24 Years Later, Found at Last

Guo was reunited with his son 24 years after searching for him

Guo Gangtang finally found his son after searching for him for 24 years. They along with Guo's wife had a tearful reunion in Liaocheng, Shandong province on Sunday after DNA samples confirmed the 26-year-old man was Guo Xinzhen. 

The child was only two years and five months old when he was abducted outside his home in a village in Liaocheng on September 21, 1997.

Guo distributed flyers with photos of his son

The shock of losing the boy resulted in Guo Gangtang losing weight from 80kg to 60kg and his hair turned white in the first month of the abduction.

He then went on a mission to find his son, printing pictures of him and basic information about the boy on leaflets he distributed, hoping to find clues of his whereabouts.

Guo also made banners of the boy's photo and information and put them on his motorcycle that he rode all over the mainland -- some 500,000km -- and wearing out 10 motorcycles -- in the hopes of finding his son.

"Only on the road, I felt I am a father," he told a Shandong-based newspaper in 2015. "I have no reason to stop [searching]. And it's impossible for me to stop."

Andy Lau played Guo in Lost and Love

His plight inspired the movie Lost and Love starring Andy Lau Tak-wah that year, and Lau waived his fees to play the part of Guo.

The film featured many incidents he faced, from road accidents, battling highway robbers, and sleeping near bridge pillars when he ran out of money for accommodation.

"Many people say I am a great father. But I am not great at all," said Guo. "I am helpless. I just lack the courage to restart life after experiencing tremendous hardship. Therefore I kept on searching."

A few years ago he set up a website to help other parents find their missing children. This led to the police finding over 100 abducted children. 

Apparently the couple that abducted Guo Xinzhen have been arrested.

The family is reunited but what are the next steps?

While this story is heartwarming, it is interesting to note this story came out today -- the fourth anniversary of Nobel Peace Laureate Liu Xiaobo's death. 

He died in 2017 of complications from liver cancer in a Shenyang hospital in Liaoning province and was carefully by state security.

The last time a Nobel Peace laureate died in state custody was in 1938, when pacifist Carl von Ossietzky died of tuberculosis under guard in a hospital in Nazi Germany.

June 4 Vigil Remains a Memory

The group that held the annual June 4 vigil has let go its staff

Due to "fierce and political oppression", the group that organized the annual Tiananmen Square candlelight vigil has dismissed its entire staff, while half of the committee members have resigned.

In a statement on Saturday, the 32-year-old Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China said only seven committee members remain, including chairman Lee Cheuk-yan, and vice chairmen Albert Ho Chun-yan, and Chow Hang-tung, who are currently in jail.

"The political environment in Hong Kong has deteriorated sharply in the past year, while the alliance has been challenged by increasingly fierce and obvious political repression. After evaluating the political situation and holding repeated discussions, we have decided to adopt relevant precautions," the statement said.

Three of the committee members are in jail

All staff would be dismissed by the end of July and compensated accordingly, the group said, and they would continue to operate despite drastically less manpower.

"We hope to protect our staff as much as we can," the statement said. It is understood there are less than 10 full-time and part-time staff working for the alliance.

"It is true that the drastic reduction of committee members, the dismissal of all the staff, and the withdrawal of some member groups in recent months will have an impact on our future operations... yet despite all the difficulties and challenges, we will keep going, step by step."

The group's secretary, Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong said he struggled for a long time deciding to step down.

"It is a tough decision, but we have decided to take this collective action after considering all the potential threats we are facing," he said, adding the alliance would still continue to organize activities, including commemorating Nobel Peace Laureate Liu Xiaobo on Tuesday. 

"Some of us may work as volunteers when necessary. The alliance still exists, but on a smaller scale. Currently we also have no plans to change any of our operational goals," he said.

The museum was forced to close before June 4

The "operational goals" are: the release of dissidents, vindication of the 1989 pro-democracy movement, accountability for the Tiananmen crackdown, an end to one-party rule in mainland China, and the building of a democratic country.

