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☆ Hong Kong 47: Democracy leaders sentenced to lengthy jail terms in largest national security trial as Beijing tightens grip
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Chris Lau | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Benny Tai, a prominent legal scholar and veteran protest leader, received the longest prison term of 10 years – the toughest sentence to date handed down under the national security law. But since the national security law came into effect in 2020, Hong Kong’s political and legal landscape has been transformed. The administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden was also critical of Bejing’s crackdown in Hong Kong, even as it tried to recalibrate ties with Beijing. John Burns, emeritus professor at the University of Hong Kong, said the cumulative changes have reduced the city’s autonomy and citizens’ participation in politics. “The new regime has restricted human rights in Hong Kong, rights that Hong Kongers used to enjoy.

Persons: Hong Kong’s, Joshua Wong, “, –, Benny Tai, Wong, Gwyneth Ho, Leung Kwok, Claudia Mo, teared, ” –, Chris Lau, Lee Yue, ”, Hong, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden, Trump, Raphael Wong Ho, John Burns, Hong Kongers, Hong Kong, John Lee –, ” Lee Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, CNN Landmark, Police, Washington, Beijing, CNN, Legislative Council, University of Hong, Authorities, Communist Party Locations: Hong Kong, Kowloon, Beijing, British, China, University of Hong Kong, Hong

☆ Hong Kong leader announces measures to address housing crisis in annual policy address
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivers his annual policy address at the Legislative Council on Oct. 16, 2024, in Hong Kong. Hong Kong chief executive John Lee announced moves aimed at addressing the city's housing affordability crisis, calling it "an issue of great public concern" in an annual policy address on Wednesday. Under the plan, the Hong Kong Housing Authority will allocate an extra ballot number to applicants aged below 40 — a move that will increase their chances of being selected for the city's subsidized Home Ownership Scheme flats. He also said the government expects to complete about 9,500 new public housing units next year, moving toward a goal of completing about 30,000 units by 2027-2028. The current wait time for a public housing unit in Hong Kong is 5.5 years.

Persons: John Lee Ka, chiu, John Lee, Hong Kongers, Lee Organizations: Legislative, Hong, Hong Kong Housing Authority Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong . Hong Kong

☆ U.S. decries reported sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners after graphic video aired on Israeli TV
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-10 | by ( Aurora Almendral | Aurora Almendral Is A London-Based Editor With Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

Allegations of the sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners by members of the Israeli military are “horrific,” the United States has said, after a graphic video broadcast on Israeli news added fuel to mounting criticism of the U.S. ally’s conduct in the war in Gaza. “We have seen the video, and reports of sexual abuse of detainees are horrific,” Miller said, adding that the reports should be “fully” investigated by the Israeli government. “There ought to be zero tolerance for sexual abuse, rape of any detainee, period,” he added. “No circumstances, however exceptional, can ever justify torture or ill-treatment.”Israeli soldiers load naked Palestinian prisoners onto a bus in a photo sent to NBC News by Mustafa Barghouti, Palestinian Legislative Council member. Matan Golan / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty ImagesWhile the arrest of the reservists had brought this case to wider attention, B’Tselem argued that the abuse of Palestinian detainees is systemic in Israeli prisons.

Persons: Matthew Miller, “, ” Miller, Karine Jean, Pierre, mistreating, Sde Teiman, B’Tselem, ”, Alice Jill Edwards, ” Edwards, Mustafa Barghouti, Teiman, Matan Golan, Hanoch Milwidsky, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ” Netanyahu, hasn’t Organizations: State, ”, NBC News, Haaretz, Israel Defense Forces, Force, United Nations, Palestinian, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Israel, IDF, NBC, Getty, Likud Locations: United States, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Jerusalem, Mustafa, Ramallah, Beit

☆ Palestinian groups demand inspection of Israeli prisons as detainees are released with chronic health problems
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Kareem Khadder | Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza has demanded international inspections of Israeli detention centers, after the release of a number of prisoners this week who appeared frail and thin after several months in detention. Among those released was the Council’s former Speaker, Aziz Dweik, who had been held for nine months, accused of affiliation with Hamas. Most of the approximately 30 prisoners released from the Negev and Ofer prisoners this week were administrative detainees, who had not been charged with any offenses. One of them, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society, was Saed Abu Shanab from Tulkarm, who had spent 21 years in Israeli prisons. The Prisoners’ Society said in April that the vast majority of detainees released suffered from health problems “which required the transfer of some of them to the hospital immediately upon their release.”

