Questions of Press Freedom during Pandemic

Lam continually thanks the central government for its help

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's daily press briefings have now become a concern for press freedom after a reporter's question led to pro-Beijing figures and media to accuse the journalist of spreading hate speech.

The Now TV reporter asked Lam how Covid-19 patients should lodge complaints over mainland Chinese medical professionals who are working in the city to help battle the fifth wave of the pandemic. The mainland medical staff are in Hong Kong to help alleviate healthcare staff shortages.

This is a legitimate question to ask as these temporary workers are exempted from obtaining local licences under an emergency regulation introduced last month. Typically, patients' complaints are handled through the Medical Council of Hong Kong, the industry's registering body, but it does not have the jurisdiction over these workers. The Hospital Authority said it bore ultimate responsibility for the mainland workers.

Lam greeting hundreds of Chinese healthcare staff

But the reporter's question led to a flurry of criticism from pro-Beijing groups and individuals. One association called Politihk Social Strategic launched an online petition that accused the reporter of spreading hate speech and questioning whether she breached the national security law.

Under Article 29, it is a crime for anyone to provoke hatred among residents "which is likely to cause serious consequences" towards the central or local governments.

The group even called for the reporter to be sacked, which led to fears that press freedom was further being eroded in Hong Kong.

Others who criticised the reporter include former chief executive Leung Chun-ying and pro-Beijing paper Ta Kung Pao.

This led to Now TV issuing an apology on Thursday, saying: "We are deeply sorry for the attention and frustration caused by a question asked by our reporter regarding mainland medical staff."

The company vowed to "humbly listen to" public criticisms and be subject to scrutiny, while continuing to provide updates on the pandemic.

Now TV apologised for the reporter's questions

Now TV even added: "With the fifth wave of the pandemic still raging, we are very grateful for the selfless help from the central government and mainland."

The news outlet is owned by Richard Li Tzar-kai, son of Li Ka-shing, and offered help to combat the pandemic during a meeting chaired by Luo Huining, director of the Beijing liaison office.

However, it should be pointed out the same accountability question of the mainland medical staff was also asked by lawmaker Tang Fei, of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers. 

Media lecturer Grace Leung Lai-kuen said the incident demonstrated the "cultural shock" journalists in Hong Kong were facing as the city became increasingly intertwined with the mainland on many levels.

She said journalists in Hong Kong have always questioned local officials over their responsibilities.

But the mainland side could be struggling to understand why it is still facing scrutiny while having taken the extra step to help the city," she said.

"I would say things are different now if you ask me whether it has undermined press freedom," she said.

Just what we needed -- another level of anxiety to add to our pandemic woes.

Finally a Bit of Progress

Patients waiting outside showed hospitals at overcapacity

Days after Covid-19 patients lay in gurneys in the rainy chilly weather, someone from above ordered them to be moved inside and by this evening they were as temperatures dropped to 9 degrees Celsius this weekend.

Why did it take so long and how come emergency provisions were not made? Are senior government officials blind to what is going on that it finally took today for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to say something about it?

Lam announced postponement of CE election

It is outrageous that anyone in Hong Kong, old or young, Chinese or not to be treated in this way in this city's healthcare system. It has been ignored for so long regardless of the pandemic that there were shortages of doctors and nurses and now we have scenes of one medical professional attending to 20 patients outside.

The other group of people badly mistreated by the government are foreign domestic helpers. There are cases of some who quit because their employer was too overbearing and then caught Covid, or their employer fired them for being infected with the virus, and these helpers were left with no where to sleep except on the streets. 

When asked what help the Centre of Health Protection could give them, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan basically didn't have an answer except that they should self-isolate before they were contacted... where is the compassion?

This evening Lam said employers should persuade their helpers to stay at home even on their day off, and that this coming weekend the police "will not show mercy anymore".  

Foreign domestic helpers are targeted for fines

Meanwhile on the weekends, police officers target helpers who gather together and hand them fines of HK$5,000 for gathering in more than groups of two. 

Their monthly salary is under HK$5,000 -- how can they even afford to pay these fines?