However, pro-establishment figures say calling an end to Beijing's "one-party rule" would be an act of subversion under Hong Kong's national security law .

But some legal experts disagree, saying subversion has only been committed if a person resorts to the "use of force or threat of force or other unlawful means" to achieve their goal.

The group has been under pressure since the police banned the candlelight vigil in Victoria Park on June 4 for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic, and on the same day, Chow Hang-tung was arrested and later charged with knowingly taking part in an illegal assembly.

The alliance's June 4 museum was also forced to shut, following a licensing complaint.

It seems it may only be a matter of time before the group may have to completely disband, with collective memories only being individual ones the government intends to extinguish.

A Slew of News Today

Joshua Wong handily won for Kowloon East in the primaries

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

Gwyneth Ho was a former Stand News reporter

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

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

Lam announced more stricter measures tonight

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

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

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

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

Ocean Park, Disneyland will be closed again

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

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

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

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

Restaurants can only offer takeaway for dinner

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

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

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

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

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

Remembering Liu Xiaobo today

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

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

Security Bill Destroying Hongkongers' Trust

Lam and her administration support the national security law

The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress will meet next weekend, and it is believed the national security law will be up for discussion and possibly promulgation, as if it couldn't happen fast enough.

While some believe the passage of this law will put an end to protests, this may be true, but the reality is that it will be the end of Hong Kong as we know it. The city is rapidly changing into a mainland city whether we like it or not, and our government officials and elites trying to one up themselves on telling the public how the national security law is a good thing when they haven't even seen the wording of such an important document.

Kwok says Beijing has lost the trust of HKers

There is a media report that when Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was meeting with the senior leadership in Beijing, she tried to get a copy of the draft but was told it was highly confidential.

So even the leader of Hong Kong has no idea what's in there and not even allowed to have a sneak peek.

That's what loyalty to Beijing gets you these days -- nothing.

And that's what Civic Party lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki has said on RTHK's Letter to Hong Kong today. He accused Beijing of destroying people's trust in the city.

As a result of Beijing making "one country, two systems" null and void, Hongkongers are frantically looking into emigration, applying for British National (Overseas) passports, and businesses moving out of the Central business district.

But what upset him the most is how some pro-establishment figures have chosen to give away Hong Kong's rights and freedoms so easily.

Beijing crushed dissidents like Liu

"Beyond the mainland government's infringement on our city's founding principles, it is even more disappointing to see how local elites and government officials have turned their backs on Hong Kong people," he said.

"Members of the Executive Council and many prominent business owners voiced their support for the legislation. Perhaps fearing backlash from China, top executives from companies like HSBC have also stood by the draconian law."

He said the mainland authorities use the national security law to intimidate political opponents and suppress dissent, citing the examples of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, recently released Wang Quanzhang, and just sentenced Yu Wensheng.

"With the passing of the national security law, Hong Kong may follow the same dark path of political oppression," Kwok said.

In addition, he accused the SAR government of already using intimidating language towards those who opposed the impending bill.

"To intimidate voices of opposition, Chief Executive Carrie Lam has even called critics of the National Security Act 'enemies of the people'," he said.

Cohen has many questions about the new law

"Anyone who is publicly opposing the national security bill will very likely face prosecution and other consequences. Just this week, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Erick Tsang Kwok-wai (who has a painted plate of Xi Jinping in his office) said that critics of the legislation may be barred from running in the upcoming Legislative Council elections."

Therefore, Kwok said, people who call Hong Kong home are left with no choice but to stand firm and fight against what he calls "this intrusion into our city's autonomy".

Esteemed law professor and China expert Jerome Cohen of New York University School of Law has been blogging non stop about the national security law. He puts it pretty succinctly in his June 20 blog post:

"The Handover has clearly become the Takeover".

