John Lee Secures over 700 Nominations

Lee has secured over three times the necessary nominations

One person is running for the position of Chief Executive, and he already has secured over 700 nominations from almost half of the Election Committee, so is there any point for John Lee Ka-chiu to formally put in his paperwork to participate in the one-horse race?

The one-horse race will cost HK$278 million

But it seems one must go through the motions, and Lee has more than the minimum 188 nominations from the Election Committee, over three times the number... cause no other viable contender has thrown his or her hat into the ring.

"It is time that I let people know the clear indication of standing for the election, so it is appropriate for me to actually register to stand for the election," he said today. 

"I will continue to appeal for people's support. So I will be approaching the Election Committee members again for their support in the eventual voting exercise."

An exercise that will cost taxpayers -- who cannot vote in this election -- HK$278 million (US$35.5 million), with another HK$50 million tacked on because of delays due to the pandemic. 

The 2003 protests led to shelving Article 23

And as expected, one of Lee's priorities if he becomes the next Chief Executive, is to pass Article 23, where the city can enact laws to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, and subversion against the central government, or the theft of state secrets, forbid foreign political organisations from conducting political activities in the region, and to ban political organisations from establishing ties with foreign political organisations.

That seems to be pretty much covered already by the national security law enacted in 2020, but just in case, Article 23 will reinforce this and give the government more leeway to further crush dissent.

As many will remember back in 2003 over 500,000 people came out to protest then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa's attempt to pass the bill, which led to his abrupt exit as well as then security chief Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee.

The then protests caused Ip to lose her job

The current Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said back in February that consultations on Article 23 will begin in May.

Guess there's no point in wasting time...

Veteran Journalist Arrested, then Released

Au used to write for Stand News and was charged with sedition

Soon after online media outlet Stand News shut down in December 2021, one of its former columnists, longtime journalist Allan Au Ka-lun would write "good morning" on his Facebook page as a way to confirm his safety.

But at 6am this morning national security police descended on his flat and arrested him on the charge of "conspiracy to publish seditious materials" and a police source added further arrests could be made.

Around midnight Au was released after 17 hours

Two other senior employees of Stand News have also been charged with sedition, though Au is the journalist and not a media executive, like Apple Daily to have this charge against him.

I am writing this just after midnight and it has now been reported that Au was released from Kwai Chung police station. "Thanks for your care and concern," he said as he put his hands in prayer.

Au, 54, is considered one of Hong Kong's most experienced local columnists, and was a Knight fellow at Stanford University in 2005, and earned a doctorate from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

In 2017 he published a book about censorship in Hong Kong titled, "Freedom Under 20 Shades of Shadow".

In addition, Au had spent more than a decade working for Radio Television Hong Kong on a current affairs show. But it was axed last year after RTHK's management conducted a major shake up of the publicly-funded broadcaster from being independent to now towing the government line.

Au's radio show on RTHK was axed last year

The charge of sedition dates back to 1938 colonial Hong Kong, and now it is used against journalists, unionists, activists, a former pop star and ordinary citizens.

However, the courts treat it as a national security offence, where bail is often denied for those charged. 

Au is very lucky to be back home tonight... but for how much longer?

 

Was the Three-Day Test Successful?

Lam says social media was checked if people did RAT tests

For the past three days, some of the 7.3 million Hong Kong residents have tested themselves using the government's distributed rapid antigen tests to see if they have Covid-19.

But of course it's voluntary, so not everyone did the exercise, and Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor admitted so.

The government-issued rapid antigen test

"Anecdotal evidence suggest that many have [done the RAT test]. We have been asking around, we surfed the Facebook of different groups and social media, and so on," she said.

"But naturally in a city like Hong Kong, I am sure there will be people who do not respond to the government's appeal."

Well... if you say it's voluntary and no need to report test results if they are negative, then what is the point?

It makes no sense.

Here were the numbers of positive cases from RAT tests:

Today: 1,033

Yesterday: 1,638

Friday: 1,265

The start of the line to vote in Kennedy Town

Nevertheless, she said the three-day exercise had no bearing on the government preparing to relax social-distancing measures from April 21, which would include allowing dinner for up to four people per table until 10pm, opening up gyms and entertainment venues.

"By now it's quite clear that we are trending down... By and large, unless there's an exponential surge, otherwise we will continue to implement the relaxation. But the relaxation will be gradual, it will take three stages over three months in order to remove most of the social distancing measures we have put in. But apparently, it will have no particular relevance to the RAT exercise," Lam said.

It's great to see Hong Kong tax dollars being spent for public health...

Meanwhile today was the start of voting for the Philippine elections and today on our walk along Victoria Road in Kennedy Town we saw thousands of domestic helpers lined up waiting to cast their ballots.

The end stretched to U of Chicago HK campus

The voting booths are at the Banyanihan Kennedy Town Centre which is at 55 Victoria Road, and the line snaked all the way up to 168 Victoria Road, around a 15-minute walk! It was shocking to see so many people having to wait in line for possibly hours and police were helpless to try to enforce social-distancing measures.

But at least these Filipinas can cast their votes in this election that will take one month to complete...

Quote of the Day: John Lee as Conductor

Lee announced he was throwing his hat into the ring today

Former chief secretary John Lee Ka-chiu is positioning himself as the conductor of a symphony in his bid to be Hong Kong's next chief executive.

Speaking to reporters today, he launched his campaign with the slogan, "Starting a New Chapter for Hong Kong Together", and said his decision to run was because of his loyalty to the country, love for Hong Kong and his sense of duty to Hong Kong people.

Sounds very familiar to Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's decision to run in 2017. At that time in her manifesto she wrote: "I decided to contest the Chief Executive election because I love this city and I care for the well-being of our 7 million population who live here. I am willing and ready to lead the politically appointed officials and our 170,000 civil service."

Lee likens being a conductor of an orchestra

Lee hopes to build a Hong Kong that is energetic, happy, open, united and peaceful.

"This new chapter will be a new symphony. Being the conductor, each member will be able to leverage his or her strengths to create the synergy effect... Together, we will play a more splendid new piece for Hong Kong," he said.

Never knew Lee was such a classical music lover. 

While he is conjuring the image of everyone working together to channel their energy and efforts to create a rejuvenated city, a conductor does use a baton... which a police officer uses too...