Showing posts with label In the news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label In the news. Show all posts

Thursday, October 20, 2016

Meet Belinda Winterbourne – the person behind the new crackdown on overseas NGO’s in China

In the news

In todays’ SCMP is an article on Hong Kong’s NGOs feeling isolated and confused by mainland China’s new law restricting their activities, but no one has bothered to find out why these new laws are being implemented.

A little bit of research will show this new law is linked to the so-called ‘709 crackdown’ on Human Rights Lawyers, all of which was triggered by revelations of the conspiracy in Hong Kong between the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and local pan-democratic legislators which took place on 15 November 2009 to trigger the 2010 defacto civil referendum.


The main culprit and the person responsible for the crackdown on Human Rights lawyers and the implementation of the new NGO laws in China is Belinda Winterbourne, NDI program manager in Hong Kong from 2006 to 2012.

The face that launched a thousand crackdowns
Belinda Winterbourne, NDI Program Manager, Hong Kong (2006 to 2012)
The SCMP article: ‘Hong Kong’s NGOs isolated and confused by mainland China’s new law restricting activities, research finds’

According to the article, in a study by the China Philanthropy Research Institute and China Global Philanthropy Institute, many non-governmental organisations in Hong Kong felt alienated and uncertain after the ‘Law on Management of Domestic Activities of Overseas Non-governmental Organisations’ was passed in April, under which all overseas NGOs must register with and obtain approval from the police rather than the Ministry of Civil Affairs, which their domestic counterparts must do. The requirement takes effect next year.

The mainland’s adoption of the law governing overseas NGOs has sent a chill throughout the sector in Hong Kong that operates there, with some groups saying they had stopped work over the border. They said it was especially troubling the law categorised NGOs in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as overseas groups, even though they were based in China. Organisations interviewed for the study said they felt mainland government agencies had undergone a change in attitude.


The conspiracy which led to the 709 crackdown and the Law on Management of Domestic Activities of Overseas Non-governmental Organisations

On 15 November 2009 a conspiracy took place between pan-democrat legislators and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Hong Kong to discuss plans to trigger the de-facto ‘referendum’ in January 2010. The conspiracy was videotaped and put on YouTube in a series of eleven short videos (Part 1/11 to Part 11/11).

The main players in this conspiracy were: Cyd HO Sau-lan (何秀蘭) and Gary FAN Kwok-wai (范國威), Hong Kong pan-democratic legislators, YEUNG Kai-cheung (楊繼昌) of the League of Social Democrats and Belinda Winterbourne, Program Manager and Stephen Tong, Program Officer of the NDI in Hong Kong.  Here’s a link to full details of this conspiracy: http://nedprogramsinhk.blogspot.com/2016/08/conspiracy-between-pan-democratic.html

Here’s what Belinda Winterbourne said in Video 10/11 between 8.28 to 9.19 minutes in the video:

This is the moment Belinda Winterbourne said the words that launched the NGO crackdown in China
Christian raised the point that how much time do we have. Just now he mentioned you know ‘til January for example, but let’s say if we did want to conduct a civil referendum let’s say between now and the end of the (inaudible), how long does it usually take to educate the public on civil referendum, cos I presume that you’d have to do a lot of publicity prior to the actual exercise umm and educate them why we are doing this and you know how does that vote count eventually.

These words are important, because Beijing has a copy of these video tapes and they are directly responsible for the 709 crackdown on Human Rights Lawyers and implementation of the Law on Management of Domestic Activities of Overseas Non-governmental Organisations. You can check on the subversive organizations, individuals and groups in China which are illegally receiving funds from the American Government here: http://nedactivitiesinchina.blogspot.com/search/label/China

The reason NGOs in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are categorized as overseas groups, even though they were based in China is because the NDI has offices in Hong Kong and even though it claims to be an NGO, has illegally established itself as a company in Hong Kong.