One woman who is in touch with one or two of these helpers has set up a fundraising page and raised over HK$700,000 in donations to help these women pay these fines. They are unfairly targeted, when there are places in Central where numerous expats meet up drinking alcohol -- why not fine them too?

The inequities of this city were already bad when the pandemic started, but have become more cruel as Covid-19 wears us down day by day.

This evening Lam announced the election for the chief executive would be pushed back from March 27 to May 8 in order to focus on the health crisis at hand. No one was surprised, though a week ago Lam claimed because the election committee only involved just over 1,000 people that the race to pick the next leader would not be interrupted.

Luo held a video meeting with business leaders

But perhaps with Xi Jinping admonishing the local administration for what appears to be a lax effort in battling the virus, Lam has finally made the call to postpone the election.

Today there were 3,629 cases reported, but 7,600 preliminary, and Lam says it will take at least two months to get the fifth wave under control.

Also this afternoon business leaders, or shall we say billionaires had a video conference call with liaison director Luo Huining, who was seeing who could offer what. This was the ultimate exercise in displaying patriotism.

Tycoon Richard Li Tzar-kai, who heads the ViuTV local television channel and the Now TV entertainment platform, announced the 12 members of the popular group Mirror would become "anti-pandemic ambassadors". 

Mirror will be anti-pandemic ambassadors

While New World Development CEO Adrian Cheng Chi-kong said he would free up the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for community testing purposes, and Peter Lee Ka-kit, co-chairman of the Henderson Land Development, said his group would offer up a 20-hectare site on Lam Kam Road in the New Territories for an "instant" hospital.

Others offered to ramp up the acquisition of rapid antigen tests for low-income people and frontline healthcare staff, and bring in more food and goods into Hong Kong. 

But will this be enough to effectively fight the virus?

More Opposition Silenced Today

Koo had planned to protest in front of the Liaison Office today

Just after 6am this morning, the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the police came to the home of activist Koo Sze-yiu and arrested him for allegedly inciting subversion.

The authorities took the 75 year-old, who also has stage 4 cancer, and four others were detained to assist in the investigation, including Democratic Party member Virginia Fung King-man.

He was arrested for allegedly inciting subversion

Koo had informed the media that he would go to the Liaison Office in Western district to protest against China hosting the Winter Olympics which officially kicks off today. He also wanted to call attention to the political activists behind bars, that they weren't able to meet with their families during Chinese New Year, the most important family festival in the calendar.

In his letter Koo also wrote that the national security law was being "abused" and that many had been "wrongfully detained".

Chan Po-ying, chair of the League of Social Democrats, said that "if simply protesting at the China Liaison Office can be charged with incitement, it is quite terrifying."

Meanwhile another activist was finally sentenced today -- Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung -- a name we haven't heard from in ages as he has been detained in prison since he was arrested on November 1, 2020.

On May 8, 2020, a melee broke out in the Legislative Council when Starry Lee Wai-king, DAB lawmaker and incumbent chair of the House Committee, took control of a meeting (with security guards surrounding her), and Cheung and six other Democratic lawmakers tried to stop her.

Cheung was sentenced to three weeks in jail

For that Cheung pleaded guilty at West Kowloon Court today to a contempt charge under Legislative Council (Powers and Privilege) Ordinance, that was initially designed to immunise members from criminal sanctions while exercising their freedom of speech and debate.

Acting chief magistrate Peter Law Tak-chuen rejected Cheung's plea for a fine or suspended sentence, saying the former lawmaker's actions had tarnished Legco's reputation and contributed to "a decline of civility" and sentenced him to three months in prison.

Cheung, who will turn 65 later this month, said he would only admit the charge, but not wrongdoing, as he maintained his prosecution was driven by political motives.

"For me, Legco is an important structure that facilitates improvements in society. I will never hold Legco in contempt," he said, as he read out a statement in the dock.

"We [opposition lawmakers] respect the 'one country, two systems' principle and strictly abide by the Basic Law, but very unfortunately, the majority of my colleagues who had insisted on our peaceful ways are already in jail."