Why We Remember June Fourth

The growing protests in Tiananmen Square calling for democracy in 1989

This coming Tuesday will be the most sensitive anniversary the Chinese government will try to avoid this year, but it's inevitable.

It will be 30 years since the horrible bloody crackdown in Tiananmen Square and those of us outside China cannot forget.

Here is an essay by Professor Emeritus of East Asian Studies at Princeton University Perry Link called Why We Remember June Fourth:

Some people recently asked, “Why must you remember June Fourth? Thirty years have gone by. It is history. Get over it. Move on.”
A simple question, but there are many answers. No single answer is adequate, and all of the answers together still leave the question hanging in mid-air, asking for more.

We remember June Fourth because Jiang Jielan was 17 at the time. He is still 17. He will always be 17. People who die do not age.

Liu Xiaobo talking to the students in the square

We remember June Fourth because the lost souls that haunted Liu Xiaobo until he died will haunt us, too, until we do.

We remember June Fourth because the glint of bonfires on bayonets is something one does not forget, even if one did not see it personally.

We remember June Fourth because it taught us the essential nature of the Communist Party of China when all of the clothes, every shred, falls away. No book, film, or museum could be clearer.

We remember June Fourth because of the ordinary workers who died then. We cannot remember most of their names because we do not know most of their names. We never did. But we remember them as people, and we remember that we never knew their names.

We remember June Fourth because the worst of China is there—but the best of China is there, too.

We remember June Fourth because it was a massacre—not just a crackdown, or an “incident,” an event, a shijian, a fengbo; not a counterrevolutionary riot, not a faint memory, and not, as a child in China might think today, a blank. It was a massacre.

Fang Lizhi influenced some student leaders of Tiananmen

We remember June Fourth because, as Fang Lizhi noted with his characteristic wit, it is the only case he has heard of in which a nation invaded itself.

We remember June Fourth because Xi Jinping’s fat smile is a mask.

We remember June Fourth because we want to know what the soldiers who did the killing remember. They were brainwashed on the outskirts of the city before they carried out their deadly orders. So they were victims, too. We do not know what their thoughts were. But we remember that we want to know.

We remember June Fourth because Ding Zilin is still alive. She is 82 years old. When she goes out, plainclothes police follow to provide security. Security for her? No, security for the state. That’s right, a regime with 100 trillion yuan in GDP and two million soldiers needs protection from an 82-year-old lady. Protection from her ideas. This is worth remembering.

We remember June Fourth in order to support others who remember. We remember alone. But we remember together, too.

Ding Zilin with her son Jiang Jielan's portrait at 17 years old

We remember June Fourth because remembering it makes us better people. Remembering is in our personal interests. When politicians talk about “interests,” they mean material interests. But moral interests are just as important—no, they are more important. More important than owning a yacht.

We remember June Fourth because it was an historic turning point for one-fifth of the world. A turning point in a frightening direction. We hope it won’t be so much of a turning point as to throw the whole world into a ditch. But we don’t know. We’ll have to see.

We remember June Fourth because, if we didn’t remember it, it could not be in our heads any other way. Could we possibly have imagined it? No.

We remember June Fourth because there are people who dearly want us to remember. It comforts them to know that we remember.

We remember June Fourth because there are also people who desperately want us not to remember. They want us to forget because forgetting helps to preserve their political power. How foul! We would oppose that power even if remembering massacres were the only way to do it.

An empty Tiananmen Square at the 20th anniversary in 2009

We remember June Fourth in order to remind ourselves of the way the Chinese government lies to itself and to others. It says the Chinese people have long since made their “correct judgment on the 1989 counterrevolutionary riot at Tiananmen Square.” But each year, at June Fourth, plainclothes police block people from entering the Square. Why? If the Chinese people all believe what the government says they believe, then why not let them into the square to denounce the counterrevolutionaries? The presence of the police shows that the regime does not believe its own lies.

