Is Hong Kong Back in Business?

Chan gave a pre-recorded message from Saudi Arabia

Hong Kong's back baby! FinTech Week has kicked off in the city, but its host, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po contracted Covid-19 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and can't come back until he tests negative. 

It's quite embarrassing to not be able to be there to host your own party, isn't it?

He started his speech apologising for not being at the opening ceremony in person. "Obviously the Arabian hospitality is keeping me away," he joked.

Har-har.

The event is held at the convention centre

Chan told the audience in a pre-recorded message that the event was a "memorable moment for Hong Kong in a great many ways... In a great many ways, we're telling the world that we're back. Back in business, back in the business, and pleasure, of welcoming you to Hong Kong."

Quite repetitive. Does he have anything else to say?

On Wednesday the Global Financial Leaders' Summit kicks off, followed by the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament two days later. Oh good news! People can eat in their seats while watching the games now!

There is also the fact that some heads of American banking institutions are attending the event when the US government has warned them of "whitewashing human rights violations" with their presence and enabling Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu's strategy of opening up when he is one of several government officials sanctioned by the US for cracking down on human rights in the city.

As a result, Lee cannot open a bank account with these financial institutions whose top executives are sharing the stage with him later this week.

Stand News' Lam was arrested last December

While this hoopla about luring top bankers to come to Hong Kong as proof that it's back in business is taking place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, some 300 metres away in a courtroom are two former editors of the defunct Stand News are on trial for conspiracy to publish seditious publications, a sedition law from the colonial era.

Stand News editor-in-chief Chung Pui-kuen and acting editor-in-chief Patrick Lam were arrested last December and if convicted, they could face a maximum jail term of two years and a fine of HK$5,000 (US$640) for a first offense, and three years for a subsequent offense. 

Their trial is expected to last 20 days.

Is this what Chan means by Hong Kong's back? 

Hycroft is a Vancouver Gem

The columns are covered up with vines at the Hycroft entrance

Earlier this week my aunt treated me to a violin and piano recital at Hycroft, an architectural gem in Vancouver. It was formerly a residence and a veteran's hospital before its current owner, The University Women's Club of Vancouver took over in 1962.

For the most part the rooms on the ground floor are relatively well maintained, and there aren't many places like this with such history and elegance in the city.

The recital was held in this drawing room

Hycroft is located on McRae Avenue, and that's because the original owner was Alexander McRae who had the home built for him and his wife Blanche and their three daughters. 

Originally from Ontario, McRae started out in banking and insurance in Minnesota and then expanded to land development on the prairies.

The family arrived in Vancouver in 1907 and commissioned British-born architect Thomas Hooper to design Hycroft. Hooper seems to have good timing, arriving in Vancouver after the great fire of 1886, when two land-clearing fires got out of control and destroyed many parts of the city.

It took two years for Hycroft to be built, featuring 10 fireplaces, six solaria, two lounges, a dining room, drawing room, library, several bedrooms, 13 bathrooms and a ballroom with a sprung floor. imported tiles were used as well as rare woods and ornate plasterwork.

In 1912 McRae was asked to join the military and he was appointed Brigadier-General and head of the British Ministry of Information under Lord Beaverbrook. 

Nearby is this dining room with a fireplace

McRae was also actively involved in provincial and federal politics for almost 30 years, first as a Member of Parliament for Vancouver North in 1926, and four years later he was appointed to the Senate.

He later turned down an offer of Canadian High Commissioner in London because of his wife's health, an she died in 1942. That same year as a contribution to the war effort, the family gave Hycroft to the federal government to use as a veterans' convalescent hospital; the contents of the house were sold at auction. The building functioned as a hospital from 1943 to 1960.

Then in 1962 the University Women's Club of Vancouver was looking for a clubhouse and purchased a part of the Hycroft estate, but it wasn't without its challenges. At the time women were not allowed to have a mortgage, which meant the members had to pay in full. So they did a lot of fundraising as well as using their personal savings to purchase the property. 

These days the UWCV holds various events at Hycroft daily, including a buffet lunch -- we could smell the staff preparing food while listening to the recital! and mahjong too! They also rent out the place for various events -- what a gorgeous venue for a wedding.

A detail of the fireplace tiles

The recital was fantastic too! Violinist Domagoj Ivanovic was accompanied by a pianist and they present a lively program with Brahms' Sonata in G major, Op. 78, followed by his scherzo called Sonatensatz.

