Exile Ted Hui Financially Strapped

Ted Hui has found at least five bank accounts are frozen

 

Former opposition lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung arrived in Britain with the intention of starting his new life there in exile, but found his Hong Kong bank accounts were frozen.

There are at least five bank accounts belonging to him, his wife and his parents that have been inaccessible since Saturday. One of the financial institutions is HSBC.

Some of the affected bank accounts are HSBC

Hui called the banks and was told there were "remarks" placed on their accounts and staff refused to divulge what this meant.

"I discovered it when I tried to log into my online bank accounts and found they were not functioning. Those were our life savings," he said. "It's obviously retaliation by economic duress."

The 38-year-old Hui absconded the several criminal charges he was facing in relation to last year's anti-government protests. He apparently crowdfunded HK$3.5 million to help fight five court cases, including a private prosecution of police over a shooting case last year. 

James To Kun-sun, a lawyer and member of the Democratic Party said he had no knowledge of the crowdfunding, but that jumping court bail was not legal grounds to freeze Hui and his family's bank accounts. 

"Unless evidence showed crowdfunding money went to the family accounts," To said. "But crowdfunding itself is not illegal. I think it is political prosecution."

To (centre) says freezing bank accounts illegal

It isn't clear when Hui was given the green light by Magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen to travel to Denmark, but it obviously did not leave a lot of time for the former Democratic Party lawmaker to clearly plan out everything, including his finances before he and later his family left Hong Kong.

However, what the banks have done is illegal, particularly in the case of freezing the bank accounts of Hui's wife and his parents; it has the hallmarks of a mainland Chinese retaliation for him not appearing in court to face charges.

His case shows those who intend to flee the law need to take everything they need with them -- there is no going back. 

 

No Inquiry into Worst Martime Disaster in 40 Years

The Lamma IV filled with water and sank, killing 39 people

On the evening of October 1, 2012, colourful fireworks exploded in the sky above Victoria Harbour to celebrate National Day. 

But about half an hour before the pyrotechnics display, the night went horribly wrong, as 39 people lost their lives in the water, including eight children after two ships collided, making it the worst maritime disaster in Hong Kong in 40 years.

At around 8.20pm, a regular ferry that goes between Central and Lamma, called Sea Smooth, crashed into Lamma IV, a Hongkong Electric Company vessel that was on its way to Central to watch the fireworks following a tour of the power station on Lamma, thus many families were on board.

Victims' families want an inquiry into collision

The crash ruptured two water-tight compartments on Lamma IV, causing the ship to quickly fill with water and sink. More than 100 of the 121 passengers were thrown overboard without wearing life vests, while the Sea Smooth continued on its way to Lamma Island, with some of its passengers including the captain were injured. In total 92 people were injured from both ships.

There was criticism of the captain of the Sea Smooth for leaving the site of the accident and not offering to help rescue Lamma IV passengers; others say there were concerns the Sea Smooth should quickly make its way to Lamma out of fears it might sink. After being discharged from the hospital, the captain was emotionally unstable. 

The Sea Smooth captain was sentenced to eight years in prison for the deaths, while the Lamma IV captain was acquitted of manslaughter, but found guilty of endangering the safety of others at sea.

A commission of inquiry was submitted to the government in 2013, which found there were "serious systemic failings" with the Marine Department that added to the tragedy.

James To is pushing for the Coroner to reconsider

But now eight years later, the Coroner's Court has told families of the victims it will not investigate into the tragedy but did not disclose the reasons publicly.

James To Kun-sun, a Democratic Party lawmaker, has been assisting the families, said he was shocked by the coroner's decision.

"As the Lamma ferry crash was an unprecedented marine accident in Hong Kong... an inquest should be opened to give family members and the public the truth."

He said the inquest would let the public know about the details of investigations by the police and the Marine Department, which were carried out after the commission of inquiry. 

To added it was unfair for the victims' family members to lose the right of cross-examination, which would have helped pursue the truth behind the accident.

Eight children died in the disaster in 2012

"An inquest is the only opportunity for victims' relatives to receive relevant [investigation] documents, make cross-examinations and seek the truth," To said.

The families were dealt another blow when the Department of Justice said earlier this month it would no longer initiate prosecutions over the crash.

