Jimmy Lai and 7 Others Jailed for Banned Tiananmen Vigil

The unauthorised gathering on June 4, 2020 in Victoria Park

Today Apple Daily founder and chairman Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and seven others were sentenced from 4.5 months to 14 months for their roles in last year's banned Tiananmen candlelight vigil.

District Judge Amanda Woodcock called for stiff sentences as the defendants defied a police ban and the law, and did not seem to care about the pandemic when gathering for an unauthorised assembly.

People were told to commemorate their own way

She also dismissed suggestions the strict social-distancing measures were tools of political repression meant to prevent people from gathering, saying they were in place to protect the community.

"So to defy and incite others to defy those restrictions under these circumstances is serious," Woodcock said. "The defendants wrongly and arrogantly believed their right to commemorate was more important than a serious health risk."

The Judge said instead of gathering in football pitches, the organisers should have held an interactive online vigil.

Lai was handed a 13-month sentence, which will run concurrently with a 20-month sentence he is currently serving for three other unauthorised assemblies.

Lai (left) at the unauthorised assembly

Barrister Chow Hang-tung, formerly a vice-chairwoman of the alliance, was jailed for a year after she was found guilty of incitement and participation, while activist Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam received six months after being convicted of the latter charge in the same trial.

Lee Cheuk-yan, the alliance's ex-chairman, who is already serving a 20-month sentence for unauthorised assemblies, was handed a 14-month sentence to be served concurrently.

Other committee members of the alliance -- Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, Leung Yiu-chung, and Simon Leung Kam-wai were jailed for between nine and 12 months for incitement and participation.

Ex-chairman of the Democratic Party and former lawmaker Wu Chi-wai, who is serving a 10-month sentence over another unauthorised assembly and is also being remanded on a national security law case, saw his prison term extended by four months and two weeks for participation.

The seven were the last group of a total of 24 opposition activists and former politicians arraigned over the annual commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown that was banned after 30 years, citing pandemic social-distancing measures.

Chow was jailed for 12 months today

During his mitigation, Lai's defense counsel, Robert Pang Yiu-hung SC read out his client's handwritten letter. It said in whole:

"I did not join the June 4th vigil in Victoria Park. I lit a candle light in front of reporters to remind the world to remember and commemorate those young men and women, who 31 years ago in Tiananmen Square, put truth, just and goodness above their lives and died for them.

If commemorate those who died because of injustice is a crime, then inflict on me that crime and let me stuffer the punishment of the crime, so I may share the burden and glory of those young men and women who shed their blood on June 4th to proclaim truth, justice and goodness.

Lord, remember those who shed their blood, but do not remember their cruelty. Remember the fruits of those young men and women have borne, because of what they did. And grant, Lord, that the fruits of these young men and women have borne may be their redemption. May the power of love of the meek prevail over the power of destruction of the strong."

Lai's handwritten statement

Meanwhile Chow, who had discharged her defence team, read out her own statement for the record.

"Let us not delude ourselves that this is all about Covid-19," Chow said from the dock. "While the court sees fit to take judicial notice of the situation of a health crisis, it acts as if the parallel political crisis does not exist... It refuses to see the wider context under which this case happened, in the name of focusing only on relevant and admissible evidence.

"In closing its eyes to the obvious, the court risks making itself irrelevant to the ailments of our times," she continued. "In purporting to maintain political neutrality, the court is in effect affirming the unequal power wielded by the government in instituting political charges against its opponents, emboldening the authorities to take ever more restrictive action that squeezes out the rights of the citizens.

"The sentence on me, however legally sound, will be seen by Hongkongers and the world as a sentence on every Hongkonger in Victoria Park on June 4, 2020."

Vaccinations with Some Benefits

Perhaps more people will get the jab with shorter quarantines?

Many things happened today. Here is a quick summary:

Former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai was granted urgent bail on Friday morning to attend his father's funeral, but was a no-show tonight at the memorial service at the funeral hall in Diamond Hill.

It is believed he will be attending the funeral ceremony tomorrow at an undisclosed location and time.

Wu smiled when his bail application was approved.

An entire block in Quarry Bay was quarantined

"Thank you, everyone", he said, to shouts of encouragement from supporters as he was escorted out of the dock by officers. 

