Government Sets Minimum Size for Flats

Wong sets minimum size for flats on govt land to 280 sq ft

Finally the Hong Kong government has decided to take a stand and determine the minimum size of a flat.

Secretary for Development Michael Wong Wai-lun has determined that flats on government land can be no smaller than 280 square feet. We're assuming this is the amount of actual living space in the flat and not including public areas...

There are still lots of nano flats on the market

When asked why 280 sq ft was chosen, Wong said another subsidised project at Anderson Road in Kwun Tong had a minimum size limit of 250 sq ft that was used as a reference point. As the Tuen Mun parcel is a private piece of land, that is one step higher on the housing ladder (than one on government land), so the threshold was taken to 10 percent higher.

Government officials are not actually looking at the size of flats and saying, "This looks liveable to me,", but rather "What's the going rate now?" which is not how to solve the city's housing woes.

Have these senior ministers actually walked inside a 250 sq ft or 280 sq ft flat and asked themselves if they could actually live in there with all their stuff?

Apparently this is not how they do things.

"Now that we have set the rules of the game clearly, [developers] will not need to worry about their peers benefiting from a layout with very small units," Wong said. "We think it is a level playing field. It is a very fair-game rule."

How about a flat almost twice the size of this?

For the developers yes, but not the buyers, many of them young people trying to get onto the housing ladder.

Wong was not worried about the establishment of the minimum size affecting home-buying options as there were still plenty of flats measuring smaller than 300 sq ft.

The question now is what will happen to the values of the flats that are smaller than 280 sq ft? Will they be less valued because they don't make the grade anymore?

Hopefully with the minimum space determined, then we will see the end of nano flats, those smaller than 200 sq ft, though some real estate experts say the 280 sq ft will price many out of the market. 

A never-ending vicious circle...

Stand News Stands Down

Media covering arrest of Stand News editor Patrick Lam

Yesterday Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and six former senior editors and executives were slapped with another charge of allegedly promoting seditious material. 

Early this morning news broke that the national security police arrested seven people related to independent online news outlet Stand News, including former and current editors, former opposition lawmaker Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, musician and activist Denise Ho Wan-sze, and Christine Fang Meng-sang, cousin of former chief secretary Anson Chan Fong On-sang.

Denise Ho was also arrested this morning

Police also froze HK$61 million (US$7.8 million) of Stand News' assets, making it the second news outlet to be accused of breaching the national security law.

Ronson Chan Ron-sing, Stand News deputy assignment editor and chairman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, was also taken from his home in Tai Wai for questioning but was not placed under arrest.

Coincidentally, Chan was at the association's annual dinner two nights ago, in which he deplored the rapid deterioration of press freedom in Hong Kong.

In part he said this:

"When the Excom was elected last June, we made a solemn promise to our colleagues and the society. We know that it is a turbulent time, but freedom of the press is one of the pillars of Hong Kong's success. Since its establishment in 1968, HKJA has attached importance to its social responsibility as much as to the needs of our colleagues. Hong Kong needs both truth and reporters. No matter how difficult the road is ahead, HKJA will do our utmost to continue to stand high and shoulder to shoulder. In the face of an uncertain future, we have no other request from our friends and partners other than your encouragement. Our humble wish is to continue to receive words of encouragement even if they may be soft and low."

Chan speaks to reporters after his release

By this afternoon Stand News was shut down, its employees all laid off. By 11pm tonight the website was shut down as well as its social media like Twitter accounts.

More than 200 police officers were involved in Wednesday's crackdown, raiding the Stand News office in Kwun Tong with a warrant, and took away 33 boxes of evidence, including computers and journalistic material, and also searching the homes of some of the accused.

At a press conference today, Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu justified the arrests of the seven which led to Stand News' demise.

"Anybody who attempts to make use of media work as a tool to pursue their political purpose or other interests [and] contravenes the law, particularly offences that endanger national security, they are the evil elements that damage press freedom," Lee said.

Barrister Margaret Ng was arrested by police

"Professional media workers should recognise that these are the bad apples who are abusing their position simply by wearing a false coat of media worker and then, using that position, abuse news as a tool, to pursue their own purposes. They will pollute press freedom. Professional media workers should recognise this, say no to these people and stand far from them."

Senior Superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah, of the police force's National Security Department, said they froze Stand News' assets as they questioned where the money came from as the news outlet did not accept sponsors or receive many advertising fees. 

The police also questioned how Stand News could have the money to open a bureau in the UK and if a conspiracy had occurred. 

