Is Casting a Blank Vote a Crime?

What will voter turnout be like in the upcoming Legco election?

 

Now that Hong Kong's electoral system has been overhauled to make it near impossible for pro-democracy politicians to run, let alone win, will anyone actually participate and cast a vote?

In the 2019 district council elections, almost 3 million people voted, 71 percent of registered voters -- an unprecedented turnout -- and what was the result? 17 of the 18 district councils were won by the pro-democracy camp.

Tse says calling for blank votes could be a crime

But the Hong Kong government cannot expect such a turnout again, unless people cast blank ballots.

And pro-Beijing lawmaker Paul Tse Wai-chun warns that could be a crime.

On Sunday, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said officials would study whether more regulation was needed to prevent people from casting blank votes.

Speaking on RTHK, Tse agreed with Cheng that it was a person's civic responsibility to cast a ballot, but said there was no law against casting blank votes.

However, Tse said, if someone were to call for such action in an organized manner, that might amount to subversion under the national security law, or other criminal offences.

Meanwhile on Commercial Radio, Hong Kong legal academic Johannes Chan Man-mun said people would be put off by more government regulation and this could lead to protest voting.

Chan says people might cast protest votes

Chan said he thought the government would look into the issue of blank votes, as there are concerns the voter turnout will dip significantly, with the pro-democracy side showing no interest in voting.

Instead he called on the government to think about why people would cast blank votes instead of worrying about the possibility.

Chairman of the Democratic Party Lo Kin-hei said casting blank votes is a way for the people to express their dissatisfaction, and that they did not like any of the candidates. He questioned whether Hongkongers' only choice was to support the government.

Perhaps this time Hong Kong really will have a silent majority?

National Security Law Displaces Basic Law

Lai was seen briefly as he entered the Court of Final Appeal

 

This morning Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying briefly came out of prison to hear the Court of Final Appeal's ruling on whether he should have been granted bail on December 23 while waiting to face trial on charges of fraud and colluding with foreign forces.

The CFA ruled it could not overturn NSL

But at that time he was sent back to jail on December 31, when the Court of Final Appeal ruled the Department of Justice could appeal the High Court judge's decision.

Just before 10am, Lai was briefly seen wearing chains around his waist as he walked into the CFA; his die-hard supporters lined up last night to ensure they got a seat in the gallery, while his detractors held up posters and claimed he violated the national security law -- but that trial isn't until April 16.

However, Lai's time in the court was only for a few minutes, and he won't be spending Chinese New Year with his family.

In December he had been granted bail after paying a HK$10 million bond, but today the Court of Final Appeal found the judge who had released him, based his decision on an erroneous interpretation on a key provision of the national security law.

Chief Justice Cheung was involved in the ruling

Recently installed Chief Justice Andrew Cheung Kiu-nung said Lai could apply for bail again at the High Court, as the Court of Final Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to handle his application.

In addition the court said the Beijing-imposed security law, which criminalizes acts of secession, subversion and terrorism, was not open to constitutional review, and that Hong Kong's most senior judges had no power to correct parts of the legislation alleged to run counter to the Basic Law, or the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as applied in Hong Kong.

Charges related to the national security law will be scrutinized at a higher standard, which means defendants hardly have any chance of getting bail. Hong Kong's justice system is being brought into line with China's very swiftly, with the Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah making this possible.

In other words, since the national security law was implemented by the National People's Congress and Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Hong Kong judges have no right to amend anything to do with it.

Tong allegedly drove into police officers

It also means that the Basic Law does not protect people's rights when it comes to breaching the national security law.

Today it was also announced that the first person charged under the national security law, Tong Ying-kit, will not have a trial by jury, but instead by three judges appointed by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor.

On July 1 last year, Tong allegedly rode a motorcycle into police officers during a protest.

Justice secretary Cheng claimed a jury trial may pose "a real risk" to jurors and their families, and that it could impair the "due administration of justice".

Cheng says Tong's case heard by judges not jury

Eric Cheung Tat-ming, a legal scholar at the University of Hong Kong questioned Cheng's reasons, as there was no evidence of any potential threat to jurors.

"Why is it that they can ensure the judges' safety but not the jurors'?" he said.