Other NGO’s or groups which are based in Hong Kong and which have been illegally funded by the American Government to destabilize China include Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor, Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions, SynergyNet, Civic Exchange and others. You can check on the illegal funding by the American Government of NGO’s and other groups in Hong Kong engaged in subversive activities here: http://nedactivitiesinchina.blogspot.com/search/label/Hong%20Kong

This is why the Chinese Government has categorized NGOs in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as overseas groups under the Law on Management of Domestic Activities of Overseas Non-governmental Organisations.

Big thank you to the NDI and Belinda Winterbourne

On behalf of all of the Human Rights lawyers who have been incarcerated in China and all of the NGO’s whose lives have been made a misery, let’s all say a big than you to the National Democratic Institute, with a special thanks to Belinda Winterbourne.

Big thank you to Belinda Winterbourne
Your stupid acts have made life a misery for thousands!
And perhaps something for the NDI and its masters to consider – your stupid actions in Hong Kong have had and will continue to have far reaching consequences!

If you run an NGO and you want to operate in China, here’s a checklist on how to avoid problems

The Law on Management of Domestic Activities of Overseas Non-governmental Organisations was implemented because the American Government, through the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is funding subversive activities in Hong Kong. Its lead agency in Hong Kong is the National Democratic Institute (NDI). If you have received funding from the NED, its’ Core Grantees or any of its associates, then you are definitely in trouble. Here’s a quick checklist of the NED and its’ Core Grantees:

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) allocates US Government funds to the following four Core Grantees:

1. National Democratic Institute (NDI), representing the Democratic Party,
2. International Republican Institute (IRI), representing the Republican Party,
3. Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), representing the business sector,
4. Solidarity Center (previously known as the Free Trade Union Institute, then American Center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS)), representing the labor sector.

To be on the safe side, you need to check your donor list to make sure none of these institutes are, or have been donors of yours. You also need to check with all of your local and overseas donors to make sure none of them has any connections with, has contributed funds to, or is being funded by any of them. 

If you are receiving money from any of these institutes, you will fall foul of the new law, because the NED is funding activities to destabilize China in an attempt to contain its growing influence and if you are in any way connected to them, you will be considered a ‘subversive organisation’.

Photo Credit

Belinda Winterbourne. Vic Perton on Flickr.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Sixtus LEUNG Chung-hang and YAU Wai-ching have committed a crime – they should be arrested, charged and prosecuted

When Sixtus LEUNG Chung-hang and YAU Wai-ching were taking their oath of office in LegCo on 12 October 2016 they both committed the offence of making a False Declaration under Section 103 of the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Legislative Council) Regulation, CAP 541D.

LEUNG Chung-hang taking the LegCo oath with a banner bearing the words Hong Kong IS NOT China

YAU Wai-ching taking the LegCo oath displaying a banner bearing the words Hong Kong IS NOT China
There should be no discussion about what they have done is right or wrong. They should be arrested, charged and prosecuted.

Evidence

This is based on the following evidence:

(1). YAU Wai-ching and LEUNG Chung-hang were recently nominated as candidates in the 2016 Legislative Council General Elections.

(2). As part of this nomination procedure each of them had to complete a Nomination Form under Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Legislative Council) Regulation Cap. 541D. This nomination form includes at Part II a Statutory Declaration of Eligibility.

2016 LegCo Election Nomination Form

Part II - Consent to Nomination and  Declaration of Eligibility

Part II - Consent to Nomination and  Declaration of Eligibility (cont'd)

Paragraph 5 of Part II of this declaration states:

我特此聲明,我會擁護《基本法》和保證效忠香港特別行政區。
I declare that I will uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Part II - Consent to Nomination and  Declaration of Eligibility
Para 5 - Declaration to uphold the Basic Law


(3). To be eligible as a candidate in the 2016 LegCo elections this section had to be completed and signed by ‘individual candidates’.

(4). Article 1 of the Basic Law states: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China whilst Article 12 of the Basic Law states: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be a local administrative region of the People's Republic of China, which shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy and come directly under the Central People's Government. 

