Review: Spirited Away

Chihiro inhabits a place full of spirits in Spirited Away

I'm still trying to digest what I saw in the afternoon showing of Hayao Miyazaki's 2001 masterpiece Spirited Away, an animated fantasy story about a girl who matures very quickly, encounters spirits and learns a lot about human nature.

Ten-year-old Chihiro Ogino and her parents are driving to their new home in the countryside when her father takes a short cut and they stop in front of a tunnel. At first she is scared going in, but her parents check it out, and not wanting to be left alone, Chihiro goes with them.

Her parents start eating food in a deserted place

On the other side they discover a deserted amusement park, emblematic of Japan's boom years. Her father smells something delicious and follows it to a restaurant that is strangely open but no staff inside. Both parents sit down to eat, but Chihiro doesn't think it's right and goes off exploring and discovers she is in a spirit world.

When she goes back to the restaurant, she finds her parents have gorged so much they have morphed into pigs and to save them, Chihiro needs to work for Yubaba, the female owner of a bathhouse for spirits, and it's not an easy task.

Yubaba is a granny with a massive head, but in fact she is a witch, and all her staff are indentured labourers; she has taken their real names so they are stuck in the spirit world.

Yubaba is a pretty scary person to deal with!

As daunting as her task is, at each step of the way, someone helps Chihiro, perhaps because they think she can be of use later on? Or they are keen to see her succeed?

There's a lot of metaphors in the film, as previously mentioned her parents like gluttons eating every dish in sight that refers to human consumerism, while a spirit called No Face (he wears a mask) tempts the bathhouse staff with "gold" that magically appears in his hand, and so they will do whatever he wants as long as he pays them handsomely, a reference to greed.

When No Face tries to get Chihiro to accept his "gold", she refuses, which shows how focused she is on her goal of saving her parents, and that money cannot corrupt her.

The spirit characters are quite an eclectic bunch, from dust sprites that lug lumps of coal to a fiery hot furnace, to a trio of green heads that hang out with Yubaba, and for an elderly lady who also flies like a bird, she sure has a gigantic baby to take care of!

Spirits like No Face help Chihiro along the way

Spirited Away not only has adventure, fantasy and spirits, but also a romantic element when Chihiro meets Haku, a boy who helps her initially, and has been cast under a spell. 

Chihiro's growing maturity is evident, from a girl miffed that she has to start school elsewhere and only cares about her bouquet of flowers, to being determined to do whatever she has to do to save her parents, while learning how the world of work can be physically demanding.

The storyline for Spirited Away has been so well thought out that it's no wonder Miyazaki won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Best Asian Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards, and Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival among others.

It's a film that resonates with many people who saw it 22 years ago and it continues to inspire them to this day. Even this morning I heard a reference to the film in a radio interview. It was a conversation with Tasli Shaw, an artist and boat captain who makes portraits of marine mammals. When she was asked her all time favourite movie, she immediately answered, Spirited Away.

Romance blooms between Chihiro and Haku

Spirited Away

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

125 minutes

Chinese Migrants Smuggle into the US

Chinese migrants trying to communicate with border patrol

Reaching the United States has always been the goal of many Chinese and after China lifted all Covid-19 restrictions, its residents are fleeing by the droves.

The constant lockdowns during the pandemic caused them to think of their escape plans, with many looking for ways to get out.

In 2023 over 6,500 were apprehended

While the uber rich have their consultants to help them move their money out and themselves, it's the middle class folks who also want to make a go of it in the US.

Some are doing it the official way by applying for a visa to the US Consulate in their respective cities, while others have found another, more arduous way to get into America.

Several media reports including this Reuters report has found that these Chinese people buy a ticket to Ecuador -- because they can enter visa-free -- and from there pay smugglers up to US$50,000 to get them across to Fronton, Texas, the US-Mexico border city.

Through doing their research online, these migrants discover they cannot bring any belongings with them, only the basic necessities -- many bring battery power packs -- and footwear like Crocs and hiking boots.

How many are making the trek?

In the six months since October 22, there have been 6,500 Chinese apprehended by border patrol, the highest on record, a more than 15-fold increase from a year ago, according to US Customs and Border Protection data.

