Singer Anthony Wong Arrested

 Wong arrested for allegedly singing songs at election rally

Another day, another arrest.

This time it's singer Anthony Wong Yiu-min for allegedly inducing others to vote for then candidate Au Nok-yin for the 2018 Legislative Council by-election.

Au was canvasing for the 2018 election

Au, 34, was also charged along with 59-year-old Wong for engaging in corrupt conduct for providing others with entertainment during an election, according to the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

It's interesting the ICAC is behind these arrests and not the national security law officers.

The ICAC alleges Wong performed two songs on the stage at a rally in Central and appealed to those attending to vote for Au at the coming election.

They were both charged on Monday under the Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance and are to appear at Eastern Court on Thursday. Wong was released on bail.

The anti-graft agency said from late February 2018, Au published several posts on his social media saying he would hold a two-hour rally at Edinburgh Place in Central on March 3 that year and a few hours before the event revealed Wong would perform that day.

Leung has had a singer at her rally too

The Elections (Corrupt and Illegal Conduct) Ordinance deems conduct corrupt if a person provides all or part of the cost of food, drink or entertainment for another person for the purpose of inducing others to vote or not to vote for a particular candidate at an election.

Wong is not only known as one-half of Canto-pop duo Tat Ming Pair, but was also a prominent supporter of the opposition camp, and protest movement. He is also an activist for sexual minority groups.

While Au and Wong will be defending themselves in court, it is also worth noting that a Chinese drum crew had performed at the rally of pro-establishment candidate Rebecca Chan Hoi-yan.

Also, in 2015, Dr Lee Ka-yan, who is a popular singer of local children's songs, performed alongside pro-Beijing lawmaker Priscilla Leung Mei-fun in Whampoa, where she was running for the district council elections.

Lai (right) dedicated 2 songs to Tsang

In addition, as far back as 2007, when then chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen campaigned for his re-election, Canto-pop singers Leon Lai Ming and Leo Ku Kui-kei dedicated two songs to Tsang, according to pro-establishment newspaper Wen Wei Po.

When asked if other politicians would be investigated as well, the ICAC spokesman said it would not comment on the probe, but stressed the commission acted with impartiality...

Top UK Barrister Quits Prosecution Case

QC David Perry has prosecuted many cases in Hong Kong

A few days ago there was a lot of surprise when the Hong Kong government announced it had hired a top barrister from the UK to prosecute nine high profile pro-democracy activists including Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Martin Lee Chu-ming, Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, and Lee Cheuk-yan for illegal assembly in Causeway Bay on August 18, 2019.

Queen's Counsel David Perry is considered a "top silk" and he has successfully prosecuted many other cases for the government, such as former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen for misconduct in public office, former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan for bribery, Nancy Kissel the "milkshake murderer", and former feng shui master Peter Chan.

Protest march in Victoria Park, August 18, 2019

When the Hong Kong government made the announcement on January 12, Perry had already agreed to take on the case, but there were a lot of questions.

One is, why couldn't a top lawyer in Hong Kong be found instead as he or she is being paid with taxpayer money, but it seems the government is keen on draining the city's coffers wherever possible.

Second we're in the midst of a pandemic -- and the UK is in a terrible wave at the moment barring all Hong Kong residents from returning for now. Is it really prudent to have Perry come over and be exempted from quarantine?

Third, the global optics of a Brit prosecuting democracy activists in Hong Kong who are trying to uphold the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law is ironic. 

Lawyer Ng was charged with illegal assembly

Fourth, does Perry understand his client is really Beijing and paying him to do its bidding? Can he sleep at night knowing this?

But as soon as word got out in the UK, there was a massive uproar with British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab leading the charge.

He said he couldn't understand how anyone in good conscience could take up such a case, adding that people would regard the move as being "pretty mercenary".

Raab, who is a former lawyer himself, also said getting Perry to take up the case was a "serious PR coup" for Beijing. Not to mention the fat payment he would have received for his services.