As a result the victims' relatives may file private prosecutions against those responsible for the crash.

It is strange the Coroner's Court is not pursuing an inquiry -- the public needs to know what happened in this disaster and to prevent it from happening again. Perhaps the Marine Department feels enough punishment was meted out at the time, with 17 of its officers found guilty of misconduct and disciplined by the Civil Service Bureau. 

But this was the worst maritime disaster since 1971 -- and involved eight children.  Surely it deserves a comprehensive inquiry?

The horrific collision led to many families registering their children to learn how to swim -- eight years on, is this still a skill in demand?

National Security Law: More Questions Than Answers

Yoho Mall with protesters against the national security law

The clock is ticking as we are expecting the national security law to come down on Hong Kong by June 30, leaving precious little time when people can legally protest. This afternoon some people went to Yoho Mall in Yuen Long and chanted slogans in their bid to express their concerns about the national security law.

In response riot police -- some in plain clothes -- rushed at the protesters, who were peacefully demonstrating -- and pepper sprayed them, the media and district councillors who were trying to figure out what was going on.

A riot policeman threatens pepper spray on family

And again -- the national security law has yet to be enacted, but the police are acting as if they already have the law in their back pockets. Is this the new normal for Hong Kong when there is any kind of moderate dissent?

Meanwhile it has been explained why the details of the national security law are being released in a drip drip fashion -- the Chinese leadership believe this will minimize adverse reactions, and gradually ease people into the new normal rather than suddenly springing it on them all at once. 

How thoughtful.

But perhaps even more outrageous is the news report that the bill has "unanimous support" from "all walks of life" -- minus opinions from opposition figures and critics.

Lau has yet to see what's in the new law

Senior mainland officials met with 120 people (who represent over 7 million people) from more than 10 sectors and social groups who gave their "honest views" and support of the legislation.

As for the small group of people who will be targeted, one attendee who asked not to be named, said it would involve situations such as spies from the United States. "The jurisdiction power would be very broad, from law enforcement to the judiciary... and yes, that means arrestees could be tried on the mainland."

How reassuring.

Professor Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of the semi-official think tank the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau studies suggested the draft legislation might be amended after they listen to the views in Hong Kong.

Lau's comments hardly assuage the public's concerns. Any major legislation needs the feedback of people, and that opportunity isn't even given before it is released.

Even those 120 people who attended these feedback sessions weren't allowed to read the draft, and yet they still supported the bill. Are they all zombies?

To says there is need for feedback from public

How bizarre.

Veteran Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun said, "Passing a security bill first before letting the public know its detailed content is something unimaginable in any civilized society."

While To is right, there is no persuading the Chinese otherwise. They are determined to pass the secretive bill and then unleash it on Hong Kong.

And then the mass exit will begin.

How sad.

Airing Dirty Laundry Without Masks

Police Chief Chris Tang (in black) with Eric Tsang, Alan Tam and Jackie Chan

Hong Kong opposition lawmakers are calling for the resignation of Police Commissioner Chris Tang Ping-keung after a video was leaked of him and other senior officers having a jovial time with a number of well known local celebrities like Alan Tam Wing-lun, Jackie Chan, and Eric Tsang Chi-wai.

The video was taken on Sunday February 16 after a friendly football match and Tang jokes he learned how to be a policeman from watching police movies.

Leaked - Commissioner of Police dining with group of #Hongkong artists inc. Jackie Chan, Alan Tam and Tsang Chi-Wai and soccer players. Some were known for triad links. pic.twitter.com/WbLRMTAAEy

— Galileo Cheng (@galileocheng) February 17, 2020

 

Later Tang chides Tam, saying, "I hate you very much Alan, because my wife loves you more than she loves me. Yet there's nothing I can do because I love you too."
 Many of the celebrities in the video, Chan, Tsang and Tam in particular, are known to be pro-establishment, as they have publicly supported the police at rallies while the anti-government protests were going on last year.

Tang jokes his wife loves Tam more than him

Also attending the banquet were police public relations chiefs Kwok Ka-chuen, Kelvin Kong Wing-cheung, and former spokesman John Tse Chung-chun. In addition, disgraced former police official Frankly Chu was also at the event. He was jailed for a baton attack on an unarmed man during the 2014 Occupy protests.

