Simmering Tensions

Parallel traders have sparked conflicts between Hong Kong and China

The tense issue of parallel traders clearing shelves in Hong Kong to sell supposedly "real" goods across the border is not going away, thanks to the inaction of the government.

Hong Kong officials have let the tensions simmer to the point where protesters are escalating their actions, verbally bullying people, physically assaulting people, and holding up traffic. It has been happening in Yuen Long, Sheung Shui and Tuen Mun, and this past weekend also spread to Tsim Sha Tsui.

Instead of trying to solve the problem, officials like Secretary for Security Lai Tung-kwok claims the protesters' actions were "close to that of rioters".

Protesters in New Town Plaza in Sha Tin last month

It's quite extreme for him to brand them "rioters" because it was not excessive violence, but yes, we should be trying to resolve the situation as peacefully as possible.

And who's fault is that?

The Hong Kong government could very easily limit the number of times parallel traders could come across the border daily, and yet this has not been curbed, probably because it wants these people to continue stimulating the city's economy.

After all, the parallel traders are snapping up everything from baby milk powder, to shampoo, chocolates, cosmetics, cookies and so on -- whatever is in demand and can be turned into a profit.

That has left a sour taste in Hong Kong residents' mouths -- particularly those in districts that are impacted by these people. I recently asked a relative if things were really bad in Tuen Mun where she lived and she confirmed it was terrible.

A shop like Watson's would be packed with people and so she would have no choice but to nip in there as quickly as possible to buy what she needed and then get out. There was no interest in trying to fight the crowds in the store to browse.

The government is planning to build shopping malls right by the border specifically for these commercial shoppers, but that's a ways yet before we might even begin to see some easing.

Another issue is that for some reason, the cause for universal suffrage has been mixed up with this one on parallel trading. Some see the protesters as the same ones in the Umbrella Movement, and claim that their violent actions are what people fighting for democracy do.

It's a kind of scare tactic someone or some group is using to to discourage people from supporting the Umbrella Movement, and in a way it is succeeding because no one wants to be associated with a group that is very easily provoked into violence.

In the end the Hong Kong government needs to move in and resolve this issue -- branding protesters as "rioters" will not solve anything.

And more importantly, Beijing needs to step up its campaign to prove its food and products are not substandard quality to regain consumer confidence. It's been over six years since the melamine milk scandal and what has come of it since? Can anyone blame Chinese consumers for buying up anything they can get their hands on -- outside their own country?

Children as Pawns

Young children in PLA uniform attended Sunday's inauguration of the cadets

The push back against Occupy has already begun with the formation of the Hong Kong Army Cadets Association. Apparently it is aimed to make youngsters "aware of their responsibilities and obligations are Chinese citizens", but there's a lot of confusion surrounding it.

On Sunday the group was formally inaugurated in Ngong Shuen Chau naval base, a restricted area on Stonecutters Island, with Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's wife Regina Leung Tong Ching-yee dressed in uniform as the group's "commander-in-chief".

Only select media were allowed to attend, including Wen Wei Po and China Central Television, were allowed to attend.

Many senior government officials were there, including Leung, central government liaison office director Zhang Xiaoming, Security Secretary Lai Tung-kwok, Education Secretary Eddie Ng Hak-kim, and Youth Commission chairman Bunny Chan Chung-bun.

Controversy surrounds the cadets and their function in HK

Former chief executive Tung Chee-hwa is said to be the group's honorary president and his wife Betty Tung Chiu Hung-ping is said to be an honorary adviser.

Apparently some 200 members of the association marched in the event, but now it has been revealed that many were duped into attending, drafted to make the numbers of recruits look better.

One of the "recruits" named Jackie, claimed he saw an ad for the event posted on Facebook for alumni of a military summer camp organized by the Education Bureau, the PLA and a non-profit group called Concerted Efforts Resource Centre.

Those who took part in the ceremony would get a free PLA uniform. He agreed to go along and was told by staff from Concerted Efforts that he was not being recruited to the cadets.

