22 Apr 2024獨媒#3405
Page Deletes “Sensitive” Content and Is Asked Whether It Is “Afraid”; Paul Tse: Merely Preventive Work
立法會議員謝偉俊早前關閉社交網站專頁，以審視及刪除「敏感」內容，過去周六重開並發聲明稱，所有批評旨在提出問題及改善意見，或循合法途徑倡議制定政策。謝偉俊今早接受商台節目《在晴朗的一天出發》訪問，主持陳志雲問他：「你驚呀？你驚乜嘢呀？點解會咁做嘅？」謝偉俊就稱「其實唔可以用個驚字」，作為律師每逢有新法例，都會檢視個人、公司及機構所作的事會否有影響：「預防嘅工作咁解啫。」
Legislative Council member Paul Tse Wai-chun earlier closed his social media page to review and delete “sensitive” content. He reopened it last Saturday and issued a statement saying that all criticism was intended to raise questions and offer suggestions for improvement, or to advocate policy-making through lawful channels. In an interview this morning on Commercial Radio programme “On a Sunny Day,” host Chan Chi-wan asked him: “Are you afraid? What are you afraid of? Why did you do this?” Tse said that “actually, the word ‘afraid’ cannot be used.” As a lawyer, he said, whenever new legislation is introduced, he reviews whether the actions of individuals, companies and organisations could be affected: “It’s just preventive work, that’s all.”
21 Apr 2024獨媒#3400
Paul Tse’s page goes back online after deleting “sensitive” content
「紅隊」隊長、立法會議員謝偉俊今年1月，行政長答問大會上向李家超指港府施政「法家治港、嚴刑峻法」，以及「小紅書」治港，遭對方批評其發言用字令他想起2019年「黑暴」時「軟對抗」及「反動力量」。上月27日，即《維護國家安全條例》在23日生效後，謝偉俊自行將專頁下架，稱要審視及刪除「敏感」內容。事隔約一個，謝偉俊昨日（4月20日）重開專頁，並貼出聲明，稱所有批評旨在提出問題及改善建議，絕無意圖令任何人對政權機關產生憎恨、藐視或離叛。
In January, “Red Team” leader and Legislative Council member Paul Tse Wai-chun told John Lee at a Chief Executive’s Question and Answer Session that the Hong Kong government was governing through “legalism, harsh laws and severe penalties” and through Xiaohongshu. Lee criticised his wording, saying it reminded him of “soft resistance” and “reactionary forces” during the 2019 “black violence”. On the 27th of last month, after the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance took effect on the 23rd, Tse took his page offline himself, saying he needed to review and delete “sensitive” content. About a month later, Tse reopened the page yesterday (April 20) and posted a statement saying that all the criticism was intended to raise questions and offer suggestions for improvement, with absolutely no intention of causing anyone to develop hatred, contempt for or disloyalty towards the institutions of the regime.
20 Apr 2024集誌社#3397
Apple Daily shut down｜Nearly three years after closure, some former employees finally receive insolvency compensation
停刊近三年、資金被政府凍結的《蘋果日報》，因一直沒債權人申請清盤，員工連破欠基金發的補償金也取不到。上周五，有兩名債權人入稟，要求頒令蘋果日報有限公司清盤。《集誌社》獲悉，本周二（ 16 日）起，終於有部分員工開始獲發破欠基金補償金。勞工處回覆《集誌社》查詢時，確認由於有僱員向「蘋果日報有限公司」提出清盤呈請，正向前員工發放破欠基金的特惠款項。
不過這份補償金，只佔追薪的一小部分。《集誌社》統計，至今最少有 72 名《蘋果》前員工追薪勝訴，涉款逾 544 萬元。但破欠基金有上限，前員工只獲發還部分款項。有《蘋果》前員工直言，這筆是應得的人工，保安局理論上可解凍《蘋果》部分資金再出糧，但現要隔這麼長時間，才經破欠基金收到款項，反問「同懲罰員工有咩分別？」
Apple Daily, which ceased publication nearly three years ago and had its funds frozen by the government, had been unable to provide employees even with compensation from the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund because no creditor had applied to wind up the company. Last Friday, two creditors filed a petition seeking an order to wind up Apple Daily Limited. The Collective learned that, from Tuesday (16th), some former employees had finally begun receiving payments from the fund. In response to enquiries from The Collective, the Labour Department confirmed that it was disbursing ex gratia payments from the fund to former employees because employees had filed a winding-up petition against Apple Daily Limited.
