Latest news with #AppleDaily
HKFP
17-07-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Gov't defends Jimmy Lai's detention arrangements after newspaper op-ed alleges ‘appalling conditions' in custody
The Hong Kong government has defended the detention arrangements of jailed pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai after a US newspaper published an op-ed saying Lai suffered from 'appalling conditions' in custody. In this picture taken on June 16, 2020, millionaire media tycoon Jimmy Lai, speaks during an interview at the Next Digital offices in Hong Kong. File photo: Anthony Wallace/AFP. The government said in a statement on Wednesday evening that it strongly condemned 'various organisations in the United States… and Western countries for 'disregarding the facts' and 'smearing' the government's handling of Lai's national security case. Lai, the 77-year-old founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy media outlet Apple Daily, has been detained since December 2020. His national security trial was adjourned in March and will restart in August. Separately, he is also serving an almost six-year sentence for fraud over violating lease agreements relating to Apple Daily's headquarters. 'Their remarks fully exposed the malicious and despicable intentions of anti-China organisations and media from the US and Western countries to undermine the rule of law in Hong Kong,' the statement read. The remarks came after Mark L. Clifford, the former director of Apple Daily's parent company Next Digital, said in an opinion piece on Wall Street Journal that Lai 'has been in solitary confinement for most of his time behind bars. He said he was concerned about Lai's health in the 'windowless cell,' especially amid the city's hot summers. Stanley Prison. File Photo: Frog Wong, via Google Map. Clifford said Hong Kong's temperature next week was forecast to be in the 90s in Fahrenheit, or over 32 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is expected to be 95 per cent. He said it would 'feel as if it is more than 100 degrees,' or almost 38 degrees Celsius. 'In Mr. Lai's un-air-conditioned windowless cell, it will feel even hotter. That is neither safe nor humane,' Clifford, who has authored a book about Lai, said. 'Why is Hong Kong so aggressive in responding to questions about Mr. Lai? The answer lies in the absurdity of holding a 77-year-old newspaper publisher in appalling conditions while he is being tried on sham charges,' he wrote. Foreign lawyers' claims Apart from Clifford, a team of Lai's overseas-based lawyers including King's Counsel Caoilfhionn Gallagher, who has described herself as a counsel for Lai, have been alleging that the mogul has been placed in prolonged solitary confinement for almost four years. Last September, the team also made an appeal to the UN alleging that Lai had been denied access to diabetes medication. Following the foreign lawyers' claims, Lai's local legal representatives, from Robertsons Solicitors, said Lai wanted it to be known that he had been receiving 'medical attention' for his conditions, including diabetes, Bloomberg reported. Jimmy Lai's son, Sebastien Lai (left) and King's Counsel Caoilfhionn Gallagher. Photo: FreeJimmyLai, via X. Lai also has access to 'daylight through the windows in the corridor outside his cell albeit he cannot see the sky,' and is allowed to do exercises for an hour every day, according to the local lawyers. In Wednesday's statement, the Hong Kong government said the solitary confinement was made at Lai's request and approved by the Correctional Services Department (CSD). The department 'attaches great importance' to the health and safety of those in custody, it added. '[T]he CSD is committed to ensuring that the custodial environment is secure, safe, humane, appropriate and healthy, and that an environment with good ventilation, as well as appropriate and timely medical support will be provided,' the statement read. In June 2020, Beijing inserted national security legislation directly into Hong Kong's mini-constitution – bypassing the local legislature – following a year of pro-democracy protests and unrest. It criminalised subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorist acts, which were broadly defined to include disruption to transport and other infrastructure. The move gave police sweeping new powers, alarming democrats, civil society groups and trade partners, as such laws have been used broadly to silence and punish dissidents in China. However, the authorities say it has restored stability and peace to the city. Safeguard press freedom; keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team One-time Monthly One-time $150 $500 $1,000 Other Donation amount $ Monthly $150 $250 $500 Other Donation amount per month $ Members of HK$150/month unlock 8 benefits: An HKFP deer keyring or tote; exclusive Tim Hamlett columns; feature previews; merch drops/discounts; "behind the scenes" insights; a chance to join newsroom Q&As, early access to our Annual/Transparency Report & all third-party banner ads disabled. Join or donate instantly
