Despite Fifth Wave, Grave Sweeping Continues

Many ignored government warnings and went grave sweeping

Today is Ching Ming Festival, or grave sweeping and also a gorgeous day. 

The government and health officials had warned people not to go today, but many who adhere to tradition continued the practice.

A friend and I walked from Wan Chai to Kennedy Town and up Victoria Road, where we saw packed buses and lots of people clutching flowers to pay their respects to loved ones. 

There were fewer people at cemeteries today

The police were on hand to control the crowds, helping them cross the street periodically. While there were less people in general, it was still a sizeable number in the hundreds.

Health officials are concerned there could be an uptick in the number of Covid-19 cases following not only Ching Ming, but also the upcoming Easter holiday too.

Today there was a slight rise in the total number of cases today at 3,238, though the number of deaths has decreased to 87, with 81 newly reported, and six backlogged.

The other victims of the fifth wave are restaurants. 

I just found out that American restaurant Red Lobster shut its doors in Causeway Bay. It had only opened three years ago. 

Red Lobster was another victim of Covid-19

The owner said Covid-19 and the dining restrictions made it untenable to keep going and in the end the company sustained too much loss to keep going.

He thinks that those with deep pockets and can survive will live to see a rebound in 2023.

For many that's a long way off when living day by day.

Other restaurants have been taken down too, like Duck and Waffle that I had no idea had disappeared until I walked through IFC Mall and the space was completely empty. Others include Mana! and La Rotisserie, Silencio, Poem, and Second Draft (but for rent reasons).

The other day I wandered to Shun Tak, where people used to go catch ferries to go to Macau. The departure floor is completely eerie, with the floor covered, and every single shop space that used to sell ferry tickets or arrange hotel rooms or junkets are all shut down. 

Shun Tak departure hall is completely empty

When the pandemic eases, reopening Hong Kong and telling the world the city is open for business will be the hardest task for the next chief executive. The Hong Kong Tourism Board also had formidable challenge in promoting the city that has changed so drastically after the 2019 protests and the implementation of the national security law two years ago.

But hey -- let's not worry about that now, and instead focus on getting those Covid-19 numbers down...

Covid-19 Numbers Drop to below 10K

Albert Au of CHP (left) reports under 9,000 cases today

This afternoon was a sign of good news -- in the first time since February 24, the number of coronavirus infections in Hong Kong dropped to below 10,000 to 8,841, of which 3,978 were from PCR tests, 4,957 from RATs. Six cases were imported. 

The Centre of Health Protection's Albert Au Ka-wing said that while the number of infections has definitely peaked, he urged people not to let their guard down. Also the number of deaths is still relatively high at 139, of which 114 are from the past 24 hours, 25 backlogged.

One of the deaths was a three-year-old girl, but she had pre-existing long-term health issues including severe brain lesions and was diagnosed with pneumonia. The Department of Health will investigate her death. The oldest person who died was 106 years old.

A quarantine room at the LMO from HK$10K

Meanwhile the lifting of the flight ban on nine countries from April 1 has led to non-stop inquiries from people overseas needing rooms in quarantine hotels for a week. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental has had a flood of people trying to book rooms, and with room rates from HK$10,010 (US$1,278) for a 83 sq metre room per night, it's yet another bumper year for the hotel in Central.

Then there are other hotels in the city that have converted into community isolation facilities to prepare for the possibility of universal testing. While this is good money -- HK$1,600 per room per night paid for by the government, some hotels are loathe to kick out long-staying guests.

One hotel in Sheung Wan has had people staying there for over three years. That's because they are elderly and have no family in Hong Kong to look after them and rely on the hotel's staff to check up on them.

It's quite sad to hear that they are living in these small hotel rooms, but this is the best way they can ensure there is someone looking out for them -- to help them get to the hospital for regular health check-ups, and for disabled guests who need physical assistance on a daily basis.

Rooms at Novotel Century are now for isolation

Luckily some hotels are taking pity on these people, while others have evicted some long-staying guests, leaving them with little choice but to find alternative housing. The Novotel Century Hong Kong in Wan Chai has turned into a community isolation facility, and one of its long-staying guests luckily managed to find accommodation at a serviced apartment nearby at very short notice. 

