Latest update: 22/07/2011

- China - Freedom of Speech - Freedom of the press - Hong Kong

'One country, two systems' in doubt as Beijing ups media control in Hong Kong

In 1997, a century and a half of British rule in Hong Kong came to an end, as the island passed back under Chinese control. As a result, Hong Kong has benefited from the "one country, two systems" principle, whereby it is part of China but retains certain rights, such as freedom of speech. Yet some residents say they've noticed a marked difference in Beijing's attitude to the island in recent times and fear that their precious freedoms are being eroded.

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23/05/2012 - CANADA

Students in Quebec march against tuition fee hike

Student protests in the Canadian province Quebec are into their fourth month. Hundreds were arrested at marches to mark 100 days since the protests began. Students are demonstrating against an 80 percent rise in tuition fees in Quebec, the Canadian province that has until now enjoyed the country's lowest rates for higher education.

23/05/2012 - EGYPT

Egyptians head to the polls

Egyptians go to the polls in the country's first truly contested presidential election on Wednesday. With an array of candidates to choose from, voters will decide who's the best man to lead them through the last phase of the country's troubled democratic transition that began with Egypt's revolution in January last year. Cairo correspondents Kathryn Stapley and Sonia Dridi talked to some of the activists whose protests in Tahrir Square changed the course of Egypt's history.

22/05/2012 - EGYPT

A troubling time for Egypt's Coptic Christians

Egyptians go to the polls tomorrow to vote for a new president for the first time since Hosni Mubarak was ousted during the revolution last year. Two of the front-runners in the presidential race with a realistic chance of winning are devout Islamists, which is troubling for Egypt's Coptic Christians. They are Egypt's largest religious minority and many of them don't think any of the candidates are capable of protecting them from the religious violence that has been steadily increasing.

22/05/2012 - WEST BANK

'The Battle of the Empty Stomachs'

Palestinians nicknamed it "the battle of the empty stomachs". For weeks, 1,600 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails refused food and drink in what became the longest ever mass hunger strike. Israel finally capitulated and a deal was reached, allowing those in isolation back onto the general wards, and visas for those family members wishing to visit from Gaza. In exchange, prisoners agreed not to carry out "security activities" such as recruiting for terrorist missions.

21/05/2012 - SERBIA

Serbia's new president - nationalist or not?

Serbia has elected a new president - and it's not the one that most people were expecting. Tomislav Nikolic has unseated Boris Tadic, the man in power since 2004. Observers are worried about the new head of state, who used to be part of the ultra-nationalist Radical Party. He once said he would prefer to be allied with Russia than join the EU, but he has since toned down the rhetoric, saying he will take Serbia to Europe after all.

Comments (6)

A factual error

by Anonyme - 09/12/2011 - 00:52

Hong Kong is under the sovereignty of China, but it is NOT part of China. There is a border between Hong Kong and China; to cross the border, one needs to present a travel document at the border checkpoints; we can see border guards, barbed wires, fences and watch towers along the border - pretty much everything one would expect to see at a border.

The relationship between Hong Kong and China and similar to that between the British Crown dependencies and the UK. The Chinese has no say in Hong Kong affairs except those related to defence (e.g. the Chinese garrison is responsible for defence) and foreign affairs (e.g. Hong Kong passport holders travelling abroad are protected by the Chinese government).

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Beijing IS the cause

by Anonyme - 30/07/2011 - 06:45

First of all, the Chief Executive is just elected by a group of 800 rich and powerful people. Second, half of the seats in the Legislative Council are almost like appointed to conservative politicians who are also businessmen (mostly). That means the elected representatives have no real power in legislative structure since half of the council are controlled by Beijing already. Beijing refuse to reform the political structure and instead move more Mainland immigrants to Hong Kong. Beijing IS the root problem.
For the media, Beijing refuse to let Hong Kong to have more boardcast channels.

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Hong Kong City-State Autonomy Movement (HKAM )

by Anonyme - 28/07/2011 - 11:25

I am a HongKonger. Yes, our precious freedoms are being eroded. We are now ruled by the China Communist Party.

However, we are currently organizing the Hong Kong City-State Autonomy Movement ( HKAM) to fight back our rights.

http://hkam2011.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E8%87%AA%E6%B2%BB%E9%8...

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Hong Kong

by Anonyme - 25/07/2011 - 17:46

Why does that surprise anyone - it has been a given - since hand over

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Beijing Not the Problem

by David Dickson - 25/07/2011 - 16:48

I have lived in Hong Kong for 15 years and I can say the problem with freedoms being eroded is not because Beijing is interfering. It is happening because conservative politicians find it convenient to restrict the more socialist elements in favor of big business and then let Beijing be blamed. The erosion of freedoms have all been internally promoted and enacted by Hong Kong politicians. it is almost certain they are doing it for there own ends. Beijing is not the cause of these political issues.

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Island territory???

by Anonyme - 24/07/2011 - 10:33

Hong Kong isn't just Hong Kong Island... ya know... that's totally disregarding Kowloon Peninsula and New Territories, which borders China to the North on the Shenzhen River... :(

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