Remembering Those who Defended HK

Japanese troops take over Tsim Sha Tsui

Every year around this time when I wear a poppy, some Hongkongers ask me where I got the pretty flower, others suddenly remember that it's that day where you remember the war dead, other expats don't seem to care or notice. 

I wear it to remember the Canadian soldiers who died for us, and in particular, think of those who tried to defend Hong Kong from the Japanese during the Battle of Hong Kong from December 8-25, 1941. This year is the 80th anniversary, but there is nothing in the news to remind people.

Some locals remember having to wear poppies at school, but students today don't wear them.

Sai Wan War Cemetery above Chai Wan

Is this part of the government's efforts to quietly forget what happened 80 years ago? Is it because it was an embarrassing defeat? Soldiers from Britain, Canada and India rushed over to try to defend the then British colony, but were not well prepared, didn't have much knowledge of the terrain and were overpowered, leading to the surrender on Christmas Day, 1941.

Over 1,500 Indian and Canadian soldiers died in battle.

Then the rest were taken in as prisoners of war in camps in Hong Kong and Japan until the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

Attending the Remembrance Day ceremony at Sai Wan Military Cemetery in 2018 was a moving experience, seeing over 1,500 graves, many of them Canadian soldiers who died in a place they were not familiar with.

What happened 80 years ago is a part of Hong Kong's history whether Beijing accepts it or not. It must be remembered by generations to come. 

Meanwhile fast-forward eight decades later where the freedoms these soldiers defended have now given way to the national security law.

Statue of Canadian soldier in HK Park

Today a second person was handed a lengthy sentence, not for committing murder or causing injury to someone or destroying property. It was for chanting pro-independence slogans during the anti-government protests, violating the national security law on the grounds of inciting secession.

Former delivery food worker Adam Ma Chun-man, 31, was accused of promoting separatism on 20 occasions between August 15 and November 22 last year, using expressions such as "Hong Kong independence, the way out", "Hongkongers, build our country", and "Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times",  a signature rallying call of the anti-government protests two years ago.

Judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi said he found the national security law violation serious enough to warrant at least five years behind bars, as the defendant repeatedly incited others to separate Hong Kong from China, and failed to display even "the least bit of remorse" -- something Ma himself acknowledged.

Originally the sentence was set for six years, but Chan knocked off three months, saying Ma saved the court's time by agreeing to most of the prosecution's case.

However when the sentence was read out, people in the gallery shouted the sentence was "too long", and "insane".

While the defence counsel asked for a more lenient sentence, Chan refused, saying Ma's actions could have provoked others to resort to radical ways.

"Who knows? Maybe some of those incited would become another Adam Ma," said Chan.

Ma sentenced to almost six years in jail today

In a letter to the court, Ma wrote he was inspired by jailed activist Edward Leung Tin-kei, and felt he bore a responsibility to achieve the latter's aspirations for independence.

"Today is the 311th day I have been in jail," he wrote in his letter, dated September 28, the first day of the trial. "I have denied the allegation, but my mind is exceptionally calm, even with a bit of joy.

"Your Lordship, I do not feel any shame, nor do I have the least bit of remorse for what I have done in the past. I also promise that I will not display the slightest bit of weakness in the fight for democracy and justice," he added.

Amnesty International deputy secretary general Kyle Ward called Thursday's ruling "outrageous", and urged the Hong Kong government to stop criminalising "mere acts of expression".

"This conviction and sentencing clearly shows that restrictions on the right to freedom of expression in Hong Kong are dangerously disproportionate," he said.

While the outside world may be outraged, this is only the beginning. There are some defendants who are determined to stick by their beliefs to the end, even if the courts do not agree with them.

And they will pay dearly as we have seen today.

For them this is their sacrifice...

Lithuania Advises Throwing Away Chinese Phones

 

Lithuania found Xiaomi phones have censorship capabilities

Lithuania has an adverse reaction to Chinese phones, so much so it could erupt into a diplomatic row after its defence ministry has advised residents to avoid buying Chinese phones or even throwing away the ones they have now after a government report found the devices have built-in censorship capabilities.

Xiaomi phones have a built-in ability to detect and censor terms such as "Free Tibet", "Long live Taiwan independence" or "democracy movement", according to Lithuania's state-run cybersecurity body on Tuesday.