HKFP
06-07-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
‘Highlight of my career': Former US consul general Gregory May on his tenure and a changing Hong Kong
When Gregory May came to Hong Kong in 1992, he stayed at Chungking Mansions – a sprawling, labyrinthine building in Tsim Sha Tsui known for its affordable guesthouses and cultural diversity. At the time, May was a 21-year-old university student passing through Hong Kong en route to Taiwan, where he had enrolled in a one-year programme to study Chinese. After finishing his undergraduate degree and a stint in journalism, May joined the US government for a career in diplomacy. His job took him to places including Italy, Mongolia and mainland China, and in September 2022, Hong Kong. During his last week in the city, 55-year-old May was back at Chungking Mansions, where he enjoyed a cup of masala chai and had his face threaded. After serving as the consul general for Hong Kong and Macau for almost three years, May has moved to Beijing to become second-in-command at the embassy there. Speaking to HKFP last Sunday at his home near the Peak, the diplomat said he was leaving Hong Kong with 'genuine warm feelings' for the city. Outside, in preparation for a farewell party for the consul general, house staff inflated bouncy castles – entertainment for the kids while the adults mingle. 'You can believe that Hong Kong is a wonderful city and still disagree with the policies of the mainland Chinese and Hong Kong governments,' May told HKFP. 'Testy' relationship During May's time as the top US diplomat in Hong Kong, the city enacted its second national security law, two landmark national security trials were underway, and major pro-democracy parties disbanded. There have also been 'ups and downs' in the broader US-China ties, May added. Amid these developments, May described the US government's relationship with Hong Kong authorities as 'testy with room for dialogue.' The diplomat said his 'main concern' during his tenure had been Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. Lai is on trial for conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed national security law. However, 'our concern goes beyond Jimmy Lai… you have people who are in jail for participating in political activity that was specifically allowed for in the Basic Law,' May said. 'People [are] in jail for criticising the government online.' 'That's been difficult to witness, and over the three years, that's gotten more challenging in terms of human rights.' In response to HKFP's enquiries, the Hong Kong government said that attempts to 'procure a defendant's evasion of the criminal justice process' are a 'blatant act' of undermining the rule of law. US politicians should 'immediately stop interfering in [Hong Kong]'s internal affairs and the independent exercise of judicial power,' it added. May also commented on the Hong Kong police's arrest warrants and bounties on 19 overseas activists under the Beijing-imposed national security law. Some of these activists now live in the US, and at least one of them is a US citizen. 'Their alleged crimes [include] things they've said in the United States in our case, under our constitutional protections,' he said, adding that the Hong Kong police were trying to 'suppress free speech in my country.' In its reply to HKFP, the Hong Kong government said the security law's extraterritorial effect 'fully aligns with the principles of international law.' 'Those absconders hiding in the US and other Western countries are wanted because they continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security,' it wrote. Still, May said the US had 'good communication overall' with Hong Kong, and that there had been solid cooperation on issues such as combating drug shipments and scams. He added that several lawmakers have been open to discussion despite their disagreements on certain US and Hong Kong policies. 