Cheuk-yan, one of the event organizers and the chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic and Democratic Movements of China, told DW he hopes this year’s vigil will reflect Hong Kongers’ defiance of the Chinese government.

Protesters gather at Victoria Park in Hong Kong for a candlelight vigil to mark the anniversary of the crackdown of pro-democracy protests at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989

“We want the candlelight to spread across Hong Kong and use it to show the world that Hong Kong people are still continuing the tradition of remembering June 4,” Lee told DW. “The world should know that we are facing the most powerful authoritarian regime in the world, but we still stand firm and be defiant.”

For Lee, the call for solidarity is not confined to Hong Kong. “We are collaborating with other organizations all over the world to push for the hashtag, #6431, as the unifying hashtag that everyone can use to post pictures and share articles or writings about June 4, 2020,” he said.

“We hope people all over the world who share our values can stand with us. We want more concerted action on the part of the international community to stand with Hong Kong,” he said.

Protesters gathered in Taiwan to mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre

Candles, support in Taiwan

As Hong Kongers were gathering for their vigils, more than 3,000 people attended a similar event at the iconic Liberty Square in Taipei, Taiwan. When the clock hit 8:09 p.m., everyone held up candles and paid a silent tribute to the victims of the massacre for 64 seconds, echoing the date of the tragic event.

Edith Chung, a former Hong Kong resident who owns a restaurant in southern Taiwan, had been planning the Tiananmen vigil for the last few weeks. “Gathering in Taipei with my friends from Hong Kong on June 4 is just like attending the Tiananmen vigil in Hong Kong,” Chung told DW, adding that it was important to extend the tradition and remember the democratic spirit that was crushed in 1989.

“The candlelight vigil was never about how many people attended the ceremony. Rather, it’s about lighting up candles and singing together with other Hong Kong people in public places.”

Amy, who moved to Taiwan in 2015 after Beijing began to tighten its control over Hong Kong, was grateful for the opportunity to attend the Tiananmen vigil in Taiwan, where it is both legal and encouraged by the island democracy. “The situation in Hong Kong will only deteriorate because Beijing is trying to extend its authoritarian rule to Hong Kong,” she said.

“Our advice to Hong Kong’s younger generation is that if they have young children in the family, they should try to emigrate to other places,” said George, a man in his 50s. “One thing that they should definitely not do is to trust the Chinese government’s promise because they are all about making empty promises that will never be properly fulfilled.”

‘A moment of awakening’

Chung described the Tiananmen Square Massacre as a “moment of awakening” for her and many Hong Kongers. “Even though many of us don’t view ourselves as Chinese people, we were still inspired by the Chinese students’ courage and determination,” she said. “We witnessed how the Chinese government harmed its people with such violence, and the scenes from Beijing saddened many of us.”

Chung decided to move to Taiwan after Beijing tightened its control following the mass protests in 2014 known as the Umbrella Revolution. Less than a year after she left Hong Kong in October 2018, the city descended into chaos as residents launched a monthslong protest against a controversial extradition bill. At least 8,000 people have been arrested in clashes with police since June 2019, and more than 1,500 have been prosecuted for participating in the protest.

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Hong Kong government has imposed strict rules restricting public gatherings across the city, banning all forms of large-scale public events. However, after Beijing revealed its plan to enact a controversial national security law for Hong Kong late last month, the city descended into another round of violent clashes between protesters and police. Hundreds of people were arrested within a few days.

“The most important things to Hong Kong is the freedom and rule of law that we enjoy, but now the Chinese government is trying to dismantle our whole system with this controversial law,” said Melody, who attended the Taipei vigil with a group of Hong Kong friends.

“They have completely breached the promise of ‘one country, two systems’ and turned the governing principles to ‘one country, one system.’ They impose the law onto Hong Kong by circumventing all the governing institutions in the city. This is an illegal act and they have taken away all the remaining freedom that we are entitled to as Hong Kong residents.”