On the Covid-19 front, the government has finally realized it needs to create incentives for people to get vaccinated. It has relented to allow those who are fully vaccinated (plus 14 days) and are close contacts of someone infected with a mutated virus can now just do two weeks in the camp, and another seven days at home.

If someone is fully vaccinated and is a close contact of someone infected with a non-mutant strain will stay in the camp for only seven days instead of 14 days.

It's a bit of an improvement.

There are three residential buildings in Quarry Bay, Pokfulam and Tsuen Wan currently under mandatory quarantine because each one was found to have someone with a mutant virus. Originally every single resident in those affected buildings had to be sent to quarantine, but after a massive uproar that included two online petitions to Secretary of Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee, the government backtracked.

In Tsuen Wan people were escorted to quarantine

Now only close contacts to the infected person must undergo quarantine, as long as the others not deemed close contacts have tested negative four times during a self-monitoring period.

Meanwhile for those coming into Hong Kong and have been double vaccinated, there is a bit of hope in terms of shorter hotel quarantines -- but it depends on where they are coming from.

People with two does of vaccines coming in from low-risk countries, such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore will just have to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days instead of 21, but they must have Covid-19 tests on two separate days afterwards.

For medium-risk countries, such as Canada, Belgium, Egypt, Germany, Romania, Russia, Switzerland and the United States, fully vaccinated people can have a 14-day stay in hotel quarantine, otherwise it's the full 21 days.

However for extremely high-risk places like Brazil, India, Nepal, the Philippines and South Africa, the 21-day hotel quarantine is a must for them. 

Currently almost 14 percent of Hong Kong's population has had at least one jab, but only over 8 percent are fully vaccinated. 

Some coming to HK can shorten quarantine stays

Will this latest news help boost the city's vaccination drive? We hope so. Who wants to be stuck in a government quarantine camp with crappy food, spotty wifi and uncomfortable beds for 21 days, let alone 14 days?

I managed to persuade a relative to get his jab which he did over a week ago, and he in turn persuaded some colleagues to do the same.

However, after news broke about the mutated virus in Hong Kong, the Health Commission of Guangdong Province ruled yesterday with immediate effect that Hong Kong residents must spend 14 days in hotel quarantine, and another seven days confined in their homes or other forms of accommodation.

In effect, it's 21 days in quarantine.

This latest development has dashed hopes that the border between Hong Kong and Guangdong will be lifted anytime soon.

"It is unimaginable when the border will be restored," said Danny Lau Tat-pong, honorary chairman of the Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises, 1,700-member chamber.

"Business owners and operators including myself have waited for more than a year and are still waiting."

HK travelers to Shenzhen now 21-day quarantine

Lau said cross-border businesses have been significantly disrupted, forcing Hong Kong operators to either be stuck in the mainland and not be reunited with their families, or they are forced to manage their factories remotely, and business meetings with clients can only be contacted online.

He has not been able to visit his factory in Dalang, which produces aluminum curtain walls, since January last year.

Chinese Manufacturers' Association honorary president Dennis Ng Wang-pun urged mainland authorities to relax the 21-day quarantine requirement for Hongkongers who have been inoculated.

"Businesses cannot operate remotely forever, we still have to meet clients and visit factories in person," he said.

"The border reopening will be crucial to Hong Kong's economic recovery, and will directly throw a lifeline to tourism, retail and food and beverage sectors."

Given that China's own vaccination rates are low, surely it should give Hongkongers -- aren't they Chinese too? -- a break.

Perhaps this is something Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor should be lobbying the Guangdong authorities? Or is she too busy telling people to go to Hainan Island instead?

Repression of Defendants Continues

The Democratic Party's Wu Chi-wai during the 2019 protests

When it comes to breaching the national security law, or perhaps any law in Hong Kong these days, there is no mercy.

Former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai has been remanded in custody since January pending trials but has yet to be convicted of any offenses. He is facing one count of conspiracy to subvert state power under the security law for his role in an unofficial primary election last July.

Wu is also facing criminal charges in two other cases, one of which is for unauthorized assembly on July 1, 2019, when there were mass protests against the now-abandoned extradition bill; it was the day that protesters stormed the Legislative Council.

