29 Dec 2023集誌社#2744
Tony Chung flees to UK and seeks asylum after breaching supervision order; says he was pressured to take money as an informer and provide social-movement information
繼前學民思潮成員周庭月初宣布流亡後，學生動源前召集人鍾翰林今日（29日）凌晨在社交媒體發文指，已抵達英國申請政治庇護。綜合鍾帖文和傳媒訪問，鍾指今年 6 月初出獄，接受懲教署一年監管令，署方禁止他公開發言、在「特定店舖」工作。
至於國安人員則每2至4周要求會面，要求他交代行蹤、交出銀行戶口資料；又威逼利誘給他每次 500至3000元線人費，以提供他人資料，包括社運人士近況和照片，9月初又要求他到內地「旅遊」。鍾翰林以調適情緒為由，向懲教署申請在聖誕到沖繩旅遊獲批，抵達當地後再前往英國。
懲教署副署長梁建業今回應指，強烈譴責鍾翰林違反監管令、發佈危害國安言論，已向其發召回令將其依法通緝；至於鍾指國安要求他做線人、要求到內地「旅遊」等，梁則指「未聽過」有關言論、不評論其他部門。《集誌社》向警方查詢，正候回覆。
After former Scholarism member Agnes Chow announced earlier this month that she had gone into exile, Tony Chung, former convenor of Studentlocalism, said in a social-media post in the early hours of today (29th) that he had arrived in the UK to apply for political asylum. Based on Chung’s post and media interviews, he said he was released from prison in early June this year and placed under a one-year supervision order by the Correctional Services Department, which prohibited him from speaking publicly and working at “specified shops”.
Chung said national security officers required him to attend meetings every two to four weeks, report his whereabouts and hand over his bank-account information. He also said they used inducements and threats to offer him informant fees of $500 to $3,000 per occasion in return for information about other people, including the latest situations and photographs of social-movement activists. In early September, they allegedly asked him to “travel” to the mainland. Citing the need to adjust his emotions, Chung applied to the Correctional Services Department to travel to Okinawa over Christmas and was granted approval; after arriving there, he travelled on to the UK.
Correctional Services Department Deputy Commissioner Leung Kin-yip said today that the department strongly condemned Chung for breaching his supervision order and making statements endangering national security. He said a recall order had been issued and Chung was wanted under the law. Regarding Chung’s claims that national security officers had asked him to act as an informer and travel to the mainland, Leung said he had “never heard” of such remarks and would not comment on other departments. The Collective Newsroom said it had asked the police for a response and was awaiting one.
29 Dec 2023明報#2750
Second anniversary of Stand News shutdown: 24 countries including US and UK sign statement expressing concern over attacks on press freedom in Hong Kong
英美等24國以媒體自由聯盟（Media Freedom Coalition）成員名義在網媒「立場新聞」停運兩周年發表聯署聲明，深切關注香港及內地當局持續攻擊新聞自由及打壓獨立媒體，促請特區政府及中方履行承諾，保障香港高度自治、尊重普世權利和自由。參與聯署國家包括美國、英國、德國、法國、日本、澳洲、加拿大、瑞士等。對比去年聯署，今年新加入聯署國家包括挪威、西班牙、瑞典。
On the second anniversary of online media outlet Stand News ceasing operations, 24 countries including the US and UK issued a joint statement as members of the Media Freedom Coalition, expressing deep concern over the continuing attacks on press freedom and suppression of independent media by the Hong Kong and mainland authorities. They urged the Hong Kong government and the Chinese side to fulfil their commitments, safeguard Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, and respect universal rights and freedoms. The countries included the US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Australia, Canada and Switzerland. Compared with last year’s statement, Norway, Spain and Sweden joined this year.
