Fears regarding the restriction of movement out of Hong Kong as well as gripes regarding the restriction of movement and gatherings within the territory

Remember this demand?

 

A lot of people were out protesting this two years ago today

 

Back on August 28th, 2019, some 120,000 people came out to take part in the second protest march against an extradition bill that would send people to Mainland China -- specifically, its prisons.  Two years on exactly, Hong Kong lawmakers approved another bill that has struck fear in Hong Kongers: one which makes changes to the city’s Immigration Ordinance that give sweeping powers to the territory's immigration chief to ban residents and others from entering Hong Kong, and -- this is what really worries people -- will be used to prevent people leaving the city.

 

It may seem ironic that Hong Kongers now fear not being allowed to leave the city whereas, just two years ago, their biggest fear involved people being removed from the city.  But what this tells you is that Hong Kong has become far more like Mainland China as well as under Beijing's yoke in the intervening time (particularly with the enactment of China's security law for Hong Kong), and that Hong Kongers (still) are not happy about their legal and political system (and so much else besides) becoming closer to that of their supposed Motherland.

It's almost unimaginable these days but, for decades, many people hoped that Mainland China would become more like Hong Kong rather than the other way around; and this includes a good number of the participants of the (previously) annual June 4th candlelight vigil in Victoria Park along with the event organizers (who also are the people behind the June 4th Museum).  Sadly, the likes of Lee Cheuk-yan are having problems fighting for democracy in Hong Kong, never mind China, these days; this not least because they have been put behind bars and are facing extended time in prison, no thanks to their often facing multiple charges.   

 

A reminder: At least twenty-four people (including Lee Cheuk-yan, Jimmy Lai and Joshua Wong) have been charged with with having gone ahead and gone to Victoria Park for a candlelight vigil to remember the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4th last year.  And late yesterday came word that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong government has told the organizers of the June 4 candlelight vigil that their application to use Victoria Park to mark the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre this year won't be processed "in view of the latest coronavirus situation". 

 

And what exactly is the current Wuhan "coronavirus situation" in Hong Kong?  A grand total of seven new cases today; only one of which is local (as opposed to imported).  And if you were to look at the daily new case numbers over the past 30 days for this territory with an estimated population of 7.5 million people, I reckon it's safe to state that most of the rest of the world would consider themselves in a pretty good state if their numbers could match Hong Kong's!  So well is Hong Kong doing, in fact, that the government (also) announced the easing of social distancing measures yesterday (that are set to take effect from Thursday (tomorrow)).   

Of course, this being the Hong Kong government, the new regulations that it has introduced is displeasing a lot more people than should be the case -- and puzzling journalists, restauranteurs and restaurant patrons alike.  And surprise, surprise (not!): medical experts have pointed out that these new rules are not backed up by science and cannot be relied upon to prevent coronavirus transmissions!  In addition, they are not giving much, if any, incentive for people to get vaccinated since, as public health professor Benjamin Cowling has noted, "Vaccinated people here are mostly required to behave in the same way as unvaccinated people, perhaps giving the impression that vaccination doesn't make much difference?"   

 

Perhaps if gathering restrictions were relaxed to allow such as outdoor candlelight vigils attended by people who have been vaccinated as well as would be wearing masks to take place, Hong Kong's anemic vaccination drive would get more willing participants.  (And, medically, it's been determined that the risk of coronavirus transmission outdoors is significantly lower than it is indoors!)  But that's not going to happen here in Hong Kong, is it?  This particularly since there currently is a ban in place on masks being worn at protests!