Jung Hui-Chin, a Hong Konger living in Taiwan, hosts an event in Taipei to remember the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre

Continuing the tradition

After learning about the ban on the Tiananmen vigil, Chung realized she had the responsibility to continue the tradition, even from abroad. “I hope to remind Hong Kong people, especially the younger generation, that we choose to commemorate the Tiananmen Square Massacre because we need to support family members of the June 4 victims as well as those who have been fighting for democracy and freedom in China over the last three decades,” she said.

“We can’t forget that Hong Kong is still part of China, so if they don’t change, it will be very hard for Hong Kong people to demand any real change as well.”

In Taipei, the crowd began chanting popular slogans from last year’s anti-government protests. As organizers played the theme song from Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen vigil, they stood in solidarity with their peers in Hong Kong, with the hope that more people around the world would join them in defending Hong Kong’s way of life.

Source:  https://www.dw.com/en/hong-kong-protesters-defy-ban-to-mark-tiananmen-massacre/a-53689127

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The post Hong Kong rings in 2020 with New Year’s protest first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong will end 2019 with multiple protests planned for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day aimed at disrupting festivities and shopping in the Asian financial hub, which has seen a rise in clashes between police and protesters since Christmas.

Events dubbed “Suck the Eve” and “Shop with you” are scheduled for New Year’s Eve on Tuesday around the city, including in the party district of Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong’s picturesque Victoria Harbour, and popular shopping malls, according to notices circulated on social media.

A New Year’s Day march on Jan. 1, has been given police permission and will start from a large park in bustling Causeway Bay and end in the central business district, say its organizers, the Civil Human Rights Front.

The Front previously organized the peaceful million-plus marches in June and held the latest mass march earlier in December, when they said around 800,000 people attended.

“On New Year’s Day, we need to show our solidarity… to resist the government. We hope Hong Kong people will come onto the streets for Hong Kong’s future,” said Jimmy Sham, a leader of the group.

The latest planned protests come after a pick up in clashes since Christmas Eve when riot police fired rounds of tear gas at thousands of protesters, many wearing masks and reindeer antlers, after scuffles in shopping malls and in a prime tourist district.

While the protests – now in their seventh month – have lessened in intensity and size in recent weeks, their frequency has held up, with marches or rallies occurring almost daily in the former British colony.

A rally is planned in the Central business district on Monday night, where protesters will gather to remember those who have died or have been injured during the protests.

More than 2,000 protesters have been injured since June according to the Hospital Authority. While there is no official count of deaths during the protests, student Chow Tsz-lok died after a high fall during a pro-democracy rally in November. Multiple suicides have been linked to the movement.

Police arrested about a dozen protesters over the weekend and used pepper spray to break up a gathering aimed at disrupting retail business near the border with mainland China. More than 6,000 protesters have been arrested since the protests began.

On Sunday more than 1,000 people rallied in the rain in Hong Kong’s financial district, chanting slogans for democracy as they huddled under a sea of umbrellas.

Protests have evolved into a broader pro-democracy movement since they erupted in June in response to a now-withdrawn bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, where courts are controlled by the Communist Party.

The bill was seen as the latest example of meddling by Beijing in the freedoms that were promised to the special administrative region when Britain returned it China in 1997.

China denies the claims and says it is committed to the “one country, two systems” formula put in place at that time, and blames foreign countries including Britain and the United States for inciting unrest.

The protests have battered Hong Kong’s economy, already reeling from the fallout of the U.S.-Sino trade war and slowing economic growth in the mainland.

Paul Chan, the city’s financial secretary, said on Sunday that a fall in GDP in the fourth quarter was “unavoidable”.

To alleviate the “pain” of the economic downturn, he said the government’s budget in February would focus on boosting the economy, protecting unemployment and easing the “plight” of the people and enterprises.