Guess jail time for a disgraced policeman doesn't mean anything to the top brass?

Opposition lawmakers pounced on the video, accusing police chief Tang of being unfit to lead the police force, and with the fear of the coronavirus in Hong Kong, he ignored government appeals to avoid large gatherings. On top of that he wasn't wearing a mask -- nor was anyone else in the room for that matter.

Democratic Party legislator James To Kun-sun criticized the police officials for defying a government appeal to limit social contact, and said Tang is a bad role model in preventing the coronavirus from spreading in the community.

Lawmaker James To calls for Tang's resignation

He noted that a number of people had been infected by the virus after a hot pot gathering, and if these police officials were infected, they could have passed it onto other government officials as they have been meeting frequently on how to deal with the crisis, thus possibly paralyzing the operations of the entire government.

In the video, Tang also says he learned from Jackie Chan and Alex Fong Chung-sun movies how to behave like a policeman.

Civic Party lawmaker Dennis Kwok Wing-hang who represents the legal sector, slammed Tang's "shoe-shining" remarks as inappropriate and that he's not fit to be the police chief. 

Frankly Chu (second left) was jailed for hitting an unarmed man

While a police spokesman says the dinner was private and did not involve public funds, for viewers of the video it's pretty damning evidence of how close the entertainment industry is with the police. And in light of the coronavirus crisis, to see so many people gathered and not concerned about possibly spreading the virus is just as shocking...

Univited Help Arrives

PLA soldiers removing bricks from the road in Kowloon Tong today

This afternoon some residents who live around Pok Fu Lam Road and the University of Hong Kong began clearing the road that had been blocked for the past few days. There were some scuffles with protesters, but for the most part the volunteer clean-up crew were left alone.

Another clean-effort was underway around the Baptist University campus, but Hong Kong residents had some help from an unexpected group -- the People's Liberation Army.

A fellow soldier (right) filmed the soldiers cleaning up

From video clips it looks like several dozen soldiers from the PLA came out of their Kowloon Tong barracks around 4pm dressed in khaki T-shirts and black shorts, or in what look like colourful basketball singlets. Armed with bamboo brooms and red buckets, the soldiers started clearing broken bricks that were strewn all over Renfrew Road that the protesters had left behind.

The last time the soldiers came out was after the devastation of super typhoon Manghkut last October, when they helped to remove felled trees from Hong Kong's country parks. Their help wasn't requested that time either and today they just showed up unannounced.

Oh and yes they had a film crew document their good deed of the day.

According to Article 14 in the Basic Law:

The Central People's Government shall be responsible for the defence of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 
 
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be responsible for the maintenance of public order in the Region. 

Last year the PLA helped clean up the country parks

 
Military forces stationed by the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for defence shall not interfere in the local affairs of the Region. The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may, when necessary, ask the Central People's Government for assistance from the garrison in the maintenance of public order and in disaster relief. 
 
In addition to abiding by national laws, members of the garrison shall abide by the laws of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 
 
Expenditure for the garrison shall be borne by the Central People's Government.

In this case the PLA is cleaning up roads... a spokesman for the garrison said the police force did not ask them to volunteer. "Stopping violence is everyone's duty," a man giving commands to the soldiers said to reporters.

But in the Basic Law, what the PLA were doing was illegal

Later when pressed by the media, the Hong Kong government replied: "The Hong Kong Garrison’s assistance... is purely a voluntary community activity initiated by themselves. The HKSAR Government has not requested the Garrison’s assistance.” 

Which means the PLA voluntary cleaning-up exercise this afternoon was illegal. 





What is this? It's a test, a trial balloon to see what the public's reaction is to the soldiers, not in uniform, but "volunteering" their time and effort in helping Hong Kong get back on its feet. Some people who watched the PLA soldiers clapped in approval, while the pan-democrats are ringing the alarm bells over this.

Security veteran and Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun believed the move by the PLA was not ordered by the chairman of the Central Military Commission.

"This time, it doesn't look like voluntary service," he said, referring to the soldiers' previous participation in tree planting. "It's more like assisting the maintenance of public order."

A lot of obstacles that need to be cleaned up in Hong Kong

He said if the operation was not based on the Garrison Law, then the soldiers should not come out to clear bricks. "It could be dangerous," To added, referring to potential clashes between them and the protesters.

