#HONGKONG: Heritage Foundation Drops City-State From Freest Economy List

[world politics news]

Hong Kong used to dominate the annual Heritage Foundation ranking of the world’s freest economies. 

But the Asian City-State has disappeared entirely from the latest list. Together with Macau, it is now counted as part of China to reflect to he Communist staye's increasing sway over policy following months of pro-democracy protests in 2019. 

In the latest edition published on Mar 3, China resides in 107th place in the ranking, sandwiched between Uganda and Uzbekistan among economies rated as “mostly unfree.”

The move to scrap Hong Kong and Macau’s independent ratings comes as top Communist Party officials prepare to meet in Beijing for the National People’s Congress.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#HONGKONG: Officials Refuse To Renew Visas For Taiwan Diplomats Without Signing "One China" Document

[world politics news] 

Taiwan officials have been denied visa renewals in Hong Kong by the pro-Beijing government and have been forced to leave the city-state.

Several Taiwan officials of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Hong Kong  were reportedly declined visa renewals by the Hong Kong government, because they refused to sign statements in support of the “One China" Principle.

To do so would mean they accepted mainland Communist China's sovereignty over Taiwan, which has been self-governing since 1945.

As a result, they had to return to Taiwan, leaving only 12 officials in their office in Hong Kong. 

Visa documents of four Taiwan officials were either expired or about to expire. The officials made applications for visa renewals but they had not heard from the Hong Kong authorities for as long as 6 months. It was suspected that the authorities have been stalling their applications in an attempt to disrupt the office's operation. 

It was reported that there were once 20 officials in the office, which was set up last summer to help Hong Kong citizens who wanted to flee the city-state after the mainland imposed a new security law and the city's government began cracking down on dissidents.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#EU: Angered By Crackdown, Parliament Calls For Sanctions Against Hong Kong's Leaders

[world politics news]

 

The European Parliament has condemned the crackdown on the democratic opposition in Hong Kong, calling member states to introduce targeted sanction against Hong Kong and Chinese mainland officials.

The European Parliament has passed a resolution by the lopsided vote of 597-17, demanding an “immediate and unconditional release” of the democratic opposition and activists arrested and detained on “politically motivated charges,” during the recent political crackdown, including Joshua Wong, Ivan Lam, and Agnes Chow.

Members of Parliament also expressed regrets about the text of the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, stating that it did not reflect the Parliament’s desire to preserve Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy it negotiated under the one country/two systems policy agreed to when Britain handed over the city to mainland China in 1997.

It further warned that, “by rushing to reach this agreement and not taking concrete action against the serious and ongoing human rights violations, the EU risks undermining its credibility as a global human rights actor.” 

In addition, the Parliament urged EU member states to consider introducing targeted sanctions against individuals in Hong Kong and China, including Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, under the EU Human Rights Global Sanction Regime.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: Leading Democracy Advocate Joshua Wong Arrested In Crackdown On Dissenters

[world politics news] 

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong has been arrested in jail on a new charge, 1 of more than 50 pro-democracy political figures in Hong Kong who have been arrested in a recent crackdown on political dissent in the city-State.

Wong, 24, was arrested on suspicion of violating the controversial national security law imposed on Hong Kong last June, his friends and family said.

The leading activist, who is already serving a 13-month prison sentence for organising and participating in an unauthorised protest in 2019, was taken away to give a statement on the new charge, a post on his Facebook page said.

On Wednesday, 53 activists and Democrat Party members were arrested over their organisation and participation in last July's unofficial primary election for the since-postponed 2020 Legislative Council election.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: Founder Of Paper Critical Of Gov't Arrested, Sends Shockwaves Thru Media

[world politics news]

Hong Kong’s arrest of local media mogul Jimmy Lai Chee-ying sparked a round of international condemnation, with Washington, Brussels and others calling the move the latest example of the government’s use of a new national security law to silence political dissents.

The paper's Twitter feed reported that police rifled through news materials in the newsroom in an attempt to intimidate reporters.

The rapid responses to the move against Apple Daily founder Lai and others linked to the newspaper, which is known for its criticism of Beijing and the Hong Kong government, included US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s charge that the arrest was proof that the Chinese government has “eviscerated” Hong Kong’s freedoms.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#HONGKONG: Book Banning Fears As China Clamps Down

[world politics news]

Books by pro-democracy figures have been removed from public libraries in Hong Kong in the wake of a controversial new security law.

The works will be reviewed to see if they violate the new law, the authority which runs the libraries said.

The legislation targets secession, subversion and terrorism with punishments of up to life in prison.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.