HK Police Step Up Violence

Police dressed as protesters hit people with extendable batons in the mall

The "shopping protests" have changed tactics to focus on shops catering to parallel traders, those who buy goods in Hong Kong and then take them across the border to sell at higher prices for a profit.

This has been going on for years and this was particularly egregious in 2012 to the point where districts near the mainland border ran out of goods like milk powder and it had to be rationed to two cans per customer. Back then parallel traders were called "locusts" for taking everything and leaving nothing behind.

People protest against parallel traders in Sheung Shui

So to put more pressure on the Hong Kong government to resolve the political crisis that has gripped the city for seven months, protesters targeted several shopping malls, including Landmark North shopping centre in Sheung Shui, the last district before the border with China.

The protesters shouted, "Five demands, not one less", "disband the police force", and also "go back to the mainland", aimed at Chinese daytrippers and parallel traders. This forced almost all the shops in the mall to close down for fear of potential vandalism.

But the protests also attracted the police, who stepped up their tactics in a more brutal way.

They dressed up like protesters and then without warning whipped out extendable batons and began attacking and arresting people. The riot police in uniform were nearby and also had no qualms beating up protesters until blood spilled.

There is a video on Twitter showing a young man being excessively beaten by riot police in Landmark North, and there is blood on one of the police shields.

This is the bloody arrest I was filming with @XinqiSu when I was pepper-sprayed, during a ‘Shop with You’ protest at Landmark North, Sheung Shui. Note the bloodied riot police shield. pic.twitter.com/MxeyRuIl1z

— Daniel Suen (@suen_daniel) December 28, 2019

 

Is this really necessary? Why not just arrest them and save energy to catch the next protester? Another brutal tactic of unleashing pepper spray at point blank range is also uncalled for.

This stepped up brutality not only further contravenes the Hong Kong police force's code of conduct, but shows officers are willing to use more violence to subdue protesters.

Is shooting pepper spray really necessary at close range?

Since Beijing has endorsed Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor during her latest duty visit earlier this month, it seems her way of quelling the protesters is with more violence.

This is totally outrageous. 

This is how Lam and police chief Chris Tang Ping-keung think they can end the protests?

While wounds may eventually heal, trauma does not go away and these shocking images will infuriate more people to come out to yet another large-scale protest march on January 1.

The people are not cowering. It's going to be a long fight.

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?

Hong Kong Continues to Burn

Tens of thousands out to defy the anti-mask law for a second day in a row

Looks like Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's plan of enacting the anti-mask law had the opposite effect she hoped of de-escalating the violence -- or maybe that's what she wanted all along?

While the protesters are out on the streets this weekend, demonstrating their anger against the anti-mask law that was in place at midnight on October 5, their violent acts are giving the Hong Kong government more ammunition to possibly enforce more emergency laws.

Two creative masks featuring Winnie the Pooh...

There is so much evidence, from MTR stations like Causeway Bay and Mongkok that were trashed, set fire or flooded with water. It looks like tomorrow will be another challenging day for people to get around the city again despite yesterday's complete shutdown.

Meanwhile Chinese businesses were also the target of protesters' ire, banks like ICBC and China Construction Bank, as well as Xiaomi and China Travel Service. And bricks were pulled up from sidewalks, while traffic lights were also smashed.

And a first ever -- People's Liberation soldiers in fatigues were on the rooftop of their barracks in Kowloon Tong and shouted warnings at the protesters who shouted back, "Vindicate June 4!"

Very testy on both sides. 

A RTHK reporter (right) suffered burns on his face

But more seriously, reporters suffered burns from a petrol bomb thrown in Causeway Bay tonight, while another was dragged by riot police and detained. It's not easy to report on what is going on without getting into some kind of trouble.

Meanwhile in Sham Shui Po, a taxi driver drove into a group of protesters, the motivation unclear at this stage. A group of angry protesters dragged him out and beat him while his vehicle was trashed. He was later rescued by firefighters, but no police stepped in. It was sheer lawlessness.

These scenes are completely the opposite of what happened earlier in the afternoon at 2pm, when two peaceful protest marches happened simultaneously, one in Causeway Bay to Central, the other from Tsim Sha Tsui to Mongkok.

