Words to live by during these troubled times: "Wear a mask" but/and "don't let fear dominate us"!

Old Lennon Wall poster with a still valid message

Pro-democracy protestors also fight against the Wuhan coronavirus!

Hong Kong recorded its highest daily number of new Wuhan coronavirus cases to date today with 67 confirmed infections, all but four of which are believed to be local transmissions.  Scarily, 35 cases were infected via unknown sources; something which is a real worry (not just the high -- by Hong Kong standards -- number of cases).  This on top of the territory recording two deaths from the coronavirus in a single day yesterday -- the first time I can recall this happening -- bringing the total number of coronavirus fatalities in Hong Kong into double digits.

After a few weeks where some people looked to have prematurely let down their guard against the Wuhan coronavirus and brought down the mask wearing percentage of the population down to about 70 percent, I'm seeing mask wearing percentages back up to around the 90-95 percent mark once more.  (And yes, there are indeed some mask hold outs even in Hong Kong.  And I must say that I'm happy to see the police turning their attention to this matter and arresting at least two people who had refused to wear masks (a practice now mandatory when taking public transportation) yesterday, one of whom had attacked a McDonalds employee who had asked him to do so!)   

If only the Hong Kong police could return to doing the kind of things that most of us would applaud and regain their reputation as Asia's finest.  (It may be hard to believe that, back in 2009, the local constabulary had a 85 percent community confidence rating!)  But, in order for that to happen, they'd have to stop being a political tool whose many actions are so politicized and at odds with what the majority of Hong Kongers want -- and that doesn't look likely anytime soon.

Thus it was that, hours before they arrested those anti-mask individuals yesterday, they went to the residence of Hong Kong Democratic Party vice chair Lo Kin-hei and arrested him for his alleged participation in an unlawful assembly back in November of last year!  On the other hand, it's now been revealed that plainclothes police officers were present in Yuen Long on the evening of July 21st last year but did not effect any arrests of those who went and attacked passengers at Yuen Long MTR station -- and for that matter, did not do anything to stop that white-shirted mob from assembling and then moving to effect their attacks.  

For those who need their memories refreshed: check out this New York Times video on what happened (and did not happen) in Yuen Long last July 21st.  Speaking of the New York Times: Shocking news emerged yesterday of the media outlet having decided to relocate part of its Hong Kong office to Seoul; with it also having been reported that New York Times correspondent Chris Buckley, who had previously been expelled from Mainland China, now also has had to leave Hong Kong after his work permit was not renewed by the authorities.

In view of this, it's to be expected that reports have emerged now of other news organizations, like the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, considering relocating at least some of their staff away from Hong Kong too in the wake of China having imposed that draconian security legislation on Hong Kong.  Heck, a good number of American businesses beyond news purveyors appear to be seriously contemplating exiting Hong Kong as a result of the new security legislation that, a few weeks back, they had actually not seemed all that worried about -- at least publicly.  

Of course tensions were not eased by the American President announcing on Tuesday that he was ending Hong Kong's special trade status.  At the same time, it's worth noting that recent events in Hong Kong are freaking out not just Hong Kongers and Americans but others as well.  A case in point: the Hong Kong Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry has reported that over 80 percent of respondents of a survey conducted earlier this month have expressed worries about the potential negative impact of the security law imposed by Beijing; with more than one third of those surveyed considering downsizing or outright withdrawing their Hong Kong operations.

Speaking of wihdraw: two co-organizers of this past weekend's democratic primaries (whose results are now out) have announced that they will be stepping down from their roles.  Au Nok-hin cited concerns for his personal safety yesterday while Andrew Chiu effectively said the same today.  Their decisions came after Carrie Lam and the Liason Office alleged that this past weekend's political exercise may be in breach of the security law.  (Interestingly, former pro-democracy lawmaker-turned-pro-Beijing government official Ronnie Tong has said otherwise -- but that appears to be insufficiently assuring for the likes of Au and Chiu!)     