So today it was surprising to hear the news that Perry had pulled out of the case. Hong Kong's Department of Justice said on Wednesday that Perry "expressed concerns about such [political] pressures and the exemption of quarantine, and indicated that the trial should proceed without him."

Perhaps Perry at first thought it was a good gig, but the political pressure was too much to bear. Or that it looked bad he would be exempt from quarantine and the criticism wouldn't end? 

Lai was also charged in the same case

In any event the DOJ has said a local barrister has been hired, but no name revealed.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said she was shocked -- shocked -- at the "disgraceful" attacks and political pressure.

"For such a reputable British Queen's Counsel to come to Hong Kong for a case which, in turn, surprisingly attracted so much unfair and biased attacks and views in Britain, it was not us underestimating [the backlash] at all," she said. "We are just shocked and could not have seen it coming."

It is bizarre that Cheng could not forsee the possible backlash of hiring Perry -- everything these days is political in Hong Kong. Even where you shop and eat represents your political stripes.

In fact the prosecution of these pro-democracy activists is a political act in itself.

Cheng was "shocked" Perry would be attacked

Did she not think about that? 

The Impossible Rebranding Campaign

Hong Kong is a beautiful city, but is mired in political issues

A few days before the national security law was in force, there was an announcement that the Hong Kong government had hired a top British public relations firm to help "Relaunch Hong Kong".

Good luck with that.

The one-year contract worth US$6.2 million (HK$48 million) expects Consulum to come up with a communications strategy, as well as marketing and advertising plan to help "rebuild confidence in Hong Kong as a place to invest, do business, work and live".

Images like this were seen last year globally

The company will also come up with a strategy to change global perceptions of the city following last year's anti-government protests.

And now with the national security law in place, one aspect of which says anyone who criticizes the Hong Kong or Chinese government overseas and lands in the city even for transiting, could be arrested, rebranding the metropolis' image is going to be even harder.

How do you change people's perceptions worldwide about a draconian law that has decided the heaviest sentence of life in prison for those convicted of secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion?

Move along, folks, nothing to see here! How about some shopping?

One can't even begin to imagine what a mammoth undertaking this is and how to change people's minds after seeing the images of police firing tear gas at people, beating them senselessly, and arresting children?

Protesters try to get away from the tear gas

This is the ultimate challenge in window dressing, when really the Hong Kong government missed many opportunities, particularly early on in the protests to politically solve the issue of the extradition bill.

In addition, the choice of Consulum, based in London also raised eyebrows, not just for getting the job that many firms turned down to even pitch for, but also for its track record.

Consulum collapsed in 2017 after running a racist campaign in South Africa, highlighting the power of white-owned businesses to stir up anger about "white monopoly capital", and "economic apartheid".

It also had Saudi Arabia as a client to fix its image following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October 2018 in the country's consulate in Turkey. Saudi officials claim the murder was killed in a "rogue operation".

Khashoggi was killed in Saudi Arabian consulate

Hong Kong PR experts are wondering why the government is hiring a PR company now, and wasting taxpayer money on what will be a fruitless exercise.

Andy Ho On-tat, who was a senior aide who worked in the Donald Tsang Yam-kuen administration, says with the hiring of Consulum, Hong Kong will be forever associated with Saudi Arabia. Also he thinks the timing of the PR offensive is wrong.

"We don't need to pay so much for a foreign firm to do studies to know that Hong Kong's negative image is largely due to political problems," he said a week ago.

"Now we are going to have a national security law and the US has threatened sanctions and China has also threatened to impose visa restrictions on US individuals. How can you persuade people overseas that Hong Kong is a free and welcoming city against this backdrop?"

Indeed.

Coalition of Politics, Not Pragmatism

Tung Chee-hwa (left) and Leung Chun-ying form a coalition for Hong Kong

Two of Hong Kong's former chief executives, Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying are keeping busy these days. They have formed a coalition banding together top business, political and academic elites to somehow revive the city's economy.

