Lam Insists Revamped Electoral System is "Democratic"

Lam answered questions in the Legislative Council today

 

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam fought back at criticisms of the newly overhauled election system, in particular one former opposition leader and lawmaker for "not understanding democracy". 

At a question and answer period in the Legislative Council today, Lam was referring to former Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing, who felt the requirement for pan-democratic candidates to get approval from essentially their political rivals was "humiliating".

The city's leader did not name Lau by name, only saying for "a veteran political party member and former lawmaker" to call the process humiliating was "completely wrong".

Lam out on the hustings back in 2017

She recalled her own demeaning experience when running for chief executive, as she had to solicit nominations from the pan-democrats in the Election Committee back in 2017.

"Although more than 300 members [of the Election Committee] openly said they would not nominate me, I still explained my vision to them in a humble manner... I never felt humiliated, even though it was not a pleasant experience, as some reprimanded me for an hour before allowing me to speak," she said.

Wonder who chastised Lam for an hour?

But Lau says Lam citing her campaign experience is like "comparing apples and oranges" with the new rules to run for the Legislative Council. And Lau also questioned whether Lam had Beijing's definition of "democracy" in mind when she launched her attack.

"I don't really bother to understand so-called democracy with Chinese characteristics. What I'm looking at is the international standard," Lau said. "What's for sure is that obstacles for running are much higher with the new composition of the revamped Election Committee."

Lau says Lam is comparing apples and oranges

The Election Committee has increased by 300 members to 1,500, and made up of five sectors representing the business community, professionals, social groups, local politicians, and Hong Kong delegates to the national legislature.

This revamped Election Committee acts as the gatekeeper to decide who gets to run for the Legislative Council, thus making it near impossible for pan-democrats to get approval.

Lam also said her administration, including overseas offices, would continue to criticize reports they regarded as wrong by foreign media outlets.

"We feel angry about the biased reporting of the foreign press. Some overseas governments have also smeared what the Hong Kong and Chinese governments have done," she said.

The Chief Executive insisted the electoral changes were to improve governance, not stifle dissent.

"What happened in the past caused trauma among some colleagues... If [proposals they were in charge of] had to be scrutinized in Legco, their passion was reduced because they knew they might face smears or personal attacks," she said, pointing to the opposition's strong criticisms and use of filibustering tactics. "Luckily the central government acted swiftly. Otherwise, the damage would have been bigger." 

Lam's cabinet rebukes criticism of foreign press

Lam seems to be exaggerating these personal attacks. The pan-democrats were allowed to use filibustering in Legco so they did. They were following the rules...

So instead Beijing changed the rules, in effect shifted the goal posts to ensure big wins, in other words no opposition.

And with the number of directly-elected seats slashed from 35 to 20, the public will have fewer ways to voice their concerns to the government.

So how can Lam say the new electoral system is "democratic"? Perhaps she really means the opposite of what she says...

Regina Ip Claims Hongkong Migrants are "Refugees"

A person holds up their BN(O) passport during a mall protest

 

On Sunday 5pm Hong Kong time, the UK opened its doors to applications for the new British National (Overseas) immigration scheme.

This morning the British visa centre in North Point was a bit busier than usual, with many young families, some young people, and seniors.

One young couple said the process was quite smooth, as they had applied online and then at the visa centre provided fingerprints and facial scans, all completed in 30 minutes.

After five years HKers can apply for citzenship

The pro-establishment politicians, particularly one executive councillor, are doing their best to try to make the immigration scheme seem like a bad deal, but offering nothing better in return.

Exo member and lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said Britain was essentially treating Hongkongers hoping to move there as "refugees".

"You can go by simply paying for the visa and National Health Service fees and answering 100 questions. They are more or less treating you as refugees," she told a Monday morning radio program.

While she admitted Beijing and Hong Kong not recognizing BN(O) passports would not affect local residents much, but Ip hinted there were other countermeasures that could be taken, such as revoking the right of abode of permanent residents who resided in Britain.

She believed those who had left or were applying were either unhappy with the national security law, or had taken part in the 2019 anti-government protests and were afraid of being arrested.