Amidst all this, I'm going to let Lo Kin-hei -- a courageous man unafraid to have skin in the game -- have the last word(s) today: "My thoughts on the ways of life to go through the dark ages. Stay on with what we are doing, don't let fear dominate us! And, HAVE FUN! MAKE JOKES!"  (See this Youtube video elaborating on his stance and thoughts!)

So many problems besetting it but Hong Kong still is beautiful

Even after the sun sets, Hong Kong can be beautiful

Also, upon closer observation, it's apparent that 

there's still lots of light and life about the place

I realize that 2020 has been an awful year for much of the world but some days, it really feels like Hong Kong especially can't catch a break this year: with terrible things happening politics- along with health-wise; and the authorities often being more hindrance (or the actual problem) than help. In the case of the territory's fight against the Wuhan coronavirus though, the relevant government officials have often performed better than expected (after being prompted into action by such as a strike by the medical staff of public hospitals back in early February).  

Now, as Hong Kong battles a community outbreak (and a third wave that is worse than the earlier ones), Hong Kong's Chief Executive has announced the enactment of the most sweeping social distancing restrictions to date in the territory to combat the pandemic (including requiring masks to be worn on public transportation, and cinemas and bars to be shut down again from midnight today).

Carrie Lam being Carrie Lam though, she couldn't resist announcing at the same press conference yesterday -- the day after the conclusion of the democratic camp's primaries (which attracted more than 610,000 participants; all of them registered voters) -- that the very act of participating in that unofficial political exercise could amount to an act of subversion under the new national security law.

And now Beijing's representatives in Hong Kong have chimed in to assert that the organizers of the democratic primaries, widely seen as a protest vote against China's security law for Hong Kong, are out "to seize the ruling power of Hong Kong and ... carry out a Hong Kong version of 'colour revolution'"; this even while what they are doing is to try to effect change through voting rather than, say, street violence or the barrel of a gun.

Since Beijing (and its representatives in Hong Kong) doesn't usually make emphatic declarations without some kind of "follow up" action, the expectation is that the draconian "powes that be" are going to do something dramatic like disqualify all the candidates in the democratic primaries.  If they do so, it will really show that it's not just a few people who will fall foul of the security law imposed on Hong Kong by the Communist Chinese regime: that is, unless you consider over 600,000 to just be "a few" and "extremely small minority".    

It's easy enough to feel despair about this situation. Alternatively, one can take heart that over 600,000 people were willing to come out to register their protest against the national security law and what's generally been happening to Hong Kong by dint of their participation in this unofficial as well as voluntary political exercise.

Interestingly, a writer known for her pessimistic views has penned a contexualizing piece for the New York Times that actually contains some kernels of optimism.  To quote from the article: "We will continue to find defiance in unexpected places".  Also, "[The] promise has been broken, but this is not the end. We will continue to make a home out of an imperfect place. To wipe down the mold, repaint the walls. One day we could be forcibly evicted, or this could all burn to the ground. But for now, we’re still here. Maybe we can still try to make this place beautiful."

The writer, Karen Cheung, further explained the thinking behind her piece on Twitter.  Part of the thread reads as follows: "i also know this piece is at risk of sounding deluded or a bit 膠, but i also don't think going around reminding everyone why we should be terrified when we already are helps, because that's what the [Chinese Communist Party] wants".  Also, as one of my favorite people on Twitter -- an individual who goes by the moniker HK Wuliff -- recently Tweeted: "there are so many new and creative things blooming in hk, and so much that has always been here. let’s not give up on it just yet, yeah?"

Hong Kongers show their determination and fortitude once more during primary election weekend

Campaign advertising featuring two individuals still running  

for the Legislative Council and one who's withdrawn 

from the race (after feeling obliged to flee Hong Kong)

 

Candidates' banners near a polling station for the

democratic camp's primaries

The Wuhan coronavirus is still threatening Hong Kong (with the territory having recorded 38 new cases today and 28 yesterday; the majority of them local transmissions).  But the authorities appeared to have taken the weekend off as far as political persecutions are concerned.  At the very least, after appearing to threatening to disrupt -- if not outright disallow -- the democratic camp's primaries for the September Legislative Council elections, voting ended up taking place as planned yesterday and today; just with a three hour delay to the start time yesterday (to upgrade a security key after Friday night's police raid on the Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) office).

