Lam said today she would not run again for chief executive

After five years, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has thrown in the towel. Today she announced she would not seek a second term, and will retire.

"I will not run in the sixth chief executive elections," Lam said. "In other words, I will complete my five-year chief executive term on June 30, and will officially end my 42-year career in government."

Twitter went nuts as soon as she made this statement, ending years of speculation if she would or wouldn't try to extend her term. In the end she cited family reasons for stepping down.

Lam victorious on election day in 2017

"They all thought it was time for me to come home," she said.

What is Lam going to do? She is a self-professed workaholic who is known for micromanaging. Maybe she'll spend the next few months counting all the cash she had stashed around Government House but after that, then what? Knitting? Gardening? Hard to imagine her being a homebody.

But it is a relief to know she will not be continuing as Chief Executive, but at the same time, the next leader will be just as hamstrung by Beijing.

Her time as chief executive has definitely left Hong Kong worse off than how it was five years ago. Most memorably was her proposal of the extradition bill in 2019 which led to millions of people protesting in the streets.

She did not heed her own election promise to step down if she did not have the support of the people. Instead the police were unleashed in a bid to quell the protests which resulted in many residents' hatred of the authorities which led to some violent clashes and the horrific attacks at the Yuen Long MTR station on July 21, 2019, and also in Prince Edward MTR station on August 31 that year.

Extradition bill sparked millions into the streets

None of these incidents were ever fully investigated or the police held accountable for their actions.

A year later Lam brought in the national security law, and that sparked another upheaval. Over 10,000 people were arrested, including lawmakers, activists, and students. Then Apple Daily was shut down, with owner Jimmy Lai Chee-ying arrested, and other pro-democracy media or outlets critical of the government closed down out of fear.

Civil society groups and unions also shuttered, either because of threats from the national security bureau or not wanting to have trouble.

Events like the candlelight vigil on June 4 that were commemorated for 30 years were suddenly considered illegal, and even the statue that memorialised it was taken down in pieces and taken away. Any slogans related to it were literally whitewashed.

And then the coronavirus pandemic erupted in Wuhan in January 2020 and soon made its way to Hong Kong.

Police seemed to collude with men in white shirts

At first Lam's administration was praised for managing to keep the virus out of the city, but two years in, fatigue started to set in, people tired of the social-distancing restrictions that seemed more political than scientific. How come playgrounds, sports grounds and beaches are shut when people should really be exercising outdoors and improving their mental health?

Even though Lam said she told Beijing she would not seek re-election, this fifth wave has done her in, being several steps behind Omicron and not being more insistent on vaccinating the elderly, which led to some 200 deaths a day, and over 50,000 cases for a few days.

Today there are 3,138 cases and less than 100 deaths, but not without the government continuing to insist mass testing will be held at some point, anti-epidemic kits being distributed, and such strict social-distancing measures that many sectors like restaurants, gyms, salons, and entertainment venues are in the verge of closing or have already shut, unable to financially sustain themselves.

And not to mention eliminating all opposition from the Legislative Council so that Hong Kong is governed by patriots.

Lam was caught flatfooted in fifth wave

Lam has completely and irrevocably changed the city for the worse -- even the pro-Beijing camp would agree. The next leader, while having an easy ride in Legco, will have a formidable task of reigniting Hong Kong's economy, though it will never be what it was like before 2019.

The sixth CE will have to drag the city closer to the mainland through the Greater Bay Area, but are Hongkongers ready for this? Is there even a game plan?

In the meantime Hongkongers cannot wait to see Lam finish her term in a few months. Where she will reside during her retirement is now up for speculation. Can she even stay in Hong Kong afterwards? Maybe she should pick up knitting and gardening after all...

Covid-19 Cases Soaring to New Heights in HK

Long lines to get tested for Covid-19 and labs are overwhelmed

Another day, another record number of Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong, today 2,071, and there are already 4,500 preliminary positive cases.

Health authorities reiterated again how the city's hospitals were at 90 percent, and they wanted to keep the remainder to disinfect for the next patients, and for non-Covid-19 patients in serious condition.

2,071 cases today, possibly 4,500 tomorrow

Testing capacity is completely overwhelmed, though a large-scale temporary laboratory set up in the Ma On Shan sports centre run by Chinese-owned Sunrise Diagnostics will start helping out from tomorrow so that the city can conduct up to 300,000 tests per day.