Cheung said the jury system was introduced as a safeguard to check against bad law, and Cheng's decision to "circumvent and damage the system" had resulted in the natural consequence of giving the impression the government did not trust juries.

Yet another sign of the justice system in Hong Kong being mainlandized. There is no legal way around it...

Top UK Barrister Quits Prosecution Case

QC David Perry has prosecuted many cases in Hong Kong

A few days ago there was a lot of surprise when the Hong Kong government announced it had hired a top barrister from the UK to prosecute nine high profile pro-democracy activists including Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, Martin Lee Chu-ming, Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee, and Lee Cheuk-yan for illegal assembly in Causeway Bay on August 18, 2019.

Queen's Counsel David Perry is considered a "top silk" and he has successfully prosecuted many other cases for the government, such as former chief executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen for misconduct in public office, former chief secretary Rafael Hui Si-yan for bribery, Nancy Kissel the "milkshake murderer", and former feng shui master Peter Chan.

Protest march in Victoria Park, August 18, 2019

When the Hong Kong government made the announcement on January 12, Perry had already agreed to take on the case, but there were a lot of questions.

One is, why couldn't a top lawyer in Hong Kong be found instead as he or she is being paid with taxpayer money, but it seems the government is keen on draining the city's coffers wherever possible.

Second we're in the midst of a pandemic -- and the UK is in a terrible wave at the moment barring all Hong Kong residents from returning for now. Is it really prudent to have Perry come over and be exempted from quarantine?

Third, the global optics of a Brit prosecuting democracy activists in Hong Kong who are trying to uphold the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Basic Law is ironic. 

Lawyer Ng was charged with illegal assembly

Fourth, does Perry understand his client is really Beijing and paying him to do its bidding? Can he sleep at night knowing this?

But as soon as word got out in the UK, there was a massive uproar with British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab leading the charge.

He said he couldn't understand how anyone in good conscience could take up such a case, adding that people would regard the move as being "pretty mercenary".

Raab, who is a former lawyer himself, also said getting Perry to take up the case was a "serious PR coup" for Beijing. Not to mention the fat payment he would have received for his services.

So today it was surprising to hear the news that Perry had pulled out of the case. Hong Kong's Department of Justice said on Wednesday that Perry "expressed concerns about such [political] pressures and the exemption of quarantine, and indicated that the trial should proceed without him."

Perhaps Perry at first thought it was a good gig, but the political pressure was too much to bear. Or that it looked bad he would be exempt from quarantine and the criticism wouldn't end? 

Lai was also charged in the same case

In any event the DOJ has said a local barrister has been hired, but no name revealed.

Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah said she was shocked -- shocked -- at the "disgraceful" attacks and political pressure.

"For such a reputable British Queen's Counsel to come to Hong Kong for a case which, in turn, surprisingly attracted so much unfair and biased attacks and views in Britain, it was not us underestimating [the backlash] at all," she said. "We are just shocked and could not have seen it coming."

It is bizarre that Cheng could not forsee the possible backlash of hiring Perry -- everything these days is political in Hong Kong. Even where you shop and eat represents your political stripes.

In fact the prosecution of these pro-democracy activists is a political act in itself.

Cheng was "shocked" Perry would be attacked

Did she not think about that? 

Justice Secretary Halts Two Private Prosecutions

Teresa Cheng has intervened in two private prosecutions this week

In Hong Kong, most prosecutions are brought on by the Department of Justice, though the common law system allows for residents to pursue charges under the Magistrates Ordinance.

Lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung was exercising that right, trying to privately prosecute over two incidents that happened during the protests last year. One was when a policeman shot 21-year-old protester Chow Pak-kwan at point blank range during a confrontation in Sai Wan Ho last November.

Ted Hui wants to get justice for the victims

The other was when a 59-year-old taxi driver, Henry Cheng Kwok-chuen, drove into some people in Sham Shui Po protesting over the government ban on using masks to hide identities last October.

However with the space of three days this week, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah has intervened to halt both these prosecutions.

While the Department of Justice does have the final say in criminal prosecutions "free from interference", but both of them? In less than a week?

Hui accused Cheng of putting politics above the rule of law, saying: "Teresa Cheng has adopted improper means to terminate the private prosecution without providing any reasonable grounds."

