Hong Kong’s former leader secretary and present leader govt candidate John Lee speaks to the clicking. In 2020, the U.S. sanctioned Lee and different officers, accusing them of curbing political freedoms in Hong Kong.
Dale De Los angeles Rey | AFP | Getty Pictures
YouTube has taken down the marketing campaign channel of John Lee, Hong Kong’s best candidate for its best management place, mentioning sanctions imposed on him by means of the U.S.
The uncommon transfer by means of the platform, which is administered by means of Google, comes after Washington introduced sanctions towards Lee and different Hong Kong and Chinese language officers in 2020 over what it mentioned had been their roles in eroding the Chinese language territory’s freedoms underneath a countrywide safety legislation that Beijing imposed previous that yr according to months of anti-government protests.
“Google complies with acceptable U.S. sanctions regulations and enforces comparable insurance policies underneath its Phrases of Provider,” an organization spokesperson mentioned in a observation Wednesday. “After assessment and in keeping with those insurance policies, we terminated the Johnlee2022 YouTube channel.”
One at a time, Fb proprietor Meta, additionally mentioning U.S. sanctions, mentioned Lee may deal with “demonetized presences” on Fb and Instagram and that it had taken steps to stop using cost products and services.
The YouTube channel’s termination used to be first reported by means of The South China Morning Put up.
Lee’s marketing campaign administrative center mentioned it used to be “upset” by means of the verdict.
“The termination displays the flagrant hegemonic techniques hired by means of the U.S. authorities,” it mentioned in a observation. “Implementing the so-called sanction on Mr. Lee in an effort to intimidate him is not going to whatsoever impact his robust resolution to proceed to safeguard nationwide safety.”
The observation added that the channel’s termination would no longer impact the marketing campaign.
“Mr. Lee will proceed to make use of his easiest efforts to achieve out to the general public to provide an explanation for his platform and to listen to their perspectives thru many various way and channels,” it mentioned.
Whilst products and services akin to YouTube, Fb and Instagram are banned in mainland China, they’re to be had in Hong Kong, which used to be promised a length of higher freedoms underneath the “one nation, two programs” concept when the previous British colony used to be returned to Chinese language rule in 1997.
Critics say the ones freedoms were a great deal curbed underneath the nationwide safety legislation, which used to be imposed in June 2020 and makes the crimes of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with international forces punishable by means of as much as lifestyles in jail.
Govt officers have defended the legislation as important to revive steadiness after the 2019 protests, that have been occasionally violent.
In August 2020, when Lee used to be Hong Kong’s safety secretary, the U.S. Treasury Division imposed sanctions on him and 10 people, together with the territory’s chief, Leader Government Carrie Lam, “for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy and limiting the liberty of expression or meeting of the voters of Hong Kong.” It mentioned Lee used to be being sanctioned over his position in enforcing and imposing the nationwide safety legislation.
The sanctions freeze any U.S. belongings held by means of the officers and bar American citizens from doing industry with them.
Lee used to be later promoted to leader secretary, town’s No. 2 place. He resigned this month to run for leader govt after Lam mentioned she would no longer search a 2nd time period.
Hong Kong’s leader govt is selected by means of a 1,500-member Election Committee, the composition of which is now additional managed by means of Beijing after electoral reforms remaining yr designed to make certain that best “patriots” dependable to China may run.
Because the crackdown on dissent, Hong Kong’s pro-democracy lawmakers are most commonly in jail or self-exile or have resigned from politics, and a legislative election in December drew document low turnout in what some mentioned used to be an expression of voter antipathy. This week, two folks accused of sharing a Fb submit urging citizens to damage their ballots in that election gained suspended sentences of 2 months in jail.
Lee, 64, a former profession police officer, has no longer but launched his manifesto for the executive govt election, which might be held Would possibly 8 after it used to be postponed from March as a result of a coronavirus outbreak. He’s anticipated to emphasise safety problems and has mentioned one in all his best priorities might be to enact native nationwide safety law referred to as Article 23.
