HK Govt Continues the Spin

Lam, in jacket matching orchids, explains electoral changes

The Hong Kong government continues its verbal gymnastics to explain the changes to the city's electoral system that makes one wonder if it is a parallel universe or completely illogical.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor gave an interview with state media broadcaster CGTN, where she said pro-democracy politicians will see their chances of winning office increase after these electoral reforms -- as long as they prove themselves to be "patriots".

"Hong Kong is a very free and diverse society, we welcome people with different political positions and different views about the best system to serve Hong Kong... there is absolutely no intention to undermine the system of Hong Kong and dilute this diversity and freedoms in Hong Kong," she said.

Xi (centre) casts his vote on HK electoral reform

"If we have the same number of so-called pro-democratic persons in Hong Kong, as long as all these people are able to meet the standards of a patriot, then they now have more opportunities to take part in [an] election and win an election."

She really did say that. Are we talking about the same place, Hong Kong, where the Election Committee has increased to 1,500 members, and it will arbitrarily decide who is patriotic enough to run for the Legislative Council elections.

And while she said there is no intention to dilute diversity in Hong Kong, then why did the National People's Congress agree to add another 20 pro-establishment lawmakers in Legco?

Besides, most of the pan-democrats are either charged with subversion under the national security law, currently in prison serving for other convictions, or have fled Hong Kong.

Who is left to even dare to try to run?

Tsang says being a patriot is like family

Meanwhile Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai said maybe the analogy of family could help the public understand the requirement of being a patriot.

"If you love your family, you will sincerely accept, endorse and respect them. You may criticize them when they are not doing good. But you won't ask outsiders to confront them... It's not something difficult to achieve," he told a radio program.

Perhaps Tsang doesn't understand that not everyone loves their family, and sometimes you do need outsiders to intervene because the situation is untenable.

And there are some families where no criticism is allowed whatsoever; if you do then you have to get out.

So the spinning continues and not many are convinced. 

It also explains why the take up rate for vaccinations is poor, perhaps because the government lost its integrity ages ago?