He added: "In the end, who was the one who broke the rules, flouted the law and even suppressed the opposition with the regime that is the judiciary?"

On May 8, 2020 Cheung was carried out of Legco

Applause broke out in the gallery after Cheung's speech, but they were silenced by warnings from the magistrate and court security officers.

It is only in court can the media and public see former lawmakers and activists who are jailed or remanded in custody. And now prisons are suspending visits from family and friends for at least a week because of Omicron. 

Not only does that mean no more visits, but also no chances of receiving items from the outside world, including books, letters, notebooks and pens. 

Taking Election Benefit of Free Rides

Carrie Lam cast her vote this morning to kick off elections

The polling stations closed over an hour ago in the first revamped Legislative Council election and as of 9.30pm there were 29.28 percent of eligible voters who cast their ballots,  the lowest ever turnout for an election since 1997. The lowest was in 2000 at 43.57 percent.

Hmmm we wonder why.

Only some of the dim sum we ordered

There may be table banging in the Liaison Office in Western District tonight, wondering which bright person came up with the idea of giving all Hongkongers free rides on public transport (except ferries and buses going to the airport), as places like Disneyland and Ocean Park were packed with people.

The MTR constantly sent messages to subscribers, telling them taking the subway was free all day and there was no need to use the Octopus card, while buses had passengers use their card to count the number of people (presumably to bill the government later).

My friend and I took advantage of the free fares by going from Wan Chai to Hung Hom to go to Sheung Shui, where we went to get some dim sum (we were too hungry and over ordered).

Lining up for First Class - and we got a seat!

Then we got back on the train -- first class -- to Tai Wai, where we changed trains to go all the way on the newest line to Wu Kai Sha. Then we immediately went across the platform and too the opposite train back all 28 stops to Tuen Mun. 

From there we got out and took the light rail to Tuen Mun City Centre and got on the bus (that was just boarding) to go to Tung Chung and then ended up at City Gate to split a peanut butter and chocolate Cinnabon washed down with lemonade soda before taking the train back home.

The Tung Chung station was packed with people -- staff had tried to slow down the number of people going down to the platform, which was hard to do and they seemed to give up.

Phew! What a ride! By the time we took the train back to Hong Kong island at 5pm it was packed with people.

Rewarded ourselves with a Cinnabon

My whole transit fare would have cost HK$101 (US$13). I thought it would be more, but it was a good six hours well spent (and fed).

What we'd really like to know is how big the bill is for all the free public transit, sending out text messages urging people to vote, all the banners placed all over the city advertising the election, and for all 40,000 polling staff, and 10,000 police.

Was it really worth it?

Monday News Bites

National security police arrested Wong this morning

 

Monday morning and more arrests today -- three students of an opposition group called Student Politicism who national security police allege the trio conspired to incite subversion against state power.

Officers carted off books, masks and chocolates

The group is also known for holding fundraisers to buy basic necessities for prisoners, such as surgical masks, sanitizers, snacks and books.

After the trio were arrested, officers broke into the warehouse where Student Politicism store their supplies and these were carted away as evidence.

These students, ranging in age from 18 to 20 years old, and were doing something similar to Wall-fare, in providing sanctioned supplies to inmates. They have been in trouble with the law before and arrested a few times.

One of them, Wong Yat-chin, 20, convenor of Student Politicism, previously said in an interview the value of the group was "to test the red line of the authorities".

They definitely touched the red line today.

How long does it take to count 4,380 ballots?

Media that are not pro-Beijing remarked this morning how it could be possible to take almost 14 hours to count 4,380 votes in yesterday's election for the Election Committee.

Despite the lengthy delay, Beijing's liaison office hailed the exercise as marking a "major step in Hong Kong's democratic movement with its own characteristics".

Definitely, when only 0.06 percent of the population is involved. 

Tung is the owner of a flat at Grenville House

 

Finally a news item from last week -- former Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa is a first-time homeowner at the age of 84. Guess there's always a first time for everything.

Unlike most people who have to scrimp and save or hope parents will pitch in for the down payment for a microflat, Tung shelled out HK$160 million (US$20.6 million) for a luxury flat at Grenville House in Mid-Levels.

