Labour Day Clashes

Police try to control the crowds that gathered at New Town Plaza tonight

The Hong Kong Police did not allow for a Labour Day march to go ahead like in previous years, citing the current coronavirus pandemic and the need for social distancing, ie groups of four.

Word got out that protesters were planning to have flash mobs in places like Causeway Bay, Sai Ying Pun, Mongkok and Tai Po, which resulted in 3,000 officers out patrolling these areas. In fact they were all over the place, including Kennedy Town and Central -- in groups of eight.

Police officers not practicing social distancing in Mongkok

They were suited up in riot gear complete with handguns. It was unnerving to say the least to follow them down Queen's Road Central, and they walk very slowly...

In the end there weren't flash mobs which must have annoyed the police, who then started harassing anyone nearby. A colleague told me her friend was just walking around Causeway Bay when police stopped her for no good reason.

Protesters instead focused on supporting the "yellow economic circle", patronizing restaurants, shops and services that support the protest movement. There is a list of them online and apparently many were inundated with customers, from hair salons to cafes and restaurants.

While it is an economic boost to these mostly small businesses, it is hardly enough to even begin to shore up the city's financial state. Since 2003 after SARS, Hong Kong has become so dependent on spending by mainlanders visiting, from hotels, restaurants and luxury brands that is exponentially more economic power than local spending.

One hair salon supported by the "Yellow Economic Circle"

Nevertheless, it was a gesture these small businesses probably appreciated greatly.

This evening, hundreds of protesters gathered at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin to sing Glory to Hong Kong, the anti-government protest anthem. They also shouted slogans, like "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times!" before dispersing, though those who were not cooperative were pepper sprayed in the face.

And par for the course, the police roughed up reporters on the scene, accusing them of not respecting social distancing rules of four to a group, when government regulations say this is exempted when it is related to work.

One officer told journalists to clear the mall, saying, "You're no longer documenting, you're gathering and taking part."

How is that even a decent excuse?

A former Civic Party member accosted by police and fined

Meanwhile former Civic Party member Philip Tsang got into an altercation with police, accusing him too of breaching the group gathering ordinance when he was... by himself. He was fined HK$2,000.

Despite the heavy riot police presence, people were undeterred and found empty corridors to gather and shout slogans.

People are still very angry and determined to express themselves to the government and Beijing.

It reminds me of the protest march by thousands of journalists after former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to was attacked by men armed with choppers in 2014.

The slogan shouted back then? "They can't kill us all".

It still pertains to today.

Blank Protest Full with Meaning

Ming Pao ran a picture of ginger, alluding to Keung Kwok-yuen

We appreciate that three Ming Pao columnists protested against the sacking of executive editor Keung Kwok-yuen earlier this week by submitting blank column spaces that ran.

In today's Life section, the paper ran empty spots by Audrey Eu Yuet-mee, founding leader of the Civic Party, and Eva Chan Sik-chee, a former Ming Pao journalist, with just headlines criticizing the decision to fire Keung on Wednesday.

Ng Chi-sum, a veteran media personality, also left his column blank, save for a line to explain his headline. It was quoted from a poem written by demonstrators of the 1976 Tiananmen Incident in protesting the removal of displays of mourning following Premier Zhou Enlai's death.

Today's blank spaces where columns should have ran

The line reads: "In my grief I hear demons shriek; I weep while wolves and jackals laugh."

The Ming Pao Staff Association reports that chief editor Chong Tien Siong had tried to stop running the blank columns.

In the association's Facebook post, it said Chong, who had been on leave, suddenly returned to work Saturday night and did not want to feature the blank columns, but this was already an hour after the pages had been typeset.

After discussions, the blank columns were kept, but an editor's note was included, reiterating the paper's decision to sack Keung was for cost-cutting purposes, and that the paper's editorial stance had not changed.

Because of this additional note, the pages had to be reprinted.

Blank pages in 2014 protested against Kevin Lau's dismissal

The association says it was very "angry" and "disappointed" with Chong's alleged attempt to obstruct freedom of expression, adding his decision to stop the printing process resulted in economic losses for Ming Pao.

The front page of the paper also featured a large piece of ginger, alluding to Keung, as his name in Cantonese is similar to the word ginger.

This is not the first time Ming Pao has run columns blank in protest.

