The Polarization Continues

The entrance to Baptist University is effectively blocked by mini Stonehenges

As I write this, students at Chinese University of Hong Kong are retreating -- about a dozen volunteers have come with cars to take them out.

This ends the four-day occupation of the university safely... but they have left behind a giant mess.

However it seems Hong Kong Polytechnic University is still going strong, the students have prevented any traffic from going through the Cross Harbour Tunnel and even have security checks of every person who walks into the campus.

A fire erupted near Chinese University prompting evacuation

I talked to one professor from the University of Hong Kong -- and it is also his alma mater -- and he said this was the first time he ever had to climb over barricades to get to his office.

The situation has become untenable and the heads of nine universities here have issued an open letter to the government urging the authorities to set up and resolve the political deadlock in the name of safety and security of the whole city.

The letter says:

Hong Kong society is currently fractured, with deep divisions across social groups, political parties, and even amongst family and friends. The past week has seen a rapid escalation of violence and confrontation throughout Hong Kong: several universities are now under protestors’ control; on-campus hazardous materials have been taken; staff and students have left campus out of fear for their personal safety. These events are challenging our universities in the most fundamental way.

No political viewpoint gives a licence to damage property, employ physical threats, or use violence against individuals. It is regrettable that societal disagreement has led to university campuses becoming major political battlefields, and that the government response has so far not been effective. However, any demand that universities can simply fix the problem is disconnected from reality: these complicated and challenging situations neither originate from the Universities, nor can they be resolved through University disciplinary processes. They are reflections of Hong Kong-wide disagreement, and the government must take the lead with swift and concrete action to resolve this political deadlock and to restore safety and public order now.

Earlier in the day students manning No. 2 bridge in Sha Tin

Hong Kong is our home. We call on all quarters of society to work together to bring peace and order back to Hong Kong.

Prof. KUO Way, President, City University of Hong Kong
Prof. Roland T. CHIN President & Vice-Chancellor, Hong Kong Baptist University
Prof. Leonard CHENG, President, Lingnan University
Prof. Rocky S. TUAN, President & Vice-Chancellor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Stephen CHEUNG, President, The Education University of Hong Kong
Prof. TENG Jin-Guang , President, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Prof. Wei SHYY, President, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Prof. WONG Yuk-Shan, President, The Open University of Hong Kong
Prof. ZHANG Xiang, President & Vice-Chancellor, The University of Hong Kong
(Listed in alphabetical order of universities)

Earlier in the day a newspaper article talked about how the government was getting pressure from all sides, including the pro-establishment parties to do something to resolve the situation. Everyone is tired and frustrated by the government's inaction, just constantly condemning the protesters as rioters and how the violence needs to be stopped.

This only gives more license to the police to have their way with anyone, including bystanders, which in turn makes people even angrier. Surely the government must have figured this out by now.

Carrie Lam not very empathetic at town hall meeting

At lunchtime today scores of people came out not only in Central and Taikoo, but also Wong Chuk Hang and Kwun Tong. A lot of Hong Kong's population are angry with the government.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has said that she is open to dialogue and yet she has not had engaged the public since her disastrous town hall meeting on September 26.

What is she waiting for?

The best way to diffuse tensions is to initiate dialogue but instead Lam would rather inspect trashed MTR stations than meet with people to hear their frustrations and fears. Did she think people would give up?

As someone who was directly involved in dealing with the Umbrella Movement five years ago, Lam hasn't learnt her lesson at all. She has just dismissed it as a blip in Hong Kong's history. For the rest of us, those 79 days were seared in our memories.

Civil service head Joshua Law sends warning to civil servants

Meanwhile civil servants may want to think twice about protesting. Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law Chi-kong wrote a letter to the 180,000 civil servants and warned they would face immediate suspension or other disciplinary action if they were arrested for taking part in unlawful activities.

"The government will not tolerate civil servants breaching the law," he wrote. "It would be difficult for the community to accept an arrested civil servant being allowed to continue to exercise the powers and functions of office.

"In this regard, we will interdict the officer in the public interest when an inquiry against him is being undertaken," he wrote.

If this letter was written a year ago, most people would agree. But given what has happened in the past five months, including a rally for civil servants to protest against the extradition bill, most residents would not mind if a civil servant was arrested and continued working -- until they were convicted.

