How the US Government funded Design Democracy Facebook account was used to support the Occupy Central protests after 28 September 2014

The US Government funded Design Democracy Internet Portal included a website and the use of assorted social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others to share information and help coordinate actions during Occupy Central.

These are posts from the Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook account from after 28 September 2014, after the protesters confronted the police.

It is also important to remember, all of these messages and all of this advice was funded by the US Government.

29 September 2014

Information on Police deployments: Police behind the Bank of China Tower

Message:

22:18
中銀後方有大批警察，並進入中銀大廈

22:18
There is a large group of police behind The Bank of China tower and entered the building

2218
中国銀行後方に大勢の警察がなかに入ろうとしている

Logistical support: What equipment do you need in Causeway Bay and Wanchai?

Message:

有朋友傳來消息，指銅鑼灣與灣仔已經相連！
有冇朋友仔知道現場欠缺什麼？

The crowds in Causeway bay and Wanchai have connected!
What materials and equipment do we need in these two areas?

Have friends from the news, referring to causeway bay, wan chai, and already connected!
Any friends know what lack the scene?

The crowds in Causeway bay and Wanchai have connected!
What materials and equipment do we need in these two areas?

Command and control: Spread out from Admiralty

Message:

金鐘宣布：由於太擠迫，所以擴大戰線到干諾道
Announcement in admiralty: too crowded in admiralty so spread out to Connaught road

Details of security equipment supplier for gasmasks

Message:

朋友：如果大家想買豬嘴
如果你唔出去不如你買，送去現場
If you want to buy gas mask, or if you want to buy gas masks for your friends.

網民: 新填地街砵蘭街一帶嘅工業安全用品公司留意下
網民: 也可買3M 1862.

Friends: if you want to buy a pig mouth
If you don't go out, why don't you buy sent to the scene
If you want to buy gas mask, or if you want to buy gas masks for your friends.

Netizens: Reclamation Street along the Portland street in industrial safety supplies companies to pay attention to the next
Netizens: you can also buy 3 M 1862.

30 September 2014

Information on Police deployments: Police in Wanchai

Message:

謝斐道現場! 小編收到好多風灣仔好多警察！一切小心！
Live at Jaffe Road! We have received messages that there are a lot of police in Wan Chai! Please be careful!

References 

Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook account after 28 September 2014

How the US Government funded Design Democracy Facebook account was used to support the Occupy Central protests on 28 September 2014

The US Government funded Design Democracy Internet Portal included a website and the use of assorted social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others to share information and help coordinate actions during Occupy Central.

These are posts from the Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook account on 28 September 2014, the day after the protesters confronted the police.

It is important to remember, all of these messages and all of this advice was funded by the US Government.

Message to avoid Chater Road

Message:

Please spread: Please do not come to Chater Road in Central. Those affected by tear gas please walk towards Causeway Bay. Charter Road has heavy-loaded police and waterwheels, all with gas masks.

Message of praise from Jennifer Eagleton on a school class boycott

Message:

迦密中學學生罷課現場. Class boycott at Carmel Secondary School, Ho Man Tin. Boycottage de classe, Carmel Secondary School, Ho Man Tin. 中学校のストライキ現場 迦密中學政改關注組

JenniferAnne Eagleton commented: “Good on you kids!”

Contact details for a Police and Security Equipment supplier

Message:

朋友：如果大家想買豬嘴. 如果你唔出去不如你買，送去現場. If you want to buy gas mask, or if you want to buy gas masks for your friends. 網民: 新填地街砵蘭街一帶嘅工業安全用品公司留意下 網民: 也可買3M 1862.

Design Democracy/CCPL/HKU poster with lawyer contact numbers and graphics explaining the need to dispose of scissors, cutters and knives

Message:

請廣傳

義務律師團隊發出訊息指，願意支援被拘捕的人。如果你在被捕後沒有律師去見你的話，請向警方要求打電話，請要求文律師和Mr. Vidler 律師去見你或指派大律師去見你。無需事前發出sms。9722 3750 文律師　(何謝韋律師事務所）9167 7091　 Mr. Vidler（韋智達律師行） 

Please help to spread this message: A volunteer lawyers team indicated that the team is willing to aid those who are being arrested. If you are being arrested without a lawyer to help you, please request the police to allow you to contact Mr. Man or Mr. Vidler. There is no need to send any SMS before that. 9722 3750 Mr. Man (Ho, Tse, Wai & Partners) 9167 7091 Mr. Vidler (Vidler & Co)

Reference

Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook account on 28 September 2014

How the US Government funded Design Democracy Facebook account was used to support the Occupy Central protests on 27 September 2014

The US Government funded Design Democracy Internet Portal included a website and the use of assorted social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and others to share information and help coordinate actions during Occupy Central.