We remember June Fourth because regime change would be very good for China. People are afraid of the two words “regime change” because of George Bush’s disastrous miscalculation in Iraq. But we should not blame the words themselves for Bush’s mistake. Liu Xiaobo used the words. Peaceful attainment of regime change was his main goal.

We remember June Fourth because shocks to the human brain last a long time. We would not be able to forget even if we tried.

Hongkongers Protest Extradition

Some 130,000 came out today to protest plans for controversial extradition bill

Heartened to see over 100,000 people turn out to protest against the Hong Kong government's plan to push through the extradition bill that would have suspects sent to countries the city had agreements with, including China, Taiwan and Macau.

Critics fear it gives Beijing more authority over Hong Kong, that it could target political activists, lead to forced confessions and arbitrary detentions, and if someone is extradited to the mainland, many of us know China's "rule of law" is different from what it is in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

This afternoon some 130,000 showed up -- the largest since the estimated 510,000 during the annual July 1 protest in 2014. The police claimed otherwise, saying 22,800 were in the march.

Many fear what the government has in mind for extradition

This is ridiculous from the pictures taken by the media, especially overhead. People who arrived late at Causeway Bay had to wait two hours before they could start the 2.2km march and the did so patiently.

The march was timed just before the sentencing of Chan Tong-kai, who brutally murdered his girlfriend in Taiwan last year, but because there is no extradition agreement between Hong Kong and Taiwan, he cannot be tried there.

The Hong Kong government used this horrific crime as an argument for the extradition bill and get the public on side, but today showed people thought otherwise.

Some who spoke to the media felt the government has become more like a dictatorship and not listening to the people, calling for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to step down, while others felt it was important to voice their opinion about the matter for the sake of their children's futures.

The march also protested the jailing of four Occupy leaders

Many of the protesters also carried yellow umbrellas, symbolic of the Occupy protest leaders who were sent to jail earlier this week: Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Dr Chan Kin-man, lawmaker Shiu Ka-chun and League of Social Democrats vice-chairman Raphael Wong Ho-ming.

It's disappointing to see acting chief executive Matthew Cheung Kin-chung dismiss today's protest march, basically saying the government would not be swayed by the turnout.

He said people enjoyed freedom of speech and assembly and the right to stage protests.

"But it has to be conducted in a lawful manner. Whether the turnout is big or small is not the main concern," he said.

A mock jailing with batons was acted out by at the march

Cheung dismissed concerns about the possible abuse of the proposed extradition bill, saying it would not apply to cases involving human rights, politics or capital punishment.

The government has promised it would consider each case carefully, saying the executive authority and the court would perform their respective gatekeeping roles in handling all surrender requests. It said it would reject any surrender request that did not meet legal requirements.

May we remind the government how Beijing punished dissident artist Ai Weiwei, claiming he did not pay his taxes? And then felt it had the right to just destroy his studio in Bejiing without warning?

And the same could be said for Liu Xia, the wife of Liu Xiaobo; her brother was convicted on trumped up charges of fraud and sentenced to 11 years in jail and was later released.

How can we trust the Hong Kong government will not do the same?

US Brings Attention to Uyghurs

Academic Ilham Tohti said tensions needed to be reduced in Xinjiang

In a bipartisan effort not often seen these days in the US Senate, 13 lawmakers have signed a letter of nomination this year of Uyghur academic Ilham Tohti to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee in Oslo, Norway.

They hope this will put pressure on China to stop its crackdown of the minority group.

Tohti, an ethnic Uyghur economist, writer and professor at Minzu University in Beijing, has been serving a life sentence since 2014 on separatism-related charges.

However, he was vocal about the need to reduce tensions in Xinjiang, and asked Beijing to abide by the region's existing laws, reduce economic discrimination, and establish a legal system.