As Tung paid for it himself, he was subjected to a stamp duty of 4.25 percent, or HK$6.8 million.

Tung is a first-time homeowner at 84 years old

"Tung bought the C2 unit of Grenville House in August this year. The government had rented the same unit during his stint as chief executive," his spokesperson said. 

"After resigning as chief executive, he continued to rent the unit for his own use. He learnt in recent months that the vendor had intentions to sell his property, leading to his decision to purchase the unit at Grenville House."

He had been renting the 3,335 sq ft flat for more than a decade, and it comes with a car park.

It's just really baffling that Tung has never bought a home in Hong Kong before until now.

And by the way the vendor is laughing all the way to the bank. It bought the property for HK$3.9 million in 1982.

Fallout Two Years After 7.21

Commuters in Yuen Long station were attacked two years ago

 

It's hard to believe it's been two years since the horrific attacks on commuters in Yuen Long by men in white T-shirts armed with long wooden sticks and metal rods. What has happened since then?

Last month five people were convicted in the attacks and will be sentenced tomorrow, another man was acquitted on the lack of evidence. That is only a tiny fraction of the people involved in the incident that left 45 people injured and shocked Hongkongers who watched it unfold in real time.

Ho livestreamed the attack, was later arrested

The brave journalist Gwyneth Ho of Stand News who kept live streaming the incident as she was being attacked became a politician in the hopes of running in the Legislative Council elections in 2019 that were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

But in January she was arrested along with 52 others for organizing and participating in the pro-democracy primaries last July. Ho was released on bail.

Another now former pro-democracy lawmaker, Lam Cheuk-ting, who rushed to the scene and was injured himself, was arrested for the same charge.

Lam was also arrested earlier this year

RTHK did an extensive investigation into the Yuen Long attacks, but one of its producers, Bao Choy Yuk-ling, was arrested and convicted for "submitting misinformation" when she requested ownership information of some of the vehicles used by the white-shirted men.  

While she was fined HK$6,000 for two violations of the Road Traffic Ordinance, Choy is appealing the decision because she feels she has done nothing wrong.

The RTHK documentary, 7.21: Who Owns the Truth? won a human rights prize and journalism nods, but public broadcaster refused to accept the awards and even tried to withdraw the application beforehand.

Choy does not believe she did anything wrong

But on that same evening in Western district, another attack was happening at the liaison office. Protesters defaced the Chinese emblem with black paint and it was then that state media began reporting on the anti-government protests and described the participants as rioters.

This incident may have set in motion the beginning of plans to implement the national security law less than a year later.

Now two years later, after Apple Daily shut down, laid off its staff and turned off the lights, the former executive editor was taken away by police, along with three others who reported to police following their bail conditions. They are expected to be charged under the national security law.

Lam Man-chung was arrested today

Eight in total have been have been arrested since last month, including two editorial writers, while Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was arrested last year for violating the national security law.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association said it was shocked and puzzled by the latest arrest, describing freedom of the press as the "cornerstone of an international city".

"The association urges the government not to keep arresting journalists in the name of national security in a bid to create white terror in the field," it said.

What will happen a year from now?

 

More Propaganda, National Security in HK

China's control over Hong Kong expands with two departments

 

It was bound to happen eventually. Beijing is now setting up two departments in Hong Kong, one to handle national security, the other propaganda.

The new department for national security affairs will be headed by former liaison office legal affairs director Wang Zhenmin, while Yang Guang will lead the department that will manage media outlets and public opinion in the city.

Yang Guang warned HK protesters in 2019

Some may remember Yang is one of the spokesmen for the Hong Kong Macau Affairs Office, and during 2019 he was the one hosting press conferences on the anti-government protests.

At these press conferences -- the first the HKMAO made since the handover in 1997 -- Yang gave strongly-worded warnings to the protesters against street violence.

The propaganda department will take up part of the work from the office's liaison department and cater to the increasing needs to disseminate official information, host more press conferences, approve and coordinate Hong Kong and Macau journalists on the mainland, and "manage the media scene" in the two administrative regions.

