Arne Melsom
@melsom.bsky.social
Menneskerettigheter, mosjon, bridge.
Nestleder i Hongkongkomiteen i Norge ( @hkc-no.bsky.social ).
Blogger på hongkongsettfranorge.org
Nestleder i Hongkongkomiteen i Norge ( @hkc-no.bsky.social ).
Blogger på hongkongsettfranorge.org
Reposted by Arne Melsom
"EU deplores the heavy prison sentence of 20 years imposed on British citizen and media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai by the Hong Kong High Court. The EU reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai, also in consideration of his advanced age and health condition"
February 9, 2026 at 8:52 AM
"EU deplores the heavy prison sentence of 20 years imposed on British citizen and media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai by the Hong Kong High Court. The EU reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Jimmy Lai, also in consideration of his advanced age and health condition"
Reposted by Arne Melsom
Pressemelding: Straffeutmålingen mot Jimmy Lai Chee-ying
hongkongkomiteen.org/press-releas...
hongkongkomiteen.org/press-releas...
Straffeutmålingen for Jimmy Lai Chee-ying — Hong Kong Committee in Norway
Pressemelding fra Hongkongkomiteen i Norge
hongkongkomiteen.org
February 9, 2026 at 6:23 AM
Pressemelding: Straffeutmålingen mot Jimmy Lai Chee-ying
hongkongkomiteen.org/press-releas...
hongkongkomiteen.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Arne Melsom
Jimmy Lai:
Response from his children, Sebastien & Claire, & from the international legal team to this predictable but nonetheless disgraceful sentence.
Press queries: see contact details here & please direct queries through them. Thank you.
Response from his children, Sebastien & Claire, & from the international legal team to this predictable but nonetheless disgraceful sentence.
Press queries: see contact details here & please direct queries through them. Thank you.
February 9, 2026 at 7:21 AM
Jimmy Lai:
Response from his children, Sebastien & Claire, & from the international legal team to this predictable but nonetheless disgraceful sentence.
Press queries: see contact details here & please direct queries through them. Thank you.
Response from his children, Sebastien & Claire, & from the international legal team to this predictable but nonetheless disgraceful sentence.
Press queries: see contact details here & please direct queries through them. Thank you.
Reposted by Arne Melsom
For further comparison: Liu Xiabo was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment for "suspicion of the subversion of state authority" in 2008. He died 8 1/2 years later, when he was 61 years old.
Jimmy Lai is currently 78 years old. I sincerely hope he will not transferred to a Mainland Chinese prison.
Jimmy Lai is currently 78 years old. I sincerely hope he will not transferred to a Mainland Chinese prison.
• Ilham Tohti, life sentence, separatism (2014)
• Li Huaiqing, 20 years, fraud, extortion & inciting subversion of state power (2020)
• Ren Zhiqiang, 18 years, graft & abuse of power (2020)
• Sun Dawu, 18 years, organizing people to attack state agencies (2021)
🎁:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/w...
• Li Huaiqing, 20 years, fraud, extortion & inciting subversion of state power (2020)
• Ren Zhiqiang, 18 years, graft & abuse of power (2020)
• Sun Dawu, 18 years, organizing people to attack state agencies (2021)
🎁:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/w...
Jimmy Lai’s 20-Year Term Follows a China Playbook For Punishing Critics
www.nytimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:32 AM
For further comparison: Liu Xiabo was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment for "suspicion of the subversion of state authority" in 2008. He died 8 1/2 years later, when he was 61 years old.
Jimmy Lai is currently 78 years old. I sincerely hope he will not transferred to a Mainland Chinese prison.
Jimmy Lai is currently 78 years old. I sincerely hope he will not transferred to a Mainland Chinese prison.
Xi Jinpings forsøk på å få japanerne til å gå mot statsminister Takaichi ble en spektakulær katastrofe.
NHK's decision desk is now projecting a two-thirds supermajority for the ruling bloc LDP and coalition partner Japan Innovation Party. A landslide victory for Sanae Takaichi
February 8, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Xi Jinpings forsøk på å få japanerne til å gå mot statsminister Takaichi ble en spektakulær katastrofe.
Reposted by Arne Melsom
Hong Kong Federation of Students has announced plans to disband after 68 years in operation, citing "increasing pressure." In full: buff.ly/DGlI3EE
BREAKING: Hong Kong Federation of Students to disband after 68 years, citing 'increasing pressure' | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Hong Kong Federation of Students has announced plans to disband after 68 years in operation, citing “increasing pressure.” Isaac Lai, chief representative of the HKFS, told HKFP over the phone on...
buff.ly
February 5, 2026 at 5:15 AM
Hong Kong Federation of Students has announced plans to disband after 68 years in operation, citing "increasing pressure." In full: buff.ly/DGlI3EE
Reposted by Arne Melsom
"Among the Braves" co-author @shibanim.bsky.social disclosed on Twitter today that she's among the more than 300 journalists laid off by the "Washington Post". 😞
If you care about Hong Kong, you will know the writings of Shibani Mahtani. Or should.
