7 Sept 2024同文#4029
[Extraterritorial Application] US Government Agencies Jointly Issue Hong Kong Business Advisory, Saying Vaguely Defined Article 23 Threatens Business and Citizen Safety
美國政府於 9 月 6 日對香港的營商環境發布香港商務警示（Hong Kong Business Advisory），自 2021 年 7 月首次發表後，鑑於中國及香港特別行政區政府近年來的行動，特別是國安法（National Security Law, NSL）與全新實施基本法第 23 條維護國家安全條例（Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, SNS Ordinance）的影響，該諮詢顯著提升了對在港美國公司的風險警示。美國國務院、財政部、商務部、農業部和國土安全部共同發布此修訂諮詢，強調因中國及香港當局行為而產生的聲譽、監管、財務及法律風險。
On 6 September, the US government issued a Hong Kong Business Advisory on the business environment in Hong Kong. First released in July 2021, the advisory significantly heightens warnings about risks to US companies operating in Hong Kong in light of actions taken by the Chinese and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region governments in recent years, particularly the impact of the National Security Law (NSL) and the newly implemented Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNS Ordinance) under Article 23 of the Basic Law. The revised advisory was jointly issued by the US Departments of State, the Treasury, Commerce, Agriculture and Homeland Security, and highlighted reputational, regulatory, financial and legal risks arising from the actions of the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.
4 Sept 2024Channel C#4020
Stand News case｜Chris Tang strongly opposes Wall Street Journal editorial, says it distorts facts; will not be intimidated by sanctions threats
《華爾街日報》編輯部前日（2日）就「立場新聞」案發表評論文章，形容案件在香港從事傳媒工作可能是罪行，並促請制裁香港官員。保安局局長鄧炳強昨日（3日）去信反駁，批評《華爾街日報》的評論歪曲事實，對此表示強烈反對，強調不會容忍散播虛假訊息和煽動仇恨，不會被評論中的所謂制裁嚇倒，會堅定不移維護國家安全。
The Wall Street Journal editorial board published a commentary two days ago (2nd) on the Stand News case, saying that working in the media in Hong Kong could be a crime and calling for sanctions against Hong Kong officials. Secretary for Security Chris Tang wrote to rebut the commentary yesterday (3rd), criticising it for distorting the facts and expressing strong opposition. He stressed that he would not tolerate the dissemination of false information or incitement of hatred, would not be intimidated by the so-called sanctions mentioned in the commentary, and would remain steadfast in safeguarding national security.
31 Aug 2024RFA#3997
831 Fifth Anniversary | Manchester marchers urge Hongkongers to imagine what “Hong Kong independence” would look like; 16-year-old Hongkonger arrested before rally
除了倫敦市，亦有約800名港人在「831事件」五周年在曼徹斯特街頭再聚，除了以遊行方式紀念5年前「反送中運動」的其中一個轉捩點外，亦呼籲英國本地社群加入杯葛中資企業，從經濟角度對抗中共。有參加者在公開發言時呼籲，要建立對「香港獨立」的憧憬，從而將不可能變成可能；亦有參加者認為，讓英國新政府看到港人的存在相當重要。主辦單位在英國時間周六晚上指，曼城集會一名16歲香港青年被捕。
In addition to London, around 800 Hongkongers gathered again on the streets of Manchester on the fifth anniversary of the “831 incident”. As well as commemorating through a march one of the turning points of the “anti-extradition movement” five years ago, they called on local communities in the UK to join a boycott of Chinese-funded enterprises and oppose the Chinese Communist Party from an economic perspective. During public speeches, one participant called for building a vision of what “Hong Kong independence” would look like, thereby turning the impossible into the possible. Another participant said it was important to let the UK’s new government see that Hongkongers exist. The organisers said on Saturday evening UK time that a 16-year-old Hongkonger was arrested before the Manchester rally.
