Hong Kong: what next?

[Bahnhof Strasse]

There's an old Chinese saying I learned last week - "calling a deer a horse."

Around 200BC, a powerful chancellor called Zhao Gao supposedly tested the loyalty of courtiers by presenting the young emperor with a deer and saying it was a swift horse. When the emperor said it was clearly a deer, Zhao Gao asked the courtiers around him to back him up and say it was a horse. Most of them, realising Zhao Gao's power, assured the emperor that it was a horse. A few maintained that the animal was a deer, and Zhao Gao secretly had them executed.

So as this blogger explains, "Calling a deer a horse” is used to describe a situation where “black” is called “white” and vice versa for the purpose of manipulating people to advance one’s evil agenda."

The saying has been used a lot in recent days following the arrests of two pro-democracy legislators who were beaten in the notorious July 21 attack at Yuen Long MTR Station, where a mob of dozens of people dressed in white attacked people returning from a protest and police failed to answer emergency calls for more than half an hour. Prosecutors are now claiming that it was a clash "between two evenly matched rivals" and the pro-democracy lawmakers "aggravated" the incident. apparently just by existing.

Even with the totalitarian security law, there has been some pushback against this, with horse/deer graffiti appearing around the city.

In other HK news, courts have been handing down plenty of harsh sentences to people involved in protests last year - one man who was found with a rolling pin in his backpack was sentenced to 15 months for possessing an offensive weapon. The court was apparently unswayed by his argument that he was on his way to his job. In a bakery.

The Emperor’s New Clothes.

 

[petee]

alright clever clogs, is years since I studied latin!

necesse est tibi iterum eae linguae studere.

 

[Yossarian]

Another horrific and utterly dispiriting week for Hong Kong - pro-democracy leaders Agnes Chow, Ivan Lam, and Joshua Wong are now political prisoners for their roles in an unauthorised demonstration outside a police station last year; Chow was jailed on her 24th birthday.



Former LegCo member Ted Hui managed to flee overseas while on bail, and issued this statement:



These developments don't seem to be getting too much attention in the Western media because with the pandemic raging and multiple other depressing things happening, outlets are more inclined to report 'good' news like China's succesful lunar mission instead of yet more bad news.

I hope that fucking mainland moon lander crashes and burns.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Hong Kong is gone, it’s basically part of mainland China and will never be Hong Kong again. If I were Xi Jinping I would take this moment to reclaim Taiwan too. This is all down to that cunt Trump making China great again.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Hong Kong is gone, it’s basically part of mainland China and will never be Hong Kong again. If I were Xi Jinping I would take this moment to reclaim Taiwan too. This is all down to that cunt Trump making China great again.

You can't lay this at Trumps door, the west has spent decades propping up and outsourcing swathes of industry to China and propping it up to maximise profits. Hollowing themselves out to fuck over their own citizens and keep profits up and prices down.

Trump is only ever a symptom not the cause.

 

[Jay Park]

You can't lay this at Trumps door, the west has spent decades propping up and outsourcing swathes of industry to China and propping it up to maximise profits. Hollowing themselves out to fuck over their own citizens and keep profits up and prices down.

Trump is only ever a symptom not the cause.

but he did take the heat off Xinnie the Pooh’s failures and incompetencies by being, well, by being Donald Trump

 

[Yossarian]

47 pro-democracy figures - most of the leading pro-democracy activists who haven't already been jailed or gone into exile - have been arrested for "sedition" under the national security law, are being held without bail. and now face potential life sentences.

Their "crime"? Organising an unofficial primary vote for democratic candidates in the now-cancelled legislative council elections.

Hong Kong charges 47 activists in largest use yet of new security law

The pro-democracy figures are accused of "subversion" under the controversial security legislation.

www.bbc.com

 

[Yossarian]

A new sign has gone up in front of this fenced-off lot in a remote area saying "Hong Kong Patriotism Education Base."

 

[not-bono-ever]

A new sign has gone up in front of this fenced-off lot in a remote area saying "Hong Kong Patriotism Education Base."

View attachment 256910

in hk or in the PRC do you know?

 

[Yossarian]

in hk or in the PRC do you know?

Sha Tau Kok area, Hong Kong - near the PRC border, and not far from a detention center formerly used to house protesters.