27 Dec 2023光傳媒#2736
Hong Kong Government Submits Human Rights Report to UN, Says Rights and Freedoms Better Protected Under National Security Law
聯合國人權理事會定期審議中、港的人權狀況，港府上周六（23日）提交第四次報告，提到香港實施《國安法》和完善選舉制度後，局勢實現「由亂到治」的重大轉折，香港居民各項權利和自由在更安全有序的環境下得到「更好保障」。但多個人權組織、關注團體提出異議，「人權觀察」（Human Rights Watch）批評香港當局任意逮捕和起訴民主派領袖，自2020年以來，不允許在重要的日子舉行公共集會。
The UN Human Rights Council is conducting its regular review of the human rights situation in mainland China and Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government submitted its fourth report last Saturday (the 23rd), saying that after the implementation of the National Security Law and improvements to the electoral system, the situation had undergone a major shift “from chaos to governance”, and that Hong Kong residents’ rights and freedoms were “better protected” in a safer and more orderly environment. However, several human rights organisations and concern groups disagreed. Human Rights Watch criticised the Hong Kong authorities for arbitrarily arresting and prosecuting pro-democracy leaders, and said that public assemblies had not been allowed on important dates since 2020.
24 Dec 2023renews#2729
Hongkongers in Taiwan Hold Silent Vigil on Christmas Eve
據台灣《中央社》報道，香港邊城青年秘書長馮詔天在發言時指，今晚是平安夜，但香港並不平安，他們身處的西門町，經常有香港人來訪，2019 年運動期間港人亦經常在西門町舉行聲援行動，這些行動在現時的香港無法舉行，希望讓港人知道，海外仍有人持續關注支持。
According to Taiwan’s Central News Agency, Hong Kong Outlanders Secretary-General Fung Siu-tin said in remarks that tonight was Christmas Eve, but Hong Kong was not peaceful. He said that Ximending, where they were gathered, was frequently visited by Hong Kong people, and that Hongkongers had often held solidarity actions there during the 2019 movement. Such actions could not be held in Hong Kong now, he said, adding that he hoped Hongkongers would know that people overseas continued to pay attention to and support them.
22 Dec 2023光傳媒#2712
Foreign Regional Headquarters in Hong Kong Fall by 75, Sharpest Drop on Record; British and US Firms Down More Than 10%
外資撤港情況加劇。政府統計處昨（21日）公佈調查報告，今年只有1,336間外資在港設有總部，較去年減少75間，跌幅逾5%，是自1999年有紀錄以來最大的跌幅。外資在港總部數目倒退至較2012年1,367間更少。今年英資、美資在港設有總部數目按年更銳減1成，即使是中資亦錄得下跌，由251間減至247間。
The withdrawal of foreign companies from Hong Kong has intensified. The Census and Statistics Department released a survey report yesterday (21st) showing that only 1,336 foreign companies had regional headquarters in Hong Kong this year, 75 fewer than last year, representing a decline of more than 5% and the sharpest drop since records began in 1999. The number of foreign companies’ regional headquarters in Hong Kong has fallen below the 1,367 recorded in 2012. This year, the number of British- and US-funded companies with regional headquarters in Hong Kong each fell by more than 10% year on year. Even Chinese-funded companies recorded a decline, from 251 to 247.
21 Dec 2023光傳媒#2708
US lawmakers urge sanctions against Hong Kong officials over bounties on overseas Hong Kongers
港府上週懸紅通緝包括美國公民邵嵐在內的5名海外港人，美國會議員昨（20日）去信敦促美國國務卿布林肯（Antony Blinken）制裁7名香港官員，包括律政司司長林定國、警務處處長蕭澤頤、刑事檢控專員楊美琪等。信中譴責港府跨國鎮壓長臂伸延到美國領土，威脅美國公民自由，行為「令人髮指」，美國絕不能視而不見。
The Hong Kong government last week placed bounties on five overseas Hong Kongers wanted by the authorities, including US citizen Laam Siu. US lawmakers wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday (20th), urging sanctions against seven Hong Kong officials, including Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu and Director of Public Prosecutions Mi Ki Yeung. The letter condemned the Hong Kong government’s transnational repression for extending its reach into US territory and threatening the freedoms of US citizens, calling the conduct “outrageous” and saying the United States must not turn a blind eye.