Actually, as it turned out, things went better than planned -- at least as far as voting numbers were concerned.  More specifically, the organizers of the primaries had set a 170,000 participation target to validate what might well be Hong Kong's last free election but, on the first day alone, 228.982 registered voters cast ballots in this political exercise designed to consolidate support for the democratic camp so it can win more seats in the September Legislative Council elections.  And, some two hours after the polling closed, the total tally over the two designated days of voting has been preliminarily ascertained to be over 610,000!

As Jeppe Mulich Tweeted: "I think it's fair to say that this is bigger than anyone expected."  And as Antony Dapiran reminded with a Tweet (which I'll render into "regular" speak:  "When looking at primary voter numbers this weekend, bear in mind these are actual verified real people with a system to avoid duplicate votes. As opposed to the pro-government signature campaign with zero verification or safeguards: multiple/fake/unauthorized signatures all “count” for government."

When considering the impressive -- and remember that there were serious worries as late as Friday that people would be too intimidated or insufficiently interested to turn up and make their voice heard -- numbers, bear in mind too that they signify the collective resolve of those who decided to turn up to send a message to the authorities and the world at large with regards to their determination, defiance and love of democracy, and Hong Kong.  For while voting was a breeze at some polling stations, others (including ones at Yuen Long and Tung Chung) required people -- no thanks, I am sure, to a number of venues being pressured to pull out as polling stations -- to wait for hours, in super long lines and while the "very hot" weather warning was in force (from as early as 6.45am today)!  

A few of the heartening voter stories I've read over the past two days include the following: an old lady told a volunteer at a polling station, "I don’t have a smart phone. I wasn’t aware of the primary at all- till the cops went to PORI last night. I didn’t even know what PORI is, but the police raid is just not right"; another determined elderly woman who was still smiling after waiting for three hours to cast her vote;  and a third elderly lady who willingly walked, with the aid of a cane, over to a polling station to cast her vote as a matter of course.  

Essentially, it looks like many Hong Kongers, be they old, young or middle-aged, came to the same conclusion this weekend of "when a government is actively discouraging you to vote, it's a sign you really need to vote", and then proceeded to act on it!  Put another way: this was an alternative way to register their protests against the authorities and what they are trying to do to Hong Kong.  

At the same time, I know I am not alone in fully realizing that, after all this, those seeking democracy for Hong Kong will -- not just might -- be dealt yet more body blows.  (As it was, I had expected these unofficial polls to be disrupted by the police at some point yesterday and today -- and still am surprised, and also somewhat suspicious, that they weren't.) 

But the point is this: unlike many (outsiders) who have given up on Hong Kong, Hong Kongers haven't done so.  At the very least, we are determined to not take things lying down and are still willing to give things the old college try -- because, well, there's a possibility that things can happen if we attempt to make them be so; whereas if we don't do anything, our goals most certainly won't be achieved. 

More than the Wuhan coronavirus is raging in Hong Kong!

We have taken to masking our faces; how long before

we feel obliged to mask our thoughts too?

For how much longer can and will Hong Kong be

a place where creativity can be found and

the imagination is allowed run free?

For most of today and yesterday, attention looked to have swung from what's happening to Hong Kong in the wake of the passing of China's national security legislation for it back to the Wuhan coronavirus on account of Hong Kong now being in the throes of a third wave.  Yesterday was Hong Kong's worst day on record to date with regards to the pandemic (with 42 cases recorded in a single day; 34 of them local infections).  And today has seen 38 new cases recorded; of which 32 are local transmissions.   

Accordingly, restrictions on restaurant and bar capacities have been reintroduced and local schools will close early this year -- with students having that last day of the school year being today.  And with coronavirus fears returning (and the wearing of masks continuing to be stressed), it also was noteworthy news that some of the disposable masks that the government has been handing out to the public may not be up to standard and, also, that the pan-democratic challenge against the ridiculous mask ban brought about last October by Carrie Lam has moved to the Court of Appeal. 