Tohti was sentenced to life in prison in 2014

"This nomination could not be more timely as the Chinese government and Communist Party continue to perpetrate gross human rights violations with over a million Uyghurs and other ethnic minority Muslims detained in 'political re-education' camps," said Republic Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

It is believed more than a million Uyghurs are being held in extrajudicial internment camps in Xinjiang, a crackdown that started in 2017, that the government claims is an anti-terrorist measure. The authorities later claimed these camps help the ethnic minority to learn better job skills to make them more employable.

Two weeks ago, representatives Christopher Smith and Thomas Suozzi introduced a bill called the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, that empowers the State Department, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to hold accountable Chinese officials who intimidate Uyghurs overseas.

"It's encouraging to see that the issue is attracting more interest," said Sean Roberts, director of the International Development Studies Program at George Washington University.

Tohti was recently nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize

"For Congress, this could be a particular opportunity to highlight what's happening inside Xinjiang right now. It could also be used to apply pressure on China to respond why this person [Tohti], who certainly is anything but a separatist, was given a very extreme sentence."

If Tohti does win the Nobel Peace Prize, it would draw attention to his imprisonment and pressure on China to release him.

However, we can probably guess China's reaction with the fate of previous 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo who died in 2017 on medical parole.

We don't even know how Tohti is doing...

Justice for Wang Quanzhang?

Wang Quanzhang, his son and wife Li Wenzu before he was detained in 2015

While the rest of us celebrate Christmas -- from the birth of Jesus to Santa Claus getting you exactly what you want, to gathering with loved ones -- China uses that day to convict and jail people it deems a threat.

Most famously it was pro-democracy activist and Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo who was sentenced to 11 years in prison on December 25, 2009, and two years before that well-known Aids and environmental activist Hu Jia was arrested on Christmas Day and later sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail.

Liu Xiaobo (right) was jailed on December 25, 2009

In 2015 Pu Zhiqiang, a lawyer who had represented artist Ai Weiwei was handed a three-year prison sentence just before Christmas, and in 2011, writers Chen Xi and Chen Wei were sentenced to 10 years and nine years in prison respectively on December 25. 

This year it was human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang's turn.

He was held incommunicado since July 2015 and only yesterday was tried in a secret trial that neither his wife nor his supporters could attend.

His wife was prevented from leaving her apartment in Beijing to go to the trial that was held in nearby Tianjin. Before his trial, she and other lawyers were prevented from visiting him to see how he was doing.

However, It seems Wang is still in strong spirits -- it was somehow leaked that he fired his lawyer in the courtroom which may have caused a delay in the proceedings.

What has he done wrong?

Li shaves her head in protest of Wang's detention

He is accused of "stirring up trouble", representing the banned group Falun Gong, colluding with a foreign-funded group to "propagate methods and tricks for resisting the government", and was one of the many lawyers who was rounded up in 2015 in a crackdown against human rights lawyers for "subversion of state power".

Meanwhile his wife, Li Wenzu is doing her best from the outside to draw attention to her husband's situation. She and other supporters have tried to go to the detention centre where Wang was being held, and this month they shaved their heads to protest what they said was the judges' failure to enforce Wang's rights under Chinese law.

The mandarin word for hair sounds similar to law.

"In Chinese, having no hair sounds like having no law," Li said. "We meant that we can do without our hair, but we can't do without law."

The fact that Wang has been held so long is a violation of China's own laws, as well as international ones.

She is denied access to her husband in detention

Michael Caster, a human rights advocate who previously worked with Wang in Beijing believes Wang's stubbornness "kept him going through years of abusive, incommunicado detention and given him the strength to refuse a forced confession. He was never one to be intimidated by threats from judges or by the physical abuse of police."

If there are angels, we hope they are watching over Wang. His story is being spread around the world.

Is Freedom of Speech in Hong Kong Eroding?

Last weekend a few hundred people marched for freedom of expression

A former lawmaker has warned that if the police go ahead and ban the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party, it will be a major setback for freedom of speech in Hong Kong.

Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee questions how speaking to the media and hosting street booths constitute an "imminent threat" to national security, as police suggested last month.

