John Lee Secures over 700 Nominations

Lee has secured over three times the necessary nominations

One person is running for the position of Chief Executive, and he already has secured over 700 nominations from almost half of the Election Committee, so is there any point for John Lee Ka-chiu to formally put in his paperwork to participate in the one-horse race?

The one-horse race will cost HK$278 million

But it seems one must go through the motions, and Lee has more than the minimum 188 nominations from the Election Committee, over three times the number... cause no other viable contender has thrown his or her hat into the ring.

"It is time that I let people know the clear indication of standing for the election, so it is appropriate for me to actually register to stand for the election," he said today. 

"I will continue to appeal for people's support. So I will be approaching the Election Committee members again for their support in the eventual voting exercise."

An exercise that will cost taxpayers -- who cannot vote in this election -- HK$278 million (US$35.5 million), with another HK$50 million tacked on because of delays due to the pandemic. 

The 2003 protests led to shelving Article 23

And as expected, one of Lee's priorities if he becomes the next Chief Executive, is to pass Article 23, where the city can enact laws to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, and subversion against the central government, or the theft of state secrets, forbid foreign political organisations from conducting political activities in the region, and to ban political organisations from establishing ties with foreign political organisations.

That seems to be pretty much covered already by the national security law enacted in 2020, but just in case, Article 23 will reinforce this and give the government more leeway to further crush dissent.

As many will remember back in 2003 over 500,000 people came out to protest then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa's attempt to pass the bill, which led to his abrupt exit as well as then security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.

The then protests caused Ip to lose her job

The current Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said back in February that consultations on Article 23 will begin in May.

Guess there's no point in wasting time...

John Lee Tipped for Top Job

Lee announces his resignation in a bid to run for CE

The election for Hong Kong's next chief executive has one candidate so far, and he may be the only one Beijing endorses. Former Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu has emerged as the front runner and no other are contesting the top job -- yet.

Earlier today he formally resigned from his position citing his ambitions -- if given Beijing's blessing -- to run in the May 8 election.

"If my resignation is approved by the Central People's Government, I shall plan to prepare to stand for the upcoming Chief Executive Election," he said, adding he would inform the public of his next move if Beijing accepted his decision to quit.

Protests erupted over the extradition bill in 2019

His press conference was only five minutes, making his announcement in Cantonese and English and left without taking any questions from reporters.

The choice of Lee signals Beijing's priority of security over social welfare, the economy or development. 

He has always been involved in law enforcement, beginning his career in the Hong Kong Police force, starting as a probationary officer in 1977, and moving up the ranks.

In 2012, then chief executive Leung Chun-ying made Lee deputy commissioner, joining government circles, and then was promoted again five years later to chief of the Security Bureau. 

Last June he replaced Matthew Cheung Kin-chung as Chief Secretary.

Lee and Lam announcing the bill was "dead"

It should be pointed out that in 2019 it was Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Lee who proposed the extradition bill, which led to millions of people protesting in the streets, and later implementing the national security law.

He also instigated the arrests last year of 47 politicians, activists and academics for holding a primary in 2020 to see which candidates would be best suited to run in the Legislative Council election. 

He claimed their plans would paralyse Hong Kong's government and pull the city into a "bottomless abyss".

So while Beijing will be satisfied with the choice of Lee, Hongkongers are beginning to worry about the consequences of having someone who has no expertise in how to kickstart the city's economy out of the doldrums or care about the underprivileged, or even housing issues.

Many people in this photo are behind bars

Finance Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po has hinted he won't be running, while no word yet on former chief executive Leung or former secretary for security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee. Ip may always be the bridesmaid and never the bride...

If Lee does become the next chief executive, things may get more stricter and more authoritarian...

Mass Testing Could be Pushed Back to April

Universal testing may be further pushed back to April

The Hong Kong government continues to flip flop on major decisions on a whim that have left residents frustrated, tired and wondering how senior officials even make these decisions.

There is now word that because Beijing has told local authorities to focus more on reducing the death rate and look after the elderly that the citywide universal testing may now be pushed back to April.