He continued by saying her action jeopardized the right of the DoJ to have complete control over prosecutions "free from interference".

"This, in turn, becomes a support for violence used by the police and government supporters, upending rights and wrongs and seriously harming residents' right to bring private prosecutions under the common law," he said, vowing to lodge a judicial review to challenge the decision.

The moment when Chow was shot by a police officer

In her blog post in June, Cheng wrote private prosecutions "which are groundless or frivolous or brought out of improper motives or political considerations should not be condoned".

Do these two cases fit her above descriptions of those that should not be prosecuted?

In the case of Chow the student, he was shot in the abdomen and had to have one of his kidneys and half his liver removed because of the damage caused by the bullet. Chow has had to quit studying because he has trouble concentrating and needs psychological counselling. He was charged with attempting to steal a Hong Kong policeman's gun. Hui was trying to prosecute the police officer.

Meanwhile Hui also wanted to prosecute taxi driver Cheng, though he claims to have no idea how he lost control of his car. A 23-year-old woman suffered serious fractures to both legs when the vehicle mounted the pavement outside Cheung Sha Wan government offices before smashing a store front.

Cheng's taxi crashed into protesters last November

Right after, witnesses dragged Cheng out of the taxi and beat him up, leaving him with fractured ribs and had to have four stitches in his head. But he was never charged in the incident, though two other men at the scene were charged with rioting and later released on bail.

Hui will meet the justice secretary in about 15 days' time to discuss the latter case; maybe then she will reveal the real reason behind halting the prosecutions, which has only been done twice in 51 cases from 1996 to 2013...

HK Officials Lash Out at US Sanctions

The US sanctions punish HK and Chinese officials for NSL

 

Late last night Hong Kong time, Washington issued sanctions on Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and 10 other local and mainland officials as punishment for their roles in enforcing the national security law that was enacted on June 30.

The economic sanctions, issued by the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, the US-based assets of individuals or entities will be blocked, and Americans and businesses are generally prohibited from dealing with them.

Personal details of the officials were published

That means for example, Lam, who has a Facebook account, would not be able to buy ads on the social media giant, and if she has a bank account in the US, it would have to shut it down. 

While Lam claims not to have any assets in the US; critics have noted one of her sons is currently studying in Harvard University, so how will this affect him?

What is remarkable is that the sanctions not only give the list of names, but also their personal information, which Lam says amounts to "state-sanctioned doxxing", though she adds the Barker Road address for her is incorrect. Oops -- should it say Government House on Upper Albert Road?

It is also interesting to see their reactions to being on this sanctions list. If you don't have any assets in the US, why should you care? Lashing out only makes you look even more insecure, but perhaps she was given instructions to sound angry by Beijing.

She described the sanctions are "shameless and despicable", and that "We will not be intimidated" in a statement on Saturday.

Luo mocked the sanctions as he has no US assets

Meanwhile her boss, Luo Huining mocked the list, saying: "Isn't such a 'sanction' in vain as I don't have any assets abroad? Of course I can send US$100 to Mr Trump for freezing."

The other local officials targeted included Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Secretary for constitutional and mainland affairs, Police Chief Chris Tang Ping-keung, and even retired police chief Stephen Lo Wai-chung.  

Aside from Luo, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Xia Baolong, his deputy Zhang Xiaoming, and Beijing's national security chief in Hong Kong, Zheng Yanxiong.

The US Treasury Department singled out Lam for "implementing Beijing's policies of suppression of freedom and democratic processes," citing her role last year in attempting to pass an extradition law and, more recently, her involvement in "developing, adopting or implementing" the national security law.

A picture of Lam in Washington on her FB page

Lam said she would cancel her US visa right away even though it was due to expire in 2026. 

"Since I personally do not look forward to visiting this country, it looks like I can take the initiative to cancel it," she said in her Facebook post, which was accompanied with a photo of her smiling near Capitol Hill.

While this sanctions list does ratchet-up tensions between China and the US, it will affect Hong Kong. But many in the city are celebrating that a foreign power is finally making officials be accountable for their actions. 

Will this put a halt to the things that are happening at break-neck speed in Hong Kong? Probably not, but definitely a bump in the road to democracy that protesters will take as a win for now...