There were more outbreaks in care homes for the elderly and disabled in Sham Shui Po, Tuen Mun, Prince Edward, Tokwawan, and Sha Tin.

Two more elderly people died from the virus.

And yet another 40 medical staff have contracted Covid-19, making it a total so far of 280 doctors, nurses, patient care assistants and administrative workers.

So where does this leave us?

Many infections found in elderly care homes

Students will not be going back to the classroom until at least March 6, while children as young as three are highly suggested to get vaccinated -- with Sinovac.

The Hospital Authority is finally -- finally! setting up a hotline for people who have tested positive for the virus who are still waiting to be admitted to healthcare facilities, and that designated clinics would be setup for them. This is apparently supposed to happen very soon...

There are estimates of some 10,000 people waiting to go into hospital, while 3,600 are currently in hospitals. And then there are over 4,700 who are close contacts who are in quarantine. 

We are currently in a big mess, and yet there is no definitive plan or strategy to get Hong Kong out of it.

We wait word from Lam tomorrow on the crisis

Or maybe we're supposed to wait until tomorrow for the weekly media briefing by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet Ngor? Time is of the essence, but maybe she'd rather make us wait.

Hard to Forget, Two Years Later

A woman remembers the events in Prince Edward MTR

 

It has been two years now since the August 31 attacks in the Prince Edward MTR station. But there are no public remembrances with the national security law in place.

There is no space for the public to reflect on the horrific scenes in the MTR carriage when police in military uniforms attacked unarmed commuters with batons.

These indelible images are a reminder of 2019

Instead Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor insists there is no crackdown on civil society groups, and even quibbled with the word "crackdown", saying the government was only ensuring that individuals and groups were not violating the national security law.

When reporters asked her about the legal status of the Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, Lam said the police is only doing law enforcement work.

"We respect civic society. Hong Kong has large numbers of NGOs and think tanks and research agencies who are shouldering their civic responsibility in trying to improve Hong Kong's situation," she replied to the media before the weekly Executive Council meeting.

Lam says there's not crackdown on civic groups

"But where there are associations, whether they are registered or not registered, that exist in order to undermine Hong Kong's security, let alone to advocate independence or collude with external forces to harm Hong Kong and the country, that is not something we should condone."

She was probably also referring to Civil Human Rights Front, that had been around for 32 years, 30 of which it organized the annual Tiananmen Square candlelight vigil, and the 47-year-old Professional Teachers Union is not being recognized by the Education Bureau anymore.

Police Commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee said that even if groups disbanded, there was no "indemnity" against investigation and that the force had gathered evidence against a variety of political organizations.

Siu says there is evidence against various groups

Political commentator Chung Kim-wah insisted there was clearly an ongoing crackdown on civil groups, given it was hard for many of them, including the alliance, to avoid connections with overseas pro-democracy bodies. He questioned, however, if authorities could silence dissent through such actions.

"The movement advocated by the alliance for more than 30 years has become part of the city's identity. The crackdown on it won't make people forget June 4," he said.

And by extension the anti-government protests of 2019...

Picture of the Day: Hong Kong Today

What's wrong with this picture, taken today in the MTR station?

 

This is a picture of a young person reading the Apple Daily newspaper in the Prince Edward MTR station.

The high school student, called David, is doing his own one-person protest, but several police officers came over and cordoned him off with orange tape as if he were at best a performance artist, and at worst, an animal.

Is a teenager not allowed to read the newspaper in the MTR? 

If anyone wanted more proof the police are criminalizing Hong Kong's youth, this is it.

Missing the Right to Vote

Four years ago, Nathan Law was voted the youngest lawmaker... now in exile

Today Hong Kong recorded seven new coronavirus cases, the lowest in two months.

Funny how this coincides with the eve of what would have been the Legislative Council elections.

But on July 31, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor postponed the elections to next year, citing the third wave of the pandemic, when there were triple-digit cases at the time.

Lam postponed elections, citing pandemic, today seven cases

How can she say her decision has nothing to do with politics?