While this pandemic has turned people's lives upside down, we've all had to deal with the challenges the best we can. And finding compassion can be a godsend for many who need it.

Star Ferry is Drowning in Debt

How much longer can the Star Ferry continue to operate?

Another victim of the pandemic is the Star Ferry, one of the best known icons of Hong Kong which is now in dire financial straits.

Painted green and white, and chugs across Victoria Harbour between Central Tsim Sha Tsui and Wan Chai, the Star Ferry is having trouble covering employees' salaries and paying down debts, and it even projects it will still be in the red in 2047 after two years of losses totalling a whopping HK$70 million (US$8.9 million).

Passengers have dropped off since 2021

It was affected by the 2019 protests -- though there were a few nights during the occupation of Hong Kong Polytechnic University when tons of people crowded onto the Star Ferries to get across to Hong Kong Island -- and now the pandemic into its third year.

David Chow Cheuk-yin, the Star Ferry company's general manager, said in a statement on Monday that the firm had accumulated losses of more than HK$70 million over the past two years, saying ridership in the first two months of 2022 had plunged by 73 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

Last year the Star Ferry carried only 9.57 million passengers, a sharp drop of 46 percent from 17.97 million passengers in 2019.

"It is disheartening to see our iconic Star Ferry is now a company with negative equity," he said. "In view of the threats posed by the current environment, I am afraid I can't be optimistic, as much as I would love to be, for Star Ferry to survive this wave."

The company is now borrowing to pay its daily expenses, as monthly revenue isn't even enough to cover employees' salaries.

"Enormous losses have far exceeded the company's total assets. The Star Ferry has struggled with negative equity for a long time and now counts completely on loans to cover daily operating expenses," said Chow.

Central ferry pier was at Edinburgh Place

He even hinted the company may not even be able to repay its loans even after 2047.

When a company as famous as the Star Ferry is in negative equity that's tragic. Even worse the government has done nothing to save this traditional form of public transport that has made Hong Kong famous.

If anything some of the budget from the Hong Kong Tourism Board could be funnelled into keeping the Star Ferry literally afloat, as everyone associates the city with the boats crossing the harbour.

It would be an absolute travesty if the government lets this company die because no other company or tycoon would bother taking over a money-losing business.

But let's face it -- the Star Ferry already began dying its slow death back in 2006 when its pier was moved from Edinburgh Place to another 500 metres away on reclaimed land to Man Kwong Street. It used to be so convenient to cross the harbour by Star Ferry, just past the Mandarin Oriental and the Central Post Office. 

Original steamboat from the 1880s

Now it's a commitment to want to take the Star Ferry from either Central or Wan Chai -- where the pier is not close to anything at all.

How can the Star Ferry survive with the odds stacked against it, and yet it is everyone's favourite ride crossing Victoria Harbour. It is the closest people can feel to taking transport back in 1880, when Parsi cook Dorabjee Naorojee Mithaiwala acquired a steamboat to ferry his baked goods across between Kowloon and Central.

Anyone want to start crowdfunding for the Star Ferry? Or is that considered to be violating the national security law?

Covid-19 Cases Climb past the 55K Mark

Times Square shopping mall is devoid of customers

Hong Kong has yet another record of 55,353 positive cases today -- reaching over 50,000, one day before the modelling anticipated it. And it doesn't include all those who used their own rapid antigen tests to discover they are positive... some estimate there could be hundreds of thousands of cases in the community now.

There were 160 deaths reported, of which 117 were in the past 24 hours, 43 were backlogged. Of the 117 deaths, 95 were unvaccinated with an age range of 58 to 100 years old.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor again reiterated there would be no full citywide lockdown, as there weren't enough isolation facilities to house all the positive cases, but had no further details. 

That led to another day of panic buying in the city, and food suppliers were exasperated in trying to explain that the food is coming, but everyone is freaking out and buying whatever they can get their hands on.

Meanwhile businessman Allan Zeman who started out in textiles and owns most of Lan Kwai Fong, and used to head Ocean Park and turn it around, wrote an open letter to Lam, saying Hong Kong residents need clarity on how the government is going to take control of the fifth wave, as rumours are scaring people and it is not good for their mental health.