Called Hong Kong Coalition (how inspiring), the group has 1,500 members, including tycoons like Lee Shau-kee, Li Ka-shing, academics such as Chinese University President Rocky Tuan Sung-chi, former secretary for justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, and top epidemiologist Gabriel Leung.

Lee Shau-kee is part of the group to revive the economy

Not only will this alliance try to help contain the coronavirus epidemic, but also revive Hong Kong's economy and end the political stalemate between the government and protesters that had "shattered" the city since the anti-extradition protests began last June.

"The opposition has resorted to all means to seek mutual destruction, such as attacking the police with petrol bombs, and making remote bombs," Tung said.

"They damaged mutual interests of Hong Kong, and pushed the city to the edge of a cliff. If they want to destroy the future of Hong Kong, we won't let them succeed."

Some 1,500 members have signed up to the coalition

Tung doesn't seem to remember that it was Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who, wanting to gain brownie points with Beijing, proposed the extradition bill without thinking through the legal consequences, and more importantly, how Hong Kong people would feel about it.

And she did not care that 1 million people came out to peacefully protest against it; her lack of empathy led to escalated violence. "It was you who taught me that peaceful marches are useless", was spray painted on the walls of the Legislative Council when it was stormed by protesters on July 1.

Tung also accused opposition lawmakers of abusing their power by filibustering in the legislature. Can we remind him that because they are the opposition, it is their right to do that?

Will the pro-Beijing group help young protesters get jobs?

Meanwhile Leung Chun-ying claims the coalition will help young people find jobs, internships and volunteer positions so they won't "stay idle".

But which students will they choose? The ones towing the government line, or those who participated in the protests? When asked about this, Leung did not reply.

Just how this group of heavyweights -- many of them past their prime -- are going to somehow magically revive Hong Kong's economy back to where it was before is wishful thinking.

Or is this a make-work project to give the appearance that Hong Kong elites are trying to look like they are doing something for the economy?

Carrie Lam caused the protests last year that led to violence

Hong Kong needs creative leadership and new ideas, not stodgy people who join this group to be politically correct... guess that doesn't include disgraced CE Donald Tsang Yam-kuen...

Extradition Bill Finally Withdrawn, Carrie Drama Continues

Chan Tong-kai with Reverend Canon Peter Koon this morning

Ironically, Chan Tong-kai, the man at the centre of the extradition bill was released from prison this morning, and that bill that has caused almost five months of protests, was formally withdrawn today in the Legislative Council.

The 20-year-old Chan finished serving 19 months out of the 29-month sentence he received for money laundering charges, but he is a murder suspect in the killing of his pregnant girlfriend last February in Taiwan.

Chan bows to the media before getting into the white van

This morning he walked out of Pik Uk Correctional Institution in Clearwater Bay a free man and bowed before giving a statement to the media where he apologized to the victim's family and the people of Hong Kong.

"I am willing, for my impulsive act and things I did wrong, to surrender myself to Taiwan to face sentencing," he said, adding he had made the "worst mistake" that could not be reversed.

He added: "I hope this can make her family feel slightly relieved, and [the deceased girlfriend Poon Hiu-wing] can rest in peace."

Chan thanked his parents and said: "Even though I've made the worst mistake, they still care for me, support me and won't give up on me."

He begged Hongkongers for forgiveness before bowing for a second time and then left in a seven-seater white van.

John Lee formally withdraws extradition bill in Legco

Now Hong Kong and Taiwan have to figure out what the next legal steps are, if Taiwanese authorities come here to formally arrest Chan, or he can go there and be arrested in Taiwan. Nevertheless the man is willing to face his crime so the two parties should work together to find a way for Poon's family to receive some justice for their daughter's grisly murder.

In the afternoon, Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu walked into the Legislative Council and formally withdrew the much-hated extradition bill.

"As members of the public have diverging views over the bill, which has created social conflicts, the government has decided to suspend the legislation effort following research and reflection," Lee said in the Legco meeting on Wednesday.