"They may say PLA soldiers have been attacked... then they can use heavy weapons. This is the most worrying thing."

But the protesters did not confront the soldiers... hopefully knowing there was no point in trying to even fight them.

But having the PLA come out unannounced is rather concerning, especially since protesters are fighting to prevent further interference from Beijing...
 

Confrontations Continue for a Third Weekday

Two students catch some rest on a couch outside in Chinese University

Yesterday's siege at Chinese University of Hong Kong shocked a lot of people, not just that the police fired over 1,300 rounds of tear gas, but that they entered a university campus that is considered sacred ground for intellectuals. Students and alumni feel this is a place of virtue that needs to be defended.

Into the early hours this morning, volunteers ferried up supplies to the front-line protesters and a call out was made today for everything from food to first aid, goggles, helmets, even scissors and battery packs to charge phones.

Over 1,3000 rounds of tear gas were fired last night

However, some people carrying some of these supplies in shopping bags were stopped by police from entering the campus and were arrested. Arrested! Arrested for shopping! Many were middle-aged aunties trying to do their bit to help the students.

In any event, some got creative and disguised their purchases in bags from luxury brand boutiques covered in tissue paper. Others brought up supplies via private cars.

Meanwhile the students up there are gearing up for another serious clash with the police, even practicing their throwing skills on the running track. Others tried to catch as much sleep as they could.

Back in Central at noon young professionals were out in force again today in their office wear, occupying Pedder Street and Connaught Road. Instead of going back to work after the lunch hour, they continue to stay, and set up road blocks creating traffic chaos for drivers. Many offices let their employees go for the day and shops start closing if they haven't already. The shops in Times Square in Causeway Bay didn't even open, unless they were food related.

Matthew Cheung (right) doesn't know why people are angry

Then Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung had the gall to say in the Legislative Council that he didn't have an opinion poll giving him the information to explain the public anger towards the authorities, as the extradition bill had already been withdrawn.

Needless to say the pro-democracy lawmakers were flabbergasted -- as well as the rest of us.

Pan-democrats told the government it had to stop refusing to acknowledge the real reasons behind the growing public resentment, as the increasing anger is fueling the protests now into its 158th day.

Cheung said the ongoing protests were no longer about the now-withdrawn extradition bill, but that the protesters were now focused on disturbing the peace.

When asked what was the biggest cause of public anger, Cheung replied he didn't have access to a public opinion poll to tell him, and that people could be upset about various things.

Protest art has taken on a bigger canvas, the entire street

"Housing problems, the wealth gap, social mobility, and other social issues can all be triggers," he said.

But Cheung also conceded there are concerns about the police force. "Some people hold certain views about how the police enforce the law, but they have to respond to the law and order incidents. There's no way they can stay away."

Democractic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun was gobsmacked to hear Cheung say he didn't know what the root cause of people's anger was. To said it is clear that police brutality is driving so many people to take to the streets.

"It points to the ignorance of the government of people's opinion on the police's excessive force and brutality. People understand the police have a duty to enforce the law, but [it should be] in a reasonable and proportionate way," To said.

Thousands gathered in Central for a third day at lunchtime

He added that the government's conclusion -- or the one "dictated" to it by Beijing -- that stopping violence is the most important task, means the problem is only getting worse.

Cheung's remarks show how utterly out of touch Hong Kong's leadership is with its people. It also shows complete incompetence and the inability to understand and solve the core problems the city is facing. This also gives the strongest argument yet why people are fighting for universal suffrage -- to be able to elect their own leader so that the leadership has accountability.

Beijing is only listening to a small group of elites, mostly business tycoons, about how Hong Kong should be run, or what they think the city needs. By the same token Beijing is not interested in going in the ground to talk to ordinary people to ask them what they need, and instead just wants to impose its authority on the city.

Last night a mainlander who works for a human rights organization wrote on Twitter:

"As a mainlander who has been robbed of any collective political action since birth, I want to say to Hong Kongers: you are posing a challenge to the Communist Party that it has never experienced since it took over China 70 years ago. For that alone, you are incredible."

