Hong Kong: what next?
- Thread starter treelover
- Start date
I'm wondering whether the title of the drama "May You Stay Forever Young" might have drawn upon the iconic and haunting - Bob Dylan written and Joan Baez sung - "Forever Young" that I've been enjoying since the mid 1970's. Hmmm ...
'May God's blessing keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay
Forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay
Forever young
Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay
Forever young
Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young"
Remember peeps. Never forget. Be nice to each other.
Blessings one and all.
Come on Bella. Bed now.
Woof
'May God's blessing keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay
Forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay
Forever young
Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay
Forever young
Forever young
Forever young
May you stay
Forever young"
Remember peeps. Never forget. Be nice to each other.
Blessings one and all.
Come on Bella. Bed now.
Woof
Artaxerxes
Look out, he's got a gnu!
Sigh ...
hongkongfp.com
Woof
Hong Kong's Bleak House Books writes its final chapter | Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
Albert Wan, the proprietor of Bleak House Books, arrived earlier than usual for the Hong Kong store’s last day of operation. In August he had announced his decision to shut down the independent English-language bookstore, citing the political climate in the city. Readying the San Po Kong store...
hongkongfp.com
Woof
A Chinese University of Hong Kong student, Ms Fu, convicted of rioting, handed a mitigation letter she'd written to the judge before her sentencing. (Rough) English translation in the thread below is well worth a read - it's really quite something.
The young lady was sentenced this morning (19/10/2021) to four years and eleven months.
Woof
The young lady was sentenced this morning (19/10/2021) to four years and eleven months.
Woof
Serge Forward
Just enjoyin' my coffee.
Ms Fu is intransigent, stoical and very brave.
An incredible integrity to her values and principles and, yes, very, very brave.
Never forget. Never forgive.
Woof
What happened in Hong Kong during September 2021 - HongKongWatch (published 19/10/2021).
Executive Summary below (with a link near the top to the full report.
www.hongkongwatch.org
Woof
Executive Summary below (with a link near the top to the full report.
Briefing: Human rights developments in Hong Kong in September 2021 — Hong Kong Watch
This briefing describes developments in Hong Kong in September 2021 focusing on the rapid deterioration of human rights in the city following the introduction of the National Security Law. Click here to read the full briefing. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY POLITICAL PRISONERS: ARRESTS, CHARGES, & T
www.hongkongwatch.org
Woof
Activist and barrister, Hang Tung Chow, of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance, is being held without bail under the NSL. She has requested and been denied access to three books by/about Szeto Wah (he was an academic, school headteacher and one of the founders of both the Hong Kong Alliance and the Professional Teachers Union - an extraordinary man and one of the most influential figures in the democratic movement for several decades until his death in early 2011, I met with him a few times back in the late 1990's; a really good, even great, person, an icon). She needs them in order to help prepare for her defence.
Catch-22 strikes again under the new regime.
Woof
Catch-22 strikes again under the new regime.
Woof
And in local news ...
For some reason, MetroPlaza Shopping Mall in Kwun Tong (in Kowloon) has erected an installation outside it's entrance that includes a huge, anatomically detailed, tomcat.
Perhaps they're trying to promote the de-sexing of pet cats ... who knows?
As a dog, I find it both slightly repulsive and yet strangely attractive - but definitely all-round, Hong Kong style, quirky, weird.
(Edit: And the clothing worn by the patrons nicely denotes the crash in the daily temperature range in the last week [from 27C - 33C to 18C - 20C]. And even though it'll be back up to 22C - 27C by midweek this coming week, Autumn has definitely arrived - finally! Climate change is a bitch.)
Woof
For some reason, MetroPlaza Shopping Mall in Kwun Tong (in Kowloon) has erected an installation outside it's entrance that includes a huge, anatomically detailed, tomcat.
Perhaps they're trying to promote the de-sexing of pet cats ... who knows?
As a dog, I find it both slightly repulsive and yet strangely attractive - but definitely all-round, Hong Kong style, quirky, weird.
(Edit: And the clothing worn by the patrons nicely denotes the crash in the daily temperature range in the last week [from 27C - 33C to 18C - 20C]. And even though it'll be back up to 22C - 27C by midweek this coming week, Autumn has definitely arrived - finally! Climate change is a bitch.)