After the intermission, we were treated to Wieniawski's Polonaise in D major; Slavonic Dance No. 2 by Dvorak; Stravinsky's Petroushka; Piazzolla's Three Tangos; and with Halloween coming up he could not resist playing Bazzini's Dance of the Goblins.

Picture of the Day: Spooked Out

What happened here?! Or too scary to ask...

Halloween is on Monday and some houses in the neighbourhood have gotten into the spooky spirit.

A few days ago I walked a different way home and came across this!

Scary enough? Or a decorative touch?

Trick or treat! 

Eight Michelin Stars for Vancouver

All the one-star winners with Gwendal Poullennec (far right)

When Michelin announced it would be launching a guide for Vancouver, many of us were skeptical -- how could a city where local residents wear plaid shirts and Lululemon leggings have any fine dining restaurants worthy of a star?

If compared to Hong Kong, where Michelin restaurants mean fine bone china, Riedel wine glasses, and a wine list stocked full of Bordeaux and Burgundies, staff wearing sharp uniforms and polished shoes, and table clothes are ironed on tables, then Vancouver does not meet this bar.

But apparently with some persuasion from Destination Vancouver, the city's tourism board, Michelin managed to accommodate by focusing on the plate rather than the service and surroundings. Yes Vancouver has good food, but is it Michelin great?

Only eight stars were awarded, 12 Bib Gourmands and 40 Recommended Restaurants, making it a total of 60 places where foodies must eat.

But the list is contentious, particularly when it comes to Chinese cuisine.

Why is it that Vancouver -- a city known for its Cantonese cuisine -- has Quanjude, a Peking duck restaurant that has a history that goes back to Qing dynasty Beijing have a star, and not locally praised Dynasty Restaurant which was only "recommended". Same goes with Chef's Choice, where we recently had some stellar dinners.

Makes you wonder who the inspectors were...

We agree Published on Main, Burdock & Co, Kissa Tanto and St. Lawrence deserve a star, but Quanjude, where locals scoff at the high prices and that the signature dish is bad?

Also earning a star is Barbara, a place none of my friends have heard of, but maybe now we have to check out? 

In addition, many of these starred restaurants are on the east side of Vancouver or even in the downtown east side and Chinatown, sketchy areas particularly at night. Guess Michelin was willing to overlook the safety factor...

One Star:

AnnaLena

Barbara

Burdock & Co

iDen and Quanjude Beijing Duck House

Kissa Tanto

Masayoshi

Published on Main

St. Lawrence

Bib Gourmand:

Anh and Chi

Chupito

Fable Kitchen

Fiorino, Italian Street Food

Kin Kao Song

Little Bird Dim Sum + Craft Beer

Lunch Lady

Nightshade

Oca Pastificio

Phnom Penh

Say Mercy!

Vij's

Changing Face of Canada is Asian

More immigrants make up the Canadian population

Statistics Canada has unveiled its latest population figures and 8.3 million people or 23 percent of the national population were either immigrants or permanent residents from 2016 to 2021.

This percentage tops the previous record of 22.3 percent in 1921.

Metro Vancouver has 54 percent visible minorities

Asian-born immigrants were the largest ethnic group at 62 percent last year, compared to only 12.1 percent in 1971. India was the source of most of the Asian immigrants, contributing 18.6 percent of the total number arriving between 2016 to 2021.

They were followed by those from the Philippines at 11.4 percent, and then China at 8.9 percent. Part of the drop of Chinese immigrants could be because of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions that prevented many people from leaving, and also China making it harder for people to move money out, thus hampering their exit plans.

When it comes to Metro Vancouver, 54 percent identify as visible minorities, compared to 49 percent five years ago.

The largest non-white ethnic groups are Chinese at 19.6 percent of the population, and South Asian at 14.2 percent, and Filipino at 5.5 percent. 

Richmond has over 80 percent visible minorities

When analysed further, Richmond has the highest proportion of people who are visible minorities at 80.3 percent, followed by Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam and then Vancouver at 54.5 percent. 

This national census also gave people the opportunity to identify themselves as from Hong Kong as opposed to just China, and that number is 8,560 in Metro Vancouver. Also interestingly there seems to be some 12,000 more Chinese women than men in the 25-40 age group. One urban planner suggests perhaps it's because of astronaut families with husbands back in Asia.

However, there is much chatter post-National Congress that many businessmen in China have either left or are leaving, and with conscription in Russia, we could see more Chinese and Russians landing on our shores...