The party, co-founded by Andy Chan Ho-tin, is fighting back, demanding to know whether there was any communication between the Security Bureau and the police before sending the letter to the party in which it gave the deadline of August 7 to explain to the security minister why it should not be banned. Along with the demand was 800 pages of documents and transcripts of Chan's speeches.

Margaret Ng says the HKNP has done nothing wrong

That's a lot of material considering the party has only been around for two years and isn't very active.

As a result the HKNP is trying to find out if the government originally ordered the force to study the option of a ban.

The bureau is looking into legal advice... which means it's getting very complicated...

The HKNP is also asking the police to hand over all of its surveillance records on Chan, audio and video, and the police says it is following up on the request.

Ng says the party hasn't done anything to stir up national security concerns.

"All of the [actions] police were arguing about were talking, giving interviews, handing out leaflets. All of these fall under freedom of speech, assembly, expression and association. I can't see how these actions have threatened national security throughout the 800 pages," said Ng. "This is a matter of common sense. No one could possibly think these would result in an imminent threat."

The authorities give the HKNP until August 7 to justify itself

She also adds the government is using similar tactics to the central government in cracking down on peaceful dissidents.

Ng cited the example of how late Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo was found guilty of subversion and jailed for nearly nine years for advocating constitutional reform in China.

"Maybe Liu was more articulate in his theory, but all he and Chan did was talk. The city's government has now used the same tactics from the mainland to curb freedom of expression in Hong Kong," said Ng, a member of the Civic Party.

She has represented the legal sector in the Legislative Council for 18 years until 2012, and has been fighting for democracy and human rights. Ng added even the colonial government didn't resort to banning groups on the grounds of what they advocated.

"We now have even less freedom of speech and association than under the [city's former] colonial government. I think it's a dead shame and sends a very bad message to the world," she said. "If Chan continues to speak in an individual capacity, then there is no other way to control him -- so then what is the point of banning the HKNP?"

Liu Xiaobo also only talked about ideas and was jailed

Even if the power for police to ban a group had long existed in the Societies Ordinance, it did not mean the government had to use it," she added.

An example she gave was Britain's Treason Felony Act of 1848, that makes it a criminal offence, punishable by life imprisonment, for people to advocate the abolition of the monarchy, even by peaceful means. But the act has not been used in Britain since 1883.

Last Saturday only a few hundred people came out to protest the heavy-handed approach towards the HKNP, probably due to the public's lack of interest in the pro-independence group that seems amateur.

But Ng says this is not the point -- while she and other pan-democrats may not agree with the HKNP's pro-independence ideas, the concern is freedom of speech is being threatened and they fear  they are using Chan as a first test case.

"Hongkongers might not have democracy, but we can't do without freedom of speech, so don't underestimate us," she said.

The Hong Kong government is hoping we don't get behind the HKNP so we don't notice how hard it has cracked down on the party -- that isn't even registered.

It's unfortunate this amateur party has been singled out, but we must defend its right to speak out.

Footnote: On July 31, the security bureau gave the HKNP another 28 days to file its claim, with the new deadline on September 4.

Keeping Liu Xiaobo's Memory Alive

Rainy weather did not deter some 1,000 people from remembering Liu Xiaobo

Today's weather was unsettled with bursts of rain storms here and there.

But the inclement conditions didn't deter several hundred people who turned out at Tamar in Admiralty to mark the first anniversary of Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo's death.

Originally the event was also supposed to be a rally directed at the Chinese government to free Liu's wife Liu Xia, but she was unexpectedly released and allowed to fly to Berlin on Tuesday.

The candlelight vigil was organized by the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China. Participants bowed at a statue of Liu Xiaobo, that has been seen in and around Causeway Bay.

It's interesting to note that while people in the mainland could not commemorate Liu, some representatives from the Chinese PEN Centre, that helped secure Liu Xia's release, were allowed to travel to Hong Kong to take part in tonight's event.