'There is still a group… in some circles of the government that still value maintaining cooperation,' he said. Responding to May's comment about the 'testy' US-Hong Kong relationship, the city's authorities pointed out the ties between the two governments in areas such as trade, education and culture. The US's trade in goods with Hong Kong supports about 140,000 jobs in the US, they said. 'The shared interests between Hong Kong and the US have allowed us to develop a multifaceted and longstanding relationship over the years,' the government said. 'Pressure from outside' The US consulate has not been immune to the city's politicised landscape, May said. Outside of the law, the diplomat said he had observed 'softer repressive measures' aimed at stifling certain groups' 'perfectly legal activities' – and he himself had experienced that first hand. Like the Democratic Party, the city's largest pro-democracy political party, and the Hong Kong Journalists Association, which have faced difficulties securing venues for their annual dinners, the US consulate has encountered similar problems with finding hosts for its events, May said. 'We're doing something in an outside venue, and suddenly there's a plumbing problem over there, or there's some excuse for why the venue is no longer available,' he said. May said it 'hasn't happened very often,' but it had been with 'increasing frequency.' 'It's very clear that this is pressure from outside. Phone calls are made… they get the message that they shouldn't be hosting anything,' he said, adding that these incidents happened closer to the end of his time here. In response, the government told HKFP it had 'no comment' and that rights and freedoms remain protected. Compared with the earlier parts of his tenure, May said he received fewer invitations and had fewer opportunities to give talks at secondary schools to promote higher education in the US. He said he had also had requests to speak at universities rescinded, which he attributed to 'external pressure.' May also expressed concerns about the city's media landscape, saying there had been a 'real deterioration.' Regarding press freedom, the diplomat lamented the demise of political cartoonist Wong Kei-kwan, known as 'Zunzi.' The cartoonist, known for his satirical takes on current affairs, used to have a regular column in the Chinese-language local newspaper Ming Pao. Fluent in Mandarin, May said he subscribed to Ming Pao to keep up his Chinese reading and to read Zunzi's cartoons. The comic strip was suspended in May 2023 after being criticised by authorities. 'I love the cartoons by Zunzi,' May said. 'They're funny, [and] it's a challenge to figure out the Cantonese and the special sayings.' 'He criticised the United States, he criticised a lot of different people in those cartoons, and we can't see them anymore,' he said. 'And we all know why.' The Hong Kong government has repeatedly said that press freedom is not absolute and defended the media landscape, calling it 'as vibrant as ever.' Going local The turbulent relationship between the US and China – and by extension, Hong Kong – may have defined May's tenure in the city. But that is perhaps not what most Hongkongers will remember him for. Videos on the US consulate's Facebook and Instagram pages featuring him shopping at a wet market and riding a minibus, while showing off his earnest, if not imperfect, Cantonese, have racked up hundreds of thousands of views. A four-second clip posted last month, showing him perfectly splitting a piece of tissue in two, has over 300,000 views on Facebook. 'I just found out that many people in Hong Kong have a habit of sharing tissues. Do you think I tore mine the right way?' the caption reads. May said his time in Hong Kong had 'really been the highlight of my career.' Besides the people, the diplomat said he would miss his walks to the Peak from his residence, Ocean Park trips with his son, and above all else, food. 'Hong Kong has so many Michelin-star restaurants… but I think the best places to eat are the ones that don't take Octopus or credit card. Cash only,' he said. The diplomat counts wonton noodles and two-dish rice as his favourites. His go-tos for the latter are preserved sausage and a vegetable like xiao bai cai, a type of Chinese cabbage. Reflecting on the political developments during his almost three years in Hong Kong, May said he would still encourage Americans to move to the city. 'You just have to be knowledgeable about some of the changes here. You need to be mindful of things like the national security law and Article 23,' he said, referring to the homegrown security law passed last year. 'Hong Kong has changed. Hong Kong, fundamentally, is not the free society that it used to be.'
