Prison-Rights Group Disbands

Shiu's group had been advocating for prisoners' rights

Another day, another civil society group is disbanding for fears of crossing with the national security law.

Today Wall-fare, a prison-rights group founded by former opposition lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun announced it will disband after Hong Kong's security chief warned that inmates arrested on national security charges were being encouraged by people outside prison walls to fight on for their causes.

Wall-fare made the announcement on social media, saying the non-profit group will be dissolved with immediate effect.

Today Wall-fare announced it was disbanding

"Even if we are crushed in the end, the time in between was worth it," the group wrote in a farewell announcement on Facebook. "Wind and rain always pass, and for those inside and outside the wall, the most important thing is that the people are fine."

The group was founded in December 2020 to promote the well-being of prisoners, particularly anti-government protesters with emotional or physical challenges while in jail. Wall-fare offered them free packages as allowed by the Correctional Services Department items such as wet wipes, tissues and stationary.

In addition, the group coordinated a letter-writing campaign on social media, helping those sympathetic to inmates pass along words of encouragement and maintain "a bridge of communication" between those inside and outside prison walls.

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung warned last Tuesday that people in custody on national security-related charges were establishing links with outside organizations as a way of building up new forms of resistance to the government.

Although Tang did not name Wall-fare by name, he slammed organizations for sending letters or documents to inmates and detainees, saying it encouraged the recipients to continue fighting for their cause, thereby spreading "the seeds of endangering national security".

Tang accused groups of supporting prisoners

Later Hong Kong's prisons chief Woo Ying-ming echoed Tang, alleging that such inmates were exercising "unprecedented influence" inside and "recruiting followers".

Shiu told RTHK that political pressure had threatened the existence of civil society at large, but declined to elaborate on why Wall-fare was disbanding. He said the group had not been directly contacted by the government, and declined to comment on possibly facing legal action.

He said Wall-fare had always been careful to focus on "humanitarian work" to help those in custody, many of whom came from the margins of society.

"What support will prisoners get without Wall-fare? We can't tell you today," he said. "We only wanted to do the humble work -- to give a cup of cool water to the prisoners and their family in the heat of the summer. Unfortunately, this cup of water may have become too hot now."

Indeed. Everything has become too hot to touch.

Charities on National Security Alert

Hui says charities endangering national security not tax exempt

 

Up until today, donating to a charity was considered a sign of individuals caring for the community. 

But now the Hong Kong government is making donors think twice about giving their money away now that groups that endanger national security will lose their status as charities, and stop benefiting from tax exemptions.

The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu announced this on his official blog on Monday. He wrote that the "tax guide for charitable institutions and trusts of a public character" had been amended with immediate effect.

Change refers to 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund

It is largely seen as targeting opposition-leaning social welfare or community groups.

Before, charities were exempted from paying tax, and taxpayers enjoyed deductions on their income tax for making donations.

Hui's announcement was a response to the barrage of questions he faced from pro-Beijing lawmakers in the Legislative Council about the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund that has paid out more than HK$243 million (US$31.2 million) to those facing criminal prosecution or financial hardship as a result of the 2019 anti-government protests.

Earlier this month the National Security Department revealed it was investigating the fund as well as the Alliance for True Democracy, which provided its bank account to the fund's trustees to hold donations.

Now the Inland Revenue Department will no longer recognize any group that "supports, promotes or engages in activities that are detrimental to national security" as a charitable organization. The tax bureau will also revoke exemptions from paying tax.

Inland Revenue will check on groups periodically

"Carrying out charitable activities in society to promote public interest is certainly worthy of encouragement, but we must also prevent people with ulterior motives from using the name of charity to actually endanger national security," Hui wrote.

"Therefore, if a group is found to participate in or use its resources to support or promote activities that are not conducive to national security after review, we will not hesitate to exclude it as a charitable organization and revoke its tax exemption status."

Hui added the Inland Revenue Department will conduct regular reviews and pay attention to "whether the substantive nature of the organization concerned has changed," Hui added.

To be recognized as a charitable organization, a relevant group must be established purely for legally recognized altruistic purposes, such as poverty relief, promotion of religion or education, or for the benefit of the public.

Which other organizations will be targeted? It will be a matter of time before more will be revealed, but in the meantime, the new regulation really makes people think twice about donating to what they assume is a legitimate charity...

 

HK's Largest Teachers' Union Votes to Disband

PTU president Fung speaks during the extraordinary meeting

After 47 years, the Professional Teachers' Union voted to disband yesterday because of pressure from the authorities, claiming the professional group was openly involved in political activism, supported the 2019 anti-government protests. Chinese state media described the PTU as a "malignant tumour" that had to be eradicated.