Wu is not allowed to attend his father's funeral

He was originally granted bail, but was brought back to court in connection with that case after police discovered he had breached his bail conditions by failing to hand over his British National (Overseas) passport. His bail was revoked at West Kowloon Court.

And then late last month his 92-year-old father passed away while Wu was in jail, and the Correction Services Department is refusing to allow him to attend the funeral on Friday evening; the venue and time have been made public and there have been calls online to show up in support of the 58-year-old Wu. 

The department is concerned he could be a flight risk, or if lots of people show up it could affect security at the event, and that it had a duty to protect its staff and Wu.

While the Correctional Services Department has offered to let Wu watch the ceremony via a live video link, he has refused the arrangement, and so has his family.

Many are calling the prison authorities "inhumane" in their treatment of Wu.

Lawyers for Wu have filed an urgent bail application in a last ditch attempt to get him to attend his father's funeral.

People showed up last June 4 in illegal assembly

They had hoped the application would be heard on Thursday afternoon by Court of First Instance judge Esther Toh Lye-ping, but it was scheduled for Friday morning after the Department of Justice demanded more time to prepare for the case.

The application to be heard on Friday is likely to involve arguments on whether an accused person under the national security law can be granted bail under such a rare circumstance.

Meanwhile four activists were sentenced to between four and 10 months in jail today.

Officially it is for an illegal assembly, but in reality it is for lighting up candles in Victoria Park to remember the victims of the June 4 Tiananmen Square massacre.

Joshua Wong Chi-fung got 10 months, Lester Shum six months, and Tiffany Yuen Ka-wai, and Jannelle Rosalynne Leung each four months.

While they all pleaded guilty, District Court judge Stanley Chan said there was a potential for violence that night.

Wong (centre) handed a 10-month sentence

"With the 2019 unrest still lingering, the gathering of some 20,000 participants on a special night like June 4 meant emotions could run high, and unruly elements could take advantage of the situation and incite violence," Chan said.

Twenty-two other activists have also been charged over last year's vigil, including Nathan Law Kwun-chung and Sunny Cheung, both of whom have fled Hong Kong.

Wong will serve this sentence after he has finished serving his four-month sentence for taking part in an unauthorized assembly on October 5, 2019.

It seems the authorities are finding any way they can to charge and convict young people to keep them in jail... forever.

 

Hong Kong's White Terror

These people ran in the primaries; most were charged today

 

On February 28, 1947, an anti-government uprising in Taiwan was violently quashed by the ruling Kuomintang. There are no definitive reports on how many were killed, ranging from 5,000 to 28,000. It was the start of the White Terror, where thousands of other Taiwanese went missing, died or were imprisoned.

Benny Tai speaks to media outside police station

On February 28, 2021, Beijing via the Hong Kong government charged 47 people with "conspiracy to commit subversion", which violates the national security law.

These people, pro-democracy activists, former lawmakers and district councillors were among the 55 arrested back in early January for organizing the unofficial primaries in its camp to see who would have the highest chance of winning in the Legislative Council elections that were scheduled to be held last September, but the government postponed them because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It was hoped that with more pro-democrats in the Legislative Council, they would have the opportunity to veto the budget and force Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to resign -- this is in the Basic Law -- and also to influence the composition of the 1,2000-member election committee that chooses the next chief executive.

Last year's primaries drew over 600,000 voters

Many well-known people are now charged under the national security law, including former lawmaker Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, scholar Benny Tai Yiu-ting, former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai, Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu, and district councillors Lester Shum and Fergus Leung Fong-wai. Activist Joshua Wong Chi-fung and People Power's Tam Tak-chi are also included, though they are already in jail serving time for other sentences.

That primaries vote? Organizer Tai was hoping for 200,000 Hong Kong residents to cast their ballots -- more than three times that amount turned out.

These 47 will face their charge in court tomorrow, but the chances of them getting bail are very very slim; they will probably be remanded into custody until their trials come up.

Basically the government has jailed the political opposition even though they already quit in November.

Clancey was arrested in January, not charged today

American-born lawyer John Clancey, 79, was originally arrested in January and was not charged today but he isn't giving up the fight.