Stand News was founded on December 29, 2014 and shut down almost seven days later to the day on December 27, 2021.

It became known for its on-the-ground reporting, particularly during the 2019 protests and was a go-to source for news for opposition-leaning readers. Its reporters also did investigative stories, including the latest one on two senior immigration officials allegedly receiving gift hampers from embattled developer China Evergrande.

Screenshot from Ho's live stream of Yuen Long

By law civil servants are not allowed to receive gifts worth more than HK$3,000, but these hampers were priced at HK$3,388. One of the officials surmised that the hampers were bought during an early-bird special so they actually cost under HK$3,000...

During the 2019 protests, it drew 3.8 million viewers when its then reporter Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam, live streamed the attacks in the Yuen Long MTR station on July 21, 2019, and she herself was attacked by the white-clad men with rods. Her video was a chilling record of what happened that night.

But Stand News is no more. 

There are fewer places for Hongkongers to get their news. If anything the mainlandisation of Hong Kong continues to steamroll on, making press freedom in the city even more fragile by the day.

No Chance for Second Lucky Draw

A lucky vaccinated person won a flat here, but no second draw

Remember lucky draws? Those prizes that were meant to entice people to get vaccinated?

Sino Group and its philanthropic arm the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation Limited, as well as Chinese Estates Holdings already gave away a HK$10 million flat in Kwun Tong earlier as well as cash prizes.

They promised to give away another flat if a total of 5 million people got at least one jab by the end of November, but today being November 30, that did not happen.

Today's notice says less than 5M have one jab

As of today, the total is 4,756,146. Where are the other 243,854 people who have not gotten vaccinated?! Why are they denying people like me the chance to win a flat?!

Joking aside I don't expect to win a flat, but I had hoped people would be selfless and get the jab not only for their own safety but also for the safety of others.

But I was wrong -- people in Hong Kong really are selfish and are willing to drag the rest of us with them into having zero benefits of being vaccinated.

Nevertheless, Executive Council member Bernard Chan has hinted that the elderly will need to get the jab eventually.

He said the city cannot allow the vaccination rate among elderly people to remain at 20 percent, as currently just under 19 percent of people over the age of 80 have had one dose.

Chan warned if the inoculation rate does not go up, Hong Kong will never be able to open its borders to the world.

"If in the future, we have more premises that adopt 'vaccine bubbles' that require people to get jabbed to enter, I believe at the end of the day elderly people will get the shots," he said.

Chan says HK cannot be isolated much longer

"They simply lack the motivation now. If we wait for them they may never get vaccinated. If they don't, Hong Kong's 7.4 million people will be isolated."

Excuse me? We have been isolated for almost two years. 

And now with the Omicron variant, it is even more imperative that the elderly get jabbed.

The government seems to have no problem cracking down on people who allegedly violate the national security law, but when it comes to getting the elderly vaccinated, it's a wait-and-see approach that is going no where...

Alliance Members Arrested and Other News

The alliance organized the annual June 4 vigil for 30 years

Action was swift. 

The day after the group that organized the annual Tiananmen Square candlelight vigils again refused to comply to the national security police's request for information about donors and its operations, the authorities this morning arrested four core members, including Chow Hang-tung.

Chow was arrested this morning at her office

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China said Chow was detained along with Leung Kam-wai, Tang Ngok-kwan and Chan To-wai. A police source said the national security department was also looking for a fifth person but could not find him at his home in Tsuen Wan.

Chow was arrested in her office at around 8am. She was there early as she was preparing to represent Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam in a bail hearing. Ho was one of the 47 people arrested in another national security investigation into the primary election held last July.

"Some people have been ringing the doorbell and attempting to break the door code," said Chow, the alliance vice-chairwoman in a live video she posted on her Facebook page.

Chow's family later said she was handcuffed and taken to her home where the police searched the premises. 

A spokesman for the Security Bureau said in a statement: "Ignoring warnings given, the organization concerned resolutely insisted on refusing to comply with the police force's requirement to provide information... Hence, police had to take action."

The national security police allege the alliance colluded with foreign forces. 

Ho withdrew her bail application today

As Chow was unable to represent Ho now that she was detained, another defense counsel stepped in in Ho's case.

A former journalist, Ho withdrew her bail application during her hearing after the court refused to lift reporting restrictions. 

She had wanted to challenge the statutory restrictions imposed on reports of bail applications, which bar the publication of bail negotiations heard in open court.

Currently the law only allows six types of information to be published in media reports on bail proceedings, including the defendant's name, the alleged offence and the application's result.

