It's hard to divorce anything from politics in Hong Kong, including Olympic matters

 

Another Olympics-related photo taken in Hong Kong!

 

This morning, I posted on the social media platform I finally got on a few years ago about how all but one of the posts about the Olympics that I had seen on it from my Hong Kong friends had thus far been about the laughable criticism by pro-Beijingers of badminton player Angus Ng Ka-long for playing in black attire and minus a Hong Kong flag on his shirt. An example of the ridiculous comments coming out of the pro-Beijing camp: Ronny Tong stating that "[We] have had bad experiences so we are afraid it’s better not to wear black, otherwise people may have a heart attack while watching the television."

 

The criticism prompted the Olympic athlete to issue a statement explaining why he had appeared in the attire (whose color many pro-Beijingers associate with pro-democracy/anti-extradition bill protestors but/and is the dress color of many regular Hong Kongers): specifically, "My sponsorship ... has ended, and I am currently a free agent, therefore I have to prepare my own clothes for the competition [and] I choose the clothes that I feel comfortable to wear."  Hong Kong's top-ranked badminton player (currently number 9 in the world) also took the opportunity to express his hope that people can focus on the performance of athletes rather than their attire; and it was heartening to see the chef de mission of the Hong Kong delegation to the Tokyo Olympics backing him up by stating that athletes should be allowed to focus on the competition rather than being distracted by politics.  

 

Speaking of politics: if you care about what's happening in and to Hong Kong politically, there would have been much to distract and further dampen one's mood today.  Chief among this is the news that the Independence Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) looks to have finally sprung to life once more and decided to charge pro-democracy activist and former University of Hong Kong law professor Benny Tai and two others for violating the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance (ECICO) back in 2016.  (Yes, you read that right: they are acting against the three individuals -- one of whom has been in custody since late February while awaiting a security law trial that is set to only finally get going in late September -- for perceived offences dating back to five years ago.  Why it's taken them so long to decide they have committed crimes should be a good question to ask, right?)

 

Today also saw one of the Hong Kong 12 -- whose attempt to flee Hong Kong by boat landed them behind bars in Mainland China before their return to stand trial and serve more jail time --  handed out more time in detention after appearing in court over the escape bid and earlier protest-related offences.  Because he's not yet an adult, 17-year-old Hoang Lam-phuc was sent the teenager to a facility known as a training centre rather than a prison (or correctional institution, as they also are often known).  But the sentence of three years is definitely one that seems pretty harsh whether one is a juvenile or adult.

In addition, another institution -- this time one of higher education -- has decided to impose something on its undergraduate students.  Specifically, Hong Kong Baptist University has announced that undergraduate students who enrol there from this September will have to complete a national security course before they can graduate.  So should anyone wonder why Hong Kong schools and universities are losing students and whole families (many with schoolage children) are leaving: lookit!  

 

Amidst all this political doom and gloom though, there is a strong likelihood that many Hong Kongers will go to bed tonight in a happier state than just a few hours before.  This is thanks to Hong Kong unexpectedly coming by its first Olympic gold medal in 25 years -- thanks to fencer Edgar Cheung Ka-long! 

 

After his historic win, Hong Kong's second ever Olympic gold medalist (after windsurfer Lee Lai-shan) modestly spoke about how, prior to beginning competing at the Tokyo Olympics, "I thought to myself – everyone was either was an Olympic champion or a world champion, and I was nobody. That helped me relax a bit."  If that wouldn't already have endeared him to people, this following quote will really warm the cockles of many Hong Kongers' hearts: "We must all persist, not give up easily. Cowering at the back isn't the way, you have to advance and make each jab count."  (And yes, it's of course easy to apply this to political matters in Hong Kong.  But of course we won't read anything political into this Hong Kong fencing photo; this despite there being someone in it who chose to dress in black rather than the usual fencing whites!)