Ip also suggested Hongkongers who emigrated under the new scheme might have "no skills and qualifications", unlike professionals like doctors, who could emigrate into the country via traditional methods.

Ip says the UK treats HKers like "refugees"

First of all has she not been reading the media reports that bankers and other highly qualified professionals are applying for this BN(O) immigration scheme? Is she insinuating the people who are leaving are all riff raff?

And second, she was part of the government over 20 years ago. As a member of the Tung Chee-hwa administration, she is partly responsible for the education of many of the people who are leaving. 

Third, many of the people sold their flats to move, which means they had pretty good-paying jobs to be able to buy property in the first place, in other words, they have a good education.

But she makes herself and Beijing sound elitist and condescending. And in a way the Hongkongers who are leaving want no part of that anyway.

Why not let people leave Hong Kong if they want? They obviously don't feel happy or safe here.

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Emily Lau Wai-hing has this exact sentiment.

Lau (left) says HKers should leave if they want

"It is none of their business [if Hongkongers choose to leave the city]," Lau said. "If Hong Kong residents feel they are safe, peaceful and free, do you believe they will, for no reason, sell their property and move overseas?"

The British government is forecasting up to 1 million people from Hong Kong emigrating to the UK in the next five years, though some say it could only be 320,000.

Many people have been thinking about leaving Hong Kong for a long time, at least a year or two. They have been carefully calculating how they can survive financially for at least six months without a job, and are psychologically prepared to take much lower jobs than their experience.

This shows their willingness to move for their children, or to feel happier or safer in another country.

What is Hong Kong doing to entice them to stay?

Nothing, which is why these people feel they have nothing to lose by going elsewhere.

 

Clash for Power in the Legislative Council

Eddie Chu Hoi-dick tries to climb the wall to take over Starry Lee's seat

Beijing's belief that it rules over Hong Kong continued today in a shameless attempt by pro-Beijing lawmakers in the Legislative Council to chair a committee by throwing out pan-democrats.

There hasn't been a chair elected, and Civic Party's Dennis Kwok Wing-hang had been presiding over the previous 17 meetings as vice chairman. The DAB's Starry Lee Wai-king is the incumbent House Committee Chairwoman, but will be up for re-election. So who should be in charge?

However, Beijing was displeased with Kwok's filibustering strategy (which is legal), that has delayed the passing of many bills, including the controversial national anthem bill, outlining how Hongkongers should behave when the March of the Volunteers is played.

Starry Lee (in yellow) is protected by Legco security

Even with a majority in Legco, Beijing couldn't understand why the pro-Beijing bloc could not control this committee until it gave its blessing for lawmakers to physically take control, not legally.

With the collusion of Legco security staff, Lee rushed to occupy the podium seat, beating opposition lawmakers to it; the security staff surrounded her and prevented pan-democrats from getting close to her at all.

Underneath her mask one could see she had a smirk on her face.

Then the rest of the afternoon was watching pan-democrats trying to physically unseat her. At one point Eddie Chu Hoi-dick tried to climb the wall to get at Lee, and then Raymond Chan Chi-chuen was dragged to the ground by Kwok Wai-keung for several metres until one of his colleagues stopped him.

Andrew Wan Siu-kin was expelled and injured his back so paramedics had to put him on a stretcher and wheel him out.

Barefooted Raymond Chan is physically removed from Legco

One by one the pan-democrats were removed, some carried out and shouting, "Starry Lee acting beyond her authority!"

Watching these scenes was surreal and sad to watch. What is happening to law and order in Hong Kong? The Legislative Council is one of the institutions where the Basic Law is supposed to be practiced and here all decorum was dumped in favour of power.

The shenanigans today make the pro-Beijing camp look like blind sheep doing Beijing's bidding. Is this how they want to be remembered especially in the upcoming Legislative Council election in September?

Even former Legco president Jasper Tsang Yok-sing says Beijing's tightening grip on Hong Kong will only make its people even more resistant of the central government.

