[liberationtech] What could we at Liberationtech do to help pro-democracy HK activists protest China's new security law?

[Yosem Companys]

This is an excellent follow up. Thank you. I will bring up to the topic with
the folks in Hong Kong and pose these questions to them as well.  





On Wed, May 27, 2020 6:32 PM, Robert Mathews (OSIA) mathews at hawaii.edu  wrote:

On 5/26/20 6:00 AM, lt-request at lists.liberationtech.org  wrote:
From: Yosem Companys <ycompanys at gmail.com>  Date: 5/25/20, 6:55 PM  To: Eric FU 
<fujunscnu at gmail.com>  CC: LT <lt at lists.liberationtech.org>  
Of course. But this is not a push model. Local actors have already asked for our
help. They have asked we brainstorm  ways in which Liberationtech could help
them do things that have not been done in the past. 

I present my apologies in advance for this quick penning,  and for presenting
the following multi-dimensional content to the group -- in the way that I
estimate the content must be, and has been presented below.

The question in the 'subject-line' of the original message Yosem had dispatched
to the list read: "What could we at Liberationtech do to help pro-democracy HK
activists protest China's new security law?"   Subsequently, Yosem shared more
information in a message to Eric Fu, stating, "They have asked we brainstorm
ways in which Liberationtech could help them do things that have not been done
in the past."

To this, some clarification might benefit all.  WHAT is the problem "in
reality," that Liberationtech could assist brainstorm-on, and possibly as a
"crowd-resource"?   Is it, to reveal more effective ways of "demonstrating" the
opposition's position, or are there "other" implied/undeclared objectives upon
which a "brainstorming" must be had?

I present the following open-source media reporting as a basis for asking the
aforementioned questions.  Permit me to further highlight the issues "on the
ground", as reported.

Since 9/11, police forces around the world have increasingly become
para-militarized.  Consequentially, in this and other instances, when
established instruments of "power-systems" meet/confront citizens-on-the-street
(as it has in Hong Kong), on such matters as the seemingly 'inexorable'
political condition there (as the AFP  story indicates below), the
confrontations with Police forces will increasingly become brutal and
destructive.  But, this is NOT just a post 9/11 condition, it is historical.  (
Comments Continue below the link)

Hong Kong police stamp out national anthem law protests
AFP
27 MAY 2020
https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/hong-kong-police-stamp-out-national-anthem-law-protests-doc-1sa9dv7

--->

Also, considering that the U.S. State Department has "hurriedly communicated" to
US Congress that conditions in Hong Kong are no longer tenable/in compliance
with findings and declarations under "22 USC Ch. 66 - Subchapter 1 - Policy
(United States-Hong Kong Policy)"  [ 
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title22/chapter66&edition=prelim
  AND   
https://www.state.gov/prc-national-peoples-congress-proposal-on-hong-kong-national-security-legislation/ 
 ]  and therefore, recommending that the standing US policy be revoked, only
complicates matters (enormously)  for ALL residents of Hong Kong.

Adjacently, in media reporting from the Sub-Continent, NDTV has noted the
sentiments of a Hotel Manager and a female protester as follows:
"I'm scared ... if you don't come out today, you'll never be able to come out.
This is legislation that directly affects us," said Ryan Tsang, a hotel manager.

AND

"Although you're afraid inside your heart, you need to speak out," said Chang,
29, a clerk and protester dressed in black with a helmet respirator and goggles
in her backpack.

Street demonstrations aside, how are the residents of Hong Kong to productively
determine their future, and can they?  Is "showing-up" on the street, the
adequate measure to be taken?

(Comments Continue below the link)

Riot Police Deployed In Hong Kong Over Protests Against Chinese Anthem Bill
The anthem bill is set for a second reading on Wednesday and is expected to
become law next month.
NDTV
May 27, 2020 11:37 am IST
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/riot-police-deployed-in-hong-kong-over-protests-against-chinese-anthem-bill-2235785

--->

Given the escalations we are witnessing, what is the strategy (if any) of/for
residents and their political future in Hong Kong?  What, if anything, can
Liberatontech do to support in that regard, is a question that could - more
concretely - be posed....  (personal view)...    External to that, WHAT
precisely must/can Liberationtech 'brainstorm', and with what goal for Hong Kong
in mind?

A few more recent open-source media reports that might bre more informational
for the membership....

Hong Kong's richest man Li Ka-shing defends China's plans for security law
CNN Digital Rebranding 2013
By Michelle Toh, 
CNN Business
Updated 8:08 AM ET, Wed May 27, 2020
https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/27/business/li-ka-shing-hong-kong-intl-hnk/index.html

-->

China's Hong Kong law set to bar foreign judges from national security cases:
sources
Yew Lun Tian
REUTERS
MAY 26, 2020
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-parliament-hongkong-security/chinas-hong-kong-law-set-to-bar-foreign-judges-from-national-security-cases-sources-idUSKBN2321CW

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing’s planned national security legislation for Hong
Kong is set to block its foreign judges from handling national security trials,
people familiar with the matter said, which would exacerbate concerns about the
city’s judicial independence.
-- 
Dr. Robert Mathews, D.Phil.
Principal Technologist &
Distinguished Senior Research Scholar
Office of Scientific Inquiry & Applications (OSIA)
University of Hawai'i
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