There was word going around online about a mass gathering tomorrow along Nathan Road to protest not being able to vote in the Legco elections. The protest would also voice their dismay over the national security law imposed on the city, and the possibility of a health code system implemented in Hong Kong.

In response, the police force says it will deploy some 2,000 officers fanning from Tsim Sha Tsui to Prince Edward, and will have in its arsenal water cannons, armoured vehicles, and guns that can shoot tear gas, rubber bullets and beanbag rounds. They will also have pepper ball launchers.

As a result the police warned the public not to get involved, with public gatherings limited to two people.

"Police once a gain warned that the activity is an unauthorized assembly... It is illegal for anyone to organize or participate in, or even be involved in a violent confrontation," the force said. "The police will act swiftly and decisively, make arrests in due course."

Police promise they will be out in force tomorrow

Meanwhile the organizers plan to press ahead. "The government's decision to postpone the elections citing the epidemic aimed at barring us to voice out through an institutionalized way," they said in a statement.

"We believe that a mass rally is the best way to express our views, and show that we will not back down."

The organizers advised protesters not to linger along the protest route, nor take an violent actions.

What's going to happen is anyone's guess, but people are frustrated and need some kind of outlet to release their anger at the government, otherwise left to fester will result in even worse outcomes.

But the government doesn't see it that way and the police will look for any opportunity to strike hard to nip things in the bud right away.

The opportunity for peaceful protests is long gone.

Will people be defiant tomorrow? We will find out

What we are left with are two extremes and no chance of conciliation.

A few weeks ago, Paul Yip, a professor of social sciences at the University of Hong Kong penned an opinion piece in a local newspaper. He called on the government to stop criminalizing young people, who are the future of the city, and instead help them.

"Any responsible government must do its best to nurture the next generation, providing them with the necessary education, training and opportunities to develop their skills. We need to incentivize them to stay," he wrote.

"Retaining and attracting talent is the most important component of Hong Kong's survival. We cannot do this if we have a very polarized society.

"The government needs to develop an empathetic attitude when formulating policies. Our chief executive should learn to listen to those who have different views, as this would definitely improve her governance."

One wonders if she will take this sage advice...

We Will Not Forget Prince Edward 831

Police with batons indiscriminately attacked passengers on the train last year

Tomorrow is a contentious anniversary, when on August 31 last year, police stormed the Prince Edward MTR station and beat people indiscriminately. The images of people cowering in the train carriages and pleading for their lives are indelible from our minds.

Meanwhile the police prevented voluntary paramedics from helping the wounded for several hours, while reporters were not allowed in either to see what was going on.

People in the station were terrified by police's excessive force

It started when a dispute started in the train between protesters and some passengers on board. It escalated to the point where a man wielding a hammer started attacking the protesters. They in turn used the fire extinguisher in the train carriage to defend themselves.

Then the police entered the train platform and began attacking people with batons and pepper spray.  The chaos that ensued resulted in what some protesters believe that some people died, while the emergency services say everyone was accounted for and miscounted at the time.

For months afterwards people would go to the MTR station entrance and leave flowers and burn incense, believing people died there; however no one has come forward to say their loved one died in the incident. The police said no one filed a missing persons report, but by this point the force's credibility had been shot.

For months there were rumours people died in the station

There have been calls for the MTR to release CCTV footage of that night to see what was going on, while an independent investigation would have helped set the record straight, but the police have not allowed this.

Instead many were injured and 52 were arrested. The police weren't punished for excessive violence.

So this afternoon there were calls to commemorate the anniversary by marching from Langham Place shopping mall to Prince Edward MTR station, but that did not materialize.

Instead people gathered at Moko mall and shouted protest slogans, like "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" and later at Langham Place. Police in riot gear stood by and fined more than a dozen people for breaching the two-person limit when gathering in the public place.

#HK protesters shout “Liberate #HK, Revolution of our time” in Moko mall to mark the 1 yr anniversary of #831 crackdown at Prince Edward #MTR station. Slogans echo thru the atrium as over 200 police patrol. Other chant “death to black police and their families” #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/A5Xbq5vB8q

— James Pomfret (@jamespomfret) August 30, 2020

 

People will not forget what happened last year. It was shocking, violent, outrageous and traumatizing.

And we will never know the truth of what happened either at this rate with the police and the MTR unwilling to cooperate.