But late this evening came some news that has put the challenge to Hong Kong's freedoms (and the question of whether Hong Kong has become a police state) back into focus: The Hong Kong police's raid on a major polling organization's office the day before the democratic camp is due to hold primaries ahead of the Legislative Council elections this September.

For the record: the police stated that their action was in response to recent complaints that people's personal details, including those of police officers, were leaked. They also said they suspect that Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI) computers may have been hacked (which looks to be the justification for their seizing all of the organization's computers.  Correction/Update: it seemed that the police had wanted to do this but were successly prevented from doing so by PORI's legal team).  

So, officially, all this has nothing to do with PORI being a co-organizer of this weekend’s democratic camp primaries (which Hong Kong's consitutional affairs minister had alleged might violate the new security law, only to have his remarks dismissed by at least one pro-Beijing legislative councillor as well as pan-democrat legislators).

In turn, PORI has moved to assure the public that the primaries can go ahead as planned and the organization's technical ability to carry out the vote is unaffected as the computers that have been seized aren't those used for the voting.  Now, though, the question is whether these shennanigans will negatively (or positively?) affect the participation level for the weekend's primaries.  Put another way: will they scare people off taking part in the planned event or will they spark more people to take part to show their (continued) defiance and support of those who still are not letting go of their democratic dreams for Hong Kong?

One bit of irony that can't go unmentioned: The question on the most recent PORI poll happened to be "Is Hong Kong still a free city?" And the results, released -- as it so happened -- earlier today, had 61% of respondents answering in the negative (and just 32% answering "yes").  They/we know; but Hong Kongers still are not giving up on doing such as speaking out.  We are not going quietly as well as gently into the night; rather, we intend to rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Hong Kong is changing (too) fast in some ways but not changing enough when it comes to others

First among equals? 

(from Chan Man-chun's Chung Hwa series)

 Also from Chan Man-chun's Chung Hwa series

that was part of last month's 6.12 exhibition

-- this art work is easy enough to interpret

Was it just a few days ago that Hong Kong celebrated having gone three consecutive weeks without a local Wuhan coronavirus transmission?  Alas, the past two days have turned up evidence of a community outbreak taking place in Hong Kong; with there being close to four times more locally transmitted cases reported today (19) than imported ones (5) for a total of 24 new cases to add to Hong Kong's growing tally of 1,323.  

Amidst this latest surge of coronavirus infections, local experts are calling for a re-tightening of certain restrictions; with the idea being to curb the spread of the coronavirus in indoor settings (where it's been found to take place more easily than outdoors).  And looking at the venues where the latest spreads have been identified as taking place (e.g., restaurants and at least one elderly care home), it is indeed looking like it's healthier to be out in the open air, if one does venture outside of one's home, than enclosed spaces.  

Speaking of enclosed spaces: a certain inauguration ceremony took place behind heavy barricades outside what's ostensibly a hotel in Tai Hang, a stone's throw away from the Lin Fa Kung temple of fire dragon fame, this morning.  Strange but true: a branch of the Metropark Hotel has become home to the Hong Kong national security office (though, upon some analysis, the choice of that building to house the Hong Kong equivalent of the Stasi does actually make quite a bit of strategic sense).

It having taken over a week since China's security legislation for Hong Kong was made law can be considered one of the slower pieces of actions that the authorities have taken since we moved into July.  Frankly, they've appeared in quite the hurry to "mainlandize" Hong Kong; with jokes about things changing by the hour having been replaced by observations about it feeling like they're changing by the minute.   

Among today's announcements: the Hong Kong government banning of the Glory to Hong Kong protest anthem in Hong Kong's schools -- including the alma mater of Sun Yat-sen, located just a few feet away from the national security office headquarters -- and the same government proposing that all civil servants be required to take oaths to pledge allegiance to the Hong Kong SAR, and declare to uphold the Basic Law.  (No word, as yet though, of the extension of the Great Firewall of China to encompass Hong Kong though I must admit that I am getting a sense that that day is approaching, and probably way more quickly than I would like, despite -- or maybe because of -- internet companies (belatedly) standing up to the authorities in Hong Kong.) 