During today's hearing, Madam Justice Esther Toh Lye-ping of the High Court refused to lift the restrictions after hearing brief arguments. As a result, Ho withdrew her bail application and was returned to custody.

And in other depressing news, I did not win the HK$10.8 million (US$1.4 million) flat in Kwun Tong, nor did I win HK$100,000 in credit either, as the winners were drawn today.

The winner of the flat was born in Hong Kong between January 1980 and December 1988 according to the first letter of the HKID card, so someone from around 33 to 41 years old.

A Hongkonger won a HK$10.8M flat today

The lucky draw was a bid to encourage people to get vaccinated, only 48.7 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated, and the number of people getting their first jab has dwindled to about 15,400 people on Monday, compared to 30,000 in mid-August.

A second HK$12 million flat in Kwun Tong will be up for grabs if 5 million people get at least one jab by the end of September. Hong Kong is currently at 4.27 million people with at least one dose.

At this rate it will be a miracle to reach 5 million...

The Bonanza Gets Bigger

Cathay is offering a party flight to nowhere as a grand prize

 

There are so many lucky draws in Hong Kong for those who have been vaccinated with two jabs that the list grows by the day. At the moment the total amount of the prizes is worth HK$118 million.

Aside from the HK$10.8 million flat in Kwun Tong, the hotel chain Shangri-La is offering a year of stays at any of their 76 locations around the world, gold bars, a Tesla car, and even a party on a private flight (to no where by Cathay Pacific). 

But there are some stranger enticements.

Anyone want to win Regina Ip's watch?

Executive Councillor Bernard Charnwut Chan's insurance company is ponying up 1,000 medical body check -- some have joked if he will personally conduct these body checks...

And fellow Exco member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee has dug into the bowels of her closet to find a diamond encrusted Rolex watch from 1991, and 5kg of some fine Chinese tea. However one has to be a member of the New People's Party to be eligible to enter.

That's OK -- I don't want her watch anyway.

Regardless, who doesn't want free MTR annual passes, shopping coupons and hotel staycations?

Get vaccinated!

 

Get Jabbed for a Chance to Win a Flat

A flat like this could be yours if you get your two vaccinations

Finally the numbers of people signing up to get vaccinations surged to 28,200 today, 10,500 for Sinovac, 17,700 for BioNTech.

The reason?

The chance to win a HK$10.8 million flat, and some other monetary prizes.

Enter the lucky draw to win a flat in Kwun Tong

Yesterday a group of companies: The Sino Group, Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, and Chinese Estate Holdings announced they were sponsoring a lucky draw for a one-bedroom flat measuring 449 sq ft in Kwun Tong. But that's not all -- they will also donate 20 prizes with prepaid or credit card value of HK$100,000 each.

They heeded Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's call for companies to give out financial incentives to get the public to get jabs, as she didn't think it was the government's job to do that.

Huh.  

But at least this announcement worked so far. If there wasn't much of a response then it showed even money wouldn't move Hongkongers to roll up their sleeves and protect themselves and others.

However others still refuse to budge with the same reasons, that they were scared of the side effects, that the vaccines were rushed out too clearly and wanted more proof they were effective, or claimed their doctors advised them against it.

Chan says HK may not order more vaccines

But Secretary for Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee warned if more people didn't take up the vaccine, then it would be hard for Hong Kong to justify ordering more, considering others places were desperate for vaccines. 

She added when the time came for booster shots, those who hadn't had two shots yet would not be eligible.

Meanwhile the University of Hong Kong infectious disease expert Yuen Kwok-yung believed the fourth wave was over in the city with zero local infections for 28 days, but warned the fifth wave could be coming.

What?!

He said it was tricky to decide on whether to lift social-distancing measures, like limits on the number of people per group, and mandatory mask-wearing in public areas. Yuen said the focus should not be on easing restrictions, but on preparing for the fifth wave.

Yuen has tough suggestions for those not jabbed

However, Yuen recommended some benefits to those who had been vaccinated. For example they should be allowed to stay in restaurants until midnight, while those who haven't had the jab should only be allowed to eat at lunch time in restaurants, and outdoors at other times. 

If a building has a transmission of the virus and requires evacuation, those who are inoculated should be allowed to quarantine at home, while those who are not must do the 21 days in a government quarantine camp. 

And once adolescents are allowed to get the jab, then those should be allowed to be in the classroom, while those who haven't been inoculated must study from home.

Sounds harsh, but definitely an incentive to get the vaccine.

Carrie, any thoughts?

