Pro-Beijing Bloc Crumbles in Blame Game

Over 230,000 came out to protest in Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday afternoon

It was bound to happen -- the pro-Beijing camp is now split, pointing fingers at who is to blame for the fallout from the controversial extradition bill that has been suspended, though the protest marches continue to demand a complete withdrawal.

The Liberal Party's James Tien Pei-chun has openly demanded three people take the blame: the party's own Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, and Exco members Ronny Tong Ka-wah and Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, who strongly supported the bill.

James Tien pointed fingers at the pro-establishment bloc

During a radio program today Tien said: "Cheung is supposed to be a Liberal Party representative in Exco to convey public opinion to the government. However, he has gone the opposite way and is pushing the party to support the government line."

When it comes to Tong and Ip, Tien said: "Members of the Executive Council are appointed by the chief executive while secretaries are appointed by the central government, therefore it's more feasible for the government to reshuffle its cabinet than to make heads roll in the top administrative echelon."

While Tong respected Tien's opinion, Tong felt that neither he nor his Exco colleagues did anything wrong.

However Ip told the media she had no plans to resign and that Tien's remarks were illogical and irresponsible.

Tien clamed Ronny Tong was to blame for the bill's fiasco...

"[James Tien] said we did not reflect the public's view, but let's not forget, there are different views on the matter in the society," she said, adding people were concerned about livelihood issues like housing and salaries.

Ip is just trying to deflect the issue away from her, because so many people, both young and old have come out to protest because they believe the extradition bill will affect their personal safety and security in Hong Kong.

This is the reality of the proposal of the bill that Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor had put forward and law experts, lawyers and judges sounded warning bells as well.

Tien's call for the trio to quit was backed by three of his fellow honorary chairmen, who make up half of the party's eight-member leadership. They were Selina Liang Shuk-yee, Vincent Fang Kang, and Miriam Lau Kin-yee, along with Tien.

... as well as Regina Ip, though she refused to resign

What's interesting about Tien is that while he is pro-establishment, he will sometimes go against the government in its decisions or give constructive criticism. Back in April he was already calling for the government to shelve the extradition bill, or delay the passing of the bill for another year for more consultation.

With regards to the protests, Tien says the marchers should focus more on the Legislative Council elections next year than go out protesting every week.

He would say that, being a pro-business lawmaker... but people aren't going to listen to him anyway. They seem determined to keep the momentum going. And the peaceful marches are making Hongkongers feel unified. Isn't that a good thing?

Legal Smackdown

Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma spoke out, telling people to read the Basic Law

Thank you Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li!

Thank you for setting the record straight once and for all about the status of Hong Kong's chief executive.

Today Ma made a legal smackdown hours after Leung Chun-ying's comments that the chief executive "is indeed transcendent", giving the impression that he has an emperor-like status.

One wonders if Leung has indeed been hanging out at Government House with a crown on his head.

While the chief justice said he was not going to comment on "things which have recently been said" or on other people's comments on what he said in the past, he did say: "But I wish to emphasize two points, both in relation to the Basic Law," Ma said. "The first point is judicial independence. This is specified in the Basic Law in three separate places and I would ask people to read articles 2, 19 and 85."

CY Leung will have to re-think his "transcendent" status

He went on: "The second point deals with equality before the law, and this is Article 25 of the Basic law, which prescribes that everybody is equal before the law, without exception. This applies to everyone."

And what does Article 25 of the Basic Law say? "... all Hong Kong residents shall be equal before the law".

So there. Leung can take off his crown now. The ermine robes have to go too.

In Article 2, Beijing's legislature authorizes Hong Kong "to exercise a high degree of autonomy and enjoy executive, legislative and independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication".

Finally Article 19 reiterates that Hong Kong "shall be vested with independent judicial power", while Article 85 states that Hong Kong courts "shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference. Members of the judiciary shall be immune from legal action in the performance of their judicial functions."

Again we have to ask -- why did Zhang Xiaoming, head of the liaison office, say what he did on Saturday?

Legally his speech was completely out of line and we hope Ma's clarification will end any more speculation of the chief executive's status.

Today on Commercial Radio, James Tien Pei-chun, honorary chairman of the Liberal Party, urged Zhang to clarify what he meant five days ago.

James Tien thinks Beijing is still trying to assert authority

The last five days have been a verbal circus, because having others like Justice Secretary Rimsky Yuen Kwok-keung and Leung himself trying to explain Zhang's comments is like watching a dog chase its tail.

"Zhang read his speech carefully that day," says Tien. "It seemed to me it was pre-written by Beijing and he was only responsible for reading that out. Perhaps Beijing feels the hearts of Hong Kong people are still not with the country, years since the [1997] handover. That's why they are doing this to assert 'one country'." he said.

If Tien's speculation is true, then Beijing still does not understand how Hong Kong operates and what its people are thinking. For China to think locals will automatically demonstrate unwavering patriotism -- when many of them escaped the Communists in 1949 and onwards -- is naive thinking.