The Diplomat
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Diplomat
End of the Line: Hong Kong's Last Opposition Voice Falls Silent
As Hong Kong's last lawful pro-democracy group, the folding of the League of Social Democrats has brought an era of public dissent to a close. Hong Kong's League of Social Democrats (LSD) party announced its decision to disband on June 29, citing 'immense political pressure' from Beijing. There was no public protest, no police intervention, no courtroom drama. But the implications are serious and far-reaching. In the span of five years, the city's opposition has been steadily and deliberately dismantled. Laws have been rewritten, activists jailed, accounts frozen, and spaces for dissent shut down. As Hong Kong's last lawful pro-democracy group, the LSD was known for its protests, defense of civil liberties, and push for social equity. Its departure has brought an era of public dissent to a close. Established in 2006, the League of Social Democrats became one of the rare political groups in Hong Kong to openly challenge both the Hong Kong government and Beijing's growing presence in the city's affairs. While other groups adopted more moderate strategies, the LSD remained openly confrontational. This stance often drew political and legal consequences. Its founder Leung Kwok-hung, commonly known as Long Hair, is currently serving time under the National Security Law. Jimmy Sham, another central figure, was detained in 2021 for allegedly plotting to subvert state power. He was released in April 2025 after nearly four years in custody, although proceedings against the wider group are still underway. With repeated warnings to disband from Beijing, more members were barred from running for office or pressured to flee. Even with its ranks shrinking, the LSD maintained a visible presence. It continued to participate in protests, spoke out on political arrests, and worked to preserve space for public expression as the authorities cracked down on dissent. Since the enactment of the National Security Law in June 2020, authorities have arrested more than 330 individuals and convicted more than 160 under its provisions. The most high-profile case involved the arrest of 47 pro-democracy figures who participated in unofficial primary elections in 2020. Authorities described their effort to coordinate electoral strategy as a national security threat. Many of those arrested were elected district councilors. Several individuals have been held in custody for extended periods without trial, while others were convicted in 2024 and sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to ten years. The crackdown has extended beyond political parties. In August 2020, media tycoon Jimmy Lai was arrested at his home, and his newspaper, Apple Daily, was raided by over 200 police officers. Within a year, Apple Daily shut down, its journalists faced prosecution, and its assets were frozen by authorities. Stand News, another prominent outlet, shut down in December 2021 after a police raid led to multiple arrests. The Civic Party, alongside the LSD, was one of Hong Kong's largest traditional opposition parties. It disbanded in 2023 after facing mounting political pressure and disqualification of its members from elections. By late 2024, not a single active pro-democracy organization remained, except the LSD. Hong Kong's legislature no longer includes political opposition. Electoral reforms imposed by Beijing in 2021 introduced a vetting mechanism that ensures only 'patriots' can run for office. The number of directly elected seats was reduced to 20 out of 90, with all candidates screened by a pro-Beijing committee, leaving no space for dissent. In 2022, John Lee, a former security chief who led the crackdown on the 2019 pro-democracy protests, became Hong Kong's chief executive. He was chosen in an uncontested vote by a 1,461-member committee made up largely of Beijing loyalists, highlighting the city's new political order. Judicial independence has also narrowed in scope. Judges appointed by the chief executive preside over national security cases. Proceedings are often closed to the public, and bail is rarely granted. According to government figures, over 90 percent of defendants charged under the National Security Law have been denied bail, a sharp reversal of long-standing legal norms in the city. The institutional redesign also extends into education and the civil service. From 2021, civil servants must take loyalty oaths affirming their allegiance to the government and the Basic Law. Teachers have been dismissed for holding critical views or for allegedly failing to promote 'correct' national values. A new curriculum promotes patriotism in schools, while universities have purged books by pro-democracy scholars. Memorials commemorating the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown have been dismantled, and public commemorations are now banned. The international response has been measured. Governments including the United States and the United Kingdom have issued sanctions targeting specific officials and voiced concern over the erosion of civil liberties. However, these actions have had a limited impact on policy outcomes. The Chinese central government has framed developments in Hong Kong as matters of domestic governance, placing them largely beyond the reach of external influence. As a result, the 'One Country, Two Systems' model appears to have undergone a significant transformation in both tone and substance. Many former activists now contribute from abroad or engage in more discreet forms of civic involvement within the city. Public protests have faded, replaced by private acts of remembrance and reflection. Political dialogue continues through informal gatherings, digital spaces, and creative expression. The 2019 mass protests are no longer publicly acknowledged, and commemorating them carries legal risk. In its final statement, the LSD called on Hong Kong residents to uphold their values 'in their own ways.' That message reflects a shift in political expression, less visible but still present. While traditional activism has faded, core democratic ideals endure in private and informal spaces. The LSD's closure marks more than the end of one group; it signals a broader transformation of civic life. Open debate may have receded, but the memory of those ideals remains, carried forward by those committed to remembering.