Abukevicius advised throwing out Chinese phones

While the capability of Xiaomi's Mi 10T 5G phone software has been turned off for the "European Union region", it can be turned on remotely at anytime, the defence ministry's National Cyber Security Centre said in the report.

"Our recommendation is not to buy new Chinese phones, and to get rid of those already purchased as fast as reasonably possible," said Defence Deputy Minister Margiris Abukevicius when introducing the report.

Xiaomi did not respond to Lithuania's allegations.

The report said the list of terms which could be censored by the Xiaomi phone's system apps, including the default internet browser, currently includes 449 terms in Chinese and is continuously updated. 

"This is important not only to Lithuania, but to all countries which use Xiaomi equipment," the centre said in the report.

The report warns against using any Xiaomi gadgets

Relations soured between Lithuania and China recently after Taiwan announced its mission in Lithuania would be called the Taiwanese Representative Office, causing China to demand Lithuania withdraw its ambassador in Beijing, and said it would recall its envoy to Vilnius.

Usually Taiwanese missions in Europe and the United States use the name of the city Taipei to avoid referencing the island itself, which China regards is its own.

Following Lithuania's report, how many other countries will take heed to its warnings regarding Xiaomi phones?

It will be interesting to find out...

CY Leung's Unrelenting Campaign Against Teachers

Leung Chun-ying is relentless in his bid to punish teachers

 

Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying is adding fuel to the divisive tensions in Hong Kong by publishing the names of 18 teachers who were arrested during last year's anti-government protests on his Facebook page today.

Culled from news reports, the list details as much information possible about the teachers' names, ages, details of their charges and in some cases the names of the schools. 

The Facebook post lists lots of details of teachers

While this information is already publicly available, collating them together seems particularly vindictive, though Leung argues this is the parents' right to know.  

Is that really necessary?

Leung, who is now a vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Consultative Congress, also criticized the Education Bureau, and the Professional Teachers' Union for depriving parents of knowing which teachers are involved in these protests.

Not only that, but his group 803 Funds Limited is seeking a judicial review to force Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung to make public the teachers' details.

Ip Kin-yuen, vice-president of the 100,000 PTU and an opposition lawmaker representing the education sector, on Tuesday slammed Leung's posting of the list as "unnecessary and full of hostility".

"As a public figure, and with the titles that [Leung] carries, how often have we seen people like him target the education sector in such a manner, both in Hong Kong or in mainland China, or even in other parts of the world?" Ip asked.

Leung also criticizes education minister Yeung

"Plus, he said the details he listed have already been made public previously. If they are already in the public domain, why does he need to list them out again?"

However, Wong Kam-leung, chairman of the pro-establishment Federation of Education Workers that has some 35,000 members, said the list made public would not adversely affect schools, but that teachers should act professionally and not let politics override their professionalism.

Nevertheless, Leung lashed out at education minister Yeung on Monday, questioning if teachers were allowed to broach the subject of Hong Kong independence in their classes.

Yeung replied should the topic come up, teachers should guide students to the conclusion that Hong Kong independence was impractical, and added schools should not include discussions about the subject in the curriculum.

Last year's protest by teachers in Central

But pro-Beijing heavyweight Tam Yiu-chung, the only Hong Kong member of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said Yeung's explanation was "inaccurate", saying that independence should not be touched on at all, as it could put schools in violation of the new national security law. 

Everyone seems to want to dictate how Yeung should do his job. And why isn't his boss Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor defending him? Oh wait she's busy in Shenzhen placating her boss.

Educating young people should be a fulfilling vocation for teachers, but now Leung has made it like possibly stepping on political landmines, something he probably relishes. 

And for the record Leung's two daughters and son studied overseas in Britain.

Protest Slogan Pushback

This slogan was adopted in the July 21 protests until now

A slogan from 2016 by a pro-independent activist and was adopted as a protest slogan last year, is now considered subversive and secessionist by the Hong Kong government.

"Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" was first coined by Edward Leung Tin-kei when he was running for the 2016 Legislative Council by-election.

He was later jailed for his role in the Mongkok riots that year, though his slogan was adopted on July 21 during the anti-extradition protests, and chanted at many rallies since.

Edward Leung first coined the slogan in 2016

Last night, the government claimed the phrase incited separatism, but Hong Kong Bar Association council chairman Philip Dykes said it was "premature" for the government to declare the slogan against the law.