Picture of the Day: Panfried Crispy Vermicelli

Peek inside and this dish offers a variety of textures and tastes

A small Chinese restaurant in Vancouver's Kerrisdale called Southern Delicacy has a noodle dish many customers like to order because the kitchen does it so well.

It's panfried crispy vermicelli, and either with fuzzy melon and shredded pork (CAD$22.95), or with bitter melon and beef in black bean sauce (CAD$23.95).

We ordered the latter today and I can confirm it's delicious. The table of two next to us ordered it too.

Admittedly the restaurant did not invent this dish, but it makes me wonder why it wasn't created earlier.

It arrives like a package, the crispy vermicelli on top, already cut like a pizza. Underneath is the stir-fried slices of bitter lemon and beef in black bean sauce.

Put them together and you have a crispy rice noodle that soaks up the sauce and that crunch -- it's not too oily and not jaw-breaking hard either, like some other crispy egg noodle dishes.

The play of textures, soft and crunchy from the noodles, combined with the taste of sweetness from the beef and bitterness from the bitter melon makes it a complex dish, well executed and tastes great.

Then you eat too much of it and have a food coma afterwards... 

Southern Delicacy

6055 West Boulevard

Vancouver, BC

604 559 3939

Review: Blind Ambition

A tense scene during the wine competition in France

The other day I saw a documentary called Blind Ambition, by Warwick Ross, the same director as Red Obsession, a film about the Chinese people's love of wine.

I had interviewed him in 2014 about Red Obsession and at the time it seemed like the topic of wine was a one-off, as his next project was going to be about more than 60 British, Chinese, Danish and Canadian intelligence, marine and naval officers eluded invading Japanese forces and left Hong Kong on Christmas Day, 1941.

But it seems Ross was sidetracked by another wine story -- about four Zimbabweans who formed a team to compete in a prestigious wine competition in France in 2017.

Ross has directed another documentary on wine

The remarkable thing about this quartet is that a few years before then, they had never tasted wine. They each left Zimbabwe under strongman Robert Mugabe who wrecked havoc on the economy, and came to South Africa to make a new life for themselves.

They separately started working in the restaurant business and were intrigued about wine, and eventually becoming sommeliers.

However, were they good enough to take part in the World Blind Wine Tasting Championship in France? They were about to find out.

Ross follows each of their stories of why they left Zimbabwe and how they got into wine, and also viewers get to find out how difficult this wine competition is -- the teams must identify the grape variety, the country the wine was made in, the producer of the wine and the vintage.

Through tasting and inspecting the wine they need to use a process of elimination to figure all this out. As a team they lean on each other's knowledge but also need to trust them in believing their hunch might be better than theirs.

Complicating the situation is Team Zimbabwe's coach Denis, a Frenchman who used to be one of the best wine tasters in the world, but has since lost his touch, who riles up their previous coach JV, another Frenchman who was diligently training the South African team.

The four are top sommeliers in South Africa

Wine expert and writer Jancis Robinson is Team Zimbabwe's champion -- helping start an online fundraising campaign to get them to France. She sees not only their potential, but also is excited by their eagerness to learn.

Nevertheless, other wine experts compare their challenge like Egypt having a team of skiers to compete in the Olympics...

The personal stories are so inspiring, and explains their motivations. One recalls being smuggled to South Africa in a container with not a lot of air in it...

In general the filmmaking is inconsistent, with some gorgeous overview shots of the chateau where the competition is held, along with the stunning natural scenery of Zimbabwe, while other scenes are literally shot as they happened, like the dust-up between the rival coaches, while the cameraman is seen reflected in the video call with the French coach.

In any event, Blind Ambition has great tension, not only with the wine competition itself, but also the personal obstacles each of them have gone through. It's an inspiring film that if anything gives insight into the lives of refugees and how we should give them a hand to help them achieve their dreams.

Blind Ambition

Directed by Warwick Ross and Ross Coe

95 Minutes

HK Stocks React to Xi

Xi and Politburo move markets in a downward direction

How did Hong Kong react to General Secretary Xi Jinping's extension of power for at least another five years and his seven-man Politburo lineup?

The Hang Seng Index plunged over 700 points to drop below 16,000 points, a 13-year low. The index fell 4.4 percent to 15,494. 24 at 11.01am local time, the lowest level since May 2009. There was a major sell off of tech stocks, with Alibaba Group falling 8.8 percent to HK$63.50, a record-low close, and Tencent Holdings slumped 7 percent to HK$216.80. Meituan slumped 9.5 percent to HK$128,10.