However, he and others were introduced as "members from different columns" of the association.

Another Form One student said all 120 of his classmates attended the event on the understanding that they were spectators.

Some people, including Wong Yeung-tat, leader of pro-democracy group Civic Passion, are concerned the cadet group would use military training to indoctrinate young people with Communist Party values.

"It will make it easier to accept the sets of values being taught to them," he said.

So Wong has announced Civic Passion will form a group of 14 to 18 year olds who will counter the cadet group, which is open for those six years and above. What these teens will do is unclear, but surely a direct polar opposite of the cadets.

When children are young, some take part in groups like Beavers, Scouts and Girl Scouts. They learn survival skills like camping to first aid, teamwork as well as compassion for others.

What are these young people learning in cadets? Are they being taught what exactly "rule of law" means? Are they expected to cite the Basic Law by heart? Perhaps they have to practice marching, singing the national anthem and conducting the flag raising ceremony?

And why are the secrecy surrounding the inauguration and not allowing other media outlets to attend? What is there to hide?

But more importantly, do these children realize they look like they are being used as pawns in the war of rhetoric that is further dividing the city...

Here We Go Again

Twenty-four pan-Democrats walk out of Legco with yellow umbrellas

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet Ngor addressed the Legislative Council this afternoon, announcing the second round of public consultation regarding Hong Kong's political reforms.

She said the public being able to vote for the next chief executive in 2017 was "an opportunity not to be missed" and "the only way to create a solid foundation for further democratization".

What a sales pitch.

But instead there is no change on how candidates will be nominated -- as decided by the national legislature in China on August 31 last year -- that the public must choose between two or three candidates who have been chosen by a 1,200-strong nominating committee.

Isn't this what people protested about for 79 days?

As a result, 24 pan-Democrats opened yellow umbrellas in Legco and stormed out while chanting, "I want real democracy".

The pan-Democrats had promised long ago to veto the government's public consultation, though Lam urged them to give up their protest.

Chief Secretary Lam is in tough position to deliver

"At this stage, any person refusing to participate in the consultation, or even vowing to veto any constitutional development proposal... is tantamount to depriving 5 million eligible voters of their opportunity to elect the chief executive by universal suffrage," she said.

"Even if certain 'legal space' is available, the 'political space' must be created by all of us. I urge all Lego members to think twice and not to destroy completely the limited 'political space' remaining before the second round of public consultation has yet to commence.

"Adopting a negative and uncomfortable attitude, or even taking confrontational acts... would only aggravate social conflict and internal attrition, and cause harm to the ... well being of the whole society.

Meanwhile some critics felt the consultation process did not acknowledge the Umbrella Movement and what protesters were demanding.

But a government spokesman said the report had "reflected truthfully the events related to constitutional development" from August 31 to December 15".

Yesterday the police announced over 30 key figures of the Umbrella Movement face prosecution and must report to Wan Chai police station. These include Civic Party's Alan Leong Kah-kit, League of Social Democrats' Leung Kwok-hung, as well as the Occupy Central trio: Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, Benny Tai Yiu-ting and Dr Chan Kin-man.

Federation of Students' Alex Chow Yong-kang was also named along with Joshua Wong Chi-fung and Eason Chung Hiu-wah, or Federation of Students.

They have been asked to to go police headquarters to assist in the investigation over unlawful assembly. Those who show up will be arrested for instigating, organizing or aiding and abetting an unlawful assembly over the 79 days.

Security Secretary falls asleep as Lam speaks in Legco!

So what is the government doing? Just as the consultation kicks off, it silences its loudest critics. How appropriate.

However, one should also observe, that while Carrie Lam was speaking in Legco, Security Secretary Lai Tung-lok was spotted in Legco slumped to one side and asleep!

Reports say he leaned so far to one side that it looked like he may fall off his chair!

Is this what Lai really thinks about political reform in Hong Kong? Sounds like Lam's speech was hardly invigorating...