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.

Another Record Number of Cases

Large numbers of people being tested in Yuen Long today

Things are not looking good in Hong Kong at the moment with another record 342 infections reported today, yesterday having 351 cases.

Most concerning are 320 untraceable cases (so far), 80 percent of which involve the Omicron variant, said Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam Man-kin at today's press briefing, and warns of a potential super-spreader event.

"We could not track how many generations of transmission were spread," he said. "We could not make an accurate estimation on when the peak would arrive but we are certain that the number has not peaked yet."

Lam is concerned about 320 untraceable cases

Lam said because the Omicron variant is very contagious, 320 untraceable cases meant at least 320 other people had been infected as well...

Health authorities observed that "a lot" of the latest patients had been to Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island and Che Kung Temple on Tuesday and Wednesday, the first two days of the Lunar New Year. Some infected people had also been to Yuen Long Plaza, where 13 employees were among the confirmed cases.

Sogo department store in Causeway Bay also shut on Saturday and Sunday after two employees there tested positive. 

Lam has advised people to avoid shopping malls and for organisers to hold off having events for the time being.

Some banks have temporarily closed some branches, and retailers Ikea and Citistore have shut some outlets for disinfection after preliminary positive cases were found there. 

Sogo in Causeway Bay closed over the weekend

Meanwhile patients who have recovered from Covid-19 in AsiaWorld-Expo near the airport have complained about not being allowed to leave despite being given their discharge notice and having to wait two or three days more.

There are also horror stories of the toilets not being clean with the rubbish bins overflowing with tissues. Also just as bad is no hand soap for three days for people to wash their hands after going to the washroom. 

The government is completely overwhelmed with the logistics of running a health treatment centre, barely keeping the place hygienic which is crucial when a virus can spread so easily.

Is the problem understaffing or underpaying? This is work that should not be undervalued. And we all know the government has money to pay...

Hong Kong to Continue the Same Path

Lau again picked a neutral fortune for Hong Kong today

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the prophecy for Hong Kong is drawn through fortune sticks at Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin.

Early this morning, Heung Yee Kuk chairman Kenneth Lau Ip-keung got on his knees and shook a bamboo container filled with fortune sticks at an angle until one fell out.

It was number 38, considered a neutral fortune. By the way the two previous times he has picked neutral fortune sticks -- perhaps it's time to give the job to someone else? 

Lau got number 45 last year and number 92 in 2020.

Warning for Lam who may run for CE again

In any event the fortune read: "Men up above seek the fruit of truth. I head to the low ground to pick ginger and Chinese mustard.

"An altar may well be a kitchen. Act not as a hero to teach hunting," it added. The omen came with a brief explanation telling the city to "stick to the old ways on everything.

Everything?

If anything the city needs to innovate if it wants to survive...

Lau interpreted the fortune as continuing on the same path in battling the on-going Covid-19 pandemic.

More groans can be heard all over Hong Kong.

"My understanding is that as the pandemic rages on, everyone should keep up their work. One should not expect the city would be able to end it in one go. We step out of difficulties one step at a time."

Meanwhile fortune-teller Chan Tin-yan said the message was also directed at Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, who has yet to disclose if she will run again for the top post or not.

Che Kung quashed uprisings and plagues

"It said one should not act like a hero. It was telling the chief executive not to act like a hero," Chan said, adding the prophecy also suggested that any other entrants into the March leadership race should be more experienced than Lam "so that the economic and pandemic situations in Hong Kong will stabilise."

Interesting to note that Che Kung Temple was built over 300 years ago and named after a Song dynasty commander who was known for quashing not only rebellions, but also plagues...

The Blame Game Continues

Lam says primary schools to close, more vaccinations needed

The Hong Kong government is definitely terrified of the Omicron virus and after three kindergarten children were infected by family members, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor decided all primary schools will be closed from Friday, while secondary schools will stay open.

Sinovac vaccines will be made available to children as young as five, but other pharmaceutical companies have not filed their paperwork to apply to be administered in children. Surely there should be a choice for parents to decide which vaccine they want their kids to have.