Woof
Last edited:
Meanwhile, for your reading and viewing pleasure on a languid Sunday afternoon in the UK ...
Vivian Wang In the New York Times outlining the exodus from local schools (of both students and teachers). The government response, instead of using the opportunity to reduce class sizes (from 32 - 40 to hopefully something closer to 26 - 34,) decides to close schools - particularly those more liberally inclined.
www.nytimes.com
The inimitable Timothy McLaughlin in The Atlantic on how the "elite" wealthy in Hong Kong have, inevitably, neatly pirouetted to supporting the NSL and hating democracy.
www.theatlantic.com
And finally, a scintillating deep dive from Dennis Kowk (ex-HK barrister and legislator, now exiled) and Sharon Hom of NYU - hosted by the esteemed old-timer legal scholar Jerome Cohen. 90 minute video.
www.cfr.org
Have a smooth week peeps and remember, be nice to each other.
Blessings all.
A piss before bed for you Bella?
(Edited to correct my "woof" to the appropriate, capitalised, "Woof".)
Woof
Vivian Wang In the New York Times outlining the exodus from local schools (of both students and teachers). The government response, instead of using the opportunity to reduce class sizes (from 32 - 40 to hopefully something closer to 26 - 34,) decides to close schools - particularly those more liberally inclined.
‘This Drop Came So Quickly’: Shrinking Schools Add to Hong Kong Exodus (Published 2021)
The Chinese territory is experiencing its biggest population drop in decades as residents flee political repression and a new “patriotic” curriculum.
The inimitable Timothy McLaughlin in The Atlantic on how the "elite" wealthy in Hong Kong have, inevitably, neatly pirouetted to supporting the NSL and hating democracy.
How Hong Kong’s Elite Turned on Democracy
Beijing’s bludgeoning of the prodemocracy movement in Hong Kong would not have been possible without the enthusiastic help of willing collaborators.
And finally, a scintillating deep dive from Dennis Kowk (ex-HK barrister and legislator, now exiled) and Sharon Hom of NYU - hosted by the esteemed old-timer legal scholar Jerome Cohen. 90 minute video.
Virtual Roundtable: The Transformation of Hong Kong
Dennis Kwok, former liberal politician and leader in efforts to democratize China’s Special Administrative Region (SAR), discusses the many changes being imposed on Hong Kong, expected developments, …
www.cfr.org
Have a smooth week peeps and remember, be nice to each other.
Blessings all.
A piss before bed for you Bella?
(Edited to correct my "woof" to the appropriate, capitalised, "Woof".)
Woof
Last edited:
The second NSL conviction happened today (many more will follow).
This, just one for chanting slogans.
I wonder if I chanted for the Independence of the judiciary this would violate the law? (After all, the HKSAR Govt. constantly tout it ... Ha! Ha!)
The answer from the authorities is always ... That depends upon your intent.
Given that they made all the elected District Councillors re-take an oath (already taken with no problem,) and then somehow determined that all the democratically inclined incumbents were "insincere" when they took it - and promptly threw them out of office ... I'm sure that we can be reassured of the veracity of the police and legal system to fairly evaluate "intent".
Oh Lordy!
What a dream law!
What could possibly go wrong?
Oops!
Too late!
Say no more!
Can't say any more!
Woof
This, just one for chanting slogans.
I wonder if I chanted for the Independence of the judiciary this would violate the law? (After all, the HKSAR Govt. constantly tout it ... Ha! Ha!)
The answer from the authorities is always ... That depends upon your intent.
Given that they made all the elected District Councillors re-take an oath (already taken with no problem,) and then somehow determined that all the democratically inclined incumbents were "insincere" when they took it - and promptly threw them out of office ... I'm sure that we can be reassured of the veracity of the police and legal system to fairly evaluate "intent".
Oh Lordy!
What a dream law!
What could possibly go wrong?
Oops!
Too late!
Say no more!
Can't say any more!