(Reporting by Clare Jim; Writing by Farah Master; Editing by Michael Perry and Neil Fullick)

Source: https://www.oann.com/hong-kong-to-end-2019-with-multiple-protests-big-march-planned-for-jan-1/

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Protesters mostly stayed at home on Monday, ignoring calls for a citywide strike as Hong Kong marked the six-month anniversary of anti-government unrest.

The post Hong Kong protesters stay at home as citywide strike turns out to be non-event, day after hundreds of thousands took to streets in peaceful protest first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

A foreign ministry statement Thursday repeated heated condemnations of the laws and said China will counteract. It said all the people of Hong Kong and China oppose the move.

It´s still unclear, however, how China will respond exactly.

Trump signed the bills, which were approved by near-unanimous consent in the House and Senate, even as he expressed some concerns about complicating the effort to work out a trade deal with China´s President Xi Jinping.

“I signed these bills out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong,” Trump said in a statement. “They are being enacted in the hope that Leaders and Representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences leading to long term peace and prosperity for all.”

Congress approved the bills last week following months of unrest in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. Before Wednesday´s signing announcement, Trump would only commit to giving the measures a “hard look.”

Office workers and pro-democracy protesters hold up their hands to represent their five demands wanted from the government as protests continue in Central district of Hong Kong, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2019. A major tunnel in Hong Kong reopened Wednesday as a weeklong police siege of a nearby university campus appeared to be winding down, closing one of the more violent chapters in the long-running anti-government protests in the Chinese territory. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

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China´s foreign ministry called the laws a “naked hegemonic action” that seriously interfered in Hong Kong and China´s internal affairs, violated international law and “fundamental norms of international relations.”

“The U.S. side ignored facts, turned black to white, and blatantly gave encouragement to violent criminals who smashed and burned, harmed innocent city residents, trampled on the rule of law and endangered social order,” the statement said.

The laws´ basic intent is to undermine Hong Kong´s prosperity and stability along with the “historical progress of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”

It called the measures “extremely evil in nature and dangerous in motive.”

“We advise the U.S. not to act incautiously, otherwise China will be required to counteract resolutely and all the consequences created by this will have to be borne by the U.S. side,” the statement said.

The two countries are currently locked in a trade war and have deep differences over China´s claims to the South China Sea and Taiwan, human rights issues and accusations of Chinese industrial espionage.

The first bill Trump signed mandates sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials who carry out human rights abuses and requires an annual review of the favorable trade status that Washington grants Hong Kong.

Another bill prohibits export to Hong Kong police of certain nonlethal munitions, including tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, water cannons, stun guns and tasers.

The munitions bill was passed unanimously, while Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky was the sole House member to oppose the human rights bill.

Trump acknowledged last week that he was weighing the ramifications of signing the bill.

“Look, we have to stand with Hong Kong,” Trump said in an interview on “Fox & Friends.” He continued: “But I´m also standing with President Xi. He´s a friend of mine. He´s an incredible guy.”

Democratic and Republican lawmakers applauded the signing of the bills. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said it “finally sends a clear and unequivocal message to the people of Hong Kong: We are with you.”

Sen. Jim Risch, an Idaho Republican, and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said the bills are “an important step forward in holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable for its erosion of Hong Kong´s autonomy and its repression of fundamental human rights.”

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who sponsored the House human rights bill, said Xi “should understand that the U.S. is not kidding about human rights. Beating, torturing, and jailing of democracy activists is wrong and this historic legislation lets China know that respecting fundamental human rights is paramount.”

Activists hailed Trump´s action.

“I know that many people in Hong Kong are happy that the U.S. government has passed a new bill,” said Figo Chan, a 23-year-old Hong Kong protester who was honored with the John McCain Prize for Leadership at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada last weekend.

“No one wants to die and no one wants to be hurt,” Chan said. “I hope that citizens of many different countries can in their own way fight for democracy.”

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Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Washington and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump gestures after speaking at a campaign rally Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-7733807/Trump-signs-bills-support-Hong-Kong-protesters.html

[Disclaimer]

The post Trump signs bills in support of Hong Kong; China furious first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The elections showed concern over “deficiencies in the government, including unhappiness with the time taken to deal with the current unstable environment and of course to end violence”, Mrs. Lam said at a weekly press briefing.