Persons: Aziz Dweik, Dweik, Ofer, Abu, ” Organizations: CNN, Palestinian Legislative, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Prisoners ’ Society, ’ Society Locations: Gaza, Negev, Abu Shanab, Tulkarm, Israel

The Hong Kong and Beijing governments have repeatedly denied the national security law is suppressing freedoms, arguing it has ended chaos and “restored stability” to the city. Since the national security law came into effect in 2020, civil groups have disbanded, and independent media outlets have been shut down. They are the first defendants to be acquitted in a national security law trial in Hong Kong. But that strategy is in doubt after another local national security law enacted earlier this year curtailed access to reduced sentences for guilty pleas. “It’s absolutely clear that the national security law reduced the independence and the autonomy of the judiciary.

Persons: Hong Kong’s, Hong, Gwyneth Ho, Leung Kwok, ”, Lawrence Lau, Lee Yu, –, “, Joshua Wong, Benny Tai, Claudia Mo, Eric Lai, John Burns, Hong Kong Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Beijing, British, Hong, Hong Kong’s Legislative, Georgetown Center, Asian Law, Communist Party, city’s, University of Hong Locations: Hong Kong, Hong, Beijing, Hong Kong’s, China, University of Hong Kong

☆ 'Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong': Beijing hits back at U.S. for 'slandering' city's new security law
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-21 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The flags of China and Hong Kong displayed in rows. China's embassy hit back against U.S. criticism of Hong Kong's new national security law on Thursday, saying the U.S. should "respect China's sovereignty." Hong Kong lawmakers passed a new national security law on Tuesday which critics say grants the government more power to quash dissent. "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong. Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, which no country is in the position to point fingers at or interfere in," a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Persons: Hong, Hong Kong's, Vedant Patel, John Lee, Wang Yi, — CNBC's Evelyn Cheng, Clement Tan Organizations: U.S . State Department, Kong's Legislative, China's, Beijing, China - Locations: China, Hong Kong, U.S, China's, Hong Kong . Hong Kong, Kong's, China - U.S

☆ Hong Kong's national security law has analysts divided on its social and economic ramifications
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Shreyashi Sanyal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Lawmakers, government officials, and Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee are posing for a group photo inside the chamber of the Legislative Council complex after passing the Safeguarding National Security Bill in Hong Kong, China, on March 19, 2024. Hong Kong's new national security bill that seeks to "prevent, suppress and punish espionage activities" has left analysts divided on its social and economic ramifications. Lawmakers in Hong Kong passed the Safeguarding National Security Bill, which has been under scrutiny for provisions such as life imprisonment for 'treason' and 'insurrection,' in a special session on Tuesday. Hong Kong's Legislative Council had introduced the bill known as Article 23 on March 8, and Chief Executive John Lee had urged the need to pass the law "as soon as possible" given an "increasingly complex" geopolitics backdrop. Chiu highlighted that the bill was deliberated on, amended, and passed within 11 days — a record time in Hong Kong's legislative history.

Persons: John Lee, Hong, Dominic Chiu, Chiu, — Organizations: Hong, Legislative, National, China &, Eurasia Group, Hong Kong's Legislative Locations: Hong Kong, China, China & Northeast Asia, Hong Kong's

☆ Hong Kong lawmakers pass new national security law, giving government more power to curb dissent
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong lawmakers passed a new national security law on Tuesday that grants the government more power to quash dissent, widely seen as the latest step in a sweeping political crackdown that was triggered by pro-democracy protests in 2019. The legislature passed the Safeguarding National Security Bill during a special session Tuesday. The law threatens stringent penalties for a wide range of actions authorities call threats to national security, with the most severe — including treason and insurrection — punishable by life imprisonment. "I fully agree with what the Chief Executive said: the sooner the legislation is completed, the sooner national security will be safeguarded," he said. Hong Kong's political scene has changed dramatically since the massive 2019 street protests that challenged China's rule over the semi-autonomous territory, and the imposition of Beijing's National Security Law.