Once these migrants get to the border at Fronton, they are instructed to find the cemetery where the border patrol is based. Many of them seek asylum because they fear persecution at home for example on religious grounds. Asylum seekers from China won in US immigration court 58 percent of the time. If they are successful, then they can apply for work permits and then start working legally in 180 days. It is not clear what happens to the other 42 percent who don't get asylum. 

The migrants are mostly men, some with young families

Of those who make the perilous journey, are they happier on the other side? Too early to tell, but many bring their young children with them on these long journeys.

No matter how much the Chinese government is promoting its economy as booming post-Covid, its people are leaving the country. 

China may have the second biggest economy in the world, but other nationalities are not trying to smuggle themselves into the Middle Kingdom...

Outgoing HK Security Chief Says There are Still Risks

Lau says Hong Kong still faces security risks

Hong Kong's national security hotline has received over 400,000 reports since it was established in November 2020, according to Edwina Lau Chi-wai, outgoing deputy police commissioner and national security chief.

She said the number of tips from the hotline indicated Hongkongers supported the national security law.

However, Lau warned that despite peace returning to the city after the 2019 protests, there were still risks to security.

Wrong anthem played at hockey game is a crime?

"While it's not as chaotic as the protester violence back in 2019, we feel that there are still some hidden undercurrents," she said, echoing a warning from Xia Baolong, director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.

This is the narrative the government continues to recite in a bid to keep people on edge.

She also claimed "traitors" continued to "collude with foreign forces" in attacking the nation and Hong Kong after leaving the city.

"Some suspects who've fled Hong Kong I'll call them traitors because they are against the country and Hong Kong, called on different foreign governments to sanction judges and prosecutors involved in recent [national security] cases that are being tried in courts. Their actual goal is to pervert the course of justice," Lau said.

The recent high-profile blunders of the wrong national anthem being played at international sporting events have resulted in the protest song, Glory to Hong Kong being played instead of March of the Volunteers, and Lau suggests something nefarious could be going on.

Lau (back far left) is sanctioned like Lam (front)

"Could there be some people deliberately doing this? I think this is also a very iconic example," she said.

Where is the evidence that these actions were deliberate?

Lau reiterated the national security law only targeted "a small minority of people", with the national security unit arresting 250 people since July 2020.

Is that small? The impact the national security law has had on residents has resulted in tens of thousands of them leaving Hong Kong.

Meanwhile the United States has imposed sanctions on Lau, which she described as "extremely unreasonable and despicable". The sanctions were imposed in 2020 for her role in enforcing the national security law, but she insists it has only pushed her to work harder, though her last day is Friday.

Wonder if all her salary is in cash too, like former Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor?

Highlights of the 2023 Michelin Awards

The three-Michelin star restaurants honoured yesterday

Yesterday the latest Michelin star unveiling was held in Macau, the first in-person event in three years.

There were a few surprises, with stalwart Lung King Heen, the Chinese restaurant at the Four Seasons Hong Kong lost a star. I don't find this surprising, as a Singaporean foodie friend went there over a month ago and was not impressed by the quality of the dim sum she ate.

Chef Sato's Ta Vie has been awarded three stars

The other reason is the head chef, Chan Yan-tak is getting on in age. While he claimed to me over a year ago that if he retired he would have nothing to do, perhaps this is a good way for him to bow out and allow someone else to take over the reins.

A shock surprise was French-Japanese restaurant Ta Vie garnering the coveted three stars. Chef Hideaki Sato is a low-key person, but he is extremely passionate about cooking. During the pandemic, he used the time to experiment and even learned how to make Peking duck! Everyday he would make a new one and post it on Instagram.

The rest of us salivated over his pictures of these beautifully roasted ducks, but he would humbly say they were not good enough. Needless to say they were not wasted -- he carved the meat and with the bones made a stock to serve his own handmade ramen.

I was very lucky to try it once and wished I could eat it every week!

Chef Merone of Estro now has one star

Periodically Sato would get visits from chef Cheng Kam-fu who used to be with Celebrity Cuisine and is now at The Demon Celebrity (a partnership with 'Demon chef' Alvin Leung), who would inspect his roast duck and give him some pointers.