These are posts from the Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook account on 27 September 2014, the day the protesters confronted the police. It should be noted, all of these posts were made before the police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, suggesting the student confrontation with the police was pre-planned.

It is also important to remember, all of these messages and all of this advice was funded by the US Government.

Use of Firechat

Message:

//如果大家關注政總現場情況或會到政總, 請先到 AppStore 或 PlayStore 安裝及登入 FireChat.  Firechat於台灣立法院抗爭時, 開始廣為台灣人所用。 若你進入政總後, 發現你的電話無法上網, 只要你的電話開了藍芽，FireChat 就會變成一個公開既通訊渠道，你可以用 FireChat 與附近的 FireChat 用戶通訊，以聯絡自己的朋友。 你亦可以利用此 App, 把現場情況向外發佈. 以免有人因網上流言自亂陣腳。 請把以上資料傳開去，謝謝..

In case all entrances close and started clearing// If you are at gov headquarters or on your way, please download "firechat". It is used in the movement in taiwan, whenever you find that you cannot go online, use wifi etc, turn on your bluetooth and open firechat. Then you can chat with the friends near you. You can share info with this app as well.

Use of Safety Goggles

Message:

買到，大家五金鋪有。如果你想支持學生就去啦

Design Democracy/CCPL/HKU poster with lawyer contact numbers and graphics explaining the rights of arrested persons to a phone call, food and medical examination

Message:

你的基本人權:

Design Democracy HK ‏@hkwedecide Twitter post 

On 27 September 2014. Design Democracy HK ‏@hkwedecide  Twitter Account tweeted the following message and graphics explaining the need to dispose of scissors, cutters and knives:

Message:

If you have cutter, scissors or pocket knife with you, please throw them away

Reference

Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook account on 27 September 2014

Meeting arranged by Jennifer Eagleton between the Civic Party and student leaders immediately prior to Occupy Central on 5 September 2014

On 17 September 2014, Wen Wei Po published an article on a meeting of the Civic Party’s English Language Group (ELG), held in Room 502 of the LegCo building on the evening of 5 September 2014, “The Way Forward from the Young Generation’s Perspective”.

This meeting was significant for two reasons:

1.      Jennifer Anne Eagleton is not only a senior member of the Civic Party, she was also the Civic Party’s inside person at HKU in the Occupy Central protests, being a member of the Design Democracy Hong Kong Project Advisory Group. See link: http://nedprogramsinhk.blogspot.com/2016/08/introducing-design-democracy-advisory.html

2.      Yvonne LEUNG Lai-kwok, one of the student leaders in the Occupy Central protests who was an attendee at the meeting, is also the centre of a recent controversy at HKU involving political interference in HKU’s internal affairs by the Civic Party, where she categorically denied having any further relationship with the Civic Party after a 2012 internship with Alan LEONG Kah-kit. Her presence at this meeting disproves this. See link: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/01/28/hku-class-boycott-committee-rebut-council-chair-smears-deny-they-are-controlled-by-political-party/

Background

The Civic Forum English Language Group is a forum which meets in LegCo and holds meetings, often in conjunction with HK2020. Here’s an advert for a meeting they held in January 2014.

Civic Party English Language Group (ELG)
meeting notice on 7 January 2014

ELG meeting on 5 September 2014, “The Way Forward from the Young Generation’s Perspective”

On 17 September 2014, Wen Wei Po published an article on an ELG meeting held on 5 September 2014. The meeting was entitled: “The Way Forward from the Young Generation’s Perspective”. We’ve taken details of this meeting from the reports by the Canada China Friendship Association in their blog posts US Political Influence Among Young Hong Kong Activists (Part I)¹ and US Political Influence Among Young Hong Kong Activists (Part II)².