February 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM
"Among the Braves" co-author @shibanim.bsky.social disclosed on Twitter today that she's among the more than 300 journalists laid off by the "Washington Post". 😞
I Klassekampen tok Trond Giske til orde for at Norge må få en frihandelsavtale med Kina. Men bakteppet, Mike Carneys tale i Davos, bør få Norge til å prioritere pålitelige partnere og legge vekk ambisjonen om frihandel med et notorisk avtalebrytende diktatur.
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/29/s...
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/29/s...
Solidaritet, Giske!
Nylig tok Trond Giske (AP) til orde for at Norge nå må få på plass en frihandelsavtale med Kina. Men bakteppet, Mike Carneys tale i Davos, bør snarere få Norge til å prioritere pålitelige handelspa…
hongkongsettfranorge.org
January 30, 2026 at 12:42 PM
I Klassekampen tok Trond Giske til orde for at Norge må få en frihandelsavtale med Kina. Men bakteppet, Mike Carneys tale i Davos, bør få Norge til å prioritere pålitelige partnere og legge vekk ambisjonen om frihandel med et notorisk avtalebrytende diktatur.
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/29/s...
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/29/s...
Reposted by Arne Melsom
Experts (incl Nobel Prize laureate Maria Ressa & ex-Taiwan digital minister Audrey Tang) warn of threat to democracy from ‘AI bot swarms’ infesting social media
Early versions of AI-powered influence operations have been used in the 2024 elections in Taiwan, India and Indonesia.
Early versions of AI-powered influence operations have been used in the 2024 elections in Taiwan, India and Indonesia.
Experts warn of threat to democracy from ‘AI bot swarms’ infesting social media
Misinformation technology could be deployed at scale to disrupt 2028 US presidential election, AI researchers say
www.theguardian.com
January 24, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Experts (incl Nobel Prize laureate Maria Ressa & ex-Taiwan digital minister Audrey Tang) warn of threat to democracy from ‘AI bot swarms’ infesting social media
Early versions of AI-powered influence operations have been used in the 2024 elections in Taiwan, India and Indonesia.
Early versions of AI-powered influence operations have been used in the 2024 elections in Taiwan, India and Indonesia.
Trump påstår at regjeringen bestemmer hvem som får fredsprisen. Det er selvsagt tull. Men regjeringen må stilles til ansvar for innblandingen i tildelingen til den kinesiske dissidenten Liu Xiaobo. Regjeringen må ta avstand fra normaliseringserklæringen fra 2016.
www.aftenposten.no/meninger/deb...
www.aftenposten.no/meninger/deb...
Debatt: Trump har delvis rett om fredsprisen
Regjeringen har selvsagt ikke instruert Nobelkomiteen. Men komiteen lever ikke i et vakuum, skriver Arne Melsom.
www.aftenposten.no
January 23, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Trump påstår at regjeringen bestemmer hvem som får fredsprisen. Det er selvsagt tull. Men regjeringen må stilles til ansvar for innblandingen i tildelingen til den kinesiske dissidenten Liu Xiaobo. Regjeringen må ta avstand fra normaliseringserklæringen fra 2016.
www.aftenposten.no/meninger/deb...
www.aftenposten.no/meninger/deb...
I den siste har det vært knuter på tråden i Norges forhold til Trump-administrasjonen. I all beskjedenhet har jeg sendt en e-post til Norges ambassadør til USA der jeg formidler et forslag til en erklæring for normalisering av forholdene mellom Norge og USA.
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/21/n...
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/21/n...
Normaliseringserklæringen 2.0
Den siste tiden har det vært knuter på tråden i Norges forhold til Trump-administrasjonen. I all beskjedenhet har jeg sendt en e-post til Norges ambassadør til USA, Anniken Huitfeldt, der jeg form…
hongkongsettfranorge.org
January 21, 2026 at 7:27 AM
I den siste har det vært knuter på tråden i Norges forhold til Trump-administrasjonen. I all beskjedenhet har jeg sendt en e-post til Norges ambassadør til USA der jeg formidler et forslag til en erklæring for normalisering av forholdene mellom Norge og USA.
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/21/n...
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/21/n...
Reposted by Arne Melsom
Our staffer @chloecheung.bsky.social reacts to today's U.K. govt decision to approve #China's mega-embassy at Royal Mint Court in #London:
“I’m deeply angry & disappointed at the government’s decision to ignore the opposition of so many..."
