Hongkongese and Pro-Hong Kong Legislators Declare the Approval of the NE New Territories Development Illegal 非法議會 非法表決 全城震怒！

Amid thousands of furious Hongkongese surrounding the council, the NE New Territories Development was approved illegally with the support of the pro-China legislators who controlled the Hong Kong Legislative Council! Meeting procedures were not followed and pro-Hong Kong legislators were barred from questioning. The consequence of the project would mean the dissolution of the Hong Kong-China border, allowing everyone from China entering Hong Kong without a visa, and violating the Sino-British Joint Declaration which grants Hong Kong full autonomy. It's invasion!

親中共議員護航，親香港議員被禁發問，主席違返議事規則，發展東北撥款非法通過，強行溶解中港邊界！

The Long-term Causes that led to the Protest (Commentary from entry posted on 17 June 2014)

Since the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China in 1997, the People’s Republic of China has been increasingly interfering with Hong Kong’s internal affairs which violated the “One Country, Two Systems” principle enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration ensuring Hong Kong full autonomy on all internal affairs except defense and diplomacy. For instance, even as of 17 years since the handover, Hongkongese were still unable to elect its “Chief Executive”, an equivalent to the president of a country, as the position is still appointed by a pro-China committee. The Legislative Council is still not fully elected by the Hong Kong general public but largely controlled by pro-China legislators. Every day, a quota of 150 is given to immigrants from the People’s Republic of China and, ironically, as an autonomous state, Hong Kong is deprived of the right to filter or refuse entry of these people. It is an attempt to change Hong Kong’s demography. And, in recent years, deprived of any mechanism to regulate the inflow of visitors from China, Hong Kong have seen a dramatic increase in number of visitors.  In 2013, the total number of visitors had exceeded 54 million people, six times the population of Hong Kong and, among them, 75% came from China. These visitors from China have been buying up daily necessities such as milk powder and smuggling them to China in huge quantities in broad daylight, overloading the public transport systems, driving up rent and effectively shut down local and traditional shops with great cultural significance all around the city in huge numbers. Worst still, the People’s Republic of China has just issued a “White Paper” in June, claiming that China has the right of total governance in Hong Kong, an act that violated the Sino-British Joint Declaration and essentially an attempt to abolish the constitution of Hong Kong.

Two Systems for Two Peoples

The growing identity of Hongkongese as a separate group of people different from that of the Chinese of the People’s Republic of China had never been stronger as China’s aggression escalates. As a matter of fact, Hong Kong had been separated from Mainland China since the British takeover in 1841, which since then developed into a community with its own distinct identity. It was not until 1997 that Hong Kong was handed over to the present People’s Republic of China, without first consulting the Hong Kong public.

Gary Yeung

Special thanks to Richard for editing the text!

Another entry about the NE New Territories Development is reposted on the International Urban Sketchers Website:
http://www.urbansketchers.org/2014/06/hong-kongese-protest-against.html

Hongkongese Protest Against the Dissolution of the Hong Kong-China Border 20 June 2014 東北失守 邊界溶解

This afternoon, the Legislative Council tried to approve the NE Development Project to dissolve the Hong Kong-China Border again after a previous attempt stopped by huge group of Hongkongese and a group of pro-Hong Kong legislators last Friday.

Joint Sino-British Declaration violated, the Hong Kong Legislative Council is largely controlled by pro-China legislators not elected by the general Hong Kong public.  Hongkongese were terribly angry this afternoon as large-scale barricade were erected  around the Legislative Council.  Many Hongkongese claimed the Legislative Council had become an illegal body, with no standing among the people of Hong Kong.

The Long-term Causes that led to the Protest (Commentary from entry posted on 17 June 2014)

Since the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China in 1997, the People’s Republic of China has been increasingly interfering with Hong Kong’s internal affairs which violated the “One Country, Two Systems” principle enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration ensuring Hong Kong full autonomy on all internal affairs except defense and diplomacy. For instance, even as of 17 years since the handover, Hongkongese were still unable to elect its “Chief Executive”, an equivalent to the president of a country, as the position is still appointed by a pro-China committee. The Legislative Council is still not fully elected by the Hong Kong general public but largely controlled by pro-China legislators. Every day, a quota of 150 is given to immigrants from the People’s Republic of China and, ironically, as an autonomous state, Hong Kong is deprived of the right to filter or refuse entry of these people. It is an attempt to change Hong Kong’s demography. And, in recent years, deprived of any mechanism to regulate the inflow of visitors from China, Hong Kong have seen a dramatic increase in number of visitors.  In 2013, the total number of visitors had exceeded 54 million people, six times the population of Hong Kong and, among them, 75% came from China. These visitors from China have been buying up daily necessities such as milk powder and smuggling them to China in huge quantities in broad daylight, overloading the public transport systems, driving up rent and effectively shut down local and traditional shops with great cultural significance all around the city in huge numbers. Worst still, the People’s Republic of China has just issued a “White Paper” in June, claiming that China has the right of total governance in Hong Kong, an act that violated the Sino-British Joint Declaration and essentially an attempt to abolish the constitution of Hong Kong.