According to the blog post, this is a partial list of other attendees (out of 33, perhaps more): 

• Jennifer Eagleton, lecturer, City University of Hong Kong,
• Gladys Li, lawyer,
• Lee Faulkner, CEO, Radio Chinwag,
• Steve Vines, political reporter/commentator,
• Margaret Ng, Civic Party member  and lawyer,
• David M. Webb, former non-executive director of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange,
• Elizabeth Bosher, former Economic Department official (at the US Consulate),
• Rachel Cartland, former Financial and Economic Affairs Department official,
• Robin Bradbeer, director, Hong Kong Internet Management Co. Ltd.,
• Evan Fowler, director, Home Court News (translation?),
• Sebastian Veg, researcher on politics, French Center for Research on Contemporary China,
• Michele Geldens, English teacher, Hotung Secondary School,
• Jenn Horgos, Hong Kong TV anchor,
• Suzanne Pepper, American China scholar,
• Yvonne Leung, president of the Hong Kong University Student Union,
• Agnes Chow, spokesperson for the high school student activist group Scholarism,
• Hoidick Chu, spokesperson for ‘Local Action’,
• David Zweig, chair professor, Division of Social Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology,
• YC Chen (陈允中), Assistant Professor, Division of Social Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. 

The following photographs were posted from this meeting:

Jennifer Eagleton and Robin Bradbeer chatting

Student leaders including Agnes CHOW and Yvonne LEUNG

Other attendees

Other attendees

Following the meeting, both Robin Bradbeer and Jennifer Eagleton posted Facebook rebuttals of certain allegations made by Wen Wei Po about the meeting. They did not deny the meeting took place or that the list of attendees was wrong. Here are their rebuttals:

Rebuttal by Robin Bradbeer, posted to Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook page
on 14 September 2014.

Further rebuttal posted on Facebook

on 19 September 2014.

References

¹Canada China Friendship Association Blog. US Political Infuence Among Young Hong Kong Activists ( Part I). Posted on 6 October 2014. See link: http://youxie.ca/us-political-infuence-among-young-hong-kong-activists-part-i/

²Canada China Friendship Association Blog. US Political Infuence Among Young Hong Kong Activists (Part I I). Posted on 9 October 2014. See link: http://youxie.ca/us-political-influence-among-young-hong-kong-activists-part-ii/

American funded Design Democracy project Facebook Administrator giving a political talk to school children at Discovery College on 3 June 2014 in the run-up to Occupy Central

In 2012 and 2014, The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) allocated US Government to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for the development of an Internet portal and online platforms which were used by their recipients to arrange, coordinate and support the Occupy Central protests.

The funds were allocated for use in the Design Democracy Hong Kong Project and one of the platforms which was used to coordinate and support the Occupy Central protests was the Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook page.

One of the enduring images of the Occupy Central protests was the ‘spontaneous’ appearance of dozens of school children coming out in support of the protests, but as with many things about Occupy Central, not everything was what it seemed.

Gardenia KWOK

Gardenia KWOK (G.K. on Facebook) was the Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook Administrator, hired specifically to maintain the Facebook page during the Occupy Central protests.

Gardenia KWOK, Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook Administrator
for the Occupy Central Protests

Design Democracy School Talk

On 3 June 2014, a photograph of Gardenia KWOK with a ‘red nose’ and the text: 2^nd talk for Design Democracy HK was posted by the Design Democracy Hong Kong港人講普選 Facebook page, accompanied by the following text:

搞掂 Discovery College 個talk. tried so hard to impress kids! 起碼俾咗少少background d international 學生香港發生咩事。

Facebook post by Gardenia KWOK on a school talk at Discovery College on 3 June 2016.
Note the comment by Jennifer Anne Eagleton (circled in red)

Comment

Under Section 84 (1) (m), Regulations of the Education Ordinance, Cap 279, the Chief Executive in Council may make regulations providing for the control of the dissemination of information, or expression of opinion, of a clearly biased political nature in schools. See link to Education Ordinance

Reference 

Facebook. Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook post. School talk given at Discovery College by Gardenia KWOK on 3 June 2016.

American funded Design Democracy project Law Professor giving a political talk to school children on 22 April 2014 in the run-up to Occupy Central

In 2012 and 2014, The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) allocated US Government to the National Democratic Institute (NDI) for the development of an Internet portal and online platforms which were used by their recipients to arrange, coordinate and support the Occupy Central protests.

