The "Crackdown" Picks up Pace

Denise Ho performed after Lancome cancelled promotion

 

The apparent "crackdown" on civil society groups continued today, a relentless flurry of announcements.

Canto-pop singer and activist Denise Ho Wan-sze announced on Twitter that the Hong Kong Arts Centre had informed her that it had cancelled its contract with her music company that had organized a concert there next week.

The termination came days after pro-Beijing newspapers accused her of taking part in anti-China activities and claimed she was on the police's radar.

Arts Centre terminated contract with Goomusic

Ho hit back, saying she did not agree with the cancellation of the contract and said the concert would still be live streamed next Sunday.

"We are very disappointed," her music company Goomusic stated. "We have thoroughly examined our released materials and show contents, but could not see where or how this performance or hiring has the possibility to endanger, or will endanger public order or safety at all."

The Arts Centre said it decided to cancel Ho's reservation for the space from September 6-12, citing the centre's terms and conditions. It said it would return Goomusic's booking fee of HK$127,800 (US$16,400).

Her show was supposed to run from September 8-12 and all the tickets -- which cost HK$680 each -- had been sold out by mid-August.

Ho invited to speak at UN Human Rights Council

In 2019 Ho was active during the 2019 anti-government protests and even went to the UN Human Rights Council to ask the UN to remove China from the body and convene an urgent session to protect Hongkongers.

Two months later she was invited by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China in the United States to testify on the social unrest in Hong Kong. She attended along with now jailed Joshua Wong Chi-fung, and activist Sunny Cheung Kwan-yang, who recently announced he is in the US.

Ho is also involved in the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, which recently announced it will disband in October, is now being investigated by the national security police for possible collusion with foreign forces.

The fund, and the Alliance for True Democracy, which provided its bank account for the fund's trustees to hold donations, have been targeted by the national security department.

Police had obtained court orders to require the two groups to provide information of the donors, and the purpose of the donations.

Seven jailed for illegal march October 20, 2019

About two weeks ago the fund's trustees announced it would close in October after distributing more than HK$243 million to protesters facing criminal prosecution, or financial difficulties as a result of the 2019 protests.

Apparently as of May 31 this year, the fund had 2,554 monthly donors, who contributed over HK$1 million to the group each month.

If that wasn't enough news, seven activists were jailed today for up to 16 months for their roles in a banned procession in Tsim Sha Tsui on October 20, 2019. Six of them are already serving sentences for other convictions.

They include Civil Human Rights Front convenor Figo Chan Ho-wun, former lawmakers "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung, Albert Ho Chun-yan, were each handed 16 months. Former lawmaker Cyd Ho Sau-lan and activist Raphael Wong Ho-ming were jailed for 14 months, and ex-lawmaker Yeung Sum, and activist Avery Ng Man-yuen were ordered to serve 11 months.

Wong is the only one who up till today was not in jail.

Over 350,000 gathered in Tsim Sha Tsui

It is believed around 350,000 took part in the illegal gathering where they marched from Salisbury Garden in Tsim Sha Tsui up to the West Kowloon train station on Austin Road. 

Before the national security law Hongkongers were told the new legislation would not be retroactive and would only affect a small number of people. How things have changed...

Can Jimmy Lai's Books be "Librarian's Choice"?

Can people borrow Jimmy Lai's books?

Now that the pro-democracy opposition has been ousted from the Legislative Council, pro-Beijing lawmakers are looking for ways to prove their patriotism. And they are going into overdrive.

One overzealous member of the pro-Beijing party, Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong snapped a picture at the Shek Tong Tsui Public Library in Western district, showing a display of books by jailed tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying labelled as "the librarian's choice".

DAB's Yeung posted the photos on Facebook

Yeung Hok-ming posted pictures of at least 10 of the books on his Facebook page on Thursday, which prompted an immediate investigation by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It said a "rigorous and thoroughly investigation" was being conducted, and added public libraries must ensure its collections complied with the national security law.

Lai's Chinese-language books are not focused on politics, but his thoughts on business management or his life. Nevertheless by Thursday evening the books had been replaced with those about culture and traditions.