30 Aug 2024Channel C#3990
EU’s Hong Kong Office Chief in Farewell Interview: Hong Kong Politics Has Undergone Major Changes; Acknowledges Media Self-Censorship and Highlights Tomorrow’s Stand News Case Verdict
香港外國記者會（FCC）前日（26日）發稿，披露歐盟駐港澳辦事處主任高宇馳（Thomas Gnocchi）的午宴感言，是高宇馳離任前最後一次公開活動。高宇馳表示他自2020年上任後，香港政治出現重大變化（big political changes），稱傳媒以至其他業界都出現自我審查，同時點名提到明日（29日）裁決的《立場新聞》案件。他同時提到《基本法》除保障特區安全外，也有條文談到普選。
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club Hong Kong (FCC) issued a statement the day before yesterday (26th), disclosing remarks made at a luncheon by Thomas Gnocchi, head of the European Union Office in Hong Kong and Macao. It was Gnocchi’s last public event before leaving office. Gnocchi said that since taking up the post in 2020, Hong Kong politics had undergone “big political changes”, and that self-censorship had emerged in the media and other sectors. He also specifically mentioned the Stand News case, for which a verdict is due tomorrow (29th). He further said that, besides safeguarding the security of the Special Administrative Region, the Basic Law also contains provisions concerning universal suffrage.
26 Aug 2024光傳媒#3949
US sanctions 23 Hong Kong companies over aid to Russia’s procurement of ammunition and military supplies; one Hong Kong resident linked to money laundering
美國財政部上周五（23日）宣布制裁近400間俄羅斯境內外企業及個人，包括亞洲、歐洲和中東地區，這些個人和企業的產品和服務，被指協助俄羅斯採購彈藥和軍事物資侵略烏克蘭，並規避制裁。當中涉及23間香港公司及一名香港居民，《光傳媒》發現不少公司共用同一地址註冊，部分公司雖在港註冊及名字有「香港」二字，但辦公地址卻在中國。
The US Treasury Department announced last Friday (the 23rd) sanctions against nearly 400 businesses and individuals in Russia and elsewhere, including in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Their products and services were alleged to have helped Russia procure ammunition and military supplies for its invasion of Ukraine and evade sanctions. The measures involve 23 Hong Kong companies and one Hong Kong resident. Light Media found that many of the companies were registered using the same address. Although some were registered in Hong Kong and had the word “Hong Kong” in their names, their office addresses were in China.
25 Aug 2024獨媒#3944
Hong Kong Film Festival Organised by Hongkongers in US to Screen ‘Beyond the Dream’ Globally Online, Inspired by Cinema’s Cancellation of Re-release
近年港人散離各地，造就更多港產電影在異地放映的機會。由在美港人成立的非牟利組織銀幕．香港（Hong Kong On Screen ）自去年起舉辦香港電影節，在北美城市放映經典和新一代的港產片。至今屆，電影節更另設全球線上放映單元，觀眾可以在指定時間內免費觀看周冠威執導的《幻愛》，該電影曾在今年5月被本港戲院取消重映場次。
As Hongkongers have dispersed around the world in recent years, more Hong Kong films have had opportunities to be screened overseas. The non-profit organisation Hong Kong On Screen, established by Hongkongers in the United States, has organised a Hong Kong Film Festival since last year, screening classic and contemporary Hong Kong films in cities across North America. In this edition, the festival has added a global online screening programme, allowing audiences to watch Norris Wong’s ‘Beyond the Dream’ free of charge within a designated period. The film’s re-release screenings were cancelled by Hong Kong cinemas in May this year.
16 Aug 2024Channel C#3910
David Neuberger resigns as chair of Media Freedom Coalition’s Senior Legal Experts Panel; Hong Kong Freedom Fund Committee says he chose Hong Kong courts over press freedom and justice
英國輿論壓力和新聞團體壓力下，有份審理黎智英等7人「8.18流水式集會」案的終審法院非常任法官廖柏嘉（David Neuberger），宣佈辭任由英美等國組成的「媒體自由聯盟」（Media Freedom Coalition）高級法律專家小組主席一職。香港自由基金委員會回應指，廖選擇辭任專家小組主席而繼續留任香港終院法官，代表他「選擇香港法院，而非新聞自由和公義」。
Amid pressure from British public opinion and news organisations, David Neuberger, a non-permanent judge of Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal who was among those hearing the case involving Jimmy Lai and six others over the “8.18 rolling assembly”, announced his resignation as chair of the Senior Legal Experts Panel of the Media Freedom Coalition, comprising the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries. The Hong Kong Freedom Fund Committee said his decision to resign as panel chair while continuing to serve as a Court of Final Appeal judge showed that he “chose Hong Kong courts, rather than press freedom and justice”.