Something that doesn't look to be changing anytime soon though is the local constabulary being allowed to employ chokeholds while making arrests, including by way of kneeling on a person's neck.  This is even though there's been one recent death from this practice here, not just over in the U.S.A.; and one also needs to factor in that Hong Kong riot police now regularly wear metal knee guards when on duty.

Something else that I am afraid will not be changing for a time is the police brutality and misbehavior that makes the local constabulary no longer respected by the vast majority of Hong Kongers.  It's not just the overwillingness to use tear gas (including inside MTR stations and near homes for the elderly), the targeting of journalists and the mass arrests of pro-democracy protestors (many for what might best be described as thought crimes).  Rather, it's also the callousness and cruelty that's often on display, even when the officers are aware that cameras are capturing their actions.      

One can only imagine the horrors that take place where journalists and their cameras aren't around.  Or not, since some brave souls have stepped forward to give testimony.  And then there are those cases which are heard in court: like that which saw a man acquitted yesterday of pushing a policeman during the protests, over the course of which it was revealed that had been subjected to physical and verbal abuse by police officers following his arrest back on November 12th of last year.  In all honesty, a little piece of me died when I read the following:   

Fiona Nam Hoi-yan, for [the defence counsel for the subsequently acquitted man], complained during the trial that officers had used pepper spray on [him] at close range before pouring an unknown liquid on his head, making the inflammatory substance flow down his body and causing searing pain.

He later felt unwell and vomited inside a police van after arrest, but was asked by an unknown officer to “clean it up with his tongue” before he was allowed to get off, Nam continued, adding that [he] was repeatedly intimidated during the car journey to the police station.

There is no mention in the article of the police officers involved being reprimanded, let alone punished.  Perhaps the icing on the cake (to give you a sense of the caliber, and tolerance, of Hong Kong protestors): "Asked outside court whether he had anything to say to the police officers involved in his case, the free(d) man said: “We are all Hongkongers. The same goes for the police.”" 

Literally as well as metaphorically headache-inducing developments in recent days in Hong Kong

Spotted last Wednesday (and probably already removed

by today but recorded for posterity by my camera) 

As Chairman Mao said,  

"Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun"

For those who were wondering: I'm still here; and I'm still planning to generally blog about Hong Kong.  But I literally have been having headaches for the past few days along with a stiff neck and high blood pressure, for which I've been taking medication (and am apt to blame the stress that has come from China's draconian security law for Hong Kong having come into effect).  So I've been sleeping a lot and not going out nor checking the news as much as has become the norm in the past year or so.  And I figured I might as well take a few days off from blogging too (except to commemorate a beloved character's brthday two days ago). 

The $64,000 question though is how much longer I will be able to do this sort of thing.  In just a few days, so much has happened -- and, sadly, not much of it good.  Among the more major developments have been Nathan Law having fled Hong Kong last week even while his erstwhile Demosisto compatriots, Joshua Law and Agnes Chow, elected to remain in the Big Lychee even while surely fully knowing that they were marked for prosecution.  And so it has come to pass, with their having been charged with inciting others to participate in an "unlawful assembly" outside the police headquarters in Wan Chai on June 21st of last year, and also to participating in that "unauthorised assembly".

Lest it not be clear: many Hong Kongers support the man who was Hong Kong's youngest ever legislator's decision to leave Hong Kong.  And, frankly, it's a greater shock to me that Agnes Chow decided to plead guilty today to what she was charged with (even while Joshua Law and another ex-Demosisto member, Ivan Lam, opted against doing so).  Is she doing so to see what kind of punishment the courts are planning to mete out to "big name" activists?  It has been mentioned that, up until now, most existing cases of people guilty of similar "crimes" have resulted in fines rather than prison sentences.  Sadly though, I could see the penalty imposed on her being harsher in nature.

