Rewarding Loyalty to the Party

Margaret Chan is rewarded for sticking up for China at the WHO

Hong Kong officials who have been seen to further Beijing's agenda, or defend it vigorously will be rewarded, as seen by the recent nominations of four officials to be new committee members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Former World Health Organization chief Dr Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, 70, is one of the bright stars for China. Since 2009, Taiwan has been allowed to attend the WHO's annual forum under the name of "Chinese Taipei", but in 2016, Chan didn't even invite Taiwan to the forum, saying it violated the "one China" principle recognized by the United Nations.

Also during the SARS crisis in 2003, Chan was seen as not being tough enough in dealing with the epidemic, and again not being fast in enough in reacting to contain the Ebola outbreaks in 2014.

Others recommended for membership in the CPPCC are Dr Ko Wing-man, previously Hong Kong's food and health minister, ex-security chief Lai Tung-kwok who had to deal with the Occupy protests in 2014, along with then police commissioner Andy Tsang Wai-hung.

"It is becoming a norm to reward former ministers [with CPPCC membership], especially those in charge of security," says political analyst Johnny Lau Yui-siu.

"One of the implications is to let incumbent and even future officials know their jobs are rewarding, and call for them to be loyal to Beijing," he says, and the Chinese government could claim that it is hearing more of Hong Kong people's views on closer integration with the mainland.

But really Beijing is only hearing one side of the story, and it's what pro-establishment figures anticipate what the central government would like to hear.

So in the end it's not a healthy sign of wanting sycophants around you, but that's Beijing with its insecurity issues. It's all about towing the Party line...

Fact of the Day: HK's Crime Rate Drops

People being arrested the morning of July 2 after the mass protest march

Today the Hong Kong Police Commissioner Andy Tsang Wai-hung said the city's crime rate had dropped 7.1 percent in 2014 compared to the previous year.

In his briefing to lawmakers on the year's law and order situation, Tsang said there were 936 cases per 100,000 people, the first time the crime rate dropped below 1,000 cases per 100,000 since 1973.

That means there were a total of 67,740 crimes in all categories reported last year, a 7.1 percent decrease from the 72,911 cases in 2013.

Arrests for robberies saw a big plunge of 38.2 percent, and burglary was 24.4 percent.

The number of arrests also dropped, with 33,679 arrested by police, an 8 percent year-on-year decrease.

These arrests include the ones for those who "occupied" Central the evening of the July 1 protest march, as well as those who were part of the Umbrella Movement. So imagine if there were no protests last year -- the crime rate would probably be even lower!

So how dare people like Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and Commissioner Tsang accuse those who participated in the 79-day protest of being unlawful. Were shop windows broken? Were police vehicles turned over and set on fire? Was there any looting?

Tsang has to admit that the protesters were peaceful save for a few skirmishes, and that Hong Kong people are civilized and respect "rule of law".

It's like people complaining that the MTR's performance rate at over 99 percent is still not good enough.

Could we please step back and look at the big picture?

Another Dark Day

The scene around 6.30pm on Harcourt Road with more people streaming in

This morning I was out of the office and by the time I came back at lunchtime, my colleagues were excitedly telling me the story of a guy who was arrested by the police and seven of them allegedly dragged him to a dark alley and started kicking and punching him. This was all recorded on video and has gone viral.

On the TV I saw scenes of the man, now identified as Ken Tsang, a social worker and member of the Civic Party, and of the nominating committee for the chief executive representing the welfare sector, sitting on a stretcher being wheeled out of an ambulance and into Ruttonjee Hospital. He may have aggravated the police by pouring liquid on them, but is there a need for a group of officers to beat someone up who is defenseless?

One side street still blocked with protesters, police watch

Like the pepper spray teargas over two weeks ago, this alleged beating has further eroded people's respect for the Hong Kong Police. They seem to be under orders to use excessive force without regard for what the consequences will be. No wonder protesters are now calling for the resignation of Police Commissioner Andy Tsang Wai-hung.

Meanwhile Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has cancelled his much-anticipated Q & A tomorrow, with his spokesperson citing the recent conflicts police had with protesters, and how protesters were called to be near the Legislative Council during that time. Some speculate it's because Leung needs to give Beijing more time to figure out how he would answer all these questions...

Then there is the added fiasco of his receiving HK$50 million from an Australian engineering firm, and now news that he asked for another HK$37 million as part of the same of his company...

Hundreds of tents are near the government offices at Tamar

Internationally what is being done about the situation? While China insists other countries not meddle in its internal affairs -- a favourite line -- the Democratic Party is taking the issue to the attention of the UN Human Rights' committee meeting next week in Geneva.

They will explain why Beijing's decision on Hong Kong election reform fails to comply with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. But will anything be done to alleviate the situation?

Around 6.30pm I wandered into the protest area on Harcourt Road. There weren't as many people as before, though there are reports that after I left, the crowds swelled to about 2,000 people.

There were young children around 5 or 6 years old doing their homework, people listening to speeches, but much fewer people on the flyover towards Central.

Batman to save the Umbrella Movement?

At the end of the barricades by the Hong Kong Club, a middle-aged man gave a speech while another man jumped in to add his views. Where in Hong Kong do people have such open discourse on politics? And with complete strangers?

The situation is fluid and who knows what will happen tonight. We can only hope Ken Tsang's alleged beating is the first and last violent incident for the Umbrella Revolution.