 

[Yossarian]

Nicole Shum, third from left, married pro-democracy District Council member and former student leader Lester Shum on Jan. 25.

She reposted this wedding photo yesterday saying, "I am the only one left in this picture" - the others are all now in prison as part of the crackdown on pro-democracy legislators and activists,



Under measures introduced at China's National People's Congress meeting Friday, the same pro-Beijing committee that selects Hong Kong's leader will also select a large proportion of Legislative Council members and will be responsible for nominating other candidates to ensure people who aren't "patriots" have no chance of being elected, which means the last vestiges of democracy in Hong Kong have been crushed.

 

[Artaxerxes]

"never thought the wolf I praised and fed children to would eat my face"

China turns its back on Hong Kong loyalists

Beijing is putting its faith in its own mainland officials as it clamps down on the territory

amp.ft.com

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

"never thought the wolf I praised and fed children to would eat my face"

China turns its back on Hong Kong loyalists

Beijing is putting its faith in its own mainland officials as it clamps down on the territory

amp.ft.com

Can you c&p it please, paywalled...

 

[Artaxerxes]

Can you c&p it please, paywalled...

Google the headline to bypass. I'll copy first bit but I'm on mobile so difficult to c&p

China turns its back on Hong Kong loyalists

China’s most devoted supporters in Hong Kong are claiming that they have been cut out of decisions about changes to the territory’s electoral system.

Analysts said this was because of Beijing’s frustration with the inability of the city’s elite to quash anti-government sentiment in the city that exploded in pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Beijing has traditionally relied on a loose network of pro-China lawmakers, tycoons and advisers to its parliament to help govern Hong Kong, telegraph its messages and to serve as a sounding board for new ideas before they are rolled out.


But Chinese officials are making sweeping changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system without consulting many of the city’s loyalists. Instead Beijing has looked towards its newly installed mainland representatives in the city and select older politicians for advice.

The changes, under which Beijing will further increase its control over who qualifies to be a lawmaker in Hong Kong via a new vetting system, were announced at the weeklong annual meeting of the National People’s Congress, China’s rubber-stamp parliament. At the opening session on Friday, Wang Chen, an NPC vice-chairman, said Hong Kong’s electoral system had “loopholes and deficiencies” that could allow “anti-China forces” to seize control of the city.

 

[Rimbaud]

Google the headline to bypass. I'll copy first bit but I'm on mobile so difficult to c&p

More idiocy from Beijing.

Clearly they do not understand that a more softly softly approach was aimed at not inflaming anti-government sentiment.

A more direct approach suggests that they may try a Xinjiang style approach to governing Hong Kong. It seems that they are replacing people who kind of understood the city with echo chamber morons in Zhongnanhai.

It seems self defeating to me. There is no way Hong Kong will survive as a financial center if they choose to go more hardline, and that will cost China too.

 

[not-bono-ever]

HK ers being denied permission to leave the territory I hear, literally at the air gates. people considering fleeing by boat. seriously

 

[Yossarian]

The new normal in Hong Kong: Today was 'National Security Education Day,' with schools ordered to teach children as young as three about the new security law. Officials on the mainland warned that foreigners who meddle in Hong Kong will be "taught a lesson," and police were seen goose-stepping around their barracks PLA-style for the first time.

Ahead of the open days, Security Secretary John Lee said the territory's disciplined services would be adopting PLA-style marching to demonstrate officers' "nationalistic sentiments" and to "strengthen awareness of national security".

Several members of the press who attended the event were ordered by the police to change their masks, because the masks were black.

錯誤 - RTHK

錯誤 - RTHK

news.rthk.hk

 

[Yossarian]

Political prisoner Joshua Wong has had another 10 months added to his sentence for taking part in the annual Tiananmen vigil in Hong Kong last year - I hope the June 4 vigils outside Chinese embassies and consulates around the world are especially well attended this year.

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong sentenced to 10 more months over Tiananmen vigil

Hong Kong democracy activist Joshua Wong will face an additional 10 months in jail for participating in an unauthorised assembly on June 4 last year to commemorate the 1989 crackdown on protesters in…

www.france24.com

 

[Yossarian]

From 1998 to 2019, Hong Kong was the only place in China where the Tiananmen Square massacre was commemorated. I attended maybe eight or nine times,

Now, for the first June 4 since the national security law was introduced, people have been warned that attending can get them 5 years in prison and publicising the vigil carries a 1-year sentence.