"To spell out the government's position clearly over the legislation effort, in accordance with Legco's rule 64(2), I formally announce the withdrawal of the bill."

The FT reported Carrie Lam could be replaced by March

While the bill was finally withdrawn -- with hardly any fanfare -- protesters are not exactly jubilant. They have four other demands they want to be met, including universal suffrage, not calling protesters "rioters", and an independent inquiry into police brutality.

Probably what piqued their interest today was the intriguing article from the Financial Times that claimed Beijing is looking to replace Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor by March. The list of candidates to succeed her include Norman Chan Tak-lam, former head of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and Henry Tang Ying-nien, a former financial secretary and chief secretary.

However the immediate reaction from pan-democratic lawmakers was that Lam could not just be replaced, that according to the Basic Law, another election for chief executive should be held. Nevertheless there is the precedent of Donald Tsang Yam-kuen who immediately replaced Tung Chee-hwa in 2005.

Possibly replacing Lam are Norman Chan and Henry Tang

The string of chief executives we have had in Hong Kong have all been disasters, which is why Hongkongers are demanding universal suffrage to be able to choose their own leader. It's obvious the system of Beijing deciding on the candidates does not work, with Lam being the latest, and a total catastrophe of exponential proportions.

But by late afternoon Beijing dispelled the FT report, saying it was a "political rumour with ulterior motives behind it".

The foreign ministry spokeswoman said the central government still firmly supported Lam and the Hong Kong government's efforts to stop violence and restore order as soon as possible.

If that's the case, things in Hong Kong won't be getting better anytime soon...

Pathetic Excuses for Government Failures

Grandpa Tung claiming the US and Taiwan are behind the protests

China insists that the "black hand" of the United States has been involved in eight weeks of protests, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry Wang Yi leading the charge.

"Everyone wants to ask: exactly what role has the US played in the recent series of events in Hong Kong?" asked foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying. "On this question, I think the US owes the world an explanation."

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that's "ludicrous"

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo immediately dismissed the claim as "ludicrous".

"I think the protests are solely the responsibility of the people of Hong Kong, and I think they are the ones that are demanding that their government listen to them and hear their voices," Pompeo said on Tuesday. "It's -- I saw these remarks as well. It's ludicrous on its face."

But China refused to back down on its theory without any evidence, by trotting out former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa to parrot the claim again.

Tung, who is vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, gave a speech today, accusing the US and Taiwan of orchestrating the "well organized" recent protests against the Hong Kong government.

This is strange coming from Tung, who supposedly has strong links with the US government. Or maybe that was with the Obama administration. Nevertheless, he did not give any evidence to support his bizarre claim.

Protesters are using make-shift equipment against police

He went on to say: "Some young people have vented their anxiety and helplessness through street politics. Yet, with Beijing's backing and various sectors' support behind the government, we are capable of breaking the social deadlock."

Uh huh.

In his speech at a lunch organized by Our Hong Kong Foundation, a think tank he founded and chairs, he called on Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to listen to public opinion and solve long-standing problems, such as housing, health care, education and pensions.

Hello Mr Tung? She hasn't done that... can you remind her to do that, starting tomorrow? The longer she procrastinates, the more this situation is going to escalate.

Or perhaps you the elites don't want to deal with these hard-to-solve-issues because they are beyond your problem-solving capabilities so it's easier to put the blame for these now violent protests on "foreign forces" like the US and Taiwan.

And by the way lumping Taiwan into blame department is very strange because it's actually Lam who is increasing the chances of President Tsai Ing-wen to be re-elected.

Now who are the "dark hands"?

Protesters use latest phone app to organize themselves

But Tung goes on to add: "This storm escalated quickly and it was well organized. We have reasons to believe there were masterminds behind the storm. There could be interference from external forces, and various signs are pointing towards Taiwan and the US."