A candlelight vigil was held tonight at Tamar

Meanwhile, Lam Wing-kee, one of the five booksellers who was abducted in China in 2015, says after Liu Xia was released, human rights activist Qin Yongmin was jailed for 13 years for subversion of state power, which indicated China was not relaxing its policy towards dissidents, and that her ability to fly to Germany was an isolated case.

"I just fear Beijing's control will tighten in the future," he said. "But Liu Xia's release told Hongkongers that we need to hold on and strive for what's right, attend rallies or vigils whenever we can."

Today in Berlin, there are also events to commemorate the first anniversary of Liu Xiaobo's death, but Liu Xia will not be attending, partly because of health reasons and possibly not wanting to cause trouble for her brother, Liu Hui.

Liao Tianqi, the president of the Chinese PEN Centre, said Liu Xia expressed in a note of thanks to Hongkongers and for remembering her husband on the first anniversary of his death.

Liu Xiaobo died of liver cancer last July 13 while in custody in a hospital in Shenyang, Liaoning province. He was 61 years old.

He was serving an 11-year sentence for "inciting subversion of state power" since 2009, after he helped write a petition known as Charter 08, that called for sweeping political reforms.

Free At Last

The picture just say it all -- Liu Xia at Helsinki airport on the way to Berlin

There are two things to be thrilled about today!

The last four boys and their coach were taken out of the Tham Luang cave today. It is a miracle they all made it out safely considering how dangerous it was for the rescuers to get to them.

The boys and their coach have evacuated the cave safely

They are all now in hospital to check for any infections and hopefully they will be reunited with their families soon.

But we are also elated that Liu Xia is finally free!!!

This morning she boarded a flight to Berlin, stopping in transit in Helsinki where she emerged from the plane with arms wide open with a big smile on her face.

Despite not being charged with anything, the 57-year-old had been under virtual house arrest since 2010 when her husband, Liu Xiaobo, won the Nobel Peace Prize. Her flight to Berlin comes days before the first anniversary of Liu Xiaobo's death from liver cancer.

Hopefully leaving China will help Liu Xia start a new page in her life, and get better, as she was suffering from clinical depression, and needed medication just to sleep.

Liu Xia has been suffering from clinical depression

Interestingly AFP reporters managed to visit her in her Beijing apartment on Monday but saw no signs of her packing up and preparing to leave.

Her flight coincides with Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Germany, where he told Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday that Liu Xia would be released soon for medical treatment.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily press briefing that Liu had gone to Germany "to treat her illness according to her wishes", adding the issue was not "diplomatic in nature".

The Chinese are trying desperately to paint this as giving Liu the freedom to move, but really she has been pleading to leave for years. A few months ago she raised the alarm when she hinted she would rather die than stay in China.

Hua Chunying asking why all the questions about Liu Xia

At today's briefing, Hua was also annoyed that Hong Kong reporters were asking many questions about Liu. One question asked was why Liu Xiaobo and his wife weren't allowed to leave the country for medical treatment, but Liu Xia was able to leave now.

"I think your colleagues from Hong Kong are especially interested in the issue. Why are you so interested? I believe there are far more areas for you to follow," Hua replied.

Trying to downplay an important question just shows how much the Chinese are keen to avoid answering it.

While Liu is physically free, she may not speak out much as her younger brother Liu Hui is still in Beijing.

Regardless, we can only hope that being out of China will be good for Liu Xia and that she can create a new chapter in her life -- in freedom.

Liu Xiaobo's Likeness in Hong Kong

Earlier a bust of Liu Xiaobo was on display at the Times Square mall

A few days before the 29th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in June 4, there was a makeshift booth set up on the edge of the Times Square shopping mall in Causeway Bay and it featured the bust of the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo.

The group of activists who were manning the booth received notices from the mall, which is owned by Wharf Holdings, saying they did not get permission from the mall to have a stand and if they didn't leave they would be sued for illegally using the space and using loudspeakers to disseminate political ideas and solicit donations.

