An eye-witness account with video (from up a tree) to mark the third anniversary of 6-12, the day Hong Kong’s anti-extradition protests turned into ‘riots’. Samuel Bickett’s illustrated recollections…
Of the five demands made by the protesters, three were related to police and prosecutorial abuses, and all three initially stemmed from a single day of violence: June 12, 2019.
…The intention was always to not only attack, but cause maximum pain.
There was simply no justification for what I saw the police do that day.
Academics like Clifford Stott (who later refused to endorse an official whitewash) say that when a society has large-scale protests continuing for more than just a few days, it has a political rather than law-and-order problem. June 12 was the day it became clear that Beijing would insist that Hong Kong protests be suppressed by force, not solved through government response to public opinion. The Leninist impulse to bludgeon the world into submission led to the discharging of thousands of tear-gas rounds in the second half of 2019, and continues today – even in the obsessive and pointless quarantine regime for arriving passengers. This is what Hong Kong lost with the ending of One Country Two Systems.
Some faintly absurd remarks from ‘heavyweight’ Tsang Yok-sing pondering a reversal of the CCP’s direct rule over Hong Kong – worth a look for the SCMP’s ‘blue’ commenters ranting about how the guy is a closet pro-dem.
FCC president Keith Richburg on legal advice he received before the Club’s cancellation of the Human Rights Press Awards…
“In [the lawyer’s] words, you won’t get a fair hearing before a national security law judge, and he knows because he stands in front of him. He said you won’t get a fair hearing,” Richburg said, without disclosing the lawyer’s identity.
Richburg went on to say: “How many people arrested on the sedition or national security law have gotten off? You think they’re getting a fair trial in Hong Kong and China? Arresting people means that you’re guilty. Rule of law means the police can go out and arrest you for almost anything. That’s what’s scary about things now.”
He should have said this from the start. Some context – a graphic showing the rectification of Hong Kong news media in recent years, including the recent closure of Factwire. There’s not much left.
“There’s not much left.”
To be precise, the Chinese-language press has been almost entirely shut down. In the English language, the SCMP is the People’s Daily a day late, The Standard barely publishes news, and the HKFP survives through a combination of self-censorship, a lack of content as commentators (myself included) are too frightened to write, and maintaining balance by publishing rebuttals from apologists such as Adrian Ho and Regina Ip. So the total count there for free press is about half a newspaper.
That leaves your blog. I hope your internet security is up to scratch.
No mention of what has to be the quote of the year
‘Great relief’ to know what happens after July 1 has nothing to do with me: Carrie Lam
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/191104/'Great-relief'-to-know-what-happened-after-July-1-has-nothing-to-do-with-me:-Carrie-Lam
How expedient when the transition from Asia’s World City to Banana Republic during her term will have repercussions for decades
A fine demonstration in London under a beautiful English sky.
@Mary Melville
“It will be a great relief to no longer have nothing to regret in a career I’m proud of.”
Oooo that subtext…
What are the chances the Brits will cancel Curry Cunt’s visa?
@Joe Blow
I’d be very surprised if they cancelled her visa. I imagine there’s a department or ministry or two who’d like to have a word with her.