He doesn't realize or want to accept that young people have used the latest technology -- an encrypted messaging app called Telegram -- to discuss and assemble people as quickly as possible, and that they have learned their lesson from five years ago to be prepared with supplies.

Apparently some protesters are running out of cash, and then today there was a picture posted on Twitter showing stacks of coupons for food and other things for them to use.

Doesn't Tung see that people are willing to fight to the death for this cause and are as Hongkongers they are resourceful people who are creative in fighting the police who have much better equipment than them?

But alas no, he refuses to come out of his ivory tower and see the reality of the situation, just like Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Leung Chun-ying, and now Lam. 

This is a fundamental problem that can only be solved by them engaging with young people and trying to understand what they want -- affordable homes and decent job opportunities, not just be stuck in dead-end jobs like retail and hospitality. And they want to live and work in Hong Kong because this is their home. It's actually really simple.

Claiming "black hands" have meddled in Hong Kong affairs is not only predictable but really pathetic.

One Location, Two Divergent Activities

Protesters ramming a makeshift trolley into the Legislative Council on July 1

So much has happened since the July 1 rampage through the Legislative Council, and today the police have begun arresting people who trashed the government building, identifying them through their fingerprints.

It's a tedious process, but it seems the government is determined to punish anyone who was involved in some way.

On the same day was a pro-China festival in Victoria Park

Reporters asked people on the street how they felt about the protesters who stormed Legco and they sympathize with them. These are people of various ages and ethnicities. Some middle-aged people said 1 million and then 2 million people came out on the streets to protest the extradition bill, and yet Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said nothing -- at first.

And then she did apologize, but she seemed to do so unwillingly said one man, which didn't look sincere at all. He pointed out that when former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen apologized, at least he bowed -- she did not.

As a result, the man said, the young protesters' patience had run out and they felt they had to resort to violence to make their grievances heard.

Others also pointed out how Lam didn't even reach out to the protesters and only talked to people in her inner circle, thus handling the crisis all wrong.

I talked to another communications professional today who said Lam did everything 110 percent wrong, adding she should fire the communications people who advised her.

However, not a soul was to be seen at this event

This person also thought the 4am press conference was unheard of and not how one would handle the situation at all, adding Lam was digging herself into a bigger grave.

We are all waiting to see what will happen next.

In the meantime I'd like to point out that at the July 1 march that started in Victoria Park, we were unable to convene at the six football pitches because they were completely taken up by an event called the "Greater Bay Festival".

It was organized by the pro-Beijing group, the Hong Kong Celebrations Association. Its mission?

"By planning and organizing celebrations programmes for festivals in Hong Kong, HKCA aims at enhancing social participation, promoting and increasing national consciousness of the home country, propelling the building up of a harmonious society," it says on its website. Many of the co-organizers have China links.

Lots of booths were set up, but it hardly looked festive because NO ONE was there. Xinhua reported that organizers were expecting 100,000 people to attend the festival that focused on innovative technology.

What would Queen Victoria (centre) think of her subjects now?

But who would be caught dead walking into this festival even though admission was free? On top of that were groups of police officers standing at each possible entrance to the festival, making it daunting to check out the event.

And anyway, what was the point of this event, other than to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The Greater Bay Festival seemed like an opportunity for brown nosing, held on the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China. Whoohoo.

When we finally got to march out of Victoria Park, we looked over at the stalls all set up, but it was literally a ghost town in the cordoned off area. What a complete waste of money and time, or perhaps the HKCA has lots of money to burn?

Hong Kong Government Incompetence Continues

Hong Kong somehow manages to function with inept civil servants

The Hong Kong government has a bad a habit of throwing away taxpayer money. It seems to have so much money that it doesn't mind keeping the public in the dark about how it's used.

We found out the giant air purification system installed outside the Central-Wan Chai bypass malfunctioned a month after the bypass opened on January 20.

Jimmy Chan didn't reveal the damaged air purifier until now

But we only heard about the problem today.