Young children are back to online learning

Today the Centre for Health Protection reported 21 new cases, eight of which are local. There are concerns there could be silent transmissions within Tuen Mun, making it a hotspot now, along with Sha Tin, Causeway Bay and North Point. 

However the good thing is that people are more motivated to FINALLY get vaccinated and now 75 percent of the population have had at least one shot. It seems the walk-in line just for those 60 years old and above is a good motivator.

Meanwhile the birthday-gate continues, with Lam believes the Spanish restaurant, Reserva Iberica in Wan Chai may have operated "well beyond its capacity".

"I'm sure the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will shortly release some preliminary investigations about the restaurant, whether this restaurant could actually legally operate with this sort of dinner gathering," she said.

The restaurant can have 240 people for a banquet

Reserva Iberica is a Type D restaurant, where the FEHD says it can have a maximum of 240 people at a banquet, and at least two-thirds of the guests must be vaccinated with at least one dose.

So far about 200 people have been identified as being related to the party, so unless it goes over 240 people, then it breaches the rules the government set. And were at least two-thirds vaccinated?

One thing the dining establishment could be faulted on is not making sure every single guest used the Leave Home Safe app, which is another requirement of a Type D restaurant.

Why is Lam trying to pile the blame on the restaurant, and also Cathay Pacific?

How about getting your own people in line for not using the Leave Home Safe app in the first place, and not wearing masks when they were not eating or drinking?

Hong Kong now has 75 percent with one jab

In any event what's done is done and now the city must do its best to quickly clamp down on Omicron. The best way to do it is through vaccination and social-distancing. There was also talk of allowing those who are fully inoculated to use a vaccine passport and have privileges like dine in restaurants or go to cinemas. 

There's enough punishment for all of us, why not reward those who already got the jab and already lining up for boosters?

In order to nudge people, they need an incentive and a vaccine passport would be a good way to increase the number of inoculations in no time...

Hongkongers React to Mandatory Tracing App

People using the app on their smartphones at govt buildings

As expected, the first day of making the Leave Home Safe app mandatory in many government buildings including wet markets, libraries, swimming pools did not go as smoothly as expected.

Even a man who had fallen, bloodied his head and rushed to emergency, had to use the app in order to enter the hospital.

And in a show of force, five people who work at Immigration Tower in Wan Chai were arrested for using a fake app. Two were immigration officers, one a member of staff at the Audit Commission and two contractors.

An injured man had to use app to go to hospital

And these people are working for the government...

Meanwhile for ordinary folk, this morning there were lots of people in front of the entrance of the Pei Ho Street Market in Sham Shui Po as many elderly people sought the help of others in installing or using the contact-tracing app.

One shopper, surnamed Wong, resorted to buying a new smartphone to use the app.

"It is too troublesome to fill in a form every time you enter a venue. I had no choice but to buy a new phone," said the 60-year-old.

The media also discovered there weren't enough security guards at all the wet market entrances to enforce use of the app so many snuck in without scanning the QR code.

At Sha Tin Public Library, people moaned about using the app.

"It's convenient for some of us, but not convenient for elderly people who don't have a smartphone... To be honest, many jobless people don't have a phone. What can they do?" asked a man surnamed Ng.

A woman who gave her name as Jenny said she had planned to go to the library but was not willing to use the app to go in.

"Since they require me to scan the QR code, I decided not to enter," she said.

A housewife surnamed Chan said she had been turned away from the Lok Fu Post Office because she didn't have a smartphone.

"It's disruptive. I don't understand why they have to do this. I just want to send some mail. It's unfair to those of us who don't have the app."

There is a big market for second-hand phones

It is evident there is a lot of mistrust of the government and why it is so anxious for residents to use the app.

If that wasn't enough, pro-establishment politicians, in a bid to show their patriotism, have suggested the government enforce using the app in other places too. Lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun believes diners of B-type restaurants (four to a table and open until 10pm) will be forced to use the app by mid-November. 

And the University of Hong Kong's health expert Dr Ho Pak-leung, expects supermarkets and shopping malls will adopt the Leave Home Safe app as well. Currently the QR code is at the entrances but no one scans it.