Jasper Tsang says decorum must be followed in Legco

He was being interviewed by Emily Lau Wai-hing just as these scuffles were happening in Legco.

"If everybody still believes that we should try our best to put 'One Country, Two Systems' back on the right track, that we should resolve our differences by working out a way forward which can be acceptable to all stakeholders, then we have to find a way to try to break the vicious cycle," Tsang said. 

"It's so easy when we have arrived at this point for everybody to stick to their position. I can't see any good coming from that."

He also said it was crucial for democracy to be practiced in Legco.

"For the institution to function properly you need a consensus among all the different parties. You need a common purpose to allow the council to work. This is important," he said.

"So the majority always has to understand and respect the wishes of the minority. Of course, the minority should also abide by the rule that the decisions should be taken by the majority," he added.

Does Tsang want to mediate between the two sides?

He sounds like the only level-headed adult in the room at the moment...

What Tomorrow Brings

The anti-government protests have been going on for over six months now

Tomorrow is the District Council elections and there were concerns the government would call them off because of escalating violence from six months of anti-government protests.

Protest held today against the police's extensive use of tear gas

Many see tomorrow's elections as a referendum on Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her administration, particularly in her bungled handling of this half year-long crisis that seems to have no end.

Although some people are still holed up at Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the city has been relatively calm these few days, including a peaceful protest in Kowloon Tong this morning by families against the police force's indiscriminate use of tear gas.

Nevertheless, the pro-democracy camp has informed its supporters to vote as early as possible, concerned that the polling booths could be shut down if there is violence, so get the vote in early -- as early as 7.30am when the polling booths open.

Some of the destruction at Hong Kong Polytechnic University

This strategy is also to counteract the anticipated busloads of seniors from old folks homes who will be bused in to polling booths and then treated to dim sum after.

And the pro-Beijing side always say that protesters get paid...

One heartening piece of news is that the people of Hong Kong have been awarded the 2019 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service. The awarded was received in Halifax, Canada by Figo Chan Ho-wun of the Civil Human Rights Front that organizes the mass marches, and former lawmaker Emily Lau Wai-hing.

Human rights activist Figo Chan in Halifax to receive award

Chan gave a short speech (in broken English) explaining to the audience how the Chinese government frames the protesters as "rioters", but that "we are simply fighting for democracy, freedom, and social justice. This is not a value of Hong Kong. This is a value we share between all of us".

He added over 4,000 people have been arrested so far, including first aiders, doctors and reporters.

"Even with immense pressure from the Chinese, we hope the international society will stand, join with us," Chan said.

Cindy McCain presented the award to Hong Kong people

Earlier Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain who died in 2018, said: "I hope this tribute to those who are struggling for their rights in Hong Kong will encourage more people around the world to raise their voices in support of their cause, especially in my country's government. They are fighting for something larger than themselves."

Yujia Wang's Distracting Dress

Here is pianist Yujia Wang covered up! in a promotional poster

Tonight was the season opener for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the soloist was superstar pianist Yujia Wang.

It's quite amazing that I've seen her perform for 10 years now -- I saw her play in a small concert hall in Beijing in 2007.

And tonight she played in front of several who's who -- Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, principal guest conductor Yu Long, former lawmaker Emily Lau Wai-hing former Hong Kong Monetary Authority Joseph Yam Chi-kwong to name a few.

While her performance tonight of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto no. 1 was mesmerizing, she doesn't seem to have matured as a person.

This is the dress she wore (here with the Santa Cruz Symphony)

She walked on stage in this revealing dress -- a turquoise number with a deep V both in the front and back, but it was actually covered up with skin-coloured cloth. Then she could barely walk and I soon could see why -- she was wearing platform heels which forced her to stick her butt out.

When she sat down -- and we sat behind her -- we could see her G-string... how classy.

Why was she wearing such a skin-tight dress with skin-coloured fabric? This is not figure skating! This is a performance at a concert hall! And those heels -- gold coloured too -- belonged on the dance floor. Hardly sexy or sophisticated.