"There are too many rumours floating around and such a feeling of uncertainty, we need very clear messaging giving people hope and direction for an end to this nightmare," he wrote. "People feel they are getting punished for being infected."

Zeman is saying what all of us are thinking throughout the letter.

In the end he also reminded Lam that many people have lost their jobs and businesses shut down due to the restrictive measures and that subsidies were needed to keep everyone alive.

Will she listen?

A colleague thinks the national security police may come knocking on Zeman's door...

So many restaurants, cafes, stores, banks, post offices, and even convenience stores like 7-Eleven are closed because they have had infections or they are worried for their staff and limit services even more.

Even the MTR is affected, having fewer trains in service than before, especially in the evenings. The Star Ferry in Wan Chai stops service at 9pm. Shopping malls are dead by 6pm.

Island Beverly mall in Causeway Bay

"There is absolutely no one here [in the mall], not even on weekends. Most shops are closed," said Chloe Cheung, who owns a small boutique in Island Beverly mall. She planned to shut down when the lease expired in June.

"The lockdown is not that necessary. It is a ghost town now."

Indeed. Anyone who is out and about near dinner time are rushing to get back home with dinner in takeaway bags.

It is painful to see Hong Kong deserted like this. The only other time no one is around and everything is shut is when there is a typhoon. But the fears of a lockdown and the sheer exponential rise in the number of cases has already made people uneasy and not want to go out.

How people and businesses will make it out alive -- and sane -- from this latest wave will be nothing short of a miracle. And we badly need one.

Universal Testing Dates Keep Changing, Fuelling Mistrust

For a second day in a row supermarket shelves swept empty

Today there were 32,597 cases, and 172 deaths (110 in the past 24 hours, 55 were backlogged). Of the 110 deaths, 86 were unvaccinated. The age range was 47 to 99 years of age.

After lunch, I ventured out from home to meet a colleague for coffee in Wan Chai. She wanted to try a relatively new coffee shop, but we discovered it was closed temporarily and went next door to another one. The staff there explained they only had a few baked items that were hand written, though all drinks were available.

We scanned the Leave Home Safe app, and then he scanned our vaccination QR code. 

Slim pickings for whoever arrived late

This is the new normal.

This morning there was word that the universal testing would start on March 17, and that people would be tested according to family grouping, but no further details on the actual logistics. 

When my colleague and I parted ways, I wandered to the nearby wet market and there were long lines of people waiting to pay for fresh vegetables, not so much fruits or meat, but seemed that vegetables were the hot items today. I didn't have the patience to wait in line to pay.

Pharmacies were full of people hunting for items -- rubbing alcohol, Panadol, masks. Strangely rapid antigen tests were available on the street and I immediately wondered if they were fake.

Then towards my home I went into Marks & Spencer and most of the shelves were already picked over, the bakery section completely cleared of any bread, eggs, vegetables, and the individual portions of food were almost all gone along with apples. No one wanted the lasagne or ravioli. 

Pharmacies were also swarmed by customers

Across the street at a grocery chain U Select, the vegetables again were completely gone save for boxed salads, and some fruits left. It was shocking to be late to see all the food picked over and I was left with having to deal with what was remaining. It was depressing and horrifying.

Perhaps residents took to heart Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's call that fighting the fifth wave was a war, and people were preparing to hunker down for war.

Now this evening pro-Beijing news outlet HK01 is saying the date of universal testing will start March 26 to April 3.

It seems the government is throwing out ideas via pro-Beijing media and then seeing how the public reactions.

However, a group of researchers led by Dr Gabriel Leung, one of the government's advisors on the pandemic said earlier today that March was too early to conduct universal testing, that it should be done in late April after the fifth wave peaks.

"If compulsory testing were to be implemented pursuant to the 'dynamic zero-Covid policy', it should be deployed towards mid- to late-April when case numbers are anticipated to already be at very low levels in order to maximise its utility in achieving true elimination, or 'zero-Covid'," the research team stated.

"Doing so earlier, especially when case numbers will still be too high to properly and appropriately isolate and care for, paying particular attention to population mental and emotional well-being in Hong Kong's unique context, would not be recommended."