Woof
Tangential to HK. A story in the Independent about young HKers in the UK, not eligible for a BNO passport, being trapped in the asylum seekers system (NB You don't need to register to read it, just click the "I'll try later" button. ; )
www.independent.co.uk
Woof
Young Hong Kong nationals who fled police brutality ‘languishing’ in UK asylum system
Exclusive: Home Office scheme offering sanctuary to Hong Kong nationals excludes young people and teenagers for reasons “entirely beyond their control’, campaigners warn
www.independent.co.uk
Woof
ska invita
back on the other side
Met someone involved with supporting HKers in the UK, says the current numbers of people who have arrived on the new BNO visa program is over the 90,000 mark with more expected. No coverage of this in the press - maybe thats for the best knowing the UK press
Not directly related to Hong Kong, but I thought this thread could do with a bit more light.
This song has gone viral in the Chinese speaking world, trending #1 or #2 on YouTube in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia, and also doing well in other countries. Obviously it is banned from China itself.
It's a pretty brilliant satire of China's online nationalist army who are sent over the wall to spread "positive energy" of pro-Beijing propaganda but are actually just vile, obnoxious and tone-deaf (I believe we had an English speaking example early on in this thread). It takes the form of a cheesy love ballad about an over-bearing and over-sensitive partner but it is actually mocking the Chinese Wumao armies. These are a pretty big problem in Chinese speaking Internet to the extent that social media users in Taiwan have retreated to the invite-only clubhouse app to avoid being overrun by Chinese troll farms.
There are English subtitles but they sadly miss a lot of the humour in it - e.g. "retaliate on each other is all there is" in Chinese uses the word 出征, go to war, which is also a term for online brigading, "you belong to me" "come home to me" echoes the way Chinese propaganda typically talks about Taiwan.
"Never let go of any part" is "一点都不能少", literally "not one piece less", a reference to a Chinese nationalist slogan - usually appears alongside a map of China including Taiwan and the nine dash line with the slogan "CHINA - Not one piece less!"
"You urged me to confess to the world our inseperable relationship" uses the term 不可分割 for inseperable, which is the term typically used in China to say that "Since ancient times, Taiwan is an inseperable part of China".
It sometimes translates glass heart correctly, sometimes translates it as "fragile self esteem", but having a glass heart is basically the equivalent of being butthurt.
Some of the translation misses the point while other parts are a bit too on the nose in making the point clear. "It's illegal to breach the firewall, you'll be missed if the Pooh discovers it" is actually more like "Don't go climbing walls again, Grandpa will miss you if he finds out" which is less on the nose but clear enough.
Carrying cotton is a reference to slave labour in Xinjiang, the Wumao armies made a big deal over the boycott and tried to organise counter-boycotts of H&M etc.
"Collecting his favourite honey" is obvious reference to Xi as Pooh bear.
"Farming Hami melons" - Hami melons are from Xinjiang.
"Swallow the Apple, cut off pineapple" - Refers, I suppose, to Apple giving in to Chinese censorship demands and also China's import ban on Taiwanese pineapples.
The "tree leek farm", and the visual gag of the Panda waving leeks, is a common metaphor for little people being harvested by the big fish - you can read more about its origins here: Harvesting chives - Wikipedia
The references to civets and bats is obvious.
The sign reading "NMSL" is a reference to a legendary troll war between Chinese Wumao attacking a Thai celebrity who implied Taiwan is a country or something who had rings ran around them by Thai people's humour, resulting in the Wumao reduced to spamming "nmsl" (stands for "your mother is dead" in Chinese, "ni ma si le"). It somehow escalated into a diplomatic incident with the Chinese Embassy in Thailand getting involved and lots of NMSL related memes.
There's a lot of references to unpack there but it is a very funny song and a bit of a sensation.
It makes me a bit hopeful because the viral success of the song seems to indicate that Beijing has lost the propaganda war aimed at overseas Chinese (Kimberley Chen, who sings in it, was very pro-Beijing in her early career but has apparently had a change of heart - a sign of the times.) They aren't really capable of dealing with satire - being feared is one thing, but being ridiculous is something they cannot stand. It also indicates the era of the entertainment industry self-censoring to please the Chinese access has probably ended - they seriously overplayed their hand.
