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...

Food Hawkers Legal by Next Chinese New Year?

This year's #fishballrevolution may be a one-off if hawkers legalized next year

Nine months after riots broke out in Mongkok on the first day of Chinese New Year, the Hong Kong government has proposed licensing street food hawkers during the holiday period.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department submitted a proposal to the Yau Tsim Mong district council to set up a food bazaar from January 28-30 for 40 hawkers in a "suitable" location.

However, Secretary for Health Dr Ko Wing-man denies the proposal is related to the Mongkok riot on February 8. He said the government had formed a task force with the previous Legislative Council to discuss street food policies.

Dr Ko denies the proposal is linked to the Mongkok riots

It is the first time the government has proposed legalizing these hawkers, who traditionally offered food alternatives during Chinese New Year, as many shops and restaurants were closed during the holiday period.

While many places are open these days because of the economic climate, that hasn't stopped food vendors from trying to make an extra buck for a few days and offer some nostalgic snacks for sale.

However this past February, a riot started in Mongkok apparently because officials were cracking down on illegal operations, and the violence escalated to the point where a police officer fired shots into the air when they were surrounded by angry protesters.

"We did not consider [the proposal] because of any specific incident," Ko said during a public event on Sunday.

"We have however, considered that citizens, during Chinese New Year, may be interested in enjoying traditional Hong Kong snacks and cooked food on the street. Some business operators may also feel there are larger flows of people during this period and they can do better business.

If the licensing is approved, local food culture will thrive again

"Given that there is such demand, we have the responsibility to consider whether there is a way or location to make such operations safer without affected public order."

The preliminary proposal suggests 40 street food stalls would operate between noon and 2am during the three-day holiday period, and set up at locations like Macpherson Playground. For safety reasons, only electricity would be used to cook the food.

Interesting to see the government make a concession about street food during Chinese New Year following all the political tensions we have gone through in the past few years.

However, from a food perspective, customers might not be too thrilled with dishes cooked with electricity, as those cooked with gas would have more "wok hay" or flavour from the wok due to the high heat.

Nevertheless, it's a good will gesture from Ko and we'll take it for now.

Cancer Isn't just the Horoscope Sign for Crabs

It's now been found hairy crabs might have cancer-causing chemicals in them

We're well into hairy crab season, and only now has the Hong Kong government released test results that show some of the crustaceans from two farms in Jiangsu province have excessive levels of dioxin and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls.

In other words, these hairy crabs contain highly toxic chemical compounds that could cause cancer and damage reproductive and immune systems.

And now Health minister Dr Ko Wing-man says it could take up to two weeks determine if more of these crabs are also not suitable for consumption.

Hairy crabs are bundled up and sold in many shops here

Will this make fans of the crustacean think twice about eating their favourite food this time of year?

Democratic Party lawmaker Helena Wong Pik-wan says waiting two weeks is pointless because the crabs will have been consumed by then.

These small crabs can be found in food shops behind plastic or glass shelves, wrapped up in dried reeds and kept alive with squirts of water. And many people who love the crustaceans buy them to steam at home, or head to restaurants that serve them.

Wong, who is a former Legislative Council food safety panel member, slammed the Centre for Food Safety for failing to act as a gatekeeper and not adopting a unified food safety protocol with the mainland.

According to industry sources, the mainland food safety standards do not refer to dioxin levels.

Connoisseurs love hairy crab for its roe this time of year

"How could [the government] not realize all these years that there were no tests for dioxins in Jiangsu province?" she asked.

Wong said dioxin testing should be set out in law in Hong Kong on an acceptable level for food.

Currently there is no international consensus on dioxin standards so Hong Kong authorities use the World Health Organization guidelines for reference.

Some distributors are claiming they don't buy crabs from those tested so far, saying they get them from farms that have hygiene certificates. Are these documents even credible?

In any event, I'm luckily one of those people who isn't crazy about hairy crabs. If I eat hairy crabs, I can only eat one, because I lose patience trying to extract all the meat from the small legs, though admittedly the roe is quite amazing, together with aged yellow wine.