Lam had announced mass testing in March

Originally Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor had announced on February 22 -- by the way the last time she spoke publicly to Hongkongers -- that universal testing would be held in March. It was later heard through the grapevine that it would start on March 26, but now it could be as late as April.

After all that panic-buying of vegetables, meat, toilet paper and so on, how does this make people feel?

In addition, what about the schools and students missing out on education right now? If mass testing is pushed back to April, when will their classes resume? There are students who need to take the university entrance exams on April 22. Children and young people really are getting the worst deal out of the pandemic that is now well into its third year.

Lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee remarked on Twitter:

"I welcome the government's decision to re-open hair salons as from this Thursday. I urge the government to re-open also golf courses, tennis courts, and other facilities for non-contact sports. We need to help caddies and coaches, not just hair stylists, get their jobs back!"

Ip wants golf courses and tennis courts re-opened

What about students and the future of Hong Kong? Or someone is just really keen on getting back to her golf game?

This evening word also came down that people can get their hair cut from March 10! Hallelujah!

No more having your hairdresser surreptitiously come to your flat and trim your locks -- we can go back to the salons -- as long as you've had at least one jab. I hope my hairdresser has been inoculated...

And what does this mean about our HK$10,000 handout? Will that be delayed too? There are so many unknowns.

In the meantime, today there were 30,493 cases logged, 2,018 of which were from rapid antigen tests (RAT). 

While some 200,000 logged onto the new website to record positive results from RATs, 17,236 were actually reported, and of them, 2,018 completed all the information and uploaded pictures and HKID card information for the government to issue them isolation orders.

Au explaining over 2,000 RAT cases confirmed

Meanwhile 291 deaths were announced, 160 from the past 24 hours, and 131 backlogged. The age range is staggering -- four years old to 105, 116 of them unvaccinated, 86 from elderly care homes.

Now the government is planning to move the uninfected seniors in care homes to isolation units, but who will care for them all the way out there? There are horror stories that there are not enough staff to help them to washrooms and they are stuck wearing diapers. 

The authorities really need to consult geriatric specialists about how to look after these relatively healthy people and keep them safe, but also not completely isolated either which could also lead to deterioration of body and spirit. 

Hong Kong cannot afford to lose more lives over egregious mistakes and flip flopping. Time to make informed decisions for the good of all. All 7.4 million lives depend on them.

Youngest and Oldest Hongkongers Die from Covid

Thousands waiting, is this the most efficient way to fight Covid?

It was tragic to find out a three-year-old girl who was in critical condition with Covid-19 and no underlying health issues has passed away, the youngest victim of the virus so far, while a 100-year-old chronically ill woman also died, being the oldest fatality in Hong Kong.

And yet Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said today: "It is not an option to surrender to the virus", despite the healthcare system being completely overwhelmed. 

Even her deputy, Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu now needs to be isolated after his domestic helper was found to be infected with the virus, while pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee's chauffeur tested positive too.

Lee is isolating after his helper tested positive

Despite Lam's insistence on achieving "dynamic zero infection", she has not shown any indication of earnestly trying to fight the fifth wave as quickly and effectively as possible.

During the media briefing this morning she suggested that 3,000 flats from three public housing estates could be used as well as 10,000 hotel rooms to isolate people who have tested positive for the virus. Lam did not invoke emergency powers to demand the hotels give up the rooms as soon as possible, but instead has chosen to approach "industry leaders" to expedite the process.

After over two years, how many hotels are going to be willing to be turned into isolation facilities? Who among the staff -- who have no medical training -- would be willing to service these people knowing there would be a high risk of getting infected as seen from quarantine hotels?

And then Lam has suggested that 400 taxis be chosen specifically to ferry infected people to designated medical clinics that will process Covid-19 patients. Again, who is willing to drive these people around, knowing they have tested positive for the virus?

Some 400 taxis will ferry patients to clinics

This plan does not seem feasible, thanks to the government being caught seriously flat-footed knowing Omicron is an easily transmissible virus and seeing how it has affected people overseas -- just looking at Singapore -- and anticipating the worst-case scenarios and preparing for them.

In addition there are another 30 nurses and doctors in 28 hospitals and eight clinics and care homes that have also come down with Covid. Does Lam think that healthcare professionals are limitless? Many already migrated in the past year so there was already a serious shortage.