READ: What the Democrats’ landslide election victory means for Hong Kong

Mrs. Lam was speaking a day after poll results showed democratic candidates secured almost 90 percent of 452 district council seats in Sunday’s local elections, a landslide victory in polls that were widely seen as a barometer of support for her.

“I did confess that this particular election has clearly reflected that many voters wanted to express their opinions and views to the government, to myself,” she said.

“The views and opinions expressed … are quite diverse. There are people who want to express the view that they could no longer tolerate the violence on the streets.

“There are of course people who felt that the government has not handled competently the legislative exercise and its aftermath.”

The Hong Kong government, she said, would “seriously reflect” on the views reflected by voters, and that the pro-establishment parties will continue to serve the people. She said she would “improve governance”.

Despite the defeat, the central government has not asked her to take responsibility, she said.

Mrs. Lam also thanked residents for orderly voting on Sunday despite a relatively volatile environment and said she hoped the peace at the weekend was a voice by people against violence.

Mrs. Lam added she hoped the peace over the weekend was not just for the election, but a voice from people that they do not want violence.

The district elections votes are important because pro-democracy groups have seized on the council polls as a chance to prove the depth of public support for the protest movement, which Beijing-aligned Mrs. Lam had dismissed as the work of a radical fringe.

Outrage erupted in Hong Kong this year against a now-withdrawn Bill introduced by Lam’s administration that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China.

The protesters have subsequently issued five demands, including direct elections of the legislature and chief executive, and a probe into allegations of police brutality against demonstrators.

But Mrs. Lam sidestepped those calls, instead reiterating an earlier pledge to open a dialogue among all parties in the territory, a proposal that opponents have dismissed as too little, too late.

“What we need to do now is (open) community dialogue and invite social leaders to help us analyze the causes of the disturbances and Hong Kong’s deep-seated social problems, and to come up with solutions,” Lam said.

When asked about the protesters at the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, Mrs. Lam urged protesters to leave peacefully and safely as soon as possible.

She noted that everyone wanted to “go back to their normal life” and that violence will not move things forward.

Source: Agencies/aa(rw)

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/hong-kong-protests-elections-carrie-lam-voters-unhappiness-12126024

The post Hong Kong leader admits local elections revealed ‘unhappiness’ with government first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Did the world stop turning?  Is the impeachment sham the only thing on earth we need to know about?  If you caught the network radio breaks, the TV network panels, or the flagship headlines you might well come to such a conclusion.  Not that the outcome is unimportant.  Obviously it’s the most important thing going to those running the charade.  Not only is this the most important thing, the witnesses apparently think they are the best informed, most educated, experienced and thoughtful individuals ever to grace us with their brilliance.  The little twerp in his dress uniform with all the ribbons and medallions came off as an idiot, in addition to his expressions and mannerisms.  He was apparently the source who contacted the “whistle-blower,” and lit this five-alarm dumpster fire.  He, Sondland, Fiona Hill, Taylor, and Kent were all dismantled and destroyed on cross-examination, and that’s the only entertainment or enlightenment yielded by the entire affair.

But the mainstream networks and their expert panels of eight apparently missed that part.  They actually ran banners on the screen that were being refuted by Sondland’s under-oath testimony, in real-time!  But they didn’t notice that either.  The media continues pretending (paraphrasing) Trump demanded an investigation of his 2020 opponent in exchange for the release of military aid to Ukraine.  They trotted out all these “experienced diplomats,” only to find that it was all based on assumption and second-hand scuttlebutt.   Trump is “jubilant,” and says he can’t wait until this thing goes to trial in the Senate.  Last night on CNN, Manderson Snooper asked his panel of eight for their expert views on what such a trial would look like.  One after another, they talked and talked, but no one answered that question.  They want to attach the word “impeachment” to President Trump’s name so badly, they don’t care whose ox gets gored in a Senate trial.  That’s strictly one guy’s opinion, but it stands to reason.