Perhaps they were the librarian's second choice...

While the LCSD declined to say whether the books by Lai should be removed from libraries, others by pro-democracy activists, like Joshua Wong Chi-fung, Horace Chin Wan-kan, former Democratic Party chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan, and former Civic Party member Tanya Chan Suk-chong are not available for lending.

It seems Yeung has forced the issue of Lai's books, leaving the civil service scrambling to figure out what to do.

The library in question is in Shek Tong Tsui

Where are the red lines on these books that aren't political but are by someone currently in jail? And who is going to call the shots? More importantly who is going to take the fall for this incident?

The national security law has led to everyone second-guessing themselves and wondering if they are crossing the red line or not. This is going to make it harder for people to express themselves in public, particularly artists, writers, filmmakers and playwrights.

The paranoia is already well underway...

Agnes Chow Released from Prison

Former Demosisto Agnes Chow released from prison today

A bit of good news this morning -- Agnes Chow Ting was released from prison after serving almost seven months for her role in a 15-hours siege of the Wan Chai police headquarters on June 21, 2019 during the anti-government protests.

At around 10am the 24-year-old emerged from Tai Lam Centre for Women in Tuen Mun and was mobbed by almost 100 reporters while a small group of supporters shouted, "Chow Ting add oil!" before getting into a white van.

There was a media frenzy of about 100 reporters 

Reporters noted Chow was much thinner than before and she admitted so in her Instagram post a few hours later.

"The pain that lasted for six months and 20 days has come to an end. What comes next is some good rest and recovery for the body. That's because my body has become really weak and slim during this period of time," she said, adding her comment should be read with a bitter smile.

She was originally jailed last December for 10 months for illegal assembly over the siege of the Wan Chai police headquarters on June 21, 2019. Her early release was due to her good behaviour. She was initially sent to Lo Wu Correctional Institution, but was later transferred to an isolation cell at the Tai Lam facility.

Chow pleaded guilty to charges of incitement and taking part in an unauthorized assembly. Her colleagues, Joshua Wong Chi-fung, 24, and Ivan Lam Long-yin, 26, were also imprisoned over the gathering. 

Chow, Lam, Wong convicted of illegal assembly

The only one among the trio without a previous criminal record, Chow burst into tears in the dock on learning the community service order her lawyers were seeking had been rejected. She has been in custody since entering her guilty plea on November 23.

However Chow is not completely free -- she was also charged under the national security law for colluding with foreign forces on the same day Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was arrested for colluding with foreign forces by calling for sanctions.

So far the police have granted Chow bail and not yet charged her, they still have her passport.

Meanwhile this evening part of the city was crawling with police, with the second anniversary of June 12, 2019, when protesters surrounded the Legislative Council in a bid to prevent the second reading of the now withdrawn extradition bill.  

Protesters at Wan Chai police station June 21, 2019

At least 2,000 officers were on the streets, at one point blocking the Cross Harbour Tunnel to check cars heading to Hong Kong island, and and some even entered two shopping malls, one in Mongkok, the other in Causeway Bay.

Anniversaries will not be forgotten but at the same time the police show up in force creating more tension... never ending...

 

Repression of Defendants Continues

The Democratic Party's Wu Chi-wai during the 2019 protests

When it comes to breaching the national security law, or perhaps any law in Hong Kong these days, there is no mercy.

Former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai has been remanded in custody since January pending trials but has yet to be convicted of any offenses. He is facing one count of conspiracy to subvert state power under the security law for his role in an unofficial primary election last July.

Wu is also facing criminal charges in two other cases, one of which is for unauthorized assembly on July 1, 2019, when there were mass protests against the now-abandoned extradition bill; it was the day that protesters stormed the Legislative Council.

Wu is not allowed to attend his father's funeral

He was originally granted bail, but was brought back to court in connection with that case after police discovered he had breached his bail conditions by failing to hand over his British National (Overseas) passport. His bail was revoked at West Kowloon Court.

