Lam to Downsize Lavish Office Space

Lam needs to downsize her office... to the Immigration Tower

The Hong Kong government needs to tighten its belt with a nearly HK$100 million deficit, and one item that will be reduced is former chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's office that cost HK$9.17 million in the 2023-24 financial year.

Her current office is located at One Pacific Place in Admiralty, a sprawling 2,874 sq ft space, but after the lease ends in mid-May she will be moving to... Immigration Tower in Wan Chai.

Her office is currently at One Pacific Place

Ironically it was her administration that announced plans to demolish the tower in 2017 along with two other government buildings and develop them into convention, hotel and commercial facilities.

Alas, Lam not only has to downsize, but also downgrade.

Her new office will be occupying the one used by the director of immigration.

All previous chief executives get the perk of having their own office, though the first three share office space at an office complex on Kennedy Road.

They apparently use these offices to promote Hong Kong, such as receiving visiting dignitaries and delegations, giving media interviews, attending functions and speaking engagements.

The first chief executive Tung Chee-hwa is 87 years old and supposedly declining in health; Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was convicted of misconduct in public office in 2015, so he keeps a low profile; and Leung Chun-ying is 70 years old and likes to criticise not only incumbents but also adversaries.

Immigration Tower was planned to be demolished

And then Lam who became world famous for her performance during the 2019 protests and the Covid-19 pandemic soon after.

So do these former leaders still need office space? Maybe they can make a deal with WeWork on renting co-working spaces? It would help ease the city's budget somewhat...

10 Years Ago Umbrellas Became a Symbol

The Umbrella Movement began 10 years ago today

It's so hard to believe it's been 10 years since the Umbrella Movement kicked off in Admiralty, when Hongkongers were politically awakened and began vocally demanding universal suffrage. They began taking part in civil disobedience and saw that it could be a beautiful, happy, almost utopian thing for 79 days when they occupied parts of the city.

I still vividly remember being in the crowd trying to get closer to Tamar where student activists like Joshua Wong Chi-fung were surrounded by police in Civic Square. We chanted they should be let go. People carried umbrellas, some even wearing swimming goggles, as there were rumours that tear gas might be used.

My friend YTSL had just returned from Japan and she managed to find me in the crowd. After a while we felt the stalemate with the police wasn't going anywhere so we went to get a bite to eat at Dan Ryan's in Pacific Place.

Police fired 87 canisters of tear gas in Admiralty

At the time I didn't use Twitter much, but while we were eating I decided to check it and saw that tear gas had indeed been fired on civilians. In the end Hong Kong Police fired 87 canisters of tear gas on the mostly unprepared crowd, who only had umbrellas to defend themselves. 

By the time we returned to Admiralty, people were walking along the highway, dazed at what had happened. They began occupying the area, sitting on the asphalt, preventing cars, buses and trucks from proceeding. Those who saw the footage on television rushed down to the area, incensed that the police had fired tear gas on fellow residents.

This caught University of Hong Kong professor Benny Tai Yiu-ting off guard. He and Reverend Chu Yiu-ming and sociologist Chan Kin-man had planned an occupation of the city as a form of civil disobedience to show Beijing that Hongkongers were not happy that they were not allowed to directly vote for the chief executive, and that the candidates would be pre-approved by China.

The trio hastily declared that Occupy Central was happening now, but the occupiers were more interested in what the youngsters, Wong, Nathan Law Kwun-chung, Alex Chow Yong-kang and Lester Shum had to say. 

The umbrella became a symbol of the movement

Perhaps the highlight was watching the televised debate between these kids and government officials. The students metaphorically ran circles around the adults, it was amusing to watch. 

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying refused to deal with them -- he left that to his subordinate Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. He claimed at the time external forces had influenced people to protest, but even 10 years later he has produced no evidence of the sort.

Even more memorable was the incredible output of art, from people writing their wishes for Hong Kong on multicoloured sticky paper to amateur artists drawing their interpretations of the Umbrella Movement, to a large statue of "umbrella man", to people teaching others how to make small yellow umbrellas out of paper. 

Hanging out there was surreal -- where vehicles used to rush by, we sat there, ate our dinners, walked around and then went home, while others even slept there overnight. There were water bottles available, people came around with garbage collection, and there were study halls for students and tutors available to help.

It was a romantic time that was suddenly crushed on December 15 that year when the police came in, arrested anyone left occupying the streets, and violently took down tents and umbrellas away. 

