Activism: Tom on NTDTV - Freedom of speech in HK 和平示威者指港警濫權損言論自由

[In Putonghua] Speaking on US-based international Chinese TV network, New Tang Dynasty TV [NTDTV], I speak about the removal of protesters and my own detention at the May 2nd Olympic torch rally in Hong Kong. Christina Chan [陳巧文] speaks of her similar experience in Tsim Sha Tsui. Sorry about the poor quality.

Original article and video: http://www.ntdtv.com/xtr/b5/2008/05/09/a138584.html

Related video [in English]:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfonN-5ZkSY

Website: http://www.globalcitizen.co.uk

Roughly translated, I focus on what the 20-or-so detentions on May 2nd mean in relation to Hong Kong's constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech. As police are obliged to 'facilitate' and 'enable' protest, we have seen this as a concerning sign that Beijing is having an increasing influence over the autonomous territory.

Christina Chan and I seeking legal advice in order to preserve HK's hard won freedoms for the future, and feel that even those who are opposed to our human rights message will be concerned about a steady decline in civil liberties.

This injustice does not compare to some of the human rights abuses we are continuing to campaign against, however, no Hong Kong resident should fear criticising the local or central government and over the coming months we hope to defend this liberty.

Hong Kong Basic Law - Articles 27-38
"Hong Kong residents shall have, among other things, freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession, of demonstration, of communication, of movement, of conscience, of religious belief, and of marriage; and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions, and to strike."

5月2日奧運火炬在香港傳遞當天，警方粗暴攔阻及拘留和平示威人士，包括港大女學生陳巧文與國際行動成員。他們在接受本臺訪問時批評警方濫用職權壓制異見這，並擔憂香港言­論自由受損。

星期三，有"港版王千源"之稱的陳巧文和友人前往灣仔警署，投訴警方濫用權力，在奧運火炬傳遞當天剝奪他們表達意見的權利。她表示，當天他們一早便到現場準備，但在火炬經­過前十分鐘便遭警方強行帶走，她指警方的行為嚴重損害香港的自由形象，令她很失望。

香港大學哲學系學生陳巧文：今次看到警察可能受到其他人的指示，令到香港變成一言堂。他們強行帶走我們的時候，全世界很多大的電視臺拍攝到，有的甚至是直播出來，全世界的­人都看到香港現在回歸之後，變成一個沒有言論自由空間的地方，我覺得令香港人都感到尷尬。

她指警方以安全理由強行帶走他們，過程粗暴，目的是阻止他們示威抗議。

香港大學哲學系學生陳巧文：上了警車之後，把我們載到油麻地警署，但是火炬在尖沙咀經過的，離我們很遠很遠我們根本不夠時間返回去。就是等火炬經過的時候，一點異議的聲音­都沒有。

陳巧文坦言，近期生活也受影響，最近因拒絕某八卦雜誌訪問而被惡意騷擾。但她表示不後悔站出來，而父母雖然一直都擔心，仍然支持她的立場。

另外，國際行動成員Tom當天在火炬經過的路旁拿著抗議中共暴行的橫幅，也遭警方阻止及帶離現場，他憂慮香港言論自由的空間收窄。他表示會向香港人權監察、媒體和律師反映­情況。

國際行動成員Tom：現在看來似乎這些來自背後的指示和命令，無論是來自北京或香港，希望今次如果成功立案，我們可以揭露這些事情，無論是否同意我們在週五當日抗議的觀點­，每個人都應該關注言論自由。

新唐人記者林秀宜在香港報導。

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• tom
• grundy
• activism
• hong
• kong
• christina
• chan
• 陳巧文
• freedom
• speech
• torch
• olympic
• rally
• china
• tibet

[lhakpadhondup007]

tom.. keep up te gud work.. u r brave enough to fight a demon like china.. take care of urself.. may god bless u

[monlamthai]

u guys are great..

thank u for speaking for truth and justice.

free tibet!

[hk4hkppl]

Hey Tom why cant i post messages especially in those other videos? HelpQ