"Most people are ready to sacrifice when they see someone in need," Clancey said outside the police station before his bail appointment. "I think we must maintain the positive view the Hong Kong people have had for so many years of being able to build a better society based on human rights and working for democracy."

Some of those charged were ordered a few days ago to report to the police today, and many said farewell to friends, some posted online they believed they did nothing wrong, nor did they regret their actions, and some bought prison necessities, including sneakers without laces.

Chow had his tattoo done ahead of court hearing

Activist Owen Chow Ka-shing who was charged today seems mentally prepared for the road ahead. On social media he posted a photo of a Buddhist chant newly tattooed on his right arm.

"It looks like the suffering will continue indefinitely," he wrote. "What we need is not imagination about suffering but hope and determination beyond suffering."

Police Chief Defends Low NSL Prosecution Rate

Tang says of 97 national security law arrests, 8 are prosecuted

Hong Kong's police chief held a press conference today and noted that of the 97 people arrested on charges violating the national security law, eight have been prosecuted. 

Commissioner of Police Chris Tang Ping-keung said it took time to gather enough evidence to prosecute. The eight include Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who was charged with fraud and colluding with foreign forces.

Most high profile NSL case is that of Jimmy Lai

"The law was only enacted around seven months ago," Tang said. "It is still very early to say the prosecution rate is low. There are a lot of cases that are still under active investigation."

The force's National Security Department has also frozen HK$65 million (US$8.38 million) in assets since the national security law was enacted last July.

Last month the force arrested 55 people in connection with the primaries that was held over two days in July. It was the biggest crackdown on pro-democracy activists and politicians. All of them except former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai were released on bail without prosecution. They accused the police of using the law to spread "white terror" and suppress the opposition.

Tang disagreed, saying his officers acted on evidence in accordance with the law.

"This term has been abused by a lot of people when they were arrested. They made excuses by saying that this is white terror. As a matter of fact, we [acted] on evidence and on law to make arrests," Tang said. "People try to make this excuse to make themselves feel better, or maybe to try to get away with their criminal liabilities, or to fool the public."

Benny Tai was arrested for his role in primaries

Meanwhile it was reported that the national security hotline has received some 40,000 messages, though there was no elaboration on how many arrests were made as a result of the tip line.

The police commissioner also said the force had invested a lot of resources in a bid to improve its relationship with the public, saying the police had been a victim of constant smearing through the spread of fake news.

Wonder which playbook Tang got that idea from...

While he stressed the force attaches the utmost importance in the behaviour of its officers, 45 of them were arrested last year for various offences, up from 24 in 2019.

More Arrests Stir More Defiance Than Fear

Leung, Wu, Chu and Chan and four other arrested this morning

The authorities haven't just implemented the national security law to deter residents from secession, sedition, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, but it is also enforcing the new law that was implemented on July 1.

This morning eight opposition activists were charged with illegal assembly on July 1, the first large protest after the law was enacted.

Hundreds came out for illegal July 1 rally

Former legislators Eddie Chu Hoi-dick, Wu Chi-wai, "Long Hair" Leung Kwok-hung, and five others were arrested early this morning at their homes, including Figo Chan Ho-wun, convenor of the Civil Human Rights Front, on suspicion of violating the Public Order Ordinance.

A few hours later they were released on bail, and the activists vowed to remain defiant despite the crackdown, accusing police of retaliating against them for sanctions levelled by the United States against 14 top officials in China's legislature the night before.

July 1 is usually the annual mass march to mark the anniversary of the handover, but because of the new national security law, the police had refused permission to hold the rally. Nevertheless large crowds still gathered in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, and police fired tear gas and pepper balls to disperse the crowds. Now these eight are being held responsible for the illegal rally.

Graduation ceremonies at Chinese University

The arrests this morning come a day after the police national security unit arrested three students over a politically-charged demonstration at Chinese University last month. During graduation ceremonies, some students chanted separatist slogans and carried black balloons, much to the horror of Beijing's liaison office. 

The office said the protesters had pushed for the city's independence, which contravened the national security law. 

As if that wasn't enough drama for today, two people connected to a church that helped mediate between the protesters and the police during last year's protests were arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering.