If that wasn't all, there were pictures circulating on social media of to 60 patients in gurneys outside the Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po around 2pm, and at Pok Oi Hospital in Yuen Long, about 40 patients treated outside on gurneys or in tents while others sat on chairs. They were given foil blankets if they complained about the cold.

How is this even acceptable in Hong Kong?

Patients in Sham Shui Po treated outside hospital

The best thing people can do to protect themselves and their loved ones other than wearing masks is to get vaccinated. The government is too overwhelmed to help anyone, so it up to all of us to look after ourselves and getting inoculated is the fastest (and cheapest) way to do that.

In the meantime spare a thought for the three-year-old girl's family. We have all been through so much, and yet we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet...

HK Records over 1,100 Covid-19 Cases

Men desperate to get a last haircut in before barbers shut

This morning it was shocking to find out via Bloomberg that Hong Kong had more than 1,100 cases today.

It was almost double yesterday. As the infectious disease experts had predicted, the infection numbers have shot up in a short period of time.

The goal of reaching "zero Covid" seems like a mirage in the distance.

Vegetables have disappeared from shelves

Today men and women, but mostly men rushed to hair salons and barbers to get their last proper hair cut before they shut at midnight. Many do not think hair salons or religious venues will re-open on February 24.

Meanwhile some report zero access to fresh vegetables in their supermarkets with pictures of empty shelves. Some sarcastically noted only coriander was left behind, while another said it was turnips where they were. Frozen vegetables are also a hot commodity.

There was a picture of a woman stocking up on toilet paper again... are we seriously repeating 2020?

Then there are long, long lines of people waiting to get tested in various areas around town. Some 20,000 people need to get tested in Discovery Bay after sewage tests showed up positive for Covid-19. Anyone who spent two hours or more there between January 26 and February 8 must get tested. 

People worried being in line would result in them being infected and felt the sewage tests were not helpful.

Despite high case numbers, Lam is still maskless

Many residents are incensed that Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor continues to speak at press conferences without a mask when her own health experts have advised everyone to wear a mask except when eating and drinking.

Some are beginning to think Lam is exacting revenge on Hongkongers by flouting the rules because... she's the chief executive. 

If that is the case, is she really committed to getting the city back to "zero Covid"? Or is she happy to have Hong Kong in a mess, stressing people out about having to comply to the latest restrictions on top of avoiding getting infected? 

By the way don't even think about meeting more than one person on the street at the same time -- you could be fined HK$5,000 on the spot and the police are out in force and gleefully handing out tickets.

One person sarcastically suggested on social media this was perhaps the government's way of paying for the HK$26 billion for the anti-epidemic fund.

Then there appears to be some power plays by the Executive Council... Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee claims Exco announced the latest social-distancing measures yesterday before Lam could...  Maybe that explains why she deferred to the 4.30pm press conference for further details...

Two families being fined by police today

The one good thing that happened today was that more elderly people got their first jabs.

About 1.19 percent of seniors aged 70-79 got inoculated, the highest percentage for any age group in a single day since the start of the vaccination program.

Also just over 1 percent of people 80 years and over got jabbed too.

In the meantime it looks like Valentine's Day is cancelled for restaurants. With the number of cases doubling every two days or so, the chances of someone wanting to eat out are very slim now. No one wants to get infected or dragged into Penny's Bay for quarantine.

What has Hong Kong turned into? It's absolute madness and we're into the ninth day of the Lunar New Year. The Year of the Water Tiger is not doing well at all, let alone the start of 2022. 

Can we start over again?

 

Chinese Expert says Covid Already Adapted to Humans

Guan Yi warned Covid-19 would be 10 times worse than Sars

China has one voice of reason in the Covid-19 pandemic -- but his expert opinion goes against President Xi Jinping's zero tolerance goal.

That's because scientist Guan Yi, whose work helped averted a second Sars outbreak in 2004, says zero-Covid will not succeed because the virus has already adapted to humans and cannot be fully eliminated.

He said during an interview with Phoenix TV that China should instead focus on vaccines and test the population's immunity level after vaccination to determine which jabs to administer. Guan is the director of the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases at Shantou University in southern China, which runs a lab in partnership with the University of Hong Kong.