Here's the thing: against the odds, there are a good number of Hong Kongers who still are willing to place faith in the law and justice in Hong Kong.  And even while lots of terrible things have been happening, it still can feel like doing Hong Kongers a disservice to completely write off Hong Kong already; this not least since it can feel like the vast majority of people doing so live outside of it and were inordinately slow to wake up to there being serious political repression and injustice taking place here.   Also, it's true enough that, even as late as this past Saturday, there have been legal rulings that have gone in favor of the opposition: e.g., five pro-democracy figures having obtained a temporary court order to prevent police from accessing their phones.           

At the same time though, this now is a Hong Kong where a man who accidentally rode his motorbike into police while flying a flag on July 1st became the first person charged under the new security law (and was denied bail, to boot, for "endangering national security").  In addition, there are fears that he was abused while in custody, resulting in several broken bones and a need to be hospitalized.  But while it was initially thought that Tong Ying-kit would not be able to appear in court today, he did end up doing so, albeit in a wheelchair.    

Sadly, allegations of police maltreatment of detained protestors are no longer a novel thing in Hong Kong.  Ditto bloody attacks on staff at "yellow" restaurants (the latest instance of which occurred this morning).  But what most definitely is something that only has happened since the new security legislation came into effect is public libraries taking out books written by Tonya Chan (who, lest we forget, is a legislative councillor), Joshua Wong and Wan Chin (a localist academic) out of circulation for fear that their contents are in violation of the security law, sparking fears of increased censorship in Hong Kong which only have increased with the Education Bureau ordering schools today to assess their books and immediately remove those that "possibly violate" the new law.

If truth be told, these kind of actions were anticipated by many of us to happen after the security legislation was announced over in Beijing.  But what has taken many people's breaths away is how quickly as well as dramatically things have changed since July and the Beijing-imposed legislation came along.  

Just this evening has come news that Carrie Lam has invoked it to give more powers to the police to do such as enter premises without warrants, intercept communications and request ISPs or internet platforms to remove information posted online.  How soon before major internet censorship kicks in and the likes of Facebook, WhatsApp, Google (including its Blogger platform which I'm using) and Twitter -- which, lest we forget, all currently banned in Mainland China -- will also not be allowed to be used in Hong Kong too?  At this rate, way faster than many of us would like and actually expected too. :(    

Pear adoration on the occasion of Funassyi's 1882nd birthday! (Photo-essay)

This time last year, the extradition bill was preying on my mind.  Now, it's the sweeping security legislation that China has imposed on Hong Kong and, to a lesser extent (because Hong Kong's now had three weeks without a local transmission), the Wuhan coronavirus that are major concerns.

What's not changed in between last and this July 4th though is my love for a certain Pear (Fairy) who came down to Earth -- or, at the very least, made its first physical appearance in public -- on April 2012 but lists its birthdate as July 4, 138; and still is capable of making me smile and laugh, and be downright inspired by its cheery disposition and big heart.  Yes, today is the 1882nd birthday of Funadius Yonsei (better known as Funassyi)!  

And in honor of a being whose existence I honestly feel makes the world a better place, here's presenting a(nother) Funassyi-themed photo-essay -- this time, of some items I came away with over the course of visits I made to three Funassyilands (one each in the Pear's home city of Funabashi, Tokyo and Osaka) in 2019 along with views of the Funassyilands that are like pilgrimage sites for me:-

Some items I did not avail myself of at the Funabashi 

Funassyiland when I visited back in May 2019

I did come away from my visit to Funabashi with 

a free magazine promoting the city
with Funassyi on the cover though! :)

 

Funassyi-themed socks for my chairs ;D

Spot the Pear at Harajuku Kiddy Land!

 There hopefully will be at least one corner of 

that store that will be forever a Funassyiland...

 A section of the Osaka Kiddy Land is 

home too to a Funassyiland :)

Part of me so wanted to bring that 90cm

Pajama Funassyi plushie home...

What I absolutely made sure to get was a 2020 calendar

to sit on my desktop -- and I really do hope that I'll be 

able to get the 2021 edition on a future visit to Japan...