A former director and an employee of The Good Neighbourhood North District Church were taken into police custody, while the current director and secretary of the church, both of whom left Hong Kong in October, are also wanted by the authorities. 

The church had allegedly raised HK$27 million

Detectives allege that the church raised HK$27 million through several crowd-funding drives between June last year and September this year, but publicly stated they only raised one-third of the amount.

The police said the church's five accounts which total HK$25 million have been frozen as part of the investigation. Some of those accounts belong to Pastor Roy Chan Hoi-ting and his wife, who are currently on sabbatical in Britain, and now they have no access to the money for them and their five children.

"This is no doubt an act of political retaliation," the church said in a statement, condemning HSBC. "The purge has never ceased, just like the asset-freezing case of the self-exiled [former] Democrat, Ted Hui and his family. Such [an] incident has severely eradicated dissent in Hong Kong, suppressing freedom among religions and community service workers." 

Pastor Roy Chan volunteered during protests

The issue of freezing people's bank accounts without prior notice has worried many in Hong Kong to transfer more money abroad than before, though Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said today, "Hong Kong's monetary and financial systems are as robust as ever".

Sure thing, Carrie.

Seven Lawmakers Arrested For Legco Disruption

Legco descended into chaos on May 8, seven arrested today

 

Seven pan-democratic lawmakers were arrested this morning and charged with suspicion of contempt and interference with Legislative Council officers on May 8.

They are accused of disrupting Legco's House Committee meeting that day that descended into chaos. 

The House Committee is responsible for scrutinizing government bills before they are put to a vote in the legislature, and it had failed to elect a new chairman.

Opposition lawmaker Dennis Kwok Wing-hang was presiding over the meetings and was accused of deliberately delaying the election of a chair to block the passage of laws the opposition disagreed on, one of which was the national anthem bill.

Starry Lee was surrounded by guards

After two Beijing agencies publicly slammed Kwok for filibustering, the pro-establishment camp moved to take control of the committee.

Pro-establishment leader Starry Lee Wai-king, surrounded by Legco security guards, managed to occupy the chairman's seat and the guards (colluding with the pro-establishment camp), made it impossible for the pan-democrats to get close to her. At one point Eddie Chu Hoi-dick climbed the wall behind the podium to get closer to her.

Lee then took control of the committee and began clearing a backlog of bills to review, much to the surprise of pan-democrats, who accused her of abusing her power.

During the melee, pro-Beijing lawmaker Kwok Wai-keung dragged pan-democrat Raymond Chan Chi-chuen several metres on the floor by his shirt -- but Kwok was not arrested for this in this morning's police roundup.

Chan being dragged by Kwok in Legco

When reporters asked why Kwok Wai-keung was not arrested, the police replied they are seeking legal advice from the Department of Justice.

There are so many video clips showing Kwok Wai-keung physically harming Chan, and yet it is the victim who is arrested.

This afternoon the pan-democrats released a joint statement, strongly condemning the Hong Kong government for "arbitrary arrests and suppression of lawmakers and the people's rights of resistance".

"The Legco ordinance was originally intended to protect lawmakers. It is ridiculous that it is now being misused by the authoritarian government as a legal weapon of oppression... We demand the unconditional and immediate release of all democrats."

The pan-democrats held a press conference in the early evening. Democratic Party lawmaker Andrew Wan Siu-kin said it was absurd that officers had to search his home and take him away early this morning.

"The parties that showed the most contempt towards Legco were loyalists and the government," he said. "Many pro-establishment colleagues broke the law during the meeting... I was injured, police said they would investigate, but now I'm arrested -- the plaintiff has become the defendant."

However, Kwok Wai-keung, who dragged Chan on May 8, said police were only doing their job.

Chu (top right) tried to get closer to Lee

"The opposition camp thought that there would be no consequence to what they did. But the legislature was just too chaotic. Police needed to make things right," he said.

Those charged are Democratic Party lawmakers Wan, Wu Chi-wai, and Helena Wong Pik-wan; Labour Party chairman Kwok Wing-kin; lawmaker Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung; and former lawmakers Chu and Chan.

Chu and Chan have already stepped down and decided not to participate in the extended year in Legco.  