"It is for the judges to determine the legal effect of what those words mean," he said. "It is premature to say that those words... fall foul of the new law."

Dykes added that only a court could generate a "binding interpretation" of the slogan, or determine the legal consequences for those who chant it.

Professor Simon Young, associate dean of the University of Hong Kong's law school, said that while the court might find the slogan encourages secession, it would be up to the prosecution to prove the defendant encouraged a second person to commit secession, and that it was successfully followed through.

He said it could be difficult to prove, but the evidence would include the person's previous statements, activities and associations.

Young said possessing material with the slogan could not be an offence of incitement because it has not been shown to anyone and thus no one can be said to have been encouraged.

In the meantime protesters have found creative ways to keep the slogan alive.

One is acrostic, where the characters of the slogan are written vertical, but horizontally are random phrases of everyday life. The hashtag is: #明嘅就會明 'you understand if you understand'.

My friend had a good laugh when he discovered this.

Then there is this one floating around by Chinese dissident artist Badiucao:

There's also an emoticon one that is cute:

Hong Kong people can be very creative!

There are other variations like "GFHK SDGM", the initials of each word, or "36390242", which is similar to the pronunciation in Cantonese.

Carrie Lam Denies Reality

Carrie Lam claims the violence has to end before peace can come to HK

The insanity that is Hong Kong continues.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave her regular press briefing this morning, and blamed the city's "technical recession" on the protesters.

"To get to the root of the problems, we must stop violence and let calmness restore in the city... but it was unfortunately that on Sunday and last night, rioters found some excuses, and engaged in extreme violence."

Protesters are still coming out with masks and umbrellas

When asked by CNN if she had any other political tools to bring peace to Hong Kong, as subsidies to the transport and hospitality industries are just band-aids, Lam reiterated that the violence had to be dealt with first before dialogue could take place, though she added dialogues have already started.

Come on Carrie! The problem is that your inability to listen to the 1 million then 2 million residents of Hong Kong about how they felt about the proposed extradition bill has forced them to escalate their actions to violence. That was the only way you actually paid attention... not that you have solved the issue. Too little too late.

And do you understand that even though there are protesters that are violent, there are many people who may not also be on the streets, but they are quietly supporting these people on the front lines? Or maybe you can't fathom this could possibly be true.

Perhaps you should look at the latest poll by Dr Robert Chung of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute.

Your popularity rating has dropped to another historic low of 20.2, according to a telephone poll of 1,038 people between October 17 and 23.

Some MTR stations were vandalized again on the weekend

The previous low was 22.3 earlier this month. That means more than 80 percent of poll respondents gave Lam a vote of no confidence, while 70 percent said they distrusted the government.

Meanwhile an RTHK reporter asked Lam to comment on the Financial Times article last week that claimed the central government was looking to replace her by March. Lam repeated that Beijing was still supportive of her  and parroted the Foreign Ministry in saying the story was "politically motivated", though what exactly the Foreign Ministry said cannot be found on its website anymore...

But there was more aggravating news later in the day. Joshua Wong Chi-fung of Demosisto was finally and formally disqualified from running in next month's district council elections. He is the only candidate to be barred from running because of his political stance.

"The candidate cannot possibly comply with the requirements of the relevant electoral laws, since advocating or promoting 'self-determination' is contrary to the content of the declaration that the law requires a candidate to make to uphold the Basic Law and pledge allegiance to the HKSAR," returning officer Laura Liang Aron wrote in a six-page report.

Joshua Wong says his disqualification is politically motivated

Wong was clearly not pleased, along with many who believe the voting system has become politicized.

"The ban is clearly political driven," he said. "The so-called reason is judging subjectively on my intention to uphold the Basic Law. But everyone knows the true reason is my identity -- Joshua Wong is a crime in their mind.

"I have never actively advocated independence as an option, but she twisted and wrongly interpreted my remark," he continued, adding that Beijing had clearly exerted great pressure on Hong Kong officials, demonstrated by the original returning officer taking sick leave and the People's Daily calling him an "independence leader".

Wong also points out the question of allegiance does not mention district councils in the legislation, so why are candidates being vetted this way?

What is wrong about having Wong run in the elections? As someone pointed out on Twitter, wouldn't it be better for him to win the election and then be so busy with domestic affairs that he wouldn't be able to travel around the world and advocate freedom for Hong Kong?

