Chan Po-ying, chair of The League of the Social Democrats (LSD), posted on Facebook on July 17, 2022. Chan wrote, “Due to the given amount of pressure, LSD has been forced to remove online post(s). These removed posts allegedly violated the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL). However, we cannot disclose further details.”
Chan also stressed that LSD would continue to speak out, “It is not a crime to speak freely. Long live democracy.”
Chan is the wife of Leung Kwok Hung, commonly known as Long Hair, another democratic activist.
Similar incidents involving the removal of content under HKNSL also occurred in May. Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) and Hongkongers’ Book Fair also felt the squeeze.
The Hong Kong government (HKgov) had been using HKNSL to censor publishing and freedom of speech.
While the kind of pressure was not specified, Chan responded to The Epoch Times, “LSD will continue to speak out depending on the situation. Even though LSD is exceedingly restrictive, we should still vocalize for what we care about.”
After Chan’s announcement, netizens left the civil group supportive messages. They understood LSD’s decision. Some wrote, “You are still speaking for Hongkongers despite the difficult circumstances. We are forever thankful. No matter how fragile the voices are, at least we are still together safely. That is the biggest blessing.”
Local netizens criticized the authorities. One of the comments read, “The Helplessness and the evil suppression we suffer from the regime has revealed the true colors of authoritarians.”
Another netizen responded, “You can silence the voice, but never the mind.”
Others also questioned if this was the horrible “Hong Kong story” Hkgov wanted to tell the world.
Met and Greeted by National Security Police
LSD made a public announcement on June 28, and the National Security Bureau (NSB) arranged to “meet and greet” volunteers and friends of LSD. The National Security Police also interviewed them.After assessing the situation, LSD canceled its July 1 Protest for the first time. LSD also apologized, “The case had decided so. We appreciate your understanding.” On July 17, LSD again was contacted by NSB. This time, they were required to remove social media content, citing “possible National Security Law violations.”
Civil Society Under Pressure From National Security Law
Under the Hong Kong National Security Law, LSD is one of the many civil groups the regime pressured. Thus far, they have survived disbandment.Another civic organization, Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI), had to bend for the regime.
PORI had to push back its research report from July 1 to July 5 due to the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong‘s Handover. China leader Xi Jinping was visiting Hong Kong briefly at the time. PORI stated the delay came after “discussions” with corresponding government departments and PORI’s “risk assessment.”
The delayed findings were a series of “One Country Two Systems 25-year Mid-term Review.” The report was released digitally on July 5.
The result shows that all five core social indicators are at the lowest in the past 25 years. The interviewees shared opinions on stability, freedom, prosperity, the rule of law, and democracy. Stability scored the highest in all five indicators at 5.15 points (out of 10), but the number still fell short compared to the average in 2021 at 6.44 points.
Professor: It May be Worse Than the Mainland
Former Professor of Applied Social Sciences at the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong, Chung Kim-wah, commented on the censorship.Chung said, “If the current government continues to abuse their power at such great length, and without any societal supervision, censorship will be worse here than in mainland China. They can do whatever they please.”
Chung described the current HKgov as having “zero standards” and possessed the tone of “whatever the government says goes.” He also criticized, “The speech censorship HKgov is imposing on citizens without telling them who it is targeting, violating the standards of human rights and the Basic Law.”
Book Publisher: NSL Has Struck the Publishing Industry
Hillway Culture was refused a stall at the HKTDC Book Fair (July 20 to 26. 2022) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, so they rented space at Mall plus in Wanchai to run their own Book Fair, which was planned to start on July 14. However, a day before the fair was to open, they were served with an evacuation notice through the property agency. The note claimed the Book Fair had breached its rental agreement and demanded immediate evacuation.The Epoch Times spoke to Raymond Yeung Tsz-chun, publisher of Hillway Culture. Yeung responded, “This incident most likely stemmed from various pressure on political grounds; it has nothing to do with Hong Kong law. We asked the landlords for a meeting, but they refused. The property management also asked us to vacate immediately.”
Yeung expressed his thoughts on publishing’s future in Hong Kong.
He said that the Book Fair incident is a reflection of how much the publishing industry has been pressed by the National Security Law. Yeung believed that the fears in the publishing world were evident. He worried the climb for book publishing would only get steeper under the draconian law.