However, the compensation represents only a small part of the back pay owed. The Collective found that at least 72 former Apple Daily employees have so far won claims for unpaid wages, involving more than HK$5.44 million. But the fund has a payment cap, meaning the former employees received only part of the amounts owed. One former Apple Daily employee said the money was wages they were entitled to, and that the Security Bureau could theoretically unfreeze some of Apple Daily’s funds to pay them. But after waiting so long to receive the money through the fund, the employee asked: “How is this any different from punishing the employees?”
15 Apr 2024獨媒#3352
Zheng Yanxiong Praises Media for Rebuking Claims That Hong Kong Is “Finished” and a “Relic”: Let Truth Not Remain Silent
特區國安委今早在會展舉行全民國家安全教育日開幕典禮，除了港澳辦主任夏寶龍，中聯辦主任鄭雁雄亦發表主題演講。鄭雁雄認為，必須要看到香港發展的有利條件，形容香港發展的有利條件從來沒有像今天這麼好過：「日前有所謂『香港玩完』、『復蘇無望』、『遺址』、『孤島』等荒謬之言，各大香港媒體齊聲反駁，唱響香港經濟光明論，這很好。我們就是要多釋放正能量，讓真理不沉默，讓謬誤不囂張。」
The HKSAR Committee for Safeguarding National Security held the opening ceremony of National Security Education Day at the Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning. In addition to Xia Baolong, Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office, Zheng Yanxiong, Director of the Liaison Office, also delivered a keynote speech. Zheng said it was necessary to recognise Hong Kong’s favourable conditions for development, describing them as better than ever. He said: “In recent days, major Hong Kong media outlets have spoken out together to rebut the so-called absurd claims that ‘Hong Kong is finished’, that there is ‘no hope of recovery’, and that Hong Kong is a ‘relic’ or an ‘isolated island’, voicing optimism about Hong Kong’s economy. This is very good. We must release more positive energy, so that truth does not remain silent and fallacies do not become arrogant.”
11 Apr 2024光傳媒#3332
Hong Kong Government’s New Lexicon Andrew Chan Lok-hang: Officials Use It to Show Loyalty and Avoid Giving People a Handle
「片區、短板、管用」，這些詞語大家明白當中含意嗎？近年香港政府官員的說話，乃至政府新聞公報，充斥愈來愈多並非港人慣用詞語，這些用語部分是中國官場慣用語言。《光傳媒》根據政府公報，統計部分用語的使用情況，發現部分詞語始自特首李家超。KongHub創辦人陳樂行向《光傳媒》表示，使用受眾不熟悉的語言，除了可能造成溝通問題，也可能影響當地的文化。他又認為，官員多用中國官場語言，是為了「表忠」，以免遭人話柄。
Do people understand the meanings of terms such as “片區”, “短板” and “管用”? In recent years, the language used by Hong Kong government officials and in government press releases has increasingly included terms that are not commonly used by Hong Kong people, some of which are commonly used in Chinese officialdom. Based on government press releases, Light Media counted the use of some of these terms and found that some first appeared under Chief Executive John Lee. KongHub founder Andrew Chan Lok-hang told Light Media that using language unfamiliar to the audience could not only create communication problems but also affect local culture. He also believed that officials frequently use the language of Chinese officialdom to “show loyalty” and avoid giving people a handle.
11 Apr 2024nowTV#3338
Shop-closure group announces it is “closing down”; admin explains: “Some people don’t like the group name”
近日突爆30萬關注的社交平台群組「全港店舖執笠結業消息關注組(店舖/ 餐廳/ 零售/ 小店/ 大集團)」正式宣布「執笠」。版主在影片平台解釋「執笠」原因，指：「有啲人唔鍾意我哋個group名，覺得我哋唱衰香港。」又表明關注組會「裝修重開」，改用較為中性的名稱，以及另組新的執笠群組
The social media group “Hong Kong-wide Shop Closure News Interest Group (Shops/Restaurants/Retail/Small Shops/Large Groups),” which recently surged to 300,000 followers, has formally announced that it is “closing down”. In a video, the group administrator explained the reason, saying: “Some people don’t like our group name and think we are speaking ill of Hong Kong.” The administrator also said the group would “relaunch after renovation” under a more neutral name, while a new shop-closure group would be formed separately.