20 Dec 2023RFA#2700
Human Freedom Index: Hong Kong Plunges to 46th, Freedom of Assembly and Association Hits Rock Bottom
美國智庫加圖研究所（Cato Institute）與加拿大智庫菲莎研究所（Fraser Institute）周二（19日）共同發布2023年度人類自由指數（Human Freedom Index, HFI）排名，亞洲以台灣排名12位最高，中國則排第149位；香港則進一步跌至第46位，法治、言論自由以及結社和集會自由均大幅下降。
The US think tank Cato Institute and Canadian think tank Fraser Institute jointly released the 2023 Human Freedom Index rankings on Tuesday (the 19th). Taiwan ranked highest in Asia, in 12th place, while China ranked 149th. Hong Kong fell further to 46th, with significant declines in the rule of law, freedom of expression, and freedom of association and assembly.
20 Dec 2023光傳媒#2702
Chinese Law Firms Handle Entire Hong Kong IPO Work, Breaking International Firms’ Dominance, Says Journal
法律期刊《商法》（China Business Law Journal）報道指，最近2個月至少3間中資律師行包辦赴港IPO（首次公開募股）法律顧問和撰寫招股書工作，打破由國際律師事務所主導的慣例。嘉源律師事務所香港辦公室合夥人王鵬傑認為，中資律師行對中國企業、業務模式和財務有更深刻理解，對企業文化制度「游刃有餘」，大幅減少發行人與律師的溝通成本。
The China Business Law Journal reported that in the past two months, at least three Chinese law firms have handled legal advisory work and prospectus drafting for Hong Kong IPOs, breaking the convention of international law firms dominating such work. Pong Jeh Wang, a partner at the Hong Kong office of Jianyuan Law Firm, said Chinese law firms have a deeper understanding of Chinese companies, their business models and finances, and are “well versed” in corporate culture and systems, substantially reducing communication costs between issuers and lawyers.
20 Dec 2023光傳媒#2703
Canadian newspaper calls twice in six months for Non-Permanent CFA Judge Beverley McLachlin to resign, saying she shows exceptionally poor judgment on Hong Kong’s rule of law
黎智英案本周一（18日）開審，加拿大《環球郵報》（The Globe and Mail）同日發表社論，批評加籍香港終審法院非常任法官麥嘉琳（Beverley McLachlin）對香港法治「異常缺乏判斷力」，指黎智英案顯示香港的司法體制已「無可否認地受損及敗壞」，呼籲她為了捍衛司法獨立辭任終院法官一職。這亦是《環球郵報》在半年內第二篇呼籲麥嘉琳辭職的社論。麥嘉琳在上周五（15日）接受《環球郵報》訪問時指，她仍然認為「香港法院在維護人民的權利方面做得非常好」。
The trial of Jimmy Lai began on Monday (18th), and Canada’s The Globe and Mail published an editorial the same day criticising Canadian Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal non-permanent judge Beverley McLachlin for showing “exceptionally poor judgment” regarding Hong Kong’s rule of law. It said the Jimmy Lai case showed that Hong Kong’s judicial system had been “undeniably damaged and corrupted”, and called on her to resign as a Court of Final Appeal judge in order to defend judicial independence. This was The Globe and Mail’s second editorial in six months calling for McLachlin’s resignation. In an interview with The Globe and Mail last Friday (15th), McLachlin said she still believed that “the Hong Kong courts have done a very good job in upholding people’s rights”.
19 Dec 2023Channel C#2691
US National Defense Authorization Act Lists Hong Kong as an Overseas Adversary; Probe to Examine Whether Hong Kong Officials and Businesspeople Committed Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes
美國國會參眾兩院上周四（14日）以大比數310票對118票，通過明年度總值約8,860億美元的《國防授權法案》，除表明會強化美國在印太地區的軍事部署，抗衡中國的影響力之外，報告更將中、港、澳三地視作「海外敵對勢力」（Foreign Adversary），與北韓、俄羅斯和伊朗等地看齊；同時加入撥款，調查香港官員及商人曾否干犯反人類戰爭等國際刑事罪行。
Both chambers of the US Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for the coming year last Thursday (14th) by 310 votes to 118, authorising approximately US$886 billion in total. Besides stating that the United States would strengthen its military deployment in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s influence, the report also classifies mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau as “Foreign Adversary” territories, placing them alongside North Korea, Russia and Iran. It also includes funding to investigate whether Hong Kong officials and businesspeople have committed international criminal offences, including crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Translations are supplied by the source workbook. Consult the original reporting for context.