And then late last month his 92-year-old father passed away while Wu was in jail, and the Correction Services Department is refusing to allow him to attend the funeral on Friday evening; the venue and time have been made public and there have been calls online to show up in support of the 58-year-old Wu. 

The department is concerned he could be a flight risk, or if lots of people show up it could affect security at the event, and that it had a duty to protect its staff and Wu.

While the Correctional Services Department has offered to let Wu watch the ceremony via a live video link, he has refused the arrangement, and so has his family.

Many are calling the prison authorities "inhumane" in their treatment of Wu.

Lawyers for Wu have filed an urgent bail application in a last ditch attempt to get him to attend his father's funeral.

People showed up last June 4 in illegal assembly

They had hoped the application would be heard on Thursday afternoon by Court of First Instance judge Esther Toh Lye-ping, but it was scheduled for Friday morning after the Department of Justice demanded more time to prepare for the case.

The application to be heard on Friday is likely to involve arguments on whether an accused person under the national security law can be granted bail under such a rare circumstance.

Meanwhile four activists were sentenced to between four and 10 months in jail today.

Officially it is for an illegal assembly, but in reality it is for lighting up candles in Victoria Park to remember the victims of the June 4 Tiananmen Square massacre.

Joshua Wong Chi-fung got 10 months, Lester Shum six months, and Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai, and Jannelle Rosalynne Leung each four months.

While they all pleaded guilty, District Court judge Stanley Chan said there was a potential for violence that night.

Wong (centre) handed a 10-month sentence

"With the 2019 unrest still lingering, the gathering of some 20,000 participants on a special night like June 4 meant emotions could run high, and unruly elements could take advantage of the situation and incite violence," Chan said.

Twenty-two other activists have also been charged over last year's vigil, including Nathan Law Kwun-chung and Sunny Cheung, both of whom have fled Hong Kong.

Wong will serve this sentence after he has finished serving his four-month sentence for taking part in an unauthorized assembly on October 5, 2019.

It seems the authorities are finding any way they can to charge and convict young people to keep them in jail... forever.

 

Hong Kong's White Terror

These people ran in the primaries; most were charged today

 

On February 28, 1947, an anti-government uprising in Taiwan was violently quashed by the ruling Kuomintang. There are no definitive reports on how many were killed, ranging from 5,000 to 28,000. It was the start of the White Terror, where thousands of other Taiwanese went missing, died or were imprisoned.

Benny Tai speaks to media outside police station

On February 28, 2021, Beijing via the Hong Kong government charged 47 people with "conspiracy to commit subversion", which violates the national security law.

These people, pro-democracy activists, former lawmakers and district councillors were among the 55 arrested back in early January for organizing the unofficial primaries in its camp to see who would have the highest chance of winning in the Legislative Council elections that were scheduled to be held last September, but the government postponed them because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It was hoped that with more pro-democrats in the Legislative Council, they would have the opportunity to veto the budget and force Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to resign -- this is in the Basic Law -- and also to influence the composition of the 1,2000-member election committee that chooses the next chief executive.

Last year's primaries drew over 600,000 voters

Many well-known people are now charged under the national security law, including former lawmaker Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, scholar Benny Tai Yiu-ting, former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai, Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, and district councillors Lester Shum and Fergus Leung Fong-wai. Activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung and People Power's Tam Tak-chi are also included, though they are already in jail serving time for other sentences.

That primaries vote? Organizer Tai was hoping for 200,000 Hong Kong residents to cast their ballots -- more than three times that amount turned out.

These 47 will face their charge in court tomorrow, but the chances of them getting bail are very very slim; they will probably be remanded into custody until their trials come up.

Basically the government has jailed the political opposition even though they already quit in November.

Clancey was arrested in January, not charged today

American-born lawyer John Clancey, 79, was originally arrested in January and was not charged today but he isn't giving up the fight.

"Most people are ready to sacrifice when they see someone in need," Clancey said outside the police station before his bail appointment. "I think we must maintain the positive view the Hong Kong people have had for so many years of being able to build a better society based on human rights and working for democracy."