I'm very happy eating it once a year and that's it -- but in the meantime Hong Kong has been purchasing food across the border for decades... shouldn't we have established these food safety protocols ages ago???

Electoral Reform Push: Strike 2

Dr Ko Wing-man loses his temper when arguing with a senior yesterday

Oh boy. More senior Hong Kong officials with egg on their faces.

It's a tough job having to sell electoral reforms and encountering dissent along the way.

After Chief Secretary Carrie Lam last week, the latest victim was Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man, who visited a public housing estate in Ngau Tau Kok yesterday.

Last weekend's bus tours were not working, so this week officials made unannounced community visits.

Ko spoke to a boy about the electoral reform and said, "I hope you will support us", when a senior came up to Ko and yelled, "Can 1,200 people represent the whole of Hong Kong?" The man then turned away.

He was referring to the nominating committee that would choose the two or three candidates who would run for chief executive in 2017.

Ko went after him and said, "Mister, don't go. I don't like people who come shouting and leave right away."

The man did stop and criticized Ko for "fooling the children". The proposed election system would only produce undesirable candidates like a "white-haired witch", he said.

"I disagree with you. the words you use are a bit of an insult," Ko shot back. "It's fine for you to have your own ideals, but you shouldn't impose them on all other Hong Kong people."

"That's exactly what you're doing!" the senior retorted.

The war of words continued with the old man insisting Ko was cheating and the doctor shouted back, "Objection!"

Ko then went left with his colleagues.

Considered one of the more popular government officials, Ko later addressed the media, saying, "To be frank, I'm just an ordinary person. I only hope there's room for discussion. I was unable to control my emotions. I hope the public will understand I have tried my best."

Our observations so far have seen many seniors who are picking up the mantle to actively protest against the government's push on its (or rather Beijing's) version of "universal suffrage". One directly confronted Chief Secretary Lam last week at a Federation of Trade Unions event, and then yesterday's incident with Ko.

Perhaps we can add here that Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Greg So Kam-leung addressed diners in a restaurant and an old man began to vomit. So didn't hesitate to help by handing him a plate.

For Ko to say he's "an ordinary person" immediately sparks frustration and eye-ball rolling by Hong Kong citizens, much like Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah likening himself to being in the middle class, as they like to drink coffee and watch French movies...

They aren't going to get any sympathy points.

Most telling is Ko's wish, that "I only hope there's room for discussion". What discussion? Has the Hong Kong government really taken into account people's opinions of what they want universal suffrage to look like?

Instead of an earnest attempt to give the appearance of listening to the people, this public relations exercise appears to be a desperate campaign to indoctrinate the public on the government's version of electoral reform.

And unfortunately for Leung Chun-ying's administration, it's not working...

Quote of the Day: Leave Like Rats

Crowds of protesters greet the electoral reform bus that quickly drives off

Hong Kong Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is not having the easiest time trying to sell the electoral reform package she announced earlier this week. And today was no different.

Kennedy Town is usually laid back, but earlier this afternoon, the district was crawling with police, who put up barricades along the normally open sidewalk along Forbes Street at the MTR station.

It was in the morning that I found out Lam would be making a trip to the neighbourhood and it seemed like there would be tension. Even the police were anticipating it, with one officer carrying a backpack with banners rolled up, instructing the crowd not to rush forward...

Lam, along with Secretary for Security Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, and Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah sat on the upper deck of a double-decker bus.

They waved to people, but when the bus arrived in Kennedy Town around 2.45pm, media reported complete chaos, so much so that the bus didn't stop and drove off.

Jack Chan Hon-ting, a 30-year-old resident of Kennedy Town summed it up: "I clearly saw them coming in and leave like rats in three seconds. I couldn't even see the faces clearly. [Chief Executive] Leung Chun-ying said community outreach was an 'easy job' -- he is right in this sense."

Ouch.

But he's right.

Others wondered if Tsang was testing out his food truck idea and handing out food to people -- as that might help them win support for the electoral reform package -- through their stomachs.

And even though other senior officials like Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Secretary Raymond Tam Chi-yuen and Health Secretary Dr Ko Wing-man also came along for the ride, the tour was not well received in Kennedy Town...

Perhaps it's time to go back to the drawing board?