So the protests will continue in one form or another.

After Hiatus, Hong Kong Protests Erupt Again

Hong Kong police surrounding the Prince Edward MTR station last night

 

Yesterday marked the six-month anniversary of the August 31 incident at the Prince Edward MTR station, where protesters were attacked by Hong Kong police and some people believe three people died at the scene and were unaccounted for, despite no evidence.

Since then people have been coming to a particular MTR exit in the district and have built a make-shift memorial covered in flowers and candles. The police have repeatedly tried to clear it out, but protesters keep coming back and rebuilding the memorial.

A policeman pulled out his handgun to defend himself

Now it has been six months and the Hong Kong government is no closer to resolving the eight months of protests let alone authorize an independent investigation into police brutality. And even though there are fears of the coronavirus spreading in the city, protesters came suitably masked to commemorate the violent anniversary, though the police were there too.

Pepper spray was unleashed at close range, along with tear gas. And a bonus -- a policeman brandished his handgun as protesters threw bricks, stones and bamboo sticks at him. He had fallen away from the rest of the group (obviously not following orders) and so he was desperately defending himself with a live weapon that he thankfully did not fire.

In the end 115 people were arrested, but in the end how many will be charged?

This morning Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo Po bemoaned the incident last night, warning how these violent protests along with the coronavirus were impacting Hong Kong severely.

Petrol bombs were thrown in Prince Edward, tear gas fired

"The blocking of roads and the use of petrol bombs in Mongkok [on Saturday]... was worrying," Chan said in a television talk show on Sunday. "If violent clashes continue, that would harm citizens' safety, hurt consumer sentiment and affect business."

This he said could affect the city economically.

"Foreign businessmen in Hong Kong have started to ask themselves if they should move their families out of Hong Kong, and if they need to have other plans for their businesses," he said.

But these foreign businessmen (and women) also know that it is the government that has done nothing to resolve the tension in the city, creating an even greater divide in how we tackle the coronavirus. Seventeen years ago everyone was united in fighting SARS, but now a divided city makes it harder to overcome this epidemic that can soon become a pandemic.

Dr Gabriel Leung says the clinics help fight the coronavirus

Also last night petrol bombs were thrown at the South Kwai Chung Jockey Club General Outpatient Clinic, which is one of 18 designated medical facilities for screening patients with minor respiratory symptoms of infection. Protesters don't want this happening near where they live, fearing they will have a higher chance of being infected with the coronavirus.

Dozens also protested at three other clinics in Shau Kei Wan, Yau Ma Tei and Kowloon Bay, demanding the government find other locations not near residential neighbourhoods.

But infectious disease expert Professor Gabriel Leung of the University of Hong Kong said it was a matter of practicality and empathy.

"Would you rather have these Hong Kong patients walking around on the streets, looking for clinics? Or would you rather have them going to a designated clinic which would be put under very strict protective measures?" he said. "Even if you are selfish, you would want them to seek help as soon as possible."

Residents protesting the clinic being used for coronavirus tests

Looks like the government (and health experts) need to communicate more with the public in explaining what the authorities are doing to screen people in a methodical way using the utmost safety precautions, but at the same time reassuring them so they aren't terrified.

It's difficult to strike a balance for sure, and on the whole Hong Kong should be commended for doing a pretty good job so far thanks to almost everyone wearing masks and washing hands often.

But in the meantime we shouldn't be surprised to see more protests on the streets. It ain't over yet...

Hong Kong Police Continue Crackdown

Chung Yeung is a grave-sweeping festival, but not many people did that today

Today is Chung Yeung Festival, the autumn version of Qing Ming, or grave sweeping. What should be a day of quiet, reflection, and family gathering was instead turned into another day of Hong Kong being half paralyzed again.

Less than half of the MTR stations were in operation today, forcing many people to use other means of transport (bus, tram, mini bus, taxi), and with the current environment of the Hong Kong government spreading fear, many chose not to go out to do their filial deed.

This had a knock-on effect impacting those in the cemetery industry, from flower sellers to incense and food offerings like roast pork and rice wine.

This Prince Edward memorial has been up since August 31

But it looks like the government doesn't care if people couldn't pay respects to their ancestors, and focused on continuing the spectre of danger looming nearby.