He says the virus has already adapted to humans

Almost 80 percent of China's population has been vaccinated and they have already begun administering booster shots and inoculating children.

However, there have been sporadic outbreaks that have spread to at least 20 provinces and regions. On Monday there were 43 reported new local symptomatic cases as well as 19 imported and 74 asymptomatic infections after days of mass testing and quarantine in multiple areas.

"Local governments are adopting zero tolerance to these scattered cases," Guan said. "But if that remains the case, I think our economy will collapse... I think there is no chance if we set a goal to eliminate all cases.

"Just like influenza, this virus already has a foothold in mankind and it will stay with us for the long term -- it is in fact, whether we like it or not. This virus has already fully adapted itself in humans.

"We should not declare victory over this virus too early, or we would be underestimating its impact on mankind."

Vaccines should be tested for antibodies

Guan explained the Sars outbreak was stopped in 2003 because it had not yet fully adapted to humans. He played a key role in identifying civet cats as they intermediate host of Sars. In January 2020 he told news website Caixin the then newly emergent coronavirus would be 10 times worse than Sars.

China should have the courage to find out its population's antibody level after vaccination, instead of devoting so much of its resources to testing to identify positive cases, he said.

"What is the level of [neutralising] antibodies induced by vaccines and how long can it last?" Guan said. "Only by [establishing that] can you determine the effectiveness of a vaccine. We also have to find out how long immunity can last after boosters, otherwise it could be possible that the antibodies wane before the winter finishes because the drop in antibodies may outpace the speed vaccines are distributed."

In Hong Kong it has been determined through antibody testing that people injected with Chinese-made Sinovac hardly have any or do not have any antibodies to fight Covid-19, let alone the variants. 

A few months ago Ip got Pfizer/BioNTech booster

Lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee was one of those tested to have found to have no antibodies and immediately got a Pfizer/BioNTech booster.

Guan says vaccine makers have a responsibility to update the public about their vaccines' effectiveness against different variants. 

"If a vaccine is not effective, we should remove it [from the vaccine program]. If we don't have sufficient understanding... we don't have the [chance] to make improvements, especially when vested interests are involved," he said, in a veiled reference to pharmaceutical companies.

His reasoning is sound, and hints that China will have to live with Covid-19, but will Xi? Will the President take Guan's expert opinion into consideration, or force him to submit to his zero-Covid strategy?

We will be watching.

National Day Patriotic Spending

Lots of patriotic red at the Convention Centre this morning

Now Hongkongers know how Beijing residents feel when National Day comes on October 1.

Roads and walkways near the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre were roped off, apparently some 8,000 police officers were out on the streets, and while pro-Beijing events that had gatherings of more than four people (wearing red masks of course) went ahead, others were given tickets by the authorities for contravening social-distancing measures.

Yesterday people could not go near the HKCEC

Luckily Hong Kong residents had a distraction from the patriotic festivities -- the second batch of the consumption voucher scheme was released today, and many took advantage of either HK$2,000 if they used Octopus cards (and HK$1,000 in December), or HK$3,000 for three other designated apps to go shopping.

One 50-year-old man shelled out HK$134,000 for a gold bridal necklace at Chow Tai Fook.

"Since I planned to buy a gold necklace as a future wedding gift for my one-year-old daughter, I decided to buy it today, as it just so happened that the second round of the e-voucher scheme was kicking off," he said. "When she is 18, I will present this gift to her."

Hope she likes it, 17 years from now...

Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po thinks the local economy is improving significantly because of the e-voucher scheme.

People went mad shopping instead in the malls

"From what I've observed, the market sentiment is really good. Many people told me that as the economy is getting better, they are willing to spend more," he said.

However, he said what was a priority was to keep the pandemic under control and reopen the border with the mainland.

Ah yes, that.

Hong Kong has gone 44 days without a local infection, but apparently that is still not good enough for China.

A few days ago Chinese authorities hinted Hong Kong needed to further step up its testing of inbound travelers and quarantine. But perhaps there are expectations for Hong Kong to implement the use of the mainland's health apps it developed during the pandemic?