I thought this kind of occupation would never happen again.

I was wrong.

Hong Kong Marks 27th Anniversary of Handover

Flag-raising ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention Centre

Hey it's July 1! The 27th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong back to the motherland!

Some 4,000 police officers were deployed across the city to ensure celebrations go ahead smoothly. Those wearing what is considered seditious clothing could be stopped and questioned by police, or worse, arrested.

Celebrating the 27th anniversary of the handover

At the flag-raising ceremony held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, top officials attended, but there was no room for the public to witness the proceedings. Former chief executives Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Leung Chun-ying, Donald Tsang Yam-kuen and Tung Chee-hwa were there along with Zheng Yanxiong, head of the liaison office.

In an article published on Monday, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu wrote about the passing of Article 23 that has become part of Hong Kong's "glorious history".

He said the city's door was once "wide open to both thieves and friends", and now with Article 23 in place, it is a sophisticated security system that can identify "thieves" and protect its "friends".

"For an extremely small minority of those who jeopardise national security, this law is a sharp sword pointed at them; for the community at large and foreign investors, this law is a 'protector' of their rights, freedoms, property and investments," Lee wrote.

Two new pandas will come to Ocean Park

As part of the celebrations for the anniversary of the handover, Hong Kong will receive two giant pandas that will be cared for at Ocean Park. 

In a Facebook post, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung wrote: "A new pair of giant pandas will attract a massive amount of tourists and residents, injecting impetus into Hong Kong's tourism industry."

How massive is massive? 

Meanwhile, Hong Kong permanent residents who are not of Chinese nationality will be eligible for five-year permits to enter the mainland starting from July 10. Each stay can be no longer than 90 days. Yet more people will be coming to Shenzhen to shop...

 

Hong Kong Not Over, says CY Leung

Are HK's days over? Leung says it has "irons in the fire"

Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying wants to have a chat with former Morgan Stanley Asia Head Stephen Roach to tell him Hong Kong's still got its mojo.

Last week Roach wrote in the Financial Times that China must fix its economy and allow Hong Kong to run itself if it wants the financial hub to have a better future.

"The most important thing Beijing can do is, number one, fix its own system," said Roach, a senior lecturer at Yale University.

Roach says Beijing needs to leave HK alone

"Beijing also needs to be more aggressive and transparent underscoring its commitment to the 'one country, two systems' model."

In his column he said Hong Kong's embattled stock market was a sign of the end of the city's economic success over the past 20 years, and Beijing's grip on the former British colony and China-US tensions made the case that it is fast declining.

"It pains me to admit it, but Hong Kong is now over," he wrote. "A city I once called home and have cherished as a bastion of dynamism has had the world's worst-performing major stock market over the past quarter of a century."

Leung has the opposite view.

"I think it's out of date and also out of touch. I'd very much like to sit down with him and have a conversation with him as to the new irons in the fire that Hong Kong has," Leung told RTHK.

Leung says HK can build marine insurance sector

"There are so many new economic sectors and sub-sectors that I personally have identified running around in the mainland of China in the past six years," he said. "What about maritime insurance? China is a major shipbuilding and maritime nation in the world nowadays. And Hong Kong is the most competitive international financial centre of China."

Is this one of the "hot irons" Leung is referring to?

He said the English language, fully convertible Hong Kong dollar, the legal profession and independent judicial system can help build a robust maritime insurance sector.

And? What of the other irons?

He also pointed to the audit business.

"In the high quality development of the country, many manufacturers and exporters need third party, independent, standard, and testing and certification services. And Hong Kong is very good at this. Hong Kong has the goodwill, has the credibility, and that's the reason why we have such a thriving audit business," he said.

Right...

HK's Umbrella Movement 9 Years Ago

Police fired 87 teargas canisters on September 28, 2014

Has it been nine years since the start of the Umbrella Movement?

It seems like a lifetime ago, but it was a seminal moment in Hong Kong's recent history.

Before September 28, 2014, several young people occupied Civic Square at Tamar Government headquarters and they in turn were surrounded by the police.

The occupation of Admiralty lasted 79 days

On that day, hundreds of people descended on Admiralty armed with umbrellas, some wore goggles and shouted at the police to release them. They demanded that they 开门. or "open the gates" but to no avail.

