HK Government's "White Terror" Aimed at Educators

Thousands showed up at Edinburgh Place to protest the Education Bureau

The Hong Kong government is now putting pressure on teachers and principals to get into line when it comes to the anti-government protests.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung told state media outlet the Shanghai Observer last Saturday that the government had the power to disqualify principals who were deemed unsuitable for their jobs. He also said principals should investigate teachers who are found to be using inappropriate teaching materials, to making hate-inciting or discriminatory remarks online.

Yeung says principals must ensure teachers are investigated

If the principals do not investigate these teachers, then the principals could be stripped of their positions and teachers' qualifications.

The Professional Teachers' Union, which represents 85 percent of teachers in the city, has traded barbs with the Education Bureau since December about how teachers have been treated in cases linked to anti-government protests.

In response to Yeung's latest announcement, the PTU says this amounts to "white terror", though Yeung denies this, saying principals should investigate based on facts.

A massive rally was held in Edinburgh Place in Central on Friday night, with thousands shouting slogans such as "Say no to white terror" and "Educators, unite as one".

One teacher who gave her name as Sugar at the rally said she was angry that many colleagues faced complaints and suspensions in recent months for expressing their personal views on social media.

Another secondary school teacher surnamed Yuen in his 40s has taught science for more than 20 years. He believed the Education Bureau was "threatening principals" when it said they could be removed from their positions if they didn't cooperate with investigations on teachers.

Protesters are angry at the bureau's "white terror" at educators

"When there were previous cases of principals abusing their power, the [bureau] had not said they would use their powers to suspend the principals. But now, when there were no such cases of principals not cooperating with the bureau's investigation, the bureau has mentioned that power," he said.

So far 80 teachers and teaching assistants have been arrested in connection with the protests, and the bureau has received 123 protest-related complaints against educators, with 13 confirmed as wrong-doing cases. Some complaints centered around online comments by teachers.

Meanwhile the union has accused the bureau of not giving teachers a chance to defend themselves against the charges before being notified that their cases have been substantiated.

Union president Fung Wai-wah has said the bureau was "spreading white terror" and the government was blaming teachers for encouraging students to go on the streets to protest.

However the bureau accused the union of loss of professionalism...

This threat by Yeung is unprecedented and it's the government's attempt to stop young people from going on the streets.

But what if the child's parents are the ones taking them to the protests? How is it the fault of the teachers?

Beijing has also hinted the need to revisit national education again, and for sure Hong Kong parents and educators will put up a fight on that front too...

Tone Deaf Landlord

Louis Vuitton behind this protest sign will be closing its shop in Times Square

Of all the luxury brands, looks like Louis Vuitton is cutting its losses first.

After seven months of protests in Hong Kong, the French name brand is closing one of its eight stores in the city.

Times Square's owner Wharf Reic refuses to lower rents

The world's top luxury name is pulling out of Times Square in Causeway Bay, after landlord Wharf Reic refused to lower the rent on its second-floor space. Louis Vuitton currently pays around HK$5 million (US$642,000) a month in rent.

According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board's latest figures, only 2.65 million people visited in November 2019, a decline of 56 percent from the same period last year.

Other brands like Moncler, Gucci and Salvatore Ferragamo have seen sales plunge as much as 45 percent in Hong Kong during the third quarter. LVMH reported a 25 percent decline for its Hong Kong sales in the same period.

The mainland customers who use to deluge luxury stores in Hong Kong daily are now staying at home to shop, with prices becoming more competitive in China. Previously luxury sales in Hong Kong were driven mainly by international travelers, with visitors from the mainland accounting up to 70 percent of luxury goods sales.

Hong Kong Land has offered concessions to tenants

While it's understandable Louis Vuitton wants to minimize its losses, landlord Wharf Reic is hardly being sympathetic to the situation. Meanwhile Swire Properties that owns Pacific Place in Admiralty, and Hong Kong Land, with The Landmark in Central have offered a series of measures to tenants, including rent concessions.

Is this wishful thinking on Wharf Reic's part in expecting the protests to end soon? Or is the developer completely tone deaf to what has been happening for the past seven months?

Everyone has been financially affected by the protests in the city, one way or another. Job in the hospitality industry are being cut, shops closing down as well as restaurants. Perhaps telecom and internet companies are benefiting from all the communications and online use, but most of us and the city as a whole have been affected for over half a year.

Swire Properties has also helped ease rent pressure for tenants

And the unrest is expected to continue in 2020, with Chief Executive Carrie Lam yet to find out way out of this political crisis. The economy is not expected to return to pre-protest levels within this year, maybe 2021 if some kind of political resolution is found soon.

So for Wharf Reic to refuse to lower rents is hardly helpful in keeping Hong Kong's economy going, and in the developer's best interests, wouldn't it be better to have a giant prime retail space occupied than left empty? Hard to understand Wharf Reic's strategy when everyone is else is working together to find a way to stay afloat...

Starting the New Year in the Forest

A nice way to start 2020 with a walk through Pacific Spirit Regional Park

Last night New Year's Eve was a complete washout non-stop heavy rain forced several local mountains to cancel special events planned.
 However, by around 10pm the rain had stopped, though we were expecting more rain this morning for the start of 2020.

But the weather cooperated and we woke up to fantastic blue skies and warm weather -- up to 11 degrees, perfect for a walk outside.

In the late morning we headed out to Pacific Spirit Regional Park and enjoyed the fresh air, and immersed ourselves in the forest. The latest trend is "forest bathing", to be in nature and appreciate the beauty, inhale the clean oxygen and relax.

The new trend is to call this "forest bathing"

There were lots of puddles though from the heavy rain, which my younger nephew particularly enjoyed, walking through them in his yellow boots.  

We went walking for about an hour, encountering many others on their regular walks with their dogs and children, wishing each other a Happy New Year. What a nice way to start 2020 in Vancouver -- no rain!

Hong Kong Starts 2020 with Protest

Tens of thousands have turned out for the Civil Human Rights Front march

It's 2020 and as promised the protests continue in Hong Kong.

Right now there is a march of tens of thousands of people going from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to Central, demonstrating that Hongkongers, whether they be hard core protesters or sideline supporters are pushing for the government to agree to all five demands.

Marchers hold yellow signs that say "Free"

Participants have raised their hands with outstretched fingers and continue to chant the same slogans over and over.

Meanwhile donations are streaming in for Spark Alliance, one of the fundraising platforms that provides legal and medical assistance to protesters. Many are infuriated at the fact that its HSBC bank account was frozen and the donated cash will just literally be handed over to Spark Alliance to ensure the money will be used.

Also participating in the march for the first time are some 40 unions that have been formed recently as a way to build greater support for city-wide strikes. It's fascinating to see how people are organizing themselves and finding ways to counter the government or try to foil the authorities. It's about time that Hong Kong had more unions to protect workers' rights, and perhaps this will be the momentum they need to flourish.

Marchers gathered in Victoria Park this afternoon

So how will Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor see this protest to mark the start of 2020? Or more importantly how will President Xi Jinping see it? Surely continued protests in Hong Kong are not a good sign. It is time to have some kind of discussion to resolve this crisis.

Alas Xi probably does not want to be seen as giving in, but he may have compromise. Cracking down harder on the international city is not going to solve anything and in fact make things worse on the world stage.

Everyone is watching. Happy New Year!