Director of Highways Jimmy Chan Pai-ming said the department was investigating why seven out of the 15 fans had been damaged and mounting bolts had come loose at the green ventilation facility near Causeway Bay. Chan says because of the defects and safety reasons, the ventilation system was shut down since February.

"We did not cover up the issue," Chan said. "We needed to study the scope of the issue and the extent of the damage to the fans... we also needed to gauge the air quality, which takes time."

If the ventilation system isn't working, surely the air quality is not good in there? Is there really a need to measure it? And isn't it better to be transparent about informing the public earlier that it's not working?

The air purifier hasn't been working since late February

The air purification system cost HK$250 million (US$32 million) and was supposed to remove 80 percent of harmful suspended particulates and nitrogen dioxide, two main roadside pollutants.

Interestingly enough two other air purifiers, one in Central and the other in Wan Chai seem to be in fine working order. This prompted Stephen Ng Kam-chun, chairman of the Wan Chai District Council to question whether the contractor Leighton should be trusted for installing the air purifier properly and if it should be granted contracts in the future as the company is also linked to the troubled Sha Tin-Central rail link.

Another shocking thing we the public discovered was that while former Hong Kong chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was in jail, us taxpayers continued to foot the bill for his three staff at the cost of HK$1.4 million (US$178,413) to HK$1.6 million a year.

The figures were revealed in a Legislative Council meeting when acting director of administration Bobby Cheng Kam-wing said the expenditures of the Office of Former Chief Executives had increased from HK$5.59 million in 2014-15 to HK$9.11 million in 2017-18.

Even while Donald Tsang was in jail, his staff were paid

Cheng explained each former chief executive was given three staff -- a senior personal assistant, an assistant clerical officer and a driver.

Tsang was sentenced to 20 months in jail in 2017 and after an appeal managed to get it shortened to 12 months.

Lawmaker Au Nok-hin asked if the money was spent on staff when Tsang was in prison, wondering what work they had done.

Cheng replied: "All the former chief executives' teams continued to work in the office [regardless of the jail term], so the money still had to be paid."

Another lawmaker, Cheng Chung-tai said because Tsang was in jail, he should be deprived of his benefits as a chief executive and that the money was "wasted".

"The money was for promotion, but what could he promote? Promote himself as a former leader who broke the law?" asked Cheng.

Bobby Cheng had the gall to say the money was used in accordance to government policies. So there is a government policy that says convicted chief executives can still have staff?

It's outrageous and arrogant for the Hong Kong government to believe that Tsang still deserves benefits as a former leader, and that the public doesn't need to know that a massive air purifier isn't working.

Meanwhile one-fifth of the population is poor and the government is nit-picking over the definition of who is above or below the poverty line, and how much fruit money the elderly should receive.

It's a sorry state of affairs when civil servants just blindly continue to defend policy without thinking about the moral implications of their actions.

Donald Tsang Loses Appeal

Donald Tsang was rushed to hospital after he lost his appeal in court

Disgraced former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen did it again -- he came into court to hear the verdict of his appeal, and came out claiming illness and was carried out in a stretcher.

Today his appeal to turn over a conviction for misconduct while in public office was rejected. It was for not declaring his interest in a three-storey penthouse flat in Shenzhen that he was leasing from a company owned by Chinese businessman Bill Wong Cho-bau.

Businessman Bill Wong Cho-bau let Tsang a flat in Shenzhen

Wong was also majority shareholder of radio station Wave Media, that was applying for a  broadcasting license of which Tsang was in charge of approving these license applications.

Three Court of Appeal judges unanimously ruled the evidence was "formidable as it was compelling", that the 73-year-old Tsang had concealed this conflict of interest from the public while he was chief executive from 2005-2012.

However, his original sentence of 20 months in jail was reduced to 12 months, while his fine of HK$3 million to cover prosecution costs was dropped to only HK$1 million.

