At first the authorities seemed to fear a low turnout at Hong Kong’s December 19 quasi-election as a sign that the exercise lacks legitimacy. Then Carrie Lam suggested that she might welcome a mere trickle of voters as an indication of near-universal contentment with her administration. And now it’s Friday, and we’re back to denouncing the prospect of a poor showing at the polling stations…
“Foreign forces using whatever means and excuses trying to interfere in Hong Kong’s Legco elections will be fought back by the Chinese government,” warned Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong Liu Guangyuan on Thursday.
And the ICAC is arresting more people who share a Facebook post containing forbidden ideas – ‘inciting’ voters to boycott or spoil their ballots (both legal actions).
On the subject of ‘incitement’, Jimmy Lai, Gwyneth Ho and Chow Hang-tung are found guilty after pleading innocent to unauthorized assembly charges (aimed not only at pro-democrats but at the annual June 4 Tiananmen massacre vigil).
Samuel Bickett on the verdict against Jimmy Lai…
“Incitement requires that there be actual communication.” See [this 1994 Law Reform Commission report] (citing R v. Banks, (1873) 12 Cox CC). This is a pretty fundamental black letter legal point that any first year law student can state. It is exceedingly unlikely the judge didn’t know this.
Which brings us to former lawmaker Dennis Kwok – on the end of ‘One Country, Two Systems’…
Hong Kong’s experience has taught us that freedom without democratic governance is ultimately unsustainable, and trusting those in power to act with restraint is futile.
The Spectator looks at how China is turning in on itself.
A couple of out-of-area pieces for the weekend…
It’s not your ears – film-makers really are making movies with harder-to-hear dialogue. Why? Because, basically, they can.
And for fans of scathing reviews of restaurants – the ‘worst Michelin place we ever went to’…
Maybe the staff just ran out of food that night. Maybe they confused our table with that of their ex-lover’s. Maybe they were drunk. But we got twelve kinds of foam, something that I can only describe as “an oyster loaf that tasted like Newark airport”, and a teaspoon of savory ice cream that was olive flavored.
she might welcome a mere trickle of voters as an indication of near-universal contentment with her administration
Isn’t that an incitement to boycott the election?
Civilized Affairs
I am going to imagine
I am a Mandarin,
Wealthy and important,
A man of good position,
And in more ways than one
Masterful and potent.
My wife, whom I respect,
Calmly now accepts
That in her middle age
Her spring-time looks have faded.
Elegant, restrained,
A wife, no longer lover,
She duly understands
Her bedroom nights are over;
While I, still fine and virile,
Obtain a well-made girl
To serve me in my bed:
Compliant, yet not servile,
And very sweet indeed.
In the daytime hours
She with my wife behaves
As modest as a maid
And caries out her chores.
A civilized affair;
Doubtless you concur.
Now I shall imagine
I am a Party Man,
Notable, important,
A man of great position,
And in more ways than one
Masterful and potent.
My wife, whom I respect,
Shares in my success
And calmly tolerates
The private paths I take.
A simple tennis player
Was lucky that I laid her.
For how long would it last,
Her champion career?
A dozen years at most,
And then she disappears.
Easily and freely
The woman came to me.
Pleasantly time fled
In talk and song and chess,
In tennis courts and beds.
When the time was proper,
Tactfully, I dropped her.
A civilized affair;
Doubtless you concur.
Some lines I now address
To the gentler sex,
Not forgetting they
Hold up half the sky.
You serve a man of status
Not for his own sake,
But for the cause and greatness
Of Party and of State.
You may indeed be proud
To serve without reward,
And when your time is over
Be grateful for the favour.
The memories you treasure
Are yours to keep. And these are
Civilized affairs;
Everyone concurs.
What’s more incredible is the reply that the Chef to the restaurant review included in today’s blog post…. Check it out here:
https://mobile.twitter.com/everywhereist/status/1469109820905058304
Needless to say, the chef there is pretty ridiculous and incredible. We need people like him here in Hong Kong.
Can we try not to refer to “China” but to “communist party ruled China”. To make sure that in particular the “Chinese” understand where we think the problem lies? I have nothing against “China”
“A simple tennis player
Was lucky that I laid her.”
Great poetry!
Wow Knownot! That is seriously good. Are you published? I would love a copy if so.
@knownot: inspired! Funny and sad at the same time. A glimpse inside the head of the Party Man.
Are our transport providers conniving to entice registered voters to abandon their own districts to explore the outer, and polling booth free, fringes on ‘E’ Day? For example
MKK to Hung Shui Kiu (Bus 68X), “the bus takes you along the hustle and bustle of Kowloon onto the scenic route of Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun Road, where you come close to the coastline and get a chance to marvel at the stunning Ting Kau bridge on your left. Aside from that, prepare to embrace the lush greenery, and the peaceful vibe of the villages as the bus emerges from Tai Tam tunnel into the spacious and secluded areas of Yuen Long, before finally arriving at Hung Shui”. You can pop into Yoho Mall for afternoon tea without having to pay an additional fare, $15.
The whole bus ride takes approximately 70 minutes.
There are dozens of equally promising adventures. Try the Tuen Ma line. 56.2 kms, the longest line of the MTR network. It has a total of 27 stations, more than any other in the MTR system. Single trip end to end normally costs around $25. You can take 40 winks during the boring tunnels through Kowloon section.
Perhaps a competition for the most rewarding itinerary???
@Kwun Tong: Whenever I refer to government news/pronouncements/boycotts/ mouth frothing from the mainland, I generally use CCPChina.
Kwun Tong Bypass, Mjrelje, Siujiu – Thank you very much for your comments.
I’m afraid my poems are not published, but if some people read them here, I’m satisfied.
Free travel – isn’t the administration offering an illegal inducement to vote contrary to Article whatever of the Elections Ordinance?
@Mary Melville – even better value if you’re my age and only have to pay $2 per trip! If you enjoy scenic bus rides, try no. 51 over Route TWSK, or no. 9 to Shek O, or the 94 to Wong Shek Pier, or 299 from Shatin to Sai Kung, or any of the buses along South Lantau. Hong Kong is a beautiful place – any of those could distract you from other events that may be going on.
https://twitter.com/HKBigLychee/status/1469919834226184192/photo/1
If she spent $5000 that means she only has to stash about $9000 under her bed today.