The nearest thing to a June 4 vigil allowed these days is people walking around Causeway Bay eating ice cream cones. The largest-scale activity to mark the events of 1989 is the police presence. SCMP on the authorities’ June 4 preparations…
Hong Kong authorities will take action against anyone who threatens national security, the chief executive has warned, as the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown approaches.
Asked about the legality of commemorating June 4 by lighting candles or wearing clothing with related slogans in Causeway Bay, where annual vigils had been held for decades, city leader John Lee Ka-chiu said all activities must comply with the law.
“Any activity on any day must comply with legal requirements. No one should violate the law,” Lee said on Tuesday, a day ahead of the anniversary, without mentioning the historical incident.
And HKFP reports…
Police officers patrolled Victoria Park – the former site of the city’s annual vigils for the Tiananmen crackdown – and its vicinity on Tuesday, one day before the 36th anniversary of the crackdown.
Outside the Sogo department store, plainclothes officers stopped and searched performance artist Chan Mei-tung as she was chewing bubble gum.
The officers set up a cordon and told reporters to stay on the other side of the road as they warned Chan and filmed the scene.
They then escorted Chan to the Causeway Bay MTR station and waved goodbye to her as she walked through the station’s gates, photos from local media outlets showed.
Chan was arrested for disorderly conduct on the eve of the anniversary in 2022, after standing outside Sogo and peeling potatoes.
Meanwhile, a patriotic food carnival called the Hometown Market in Victoria Park attracted 100 to 200 visitors on Tuesday afternoon.
That’s for 300 booths. Admittedly, some sell grilled lamb.
The BBC’s John Simpson looks back.
Bloomberg summarizes the sheer wretchedness of debt-ridden New World Development’s plight: its HK$$20 billion 11 Skies mega-mall project at the airport has so far leased only 40% of its space…
The 3.8 million square foot complex, equivalent to about a quarter of the combined square footage of New World’s major investment properties in Hong Kong, stood mostly empty on a recent weekday afternoon visit. Only two eateries out of more than 800 shop fronts were open, and those were to service nearby office workers. White hoardings covered up most retail storefronts, escalators stood motionless and there wasn’t any signage naming future tenants.
…New World is struggling to service around HK$210.9 billion ($26.9 billion) in liabilities. The property group faces worsening pressure to repay loans if it can’t strike a deal with banks to refinance HK$87.5 billion of its borrowings by June. So far, it’s secured commitments for about 60% of that amount after pledging some of its most prized assets…
…Revenue from 11 Skies may also run into a ceiling because New World is required to pay the Airport Authority either guaranteed rent, or up to 30% of the mall’s gross annual revenue, whichever is higher, until 2066
Sound like they’re screwed. Maybe turn it into housing?
Aren’t we lucky to have clever Adrian Cheng as mega-events tsar? He’s also in charge of something called the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy apparently… much to share! A career trajectory like his can only end with a run for CE…
Perhaps New World can save by not pumping whatever noxious scent it is that fills K11?
‘Perhaps New World can save by not pumping whatever noxious scent it is that fills K11?’
That’s the smell of overpriced tat wrapped up in fake optimism, bull shit and hubris
A gazillion cops in CWB today. So festive.
All police trucks have their own ID nameplate, like PTU, or EU and such. Does anyone know what R R C stands for?
11 skies could equal Cyber(air)port Part 2
Put a Costco or a Sam’s Club in 11 Skies and it could solve half the problem. There is enough space and Hong Kong has enough drivers, and there is obviously demand for such an offering giving the hordes crossing to Shenzhen everyday. Of course, the Jardines/Hutchison duopoly would never allow it.
“The nearest thing to a June 4 vigil allowed these days is people walking around Causeway Bay eating ice cream cones.”
And even they’ll be arrested if they’re caught holding the cone with both hands.
> Joe Blow
‘The “RRC” in “Hong Kong Police RRC” most likely refers to “Regional Crime Prevention Unit” (RCPU). The Hong Kong Police Force has a Regional Crime Prevention Officer (RCPO) who leads the RCPU in each region. These units are responsible for identifying crime trends, organizing crime prevention campaigns, and providing advice and support to crime victims and those at risk, according to the Hong Kong Police Force.’
– AI Generated
Asking for a friend- Would I be taken away if I were holding 6 lamb skewers in my left hand and 4 in my right?
Mr Toad, Joe,
The “RRC” refers to the Regional Response Contingent of the Hong Kong Police, which is responsible for handling various public order situations and emergencies. These units are trained to respond quickly to incidents and work alongside other police teams to maintain safety and order.
According to Police Gov HK, no AI just old-fashioned search
R R C = Rapid Response Command
or
Raptors Rule Causeway Bay
@Joe Blow, @Load Toad
RRC = Regional Response Contingent
Generated by Googling: site:police.gov.hk RRC
Yellow has long been my favourite colour. I have many items of clothing that are yellow in colour. Can I wear?
As “proof” affinity for yellow my car (not in HK) is yellow.
Do answers differ if I am with my wife , whose favourite colour, and much of her clothing, is red?
It’s a bummer when you are old enough to have a prior claim to the date because it’s your birthday.