Tens of thousands gathered in both Causeway Bay and Tsim Sha Tsui, many of them wearing masks to defy the anti-mask law and perhaps it was a good thing that it was raining so the protesters covered their heads with umbrellas.

A taxi driver who was beaten was treated by firefighters

One of the protesters on Hong Kong island surnamed Chan was 61-years-old and said this summer was his first time joining the protests, and that the mask ban made the situation more urgent.

"With the mask ban, the government is testing the waters, if no one reacts to this, then they can use the emergency ordinance to do anything, including interfering with the coming district elections. If the government can do anything, then Hong Kong is finished," he says.

However, the government would beg to differ. Just before 11pm, the government released a statement describing the protesters as "rioters" and accusing them of "lawlessness and violent acts", which include blocking roads, vandalizing public facilities, banks and stores, hurling petrol bombs at police officers and assaulting other citizens.

Mongkok MTR station was completely flooded tonight

The spokesman says the violence over the past few days have plunged Hong Kong into fear and chaos, affecting public services and made citizens reluctant to go out.

That may be true, but many residents still believe the government is to blame for starting this chaotic mess.

The government may be using the law as a weapon, but in reality people still quietly support the protesters even though they don't condone the violence.

So where is the way out, Carrie? You have escalated the violence. Protesters are only reacting to your anti-mask law. How are you going to de-escalate the situation? With more emergency laws?

The stalemate continues.

The Battle Continues in Kowloon

Protesters were back putting out tear gas on the streets in Kwun Tong today

The peaceful protests last weekend ended today with police firing numerous rounds of tear gas in Kowloon Bay, Wong Tai Sin and Sham Shui Po so far. About 18 people have been arrested and there have been a few serious injuries involving their faces. It's not good.

What has made the situation worse is the MTR has made it harder for everyone to get around. After criticism from Beijing for allegedly aiding and abetting the protesters, the MTR got a court injunction to arrest anyone who vandalizes the stations and trains, or blocks carriages, which is fine, but now it has prevented people from using it whenever there is a demonstration.

Residents angry they can't access the MTR this afternoon

This afternoon the MTR warned it would shut down Kwun Tong station because of the police sanctioned march there. That left residents in the area unable to use the public transport system to get to work or do their shopping or even to come home. They were furious with the MTR staff, and no one senior enough was around to take the verbal abuse.

Perhaps the MTR or Beijing was hoping this harder stance would make it harder for protesters to show up at the march, but the plan backfired. And since the MTR is majority owned by the Hong Kong government, by extension the residents were angry at their government. And again there is no recourse, as everyone needs to use the MTR and taxpayer dollars go there too. So... again this is why Hongkongers need universal suffrage!

Beijing has strong armed Cathay Pacific and now the MTR. Who is next?

One piece of good news is that British consulate employee Simon Cheng Man-kit has been released and is now back in Hong Kong with his family. There was also a group of 10 university students who were detained in Tibet, but they have also been released now.

One protester puts his tennis racquet to good use

Why would anyone want to go to Chinese these days?

Now that Hong Kong is in the international spotlight, China is trying desperately to put up a curtain and say, "Nothing going on here, move along".

A letter sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, says "the so-called 'anti-amendment' is nothing more than a hyped-up pretext," writes Hua Chunying, director general of the Information Department.

"When you look at the current situation, you'll find that those radical, violent and criminal behaviors have gone far beyond freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. They have seriously threatened the safety of Hong Kong residents and their property, severely undermined Hong Kong's rule of law and social order, gravely challenged the bottom line of 'one country, two systems', and pushed Hong Kong to a dangerous brink."

Hua's letter dated August 20 was sent to over 30 foreign media outlets. 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying

First of all, what is this "anti-amendment" she is talking about? If she means the anti-extradition protests, they have been dragging out so long because the Hong Kong government has done nothing to address this issue.

Is Hong Kong at a "dangerous brink"? Not yet no. But she is repeating what Beijing has said before. If repeated enough, perhaps people will believe it.

She then advises journalists to take up their "social responsibility and make reports that are neutral, objective, impartial and comprehensive so that your coverage may help those protesters ignorant of the truth to get back on the right path, and help those who have been seriously misled to come to a rational and fair judgment".

That sounds eerily like Uighurs who have been led astray by Islam and need to be sent to concentration camps to be "reeducated".

