M+ Finally but Cautiously Opens

M+ is designed by Herzog & de Meuron, at least HK$760M

A few days ago M+ finally opened on Friday, though with cautious fanfare.

First some impressive stats. The Museum of visual culture is designed like an upside down T, nearly twice the size of the Tate Modern with 17,000 square metres (183,000 sq ft) of space in which to display 1,500 works from its 6,413 pieces. M+ cost at least HK$760 million to build, and several years behind schedule, which resulted in bad timing.

Before M+ opened its doors, the national security law was implemented, coupled with numerous pro-democracy activists thrown in jail, a liberal newspaper shut down, and the city's electoral system completely revamped so that only "patriots" can run. As a result the contemporary art museum is treading on dangerous territory.

Tang said the art must comply with the law

Art is supposed to be an extension of freedom of expression... is it not?

"We will uphold and encourage the freedom of artistic expression and creativity. But on the other hand, our dedicated curatorial team will ensure the exhibitions comply with the law, including the Basic Law, the national security law, and all other laws in Hong Kong. The opening of M+ does not mean artistic expression is above the law. It is not," said West Kowloon Cultural District chairman Henry Tang Ying-yen.

So yes, by all means be expressive with art -- as long as it complies with the law.

Passive aggressive with legal characteristics.

Ai's Whitewash is displayed prominently

In March, pro-Beijing lawmaker Eunice Yung Hoi-yan tried to score patriotic brownie points by accusing the M+ collection of spreading "hatred" against China, using the example of Ai Weiwei's photograph of him raising his middle finger at Tiananmen Square.

However, did she realize that Ai also has a series of photographs called Studies of Perspectives, pointing his middle finger at other government buildings and famous landmarks around the world too, including the Eiffel Tower, Hong Kong island, St Mark's Square, the Sydney Opera House, and the White House?

Nevertheless, M+ removed Ai's photograph from its online archive, citing a legal review, though his other work called Whitewash (1995-2000) is on show, featuring 126 ancient jars neatly arranged some painted in white, as if to whitewash history.

Wang's painting refers to Tiananmen Square

And then there is a reference to June 4, 1989 with Wang Xinwei's New Beijing. It's a painting of a photograph reminiscent of a man pushing his bicycle with a makeshift board that should be carrying two bloodied people but instead there is a pair of penguins wounded in the chest.

It's also interesting it has featured the works of local artist Kacey Wong, including photographs and sculpture, including his floating apartment idea as a way to tackle Hong Kong's housing crisis. Wong recently went into self-imposed exile to Taiwan, worried about continuing to live in Hong Kong. He wrote on Twitter how cool it was to be able to see his work in the museum through smartphone technology.

Wong's floating home is on show at M+

Many people I know have already had a preview of M+, posting pictures all over social media so I feel like I've already seen half the museum already. But of course it's not the same as being there and interacting with the art in person which I hope to do soon.

But the hopes that M+ was going to display art that couldn't be in China are dashed. Going forward it's going to be a perilous journey for the museum when it comes to art and politics,
whether it likes it or not.

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...

The Justice Minister with Illegal Structures

New Justice Minster Teresa Cheng watches as her boss Carrie Lam walks by

On January 6, Hong Kong got a new Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, but since she was sworn in she has been embroiled in a huge scandal involving illegal structures in her properties. Yes more than one.

She used to work in the private sector and has bought a house in Tuen Mun, and other properties in Sha Tin and Repulse Bay.

When she bought them, she knew there were illegal structures on them -- the Repulse Bay one purchased as early as last September. She must have had an inkling then she would get the job as the government's top legal eagle.

Cheng's home is on the left, her husband's on the right

Surely she should have known this would be a huge potential problem for Chief Executive Carrie Cheng Lam Yuet-ngor's administration?

Did she not follow the fiasco Henry Tang Ying-yen went through in 2012?

It has been reported that in general some luxury homes in Hong Kong have illegal structures because land is so expensive the owners want to make the most out of it by carving out as much livable space as possible.

And because it takes so long to get a permit or approval from the authorities, and if they are found out, the punishments pretty much add up to a slap on the wrist that owners are willing to take the risk to go ahead with the renovations.

If that wasn't enough, Cheng bought the Repulse Bay flat for HK$62 million -- claiming she was a first-time home buyer (the other two were bought through her companies) -- so that she only had to pay a stamp duty of HK$2.635 million instead of HK$9.3 million.

Cheng's third-floor flat in Repulse Bay she bought for HK$62M

One can imagine Hong Kong people are fuming to hear how much Cheng owns, let alone having homes with illegal structures on them when she's the chief justice secretary.

And now there are grumblings in the pro-Beijing camp that it's getting harder and harder for them to support Chief Executive Lam's decision to choose Cheng to replace Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung

Maybe Cheng didn't really want to do the job, knowing this would happen. But did she know this scandal would be dragging Lam's administration's credibility down too?

