Thinking of those who really f**king love Hong Kong but aren't in Hong Kong while up on Mount Butler today

  

So I went up Mount Butler today...

 

...and got positive proof once again 

that Hong Kong is really beautiful

 

I sincerely hope that those folks who really

 f**king love Hong Kong but can't be here today 

will be able to return some day

Hong Kong back in the limelight -- thanks to announcements by Agnes Chow and the Hong Kong government, and other farcical actions by the authorities that are hard to ignore

View from a plane on one of the 

Hong Kong International Airport runway

 

In recent weeks/months, my Twitter Timeline has had a far larger percentage of Tweets about Israel and Palestine than I ever could have imagined would be the case before October 7th; this not least since most of the people I know do not live in either of those territories -- and, if truth be told, not that many of them are Jews or Muslim either. 

 

Over the past 48 hours or so, however, the attention of many of those I Follow on that social media platform has turned back to Hong Kong; thanks in no small part to activist Agnes Chow breaking the news (on Sunday, her 27th birthday) that she is no longer in Hong Kong (English translation of her Chinese language post on Instagram here) and is unlikely to return to her home city, and the Hong Kong government Streisand effecting the hell out of her decision by issuing angry and frankly quite bizarre statements about her.

 

It's weird enough that the first of them (see here) looked to have deliberately left out her name, preferring to refer to her as "the woman" -- as though they had been scorned by her.  But the second of them (see here) is so apoplectic in tone that the BBC's China Correspondent was prompted to Tweet the following about it: "Have a look at the adjectives and adverbs in this statement from the Hong Kong government. If the intended effect was to persuade readers that a dissident should return to the city the actual result makes it sound like a place from where sane people should flee"!

 

In addition, there are other things going on in this part of the world that spark dismay and comment from people who care for Hong Kong.  For example, Sunday also saw some members of the League of Social Democrats, one of Hong Kong's few remaining pro-democracy political parties, and their friends getting stopped and searched by the police while out hiking!  As per a Hong Kong Free Press report: "According to the group, around 20 uniform and plainclothes police officers stopped the individuals at around 2.30 pm and accused them of breaching the Beijing-imposed security law. They were searched and their belongings were inspected, with the entire process lasting around two hours".

 

Even more concerning and horrifying was the news today that "a Hong Kong protester shot by police in 2019 has been featured in a police-promoted television special showing remorse over his frontline participation in the unrest that year".  As the Washington Post's Shibani Mahtani was prompted to Tweet: "Tsang Chi-kin was shot, tried to seek asylum and protection from the U.S. consulate in Hong Kong, spent two years hiding in safe houses and transported from place to place in boxes, was sentenced to nearly four years -- as if that wasn't enough, now he's "confessing" on TV" -- and make no mistake, it's easy to see that this was a forced confession; something that says much worse about the regime directing the "confessions" than the person forced into doing the "confessing".

 

Some additional context provided by Mahtani: "Tsang was only 18 in 2019, one of the hundreds of thousands of anonymous masked protesters until he was shot. Hard to comprehend how the trajectory of so many lives where changed in that year; the line between victim and perpetrator so intentionally blurred by authorities now."

 

And then we had a report of the closing arguments made for the marathon trial of the Hong Kong 47 (the 47 people charged with breaking the national security law China imposed on Hong Kong on June 30th, 2020, by organising and/or taking part in electoral primaries for the democratic camp in July of that year, ahead of the Legislative Council election then scheduled to also take place in 2020 but which were subsequently postponed to December 2021).   

 

Arrested on February 28th, 2021, and the majority of the 47 denied bail and held behind bars since then, their trial only finally began some two years later in February 2023. And it was only yesterday, December 4th, 2023, that closing submissions were made. How slowly the wheels of justice can seem to move these days in Hong Kong!

 

Among the more interesting statements made by lawyers for the defence yesterday are the following: "Prosecutors must have proven that Hong Kong pro-democracy figures at the centre of a landmark national security trial had used violence and intended to subvert state power if they are to be found guilty".  