Hong Kong Government Cites Pandemic to Postpone Elections

Friday 6pm, Lam announces Legco elections are postponed

Word came down late this morning that the Hong Kong government would postpone the September 6 Legislative Council elections because of the ongoing pandemic.

We had to wait until 6pm in a press conference where Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was again flanked by some of her senior ministers, including the Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee, and Erick Tsang Kwok-wai, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs.

Hongkongers can't exercise their right to vote

Before making the actual announcement, Lam laid out a string of reasons why the elections had to be postponed. First and foremost, this was the 10th day that the city had triple digit new cases (121 today) and with just over a month away it would be "irresponsible" to hold the elections now; that there were many Hongkongers who lived and worked across the border who would have to rush here to vote on that day; elderly people's health would be compromised, and some wouldn't dare come out to vote; tens of thousands of workers would be needed to man all the polling stations and it would be hard to make sure people maintained social distancing and so on.

Finally Lam said the election would be held on September 5, 2021, while Cheng claimed that even those 12 pan-democrat candidates who were disqualified yesterday would be able to put in their nomination again next year.

Does Lam take Hongkongers as fools?

No matter which political stripe they are, people want to exercise their right to vote and now this has been taken away from them. Perhaps the only good thing is that between now and next September who has become eligible to vote can now register.

There were questions about why the government didn't consider holding the election anyway like Singapore did recently, but Lam claimed it was a different situation, and cited over 60 countries like the UK where the London mayoral race was postponed.

Law wonders what his "crime" is

A reporter said since Hong Kong is such a tech hub, why couldn't we vote online or by mail? And why hadn't the government considered these options, as it has been seven months now. Again Lam claimed there wasn't enough time to organize all of this in time.

Another asked if this was because the government was worried the pan-democrats would win more seats and wanted to shut down their chances, Lam stressed this decision was not political at all. Did she have an evil grin on her face hidden by her Cu Mask+ as she said this?

Lam hinted that anyone serving the Legislative Council had to have the correct political leaning, which is perhaps why some people were disqualified from running in the election. But since it's been postponed that's all moot now.

This evening's announcement only makes the Hong Kong government's premise that "one country, two systems" still exists is a sham.

Earlier today Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu said on RTHK that the government is so shameless, it no longer cares about what the world thinks.

"But again if this Hong Kong government is still trying to convince the rest of the world that 'hey this is an international city, there is still One Country, Two Systems', then of course they have to make up even more excuses or put up more reasons to convince others."

Activist Ray Wong seeking asylum in Germany

Each passing day there is a new development that leaves Hongkongers flabbergasted at how fast the city is changing.

Just before the press conference was to start, another bombshell dropped with the Director of Prosecutions announcing he had quit and would leave his job at the end of the year.

David Leung Cheuk-yin, who has been a prosecutor for 25 years, wrote in an email to colleagues: "It is most unfortunately that I do not see eye to eye with the SJ [Secretary for Justice] on the running of PD [Prosecutions Department], and the situation has not improved with the passage of time."

He also revealed that he was not privy to cases related to the new national security law implemented a month ago.

"As to the National Security cases, I do not have information for you as my assistance and participation in those matters have not been required," he wrote.

It's quite revealing that Leung, as Hong Kong's top prosecutor has no part in any of the national security case and was completely sidelined.

Meanwhile Nathan Law Kwun-chung and five others who fled Hong Kong are now wanted by Hong Kong police for breaching the national security law on charges of inciting secession and colluding with foreign forces.

Along with Law, the others are former UK consulate worker Simon Cheng, activists Ray Wong, Samuel Chu, Wayne Chan and Honcques Laus.

Law replied on Facebook he was not sure what his "crime" would be, but perhaps it was because he "loves Hong Kong too much".

He added since he left Hong Kong he stopped contacting his family and would sever his relationship with them in the hopes of not having them caught up in his work.

As Hong Kong is dragged kicking and screaming closer to the motherland, the rest of us wonder what's going to happen tomorrow...

The New Normal

People were defiant in showing how they felt about the new law

Despite the national security law having the ability to affect all aspect of life in Hong Kong, thousands were defiant and came out to express their unhappiness with the law by "going shopping".