As for the music, we really loved her playing, but that bow afterwards needs some work. She just flings her head down, puts her right arm across her chest and shuffles off in that skin-tight dress that might as well be a nylon tube sock. She hardly acknowledged the crowd sitting behind the orchestra -- at least Lang Lang would have given them a few bows in gratitude.

And what about some kudos so the orchestra that performed with her? She barely gave any thanks to them except finally shaking the hand of the concert master before again shuffling off.

She seemed ambivalent about giving an encore, but when the audience won't stop clapping, surely they want to hear more?

Wang finally obliged -- twice -- and we were very pleased. But how about a bit of humility? Or was it nerves from performing in front of dignitaries or the dress and shoes weren't working out?

If she's not comfortable in them, she really shouldn't wear them. I want to see a performer who is confident and happy and shows some grace. I guess she still has a lot to learn.

After the intermission, the Hong Kong Phil gave a very lively performance of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring. Music director Jaap van Zweden was militant about the timing and also jumped up and down several times to make his point.

The orchestra replied with fantastic sound that resonated throughout the concert hall, dischordant at times, but very experimental and full of energy and full use of the entire orchestra, especially percussion!

When the concert was over, with two rounds of clapping, Carrie Lam got out of her seat to approach the stage. My friend nudged me to leave so we did -- along with scores of other people!

Season Opening: Jaap & Yujia

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto no. 1

Stravinsky The Rite of Spring

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

28 Years On

Some 110,000 people turned out tonight in Victoria Park

A few days ago the weather forecast for Sunday didn't look good for the 28th candlelight vigil for June 4 -- the Hong Kong Observatory said there would be heavy rain.

While it was very humid over the weekend, it didn't pour -- in fact today the clouds cleared and we saw bits of blue skies.

Thank goodness the weather cooperated, but that didn't persuade thousands of other people to show up to Victoria Park this evening.

The crowd looked promising before the event started

Organizers say 110,000 people attended, making it the lowest turnout since 2008, and it is the second year in a row that the Hong Kong Federation of Students did not participate.

Nevertheless we are glad we came to show Beijing and the world we still remember, 28 years on.

At 7pm a few of us gathered to head to Victoria Park and there were already a number of people heading in the same direction, which looked promising.

The usual political groups were out in force along the road towards Victoria Park, loudly soliciting donations. Leung Kwok-hung or "Long Hair" was the loudest, demanding people donate to the collection boxes on the right. He said "donate" and "on the right" so fast and loud he sounded like a slot machine that hit the jackpot.

Everyone was out in force, including Lee Cheuk-yan, who isn't a lawmaker anymore, as well as Emily Lau Wai-hing. Guess you need to trot out the old guard for the mostly older demographic at the candlelight vigil.

The Goddess of Democracy is a big draw

However, organizers tried very hard to make it look like they were still relevant to young people, or that students still cared about what happened before they were born.

They practically hosted the event, leading everyone in singing (the same) songs, shouting slogans and even talking to high school students on stage about why it was important to know about June 4.

But perhaps most compelling was Lam Yiu-keung, who witnessed the massacre on June 4. He was there to support the students when things got very ugly. He remembers trying to carry someone, but when they tried to prop him up, blood was gushing out of him like a river. It took six or seven people to carry this person.

Then four or five of the Chinese students surrounded him as if to protect him and said that as a Hong Kong person, he had to go back and tell everyone what had happened.

Meanwhile one of the Tiananemen Mothers Ge Guirong, 83, said she spent the last 28 years living in guilt for not stopping her son, Du Guanxue from leaving home that night, and questioned why the government would not admit wrong and bear the responsibility of its actions. She also thanked Hong Kong people for remembering what happened.

This year was marked with the curious trip of a bottle of liquor that has a label that commemorates June 4 and was taken out of China and traveled to several countries before arriving in Hong Kong.

Remembering the Tiananmen Mothers and their cause

Apparently a sympathetic official was able to take the bottle out of the country without detection and then passed it to democracy activists in Europe and the liquor was then carried to a few places before its final destination here.

While we didn't see the actual bottle on stage, the people who made the liquor were arrested last May, and their family members gave verbal testimonies that we heard.