Apparently the court took into consideration the impact of paying the full amount would have had on Tsang, as he was "not a wealthy businessman but a retired civil servant", who would depend solely on his savings and pension in his remaining years.

Tsang was to live in the penthouse flat

Can we remind readers that the salary of the chief executive of Hong Kong is over HK$300,000 a month -- which is more than what then US President Barack Obama was paid at HK$260,000, while Chinese President Xi Jinping makes HK$14,000.

And being a career civil servant for 40 years, surely Tsang has a decent chunk of change in the bank -- he certainly made much more than the average person in Hong Kong -- or perhaps he is completely unaware of how us plebeians live.

How long will he be at Queen Mary Hospital in Pokfulam, and will that count for jail time as well?

Meanwhile, outside the court his wife Selina Tsang Pou Siu-mei said, "Today I feel disappointed, and my heart aches."

Tsang looked fine when he arrived at court this morning

Will this be the last we hear of Tsang, the son of a police officer? Probably not...

Lam's New Look?

Carrie Lam wears vibrant red for the flag-raising ceremony on July 1

For her first day in office, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor wanted to show her more human side. So what did she do?

Brought a video team filming her getting her hair and make up done to become Hong Kong's next chief executive.

She changed again to inspect the Macau-Zhuhai-HK Bridge

Really?

None of the previous chief executives -- Tung Chee-hwa, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen or Leung Chun-ying did this.

I really don't care what the leader of Hong Kong looks like as long as he/she does a good job.

The video on Facebook shows her in a salon where someone is setting her hair and another putting on her make up at 5.30am.

https://www.facebook.com/carrielam.hksar/videos/751967808316121/

And she did four wardrobe changes -- it seemed coordinated with Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan, who wore more understated black on July 1, while Lam wore bright colours.

Peng Liyuan (left) in muted colours compared to Lam (right)

Was this really necessary?

Is this a sign Lam is becoming a fashion plate?

We aren't convinced this is a new side of Lam, but more window dressing of a new regime...

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...

Tsang Saga Isn't Over Yet

Kwok Cheuk-kin has filed a judicial review on Bill Wong and David Li

Former Hong Kong leader Donald Tsang Kam-yuen is now in Stanley Prison with his cohort Rafael Hui Si-yan. Perhaps Hui is giving Tsang some orientation and tips on how to survive prison life.

Tonight some friends told me Tsang was known to be stingy. Was he so miserly that he didn't want to pay for the renovations on his Shenzhen flat? Or was he greedy? The man was well paid as chief executive of Hong Kong AND has a pension of HK$80,000 a month.

Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen is named in the application

If your housing is already taken care of, surely that pension would be more than enough to spend... it's definitely more than most people's salaries in Hong Kong...

In any event, the saga over the trial is still not over.

A former civil servant who has a penchant for filing legal challenges against the government on behalf of the little guy has done so again today.

Kwok Cheuk-kin has filed a judicial review application, questioning why Wave Media's Bill Wong Cho-bau and BEA bank's David Li Kwok-po were let off lightly. Kwok accuses the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Department of Justice of maladministration, as they failed to do justice to all relevant parties.

As well as ICAC chief Simon Peh for maladministration

In the application naming Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung and ICAC chief Simon Peh Yun-lu the respondents, Kwok claims the commission and department should take action against Wong and Li, citing equality before the law according to the Basic Law.

We heard during the trial that Li evaded ICAC investigators for years and then gave up, believing he would not cooperate. As for Wong, why wasn't he called to testify?

Will the judicial review go ahead? In the benefit of public interest, it should.

Bow-tie Tsang Begins 20-Month Prison Term

Donald Tsang (in handcuffs) was escorted to court for sentencing today

Donald Tsang Yam-kuen heard his fate this morning and the judge handed him a 20-month sentence behind bars. Tsang is now the first knighted and highest-ranked official to be convicted for misconduct.

"Never in my judicial career have I seen a man fallen from so high," said Justice Andrew Chan Hing-wai. Tsang closed his eyes as he heard the sentence, while his wife Selina of almost 50 years began to cry in the public gallery.