If that wasn't enough, pro-Beijing newspaper Wen Wei Po's editorial said the government should proactively stop people from buying a spare phone specifically for the Leave Home Safe app as a passive tactic against the authorities.

But that only fueled the market for second-hand or cheap smartphones today. People flocked to second-hand electronic stores in places like Mongkok and Sham Shui Po to snap up phones that cost HK$800 (US$102). Most of the buyers were elderly people, according to salesmen.

Tien suggests using app in type B restaurants

"I installed [the app] for the elderly people if they didn't know how to... Some people really don't know how to use a smartphone, just like the customer I served just now. She has never used a smartphone," a seller surnamed Chan said.

This exact scenario was played out back in February when the government pushed residents to use the Leave Home Safe app. Lots of people rushed out to buy cheap smartphones just to use the app. And now it's happening again as it is becoming mandatory in so many places.

They are all buying a second phone for the same reason -- distrust of the government and a belief that the authorities will use the app to scan people's phones to extract personal data.

It's amusing how far each side will go -- the residents versus the government -- in trying to be one step ahead.

But for sure the government will keep pressing people to scan the app wherever they go, again in a bid to make Beijing happy. Because our fearless leader has one goal -- to open the border -- and she will do whatever it takes to get there.

Government Crackdown on District Councillors

Lam claims district councillors pose "immense challenges"

 

Last Thursday I received a text message from my district councillor, announcing she was resigning because of health issues.

I was disappointed to get the news, but also not surprised.

The Hong Kong government is making it harder and harder for district councillors, particular the pro-democracy ones to continue doing their jobs, as some have been arrested for taking part in the pan-democratic primaries last July, and the rest are being forced to take the oath, by swearing allegiance to the city and to uphold the Basic Law.

District Councillor Cherry Wong has quit

But really these district councillors are trying to do what their constituents want, which is to make their neighbourhoods safer and cleaner, encourage recycling, or voice opinions on unwanted development.

So it's outrageous for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to claim these district councillors present "immense challenges" for the Home Affairs Department because they're behaving in a way that has "never been seen before".

It turns out HAD had issued warning letters to over 30 district councillors who had handed out candles to people on the eve of the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

The warning letters said the councillors may have breached local laws by distributing candles to people and encouraging them to take part in an unauthorized assembly, adding their activities were "unrelated to the District Council's work" and "undermine district harmony," the department said.

The HAD is responsible for managing local administration and district councillors' salaries and funding, and Lam said the HAD will "respond appropriately" if councillors are found to have improperly used public funds or violated regulations.

Some district councillors handed out candles

Maybe it was someone's birthday that day and they needed candles. Why all this fuss? But obviously the government does not want its money -- which is technically the people's money -- used to mark this politically-charged tragic event, which up until recently was legal.

Last week three district councillors, including Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Suzanne Wu set up street booths to talk about Tiananmen Square. They were warned along with six other district councillors from the Democratic Party.

Meanwhile Sha Tin District Councillor Vienna Luk was warned after citing lyrics from the Cantopop song, The Great Wall, by rock band Beyond in a Facebook message. The 1992 song describes China has a country where facts and truth were shut up behind walls.

Luk asked why the HAD had a problem with her appreciating music.

Then two other Sha Tin district councillors, Raymond Li and Thomas Cheung, were warned for displaying a banner that read, "Candlelights will not be out."

Some wanted to mark the Tiananmen anniversary

And then on Saturday, Tsuen Wan District Councillor Lam Sek-tim called off an energy-saving event after the department sent him a warning letter. In an earlier Facebook post, Lam had urged residents to turn off their lights for an hour and he would give away a few electric-powered candles. He did not mention the 1989 crackdown at all.

So I'm not surprised my district councillors has "resigned"; I don't know the circumstances, but I'm guessing it is very similar to what her colleagues have experienced.

Up until last week she sent out regular updates of what she had been up to, encouraged people to donate gently used sweaters and thermos to distribute to the elderly in poverty, gave out calendars and turnip cake in the new year, as well as lots of masks and hand sanitizers during the pandemic. 