Two Systems for Two Peoples

The growing identity of Hongkongese as a separate group of people different from that of the Chinese of the People’s Republic of China had never been stronger as China’s aggression escalates. As a matter of fact, Hong Kong had been separated from Mainland China since the British takeover in 1841, which since then developed into a community with its own distinct identity. It was not until 1997 that Hong Kong was handed over to the present People’s Republic of China, without first consulting the Hong Kong public.

Gary Yeung

Special thanks to Richard for editing the text!

Original Post with Commentary posted on 17 June 2014:

http://studiogario.blogspot.hk/2014/06/hongkongese-protests-against.html

This entry is also reposted on the International Urban Sketchers Website:
http://www.urbansketchers.org/2014/06/hong-kongese-protest-against.html

Sai Kung Waterfront in the Evening 西貢海傍的黃昏

A very quick sketch at a pier along the Sai Kung waterfront this evening.

今日黃昏畫的西貢海傍。

Hongkongese Protest Against the Dissolution of the Hong Kong-China Border (Sketch with Updated Commentary)

Hongkongese Protest Against the Dissolution of the Hong Kong-China Border

The sketch was done outside the Legislative Council Building on 13 June 2014. The protest was against the Northeast development project of Hong Kong. As huge group of Hongkongese surrounded the legislature and a group of pro-Hong Kong legislators inside the meeting came forward and argued with the chairperson and the Pro-China legislators, the Legislative Council meeting was cut short without approving the project. If the project were to be approved, the Hong Kong-China border will be effectively dissolved, leaving Hong Kong defenseless against any form of aggression from Communist China.

The Long-term Causes that led to the Protest

Since the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People’s Republic of China in 1997, the People’s Republic of China has been increasingly interfering with Hong Kong’s internal affairs which violated the “One Country, Two Systems” principle enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration ensuring Hong Kong full autonomy on all internal affairs except defense and diplomacy. For instance, even as of 17 years since the handover, Hongkongese were still unable to elect its “Chief Executive”, an equivalent to the president of a country, as the position is still appointed by a pro-China committee. The Legislative Council is still not fully elected by the Hong Kong general public but largely controlled by pro-China legislators. Every day, a quota of 150 is given to immigrants from the People’s Republic of China and, ironically, as an autonomous state, Hong Kong is deprived of the right to filter or refuse entry of these people. It is an attempt to change Hong Kong’s demography. And, in recent years, deprived of any mechanism to regulate the inflow of visitors from China, Hong Kong have seen a dramatic increase in number of visitors.  In 2013, the total number of visitors had exceeded 54 million people, six times the population of Hong Kong and, among them, 75% came from China. These visitors from China have been buying up daily necessities such as milk powder and smuggling them to China in huge quantities in broad daylight, overloading the public transport systems, driving up rent and effectively shut down local and traditional shops with great cultural significance all around the city in huge numbers. Worst still, the People’s Republic of China has just issued a “White Paper” in June, claiming that China has the right of total governance in Hong Kong, an act that violated the Sino-British Joint Declaration and essentially an attempt to abolish the constitution of Hong Kong.

Two Systems for Two Peoples

The growing identity of Hongkongese as a separate group of people different from that of the Chinese of the People’s Republic of China had never been stronger as China’s aggression escalates. As a matter of fact, Hong Kong had been separated from Mainland China since the British takeover in 1841, which since then developed into a community with its own distinct identity. It was not until 1997 that Hong Kong was handed over to the present People’s Republic of China, without first consulting the Hong Kong public.

Gary Yeung

Special thanks to Richard for editing the text!

Sketching on a footbridge in Central 得輔道中行人天橋速寫

A band of sketchers retreated to the air-conditioned footbridge above Des Voeux Road Central in the hot afternoon, sketching the street views on both sides of the footbridge.

 夏日炎炎，眾畫友係冷氣行人天橋上速寫四周。

Rally against the North-East Development and the Dissolution of the Hong Kong-China Border 東北失守，邊界溶解，香港勢危！

Sketching at the Lego council earlier this evening. The rally is against the NE development of HK. If the project is approved, the Hong Kong-China border will be effectively dissolved, leaving Hong Kong defenceless against any form of China's aggression.

Excerpt from Local Press:

The North East New Territories Development Project, if approved by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, would enable Mainland Chinese to enter Hong Kong without a visa, which will in effect remove the border between Hong Kong and China. Contravening the “One Country, Two Systems", as promised and made into law by London and Beijing, this will severely endanger the lives of seven million Hongkongers. 本土新聞:東北失守，邊界溶解，香港勢危！新界東北發展計劃，一旦在立法會通過，則大陸人可免簽證進入香港居住，港中邊界蕩然無存，一國兩制形同虛設！Full Article please go to:http://localpresshk.com/2014/06/dissolution-of-hong-kong-china-border/

Urban Sketchers Hong Kong holds its first exhibition 香港城市速寫人舉行首次展覽

Urban Sketchers Hong Kong's first exhibition will start this Sunday!  Do come!