Maybe the government will reconsider the dates again? It's all confusing and frustrating to see this all played out in real time instead of the government and experts hashing it out and then presenting a unified front.

Tomorrow there will surely be people again waiting for supermarkets to open and buy up whatever they think they need because the mixed messages is fuelling even greater distrust -- on all political sides -- which surely should not be good for Lam...

More Restrictions Suggested to Covid-19 Weary Residents

Endless numbers of people waiting to get tested for Covid-19

Hong Kong's number of Covid-19 cases dipped just slightly at 986, with all except one being local infections. The number is not necessarily a true indication of the situation as the city's testing capacity is limited.

However, this evening word came down that Beijing will be sending medical experts to Shenzhen to discuss the best way to battle the fifth wave, which could entail sending thousands of medical personnel and millions of test kits, while also ensuring food supplies, particularly vegetables will come to Hong Kong. 

Beijing will offer medical help to Hong Kong

It makes the city sound like a developing country, completely helpless in its food security and medical capabilities. It's actually quite embarrassing.

There continue to be shocking scenes in Central, Wan Chai, and Tung Chung, the endless numbers of people waiting hours to be tested.

A temporary testing lab at Ma On Shan sports centre will be resurrected to ramp up testing from 100,000 a day to three times that.

Meanwhile experts from the University of Hong Kong are predicting that if the latest social-distancing measures continue, the city could see up to 28,000 cases by next month and 1,000 Covid-19-related deaths.

Professor Gabriel Leung, dean of HKU's faculty of medicine, is even suggesting the city be put under lockdown for two to three months to squash the virus. 

Leung is suggesting a city-wide lockdown

So when this was reported, residents here got into a frenzy worried about the possibility of that happening. 

When Leung was asked to clarify what he meant by lockdown he said: "What lockdown means is that we should implement more stringent measures... It could be achieved through administrative or legislative means... It could also be something voluntary. The most important thing is to curb transmission."

We get that, but how is that possible in a city of 7.5 million people?

He also suggested that residents be given rapid antigen tests and test themselves every other day before leaving their homes, and boost the vaccination rate not only in the elderly but children as well.

In addition Leung said having just one jab of the vaccine wasn't enough.

"Even with two jabs, it's very difficult to stop the spread of infection of Omicron. What it does do, however, is it brings down your bad outcomes and deaths," he said. "It will have a dramatic difference in terms of the number of deaths if you get jabbed early enough before you get infected."

Prolonged isolation will have mental health impact

People are wondering if they need to prepare suitcases for when they need to go into quarantine, or at least some kind of isolation.

If and when Hongkongers get out of the fifth wave, we will all need psychological help us understand what we've all gone through in the past three years.

Birthday Party Political Fallout

170 people from the party now have to undergo quarantine

The 170 guests who attended Witman Hung Wai-man' s 53rd birthday party in a Spanish restaurant in Wan Chai are all considered close contacts and must undergo up to 21 days in quarantine at Penny's Bay after a second preliminary positive case was identified.

This celebration has now evolved into a public health scandal with political fallout too.

Immigration chief Au must go to Penny's Bay

Not only was Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui Ying-wai there, but also Director of Immigration Au Ka-wang, police chief Raymond Siu Chak-yee, ICAC commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu, and lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu -- known for his combative and at times misogynist comments.

Needless to say many Hongkongers were giddy with glee to see these top officials sent to Penny's Bay, a bare bones quarantine centre on Lantau that has barely any wifi, lukewarm food and no air conditioning or heating.

One person on Twitter sarcastically remarked that the after party was now at Penny's Bay.

On Friday, immigration chief Au issued an apology over his conduct.

"Regarding the additional burden to the epidemic prevention work and the disturbance to the public as a result of my personal behaviour, I offer my sincere apology to all people of Hong Kong. I have reflected on this incident and shall be more vigilant in the future," he said.

But the fallout is not over.

The 13 officials who will be sent to quarantine have been temporarily relieved of their duties because they will be investigated, and that their subordinates will take over. 