When Chong replaced former chief editor Kevin Lau Chun-to in 2014, several writers, including Chan and Ng protested with empty spaces where their columns should have been.

It sounds like troubling times at Ming Pao have just escalated several notches -- a war between the chief editor and its staff are not a good thing. In the end, who will prevail?

HK Press Freedom Under Threat?

Chong (holding microphone) talked to staff this morning about the layoffs

Today is yet another bad day for press freedom in Hong Kong.

Ming Pao abruptly fired one of its top editors as well as some other editorial staff apparently because of budget cuts, but many don't see the financial excuse as the real reason.

Executive editor Keung Kwok-yuen and others were let go, and some staffers wondered if the move was meant to punish "dissidents of editorial decisions" like Keung.

Keung Kwok-yuen was a highly respected editor at Ming Pao

A Ming Pao Staff Association spokesperson said Keung was fired by his boss, chief editor Chong Tien Siong at midnight this morning with immediate effect.

"We are extremely angry and upset about it," the spokesperson said.

Keung could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile a Ming Pao Group spokesperson explained the company had little choice but to lay off staff, including senior personnel in business and editorial departments.

The cut in staff is a recurring refrain in Hong Kong media these days, particularly print. Earlier this month Sing Tao News Corporation announced a pay cut of up to 20 percent of its senior news executives.

During a meeting with Ming Pao staff, Chong described Keung as his "most competent aide", and that he and Keung were the best paid employees in the newsroom, and that he was prepared to go if management decided so.

Editor Kevin Lau Chun-to was also let go, back in 2014

Keung is known for covering politically sensitive issues, such as the July 1 protest march in 2003 against Article 23 where some half a million people came out to the streets, and the campaign against national education in 2012.

"We express our utmost regret that a veteran and objective journalist like Keung... was no longer [welcome] at Ming Pao," said a joint statement from the Hong Kong Journalists Association and six industry unions.

His dismissal comes after more news about Hong Kong tycoons named in the Panama Papers was reported on the front page of Ming Pao today.

Chong took over Ming Pao in 2014 and is said to be a close ally to owner, fellow Malaysian Tiong Hiew King, a pro-Beijing businessman. The staff were surprised by Chong's appointment because of his lack of local knowledge.

He replaced Kevin Lau Chun-to who was chief editor at the time; you may recall Lau was later attacked by men with choppers.

Newspaper staff held a "pens down" protest earlier this year

On Chong's first day, staff surrounded his office and asked him to sign a charter of press freedom. Reporters asked him if Ming Pao would turn into a pro-government newspaper, but he replied he didn't know because he wasn't the chief editor at the time.

Then in February last year, Chong changed the front page of the paper after midnight, from a report on confidential documents about Tiananmen in 1989 that was already approved by top-level editors -- to a story about Alibaba chief Jack Ma Yun.

He later explained the decision was made according to "the logic of news", that the report on the Tiananmen documents was unchanged and published on other pages. Chong never explained what he meant by "the logic of news"...

The union didn't accept this explanation and held a one-hour "pens down" protest.

It doesn't sound like Chong has made many friends at Ming Pao since he was brought in about two years ago. And firing yet another respected editor is not the way to win brownie points.

Is this the tipping point to lead to a mass exodus of staff? Or are economic conditions such that people don't have much choice, but to stay because they at least have a job?

Tough times.

US Report says Hong Kong's Freedoms Declining

The US State Department has observed a decline in freedoms in Hong Kong

The US State Department has issued its latest report on human rights practices around the world and notes a fall in freedoms in Hong Kong.

Compiled by the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, the annual document called Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, and Hong Kong is reported as a section under China.

The report cites the missing booksellers case as a concern

In it, the report mentions the five missing booksellers, saying that "credible reports" point to the involvement of "mainland security officials" in the disappearance of five booksellers who disappeared between October and December in Hong Kong and Thailand.

The report claims "credible reports gave rise to widespread suspicions" that mainland security officials were involved in their disappearance and that the incident "has raised concerns about the activities of mainland security forces in Hong Kong".

In addition, it cited "international and local media reports in late 2014", suggesting that mainland's Ministry of State Security "deployed operatives in Hong Kong to surveil critics of the central government's policies".