Police are using more aggressive tactics to deal with protesters

This decision to disqualify him only further infuriates people -- not just protesters, but even ordinary people who are seeing "one country, two systems" eroding even further.

Wong says he will consider taking legal action after the November 24 district council elections. In the meantime the candidate he was planning to run against, incumbent Judy Chan Ka-pui of the New People's Party is concerned she is not a shoe-in because there is so much backlash against pro-Beijing political parties at the moment.

The apparent meddling by Beijing is enough to keep protesters -- active or not -- focused on the fight. There are too many instances of Hong Kong's rights and freedoms deteriorating that they cannot bear to just stand by and let it happen.

So while there may not look like there are a lot of protesters out on the streets these days, Carrie, they have many more people who have their back.

More Lecturing from Beijing

Qiao Xiaoyang says advocating independence is not freedom of speech

We welcome Qiao Xiaoyang to Hong Kong, but perhaps he didn't read the report on the results of a study done by City University the other day that concluded the rise of localism does not mean a lack of patriotism for China.

Qiao is a retired chairman of the national legislature's law committee, and he told 200 top local officials at a closed-door seminar today that he did not consider pro-independence calls to be freedom of expression, a fundamental right enshrined in the city's mini constitution.

But Hong Kong's Basic Law allows freedom of speech

One of the attendees was Ronny Tong Ka-wah, an adviser to Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. He quoted Qiao as saying: "[Advocating independence] is hurtful to national feelings and contrary to the national constitution.

"Under the constitution, Hong Kong is a region under China's unitary system. So, Hongkongers have the duty to uphold the constitution and shouldn't do anything against the constitution and oppose the unitary system on the mainland."

You gotta love the argument that speaking out for democracy is "hurtful to national feelings". How is that even substantiated? That kind of news would be censored in Chinese media anyway so it wouldn't be hurtful to anyone.

Perhaps Qiao hasn't read Hong Kong's Basic Law? In Article 27 it says: "Hong Kong residents shall have freedom of speech, of the press and of publication, freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration; and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions and to strike".

Ronny Tong was one of 200 who heard Qiao's speech

But maybe no one at this seminar dared to point this out to him.

He also said while the central government would maintain a capitalist system in Hong Kong, it would be unconstitutional to "subvert the socialist system led by the Communist Party", said Wong Kwok-kin, a member of Lam's Executive Council.

Qiao is the second mainland representative within a week to speak at seminars on Hong Kong's constitutional order being part of China, following Beijing's liaison office director Wang Zhimin, who on Sunday hit out at local activists for challenging national sovereignty.

Statements like his continue to breed resentment against Beijing in Hong Kong... it also shows an utter lack of understanding of the city and its people, only expecting them to conform to its demands.

This inevitably leads to more tensions and conflicts that aren't going to get better anytime soon.

Benny Tai in the Hot Seat

Benny Tai believes Beijing wants to make an example out of him

Last week Benny Tai Yiu-ting was in Taipei speaking at a seminar organized by the Taiwan Youth Anti-Communist Corps.

He said that if "dictatorship" ends in China, the country's various ethnic groups could exercise the right to self-determination and decide how they could link up with each other.

"We could consider going independent, being part of a federal system or a confederation system similar to that of the European Union," he said.

Only a small minority want Hong Kong independence

Afterwards the pro-Beijing establishment in Hong Kong swiftly condemned Tai, hinting again that he was not qualified to teach at the University of Hong Kong, while the Hong Kong Government said it was "shocked", claiming Tai was invoking separatism.

The State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) spokesman said it believed "a small number of people in Hong Kong have colluded with external separatist forces" to advocate the city's independence.

"They have fully exposed their attempts to split the country and violated the national constitution, the Hong Kong Basic Law, and the relevant laws in Hong Kong. They are challenging the bottom line of 'one country, two systems'. Such activities must not be ignored or tolerated," the spokesman said.

Meanwhile Tai was "shocked" by the criticism heaped on him by numerous pro-Beijing lawmakers and the HKMAO, saying his comments were not new, and were "imaginations of the future" and did not violate any criminal laws. Chinese state media also chimed in that someone like Tai should not be given a platform.

Grenville Cross says Tai is not criminally liable for his speech

He believes he is being condemned and made an example to intimidate others from discussing the possibility of democracy in Hong Kong.