It's sad that this was the lowest turnout in nine years, and silly of the students not to realize there is strength in numbers, particularly for this vigil. It is the same thing every year, that's true, but it's just one day to remember the possibly thousands of people -- not just students, but ordinary people of all ages -- who died senselessly. Why can't we all stop for a few hours to pay tribute to them?

Post-Mortem on Zhang Visit

Zhang Dejiang (left) gave a conciliatory stance  -- or was it an act?

For once, a student activist and a pro-Beijing veteran agreed on something -- that the four pan-democratic lawmakers who met with Chairman of the National People's Congress Zhang Dejiang on Wednesday evening before a banquet -- should not have asked for Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to be removed from office.

Joshua Wong Chi-fung, secretary general of Demosisto, said he felt uncomfortable about asking for Leung to be removed.

Four pan-democratic lawmakers saw Zhang on Wednesday

"It seems they ignored the electoral system in Hong Kong," he said on RTHK this morning. "I think pan-democrats should have focused on Hong Kong people's demand for universal suffrage and self-determination... because it's the political system's fault, not just a person's."

Meanwhile, Cheng Yiu-tong said on TVB that he heard the pan-democrats "telling Zhang to stop Leung from seeking re-election" next March.

"They should not say that because they are popularly elected lawmakers... Re-election is also Leung's personal choice," said the local deputy to the NPC.

They both have a point.

 Wong says the four shoul have pushed for universal suffrage

However, Labour Party lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan clarified on Commercial Radio what they talked about with Zhang.

"What we said was that Leung caused social divisions and it would be inappropriate for him to seek another term," she said. "We also mentioned that the problematic electoral system should be reformed."

Democratic Party's Emily Lau Wai-hing said she told Zhang it was inappropriate for Leung to govern Hong Kong.

Was this a constructive conversation? Or was Zhang just paying lip service to these lawmakers?

Knowing Zhang and how he handled the 2003 SARS crisis and had the gall to suggest that Guangdong (when he was governor) and Hong Kong cooperated closely on dealing with the outbreak.

Cheng says the four shouldn't have said Leung should go

That was hardly true, with China not even acknowledging at first there was a problem, resulting in 1,755 people infected, and 299 who died.

So do you trust Zhang with sincerely listening to people and willing to take action in the best interests of Hong Kong than the Party?

Zhang Dejiang to Try to Diffuse Tensions

Zhang Dejiang will be coming to Hong Kong this week

Hong Kong is getting ready for senior Chinese official Zhang Dejiang's three-day visit to the city starting on Tuesday.

First off -- there's going to be tons of security especially around the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong where he is staying -- some three times the number of police deployed for previous sitting premiers and presidents.

And then by the Legislative Council building, where workers have even glued down the bricks on the sidewalk to prevent anyone from trying to recreate the Mongkok riots that happened on Chinese New Year day.

Tight security will be in and around the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

There was also the awkward invitation of the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to meet with pan-democrats -- but only four of them, and only at a pre-banquet cocktail. Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing, Civic Party leader Alan Leong Wah-kit, Labour Party's Cyd Ho Sau-lan and health services lawmaker Joseph Lee Kok-long were the ones selected.

At first Ho refused to attend because she apparently felt a cocktail party was not the right venue to meet, and it seemed like the meeting was an afterthought.

However she has since changed her mind, because while it's not the best situation to meet Zhang, it's one of the few chances to actually speak to him directly.

And now we are hearing Beijing is trying to hire a global public relations firm to help give Zhang an image makeover to give the impression his visit isn't a kowtowing exercise.

The companies apparently in the running are Hill & Knowlton (who consulted Beijing with the 2008 Summer Olympics), Ketchum, Ogilvy Public Relations, FleishmanHillard and Edelman.

Pan-democrat Cyd Ho will meet with Zhang... briefly

A representative from FleishmanHillard suggested Zhang should be more open and explain how the "One Belt, One Road" initiative will benefit Hong Kong economically, and stress how China is committed to Hong Kong's Basic Law.