The arrests are another sign of Beijing and the government weaponizing the law to pick off its opposition and perhaps eventually eliminating all of them.

Maybe that would end the need for elections?!

Hong Kong's institutions are being dismantled during the pandemic, while democratic nations around the world are too busy fighting Covid-19.

Practically everyday a new development changes the city bit by bit. Soon it will be unrecognizable, even to us who live here.

Unprecedented Postponement of Policy Address

Lam announced her policy address will be made next month

Hongkongers were anxiously anticipating Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's annual policy address this Wednesday, to give the city an idea of what direction the government is going to take. It is more crucial now with Hong Kong having gone through the coronavirus pandemic since late January to know how the authorities will keep the economy going and support its residents.

However, on Sunday it was announced by state media that Chinese President Xi Jinping would visit Shenzhen to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the special economic zone. 

Xi to visit Shenzhen on Wednesday

This morning in a hastily arranged press conference, Lam said that the all important policy address would be postponed to November so that she could lead the Hong Kong delegation to the event. And besides, she still had to go to Beijing later this month to meet with senior Chinese officials, hinting perhaps there would be more support for Hong Kong's recovery.

Xi must have known Lam was scheduled to give the policy address on Wednesday, so it's interesting she is dropping everything to rush across the border to see her boss, even though Lam insists she doesn't even have a meeting planned with him.

Critics were quick to point out Lam probably didn't have a policy address planned, that she had to wait for further instructions from Beijing. Others scorned the perception that her going to Shenzhen was more important than giving the policy address, which has never been postponed before.

"Hong Kong people have expectations on the policy address because their lives have been difficult under the pandemic," says Wu Chi-wai, chairman of the Democratic Party.

Wu accuses Lam of not making HK a priority

"Lam is basically ignoring their woes and turning Hong Kong's policy address into a document approved by Beijing." 

But pro-establishment lawmaker Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan said it was more practical for Lam to discuss her plans with Beijing first.

"Without discussing the actual content with mainland ministries, the policy address will only be a wish list... After she visits the ministries, the measures can be implemented and the document will be turned into an action plan," he said.

However, she surely has been discussing her policy address ideas with the liaison office here... otherwise what is their reason for being in Hong Kong? Surely they can give an indication of what would and wouldn't work?

During today's press conference, Lam insisted the Hong Kong government was being proactive about proposing ideas to Beijing.  

Cheung says Lam needs Beijing's advice

"This is the gist of 'one country, two systems' -- that the central government is unswerving in caring about Hong Kong, and under the 'two systems', the chief executive puts forward proposals rather than just following Beijing's plans," she said.

Under British rule, the tradition of the governor delivering the policy address at the first meeting of a new Legislative Council session began in 1969. The convention continued after the 1997 handover of sovereignty to China, with the city's chief executive continuing the tradition.

In an unprecedented move last year, Lam delivered her policy address via a video message, after her speech in the Legco chamber was repeatedly interrupted by opposition lawmakers chanting slogans during the anti-government protests triggered by the since-withdrawn extradition bill.

Lam delivered last year's policy address by video

It is expected on Wednesday that Xi will deliver "a crucial speech" in which he is expected to stress China's commitment to reform and opening up. It is also expected he may give more clearer hints on Hong Kong's role in the economy in the Greater Bay Area.  

Nevertheless, Lam's unprecedented decision to postpone the policy address reveals more about her and her relationship to Beijing. Wonder if she will be rewarded for her loyalty...

Pan-Democrats Unite to Fight, while PLA Dock now Official

Pan-democrats have three less members, but ready to fight

 

As the Legislative Council elections in early September were postponed due to pandemic concerns (cough cough), the government somehow wrangled a way to extend the sitting of Legco for another year with Beijing's consent.

That left lawmakers, particular pan-democrats who had planned to leave and those who were going to stay to ponder if they still wanted to keep those positions or change their minds.

That's because Beijing's decision of extended the term goes against the Basic Law, and that the lawmakers' mandate was over when the term ended.

It was such a gut-wrenching decision for them to make that they commissioned a poll conducted by the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute and Chinese University's public opinion survey centre. 

