Remembering Those who Defended HK

Japanese troops take over Tsim Sha Tsui

Every year around this time when I wear a poppy, some Hongkongers ask me where I got the pretty flower, others suddenly remember that it's that day where you remember the war dead, other expats don't seem to care or notice. 

I wear it to remember the Canadian soldiers who died for us, and in particular, think of those who tried to defend Hong Kong from the Japanese during the Battle of Hong Kong from December 8-25, 1941. This year is the 80th anniversary, but there is nothing in the news to remind people.

Some locals remember having to wear poppies at school, but students today don't wear them.

Sai Wan War Cemetery above Chai Wan

Is this part of the government's efforts to quietly forget what happened 80 years ago? Is it because it was an embarrassing defeat? Soldiers from Britain, Canada and India rushed over to try to defend the then British colony, but were not well prepared, didn't have much knowledge of the terrain and were overpowered, leading to the surrender on Christmas Day, 1941.

Over 1,500 Indian and Canadian soldiers died in battle.

Then the rest were taken in as prisoners of war in camps in Hong Kong and Japan until the Japanese surrendered in 1945.

Attending the Remembrance Day ceremony at Sai Wan Military Cemetery in 2018 was a moving experience, seeing over 1,500 graves, many of them Canadian soldiers who died in a place they were not familiar with.

What happened 80 years ago is a part of Hong Kong's history whether Beijing accepts it or not. It must be remembered by generations to come. 

Meanwhile fast-forward eight decades later where the freedoms these soldiers defended have now given way to the national security law.

Statue of Canadian soldier in HK Park

Today a second person was handed a lengthy sentence, not for committing murder or causing injury to someone or destroying property. It was for chanting pro-independence slogans during the anti-government protests, violating the national security law on the grounds of inciting secession.

Former delivery food worker Adam Ma Chun-man, 31, was accused of promoting separatism on 20 occasions between August 15 and November 22 last year, using expressions such as "Hong Kong independence, the way out", "Hongkongers, build our country", and "Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times",  a signature rallying call of the anti-government protests two years ago.

Judge Stanley Chan Kwong-chi said he found the national security law violation serious enough to warrant at least five years behind bars, as the defendant repeatedly incited others to separate Hong Kong from China, and failed to display even "the least bit of remorse" -- something Ma himself acknowledged.

Originally the sentence was set for six years, but Chan knocked off three months, saying Ma saved the court's time by agreeing to most of the prosecution's case.

However when the sentence was read out, people in the gallery shouted the sentence was "too long", and "insane".

While the defence counsel asked for a more lenient sentence, Chan refused, saying Ma's actions could have provoked others to resort to radical ways.

"Who knows? Maybe some of those incited would become another Adam Ma," said Chan.

Ma sentenced to almost six years in jail today

In a letter to the court, Ma wrote he was inspired by jailed activist Edward Leung Tin-kei, and felt he bore a responsibility to achieve the latter's aspirations for independence.

"Today is the 311th day I have been in jail," he wrote in his letter, dated September 28, the first day of the trial. "I have denied the allegation, but my mind is exceptionally calm, even with a bit of joy.

"Your Lordship, I do not feel any shame, nor do I have the least bit of remorse for what I have done in the past. I also promise that I will not display the slightest bit of weakness in the fight for democracy and justice," he added.

Amnesty International deputy secretary general Kyle Ward called Thursday's ruling "outrageous", and urged the Hong Kong government to stop criminalising "mere acts of expression".

"This conviction and sentencing clearly shows that restrictions on the right to freedom of expression in Hong Kong are dangerously disproportionate," he said.

While the outside world may be outraged, this is only the beginning. There are some defendants who are determined to stick by their beliefs to the end, even if the courts do not agree with them.

And they will pay dearly as we have seen today.

For them this is their sacrifice...

Hong Kong's Remembrance of November 11

A Remembrance Day ceremony was held at the Cenotaph in Central

Today is Remembrance Day, when we are supposed to pause and remember the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the greater good.

But in Hong Kong today will also be remembered as a day of sheer horror.