But in the meantime our government officials are getting a kick in the arse by lawmakers and social workers for not visiting grassroots residents regularly in a bid to understand their needs and try to solve their livelihood issues.

Ip says officials need to meet locals regularly

That put senior government officials on the defensive, however, it wasn't enough for Executive Council member and former secretary for security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.

"The cabinet as a whole has yet to form a habit to stay close with the people regularly. The government needs to respond to public demands speedily, but [Carrie] Lam has mainly been visiting public facilities and universities, and hasn't stepped out of her comfort zone yet. Even though Lam hosted a town hall meeting in August, it was held on the seventh floor of the Xiqu Centre."

Ouch.

Lam and co. still have a lot of work to do to please everyone...

Privileged Few Get Booster Shots

Regina Ip opted to get BioNTech jab for her booster shot

Back in February when Sinovac vaccines were available before BioNTech, pro-establishment lawmakers lined up with their sleeves rolled up to get the jab as a sign of patriotism.

Now it turns out six months later their vaccine has produced zero antibodies and some have lined up again this time to be guinea pigs to see what happens when they get a booster shot.

Ip said she had no detectable antibodies

One of them is Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, a member of the Executive Council. The participants of the study, being conducted at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital in Happy Valley, were given a choice of either staying with the same brand of vaccine as the first two shots, or switching to a different one.

She and two other Exco members chose the BioNTech jab, as they said they did an antibody test and none were detected after they had taken the Sinovac vaccine.

According to Ip, the other Exco members who are taking part in the study are Chow Chung-kong, Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, Joseph Yam Chi-kwong, Dr Lam Ching-choi, and Wong Kwok-kin.

Lam and Wong both advocated for people to get their third shot, but government pandemic adviser Dr David Hui Shu-cheong questioned the need for booster shots if people are generally healthy.

Hui questioned if healthy people need boosters

While higher antibody levels could help reduce the risk of symptomatic infections, their waning after Sinovac shots was consistent with data previously reported on the mainland, which had found levels were undetectable six to eight months after taking the jabs, he noted.

"They still have T cell responses, which can protect them from death or severe conditions," Hui said.

Healthy individuals whose antibodies have significantly dropped following vaccination should not be given priority for third shots, said Hui.

"Priority should be given to immunocompromised people, such as those who have undergone organ or bone marrow transplant, followed by the elderly," he said.

The six Exco members must be relieved to get booster shots -- all in the name of science, right?

First Time in 19 Years, No July 1 March

Half a million people participated in the July 1, 2003 march

 

Every year since 2003, there had been a July 1 march to demonstrate against the government. It started that year to vehemently protest against legislating Article 23 -- the national security bill. Some 500,000 people came out to march peacefully in the streets.

It resulted in the bill being withdrawn and shelved indefinitely, as well as the resignation of the then security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee, and later then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa stepped down for "health reasons".

The 2015 march after the Umbrella Movement

It was that march that showed if people came out to protest peacefully, the government was listening, and spurred subsequent marches every July 1 after that.

These marches were meant as a counterpoint to the pro-government celebrations marking Hong Kong's return to the motherland. It also reinforced people's passion for the city, their pride in being Hongkongers.

Marching on July 1 is not easy -- the high temperatures combined with high humidity and tens of thousands of people makes it a big communal sweaty affair. But everyone is usually in good spirits and patient enough to deal with the police making it at times difficult to continue walking.

On the streets were people of all ages, elderly people, young parents carrying babies, children, teenagers and professionals, all united together.

The 2019 march against the extradition bill

However, the organizer of this march, the Civil Human Rights Front, will not do it this year for the first time in 19 years.

It was revealed the group that used to organize the marches to demonstrate against the government every year since 2003 has disbanded since its convenor Figo Chan Ho-wun was jailed in May for his role in the unauthorized protest on October 1, 2019.

The news was revealed by Raphael Wong Ho-ming, chairman of the League of Social Democrats, a member group of the Front.

On Sunday Wong said some civil groups will discuss holding their own protests on July 1, though conceding any applications to the police to march will likely be rejected.