"It is a calculated plot against me... to [declare] that any discussion on Hong Kong independence -- albeit not directly endorsing [the notion] -- will not be allowed in society and universities," the HKU law academic said.

Former director of prosecutions Grenville Cross also says Tai's comments are not criminal.

"Tai has not actually advocated independence in his Taiwan remarks," said Cross. "He simply suggested it as one of several possibilities if certain hypothetical events were to happen. This falls short of being criminal under either the existing sedition law or the 2003 [national security law] proposals."

He adds even if someone were to publicly advocate independence, no law would be broken if it was done peacefully, and if someone were to be prosecuted for sedition, there would need to be proof of inciting violence, promoting hatred and stirring up ill will.

Hong Kong's freedoms must be protected

However Tai won't be surprised if the government pushes through a bill to make any talk of independence -- violent or not -- punishable under Article 23. That would severely limit people's right to freedom of speech according to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, he says.

This is the pro-Beijing camp's attempt to further shred the credibility of the pro-democratic camp, which is still reeling from the recent by-elections in which its results were disappointing.

Nevertheless, 24 pan-democratic lawmakers issued a joint statement backing Tai, vowing to "resolutely defend academic freedom" and insisting the law scholar was entitled to his academic analysis.

They urged all parties to stop attacking Tai and warned that "Hong Kong will no longer be Hong Kong" without free speech.

This pathetic need to destroy Tai isn't working -- it's not good for the city nor society to kill freedom of speech over hypothetical ideas.

We need to do whatever we can to protect the freedoms we have left.

Where's Hong Kong's "High Degree of Autonomy"?

Agnes Chow's dreams of running for political office were shut down today

The Hong Kong government is shifting the goal posts again on behalf of Beijing, this time in an upcoming by-election.

You may recall six pro-democracy lawmakers were disqualified from being lawmakers when it was decided that they did not take their oaths of office properly.

One person who wanted to run in the race was Demosisto's Agnes Chow Ting, but today she found out she was rejected as a candidate.

The reason?

Lam claims self-determination is not allowed in Basic Law

Not because she advocated independence -- we know is a complete no-no -- but because she promoted self-determination.

In a statement, the government said:

"Self-determination" or changing the HKSAR system by referendum which includes the choice of independence is inconsistent with the constitutional and legal status of the HKSAR as stipulated in the Basic Law, as well as the established basic policies of the PRC regarding Hong Kong. Upholding the Basic Law is the basic legal duty of a legislator. If a person advocates or promotes self-determination or independence by any means, he or she cannot possibly uphold the Basic Law or fulfill his or her duties as a legislator.

Wait a second. Does the government even understand what a referendum is? A referendum means everyone has a say to vote on an issue in how Hong Kong moves forward. It is not determined by a small group of elites, but democratically through one person, one vote.

But no, the government or Beijing is so terrified of this possibility that it has decided self-determination should not be allowed in Hong Kong.

Joshua Wong says youth will be even more disillustioned

However, the same government statement says earlier:

Article 12 of the Basic Law states that the HKSAR shall be a local administrative region of the PRC, which shall enjoy a high degree of autonomy and come directly under the Central People's Government.

So what does "high degree of autonomy" mean then, if we are not allowed self-determination?

Of course Chow was upset by the decision, saying, "It is obviously a political decision and political screening, and the government is trying to shirk responsibility [by passing it on] to the returning officer, who should be only in charge of executive procedures," she said. "We can see that Hong Kong is not ruled by law or [governed by] the rule of law, but only ruled by the Beijing government."

One of Demosisto's platforms is to have a city-wide referendum on the city's political future, including the option of independence from China.

"The government did not only disqualify Chow, but all members of Demosisto, and even the entire younger generation," says Joshua Wong Chi-fung, the party's co-founder. "I am not certain how many young comrades can stand as candidates in future."

Law professor Johannes Chan says Chow's rejection is illegal

Basically the government has decided Demosisto is an outlaw, that its political thinking is illegal and therefore its candidates are disqualified.

Is this how Chief Executive Carrie Lam thinks she can heal the rift between the generations? She has just inflamed the youth even more.

What is wrong with Chow running in a by-election? What are the chances of her winning? And even if she does win, Legco is still stacked with pro-establishment lawmakers. Why is the government so worried?