Some of those charged were ordered a few days ago to report to the police today, and many said farewell to friends, some posted online they believed they did nothing wrong, nor did they regret their actions, and some bought prison necessities, including sneakers without laces.

Chow had his tattoo done ahead of court hearing

Activist Owen Chow Ka-shing who was charged today seems mentally prepared for the road ahead. On social media he posted a photo of a Buddhist chant newly tattooed on his right arm.

"It looks like the suffering will continue indefinitely," he wrote. "What we need is not imagination about suffering but hope and determination beyond suffering."

A Wander Around Tai O

Tai O is a quiet, quaint place, but housing is dilapidated

 

Yesterday I took advantage of a day off to wander around Tai O, a small fishing village on Lantau Island. I have visited two or three times previously for work assignments, one on making the famous shrimp paste that has a very strong smell, and one on solar panels used as a pilot project by WWF. But after spending a good part of the day conducting interviews and shoots, we were tired and wanted to go home so I never really got a chance to see the place.

The night before I did some research on places to visit and especially where to eat and noted the names and addresses.

On the way to Fu Shan Viewing Pt

Then I took the MTR to Tung Chung, and then the No. 11 bus to Tai O. I was surprised to see a long line of people at the bus stop, but luckily I got one of the last few seats. I remembered it takes about 45 minutes to get to Tai O, and on the bus it made scheduled stops in places including Tong Fuk Correctional Institute (former lawmaker Nathan Law Kwun-chung served two months there), and another, Shek Pik Prison where pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung is, and independence activist Edward Leung Tin-kei spent some time there previously.

Finally we arrived around lunchtime and I tried to find the shops that sell some snacks, but was disappointed to find they were all closed because it was a weekday! There's Tai O Bakery that apparently sells freshly made doughnuts sprinkled with sugar, and another stall that makes savoury pancakes called jianbing.

The only places open were cha chaan teng or a few western-style cafes selling cheesecake and coffee.

I decided to find the hill called Fu Shan Viewing Point, but not before I saw a woman selling pandan egg waffles. It turns out she had literally just opened her shop and so her waffle iron was not even heated up yet when I asked for an egg waffle.

The woman in her 70s was on the surly side, chastising a trio of middle-aged women who were lured by some palm-sized puddings to snack on. Luckily the three women were in a good mood and didn't let her criticisms get in the way of them having a good time.

The bridge in the distance and a plane overhead

Finally I got my egg waffles that had a tiny hint of pandan, but it was sustenance to keep me going for the mini hike.

The stairs are clean and wide, but I was already huffing and puffing and sweating -- I didn't realize until later it was because it was so humid. Walking along the ridge of the hill, down on one side are hundreds of large Chinese-style graves, and then further down is Tai O village itself.

On the other side is the South China Sea and in the distance is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge that had no traffic on it. Above it every few minutes a plane took off from the nearby airport, making it an ideal spot for plane spotters.

I continued along the stone path until it abruptly ended, but saw others ahead still continuing along a rugged path and followed them.

The place is a scenic spot for pictures too

It wasn't too hard to climb and soon I was at the top, admiring the view, but then what? Turn back or continue down a dirt path? I decided to be a bit adventurous and thankfully with the help of ropes strung along the way, I managed to get down easier than my experience on Mount Johnston! 

When I got to the bottom, I checked out another scenic pavilion before encountering a temple and then walked back towards the Tai O village.

By now more visitors arrived and I'd pretty much gone through all the main thoroughfares in the village

While it's quaint and some like to call it "The Venice of Hong Kong", it really isn't, surrounded by dirty water, homes on stilts, others on the ground have very basic furnishings. One has to wonder if the government knows about people's living conditions here and will they be upgraded? 

Nevertheless, life here is slow, people ride bikes or walk along the paths, while cats and dogs laze around wherever they feel comfortable. 

Large fish that have been salted are left to dry out

This morning I woke up to heavy rain and was glad that I made the effort to go to Tai O yesterday, though I missed trying those doughnuts!

Were Devices Taken Across the Border?