However the police were already prepared, dressed in riot gear even before lunchtime the officers were patrolling the streets in Causeway Bay. Less than 15 hours after the law had been promulgated, a man was arrested for violating the national security law.

How will this sign go down in today's climate?

He had what happened to be a flag that said "Hong Kong Independence", but on closer inspection it had in small letters "no to". What happened to him? Was he charged or let go?

The police had all their gear ready, including a water cannon that went up and down Hennessy Road in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai. Someone in the water cannon vehicle was trigger happy, shooting water at journalists wearing high visibility vests. Hello? They were also pepper sprayed when protesters weren't around.

It seemed that as long as people kept moving, they would be relatively safe; some who loitered around Sogo were later surrounded by police and then kettled and arrested.

Later in the afternoon "shoppers" descended on Times Square and periodically shouted slogans -- which is now deemed illegal. While some shoppers kept moving, going up and down escalators and walking around the shopping mall, others literally sat on the floor. Eventually the police moved in and arrested those who did not leave.

In the end over 370 people were arrested, 10 of which were for breaching the national security law. One officer was stabbed in the upper arm as he tried to arrest people, while some protesters resorted to last year's tactics and hoisted railings, or dug up bricks to slow down the police.

Times Square shopping mall was "occupied"

As the protests were going on, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah and Secretary for Security John Lee Ka-chiu held a press conference to answer reporters' questions about the national security law.

However, they were unable to definitively shed some light on the specifics of the law. They were asked since the Chinese government keeps saying the new law will only affect "a small group of people", how small is small? A dozen, a hundred? a thousand people?

They could only reply as few as possible, and no specific number in mind.

Would it be a crime to criticize the national security law, a correspondent from CNN asked.

Lam replied as media, no, but if CNN colluded with foreign forces then, yes. She chuckled at the latter part of her answer, as if to make it sound preposterous but, but no one laughed with her.

Cheng, Lam and Lee holding copy of the law

The trio could only point to certain parts in the law to answer reporters' questions, not giving their own interpretation or what they understood to be the interpretation of the law.

It seems people will only know if they have broken the law is if they have been charged and convicted.

Meanwhile somewhat related, Simon Cheng Man-kit, who fled to the UK has now been granted asylum there.

"The decision is based on the United Nations convention with rigorous rule of law system, to recognize my case is intrinsically political persecution," he writes on Twitter. "Leaving means just a beginning. We continue to fight against the expanding totalitarianism, be back with democracy and freedom."

The Calm Before the Storm

The last hours before the national security law is enacted

There is a sense of uneasiness in the air... the reality that the national security law is coming down on Tuesday and there isn't much we can do about it without the threat of being arrested hanging over our heads.

The heavy-handed nature of how secretively and quickly this law has come about, encompassing any possible scenario shows the Party's determination of not messing about anymore, let alone depending on pro-establishment elites to get the job done.

The fact that even Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Justice Secretary Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah don't even know the details of the legislation speaks volumes about the role of the Hong Kong government with regards to governing the city; they are just minions on a need-to-know basis.

Meanwhile the everyone else is hatching their plans. On the weekend my relatives bought a flat in Manchester, a place they have never visited before. They said there were a lot of people in the office in Jordan, snapping up whatever unit they could get their hands on.

Jimmy Lai says he is not fleeing Hong Kong

The flats, part of a new development, are being built and expected to be completed in early next year. While buying property doesn't secure citizenship, it is at least a place they can go to if they wish.

Some expatriate families are leaving, seeing the city in disarray and feeling that this is not a good place to raise children. It's understandable if you don't consider Hong Kong your home, but many of us do.

Apparently Chinese dissident Wang Dan has warned Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and Demosisto's Joshua Wong Chi-fung that the the Communists would get them first. Lai and Wong have stated separately on Twitter they are not going anywhere.

Talk about martyrdom.

Previously at the gym some middle-aged members were gleeful about the incoming legislation, that it would finally stop the protests; today there was not a mention of it. Perhaps they now see the implications of implementing such a law on Hong Kong, that it also applies to them?

Some people are sadly counting down the days until "freedom" is gone, others are defiant and won't let the law defeat them.

It's such a strange time to be here now, with a lot of uncertainty, all of us literally in the same boat.

Xinjiang women subjected to birth control

Hong Kong will now be divided into pre-national security law (pre-NSL) and post-NSL.

