…while I recover from severe typhoon trauma during yesterday’s Number 8 Signal*.
From Atlantic – the pan-dems who are giving evidence for the prosecution in today’s trials, notably Andrew Chiu…
Chiu, who was a longtime member of the Democratic Party, Hong Kong’s largest prodemocracy political party, has cast himself as a mostly hapless bystander who went along with what the government describes as a secret, sinister scheme. In reality, the poll was a simple exercise in democracy.
(For plotters in a secret conspiracy, the organizers were extraordinarily open about publicizing their plans in great detail to the entire public.)
Some context from Samuel Bickett…
In the trial of 47 democracy politicians, all but four—more than 90%—have refused to turn for the government. Most of them have been detained for 2.5 years, deprived of comforts, interrogated, and brainwashed. Yet they’ve held fast to their principles. Having been in Hong Kong prisons myself, frankly that’s miraculous.
Another point: Jimmy Lai (also mentioned in the story) has by all accounts told his former staff to testify against him in order to help themselves.
A report on the 2019-21 ‘HK leaks’ effort to dox pro-democracy activists.
Guidelines on Hong Kong TV and radio impartiality revised…
Broadcasters need not be “impartial” in programs involving national education, national identity and the national security law, the Communications Authority suggested, as television and radio stations may breach the law if they try to include opposing views in an effort to appear balanced.
Not much relevance to Hong Kong (unless Beijing starts abducting the overseas wanted eight), but still interesting – a short history by Philip Dykes of extraordinary rendition. (He misses the best ripping yarn of the genre: Adolf Eichmann, who was tracked down in Argentina, caught and illicitly brought to Israel by Mossad in 1960. Better than any spy fiction, and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.)
Writer of an SCMP piece on US-China trade talks says the paper cut references to Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang, who was last seen in public some three weeks ago.
*I dragged a precious potted plant (curry tree – vital for culinary purposes) off a balcony in case of severe winds or rain per HK Observatory advice. Neither happened on my north-facing hillside above Central. Local residents enjoyed a pleasant day, strolling around wondering why the whole city is shut down because the edge of a storm closes ferry services to some outlying islands.
So what happened to the guy that bit Chiu’s ear off? Gold Bauhinia with oak leaves and swords for being a true patriot? Well, swine ear is a Chinese delicacy after all…
They have to shut down the whole city when the ferries shut down because we all know that local company bosses will penalise workers who don’t risk their lives to come in or find ways to dock their pay (probably straight out of their MPF).
The number 3 went up when there were still winds in places that exceeded the criteria for a number 8.
Like this new HK Heat Index thing & the recommendation that folks working outside down tools when it reaches a certain level at King’s Park, a tropical cyclone warning system will often seem naff as neither are fit-for-purpose given how conditions in any part of town are rarely the same as somewhere else.
Ferries to outlying islands excepted, seeing how they traverse a fair bit of open water.
Zatluhcas, your comment reminds me, as I recall, of when as chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce, Brigadier Christopher Hammerbeck suggested that the loss in productivity during typhoons far outweighed that of the few who might be in danger getting to & from (or whilst at) work – so the warning system should go. I guess he continued to see people as expendable after retiring from his first career.
Given that there were floods and fallen trees in some areas, I don’t think the typhoon warnings could be regarded as excessive.
I once saw brigadier-general Hammerbeck at Mass at the cathedral in Caine Road. I also saw barrister Kevin Egan (RIP), journalist Leo Goodstad (RIP) and Danish butter cookies tycoon Hans- Michael Jebsen. So yes, Hong Kong is a small place.
Super-patriot Mike Rowse I never saw.
Tim Hamlett in the HKFP dislikes the word “gesta-po-po” in a recent BL comment.
Incredibly small indeed, Joe Blow. On a rather congested evening commute back when there was only one cross-harbour tunnel, on my motorbike I snuck in front of a motor with an AM rego as the tailback was tickling the other side of the toll booth – anything on more than two wheels wasn’t going to get much of anywhere anytime soon. In my wing mirror, I could see the frustrated driver pound the steering wheel with his fist: Sir David Aching-Bones.
But to get back on-topic, surely Hemmers has experienced this before & should know quite well they’re not called the Oblivatory for nothing.
Probably time for us to lay low for a while, ex-pd – Mr Hamlett’s piece will no doubt have attracted unwanted attention. Cheers, Tim.