Hike to Devil's Peak

A view of both Hong Kong and Kowloon at Devil's Peak

 

This morning I went over to Tiu King Leng to meet up with my friend who took me up to Devil's Peak!

She had showed it to me a few weeks ago when we were walking around Tseung Kwan O and sounded like it was worth checking out and was not disappointed.

Behind her building is a giant staircase -- 500 steps -- before we start the hike. We didn't realize that we forgot to start tracking our hike until about 1km in! When we got to the top of the stairs we saw many seniors doing lots of exercises.

Looking east at the passage at Lei Yue Mun

One time she said she saw a man probably in his 80s doing pull-ups on a bamboo bar held up by two trees and he even swung around the pole like a gymnast! Too bad she didn't have video evidence but I have to believe her...

The hike up to Devil's Peak wasn't too bad, very scenic and such a beautiful day with a breeze to keep us cool in the 25-degree heat. It's February!

We scrambled up to the top and it was quite amazing to be able to see practically a 180-degree view of Kowloon and Hong Kong. On Hong Kong Island you could see Siu Sai Wan all the way to Central, and from Kowloon the ICC Tower all the way to Kwun Tong.

And because of the view, my friend explained it was the lookout spot for pirates to control the passage of Lei Yue Mun, the eastern passage to Victoria Harbour. Later the British military chose the site for defense when it began colonizing Kowloon in 1898. 

Abandoned building taken over by a banyan tree

Also up there are the Gough Battery and Pottinger Battery used in World War II. I hear the sunset view from here is amazing too!

From there we walked down a set of stairs that led us to an abandoned area that she said locals jokingly referred to as "the Angkor Wat of Hong Kong" with banyan trees growing amid some ruins, but it was hardly even dramatic, nor were these ruins temples.

We continued down to Lei Yue Mun and checked out the Tin Hau temple -- a middle aged woman gruffly warned us not to take pictures inside the temple, but the views of the water crashing next to the building were beautiful to watch.

It's sad seeing the restaurants in the area shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, otherwise they would be busy with tourists, while, locals are not interested in entertaining exorbitant prices for fresh seafood. Only a few street stalls selling traditional Chinese snacks were open, and trying to get anyone passing by to buy something.

Tin Hau Temple right by the water at Lei Yue Mun

Just steps from those stalls is an industrial area and then we suddenly came across a luxury residential area with vertical gardens. It was really bizarre. Beyond that was the shopping mall connected to Yau Tong MTR station.

We had lunch there and then went on with the rest of our afternoon.

Last Dinner of 2020

The Red Pepper Restaurant closed its doors December 31

 

One of the South China Morning Post's most loyal advertising clients is The Red Pepper Restaurant which serves Sichuan cuisine in Causeway Bay.

Practically every day it had a small ad in the paper with a picture of its signature sizzling prawns in chilli sauce.

However a few days ago I found out it was closing on December 31 because of the pandemic and decided my last meal for 2020 would be from this restaurant.

What's left of the dining area of the restaurant

Many other places have closed this year and admittedly I only know of the more expensive ones, like Pierre, Cafe Gray Deluxe, Nectar, John Anthony, Brickhouse, Craftsteak, Olive, Old Bailey, Jimmy's Kitchen, and Boathouse in Stanley.

Some of the above spaces are being changed into new concepts, or have already changed, in a way signalling the evolution of Hong Kong's dining scene.

I also went to Kwun Tong to see Hop Hing Noodle's customers line up to get their last fill of braised beef brisket and noodles, and now The Red Pepper Restaurant that admittedly catered more to non-Chinese diners, but had pretty authentic Sichuan dishes.

While the owner owns the restaurant space, the social-distancing restrictions does not make it financially viable to keep the place open, hiring many staff and cooks even though they have been there for years. 

The sad thing is that the restaurant has been around since 1971, when there were only a handful of norther Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong and the owner's father decided to bet his money there was a market for spicy Chinese food.

Mapo tofu, sizzling prawns, pea shoots and rice

The outside facade of The Red Pepper Restaurant is so striking -- you can't miss it. It looks like a kitsch Chinese place, the facade complete with red columns, turquoise Chinese-tiled roof, and green tiled "windows".

Inside the orange table cloths were gone with chairs around them with no one sitting in them, but the Chinese lantern light fixtures are still hanging from the ornate ceiling.

We ordered a few things for our takeaway dinner since no dining in restaurants is allowed after 6pm: those best-selling prawns, along with ma po tofu, and stirfried pea shoots with garlic, and some rice.