Police chief Siu also attended Hung's party

This means the deputies from police, the ICAC, and Immigration departments will be acting chiefs, while Secretary of the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen will take on the additional role of Home Affairs, and Secretary for Commerce Edward Yau Tang-wah will also head the finance and treasury department.

It seems Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is using this opportunity to assert her power and possibly kick out the incumbent ministers, even though they were handpicked by Beijing. One wonders if this is another sign of Lam gunning for a second term...

Top Official Sent to Quarantine After Birthday Party

Hung (left) sings at his own birthday with over 100 guests

Just as Hongkongers were dreading today would be the last day to have dinner in a restaurant before more severe social-distancing measures would be imposed tomorrow, there was news that 10 government officials attended a birthday party where a person was infected with the Omicron virus.

Over 100 people were at a party hosted by Witman Hung Wai-man, principal liaison officer for Hong Kong and the Shenzhen Qianhai Authority. Secretary for Home Affairs Caspar Tsui Ying-wai was among one of the guests and will be sent to quarantine at Penny's Bay along with Allen Fung, political assistant for Hong Kong Secretary for Development.

Lam disappointed at Tsui for attending the party

Pictures of the party at a Spanish restaurant in Wan Chai show attendees not wearing masks, and Hung holding a microphone and belting out a tune while putting his arm around a maskless woman.

At a press conference this afternoon, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor expressed her dismay at Tsui and the other officials for not following the advice of their health colleagues warning people to limit their gatherings, though she was quick to add some of the officials may have just gone to the party to pass on their greetings and then leave soon afterwards before the infected person arrived at 9.30pm.

"I am very disappointed, because this anti-pandemic work has persisted for so long, so many of us have been working so hard to fight against the pandemic, so as principal officials of the administration, we should lead by example and refrain from taking part in private events," Lam said, adding, "this is clearly a private event, and not a function required by public duty."

Tsui apologised and will be sent to quarantine

Reporters pointed out a day earlier Lam was looking into making Cathay Pacific legally responsible for its crews for spreading the Omicron variant in the community, and asked if she would bear the responsibility for her ministers for attending this party. Lam replied:

"A leader has the responsibility to lead, and should be accountable even if they are not aware of the event. However, this system of accountability does not mean that I am responsible for personal decisions a colleague of mine took."

So if taken in that context, does that mean she won't be punishing Cathay further?

Less than two hours later Tsui took to Facebook and apologised to the central government, the chief executive, the governing team, his bureau colleagues, and Hongkongers for "failing to hold fast to his position at a critical time", adding he would "reflect sincerely and deeply" during quarantine. His profile picture was changed to a black circle.

Meanwhile Lam said the government offices at Tamar would be disinfected and cleaned overnight.

Hung's birthday party invite

This fiasco is exactly the kind of thing Lam does not need right now, but how would Tsui have known an infected person was coming to the party? Nevertheless, it's about setting a good example, and Tsui may not last much longer in this administration.

Perhaps one good thing to come out of this would be for Tsui to experience first hand what it's like to quarantine in Penny's Bay and understand the hardships involved. 

Maybe then some changes will be made to the facilities there? Or are we being too hopeful?

Taking Election Benefit of Free Rides

Carrie Lam cast her vote this morning to kick off elections

The polling stations closed over an hour ago in the first revamped Legislative Council election and as of 9.30pm there were 29.28 percent of eligible voters who cast their ballots,  the lowest ever turnout for an election since 1997. The lowest was in 2000 at 43.57 percent.

Hmmm we wonder why.

Only some of the dim sum we ordered

There may be table banging in the Liaison Office in Western District tonight, wondering which bright person came up with the idea of giving all Hongkongers free rides on public transport (except ferries and buses going to the airport), as places like Disneyland and Ocean Park were packed with people.

The MTR constantly sent messages to subscribers, telling them taking the subway was free all day and there was no need to use the Octopus card, while buses had passengers use their card to count the number of people (presumably to bill the government later).

My friend and I took advantage of the free fares by going from Wan Chai to Hung Hom to go to Sheung Shui, where we went to get some dim sum (we were too hungry and over ordered).

Lining up for First Class - and we got a seat!