Tonight some 100 protesters gathered at Prince Edward MTR station again. Many believe on August 31, three people were not accounted for when several injured in the station were sent to the hospital. Since then protesters have left funeral offerings in the form of flowers, incense and burning hell money in front of the station entrance (that has since been shut).

Tonight was another opportunity for protesters to pay their respects to them.

However, riot police were having none of it and chased people away with tear gas and shouting.

They were even more rabid in Ma On Shan, where they stormed a shopping mall and pushed away the security personnel who were literally trying to keep the doors shut to prevent them from coming in. The riot police claimed the mall was not a private area (it technically is) and went in to arrest protesters, and even pushed down a Stand News reporter, ripped her glasses off her face and threatened to pepper spray her.

This looks like a scene straight out of a zombie movie: shopping mall security guards tried to hold the doors to stop riot police fr entering but they failed #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/nKsmgrT2M6

— Vivienne Chow (@VivienneChow) October 7, 2019

 
https://twitter.com/rhokilpatrick/status/1181225255945158656?s=20
https://twitter.com/rhokilpatrick/status/1181225255945158656?s=20 https://twitter.com/rhokilpatrick/status/1181225255945158656?s=20
What is going on?!

If Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor thinks this is the way to subdue the protests, she has a pack of rabid dogs to tame first. Last night they arrested several children -- as young as 10 years old -- who looked absolutely terrified.

While the police's brutal actions may scare off some people, it has emboldened others to step out and voice their anger from shouting expletives to aiding the protesters with everything from water to food, car rides and even safe houses.

Shopping malls have been a gathering place for protesters

This past weekend violence reached new heights, but unfortunately they are going to climb higher in the coming days, weeks and months.

Meanwhile shopping mall owners and operators are wondering what to do for Christmas, being less than 90 days away. An interesting factoid is that four of Hong Kong's main developers own or operate 100 malls in the city. Talk about ka-ching.

Anyway everyone is wondering now with the current situation what to do about the countdown to Christmas... should they put up displays or risk them being used as weapons or projectiles? Or should they try to bring some cheer to the city?

Tough call, but really it's up to the government to fix this mess they created, four months ago...

Students Keep Protest Momentum Going

Even Mickey Mouse with an eye patch was out protesting this morning

Early this morning before class, thousands of students from at least 100 schools joined hands in front of their institutions and chanted slogans in a bid to get attention from Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

Much like the human chain that spread across Hong Kong on August 23, the students joined hands -- or if they were too shy to hold hands, they held a pen or poster between them and shouted, "All five demands, not one less!" that is one of many slogans in the anti-government protests.

Students hold hands outside St Paul's Co-education College

The students were from such schools as St Paul's Co-educational College, St Stephens College, Pui Ching Middle School, Wa Ying College, King's College, True Light Girls' College, Heep Yunn School, Wah Yan College and Diocesan Girls' School.

The largest student chain was made up of students from 18 schools in Yau Ma Tei, Homantin, and Tokwawan, while others were from Wong Tai Sin to Tsz Wan Shan, from Yau Ma Tei to Prince Edward, and in Central and Western District.

A student surnamed Li said: "We must protect our home despite our limited strength. Therefore we launched an action called 'The Road to Freedom' connecting a 5km chain through Tokwawan, Homantin and Yau Ma Tei. When injust is a fact, revolution becomes a right. We must stand with Hong Kong pople and never stand down until the five demands are achieved.

Students in Wan Chai formed a human chain

It wasn't just students taking part, but also parents and alumnae of the various schools.

Parent Sammy Lee said he had to support his son, as it was his first time taking part in a social movement. "I think in the future, as a Hong Kong resident, he will understand there are various ways to pursue justice. Don't look down at the subtle power of students. They can also express their demands intelligently."

One male student who wore a tear gas mask, goggles and helmet wasn't optimistic that Lam would give into the other four demands, but felt protesters should continue to do whatever they can for now.

But even younger kids have taken part too. This was from the rain-soaked August 18 march when 1.7 million people took part. Love this kid.