If anything it's the government making it hard for district councillors to do their jobs. It was their constituents who democratically voted them in. 

The electoral system can't change fast enough for the government so it's doing its utmost to make the district councillors all leave their positions either through convictions, forcing them to take the oath, or quit under duress.

Picture of the Day: Hong Kong Sakura

People were excitedly photographing the blossoms on the tree

 

Today my friend and I did a marathon walk from Sha Tin, well actually Shek Mun to Sai Kung, which was over 18 kilometres and took us three hours and 20 minutes.

It was a beautiful day for a walk, not too hot. I really enjoyed walking along the Shing Mun River in Sha Tin with the water very calm.

However at one point we saw a bunch of people standing around a young tree with pink blossoms and taking pictures of it!

With people unable to travel for the most part of this year, they were missing the chance to go to Japan to see the sakura, and so when they spotted the cherry blossoms on a tree locally, they took the opportunity to snap pictures of the transient blossoms.

Personally I found it amusing -- when they can travel they should visit Vancouver where there are entire streets lined with cherry blossom trees and in the spring they are all covered in pink.

Author Douglas Young called it "pinked out" many years ago.

In any event we finally made it to Sai Kung and were shocked to see the weekend tourists crawling all over the pier area. Restaurants, cha chaan tengs and cafes were doing a brisk business with lots of people willing to line up to get a seat.

We eventually settled on a western restaurant and I had a delicious lamb burger with a yogurt cucumber and red onion garnish. 

Then we boarded a bus back to where we came from -- and it took about 20 minutes.

Warning for HK Govt in Year of the Ox

Lau shows the prophecy he picked out with the fortune stick

 

The Year of the Ox has a cautious warning for Hong Kong authorities.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the ritual fortune stick is chosen at Che Kung Temple in Sha Tin, and this year the interpretation is for the government to be more decisive.

Kenneth Lau Ip-keung, who chairs the powerful rural body, the Heung Yee Kuk, picked a "neutral" fortune stick, though he said it should serve as an alarm call for officials, referring to the year-long coronavirus pandemic.

Che Kung Temple is in Sha Tin

"Hong Kong is facing a big problem. The people suffer pain. It's hard to do business now and many people are left jobless. Every step of the government is important, particularly at this stage," said Lau, who is also a pro-Beijing lawmaker.

"If it is not decisive and moves a wrong step, then the problem will be big. The fire will grow bigger. So the prophecy asks the government to implement its policies in a decisive, precise and timely manner, otherwise the problem will be big."

The fortune stick is one of 96 in a bamboo cylinder, each stick is numbered and refers to an omen, with 35 good ones, 17 bad, and 44 neutral. To pick the fortune stick, you have to shake the bamboo cylinder at an angle until one stick falls out. If two or more fall out at the same time, then put the sticks back in and shake it again.

Each omen is written as a poem, and usually people ask a fortune teller to help them interpret what it means. Lau's stick was number 45. It roughly translates as:

"One must discuss with others before taking any action. Matters of the world are fraught and in vain.

Shake the bamboo container until a stick falls out

"The wood that piled up in one's storage is not burnt for nothing. The knowledge knows before a fire burns."

It goes on to say:

"Everything is not ideal, but the self should have peace and the family has some luck. Those who seek money cannot yield a great outcome."

If one looks at how the Hong Kong government has handled the pandemic, the omen seems to describe it well, as the authorities have done several U-turns on many policies in battling the virus, including the latest decision on allowing the Lunar New Year flower markets to open, when originally it said they would be cancelled.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has also been criticized for relying on a small circle of advisors instead of consulting more broadly. Perhaps one remembers the time when the government stopped allowing all meals in restaurants and had to reverse the decision in 48 hours after seeing people eating takeaway lunches in the rain?

The government u-turned on the flower market

Lau said: "The pandemic is just the same as fire. If it is not put off in a timely manner, it will spread so fast."

As the number of new infections was 12 today, but no closer to Lam's goal of zero, Lau said the government needed to do a better job in tackling imported cases and improving contact tracing.