Persons: Hong, John Lee, Andrew Leung, Critics, China's Organizations: National, Kong's Legislative, Legislative, British, National Security Law Locations: Central, Hong Kong, Beijing, Kong's

☆ Article 23: Hong Kong passes second national security law aligning city more closely with mainland China
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Coming into effect on Saturday, the law introduces 39 new national security crimes, adding to an already powerful national security law that was directly imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020 after huge and sometimes violent democracy protests the year before. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Lee described it as a “historical moment for Hong Kong.”Lawmakers attend a meeting for Basic Law Article 23 legislation at the Legislative Council on March 19, 2024 in Hong Kong, China. They argue their legislation is similar to other national security laws around the world. “This will surely increase the doubt, anxiety, and uncertainty of foreign businesses in Hong Kong.”In mainland China, national security laws have often ensnared both local and foreign businesses in opaque investigations. That is something Emily Lau, a former pro-democracy lawmaker, also worries about, that what made Hong Kong distinct is fast fading.

Persons: –, John Lee, Hong, Lee, Chen Yongnuo, ”, Hong Kong’s, Eric Lai, Lai, ” Lai, Hung Ho, fung, Capvision, Sarah Brooks, “, ” Brooks, ” Johannes Hack, Emily Lau, I’ve Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, ” Lawmakers, Legislative, China News Service, China’s Communist Party, CNN, Georgetown Center, Asian Law, Johns Hopkins University, Amnesty International, German Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s, Beijing, China, Amnesty International China, ”, Hong

☆ Hong Kong jails 12 people over the storming of the legislature in 2019
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Sarita Harilela | Sophie Jeong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong CNN —A Hong Kong court on Saturday sentenced 12 people to between 54 and 82 months in prison over the storming of the city’s legislature council building during a pro-democracy protest in 2019, the city’s public broadcaster RTHK said. RTHK said the defendants were convicted of rioting on July 1, 2019, when a large group of protesters smashed through glass doors and stormed Hong Kong’s legislative council building after weeks of mass demonstrations. Deputy District Court judge Li Chi-ho said the storming of the building represented a challenge to the Hong Kong government and had long-lasting effects on the city, according to RTHK. Two reporters who were previously acquitted of rioting were fined 1,500 Hong Kong dollars ($192) and 1,000 Hong Kong dollars ($128) for entering the legislature, according to RTHK. This is a developing story and will be updated.

Persons: Li Chi, Gregory Wong, Ventus Lau, Owen Chow Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, RTHK, Hong Locations: Hong Kong, Hong

☆ Hong Kong Court Convicts Four for Rioting After 2019 Legislature Storming
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Hundreds of protesters stormed Hong Kong's Legislative Council building on July 1, 2019, after a protest march against a proposed extradition bill that would have allowed authorities to send individuals to mainland China for trial. District Court Judge Li Chi-ho found four people including Ho Chun-yin, actor Gregory Wong, Ng Chi-yung and Lam Kam-kwan guilty of rioting. During the trial, Gregory Wong told the court he entered the legislative council solely to deliver two chargers to reporters who were covering the break-in by protesters. Three Hong Kong police officers met him in Shenzhen and said he had to cooperate or else he would not be able to return to Hong Kong. Hong Kong's district court sets a maximum of seven years in prison for rioting.

Persons: Jessie Pang, Edward Cho HONG, Li Chi, Ho Chun, Gregory Wong, Ng Chi, Lam Kam, kwan, Lam, Wong Ka, Ma Kai, Wong, Althea Suen, Ventus Lau, Owen Chow, Edward Cho, Farah Master, Lincoln Organizations: Reuters, Hong, Legislative, Hong Kong, Hong Kong . Police, University of Hong Locations: Edward Cho HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Legco, Shenzhen, Hong Kong's

On December 22, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for further extended humanitarian pauses to allow more aid into Gaza. People carry some of their belongings as they walk to Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on January 4, fleeing central Gaza. But even as foreign aid to Gaza rose in the wake of the Hamas takeover, the amount of aid fluctuates annually, OECD data shows. In 2018, the Trump administration cut about $200 million in Palestinian aid and halted contributions to UNRWA. Medicine for Israeli hostages and Palestinians entered Gaza last Wednesday after Qatar brokered a deal with Israel and Hamas.