香港城市速寫人舉行首次展覽今個禮拜日開始啦！記住嚟欣賞！

Press Release

Headline:                    Urban Sketchers Hong Kong holds its first exhibition

Venue:                     Boom Cafe-Gallery, Sai Street, Sheung Wan

Date:                        7-29 June, 2014

Opening Ceremony: 4pm, Sunday, 8 June, 2014, 

Contact:                     urbansketchershk@gmail.com

Theme: “Sketch Boom on Sai Street”

The Event

Nestled in the northern part of Sheung Wan lie a few streets brimming with eclectic charm. Galleries stand shoulder-to-shoulder with little stores plying their trade, making or selling all manner of goods. Incense from prayer halls spice the air as patrons throng the cafés and dai-pai-dongs dotting the neighborhood. Families stroll the streets, dogs in tow, as residents of all races slurp noodles or chatter over a cup of tea. 

Urban Sketchers Hong Kong has always actively sought out spots for sketchcrawls that reflect life in this colorful city we call home. In keeping with the spirit of Boom, the cafe-gallery and first venue that has agreed to showcase the work of members of USk HK, we decided that it was only appropriate that the exhibition theme be the documentation of Sai Street and its immediate neighbors.

For a Sketcher, the area is a visual buffet, with every street corner presenting opportunities for a couple hours of sketching delight. Bits of older Hong Kong are flanked by towers of newness. Quiet yet full of life, it's a spot which happily sees relatively few vehicles. Back alleys and side streets showcase proud pieces of graffiti and accidental street sculpture. 

Over the course of the last few weeks, we've come as groups and individuals to sketch the stories we see here. As the world changes swiftly around us, it is our hope and intention that this body of work captures the essence of this wonderful little neighborhood at this point in time, preserving its beauty in line and color.

About Urban Sketchers HK (USk HK)

With a little over 1000 members on our Facebook Group, USk HK is the largest community of sketchers in Hong Kong. We are the local chapter of the global movement, and participants are both local and international from all kinds of backgrounds, united by the burning desire to sketch on location, then share what we've made. We ask only that the focus of sketches posted are of Hong Kong.

With sketchbooks (paper or digital) in hand, we can be found perched on stoops and ledges, or planted on little chairs, absorbed in observing the world around us and documenting and sharing what we see, in situ.

新聞稿

標題：香港城市速寫人舉行首次展覽 --  速寫西街

地點：Boom Cafe-Gallery，畫廊，西街，上環

日期： 2014年6月7-29日

開幕時間： 2014年6月8日 (週日)  下午4-7點

現代的香港人可以從舊照片或英國畫家留下的作品，窺探老香港風貌。隨著城市的高速發展，很多城市風景已來不及被紀錄。而香港城市速寫人便一直積極尋求香港的獨特風景，特別是快被人遺忘的日常景物。城市速寫人希望利用速寫去反映和紀錄我們稱之為家的城市，及其多姿多彩的生活。

近年中上環的荷里活充道至半山交界的街道，除了保持了古舊的老香港味道: 如港式雜貨店、各式各樣的古董店、大排檔和古蹟寺廟等，還有不少翻新了的大廈，讓畫廊、咖啡店、特色傢具店和服務式住宅進駐。因此令這個舊區一躍而成為一個中西新舊融和的港式文化展示地。於週末，不同國籍的人皆於這裡流連、溜狗、喝著咖啡去享受這個獨特社區的恬靜。

為了配合Boom-- 提供埸地支持予香港城市速寫人的第一個展覽 -- 展覽場地的環境和氛圍，我們決定以位於中上環的西街一帶為速寫主題。對於城市速寫人來說，西街一帶的每一個街角都充滿了值得花上數小時去寫生的題材: 新舊混雜的建築物，後巷和橫街中展示了本土藝術家的塗鴉作品和街頭雕塑。

在過去的幾個星期，我們一行人或個別地到訪西街一帶，並勾畫我們在這裡看到的故事。隨著世界在我們身邊迅速地改變，我們希望藉由香港城市速寫人的畫筆，抓住這個美妙的小社區當下的精髓，以線條和色彩保存其絢麗。

關於香港城市速寫人（ USk HK）

在我們的Facebook群組擁有大約1000多名會員，USk HK是於香港的城市速寫人中最大的社團。我們是全球城市速寫運動的其中一個地方分會，成員包括擁有本地和國際的背景的香港人及居港外籍人士。我們都是因為對"以速寫記錄當下"抱有相同的熱情而凝聚在一起，進行速寫，然後彼此分享作品與繪畫成果。而我們要求大家分享速寫的的重點是在香港所見的景物。