2 Dec 2024獨媒#4318
Advocacy groups call for starting rents for Basic Housing Units, urge lawmakers and officials to experience hardship on the ground
「簡樸房」立法規管方案今日開始公眾諮詢，劏房戶最希望訂立的「起始租金」，政府已在諮詢文件引述干約反對意見，房屋局長何永賢早前亦表明反對。數個關注組今在立法會外請願，促請政府提供安置方案、設立起始租金及搬遷津貼，又呼籲官員「唔好再坐喺辦公室」，應落區親身體驗居民的貧苦，或在立法會設公聽會。
「關注基層住屋聯席」、「全港劏房居民大聯盟」，聯同數十名劏房居民代表今午到立法會外就「簡樸房」政策請願，他們的主要訴求包括「先安置、後取締」以及訂立「起始租金」，亦不滿政府未有提供足夠資源安置居民。
Public consultation on the legislative regulation scheme for Basic Housing Units began today. The starting rents most desired by subdivided-unit residents have been opposed by the government, which cited opposition from the public in its consultation document; Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho had also earlier stated her opposition. Several advocacy groups petitioned outside the Legislative Council today, urging the government to provide rehousing arrangements, introduce starting rents and relocation allowances, and calling on officials to “stop sitting in offices” and experience residents’ hardship in person in the districts, or hold a public hearing at the Legislative Council.
The Concern Group on Grass-roots Housing, the Hong Kong Subdivided Unit Residents Alliance and dozens of subdivided-unit resident representatives petitioned outside the Legislative Council this afternoon over the Basic Housing Units policy. Their main demands included “rehousing first, enforcement later” and the introduction of starting rents. They also criticised the government for failing to provide sufficient resources to rehouse residents.
25 Nov 2024hket#4287
Bar association: New members must attend national security seminar; chairman says it can strengthen sense of identification
香港酒吧業協會宣布，即日起加入該會的新會員，均必須參與該會舉辦的國家安全講座。該會主席錢雋永今日參與民青局的課程，正式成為國家安全教育地區導師。他認為，新會員在入會前先參加國安講座，可以提升會員對維護國家安全的意識及認同感。
在去年《施政報告》中，行政長官李家超提出培訓國家安全教育地區導師。民政事務總署上周一開展「國家安全教育地區導師培訓計劃」，邀請全港區議員、地區組織和團體報名參加，預計明年培訓至少2,600名導師。
The Hong Kong Bar and Club Association announced that, with immediate effect, all new members joining the association must attend a national security seminar organised by the association. Its chairman, Chin Chun-wing, took part today in a course run by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and formally became a district instructor for national security education. He said requiring new members to attend a national security seminar before joining could raise their awareness of and sense of identification with safeguarding national security.
In last year’s Policy Address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu proposed training district instructors for national security education. The Home Affairs Department launched the “National Security Education District Instructor Training Programme” last Monday, inviting district councillors, district organisations and groups across Hong Kong to enrol. It is expected to train at least 2,600 instructors next year.
23 Nov 2024集誌社#4282
Northeast land resumption | Kwu Tung North villagers disqualified from rehousing eligibility; Development Bureau: over 10% ineligible for rehousing or compensation
新界東北發展計劃持續多年，其中涉最大收地範圍的古洞北，今年1月展開「餘下階段發展」，收回區內 109 公頃土地，逾千戶受影響。古洞北受新發展影響村民聯盟（22日）召開記者會指，一眾村民願意配合政府發展收地，但安置問題一直懸而未決，包括有古洞寮屋居民因登記或住址證明問題，安置資格或領全額賠償資格被 DQ。而未能通過公屋資產審查的村民，亦只能入住租金高近三倍的房協專用安置屋，聯盟要求政府集體安置村民到新建的彩石邨公屋，令村民得以維繫建立逾幾十年的鄰里關係。
發展局回覆資料顯示截至10月底，1,070 受影響住戶中，約 36％ (390 戶) 獲安置上樓、10 戶獲發放現金特惠津貼，仍有逾半申請（550戶）正在處理，另有逾一成 (120 戶) 不符安置或補償資格。
The New Territories Northeast Development Plan has continued for many years. Kwu Tung North, involving the largest area of land resumption, began its “remaining phase of development” in January this year, involving the resumption of 109 hectares of land and affecting more than 1,000 households. The Kwu Tung North Villagers Affected by New Development Alliance held a press conference on the 22nd, saying that villagers were willing to cooperate with the Government’s development and land resumption, but that rehousing issues had remained unresolved. Some Kwu Tung squatter residents had been disqualified from rehousing eligibility or eligibility for full compensation because of issues concerning registration or proof of address. Villagers who failed the public housing asset test could also only move into Housing Society dedicated rehousing units with rents nearly three times higher. The alliance demanded that the Government rehouse the villagers collectively in the newly built Choi Shek Estate public housing, so that they could maintain neighbourhood ties built up over several decades.