Then we got back on the train -- first class -- to Tai Wai, where we changed trains to go all the way on the newest line to Wu Kai Sha. Then we immediately went across the platform and too the opposite train back all 28 stops to Tuen Mun. 

From there we got out and took the light rail to Tuen Mun City Centre and got on the bus (that was just boarding) to go to Tung Chung and then ended up at City Gate to split a peanut butter and chocolate Cinnabon washed down with lemonade soda before taking the train back home.

The Tung Chung station was packed with people -- staff had tried to slow down the number of people going down to the platform, which was hard to do and they seemed to give up.

Phew! What a ride! By the time we took the train back to Hong Kong island at 5pm it was packed with people.

Rewarded ourselves with a Cinnabon

My whole transit fare would have cost HK$101 (US$13). I thought it would be more, but it was a good six hours well spent (and fed).

What we'd really like to know is how big the bill is for all the free public transit, sending out text messages urging people to vote, all the banners placed all over the city advertising the election, and for all 40,000 polling staff, and 10,000 police.

Was it really worth it?

New Harbour Views from Fortress Hill

Another new spot to take fantastic panoramic shots of the city

 

Hong Kong Island's harbour front is slowly opening up more for pedestrians to enjoy the view and new public spaces. The latest one to just open is the East Coast Park Precinct in Fortress Hill.

I checked it out tonight the day after the official opening and luckily there weren't too many people. Some of the fixtures like reclining seats look similar to the ones by the Wan Chai promenade, while the area with benches look like the ones found in Kennedy Town.

Do we really need this redundant sign here?

You can walk right up to where a giant "swirl" is, an air purifier and take some great photos looking towards Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Central. This place will probably become the next "Instagram Pier" even though it's hardly a pier.

It will also be a very good spot to catch the fireworks -- if Hong Kong ever has them again.

There are also mini slides for young children to play on and spaces for dogs to roam around too. 

One complaint is the gaudy "Victoria Harbour" sign that lights up the area. Really? Do we really need to put that there? It seems whoever approved the place was worried there was too much empty space.

But that's what public spaces are for, for people to decide what they want to do with it in the time that they are there. Maybe they can have a picnic or children can have more space to run around, play games, or draw chalk drawings.

The other thing the government and designers didn't think through properly was the name of the place. Type it into Facebook or Instagram and you get "East Coast Park, Singapore", a well known spot in the Lion City that is a park and beach, as well as recreation area in the southeastern coast of the city.

From the entrance of the park looking west

So it seems in Hong Kong, they added the word "Precinct" to make it different, but when it's not located on social media sites, East Coast Park Precinct won't get the buzz it needs to make people more aware of the place.

For those interested in finding it, from Fortress Hill MTR, walk along Oil Street and Electric Road, and then walk down Watson Road.

Picture of the day: Full Mid-Autumn Moon

The moon last night near the Wan Chai Ferry

 

The weather is finally starting to cool down, though it's becoming more like Singapore's in that there are intermittent showers for 20 minutes and then it's sunny again.

Mid-Autumn was a protracted one this year -- I started receiving mooncakes back in July as hospitality businesses hoped to make up for some losses by selling earlier. Some restaurants and hotels reported very good sales this year, even though a few raised prices, or customers wanted the most expensive hamper sets to give away as corporate gifts.

This picture on the Wan Chai harbourfront near the ferry pier was taken last night and I saw the moon tonight and it was a bit rounder and brighter (I was out for dinner so I didn't have a chance to admire the moon until afterwards).

In general everyone seems to be happier to celebrate the festival with loved ones, as last year the pandemic restricted numbers in restaurants, or people were not in the mood to go out.

Here's hoping Hong Kong can ride this pandemic out a bit longer, but also keeping in mind borders need to be lifted in order for the economy to get better. There is only so much companies can do to rely on local consumption.

中秋节快乐！

Happy Mid Autumn!

Senior Police Officer Caught in Scandal is Reassigned

Choi will start overseeing human resources and discipline

 

Remember the Hong Kong police's national security director who was caught in an unlicensed massage parlour during a sting operation?

While Frederic Choi Chin-pang was cleared of any illegal misconduct, he has been removed from his post and assigned another one -- director of personnel and training in charge of the force's human resources, discipline and training.

