Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee sees no need for the idea of an independent inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid pandemic. His reasons – as summarized here – are not exactly convincing…
1) the virus was new; 2) US and UK had more deaths; 3) the pandemic changed fast; 4) the gov has learned lessons and found new ways.
We had an expert committee report (and health minister’s resignation) following SARS in 2003. But Hong Kong now has a ‘patriots-only’ form of governance with a more top-down and authoritarian style and an opposition-free legislature – not to mention a less critical press. Remember, this new system was implemented to disabuse Hong Kong people of the idea that the government should be accountable to them (and thus might have a duty to acknowledge faults). It is even more unthinkable that it would accommodate implicit criticism of local policies that reflected Beijing’s ideological zero-Covid approach.
But the main reason we will not get an independent inquiry is that the new-look Hong Kong system of administration is not going to do independent anything. The city is being brought into line with the CCP’s Leninist principles that specifically reject ‘separation of powers’ and ‘checks and balances’, or anything that challenges the ruling party’s monopoly of power. Behind the new laws, structures and slogans, that is the new order.
In his press conference, the CE was also asked a question with (no, not on face masks) a less predictable answer: what will the government do with the sprawling community isolation facilities at Penny’s Bay and elsewhere?
It will be interesting to see if officials have the imagination or even desire to put these huge and pricey complexes to good use. They could, for example, lease them out cheaply to whatever individuals or small businesses wanted them, with as few rules as possible – for any use as housing, offices, workshops, street food, retail or whatever people wanted. A golden opportunity for some good old fashioned laissez-faire, and maybe an exciting way to divert public attention from more depressing matters. But don’t hold your breath.
Isolation facilities = basic training camps for HK Youth Korps (of underprivileged & disadvantaged variety) to serve as local Popo auxiliary for spying on fellow youth, informing, exposing bomb making facilities and generally preventing crimes by their disaffected demographic before they actually happen. “21 Jump Street” and Red Ball!!!!
The current shit show that is going on with the leaders of practically all Western countries makes me feel pleased that I live in a system that is “top-down and authoritarian style and an opposition-free”.
Biden: joke
Sunak: joke
Albanese: joke
Trudeau: joke
Scholz: joke
Macron: joke
“Democracy” really should be doing far, far better than it is.
Depressing piece from Hemmers today.
Not because it’s written so badly but because it’s so true.
Retard #4 and what has been going on in HK wasn’t a shitshow and a joke with top down characteristics?
Sarcophagus #4
Which countries are the preferred destinations for escapees from the “top-down and authoritarian style and an opposition-free” PEOPLE’s Republic?
USA-UK-Australia-Canada-Germany-France
Xi Jinping : Not a joke – a tragedy!
Or given that 144’000 Honkies, of which a very great number of Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, Scientists, Artists escaped to the UK alone, is maybe good for the dreaded West!
Marx Leninism with Chinese Characteristics : joke
Hong Kong Democracy with Chinese Characteristics : joke
Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era : joke
Well you’ve shown everyone you’re the smartest one in the room, Rectum 4. Escaping the shit shows with the comfort of living in comfort as a tolerated foreigner in a foreign land, clutching onto your passport tightly, no doubt.
“They could, for example, lease them out cheaply to whatever individuals or small businesses wanted them, with as few rules as possible – for any use as housing, offices, workshops, street food, retail or whatever people wanted.”
Bring it on, Brother.
Massage parlours, two hour motel rooms, mini casinos and off-course betting shops. Throw in a few unlicensed dentists and I’ll give you back the Kowloon Walled City.
More joke politicians while we are at it: Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Viktor Orban, Giorgia Meloni