So much for a slow week of hibernation.
A government-in-exile at last! (Strictly speaking, a democratic deliberative platform, but let’s not ruin a good angle.) A joke? A meaningless gesture? A brilliant piece of guerilla theatre? (Clue: the latter, at least.) The symbolism alone should send some Beijing officials absolutely ballistic. And there’s a nice long drawn-out consultation (to which you can provide feedback) to add to the pressure rising in CCP blood vessels. You don’t have to take it seriously – the Liaison Office will do that for you. Prepare for a barrage of mouth-frothing ‘so-called’s. This initiative could even prompt the NatSec Regime’s first official blocking of an overseas website.
Other bits and pieces…
Nathan Law on the Court of Final Appeal’s ruling on the face-mask ban. (Not hugely surprising if you’re paying attention to what’s going on.)
CNN on Hongkongers in exile.
An interesting Mekong Review interview with Joshua Wong.
A review of Ai Weiwei’s Cockroach – will we get to see it in Hong Kong? The trailer.
Former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten proposes pro-dem media boss Jimmy Lai as his man of the year.
In the interests of balance… A few years ago, Hong Kong’s Beijing-owned newspapers Wen Wei Po and Ta Kung Pao set up dot dot news to push their propaganda on-line, and in English. It was kicked off Facebook at one stage for fake news. Worth a browse for the weirdness. Anyway, here’s CCP-worshipper Grenville Cross sparing no effort, or wordcount, to insist that Jimmy Lai is a US asset attempting to ‘destabilize Hong Kong’ or something. (Why would the US want to destabilize a city with so much American investment in it? Couldn’t it find a better way than to enlist a high-profile media owner?)
Jerome Cohen’s response to Cross’s latest nuttiness.
From Quartz, not really new, but worth re-emphasizing: the UK didn’t introduce democracy to Hong Kong because Beijing warned in no uncertain terms against it. (The Brits had already given independence to some 50 colonies – it was no skin off their nose.)
Minxin Pei on China and climate-change – or how Xi’s CCP will try to leverage climate-change for its own purposes.
China’s ‘dual circulation’ strategy explained by the Berggruen Institute (basically more emphasis on mercantilism).
Caution: If you don’t want to spoil your dinner tonight avoid TVB’s Straight Talk featuring Grovelling Cross.
If only she would follow official advice…
https://hongkongfp.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/photo_2020-12-08_09-58-17-Copy.jpg
“Caution: If you don’t want to spoil your dinner tonight avoid TVB’s Straight Talk featuring Grovelling Cross.”
Isn’t that hosted by Chugani? He’s a born again yellow ribbon.
@ Mark Bradley
Yes it is but his interview technique is so appalling that I suspect he won’t give Groveling a proper chance to make an arse of himself.
Chugani is OK in print, just crap on TV.
Cross is evidently bearing big grudges, perhaps someone nicked his teabags from the Judiciary kitchen?
Amusingly he is now based in Oz but continues to be an Armchair Expert on HK affairs.
Chugani was berated like a slow-witted schoolboy.
Grovelling and Cross is a closet homosexual, married to a HK chinese ex copper. I’m sure Peking’s got serious dirt on him. And no, I’m not making a false accusation.
Woops I was referring to Litton interview, both are the crosses we bear
Oops my bad too, confusing the the two Rednecks. I grovel…in apology, not submission.
@Mary + Jet plane – started on the mulled wine already, eh