As a mainlander who has been robbed of any collective political action since birth, I want to say to Hong Kongers: you are posing a challenge to the Communist Party that it has never experienced since it took over China 70 years ago. For that alone, you are incredible. https://t.co/yVyYcvKTc7

— Yaqiu Wang 王亚秋 (@Yaqiu) November 12, 2019

People in Hong Kong accept that they are a part of China, but they want to be able to elect their leader. The government is not listening and as a result Hong Kong's institutions are falling apart and authoritarianism is taking over, thanks to the heavy handedness of the police. 

Where is the way out of this mess? We all want a peaceful solution, but how can it be found when the government can't even understand why its people are so angry?

What's Carrie Lam's Next Move?

Carrie Lam today visiting the injured police officers in hospital

Hmmm... did the Financial Times get it wrong?

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's office denies that Lam tried to resign several times during the extradition bill fiasco.

Eric Chan Kwok-ki, director of the Chief Executive's Office, dismissed the report as "groundless", where it quoted two people who claimed to have knowledge of the situation.

The police were outnumbered by protesters in a shopping mall

"The chief executive has never offered to resign nor tendered her resignation. Never," Chan told a local newspaper.

So who leaked that?

In the meantime, the Junior Police Officers' Association that has 25,000 members has warned it will seek legal advice to protect themselves from danger if management cannot guarantee their safety at work due to the escalating violence over the extradition bill.

In response, Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung pledged in a meeting with four officers' associations on Monday to make their safety a priority when planning strategy.

The scenes were ugly and violent for everyone

Strategy? What strategy? Last night there didn't seem to be any cohesive plan on the side of the police in terms of diffusing the situation and getting protesters out of Sha Tin. They corralled them to the MTR station but then didn't allow the trains to stop to stop in Sha Tin -- so how are people supposed to leave?

Very strange and frustrating. And then the ugly battle scenes in New Town Plaza...

In the end at least 28 people were injured, 13 of them police officers.

Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun believed the association issued the statement to "protest indirectly and show the government's uselessness in the way it handled the situation politically".

Over 100,000 people marched in Sha Tin yesterday

"Police don't want to be sandwiched between the government and protesters and shoulder the political blame on behalf of the government," To added.

He said officers understood the nature of their work was to deal with dangerous situations, but they did not want to be used as a political tool.

So -- it all leads back to Lam. The ball is in her court...

More Benefits for the Rich

Some of the top landlords own thousands of properties in Hong Kong

In this year's budget Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po tried to give more benefits to the middle class, and for the most part they were little concessions here and there, like waiving government rates that are paid quarterly.

He raised the waiver from a maximum of HK$1,000 per quarter in the last financial year to HK$2,500 per quarter for a full year.

Property owners can save up to HK$10,000 a year (whoo hoo!) on each flat, but it looks like the uber rich will have the last laugh because they not only own hundreds of properties, but thousands of them, saving millions of dollars from paying these government rates.

Paul Chan thought taxpayers would like the rates waivers

The top 10 landlords in Hong Kong own over 40,000 properties among them and so they will benefit from waivers worth HK$256 million (US$32.8 million) this financial year.

According to figures from the Financial Service and the Treasury Bureau on Monday, the top ratepayer alone was expected to receive a concession of HK$102. 6 million from the 15,645 rateable properties owned.

Can you imagine owning that many properties? You and your extended family never have to work, just collect rent and live very well for the rest of your lives.

Then the next nine ratepayers will save between HK$8.9 million to HK$23.3 million for the 1,258 to 5,038 properties they hold.

Democratic Party lawmaker James To Kun-sun believes the landlords are property developers, and the government is just helping them become even more rich.

But James To believes it's the developers who benefit the most

"It is utterly inappropriate to offer over HK$102 million to someone who owns over 15,000 units," he said. "That's returning the wealth to the wealthy."

He said properties owned by companies should be considered as investments and so they should not benefit from these rates concessions.

"These investors do not need help from the government... Why should the government benefit these big conglomerates," he said.

"Even if middle-class citizens use a company [they set up] to buy a flat for self-occupation, the rates waivers should only be limited to one unit."

Also, most tenants don't benefit from the rates waivers as their landlords usually paid them, which means these properties are for commercial use, not for private use.

So once again the government hasn't clearly thought out this rates waiver and done enough research to realize that the biggest benefactor are those who own thousands of flats, while those who are only allowed to own one (or can only afford one), the benefit is a small gesture.