It gives me some hope that Beijing is not able to dominate the sinosphere and that a tide might be turning. Chinese language satire is probably the best weapon against Xi's totalitarianism, let's hope the success of the song inspires more of this.
This song has gone viral in the Chinese speaking world, trending #1 or #2 on YouTube in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia, and also doing well in other countries. Obviously it is banned from China itself.
It's a pretty brilliant satire of China's online nationalist army who are sent over the wall to spread "positive energy" of pro-Beijing propaganda but are actually just vile, obnoxious and tone-deaf (I believe we had an English speaking example early on in this thread). It takes the form of a cheesy love ballad about an over-bearing and over-sensitive partner but it is actually mocking the Chinese Wumao armies. These are a pretty big problem in Chinese speaking Internet to the extent that social media users in Taiwan have retreated to the invite-only clubhouse app to avoid being overrun by Chinese troll farms.
There are English subtitles but they sadly miss a lot of the humour in it - e.g. "retaliate on each other is all there is" in Chinese uses the word 出征, go to war, which is also a term for online brigading, "you belong to me" "come home to me" echoes the way Chinese propaganda typically talks about Taiwan.
"Never let go of any part" is "一点都不能少", literally "not one piece less", a reference to a Chinese nationalist slogan - usually appears alongside a map of China including Taiwan and the nine dash line with the slogan "CHINA - Not one piece less!"
"You urged me to confess to the world our inseperable relationship" uses the term 不可分割 for inseperable, which is the term typically used in China to say that "Since ancient times, Taiwan is an inseperable part of China".
It sometimes translates glass heart correctly, sometimes translates it as "fragile self esteem", but having a glass heart is basically the equivalent of being butthurt.
Some of the translation misses the point while other parts are a bit too on the nose in making the point clear. "It's illegal to breach the firewall, you'll be missed if the Pooh discovers it" is actually more like "Don't go climbing walls again, Grandpa will miss you if he finds out" which is less on the nose but clear enough.
Carrying cotton is a reference to slave labour in Xinjiang, the Wumao armies made a big deal over the boycott and tried to organise counter-boycotts of H&M etc.
"Collecting his favourite honey" is obvious reference to Xi as Pooh bear.
"Farming Hami melons" - Hami melons are from Xinjiang.
"Swallow the Apple, cut off pineapple" - Refers, I suppose, to Apple giving in to Chinese censorship demands and also China's import ban on Taiwanese pineapples.
The "tree leek farm", and the visual gag of the Panda waving leeks, is a common metaphor for little people being harvested by the big fish - you can read more about its origins here: Harvesting chives - Wikipedia
The references to civets and bats is obvious.
The sign reading "NMSL" is a reference to a legendary troll war between Chinese Wumao attacking a Thai celebrity who implied Taiwan is a country or something who had rings ran around them by Thai people's humour, resulting in the Wumao reduced to spamming "nmsl" (stands for "your mother is dead" in Chinese, "ni ma si le"). It somehow escalated into a diplomatic incident with the Chinese Embassy in Thailand getting involved and lots of NMSL related memes.
There's a lot of references to unpack there but it is a very funny song and a bit of a sensation.
It makes me a bit hopeful because the viral success of the song seems to indicate that Beijing has lost the propaganda war aimed at overseas Chinese (Kimberley Chen, who sings in it, was very pro-Beijing in her early career but has apparently had a change of heart - a sign of the times.) They aren't really capable of dealing with satire - being feared is one thing, but being ridiculous is something they cannot stand. It also indicates the era of the entertainment industry self-censoring to please the Chinese access has probably ended - they seriously overplayed their hand.
It gives me some hope that Beijing is not able to dominate the sinosphere and that a tide might be turning. Chinese language satire is probably the best weapon against Xi's totalitarianism, let's hope the success of the song inspires more of this.
An interesting Hong Kong analysis of the colonial/post colonial/still colonial conditions, from local left wing commentators lausan.hk . A bit too ideological for some perhaps but I always find lausan.hk brings a worthwhile perspective to the conversation.