20 Nov 2024明報#4266
Government Headquarters Hit by Paint Bomb This Morning; Government Strongly Condemns Attack
今晨（20日）8時許，警方接報政府總部近夏愨道後門懷疑被人投擲油漆彈。警員到場發現花槽及地面沾有紅油及玻璃樽碎片，面積約2米乘3米，一度圍封對開空地進一步調查。案件列作刑事毁壞處理。現場消息指不排除有人由現場對開高處將載有紅色漆油的啤酒樽從高處擲下。
At around 8am this morning (20th), police received a report that paint bombs had allegedly been thrown at the rear entrance of Government Headquarters near Harcourt Road. Officers found red paint and broken glass bottle fragments on a planter and the ground, covering an area of approximately 2 metres by 3 metres. The open area outside was cordoned off temporarily for further investigation. The case was classified as criminal damage. Sources at the scene said it could not be ruled out that someone had thrown beer bottles containing red paint from a height opposite the site.
20 Nov 2024獨媒#4267
47-Person Primary Election Case: DAB Protests US Smearing; Consulate Sends No Representative to Receive Letter
「47人案」昨日（19日）判刑，美國政府今日（20日）凌晨發表聲明譴責判刑針對香港民主領袖，要求港府無條件釋放所有政治犯，並宣佈對《港區國安法》的相關官員實施新一輪的簽證限制。民建聯副主席、立法會議員周浩鼎和陳學鋒連同十餘名民建聯成員今日下午到美國領事館門外示威，譴責美國干預中國內政，又高叫口號抗議，示威持續約15分鐘，在場有警員戒備。陳學鋒表示準備了請願信，惟領事館未有代表接信，請願信最終放在領事館門前地上。
民建聯一行13人今日下午到美國領事館外示威，他們展開印有「強烈譴責美國 抹黑香港法治 干涉中國內政」的橫幅，又舉起「Enough is enough！Say NO to US interference」、「司法不容外國踐踏」等標語。
The 47-person case was sentenced yesterday (19th). In the early hours of today (20th), the US government issued a statement condemning the sentences as targeting Hong Kong democracy leaders, demanded that the Hong Kong government unconditionally release all political prisoners, and announced a new round of visa restrictions on officials related to the Hong Kong National Security Law. DAB vice-chairmen and Legislative Council members Holden Chow Ho-ding and Chan Hok-fung, together with more than 10 other DAB members, protested outside the US Consulate this afternoon, condemning US interference in China’s internal affairs and chanting slogans. The protest lasted about 15 minutes, with police officers on standby. Chan Hok-fung said they had prepared a petition letter, but no consulate representative came to receive it; the letter was ultimately placed on the ground outside the consulate.
A group of 13 DAB members protested outside the US Consulate this afternoon. They unfurled a banner reading “Strongly condemn the United States for smearing Hong Kong’s rule of law and interfering in China’s internal affairs”, and held up slogans including “Enough is enough! Say NO to US interference” and “Justice must not be trampled on by foreign countries”.
13 Nov 2024獨媒#4230
Lo Kin-hei: Some Democratic Party Central Committee Members and Their Families Harassed; Stresses “Standing Upright and Acting with Integrity”
民主黨下月1日舉行周年大會，中委會將進行改選。民主黨主席羅健熙表示，有民主黨中委本人、家人及任職的公司近月持續收到滋擾，包括透過外地電話號碼發送WhatsApp訊息，及電郵、信件作「關心」及「問候」。羅健熙形容，與早前記協的情況相似，但強調「行得正企得正」，會繼續為香港發聲：「話你有個職員係民主黨，反中亂港呀乜乜乜咁，又或者話你個仔好事多為，你勸下佢啦，又話要去赤柱探佢就唔好啦。」
The Democratic Party will hold its annual general meeting on the 1st of next month, when its Central Committee will be re-elected. Democratic Party chairperson Lo Kin-hei said that some Central Committee members, their family members and the companies they work for had continued to receive harassment in recent months, including WhatsApp messages sent from overseas telephone numbers, as well as emails and letters offering “concern” and “greetings”. Lo described the situation as similar to that previously faced by the Hong Kong Journalists Association, but stressed that he had “stood upright and acted with integrity” and would continue to speak out for Hong Kong: “They say that you have an employee who is in the Democratic Party, is anti-China and stirring up trouble in Hong Kong, and so on; or they say your son is always getting into trouble, and ask you to persuade him, and then say it would be better not to go to Stanley to visit him.”
