Hong kong

HONG KONG – Hong Kong police on Thursday (Sept 9) raided the premises of the closed June 4th Museum, dedicated to the victims of China's 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in and around Beijing's Tiananmen Square. The raid came hours after a dozen pro-democracy activists pleaded guilty of knowingly participating in an unauthorised assembly during last year's June 4 anniversary, when rallies were banned by police, citing the coronavirus. The 2021 vigil was banned for similar reasons. The reason for the raid was unclear. Police did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Officers were seen loading a truck with cardboard, including one with the museum's logo and another carrying a picture of a lit candle. On Wednesday, police arrested four members of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, the group that organises the annual rallies, including vice-chairwoman Chow Hang Tung. Police sent a letter to the alliance in August ... » Learn More about Hong Kong police raid museum commemorating 1989 Tiananmen victims

Two Hong Kong lovers were arrested on Friday (Sept 10) after their early morning row resulted in a fire ripping through a public housing estate flat, leaving one man dead and one woman in a coma. The female tenant, 48, and her boyfriend, 39, were detained on suspicion of arson about five hours after the 12th-floor blaze at Pak Tin Estate in Shek Kip Mei was first reported to emergency services at 2.21am. A police source said officers had been called in to mediate a dispute between the woman and her boyfriend on a street nearby about three hours before the fatal fire. He said the pair were given a verbal warning and allowed to leave, adding that police were now investigating whether the duo, who had a history of drug use, were on substances at the time of the quarrel in the Pak Tin Estate flat. More than 900 residents were evacuated from Block 13 of the estate, while 12 people, including two children, were sent to Princess Margaret Hospital and Caritas Medical Centre to be ... » Learn More about Quarrelling Hong Kong lovers arrested after stray cigarette results in flat fire, leaving man dead and woman in coma

Bystanders face up to 20 years in prison if they fail to protect children or other vulnerable people from death or serious harm under a new offence proposed by Hong Kong’s Law Reform Commission to close a legal loophole when perpetrators of abuse are difficult to identify. In a report released on Friday, the government-appointed commission recommended the offence cover everyone who has a duty of care to a victim, including members of the same household, relatives, domestic helpers, social workers, care home staff, health care workers, teachers, and police and prison officers. The offence would apply to serious physical injury or psychological harm, including from sexual assault, inflicted upon a child or vulnerable adult, such as the elderly and people with disabilities, in their care. According to the commission, the change was needed to deal with a situation where all accused parties were acquitted because it could not be proven which one was directly responsible, with the ... » Learn More about Bystanders face up to 20 years’ jail for failing to report child abuse under proposed law change in Hong Kong

HONG KONG - Nine Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were sentenced to between six and 10 months in prison on Wednesday for taking part in an unauthorised assembly at last year's vigil for the victims of China's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown on protesters. The former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise of wide-ranging freedoms, traditionally holds the largest June 4 vigil in the world. But, the last two vigils were banned by police citing coronavirus restrictions on public gatherings. But coming after the mass pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019, the ban was seen by many activists as an attempt to shut down any display of defiance to Beijing. Hong Kong authorities denied that was the reason. Despite the ban, thousands turned up to light candles across the city in 2020, and smaller crowds did the same in 2021. "The defendants ignored and belittled a genuine public health crisis," District Court Judge Amanda Woodcock said. "They ... » Learn More about 9 Hong Kong activists get 6-10 months in prison for unauthorised Tiananmen vigil

A panel of health experts advising the Hong Kong government has recommended children aged 12-17 should get only one dose of BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine after reports of heart inflammation as a side effect. Professor Lau Yu-lung, who chairs the health committee advising the government on its vaccination program, told public broadcaster RTHK the side effect was more prevalent than originally thought. He said experts decided it was better for teenagers to get only one dose to "greatly reduce the chance of heart inflammation". Hong Kong's low COVID-19 risk also means that one dose should offer sufficient protection, he said. The Asian financial hub has largely controlled the coronavirus, with no locally transmitted cases in many weeks. Government data shows that 41 cases involving heart inflammation have been reported from people who took the BioNTech vaccine as of end-August, or just 0.0009%. Among these cases, 16 involved adolescents aged 12-15 or ... » Learn More about Hong Kong panel advises single dose of BioNTech COVID-19 shot for teens