Legally the government may not be allowed to do what it just did, according to Michael Davis, a former law professor at the University Hong Kong. He warned Chow's disqualification was wrong and the government was on a "slippery slope", while former university law dean Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun said there was no legal basis for such a move.

A march is planned tomorrow to government headquarters, and in the meantime does Chow have any legal recourse? If so we hope her lawyers are filing the papers now for Monday morning.

The government is fixing the race by changing the rules. How convenient.

Student Activists Reboot Independence Campaign

Last year students handed out fliers suggesting independence after 2047

Some Hong Kong students are showing their Lion Rock spirit by reviving a drive in 18 schools and universities to promote separatism from China.

The campaign was launched today, where the young activists distributed separatism-themed fliers and stickers at school entrances, and put them on message billboards known as "democracy walls" on university campuses. They also set up street booths in Wan Chai, Kwun Tong and Yuen Long.

This time the fliers say that independence for Hong Kong is the only option to protect its people, which is a more direct stance compared to last year's that encouraged students to think about the city's future after 2047 by proposing independence.

Tony Chung of Studentlocalism is stepping up activism efforts

The student leaders are also vowing the groups will be more vigorous in their activism, one year after their initial campaign fizzled out.

Studentlocalism convenor Tony Chung Hon-lam, a Form Five student at Buddhist Mau Fung Memorial College, said they would hand out 2,000 leaflets and 10,000 stickers. Meanwhile the 20-year-old convenor of the Hong Kong National Front, who wanted to remain anonymous, said 12 groups were expecting to hand out fliers at schools before classes and all would man street booths after classes.

Last September, a campaign to discuss independence emerged at several schools when localist groups handed out fliers on the first day of school. Members of at least two groups were summoned by school authorities to stop.

The government left it to school managers to handle such activities and monitor independence talk. And this time the Education Bureau reiterated that advocating independence went against the Basic Law.

Lau Siu-kai doesn't think the kids will go far again this time

Lau Siu-kai, deputy director of a top Beijing think tank on Hong Kong affairs, did not expect the campaign to go far, and warned advocates they would likely find themselves further isolated from mainstream society.

"From what I see, the independence movement has become something of a small circle within the student community that is unlikely to affect society on the whole," he said.

We agree with Lau that it is a very small group of students who believe in independence. What's interesting is their determination to start their campaign again with more organization and greater resolution.

They won't get far, but why not let them do their thing? They deserve to have their voices heard too. What they are advocating is illegal, but let them figure that out for themselves instead of telling them over and over. Give them room to explore and debate.

The more you clamp down, the more resolved they become... just saying...

Finally Mr Moustache in the Race

John Tsang formally announcing his bid to become the next chief executive

Former Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah is the fourth and probably last candidate to run for Hong Kong's next chief executive.

He finally made his announcement this afternoon in Central, against a backdrop that included the words "trust", "unity" and "hope".

"If there is no trust, if Hong Kong people are not united, our young people will not have hope in our future," he said, adding that the qualities were important for the city to progress.

He said there were many people in the city who were thinking of emigrating, and this concern inspired him to run for chief executive.

Tsang believes CY Leung is on the right track on housing

Tsang described himself as a good listener, willing to reach all walks of life. And he said "inclusion" is a core value of Hong Kong.

"I'm not here alone," he said. "I'm sending an invitation to all 7.45 million Hong Kong people so that together we can make Hong Kong a better place."

He added, "Hong Kong never speaks with one tongue. Hong Kong does not just served the business sector or the labour sector."

However, he seems to agree with current Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying in finding land to build more housing. Leung's policy address yesterday hinted at exploring the possibility of building low-cost housing in country parks that led to heavy criticism from environmentalists.

But while Tsang claims to be a listener, he emphasized he would not interested in those advocating Hong Kong independence -- probably a prerequisite from Beijing.

"They flatly do not know what Hong Kong is, because China has forever been the core of Hong Kong people's identity," he said.

Who will be the better candidate, Lam or Tsang?

"A great city has a strong country [behind it]. Without Britain, there would not have been London. Without the United States, there would not have been New York. Hong Kong can become better because it is embracing a great motherland."

Yikes. Tsang really is laying it on thick.

But here we go -- the race is on. It'll be interesting to see if Carrie Cheng Yuet-ngor will win the hearts and minds of young people, while Tsang's more liberal attitudes may not inspire confidence in the older generation. He also has a bizarre track record of greatly underestimating government revenues in the annual tax budget.