Not long after the order was filled and we took the food back to our office nearby to eat. The prawns were huge, and admittedly would have been better on a hot platter, but they were still meaty and delicious.

The mapo tofu was as I remembered it -- silky tofu cubes in a chilli sauce that had a touch of Sichuan peppercorns for a mildly numbing sensation. That's what makes this dish so addictive. It goes perfectly with rice.

And to balance things out the pea shoots were delicious, punctuated by the finely diced garlic.

The restaurant's old school menu

Depending on the pandemic, the owner may reopen the restaurant in six months, but most of the time when they say the closure is temporary, it usually is permanent.

For example, Jimmy's Kitchen closed earlier in the year with the promise of opening by summer and it still hasn't happened.

However, the owner of The Red Pepper Restaurant hinted that perhaps he would only focus on online orders for takeaway, but unless that happens, that may have been the last time eating those crunchy prawns and smooth but spicy tofu. 

The other interesting famous trivia about this restaurant was that it was one of the places Bruce Lee shot a film he directed, starred and produced called Game of Death. A fight scene with NBA basketball player Kareem Abdul Jabbar was shot in there in 1972, but the film was never completed because Lee died the following year.

 

 

Defiance Continues as Police Gain New Powers

Protesters with blank sheets of paper at apm mall tonight

Tonight at least 13 people were arrested at apm mall in Kwun Tong for protesting. Over 100 people were in the shopping mall shouted slogans, and held up blank pieces of paper, since they cannot be in possession of the offending slogan in printed form.

Riot police warned them to leave immediately, as these people were participating in an illegal assembly; when they didn't, officers then closed the mall and started searching people in the crowd.

It's quite remarkable to see people continue to show up and protest despite knowing they could be arrested based on the new national security law that is barely a week old.

At least 13 people arrested for illegal assembly

And to make things seem even harsher, the Hong Kong government has further extended police powers when it comes to online communications and social media.

Anyone publishing electronic messages on social media deemed to be endangering national security could be asked by the police to remove them or stop disseminating them. Failure to do so immediately could lead to the police getting warrants to seize the electronic equipment, and demand service providers hand over records about anyone's identity or help in decoding or de-encrypting.

The police and Secretary for Justice could apply for a court order to require a person to answer questions or produce certain materials.

If someone fails to comply, they could be fined up to HK$100,000 and jailed for a year, while service providers could face the same amount of fine, and six months in prison.

In addition, a political organization of a foreign country or outside the mainland, including Taiwan, could be asked for information on their activities, personal particulars and assets without court approval.

Over 100 people turned out for the protest

Those that fail to comply could face a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a HK$100,000 fine if convicted. Those found guilty of providing inaccurate or incomplete information could be jailed for two years and fined HK$100,000.

In these instances, the police could also authorize searches at the premises without a warrant under exceptional circumstances.

It basically means that now intercepting communications no longer needs a court warrant with regards to national security cases; the chief executive has give them police the powers to do this.

So if you haven't cleaned out your social media accounts, now's the time... censorship is alive and well in Hong Kong...

Liaison Office's Massive Property Porfolio in HK

The liaison office, through a company, owns over 700 properties in Hong Kong

Through a shell company, Bejiing owns a lot of property in Hong Kong. Even better it didn't have to pay any stamp duties on the staggering 757 residences, offices, car parks and entire buildings as of February last year.

The political party Demosisto, led by Joshua Wong Chi-fung released the findings today, which are staggering to say the least.

Joshua Wong of Demosisto released the findings today

The report says the company, called Newman Investment Company Limited, which was set up in 1972, bought 400 residences before the handover in 1997, about 180 between 1998 and 2014, and then another 130 between 2014 and last year. The total value is estimated at HK$3.4 billion.

Previously local media had estimated the company, whose five directors appear to have the same names as officials in the liaison office, had a portfolio of between 300 to 500 properties. This was obviously grossly underestimated.

Wong says the increased number of flats in the last few years shows Beijing is increasing its reach in Hong Kong.

"Beijing has scaled up its property empire after the 'umbrella movement' in 2014, reaching out its tentacles from Hong Kong Island to other places in the city," Wong said, referring to the large-scale civil disobedience movement that blocked part of the city for 79 days over universal suffrage.

He said Demosisto would submit these findings to the US Department of State, the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, and Britain's All-Party Parliamentary Group Hong Kong.

However, pro-establishment lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, chairwoman of the New People's Party, said she believed most of the residences were for housing liaison office employees.

