DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Hong Kong jails 45 democracy activists in landmark national security trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Police stand guard outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts building before the sentencing against the 45 convicted pro-democracy activists charged under the national security law, in Hong Kong, China November 19, 2024. Hong Kong's High Court on Tuesday jailed 45 pro-democracy activists for up to 10 years following a landmark national security trial that has damaged the city's once feisty democracy movement and drawn criticism from the U.S. and other countries. A total of 47 pro-democracy activists were arrested and charged in 2021 with conspiracy to commit subversion under a Beijing-imposed national security law and had faced sentences of up to life in prison. The Chinese and Hong Kong governments say the national security laws were necessary to restore order after mass pro-democracy protests in 2019, and the democrats have been treated in accordance with local laws. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she was "gravely concerned" about the sentence, and called on China to "cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society," in Hong Kong.

Persons: Benny Tai, Gordon Ng, Owen Chow, Penny Wong, Joshua Wong, Chow, Gwyneth Ho, Hendrick Lui, Elsa Wu Organizations: Hong, Authorities, Kowloon Magistrates Locations: Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, Hong Kong's, U.S, Beijing

Owen Chow Ka-shing, one of the 47 pro-democracy activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the national security law, arrives at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts building, in Hong Kong, China November 29, 2021. On the first day of closing submissions, one of the handpicked national security judges, Andrew Chan, said a verdict would "tentatively" come in three to four months, with 10 days set aside for closing submissions. Beijing says the national security law brought stability to the city after monthslong pro-democracy protests in 2019. "Communication with the public is much easier, (it's) easy to manipulate those means in order to endanger national security," he added. Thirty-one of the 47 charged have pleaded guilty - which could qualify them for reduced sentences.

Persons: Owen Chow Ka, Lam, Andrew Chan, Hong, Jonathan Man, Man, Gwyneth Ho, Owen Chow, Gordon Ng, Leung Kwok, Helena Wong, Benny Tai, Joshua Wong, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Hong, Thomson Locations: Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, United States, Beijing

☆ Jeff Wilson: Hong Kong court acquits Washington state senator over airport firearms charge
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Jadyn Beverley Sham | Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Both prosecution and defense lawyers argued that this was a special case, citing Wilson’s self-declaration at the Hong Kong customs and his admission to possessing a firearm by mistake during questioning. The Republican state senator, whose full name is Stephen Jeffrey Wilson, also has a clear record in the city and had an open manner throughout the investigation, the court heard. After the court’s decision, Wilson’s office issued a statement saying the state senator had “inadvertently” brought the unloaded revolver on an international flight and acknowledged responsibility. Wilson was arrested as he could not provide any valid license to carry arms in Hong Kong. Wilson also noted in his statement that his gun was registered in Washington state and that he holds a concealed firearms license.

Persons: Stephen Jeff Wilson, Stephen Jeffrey Wilson, ”, Don So, Wilson, “, ” Wilson Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Washington, West, Republican, HK, Hong Kong International Locations: Hong Kong, American, West Kowloon, ”, United States, Southeast Asia, San Francisco, Portland, Washington

HONG KONG (AP) — A Washington state senator was arrested in Hong Kong for carrying a gun that was not registered in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, his website and local media reported. Jeff Wilson, a Republican from Longview, was arrested after landing at the Hong Kong International Airport on Saturday. Under Hong Kong law, it is illegal to carry a firearm without a license. Offenders face a fine of up to 100,000 Hong Kong dollars ($12,800) and can be sentenced to up to 14 years if convicted. According to Wilson's website, he had discovered the weapon mid-flight between San Francisco and Hong Kong and reported it to customs authorities on landing.

Persons: Jeff Wilson, Wilson, Hong, ”, Hong Kong's Organizations: Republican, Hong Kong International Airport, RTHK, West, Hong, Hong Kong's Customs, Excise Department, Hong Kong Locations: HONG KONG, Washington, Hong Kong, Longview, Southeast Asia, West Kowloon, San Francisco

☆ Head of Hong Kong journalists' group sentenced to jail for obstructing police
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Jessie Pang | Thomson Reuters | Jessie Pang Joined Reuters In After An Internship. She Covers Hong Kong With A Focus On Politics | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Ronson Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) arrives the West Kowloon Magistrates Courts after been charged with obstructing police, in Hong Kong, China September 22, 2022. Ronson Chan, chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, was detained and handcuffed by two plainclothes officers while covering a story after he failed to hand over his personal identity card. The journalist cannot leave Hong Kong and had to surrender his travel documents. The Hong Kong Journalists Association is one of the last major professional groups in Hong Kong advocating fundamental rights and press freedoms, following the enactment in June 2020 of a national security law by Chinese authorities. ($1 = 7.8156 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting By Jessie Pang; writing by Greg Torode; editing by Mark Heinrich and Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ronson Chan, Tyrone Siu, Hong Kong's, Chan, Leung Ka, Leung, Jessie Pang, Greg Torode, Mark Heinrich, Toby Chopra Organizations: Hong Kong Journalists Association, REUTERS, Tyrone, Chan HK, Thomson Locations: Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Britain, Beijing

☆ Hong Kong leader vows to pursue 8 activists 'for life' over alleged national security offences
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee vowed Tuesday to pursue eight pro-democracy activists "for life" after they were targeted with arrest warrants for alleged national security offences. "Endangering national security is a serious crime and the [Hong Kong] government will enforce the law strictly," Lee said in Cantonese at a press conference in Hong Kong, according to a CNBC translation. "The government will use all legal means, and to the best of our ability, hold these criminals endangering national security accountable," he added. On Monday, Hong Kong police accused the eight overseas activists of offences under the national security law, including foreign collusion, subversion and incitement to succession. The controversial law was resisted for several years before it was imposed on Hong Kong in 2020 after protracted anti-China protests the year before.

Persons: Ted Hui, Lam, John Lee, Lee Organizations: CNBC, Hong Locations: Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

Search resuls for: "Kowloon Magistrates"

6 mentions found