Persons: Khan Younis, —, Majdi, Fatah, Mohammed Abed, ”, Yara Asi, Israel, René Wildangel, Wildangel, ” Asi, Trump, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, United Nations, West Bank, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Service, Aid, World Health Organization, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, UN, Assembly, UNRWA, IDF, UN Security, World Food, Palestinian, Statistics, World Bank, Palestine Liberation Organization, PLO, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, West Bank ., Getty, University of Central, “, International Hellenic University, Amnesty, Palestinian Central Bureau, European Union, Organization for Economic Co, Development, Obama, Qatar Locations: Israel, Gaza, East Jerusalem, UN, Rafah, South Africa, Oslo Accords, AFP, Palestine, University of Central Florida, Oslo, Thessaloniki, Greece, United States, Europe, Qatar

☆ Hong Kong’s pro-democracy leaders to give final defense as landmark national security trial nears an end
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Chris Lau | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Those on trial say that plan was simply part of the pluralistic, oppositional politics that has long been permitted in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government has repeatedly denied the national security law is suppressing freedoms. They hail from multiple generations and a wide political spectrum - from moderate democrats to those who advocate for Hong Kong’s self-determination. Known as “Grandma Wong,” the 67-year-old had been a fixture of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. No national security cases in the city have been heard in front of a jury.

Persons: Hong, ”, Joshua Wong, Benny Tai, Claudia Mo, Alexandra Wong, Grandma Wong, Hong Kong’s, ” Alexandra Wong, Noemi Cassanelli, Gwyneth Ho, Leung Kwok, ISAAC LAWRENCE, John Lee, ” Lee, –, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Prosecutors, Hong, Kowloon Court, CNN, Getty, Communist Party, city’s, Hong Kong’s Legislative Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Hong, Kowloon, Britain, China, AFP, Hong Kong’s

[1/2] Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee delivers his annual policy address at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, China October 25, 2023. Chief Executive John Lee said Hong Kong's economy, which contracted 3.5 percent last year, would "resume growth this year" as inbound tourism and consumption improved, and unemployment fell. Hong Kong's economy grew 2.2% in the first half of the year, and is expected to grow four percent this year. "External forces continue to meddle in Hong Kong affairs," he said, without giving specifics or naming any country. Some Western governments have criticised the ongoing national security clamp down, which has led to the imprisonment of many opposition democrats and closure of liberal media outlets.

Persons: John Lee, Tyrone Siu, Hong, Lee, Hong Kong's, Clare Jim, Twinnie Siu, Jessie Pang, Donny Kwok, James Pomfret, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Hong, Legislative, REUTERS, Tyrone, U.S, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, Hong

☆ Hong Kong slashes stamp duties, easing property curbs for the first time in over 10 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee delivers his annual policy address to the Legislative Council on October 25, 2023. Hong Kong will slash buyers' stamp duties for property buyers to help boost its struggling real estate sector, while reducing levies on stock trades in a bid to kickstart economic activity in the Asian financial hub. This is the first time property cooling measures — in a variety of stamp duties known as "spicy policies" — will be relaxed effective Wednesday. They were first introduced in 2010 to curb red-hot property prices in a low interest rate environment. Home prices in Hong Kong fell four months in a row.

