No arrests today but still plenty of troubling developments taking place in Hong Kong

A reminder of how beautiful Hong Kong can be

 

A Lego ad with a message that's applicable to a larger world!

 

The eyes of much of the world remain transfixed on the USA and its still ongoing election saga.  Even many Hong Kongers have had given quite a bit of attention to the political events unfolding half a world away (but with what many believe will have major ramifications over on this side of the globe). At the same time though, Hong Kongers need to keep an eye on what's happening domestically; and  hope that the world have not looked completely away from what's going on in Hong Kong (and Beijing) and has not looked away as it's not at all as if the persecutions and repression have stopped in recent days.  

 

So it meant a lot to many Hong Kongers to see that the United States government actually did take time to call on the Chinese Communist Party "and their Hong Kong proxies" to cease their efforts to crush press freedom in Hong Kong in the wake of journalist Bao Choy Yuk-ling arrest's on Tuesday.  Ditto re our seeing that Bao Choy is standing her ground post getting out on bail, and going ahead and Tweeting earlier today that: "Words can't express my gratitude for the help and blessing from my friends, fellows, and everyone who support #PressFreedom . We may have to walk in the shadow of journalism greatness, but we will never walk alone" (https://twitter.com/Baochoy/status/1324182615566397440).

 

Should it not be readily apparent: Hong Kongers need to stay strong and continue to have support from others because they are under great threat from very powerful forces.  Michael Chugani states it very clearly in an article published today that dramatically outlines the following:

Beijing is now systematically ripping out Hong Kong’s soul, changing the city as we know it. At least 10 of the 21 opposition lawmakers who chose to remain in the extended Legislative Council have been arrested for various charges.

Another three who chose not to remain also face charges, as do numerous other opposition figures. Many opposition election candidates have been disqualified. Anti-government protests have become a thing of the past. The opaque national security law’s many red lines gives the government a free hand to define free speech and what constitutes a security threat.

Many Hongkongers now believe Beijing’s ultimate goal is to stifle political dissent, kill off the opposition, control media freedom, weaken our independent judiciary, and turn Legco into a rubber stamp. That will make Hong Kong like the mainland, where speaking your mind is taboo.

And although there were no new political arrests today, the Hong Kong police did do something else to threaten Hong Kong's distinct culture and society.  More specifically, the local constabulary has launched a hotline inviting people to report suspected breaches of the SAR's national security law.  In other words: they have established a "snitch" line to encourage people to -- shades of East Germany's Stasi, the Nazis' Gestapo and the Chinese "Cultural Revolution" -- spy, inform on and betray their fellow Hong Kong residents, neighbors, colleagues, and even friends and family.

Also, while I can count on my fingers the number of times I've actually heard the Chinese national anthem being played in Hong Kong, I may well be hearing the March of the Volunteers a lot more often in the not so distant future; with plans in the offing for it to get played much more often than has thus far been the case.  On a related note: There appear to be quite a few more Chinese national flags waving about in Hong Kong since -- if not July 1st, then October 1st.  Either that or their size has been markedly increased to make them harder to not notice when one passes by one hanging from a flag pole in front of a police station or school or atop some other building, be they government or privately owned!