Other well-deserved stars include chef Antimo Maria Merone for his restaurant Estro that serves contemporary Italian food. He has thought long and hard about figuring out new ways to present Italian dishes while retaining the traditional taste.

However, one restaurant in Wan Chai, called DHK Seafood Restaurant was given a star, but it had announced it was closing just before the Michelin stars were handed out. As a result no one from the restaurant came to claim the award.

DHK was headed by former chefs of Fook Lam Moon and Guo Fu Lou, but the restaurant had financial difficulties, as staff told HK01 that they had not been paid for months.

DHK was shuttered before it was given a star

A Michelin star probably would not have saved the restaurant either -- greedy landlords would have jacked up the rent, the biggest headache for businesses in Hong Kong way before the pandemic.

A bit embarrassing for Michelin to include a restaurant that has already shuttered, but that just illustrates the precariousness of the industry in Hong Kong, and that its economic revival is a long way off.

Attempt to Hold May 1 Rally is Cancelled

Wong resurfaced after being missing for about four hours

In a frightening turn of events, the two former Confederation of Trade Union members Joe Wong Nai-yuen and Denny To Chun-ho have withdrawn their application to hold the May 1 rally.

Details are slim at the moment, but former CTU chairman Wong was missing this morning Hong Kong time from around 7.30am to 11.30am and then told To he had cancelled the application.

On a Facebook post, To described Wong as being "in a state of emotional collapse and was clearly under great pressure".

"He told me that he had just signed a paper to cancel the march, but could not disclose the details due to Article 63 of the Hong Kong National Security Law. I can imagine what happened during that time because of my past experience," To wrote.

Article 63 of NSL prohibits Wong from disclosing where he was and what happened to him, and anyone involved with the case needs to keep it confidential as well.

Originally the pair had applied to the Hong Kong police about holding a May 1 rally to promote workers' rights. However, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung warned that others may hijack the event, and that one should not downplay these risks.

Then this morning Wong disappeared.

While he was not arrested or charged, it sounds like he has been severely traumatised for just putting in an application to hold a rally to promote workers' rights.

It is a shocking example of how NSL is used against people -- and in this case with possibly mentally debilitating effects...

Remembering Taiwanese Sculptor Ju Ming's Works in HK

Tai Chi outside Exchange Square is one of Ju's iconic works

It was absolutely tragic to hear the news that Taiwanese sculptor Ju Ming died by suicide in his home on April 22 after a long undisclosed illness. He was 85 years old.

He is best known for his blocky sculptures that had sweeping textures that exuded movement, particularly the series on tai chi.

Ju became well-known from exhibitions in HK

A few of his sculptures can be found in Hong Kong, and on my way to the gym, I would pass by Taichi: Sparring (Harmony) outside the Bank of China building.

There was also a pair of sculptures at Exchange Square, one called Single Whip, the other Tai Chi.

Another one is at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, named Living World Series - Lining Up, featuring a line of people dressed in different outfits. They are short and accessible to children. What's interesting about this piece, made in 2002, features one person in a yellow raincoat.

For those who were in Hong Kong during the Umbrella Movement in 2014, will remember Marco Leung, who was known as "raincoat man", and fell to his death when he stood on scaffolding at Pacific Place in Admiralty. While there is no direct link to Ju's sculpture, the man in the yellow raincoat is what many Hongkongers remember of that time.

Taichi: Sparring (Harmony) at Bank of China

Ju gained international recognition through having his exhibitions in Hong Kong, thanks to Hanart TZ Gallery started by Johnson Chang Tsong-zung. He curated Ju's breakout exhibition back in 1982 at the Hong Kong Arts Centre and in 1991 in London's South Bank Centre.

"The news of Ju Ming's death is a big shock," Chang says. "A patient and resolute artist, Ju Ming always honed his vision with clarity, and pursued it with determination. He has maintained his style to the end.

"His passing marks the end of an era which fostered artists brought up in traditional skills and traditional mindset to become giants in modern Chinese art.

"We started working together four decades ago, and travelled east and west to promote a sculptural art that has the fluidity of calligraphy and the monumentality of mountains.