The front dissolved after Figo Chan was jailed

Last year the front had applied for permission from the police to march, but it was rejected citing the coronavirus pandemic, though some people still went out onto the streets that day to protest against the newly enacted national security law.

Wong said the league and other groups will set up street booths that day for people to be able to voice their opinions, while complying to social-distancing rules.

How things change so quickly within a year...

The Bonanza Gets Bigger

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

 

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

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

But there are some stranger enticements.

Anyone want to win Regina Ip's watch?

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

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

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

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

Get vaccinated!

 

Picture of the Day: Regina Ip's Burberry Boycott

Pro-Beijing lawmaker Ip seems to look longingly at her scarves

 

The uproar over cotton from Xinjiang has dragged fashion labels into the fray. Fast fashion brand H&M immediately felt the wrath of China when it was completely wiped out of the Chinese internet sphere when it declared it would not use Xinjiang cotton.

Other companies are sending out mixed messages with Hugo Boss saying on its website it did not use cotton from China's northwestern province, but its Chinese office said it did.

Then celebrities were caught up in declaring their allegiances too, with Cantopop singer Eason Chan Yik-shun cutting his ties with Adidas, while others supported Xinjiang cotton, such as Joey Yung, singer Pakho Chau Pak-ho, actor Jordan Chan Siu-chun, and actress "Angelababy" Angel Yeung Wing.

Politicians got into the act of showing off their patriotism, with Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee taking the lead.

On Twitter she posted a picture of herself sitting on a couch and seemly looks longingly at her three Burberry scarves. The British fashion brand said it would not use Xinjiang cotton.

Ip's post said Burberry is one of her favourite brands: "I will stop buying or using Burberry products until Burberry has retracted or apologized for its unfounded allegations against Xinjiang."

Is that all Ip has in her wardrobe from Burberry? Three scarves?

Hardly seems like a boycott... 

Regina Ip Claims Hongkong Migrants are "Refugees"

A person holds up their BN(O) passport during a mall protest

 

On Sunday 5pm Hong Kong time, the UK opened its doors to applications for the new British National (Overseas) immigration scheme.

This morning the British visa centre in North Point was a bit busier than usual, with many young families, some young people, and seniors.

One young couple said the process was quite smooth, as they had applied online and then at the visa centre provided fingerprints and facial scans, all completed in 30 minutes.

After five years HKers can apply for citzenship

The pro-establishment politicians, particularly one executive councillor, are doing their best to try to make the immigration scheme seem like a bad deal, but offering nothing better in return.

Exo member and lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said Britain was essentially treating Hongkongers hoping to move there as "refugees".

"You can go by simply paying for the visa and National Health Service fees and answering 100 questions. They are more or less treating you as refugees," she told a Monday morning radio program.

While she admitted Beijing and Hong Kong not recognizing BN(O) passports would not affect local residents much, but Ip hinted there were other countermeasures that could be taken, such as revoking the right of abode of permanent residents who resided in Britain.

She believed those who had left or were applying were either unhappy with the national security law, or had taken part in the 2019 anti-government protests and were afraid of being arrested.

Ip also suggested Hongkongers who emigrated under the new scheme might have "no skills and qualifications", unlike professionals like doctors, who could emigrate into the country via traditional methods.

Ip says the UK treats HKers like "refugees"

First of all has she not been reading the media reports that bankers and other highly qualified professionals are applying for this BN(O) immigration scheme? Is she insinuating the people who are leaving are all riff raff?

And second, she was part of the government over 20 years ago. As a member of the Tung Chee-hwa administration, she is partly responsible for the education of many of the people who are leaving. 

Third, many of the people sold their flats to move, which means they had pretty good-paying jobs to be able to buy property in the first place, in other words, they have a good education.

But she makes herself and Beijing sound elitist and condescending. And in a way the Hongkongers who are leaving want no part of that anyway.

Why not let people leave Hong Kong if they want? They obviously don't feel happy or safe here.

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Emily Lau Wai-hing has this exact sentiment.

Lau (left) says HKers should leave if they want

"It is none of their business [if Hongkongers choose to leave the city]," Lau said. "If Hong Kong residents feel they are safe, peaceful and free, do you believe they will, for no reason, sell their property and move overseas?"