Lam says the bloc has three priorities in Legco

The results were announced today in a press conference, but were hardly definitive. Of the 2,579 respondents, 47.1 percent said the lawmakers should stay, while 45.8 percent said they should leave, and 7 percent had a neutral position.

The "stay" camp didn't have a decisive majority, so the pan-democrats were back at square one to decide for themselves what to do.

Yesterday Raymond Chan Chi-chuen and Eddie Chu Hoi-dick announced they were leaving, and today Civic Party's Tanya Chan announced tearily that she would leave as well.

At the press conference, Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai said the bloc, including all seven incumbents from his party, had made "a very difficult political judgment" to serve out the extended term.

"We believe it is important for us to maintain the battlefront in Legco to fight the tyranny," said Wu, who is now convenor of the new bloc. "We will relentlessly block all evil government policies, in hope of slowing down the erosion of freedom in Hong Kong."

Fellow Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting said the 19 who decided to stay had established three priorities for the extended term: continue to pressure the administration over the plight of the 12 Hongkongers detained in Shenzhen; block amendments to Legco ordinances to investigate supporters of last year's anti-government protests; and to call for an early resumption of legislative elections.

Chan tearfully announced she would leave Legco

Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung of the Labour Party had earlier announced he would leave, but is now staying.  

Currently there are 65 lawmakers in Legco, 41 in the pro-establishment camp and previously 22 pan-democrats, now down to 19, and two independents.

So now what? Political scientist Ivan Choy Chi-keung of Chinese University believes the remaining pan-democrat lawmakers could become more radical in Legco.

"[Pan-democrats] might adopt a more confrontational approach towards the government in the council," he said. "They have to prove that they will not betray the democratic supporters."

They also need to be more coordinated in their efforts which means being united on every issue to have as much of a presence in Legco as possible; divisions within the camp will render them powerless, and so it won't be surprising if the pro-Beijing camp try to divide and conquer them.

Now that this quandary has been dealt with, can we talk about today's low-key announcement?

This is the blocked off PLA dock, an eyesore

At the Central harbourfront, in front of Tamar, is a 150-metre long thin sliver of land that is barricaded with an ugly fence while weeds have grown in the unkempt space.

Meanwhile people walking along the waterfront have to purposely go around it, and for years, activists have campaigned for the dock to be opened up most of the time for public use.

However, the cordoned off area is a military dock for the People's Liberation Army to use, and today it is officially theirs.

As of this morning at 7am it was declared a military restricted zone that will be managed and used by the PLA Hong Kong Garrison from now on.

Does this mean soldiers will be posted at this strip of land? Or will it continue to remain a locked-up eyesore?

These people are not wearing masks or distancing

In any event, during this morning's ceremony, 11 special guests stood shoulder to shoulder and were not wearing masks. They included Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and her deputy Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and liaison office director Luo Huining.

How is it that they can stand together and police aren't ticketing them for not social distancing or not wearing masks?

Seems like a two-tier system going on... 

Or should we wait what happens in the next two weeks?

HK Police's Absurdist Alternative Reality

How can the police say this was not an indiscriminate attack in Yuen Long?

This morning two Democratic Party lawmakers were arrested, Ted Hui Chi-fung, whose two private prosecutions were dismissed by Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng Yeuk-wah the other day, and Lam Cheuk-ting.

When Lam opened the door and saw a group of police officers there, he asked them what the charge was. They said it was for rioting during the July 21 Yuen Long attacks in the MTR station last year.

"Me? Taking part in a riot? The July 21 riot?" he said in apparent disbelief. "It's utter absurdity in Hong Kong. 

Lam Cheuk-ting after he was attacked on July 21 last year

"Corrupt police have become the authorities' tools to suppress dissidents, and now they even blur the lines of right and wrong, and maliciously accuse the victim as defendant," he said before the officers came in to search his flat.

Welcome to the new alternative reality, where the Hong Kong Police are now claiming they have to "restore the truth".

But the truth is that Lam did contact the police earlier that evening, saying there were people being beaten up in Yuen Long and for them to investigate. He even got a letter from the police commissioner dated August 3 that commends him for his response to the attacks.

"You've fulfilled your civic responsibility by reporting this serious crime to the police," said the letter.

Then why was he being arrested for rioting?