11 Nov 2024RFA#4220
After booking cancelled over “chefs fighting”, Democratic Party finally holds 30th anniversary dinner
民主黨30周年晚宴周六（9日）晚終於在尖沙嘴一家酒樓覓得場地，但只能開4席，約有50人出席。今次活動可算是一波三折，一星期內兩度被臨時取消訂枱，其中一間酒樓的理由是「廚師打交」。
周年晚宴的規模較以往大為「縮水」，現任主席羅健熙、副主席伍凱欣、莊榮輝、前主席劉慧卿和楊森、以及部份民主黨前區議員均有出席，至於嘉賓則有前全國政協委員劉夢熊。相反，黨內元老級的李柱銘、前立會議員涂謹申及鄺俊宇都沒有到場。
The Democratic Party’s 30th anniversary dinner finally found a venue at a restaurant in Tsim Sha Tsui on Saturday evening (the 9th), but only four tables could be arranged, with about 50 people attending. The event faced repeated setbacks: its table bookings were cancelled at short notice twice within a week, with one restaurant citing “chefs fighting” as the reason.
The anniversary dinner was considerably smaller than in previous years. Current chairperson Lo Kin-hei, vice-chairpersons Bonnie Hoi Yan Ng and Winfield Chong Wing-fai, former chairpersons Emily Lau and Yeung Sum, and some former Democratic Party district councillors attended. The guests included former National Committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Lau Meng-hung. By contrast, party veteran Martin Lee and former Legislative Council members James To and Kwong Chun-yu were absent.
11 Nov 2024am730#4221
Democratic Party Anniversary Dinner Held Again After Four-Year Hiatus; Restaurant Cancels Booking Over “Chefs Fighting”
目前仍有多名黨員正在還押的民主黨，前晚(9日)成功舉行30周年黨慶晚宴，只延開4席約50人參與，規模較以往「大縮水」。過去數年民主黨舉辦周年晚宴屢遇「場地問題」，據報今年也一波多折，包括遭多間餐廳以不同臨時原因取消預訂，其中一間酒樓稱「兩名廚師打架，要取消預訂」。
The Democratic Party, which still has several members remanded in custody, successfully held its 30th-anniversary dinner on the night before last (9th). Only four tables, involving about 50 people, were arranged, representing a significant reduction in scale compared with previous years. The party’s anniversary dinners have repeatedly encountered “venue problems” in recent years. This year was reportedly no exception, with several restaurants cancelling bookings at short notice for various reasons. One restaurant said, “Two chefs were fighting, so we have to cancel the booking.”
8 Nov 2024獨媒#4215
Fifth Anniversary of Chow Tsz-lok’s Death: Residents Bring White Flowers to Mourn, Saying “We Hope to Tell Him We Haven’t Forgotten Him”
科大學生周梓樂逝世五周年，有市民晚上帶同白花到將軍澳尚德邨停車場默站悼念，之後離開時表示：「其實都係話畀佢聽我哋冇忘記佢，雖然今日係好少人，但係我都相信除咗我之外，都仲有其他人係記得。不過某原因係嚟唔到，我哋仲存在囉。」
On the fifth anniversary of the death of HKUST student Chow Tsz-lok, members of the public brought white flowers to stand silently in mourning at the car park of Sheung Tak Estate in Tseung Kwan O on Tuesday evening. As they left, one person said: “Actually, it’s to tell him that we haven’t forgotten him. Although there were very few people today, I still believe that besides me, there are other people who remember him. They couldn’t come for some reason, but we still exist.”
7 Nov 2024香港人權資訊中心#4213
Report Urges UN Intervention over Torture in Hong Kong, Exposes Systemic Human Rights Crisis under National Security Law
香港人權資訊中心於11月7日發表《香港酷刑和不人道處遇報告》，緊急呼籲國際社會，包括聯合國人權機構立即介入。報告指出自 2020 年《香港國安法》實施及2021 年進行的選舉制度變更後，民主派民意及政治代表被清剿、公民社會及言論自由被嚴重打壓，公眾無法對公權力作有效的監督，令香港本地制度內防止酷刑和不人道對待的保障措施被系統性地削弱，使不同的弱勢群體面對酷刑及不人道待遇的問題。警察濫權、審前拘留、監獄內的濫權及虐待、失效及欠缺獨立的申訴機制，令警察行動、監獄拘留及入境羈留成為酷刑及不人道對待事件的溫床。
The Hong Kong Human Rights Information Centre published its Report on Torture and Inhuman Treatment in Hong Kong on 7 November, urgently calling on the international community, including United Nations human rights bodies, to intervene immediately. The report said that since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law in 2020 and changes to the electoral system in 2021, public opinion and political representation from the democratic camp had been purged, while civil society and freedom of expression had been severely suppressed. The public has been unable to effectively monitor the exercise of public power, resulting in the systematic weakening of safeguards within Hong Kong’s institutions against torture and inhuman treatment and exposing different vulnerable groups to such treatment. Police abuse of power, pre-trial detention, abuse and mistreatment in prisons, and ineffective and non-independent complaints mechanisms have made police operations, prison detention and immigration detention potential settings for torture and inhuman treatment.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