Another is rejecting Johannes Chan's appointment at HKU

This is not new, but interesting the report points this out now, and says targets included pro-democracy figures, activists, lawyers, academics, businessmen and religious leaders. "In one reported case, police arrested men alleged to have been part of a ministry surveillance team that was following a pro-democracy legislator, but released them shortly thereafter," the report says.

In response, the Hong Kong government said law enforcement officers outside the special administrative region did not have authority to enforce laws locally unless properly authorized.

We're not talking about enforcing local laws -- we're talking about mainland agents coming to the city and doing outright surveillance for information gathering. Is there something in the Basic Law about that?

The report also cites concerns for academic freedom when the University of Hong Kong rejected the appointment of law professor Johannes Chan Man-mun to a senior managerial post because of his close ties with Benny Tai Yiu-ting, a co-founder of the Occupy Central Movement.

Chan was rejected due to his ties with Benny Tai (above)

In addition, there are observations in the report that the city has declined in its position in the 2015 World Press Freedom Index and verbal and physical attacks on journalists, including the firebombing last year of former Apple Daily boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and the 2014 stabbing of former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to.

At least someone is closely observing what's going on in Hong Kong and reporting it... but will something be done about it?

HK Police Sweetens Image with Milk Tea

Hong Kong Police try to soften their image -- with milk tea, not tear gas

The Hong Kong police is trying hard to present a positive public image after the bad impression it left from handling protesters during last year's Occupy Movement.

Chief superintendent Steve Hui Chun-tak, nicknamed "Four O'Clock Hui Sir" for his 4pm briefings everyday during the 79-day protest, is moving on to become district commander of Sham Shui Po next month.

Steve Hui (left) with his successor Joseph Au with milk tea

His replacement is chief superintendent Joseph Au Chin-chau, who admits preferring to be more low key. His previous position was head of the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, dealing with such cases as the chopper attack on former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to, and an alleged bomb plot hatched at an abandoned ATV studio complex in Sai Kung.

So if Au doesn't want to be in the limelight, speaking out on behalf of the Hong Kong Police will be a cartoon character called Kong, who will prepare and serve the city's famous beverage, milk tea at the force's headquarters, and report gossip or stories from other officers.

Kong will also be featured in a comic book story each week on the force's Facebook page, where he will convey anti-crime messages.

"Milk tea is a classic drink that we cannot live without in daily life," said a police source who requested anonymity. "We want to use it as a link to bond with the community and attract young supporters as they love reading comics."

Hui was nicknamed Four O'Clock Hui for his news briefings

Some frontline officers speaking on condition of anonymity, were not impressed by this new PR strategy. They didn't understand how milk tea had anything to do with their work and were concerned the cartoon character would invite further ridicule.

We too have to wonder about this milk tea strategy. Does the Hong Kong Police think it can win more supporters one cup at a time? Or drowning locals in milk tea laced with caffeine will bring about a softer opinion about police officers? And are Hong Kong people really that infantile in that they only way to get through to them is by writing comic books?

Either way it seems rather silly.

Sounds like it's time to go back to the drawing board...

Occupation Finally Ends

A yellow umbrella reminder posted on one of the tents in Admiralty

Even though the 79-day Occupy protest ended in mid-December, there are still some diehards camped around Tamar, though they will finally pack up and leave tomorrow.

Now that the political reform package was successfully voted down last Thursday, these remaining dozen or so protesters feel their aim has been achieved and will comply with the police deadline of Wednesday to vacate Tim Mei Avenue.

"Now that the government's reform proposal has been voted down, there is no point staying here any more," said protester Four Lai, who is considered the spokesperson for at least half of "Tim Mei Village".

"We will leave of our own accord. To be fair, the government has been tolerant so far. We won't make things difficult for them."

Many have already moved items like appliances, including solar panels.

It's still hard to believe that Connaught Road Central was completely shut down back on September 28, but seeing the tents on Tim Mei Avenue felt like a defiant gesture, akin to the slogan after former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to was attacked -- "You can't kill us all".

The rag-tag group of tents reminded the public the fight for true universal suffrage is ongoing.

But by tomorrow they will finally be gone, a sad thought, but their job is done.

Sliding Press Freedoms

On this map, green is "free", yellow is "partly free", purple is "not free"

Yet another ranking of world press freedom has been released and Hong Kong has slid further down the list which is a sad sign of the city's reputation.