Nevertheless, some political PR consultants here think Zhang's visit is "almost mission impossible", to use PR stunts to make Zhang look more acceptable to Hong Kong people.

The former spin doctor for former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, Andy Ho On-tat, says: "The tense relation between Hong Kong and Beijing has its roots in Beijing's decision [in 2014] to impose a restrictive framework for Hong Kong's political development.

"Unless Mr Zhang has something like the decision delivered on August 31 [2014] will be reversed, any public relations stunts, be it a walkabout in town, shaking hands with people, or hugging babies, are doomed to be useless."

Ouch. But true.

Peter Lam Yuk-wah, another political consultant was similarly pessimistic. "With the heavy deployment of police, it would defeat any attempt to soften Mr Zhang's image, or use crowds to show he is popular."

He has a point there, but seems like the Hong Kong government and police don't want to take any chances when it comes to Zhang's safety.

We wonder what the localists have planned for Zhang's visit, or do they even care to voice their displeasure? Tight security does not give the impression he is accessible, or even friendly.

If his keynote speech at the Belt and Road Summit is full of the usual phrases, it will only demonstrate his lack of understanding of Hong Kong and prove the State Council is clueless when it comes to dealing with the city and its frustrations, social, political and economic.

It's not easy when the emperor is far away...

Xi Shows who's in Control

Xi Jinping (right) sits at the head of the table, CY Leung to his right

China watchers had a field day today after Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying made his latest pilgrimage to Beijing to ask for advice on how the city could play a role in China's "One Belt One Road" initiative and the 13th five-year plan.

In photographs released afterwards, it was shown that in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping was seated at the head of a long boardroom table, and Leung sat at one side next to Wang Guangya, director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.

This same arrangement was also evident in Leung's meeting with Premier Li Keqiang.

What did this new seating arrangement mean?

This was a contrast to previous meetings with Xi and Li, where Leung said in two chairs side by side, giving the impression Hong Kong was on equal footing to China.

Previously Leung and Xi sat side by side in meetings

But now it looks like someone wants to send a message to Hong Kong -- you've been demoted.

Leung later said the new seating arrangement "reflects the constitutional position of Hong Kong and the central authorities", but lawmaker Wong Kwok-kin of the pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions put it more bluntly.

"It has highlighted... the subordinate role [of Hong Kong]," he said. "Beijing did not stress its role in the early years after the handover to avoid scaring off Hong Kong people, but the central government has changed its policy in the wake of the Occupy protests and the failed political reform."

Meanwhile Democratic Party leader Emily Lau Wai-hing remarked the new protocol was unnecessary and degrading, only confirming existing fears about the future of "one country, two systems".

"People would only have a stronger impression that Leung has failed to uphold the city's high degree of autonomy," she said.

All these explanations are plausible, but what about what Xi said during his meeting with Hong Kong's leader?

Xi noted "new circumstances" had arisen regarding one country, two systems, both in Hong Kong and in the international community. He promised the central government would be steadfast and unshaken in its commitment to the policy and "make sure its implementation does not get distorted".

If Xi doesn't want things to "get distorted", perhaps he himself could explain the new seating arrangement so that we're all on the same page?

A Gulf Between Them

Carrie Lam, centre right is mobbed along with boss CY Leung (in white)

Now that the electoral reform package has been released, it's time for the Hong Kong government to sell it to the public.

Things got off to a bad start yesterday. After unveiling the package in Legco, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung, and even Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying tried to visit residents in Mei Foo, but the senior officials were drowned out by protesters and loud boos that they had to beat a hasty retreat.

Dozens of people used amplifiers, saying, "2017, we are doomed", and "we want real universal suffrage", overpowered Lam's voice.

As Leung escaped back to his vehicle, some shouted, "Resign, CY Leung".

Doesn't sound like it was receptive...

So today Lam tried another tact to try to change people's minds by saying if they accepted the package now, there was a chance -- a chance -- that Beijing would amend the electoral framework.

Emily Lau hopes to change Beijing's mind on electoral reform

This morning on Commercial Radio, she said the National People's Congress Standing Committee had a constitutional right to revise the electoral framework in light of the actual situation if the next Hong Kong government decided to roll out another round of reform.