When asked by reporters whether the prophecy suggested the Beijing-imposed national security law could not address the city's problems, Lau said: "The administration could not walk its talk on many occasions. I believe when making policies, the government should make them go forward, aside from thinking about them carefully."

Sounds ominous.

He gave the example of Hong Kong's housing and land shortages, saying it took two decades to develop an area.

Lester Shum was one of 50 arrested last month

Reporters also asked Lau whether Hong Kong authorities should refrain from prosecuting opposition figures, give that one interpretation of the prophecy suggested the importance of harmony.

"Politically, striving for harmony is always the best. People's grievances should be addressed. It can't always use tough measures. That can't solve the matter. Every society needs harmony and unity to go forward," he said.

Wonder if he meant to send that message to Beijing as well, after how it dealt with the social unrest in 2019 followed by over 10,000 arrests of protesters, and last month's arrest of 50 former lawmakers and pro-democracy activists for subversion in an alleged plot to "overthrow" the government...

Coronavirus Cases Continue to Rise

Dr Chuang (left) says the Covid-19 situation is very worrying

For the fourth straight day there is a record number of new coronavirus cases which makes the situation very worrying for health officials, and depressing for Hongkongers who had tried hard months ago to avoid the virus as much as possible.

But many were fatigued from working at home for weeks, eating home-cooked food or the stress of being stuck with family members made them want to go out as soon as restrictions were loosened.

Police telling beach goers to stay at home

Today Hong Kong recorded 133 cases, reflecting infections from two weeks ago and it's upsetting to see people weren't taking the virus seriously then.

"We are still seeing a very high number of cases daily and the trend is still increasing," said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the communicable disease branch of the Centre for Health Protection. "We are very worried about whether this situation can be controlled actually."

Of the cases, 126 were local infections, including 55 with no known source of infection. At least one was from the Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse -- which is listed as one of the places people are exempt from quarantine.

One patient, #2099 apparently went wild around town, going to a staggering 16 places on July 22 -- the day she was confirmed positive with the virus.

She went to a restaurant in IFC mall in Central, several locations in Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po and Wan Chai. How did she even logistically do that? Just reading the list of places makes me exhausted.

A reporter asked Chuang if it was a delivery person and she said no, someone who had an unusual number of activities. No kidding.

People waiting to get on junks on July 11

Also among the 133 cases, Chuang said the government is now trying to track down over 40 people who went on a junk trip on July 12, as one person was confirmed infected.

Why am I not surprised. Every weekend I walk by Pier 9 and Pier 10 in Central and see several groups of people without masks, waiting to get on one of the boats, or junks they have rented and will spend the entire day in cramped quarters with other people, eating and drinking.

It was bound to happen, and I'm surprised it didn't happen earlier. Perhaps the authorities will stop partying on junks for a while?

The police had to go to the beach today to tell scantily-clad people it was closed and to go home.

Which part of "stay at home, stay safe" do they not understand?

Beijing Fights to Contain Virus, HK Fights to Contain Protesters

Beijing police prevent people from going to Fengtai district

After 55 consecutive days of no new coronavirus cases, Beijing has had an explosion of new ones in the last few days.

Forty-four new cases were reported on the weekend, most of them apparently linked to Xinfadi Market in Fengtai district and it was immediately shut down. People living near the wet market were tested.

Xinfadi Market where new cases were linked

A wholesale seafood market called Jingsheng was also closed on suspicion of one of the patients who recently tested positive went there.

Ben Cowling, professor and head of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Hong Kong's school of public health believes this is the start of the second wave of coronavirus in Beijing.

Despite the capital city's efforts to prevent a second wave, it has now arrived and medical authorities are trying to find out where it came from. There were reports it was from a piece of imported salmon, but experts dismissed this, saying it could have been the fishmonger or the customer who had the virus.

Looks like Beijing has its hands full trying to contain the coronavirus, though there are probably a lot of people who are asymptomatic and are now testing positive or recently caught it from someone else.

Chan mulling over relaxing distancing measures

In the meantime here in Hong Kong, Secretary for Health and Food Sophia Chan Siu-chee is mulling easing social-distancing regulations as the city has had no new cases today, with the total at 1,109, and four deaths.