Freedom House, a concern group, has ranked Hong Kong 83rd in press freedom, down from last year's 74th place, and 71st in 2013.

The city's new position puts it in the company of such countries as Egypt, Turkey and Central Africa. The survey ranked 199 countries and territories with the categories of "free", "partly free", and "not free".

Hong Kong has maintained its status as "partly free", but the mainland was ranked as "not free" in 186th place. Taiwan was in 48th spot as "free".

The report's title this year is "Discarding Democracy: Return to the Iron Fist" which seems to aptly apply to China, Russia and North Korea.

The watchdog said in its report on Hong Kong that Beijing's enormous economic power and influence had allowed it to exert "considerable indirect pressure" on the city's media that has led to growing self-censorship.

It said the environment for press freedom had deteriorated further in 2014 as "physical attacks against journalists increased, massive cyberattacks crippled widely read news sites at politically significant moments, and businesses withdrew advertising from outlets that were critical of Beijing  and supporters of pro-democracy protesters".

Freedom House was referring to the attack on former Ming Pao chief editor Kevin Lau Chun-to last February, attacks on journalists during the Occupy protests, and the website of Apple Daily that was hit by major cyberattacks and financial institutions withdrawing advertising from the paper founded by Jimmy Lai Chee-ying.

Sham Yee-lan, chairwoman of the Journalists Association, wasn't surprised by the results, saying polls of journalists and the public here showed similar sentiments.

Norway and Sweden shared top spot in the ranking, while the United States and Britain were ranked 31st and 38th respectively, and at the bottom were North Korea (199), Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (both 197).

For Hong Kong to drop further down the ranking reflects the situation of the city government anxious to follow Beijing's lead, and ignore the needs of residents. There is also the further politicization of issues, that leads to polarization of opinions, making it harder to come to some kind of middle ground.

While the public cares about Hong Kong's press freedom, does its leaders? That is the most telling sign.

Where's HK's Press Freedom?

Press freedom in colours from yellow: satisfactory to black: difficult situation

As if Hong Kong needed further indication that its media landscape is deteriorating, Reporters Without Borders has released its annual report with the city dropping to its lowest ever position since the rankings came out in 2002.

Hong Kong is now at 70th place in terms of press freedom, compared to 61st last year, and 58th in 2013.

In 2002 the city was ranked 18th, and then plunge to 56th the following year.

The international media watchdog cited some events in the past year that were cause for concern, including the knife attack on former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to, suspicions that Beijing had a hand in the sudden closure of pro-democracy website House News, and accusations that there was self-censorship in the media on covering the Umbrella Movement protests.

For some perspective, China was ranked 176th of 180 countries, also its lowest ranking since it began, while Taiwan was at 51st place, and Japan 61st.

Hong Kong Journalists Association chairman Sham Yee-lan blamed the Leung Chun-ying administration. "The government has shown no respect to the press. Our officials now like to write blogs, instead of hosting proper press conferences, to discuss public policy issues," she said.

Press freedom is measured by the degree of freedom reporters, media and netizens enjoy and the efforts made by governments to ensure respect for this freedom.

Hong Kong is the tiny orange dot next to China...

The index is compiled using information compiled from questionnaires sent to partner organizations around the world as well as local journalists, researchers and human rights activists.

In an overall statement, the group said: "Beset by wars, the growing threat from non-state operatives, violence during demonstrations and the economic crisis, media freedom is in retreat on all five continents.

"Two-thirds of the 180 countries surveyed for the 2015 index performed less well than in the previous year," it said.

Finland topped the list for the fifth year in the row, followed by Norway and Denmark. In last place was the African nation of Eritrea, then North Korea and Turkmenistan in Central Asia. The United States was ranked 49th, down three places.

Hong Kong's ranking is utterly disappointing, but not surprising. The biggest concern is what will be done about the situation, and sadly probably not much, given the current climate of Beijing taking a keener interest in Hong Kong affairs following the Occupy protests.

It's a sad state of affairs when reporters have to find out the latest government news on websites, eerily replicating what's done in China (particularly on Friday afternoons), and there is little opportunity for reporters to engage with officials and hold them accountable for their statements or actions.