The moment before the protester was shot with a live round

Before I even left my home to go to work, a police officer had already shot a 21-year-old protester surnamed Chow at point blank range in Sai Wan Ho at around 8am this morning.

What was also horrific was seeing how the police handled Chow's body as he lay unconscious on the road. Is there no protocol in dealing with what is essentially a crime scene?

The police force later claimed a protester was trying to reach for the gun and so the officer didn't have time to shoot a warning shot. However others dispute this because the protester was completely unarmed.

Then there was a policeman, now identified as a traffic cop, who drove his motorcycle into a group of protesters, weaving in between them like a drunk driver. It was revealed later in the afternoon that that traffic cop had been suspended immediately. Probably with pay.

After lunch was the horrific news that a man had been set on fire in Ma On Shan. A shocking clip shows a man arguing with protesters and one of them throws colourless liquid on him and someone lights a lighter and the man is immediately engulfed in flames.

People running for cover after tear gas shot at The Landmark

The victim, 57-year-old Leung Chi-cheung is fighting for his life in hospital after suffering severe burns on 30 percent of his body. He was already suffering from head injuries from an earlier altercation with protesters.

How did Hong Kong descend to this?

At 6pm Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor held a press conference and again labelled the protesters as "rioters" and "mobs".

"[I] will send a clear message that there is no question that escalating violence can get what the rioters want -- not from the government, not from society at large," she says, wearing a giant scarf around her neck. "Violence will only lead to more violence."

She adds she is sure there will be more violence if the government satisfies all five demands.

But she should remember that if she had never proposed the extradition bill in the first place we would not be in this tragic mess we are in now.

Carrie Lam bundled up in 25-degree weather today

The MTR was one of the main targets of protesters today. This morning I took the Island line going from Kennedy Town to Causeway Bay. I usually sit in the last carriage because it's closest to the MTR exit I need to go to. When the train stopped at Sai Ying Pun, a young man wearing a baseball cap and no mask, carrying a backpack, burst out of the driver's cabin and fled the scene.

A woman sitting next to me nervously looked in the direction of the cabin wondering what would happen. Minutes later MTR staff arrived and checked it out. On their walkie talkies they reported they couldn't find any serious damage and the train eventually continued on, with a young skinny man in MTR uniform standing in front of the cabin to prevent more sabotage. I made it to work in one piece.

Meanwhile, Central was a complete war zone this at lunchtime, some protesters in their suits, carried umbrellas to shield themselves from teargas that was shot on Pedder Street, right in front of the luxury shopping mall The Landmark.

People in office wear trying to avoid being pepper sprayed

But towards the end of the day, there was a video circulating on Twitter of office workers in Central, picking up railings and bricks off the road so that vehicles could go through.

The Hang Seng Index plunged 724 points, down 2.62 percent. It's the worst tumble in three months thanks to all the dramatic incidents today. What will happen tomorrow? We are still trying to process what occurred today...

Video of the Day: Chinese Bagpiper

A bagpiper playing tunes to solicit donations for poppies

Yesterday when I was coming out of the MTR in Central, I could hear the distinct sounds of bagpipes being played. What was that about?

When I looked out the window of the station I could see -- two young Chinese men dressed in tartan from head to toe and wore poppies for Remembrance Day and were soliciting donations for the local veterans.

One bagpiper decided to take a break and talk to some gweilos, while the other gave his rendition of Teresa Teng's The Moon Represents My Heart.

I'd never heard it played on bagpipes before!

And as my friend YTSL points out, where else will you hear that, but in Hong Kong!

True that.

It was really nice to see these young people engaging with people, who asked to take pictures with them and they immediately obliged.

Actually it's sad that hardly any Hong Kong people wear poppies on November 11 -- do they not know that Canadian, British, and Indian troops tried to protect the city from the Japanese, but failed in the Battle of Hong Kong December 8-25, 1941?

The soldiers were ill prepared and over 3,000 died. The city surrendered to the Japanese, who then occupied Hong Kong until 1945.

Nowadays Hong Kong people -- Hong Kong and mainland Chinese know November 11 as Singles Day (11-11) -- the biggest online shopping event of the year thanks to Alibaba!