And trying to assert its power over the city is just making things worse.

But in the meantime, high fives to Ma -- the smackdown was just what the doctor ordered.

The Bickering Continues

The Liaison Office of the Central Government in the HKSAR in Western

The fallout from the crucial vote on the Hong Kong government's political reform package continues to escalate, with members of the pro-Beijing camp bickering amongst themselves over what happened on Thursday.

Thirty-one of them walked out of the Legislative Council chamber moments before the vote was taken, thinking it would help bring a 15-minute delay as they waited for New Territories strongman Lau Wong-fat who was delayed in traffic.

A remorseful Jeffrey Lam apologized for the walkout

Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee couldn't help but cry on Commercial Radio yesterday and business representative and Executive Council member Jeffrey Lam Kin-fung, who initiated the walkout, profusely apologized.

The 28 to 8 vote against the reform package was terribly embarrassing for Beijing. Soon after the vote, the Liaison Office began calling the pro-Beijing lawmakers who dutifully voted for the package, which was confirmed by Liberal Party honorary chairman James Tien Pei-chun.

Others who bungled the vote were summoned to the office in Western to explain what had happened, similar to naughty school children who are called into the principal's office.

Independent lawmaker Ng Leung-sing also went to Western. How did he explain why he was there?

Ng Leung-sing admits regular chats with the liaison office

"I have regular dialogue with the liaison office," Ng said. "Of course it was unavoidable for us to discuss what happened on Thursday."

Ah-ha! So anyone left-leaning has scheduled chats with the liaison office... it really does confirm the on going sardonic saying that "Hong Kong is ruled by Western", as the liaison office is located in Sai Ying Pun.

However, the liaison office calling the shots is considered illegal according to Article 22 of the Basic Law which says:

No department of the Central People's Government and no province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government may interfere in the affairs which the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region administers on its own in accordance with this law.

If there is a need for departments of the Central Government, or for provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government to set up offices in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, they must obtain the consent of the government of the Region and the approval of the Central People's Government.

All offices set up in the Hong Kong Administrative Region by departments of the Central Government, or by provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government, and the personnel of these offices shall abide by the laws of the Region.

So -- can we have less interference from the liaison office now that this silly fiasco is all over? Obviously its meddling in Hong Kong affairs has been a disaster.

But the Central Government probably doesn't see it that way and is possibly now doubling or even tripling its efforts to ensure things go its way despite the promise of "one country, two systems"...

Facing Reality

Joshua Wong felt dizzy and unwell before he ended his hunger strike

We are relieved to hear Joshua Wong Chi-fung and two others have ended their hunger strike on doctors' orders.

Wong only subsisted on water and energy drinks for 110 days and was given a bit of glucose. But he ended the fast at noon today because of his sugar levels dropping and also his heart beating very fast, the highest recorded at 108 per minute, when on average it is no more than 100.

It was shocking to see him at first needing assistance to go to the bathroom, and then being pushed around in a wheelchair.

Another student Isabella Lo Yin-wai had to end the hunger strike yesterday and then tonight a few hours ago Prince Wong Ji-yuet was taken to hospital and will quit as well.

There are two more still not eating any food, Gloria Cheng Yik-lam and Eddie Ng Man-hin, but they started a day after Wong.

When Wong started his hunger strike, it seemed like a last desperate attempt to get attention, and as predicted, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying refused to speak to the students despite pro-Beijing lawmakers, including James Tien Pei-chun who was recently ousted from the CPPCC when he called for Leung to step down, tried to get both sides to meet.

Leung said that while he was "very willing" to have talks with the students, public nomination would be off the table as a prerequisite for dialogue.

Over a week ago when a colleague mentioned Admiralty, an associate rolled their eyes and said Joshua Wong was trying to get asylum in the United States. "Lester Shum's father has a green card, Joshua doesn't," the person noted. "He's just trying to get attention."

The hunger strike certainly did, but was it for the right reasons? Another colleague has pointed out that people in Tibet have set themselves on fire and Beijing didn't care, so why would it even bat an eyelid to a group of students on a hunger strike?

These desperate attempts to get the government to get back to the table are not working and not thought through.

As a result the students lose credibility for their perceived inability to think strategically. Yes they are young and naive, and many of us enjoyed the freedom of being able to occupy several main thoroughfares in the city, as well as the incredibly creative artwork that showed both mockery and artistry.

But what is the endgame? No one seems to have a solution except to withdraw for now.

It's terribly disappointing the Hong Kong government has refused to engage the students beyond a one-time debate, and has relied on public transportation companies to apply for court injunctions to clear the road, than to do it in the interests of the entire city's residents.

However we now know where the government stands (behind the big menacing panda) and it's up to individuals to decide if they want to stay behind and live with this fact, or move on to more democratic climes.

And apparently many are doing the latter if they can afford to make the sacrifice...

Jockeying for Position

Regina Ip seems keen to do whatever it takes to garner political attention...