When journalists cannot do their jobs, then how can the public find out what's really going on? They too are distrustful of the government. This lack of information only exacerbates tensions between the authorities and the people, resulting in further disillusionment.

Does this mean another Umbrella Movement brewing as we speak?

Kevin Lau Back to Work

Kevin Lau Chun-to talks to reporters on his first day back at work in Chai Wan

Warm cheers for former Ming Pao chief editor Kevin Lau Chun-to who returned to work today, almost six months after the brutal chopper attack on his back and legs that led to fears about press freedom in Hong Kong.

Reporters said he looked tired and used a cane to walk, but Lau urged his fellow journalists to show courage.

"I still haven't full recovered from the wounds and I will be receiving physiotherapy every morning and coming in for half days of work in the following months," he said.

The veteran journalist was attacked on the morning of February 26 in Sai Wan Ho by a man with a meat cleaver, deeply wounding his back and legs, and the assailant escaped on motorcycle driven by another man.

Lau was rushed to hospital where he was fighting for his life and had serious nerve damage to his leg which doctors say will take two years to recover.

On Friday two men charged with assault appeared in Eastern Court, and then the case was handed over to the Court of First Instance.

Yip Kim-wah and Wong Chi-wan both face charges of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as theft charges.

They have yet to enter a plea.

Lau spoke in a defiant tone to reporters, saying the attack would not affect his approach to his work.

"We have to be cautiously optimistic about any developments in the present political situation. But journalists should not yield to any pressure and must be courageous, especially at times of political instability," he said.

He stressed he would "stand his ground" and continue "to stick to the core principles of journalism".

The attack occurred after he was removed from his position at chief editor by Ming Pao management in February and Lau was transferred to Ming Pao Group's electronic books and teaching materials division.

He does believe the attack was related to his journalism, and in March, thousands of people, including myself marched the streets calling for press freedom.

It's wonderful to finally see Lau up and about, albeit still recovering. When he was transferred, many saw this move very much like something that would happen on the mainland.

People were annoyed that this was happening in Hong Kong. But when the horrific attack happened, everyone was so shocked because Lau is hardly a radical, making it seem even more strange why he was the target.

Nevertheless, he knows everyone is watching, which is why he hopes the determination in his voice will not only demonstrate his confidence, but also inspire others, particularly in the journalism field, to continue guarding press freedom in the city.

Putting up Barriers

People gathering in Civic Square for the HKTV protest last October

The Hong Kong government is taking a page out of Beijing's handbook on how to deal with negative public gatherings by shutting off access to protest areas on government land even though they were financed with taxpayer money.

At the Tamar site, there's a forecourt area where protesters like to convene at, and I have been in for the march on press freedom following the brutal chopper attack on former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to.

However, the Hong Kong government has all of a sudden decided to start constructing a three-metre-high fence to the entrance of this area that protesters like to call "Civic Square".

When the construction work is completed, there will be a rule introduced to deny unauthorized people access to the area from 11pm to 6am. Fences will also be built to separate the forecourt from the Legislative Council complex.

Nevertheless, mass protests will be allowed into the square on public holidays and Sundays with prior consent from the director of the Administration Wing.

Which probably means no, since the application rests on one person.

Officials say the fencing was necessary due to recent protests outside Legco where protesters against plans to build new towns in the New Territories used bamboo poles to pry open the doors to the complex.

"A review of the existing security arrangements revealed it is necessary to enhance the overall capacity to withstand potential security threats to the building," a government spokesman said.

And coincidentally construction of the fence will begin next month, sealing off the entire area when then Occupy Central movement is supposed to commence.

Ever since the government relocated to this area in 2011, protesters have used the 1,000 square-metre area to meet since it was designed with the theme of "a door is always open".

Dr Chan Kin-man, a co-organizer of Occupy Central says the closing off the forecourt doesn't affect the protest movement. "We believe it is useless to occupy the Civic Square as the administration has become numb towards the protests there," he said.

"The government is only trying to find an excuse to kill the protest zone."

But James To Kun-sun, a Democratic Party lawmaker finds the government's latest actions as "tightening the public's freedom of peaceful demonstration and assembly. If the officials only want protesters to stay away from its office, it just shows how weak and afraid the government is."

Doesn't that sound like a comment one would make about Beijing as well?