(5). At the first meeting of the 2016 Legislative Council on 12 October 2016, all newly elected candidates were required to take the Legislative Council Oath of Office. On this occasion, both YAU Wai-ching and LEUNG Chung-hang displayed banners which read ‘Hong Kong IS NOT China’. This is a clear violation of the Basic Law!

(6). Whilst Article 77 of the Basic Law states: ‘Members of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be immune from legal action in respect of their statements at meetings of the Council’, displaying these banners in this way is an action, not a statement and as recently demonstrated by the prosecution of Raymond WONG Yuk-man for assault in the Legislative Council chamber, LegCo members are not immune from prosecution for their actions in Legislative Council meetings.

Conclusion

The display of these banners is unequivocal evidence that when YAU Wai-ching and LEUNG Chung-han signed in their Statutory Declaration of Eligibility they would uphold the Basic Law, this was a statement which they knew to be false in a material particular in an election related document under Section 103 of the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Legislative Council) Regulation, CAP 541D.

Sixtus LEUNG Chung-hang and YAU Wai-ching have committed a crime. They should be arrested, charged and prosecuted.

Link to CAP 541D

Here’s a link to the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Legislative Council) Regulation, CAP 541D: CAP 541D

Full text of Section 103 of CAP 541D

Here’s the full text of Section 103 – ‘Offence of False Declaration’ of the Electoral Affairs Commission (Electoral Procedure) (Legislative Council) Regulation, CAP 541 D:

(1) A person who, in an election related document, makes a statement which that person knows to be false in a material particular or recklessly makes a statement which is incorrect in a material particular or knowingly omits a material particular from an election related document commits an offence.

(2) A person who directly or indirectly by himself or herself or by another person on his or her behalf conspires with, incites, compels, induces, coerces, intimidates or persuades another person to make a false statement in an election related document or to provide information which that person knows to be wrong in a material particular in an election related document commits an offence.

(3) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable to a fine at level 2 and to imprisonment for 6 months.

(3A) An offence under subsection (1) or (2) is to be an offence prescribed for the purposes of sections 39 and 40 of the Legislative Council Ordinance (Cap 542). (L.N. 65 of 2000; 11 of 2012 s. 55)

(4) In this section election related document (與選舉有關的文件) means a form, declaration, application, authorization, notice, statement or a nomination form required or used for the purposes of this Regulation.

Make a complaint to the Electoral Affairs Commission 

If you wish to make a complaint about this, you can complain to the Electoral Affairs Commission via the contact details given in the following link: http://www.eac.gov.hk/en/contact/contact.htm

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Open Letter to US Consul-General Kurt Tong – when are you going to tell the truth about what the NED are doing in Hong Kong?

US Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau,
26 Garden Road,
Central,
Hong Kong.

Mr Kurt Tong, US Consulate General Hong Kong and Macau
Photo: Courtesy HKFP

Mr. Tong,

You recently briefed the American Chamber of Commerce on the special relationship enjoyed between Hong Kong and America and stated:

"'one country, two systems' is not only a very unique and special reality. It is also a construct that both China's central government and the people of Hong Kong -- and for that matter, the United States as well -- all aim to maintain”.

You also said:

“the United States and the people of Hong Kong share an abiding respect for certain fundamental freedoms, and certain core values”.

The Standard. 22 September 2016

We believe as a people our shared core values include commitments to honesty and integrity and a desire for open, transparent and accountable government. Your predecessor Mr. Clifford Hart was not an honest man. He suppressed the truth about what your government is doing in Hong Kong, not only from the Hong Kong people, but also from your president. 

NED is funding a colour revolution in Hong Kong

Your government has funded a colour revolution in Hong Kong and if you truly share our core values, we would like you to tell the truth about what the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is doing spending US Government funds in Hong Kong, specifically, can you tell the truth about the following:

Question 1. What was the US$460,000 given by the NED to support Occupy Central spent on?