AUG 18/A child standing in a foot bridge leads the protesters to chant slogan:”Hongkongers, keep going”.1.7 million take part in the demonstration in downtown Hong Kong Sunday to press their demands over the No China Extradition bill. (EYEPRESS TV) pic.twitter.com/QovyBIBQWG

— EYEPRESS NEWS (@eyepressnews) August 18, 2019

Loss of Trust

Protestors set fires in Mongkok tonight, angry at police brutality

The problem with Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor finally announcing she will withdraw the bill after three months of protests is that all the trust in the government and the police is completely gone.

Tonight the MTR stations at Mongkok and Prince Edward are shut down and tear gas has been fired yet again because people are surrounding these stations and demanding answers about how the police brutally beat people up on August 31. They also believe a person died in Prince Edward MTR station, which the railway operator denies.

At 7am this morning a woman dressed in black and wearing a hat and mask, sat down by the control booth at Prince Edward MTR station and had a sign demanding the staff release the CCTV footage in the station and she would start a hunger strike.

A quiet protest crowd gathered at Prince Edward MTR station

Even though she left at noon, by late afternoon a large crowd had filled a good part of the station with other people sitting there quietly.

While people accuse the police of treating people brutally in the station, the force claims its officers only chased after those radicals they believed changed their clothes after trashing the station.

The police also pushed journalists aside whenever they were beating people up, the authorities claiming they were concerned for their safety, but really they didn't want more video footage of them excessively hitting people.

And now people want CCTV video footage in the Prince Edward and Mongkok MTR stations to be made public. They don't trust anyone anymore.

That also means protesters still want Lam to agree to their other four demands; one is far from enough.

A statue symbolizing the Hong Kong protests up in Central

Every evening at 10pm, people can be heard doing "shout protests", calling out for the five demands to be met. Even this evening as I came out of the MTR station, there was a young woman in black standing across the street, shouting out slogans.

Perhaps Lam doesn't hear them, but surely she must know people are not satisfied with just withdrawing the bill.

If she really wants to stop the violence and help start Hong Kong heal, then she really must also conduct an independent inquiry. The more she refuses, the more the violence will escalate again.

How does Lam think she and the police will build up trust again with the people when they are skeptical of anything she or her administration say?

Police Brutality Knows No Bounds

A couple begging the police not to hit them anymore in the MTR carriage

This weekend has been too depressing news-wise. I cannot erase the horrific images in my mind of the young couple in the MTR carriage at Prince Edward who were mercilessly beaten by riot police. The couple was cowering in fear and afterwards were clutching each other so hard, in shock at what had just happened to them.

Will the police ever apologize for how they have terrorized them?

Riot police indiscriminately attacked people in MTR stations

And the rest of us for that matter? For that it has made a number of Hongkongers hate the police even more.

How can they just randomly beat people with batons on a wild rampage?

Just as shocking was the police not allowing first aiders to help those who were injured in the various stations. There's a heartbreaking video of a young first aider who is begging the police to allow him in, even saying they can beat him up, that he only wants to treat people.

When his pleas fall on deaf ears he sinks down on the ground and wails. There isn't much anyone can do to comfort him. In another station, three first aiders were forced to stand with their face to the wall and not help anyone. It's shocking and outrageous.

Moments before the police attacked the young couple

As far as I know there are no rallies planned this week, but perhaps someone will organize one to condemn such insane police brutality. July 21 we saw white-shirted men attacking people in Yuen Long MTR station and not a police officer in sight. And now on August 31 scores of riot police on a mission to hit anyone in their way, even slamming a young woman into the wall at Kowloon Bay MTR station.

It seems the MTR is now the new battleground ever since the public transportation network was criticized by Chinese state media for aiding and abetting protesters. This is hardly true. They are providing transportation for everyone.

But now that so much violence has happened in the MTR, will people be terrified to take it?

Tonight after the MTR shut down the line at Tung Chung (because protesters had vandalized it), they were were forced to walk from the airport to Tsing Yi, a four-hour walk, that some journalists had to do as well as they followed them.

Thousands make the long march from the airport to Tsing Yi

Along the way some people with cars handed out food and water to the protesters and some offered rides. At Tsing Yi scores of people with cars came out and gave some of them rides to where they needed to go.

There is one month to go before Xi Jinping's big 70th anniversary bash for the People's Republic of China, but protesters are far from ready to give up their fight...