Did the Hong Kong police send devices to China? It says no

Yesterday The Washington Post reported that the 53 pro-democracy activists who were arrested in one massive operation last week that later included Joshua Wong Chi-fung and radio presenter Tam Tak-chi already in jail, had their phones and laptops taken away to the mainland to extract information from them.

Activist Owen Chow Ka-shing said that when he was arrested, the police already had the phone numbers of his three phones, calling each one to locate them in his flat. 

Owen Chan says police took his three phones

In the end the police took 200 devices from the 53 activists who were arrested in one day and The Post says these digital items were sent to the mainland where the authorities there have sophisticated data-extraction technology, according to two sources.

After the activists and former lawmakers were released on bail and their devices returned to them, they later reported unusual activity on their social media. For example, even though Tam was in jail, it looked like he joined the encrypted messaging app Telegram and contacted people on it.

The administrator of his Facebook page said Tam did not reactivate his account and urged people to ignore the messages.

However today, the Hong Kong police spokesman Kwok Ka-chuen rejected the claims in The Post's report and denied the seized devices were sent to the mainland.

53 people were arrested, 200 devices taken Jan 6

It also condemned what it said were unfounded accusations, saying people with ulterior motives were spreading misinformation through the media to mislead the public and incite hatred towards the police.

Meanwhile The Post's reporter, Shibani Mahtani said she sought police comment before the story was published and did not receive a denial from the police's public relations branch.

"We stand by our reporting and sourcing," she said on Twitter.

Then how does one explain why Tam was supposedly on Telegram when he was in a jail cell, and the unusual social media activity while the activists and former lawmakers were detained by police?

Nevertheless the police should have denied the police report when it was given the chance. Responding to a story more than 12 hours later doesn't help the force's image.

People are joining Signal, but will they use it?

In the meantime in the last few days, lots of people have opened accounts on Signal, another encrypted messaging app, worried their data on Whatsapp will be shared by its parent company, Facebook.

It is quite amusing to see a massive migration of people to the app, but will they really use it when the vast majority of people still use Whatsapp and Facebook?

I joined Signal last year but have only really used it once...

HK's War Against its Youth

Lam and Wong's last look at the media and supporters

 

Today three pro-democracy activists were jailed for their part in a protest last year at Hong Kong police headquarters in Wan Chai that evolved into a siege that lasted 15 hours. Joshua Wong Chi-fung, 24, was sentenced for 13.5 months, Agnes Chow Ting, 23, 10 months, and Ivan Lam Long-ying, 26, seven months.

Chow will spend her 24th birthday in jail

Wong and Chow are high-profile activists who were the faces protesting national education in 2012, the Umbrella Movement two years later, and establishing the now disbanded political party Demosisto. Only a few months ago Wong and Chow just graduated from university. Chow was the only one without a previous criminal record and sobbed when she heard her sentenced read out.

She will mark her 24th birthday in prison tomorrow.

West Kowloon Magistrate Wong Sze-lai sharply criticized Wong for challenging the authority of the police force in a premeditated plot, and called him "selfish" for obstructing traffic at the massive rally on June 21 last year.

She said they committed the offences at a time of "social unrest and large-scale public protests", which "made this case more serious".

Wong the night of June 21 at Police headquarters

During the siege, where people protested against excessive force by the police during the then anti-extradition protests, people threw eggs and soft drink cans at the police headquarters, and spray painted graffiti. There were so many people around the building that the officers were obstructed from attending 61 emergency calls.

Prosecutors described Wong as the leader of the protest that night, showing videos of him telling people at the scene through a bullhorn that they should get more people to come and "completely besiege police headquarters".

While Wong was recorded on video saying these things last year, and Chow and Lam were with him, witnesses who were there that night saw the crowd ignore him and the protesters in this leaderless movement decided what to do by discussions on Telegram. Wong left the scene early that evening.

The convictions were not just about what they did that night, but for all their years of activism, standing up against the government and inspiring others to do the same.

Wong protesting against national education

In 2011 Wong started Scholarism to protest against "moral and national education" curriculum put forward by the government. It would mean not learning about the Tiananmen Square massacre and casting the Communist Party in a better light. 