In 2012 the NED granted the National Democratic Institute (NDI) US$460,000 to:

“To foster awareness regarding Hong Kong's political institutions and constitutional reform process and to develop the capacity of citizens - particularly university students - to more effectively participate in the public debate on political reform, NDI will work with civil society organizations on parliamentary monitoring, a survey, and development of an Internet portal, allowing students and citizens to explore possible reforms leading to universal suffrage”.

NED Annual Report 2012
Grants to Hong Kong

Can you explain to the Hong Kong people what this money was spent on, and specifically, which university students were the subjects of your program and what was their role in the Occupy Central Protests/Umbrella movement?

Question 2. What was the US$461,210 given by the NED to amplify citizen’s voices in Hong Kong spent on?

In 2014 the NED granted the NDI further funds to amplify citizen’s voices in Hong Kong, as follows:

“Political Processes - US$410,000 - Amplifying Citizens’ Voices in Hong Kong & China - To engage Hong Kong civic and political sectors in substantive dialogue around governance and electoral reform processes and to provide civic education for Chinese activists. NDI will assist efforts to promote citizens’ voices in Hong Kong’s political reform process and provide technical assistance to Chinese activists on organizational and advocacy skills. In Hong Kong, NDI will support online platforms and community initiatives that promote citizen-created models of governance. NDI will also conduct a young women’s leadership initiative”.

“Political Processes - Supplement: US$51,210 - Amplifying Citizens’ Voices in Hong Kong - To amplify citizens’ voices in Hong Kong’s political reform process and provide technical assistance to mainland Chinese activists on organizational and advocacy skills. In Hong Kong, NDI will support online platforms and community initiatives that promote citizen-created models of governance. NDI will also conduct a young women’s leadership initiative for up to 20 participants from mainland China and Hong Kong”.

NED Annual Report 2014
Asia Regional Grants

NED Annual Report 2014
Asia Regional Grants to Hong Kong
to amplify citizen's voices.
Can you explain to the Hong Kong people what this money was spent on? 

3. Is the US Government funding the independence movement in Hong Kong?

In March 2016, your staff held a secret meeting with leaders of localist group Hong Kong Indigenous, including Edward Leung Tin-kei and Ray Wong Toi-yeung.

SCMP report on secret meeting with US consular staff in March 2016

SCMP report on secret meeting with US consular staff in March 2016

Your predecessor Gary Hart refused to disclose the truth about this meeting. What we want to know, on behalf of the Hong Kong people is this - is the American government funding the Hong Kong independence movement?

After you have answered these questions, you might wish to explain to the American public how their taxpayer dollars are being spent, because using American Government funds the NED has worked incessantly to undermine and destabilize Hong Kong, making it almost ungovernable.

To achieve your government's goals, the NED has bribed our politicians, corrupted our institutions and attacked the very fabric of our society, including using school children to fight your battles, so  if your claim that America aims to maintain the ‘one country, two systems’ is true, then Hong Kong’s enemy and the evil you need to confront is the NED, so the solutions to Hong Kong’s problems lie not in Hong Kong or China, but in reforming your own government.

References

Hong Kong Standard. US envoy Tong urges HK to safeguard 'one country, two systems' and not lose it. 22 September 2016. Link: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news.php?id=79854

National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Annual Report 2012. Grants to Asia – China (Hong Kong) in 2012.

National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Annual Report 2014. Grants to Asia – Asia Regional. Hong Kong in 2014.

SCMP. ‘Not some kind of secret meeting’: Hong Kong Indigenous leaders meet with American diplomats. 10 March 2016. Link: http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/1922922/not-some-kind-secret-meeting-hong-kong-indigenous-leaders




Thursday, September 15, 2016

A political funding scandal in Australia exposes the true hypocricy of America

Here’s a report on a political funding scandal in Australia which exposes the true hypocricy of America.