Regina Ip says the flats are used to house liaison office staff

"When rents are so expensive in Hong Kong, I don't see any problem for the liaison office to purchase flats for its employees to live in," she said. "It might have bought more units in recent years, as it expected to become more and more costly."

We all know housing is expensive in Hong Kong, but they snapped up over 700 properties, not all of them flats. So how many people work in the liaison office, and do they actually live in these flats? What about the offices and entire buildings? What are those used for?

Demosisto estimates at least 722 staff work in the liaison office. What do they all do?

Perhaps even better, this company, because of its links with the liaison office, does not need to pay HK$124 million in stamp duty over the past five years of property purchases.

According to the Stamp Duty Ordinance, the central government, or any "incorporated public officer or any person acting in his capacity has a public officer shall not be liable for the payment of stamp duty".

The company bought 20 flats at Grand Central last year

Seems like this ordinance was specifically written to benefit a particular company...

Last February, a local newspaper reported the liaison office had paid HK$247.5 million, through Newman Investment, for 20 flats at Grand Central complex in Kwun Tong, according to the Land Registry. The office later insisted the properties were used as staff quarters, and denied suggestions it had intended to resell them for a quick profit.

While many of these properties may be "housing", they still are a good investment...

The Polarization Continues

The entrance to Baptist University is effectively blocked by mini Stonehenges

As I write this, students at Chinese University of Hong Kong are retreating -- about a dozen volunteers have come with cars to take them out.

This ends the four-day occupation of the university safely... but they have left behind a giant mess.

However it seems Hong Kong Polytechnic University is still going strong, the students have prevented any traffic from going through the Cross Harbour Tunnel and even have security checks of every person who walks into the campus.

A fire erupted near Chinese University prompting evacuation

I talked to one professor from the University of Hong Kong -- and it is also his alma mater -- and he said this was the first time he ever had to climb over barricades to get to his office.

The situation has become untenable and the heads of nine universities here have issued an open letter to the government urging the authorities to set up and resolve the political deadlock in the name of safety and security of the whole city.

The letter says:

Hong Kong society is currently fractured, with deep divisions across social groups, political parties, and even amongst family and friends. The past week has seen a rapid escalation of violence and confrontation throughout Hong Kong: several universities are now under protestors’ control; on-campus hazardous materials have been taken; staff and students have left campus out of fear for their personal safety. These events are challenging our universities in the most fundamental way.

No political viewpoint gives a licence to damage property, employ physical threats, or use violence against individuals. It is regrettable that societal disagreement has led to university campuses becoming major political battlefields, and that the government response has so far not been effective. However, any demand that universities can simply fix the problem is disconnected from reality: these complicated and challenging situations neither originate from the Universities, nor can they be resolved through University disciplinary processes. They are reflections of Hong Kong-wide disagreement, and the government must take the lead with swift and concrete action to resolve this political deadlock and to restore safety and public order now.

Earlier in the day students manning No. 2 bridge in Sha Tin

Hong Kong is our home. We call on all quarters of society to work together to bring peace and order back to Hong Kong.

Prof. KUO Way, President, City University of Hong Kong
Prof. Roland T. CHIN President & Vice-Chancellor, Hong Kong Baptist University
Prof. Leonard CHENG, President, Lingnan University
Prof. Rocky S. TUAN, President & Vice-Chancellor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prof. Stephen CHEUNG, President, The Education University of Hong Kong
Prof. TENG Jin-Guang , President, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Prof. Wei SHYY, President, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Prof. WONG Yuk-Shan, President, The Open University of Hong Kong
Prof. ZHANG Xiang, President & Vice-Chancellor, The University of Hong Kong
(Listed in alphabetical order of universities)

Earlier in the day a newspaper article talked about how the government was getting pressure from all sides, including the pro-establishment parties to do something to resolve the situation. Everyone is tired and frustrated by the government's inaction, just constantly condemning the protesters as rioters and how the violence needs to be stopped.

This only gives more license to the police to have their way with anyone, including bystanders, which in turn makes people even angrier. Surely the government must have figured this out by now.

Carrie Lam not very empathetic at town hall meeting

At lunchtime today scores of people came out not only in Central and Taikoo, but also Wong Chuk Hang and Kwun Tong. A lot of Hong Kong's population are angry with the government.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has said that she is open to dialogue and yet she has not had engaged the public since her disastrous town hall meeting on September 26.

What is she waiting for?

The best way to diffuse tensions is to initiate dialogue but instead Lam would rather inspect trashed MTR stations than meet with people to hear their frustrations and fears. Did she think people would give up?