Perhaps his temporary successor Paul Chan Mo-po will do a better job?

Tycoon Gives his Two Cents...

Chen rants about localists from his wood-carved throne...

A Shenzhen-based tycoon who chairs the Harmony Club, has urged the Hong Kong government to stop pro-independence localists from damaging the business environment.

Chen Hongtian says he was concerned about the city's political development and was even considering diverting his investments elsewhere.

"Anyone who has a clear mind knows they are causing damage and messing around. They don't want Hong Kong to be good," he said.

Pony Ma of Tencent is a member of the Harmony Club

Ok -- wait right there -- we all want Hong Kong to be good. In what way, that is the question, but we all want the city to be strong economically, politically and socially, but it is the government and its policies and actions that has resulted in the polarization we are experiencing now.

Chen claims his club represents 140 mainland and local tycoons including Tencent chairman and CEO Pony Ma Huateng, Lee Yin-yee, founder of Xinyi Glass Holdings, and Wong Kwong-miu, founder of Centralcon Group.

Eighty percent of them have permanent residency in Hong Kong and have business assets totalling HK$1.68 trillion according to Shenzhen media. Chan himself made headlines when he bought a house in June at 15 Gough Hill Road on the Peak for HK$2.1 billion.

Referring to now barred localists Yau Wai-ching and Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang, Chen says: "I think the Hong Kong government should be firmer in upholding the Basic Law. Such people should not be allowed in the establishment," he said.

Chen's latest acquisition on 15 Gough Hill Road, on the Peak

Uh, they don't want to be the establishment. Perhaps they would like to disrupt the establishment, but actually they have indirectly thanks to Beijing intervening and the Hong Kong government taking them to court.

But it gets better.

"You would be penalized if you said anything against the queen during her rule. Now you talk about the whole country and want to become a legislator? Tell [the two localists] to get out of Hong Kong. I think the Hong Kong government can be even tougher and firmer," Chen says.

Why would the government throw them out of Hong Kong? They were born here. It's laughable that he would even suggest such a thing. A statement like that demonstrates his complete disregard for how rule of law works in the city.

He seems to think money from tycoons like himself rule the city, but maybe that was back in the 80s and early 90s. Thanks to tycoons like him, housing prices have gone up so much that people can barely afford 400 square-foot flats that they would have to mortgage for 30 years because their salaries are so depressed there aren't opportunities to make more money.

Those who voted for Yau and Leung wanted change in the city

As a result, many Hong Kong people have long given up the rat race and are becoming more politically active in the hopes they can make a better future for their children through the ballot box. That's why a record 2.2 million people voted on September 4.

So Mr Chen, this is how Hong Kong works. Yes, Leung and Yau were immature in what they did, but we should not discount that tens of thousands of people voted for them because they believed in what they stand for. This fact cannot be neglected, along with the other localists who were elected into the Legislative Council.

It's interesting that Chen is willing to be so outspoken about this, as if trying to agitate the masses to agree with him. But really tycoons here are the 1 percent, if that. What about the rest of us?

October 1 Unpatriotic Banners

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

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

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

Another banner at the University of Hong Kong...

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

Some of the tertiary institutions removed the banners.

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

At Chinese University hangs a large pro-independence banner

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

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

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

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

Does the Liaison Office Get Hong Kong?

Wang Zhenmin has been stationed at the liaison office since January

The Chinese government may have people on the ground in Hong Kong gathering information about the people and the city, but it doesn't seem to want to try to understand what's going on.

At all.

The legal head of Beijing's liaison office here said Hong Kong is ill and needs medication, caused by the growing talk of independence -- which he ruled out for "1,000 years and forever".

It's either 1,000 years or forever. Which one is it?

Wang Zhenmin believes those advocating Hong Kong's separation from China are acting out of fear that the mainland's success is eclipsing the city's.

Sixtus "Baggio" Leung says Wang's comments are "laughable"

Someone really has his head above the clouds.

"Hong Kong's prosperity and stability is largely because of the motherland," he said. "Some people then think that now the motherland is developing well, Hong Kong will go downhill. It is heartbreaking to see some people going for extreme means to destroy Hong Kong."

Err... no one is really thinking that theory, Mr Wang; it is rather that Hong Kong people are tired of our dependence on the mainland and Beijing meddling in our affairs. None of us wants to destroy Hong Kong, unless the mainland has other plans for us.