New York Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Hong Kong's security net extends beyond arrests as small businesses pressured
HONG KONG — It's been years since mass arrests all but silenced pro-democracy activism in Hong Kong. But a crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese city is still expanding, hitting restaurants, bookstores and other small businesses. Shops and eateries owned by people once associated with the largely subdued pro-democracy movement are feeling a tightening grip through increased official inspections, anonymous complaint letters and other regulatory checks. Those critical of the city's political changes say it's a less visible side of a push to silence dissent that began five years ago when Beijing imposed a national security law to crush challenges to its rule, under which opposition politicians were jailed and pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily was shuttered. 10 Leticia Wong, former pro-democracy district councillor, poses for photographs at her bookstore in Hong Kong. AP China said the law was necessary for the city's stability following anti-government protests in 2019. In 2024, the city passed its own national security law, which has been used to jail people for actions like writing pro-independence messages on the back of bus seats and wearing a T-shirt carrying a protest slogan that authorities deemed could imply the separation of Hong Kong from China, a red line for Beijing. In recent weeks, food authorities sent letters to restaurants warning that their business licenses could be revoked if the government deems them to be endangering national security or public interest. 10 Shuttered stores in Tsim Sha Tsui district in Hong Kong AP 10 In 2024, the city passed its own national security law, which has been used to jail people for actions like writing pro-independence messages on the back of bus seats and wearing a T-shirt carrying a protest slogan that authorities deemed could imply the separation of Hong Kong from China, a red line for Beijing. AP Frequent inspections Leticia Wong, a former pro-democracy district councilor who now runs a bookstore, says her shop is frequently visited by food and hygiene inspectors, the fire department or other authorities over complaints about issues like hosting events without a license. It happens most often around June 4, the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Her records show government authorities took measures against her shop some 92 times between July 2022 and June 2025, including inspecting her shop, conspicuously patrolling outside, or sending letters warning her of violations. She has been studying regulations to protect herself from accidentally breaking them. 'Some areas look trivial — and they really are — but they still have the power to make you face consequences,' she said. 10 Chan Kim Kam, former pro-democracy district councillor. AP 10 Activists from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) hold copies of a special edition of the former Hong Kong's newspaper Apple Daily, during a protest marking the fourth anniversary of its closure MOHAMMED BADRA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock In an emailed reply to The Associated Press, the fire department said it conducted checks at Wong's business following multiple complaints this year. Wong's bookstore passed most of them but still faces enforcement action for failing to provide valid certificates for two fire extinguishers and its emergency lighting system, it said. Other small business owners described similar experiences. A bakery that put up pro-democracy decorations during the 2019 protests saw food authorities' inspections jump from quarterly to monthly over the past one to two years, mostly over labeling complaints. Its owner, who asked to remain anonymous fearing government retribution, said the frequent inspections made running the business a struggle. A restaurant owner who received the notice of the newly added terms on possible license revocation over national security violations said he doesn't know what could be considered a violation and fears one wrong move could cost his staff their jobs. He spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing potential impact on his business partners and employees. 10 A bakery that put up pro-democracy decorations during the 2019 protests saw food authorities' inspections jump from quarterly to monthly over the past one to two years, mostly over labeling complaints. AP 10 Books about Hong Kong politics are displayed on bookshelf at Leticia Wong's bookstore. AP Food authorities said inspections follow the law, information and public complaints. They maintained that the new national security conditions for food business licenses were clearly defined and would not affect law-abiding operators. Anonymous denunciations Others say they have lost opportunities after anonymous letters were sent to employers or business partners. Wong said an anonymous letter sent to an organization that had planned an event at her shop prompted them to cancel the booking. Separately, she lost a freelance job after a funder demanded that a social enterprise not hire her without a specific reason. Her landlord also received an anonymous letter warning them not to rent the space to her. 'I feel that this society is working very hard — that is, within the system, under the official system, working very hard to reject me, or to make my life difficult,' Wong said. 10 Wong said an anonymous letter sent to an organization that had planned an event at her shop prompted them to cancel the booking. AP Chan Kim-kam, another former district councilor, says she lost both a part-time job and a role in a play after the people she worked for were pressured. A school where she taught sociology part-time asked her to leave after it received a letter claiming that she made a student uncomfortable. The letter, which was written in the simplified Chinese characters used in mainland China but less prominently in Hong Kong, included links to news reports about her arrest under the homegrown national security law last year, though she was never charged. Meanwhile, the city's Leisure and Cultural Services Department told her drama group to replace her or lose their venue, she said. 