3 Apr 2024明報#3299
After ‘Hong Kong Is Finished’ Remarks, Stephen Roach Says He Was ‘Advised Against’ Discussing Hong Kong Issue at Beijing Forum
因「香港玩完論」引起建制派批評嘅摩根士丹利前首席經濟學家羅奇（Stephen Roach），早前連續24年獲邀出席喺北京舉行嘅中國發展高層論壇。羅奇返到美國接受自由亞洲電台訪問時透露，曾希望喺論壇發言中表達對香港未來擔憂，但「他們要求我不要在中國發展論壇上談論這個問題」，最後被勸止。佢形容，主辦單位講明唔想公開聽到尖銳問題，只希望着眼「對中國有建設性的看法」。
Stephen Roach, the former chief economist of Morgan Stanley who drew criticism from the pro-establishment camp over his “Hong Kong is finished” remarks, had been invited to attend the China Development Forum in Beijing for 24 consecutive years. In an interview with Radio Free Asia after returning to the United States, Roach said he had hoped to express his concerns about Hong Kong’s future in his speech at the forum, but “they asked me not to discuss this issue at the China Development Forum” and he was ultimately advised against doing so. He said the organisers had made clear that they did not want to hear sharp questions in public and only wanted to focus on “constructive views about China”.
30 Mar 2024獨媒#3285
Previously singled out by officials, RFA closes Hong Kong office, citing staff safety
自由亞洲電台（RFA）周五發聲明，稱考慮在香港職員和記者的安全，將調整在香港的運作模式，包括關閉實體辦事處及不再保留全職員工，但會繼續保留在香港的新聞機構官方註冊。聲明指，香港官方把RFA視作「外國勢力」，令人嚴重質疑他們在《基本法》23條生效後還能否在香港安全地運作。
Radio Free Asia (RFA) said in a statement on Friday that, taking into consideration the safety of its staff and reporters in Hong Kong, it would adjust its operations there, including closing its physical office and no longer retaining full-time employees. It would, however, continue to maintain its official registration as a news organisation in Hong Kong. The statement said that Hong Kong authorities had regarded RFA as a “foreign force”, raising serious doubts about whether it could continue to operate safely in Hong Kong after Article 23 of the Basic Law took effect.
28 Mar 2024RFA#3274
Paul Tse takes Facebook page offline amid fears remarks may be reported; pro-establishment lawmaker offers reassurance: no need to panic
香港《維護國家安全條例》生效不足一星期，在立法會投票支持法案的建制派議員謝偉俊，周三（27日）自行將Facebook專頁下架。他稱擔心早前「小紅書治港」言論被有心人上綱上線、惡意舉報，因此暫時下架，審視並刪除「敏感內容」後會再重開專頁。本台記者向多名被外界視為較敢言的建制派議員查詢，「23條」實施後會否收窄批評政府的言論尺度，他們均不接受訪問。
Less than a week after Hong Kong’s Safeguarding National Security Ordinance came into force, pro-establishment lawmaker Paul Tse, who voted in support of the bill in the Legislative Council, took his Facebook page offline on Wednesday (27th). He said he was concerned that his earlier remarks about “governing Hong Kong through Xiaohongshu” might be maliciously reported and blown out of proportion by people with ulterior motives. He said he would reopen the page after reviewing and deleting “sensitive content”. Our station’s reporters asked several pro-establishment lawmakers regarded by the public as more outspoken whether the implementation of “Article 23” would narrow the scope for criticising the government; all declined interviews.
28 Mar 2024明報#3275
Chris Tang Writes to New York Times, Condemning Misleading Commentary
保安局長鄧炳強昨致函美國《紐約時報》，強烈反對及譴責該報前日（26日）刊出由人權觀察中國部代主任王松蓮（Maya Wang）撰寫的評論文章，提及港人憂慮《基本法》23條立法下保留《蘋果日報》或會犯法，有人考慮是否碎掉或將《蘋果日報》寄到海外，鄧炳強批評文章極度誤導，促《紐時》「確保關於香港的報導公正、持平，及停止發表危言聳聽的言論」。
Secretary for Security Chris Tang wrote yesterday to the US newspaper The New York Times, strongly opposing and condemning an opinion article published by the paper the day before (26th), written by Maya Wang, acting director of Human Rights Watch’s China division. The article mentioned Hong Kong residents’ concerns that keeping Apple Daily after legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law might be illegal, and that some were considering whether to shred Apple Daily or send it overseas. Tang criticised the article as extremely misleading and urged The New York Times to “ensure that its reporting on Hong Kong is fair and balanced, and stop publishing alarmist remarks.”
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