I don't even know what to say about this apart from that I will most definitely be attending the vigil and lighting a candle outside the Chinese consulate nearest me and I hope many others around the world do as well, where COVID restrictions allow.

Up to 5 years prison for attending Tiananmen Massacre vigil, Hong Kong gov't warns - 1 year jail for publicising it | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

Hong Kong’s Security Bureau has warned Hongkongers not to take part in this year’s Tiananmen Massacre vigil on June 4, or commemorative long-distance run this Sunday. “The relevant meetings and procession are unauthorised assemblies. No one should take part in it, or advertise or publicise it...

hongkongfp.com

 

[not-bono-ever]

What’s next ? 500 pigs to raid a newspaper offices.

 

[Yossarian]

This concludes the updates from Apple Daily English. Thank you for your support.

Pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily has been forced to close by police raids and the seizure of its assets under the National Security Law, for allegedly "conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security." Several of its editors have been arrested, along with a writer who criticised the crackdown on pro-democracy protests and suggested other countries should sanction the Chinese government.

I don't even know what's left to say at this point - "This is another heartbreaking step toward totalitarianism?" "This crushing of the freedom of the press is a massive violation of the Basic Law and Britain should take appropriate steps?" "Don't buy any fucking Huawei phones?"

Best to focus on the practical things that can be done: Numerous Hong Kong people, including activists, have moved to Britain under the BNO visa scheme introduced in response to the crackdown - some of them have had to deal with hate crimes along with harassment from pro-Beijing groups. This scheme aims to link new arrivals with locals to help them settle in.

HK LINK UP

www.hklinkup.uk

 

[Jessiedog]

This concludes the updates from Apple Daily English. Thank you for your support.

Pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily has been forced to close by police raids and the seizure of its assets under the National Security Law, for allegedly "conspiring to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security." Several of its editors have been arrested, along with a writer who criticised the crackdown on pro-democracy protests and suggested other countries should sanction the Chinese government.

I don't even know what's left to say at this point - "This is another heartbreaking step toward totalitarianism?" "This crushing of the freedom of the press is a massive violation of the Basic Law and Britain should take appropriate steps?" "Don't buy any fucking Huawei phones?"

Best to focus on the practical things that can be done: Numerous Hong Kong people, including activists, have moved to Britain under the BNO visa scheme introduced in response to the crackdown - some of them have had to deal with hate crimes along with harassment from pro-Beijing groups. This scheme aims to link new arrivals with locals to help them settle in.

HK LINK UP

www.hklinkup.uk

Thanks for highlighting this, Yoss.

I still remember when Apple launched back in 1995 and have enjoyed Jimmy's company, on more than a few occasions, over the years.

Hong Kong's largest (and, by far, most popular,) news-media group - and the only/last mainstream voice for democracy - is gone. It's publishers, executives and two senior journalists are in jail.

Hong Kong has fallen.

And the "international community" has failed us.

I'm fucking broken.



Woof

 

[Jessiedog]

Excerpt from today's statement from Apple Daily ...

"We bid farewell to the front pages that have commemorated June 4th and called for Hongkongers to gather at Victoria Park on July 1st. Apple Daily is not perfect, but what will a Hong Kong that cannot permit Apple Daily’s existence look like? It is hard to be hopeful or optimistic as we look at the seemingly insurmountable mountain before us, but please trust that darkness comes before dawn. Being able to walk with you for 26 years has been priceless. Although our steps have faltered, in fighting this good fight, there is beauty still — even in its cessation. We thank every reader of Apple Daily; this last chapter was written in conjunction with all of you. From this vantage point, we can perhaps say we have no regrets. Let’s keep fighting — together."


Full statement in English and Chinese here:

走過26年 美好的仗打完 與讀者一同編寫《蘋果》的最終章

docs.google.com

Woof

 

[Jessiedog]

Quick!

Lock up your libraries!

It would be farcical if it wasn't so Orwellian.