The day before it was reported another person tested positive who lives at Luk Chuen House at Lek Yuen Estate in Sha Tin, making them the ninth case in a recent cluster there.

Social distancing restrictions are supposed to end on June 18, but it is possible the government may extend it in a bid to prevent protests, but lots of people are frustrated by how the authorities decide what is open and what remains closed.

For example, why is the tourist attraction Ocean Park allowed to reopen when playgrounds are not? Why are public swimming pools open when saunas and steam rooms cannot? When it comes to tennis, there cannot be players on every tennis court -- they must keep alternate ones free of people, even though the maximum number of players is four per court.

A ninth person who lived here tested positive

So perhaps Chan can focus on addressing these questions that many parents and exercisers are asking?

Liaison Office in Denial on HK

The liaison office in Hong Kong is governing the city, or is it Carrie Lam?

The liaison office in Western is aggressively asserting itself in Hong Kong politics because it claims it can, but still does not understand the situation on the ground. Or it's in denial.

In advance of May 1, the Hong Kong Police had already not approved a march to mark Labour Day, though there were reports of possible flash mobs in several parts of the city, including Causeway Bay, Sai Ying Pun, Mongkok and Tai Po.

However, that never materialized.

Police use pepper spray on protesters in New Town Plaza

But that evening, the liaison office's statement through a spokesperson claimed "extreme radicals" had staged "unlawful gatherings during the Labour Day holiday", though in reality, none were held, unless it was referring to a peaceful gathering in New Town Plaza in Sha Tin.

In that incident, police moved in quickly to clear the shopping mall, even using pepper spray and harassing journalists for not respecting social distancing, when they are exempted because they are working.

The spokesperson also claimed some opposition politicians hyped up the "yellow economic circle", where protesters patronize shops and services supporting the movement, and that it such acts created "social rifts" and "disrupted market order".

Hong Kong is a capitalist city. According to the 2020 Index of Economic Freedom, Hong Kong ranks second (Singapore is no. 1), with an overall score of 89.1. Consumers are free to choose wherever they want to purchase goods and services; this is what capitalism is.

Some people choose to support the "yellow economic circle"

If they choose to support businesses in the "yellow economic circle", that is their right. How this disrupts market order is bizarre. And anyway there has been social rifts for years, most notably dating back to the 2014 Umbrella Movement.

On another point, the spokesperson at the liaison office said opposition politicians have taken the "burn with us" tactic to extremes, claiming it has paralyzed the Legislative Council, destroyed the economy and incited street violence, pushing Hong Kong into a "bottomless abyss" and ruining Hong Kong's future.

How much more dystopian can the liaison office get, when it and the Hong Kong government did not listen to the people back in June when over 1 million people came out to protest against the extradition bill?

If they did, we would not be where we are today. It was only after protesters became more violent and prevented legislators from voting on the bill in the Legislative Council that it was finally withdrawn months later.

The 2014 movement has yet to be resolved on both sides

The protests have yet to be resolved, let alone the political and social tensions left over from 2014 have yet to be addressed. Instead the government and Beijing refuse to acknowledge these incidents have happened and inquiries need to take place to understand why Hong Kong is where it is today and what needs to be done to move forward.

Beijing insists Hong Kong must heel, but its citizens refuse to do so because they were promised "one country, two systems" until 2047. We all agree it's 2020, right?

Labour Day Clashes

Police try to control the crowds that gathered at New Town Plaza tonight

The Hong Kong Police did not allow for a Labour Day march to go ahead like in previous years, citing the current coronavirus pandemic and the need for social distancing, ie groups of four.

Word got out that protesters were planning to have flash mobs in places like Causeway Bay, Sai Ying Pun, Mongkok and Tai Po, which resulted in 3,000 officers out patrolling these areas. In fact they were all over the place, including Kennedy Town and Central -- in groups of eight.

Police officers not practicing social distancing in Mongkok

They were suited up in riot gear complete with handguns. It was unnerving to say the least to follow them down Queen's Road Central, and they walk very slowly...