What happened to following the tenet of "innocent until proven guilty"?

The polarization continues...

The Battle at CUHK

Police fire nonstop rounds of teargas at students in Chinese University today

As I write this we are seeing Tiananmen 2.0 playing out on the campus of Chinese University of Hong Kong in Sha Tin minus live rounds and tanks.

For over 12 hours the police have been firing hundreds, maybe more than a thousand canisters of tear gas at the students, who in turn throw Molotov cocktails and set up barriers to prevent the police from moving closer.

It's heart wrenching to see this happening -- and what for? What is the police force's end game? Is it their attempt to shut down the students once and for all? If anything this makes the young people look even more like martyrs for the cause.

For alumnae watching their alma mater turn into a battlefield, it's difficult for them to comprehend this was the place where they spent four years gaining knowledge and meeting friends, learning more about themselves, and now it is a complete disaster zone that has become unrecognizable.

On the left a water cannon with blue dye sprays protesters

How did we get to this point?

UPDATE 10:25pm. The police are now retreating, after having brought a water cannon all the way up to the campus only to use it once or twice.

Just as the water cannon was being used, the police issued a statement that said:

"As the night fell, the situation remained tense in Chinese University of Hong Kong. In pursuit of a peaceful solution to diffuse the situation, the Police have communicated with the school and are arranging a retreat to stop the standoff. The Police appeal to protesters to stop charging. A Specialized Crowd Management Vehicle is on stand-by at the scene and will be deployed to assist a retreat if necessary.

"In the meantime, the protesters in CUHK are reminded to refrain from throwing objects onto Tolo Highway and MTR track. Such acts seriously hamper the safety of train system and threaten passengers' safety."

Professor Dennis Ng tries to speak to the police commander

Can someone please edit the police's statement before it goes out to the public? Too many grammatical errors to take what they said seriously...

Earlier Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Dennis Ng tried to persuade the students to stop their actions, saying the police would stop firing, but instead the police went back on their word and fired tear gas at Ng. He had to be treated with saline solution by first aiders.

He tried to call his police contact three times. "It's just out of control," he told the police commander on the phone.

At least he tried to engage both sides a few times, and for now it has worked.

Early evening in Central and Pedder Street is blocked

The students also got massive support from people with cars who occupied Tolo Highway to prevent more police vehicles from going to the campus. 

Today were more scenes of disruption from the morning's commute to office workers descending on Pedder Street again and occupying the area, and also tear gas fired in City University in Kowloon Tong and destruction in the University of Hong Kong.

Thank goodness there weren't the insane scenes we saw yesterday with the 21-year-old protester shot with a live round, and a man immolated in Ma On Shan, but still it's incredible the Hong Kong government refuses to believe these protests involve more than just young people.

But -- but -- there is a clip of a pregnant woman who berated police officers and their reply? Squirting pepper spray into her eyes and physically subduing her. Is her baby going to be OK?

At lunchtime in Central officer workers come out to protest

Whenever there are traffic disruptions or protesters setting up barricades and the media ask middle-aged people how they feel about this, the vast majority say it's because of the government. They don't berate the youth, but instead say Chief Executive Carrie Lam has done nothing to find a political solution after five months of protests.

Yesterday she called the protesters "enemies of the people", but in fact she and her administration are the enemies of the people. Her attempt at driving a wedge between the hardcore and moderate protesters is not working.

So how is she going to clean up this crazy mess she has created? We're still waiting...

UPDATE: 12:37am. The police lied about retreating and they are still firing teargas at the students. There are also long lines of police vehicles blocking emergency vehicles to get to the 30 or so protesters who have been injured. Unfortunately this battle has not ended yet... another sleepless night for Hong Kong.

Politically Incorrect Opening Ceremony

Two roast pigs mark the opening of a veterinary centre

When a company opens a new office, a film crew starts production, or families celebrate upcoming nuptials, a roast pig is usually presented as an auspicious way to mark the occasion.

Key personnel stand around the pig carcass and pose with the chopper, everyone with big smiles all round -- except for the poor pig. Or should I say roast pork.