"Ju Ming was a man of integrity and an inspired artist; I feel immense loss that he has chosen to leave the world at this time, and sorely miss the long friendship that shared so many adventures together."

Living World Series - Lining Up in Tsim Sha Tsui

We are sad too that Ju felt he could not continue. We must accept this and remember him and the beautiful art he left for us to appreciate.

Security Chief Warns of Risks at Rallies

Previous May 1 rallies bring attention to domestic helper rights

Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung warns there are elements that may hijack an upcoming rally on May 1 to mark Labour Day, hinting perhaps such a march should not be held for safety reasons.

Two core members of the now defunct Confederation of Trade Unions have met the police regarding their application to hold a rally on May 1.

The security chief said downplaying the safety risks of a public rally was an "irresponsible" act. 

Tang suggested others may hijack rallies

"These safety risks exist. Anyone intending to downplay the risks brought by these activities, saying, 'It's fine, please come, it's safe', that's irresponsible behaviour," Tang said.

The prove his point, he said a public rally on women's rights that was originally set for March 5 was cancelled "responsibly" by the organiser after someone planned to hijack the activity. He gave no evidence to support this claim.

He also claimed the 2019 protests were taken over by others who had a different agenda without revealing further information.

"All people organising these public activities hold a responsibility... to ensure the events are held in a safe and orderly manner," Tang said.

Previously he has said the lanyards marchers must wear are no different than the race bibs marathoners pin on their T-shirts.

To and Wong applying to hold rally on May 1

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Joe Wong Nai-yuen, former chairman of the now-defunct Confederation of Trade Unions, and ex-committee member Denny To Chun-ho, gave an update on the progress of their application to hold a rally on May 1.

They met with police on Friday after applying to hold the event in their personal capacity.

"We sincerely hope that authorities will not exaggerate the risks of a rally being hijacked by others," they wrote.

The pair said they were just ordinary citizens concerned about labour rights and did not have the money to hire marshals to maintain order for the event. The most they could do, they said, was to verbally ask participants to obey the law.

"We believe police are certainly capable of ensuring a rally attended by hundreds of people is held smoothly," they added.

So is this rally going to be held or not?

Xia suggested focus on economy, not protests

The hassles, numbered lanyards and fears of being hijacked all make organisers think twice about holding a march. And when the new director of the Hong Kong Macau Affairs Office Xia Baolong suggests protests aren't a good idea, this gives people the shivers.

How much things have changed since four years ago. Holding rallies used to be a right. Now the authorities instil fear they could stir trouble...

Saving Donuts from the Dumpster

Colourful and saccharine donuts from Punk Rock Pastries

A friend of mine has a relatively new hobby -- picking up food for cheap that would otherwise go into the garbage.

He is constantly checking a Danish-based app called Too Good To Go, which promotes businesses that have leftover food items that can be purchased at a cheaper price and picked up the same day.

I asked if the deals were mostly towards the end of the business day, but he said they were posted all the time and even snapped up quickly if your fingers aren't fast enough to secure the deal.

With the price of food up 10 percent in Vancouver, people are looking out for deals to fill their stomachs.

The other day my friend picked up two boxes of donuts from Punk Rock Pastries in Burnaby (he lives in East Vancouver). I don't know how much they cost, but they were definitely a colourful (and very sweet) treat.

The toppings were saccharine, while the donuts were fluffy, they were quite sweet too. 

Although my friend likes the concept of not wasting food, he also looks at it as an opportunity to sample something new relatively cheaply, and if he likes it he'll go back and maybe pay full price for it.

Perhaps the most ironic thing is that he has been picking up mostly cakes and donuts when his previous mantra was to invest his calories in alcohol than desserts...

Hong Kong Losing its Luxury Lustre

A shopper emerges from Louis Vuitton in Hong Kong

Hong Kong seems to be losing its magnetism to attract mainland shoppers to come and buy luxury brands, losing out to Chinese cities like Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou and even Shenzhen, which is just across the border.

The global luxury conglomerate, that has a portfolio that includes Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Berluti, Rimowa, Fendi, Christian Dior, and Givenchy to name a few, is gradually extracting itself from Hong Kong and moving the regional headquarters to Shanghai along with some of its senior executives.