'I think it's really such a pity. When the culture of reporting people has become so intense, it destroys the trust between people,' she said. Cultural authorities, declining to discuss specific bookings, said all their venue bookings were managed under established procedures. 10 Cultural authorities, declining to discuss specific bookings, said all their venue bookings were managed under established procedures. AP Rule of law in question Hong Kong leader John Lee has said the security law upholds the rule of law principle and only an extremely small portion of people were targeted. He noted 332 people have been arrested for offenses related to national security, about 66 each year on average, or 0.2% of the police's annual arrest figures. Still, he warned of persisting soft resistance, saying 'the streets are full of petty people.' Local broadcaster i-Cable News said national security guidelines would be issued to government workers. Secretary for Security Chris Tang told the broadcaster that even a cleaner should report words endangering national security, if any are found during their job. But Eric Lai, a research fellow at Georgetown Center for Asian Law, said Hong Kong is using regulatory powers to monitor and regulate dissent without checks and balances. Local courts were unable to check the powers granted to the government under the security laws, he said. 10 But Eric Lai, a research fellow at Georgetown Center for Asian Law, said Hong Kong is using regulatory powers to monitor and regulate dissent without checks and balances. AP It fits a common pattern among undemocratic governments like mainland China, he said. In many cases across the border, law enforcement officers frequently harass and surveil dissenters without formal charges. 'It tells the world that the so-called rule of law in Hong Kong is only a facade of rule by men,' he said. Outside a court on Jun. 12, members of the pro-democracy party League of Social Democrats protested against their convictions over street booth activities with a banner that says 'rule of law in name, silencing voices in reality.' Every morning, the NY POSTcast offers a deep dive into the headlines with the Post's signature mix of politics, business, pop culture, true crime and everything in between. Subscribe here! They were fined for collecting money without a permit and displaying posters without approval. The judge said freedom of expression was not absolute and restrictions could be imposed to maintain public order. On Sunday, the party announced it had dissolved, citing immense political pressure and consideration of consequences for its members, months after the city's biggest pro-democracy party announced to move toward disbandment. Its chairperson Chan Po-ying wiped away tears at the news conference. 'In the past, the government said it focused on a small portion of people. Now, it includes various kinds of people in Hong Kong, ordinary residents,' she said.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Five years after killing Hong Kong's democracy, China continues crackdown on leftover freedoms
Even as China had killed whatever limited democracy existed in the once-semiautonomous Hong Kong in 2020, it continues the crackdown on leftover freedoms and democratic aspirations five years later. read more Riot police officers stand during an anti-government demonstration on New Year's Day to call for better governance and democratic reforms in Hong Kong, China, January 1, 2020. (Reuters/Navesh Chitrakar) It's been years since mass arrests all but silenced pro-democracy activism in Hong Kong. But a crackdown on dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese city is still expanding, hitting restaurants, bookstores and other small businesses. Shops and eateries owned by people once associated with the largely subdued pro-democracy movement are feeling a tightening grip through increased official inspections, anonymous complaint letters, and other regulatory checks. Those critical of the city's political changes say it's a less visible side of a push to silence dissent that began five years ago when Beijing imposed a national security law to crush challenges to its rule, under which opposition politicians were jailed and pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily was shuttered. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD China said the law was necessary for the city's stability following anti-government protests in 2019. In 2024, the city passed its own national security law, which has been used to jail people for actions like writing pro-independence messages on the back of bus seats and wearing a T-shirt carrying a protest slogan that authorities deemed could imply the separation of Hong Kong from China, a red line for Beijing. In recent weeks, food authorities sent letters to restaurants warning that their business licenses could be revoked if the government deems them to be endangering national security or public interest. Frequent inspections Leticia Wong, a former pro-democracy district councilor who now runs a bookstore, says her shop is frequently visited by food and hygiene inspectors, the fire department or other authorities over complaints about issues like hosting events without a license. It happens most often around June 4, the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Her records show government authorities took measures against her shop some 92 times between July 2022 and June 2025, including inspecting her shop, conspicuously patrolling outside, or sending letters warning her of violations. She has been studying regulations to protect herself from accidentally breaking them. 