Meanwhile Wang served as legal affairs director at Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong from 2015 to 2018. 

Currently the director of the centre for Hong Kong and Macau Research under Tsinghua University, Wang published a 232-page book in January he co-authored with two mainland academics detailing the rationale and legislative process of the sweeping national security law.

Wang Zhenmin is a national security legal expert

In an article in Sing Tao Daily in February 2020, Wang wrote an article explaining the urgent need to reform the central government's governance regime regarding Hong Kong and Macau.

Veteran China watcher Johnny Lau Yiu-siu says these latest developments are a systemic approach by Beijing to enhance ideological security.

"Beijing firmly regarded Hong Kong's political turmoil as a result of foreign collusion with an aim to overturn the government, so that Beijing planned a series of organizational measures to step up ideological control," he said.

Meanwhile pro-China academic Lau Siu-kai of the semi-official think tank the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies says the departments will step up the fight against anti-China forces. 

"There is a lot to be done to weed out incorrect viewpoints about the central people's government," he said. "The new departments [in the HKMAO] will focus on monitoring public opinion and raising the awareness of Hongkongers' obligation to abide by the law at the societal level," Lau said.

Can China overturn HK people's opinions?

But will the propaganda department make any headway with so many Hongkongers skeptical of anything from across the border? It could make them even more paranoid than before, if reaction to the origins of the pandemic is any indication. 

And with information still relatively free in Hong Kong, including disinformation and misinformation, will the propaganda department be able to cut through all the noise to present its own side of the story in a convincing manner?

It will be interesting to watch its presentation and messaging, though another reminder the motherland is breathing down Hong Kong's back is a sign integration continues whether residents like it or not...

Patriots Sing Praises of New Electoral System

The "two sessions" kicked off yesterday with HK on agenda

 

Hongkongers are still reeling from the National People's Congress' plans to make significant changes to the city's political system, adding 300 more people to the election committee, which is also charged with nominating who can run for the Legislative Council election, while the make up of Legco will be 90 lawmakers, up from 70.

Leung says changes protect national security

Today Beijing, through its patriot Hong Kong representatives, are trying to sell the new deal, with former leader and vice-chairman of the CPPCC Leung Chun-ying even suggesting that perhaps when these amendments are implemented, then Hongkongers can finally get universal suffrage.

Now those are the words of someone campaigning to become chief executive -- again. Yes Leung has not hidden his ambitions to rule over Hong Kong again now that it has been tamed thanks to the national security law, and even more so with this new political overhaul of which he sings its praises.

"The overhaul of Hong Kong's electoral system can set the minds of the central government and all our countrymen at ease, and prevent those endangering national security from entering the legislature, district councils and the Election Committee," he said.

Yesterday the liaison office issued a statement saying the planned changes to Hong Kong's electoral system has "popular support"... where's the socially-distanced parades and rallies then?

The liaison office added the changes are completely in line with the Chinese constitution and the Basic Law and have a solid legal and political basis.

Liaison office says there is popular support

It said the "improvements" are a clear indication of the central government's commitment to safeguarding "one country, two systems". 

Meanwhile many Hongkongers are mourning the death of "one country, two systems" because the city really is really now "one country, one system". How are there two systems left, but in name only?

Perhaps most intriguing is that the liaison office says mainland officials will listen to public views on the matter, but people should know that Beijing's constitutional authority over Hong Kong cannot be challenged.

So that's where the "popular support" came from...

Carrie's Quarantine Hell

Lam plays hardball extending hotel quarantine to 21 days

 

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor gave residents a lump of coal just a few hours before Christmas Day -- that any Hongkonger returning to the city will have to quarantine in a hotel for not 14 days, but 21 days. 

The bombshell was announced just before midnight, not giving anyone a chance to try to come back as soon as possible, which infuriated lots of people who were about to come back or were about to leave Hong Kong and cancelled their plans.

Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, who advises the government on the pandemic, said this latest move was necessary to ensure undetected infections would not spread among local households.

