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Policy Address 2020: Democrats slam Carrie Lam as prioritising development of China over Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy politicians have criticised the 2020 Policy Address as being geared towards the development of mainland China whilst ignoring the needs of Hong Kong people.The Democratic Party and Civic Party responded to the policy address on Wednesday, both slamming Chief Executive Carrie Lam over her plans to integrate Hong Kong into Guangdong’s Greater Bay Area.Wu Chi-wai, chairman of the Democratic Party, said that the address was not delivered for Hong Kong people, but for the Chinese government: “She thanked the Central government for their trust in her… you can’t see anything...
Hong Kong Free Press
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Hong Kong face mask manufacturer suspends business after pro-Beijing lawmaker claims yellow design violates security law
Hong Kong face mask manufacturer Yellowfactory has suspended its business operations after pro-Beijing lawmakers and newspapers said one of their designs violated the national security law.The company announced on Facebook that their retail and online shops will be closed from Wednesday onwards.“Yellowfactory does not intend to violate the national security law. With consideration of our staff and customers, we will make internal adjustments. From November 18 onward, the Causeway Bay and Mong Kok retail shops will suspend business temporarily,” the post read.In a report published on Monday, st...
Hong Kong Free Press
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Hong Kong security chief defends police conduct as democrat seeks apology for ‘unreliable’ court testimony
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security John Lee has defended the conduct of the police force after a pro-democracy legislator asked whether the top official would apologise for officers who were criticised as “unreliable witnesses” in court.The security chief spoke in the Legislative Council (LegCo) on Wednesday and answered questions raised by Democratic Party lawmaker Andrew Wan. The democrat cited some recent verdicts of protest-related cases, in which the magistrates described police officers as not being honest and reliable witnesses. Wan also accused the force of making “indiscriminate arres...
Hong Kong Free Press
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Hong Kong’s Carrie Lam says judiciary will decide on prosecution of 8 arrested democrats without political interference
Hong Kong’s independent judiciary will decide whether to prosecute eight pro-democracy lawmakers and other politicians arrested on Sunday and Monday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Tuesday, and politics will not play a part in the decision.The arrest of the eight following scuffles and protests in the legislature in May has sparked widespread criticism, including from US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. But Lam said lawmakers were not free to behave as they wished in the chamber.“It’s not because there is something called the Powers and Privileges Ordinance that members of the Legislative Coun...
Hong Kong Free Press
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8th Hong Kong democrat arrested following chaotic legislative meeting, as lawmakers decry ‘political oppression’
Democratic Party lawmaker Ted Hui was arrested on Monday, becoming the eighth democrat arrested since Sunday in connection to a chaotic meeting at the Hong Kong Legislative Council (LegCo). The pro-democracy camp has condemned the arrest of lawmakers during the controversial House Committee session in May, saying they amount to political oppression.The lawmaker was due to report to Western Police Station on Monday morning for another offence in connection to a Tuen Mun Park assembly last July. Shortly after he entered the police station, the party wrote on Facebook that he had been arrested fo...
Hong Kong Free Press
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Hong Kong police arrest 7 democrats in connection with chaos during May legislative meeting
Seven Hong Kong democrats were arrested on Sunday morning in connection with chaotic scenes that emerged during a Legislative Council (LegCo) House Committee meeting in May.The Democratic Party said on Facebook that its chairman Wu Chi-wai, members Andrew Wan and Helena Wong were among those detained on suspicion of contempt and interference with LegCo officers under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance. The Labour Party’s Fernando Cheung and Steven Kwok were rounded up too, as well as ex-lawmakers Eddie Chu and Raymond Chan, according to their Facebook pages.Police confir...
Hong Kong Free Press