Christian Dior boutique in Harbour City, TST

Since the 2019 protests till now, Hong Kong has been struggling to lure shoppers back, who used to wait patiently in queues outside these shops to snap up the latest handbag, shoes and clothes, as they didn't have much faith in the same products being genuine on the mainland. It was also a cache to be able to boast purchasing these items on a shopping spree in the city.

But after the three year-long Covid-19 pandemic, it seems like the shine of Hong Kong has gone dull and mainland tourists prefer to go elsewhere or stay closer to home to shop.

For example, duty-free sales in Hainan more than tripled to 49.5 billion yuan (US$7.2 billion) in 2021 from 2019, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Even during last year's zero-Covid chaos, sales were still more than twice the size of pre-pandemic levels.

Even Macau is getting a slice of the luxury pie. The gambling hub's visitor arrivals have recovered to about 62 percent of 2019 levels over the recent Easter holiday, compared to 44 percent for Hong Kong -- which does not bode well for the latter city.

Shoppers lining up at Gucci in Hainan

As Hong Kong loses its significance in the luxury brand market, it could have a knock-on effect on hotels, restaurants, tourism and retail.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu needs to think of another way to revive Hong Kong's economy quick otherwise it's going to die the death of ten thousand cuts. Or this was Beijing's plan all along?

Picture of the Day: Sakura in Vancouver

Gorgeous cherry blossoms out in full force

There is no need to rush to Japan to see the cherry blossoms when Vancouver has a lot of these trees planted all over the city.

Hundreds of cherry trees were gifted by Japan to Vancouver to be planted in Stanley Park in honour of Japanese Canadians who served in World War I. 

After the 1950s there was also a large planting exercise of crab apple, plum and more cherry trees.

Today there are some 43,000 cherry trees in the city, including more than 50 different varietals.

This morning taking advantage of the weather (before it rained for the rest of the day!) I did a quick walk in the neighbourhood and this time walked along a street I don't normally do. 

There I spotted some gorgeous cherry blossoms and up close you can see they are little pink pom poms of blossoms on the branches which makes the trees look so fluffy. 

Walking All Over Hong Kong

The view of Hong Kong from High West on January 1, 2021

I got into the walking habit when the 2019 protests in Hong Kong led to street clashes between protesters and the police.

While I could get to my gym in Central after work, there was no guarantee I could get back home without encountering these conflicts unless I was prepared to either be holed up in there for a while or attempt to find a way back.

As a result I began walking along the harbourfront from Kennedy Town to Sheung Wan and back. It's a great path that's right by the water and best of all there is no car traffic -- only people walking, running, cycling and walking their dogs.

Looking west from Devil's Peak

It was a nice break from the urban scenery of skyscrapers, and to hear the water was soothing. Even better was when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, shutting down the Turbo Cats going to and from Macau which made the walks even more peaceful.

Later when I told my friend that I went out walking, he immediately asked if he could join too. And then we really went walking all over the place.

A lot of times it was the usual walk all the way to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, and on the way back to Kennedy Town we'd reward ourselves with a giant cookie each from Cookie Dept's pop up shop at the Upper House hotel along with a glass of lemonade to cool off before heading back to Western district.

Then on Sundays we'd venture out further, several times up the Peak via a steep path near Bowen Road and if we still had energy we'd go all the way up to High West -- the highest point on the Peak. 

My favourite memory of High West is going up there on December 31, 2020, when I brought a half bottle of Champagne with us and Hello Kitty paper cups. Turns out we didn't have to chill the champers because it was chilly walking up to the Peak anyway. 

We rewarded ourselves with Cookie Dept cookies

We even bought head lights to wear for the occasion which came in really handy to be able to see where we were going.

We got to High West about 20 minutes before midnight and a few other people had the same idea as us, to mark the new year by being on top of Hong Kong. Then some Italians came up too and they made video calls with friends back home. When it was midnight we popped open our Champagne bottles and had a toast. 

Another time we walked from Shau Kei Wan and didn't walk around the coastline but cut through the middle of Hong Kong Island to Kennedy Town in about 25km. In between we went up and down hills, and needless to say we were famished and exhausted by the time we were got back to Kennedy Town where my friend gobbled down a steak dinner just before 6pm. 