'Some areas look trivial — and they really are — but they still have the power to make you face consequences,' she said. In an emailed reply to The Associated Press, the fire department said it conducted checks at Wong's business following multiple complaints this year. Wong's bookstore passed most of them but still faces enforcement action for failing to provide valid certificates for two fire extinguishers and its emergency lighting system, it said. Other small business owners described similar experiences. A bakery that put up pro-democracy decorations during the 2019 protests saw food authorities' inspections jump from quarterly to monthly over the past one to two years, mostly over labeling complaints. Its owner, who asked to remain anonymous fearing government retribution, said the frequent inspections made running the business a struggle. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A restaurant owner who received the notice of the newly added terms on possible license revocation over national security violations said he doesn't know what could be considered a violation and fears one wrong move could cost his staff their jobs. He spoke on the condition of anonymity, fearing potential impact on his business partners and employees. Food authorities said inspections follow the law, information and public complaints. They maintained that the new national security conditions for food business licenses were clearly defined and would not affect law-abiding operators. The Hong Kong Chief Executive's office has not immediately commented. Anonymous denunciations Others say they have lost opportunities after anonymous letters were sent to employers or business partners. Wong said an anonymous letter sent to an organization that had planned an event at her shop prompted them to cancel the booking. Separately, she lost a freelance job after a funder demanded that a social enterprise not hire her without a specific reason. Her landlord also received an anonymous letter warning them not to rent the space to her. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I feel that this society is working very hard — that is, within the system, under the official system, working very hard to reject me, or to make my life difficult,' Wong said. Chan Kim-kam, another former district councilor, says she lost both a part-time job and a role in a play after the people she worked for were pressured. A school where she taught sociology part-time asked her to leave after it received a letter claiming that she made a student uncomfortable. The letter, which was written in the simplified Chinese characters used in mainland China but less prominently in Hong Kong, included links to news reports about her arrest under the homegrown national security law last year, though she was never charged. Meanwhile, the city's Leisure and Cultural Services Department told her drama group to replace her or lose their venue, she said. 'I think it's really such a pity. When the culture of reporting people has become so intense, it destroys the trust between people,' she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Cultural authorities, declining to discuss specific bookings, said all their venue bookings were managed under established procedures. Rule of law in question Hong Kong leader John Lee has said the security law upholds the rule of law principle and only an extremely small portion of people were targeted. He noted 332 people have been arrested for offenses related to national security, about 66 each year on average, or 0.2% of the police's annual arrest figures. Still, he warned of persisting soft resistance, saying 'the streets are full of petty people.' Local broadcaster i-Cable News said national security guidelines would be issued to government workers. Secretary for Security Chris Tang told the broadcaster that even a cleaner should report words endangering national security, if any are found during their job. But Eric Lai, a research fellow at Georgetown Center for Asian Law, said Hong Kong is using regulatory powers to monitor and regulate dissent without checks and balances. Local courts were unable to check the powers granted to the government under the security laws, he said. It fits a common pattern among undemocratic governments like mainland China, he said. In many cases across the border, law enforcement officers frequently harass and surveil dissenters without formal charges. 'It tells the world that the so-called rule of law in Hong Kong is only a facade of rule by men,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Outside a court on Jun. 12, members of the pro-democracy party League of Social Democrats protested against their convictions over street booth activities with a banner that says 'rule of law in name, silencing voices in reality.' They were fined for collecting money without a permit and displaying posters without approval. The judge said freedom of expression was not absolute and restrictions could be imposed to maintain public order. On Sunday, the party announced it had dissolved, citing immense political pressure and consideration of consequences for its members, months after the city's biggest pro-democracy party announced to move toward disbandment. Its chairperson Chan Po-ying wiped away tears at the news conference. 'In the past, the government said it focused on a small portion of people. Now, it includes various kinds of people in Hong Kong, ordinary residents,' she said. (This is an agency copy. Except for the headline, the copy has not been edited by Firstpost staff.) STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