Travelers were angered by quarantine time

"Tight border control is very important," he said.

The Chinese University respiratory medicine expert said the government also had the option to further raise quarantine to 28 days, but was unlikely to be used for long, even if introduced.

Nevertheless, the knock-on effect was immediate, with designated quarantine hotels benefiting from travelers coming back in the next days and weeks having to stay for three weeks, but will miss out on future business of those who were about to leave Hong Kong and cancelled their trips altogether.

Those impacted are not happy with the extra cost, while those stuck in the UK and South Africa will not be coming back to Hong Kong anytime soon. And when they do return, they will probably have to quarantine for three weeks on top of that.

Many in the UK are parents who thought they were smart to go visit their children instead of them coming back to Hong Kong, and now the fathers and mothers are desperate to return.

Tung and Leung are active critics of Lam

They should know especially in this fourth wave that the situation is changing rapidly not just in Hong Kong but around the world, that it is better to stay put than risk traveling.

But perhaps the main reason for this severe measure is pressure from Beijing or the pro-establishment camp on Lam to be more effective in battling the coronavirus pandemic.

She's recently received a lot of flak from former chief executives Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying, both have no qualms openly criticizing her, which was previously considered a no-no -- they are supposed to support her policies.

In addition, the liaison office has been uncharacteristically quiet, neither defending nor attacking Lam; some China watchers think the liaison office is waiting to see to see how effective these criticisms are before stepping in, or seeing how far these critics can further humiliate Lam.

Either way it's probably a sign that Lam will be a one-term chief executive, which will be a relief on all sides.

But who who will replace her? Who dares to take on such a divided city? It's definitely not for the faint-hearted...

Investigation into Upside Down Flag

This morning the Chinese flag was upside down at Legco

This week is not over yet, and so much has happened -- eight former lawmakers were arrested for illegal assembly on July 1, eight Chinese University students were arrested for chanting slogans for independence, activist Agnes Chow Ting denied bail, former Democratic Party lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung's bank account frozen, unfrozen then refrozen again, and on top of that the number of cases of the coronavirus climbed to 112 today.

We can also add from today restaurants cannot serve food inside the premises beyond 6pm, while gyms, beaches, libraries, museums, concert halls, massage parlours are closed too. Basically there is nothing to do in the city.

The blunder wasn't found until two hours later

So there was a bit of respite from the gloom to find out this morning that the Chinese flag was flying upside down at the Legislative Council for almost two hours until someone spotted the mistake.

Every morning at 8am the flag is raised outside the complex in Admiralty, but the Legco secretariat didn't discover the blunder until just before 10am.

By that time pictures of the upside down flag spread on social media.

"After learning that the national flag at Legco Square had been flying upside down, the secretariat immediately raised it properly at 9.54am. The secretariat sincerely apologizes for the mistake," it said.

It added an investigation was underway, and the office would follow up with its human resources policies.

"The secretariat has also immediately reviewed and improved the procedures of flag raising to avoid a recurrence of the mistake in future," it added.

Hong Kong's current flag law states that anyone who desecrates the national flag or national emblem by publicly and wilfully burning, mutilating, scrawling on, defiling or trampling it commits an offence punishable by a fine of up to HK$50,000 and three years in jail.

Last year this happened at the liaison office

However, in October, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, China's top legislative body, strengthened the national flag law to ban flying it upside down in an amendment to take effect January 1 and will apply in Hong Kong.

So whoever did it this time is very lucky to not be affected by the new amendment that will be in a few weeks' time.

Nevertheless it is quite strange for this to happen, considering at least three people are involved in the flag-raising ceremony... did no one check afterwards to see if it was flying the right way up?

Federation of Trade Unions lawmaker Wong Kwok-kin isn't too worried about it, saying last year a staff member at Beijing's liaison office made the same mistake, and if Thursday's incident was an oversight, then warning the staff should be enough.

But another pro-Beijing lawmaker, Edward Lau Kwok-fan of the DAB says further investigation is necessary.

"Flying the flag upside down is a serious matter. We have to see whether it's just a careless mistake or there are other reasons," he said.

