HKFP reports criticism of the Hong Kong government’s clampdown on bookstores from a slightly unexpected source: a small conservative Christian group known mainly for its anti-gay views…
The Society for Truth and Light’s secretary general Choi Chi-sum said in a Friday statement that the bottom line of Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” constitutional framework “is the freedom of speech.”
“Citizens should not have to live in fear simply for expressing personal opinions or possessing publications that haven’t been ruled illegal by the courts,” he wrote in Chinese.
…With most of the city’s outspoken civil society groups having disbanded in the wake of the Beijing-imposed national security law in 2020, the Christian group’s statement is a rare public rebuke of the government’s crackdown on independent bookstores.
While authorities say police discovered books at the stores that contained content that could provoke hatred against the government, no official list of banned books has been made public. Secretary for Security Chris Tang has said authorities would not release such a list.
Choi said not publishing such a list is an “abuse of power and an act that undermines the spirit of the rule of law.”
Businesses should have legal frameworks to rely on, he added, “rather than having the legality of actions and speech decided solely by the subjective views of individual officials or law enforcement officers.”
Just visited a bookstore that the NatSec police haven’t raided yet – the Japanese books and magazines section at Sogo. Among possible seditious threats on the shelves: a lavishly illustrated tome on ideas for presenting toast; ditto for hotdogs; and Detective Bottom…
A new outlet for those with patriotic urges: CY Leung complains about property developers naming their residential projects in English only…
…the former chief executive argued that such a trend attempts to appear as high-end, criticizing that developments targeting Chinese buyers but lack a Chinese name are unacceptable.
Surely, the names are so stupid they can’t even be translated. Or, they’re in French or Italian. Recent examples include La Mirabelle, Twin Victoria, Cloudview, Le Mont, The Pavilla Forest, Fleur Pavilia, Park Silicon, Grandview Oceania, Lime Spark, Mount Broadcast and the irresistible-sounding Nob Hill. And let’s not forget The Belchers.
For once I disagree with our former great leader, previously the Cantonese name of some of the projects had nothing to do with the untranslatable English version, and it was much more confusing.
Tseung Kwan O offers, among others, The Grandiose and Twin Peaks.
For once, CY has a point…
This is the first time I actually agree with 689: If you ask Hong Kong buyers to invest 10-15 million in a luxury apartment measuring somewhere between 392 and 483 s.f., then at least grant them the dignity to live in “Long March Block Tower” (phase 1 to 8), “Flying Horse Palace” or “Great Wall of China Homestead”, instead of unpatriotic nonsense developments like Palazzo Armanio or Chateau Bonnae.
My favourite is “Bel-Air on the Peak”…in Telegraph Bay
There’s a place on Prince Edward Road called “Prince Wesidence”. No doubt after a few months living there you would have to leave rather than keep explaining to people that’s how it’s spelt and that you don’t have a speech impediment.
Why would one consider it “slightly unexpected” that a conservative Christian group would express its opposition to the clampdown on bookstores?
Freedom of conscience, worship and speech are exemplars of a Christian view of humanity. Just ask Cardinal Zen or Jimmy Lai.
Indeed, there’s every likelihood that faithful Christians in Hong Kong will be the last people speaking out against the Anschluss with Chinese Characteristics when it reaches its final stages.
@Hktouk, shouldn’t that be Pwince Wesidence?
The CCP’s “rule by fear” relies entirely on strategic ambiguity—keeping the boundaries of “national security” intentionally vague. Chris Tang is no exception. All appointees stay obedient because they live in constant fear of being kicked off the honey pot. It is straight out of the playbook from the SingaBorean „Lee Kum Kee School of Policing the Public.
A note regarding HKFP:
I assume readers here recognize its immense value and support it. I intentionally choose a recurring monthly donation rather than a lump sum. If the Marxist-Leninist clampdown inevitably freezes their assets – it really hurts me to say this – my ongoing support stops immediately, ensuring future funds aren’t wasted.
I do wonder if DABlers like Starry actually understand the Karl and Vladimir theories they operate under! Does our „friend“ Reactor#4 do?
Govt won’t know what to do with Choi.
Anti-gay conservative christianity? Support.
Criticism of NSL implementation? Arrest.
Will be interesting to see how this plays out.
I thought “Park Silicon” was already copyrighted by that dump Mar A Lago? Oh boy…here comes another $10BILLION lawsuit…
So, your father was a Woeman, eh?
@TKO Steve
Damn fine cup of coffee, though.
@Hktouk–“Be vewwy, vewwy quiet, I’m hunting wabbits.”
I like Nob Hill. Noblesse oblige.
Your expat chorus is just as silly as you I think! Nobless for sure.
@Truly Patriotic AI: that’s a saucy comment. Or do you mean Lee Kuan Yew?
@Hktouk
Welease Wodewick!