My friend YTSL had just returned from a trip to Japan when she joined in, but was feeling hungry. Seeing as nothing was happening, we went to the nearby shopping mall Pacific Place to have a bite at Dan Ryan's.

While we were eating I happened to check Twitter and the police had shot teargas at the people, around 6pm!

We rushed back to Admiralty Centre and the Umbrella Movement had begun -- people were walking around on what is usually a busy freeway, and traffic had come to a stand still. It was absolutely surreal.

At the time I had to go to Kowloon side for dinner with relatives and watching the TV we were shocked to see the police had fired more teargas -- 87 canisters in total.

This only enraged more people to come out to Admiralty that evening and so on for 79 days and spread to Causeway Bay, Wan Chai and Mongkok.

People of all ages hanging out particularly in Admiralty fostered a sense of community on a large scale; people handed out water bottles, picked up garbage, helped students study, created crafts and art work. 

It inspired artwork and a sense of community

They wrote their hopes for Hong Kong on coloured sticky notes and wore yellow ribbons. 

Then Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying had contempt for student leaders Joshua Wong Chi-fung, Alex Chow Yong-kang, Lester Shum Ngo-fai and Nathan Law Kwun-chung. Most memorable was the televised debate between the young people and the government officials, with the former easily winning in the court of public opinion. 

Leung would deal with academic Benny Tai Yiu-ting, Chan Kin-man, and Chu Yiu-ming later. Tai's grand plan didn't exactly work -- he had to move up his "Occupy Central" idea up a few days and quickly got lost in the shuffle. The media focused on Joshua Wong and he and his colleagues took the reins of the movement.

Nine years later things have completely changed, almost all these people are behind bars or have been convicted for their part, the pro-democratic camp decimated and the Legislative Council only having seats for patriots.

Tens of thousands of people have left Hong Kong and the city is struggling economically and socially.

Meanwhile the Hong Kong diaspora is trying to recreate that community feeling again in their new homes in different ways. It will take time to see if they have succeeded or not. 

CY Leung Says Party's Over for Pro-Beijing Camp

A party was held for 500 guests to send off a district officer

As the Hong Kong police run a campaign of terror, taking in and questioning the relatives of the eight pro-democracy activists who have HK$1 million bounties on their heads, the pro-establishment camp has been indulging in excess.

One party in particular caught the ire of former chief executive Leung Chun-ying as being over-the-top.

It was a party featuring 500 guests in Kowloon Bay to send off Wong Tai Sin District Officer Steve Wong Chi-wah, who will be going to Beijing for a year for further studies.

Was this lavish party really necessary?

The guests included officials, lawmakers and representatives of pro-Beijing district groups and the big event was organised by the Kowloon Federation of Associations.

Following Leung's criticism, Executive Council Convenor Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee and member Ronny Tong Ka-wah also chimed in.

Ip said officers should be more careful in their conduct, as they would be given more authority after the government revamps the district councils later this year. The plan is for them to be "chief executive" of their respective areas.

"District officers will have a lot more influence under the new system. They must be vigilant to guard against a 'flattery culture' because of their increased influence," she said.

"Excessive flattery and personal adulation are disconcerting... administrative officers should work hard, blend in well with the local community, but also stay humble."

These officers will be able to set new meeting rules and assign consultation tasks to councillors.

Leung says pro-Beijing camp needs to be humble

In a Facebook post on Friday, Leung criticised what he called growing "ostentatious and extravagant" practices by the pro-establishment camp had to stop.

"We need to put a brake on this ostentatious and extravagant trend," he said.

"Where did the money come from? What are the benefits? Does it achieve positive social or political outcomes, or rather is there a negative impact?"

Despite the questions, former district councillor Chan Kam-lam, of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong who attended the dinner says it was no big deal.

"It was just a community activity and reflected the overwhelming support [Wong] received from the district's residents," he said.

"It's very common community activity and reflected the overwhelming support [Wong] received from district residents," Chan said. "It's very common for district bodies to bid farewell to district officers."

Many remember Leung's daughter's incidents

OK but is it that common to host 500 guests and spending so much money to do that?

Chan added many district residents wanted to show their appreciation from Wong, as he had done a lot for people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

While that may be a nice gesture, Leung is signalling that the pro-establishment camp needs to smarten-up and not be frivolous... is he fancying himself like the morality police?

It's amusing considering his own children have done self-indulgent things where one daughter has posted on social media about her rows with her parents, the other believing she had privilege to have airport staff bring her her luggage...

