Memories may be short with regards to the MTR but longer with regards to political events and political prisoners

Gone but not forgotten (Note what's frame on the right)

 

I had dinner last night with friends.  Afterwards, whereas I went for the bus option (as part of my continued boycott of the MTR), two of them opted to take the MTR home -- with one voicing out that he saw no reason to not use a "perfectly good" train service.  I wonder whether he still takes that view after this evening, when MTR service between the Wan Chai and Quarry Bay stops was suspended for three hours (and chaos ensued, including above ground!) after a door broke and fell off a train in Causeway Bay! 

Actually, even before this latest mishap, the MTR has had its share of problems in recent years -- and I don't just mean ones that were protest-related.  For example, back in September 2019, an MTR train derailed at Hung Hom station.  Also, on October 6th of that year, a number of passengers suffered injuries after another MTR train derailed at Lai King while in March 2019, two MTR train drivers were hospitalized after their trains crashed during a system test.  Oh, and last year, the MTR was implicated in a "shoddy construction work" scandal involving "the scandal-hit Sha Tin to Central rail link project"!

 

It seems though that some people have short memories.  Either that or they don't feel they have much/good transport alternatives to the MTR.  Because in recent months, MTR passenger numbers have gone back up again; with many people even appearing to be accepting of being in crowded train carriages even during a pandemic.  (For a humorous take on this and today's broken door incident, go here!)

At the same time though, some other people thankfully don't have short memories with regards to such as Jimmy Lai.  On this, the one year anniversary of his arrest on fraud charges, international NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) issued a statement demanding the Apple Daily founder (and 2020 RSF Press Freedom laureate)'s immediate release which includes the following paragraph: 

"The detention and harassment of Jimmy Lai, who did nothing but exercise his right to impart and comment on factual information, demonstrates the determination of the Hong Kong government to silence a symbolic figure of press freedom,” says RSF East Asia bureau head, Cédric Alviani, who calls on the international community to “build up the pressure on the Chinese regime to secure Jimmy Lai’s immediate release as well as the release of all detained journalists and press freedom defenders”.  

Further evidence that many people and organizations believe that Jimmy Lai is a hero rather than criminal can be seen in the 73 year old (who will turn 74 six days from today) can be seen in the jailed media tycoon and the newsroom staff of his Apple Daily -- 10 of whom also are currently behind bars along with their ex-boss-- being named as recipients of the 2021 World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA)'s Golden Pen of Freedom award yesterday.  And among the other organizations applauding this decision: the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, journalists and media executives who have been defending press freedom since 1950.  

 

Another Hong Konger currently behind bars but not forgotten is now 25-year-old Joshua Wong.  He may not have won any awards recently but his plight was brought to international attention again in recent days by way of it having been made known that climate activist Greta Thunberg has recently written to him.  And while her message may have been rather short, her gesture speaks volumes.  As Kong Tsung-gan was moved to Tweet: "It’s heartening for HongKongers when the rest of the world remembers our hundreds of political prisoners. The solidarity is very important."     

 

Speaking of solidarity and Hong Kong's (way too) many political prisoners: spare a thought and some well wishes too for activist-barrister Chow Hang-tung, who wrapped up her defence against a charge of inciting people to attend this year's Tiananmen Massacre vigil today and remains in custody while her case is adjourned until January 4th, when the presiding magistrate will deliver her verdict on this case.  The day before, she shared her final submission to the court -- and Kong Tsung-gan's translated the final paragraph into English, which I think is worth copying out in full here:

In fact, I was only four years old in 1989.  Many people might wonder why I am so obsessed with this matter.  It is because I am a Hong Konger, because the ordinary and kind-hearted people of Hong Kong have lit candles in Victoria Park for more than 30 years, because the people of Hong Kong taught me to stubbornly insist on what is right.  All I am doing is trying to pass this on, to make the voices of ordinary Hong Kong people heard, to do the things that ordinary Hong Kong people wish to do at this time, to not allow those in power to determine the truth.  If the court decides that this constitutes "incitement", it is better to say that Hong Kong people incited me to act according to my conscience.  If I am to be convicted of this, I will have no complaints or regrets.