Kowloon Peak was yet another memorable hike. At one point we walked through tall reeds as the hill went down and then up. Some parts were quite steep and I wondered if I was going to make it alive. But we somehow managed to scramble up to the helicopter pad which was quite cool. 

We went down another way and managed to flag a taxi to take us down to Diamond Hill MTR station. I arrived at my relatives' place for dinner all sweaty, but luckily brought along an extra shirt to change into! That was also quite the workout.

The scenic view while hiking across HK Island

The pandemic really forced me to walk outside and I'm glad I managed to explore a lot of places, like Repulse Bay, Cyberport and Devil's Peak thanks to friends like YTSL.

But it was a great way to talk with friends or if I was on my own, to have time to think, particularly when deliberating if I should leave Hong Kong or not, and what were the steps going forward. 

Now in Vancouver, I am all too happy to walk to many places instead of drive which defeats the purpose of practicing driving more. But it helps me to slow down and think, and puts me at ease.

Woman Dies After Waiting 12 Hours at HK Hospital

Lo Chung-mau had visited the hospital in early February

There was a shocking report on Monday of a chronically ill patient who died in the washroom at the accident and emergency department of Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital after waiting 12 hours for medical care.

The case was reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and a coroner is following up.

Lo touring the A&E holding area of the hospital

On Sunday night, around 11pm, the patient arrived at the A&E with a cough and fever, but would have to wait until 11.15am the next day before getting a medical assessment.

She was said to be on stable condition at the time.

But at the appointed time, at 12.30pm and 1.45pm, staff tried to locate her and was finally found at 4.30pm and certified dead at 5.06pm following resuscitation efforts. 

"The hospital met the patient's family members on Monday to explain the details of the incident and expressed condolences to family members. The hospital will offer the necessary help to family members," a spokesman said.

The authority could not explain why the woman could not be found, and added the washrooms are cleaned seven times a day.

Nevertheless, the average wait time at a public hospital in Hong Kong more than eight hours.

When asked to comment about the tragic case, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau acknowledged the long wait times.

Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital

"Waiting for such a long time is not ideal. It is mainly due to the shortage of medical staff. The government has been taking various measures to address this issue, such as the recent Greater Bay Area Healthcare Talents Exchange Programme, which have received positive feedback and have helped our healthcare system," he said.

Lo is stating the obvious which is hardly empathetic. 

And this shortage of medical staff was happening well before the pandemic! And now thanks to the national security law, and the developments post 2019 protests, some 1,200 doctors have left Hong Kong in the last three years.

Surely Lo has to step up recruitment efforts for more medical staff than just stating the obvious...

Focus on Making Money, says Beijing Official

Xia visited Hong Kong and advised focusing on the economy

A senior Chinese official advised Hongkongers to stop dwelling on politics and focus on the economy. 

Xia Baolong, director of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office paid a visit on the weekend on his "fact-finding mission".

His visit coincided with National Security Education Day, though he didn't talk much about it -- as it is vague anyway, and instead urged the city to focus on making money.

Deng Xiaoping

"I hope that Hong Kong will hold conventions and exhibitions every day, engage in innovation and technology, and fight for the economy," he said on Saturday, adding residents should also enjoy "horse racing, dancing, speculating on stocks and making big money."

If that sounds familiar, it is -- late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping said "horse racing will continue, dancing parties will go on", vowing Hong Kong would remain unchanged after it returned to Chinese rule after 1997.

But while Xia advises people to focus on making money and enjoying themselves, others have interpreted this to mean that "demonstrations" were not to be pursued.

He said they were not the only way to express different groups' interests, and even going so far as to suggest people's intentions could be manipulated. 

Hours after Xia made this remark, the pro-Beijing Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions had applied to the police to hold a rally on April 29 before the May 1 Labour Day holiday, and now was considering retracting its application and scaling down their event, even though they insisted it was not related to Xia's words.

The federation used to hold marches like these

"Over the past two weeks, some workers have said they will not attend the rally as they do not want to be in the limelight," federation chairman Lam Chun-sing said.