錯誤 - RTHK

錯誤 - RTHK

news.rthk.hk

Woof

 

[Flavour]

Tragic loss for HK but I honestly don't know what if anything the international community could have done about it.

 

[kebabking]

Tragic loss for HK but I honestly don't know what if anything the international community could have done about it.

This I'm afraid - personally I feel that China is a country we should buy absolutely nothing from, but the truth is that even had there been a total economic blockade against China from the west, China would still have done this.

The current Chinese political system just isn't one that can accommodate the democratic trappings that HK had, there's nothing that wouldn't have been thrown under the bus in order to close them down.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Bet Taiwan's got a quivering ring-piece right now.

 

[Yossarian]

Bet Taiwan's got a quivering ring-piece right now.

China has said Hong Kong would be a model for Taiwan of how reunification under "one country two systems" would work - I guess they were technically correct but I don't think Taiwan will be taking them up on the offer.

 

[Jessiedog]

Tragic loss for HK but I honestly don't know what if anything the international community could have done about it.

Well, for a start, both the UK and Canada COULD utilise their recently adopted "Magnitsky" style laws to severely sanction top govt. and security officials. This would particularly impact the Chief Executive, as her husband (living in the UK) and adult children are British and they own property in the UK.

A complete and total boycott of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics would also send a strong message. Surely we remember Berlin in 1936?

Of course, personally, I STRENUOUSLY OBJECT to these measures. I would face life in prison otherwise under the NSL.

I know I'm being watched. Sail. Close. Wind.


Meanwhile, this piece from Mary Hui nicely arrays the overarching breadth and depth of the NSL apparatus in HK.

In just one year, Beijing enveloped Hong Kong in a massive national security complex

A new security structure now sits atop existing institutions, restructuring society, politics, and business.

qz.com

The thing here is, the PRC has amassed enormous strength and wealth by sucking the teat of Western capitalism over the last four and, particularly, two decades. If anyone thinks the CCP is not a threat to the way of life in the US, EU, UK, etc. they are living in La La land. Some (but not and NEVER I, of course,) would say that we are approaching the point of no return. Democratic values and practices will be extinct within the next couple of decades unless drastic action is taken. You think they're not coming for you too?

I'm reminded of the scene from "Too Big To Fail", with Bernanke and Paulson sitting opposite each other across a boardroom table. Paulson asks Bernanke how long they have before it's all over. Bernanke replies that it's all ready come to this and NOW is already too late but needs to be done NOW.

Bernanke: How did we let it get to this Hank?

Paulson: We were all making too much money!

Wake up peeps, before it's too late.

Meanwhile ... I fully support the CCP and Xi Jin Ping (of course!).

Be nice to each other peeps.

(Edit: to clear up SOME of the typos.)

Woof

 

[vanya]

China has a lot of problems. It is a ‘communist’ state which is more unequal than either the neoliberal UK or US! It has millions of poor peasants who are barred from going to the cities to improve their lives. About 6.4% of the country get a say in political decisions (and most of them only do so in a nominal capacity as they are rank and file party members there to rubber stamp the decisions decided for them by the hierarchy). Meanwhile it has more billionaires than any other country except for the US. How long will they put up being locked out of political power?

All of the south sea nations are threatened by China’s expansionist claims in their region which is why they will welcome US and UK naval manoeuvres along their coastlines. And the only way Beijing has managed to stave off widespread civil unrest is through frantic economic growth and even this hasn’t allowed rural areas to feel the benefit. So what will happen when economic growth inevitably stagnates and levels off in the medium term? Ultimately they will no more be able to solve the wall more advanced economies have hit than the US, Europe and Japan have.

There's also India as a potential anti Chinese ally for the West. India is growing at a rate of knots and it doesn't have China's demographic problems. The one child policy means that China is doomed to have an aging population which may reduce growth and also has millions of surplus men who will never find wives. India is more or less democratic which should make it a natural ally for the West.

China may find itself up against an alliance of the West (US, EU, Australasia and dear old Blighty) India, Japan and ASEAN. China has been bullying its neighbours and fighting totally pointless border wars with India as well as trying to dominate the whole of the South China Sea.

I don't think this Xi Jinping character is very clever. China may be overreaching itself and making unnecessary enemies.