 

There's also this from Trevor Beel, the counsel for journalist turned political activist turned political prisoner Gwyneth Ho: “This charge of conspiracy is like no other charge that has come before the courts... Everything was conducted openly for the simple reason that nobody knew what they were doing was illegal.”

 

All of which makes the proceedings of this trial all the more farcical. Except it's no joke when I tell you that this trial is jury-less and, instead, the innocence or guilt of the "Hong Kong 47", as they have become known, will be decided by three judges from the pool of those eligible to preside over national security trials and handpicked by the government. :(

Enjoying views of the sunrise from my hotel room in Morioka (Photo-essay)

I'm not a morning person -- but I woke up early enough to see the sunrise on my first morning in Morioka.  To get an idea of how rare an occurence this is: the last time before this that I saw a sunrise was from the top of Jeju's Seongsan Ilchulbong back in late 2018!  Also, as far as I can recall, I have never seen a sunrise in Hong Kong!

The reason I got to see the sunrise in Morioka was because I had planned an early start to my day of sightseeing -- due to the weather forecast, which is amazingly accurate in Japan, being for it to rain in the afternoon (but not the morning) and my plan for the day involved going out on a lake -- Japan's deepest, in fact!  More on that lake later. In the meantime, enjoy the beautiful sunrise views that I managed to catch without having to leave my hotel room!

 

Not at all a bad sight to wake up to and 

get to view from one's hotel room, huh? :)

 

Another part of the same sky that was less bright

 

Meanwhile, another section of the sky was in between 

in brightness between the two previously highlighted!

 

As it got brighter, the buildings ceased to be

silhouettes and became more visible

 

Spider looking like it's floating in the sky ;b

 

The section of sky looking like it was ablaze...

 

A question for those who read this: can you

tell that this is a sunrise, not a sunset?

 

Last photo before I stopped gawping at the sunrise

and went to get ready for that day's excursion :)

In Broad Daylight shines a light on investigative journalists along with the dark sides of society they seek to bring to light (Film review)

In Broad Daylight's lead actress Jennifer Yu talks to the audience

at its world premiere while co-star David Chiang looks on

 

Some other members of the film's cast were present too

(along with its director and producer -- not pictured!)
 

In Broad Daylight (Hong Kong, 2023)

- Lawrence Kan, director and scriptwriter

- Starring: Jennifer Yu, David Chiang, Bowie Lam, Woo Fung, Rachel Leung, Peter Chan Charm-man, Hennick Chou 

 

Thanks to political censorship of Hong Kong films now being a thing and it being likely that political pressure can lead to the cancellation of film screenings, I found myself wondering when reading its Hong Kong Asian Film Festival program synopsis if In Broad Daylight would actually see the light of the day (figuratively speaking).  

 

This was not least because its main character is an investigative reporter named Kay (portrayed by Jennifer Yu) -- like, say, Gwyneth Ho (currently in prison) or Bao Choy (who was found guilty of improper searches of an online car licence plate database while conducting an investigation aimed at identifying some of the perpetrators of the 2019 Yuen Long attacks that Gwyneth Ho had live streamed before the court decision was overturned by the Court of Final Appeal).

 

Granted that In Broad Daylight is not overtly political: with its story of Kay deciding to investigate a care home for the elderly and disabled (run by Bowie Lam's character) whose staff are suspected of abusing its residents (who include individuals essayed by Woo Fung, Rachel Leung, Peter Chan Charm-man and Hennick Chou) being one that Hong Kongers from both sides of the political spectrum would be united in being concerned about.  (Also, the makers of this film have set it before 2019; when socio-political divides really became wide and cemented in Hong Kong.) 

 

Nonetheless, when reading the following line about it, I did worry that -- in these hyper sensitive times -- In Broad Daylight would be pulled from the film festival despite being announced as one of its opening films (like had happened to When the Wind Blows ahead of the 2021 Hong Kong International Film Festival): "A stunning and provocative drama exposing what happens when the systems we trust fail us, this is an especially important film in an era when journalists are smeared as troublemakers."       