If even a pro-establishment group is concerned about holding a rally, there is no hope for anyone else who wants to express an opposing opinion.

But back to reviving the economy -- how can that be done? The only mainland tourists coming to Hong Kong are ones from third and fourth-tier cities who have never visited before and can only afford cheap tour packages. 

Anecdotally there are reports from luxury brand stores that business is slow as mainlanders are going elsewhere like Korea and Japan to satisfy their shopping fix. 

What technologically innovation does Hong Kong have? Since the development of the Octopus card, the Leave Home Safe app was a disaster and waste of money... is there nothing else that has been developed in the city?

How to attract high quality tourists to HK?

Meanwhile the tourism board promotes local eats, but mom-and-pop shops that have been around for 30, 40 years are closing as the owners are retiring and their children are not taking over the businesses. 

So what's left is real estate, stocks and horse racing. 

It's all a gamble, isn't it.

It's Been a Year...

Miss this amazing view and walk along the harbourfront

In a few days it will be exactly a year since I had my last gourmet meal at Salisterra in the Upper House, a special treat from a good friend, who then escorted me to Hong Kong International Airport. I hugged him and an ex-colleague, thanking them for all their help, and entered the security line, then used my HKID to leave one last time.

The first leg of my trip was to Singapore and then a 10-hour layover (overnight) before flying to Vancouver.

A practically empty airport last April

My almost two years of planning for this exit came to fruition, and then what?

It's been quite the transition, from cleaning out my room to make room for my Hong Kong stuff, trying to get my driver's license sorted (it was a tedious ordeal), still having yet to find a family doctor like every other person in Canada, and reaching out to friends who were still traumatised by Covid.

All the while I have been watching what's been happening to Hong Kong on social media, feeling FOMO missing out on fabulous dinners and events I used to attend, but also feeling sad at watching the city I love being emptied out by migration or prosecution, while the authorities are claiming everything is fine.

I miss the 10K walks I did almost every evening from Kennedy Town to Wan Chai and back, the good friends I made over the years, the contacts I had built up over the years who trusted me to tell their stories, and the amazing food I ate, from hole-in-the-wall noodle shops to decadent Michelin-starred dining.

When I watch people's videos of Hong Kong streets on social media, I can imagine myself when I was there. 

Pureed potatoes with a giant dollop of caviar

Perhaps watching these videos and looking at people's pictures makes it harder to adjust to Vancouver? When I watched the documentary film, Revolution of Our Times, it immediately took me back to the 2019 protests, the massive turnout of people in the initial marches in June, and then after the July 1 march seeing videos of protesters with make-shift tools to barge their way into the Legislative Council.

It reminded me of spending my evenings scrolling through Twitter to see what was happening in the front lines and the next morning furrowing my brow at the government's response. I furrowed my brow everyday which has left a permanent wrinkle on my face.

"One country, two systems" came to a head, and Beijing decided something had to give, and it was two systems into one, as signalled by the implementation of the national security law at midnight, July 1, 2020.

Since then Hong Kong has irrevocably changed, from media organisations shuttering and civil society groups disbanding, to activists, lawyers and lawmakers fleeing abroad or risking arrest. Those left behind are currently behind bars, the vast majority remanded in custody. 

Protest scene from Revolution of Our Times

The likes of Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and Joshua Wong Chi-fung have been silenced, the media only able to report what has happened to them in the legal system and not what they have said.

Rationally I know I did the right thing, but emotionally it's hard to reconcile.

Because of Covid it took me a while to reach out to people I know here. Some are still terrified to meet or aren't as interested in meeting up. Luckily I have wonderful relatives who are more than happy to meet, including one cute little puppy.

However I can't lie -- I miss the warm weather, the convenience of public transport and the ability to go out late at night by myself and not be worried about my safety. The increased random attacks in Vancouver on buses and trains and even on sidewalks is very scary, which makes me wonder why things have gone so downhill in the city.

But then I am reminded of the rights and freedoms I have here, and am definitely not going to take them for granted.

Reynolds' Star Power Raises Money for Terry Fox

Reynolds wears the Dear Terry shirt he designed for this year

Canadian actor and now football team owner Ryan Reynolds has the magic touch in making businesses successful.

