tyb
Senior Japan police officer lost G-20 VIPs security docs after drinks with colleagues
NAGOYA – A senior Aichi Prefectural Police officer lost internal documents relating to the security of important guests set to attend the G-20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Nov. 23 and 24 in this central Japan city, it has emerged.
Sources close to the investigation said the loss happened just weeks before the events were due to start. Among the details included in the documents were locations police officers were to be posted to for maintaining security during the meetings, as well as some information on plans for protection to be provided for VIPs.
The officer who lost the sensitive documents is a superintendent in his 50s who also serves as the head of the security division at a police station in the prefecture, according to the sources. The papers were distributed to him and other officers at an Oct. 29 plenary session at Aichi Prefectural Police headquarters. It was attended by senior prefectural police officers and each police station's head of security.
After the meeting, the officer is reported to have gone out drinking with colleagues at a restaurant in Nagoya. On his way home he left his briefcase, containing his wallet, the documents and other items, on a subway train luggage rack. He is said to have been drunk at the time. He reported the loss to superiors some days after the incident, and from there a search began.
Prefectural police are investigating how the loss took place and other details. It is also examining what punishment to hand down to the officer, and how to prevent similar future cases.
During the G-20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, police from across the country were dispatched to Nagoya, with as many as 8,500 personnel deployed to provide heavy security. The events passed without incident.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191125/p2a/00m/0na/008000c
ty /CM Kicking ASS!!
np anon
Beijing restates support for Lam despite Hong Kong election results
HONG KONG – Beijing has reaffirmed its "firm support" for troubled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, despite a landslide win by opposition parties in local elections, as voters vented their frustration over her administration's handling of anti-government protests.
"The central government firmly supports Chief Executive Carrie Lam in governing Hong Kong according to the law, and firmly supports the police in ending violence and restoring order," said Geng Shuang, spokesperson at China's Foreign Ministry, at a regular press conference on Monday.
Geng echoed remarks made by his boss Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier in Tokyo, claiming that Hong Kong matters were China's domestic affairs. He also restated Beijing's commitment to enforcing the "one country, two systems" framework, under which the city is meant to enjoy a high degree of autonomy that mainland Chinese cities are denied. "Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong," Geng said.
Earlier on Monday, Wang told reporters in Tokyo: "Any attempts to undermine the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong will end in failure." Prior to that, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at a meeting with Wang, had urged China to maintain a free and open Hong Kong.
Sunday's district council elections saw the highest turnout ever, with nearly 3 million people, or 71.2% of registered voters, casting their votes. The pan-democracy camp reaped big gains, claiming more than 80% of the total 452 seats up for grabs. The democrats also gained control of 17 of the 18 larger districts, giving them a bigger bargaining chip against the government.
Wu Chi-wai, chairman of the Democratic Party, now the largest political party at the district council level, attributed its success to the eruption of public grievances against the Hong Kong government triggered by a now-scrapped anti-extradition bill. His party more than doubled its seats, gaining 91 places.
He expected democrats from the different parties to come together to build a stronger alliance so that they could be in a better position to press the government in political and livelihood issues.
"There will be more changes going forward. I wish the pro-democracy camp can be united and take advantage of the victory, " Wu said.
China's Xinhua News Agency on Monday reported that the election took place, but did not mention the results. Instead, the state-run outlet said: "On the day of the election, troublemakers harassed the patriotic Hong Kong candidates."
Chung Kim-wah, assistant professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the scene of a violent standoff between students and police over the last week, said the election result shows that "people's anger toward the pro-Beijing camp's mishandling of the political crisis is immense."
"It's noteworthy that pro-Beijing camp still won [up to] 40% of the [total number of] votes, thanks partly to their years-long experience in community work and strong connections in local districts," he added. "The pan-democrats still face an uphill battle next year."
Kenneth Chan Ka Lok, associate professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, pointed out that the result was also due to the opposition's "success in uniting people across the spectrum, ending the schism in the past few years." The opposition in the past have been divided.
"It is actually good timing for Beijing and Carrie Lam to rethink their strategy on how to resolve the protest," he said. "If Beijing feels humiliated by the election result and continues to suppress people's voices, I can only imagine the crisis will deepen further and violence will escalate."
In a note published on Monday, Simon Pritchard, global research director at Gavekal Research, wrote: "It is possible that Beijing takes the message that Hong Kong's political culture remains anchored, and the way to buy off dissent is to appeal to a middle class that remains pragmatic in its political aims."
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Hong-Kong-protests/Beijing-restates-support-for-Lam-despite-Hong-Kong-election-results
let's fix those evil chek'd trips