Scholarism organized a protest in late August 2012 around government headquarters in Tamar and tens of thousands showed up. Days later then chief executive Leung Chun-ying had to shelve the plan. 

Then in September 2014 the Umbrella Movement exploded after 87 rounds of tear gas was fired on protesters, and again Wong was the face of the protests. 

He was convicted and jailed in August 2017 and January 2018 for his role in the movement.

The jailing of this trio sends a strong signal to others not to stand up to authority, even if you may think protesting is right in principle. The space for dissent in Hong Kong is fast evaporating.

It also shows the government's unwillingness to engage with the next generation and reconcile differences -- the polarization is too extreme to find any middle ground.

87 rounds of tear gas fired on protesters in 2014

This is yet another sign forcing Hongkongers to decide whether they should leave the place they call home or stick it out, and become complacent.

There was more news today of Apple Daily found Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and two employees were charged with fraud. 

The government will continue to prosecute anyone it believes is contemptuous of it. 

The list is long.

As Covid Cases Spike, Three Activists Face Jail

In the fourth wave, source of many infections are dance clubs

 

Hong Kong recorded 73 new coronavirus cases today with 50 of them from a cluster of infections from dance clubs. These should not be mistaken with night clubs, but places where middle-aged people, mostly tai tais do the cha-cha, foxtrot and the rumba on the dance floor with men who are not their husbands. 

Hmmm! There's a video circulating on Twitter that shows everyone mask-less and in very close proximity to each other... there are already 70 preliminary positive cases for tomorrow...

Seven more dance clubs are impacted and anyone who has gone to any of these dance clubs must get tested... we will see many more cases in the next few days, yet again confirming the fourth wave is here.

Chow, Lam and Wong arrive at court today

While these cases got a lot of attention, three democracy activists pleaded guilty for their involvement in a 15-hour siege of Hong Kong police headquarters during the anti-government protests last year.

Originally Joshua Wong Chi-fung, 24, and Ivan Lam Long-yin, 26 were going to stand trial for their roles in the incident on June 21 last year, but yesterday they changed their minds to plead guilty after reviewing the prosecutor's evidence and consulting with legal counsel.

Agnes Chow Ting, 23, had originally pleaded guilty.

Wong pleaded guilty to organizing an unauthorized assembly and inciting others to take part in the event. Numerous clips were shown in court of him speaking through a loudspeaker outside police headquarters in Wan Chai, shouting that he hoped more people could join, and in another he declared the protesters had "completely besieged the police headquarters".

Wong at the June 21 protest with Chow (far right)

Lam pleaded guilty to a charge of incitement, while Chow had been charged with incitement and taking part in an unauthorized assembly.

As the barristers tried to plead lenience on their clients, Magistrate Wong Sze-lai refused, believing the incident could have escalated into violence.

In the case of Lam, which the barrister tried to ask for community service, Magistrate Wong immediately rejected this, saying the defendant already has four criminal records. 

The three were immediately remanded into custody until sentencing on December 2. 

As Wong was led out of the courtroom, he told supporters: "Hang in there everyone. Add oil!"

Before entering the court, Wong said the trio were prepared to face jail terms and hoped their plight would draw global attention.

Lam and Wong look up as they go into custody

"Under the continuing crackdown against the city's citizens, generations of youth [have gone] from protests to prisons to safeguard liberty for the place [in which] we were born," he said. "Neither prison bars nor election bans, nor any other arbitrary power will stop us from activism."

While Wong was defiant, Chow was worried. In her Facebook post on Sunday she wrote: "If sentenced, this will be my first time in prison. While I say I have mentally prepared for this, I am still a bit scared."

Increasing Threats on Joshua Wong

Joshua Wong says Hongkongers will not easily surrender

 

Day by day the level of absurdity in Hong Kong rises a notch or two higher. Earlier this week it was the Hong Kong police determining who was a real reporter and who was "fake" to ensure smooth operations.

And then yesterday Joshua Wong Chi-fung was arrested for allegedly breaching the anti-mask law last October 5, when people were banned from covering their faces during protests.