The Continuing Erosion of Press Freedom

Calling for press freedom following the attack on a former Ming Pao editor

This year is hardly over yet but already the Hong Kong Journalists Association is calling 2014 the darkest in decades due to violence, financial pressure and the reliance by the government on anonymous sources.

And the association expects things to get worse.

"We reckon that Hong Kong's press freedom had its darkest year in several decades," said association chairwoman Sham Yee-lan yesterday. "As political pressure between Hong Kong and Beijing increases, we expect further deterioration in press freedom."

She cited such incidents as the meat cleaver attack on former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to, the sacking of Commercial Radio host Li Wei-ling, and advertising boycotts against Apple Daily and am730 as troubling incidents.

Press freedoms need to be protected more than ever

Most recently on July 2, reporters were cordoned off when they tried to report on the arrests the day after the march in Central.

Journalists claimed that when they agreed to go into a press area, police officers formed a human wall around them so that they could not get a clear view of what was happening.

Tensions seem to be rising between society and the authorities and the media is caught in between. Journalists are trying to report on what they see or to verify something and most of the time they are met with silence or prevented from doing their jobs.

The media culture in Hong Kong feels like it is being "mainlandized", where most inquiries aren't even acknowledged and reporters have to read between the lines when officials speak.

The less accurate information that gets out, the less trust people have in Hong Kong, resulting in less investment and confidence in the city. It's a domino effect we can't afford to let happen.

There will probably be more marches for press freedom in the coming months, but in the meantime we must support journalists who are on the front lines who are trying to find out what is really going on for us to know.

Marching for Press Freedom

The banner "They can't kill us all" at the entrance to the Legislative Council

This afternoon over 10,000 people gathered at the Central Government Offices at Tamar to condemn the violent attack on former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to, who is gradually recovering in hospital.

March organizers asked participants to dress in black and the vast majority complied with a few holding signs condemning violence, calling for freedom of the press and freedom from fear.

We missed the rally that happened at noon, but after pinning a blue ribbon on our shirts to represent press freedom, we followed the garden path towards the harbour that led to the other side of "the arch" where the Legislative Council meetings are held.

Thousands of marchers filing into the area dressed in black

Interestingly security allowed us in, but as taxpayers we do have a right to go in! The strange part about this space, a large entrance area, is that it seems designed so that accoustics there would be horrible.

We couldn't hear what the speakers were saying, many of them soft spoken which seemed strange considering the march was about channeling people's anger and shock from Wednesday's incident. A nearby generator conspired against us hearing too.

Nevertheless, most of what the speakers said was how important it was to maintain press freedom, that it is troubling to see Hong Kong like this.

There was a giant white banner with the words "They can't kill us all" and signatures all over it. The phrase has become a rallying cry for journalists in the city, of their duty to report the truth and not be afraid.

The organizers also broadcast Lau's message, his first words spoken publicly since two men attacked him with choppers.

"A Chinese couplet on a campus poster from my days at the Hong Kong University came to mind, when I was lying on bed after the operations. It read, 'A pen in hand, off my chest to tell the truth. For freedom is without fear or favour'.

Two speakers thank the crowd for coming to the march

"The news media will only be truly inspiring when its practitioners persist in upholding truth and justice. And only those without fear or favour can truly be free," he said.

"Violence is meant to intimidate. If we are frightened into submission, we will lose our freedom," he continued. "We journalists must stand fearless. We must insist that justice be served. We must strive to tell the truth without fear or favour. Freedom is not given. Freedom is not free. We all have to earn and guard it."

Finally the march set off and we inched our way out of the Tamar area and onto Connaught Road where we were stopped periodically by police as marchers went up the escalator. It was a tactic to slow things down and hope people would get frustrated and leave (possibly so that they could report lower numbers).

But what's interesting is that people counting the number of protestors should have a pretty accurate tally because the people could be counted going up the escalator in batches.

Many participants hold signs ahead of the march

After crossing the overpass we had to line up again to go down another set of escalators. Such a bizarre protest march path, but that's how it was designed. Perhaps another reason to blame former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen?

In any event we the marched along Queensway, opposite Pacific Place towards the Police Headquarters on Arsenal Street. Again we were stopped periodically by cars trying to cross our path and so we patiently waited.

When we finally arrived -- just over two hours later, organizers passed out small strips of blue ribbon with double-sided tape to stick onto banners representing our desire for press freedom.