Persons: John Lee, Hong Kong's Organizations: Legislative Locations: Hong Kong, Kong

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages, Greek Orthodox church in Gaza hit in airstrike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Hamas spokesman Hassan Yousef was arrested Thursday during raids Israel conducted across the West Bank, according to Israeli authorities. Yousef was arrested “on suspicion of acting on behalf of Hamas,” the Israel Security Agency Shin Bet told CNN on Friday. Yousef is a leading Palestinian political figure, serving as the official Hamas spokesperson in the West Bank and holding a seat on the Palestinian Legislative Council. CNN previously reported that Yousef was believed to be among more than 60 members of Hamas detained by Israel in raids across the West Bank, the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory that is increasingly feeling the impact of the fighting in Gaza. Some context: Yousef has been arrested by Israeli forces on several occasions and has spent a total of 24 years in Israeli jails on various charges of incitement, entering Jerusalem without permission and for being a Hamas member.

Persons: Hassan Yousef, Yousef, “, Israel Organizations: West Bank, Israel Security Agency Shin Bet, CNN, Palestinian Legislative Council Locations: Israel, Gaza, Jerusalem, Globe

☆ Gaza conditions worsen by the hour as fresh wave of protests expected across Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The population of southern Gaza has swelled in recent days after the Israeli military told around one million residents to leave northern Gaza ahead of the expected Israeli ground incursion. Early Friday morning, CNN’s Nic Robertson witnessed increased military activity along Israel’s border with Gaza. Protests in the Middle EastIsraeli warplanes’ relentless bombardment has left hundreds of thousands of people homeless and sparked growing protests across the Middle East. Anti-Israel protests gained momentum this week after hundreds of Palestinians were killed Tuesday in a blast at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza. With anti-Israel protests rising across the Middle East there are fears other fronts could open up, particularly on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon where Hezbollah dominates and has increasingly clashed with Israel’s military over the last week.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, heightening, Biden, Israel, Khaled Desouki, Guillemette Thomas, Mohammed Abed, Israel’s, Hassan Yousef, Yousef, Yoav Gallant, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Nic Robertson, Ursula von der Leyen, ” von der Leyen Organizations: CNN, UN, UN Human Rights, Getty, Shifa, Hamas, of Interior, National Security, Jerusalem, Israel Defense Forces, ” CNN, Health Ministry, West Bank, Palestinian Legislative, Israeli, East, Hudson Institute, Israel, Al, Ahli Baptist Hospital, United Arab Locations: Gaza, Egypt, Lebanon, AFP, Palestine, Jerusalem, St, Porphyrius, Gaza City, Israel, Egypt’s, Washington ., Ahli, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Iraq

Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a law Thursday restricting release of her travel and security records after the Legislature wrapped up a special session marked by a fight to more broadly scale back the state Freedom of Information Act. Sanders sought the security exemptions as the State Police was sued by an attorney and blogger who accused the agency of illegally withholding records about the governor’s travel and security. Supporters of the bill said the governor's higher profile has raised the security risk she and her family faces. The broader exemptions originally sought prompted an outcry from media groups, transparency advocates and some conservatives who said it would create massive holes in the state's open records law. Sanders also signed legislation prohibiting state and local governments from requiring someone to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Persons: Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Sanders, she's, Donald Trump, ” Sanders, Andrew Collins, ” Collins, Matthew Campbell, Campbell, David Ray, We're, David Couch, ” Couch Organizations: —, GOP, State Police, White, Democratic, Republican, COVID, Legislative Locations: — Arkansas

Five judges from Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal handed down their decision on Tuesday, following years of legal battles challenging the government’s refusal to let gay people get married or form a civil union partnership. Hong Kong does not allow or grant same-sex marriage or unions, even though homosexuality has been decriminalized in the city since 1991. Jerome Yau, co-founder of Hong Kong Marriage Equality, said he is “cautiously optimistic” as he awaits further details to be hammered out. Polls in Hong Kong have shown growing support for same-sex equality among the public, especially younger people. Raymond Chan Chi-chuen, the first member of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council to come out as gay, is a co-defendant in Sham’s case.