Australia – September 2016

Last week Australian Labor senator Sam Dastyari's resigned from the opposition frontbench following revelations he asked a Chinese businessman to pay a AUD$1,670 (US$1,250) travel bill after he exceeded his parliamentary entitlement for travel. This has led to howls of protest from departing US ambassador to Australia, John Berry. Read the story here. This is what US Ambassador Berry said:

In our country it’s illegal. It would be against the law for any foreign donation to be accepted by any level of government or member of government

We cannot conceive of a case where a foreign donation from any government, friend or foe, would be considered legitimate in terms of that democracy

Hong Kong – October 2014

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is funded by the US Government. Two years ago, in October 2014 Louisa Coan Greve of the NED admitted in an interview the US Government had been funding Hong Kong politician LEE Cheuk-yan for years. Read the VOA story here. Here are highlights from her interview:

NED has been funding democracy-promotion programs in Hong Kong for about two decades with grants totaling several million dollars.

Lee Cheuk-yan is one such activist. He leads the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) and serves in the Legislative Council as a lawmaker for the Labor Party.

Solidarity Center (an NED affiliate) has given the bulk of its funds to HKCTU

NED's support to Solidarity Center, and Solidarity Center support to HKCTU is completely separate from Lee Cheuk-yan's political work [as a lawmaker], which is a separate role that he plays, and the money doesn't mix between the two

Comment

So it’s OK for the US Government to corruptly fund politicians in Hong Kong, wrong for a Chinese businessman to fund an Australian politician and it’s illegal for a foreigner to fund a politician in America.

Isn’t it about time we had similar laws in Hong Kong – actually we would have, if the American Government hadn’t paid LEE Cheuk-yan to organize the Article 23 protests.

Supporting information

Departing US ambassador to Australia, John Berry
commenting on political funding in Australia


Louisa Coan Greve, who boasted about channeling US Government funds
to Hong Kong politician LEE Cheuk-yan


Hong Kong politician LEE Cheuk-yan, who received
milllions of Hong Kong dollars from the US Government
during his time as a legislator


VOA article, in which Louisa Coan Greve boasted about channeling US Government funds
to Hong Kong politician LEE Cheuk-yan


LEE Cheuk-yan admits to receiving
milllions of Hong Kong dollars from the US Government,
but claims its not connected to his political work


Louisa Coan Greve claims the US Government funds given to Hong Kong politician LEE Cheuk-yan,
were totally separate from his political work. 

References


VOA Exclusive: US Democracy Group Rebuts Hong Kong Meddling Allegations. 23 October 2014. Link: http://www.voanews.com/content/voa-exclusive-us-democracy-group-rebuts-hong-kong-meddling-allegations/2493257.html

See also:

US ‘surprised’ at Chinese influence-buying in Australia. Link: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/09/14/us-surprised-at-chinese-influence-buying-in-australia/



Tuesday, August 30, 2016

The pan-democrats – 20 years of collaborating with the NED – 20 years of betrayal

In the news:

Edward LEUNG Tin-kei recently claimed one of the reasons he become involved in politics is because the pan-democrats have been negotiating with the Chinese Government for years but have achieved nothing. He blames the Chinese Government for this (SCMP. Leung March. 28 August 2016).

What’s the truth?

The reasons the pan-democrats have failed in their negotiations with China is because at the same time they were negotiating with China, they were collaborating with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and its affiliate the  National Democratic Institute (NDI) to destabilize Hong Kong.

Here are some highlights of the pan-Democrats collaborating with the NED in Hong Kong:

1995

In 1995, Charles MOK co-founded the Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor and invited the NED to establish a foothold in Hong Kong by funding them. In 1995, Hong Kong Human Rights Monitor received US$30,000 from the NED to focus local and international public attention on areas of Hong Kong law and practice that do not safeguard human rights. The NED have been here ever since.


Charles MOK


2003

LEE Cheuk-yan received funding from the NED to help co-ordinate the Article 23 protests. Here’s how the NED described LEE Cheuk-yan’s role in the Article 23 protests:


LEE Cheuk-yan, Secretary General of the
Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU)

NED 20th Anniversary Timeline - 1983 - 2003

NED 20th Anniversary Timeline - 1983 - 2003
Role of HKCTU in Article 23 protests

NED 20th Anniversary Timeline - 1983 - 2003
Role of HKCTU in Article 23 protests

NED Summer Newsletter 2003

NED Summer Newsletter 2003
Article on role of HKCTU (LEE Cheuk-yan) in the Article 23 protests
2004

Emily LAU Wai-ming attends an NDI political party development conference as a guest.