As someone who was directly involved in dealing with the Umbrella Movement five years ago, Lam hasn't learnt her lesson at all. She has just dismissed it as a blip in Hong Kong's history. For the rest of us, those 79 days were seared in our memories.

Civil service head Joshua Law sends warning to civil servants

Meanwhile civil servants may want to think twice about protesting. Secretary for the Civil Service Joshua Law Chi-kong wrote a letter to the 180,000 civil servants and warned they would face immediate suspension or other disciplinary action if they were arrested for taking part in unlawful activities.

"The government will not tolerate civil servants breaching the law," he wrote. "It would be difficult for the community to accept an arrested civil servant being allowed to continue to exercise the powers and functions of office.

"In this regard, we will interdict the officer in the public interest when an inquiry against him is being undertaken," he wrote.

If this letter was written a year ago, most people would agree. But given what has happened in the past five months, including a rally for civil servants to protest against the extradition bill, most residents would not mind if a civil servant was arrested and continued working -- until they were convicted.

What happened to following the tenet of "innocent until proven guilty"?

The polarization continues...

MTR's Psuedo Curfew Hours

The violence has led the MTR to shorten its hours of service everyday

For the last few days, the MTR has closed its transport network at 8pm.

In text messages it says: "Due to vandalism, some damaged facilities are still under repair. Some stations will remain closed and service hours will end earlier tomorrow [insert date here]. Updated information will be provided tomorrow morning".

Kwun Tong station was badly hit by protesters on the weekend

So every morning we wake up to get a text message from the MTR saying: "The MTR train service is running normally today, however due to serious vandalism, some stations will not be opened for service, damaged facilities and station entrances/exits in other stations need time to repair." The seven stations that continue to be closed are: Mongkok, Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O, Hang Hau, Che Kung Temple, Sha Tin Wai, and Shek Mun.

Shutting down the MTR at 8pm is a strange one -- it's the end of the rush hour period, but for many people, they have just started eating dinner or are halfway through.

As a result many restaurants, particularly smaller ones have had to close early so that their staff can get home. Why not 9pm? Or did the restaurant sector not lobby the government hard enough to change the time to at least an hour later?

Closing a major public transport system at 8pm is basically a pseudo curfew. While it's true some stations are severely damaged, like the one in Kwun Tong where the customer service centre was completely burned down into a mass of charred metal, while an entrance to Mongkok station was totally burned down and the glass panels destroyed, the other 87 stations are functioning for the most part, no?

MTR turnstiles have been destroyed by protesters

And if the Hong Kong government wants the economy to recover as quickly as possible, why not let the MTR run just a tad longer?

When people can't go out, they aren't spending money and keeping the local economy going.

But no, this pseudo curfew is a way to prevent protesters from roaming around at night, making the rest of us err on the side of caution and stay home or close to home. It has created unnecessary stress and panic, with people lining up at ATMs and withdrawing loads of cash, as well as hitting supermarkets and stocking up on everything from rice to toilet paper.

Now there are reports that hundreds of restaurants have shuttered in Hong Kong amid the protests, laying off thousands of workers. Those dining establishments that are still open are not keeping freelance staff, while some full-time staff are forced to take unpaid leave.

Many of these restaurants are mom-and-pop shops, while others were on the edge of closing because of high rents and the impact of the protests hastened their demise.

A shop in Wan Chai shutters its doors due to the protests

It's really sad seeing everyone in retail and hospitality suffering so much and it's not their fault at all.

However when you do patronize stores and shops, many staff are friendly in the hopes that you will come back again. It's kind of like the reset button after SARS was declared over in 2003.

And everyone could be helped a bit more if the MTR stayed open just a bit longer.

Even more strange is that we don't know when the MTR will close each day until the next morning. We're kind of held hostage in that we must adjust our lives around this very early closing, day by day.

The one good thing is that buses, trams and taxis are seeing more business after 8pm, while glass manufacturers and contractors are making a killing with repairing windows or fixing up a shop that was previously hit by protesters.

Does this mean we're going to start seeing early bird specials at restaurants, even bars. Or are delivery services seeing an uptick in business?

Hongkongers can adapt quickly, but for how long will they stand the MTR's shorter service hours?

The Battle Continues in Kowloon

Protesters were back putting out tear gas on the streets in Kwun Tong today

The peaceful protests last weekend ended today with police firing numerous rounds of tear gas in Kowloon Bay, Wong Tai Sin and Sham Shui Po so far. About 18 people have been arrested and there have been a few serious injuries involving their faces. It's not good.