After a trip to the public washroom nearby, we walked back towards Admiralty and saw tons of people still marching, and so the turnout was very impressive.

It was heartening to see people of all ages, young and old taking part. The university-aged students were particularly active thanks to social media.

Still thousands of people yet to reach Police Headquarters

This march is not just for journalists who are trying to protect their livelihood. This is about the future of Hong Kong. When the city loses freedom of the press then everyone is not getting accurate information, from financial to social issues. And when that happens how can anyone trust what news comes from Hong Kong?

Why would anyone want to invest in a city that does not tell the truth?

As Lau says freedom is not a given, but must be earned.

We did our duty today and hope Beijing is listening. We are not afraid to defend our core values.

Condemnation and Sympathy

It is a relief to read that former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to is stable after his surgery and can communicate by writing. However he needs his rest before he can give a statement to the police to further their investigation of who did this horrific attack on him yesterday morning.

Everyone has been talking about the incident and how it sends shivers down their backs.

Other than Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and the Hong Kong Journalists Association, one of the first diplomats to give a statement was US Consul Clifford Hart.

His statement read in part: "We welcome the Hong Kong Government's condemnation of this vicious crime and commitment to conduct a thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice".

Today the European Union also issued a statement along the same lines.

There was speculation that perhaps Lau was involved with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists due to Ming Pao's reports of the business affairs of senior Chinese officials.

While the ICIJ didn't believe there was evidence to link the two, it was concerned that the incident "does reflect the real concern and anxiety felt by many in the Hong Kong press corps over continuing threats to press freedom".

This incident needs to be reported around the world so that people know what is happening here in terms of freedom of speech and rule of law... that they are fast eroding.

Of the attacks on journalists and commentators that have happened over the years, hardly any of them have been brought to justice.

Doesn't it also seem strange that not a peep has been heard from either Beijing or the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office about Lau's attack?

One would think it would be the diplomatic thing to do...

Press Freedom in Critical Condition

Ex-Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau wheeled out after surgery under media glare

Former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to is fighting for his life after he was attacked by two men with choppers in Sai Wan Ho.

He was the editor who was shunted aside to make way for pro-Beijing Malaysian Chong Tien Siong, who has no local experience, which was one of the main reasons for Sunday's march of 6,000 people for press freedom.

Lau suffered six cuts, the most serious one was a 16cm-long wound that went from his back to his left chest cavity, severing "all the muscles" in between, said Dr Tang Chung-ngai, chief of service at Pamela Youde Neversole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan.

"Luckily, his lung tissue, major blood vessels and diaphragm were undamaged," said Tang. A 4cm-long cut on his back near his left shoulder was a superficial one.

Just after 10.30am Lau was attacked on Tai Hong Street as he was getting out of his car and even manged to call the police to tell them he'd been ambushed and that the two attackers had fled on a motorcycle.

The chilling incident overshadowed the commencement of Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah's budget speech where he doled out few sweetners (no more electricity subsidies and cigarettes cost 20 percent more). Tsang stated Hong Kong now had a budget surplus of HK$12 billion to make a total of HK$745.9 billion in fiscal reserves.

And he still won't dole out more money.

In fact the budget speech seemed completely irrelevant after Lau's attack was reported.

What is all this money for? Some budget reporters speculated Tsang wouldn't open the purse strings until reserves hit HK$1 trillion.

Indeed what is all this money for when the city can't even protect one of its core values, press freedom.

This is a targeted attack -- so what did Lau do wrong?

Some conspiracy theorists are suggesting the attack was purposely chosen on the day of the budget when reporters were busy, and the sacking of Commercial Radio Host Li Wei-ling also happened on a Wednesday and it is also the publication day of Jimmy Lai's Next Magazine, which cannot report on the incident in a timely manner.

Lau's attack immediately reminded me of outspoken radio host Albert Cheng King-hon who was chopped in 1998 as he was on his way to Commercial Radio's station. Days after the attack he admitted he was scared for his family, but was impressed to see his wife Irene was so strong.

In the intervening years I saw him walking with a cane, determined to make his life as normal as possible, but not without safety precautions.

And now the same fate has fallen on Lau. We hope he will recover after this horrific incident because more than ever he has become a symbol of the fragility of press freedom in Hong Kong.