Emily LAU Wai-hing

Emily LAU, Albert HO Chun-yan, Albert CHAN Wai-yip and others are guests at a second NDI political party development conference.


Line up of pan-democrats

Albert CHAN Wai-yip and Emily LAU Wai-hing

In October 2009 Emily LAU, Cyd HO Sau-lan and Audrey EU Yuet-mee were guests at another NDI political party development conference.



Emily LAU, Audrey EU, and Cyd HO





In November 2009, Cyd HO and Gary FAN Kwok-wai and a League of Social Democrats representative conspired with the NDI to trigger the defacto ‘referendum in January 2010.



Cyd HO at
NDI - pan-democrat conspiracy to trigger the defacto 'referendum' in
January 2010


Gary FAN at
NDI - pan-democrat conspiracy to trigger the defacto 'referendum' in 
January 2010

League of Social Democrats representative at
NDI - pan-democrat conspiracy to trigger the defacto 'referendum' in 
January 2010

On 9 January 2010 Alan LEONG Kah-kit was guest speaker at an NDI political party development conference.


Alan LEONG Kah-kit  - NDI Guest Speaker
Note the NDI Logo next to Anson CHAN's head

Alan LEONG Kah-kit  - Guest Speaker

On 26 January 2010, Albert Chan (League of Social Democrats), Alan Leong (Civic Party), Tanya Chan (Civic Party), Leung Kwok-hung (League of Social Democrats) and Wong Yuk-man (League of Social Democrats ) collaborated in the NDI conspiracy by resigning their LegCo seats, to trigger by-elections which they claimed was a de-facto ‘referendum’ on universal suffrage.




In February 2010 Cyd HO took part in an NDI Youth Parliament held at HKBU aimed at developing and recruiting student activists to be ready for the Occupy Central protests.

NDI Youth parliament

Cyd HO at NDI Youth Parliament

NDI Youth Parliament Recruitment Poster
Read more information on the Youth Parliament here: http://nedhkcommentary.blogspot.com/2016/08/youth-dissatisfaction-how-ndi.html

In November 2010 Alan LEONG Kah-kit was guest speaker at another NDI political party development conference.


Alan LEONG Kah-kit  - NDI Guest Speaker

Albert HO Chun-yan (centre)

In 2012 the NED allocate funds to support the Occupy Central protests:

NED Grant to NDI to support Occupy Central Colour Revolution
2014

On 31 August 2014 the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) set what many saw as a restrictive framework for selecting Hong Kong’s Chief Executive in 2017, but almost no one in Hong Kong knows the reason why.

In September 2014 America attempts to mount the Occupy Central Colour Revolution in Hong Kong. After 79 days, the Colour Revolution fails.

2015

To understand why the pan-democrats have failed to achieve anything in their negotiations with the Chinese Government, we need to listen carefully to what Wang Guangya said when he met a delegation of Hong Kong pan-democrat legislators in Shen Zhen on 30 May 2015 in a last ditch attempt to persuade them not to vote the framework for selecting Hong Kong’s Chief Executive in 2017l down. This is what Wang Guangya said:

A small number of people ... have colluded with external forces and used these forces trying to oppose the central government and the relations between the central government and Hong Kong. Actually, they are opposed to the principle of one country, two systems. Who are those people? You know more than me.

We cannot let those people assume the Chief Executive post. Once they assumed the Chief Executive post, it would be castastrophic to the country, Hong Kong and the principle of one country, two systems.

Comment

How stupid are the pan-democrats. Did they really think no one was watching. Well because of their stupidity, they have cost Hong Kong its political future.

Isn’t it about time we collectively join together on September 4 and cost them their political future. 

Let’s kick the pan-democrats out of LegCo.