Yesterday was one of those days in Hong Kong where there was plenty to be upset about. Among the lowlights: six people getting arrested on "sedition" charges for having clapped in court (yes, you really did read that right); and John Lee's appointment to the post of Chief Executive being effectively confirmed.
Adding to the gloom: Tom Kellogg, the executive director of the Georgetown Center for Asian Law and the co-author (along with Eric Yan-ho Lai) of a report entitled Arrest Data Show National Security Law Has Dealt a Hard Blow to Free Expression in Hong Kong, producing a Twitter thread about it that included the following lines: "The NSL is a wrecking ball that is swinging wildly through HK civil society, doing immense damage"; and "No end in sight, I'm afraid: 2022 will continue to be a grim year for human rights in [Hong Kong]."
And the flow of disturbing news continued into today. A case in point: Keith Fong, a former president of Hong Kong Baptist University’s student union, was jailed for nine months for "resisting police and perverting the course of
justice, in a case linked to his purchase of 10 laser pointers during
the 2019 protests" today.
But I managed to keep the gloom away for a few hours this afternoon when I took a friend (who'll be leaving Hong Kong soon) for a hike in my favorite country park in the Big Lychee. On my first excursion into the countryside since mask wearing while exercising became required again in Hong Kong (thanks to the fifth coronavirus wave), the sun was out but it was fortunately not super hot and humid. So our hike today along the Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path from Wong Nai Chung Gap to Stanley turned out to be pretty pleasant (and thus provided a welcome temporary respite to help recharge the batteries)!
The trail head for the Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path is well marked
but it's still a hiking trail that is not super well known
(and thus not very busy, at least on a weekday)
along with the usual greenery and highrises!
things look pretty idyllic, don't they?
Clear day view past Middle Island over to Ocean Park
and beyond to Lamma Island in the distance!
beyond to Hong Kong's southernmost islands, including Po Toi
2 comments:
Looks like a lovely walk. Beautiful scenery and seems so peaceful!
Hi Sarah --
It was indeed a lovely hike and largely peaceful, though the friend I was with and I couldn't help discussing politics (and ranting about Hong Kong's woes) part of the time!
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