Animal activists criticized the university for having roast pigs

However, the optics were really bad when the new Veterinary Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po opened on March 27, and they celebrated with not one, but two roast pigs.

How could a medical centre started by City University kill two pigs before it had even saved the life of an animal?

That was the scathing point made by people on social media which spread like wildfire, prompting the university to realize the terribly tone-deaf public relations blunder. It then issued a memo, urging all departments to stop the traditional roast pig-cutting ceremony.

The university tried to explain that the organizing committee had made the arrangements as a gesture of blessing, and that members of senior management did voice their concerns about having the roast pigs for the new veterinary centre's opening.

Now the university tells department to not do "outdated rites"

And now because "considering environmental protection and the concerns of different sections of the community", senior management was now asking all departments to consider cancelling such ceremonies and "other outdated rites at future celebrations".

This traditional pig-cutting ceremony doesn't have to be shelved completely, but it just had the wrong connotations for a veterinary centre. It just looks really bad and makes the opening far from lucky...

Localism is not Anti-China

Pushing for greater democracy in HK does not mean being against China

As we've mentioned many times on this blog, the Hong Kong government and Beijing do not understand what young people want for themselves and the city, equating localism with being unpatriotic. And now researchers at City University have confirmed this is wrong.

A team of political scientists questioned the common conception that a rise in localism was making people feel "less Chinese" and "more like Hongkongers". The researchers concluded it was Hongkongers' mistrust of the central government, rather than a lack of a broader Chinese identity that prompted them to resist the motherland.

Chinese leaders jump to conclusions about Hong Kong

Official rhetoric has stepped up against localists, claiming they are "colluding with external forces" to advocate self-determination or independence for Hong Kong. On Sunday the head of Beijing's liaison office, Wang Zhimen, said the lack of a national security legislation was a "major weakness" for the city.

However, research leader Professor Linda Li Che-lan said, "There seems to be a common prejudice in the policy circles that local and national identities are in a zero-sum relationship.

"Critics often equate localism with being unpatriotic. And some think people would love Chinese more if localism could be eliminated. This is very wrong."

She warned Beijing against being bogged down by "misconceptions" and "misdiagnosis", and said top-down demands for patriotism risked pushing more Hongkongers into rejecting their national identity.

People still felt strongly Chinese during 2014 protests

In surveys, people were asked how strongly they identified themselves as being a "Hongkonger" or "Chinese" on a scale of 0 to 10. Scores for local Hong Kong identity hovered around 8 since 1997.

Even during the Occupy protests pushing for greater democracy in 2014 and the surge in localist sentiment in 2015 and 2016, people were still strongly attached to Hong Kong.

What researchers found was a stronger Hong Kong identity meant a stronger Chinese identity and vice versa. "Hongkonger and Chinese identities are not an either/or thing," Li said.

Her team found the biggest factor in the weakening of a feeling of Chinese identity in recent years was people's distrust in Beijing.

"This very strong association suggests that... feeling Chinese and trusting the central government in Beijing has taken on an almost synonymous connotation for many Hong Kong citizens," the paper said.

Li urged the central government to rethink it's policy on Hong Kong. "Rather than stressing its overall control over the city or instilling nationalism, it should try to restore Hong Kong people's confidence in it."

It's funny how it takes an academic paper to explain what we've known all along, but then again this doesn't mean the central government will really examine this paper either, perhaps thinking the researchers are biased.

But it's true -- Beijing should not be ramming patriotism down Hongkongers' throats. It just doesn't work.

White Slick HK Beaches

Clumps of congealed palm oil washed up on Hong Kong beaches

There are questions why it took two days for the mainland Chinese authorities to inform Hong Kong about a ship collision that resulted in the leaking of palm oil onto our city's shores.

Congealed palm oil that looked like solid white clumps, washed up on Hong Kong beaches and all 11 of them had to be closed on Sunday. They included Hung Shing Yeh Beach on Lamma Island to Upper and Lower Cheung Sha Beach, as well as those at Repulse Bay and Chung Hom Kok.

All 11 of Hong Kong's beaches were closed on Sunday

Beach workers tried to contain the palm oil with oil-absorbent felts and strips, while witnesses say the contaminated areas smelled like chemicals, or like the odours in alleyways behind fried snack shops.