HSI plunged below 15,000 in 13 years

Developer stocks also dropped, with Longfor Group falling 9.4 percent to HK$17.30 and Country Garden lost 7.7 percent to HK$1.32.

In his report to the Congress, Xi called for "regulating the mechanism of wealth accumulation", signalling a tighter oversight of private capital following months of crackdown on tech companies, while also pushing his vision for "common prosperity" in a bid to close the wealth gap in the country.

China's economy grew only 3.9 percent in the third quarter when it had projected 5 percent, demonstrating a lack of consumer confidence in the retail sector, which only grew 2.5 percent in the third quarter.

Does Xi even care about economic numbers? This slide backwards is a rebuke to what Jiang Zemin/Zhu Rongji and Hu Jintao/Wen Jiabao did in the past 20 years.

Unless Xi has an economic miracle up his sleeve, stocks are going to sink further.

Xi's Loyal Lineup

The men who will be in charge of China were revealed today

A day after former president Hu Jintao unceremoniously left before the end of the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese leader Xi Jinping revealed his Politburo Standing Committee which left China experts' tongues wagging.

Looking at the lineup, it's not about competence or a diversity of opinion, but fierce loyalty to Xi that trumps all.

The biggest shocker is that Premier Li Keqiang will be replaced by Li Qiang, 63, who was the Party Secretary of Shanghai. 

Xi chose those most loyal to him in Politburo

He bungled the Covid-19 outbreak in Shanghai, which resulted in the city being locked down for more than two months and people complained of not having enough food to eat. 

Surprisingly Li was not sacked because of his close relationship with Xi, and his influence as Party Secretary of Shanghai.

The two go way back to 2004 when Li was Xi's chief secretary in Zhejiang province, and Xi promoted him to governor of the province when Xi became President in 2013.

It's quite concerning that Li will be in charge of the country's economy, but with zero-Covid still in force, perhaps he won't be expected to meet unrealistic targets.

Others in the lineup: Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi.

Zhao is head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, reporting on several officials for corruption over the years. When he was 42 years old, he was the youngest provincial governor when he was governor of Qinghai.

Shanghai's lockdown was chaotic and shocking

Wang has an academic background, and was the brains behind many Communist Party concepts, such as the Three Represents of Jiang Zemin, the Scientific Outlook on Development of Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinping Thought. It is believed the Belt and Road project was also Wang's idea.

Cai is currently Mayor of Beijing, and his success of hosting the Winter Olympics earlier this year in a closed loop earned him brownie points. But in 2017 in a bid to reduce the capital city's population, he kicked out many migrant workers who were living in the outskirts of the city.

Ding is a trained engineer and one of Xi's closest confidants. He has worked as Xi's secretary since 2007, and seven years later became head of the presidential office, similar to chief-of-staff.

Li is Party Secretary of Guangdong Province where he pushed for the development of the tech industry and economic reforms. 

Should we be surprised there are no women in this powerful policy-making body? For a country that claims "women hold up half the sky", it doesn't seem to trust or believe women are capable of doing the job...

Former President Hu Escorted Out

Hu escorted out of the Great Hall of the People as Xi watched

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is wrapping up -- but not without some drama.

Sitting next to President -- or rather -- General Secretary of the Party Xi Jinping was his predecessor, former president Hu Jintao. 

One would think sitting next to the big guy would mean Hu was in Xi's good graces, but just the Chinese leader was about to give his closing remarks on the congress, a steward came by to tell Hu it was time to leave.

Hu has a word with Xi and Li before leaving

Hu, looking much older with his naturally greying hair, refused to move at first, and the steward practically had to hoist him up. Xi acted as if nothing was wrong as Hu was carted off.

China experts are completely agog at what happened, but it has been long known that Xi didn't think much of Hu's Communist Youth League, which is supposed to pick out and groom young people for the Party.

Xi has basically dismissed the CYL, saying that "All they [cadres] can do is just repeat the same old bureaucratic, stereotypical talk", thus curtailing Hu's influence.

And today seems like the final straw -- literally forcing him out of the room in front of everyone.

Other surprises are afoot -- Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Han Zheng, and even Wang Yang are not included in the new lineup of the Standing Committee.

There were predictions that Li Keqiang would stay on in the committee but would step down as premier in March, but looks like he's been completely shut out. He was pretty much sidelined the entire 10 years anyway. 

Li Zhanshu is 72, so well past retirement age.