Full statement: thecfhk.org/cfhk-foundat...
“I’m deeply angry & disappointed at the government’s decision to ignore the opposition of so many..."
Full statement: thecfhk.org/cfhk-foundat...
January 20, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Our staffer @chloecheung.bsky.social reacts to today's U.K. govt decision to approve #China's mega-embassy at Royal Mint Court in #London:
“I’m deeply angry & disappointed at the government’s decision to ignore the opposition of so many..."
Full statement: thecfhk.org/cfhk-foundat...
“I’m deeply angry & disappointed at the government’s decision to ignore the opposition of so many..."
Full statement: thecfhk.org/cfhk-foundat...
Januar blir en viktig måned for britisk-kinesiske relasjoner. Jeg skriver om dette på debattsidene til Minerva.
@gryblekastadalmas.bsky.social
www.minerva.no/demokrati-ki...
@gryblekastadalmas.bsky.social
www.minerva.no/demokrati-ki...
Kinesisk mega-ambassade i London?
Planene om en stor kinesisk ambassade i London innebærer utfordringer for rikets sikkerhet og et potensiale for økt trakassering av Beijings kritikere i Storbritannia.
www.minerva.no
January 15, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Januar blir en viktig måned for britisk-kinesiske relasjoner. Jeg skriver om dette på debattsidene til Minerva.
@gryblekastadalmas.bsky.social
www.minerva.no/demokrati-ki...
@gryblekastadalmas.bsky.social
www.minerva.no/demokrati-ki...
Tidlig i dag startet sluttprosedyrene i saken der Jimmy Lai ble funnet skyldig i brudd mot Beijings sikkerhetslov for Hongkong. Jeg har skrevet en lang artikkel med bakgrunn og om rettssaken så langt. Artikkelen vil oppdateres når mer informasjon foreligger.
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/12/p...
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/12/p...
Prosessen mot Jimmy Lai
Jimmy Lai er kanskje Hongkongs fremste forkjemper for frihet og demokrati. Denne artikkelen går gjennom hans uselviske kamp for Hongkong, med fokus på forfølgelsen som byens myndigheter står bak.…
hongkongsettfranorge.org
January 12, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Tidlig i dag startet sluttprosedyrene i saken der Jimmy Lai ble funnet skyldig i brudd mot Beijings sikkerhetslov for Hongkong. Jeg har skrevet en lang artikkel med bakgrunn og om rettssaken så langt. Artikkelen vil oppdateres når mer informasjon foreligger.
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/12/p...
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2026/01/12/p...
Reposted by Arne Melsom
Residents of Houjiao Village in Guangzhou City, China report that the local government is creating "artificial sandstorms" with heavy construction machinery to force villagers to abandon their homes built on land that the Chinese government is trying to acquire
January 5, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Residents of Houjiao Village in Guangzhou City, China report that the local government is creating "artificial sandstorms" with heavy construction machinery to force villagers to abandon their homes built on land that the Chinese government is trying to acquire
Reposted by Arne Melsom
Chinese consulate security guard in San Francisco arrested after deploying pepper spray on activists holding protest rally.
January 5, 2026 at 5:25 AM
Chinese consulate security guard in San Francisco arrested after deploying pepper spray on activists holding protest rally.
Reposted by Arne Melsom
🔥FLAME OF FREEDOM: @joeysiu.bsky.social reflects on complicated emotions at a difficult time of year for diaspora #HongKongers in exile, and offers thoughts on ways to feel more connected to loved ones in #HongKong.
thecfhk.org/for-hong-kon...
thecfhk.org/for-hong-kon...
December 25, 2025 at 11:40 AM
🔥FLAME OF FREEDOM: @joeysiu.bsky.social reflects on complicated emotions at a difficult time of year for diaspora #HongKongers in exile, and offers thoughts on ways to feel more connected to loved ones in #HongKong.
thecfhk.org/for-hong-kon...
thecfhk.org/for-hong-kon...
Talsmann for Kinas UD i dag: «Vi motsetter oss alle handlinger som strider mot FN-pakten eller truer andre staters suverenitet.»
Fra regimet som daglig bryter folkeretten i Sør-Kina-havet, og bistår Russlands krig og overgrep i Ukraina.
Fra regimet som daglig bryter folkeretten i Sør-Kina-havet, og bistår Russlands krig og overgrep i Ukraina.
December 22, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Talsmann for Kinas UD i dag: «Vi motsetter oss alle handlinger som strider mot FN-pakten eller truer andre staters suverenitet.»
Fra regimet som daglig bryter folkeretten i Sør-Kina-havet, og bistår Russlands krig og overgrep i Ukraina.
Fra regimet som daglig bryter folkeretten i Sør-Kina-havet, og bistår Russlands krig og overgrep i Ukraina.