The irony is that wearing masks is mandatory these days because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He was also arrested for allegedly taking part in an illegal assembly that day as well.

Koo Sze-yiu is a veteran social activist

The force said the October 5 protest was not authorized under the Public Order Ordinance, hence the charge. The 23-year-old Wong was arrested along with 74-year-old Koo Sze-yiu, a veteran social activist who has was recently diagnosed with cancer and is in hospital, according to fellow activist Nathan Law Kwun-chung.

After Wong was released on bail, he told the media waiting outside the Central Police Station that the timing of his arrest and prosecution were politically motivated.

"The government wants to produce a chilling effect on Hong Kong people to frighten people away from the October 1 march," he said, referring to the planned National Day rally.

"But I can declare that I will continue to resist and we should also let the world know Hong Kong people will not easily surrender. They can't censor our commitment to fight for freedom. The chilling effect will not work and is not the way out -- they cannot force us to surrender."

Many opposition politicians, rights groups and the European Union weighed in on Wong's arrest.

Richardson says authorities want to silence Wong

Alan Leong Kah-kit, chairman of the Civic Party said: "It's so ridiculous for the government to arrest people over participating in an anti-mask law rally when everyone now in Hong Kong has to wear masks in public places [under coronavirus measures]."

Human Rights Watch said the Hong Kong government should stop prosecuting pro-democracy activists.

"The Hong Kong authorities keep dredging up dubious cases against Joshua Wong in a heavy-handed attempt to silence him," said Sophie Richardson, China director. "Hong Kong and Chinese authorities should realize that people in Hong Kong have responded to attacks on pro-democracy voices with ever greater resolve in calling for human rights."

Law, who is currently in exile in London, is concerned that while the authorities have not yet arrested Wong for breaching the national security law, it will only be a matter of time. 

"By arresting him and charging him once more, it sends a strong signal to Joshua that, basically telling Joshua that [he should] not do anything, otherwise we will arrest you under the national security law which is much more draconian and the maximum penalty will be life-long sentencing. I think that kind of intimidation is clear," Law told CBC Radio's current affairs show As It Happens.

Law with former HK governor Chris Patten

The Civil Human Rights Front had applied to the police to hold a rally on October 1 to protest against the mainland authorities for detaining 12 people who allegedly attempted to flee to Taiwan. However, the police rejected the application, citing social-distancing measures where a maximum of four people may gather in public, and that a large crowd could constitute a "grave threat" to public health and public safety.

The front has said it will appeal, and if rejected again, will think of other ways people can protest.

By the way there were only two new coronavirus cases today...

A Slew of News Today

Joshua Wong handily won for Kowloon East in the primaries

Lots of things happened today: the results of the primaries this past weekend thanks to 610,000 voters, the announcement of more social-distancing measures, and today is the third anniversary of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo's death, and 27th birthday of former lawmaker Nathan Law Kwun-chung.

Gwyneth Ho was a former Stand News reporter

Firstly, mostly big names were the big winners in the primaries that were held this weekend. Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, Joshua Wong Chi-fung, Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, and Ted Hui Chi-fung. Newcomer Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam swept New Territories East with Ventus Lau Wing-hong; Ho was previously a reporter with Stand News and was best known for continuing to record men attacking her in the Yuen Long MTR station last July 21.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was asked for her comments about the results at a press conference this evening. She immediately described them as "so-called primaries" and added there is no such thing in Hong Kong elections, as a way to imply they were illegal.

Lam announced more stricter measures tonight

Then she added that if more than 35 pan-democrats make up the Legislative Council and oppose the government's proposed policies, then they would be breaching the national security law.

"I am not saying they have breached the law, but I have to put forward a warning," she said.

Lam even added the government had received a number of complaints about the two-day primaries, as it may have breached the numbers for social-distancing, and breaching privacy, and that it was unfair for the upcoming elections.

At the same press conference, Lam announced stricter measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic, as there were 41 local cases today. These measures for one week include: no dining in from 6pm to 5am, only takeout; if dining in restaurants for breakfast and lunch, no more than four per table; masks are mandatory when taking any public transport; and 12 kinds of premises, including gyms and cinemas will shut down for a week.

