https://www.yahoo.com/news/hong-kong-leader-little-bookseller-063326168.html?nhp=1
QuoteIn a rare, hastily convened press conference with the media on Monday, just hours after he returned from a nine-day vacation, Hong Kong's top official, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, spoke in tepid terms about his "concern" over the remarks of a local bookseller who very publicly returned to the territory last week after eight months in detention in mainland China.
The bookseller, Lam Wing-kee, is one of five affiliates of Mighty Current Media, a publishing house known for gossipy texts critical of mainland Chinese leaders, who disappeared at the end of last year, only to resurface across the border in the custody of mainland police. The "case of the missing booksellers," as it has been dubbed in the press here, is one of the most serious political crises in Hong Kong's history. The booksellers lived and worked in Hong Kong, but were detained for offending mainland Chinese law — an unprecedented breach, many legal experts agree, of the legal dynamic known as "one country, two systems," designed to preserve Hong Kong's democratic governance and way of life after outgoing colonial power Britain ceded control of the territory to Beijing in 1997.
In a press conference on June 16, Lam spoke in stark terms about his abduction and detention, saying that his and his colleagues' case "shows that Hongkongers should be concerned for their security." On Saturday afternoon, more than a thousand people, led by Lam himself, braved the summer heat and marched nearly 4 miles — from Mighty Current Media's bookstore to Beijing's liaison offices — to decry the Chinese authorities.
Despite the magnitude of the case, Leung's remarks on Monday were anodyne and vague. He told reporters that his government would "write" to the central government in Beijing to express its concern, and that Hong Kong would "review the notification mechanism between Hong Kong and the mainland, for we believe there is room for review and possibly improvement in the notification system."
"If necessary, I shall dispatch my government colleagues to follow up on these points," Leung said.
Leung is widely seen here as Beijing's stooge; his comments on Monday appear to demonstrate the Hong Kong government's apparent reluctance to challenge or offend the sovereign power in Beijing. When asked about Lam's comments that his safety depends on the Hong Kong government's ability to protect its citizens, Leung told TIME that the Hong Kong police "have been trying to contact Mr. Lam and are waiting for his reply."
Lai Tung-kwok, Minister for Security, dismissed Lam's suggestion that people here should be concerned by the case.
"Any person in Hong Kong who has a reasonable fear for his personal safety should approach the police," Lai said. "The police have established procedures to look into the case and provide all necessary assistance. This applies to everybody."
Later on Monday, Albert Ho, the pro-democratic lawmaker who facilitated Lam's press conference last week, spoke out against what he saw as the chief executive's reticence.
"I am both surprised and disappointed to note that up to this moment the chief executive still takes the view that there is no necessity for him to take up this matter directly with Beijing," Ho said. "The bookseller case has posed one of the greatest challenges to Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy."
Even pro-establishment lawmakers pushed the Hong Kong government to pursue their investigation a bit more diligently. "What is important is for the government led by the chief executive to find out the facts and let the people know," Jasper Tsang, the head of Hong Kong's legislature, told reporters.
I don't have much to say either.
Surprise. :D
Quote from: Monoriu on June 20, 2016, 06:57:03 AM
I don't have much to say either.
What if he were an AuntieMay publisher?
Quote from: mongers on June 20, 2016, 07:58:58 AM
What if he were an AuntieMay publisher?
Don't know what you mean.
Quote from: Monoriu on June 20, 2016, 06:57:03 AM
I don't have much to say either.
I bet you don't.
Quote from: Monoriu on June 20, 2016, 06:57:03 AM
I don't have much to say either.
That's kind of telling.
You have your own unusual view on HK politics, but you usually aren't afraid to share it.
Quote from: Barrister on June 20, 2016, 11:00:22 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on June 20, 2016, 06:57:03 AM
I don't have much to say either.
That's kind of telling.
You have your own unusual view on HK politics, but you usually aren't afraid to share it.
Maybe there are still mixed signals in the hierarchy. As yeah, otherwise you'd expect him to rail against democracy and protesters for democracy as he always does.
Been following these bookseller stories for a while. Very troubling. Also disappointed the UK hasn't raised it - but then our whole approach in East Asia is confused.
Only Donald Trump will cause China to collapse. That's why Mono hates him so much. :P
Evil Hong Kongians are a scourge to civilized societies
Or is it Hong Kongese. :huh:
ching chong from hong kong
Hong Kongesian doesn't sound evil.
We use "Hong Konger".
Quote from: Monoriu on June 21, 2016, 09:49:43 PM
We use "Hong Konger".
Not catchy
Hong Kongesian sounds more Machiavellian and cultured.
Does sound like an ailment though, like whooping cough or scabies.
Restless leg syndrome is real, however.
Wow, you must be bored today B4 :lol:
Quote from: 11B4V on June 21, 2016, 09:56:16 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on June 21, 2016, 09:49:43 PM
We use "Hong Konger".
Not catchy
Hong Kongesian sounds more Machiavellian and cultured.