In the end there weren't flash mobs which must have annoyed the police, who then started harassing anyone nearby. A colleague told me her friend was just walking around Causeway Bay when police stopped her for no good reason.

Protesters instead focused on supporting the "yellow economic circle", patronizing restaurants, shops and services that support the protest movement. There is a list of them online and apparently many were inundated with customers, from hair salons to cafes and restaurants.

While it is an economic boost to these mostly small businesses, it is hardly enough to even begin to shore up the city's financial state. Since 2003 after SARS, Hong Kong has become so dependent on spending by mainlanders visiting, from hotels, restaurants and luxury brands that is exponentially more economic power than local spending.

One hair salon supported by the "Yellow Economic Circle"

Nevertheless, it was a gesture these small businesses probably appreciated greatly.

This evening, hundreds of protesters gathered at New Town Plaza in Sha Tin to sing Glory to Hong Kong, the anti-government protest anthem. They also shouted slogans, like "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times!" before dispersing, though those who were not cooperative were pepper sprayed in the face.

And par for the course, the police roughed up reporters on the scene, accusing them of not respecting social distancing rules of four to a group, when government regulations say this is exempted when it is related to work.

One officer told journalists to clear the mall, saying, "You're no longer documenting, you're gathering and taking part."

How is that even a decent excuse?

A former Civic Party member accosted by police and fined

Meanwhile former Civic Party member Philip Tsang got into an altercation with police, accusing him too of breaching the group gathering ordinance when he was... by himself. He was fined HK$2,000.

Despite the heavy riot police presence, people were undeterred and found empty corridors to gather and shout slogans.

People are still very angry and determined to express themselves to the government and Beijing.

It reminds me of the protest march by thousands of journalists after former Ming Pao editor Kevin Lau Chun-to was attacked by men armed with choppers in 2014.

The slogan shouted back then? "They can't kill us all".

It still pertains to today.

Record Voter Turnout

A relatively short line to vote around noon in my neighbourhood

This morning I woke up to find that some of my friends had already voted in the District Council elections. They had voted when the polling stations opened at 7.30am!

I thought I would do my usual routine of having breakfast but a bit earlier so I could go vote before heading to the swimming pool.

This morning the line snaked up the street on the left

But by the time I turned the corner a block away from the polling station, there was already a massive line that stretched around the block, almost to the housing estate at the top of the slope.

I wasn't prepared to wait so I headed to the pool first where I was out-swum by a Chinese guy who passed me every four laps!

Eventually I finished my swim, and at the MTR station picked up a sandwich thinking, if I have to wait in line, I might as well eat.

When I got out of the Kennedy Town MTR station just before noon I half expected a line right outside, but there wasn't one and I walked towards the polling station thinking the line would be around the corner, but instead it was very short.

I only had to wait about 15 minutes and too my relief no riot police in sight. As I lined up to get my ballot, there was an elderly woman in front of me. She gave the polling staff her ID card and then showed them a business card with the picture of the candidate running for the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong. He's actually the incumbent for my constituency.

This elderly woman on the right revealed who she voted for

The polling staff tried to tell the elderly woman to not show them who she would vote for and she didn't understand -- she thought she was voting at that moment. But they had yet to give her the ballot!

She didn't understand and they had to tell her to put that card away and then find someone to assist her while she voted.

For me it took less than a minute to vote, fold the ballot and then put it in the ballot box.

There was a massive voter surge in the morning that by early afternoon the number of votes was the same as the 2015 election -- which is surprising because I remember people waiting in long lines in the dark to vote.

In any event by 9.30pm a record 2.85 million people out of 4.1 eligible voters had cast their ballots, or 69 percent of the electorate. At 12.40am it was reported 2.94 million people voted, 71.2 percent of the electorate.

People concerned about vote rigging are standing by tonight

Now there are people waiting around polling stations to wait for the results. In general it seems areas that saw lots of violence like Sham Shui Po, Tai Koo Shing, Tsuen Wan, and Tai Po had a huge voter turnout. In Sha Tin City One, for example, over 80 percent of voters cast their ballots, which is unprecedented.

It will be interesting to see what the results are in these areas.