The ones who really need help -- renters and first-time home buyers -- are shut out.

Where is the love?

Carrie Lam's Tough Sell

Today Eric Chan was confirmed as Carrie Lam's office director

Chief executive-elect Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is still trying to find people for her cabinet, as she starts her job very soon.

The latest hire is Eric Chan Kwok-ki, former immigration chief who will head the next chief executive's office.

She explained he was the best person for the job, which is a crucial one, and that he accepted without hesitation.

"He has to assist me in preparing the next term of government, ensuring a smooth transition between the current and the next term of government in liaising with a large number of stakeholders, including Legislative Council members and of course local and overseas media to ensure effective governance of the Hong Kong SAR," Lam said.

Will Lam invite Regina Ip (left) to join her cabinet?

When Chan was asked why he would join a "hot kitchen", he replied, "Every job has its difficulties and I believe good policies and directions could cool the so-called 'hot kitchen' down."

Chan joined the Immigration Department in 1982 as an assistant immigration officer, and worked his way up to become deputy director in 2010 before he was appointed director in 2011. He retired last April.

However, the Democratic Party's James To Kun-shun flagged concerns that Chan's disciplinary background could hinder him from fully understanding government policies, but Lam insisted Chan was qualified for the job.

While Lam has said she's making "good progress" in putting her team together, she has admitted having a tough time filling her cabinet, as many good people were driven away from joining the government.

She may have won 777 votes, 88 more votes than her former boss five years earlier, but then why is she having so much trouble getting people to work with her? How did she win the popular vote (among 1,200 people), and yet not be able to find enough people to join her cabinet?

Maybe Beijing needs to make a few phone calls or meetings with people to suggest they help her out?

Oh wait, Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee is keen... if Lam wants her...

Who's more desperate?

Closing Loopholes Too Late?

A potential buyer checks out the models for Harbour Glory in the showroom

The Leung Chun-ying administration thought it was clever when it announced Tuesday evening that first-time home buyers could not purchase multiple flats without paying the 15 percent stamp duty.

Starting midnight on Wednesday morning, it has changed to one flat per person, but now buyers are skirting the issue by having entire families show up and buying a flat in each of their names.

On Wednesday, a family bought three flats at Harbour Glory, Cheung Kong's latest project in North Point. The three units together totaled HK$170 million (US$21.8 million), and to avoid paying the 15 percent stamp duty, the purchases were put under three individual names.

"It's not illegal, but it's creative," said Sammy Po, chief executive of Midland Realty's residential department. "Whenever there's a new policy, buyers and sellers always come up with a new way to minimize the impact."

A show flat demonstrating one of the bedrooms

His firm brokered two groups of customers each buying two units of three-bedroom apartments at Harbour Glory.

One group was a father and son, they had never bought HK flats before, and each bought 1,062 sq-ft flats at Harbour Glory for a total of HK$60 million, after a 34 percent discount from the developer.

"As the two flats were bought in two separate contracts, and neither of them owned properties under their names, they are not subject to the 15 percent stamp duty," said Po. Each buyer had to pay 4.25 percent duty, or HK$1.27 million.

The Hong Kong government had hoped that this latest measure would curb the number of flats being sold, which some critics said was too little too late.

Secretary for Transport and Housing Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung said the introduction of the 15 percent stamp duty was an attempt to curb the rise of housing prices, but they soon realized some buyers took advantage of buying multiple flats under one purchase.

He claimed the government was aware of the issue all along, but needed time to gather more data and monitor the situation.

Harbour Glory is Cheung Kong's project in North Point

"We have adopted the most cautious approach to handling [the issue]. We did not leave the loopholes unattended," Cheung added.

The percentage of such cases increased to 4.7 percent between December last year and March this year, up from 3.4 percent in 2013 and 2014.

Just last month alone there were 184 cases of multiple flats bought under one transaction, involving a total of 435 flats.

"Before November, such trends were not something to be concerned about," Cheung said.

But pan-democrat lawmaker James To Kun-sun, who first warned of the need for cooling measures back in 2013, said the latest measures were "too late".

It's funny how the Hong Kong government doesn't question where people get gobs of cash to buy multiple flats, and thinks it needs to monitor the situation for a while? Meanwhile the prices of flats continue to rise, effectively making the government's measures seem half-hearted, at worse a joke.