Reposted by Arne Melsom
34 Labour MPs urge UK government to not retroactively apply new immigration policies regarding English language proficiency and a minimum annual income to British National Overseas (BNO) visa migrants from Hong Kong.
December 19, 2025 at 4:34 PM
34 Labour MPs urge UK government to not retroactively apply new immigration policies regarding English language proficiency and a minimum annual income to British National Overseas (BNO) visa migrants from Hong Kong.
Reposted by Arne Melsom
"A free society cannot exist without a media that speaks the truth." laments Apple Daily reader & court watcher Ms Chan, saying that with the loss of Apple Daily, nobody is monitoring society, adding that maybe the Tai Po fire could have been avoided if Apple Daily still existed.
December 15, 2025 at 10:27 AM
"A free society cannot exist without a media that speaks the truth." laments Apple Daily reader & court watcher Ms Chan, saying that with the loss of Apple Daily, nobody is monitoring society, adding that maybe the Tai Po fire could have been avoided if Apple Daily still existed.
Reposted by Arne Melsom
Minst 160 mennesker døde i den tragiske brannen i boligkomplekset Wang Fuk Court i bydelen Tai Po i november. Alle i byen var i sjokk over katastrofens enorme dimensjoner. Bakteppet er dystert: Et system for boligrehabilitering som er preget av korrupsjon.
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2025/12/17/d...
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2025/12/17/d...
Dødsbrannen i Hongkong
Mer enn 160 mennesker døde i den tragiske brannen i boligkomplekset Wang Fuk Court i bydelen Tai Po i Hongkong. Alle i byen var sjokkert over at en katastrofe av slike dimensjoner kunne skje. Frivi…
hongkongsettfranorge.org
December 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Minst 160 mennesker døde i den tragiske brannen i boligkomplekset Wang Fuk Court i bydelen Tai Po i november. Alle i byen var i sjokk over katastrofens enorme dimensjoner. Bakteppet er dystert: Et system for boligrehabilitering som er preget av korrupsjon.
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2025/12/17/d...
hongkongsettfranorge.org/2025/12/17/d...
Reposted by Arne Melsom
Yes, bamboo structures are a thing in Hong Kong; not just bamboo scaffolding.
An altar in Kam Tin, Hong Kong, has achieved a Guinness World Record for the largest bamboo structure altar (temporary), at 3,897.409 m² (41,957.6 ft²)
www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-record...
www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-record...
December 16, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Yes, bamboo structures are a thing in Hong Kong; not just bamboo scaffolding.
Reposted by Arne Melsom
SPJ condemns Jimmy Lai conviction as press freedom in Hong Kong continues to decline
tinyurl.com/5n8satnh
#FreeJimmyLai #NSL #HongKong #JimmyLai
tinyurl.com/5n8satnh
#FreeJimmyLai #NSL #HongKong #JimmyLai
SPJ condemns Jimmy Lai conviction as press freedom in Hong Kong continues to decline
Society of Professional Journalists, improving and protecting journalism since 1909
tinyurl.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:31 PM
SPJ condemns Jimmy Lai conviction as press freedom in Hong Kong continues to decline
tinyurl.com/5n8satnh
#FreeJimmyLai #NSL #HongKong #JimmyLai
tinyurl.com/5n8satnh
#FreeJimmyLai #NSL #HongKong #JimmyLai
Reposted by Arne Melsom
New: EU slams verdict in Jimmy Lai trial as "politically motivated and emblematic of the erosion of democracy and fundamental freedoms in HK since the imposition of NSL in 2020"
"A free & independent media is vital for resilient societies and ensuring government accountability"
"A free & independent media is vital for resilient societies and ensuring government accountability"
December 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
New: EU slams verdict in Jimmy Lai trial as "politically motivated and emblematic of the erosion of democracy and fundamental freedoms in HK since the imposition of NSL in 2020"
"A free & independent media is vital for resilient societies and ensuring government accountability"
"A free & independent media is vital for resilient societies and ensuring government accountability"
Reposted by Arne Melsom
Also new: the EU "condemns" Chinese Coast Guard deploying water cannon and cutting anchor lines against Philippine fishing vessels
"EU calls... China to exercise restraint, refrain from use of force or coercion, resolve disputes peacefully, in full respect of international law"
"EU calls... China to exercise restraint, refrain from use of force or coercion, resolve disputes peacefully, in full respect of international law"
December 15, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Also new: the EU "condemns" Chinese Coast Guard deploying water cannon and cutting anchor lines against Philippine fishing vessels
"EU calls... China to exercise restraint, refrain from use of force or coercion, resolve disputes peacefully, in full respect of international law"
"EU calls... China to exercise restraint, refrain from use of force or coercion, resolve disputes peacefully, in full respect of international law"