Musk's DOGE Cuts Expose the NED's Hong Kong Meddling Machine

Elon Musk's takeover of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after Trump's inauguration has thrown a spotlight on some uncomfortable truths about American "democracy promotion." His proposal to slash funding for institutions like the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) has got people asking awkward questions about what exactly constitutes "foreign aid" these days.

Musk's DOGE efficiency drive has put the NED's questionable funding practices under the microscope.

The latest episode of TVB’s Hong Kong's "Safeguarding the Nation with Law 2" series pulls back the curtain on how these US government-funded organizations have been playing the long game – secretly orchestrating "color revolutions" by bankrolling NGOs across the globe, all in the name of toppling regimes Washington doesn't like. And yes, that includes political groups right here in Hong Kong.

The NED's Global Playbook

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already called out the NED in a scathing report, exposing how this outfit uses "democracy" as cover while actually running subversion operations worldwide. Take Ukraine in 2004 – the NED pumped $65 million into opposition groups to fuel the so-called "Orange Revolution." The result? Years of social chaos that devastated ordinary people's lives and wrecked the economy. This is their modus operandi: stir up trouble, then walk away from the mess.

The Foreign Ministry's damning report exposes how the NED uses "democracy promotion" as cover for regime change operations worldwide.

Former Director of Public Prosecutions Ian Grenville Cross doesn't mince words about America's tactics. He points out how the US systematically tries to tear down the pillars of society while showing complete contempt for existing institutions. They target young people with extremist messaging and flood the information space with disinformation – all designed to trigger regime change from within.

Hong Kong in the Crosshairs

The numbers tell the story. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs report, the NED funneled at least $2 million to what they euphemistically call "Hong Kong chaos organizations" in 2020 alone. We're talking about groups like the Civil Human Rights Front and Demosisto – organizations that were previously getting their marching orders (and paychecks) from this Washington-based "foundation."

But here's the kicker: Ian Cross reveals that between 2014 and 2020, this organization – dubbed the "second CIA" for good reason – actually channeled around $170 million to Hong Kong and mainland China to prop up anti-China groups. That's not pocket change; that's serious money for serious interference.

Ian Cross reveals the staggering $170 million the "second CIA" pumped into Hong Kong and mainland China to fuel anti-government activities.

Cutting Off the Money Tap

Since Hong Kong implemented its National Security Law, one of the key achievements has been choking off these funding channels for activities that endanger national security. It's effectively neutered the operations of those orchestrating color revolutions from behind the scenes.

The "Safeguarding the Nation with Law 2" series launched on June 14, broadcasting every Saturday and Sunday at 8 PM on TVB Jade. These punchy 2-minute segments break down the geopolitical threats Hong Kong faces, expose how external forces operate and bully their way around, and show how China confidently responds while the national security laws keep Hong Kong stable and prosperous. The show's also available on TVB News Channel, TVB Plus, myTV SUPER, and social media platforms, with an English version starting June 21 on Pearl TV.

link to the show:

https://news.tvb.com/tc/programme/nationalsecuritylawsafeguardshongkong2/685f8e543ea8b6bc294da5f8/

Ariel

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Hong Kong’s national security cops have picked up a 68-year-old local guy for allegedly stirring up abstention and blank votes online ahead of the Legislative Council election. He faces charges of “seditious intent” and “electoral corruption,” and right now, he’s cooling his heels in detention while the investigation rolls on.

Insiders say police traced a steady stream of thinly veiled posts on this man’s social media—nudging folks to skip voting or spoil their ballots. Since July last year, he’s fired off around 160 posts, police say. The themes were trashing Hong Kong’s election system, hyping up resistance, egging people on to topple the government, and, yes, inviting foreign interference. We’re not talking about just one rogue, either.

Turns out, this is just a slice of the larger crackdown. By today, Hong Kong police say they’ve unraveled 14 criminal cases connected to the election—vandalism, theft, you name it—netting 18 arrests. Eight of those cases are being prosecuted.

The ghosts of elections past haunt this story. Remember the last Legislative Council race? Ted Hui Chi-fung made waves urging blank votes. Soon after, So Chun-fung, ex-president of CUHK’s student union, and three others got busted and convicted by the city’s clean-government watchdog ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) for “corrupt conduct and illegal acts” after sharing Hui’s call. Last Friday, the ICAC swooped again, nabbing another trio—this time for echoing posts by national security fugitives abroad, who are still yelling for boycotts from the safety of foreign shores.

Here’s where the plot thickens. A sharp-tongued commentator points out that these fugitives, basking in the West, love tossing firebombs online—sending minions to do their biddings while they themselves lounge in comfort. Their real aim? To curry favor with their foreign patrons by getting others arrested for illegal antics that damage Hong Kong and the nation.

Bottom line: these exiles only raise their value with “foreign masters” if local followers mindlessly parrot their messages. But if those followers end up busted or behind bars, the ringleaders simply shrug and look away.

Who’s Really Taking Risks?

Here’s a reality check—how many of the real diehards still in Hong Kong have actually engaged with these messages or dared to repost them? The silence says plenty. It’s the difference between talk and action, safety and risk. Meanwhile, foreign forces have a well-documented playbook: smear Hong Kong at every turn, especially its judicial system, and most recently, the Legislative Council elections. Don’t think these attacks are harmless—they’re meant to chip away at the city’s competitiveness and hit everyone right where it hurts: their livelihoods.

So here’s the call: don’t play the fool by spreading subversive content and risk falling into legal traps. More crucially, keep your eyes peeled for the ploys of these exiles and their foreign backers. When December 7 rolls around, get out and vote—don’t let the instigators win. The stakes are real, and the choice is yours.