In November 2020 he and American actor and director Rob McElhenney bought Wrexham AFC, a Welsh football club and it's not only helped sell tickets, but also boosted morale of the team.

Fox running in 1981

And most recently he lent his artistic hand in designing a shirt to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation and already sales have hit C$1 million.

The shirt is called Dear Terry, inspired by the thousands of letters the Canadian athlete whose leg was amputated due to cancer, received during his Marathon of Hope, when he attempted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. 

He started on April 12, 1980, and after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres, Fox had to stop because the cancer had spread. He died on June 28, 1981 in New Westminster, BC.

Some 28,000 shirts have already been pre-sold, and people are encouraged to write their own #DearTerry messages.

Reynolds shared his own #DearTerry message to coincide with the launch of the shirt:

"I've been taking part in the Terry Fox Run since second grade and can't think of a more enduring and lovely legacy for one person," he said.

The fundraising run is held in Fox's memory 

Since the first Marathon of Hope, the Terry Fox Foundation has raised over C$850 million in support of cancer research. The 43rd annual Terry Fox Run takes place on September 17 this year.

WTA Makes U-Turn on China Boycott

Peng's safety has not been independently verified

Now that Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted in China, professional tennis is back on in the country.

Sixteen months ago, the WTA or Women's Tennis Association said it would stop all professional tennis tournaments in China until it got assurances about star player Peng Shuai's safety.

Many praised the association for its strong stance, as other groups, like the NBA, Fifa and the International Olympic Committee wavered because they wanted to be in China for money.

She accused Zhang (above) of sexual assault

But like everyone else, the WTA caved in.

On Thursday the association released a statement announcing the resumption of professional women's tennis tournaments in September. For Hong Kong fans, the WTA Tour will be held in Victoria Park in October.

This was good news for Hong Kong Tennis Association president Philip Mok Kwan-yet, who welcomed the announcement, but "did not agree" with the WTA's 16-month boycott of China.

"We support this decision [to lift the suspension]," he said. "Together with the lifting of all Covid-19 restrictions, fans can once again enjoy world class professional tennis.

"Restarting this mega sport event will also help Hong Kong to fully regain its vibrancy and re-establish ourselves as a major international hub."

The WTA suspended tennis competition in China in 2021 when Peng, a former doubles world No. 1 from China, made accusations that former Chinese vice-premier Zhang Gaoli pressured her to have sex with him.

Peng at a tightly choreographed event

Peng, 37, later withdrew her accusations on two occasions, and during an interview at the Winter Olympics, described the situation as a "huge misunderstanding" but did not further clarify. She was seen in public, but it seemed like the events were tightly controlled, and no media can contact her directly.

In Thursday's statement, the WTA said it had received assurances that players and staff operating in China would be "safe and protected".

WTA president and chief executive Steve Simon said the association had dropped its demands.

"We've been in this for 16 months and we are convinced that at this point our requests will not be met. To continue with the same strategy doesn't make sense and a different approach is needed. Hopefully, by returning more progress can be made," he told BBC Sport.

But human rights groups are disappointed by the association's U-turn. 

Kai Ong, China researcher for Amnesty International, said Peng's freedom and safety had yet to be independently verified. 

Will people continue to wear these T-shirts?

"Returning to China without continuing to push for an independent investigation into Peng's accusations risks perpetuating the systemic injustice faced by sexual violence survivors in the country."

Meanwhile Wang Yaqiu, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch said: "The WTA deserves credit for its initial stance, which was an act of courage, but the decision to move ahead with the tournament will be a huge disappointment for the Chinese human rights community. It is not surprising though, given the money at stake and the record of other international businesses in China."

China sports commentator Mark Dreyer says it's disingenuous for the WTA to say it suspended tournaments because of the Peng Shuai issue when in fact the country's extreme Covid-19 restrictions made it impossible to hold tournaments during that boycott period as hardly any foreigners could get into the country.

So... while the players will be excited to play in China, the WTA is going to be criticised for selling out... 

Wonder if people will continue to wear "Where is Peng Shuai?" T-shirts?