Woof
Woof
This is worth reading. It's been common practice for decades. Please read this short thread (articles are linked too if you want,) and make a point of reading the thread from Sam Bicker linked in post five. The police have always, routinely, used abusive coercion to extract confessions and this has increased exponentially since the Umbrella Movement in 2014 and, again, exponentially since the 2019 protests started.
Woof
Woof
A superb, in-depth, insightful analysis and exposition from Rimbaud. Thank you. The cultural subtleties and complexities are difficult to explain in English and this is about as close a stab as possible.
I've been watching this go viral across the Milk Tea Alliance over the last couple of weeks and must say that some treasonous, unpatriotic fuckers actually find it to be creative, on-point, hilarious, biting satire - a brief moment of light relief. Shame on them!
Unfortunately, I'm not sure it heralds a significant shift in the Sinosphere. Rather, I think it reflects the already-embedded resistance among the youth across the Milk Tea Alliance.
It won't change things in Hong Kong, Burma, Thailand, Belarus, etc.
A bit like climate change, methinks; far too little, far too late.
Still. A superb exposition.
Woof
Oh! And did anyone else notice the styilised Lennon Wall that starts at 1:36 and runs for a few seconds?
And then: "Don't be angry little Pinky!"
The CCP rarely appreciates creative satire.
I wonder if it breaches the NSL in Hong Kong and will, soon, summarily be banned?
All good patriots would hope so, surely?
Down with this sort of thing, right?!!11!1!!!
Woof
Rimbaud?
RIMBAUD?!!11!1
You have hurt the feelings of 1.4 Billion Chinese people with this treasonous poison!
TRAITOR!11!!!11!!
(Night peeps. Remember ... Be nice to each other. Blessings all. C'mon Bells, Let's get to bed.)
Woof
The latest on the upcoming "reformed" LegCo (parliamentary,) election is somewhat amusing.
All the democratically inclined politicians are either in jail, in exile or disqualified from running (for not being a "patriot").
Every other potential candidate that is democratically inclined has decided to boycott the elections.
There will be no democracy advocates participating in the election. Turnout will almost certainly be historically low.
So ...
... Beijing has instructed each of its preferred candidates to find a "worthy opponent" to stand against themselves. Because this will avoid all of their candidates standing without any opposition and will give the appearance of a contested election.
Such a cunning plan indeed by the CCP! A master plan! Genius!
Rah! Rah! Rah! All hail the election!
The world will celebrate Chinese democracy as exemplified by Hong Kong. And rightly so! Right?
cough
Woof
All the democratically inclined politicians are either in jail, in exile or disqualified from running (for not being a "patriot").
Every other potential candidate that is democratically inclined has decided to boycott the elections.
There will be no democracy advocates participating in the election. Turnout will almost certainly be historically low.
So ...
... Beijing has instructed each of its preferred candidates to find a "worthy opponent" to stand against themselves. Because this will avoid all of their candidates standing without any opposition and will give the appearance of a contested election.
Such a cunning plan indeed by the CCP! A master plan! Genius!
Rah! Rah! Rah! All hail the election!
The world will celebrate Chinese democracy as exemplified by Hong Kong. And rightly so! Right?
cough
Woof
In Hong Kong, at @ 9:30pm on 1st Nov 2021 police arrested four people, aged between 61 and 85 years old, under suspicion of "seditious intention".
They had set up a small, foldable, street display on Sai Yeung Choi Street South in Mong Kok, incorporating a yellow banner reading: "We Want Genuine Universal Suffrage" in Cantonese, along with a yellow umbrella.
Thank the Lord that these dangerous, treasonous, subversives have been brought to book and will pay the penalty for their traitorous behaviour.
Praise the Lord! The CCP has saved Hong Kong!
Come, Bella, time for bed.
Woof
They had set up a small, foldable, street display on Sai Yeung Choi Street South in Mong Kok, incorporating a yellow banner reading: "We Want Genuine Universal Suffrage" in Cantonese, along with a yellow umbrella.
Thank the Lord that these dangerous, treasonous, subversives have been brought to book and will pay the penalty for their traitorous behaviour.
Praise the Lord! The CCP has saved Hong Kong!
Come, Bella, time for bed.
Woof
Similar threads
- Poll