1 Aug 2024Channel C#3872
Hong Kong Government Issues Two Statements in One Day, Condemning US Consul General’s Remarks and Expressing Strong Dissatisfaction with Misleading Forbes Article
特區政府昨日（31日）在6小時內分別發表兩篇聲明，首先譴責日前接受美國傳媒訪問時，表示港人失去多種自由、並形容「我們曾認識的香港已逝去」的美國駐港澳總領事梅儒瑞，稱其言論無稽失實、妄議香港，並惡意抹黑特區政府維護國家安全的法例；晚上再發聲明對《福布斯》一篇提及香港營商環境改變的評論員文章表示強烈不滿。
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government issued two statements within six hours yesterday (31st). It first condemned US Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao Gregory May, who said in an interview with the US media recently that Hong Kong people had lost various freedoms and described it as “the Hong Kong we once knew is gone”. The government said his remarks were groundless and untrue, constituted reckless commentary on Hong Kong, and maliciously smeared the laws enacted by the HKSAR Government to safeguard national security. In the evening, it issued another statement expressing strong dissatisfaction with a Forbes commentator’s article referring to changes in Hong Kong’s business environment.
22 Jul 2024RFA#3839
EU official in Hong Kong: Hong Kong is no longer an open society; improving business environment cannot rest on empty talk of “Hong Kong is back”
歐盟駐港澳辦事處主任高宇馳（Thomas Gnocchi）將於8月底離任。他表示「香港曾經是開放社會，但現在已不再是」。中國與西方的關係惡化，香港夾在其中也受波及。高宇馳稱，自《國安法》實施以來，歐盟無論與港府、或香港民間社會的交流都減少了。港府過份強調「安全」，其實要改善營商環境，還有很多事情可以做。又指中東及東南亞並不能取代歐盟在香港的角色。
Thomas Gnocchi, head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, will leave his post at the end of August. He said that “Hong Kong was once an open society, but it is no longer one.” As relations between China and the West have deteriorated, Hong Kong has also been affected. Gnocchi said that since the implementation of the National Security Law, the EU’s exchanges with both the Hong Kong government and Hong Kong civil society have declined. He said the Hong Kong government has placed excessive emphasis on “security”, while much more could be done to improve the business environment. He also said that the Middle East and Southeast Asia could not replace the EU’s role in Hong Kong.
11 Jul 2024獨媒#3807
US Extends State of Emergency over Hong Kong; Foreign Ministry Office Says ‘Persecution Complex’ Is Worsening
美國總統拜登在當地星期周二宣布，決定繼續維持關於香港的「國家緊急狀態」，美國續暫停或取消給予香港的特殊和傳惠待遇，美國海關及邊境保護局將繼續要求所有原產香港的商品必須標明「中國」為原產國。白宮在聲明表示，中國最近採取的行動，從根本破壞香港自治，對美國構成非同尋常的威脅。外交部駐港公署表示強烈不滿及堅決反對，批評美國的「被迫害妄想症」愈來愈嚴重，對香港進行無理單邊制裁，「唯恐天下不亂霸權行徑為世人不齒！」
US President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday local time that the United States would continue the national emergency concerning Hong Kong. The US will continue to suspend or withdraw Hong Kong’s special and preferential treatment, while US Customs and Border Protection will continue to require all goods originating in Hong Kong to identify “China” as their country of origin. The White House said in a statement that China’s recent actions had fundamentally undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy and posed an unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States. The Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition, accusing the US of an increasingly serious “persecution complex” and of imposing unreasonable unilateral sanctions on Hong Kong. It said: “The hegemonic conduct of fearing that the world will not be in chaos is despised by people around the world!”
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