This is an indication of how government officials have no idea how the average Hong Kong person lives, or don't have the ordinary resident's best interests at heart.

How is chief executive-elect Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor going to deal with the issue? Judging from her toilet paper buying fiasco, one thinks she also has her head up in the clouds...

Beijing Dangles an Olive Branch

How did Robert Chow score meetings with officials like Wang Guangya?

It's all relative isn't it.

Now that the Hong Kong pan-democrats seem completely tame next to the localists, the Chinese government has decided to grant the pan-dems mainland travel documents from now on.

But the pan-democrats aren't buying it. Leung Yiu-chung of the Neighbourhood and Worker's Service Centre says it is a two-pronged strategy by Beijing to break the ice with opposition lawmakers, while cracking down hard on independence advocacy.

Leung Yiu-chung isn't convinced by Beijing's olive branch

"If officials would like to talk about relaunching the city's political reform process, I would go anytime, even this afternoon, but there is no need for another sightseeing trip," To said.

What was also bizarre about the announcement was that it came not from Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, but from the pan-democrats' fiercest critic, Robert Chow Yung, who runs the pro-establishment group Silent Majority for Hong Kong.

He has managed to score meetings with Wang Guangya, director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the National People's Congress, and Chen Zuoer, chairman of the semi-official Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies.

The fact that Chow got these meetings -- one purportedly lasting as long as two hours -- shows that even Leung Chun-ying doesn't quite have the guanxi touch anymore.

Nevertheless, at least three pan-democrats who have been unable to renew their mainland travel documents for more than a decade -- Democrat James To Kun-sun, "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung from the League of Social Democrats, and Leung Yiu-chung -- have said they will not apply for permits.

Leung Kwok-hung isn't applying for a permit anytime soon

"I also found it very strange that Chow was informed before the local government. It seems Beijing has downgraded the local government," Leung Yiu-chung said.

When asked if he knew about the announcement from Beijing, Leung Chun-ying declined to confirm, only saying he had been "working hard to advocate that the central government promptly allow our pan-democrat friends [to visit the mainland]".

Hmmm... since when were the pan-democrats his "friends"?

Even Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, Hong Kong's sole representative on the National People's Congress Standing Committee didn't know about the latest development. She saw it as a gesture to the pan-democrats that "if you are not [advocating independence] there is no reason why there should be no communication [between us]".

Very interesting development, but also good on the pan-democrats for sticking to their guns. Democracy is worth much more than a travel permit to the mainland...

CY Leung's Election Spin

What is Leung Chun-ying really thinking behind that broad smile?

Is Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying delusional or desperately trying to play down the results of the Legislative Council elections that saw 30 seats go to pro-democracy and localist parties, three more than four years ago?

He said those candidates who called for his removal had been voted out, and welcomed new faces, but the younger ones are already looking to make Leung sweat a bit more.

And he also rejected claims that the voters were unhappy with his government, suggesting instead the electorate were tired of those pan-democrats who used radical tactics like filibustering to oppose his policies.

Lau Siu-kai cautions Leung not all will be rosy next year

He really has no idea what he is going to be up against, or doesn't want Beijing to think this will be a problem he can't handle.

Leung even stated the elections don't have any bearing on the election for chief executive next year, and would not say if he would run again for another five-year term.

"The Legco election results have nothing to do with the chances of anyone who aspires to be the next chief executive of Hong Kong," he said.

Uh huh.

"Some candidates who obviously disagree with me seeking another term also failed to be elected," Leung said, but he was probably referring to Ricky Wong Wai-kay, whose platform was "ABC", or "Anyone but CY". Wong lost by 2,000 votes to Tanya Chan Suk-chong of the Civic Party.

James To says Leung isn't reading the election results properly

However, for Leung to think he's still safe in Beijing's eyes better think again.

Professor Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, a semi-official mainland think tank, said Beijing fully understood the election results reflected public discontent with the Leung administration.

"In the eyes of the central government, there is no Hongkonger who cannot be replaced," said Lau.

Veteran Democrat James To Kun-sun said, "Mr Leung must think Hong Kong people are stupid. Our election platform state clearly that we oppose him getting a second term."