Times Square threatened legal action against the activists

At first they came to a temporary agreement, and the group even unveiled a 1.5 metre high statue of Liu sitting in a chair and smoking a cigarette last Tuesday. However, the mall issued another letter saying it was seeking an injunction order if they refused to leave.

So earlier this afternoon, the group avoided legal action by putting Liu's statue on a set of wheels and slowly moved him to Paterson Street, also in Causeway Bay to a nearby mall called Fashion Walk. The activists are hoping to display the statue until July 13, the first anniversary of Liu's death.

We'll have to see if the statue remains at the second mall without too much trouble. The activists were hoping to stay in Times Square because so many people pass through the area everyday, thus increasing awareness for Liu manifold.

Activists moved the statue to nearby Fashion Walk

It was the perfect place for mainlanders to know more about who he was and what happened to him, but the mall's owner would rather they not get into politics and come into the complex to shop.

So Liu now has a new home... how long will he get to stay there?

29 Years On

A mini Goddess of Democracy at the candlelight vigil

This afternoon the weather looked iffy for the June 4 candlelight vigil at Victoria Park, and it did pour for a while. It was much needed rain after weeks of scorching heat. By 6.30pm the rain had stopped, which was promising and by 7pm the thunderstorm warning expired.

YTSL, and another friend and I met up in Causeway Bay and we walked towards Victoria Park. Along the way the usual political parties were there canvassing for money, including Joshua Wong Chi-fung for Demosisto, and Leung Kwok-hung of the League of Social Democrats got to the point -- "Put the money here!" he said, pointing to the donation box.

People are bombarded by calls for donations from parties

Lots of people handed out flyers for things that were June 4th related, until we finally reached the entrance to Victoria Park and finally got a program for the evening's events. However, the sight looked grim -- the football pitches were empty and when we filed in around 7.20pm, we were in the first section already -- usually we would have been in the second one.

Nevertheless there was a good breeze so temperature-wise it was perfect, and it also started drying up the pitches so that by the time the event started just after 8pm, most of us had the chance to sit on the ground. The seniors were the smart ones this year -- many came armed with stools and portable chairs. Some brought plastic sheets to sit on and we saw one woman with bubble wrap! Have to remember that next time!

At around 8.09pm the event started, and the program is basically the same each year -- a video featuring chaotic scenes in Tiananmen Square, complete with tanks and soldiers, people running away and others carrying people from the gunfire.

Before 8pm the crowd was looking sparse...

Then there are speeches, a floral wreath is presented, the eternal flame lit by young people, and Albert Ho Chun-yan, chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance made a speech.

Next a video message from the Tiananmen Mothers. Since 1989, 51 parents of the group have passed away, and they are pleading with the central government to own up to the massacre of their children, and yet they continue to be met with stony silence.

They are grateful that people in Hong Kong continue to mark the incident and continue to donate to their cause.

This year there was a remembrance of Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Laureate who tried to get the students get away from the incoming tanks in Tiananmen Square. He died last July, which is why this is the first year his passing was marked at tonight's event. In a video, empty chairs were placed in different places in Hong Kong, an echo of the Nobel prize ceremony where there was an empty chair where he should have sat.

But later in the evening there were over 100,000 attending

Organizers estimate 100,000 to 150,000 people showed up this year despite university student unions boycotting for a fourth year in a row. They claim there is no point in fighting for democracy in China when we should be advocating democracy in Hong Kong.

However, Dr Chan Kin-man, co-founder of the Occupy Movement and sociologist at Chinese University, sent an open message to the students who stayed away, saying they can call themselves a Chinese or a Hongkonger, but they should be human beings first, which got a big applause from the audience.

Next year will be the big 3-0. It will definitely get a lot of media attention, and more importantly hopefully more people will come out! And yes remember to bring better seat options!