The Government Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities ($2 Scheme) will be extended to cover trams as well as red minibus and kaito routes from 27 February 2022.
45 red minibus routes and 11 kaito routes have been approved by Transport Department to join the Scheme. For passenger ease, the $2 logo will be displayed prominently and atop the Octopus readers of the eligible routes – download the list here.
Today 9 February, the Hong Kong Government published a response to a statement from the Media Freedom Coalition about freedom of the press in Hong Kong. Here is the press release in full.
“HKSAR Government strongly opposes misleading and baseless allegations by foreign entities on freedoms of the press and speech in Hong Kong.
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (February 9) strongly condemned a totally erroneous statement issued by the United Kingdom Government in the name of a number of foreign entities under the so-called “Media Freedom Coalition” concerning the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law.
A spokesperson for the HKSAR Government said, “The HKSAR is proud of its unwavering commitment to the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary, which underpin the city’s success as an international business and financial centre. Under Article 25 of the Basic Law, all Hong Kong residents shall be equal before the law. It is baseless for the signatories to the statement to make such allegations that our authorities have targeted and suppressed independent media in the HKSAR since the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law.
“Since the city’s reunification with the motherland, the HKSAR Government has been firmly committed to safeguarding the freedoms of the press and speech, both of which are protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. As a matter of fact, Article 4 of the Hong Kong National Security Law stipulates that such freedoms shall be protected in accordance with the law while safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.”
The spokesperson added, “Foreign countries that have in their respective jurisdictions national security legislation which is more wide-ranging than the Hong Kong National Security Law are no doubt aware that according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the exercising of the freedoms of the press and speech must comply with the restrictions of the law for reasons including protection of national security.
“We must reiterate that all law enforcement actions taken by Hong Kong law enforcement agencies under the Hong Kong National Security Law, or indeed any local legislation, are based on evidence, strictly according to the law and for the acts of the persons or entities concerned, and have nothing to do with their occupation, background or political stance. The law enforcement actions taken by the HKSAR Government against Stand News adhered to such fundamental principles.
“We must also point out that the media landscape in Hong Kong is as vibrant as ever. As a case in point, a total of 209 media organisations, be they based locally, in the Mainland or overseas, are registered with the HKSAR Government News and Media Information System of the Information Services Department at present, showing an increase after the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law. As always, the media can exercise their right to monitor the HKSAR Government’s work, and their freedom of commenting on or even criticising government policies remains uninhibited as long as this is not in violation of the law.
“We express our deep regret and must rebuke those foreign entities for signing a ‘media freedom-related’ statement that contained no more than the usual fact-twisting and opinionated attacks against the Hong Kong National Security Law since its promulgation for implementation in the HKSAR upon the passage by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on June 30, 2020. Contrary to their allegations, the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law has restored stability in society and the people of Hong Kong are no longer threatened or intimidated by acts or activities endangering national security or their everyday life.”
As of 8 February, The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has started to allow close contacts and household contacts of close contacts to undergo home quarantine for 14 days and four days respectively.
Persons undergoing “StayHomeSafe” must stay in their dwelling place and wear an electronic wristband throughout the quarantine period; regularly monitor their physical condition including taking body temperature twice daily; conduct regular Rapid Antigen Test on their own on specified dates (close contacts must also attend the Community Testing Centre for testing on Day 12); and follow other home quarantine guidelines issued by the Department of Health (DH).
The CHP will assess if people are suitable for StayHome Safe quarantine. Factors to be considered include the suitability of the person’s dwelling place for quarantine, the risk level of persons confining at the same place, and their individual physical conditions.
The Government has launched a website for the “StayHomeSafe” Scheme:
www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/home-quarantine.html, and the Home Affairs Department has also set up hotline (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/Important_Contact_Information.pdf) to provide assistance to persons undergoing “StayHomeSafe”.
There is also a list of buildings where people who are part of the StayHomeSafe live.
People buying new SIM cards, including SIM service plan (SSP) services and pre-paid SIM (PPS) cards, after 1 March 2022 will need to complete real-name registration before activation.
Existing PPS card users are required to complete real-name registration with respective telecommunications operators on or before 23 February 2023. PPS cards without real-name registration will be deactivated after this deadline.
Individual users are required to provide their name, date of birth, Hong Kong identity (HKID) card number and an HKID card copy for registration. While corporate users are required to provide business registration information and designate a responsible person, with the personal information of that person provided.
The Real-name Registration Programme, which commenced 1 September 2021, is applicable to all SIM cards issued by telecommunications operators of Hong Kong to be used for local person-to-person communications (including voice, data and/or SMS services).
The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition express their deep concern at the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities’ attacks on freedom of the press and their suppression of independent local media in Hong Kong.
Recent developments include the raid of Stand News offices, the arrests of its staff, and the subsequent self-closure of Citizen News, stemming from concern over the safety of its staff. Since the enactment of the National Security Law in June 2020, authorities have targeted and suppressed independent media in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This has eroded the protected rights and freedoms set out in the Basic Law and undermines China’s obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. This has also caused the near-complete disappearance of local independent media outlets in Hong Kong. These ongoing actions further undermine confidence in Hong Kong’s international reputation through the suppression of human rights, freedom of speech and free flow and exchange of opinions and information.
A stable and prosperous Hong Kong in which human rights and fundamental freedoms are protected should be in everybody’s interest. We urge Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities to respect freedom of the press and freedom of speech in Hong Kong, in line with the Basic Law and China’s obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Co-signatures:
Australia
Austria
Canada
Czech Republic
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
the Netherlands
New Zealand
Slovakia
Slovenia
Switzerland
the United Kingdom
the United States
Media Freedom Coalition50 countries have signed up to the Media Freedom Coalition and pledged to:
The pledge was published and signed as part of the Global Conference for Media Freedom hosted by the UK and Canadian governments in London on 10 and 11 July 2019. It is published in English and French.
Kung Hei Fat Choi 恭喜發財
All of us here at bc magazine would like to wish our readers, advertisers, and suppliers a Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Covid free Year of the Tiger
Art Basel today postponed its Hong Kong fair, which was scheduled to take place in March 2022, to May 2022 in response to the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic and related travel restrictions.
Adeline Ooi, Director Asia, Art Basel said: “By taking this decision early, our goal is to ensure that we will be able to welcome the community of art supporters and members of the public at HKCEC, as well as the international audience that will be joining us virtually while protecting the health and safety of everyone concerned.”
The 2022 edition of Art Basel Hong Kong will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 27-29 May, 2022, with preview days on 25-26 May.
Art Basel
Date: 25-29 May, 2022
Venue: HK Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets: tbc
Ten politically vocal singers and groups, including Denise Ho and Anthony Wong Yiu-ming, have been removed from RTHK playlists.
DJs have apparently been instructed by senior RTHK management to stop playing any new or old songs by: RubberBand, C AllStar, Dear Jane, Serrini, Kay Tse, Charmaine Fong, Alfred Hui, Denise Ho, Anthony Wong Yiu-ming.
An RTHK spokesman told Ming Pao that “the broadcaster is supporting the development of Chinese-language pop music locally, and program hosts would select appropriate songs to feature from a professional perspective.”
A DJ told Ming Pao that the black-list was handed down by management at the beginning of this year and that it will affect program production as many of the artist’s songs are classics that have nothing to do with politics.
When asked about the ban, Alfred Hui said he was not worried. “Music fans can find the kind of music they want to listen to on various platforms and channels these days. Music can also be released as NFTs (non-fungible tokens). I still plan to release two albums this year.”
RubberBand and C AllStar have been ‘banned’ in China since 2019.
image: as1.entertainment