Ocean Park, Disneyland will be closed again

One could have heard a collective groan from the entire city, especially those in the restaurant industry who depend on dinner service. Reporters repeatedly asked Lam and her cabinet why only dinner was restricted, and they replied several times that dinner was when people usually gathered to eat and spend more time than compared to breakfast and lunch.

Already there were comparisons of the virus to gremlins, as if they only came out to wreck havoc at night! The virus is everywhere all the time. We are still scratching our heads on not allowing dining in for dinner.

Lam also hinted the government was being kind to the catering industry for only shutting them down for dinner for one week.

Gym rats will be scratching at the walls desperate to get their workouts on a daily basis. Perhaps more will show up along the waterfront again and at Dr Sun Yat-sen Park. Disneyland and Ocean Park will be closed too.

Restaurants can only offer takeaway for dinner

We will all have to dig deep and try to keep infections numbers low.

Meanwhile today Nathan Law tweeted that he was in London, flying there with a backpack and a small suitcase, and is now living in a small apartment.

He also hints that the decision to leave was made rather quickly.

"As I turn 27 today, I can't say I'm anything but anxious and unsettled. I'm not one to celebrate my birthday, especially since Liu Xiaobo's passing on this very day three years ago. There's not much to be cheerful about," he tweeted. "My biggest wish is peace to Hong Kongers. We will keep our city and spirit alive."

It's a sad anniversary for sure. Liu died of liver cancer three years ago at the age of 61. His friends claim Liu would have been "heartbroken" to see Hong Kong being "mainlandized" and "communised".

Remembering Liu Xiaobo today

The statement added they believed Hongkongers would continue to put up resistance despite the new national security law.

Which brings us back to the massive turnout for the primaries; it's news he would probably like to hear.

Massive Turnout for Pro-Democracy Voters

This old China Motor Bus is converted into a polling station

The first day of the primaries began after a three-hour delay and started at around noon. Robert Chung Yiu-ting, head of Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute explained in the early hours of Saturday that it was because of the police raiding its Wong Chuk Hang offices that they reset the encryption key for the voting system out of security concerns.

However, the delay did not deter voters at all. Benny Tai Yiu-ting, one of the organizers of the primaries, had hoped for a total turnout of 170,000 -- but in fact almost 229,000 came out to cast their vote on the first day alone.

Long lines of voters were seen today

The primaries are an opportunity for pro-democracy voters to choose their best candidate for the upcoming Legislative Council elections to avoid splitting the vote. Tai is hoping for at least 35 pan-democrats to be voted in to take at half of the seats.

On social media there were pictures of long lines in many places, including 200 in Tai Po Plaza. The polling stations were also held in locations not necessarily easy to find, as Secretary for Constitutional Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai had warned the primaries could breach the national security law.

Some district councillors had planned to use their offices as polling stations, but were warned by their landlord, the Housing Authority, that doing so would breach their leases. Also a gelato shop that sells "tear gas ice cream" as one of its flavours in a shopping mall in Tsuen Wan was also warned about using its space as a polling station and pulled out.

Nevertheless, there were several unusual polling stations. One was an old China Motor Bus in Tuen Mun, and even a lingerie shop in Kennedy Town -- how did the men feel being in a shop full of bras! There were jokes about the primaries having "lots of support" coming out of the lingerie shop.

At one point several police descended on this shop as there were many people waiting to cast their votes. But luckily they were satisfied people were practicing social distancing and left.

This lingerie shop was also a polling station

Joshua Wong Chi-fung, formerly of Demosisto, canvased for votes in Kwun Tong and told people it was either the ballot or the bullet -- a pretty stark choice, but he went straight the point.

Some people voted after seeing the news of Wong's colleague, Nathan Law Kwun-chung flee Hong Kong, while others voted for localist candidates knowing they may not win, but wanted to have their voices heard.

And isn't that the point of voting? Universal suffrage was promised in the Basic Law but still has yet to be realized...