Dr Tsang Po-keung, an associate professor of science and environmental studies at the Education University of Hong Kong and a member of the government's Advisory Council on the Environment, says a notification mechanism should be modified to specify how many days authorities should be given to report such incidents.

"This time they may think it's fine because it's just palm oil, but what if next time it is gasoline?" he said, but added for some marine life, two days is too late.

When pressed, the palm oil disintegrates like powder

City University chair professor of biology Paul Lam Kwan-sing says the spill did not amount to an environmental disaster, but was "not a good thing".

"Palm oil is a crystallized liquid... which will slowly be decomposed by micro-organisms. The problem is that it is a real eyesore for beachgoers," he said.

It's troubling that China doesn't seem to think this spill warrants any kind of immediate warning -- so much for its supposed priority on the environment, or do they not care about what happens to Hong Kong? Guess not...

Enough Rain Already!

July's rainfall beats records from 30 years ago -- blame it on global warming?

July isn't over yet but Hong Kong has seen record rainfall. The Hong Kong Observatory recorded more than 500mm of rain in the first three weeks of this month, more than the average 376mm for the past 30 years.

The rainfall for July also exceeds the averages for June at 476mm and 432mm for August.

Johnny Chan Chung-leung, chair professor of atmospheric science at City University says global warming will result in more water vapour in the atmosphere, and so the frequency of heavy rain will only get higher.

Last Monday evening when I was caught in the red rainstorm warning, the observatory recorded 184.6mm of rain, the third-highest amount recorded in one day in July over the past 20 years.

We might have a respite from the rain this week -- overall sunny with a few showers for the next few days.

All I can say is -- thank goodness I finally invested in rubber boots!

Hong Kong Generates own Smog

We've had many hazy days like this one in Hong Kong recently

When Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was Chief Executive of Hong Kong and people complained about the city's air quality, he used to say it was pollution blowing from across the border.

But it's naive for Hong Kong people to believe that -- the city generates its own pollution too in such a cramped space and now we finally have scientific proof.

Hong Kong and Macau air scientists have found that a rapid build-up of particulate matter in the air -- a key component of smog -- was possible, even in the absence of northerly winds that can transport pollutants from far away.

They found that on at least one particular sunny September day in Hong Kong saw a rapid rise in photochemical activity during mid afternoon where ozone and nitrogen dioxide skyrocketed along with increasing sunshine.

"It is clear that there was a rapid increase in particulate matter (PM) concentration on this day when we were not really affected by external meteorological conditions. It's not easy to argue in this case that winds were blowing PM to Hong Kong from the region," said co-author Professor Chan Chak-keung, dean of City University's school of energy and environment.

He said the most likely source of pollution came from vehicles or industrial emissions which contain nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.

"Of course, regional sources play a role but [this research] shows that under the right conditions, PM can build up and Hong Kong can form its own photochemical smog," he said.

Photochemical smog is created when nitrogen oxides react with volatile organic compounds in the air under sunlight and leads to the formation of ozone. This hazardous pollutant facilitates the formation of tiny particles small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs and even into the bloodstream.

For the Hong Kong government to try to make the public believe the pollution comes from elsewhere is childish or in denial.

More needs to be done in terms of environmental protection when we have had so many hazy days, especially in the last few weeks.

But the government will only pay lip service and not really tackle these problems head on. It's not in its nature to deal with airy fairy issues...

CY Leung's Shock Announcement

Hong Kong was in shock to hear Leung would not be running again

The breaking news we never thought would happen -- Leung Chun-ying has announced that he will not run for re-election -- did happen.

He made the announcement at a hastily arranged press conference at 3.30pm this afternoon, citing family reasons.

"If I run my family will suffer unbearable pressure due to my electioneering... I must protect them," he said.

Last night he was seen at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin where his often troubled daughter, Leung Chai-yan was said to be receiving treatment for an unspecified ailment.

He cited family reasons, perhaps because of his daughter?

It is believed Leung made up his mind after consulting Beijing, and perhaps the powers that be felt it was best that he not continue leading Hong Kong for another five years.

Leung claimed his decision was not due to any lack of endorsement from Beijing, saying, "[The central government] has always supported me and said I have done a good job."

The Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office also issued a statement after the announcement, saying it deeply regretted Leung's decision.

"Mr Leung has steadfastly implemented the 'one country, two systems' formula and the Basic Law since taking up office, and has made important contributions in defending national sovereignty and security," the office said, adding Beijing had always fully affirmed Leung's work.

Ray Yep Kin-man, a political scientist at City University, said the announcement, that came two days before the polls for the Election Committee, might be Beijing's way to still have a hand in influencing who will become the next chief executive.

Some pundits believe Carrie Lam has a good chance to win

"Beijing is worried about the uncertainty if pan-democrats win 300 seats in the committee and another 200 candidates who oppose Leung are returned," Yep said. "With Leung's decision not to run, the 'Anyone But CY' campaign will lose its momentum."

While many people are still trying to absorb the news that Leung is no longer in the picture, others are already speculating who will win, with some saying it will be Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee who will be making a big announcement on Thursday, or it could be Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, or Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah -- if the two make any moves to declare their candidacy.

It's basically a wide-open race, which makes it much more interesting, but the fundamental question remains -- who will lead the city for Hong Kong people's interests and not Beijing's?

October 1 Unpatriotic Banners

A pro-independence sign hangs at Baptist University in Kowloon Tong

For many in Hong Kong, the October 1 National Day holiday is just another public holiday -- and this year it falls on a Saturday so many people took advantage of going out of town. We're so patriotic.

This contrasts with the Hong Kong government, that attends a flag-raising ceremony at the Golden Bauhinia sculpture next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This morning there was some rain that marred the festivities.

Another banner at the University of Hong Kong...

However to mark the 67th anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China, banners that read "Hong Kong Independence" in Chinese and English were hung up in eight universities around town. They included the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the University of Science and Technology, Baptist University and City University.

Some of the tertiary institutions removed the banners.

The Hong Kong National Party, a pro-independence group, admitted to providing the banners to the students, but insisted it was the students who put them up themselves.

At Chinese University hangs a large pro-independence banner

A few days ago the party had a message on its Facebook page, telling students not to celebrate National Day and called China a "colonial master" of Hong Kong.

Were any caught putting up the banners? Will they be punished? Or will their actions fall under freedom of speech?

The pro-independence movement, despite being scoffed at for being completely unrealistic and illegal, seems to be growing in popularity. Young people are becoming more radical in their outlook in their hopes to have the Hong Kong they want.

Not exactly what the Communist Party had in mind...

Passing the Buck -- Again

In late May, the roof of this sports hall collapsed and luckily no one was killed

Late last month, the roof of a building at City University collapsed, and luckily only three people were injured.

It turns out the roof had been leaking and then eventually could not withstand the weight of the pitch and shrubbery on top anymore.

Organizations in Hong Kong have been encouraged to have green roofs to cool buildings down and do a small part in making the city a bit greener and add more oxygen into the atmosphere.

This security manager made the call to evacuate the building

But the rules on retrofitting green roofs on buildings isn't regulated or enforced, so the government doesn't even know how many there are in the city.

Basically building owners are responsible for managing them, and only if there are major structural changes to the roof should the plans be submitted Buildings Department.

Does this department think buildings are only going to put a few potted plants up there?

In the case of City University, the roof was completely covered in grass, which means there was a lot of soil too.

Following an investigation -- an internal one we should add -- that the wrong loading data was used by the contractor.

There were other factors too, including the amount of rain and the efficiency of drainage may have affected the roof collapse. But surely it's the numbers. And how could the wrong data be used?

The contractor will be sued, but who else will be responsible?

While the investigation recommended the university sue the contractor and the certified professional who was managing the project, interestingly the registered structural engineer and the university's vice president in charge of looking after green roof projects will not be punished.

Surely everyone should be blamed for what happened here?

One can tell backroom politicking was going on, but the optics here are as nasty as a puss-filed pimple. Why was this an internal investigation? How does anyone think these are credible findings?

Why does the government not see it is necessary to inspect all green roofs? Or it doesn't have enough resources to do so?

We're tired of everyone trying to escape blame. Can we remind those stakeholders  that university students could have been killed if the roof had collapsed a day later or earlier?