What has made the situation worse is the MTR has made it harder for everyone to get around. After criticism from Beijing for allegedly aiding and abetting the protesters, the MTR got a court injunction to arrest anyone who vandalizes the stations and trains, or blocks carriages, which is fine, but now it has prevented people from using it whenever there is a demonstration.

Residents angry they can't access the MTR this afternoon

This afternoon the MTR warned it would shut down Kwun Tong station because of the police sanctioned march there. That left residents in the area unable to use the public transport system to get to work or do their shopping or even to come home. They were furious with the MTR staff, and no one senior enough was around to take the verbal abuse.

Perhaps the MTR or Beijing was hoping this harder stance would make it harder for protesters to show up at the march, but the plan backfired. And since the MTR is majority owned by the Hong Kong government, by extension the residents were angry at their government. And again there is no recourse, as everyone needs to use the MTR and taxpayer dollars go there too. So... again this is why Hongkongers need universal suffrage!

Beijing has strong armed Cathay Pacific and now the MTR. Who is next?

One piece of good news is that British consulate employee Simon Cheng Man-kit has been released and is now back in Hong Kong with his family. There was also a group of 10 university students who were detained in Tibet, but they have also been released now.

One protester puts his tennis racquet to good use

Why would anyone want to go to Chinese these days?

Now that Hong Kong is in the international spotlight, China is trying desperately to put up a curtain and say, "Nothing going on here, move along".

A letter sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, says "the so-called 'anti-amendment' is nothing more than a hyped-up pretext," writes Hua Chunying, director general of the Information Department.

"When you look at the current situation, you'll find that those radical, violent and criminal behaviors have gone far beyond freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. They have seriously threatened the safety of Hong Kong residents and their property, severely undermined Hong Kong's rule of law and social order, gravely challenged the bottom line of 'one country, two systems', and pushed Hong Kong to a dangerous brink."

Hua's letter dated August 20 was sent to over 30 foreign media outlets. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying

First of all, what is this "anti-amendment" she is talking about? If she means the anti-extradition protests, they have been dragging out so long because the Hong Kong government has done nothing to address this issue.

Is Hong Kong at a "dangerous brink"? Not yet no. But she is repeating what Beijing has said before. If repeated enough, perhaps people will believe it.

She then advises journalists to take up their "social responsibility and make reports that are neutral, objective, impartial and comprehensive so that your coverage may help those protesters ignorant of the truth to get back on the right path, and help those who have been seriously misled to come to a rational and fair judgment".

That sounds eerily like Uighurs who have been led astray by Islam and need to be sent to concentration camps to be "reeducated".

Again the language shows a hardline paternalistic attitude towards Hong Kong and young people...  

The Hong Kong Way

Lion Rock was lined with lights tonight in the human chain

Exactly 30 years ago today, people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the Baltic states, joined hands to form a human chain covering 675 kilometres across the three countries from north to south. This was their way of showing their wish for independence from the Soviet Union on August 23, 1989 at 7pm.

The human chain became known as The Baltic Way, and symbolized the people's desire for self-determination and universal suffrage.

Hongkongers lined up along Connaught Road Central

A Hong Kong entrepreneur based in Tallin, Estonia, proposed that there be a human chain in Hong Kong to mark the 30th anniversary of The Baltic Way on Reddit and within days the event was organized tonight.

No one was quite sure what was going to happen, but around 7pm tens of thousands of people were standing side by side across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. Some brought hand sanitizer, some bought work gloves, or just pressed the flesh and joined hands after 8pm.

They went from Kennedy Town to Shau Kei Wan, Kowloon Tong to Yau Ma Tei, along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront and from Tsuen Wan to Lai King, and to Kwun Tong.

There were even adventurous hikers who climbed up Lion Rock to light up the outline of the mountain ridge that is shaped like the jungle animal. from up at the top they shouted: "Hongkongers add oil!"

There was also a massive gathering at Chater Garden, and at one point participants all turned their phones on to create a giant glow of small lights.

A massive rally took place in Chater Garden tonight

Nearby I saw people standing side by side along Connaught Road Central, around the Court of Final Appeal and around towards Admiralty.

I took the MTR to Kennedy Town but didn't see the human chain and assumed it only reached as far as Sai Ying Pun -- I was wrong -- the people had gathered along the waterfront.

Around 9pm I heard loud shouts of people demanding that the five core demands be met, including the extradition bill be withdrawn and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor resign.

Speaking of Lam, on Monday she talked about immediately setting up a platform for dialogue to talk to people. She even stressed the word immediately.

It's Friday... we're waiting Carrie...