In the meantime, there are video clips online of voters being bribed. One showed pictures of people getting a large box, perhaps a pillow?, while another showed orange bags being distributed, but it was unclear what was in them. Another DAB candidate handed out his card, much like the elderly voter in front of me, and together with some shopping coupons from a supermarket chain.

Over 3,000 complaints about voting were filed today, from people's votes used by others posing as them, to bribery, to busing in people from across the border.

Counting begins... except I won't be staying up for that... stay tuned.

The Battle at CUHK

Police fire nonstop rounds of teargas at students in Chinese University today

As I write this we are seeing Tiananmen 2.0 playing out on the campus of Chinese University of Hong Kong in Sha Tin minus live rounds and tanks.

For over 12 hours the police have been firing hundreds, maybe more than a thousand canisters of tear gas at the students, who in turn throw Molotov cocktails and set up barriers to prevent the police from moving closer.

It's heart wrenching to see this happening -- and what for? What is the police force's end game? Is it their attempt to shut down the students once and for all? If anything this makes the young people look even more like martyrs for the cause.

For alumnae watching their alma mater turn into a battlefield, it's difficult for them to comprehend this was the place where they spent four years gaining knowledge and meeting friends, learning more about themselves, and now it is a complete disaster zone that has become unrecognizable.

On the left a water cannon with blue dye sprays protesters

How did we get to this point?

UPDATE 10:25pm. The police are now retreating, after having brought a water cannon all the way up to the campus only to use it once or twice.

Just as the water cannon was being used, the police issued a statement that said:

"As the night fell, the situation remained tense in Chinese University of Hong Kong. In pursuit of a peaceful solution to diffuse the situation, the Police have communicated with the school and are arranging a retreat to stop the standoff. The Police appeal to protesters to stop charging. A Specialized Crowd Management Vehicle is on stand-by at the scene and will be deployed to assist a retreat if necessary.

"In the meantime, the protesters in CUHK are reminded to refrain from throwing objects onto Tolo Highway and MTR track. Such acts seriously hamper the safety of train system and threaten passengers' safety."

Professor Dennis Ng tries to speak to the police commander

Can someone please edit the police's statement before it goes out to the public? Too many grammatical errors to take what they said seriously...

Earlier Pro Vice Chancellor Professor Dennis Ng tried to persuade the students to stop their actions, saying the police would stop firing, but instead the police went back on their word and fired tear gas at Ng. He had to be treated with saline solution by first aiders.

He tried to call his police contact three times. "It's just out of control," he told the police commander on the phone.

At least he tried to engage both sides a few times, and for now it has worked.

Early evening in Central and Pedder Street is blocked

The students also got massive support from people with cars who occupied Tolo Highway to prevent more police vehicles from going to the campus. 

Today were more scenes of disruption from the morning's commute to office workers descending on Pedder Street again and occupying the area, and also tear gas fired in City University in Kowloon Tong and destruction in the University of Hong Kong.

Thank goodness there weren't the insane scenes we saw yesterday with the 21-year-old protester shot with a live round, and a man immolated in Ma On Shan, but still it's incredible the Hong Kong government refuses to believe these protests involve more than just young people.

But -- but -- there is a clip of a pregnant woman who berated police officers and their reply? Squirting pepper spray into her eyes and physically subduing her. Is her baby going to be OK?

At lunchtime in Central officer workers come out to protest

Whenever there are traffic disruptions or protesters setting up barricades and the media ask middle-aged people how they feel about this, the vast majority say it's because of the government. They don't berate the youth, but instead say Chief Executive Carrie Lam has done nothing to find a political solution after five months of protests.

Yesterday she called the protesters "enemies of the people", but in fact she and her administration are the enemies of the people. Her attempt at driving a wedge between the hardcore and moderate protesters is not working.

So how is she going to clean up this crazy mess she has created? We're still waiting...

UPDATE: 12:37am. The police lied about retreating and they are still firing teargas at the students. There are also long lines of police vehicles blocking emergency vehicles to get to the 30 or so protesters who have been injured. Unfortunately this battle has not ended yet... another sleepless night for Hong Kong.