The judge was originally going to sentence him to 30 months, but after receiving over 40 letters of mitigation from people like former Secretary for Administration Anson Chan Fong On-sang, pan-democrat Albert Ho Chun-yan, and chief executive hopefuls Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and John Tsang Chun-wah, Justice Chan lowered Tsang's jail time to 20 months.

Tsang's wife Selina cried upon hearing the 20-month jail term

Justice Chan said Tsang had breached the trust placed in him by both the people of Hong Kong and the people of China.

The prosecution has already indicated it will retry the charge of misconduct regarding the alleged HK$3.35 million in renovations on his Shenzhen apartment in exchange for approving Wave Media applications when the jury failed to reach a verdict last week.

People have mixed reactions about the sentencing. Some feel Tsang didn't do any harm to anyone and so he should receive a lighter sentence, or none at all. But he was the leader of Hong Kong -- there are expectations our senior officials are supposed to exercise strong moral judgment not only on what's best for the city, but also of their own behaviour.

While he did a lot of good for Hong Kong in his 45-year career with the government, he was caught red-handed hanging out with tycoons on one of their yachts in Macau. He tried to worm his way out of it, but the evidence was stark.

Rafael Hui is serving a 7.5 year jail sentence for bribery

Tsang's sentence sets a precedence so that all civil servants know that they cannot take advantage of their positions for personal gain. If he didn't do any time for that, then we might see even more corruption cases.

But now we're two for two -- Rafael Hui Si-yan, and now Tsang. They may be reunited in Stanley prison too.

Two is already too many -- why does Hong Kong have people like this in office? More importantly why has Beijing chosen these people?

Seeing the intense media interest in Tsang's trial shows that senior officials must prove their worth, otherwise they too will suffer the same fate -- the humiliation of having fallen from so high.

Donald Tsang Found Guilty

Donald Tsang emerges from the courthouse with his family

Today Hong Kong has reached another new low -- its former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen has been found guilty of misconduct in public office.

It was the charge of discussing Wave Media's broadcast license but failed to disclose it was a conflict of interest because he was also negotiating a Shenzhen penthouse with one of Wave Media's shareholders, Bill Wong Cho-bau.

Designer Barrie Ho was involved in renovating the flat

However, Tsang, 72, was not found guilty of public office in the charge in Tsang's failure to disclose his relationship with designer Barrie Ho Chow-lai when he nominated him for a civic award. Ho was involved in the HK$3.5 million renovation of the Shenzhen flat.

The defense had said it was not necessary for Tsang to declare the connection, because if he did, it would put pressure on others to approve Ho's nomination.

On the third charge of Tsang receiving free renovation work worth HK$3.5 million on the Shenzhen flat in exchange for approving Wave Media's application, jurors could not agree.

Some of them may have agreed with the defense that the state of the flat was uninhabitable so the renovations would have been done anyway, and in any event Tsang would only live there temporarily.

What about the HK$350K the Tsangs received from David Li?

It's surprising the jurors could not come to an agreement on the third charge listed here -- what about the HK$350,000 that was taken out of BEA chairman David Li Kwok-po and Wave Media shareholder's bank account and then half an hour later Tsang's wife Selina deposited the same amount into her bank account in the same financial institution?

In any event, Tsang will be sentenced on Monday, the maximum sentence could be seven years and a fine.

Finally some closure on this long drawn out trial, not the actual trial itself, but how long it took from him being charged to going to trial.

Prosecutors said he was a two-faced liar, who colluded with wealthy businessmen for personal gain, while the defense said Tsang would never want to sully his 45-year career in the civil service by accepting a bribe.

But it looks like on one count at least the jury believed the prosecution, and Tsang will have to pay for that.

Are there more corrupt government officials we need to know about? It just shows the government's checks and balances aren't enough to keep its officials on the straight and narrow, and that the media needs to do more to make them accountable.