He went on to declare Hong Kong would remain a part of China "for 1,000 years and forever", and that no one could break them apart.

Sounds so romantic and yet does Hong Kong have a choice in the matter?

The Basic Law expert said Hong Kong should serve as a role model for the country's economic and democratic development, along with the rule of law.

"If the 7.3 million people in Hong Kong mess up democracy and only bring extremism, violence and separatism, how can the 1.4 billion people on the mainland pursue democracy without fear?"

Is he insinuating there will be democracy in China?

Rimsky Yuen says advocating separatism breaches Basic Law

And he shouldn't he give us credit for no violent incidents on September 4, the day of the Legislative Council elections when 2.8 million people turned out to cast their votes?

Wang is the same person who raised eyebrows in April when he warned that those who discussed independence for Hong Kong in a "large-scale" setting were not only violating the Basic Law, but could also be committing "treason" and "sedition" under existing criminal laws.

That set off a debate on whether talking about separatism was considered "sedition", and the Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung warned that advocating independence was a breach of the "relevant" provisions in the Basic Law, and incompatible with the legal status and overall interests of the city.

While Wang said he was open to discussing whether "one country, two systems" should continue after it expires in 2047, he revealed that he personally preferred to maintain the

status quo.

Localist lawmaker-elect Sixtus "Baggio" Leung Chung-hang, who advocates self-determination, dismissed Wang's take on the rise of separatism as "laughable".

"When we discuss the question of independence, we are driven by the invisible hand from the Communist Party that is meddling with our rights and freedoms," Leung said. "It has nothing to do with China's economic strength."

While Wang was here at the University of Hong Kong from 1993 to 1995, and served on the Basic Law committee from 2006 to 2008, his recent time here only started from January this year.

Perhaps he feels he has to play up the rhetoric because of his position, but that just only demonstrates Beijing's lack of sensitivity to the issue or a belief in the heavy-handed approach will bring bring stray attitudes around.

Not.

Pro-Independence Has Younger Activists

Students who gathered at an earlier event advocating independence

Talk of separatism isn't only on university and college campuses in Hong Kong -- it's spread to secondary schools too.

There were reports earlier this week that said students from at least 14 schools had set up "localist" concern groups, which led to the Education Bureau declaring such groups were banned on campuses.

One group called "Studentlocalism" has at least 60 members, and its mission is to get the city prepared for when the time came for self-determination -- 2047 perhaps?

"In the coming days, Studentlocalism will continue to increase [the number of] its street booths to promote independence," the group wrote on its Facebook page.

"We have also started contacting different secondary student unions which support independence to foster more cooperation."

Students who had protested for democracy back in 2014

It seems the group is intent on getting things moving in earnest when the school year begins next month, and some unions from such schools as Wah Yan College on Hong Kong Island and Ying Wa College are taking part.

A spokesman for the Education Bureau has said there shouldn't be any pro-independence activities in schools and that any organization that promotes pro-independence must be banned.

Professor Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said to counter the rise of pro-independence sentiment, opinion leaders, teachers and respected educators, such as university presidents, should express their views.

"The government should also try to improve the social atmosphere by being more inclusive and creating more dialogue," he said.

But the latest is that the Academy of School Managers sent a stern warning to teachers today, saying that their registered teachers' professional qualifications could be cancelled or be rejected for qualification if they advocate independence in schools.

"Some people, including those who work in education or are key persons at educational bodies, have openly advocated or even begun to organize groups on campus... encouraging Hong Kong's separation from mainland China," the statement read, without naming anyone in particular.

The group said it was "firmly opposed" to such "violation of educational ethics", which it described as a breach of the Education Ordinance and the Basic Law.

While it is understandable teachers should not impose their political views on students, what is wrong with a discussion in the classroom to clear up misconceptions or to explain that independence goes against the Basic Law?

It sounds like this could be the beginning of a Cultural Revolution-esque atmosphere in terms of fellow teachers and students ratting out other teachers.

And if students want to discuss these issues on their own, who can stop them? The more restrictions that are put on them, the more determined they will be to make their gatherings and activities a priority.

This knee-jerk reaction by the education authorities is not the best way forward on this polarizing issue, but probably came from above to nip the problem in the bud so to speak.

So they hope...