Heightening the stress levels today is the publication of a story that proves further repression in Xinjiang. Families with many children are punished, while women are forced to take birth control pills,  have IUDs inserted, or if they are pregnant to have abortions, all against their will. Some women have ended up sterile.

Previously the Chinese policy was that Han Chinese could only have one child, whereas ethnic minorities could have more than one. Now the government has twisted it to punish Muslims in Xinjiang for having more than one child, saying it is unfair for Han Chinese to have less children.

As a result the population of Muslims in Xinjiang has plunged significantly in recent years, in a bid to "control" them and possibly dilute them with more Chinese in the region.

Is this what will happen to Hong Kong?

Tonight's stunning sunset colours

This evening, there was the most amazing sunset. The colours were reflected on the clouds and the sky had a soft pink glow like a Monet painting that gave way to the dark blue night.

I had never understood what the phrase "achingly beautiful" meant until watching that sunset.

Sunsets are simple pleasures, but mean so much more when things are about to change forever.

Carrie Lam's Report Card

Lam and Xi are colour coordinated, but do they agree on how to end protests?

Today must have been a nerve-wracking one for Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor today, meeting her two bosses, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing.

In pictures and footage she tries to look eager to please, but Xi seems uninterested in having to attend this meeting. Li's face looks grim too...

While both senior leaders praised Lam for her courage in dealing with the protests in Hong Kong that are stretching into its seventh month, they reminded her to finish her task of ending the violence.

Li looks grim-faced shaking Lam's hand today in Beijing

That puts Lam between a rock and a hard place. How can you end the violence if you give no leeway for political reform or even entertain an independent inquiry?

It seems like the senior Chinese leadership still don't understand the issues in Hong Kong (or aren't being briefed properly), or they are still in denial about the reality of the situation.

Political commentator Johnny Lau Yui-siu said the two state leaders' remarks showed the central government was not fully satisfied with Lam's performance in stopping the violence, but still chose to continue to support her.

"Xi Jinping's appreciation of Lam sticking to the bottom line of the 'one country, two systems' indicates that Beijing puts the chief executive's political loyalty as a top priority," Lau said.

"Beijing has not changed its tough stance on Hong Kong, despite the pro-establishment camp's humiliating defeat in last month's district council elections."


He said Beijing was still holding on to its long-standing view that the deep-rooted problems in Hong Kong stemmed from failure to boost the city's economic development and address the wealth gap.

Johnny Lau says Beijing hasn't changed its stance on HK

"Beijing still skirts Hong Kong people's calls for political reform as reflected in the anti-government protests since June," Lau said.

Meanwhile Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of the semi-official think tank The Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, said it is unlikely Beijing will meet the protesters other demands.

"Beijing holds the view that Hong Kong's ongoing crisis is the result of foreign influence, so they reiterated their support for Lam and the police, believing that a hardline approach is best to end the street protests," he said.

But giving the police license to crackdown further on the protesters is not going to solve the situation," says opposition lawmaker and Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu.

"It feels like the central government is not entirely connected to what's happening on the ground," he said.

Alvin Yeung says the police may crack down harder on protests

So today's meeting is just a continuation of before, and so the protests will continue.

The central government needs to understand that for the violence and the protests to end, concessions need to be made. 

While this might seem like a big loss of face to the government, surely the ongoing protests and violence and economic recession is an even greater loss of face?

Meanwhile we hear from some China sources that the real reason the Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah was diverted from London to Beijing for a few weeks was to "get a bollocking" from senior Chinese officials about how the government was handling the six month-long protests in Hong Kong.

It definitely wasn't for medical treatment for her arm. Or maybe she did get medical treatment after her bollocking?

Did Teresa Cheng Try to Flee or Not?

Teresa Cheng on December 3 when she returned to Hong Kong via Beijing

Remember last month when the Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah was hounded by about 30 protesters in London that they apparently caused her to fall and injure her arm?

She suffered a fracture and partial dislocation of her wrist on November 14 and had surgery in London.

She fell and injured her arm in London in November 14

But she didn't return back to Hong Kong until December 3 -- by way of Beijing.

When she came back, she did not reveal how long she was in the Chinese capital for, or why she received treatment there, and not in Hong Kong.