Again the language shows a hardline paternalistic attitude towards Hong Kong and young people...  

Li Ka-shing's Cryptic Message

Li Ka-shing spent a lot of money on advertising in newspapers today

Everyday there are so many things happening it can be hard to keep track. Today was no exception.

First was seeing Li Ka-shing buy full-page ads in several newspapers -- but not Apple Daily -- and wrote a cryptic message that readers were keen to solve.

In each paper he bought two full page ads facing each other. On one side was the word "violence" with a red circle and line through it, and it was flanked with slogans about loving China and Hong Kong. At the bottom it reads: "stop anger and violence in the name of love".

The left one refers to melons, the right against violence

The other page was more curious. The header reads: "the best of intentions can lead to the worst outcome" but he did not clarify what he meant or who he was referring to.

Then below were eight characters that literally translate as: "The melon of Huangtai cannot bear the picking again", referring to a Tang dynasty poem. It basically means something that has suffered so much, that any further attack would ruin it.

The poem was written by Li Xian, the crown prince of the Tang dynasty who lived between 654AD to 684AD. The sixth son of emperor Gaozong and the second son of empress Wu Zetian, Li Xian was an intelligent and capable prince.

His brothers were killed one by one by his ambitious mother until Li Xian was installed as the crown prince and heir apparent. She became suspicious of him and put Li Xian under house arrest. In desperation he wrote the poem to his mother as a subtle protest.

It basically translates as:

Growing melons beneath Huangtai,

Hanging heavily, many grow ripe,

Pick one, the others will be fine,

Pick two, fewer are left on the vine,

If you want to get yet another one,

That’s where we must draw the line,

For if there is any more reaping,

You will end up with an empty vine.

However, the poem did not move his mother and she sent him to exile, and in 684, forced him to commit suicide.

Alain Robert with his strange banner on Cheung Kong

As a result, melons have become a metaphor for suffering in the face of persecution.

On Friday Li issued a statement through his spokesman, saying Hong Kong's prosperity hinges on "one country, two systems", and the most important priorities now were to stop the violence and maintain rule of law.

"We need to cherish ourselves, our identity as Chinese and a Hong Kong citizen, just as we treasure freedom, empathy and rule of law," the statement said.

And then we also got a visit from "French Spider Man" Alain Robert climbed up Cheung Kong building -- Li's office -- to unfurl a banner that had the Chinese and Hong Kong flags along with a handshake below and a smiling sun.

Robert said he hoped the protests could be resolved with peace.

He seems to have a simplistic understanding of what's going on... but we're glad he didn't fall or injure himself as he doesn't climb with a harness. Please just stick to climbing buildings....

Former Cathay CEO Rupert Hogg resigned today

Then finally in a shock announcement in the late afternoon, Rupert Hogg resigned as CEO of Cathay Pacific, along with Paul Loo, the chief customer and commercial officer. Even more surprising was that it was first reported by Chinese state media CCTV and the airline hadn't yet issued a formal statement.

It appears they were taking the responsibility for the pressures China has imposed on the airline in the last week or so, from supplying lists of the crew flying over Chinese airspace, to state-owned companies ordered not to fly on Cathay, and the shut down of the airport on Monday and Tuesday that caused the cancellations of hundreds of flights on each day.

But it also seems they were forced to resign by Beijing, as Cathay chairman John Slosar said in a statement: "This is regrettable as we have always made safety and security our highest priority... We therefore think it is time to put a new management team in place who can reset confidence and lead the airline to new heights."

Did Cathay compromise its safety and security? Seems like that was a self-criticism there meant to appease the powers that be. At first the airline flip-flopped on its employees supporting the protests and now is "harmonized" to say they can't do any of that without the risk of being fired...

Hope that's enough to keep Beijing happy for now.

Thousands gathered at Chater Garden to Stand with HK

Tonight there was a rally at Chater Garden organized by the Hong Kong Higher Institutions International Affairs Delegation, made up of students from 12 local universities and colleges. Some of the speakers via video message included democracy academic Larry Diamond and Brian Leung Kai-ping, the only protester on July 1 who removed his mask in the Legislative Council after the protesters stormed the building.

Several thousand people attended the event that spilled out onto Chater Road and the cenotaph a few blocks away.

This weekend brings another round of protest marches and rallies. So much going on...