Repression in Hong Kong even before the enactment of China's national security law for it

 

Graph by Leung Kai-chi showing the results of the latest survey 

by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI)

China's national security law for Hong Kong has yet to be enacted -- or, for that matter, drafted.  But it already is feeling very much like a police state in Hong Kong (or, at the very least, one where justice is not on the side of the just and innocent).  

Some of the news in recent days that make me think this way: the arrest of organizers of the June Fourth candlelight vigil last week (and media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who reportedly had only been at Victoria Park for 15 minutes before going to attend a church service thatevening!); the shock resignation of a senior official of under pressure Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK); and a number of crazy decisions made by judges in Hong Kong's courts (including one involving a teacher who accused the police of abuse, only to end up being sent to a psychiatric center by a disbelieving judge, and a man found guilty of public disorder after he swore at police because he was tear gassed by them).  

And, sorry, Ocean Park reopening its doors again today is not going to make me feel better!  (In fact, it makes me even more upset about the maximum-eight-people gathering ban still being in place for protests!)

More than incidentally, yesterday was the day the controversial national anthem law (passed last Friday) came into effect.  And it, of course, also was one year to the day that I got to wondering whether we'd see the end of HongKong as we know it, thanks to the police going nuts and attacking the crowd of 100,000 that had assembled at Admiralty to protest and block the hated (China) extradition bill. 

As expected, the first annivesary of this key date in the anti-extradition bill protests was filled with protests.  In the morning, a human chain protest formed outside a school in solidarity with a teacher sacked for allowing them to sing Glory to Hong Kong.  (More than incidentally, just the day before, Hong Kong's education secretary old school principals that schoolchildren who chant political slogans, sing political songs or form human chains should be punished.)  

And in the evening, there were protests all over town (including in the New Territories, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island) -- which, despite largely being of the peaceful "Sing with You" variety, still attracted the attention of the riot police (who, once again, provided more evidence of their brutality and disrespect for regular Hong Kongers along with vengefulness against pro-democracy lawmakers) and also one deranged pro-Beijinger who pulled out a knife and tried to slash pro-democracy protestors. 

It's not just that the protestors were out to mark a protest anniversary.  Rather, they still have so many reasons to protests.  For one thing, only one of the five demands that people have been making for close to a year now have been met.  Then there's also the added problem and grievance that comes with the destruction of "one country, two systems", most notably by way of the Communist Chinese regime openly wading into, and seeking to dictate from on high and afar, Hong Kong affairs. 

Even while some are wont to maintain that "one country, two systems" is not actually dead yet, others are already pointing fingers as to who is responsible for its demise.  In a recent Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) poll, it was interesting to see that while the pro-democracy and pro-Beijing camps think the other has had a role in most people losing trust in (the continued existence and implementation of) this peculiar arrangement that, nonetheless, was supposed to be in effect until 2047, the majority of people in Hong Kong are united in knowing who the chief culprits are: i.e., the Hong Kong government/officials/disciplinary forces and the Chinese Central Government/China itself/its people!

Anecdotally, pretty much everyone I've ever spoken to in the past year -- and yes, that includes pro-Beijingers/government individuals and those who will say "I am neutral" before saying things that make me very much doubt this as well as pro-democracy protestors and supporters -- usually end up agreeing on the following point: Carrie Lam is an idiot.