Cheng hasn't said much except to apologize many times for the "inconvenience and concern caused in the community".

Sounds like she too is overwhelmed by the barrage of coverage. But if she was politically smart enough, she would have sold or attempted to sell her properties before starting her new job.

But perhaps the super wealthy don't seem to think rules apply to them, or they think they won't get caught...

Woo Unveils Platform

Retired judge Woo Kwok-hing unveiled his platform today running for CE

Just when we thought Hong Kong chief executive contender former judge Woo Kwok-hing was fading into the background, he came back today releasing his platform way ahead of everyone else.

He said the platform tackled issues that incumbent Leung Chun-ying failed or refused to deliver. Woo has also secured the support of Andy Ho On-tat, who was the top aide to former CE Donald Tsang Yam-kuen.

Woo promoted his 47-page booklet outlining a number of policy proposals he said were the culmination of him talking to a wide range of people in the past six weeks.

One proposal would be to regulate Uber in Hong Kong...

"Those who have shared their ideas with me may find I have borrowed some of their insights for my policy blueprint," he said.

His top priority is political reform, vowing to broaden the electoral roll of the Election Committee that will select the city's leader in March from 250,000 to one million voters.

Another is to abolish the TSA or Territory-wide System Assessment for Primary Three pupils that has been criticized for putting extra pressure on students in the form of exam drilling.

Woo also wants to develop brownfield sites -- degraded farmland in the New Territories that are currently occupied by recycling workshops and other operators -- for housing.

He would also regulate Uber despite taxi drivers' protests, and AirBnB accommodation services for tourists.

As the first out of the gate in October announcing his candidacy for CE, Woo doesn't think much of his pro-establishment would-be rivals.

Another would be to scrap the TSA exams for primary three

"Those aspirants who have been waiting, the pan-democrats know full well what they are waiting for. What they wait for runs against pan-democrats' principles. They should not support those candidates," he said.

While former Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah tendered his resignation on Monday, there is speculation Beijing may take a while to confirm him as a candidate, with one Chinese academic claiming Tsang may not be politically correct enough.

However, we shall see. It took two days to confirm Henry Tang Ying-yen but eight for Donald Tsang.

In any case, Woo's platform is pretty much what many people in Hong Kong would like to see. But does he have Beijing's blessing?

Hardly Helping the Poor

A "coffin-sized" home is the situation for many living below the poverty line

When Leung Chun-ying was running for chief executive, he pledged to tackle poverty issues, giving the impression he is a man of the people, unlike his then competitor Henry Tang Ying-yen who seemed to be with the elitist crowd.

But four years after Leung became the leader of Hong Kong, the number of poor has increased to a six-year high under his watch.

How did that happen?

Leung's pledge to fight poverty has had no effective results

The Hong Kong Poverty Situation Report 2015 was released yesterday, and it showed 20,000 more people were living below the poverty line in 2015 compared to the year before, a total of 1.34 million.

The poverty line was set up in 2013 and calculated as half the median household income according to household size. Those living below it are considered poor, even taking into account government subsidies and handouts.

Around 477,500 are categorized as "working poor" families, of which 14,200 are degree holders.

The elderly at 65 years and older are most vulnerable, as one in three live in poverty, while one and two-person households are likely the elderly and single-parent families.

Social workers criticized the government for just throwing money at the problem instead of trying to get at the root cause, such as providing more low-income housing, and not taking into account actual living costs.

One in three elderly live in poverty in Hong Kong

"The current poverty line for a one-person household, HK$3,800, is too low. How could someone earning HK$4,000 per month not be considered poor?" asked veteran social worker Ho Hei-wah of the Society for Community Organization.

"A coffin-sized home already costs them some HK$1,000. How could they live with the rest of the money?"

At the Commission on Poverty summit on Saturday, Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-nor tried to spin the results as saying the the poverty rate was "stable", much to the dismay of social workers, who find it bizarre that even though the government claims to be working hard for the poor, its efforts have hardly made a dent into trying to reduce the poverty rate.

As this latest report is seen as a kind of report card on Leung's performance as chief executive, the results are shockingly bad. Can we not have some long-term goals on how we can help the poor live better lives than just think about short-term solutions?

The Unmotivated HK Taxman

Hong Kong has a number of individuals and entities listed in these documents

Since the Panama Papers have revealed a number of individuals and entities from Hong Kong -- 26,000 of them or 7 percent of the total 366,000 overseas shell companies, the Hong Kong government doesn't seem to be outraged.

Development minister Paul Chan is one of them...

Some of them are even in Leung Chun-ying's own administration -- development minister Paul Chan Mo-po, and Executive Council member Bernard Chan. Others include failed chief executive contender Henry Tang Yin-yen, several lawmakers like Michael Tien Puk-sun and Paul Tse Wai-chun, the Kwok brothers, Raymond, Thomas and Walter, who run Sun Hung Kai Properties, and action star Jackie Chan.

Only accountancy lawmaker Kenneth Leung is sounding the alarm, saying the revelations are shocking and has urged the tax authorities to follow up.

