Following Hong Kong from afar, you lose any feeling that it’s all a bad dream or aberration and something might still happen to put things back the way they should be. Seen from a distance, you realize: that’s it – it’s really over.
In case anyone missed them, a couple of things from the tireless Su Xinqi. Chow Hang-tung’s commital proceedings…
“The five operational principles must be read as a whole instead of separately,” Chow told the court. “We want democracy for this country, so what’s the greatest obstacle? That’s the one-party dictatorship and the wicked logic of considering party and state as one.”
And an account of a patriotic school’s national security education for kids…
The TV was surrounded by dozens of stuffed panda toys, which the children were assured they could play with later if they listened attentively.
A law firm tears into Hong Kong’s Covid policy.
The main Korean news: a typhoon is coming, and the Frieze art fair puts Seoul on the cultural map – or, as international media point out, helps take Hong Kong off it.
How long before Boase Cohen & Collins get a visit from the Popo for a “chat”?
A new round of cash grants, ranging from HK$150,000 to HK$400,000 will be given to each approved project, to attract start-ups to Cyberport, the city’s tech hub.
You don’t mean that cheap rent back office/storage complex at Pokfulam that is trashing what was intended as sea front public open recreational space to build further premises that it obviously is going to have problems renting out, for anything more than cheap back office/storage etc.
Nice looking Korean meal right there!
“Seen from a distance, you realize: that’s it – it’s really over.”
My thoughts exactly. The last 2 years outside looking in, after 30 years living in Hong Kong, has shaken me to the core about how quickly and comprehensively it really is over.
Looking back, I’m not sure the HK population could have done anything to stop Beijing. With Winne Poo Bear, it was always going to end like this. With no resistance – creeping loss. With resistance – faster loss.
At least we had the dignity to resist (without bloodshed and with discipline) and turned a potential Beijing propaganda win into a massive loss (and part of their current global PR downfall).
We showed the world they were, at their core, miserable c*&*s. And now the world is awake to this fact.
As for those Hong Kongers who actively participated in the downfall of this city – Regina and co – there is a special place in hell for them. Benedict Arnold scum selling out their fellow Hong Kongers for a two bedroom apartment in happy valley…we all make our choices….
Chow Hang-tung will be remembered always as a Hong Kong hero in these dark times.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/07/hong-kong-childrens-book-sedition-cartoon/
By current standards this group has been dealt with expeditiously. But then with a max sentence of two years, and they have already been locked up for over one year, the sentencing is irrelevant as they have already done the time. So effectively a warning to the community that criticism of the system means being banged up whether one is ultimately found guilty or not.
@Gooddog,
‘without bloodshed’…?
Really…people shot, blinded, beaten up, gassed, pepper sprayed, assaulted..
A fine example of what protest without bloodshed can achieve. Irish Republicans, Israelis, and Americans should take note.
So the children’s book were sentenced to 19 months each, close to the max 2 years.
Melody Yeung, the external vice chair of the speech therapists’ union, told the court she hoped she could always “stand on the side of the sheep” – referring to characters from the kids’ books. After she finished speaking, some court goers could be seen crying.
“How free are we? Is free speech really free? Is freedom with limitations really freedom?” Lai asked. Judge Kwok interjected and said the union chief’s submission could amount to a political statement, which would not be allowed in court.
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/09/10/breaking-5-hong-kong-speech-therapists-jailed-for-19-months-each-for-sedition-over-childrens-books/