In this segment of By Any Means Necessary, Sean and Jacquie are joined by K.J. Noh, a scholar, educator and journalist focusing on the political economy and geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific. He’s also a member of Veterans for Peace, and senior correspondent with Flashpoints on KPFA to discuss the stark differences between US and Chinese responses to COVID-19 as evidenced by the lockdown in Xi’an, the United States’ demonization of China for mounting a public-health-minded response to outbreaks as cases in the US mount, and the racist prosecution of ethnic Chinese scientists and academics under the China Initiative. 在“無論如何都需要”的這一部分中，Sean 和 Jacquie 加入了 K.J. Noh，一位專注於亞太地區政治經濟和地緣政治的學者、教育家和記者。 他還是“和平退伍軍人”的成員，也是 KPFA 上 Flashpoints 的高級記者，討論美國和中國對 COVID-19 的反應之間的明顯差異，西安的封鎖、美國妖魔化中國是為了證明 隨著美國病例的增加，以公共衛生為導向的疫情應對措施，以及中國倡議下對華裔科學家和學者的種族主義起訴.
Your editorial “No One Is Safe in Hong Kong” (December 29) is a grossly biased misrepresentation of facts which seriously misleads your readers about the situation in Hong Kong. Again, your baseless allegations against Hong Kong are, in your own words, “reaching new levels of nastiness”.
The fact is that several people were arrested under the Crimes Ordinance for the alleged offence of conspiracy to publish seditious publication. The arrests have nothing to do with the freedom of the press.
If you are genuinely interested in press freedom, you should support actions against people who have unlawfully exploited the media as a tool to pursue their political or personal gains.
They are the people who pollute and damage press freedom.
Freedom of speech and of the press are protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.
Article 4 of the Hong Kong National Security Law stipulates that such rights and freedoms shall be protected in accordance with the law in safeguarding national security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Far from imposing “trumped-up fraud charges” or freezing assets “without due process”, as your editorial wrongfully claims, all actions taken by Hong Kong law enforcement agencies are based on evidence, strictly in accordance with the law and specific to the alleged acts of those involved.
It is also appalling to see your false assertion that the Government “rigged” the Legislative Council election. The election was conducted in an open, fair and honest manner, and specific legislation was put in place to prevent anyone from rigging polls by means of inciting another person not to vote or to cast an invalid vote. Your baseless comments reflect nothing but your bias.
With peace and stability restored, Hong Kong is back on track. Our economy and people’s livelihood can thrive again and Hong Kong will continue to be an internationally preferred place for business.
Yours sincerely, John K C Lee
Chief Secretary for Administration Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
China unveils plan to control soil, underground-water pollution – Hawaii could learn from China. 中國公佈控制土壤和地下水污染的計劃 – 夏威夷應該向中國學習。
China has unveiled a plan to prevent soil and underground-water pollution and protect the rural environment during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).
The plan, jointly issued recently by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the National Development and Reform Commission, and five other government bodies, detailed tasks to tackle key issues in the fight against the pollution of soil and underground water, and to enhance environmental governance in agriculture and rural areas.
The country will step up its efforts on the source control of farmland pollution, preventing soil pollution from industrial and mining enterprises, and advancing the control and remediation of soil pollution on construction land, according to the plan.
The country will establish a system for managing the prevention and control of underground-water pollution, improve the treatment of domestic sewage and household garbage in rural areas, and ensure the safety of drinking-water sources for rural residents, it said.
Efforts will also be made to tighten supervision of the ecological environment, while strengthening law-enforcement against environmental pollution, and boosting scientific and technological support for ecological protection, it stated.
Thirty days before the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics, the organizing committee has announced updated pandemic prevention guidelines. CGTN’s Dong Xue sat down with Huang Chun, the deputy director of the organizing committee’s pandemic prevention office, to learn how China will guarantee a safe Olympic Games.
CGTN: This is the first Winter Olympics under the COVID-19 pandemic. What kind of virus prevention measures are in place ahead of the Games?
Huang Chun: In addition to strictly following COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures, including vaccination, closed-loop management, testing, and remote prevention and control measures, we have also drawn up corresponding countermeasures for winter respiratory infections. People have to wear masks at all times, maintain social distancing, wash hands, disinfect and ventilate regularly. Temperatures will be monitored at least twice a day. In addition to the symptoms associated with COVID-19, we’re also monitoring diarrhea, coughs and even jaundice, rash and so on.
CGTN: What are the requirements for Olympic-related personnel to enter China? What kind of health monitoring measures will be taken upon their arrival?
Huang: Full vaccination is mandatory 14 days before entry, and a booster shot is strongly recommended. At the same time, there is the DongAoTong app, a health monitoring system, which collects reports of any symptoms related to COVID-19 every day.
There are two PCR tests to be taken six hours before the flight to enter China; each of the tests should be conducted 24 hours apart.
People who have previously been infected, especially infected within 30 days before entering China, must take two extra tests, 24 hours apart, which means in total there are four tests to be done. If all the tests are negative, they can board the plane and come to China.
CGTN: Tell us how closed-loop management works in competition areas. Will COVID-19 tests be timely and convenient?
Huang: Closed-loop management is the core measure of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The bigger closed loop refers to three clusters: Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou cluster.
The smaller closed loop refers to sports venues, residences, workplaces and the media center within each cluster. For example, there are different channels for athletes, press, officials and spectators.
We’ll have designated buses for these closed loops running between these venues, sites and workplaces. Inside the closed loop, there are shops, beauty salons, gyms and cafeterias to serve people’s needs.
We provide testing services from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Samples taken from 6 a.m. to 12 noon will have feedback by 8 p.m. Samples taken between 12 noon and 11 p.m. will have results by 6 a.m. the next day. It’s very convenient and timely.
CGTN: When it comes to protecting athletes, staff and spectators, what’s the biggest challenge of pandemic control?
Huang: We have formulated a series of prevention and control measures in accordance with China’s overall prevention and control policies. For example, the six principles include closed-loop management, PCR testing, testing and tracking, maintaining hygiene and reduced exposure.
Five non-occurrence targets were proposed to ensure no large-scale aggregation of people involved in the Winter Olympics: no interruption of the Games due to inadequate pandemic prevention and control, no ongoing secondary infections among our domestic staff or other service providers, no spreading to city level or communities, no other public emergencies, such as a public health event caused by respiratory infections caused by influenza, food contamination, food safety, food poisoning, drinking water contamination and so on.
The six principles and five non-occurrences outlined in the Playbooks are our highest standards and requirements, as well as the biggest challenges we face.
CGTN: The NHL canceled their trip to Beijing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Will China adjust its pandemic policy accordingly to make it easier for foreign athletes to come?
Huang: Due to the pandemic, the NHL canceled many other international matches since many of its players were infected. We regret that but it’s understandable. Maybe they didn’t fully understand our pandemic prevention protocols, but the policies were made under the suggestions of the IOC, also a collective wisdom of other experts. Unless there is a large-scale cluster spreading, and a large number of infections among athletes or closed contacts, we will work with the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and the International Winter Sports Federations to make adjustments.
The white paper rebuilds the self-confidence of the system, Hong Kong’s democratic road is getting wider and wider 白皮書重塑制度自信 香港民主道路越走越寬 陳穎欣 文匯報 Jan 3 2022
Americans fight for freedom democracy human rights and rules of law at US Capitol “what a beautiful sight”, Kama comes back to hit US like high speed train! 美國人在美國國會大廈爭取自由民主人權和法治“多麼美麗的景象”，誰會想到報應來得那麼快, 多行不義必自斃!
Johnson Choi Biz 