The funds were allocated for use in the Design Democracy Hong Kong Project and one of the platforms which was used to coordinate and support the Occupy Central protests was the Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook page.

One of the enduring images of the Occupy Central protests was the ‘spontaneous’ appearance of dozens of school children coming out in support of the protests, but as with many things about Occupy Central, not everything was what it seemed.

Design Democracy School Talk

The following is a Design Democracy Hong Kong 港人講普選 Facebook post about a school talk given in the run-up to Occupy Central by Professor Simon YOUNG of the HKU Faculty of Law to school children on universal suffrage and constitutional development on 22 April 2014¹:

On 22 April 2014, Professor YOUNG a school talk given to students at the Christian Alliance P.C. Lau Memorial School.  The following text and photographs were posted by the Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook page:

-          今日同prof young 去左學校講talk吖，介紹香港政制發展，普選問題等。
如果大家知道有咩學校會有興趣叫我地去，記得通知我地吖

-          Today went to give a talk about universal suffrage and constitutional development with prof Young. If you are a teacher or u know any schools that would be interested to have us, please contact us! designdemocracyhk@gmail.com

Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook Page
opened at the School Talk on 22 April 2014

Christian Alliance PC Law Memorial International School

Professor Simon YOUNG giving a talk 
on universal suffrage and constitutional development

Professor Simon YOUNG giving a talk 
on universal suffrage and constitutional development

Professor Simon YOUNG giving a talk
on universal suffrage and constitutional development

Comment

Under Section 84 (1) (m), Regulations of the Education Ordinance, Cap 279, the Chief Executive in Council may make regulations providing for the control of the dissemination of information, or expression of opinion, of a clearly biased political nature in schools. Link to Education Ordinance.

Reference

¹Facebook. Design Democracy Hong Kong Facebook post. School talk given by Professor YOUNG on 22 April 2014 on universal suffrage and constitutional development. See link: https://www.facebook.com/designdemocracyhk/posts/699246246783792

More US Government funds allocated to support the Occupy Central protests in Hong Kong - NED grants to the NDI in 2014

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) was established to act as a conduit to disperse US Government funds for ‘promoting democracy’, allocated by the US Congress to its four core grantees, including the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which represents the Democratic Party of America¹.

NED Grants in 2014, including to support Occupy Central

According to the 2014 NED Annual Report, the NDI were given grants of US$410,000 and US$51,210, including to support online platforms and community initiatives that promote citizen-created models of governance (these refer to the Design Democracy Project platforms, which were used to coordinate and support the Occupy Central protests). Details of these grants are as follows:

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - Political Processes - $410,000 - Amplifying Citizens’ Voices in Hong Kong & China - To engage Hong Kong civic and political sectors in substantive dialogue around governance and electoral reform processes and to provide civic education for Chinese activists. NDI will assist efforts to promote citizens’ voices in Hong Kong’s political reform process and provide technical assistance to Chinese activists on organizational and advocacy skills. In Hong Kong, NDI will support online platforms and community initiatives that promote citizen-created models of governance. NDI will also conduct a young women’s leadership initiative.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs - Political Processes - Supplement: $51,210 - Amplifying Citizens’ Voices in Hong Kong - To amplify citizens’ voices in Hong Kong’s political reform process and provide technical assistance to mainland Chinese activists on organizational and advocacy skills. In Hong Kong, NDI will support online platforms and community initiatives that promote citizen-created models of governance. NDI will also conduct a young women’s leadership initiative for up to 20 participants from mainland China and Hong Kong².

Interestingly, these grants were not recorded under Hong Kong, but were hidden away in the Asia Regional section of the NED Annual Report. See grant details below below:

NED Grant to China (Hong Kong) in 2014

NED Grants to Asia Regional in 2014

Details of two grants to the NDI for work in Hong Kong in 2014.
Hidden away in the Asian Regional section.

References

¹Oversight of the National Endowment for Democracy : hearings before the Subcommittee on International Operations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-ninth Congress, second session, May 14 and 20, June 11, 1986. See link to report: http://njlaw.rutgers.edu/collections/gdoc/hearings/8/86602878/86602878_1.pdf 

²National Endowment for Democracy (NED) Annual Report 2014. Grants to Asia Regional in 2014.