After Hong Kong police unleashed tear gas on mostly student protesters in Admiralty on September 28, pro-Beijing New People's Party's chairwoman Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said the police were right to do this on people armed with only masks and umbrellas, which sparked more anger towards the former security chief-turned-politician.

Throughout the Umbrella Movement she has tried to act as Beijing's messenger, sending words of warning to the students that they must accept the electoral reforms as set down by Beijing on August 31, and that civic nomination is impossible.

Last week when Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun was ousted from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Ip took the opportunity to castigate Tien for suggesting Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying should step down to try to break the impasse between the protesters and the government.

This cartoon of Ip with a broom relates to her previous career...

"Mr Tien's remarks heightened the uncertainty and instability of the situation," she said.

She sounds like the class monitor...

Her latest idea is to give the students seats on the nominating committee for the next chief executive in 2017 -- but that would mean seriously reducing the 60 votes currently allotted to the agricultural and fisheries sector.

"Our party is strongly of a view that we should give votes to young people and women since they are under-represented on the existing Election Committee," Ip said after meeting Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Yuet-ngor and other officials.

If one didn't know much about Hong Kong politics, one would appreciate her for thinking of these two groups. However, she gained more enemies with the statement, as students didn't think this would help the currently stagnant system, and the agricultural and fisheries representatives were hardly amused by her idea of losing votes.

It's very similar to Leung saying earlier in an interview with foreign media that he needed to court stakeholders like athletes to get votes...

One wonders what senior mainland officials think of her... do they give her special instructions to inflame people? Or are they going ballistic in private?

And if she's not supporting the Umbrella Movement, can she please refrain from wearing yellow? Or is this another tactic to get more media coverage?

Trying to Clear the Air

Perhaps Jasper Tsang is finally talking some sense following CY Leung?

Is Jasper Tsang Yok-sing the next to go after James Tien Pei-chun?

The Legislative Council President and pro-establishment lawmaker says there aren't any "foreign forces" influencing the Umbrella Movement. "I can't see it happening," he said in an interview with Cable TV.

"Unless you treat foreign diplomats expressing concerns as an intervention by external forces. I think their concerns, raised objectively, were not intended to influence, dominate or instigate any side," he said.

Earlier this month Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying claimed "external forces" influenced the mass protests and occupation of streets in Hong Kong, but he refused to identify them, only saying he would reveal them later.

One newspaper cartoonist drew the suggestion it was Mary Poppins.

Others said it was Jesus, Che Guevara and Bob Marley, with photographic evidence of their images at the protest sites.

So will Tsang be punished for his comments, claiming there are no external forces involved in the Umbrella Movement because he's not following the same narrative as Leung?

The drama continues.

The Threat of Expulsion

The CPPCC may revoke James Tien's seat for saying CY Leung should resign

It has been exactly a month since teargas was unleashed on protesters on Harcourt Road, and at Admiralty tonight they are marking the milestone with nostalgic songs, rousing speeches and shining their mobile phone lights.

But James Tien Pei-chun is facing an unprecedented crisis tonight with the standing committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) threatening to strip him of his seat in the country's advisory body.

Last Friday Tien made the unusually bold move to say during an interview with Commercial Radio that Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's relationship with the Legislative Council had deteriorated, that his leadership was poor, and he should ask Beijing to allow him to resign.

This is not the first time the leader of the Liberal Party and pro-Beijing lawmaker has made a radical move -- he resigned from the Executive Council days after the 2003 July 1 march that forced then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa to rescind Article 23, the national security legislation.

And a day after this year's July 1 march, Tien said Leung should consider resigning after tens of thousands marched from Victoria Park to Chater Garden.

But it looks like this time Beijing doesn't want to be seen as entertaining divergent points of view and may be set to punish Tien for sticking his head out.

This afternoon the CPPCC discussed removing Tien as a delegate and it will be put to a vote tomorrow.

CPPCC standing committee member Chan Wing-kee said the proposal to unseat Tien is based in the CPPCC charter that says the standing committee has the power to strip the post of a delegate who violates the charter or the resolution of the CPPCC's plenary session.

One resolution passed in March states CPPCC delegates must "resolutely support the chief executives of Hong Kong and Macau to govern in accordance with laws".

While Tien says he will make a comment tomorrow, his younger brother Michael Tien Puk-sun said, "A delegate has the duty to observe the CPPCC's rule and should be prepared to pay a price if he feels there is a need to air his views."

The fact that the CPPCC discussed the issue this afternoon perhaps means James Tien's guanxi is not as strong or deep has Leung's, that the central government continues to stand by their man even though he's made so many verbal gaffes in the last few days one has to wonder why they insist on keeping him.

But it looks like loyalty trumps competence and again adds ammunition to why protesters are out on the streets.

The mainlandization of Hong Kong is happening much faster than I thought. If James Tien is indeed kicked out of the CPPCC, other pro-Beijing lawmakers will probably tow the Party line even more so.

This is creating more divisiveness and harder to find some kind of compromise.

Seems like the buck definitely stops here with Beijing. Now what?