Wang was to stay in Standing Committee

Han Zheng was Vice Premier of the State Council and Standing Committee, and is 68 years old which is time for retirement. He had been the leader of the Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs since April 2018.

Wang Yang at 67 years old was expected to stay on and not only was a member of the Standing Committee, but also Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. He may have been ousted as he was a vice premier in Li Keqiang's cabinet?

This means Xi has kicked out more people he either doesn't like or trust, and will put in at least four of his own people, who will be revealed tomorrow.

The fact that this was all sorted out in August is quite the feat for Xi, and demonstrates his unchallenged power not only in the Party but also the country.

This does not bode well for China, as it means a continuation of zero-Covid at the expense of the economy, and could also further increase tensions across the Taiwan Strait which no one needs now, in particular Taiwan.

HK's Contradictory Covid Messaging

Lee (middle) says masks must still be worn outdoors

While Hong Kong has gone down to "0+3" in terms of quarantine, and 12 to a table and people can meet in groups of 12 in public, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu still insists that the mask mandate must continue outdoors.

In an RTHK phone-in show, Lee claimed the reason was to protect the vulnerable, in other words the elderly and children.

A bar is raided by police, checking Covid-19 app

Hello... it's OUTSIDE.

He added when the vaccination rate for children goes up then perhaps they would revisit the mask mandate, but until then, everyone needs to mask up.

"One thing that has been agreed by all the experts that I have come across, whether they are subscribing to their own school of thought... then there is a very general agreement that mask-wearing should continue," Lee said.

Meanwhile the Hong Kong police continue to raid bars with live performers, shutting down acts by forcing everyone to produce their LeaveHomeSafe app and their HKID. 

Talk about killing the mood -- no one dares say a word in case the police decide to fine someone for not being cooperative.

And Lee thinks people want to come back to Hong Kong to visit, or even move back there?

If test positive, bankers can flee by jet or yacht

Meanwhile bankers who attend next month's finance summit in Hong Kong are exempt from being restricted from going to bars and restaurants for three days in order to attend conferences and meet clients, though the visiting bankers must still conduct the battery of RAT and PCR tests.

However, if they do test positive, they won't be forced to isolate until they get better, but instead can leave the city via private jet or yacht -- if they did not fly into Hong Kong on commercial flights.

It has now become one city, two systems.

How is this fair to residents? Is this finance summit really going to jump start the economy?

And these finance types are complicit in presenting the image that Hong Kong is open for business.

But the reality could not be further from the truth...

Lee's Housing Solutions

Lee showing his policy address to the media yesterday

In his debut policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the government will build 30,000 units in the next five years, for the "Light Public Housing" scheme.

These are not apparently permanent housing units but temporary ones for them to move into for the time being.

Will he house people in units at Penny's Bay?

Is he referring to all those shipping containers that used to be used for Covid-19 isolation units at Penny's Bay?

There's around 9,000 units for the first year with no transportation logistics, but hey -- it's next door to the "Happiest Place on Earth", Disneyland!

Lee to Attempt Luring Talent to Hong Kong

Lee gives his maiden policy speech in the Legislative Council

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has delivered his first policy address that clocked in at two hours and 45 minutes... longer than Chinese President Xi Jinping's summary of the work speech a few days ago at the National Congress.

In it there was no mention of Hong Kong going to "0+0", or zero quarantine, nor was there a hint that people could use barbecue pits anytime soon. They have been closed indefinitely throughout the pandemic.

What was mentioned that caught our attention was Lee's keenness to entice new talent to the city to make up for the brain drain in the past year of tens of thousands of Hongkongers emigrating overseas.

Lee acknowledges over 140,000 have left HK

"Over the past two years, the local workforce shrank by about 140,000. Apart from actively nurturing and retaining local talents, the government will proactively trawl the world for talents," his speech transcript said.

Lee announced the city's 17 economic and trade offices will expand to include offices specifically to lure business and talent to Hong Kong. Not only will they try to lure professionals who earn at least HK$2.5 million a year, but also recent graduates from the world's top 100 universities who have three years' work experience.

The government will also make it easier for companies to hire people to come to Hong Kong to work by removing the requirement to prove the difficulty of hiring locally, while employment visas will be extended to three years (currently two years).

And those foreigners who live and work in Hong Kong for seven years not only can become permanent residents, but also get a stamp duty refund if they buy property (if they can afford it).

His speech aims to lure foreign talent to HK

While all these measures are all good and well, if Hong Kong doesn't completely relax its Covid-19 policies, people still will not come. The city has also had a terribly battered reputation following the 2019 protests and implementation of the national security law could spook some people from coming. 