Meanwhile, the world has not stopped turning.  Iran saw the biggest riots since the Obama era.  People flowed into the streets in 75 cities simultaneously.  Demonstrators set fires to buildings and police vans and should have known that retribution would be brutal. Reports have helicopter gunships firing live rounds into the crowds.  Some 1000 are reported to have been arrested, and based on known recent history, are probably being tortured and abused in the most squalid of circumstances. Approximately 100 people are reported to have been killed in the streets by the Iranian government.  Apparently gas prices went up about 50% all at once, nationwide.  The riots have died down.

Every time we hear more about the Hong Kong protests, they’re getting worse.  Protesters have become more violent and police have responded, in some cases with live fire.  China has as many as one million troops on standby, but so far have allowed the situation to continue.  The United States has no leverage except for the fact that President Trump has yet to complete a trade agreement with China, and that may be the reason this thing hasn’t turned into another Tiananmen Square.

It appears that Benjamin Netanyahu is in a similar situation to President Trump.  Israel has its liberal media that hates Netanyahu and wants him deposed permanently.  Election results have been inconclusive, with neither Netanyahu nor his rival Benny Gantz able to form the required coalition.  So the thing remains in limbo, with Netanyahu apparently still carrying out the duties of Prime Minister.  Meanwhile, he’s under criminal indictment.  Something about cigars and champagne from a visiting potentate, years ago.  They’ve accused PM Netanyahu of “bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.”  That sounds mighty familiar, doesn’t it?  May he do to his accusers what Trump does to his.  They are close friends by all accounts, and it seems that they have much in common.  Either way, Israel looks to be facing another national election in three months. And you thought we have troubles!

Brexit remains undone.  Britain’s Parliament hasn’t allowed the exit to become law, and another general election will determine whether Boris Johnson remains Prime Minister or whether the left-wing ninny Jeremy Corbin takes the helm.

This won’t be anywhere near mainstream media reporting, but Italy is experiencing another onslaught of “boat people” from northern Africa and the Middle East. They’ve landed in such swarms as to overwhelm nearly every aspect of society.  We’ve got an article for the next issue of 21^st Century WATCH telling of Muslims pulling their kids out of school because there are so many languages, dialects, and cultures involved that nobody can learn anything.  There is also word that the indigenous population is beginning to flee certain areas because the national culture has been subsumed.

This is the last Update prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.  A couple of paragraphs are dedicated to the subject in the letter you’ll be receiving shortly.  As we’ve noted before, this (along with one or two others) is one of the few national holidays that does have a wonderful history.  If any of these anti-God socialists ever get a position of rulership, they’ll probably outlaw it, or change it to some sort of “save the planet” ceremony.  But we’ll still give thanks to the Creator God, knowing that He is the author of our lives, our blessings, and every good thing.

Mark

Source: http://www.intercontinentalcog.org/fridayupdates.php

The post Weekly Update by Mark Armstrong – 22 November 2019 first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act passed the House of Representatives by 417 to 1, one day after the Senate unanimously passed the measure, provoking an outcry from Beijing.

The bill requires the US president to annually review the favorable trade status that Washington grants to Hong Kong, and threatens to revoke the coveted status that the semi-autonomous Chinese territory enjoys with the United States if its freedoms are quashed.

The measure now heads to Trump. He has not decisively said whether he will sign it, although the passage by a strong veto-proof majority may affect his calculus on the bill.

The House, by 417 votes to 0, also approved Senate-cleared legislation that would ban sales of tear gas, rubber bullets and other equipment used by Hong Kong security forces.

The bills set up a potential conflict between the two economic superpowers that could jeopardize a major trade deal that has been under negotiation for months.

Source: AFP/de

Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/hong-kong-rights-bill-clears-us-congress-heads-to-trump-12112894

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