The British government is forecasting up to 1 million people from Hong Kong emigrating to the UK in the next five years, though some say it could only be 320,000.

Many people have been thinking about leaving Hong Kong for a long time, at least a year or two. They have been carefully calculating how they can survive financially for at least six months without a job, and are psychologically prepared to take much lower jobs than their experience.

This shows their willingness to move for their children, or to feel happier or safer in another country.

What is Hong Kong doing to entice them to stay?

Nothing, which is why these people feel they have nothing to lose by going elsewhere.

 

Lam's Policy Address was a Doozy

Lam makes her policy address and note the Chinese lapel pin

The long-awaited policy address by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was finally given, and clocked in at a very long two hours and 15 minutes, tying with her predecessor Leung Chun-ying. Lam read out some 30,000 words and claimed she had written the entire thing herself. 

She read out her speech to a Legislature Council that only made up of the pro-establishment lawmakers and two independents after four pan-democrat lawmakers were ousted and their 15 colleagues resigned in protest a few weeks ago.

Cheung gets hair crabs, Ip sees Tsang sleeping

Lam claimed to be pleased she could read out her speech in a peaceful chambers, as last year she received so much heckling that she retreated from Legco and gave a pre-recorded video address instead.

Maybe that's because some people in the room were busy doing other things -- like Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang Kwok-wai was caught dozing off as well as Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee. 

Meanwhile the portly Business and Professionals Alliance lawmaker Christopher Cheung Wah-fung received a message on his phone that his order of hairy crabs worth HK$9,600 was ready to be picked up and would he be paying by cheque or cash?

Then there was the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong's Vincent Cheng Wing-shun spending the time trying to twirl a pen on his hand, while New People's Party's Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee looked at pictures of Tsang sleeping on her Whatsapp.

Did Lam reprimand them for not paying attention to her piece de resistance?

What lawmakers did listening to Lam's speech

In any event, at least the media were glued to their screens watching the proceedings. 

Lam started the speech by saying the objective of the policy address was to "find a way out of the impasse" and restore people's confidence following the anti-government protests last year, and the current battle against the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused the economy to shrink by 6.1 percent.

The national security law enacted on June 30, Lam said, helped Hong Kong become peaceful again and restored stability in the city. But she said more needs to be done in educating people, particularly the youth about the law, and this will be a 10-year project launched by the Department of Justice. Lawmakers, judges and civil servants will have to pledge allegiance to the city and the Basic Law.

Reporters made note of Lam wearing a pin of the Chinese flag on her lapel, signalling things are becoming more mainlandized. Hong Kong will be dragged closer to the mainland with the Greater Bay Area as the priority, and the city together with Macau and Guangdong will become an economic powerhouse -- at least in theory.

Some 2,000 university graduates from Hong Kong who are willing to go work in the mainland will have their monthly salary of HK$18,000 (US$2,322) paid for by taxpayers. Will that actually tempt them to go to the dark side? Or will they worry they will be branded as traitors?

Is it realistic to invest in Zhuhai Airport?

Lam also said the Airport Authority Hong Kong will invest in more shares in Zhuhai Airport for domestic travel, but when looked at realistically, it is 90km away and there is currently no logistical connection between it and Hong Kong. 

To boost the economy in the short term, stamp duties on commercial real estate transactions will be suspended, but that perhaps will make the rich richer and the rest of us left further behind. Lam said with the GBA project, Hong Kong could act as a middleman between China and the rest of the world... hasn't it been doing that since the 1800s? And has Hong Kong been reduced to the role of facilitator and not a leading city in Asia? 

When it comes to fighting the pandemic, Lam says Hong Kong has ordered vaccines, but if there aren't enough, the mainland has earmarked some for us. However she had no further details on the manufacturer or how effective they were. How reassuring.

During her visit to Beijing she pitched the idea of opening the border with the mainland, but she was rebuffed because Hong Kong's case numbers are still high (this was before the current fourth wave). 

Hong Kong needs to reach zero infections

As a result, Lam says a community-wide testing program may need to happen again, and reiterated people need to be more careful about going out unnecessarily as she is pushing for zero infections. Lam later admitted in the press conference it may be impossible to get completely down to zero, but that it was something to aim for. Don't we all, Carrie?