Many officers were outraged when they heard the announcement today, saying Choi, 50, hadn't been punished at all, basically retaining the same rank, and that the transfer was "a fatal blow to the force's integrity".

Choi was No. 2 in force's national security

"Although it was lawful to visit an unlicensed massage parlour, as a senior police officer like him who heads a sensitive key post, his behaviour left an awful impression on society, whereas members of the public and even the force's own members question his integrity," a senior officer said on condition of anonymity.

"And now he will oversee the force's training and discipline? What shall he tell those who are accused of misconduct or those new recruits who are being trained in police college? It's a fatal blow to the force's integrity management."

Another insider said: "Choi should be whiter than white. Officers can use Choi as an example and find excuses for their alleged misconduct. He should at least be put on leave until the disciplinary hearing is over."

Choi was the No. 2 officer at the national security department of the police when he was caught during a raid on the Viet Spa in Wan Chai where illegal sex services were being offered. He was put on leave in March, but according to Commissioner of Police Raymond Siu Chak-yee, Choi still faced a disciplinary hearing, but would begin at his new post in the coming week.

Siu says Choi was cleared of criminal charges

The Department of Justice completed its review of the case last week and cleared Choi of any criminal charges. 

When asked whether Choi was fit for his new role, Siu replied," As we have confirmed no crime elements were involved in the incident, and as Choi has served the force for more than 25 years, we are confident in his work capability."

No one else in the force is just as capable, if not more?

During the raid, six women with Hong Kong identity cards were arrested on suspicion of running a vice establishment, while four people were later charged with the crime. In June a man accused of operating the spa appeared at Eastern Court, along with three women. They were charged with six offences, including four related to offering sex in an establishment.

In Hong Kong it is an offence to run an unlicensed massage establishment, with offenders facing up to six months' imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,440). Buying sexual services at such premises is not illegal.

Viet Spa was raided here in Wan Chai

If that is the case then Choi is cleared, but the optics of him being reassigned to another post are not good, and it seems like the force is divided on this issue.

The integrity of the force was already on shaky ground, and this just adds more to cracks...

Agnes Chow Released from Prison

Former Demosisto Agnes Chow released from prison today

A bit of good news this morning -- Agnes Chow Ting was released from prison after serving almost seven months for her role in a 15-hours siege of the Wan Chai police headquarters on June 21, 2019 during the anti-government protests.

At around 10am the 24-year-old emerged from Tai Lam Centre for Women in Tuen Mun and was mobbed by almost 100 reporters while a small group of supporters shouted, "Chow Ting add oil!" before getting into a white van.

There was a media frenzy of about 100 reporters 

Reporters noted Chow was much thinner than before and she admitted so in her Instagram post a few hours later.

"The pain that lasted for six months and 20 days has come to an end. What comes next is some good rest and recovery for the body. That's because my body has become really weak and slim during this period of time," she said, adding her comment should be read with a bitter smile.

She was originally jailed last December for 10 months for illegal assembly over the siege of the Wan Chai police headquarters on June 21, 2019. Her early release was due to her good behaviour. She was initially sent to Lo Wu Correctional Institution, but was later transferred to an isolation cell at the Tai Lam facility.

Chow pleaded guilty to charges of incitement and taking part in an unauthorized assembly. Her colleagues, Joshua Wong Chi-fung, 24, and Ivan Lam Long-yin, 26, were also imprisoned over the gathering. 

Chow, Lam, Wong convicted of illegal assembly

The only one among the trio without a previous criminal record, Chow burst into tears in the dock on learning the community service order her lawyers were seeking had been rejected. She has been in custody since entering her guilty plea on November 23.

However Chow is not completely free -- she was also charged under the national security law for colluding with foreign forces on the same day Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying was arrested for colluding with foreign forces by calling for sanctions.

So far the police have granted Chow bail and not yet charged her, they still have her passport.

Meanwhile this evening part of the city was crawling with police, with the second anniversary of June 12, 2019, when protesters surrounded the Legislative Council in a bid to prevent the second reading of the now withdrawn extradition bill.  