One observer sarcastically interpreted these measures as Lee's effort to get overseas Hongkongers to come back into the fold -- but it's unclear which ones he wants to employ and the ones he wants to imprison.

It's really hard to see how Lee can really attract the people he wants to work long-term in Hong Kong unless they have been living under a rock for the past three years at least.

How did the market react? The Hang Seng Index had started slightly up before the speech, but afterwards lost its gains to trade 1.9 percent lower. 

Review: Cafe Kitsune

The numerous layers of pastry looked delicious, but not really

A friend visiting from Singapore remarked how dogs in Vancouver looked much cuter than back home.

It was a strange observation, but I have to say dogs here are definitely fit, their owners for the most part like to exercise too, wearing the Lululemon outfits and walking or running along the streets or trails.

She said this while we walked to Gastown to find a cool cafe. As we walked along Water Street near the Gastown Steam Clock, a homeless guy walked towards us and I was very aware of his presence. He hesitated for a second and then came up close to me and pretended to air kiss me.

Matcha lemonade, matcha tea (back)

My friend and I were both shocked -- I was too surprised to say anything, though I could tell he hesitated wondering if he should do something or not. It was broad daylight so I was not worried, but it was really bizarre.

We tried to find Nelson the Seagull, a cafe her friend had suggested, but by the time we arrived before 5pm, it was closed!

So we headed to Cafe Kitsune, a famous cafe in France that has a fox as its logo. The one in Gastown is attached to a boutique selling Kitsune-branded clothing which is super expensive. A sweatshirt with an embroidered fox logo is over CAD$300...

We stuck to consuming drinks and food in the cafe instead. I ordered a matcha lemonade, my friend a matcha tea, and we shared a pain au chocolat.

The pastry looked gorgeous with its numerous layers, but when I cut into it, there was no crunch and flakiness. My friend thought it had been microwaved, but I assumed it had been sitting in the cafe all day. 

So the taste of the pain au chocolat was underwhelming, but I enjoyed my drink, with top notes of green tea, and a lemony finish.

Seating is sparse, but if you can score the two seats by the front window, it's the perfect private nook for chatting and people-watching.

Cafe Kitsune

157 Water Street 

Vancouver, BC

236 477 4777

Chinese Consul Staff Rough up HK Protesters

Ambassador pulls a protester's hair as officer drags him out

The UK has a diplomatic row on its hands after a scuffle between protesters and staff at the Chinese Consulate in Manchester on Sunday afternoon.

Pro-democracy Hong Kong protesters were holding a peaceful protest of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China outside of the consulate, when an older man with salt and pepper hair under a beret and wearing a scarf, knocked down a protest poster and pushed people away as he passed through the gates of the consulate.

Chinese staff beat up protester with Zheng nearby

It is believed he is the Consul-General of Manchester, Zheng Xiyuan.

Meanwhile a Hongkonger was pulled into the consulate grounds where a group of people were punching him.

The Manchester police roughly grabbed people out of the way to avoid being pulled in as well, and then managed to grab the protester who was being beaten and threw him out of the consulate grounds.

Other officers stood shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the gate to prevent others from coming in, as the consulate staff walked back into the building.

The consulate was not pleased with the posters placed outside the consulate, with cartoon depictions of President Xi Jinping looking like an emperor looking in the mirror, another of him with a noose around his neck. Other signs called for the end of the dictator, while flags called for Hong Kong independence, which China vehemently opposes.

Consulate did not like images like this

The Hongkonger who was roughed up says he and other protesters came to the UK where they supposed to be free to express themselves, and that they were peacefully protesting. 

The Chinese consulate in Manchester said the protesters were "a small batch of Hong Kong independence advocates" and that it was unacceptable, for any diplomatic mission, for protesters to hang an image insulting the head of state.

MP Andrew Gwynne shared the footage on Sunday night, and called on the British Government to investigate the incident. He wrote: "This would be unacceptable on the streets of Hong Kong and against the provisions of the Joint Declaration to uphold democratic rights and freedoms. BUT this is Manchester."

Vancouver's First Chinese-Canadian Mayor

Sim giving his victory speech with an overwhelming win

An historic night for Vancouver, which has now elected its first Chinese-Canadian mayor.

Businessman Ken Sim came back from a narrow defeat in 2018 to overwhelmingly beat incumbent Kennedy Stewart in the municipal elections in British Columbia today.