 

Happily, however, my fears proved to be groundless -- and In Broad Daylight is now also enjoying a very successful run in local cinemas.  Deservedly so, to my mind, as Lawrence Kan's sophomore directorial feature is a well crafted, sensitive and humane film: which benefits enormously from not only having a compelling, topical tale to tell but, also, a multi-generational cast that includes Hong Kong cinema legends like David Chiang (who kung fu movie enthusiasts will forever associate with his Shaw Brothers output) along with some of the best talents of the current, new generation, including Jennifer Yu.

 

A number of Hong Kong movie fans will feel shocked when they first behold Chiang in In Broad Daylight because he plays one of the care home's elderly residents; and this all the more so since he appears to have less of his faculties intact than his roommate (played by Woo Fung).  Both of the men blossom though after Kay enters into their lives -- and it is one of the pleasures of this often emotionally devastating movie to see the care that David Chiang and Jennifer Yu's characters have for each other, and the chemistry between the two thespians that makes their relationship feel natural and real.

 

As for the other cast members: It is a credit to those tasked with playing less likeable characters that they are so successful in inhabiting them!  Baby Bo Pui-yu, in particular, was revelatory in how scary she was able to make her care home staffer character!  And Rachel Leung and Hennick Chou made me shed genuine tears as I ended up caring very much for the care home residents they played in this movie which is not the easiest of watches but I nonetheless would recommend that people check out; this not least because I think works like this are very deserving of people's support and, also, that In Broad Daylight really is a tribute to the kind of investigative journalists that have made Hong Kong proud over the years, and still do.

 

My rating for this film: 8.5  

Band Four offers up much music, and love -- including for Hong Kong (Film review)

  

The poster for Band Four which 

features the Lion Rock on it

 

Band Four (Hong Kong, 2023)

- Mo Lai Yan-chi, director and scriptwriter

- Starring: Kay Tse, Teddy Robin Kwan, Anna HissbuR, Rondi Chan

 

More than 10 Hong Kong movies were screened at the 2023 Hong Kong Asian Film Festival (which opened on October 13th).  Despite having local distributors with the connections to the fest's co-presenters, Band Four was not among the HKAFF's offerings.  This can be seen as a sign that the film was not considered fest worthy.  Coupled with its theatrical release date taking place in the first week that the fest was taking place, I think it got deprived of a good percentage of its potential audience!

 

For my part, I only turned my attention to this movie after the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival officially concluded (on November 12th).  By this time, Band Four had ended its run in one of the cinemas I usually like to go to -- but, fortunately, was still playing in some other venues around town.  I say "fortunately" because: yes, having finally done so, I genuinely am glad that I caught this cinematic offering that its co-producer (and leading man), Teddy Robin Kwan, revealed had been eight years in the making due to difficulties in finding investors willing to take a chance on a musical drama.    

 

Band Four stars Cantopop singer Kay Tse as Kat, a singer, composer, band leader and parental figure to a drums obsessed preteen named Riley (played by Rondi Chan).  Early on in the film, she loses her beloved mother to cancer.  And it's only after her funeral that her father, King (portrayed by entertainment veteran Teddy Robin Kwan), turns up -- late -- and with a step-sister (Matilda; played by indie music singer Anna HissbuR, making her film debut) that Kat didn't know that she had.           

 

Gradually, the story of the fractured family gets revealed; and involves King having abandoned Kat and her mother, his band, music, and Hong Kong years before -- and moved across the Hong Kong-Mainland China border for a life as a cook that didn't seem all that happy either.  Now he's back in Hong Kong though -- and also determined to be back in Kat's life.  And thanks to Kat never having changed the lock of their apartment, he's moved back in -- with Matilda in tow -- and over Kat's objection. (Riley seemed sanguine about it though!)

 

Family drama is just one thing that Kat has to deal with.  Another is her band falling apart.  And then's the matter hinted at early on: of her having inherited a certain delibitating disease from her mother.  Clearly, fortune has not smiled much on Kat.    

Still, she not only soldiers on but also has been blessed in certain ways: with a love of music and talent for making it.  And Riley, who shares her love of music and talent for making it in spades.  (Rondi Chan, another individual making his feature film debut, holds his own among the established likes of Kay Tse and Teddy Robin Kwan.  And Anna HissbuR is quietly charismatic in a role that is the least showy of Band Four's main quartet.)