On Saturday the union held an extraordinary general meeting after a previous meeting to change the constitution so that fewer people would be needed to pass the motion to formally disband.

Around 140 members attended, and more than 130 voted in favour of dissolving the union. Previously the union would have needed two-thirds of the 95,000 members to agree.

Members voted overwhelmingly to disband PTU

With the overwhelming majority in favour, the members have authorized the PTU executive committee to initiate liquidation procedures. After paying off debts, and staff salaries, proceeds of the sales of assets would be distributed equally among the members according to the constitution, and the rest donated to charities.

The PTU owns several properties, including two ground-floor shops in Causeway Bay, and five units in a building in Mongkok. It recently struck a deal with two companies to sell two floors with a combined area of 14,000 sq ft in Mongkok for HK$175 million (US$22.5 million).

During the meeting some members voluntarily got up and thanked the union for its work over the decades, others suggested helping staff find other jobs.

PTU president Fung Wai-wah said after the meeting he felt "heavy-hearted" about the union's dissolution.

The union owns this building in Mongkok

"The decision is grudging but necessary. We have to be able to control our emotions and go through with the process of disbandment rationally," he said.

Fung also said tenders for the other properties for sale would be done in a transparent manner and would not "dispose of any assets under a diminished valuation".

In other words these would not be quick sales, as the union is acting in the best interests of its members. But will the authorities allow the PTU's property sales drag on?

Nevertheless, several members said they felt sad about the disbandment, with one secondary school teacher who voted in favour of the motion saying she hoped the move could "protect other frontline teachers and [PTU] staff members".

"I feel heartbroken. It feels as if Hong Kong no longer has any freedom of speech nowadays," she said. "I am not afraid of the national security investigations, as [we] did not do anything wrong."

She may think that way, but the National Security Department will find something... 

HK to Push Up Elderly Vaccination Rate

Fewer than 30 percent of seniors over 70 have their first jab

 

Looks like Hong Kong might really be getting serious about pushing up vaccination rates now as there are plans for government workers to go door-to-door to visit the elderly and persuade them to get the jab. 

Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, who is overseeing the vaccination drive, stressed the city was behind its target of inoculating at least 70 percent of the eligible population. Fewer than 30 percent of residents over 70 years old had gotten their first dose, and the rate was substantially lower for those over 80, he noted. 

"Elderly people in the city are the group least interested in vaccination. We have to be more proactive, and make getting into the community to reach senior people our coming strategy," he told a radio program.

Nip says workers will visit elderly door-to-door

However, one should keep in mind that many university students like the ones at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Clear Water Bay must be fully vaccinated to even be allowed on campus, teachers must be jabbed, and many companies have pushed hard for their staff to get vaccinated, particularly those in the hospitality industry.

At the start of the vaccination program, when seniors were invited to get inoculated first, there were reports of those who had serious side effects, and some died -- that were not at all related to the vaccine -- which scared off many elderly residents.

To that end Nip says talks will be organized as some housing estates and malls, with free consultations and immediate vaccination on site.

"We will also do more talks at care homes for the elderly, as most of them did not get vaccinated there due to family members' worries," he added.

Doctors will be on hand to give consultations

Going door-to-door is a very strong step up from trying to persuade people to get jabbed in press conferences. Depending on how they approach the seniors, government workers may get doors slammed in their faces or adamant refusals to get vaccinated.

Maybe they should have teamed up with the Census and Statistics Department a few months ago to not only count the number of residents in Hong Kong but also check to see if they have been inoculated.

Implementing this strategy now shows the government was not that serious about pushing for vaccinations, and seems to use this as an excuse to continue the restrictive social-distancing measures, particularly gatherings at a maximum of four people outside.

Meanwhile the Standard Chartered Marathon 2021 really is happening on October 24 when a total of 18,500 runners (all fully vaccinated) will take part in the 10K, half marathon and full marathon... 

The Standard Chartered Marathon is going ahead

I did not get chosen in the lottery to run the 10K, and just as well, as the starting point has moved to the Western Harbour Crossing toll booth, which means running through the cross-harbour tunnel (which I hear is a slog) and finishing at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. 

Running in October will also be more challenging with the humidity than the usual time of late January, early February, and I have hardly been training either, opting instead to walking.

Nevertheless, we wish the government good luck in trying to persuade seniors to get jabbed... they can be a tough crowd!