Words to live by during these troubled times: "Wear a mask" but/and "don't let fear dominate us"!

Old Lennon Wall poster with a still valid message

Pro-democracy protestors also fight against the Wuhan coronavirus!

Hong Kong recorded its highest daily number of new Wuhan coronavirus cases to date today with 67 confirmed infections, all but four of which are believed to be local transmissions.  Scarily, 35 cases were infected via unknown sources; something which is a real worry (not just the high -- by Hong Kong standards -- number of cases).  This on top of the territory recording two deaths from the coronavirus in a single day yesterday -- the first time I can recall this happening -- bringing the total number of coronavirus fatalities in Hong Kong into double digits.

After a few weeks where some people looked to have prematurely let down their guard against the Wuhan coronavirus and brought down the mask wearing percentage of the population down to about 70 percent, I'm seeing mask wearing percentages back up to around the 90-95 percent mark once more.  (And yes, there are indeed some mask hold outs even in Hong Kong.  And I must say that I'm happy to see the police turning their attention to this matter and arresting at least two people who had refused to wear masks (a practice now mandatory when taking public transportation) yesterday, one of whom had attacked a McDonalds employee who had asked him to do so!)   

If only the Hong Kong police could return to doing the kind of things that most of us would applaud and regain their reputation as Asia's finest.  (It may be hard to believe that, back in 2009, the local constabulary had a 85 percent community confidence rating!)  But, in order for that to happen, they'd have to stop being a political tool whose many actions are so politicized and at odds with what the majority of Hong Kongers want -- and that doesn't look likely anytime soon.

Thus it was that, hours before they arrested those anti-mask individuals yesterday, they went to the residence of Hong Kong Democratic Party vice chair Lo Kin-hei and arrested him for his alleged participation in an unlawful assembly back in November of last year!  On the other hand, it's now been revealed that plainclothes police officers were present in Yuen Long on the evening of July 21st last year but did not effect any arrests of those who went and attacked passengers at Yuen Long MTR station -- and for that matter, did not do anything to stop that white-shirted mob from assembling and then moving to effect their attacks.  

For those who need their memories refreshed: check out this New York Times video on what happened (and did not happen) in Yuen Long last July 21st.  Speaking of the New York Times: Shocking news emerged yesterday of the media outlet having decided to relocate part of its Hong Kong office to Seoul; with it also having been reported that New York Times correspondent Chris Buckley, who had previously been expelled from Mainland China, now also has had to leave Hong Kong after his work permit was not renewed by the authorities.

In view of this, it's to be expected that reports have emerged now of other news organizations, like the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, considering relocating at least some of their staff away from Hong Kong too in the wake of China having imposed that draconian security legislation on Hong Kong.  Heck, a good number of American businesses beyond news purveyors appear to be seriously contemplating exiting Hong Kong as a result of the new security legislation that, a few weeks back, they had actually not seemed all that worried about -- at least publicly.  

Of course tensions were not eased by the American President announcing on Tuesday that he was ending Hong Kong's special trade status.  At the same time, it's worth noting that recent events in Hong Kong are freaking out not just Hong Kongers and Americans but others as well.  A case in point: the Hong Kong Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry has reported that over 80 percent of respondents of a survey conducted earlier this month have expressed worries about the potential negative impact of the security law imposed by Beijing; with more than one third of those surveyed considering downsizing or outright withdrawing their Hong Kong operations.

Speaking of wihdraw: two co-organizers of this past weekend's democratic primaries (whose results are now out) have announced that they will be stepping down from their roles.  Au Nok-hin cited concerns for his personal safety yesterday while Andrew Chiu effectively said the same today.  Their decisions came after Carrie Lam and the Liason Office alleged that this past weekend's political exercise may be in breach of the security law.  (Interestingly, former pro-democracy lawmaker-turned-pro-Beijing government official Ronnie Tong has said otherwise -- but that appears to be insufficiently assuring for the likes of Au and Chiu!)     

Amidst all this, I'm going to let Lo Kin-hei -- a courageous man unafraid to have skin in the game -- have the last word(s) today: "My thoughts on the ways of life to go through the dark ages. Stay on with what we are doing, don't let fear dominate us! And, HAVE FUN! MAKE JOKES!"  (See this Youtube video elaborating on his stance and thoughts!)