"The operation was carried out in Britain, and the [Chinese] embassy, when arranging my return... arranged for me to be transferred to Beijing, our capital," she said after returning to Hong Kong on December 3.

There is an interesting story that was reported in the Financial Times on December 6. The article cited three anonymous sources who said Cheng "had wanted to remain [in London] and resign from her government post until she was ordered home by Beijing."

Cheng with Liu Xiaoming in the Chinese embassy in London

When asked to comment the Department of Justice reiterated what Cheng said and denied the report. "The secretary did not ask to resign as reported. The relevant report was completely groundless."

Why would someone want to have medical treatment in Beijing as opposed to London? And why go there for medical treatment for weeks? Did she want to quit?

Seems like Cheng was "detained" for medical reasons. Unlike most people who are detained, she was released in a short period of time...

Marching for Justice (Again)

A long procession of people in the law profession came out to march today

 

Today some 3,000 lawyers came out in the midday sun to participate in a silent march to protest the government's abuse of the rule of law in the past few weeks. This is the sixth time people in the law profession have come out to march since 1997, and the second time in two months on June 6.

A long steady stream of people in black suits and dresses walked from the Court of Final Appeal to the Department of Justice and demanded that Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah and Director of Prosecutions David Leung Cheuk-yin to come out to meet with them.

Martin Lee says no one is above the rule of law

However, they didn't come out (or maybe they were out for lunch?) and senior counsel and co-founder of the Civic Party Audrey Eu Yuet-mee suggested perhaps they were on strike which got cheers (or jeers) from the fellow marchers.

Several people made speeches, including Martin Lee Chu-ming.

"We are here to protect the rule of law. The rule of law means, most importantly, that we are all equal under the law," he said. "If people wearing black committed any criminal offenses, and you bring them to justice, that's fair. But why don't you do the same when the criminals are wearing white? It is in breach of the rule of law."

He was referring to the horrific and violent incident in Yuen Long on July 21 when men, some identified as triads, beat up commuters in the MTR station, some of whom had just come back from a protest march. Twenty-four of them were arrested for unlawful assembly but have yet to be charged.

This contrasts with 44 protesters who were charged with rioting on July 31, just days after the alleged incident.

Some 3,000 lawyers, prosecutors and students came out

Stephen Char Shik-ngor, a former investigator for the Independent Commission Against Corruption also voiced his concerns about how the Department of Justice is going about charging people.

"How can you charge people with rioting within 24 hours? Where have you got the evidence? While everybody saw on the TV the people beating up innocent people but they are not charged yet. So for the perception of the members of the public, this is selective prosecution," he said.

Some lawyers in the march are working pro bono for some of the protesters who are charged and urged others to volunteer their services as well. One local law firm that focuses on human rights issues has even published guidelines on its Facebook page, advising protesters what to do if they are arrested by the police, or are injured during the clashes with the authorities.

Hong Kong has devolved into practically a police state that the lawyers in today's march find it alarming.

"It has never happened before, and I think it is a very strong evidence that there has been a departure from normal procedures and guidelines," says Eu. "And for an important department like the Department of Justice -- I mean look at the word 'Justice' -- you really require the department always to be sticking to procedures, principles and due process. "

Last night in Sham Shui Po police station tear gas was fired

The highly respected former Executive Council member Denis Chan Khen-lee QC spoke in public since the protests began, urging the government to listen to the "silent scream" of the city's law profession.

"But we do not just scream. We want law, order, justice and peace," he said.

He added an independent investigation into the political crisis was necessary and warned that people in power are not above the rule of law. 

Meanwhile last night Baptist University student union president Keith Fong Chung-yin was arrested by the police in Sham Shui Po. His crime? Being in possession of 10 laser pointers. Where in the law is it a crime to have laser pointers that lecturers use?

No sooner had word gotten out that 300 residents and other concerned people come out to the Sham Shui Po police station to demand his release, including Baptist University President Roland Chin Ta-hong, and pan-democrat lawmaker Claudio Mo.

To poke fun at the police, a laser show at the Science Museum

However, when Mo was speaking to the gathered crowd, police began firing tear gas at them from inside the police station. That definitely inflamed the crowd and later on in social media people were making fun of the charges, saying pens and other stationary will be considered weapons as well.