Lam himself was beaten up that day, sustaining a bone fracture in his right arm and needed 18 stitches near his mouth.

Ted Hui was arrested and handcuffed this morning

But this afternoon, New Territories (North) Senior Superintendent Chan Tin-chu claimed the public had relied on "lopsided, twisted, misleading and flawed" online footage to form an incorrect view of the incident.

Then he gave his alternative view of events to reporters, some of whom were there that night.

As for why 16 people were arrested today, Chan explained they did not need to be involved in committing any assault in order to be deemed to be "rioting"; they only need to be among three or more people whose conduct is either disorderly, threatening, abusive, or provocative in a manner likely to breach the peace.

What?

When it comes to the July 21 attacks in Yuen Long, people were coming home after protesting on Hong Kong Island. they were not "rioting".

And what about those white-shirted men, many of them with triad connections, who brandished rods and bamboo sticks and beat people with them?

Chan claims police were pushing white-shirted men away

Chan even had the gall to say the Yuen Long attack involved two evenly-matched parties with different views, denying it was an indiscriminate attack by those in white shirts who numbered around 100.

How can it be evenly matched? One group had weapons while the other only had umbrellas!

The absurdity would only continue.

In explaining the video clip of what looked like police patting the shoulder of white shirted men -- holding rods, that many saw as collusion between the white shirts and the police, Chan explained it was actually the police pushing them away.

"The act of pushing them was an order for them to leave. But it was distorted by ill-intended people who slandered the force as colluding with the triads."

Why weren't those people arrested for possession of a weapon?

Footage shows more of a pat than a push, and no arrest?

When reporters challenged Chan, asking why the police did not take down the personal details of the white-shirted men, he refused to answer the question and instead referred to the earlier demonstrations in Sheung Wan.

Gaslighting at its best.

Chan even changed the force's earlier admission that it took officers 39 minutes to arrive at the Yuen Long MTR station following emergency calls and claimed that the officers actually responded in 18 minutes. He said officers had called for reinforcements at 10.57pm and they arrived at 11.15pm.

What about explaining why the police didn't respond earlier?

Meanwhile former Stand News reporter, Gwyneth Ho Kwai-lam, who was one of the first on the scene and was attacked during the incident, said her hour-long live video captured the men in white shirts and passengers being attacked but there were no officers in sight.

Attacks continued in the train, terrorizing innocent victims

"Even if the police arrest all the victims of the July 21 incident, you can never rewrite history," she said. "That was an indiscriminate attack and I believe anyone who watched my video would come to that conclusion."

The pan-democrats held an angry press conference in response to Chan's alternative reality. The lawmakers were incredulous to the police's version of events and accused the force of whitewashing history, while calling the arrests of the victims of the attacks as an affront to people's conscience and common sense.

"They just issued a political statement: 'we are very correct. We are the law! If we think you are criminal, we will arrest you... We don't need any particularly good reasons at all. We just do what we need to do and we can say what we want to say because we are the law.' What sort of muddy, dire situation are you trying to land the whole Hong Kong into?" Council Front lawmaker Claudia Mo asked.

Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai condemned police for taking "revenge" and accused the government of crushing dissent instead of trying to heal the rifts in society.

"We can see they are utilizing all power and legal tools to turn black into white," Wu said. "The government is turning themselves into enemies of the people. It is just outrageous."

Pan-democrats are incredulous at police's version of events

Well yes, this contempt already began last year when Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor ignored the peaceful protests by 1 million, then 2 million people to rescind the extradition law.

And now any kind of dissent can be easily crushed thanks to the new national security law.

This has put pan-democratic lawmakers in a bind, wondering if they should even bother to try to hold the government accountable but then be accused of being disloyal to Hong Kong.

Labour Party lawmaker Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung said the government as effectively "declared war" on the people of Hong Kong, and communication may no longer be possible.

"I wanted to try my best to squeeze any room there is in this Legco to continue to help the needy. But I think it has gone far too much that I don't know how I can face this government, who would try to rewrite anything as they wish and completely subdue themselves under the command of the mainland officials," he said.

The pan-democrats have encouraged the public to wear black tomorrow as a sign of protest against "the police's lie". 

Never forget what you saw July 21 last year. No one has a right to change that reality.