Finally the chief executive talked about more housing, and that the government had identified 330 hectares of land to build 316,000 public housing units in the next 10 years. And she is still pushing her ambitious Lantau Tomorrow Vision of reclaiming 1,000 hectares of land to build more housing at the price tag of HK$624 billion. 

Critics not only say this drains at least half of the government coffers, but also the environmental damage will be irreparable. When asked again about it by the media, Lam shot back that only HK$550 million would be spent on a study, but in reality with no viable opposition, the project will go ahead eventually. 

So that in a nutshell is the policy address today.

But we really wonder if Christopher Cheung enjoyed his hairy crabs today.

 

The Darkest Day in Hong Kong (so far)

The 2003 protest against Article 23 had half a million people turn out

At around 3.30pm the skies in Beijing suddenly turned very dark. It was very ominous, just as the two sessions were about to begin in the Chinese capital.

Then later in the afternoon word came from Beijing that the National People's Congress will put through legislation to enact Article 23, the national security law that will ban all seditious activities aimed at toppling the central government and interfering in Hong Kong's affairs.

It will be proposed tomorrow and will be voted on on May 28, thus completely bypassing Hong Kong's Legislative Council; in other words, "one country, two systems" is dead in Beijing's eyes. The Basic Law means nothing.

“This is the end of #HongKong, this is the end of 'One Country, Two Systems'.” https://t.co/Tg28B6uBEV pic.twitter.com/oDzqvneIul

— Richard Pyne (@richardjpyne) May 21, 2020

The central government has been waiting since 1997 to pass this contentious law, only to have it shelved in 2003 when half a million people came out in the streets to protest against it, resulting in Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa retreating with his tail between his legs, and his then security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee leaving the city for a few years to study a masters degree in East Asian Studies at Stanford University.

This afternoon the skies went ominously black suddenly

Fast forward to 2014 after Beijing decided that in electing the next Hong Kong chief executive, China would choose the three candidates, which erupted into the Umbrella Movement, an unprecedented occupation of parts of the city that were paralyzed for 79 days, but did not resolve anything.

And then last year no one could have predicted the protests against the extradition bill would manifest into a massive anti-government movement that had peaceful marches of over 2 million people that later led to violent clashes between protesters and the police. The authorities used lawfare, or the law to prosecute everyone from pan-democratic politicians to youngsters. Calling protesters rioters meant that if convicted, they could be in jail for 10 years. And yet they continued to come out and voice their dissatisfaction with the government.

Meanwhile it became more and more obvious Beijing was involved, and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was only going through the motions. And when on July 1 Legco was stormed, and then July 21, when the national emblem at the liaison office was splashed with black paint, Beijing's patience was worn down to threads.

Last year's protest march in June drew 2 million people out

For a country that likes to play the long game, waiting 23 years for the national security law to be passed in Hong Kong seems relatively short, but perhaps Beijing wants to lay down the law now to show who's boss, or terrified of the city descending into chaos and thinks this law will set its residents straight.

But for us in Hong Kong it's a shock and sadness that we are powerless to do anything about this, that Beijing never intended to uphold "one country, two systems" or the Basic Law. The Hong Kong as we know it will change forever.

Beijing is using the pandemic to push through this legislation as quickly as possible to avoid criticism from other countries that are too busy tending to those infected with the virus (that seems to have originated from Wuhan).

How will we Hongkongers move forward? Should we even stay here anymore? Many have been asking this question in the last few days. While some had thought of emigrating because of the protests, the rest of us were willing to stick it out. But what now?

The end of the British Empire in Hong Kong in 1997

We are the frogs in the water that is already boiling. It's not a good sign.

I remember June 30, 1997. Despite the heavy rain that drenched Prince Charles, Hong Kong had such a party atmosphere; looking back it was naive at the time. Hotels and restaurants had an excuse for two parties, one British-themed, the other Chinese. But what did it all mean after July 1, 1997?

It actually seemed fine, business as usual. People even came back to Hong Kong, lured by business and job opportunities.

But now, 23 years later, what has happened? How did we get here? And what do we do now?