HONG KONG - For his last class in Hong Kong in July, liberal studies teacher Fong showed his students calligraphy by the territory's late democratic activist Szeto Wah: "Choose the right path and stick to it." He emigrated to Britain days later. Fong is one of many teachers that left Hong Kong before the school year began in September, some saying they felt disillusioned and threatened by the authoritarian turn the city has taken since Beijing imposed a stringent national security law in June 2020. "The day I resigned, I told my school: 'If one day, some students downstairs chant slogans, I would have to call the police to arrest my own students'," said Fong, 45, who asked to be identified by only one name for fear of drawing the attention of the authorities. "I could not do that. And I could not hold my tears." Several principals who spoke to Reuters said teachers were departing this year at about twice the normal rate, leaving some of them scrambling for new recruits. The ... » Learn More about Hong Kong teachers exit under shadow of security law, schools scramble to fill gaps

A canoeist trapped with his wife on an island in Hong Kong waters on Thursday died after being struck by lightning while swimming towards a boat to seek help. The incident happened about an hour after hail was seen in Hong Kong for the first time in five years, as severe thunderstorms swept through some parts of the city. More than 3,000 lightning strikes were recorded between noon and 3pm. The 45-year-old man and his wife went canoeing from Sheung Sze Wan in Sai Kung to Green Egg Island off Clear Water Bay Country Park at about 10.30am. ALSO READ: You've got hail: Hong Kong sees hailstones 'as big as a 50 cent coin' as severe thunderstorms sweep through city The pair sought shelter on Green Egg Island because of the heavy rain and strong winds about an hour later, according to police. "The man thought that a passing boat had come to pick them up, and he then swam towards it, but was struck by lightning [shortly before 2pm]," a police source said. He said the man was ... » Learn More about Hong Kong canoeist dies from lightning strike while swimming to passing boat

Lee Cheuk-yan (second from right), chairman of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, joins other activists in commemorating the Tiananmen massacre at Victoria Park in Hong Kong on June 4 last year. (AFP File Photo) HONG KONG: A prominent pro-democracy group in Hong Kong known for its yearly vigil commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown has deleted its publications on the internet, including photos of the protest at the Beijing square, to comply with police orders. The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China said it had received a notice issued by the city’s police commissioner on Sept 10 that said the group must take down all its online content within seven days, in order to comply with the national security law imposed by Beijing earlier this year. The Alliance has since closed its website, which had a large amount of content about the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, including photos of the protests and ... » Learn More about Hong Kong activists erase online content

Hong Kong’s first critical election under the Beijing-decreed electoral overhaul on Sunday (Sept 19) hit a major snag as a delay in vote counting overnight prompted candidates to demand answers on why it took over 10 hours for the full results when only 4,380 ballot papers had to be tallied. Electoral Affairs Commission chairman Barnabas Fung Wah apologised for the delay and admitted the process of delivering the ballot boxes and vote counting was “unsatisfactory”. “At this stage, I can say they were human errors or errors of judgement on whether the problem should be sort of raised to us or to be solved by the frontline staff,” Fung said at a press briefing at 6.15am on Monday. “We will look into the matter thoroughly. I think it may not be fair to pinpoint anyone in particular. I’ll ask you to wait for the election report.” At 6am on Monday, 12 hours after voting came to a close, results of only 10 out of 13 subsectors in the Election Committee which required competition had ... » Learn More about Hong Kong elections: Long delay in vote counting mars city’s first ‘patriots-only’ polls under Beijing overhaul

Marcus Ng Pak-lam, a ten-year-old Hong Kong boy born with a rare and incurable genetic disorder, is about to face yet another life challenge – risky spinal surgery – in a bid to improve his deteriorating health. His mother Wenus Chan is calling for the public’s support for the boy, who is expected to undergo surgery in less than two weeks. Marcus has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a disorder which gradually causes the muscles to become weak and wear away. It can leave sufferers unable to walk or even breathe and may affect their swallowing. He cannot move his whole body and needs round-the-clock care. “With his muscular atrophy, his lung function is worse than a normal child. His lung function is ten per cent of a normal person,” Chan said. “We have to go through with the surgery for him although we understand, and know, it is very harmful and high-risk for Marcus because his lung function is not in a good state.” The “very risky” procedure is being undertaken to correct ... » Learn More about Brave Hong Kong boy with rare disorder faces his biggest test yet