When 50 percent of the voting places reported the 63-year-old Sim winning comfortably, he went up on stage in South Vancouver to give his victory speech, thanking his fellow mayoral candidates, members of his political party, ABC, and his supporters.

Stewart giving his concession speech

"The path to get here was incredibly long. One hundred and thirty-five years after the first Chinese head tax was paid just for the right to come here and work on building a railway, Vancouver has elected its first Chinese-Canadian mayor.

"The history of this moment is not lost on me," Sim said. "But the honour really goes to those whose shoulders I stand on."

He went on to name various Chinese-Canadian politicians such as Tung Chan, Douglas Jung, Kerry Jang, Art Lee, and Raymond Louie.

It's interesting Sim described himself as a Chinese-Canadian mayor because throughout the race he refused to play the race card; he also admitted his biggest regret was not learning Chinese (Cantonese).

Sim also paid tribute to his parents who have passed away. In 1967 Sim said his parents who had good jobs in Hong Kong, took the brave step of taking their three children with them to Canada to start a new life that was very difficult, but managed to have two more children including himself. 

Peppered throughout his speech, Sim said, "You can't lose if you don't give up".

Sim and his family of four boys and wife Teena

The Vancouver mayoral race was one that signalled change -- voters felt Stewart hadn't done enough to address housing and crime issues that seem to be spiralling out of control, while also tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. 

They hope a clean sweep of Sim and his party on Council and Parks Board will finally lift the political impasse of the past four years and start to really get things done.

He promised if elected to hire 100 police officers and 100 healthcare workers and reminded people tonight this would be one of the first things he would do. It is a lofty promise, but it was one that led to the Vancouver Police Union to endorse Sim -- the first time the union has ever done that.

In addition Sim promised to make it faster to get business licences and building permits to get the economy rolling.

The next four years will be interesting to watch -- a political novice becoming mayor of British Columbia's biggest city -- and how he will make Vancouver one of the best cities in the world again... we can only hope.

Students Perpetuate Protester's Words

Protest posters, Central Saint Martins, London

The fallout from Thursday's one-man protest has led to censorship in China as expected, while others outside the country carry on the mantle.

A man dressed in construction worker uniform lit a fire on Sitong Bridge in Haidian district in northwest Beijing, and unfurled white banners with red Chinese characters denouncing Xi Jinping as a dictator, expressing frustrations with the zero-Covid policy, and explicitly not calling for revolution but reforms. 

Pic of Thursday's protest

He did this just days before the twice-in-a-decade National Congress of the Communist Party of China, where Xi is expected to extend his rule for at least another five years, if not more.

Many in the middle class worry this means more of the same as the past 10 years and it's not the direction they want to go.

But this one-man protest was quickly snuffed out, with police arriving soon after to take down the banners and put the alleged protester into a car, where no one knows what has happened to him since.

However, his words live on.

Chinese students in various universities overseas have taken those protester's words and created posters they have put all over their respective campuses.

The tertiary institutions include: Stanford, The George Washington University, University of Glasgow, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Notre Dame, Amherst College, and McGill University.

These students on the outside have either experienced the extreme zero-Covid measures, or haven't been able to go home because of them, and have seen family and friends suffering from severe lockdowns and worry about them not only having enough to eat, but also their well-being from being isolated for so long.

Protest inspired posters like these

So it's no wonder they were inspired by this one-man protest and are continuing it outside China.

What has happened to to Sitong bridge man? No one knows but hopefully he will somehow find out his words have spread like weeds, organically sprouting everywhere. He has definitely helped openly sow the seeds of discontent. And for Xi to be deaf to these calls could be the end of him...

 

One-Man Protest in Beijing

Smoke could be seen with protest banners on Sitong Bridge

Days before the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and a brazen protest was held on a bridge on the fourth ring road near Haidian in northwest Beijing.

Around 1pm on Thursday a white banner with red Chinese characters had the words:

The protester and his banners were taken down

"Depose the Traitorous Dictator Xi Jinping"

"We don't want nucleic acid tests, we want food"

"We want freedom, not lockdowns"

"We want votes, not leaders"

"We want dignity, not lies"

"We are citizens, not slaves"

There was something burning on the bridge with black smoke, apparently a bid to attract attention.

Soon after the banners were unfurled, the police arrived and someone -- a man? -- was put into a vehicle and taken away.

That person had the guts to say what a lot of people have been thinking since the pandemic, if not longer. He also does not want Xi to continue his rule for a third term -- or even longer.