But probably even more outrageous is the laid-back attitude of the Inland Revenue Department. The commissioner Wong Kuen-fai said the department would follow up, but said that not all off-shore firms are involved in tax evasion.

Would it not hurt to just check?

... so is Executive Council member Bernard Chan...

In the past five years, reports of evasion and avoidance have increased 25 percent to 1,900 cases, but the number of probes by the Inland Revenue Department fell from 1,920 to 1,800.

There are also fewer investigators working on cases, from 257 in 2001-2002 to 240 in 2014-2015, but strangely the budget for the department has jumped in the same period from HK$168.6 million to HK$213 million.

With the revelations of Hong Kong having so many off-shore companies set up by Mossack Fonseca, one would think the authorities would like to clean house and also try to get more taxes the city is entitled to.

Will Inland Revenue investigate possible cases of tax evasion?

But no, the Inland Revenue Department doesn't seem to care much, if at all... why investigate their bosses and powerful tycoons?

If one wants to find a sign of Hong Kong declining, that's one of them. Why even bother having rule of law at all if people with the means aren't enforcing them?

Going Under Cover

A La Perla boutique in Beijing selling lingerie that have become hot in  China

What do basements and lingerie have in common?

They are the new must-haves in China's "new normal".

With Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive continuing with no end in sight, people are spending their dollars literally underground -- as inconspicuously as possible.

The word these days is that rich businessmen and officials are digging basements in their homes, or if they already have one, to renovate it to become their new playroom or dining area to host guests.

An illegal basement caused neighbouring homes to collapse

That's because there's a new campaign encouraging regular folk to take pictures of those who seem to be dining beyond their means in the hopes of identifying and tracking them down. But with a basement, the uber rich can still have their abalone and shark's fin without prying eyes condemning them for their lavish tastes.

Come to think of it, former Hong Kong chief executive contender Henry Tang Ying-yen was probably onto something when he -- oops we mean his wife -- designed a massive basement under their Kowloon Tong home to include a wine-tasting room, cinema, changing room and a gym...

That led to the beginning of the end of Tang's chances to become Hong Kong's top dog. He can comiserate with a Chinese businessman and city legislator in Beijing who got into trouble late last month when he was building an illegal basement 18 metres deep that caused his neighbours' houses to collapse.

Henry Tang and his wife Lisa Kuo faced scrutiny

Major boo-boo.

Not only did the construction workers not have a permit, but also no project supervisor or even architectural plans. The neighbours are now homeless.

Meanwhile the anti-corruption campaign has also resulted in consumers shunning luxury brand outerwear and instead focusing on what they're wearing underneath.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting strong sales for $300 bras and other underwear. Previously people would not shell out for items others would not be able to see, but now lingerie is a hot commodity. High-end brand La Perla saw a 42 percent jump in sales last year in its stores in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and recently the brand opened a shop for men selling $200 silk boxers and $3,000 silk robes.

Expensive lingerie is the new bling...

Young women who have worked for a few years don't mind splashing out for expensive underwear -- perhaps finding it sexy to wear something luxurious underneath that no one else knows about?

Looks like everyone's going underground or underneath to hide their wealth -- above board or ill-gotten.

Perhaps we'll soon be seeing bras studded with diamonds, or boxers in gold thread soon?

Tang Basement Saga Ends

Henry Tang's wife Lisa Kuo is fined for the illegal basement in their home

The verdict is in -- Lisa Kuo Yu-chin, the wife of former Chief Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen was rapped on the wrist with a HK$110,000 ($14,189) fine for building an illegal basement in their Kowloon Tong home.

She pleaded guilty to starting construction of the basement without planning approval during her trial at Kowloon City Court, and three other defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Originally Kuo faced two charges, but when she pleaded guilty to one of the charges, prosecutors decided not to pursue the other, deciding that one was enough to demonstrate her guilt.

This brings to an end the fiasco over the basement at their home on York Road that was dubbed an "underground palace", reportedly 2,400 square feet and featured such luxurious facilities as a wine cellar, home theatre, gym and a Japanese bath.

At the time Tang was running for Chief Executive and quickly blamed his wife, saying the property was under her name and that "it was my wife's idea and I knew they were illegal. Since we were experiencing a low ebb in our marriage, I did not handle the matter swiftly. I take full responsibility for the incident".

However, many saw through his explanation and criticized the politician for blaming his wife, and eventually was punished by losing the Chief Executive position to Leung Chun-ying because of the basement and his admission of infidelity.

Speaking of which rumours of children born out of wedlock have yet to be confirmed...

In any event, Kuo could have gone to jail for the charges laid, but perhaps the court saw it really wasn't her fault.

Now that the trial is over, perhaps Tang can focus on more important things, like making amends with his wife or drinking his massive wine collection than standing on a soapbox whenever Leung makes a mistake.

We already have many critics jumping on the Chief Executive wherever he goes.