Persons: ”, Kin Cheung, Hong, Jerome Yau, “, Jimmy Sham, Felix Wong, Sham, ” Sham, Hong Kong –, Raymond Chan Chi, Xi Jinping Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, Appeal, CNN, Parade, Civil, Prosecutors, Hong Kong’s Legislative Council Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong’s, Asia, Taiwan, Nepal, Beijing, New York, China, Shanghai

[1/2] Legislators vote for the third reading of the District Councils (Amendment) Bill, which pertains to electoral overhaul, at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, China July 6, 2023. Under the amendment bill, only 88 seats would be directly elected by the public, down from 452 seats in an election that saw a landslide victory by the democracy camp in 2019. For the remaining seats not contested, 40 percent would be appointed by the city leader and 27 ex-officio seats would remain. China had promised universal suffrage as an ultimate goal for Hong Kong in its mini-constitution, the Basic Law. Pro-democracy politicians won 388 out of 452 district council seats during the last district council election in 2019, taking almost ninety percent of the seats and humiliating the pro-Beijing camp.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Lemon Wong, Wong, John Lee, Jessie Pang, Joyce Zhou, James Pomfret, Michael Perry Organizations: Legislative, REUTERS, Hong Kong's, Civic Party, Tuen Mun District Council, Reuters, Hong, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, Tyrone Siu HONG KONG, Hong, Tuen Mun, Beijing

☆ Hong Kong restricts foreign lawyers from national security cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | 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: +3 min

HONG KONG, May 10 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's legislature passed a legal amendment on Wednesday to prevent foreign lawyers working on national security cases, a restriction critics say will undermine fair trials and the right of defendants to choose their lawyers. The amendment enshrines in law a ruling from China's top lawmaking body last December that Hong Kong courts must get the approval of the city's leader before admitting a foreign lawyer without Hong Kong qualifications for national security cases. It would also discourage some foreign lawyers from getting Hong Kong restricts foreign lawyers from national security casesinvolved, he said. "The vague definition of 'cases concerning national security' in the bill implies that the government can arbitrarily use the new powers to allow or prohibit foreign lawyers from taking up local cases, whatever civil or criminal, on the over-broad ground of 'national security'," Lai said. Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in 2020 after months of anti-government protests.

Hong Kong will issue vouchers worth HK$5,000 ($637) per person to all adults this year, half the amount issued in 2022. Hong Kong usually runs balanced budgets or surpluses, since its pegged currency system commits it to fiscal prudence. "HAPPY" HONG KONG? He also said a "Happy Hong Kong" campaign would be launched for the general public, including gourmet food fairs and harbourfront carnivals that would help stimulate consumption. ($1 = 7.8488 Hong Kong dollars)Additional reporting by Jessie Pang; Writing by Marius Zaharia and James Pomfret; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Forty-seven pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong have been accused of a conspiracy to commit subversion in a landmark political case. Benny Tai, 58, was a professor of law at the University of Hong Kong. Pro-democracy primary Pro-democracy candidates held a primary vote ahead of the upcoming Legislative Council election. The 47 defendants helped organize or participated in this event. New election rules announced China announced new rules for Hong Kong elections, limiting candidates to only those deemed loyal to Beijing.

☆ Hong Kong is criminalizing CBD as a ‘dangerous drug’ alongside heroin
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hong Kong CNN —Two years ago, cannabidiol was booming in Hong Kong. CBD cookies at the Found cafe in Hong Kong on August 11, 2022. And while CBD products could avoid this trace amount by using a pure form of CBD, most manufacturers mix other compounds for higher potency. From 2019 to early 2022, Hong Kong authorities launched nearly 120 “operations” seizing and testing CBD products from restaurants and shops to warehouses, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung said last year. Now “there’s less choice for consumers in Hong Kong.

☆ Lawyers exit Hong Kong as they face campaign of intimidation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +18 min

The event that precipitated his hasty departure, Vidler said, was the appearance of articles in the state-backed media in Hong Kong about him. “This was in my view state-sponsored intimidation and harassment,” said Vidler, whose wife and children later left Hong Kong. One Hong Kong solicitor who has relocated to England told Reuters that she knew of at least 80 Hong Kong lawyers who had moved to Britain since the security law was imposed in June 2020. Another lawyer, now living in Australia, estimated that several dozen Hong Kong lawyers had moved there. Mainland officials have long sought influence over these two influential bodies, according to senior Hong Kong lawyers.

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