Today the police claimed laser pointers were a weapon and demonstrated by shining it at very close range on a piece of paper that burned in 10 seconds. But someone on Twitter remarked that to get that close to a police officers, one would be tear gassed first...

So in protest, tonight a laser show was held outside the Science Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui. People shone laser pointers at it and sang music related to lasers.

Gotta love Hong Kong and Cantonese humour to make this crisis more bearable!

Marching Into Kowloon

Organizers were expecting 2,000 people -- 230,000 showed up this afternoon

This afternoon some 230,000 people flooded Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui to march all the way to the Hong Kong West Kowloon Station in the hopes of explaining to the mainlanders shopping in the area what local residents are fighting for.

The march was supposed to start at 4pm, but the authorities let them go at 3.30pm because there were too many people. They marched down Nathan Road and were orderly, "peaceful and graceful", as organizer and localist Ventus Lau Wing-hong had hoped.

Ventus Lau hoped the march would be "peaceful and graceful"

"I believe the residents who came out today want to tell the government that they are united and won't be split," he said.

In the march, the first one regarding the anti-extradition bill held in Kowloon, were people of all ages wearing mostly black, some holding yellow umbrellas.

By 4.15pm, the front of the procession had reached West Kowloon, and Lau encouraged people to leave the station. However, as of 10pm there is a second march going down Nathan Road, with protesters taking up all six lanes of the busy road, and on the way to Mongkok.

Some marchers spoke in Mandarin to bewildered mainland tourists in the area. They had no idea what was going on and some filmed the event or took pictures. Tourists interviewed by the media said they had just come to Hong Kong to do some shopping for luxury items and said everyone was entitled to their views, though they didn't know what this particular protest was for.

Marchers took over the entire six lanes of Nathan Road

"I think Hong Kong has freedom of speech. They should stand up to defend their vital interests. It's different from the mainland. We can't protest in mainland China," a man in his 30s said with a chuckle.

Are we allowed to know what happened? Or should we know? Know what? I have the right to love my country and they want to speak out. Don't make everything so politicized. Why not care more about other things? Such as adolescent problems, hunger problems, and environment issues. Why don't you care about these more important things," asked another man.

Sounds like the protest was an eye-opener

Also in the march the plight of Uighurs in Xinjiang were highlighted, where over 1 million of them are being held in detention camps and the BBC reported on Friday that children are being separated from their parents.

One marcher had a sign of Ilham Tohti, on the Uighur issue

One marcher held up a sign with academic Ilham Tohti's picture with the words: "He criticized China's ethnic policy/ He promoted ethnic reconciliation/ He was accused of splitting the nation and sentenced to life in prison".

Meanwhile Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her administration are trying to appeal to young people by posting messages on their blogs.

She, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Secretary of Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, and Secretary of Labour and Welfare, Law Chi-kwong appealed to Hongkongers that the administration's governing style had changed and pledged to listen more to society.

But society isn't going to find their blogs -- blogs are pretty much a one-way street. How is that effective dialogue with kids who have moved onto encrypted instant messaging and effective hand signals?

The kids are way ahead of you, Carrie. Back to the drawing board...

The Word is Out

Protesters send an urgent message to the UK

The protesters against the extradition bill have raised over HK$6.7 million to spend on advertisements in national newspapers of countries participating in the G20 tomorrow and Saturday.

The ads began appearing today in The Guardian, The Globe and Mail and Süddeutsche Zeitung, a German paper.

This time the protesters are spreading the word internationally, and urging world leaders to say something about Hong Kong at the G20 in Osaka. The campaign, swiftly organized, is  unprecedented, and will be interesting to see how the advertisements are received.

Earlier today about 100 protesters descended on Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah's office, demanding she withdraw the extradition bill and not prosecute the protesters that have been arrested. They blocked the roads and entrances, so Cheng's staff had to leave early in the afternoon.

This weekend will be interesting. Apparently on Sunday there will be a march supporting the Hong Kong police force...

And Monday, the July 1 anniversary of the handover will surely be a tense one -- organizers of the annual flag raising ceremony next to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai will be scaled back significantly, while the march in the afternoon is expected to be a big one....

Never a dull moment in Hong Kong these days...