More Arrests Stir More Defiance Than Fear

Leung, Wu, Chu and Chan and four other arrested this morning

The authorities haven't just implemented the national security law to deter residents from secession, sedition, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, but it is also enforcing the new law that was implemented on July 1.

This morning eight opposition activists were charged with illegal assembly on July 1, the first large protest after the law was enacted.

Hundreds came out for illegal July 1 rally

Former legislators Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, Wu Chi-wai, "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung, and five others were arrested early this morning at their homes, including Figo Chan Ho-wun, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, on suspicion of violating the Public Order Ordinance.

A few hours later they were released on bail, and the activists vowed to remain defiant despite the crackdown, accusing police of retaliating against them for sanctions levelled by the United States against 14 top officials in China's legislature the night before.

July 1 is usually the annual mass march to mark the anniversary of the handover, but because of the new national security law, the police had refused permission to hold the rally. Nevertheless large crowds still gathered in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, and police fired tear gas and pepper balls to disperse the crowds. Now these eight are being held responsible for the illegal rally.

Graduation ceremonies at Chinese University

The arrests this morning come a day after the police national security unit arrested three students over a politically-charged demonstration at Chinese University last month. During graduation ceremonies, some students chanted separatist slogans and carried black balloons, much to the horror of Beijing's liaison office. 

The office said the protesters had pushed for the city's independence, which contravened the national security law. 

As if that wasn't enough drama for today, two people connected to a church that helped mediate between the protesters and the police during last year's protests were arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering.

A former director and an employee of The Good Neighbourhood North District Church were taken into police custody, while the current director and secretary of the church, both of whom left Hong Kong in October, are also wanted by the authorities. 

The church had allegedly raised HK$27 million

Detectives allege that the church raised HK$27 million through several crowd-funding drives between June last year and September this year, but publicly stated they only raised one-third of the amount.

The police said the church's five accounts which total HK$25 million have been frozen as part of the investigation. Some of those accounts belong to Pastor Roy Chan Hoi-ting and his wife, who are currently on sabbatical in Britain, and now they have no access to the money for them and their five children.

"This is no doubt an act of political retaliation," the church said in a statement, condemning HSBC. "The purge has never ceased, just like the asset-freezing case of the self-exiled [former] Democrat, Ted Hui and his family. Such [an] incident has severely eradicated dissent in Hong Kong, suppressing freedom among religions and community service workers." 

Pastor Roy Chan volunteered during protests

The issue of freezing people's bank accounts without prior notice has worried many in Hong Kong to transfer more money abroad than before, though Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said today, "Hong Kong's monetary and financial systems are as robust as ever".

Sure thing, Carrie.

Unprecedented Postponement of Policy Address

Lam announced her policy address will be made next month

Hongkongers were anxiously anticipating Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's annual policy address this Wednesday, to give the city an idea of what direction the government is going to take. It is more crucial now with Hong Kong having gone through the coronavirus pandemic since late January to know how the authorities will keep the economy going and support its residents.

However, on Sunday it was announced by state media that Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit Shenzhen to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the special economic zone. 

Xi to visit Shenzhen on Wednesday

This morning in a hastily arranged press conference, Lam said that the all important policy address would be postponed to November so that she could lead the Hong Kong delegation to the event. And besides, she still had to go to Beijing later this month to meet with senior Chinese officials, hinting perhaps there would be more support for Hong Kong's recovery.

Xi must have known Lam was scheduled to give the policy address on Wednesday, so it's interesting she is dropping everything to rush across the border to see her boss, even though Lam insists she doesn't even have a meeting planned with him.

Critics were quick to point out Lam probably didn't have a policy address planned, that she had to wait for further instructions from Beijing. Others scorned the perception that her going to Shenzhen was more important than giving the policy address, which has never been postponed before.

"Hong Kong people have expectations on the policy address because their lives have been difficult under the pandemic," says Wu Chi-wai, chairman of the Democratic Party.

Wu accuses Lam of not making HK a priority

"Lam is basically ignoring their woes and turning Hong Kong's policy address into a document approved by Beijing." 