Prince Edward and Sham Shui Po Stroll

Look! A bear! Colourful graffiti in Prince Edward

After dim sum at Fung Shing Restaurant on Sunday, my friend took us around Prince Edward and Sham Shui Po to walk off our meal.

An old school dry goods store with lots of merchandise

We saw some old school shops selling herbal drinks, and dry goods stores that were stocked with all kinds of sauces, noodles, dried tofu skins, dried dates, plastic containers of maltose, and ginger. These kinds of stores with such comprehensive stock are hard to find these days, but good to know they're still around in the depths of Kowloon!

Another place we hit was Sam Tai Tsz Temple and Pak Tai Temple that are attached and are like a mini version of Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road. Inside a few people were paying their respects and praying to the gods...

A traditional temple in Sham Shui Po

We also saw some graffiti -- nice ones -- that rejuvenated a few old buildings in the area. I'd seen many pictures of the one featuring a bear, but now I finally got to see it in person! It really does make the neighbourhood more interesting for residents and visitors.

It's located on a street that has many fabric and button wholesalers, but on Sundays they are closed, so the street is pretty much empty. My friend says this is where they filmed some scenes for the Transformer movie...

We also saw the School of Chinese Medicine run by Baptist University, an old shop building that has been re-purposed. Again I've seen it in pictures and not in person.

Some details of the building are still intact, like some old Chinese characters are faded on the ground floor walls, while glass windows have been installed as well as air conditioning.

A Chinese medicine clinic run by Baptist University

It was previously owned by the Liu family that owns Kowloon City Bus and there are some artifacts left behind from the 19th century. The place is usually closed on Sundays, but because there was an event going on, we were able to quickly look around the ground floor.

I asked my friend about seeing the shop where a man called Chan Cheuk-ming, better known as Ming Gor hands out rice boxes to the poor. He started doing this in 2013 out of his own pocket, and then when the media started reporting on him, he was flooded with donations, but at least it helped him keep his business afloat.

Ming Gor's relatively new shop

Last year he expanded to a nearby new space that features a slick-looking sign and space, and tries to keep prices low despite increased rents. That's because Chan has said he is in a working-class area and he can't just raise prices. He also knows if he does he'll soon have no customers.

It's tough having a business in Hong Kong, but if you have heart, people will help you out.

Dim Sum Treat

Some of our dim sum dishes, including a half eaten malai goh on the left

This morning a friend took us to a traditional place in Kowloon for dim sum. It's called Fung Shing Restaurant which is run by two brothers, with the original location in North Point, and the other in Prince Edward. Any other Fung Shing Restaurant is a "fake" one, according to my friend...

Deep-fried dumplings with chicken broth

We got there at 10.30am and we were very lucky to find a table for the three of us in the small dining area on the first floor of the building so we didn't have to share.

The clientele is middle aged, so we were the youngest ones there. No matter -- we were all there to enjoy the food.

The first dish to come out were deep-fried dumplings with a bowl of chicken broth. Even when dunked in the broth, the dumplings were still crispy and soft inside. Next came the steaming hot malai goh or Malaysian steamed cake, and it was stellar. The steamed cake was so fluffy and not too sweet that we enjoyed every bite.

The prized malai goh that was so fluffy and not too sweet

Then in quick succession came several dishes. Har gao, or steamed shrimp dumplings that were quite large and full of shrimp meat, though the skin was on the sticky side. The chicken feet were delicious, and weren't steamed too long, making them more flavourful, while the fluffy char siu baos were not cloyingly sweet.

An interesting dish we also tried was goose webs and taro wrapped with tofu skin. The skin was so thin, while the combination of the goose webs with the starchy taro was really interesting and not sitting in oil either.

We also ordered tripe in a light curry sauce, and the last dish to come was cheung fun, or pan fried rice rolls with scallions, in a thin mixture of peanut, sesame and sweet plum sauce with a generous sprinkling of sesame seeds.

We waited a long time for these pan-fried rice rolls

Needless to say we were so full afterwards and the bill was so reasonable too -- HK$263 for three!

My friend tells me dinner here is very good too and I hope we can try it sometime!

Fung Shing Restaurant

1/F-2/F, European Asian Bank Building

749 Nathan Road

Prince Edward
2381 5261