Protesters at Wan Chai police station June 21, 2019

At least 2,000 officers were on the streets, at one point blocking the Cross Harbour Tunnel to check cars heading to Hong Kong island, and and some even entered two shopping malls, one in Mongkok, the other in Causeway Bay.

Anniversaries will not be forgotten but at the same time the police show up in force creating more tension... never ending...

 

Walking on the Colourful Side

Colourful ribbons shimmering in the wind

My walk along the harbourfront has become more interesting.

Today we saw a lot of new additions, some of which make us question where our taxpayer dollars are going.

Near the PLA dock in Central is a cordoned off space called Design District HK and there is a giant undulating net tied with 18,000 colourful ribbons. It looks like a rainbow-coloured rectangular carpet waving in the breeze.

Swings anchored to the ground

It happened to be the first day today of the event, and we had to use our LeaveHomeSafe app and take our temperature before going into the space free of charge. Inside there are a number of large green (fake grass) circles on the ground, presumably for social distancing.

It was nice to lie under this art installation called River of Light by artist Patrick Shearn, but after a few minutes of admiring it and taking pictures, then what? We walked back to the entrance nearby and they politely told us we had to walk to the far end of the grounds to exit. 

With no signage saying so it was annoying to have to walk all the way to the end.

Nevertheless we continued on our way eastward and saw the water barriers were removed just past the Wan Chai Star Ferry pier. The area near the pier is covered in fake pink roses, and it's pathetic to see this cheesy floral theme is still used and now with some seating in pink complete with flamingos, or decorated with more fake flowers.

In the distance we saw some rubber tire swings (with fake pink grass) seating and thought we could have some fun on it. But when we sat on them, they didn't move! The rubber tire swings were anchored at the bottom with chains.

Why? WHY?

The letters "V" and "H" for Victoria Harbour

Why can't we swing on these swings?! The authorities are probably terrified someone is going to get hurt.

That was really infuriating.

And to complete the area, there was a "V" and "H" to denote "Victoria Harbour" that people could pose with. Whoohoo.

When we finally arrived at the Wan Chai Harbourfront Promenade, there were what looked like giant bendy straws at the end. When we went around them, they made different percussion sounds like synthesizer bells or xylophone which was interesting. 

It's called Sky Castle designed by Australian multimedia design studio Eness in collaboration with Hattrick Creative.  

So we ran around and around these giant archways where senors triggered them to release sounds and would probably make more "music" if more people went around them.

Giant tubes that make sounds! Great for kids

Perhaps the Hong Kong government realizes people need some things to keep them occupied, and this public art will get them out and about discovering the harbourfront. It also helps that there are giant green arrows on the ground pointing to where people should go...

However at the same time each of the sections have wildly different design elements that aren't very consistent or cohesive. It seems no thought was put to having a consistent theme and each section was determined by a singular group or individual. 

This does not work well. The High Line in New York works so well because the overall look is very consistent, even though the plantings may be different. The benches are quite similar or site specific, but still keep with the same kind of minimalist design. 

Instead on the Hong Kong waterfront it's a hodgepodge of different things for different people, which is understandable to a degree, but they vary so much in terms of their overall look that it's hard to believe they are all connected by one path.

But really, can something be done about those swings?

PIcture of the Day: Wan Chai Waterfront Promenade

A giant "frame" that acts as a shelter and seating area

 

Aside from the Hong Kong government dismantling the city's institutions, most recently the electoral system, the city is actually trying to make its waterfront more accessible and look better, and yesterday I saw its latest effort.

A neon sign that doubles as a park bench

Past the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre going east towards the Wan Chai Star Ferry is a new addition called the "Wan Chai Temporary Promenade". Hope it isn't going to be temporary because it's a good mix of seating and shade, as well as a homage to the area.

There are some mini seating areas with neon signs that say, "Ship Street", "Stone Nullah Lane" and "Johnston Road" in Chinese and English. 

Further along there are larger "patio" kind of spaces that offer shade and seating. They look like giant frames which gives opportunities for photos. 

While the area is only about 150 to 200 metres long, it's a nice place to stop and rest or hang out with friends.

A nice public space created with shelter

I saw it again this evening and it's fun to see the neon signs lit up -- another reason to visit at night.