 

Speaking of love: this is a movie whose makers clearly really f**king love Hong Kong (and clearly express it in the film's theme song, If You Don't Remember).  And while you don't have to be a lover of the local music scene to love Band Four, you'll not only be able to enjoy its musical component more but, also, the presence in its cast of such as record producer-singer-songwriter Hanjin Tan, singer-songwriter Manson Cheung (AKA Mansonvibes), theatre actor-composer-musician Chu Pak-him  and violinist Choi Tsz-ching if you do!

My rating for this film: 7.5

Red leaves and more in Morioka, the first stop in Tohoku on my most recent Japan trip (Photo-essay)

I walked by a few trees in Victoria Park this afternoon with red leaves on them.  This being Hong Kong though, it's possible that the leaves were red because they were young rather than because it's a sign that autumn is here.  And even while there are places in Hong Kong where one can see seasonal red leaves, the ratio of humans to red leaves can leave me cold -- unlike when I was over in Morioka last month!

The prefectural capital of Iwate was where the shinkansen (on which I had had the amazing 30 ingredient ekiben!) took me.  Being some 3.5 hours up north from Tokyo even on the super fast train, I found the temperatures noticeably cooler there than in the Japanese capital, never mind Hong Kong -- and the red leaves of autumn evident in many parts of the town/city, including from my hotel room window as well at the old castle grounds in Morioka which has been conveted into a public park known both as Iwate Park and Morioka Castle Ruins Park.

All this made for some nice visuals -- and quite the change from the previous time I had been up in Tohoku: back in May 2019, when I was pleasantly surprised to come across still blossoming sakura (in Sendai and Hiraizumi).  And while I know there are people who go gaga over sakura, I must say that I adore the sight of koyo (autumn leaves) -- and catching sight of some of them on this recent Japan visit was a nice bonus; something which I didn't really expect to do in view of the leaves of the trees at Shinjuku Gyoen that I viewed on the same trip (and, in fact, just the day before!) having been pretty green for the most part! :)      

 

View of red leaves (and pink sky courtesy of a sunrise)  

from my Morioka hotel window :)

Red leaves at Tawazako (teaser for a future blog post!)

 

Puppet Ponyo and some trees 

with a few red leaves at Iwate Park

 

A nice mix of red and green leaves

 

What a sight this tree would be at the height of the koya season!

 

Some red leaves and really high castle walls!

 

What look to be old castle stones -- 

laid out for a rebuilding project?

 

A stream ran through the old castle/current park grounds

-- and this was one of a two ducks I spotted paddling in it :)

The English translation of the lyrics of If You Don't Remember (the theme song of Band Four)

 

Band Four's Facebook profile photo

 

Earlier this week, I viewed a Hong Kong movie entitled Band Four.  I liked it quite a bit and plan to write a review for it (and In Broad Daylight, another Hong Kong film currently playing in local cinemas) at some point in the near future.  

 

For now though, I'd like to draw your attention to the music video (available to view and listen to over on Youtube) of its theme song, If You Don't Remember (sung by Kay Tse), and its lyrics -- which I think will resonate for people who really f**king love Hong Kong; and whose English translation (by the film's English subtitlers, Joanna Lee and Ken Smith) I'm sharing here:  

This most beloved place, every inch is filled with memories.

The vibrant and the peaceful nights have left countless trails.

Your image that fills my eye shall etch into my memory.

You and I are here. Our song will play indefinitely.

As thinking halts, memory cannot help but fade.

Melody carries meaning.

Music pays tribute.

My mind will have a place.

This place will have a key.

Like a cryptic dialogue.

Even if all memories are lost,

Bits of you cannot be forgotten.

Even if beats are lost, harmonies will continue to resonate.

Traverse every road,

every coast, every daybreak.

Even for an insignificant speck in the crowd,

every second is wondrous. I will treasure the present.

My growing love for you shines like the sun and the moon.

Neon lights are vibrant. Nathan Road is splendid.

Sunrise in a wild country. Midnight in a bustling city.

Cherish every morning. Savour every tune.

Smiling wherever you go

is profound wisdom.