"At the second step [of the so-called five-step reform procedure], the Standing Committee has to make a decision on how to amend the electoral system," Lam said. "It can make a decision based on the actual situation -- such as the ways to make the governance smoother -- at that time."

So basically Beijing can monitor the situation and tweak it as it sees fit -- and there's a good chance that if Hong Kong people continue to protest for universal suffrage, it doesn't mean China will grant it to us -- and in fact the opposite could happen.

Lam is not outlining the possible circumstances in which the electoral system could be amended, and the language is probably vague enough to give Chinese leaders enough leeway to justify whatever changes they wish to make.

Elections are not something the Chinese government is familiar about. While it likes to say it rules by consensus, there's a lot of backroom politicking going on. And if members of the National Congress do vote on something, it is pretty much sanctioned already, and the vote justifies their pre-determined decision.

So what will it be, folks?

Accepting the package now in the hopes there will be tweaks later -- but that could go in the opposite direction, or to hold out for something better?

The pan-democrats continue to stand firmly in the veto camp, though they seem disillusioned as well.

Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing said, "We need to step up efforts to change the situation and make Beijing willing to make changes." She said these would include efforts to explain to Hong Kong and Beijing officials what the pan-democrats see as the plan's negative impact on Hong Kong.

Does she really think China will listen to them? There is so much mistrust between the two parties, and also the pan-democrats lost moral ground during the Umbrella Movement that it's hard to see how the they will win back the public's support.

Things are so divisive that the chances of finding middle ground seem too remote...

Attacking HK's Press Freedom

A man with a firebomb about to attack Jimmy Lai's home in Ho Man Tin

It's strange that even though the Occupy/Umbrella Movement is over, and Next Media Founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying has been asked to report to the police next week, that his home and head office would be attacked with firebombs in the early hours of Monday morning.

They were coordinated attacks because the first one happened at about 1.45am Monday when a man wearing a surgical mask and hood threw a Molotov cocktail at the front gate of Lai's home on Kadoorie Avenue in Ho Man Tin. He then fled in a seven-seat car driven by another person.

A security guard put out the fire and called police; Lai was at home at the time.

Then five minutes later there was another firebomb hurled from another car at the gate of Next Media's headquarters on Chun Ying Street in Tseung Kwan O. The car was driven to another entrance and another Molotov cocktail was thrown.

Again security guards put out the flames and called the authorities.

The two cars were later found torched on Tai Woh Ping Road in Shek Kip Mei, and Sham Mong Road in Cheung Sha Wan before 2.30pm. In one report the license plates of the two cars were removed...

Lai was at the Admiralty protest site practically everyday

Police said that while no one was injured in the attacks, they are looking for possible motives. "The attacks were calculated," a police source said. "We believe it was designed to send a warning rather than an attempt to harm anyone."

Meanwhile the pan-democrats condemned the attacks, saying it was an attempt to silence the media and create "white terror".

Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau Wai-hing said the police must do its utmost to solve all cases of violence against media workers, or the city would become "lawless".

"Most of the cases [of violence against the press] were not solved. This is just like sending a message, 'You can go hit them because there will be no consequences'. This is lawless."

Lai has experienced attacks before -- most recently during the Umbrella Movement when someone threw offal at his face at the protest site in Admiralty in November.

And in June 2013, someone rammed a stolen car into the front gate of his home and then an axe and a machete were placed on the driveway before the perpetrator(s) fled the scene.

What Lai and Next Media represent is freedom of the press -- since many of the big advertisers will not buy ads in his stable of publications, what he publishes in print and online are pretty pure in terms of free speech and media.

For someone to send a warning now doesn't make much sense particularly since Lai has formally stepped down as editor-in-chief to apparently spend more time with his family, unless there's another angle to this story we are not aware of.

But Lau is right. The police really need to get to the bottom of this incident and any others involving journalists. Our freedoms in Hong Kong are quietly crumbling, and while we made of show of this during the Umbrella Movement, we still need to do whatever we can to keep propping them up...