Kongesian is too difficult to pronounce :P
Quote from: jimmy olsen on June 21, 2016, 10:04:51 PM
Wow, you must be bored today B4 :lol:
Shakin' Baby syndrome is no laughing matter Tim.
Quote from: Monoriu on June 21, 2016, 10:08:24 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 21, 2016, 09:56:16 PM
Quote from: Monoriu on June 21, 2016, 09:49:43 PM
We use "Hong Konger".
Not catchy
Hong Kongesian sounds more Machiavellian and cultured.
Kongesian is too difficult to pronounce :P
Of course it is. Don't be silly. It's Hong Kongesian.
Quote from: 11B4V on June 21, 2016, 10:11:15 PM
Of course it is. Don't be silly. It's Hong Kongesian.
It is Hong Konger :contract:
Quote from: Monoriu on June 21, 2016, 10:12:10 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 21, 2016, 10:11:15 PM
Of course it is. Don't be silly. It's Hong Kongesian.
It is Hong Konger :contract:
Listen your just making shit up now.
There's no
Russianer
Japaner
Polander
Americaner
Taiwaner
etc.
Quote from: 11B4V on June 21, 2016, 10:21:02 PM
Listen your just making shit up now.
There's no
Russianer
Japaner
Polander
Americaner
Taiwaner
etc.
There is New Yorker and Londoner :contract:
Quote from: Monoriu on June 21, 2016, 10:27:50 PM
Quote from: 11B4V on June 21, 2016, 10:21:02 PM
Listen your just making shit up now.
There's no
Russianer
Japaner
Polander
Americaner
Taiwaner
etc.
There is New Yorker and Londoner :contract:
Those are cities. :mad:
Quote from: 11B4V on June 21, 2016, 10:31:11 PM
Those are cities. :mad:
Hong Kong is a city :contract:
:D
I think Before has been sampling the home brew.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 21, 2016, 10:34:53 PM
:D
I think Before has been sampling the home brew.
Starting to sound like Siege.
Hongers?
The Kong?
Honkongians?
Anyway.
Would hate to he HKistani right now....
Or any time really.
Xianggangers
Quote from: Tyr on June 22, 2016, 01:41:39 AM
Hongers?
The Kong?
Honkongians?
Anyway.
Would hate to he HKistani right now....
Or any time really.
"The Kong" I like it.
Honkin' Kongers
King Kong?
Or is that only for African-Americans :raciss:
Rubio on the case!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/17/hong-kong-abductions-marco-rubio-seeks-us-sanctions-against-officials
QuoteHong Kong abductions: Marco Rubio seeks US sanctions against officials
Senator calls for travel ban and asset freeze against those behind snatching of booksellers amid fears Donald Trump will ignore Chinese human rights abuses
US senators have called for a travel ban and asset freeze for Chinese officials who abducted five Hong Kong booksellers in 2015, amid fears that Donald Trump will turn a blind eye to Chinese human rights abuses in a bid to improve relations with Beijing.
Last year five book publishers based in Hong Kong were detained by Chinese authorities and held incommunicado for months, with two abducted from Thailand and Hong Kong.
Legislation introduced by Senators Marco Rubio and Tom Cotton would require the US president to list those responsible for "the surveillance, abduction, detention, or forced confessions" of the book publishers, freeze any US-based assets and deny them entry to the US.
"In recent years Beijing has consistently undermined the 'one country, two systems' principle and infringed on the democratic freedoms of the residents of Hong Kong," Rubio said in a statement.
"It is critical in the days ahead that the democratic aspirations of the people of Hong Kong be a vital US interest and foreign policy priority."
The bill would also require the US secretary of state to issue a yearly report on Hong Kong. However the current legislative session is almost over, making it unlikely the bill will be passed.
When the UK handed the territory to China, Hong Kong was allowed under the "one country, two systems" framework to keep freedoms not available on the mainland.
Rubio introduced the legislation after meeting with democracy activist Joshua Wong, who led 79 days of street protests against the Chinese government in 2014. The 20-year-old chairman of a Hong Kong political party spoke at an event organised by the US congressional-executive commission on China.
Wong said: "Being a businessman I hope Donald Trump could know the dynamics in Hong Kong and know that to maintain the business sector benefits in Hong Kong, it's necessary to fully support human rights in Hong Kong to maintain the judicial independence and the rule of law."
He added the international community had a moral responsibility to Hong Kong.
Human rights activists in China and the US fear Trump will cast aside the interests of pro-democracy activists and human rights campaigners in a bid to seal what some think could be a historic rapprochement with Beijing.
Rubio also slammed a ruling by Hong Kong's high court to ban two elected lawmakers from taking office after they staged a protest during a swearing-in ceremony.
"China's assault on democratic institutions and human rights is of central importance to the people of Hong Kong and to its status as a free market, economic powerhouse and hub for international trade and investment," Rubio said.
Trump called Rubio and said something along the lines of hey little guy, gimme some dirt on China so we can bring it to the bargaining table. Next, will be the Deal(R). I'll shut up Rubio about the books in exchange for X.