But pro-establishment lawmaker Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan said it was more practical for Lam to discuss her plans with Beijing first.

"Without discussing the actual content with mainland ministries, the policy address will only be a wish list... After she visits the ministries, the measures can be implemented and the document will be turned into an action plan," he said.

However, she surely has been discussing her policy address ideas with the liaison office here... otherwise what is their reason for being in Hong Kong? Surely they can give an indication of what would and wouldn't work?

During today's press conference, Lam insisted the Hong Kong government was being proactive about proposing ideas to Beijing.  

Cheung says Lam needs Beijing's advice

"This is the gist of 'one country, two systems' -- that the central government is unswerving in caring about Hong Kong, and under the 'two systems', the chief executive puts forward proposals rather than just following Beijing's plans," she said.

Under British rule, the tradition of the governor delivering the policy address at the first meeting of a new Legislative Council session began in 1969. The convention continued after the 1997 handover of sovereignty to China, with the city's chief executive continuing the tradition.

In an unprecedented move last year, Lam delivered her policy address via a video message, after her speech in the Legco chamber was repeatedly interrupted by opposition lawmakers chanting slogans during the anti-government protests triggered by the since-withdrawn extradition bill.

Lam delivered last year's policy address by video

It is expected on Wednesday that Xi will deliver "a crucial speech" in which he is expected to stress China's commitment to reform and opening up. It is also expected he may give more clearer hints on Hong Kong's role in the economy in the Greater Bay Area.  

Nevertheless, Lam's unprecedented decision to postpone the policy address reveals more about her and her relationship to Beijing. Wonder if she will be rewarded for her loyalty...

Patriotism is an Obligation, not an Option

City Garden Hotel is celebrating National Day with pride

 

Tomorrow is not only Mid-Autumn Festival, but also the 71st anniversary of the establishment of the People's Republic of China.

Some businesses are trying to show how patriotic they are, with City Garden Hotel plastering two flags, the Hong Kong and Chinese flags to celebrate national day.

Luo said patriotism is a duty, not a choice

There's also another big banner in Admiralty near a flyover for everyone to see.

The campaign to force Hongkongers into submission continued today with Luo Huining, director of the liaison office stressed patriotism is not an option but an obligation.

"As Chinese, loving the country is not a choice, but a duty, and even more so, the correct path," he said.

Stark words for people still reeling from last year's extradition protests, and now the recently implemented national security law.

"The National People's Congress enacted the Hong Kong national security law to end the madness of Hong Kong independence advocacy and the black violence that ran out of control," Luo said, referring to the colour worn by anti-government protesters.

He added civil servants and students should receive more education on national security, the country's situation, Chinese history and culture, the Chinese constitution, and the Basic Law.

Red banners celebrating national day

To demand Hongkongers to be patriotic to China is while not surprising, will not win the hearts and minds of the people. 

This hard line approach will only make people more recalcitrant.

Meanwhile also today the families of the 12 detained in Shenzhen pleaded in front of the liaison office to be able to pass messages and mooncakes to their loved ones.

The People's Procuratorate in Shenzhen's Yantian district said this evening they had approved the arrests of 10 in the group over crossing the national border unlawfully, and two others for planning the offense. 

A woman, who is wanted by Hong Kong police, and Tang Kai-yin, a 30-year-old salesman who was earlier charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent were both accused of organizing the operation.

Pro-establishment newspaper Sing Tao Daily cited a source saying that Tang was the driver of the speedboat with 11 others on board.

Under China's Criminal Law, people arrested for illegally crossing face one year in jail, but those who are convicted of organizing others to do so can be sentenced to up to seven years in jail.  If someone is found to have a principal role in operating a syndicate for illegal border crossings, or who violently resist law enforcement, the penalty can be life in prison.

To hear the 12 have been formally arrested and charged will be devastating news for the families.  

This year Mid-Autumn Festival will be sombre one with the coronavirus pandemic, social-distancing limited to four in public, and now dramatic weather with thunderstorms and heavy rain... and yes -- love the country -- it's a must!