Banner calls for "dictator" Xi to be deposed

Now on social media people are asking "Is Sitong man safe?" with a reference to the intersection where the incident happened. 

What will happen to this person is anyone's guess, and managing to pull off this stunt in Beijing just before a big political event is impressive to say the least. But the punishment may be tough. He knew the consequences but did it anyway, to great effect.

Did Xi get the message?

We will find out in a few days' time.

Suspended Students Leads to Firestorm over Cartoon

Zunzi's cartoon sparked complaints from the police

The Education Bureau has told St Francis Xavier's school in Tsuen Wan to submit a report that resulted in 14 students being suspended for apparently disrespecting China's anthem and emblem when they failed to turn up for the flag-raising ceremony.

One of the students said he was confused by the punishment as suspensions are reserved for students who smoke on campus or get caught in a fight.

"Although I'm back at school now, I have no idea why I was punished," he said.

St Francis Xavier School in Tsuen Wan

The student said that morning they were eating breakfast in the school playground when the anthem started playing.

He began walking over when he heard the anthem but was stopped by the principal who told the students they were suspended and ordered to pack up their things and leave.

"How could you decide this before having any evidence? Everyone in Form Six is racing against time doing past [exam] papers. Have you considered us before suspending us?" asked another student.

In a letter to parents, the school said the 14 students were suspended for "breaking school rules" because they had failed to turn up for assembly.

The flag-raising ceremony is mandated to be held on a weekly basis. 

Some lawmakers said the punishment may have been too harsh, but still felt the students were in the wrong.

But others had another opinion.

Leo Chu Tsz-lok, the education affairs spokesman for the Democratic Party, urged authorities to review the manner in which the school had handled the incident.

Zunzi's caricature self-portrait

"You can't boost one's patriotism by punishing [students]. While there are guidelines from education authorities on the flag-raising ceremony, students should not be taken to task at every turn just for some minor and careless mistakes."

Political cartoonist Zunzi made a mockery of the incident in a political cartoon, but was admonished by the police for painting them in a bad light.

The cartoon shows riot police arriving at a school, with one officer asking a bespectacled woman: "What bad things have the students done today, headmistress Chan?" The woman lists the infringements -- using foul language, stealing an eraser, bringing along a laser pen, and talking back to the teacher.

He wanted to show the absurdity of the situation, but the police took exception and complained to Ming Pao. 

The police letter said the cartoon would mislead readers into thinking officers were called in to handle students who showed "disrespect" for the flag-raising ceremony.

The letter added the cartoon's content was "not factual" and would not only "damage the force's reputation", but also "harm the force's relations with citizens".

For the most part relations were damaged back in 2019... sending this letter showed how desperate the force is to defend its reputation, and that it didn't have a sense of humour.

Zunzi denied he was criticising the force, but instead asking for teachers to be more lenient on disciplinary matters.

The brouhaha over the cartoon made the force look even more thin-skinned and emphasised the absurdity of the school's punishment of the students.

Luckily Zunzi is not in Hong Kong anymore, but still, can no one take a joke these days?

Hang Seng Index Drop

The Hang Seng Index fell for a fourth consecutive day

The chatter these days is about the Hang Seng Index plunging to below 17,000 points, the first time in 11 years. It fell for four consecutive days down 6.9 percent to 16,832.36 on Tuesday.

"Hong Kong stocks will continue to be in the doldrums, given the Covid resurgence and policy tightening overseas," said Zhang Yidong, a strategist at Industrial Securities in Shanghai.

"The flare-up in the pandemic and a slumping property market will make it harder for the economy to rebound this time."

But others remember the HSI dropped 50 percent six months after Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor became chief executive of Hong Kong, from 33,154 to 16,458.

Nevertheless, her predecessor Leung Chun-ying claims to know the reason for the slump -- ignorant foreign investors.

"Not only do they not know [enough about Hong Kong], they have plenty of misunderstandings or superficial knowledge. Or they were misled, because of smearing campaigns by overseas media and politicians about what's really happening in Hong Kong," he said.

Why is he making this a "them-versus-us" thing, when many of the investors are Hongkongers themselves?

It makes zero sense. He makes it seem like only foreigners have money.

Meanwhile for a third straight day, the People's Daily in China continues to proclaim the country will not "lie flat" when it comes to the pandemic, that it is still pursuing zero Covid...

Others have remarked on social media that the HSI has dropped because the patriots are in charge...