Lam Missing from CPPCC List

There were rumours Lam would be named to the CPPCC

Even though former Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor believed being a workaholic ensures success, she missed the cut in being appointed to China's highest advisory body.

Tung and Leung elevated to the state level

There were expectations that Lam would be named vice-chairwoman of the Chinese People's Consultative Conference, as the meeting to discuss new members is being held in Beijing from Sunday for three days, but her name was not on the list.

Maybe it's because of the technical issue of her not being a member of the CPPCC. She needs to be recommended to the committee and vetted before she can be approved to be on the list.

Other Hongkongers on the list are former World Health Organisation director-general Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun, tycoon Victor Li Tzar-kuoi, and chairperson of the board of West Kowloon Henry Tang Ying-yen, who was a former CE candidate.

Meanwhile Lam's two predecessors, Tung Chee-hwa and Leung Chun-ying have both been promoted to state-leader roles as CPPCC vice-chairmen.

Tang was appointed to the CPPCC as a member

One would think Beijing would reward her somehow for being stuck between a rock and a hard place during the 2019 protests followed by the Covid-19 pandemic, having to adhere to Beijing's policies.

But nope. Or maybe she wants nothing to do with Beijing anymore?

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...

Patriots Come out to Party

A sea of red flags for National Day are hung around the city

It's October 1, National Day, and all the patriots are out in force to celebrate.

At the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre by Bauhinia Square in Wan Chai, senior government officials all wore maroon-coloured masks for the flag-raising ceremony.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu was there of course, along with familiar faces, such as former chief executives Leung Chun-ying and Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor were there, though Tung Chee-hwa was absent.

Flag-raising ceremony at Bauhinia Square

There was another flag-raising ceremony held at Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- perhaps to show the world that the tertiary institution -- that was the site of a siege by protesters three years ago -- is all cleaned up and under full control of the government.

People on social media have pointed out that all these guests can gather together in public without violating social-distancing measures which has limited people to groups of four...

Meanwhile some local patriots came out to the Tsim Sha Tsui harbour front and donned patriotic masks and some even wore Han dynasty robes complete with headdresses and waving Chinese flags. 

Patriotic maidens wearing Han dynasty robes

Why they did that is strange, considering the Communist Party wanted to get rid of the "Four Olds": old ideas, old culture, old customs and old habits.

Perhaps they belong to some pro-establishment group promoting traditional Chinese dress? They sure caught the attention of the media as they seemed to be the only local residents to be genuinely celebrating the day...

James Tien Quits Liberal Party he Founded

Tien says there is no future for political parties in Hong Kong

The political space for moderates has closed shut with James Tien Pei-chun, resigning from the pro-establishment Liberal Party he founded more than 30 years ago.

He along with two others, Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee and Miriam Lau Kin-yee resigned from the party as honorary chairs after learning on August 10 that the party leadership, led by Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, planned to abolish the position.

The honorary chair position was created to honour past leaders for their contributions.

Chow, Tien and Lau resigned from the party

But now they are not wanted and pre-empted being kicked out by showing themselves out the door.

Tien said pro-Beijing politicians are trying to prove their loyalty to Beijing even though it's not even asked, by distancing themselves from anyone deemed controversial.

"This is something they think they must do to please Beijing, a way they work in the hope of retaining their jobs in public office," he said.

With Beijing completely overhauling Hong Kong's electoral system, Tien says the space for political discussion has also shrunk.

"There is no future in all political parties. Beijing's electoral overhaul is diminishing the role of parties and eliminating differences in opinion," he said.

The Liberal Party met on August 10 and members voted unanimously to abolish the position. Cheung later issued a statement regretting that the trio had resigned and said the leadership was "trying to persuade them to stay".

Cheung is the chairman of the Liberal Party

An honorary chair for 12 years, Tien said this was yet another example of how pro-Beijing politicians are trying to please Beijing, even though they probably did not receive any directives from the liaison office.

"I don't think it was an instruction by the liaison office to get rid of iconic politicians who had been outspoken," he said.

However, not that he has no political affiliation, Tien feels more free to speak out.

He believes the riff between him, Chow and Lau and Cheung began during the 2019 extradition protests. 

They had urged then chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to set up an independent investigative committee to create "genuine dialogue with peaceful protesters". But their suggestion was criticised by some party members who believed they were siding with "black-clad protesters who damaged the rule of law".

Tien seems to be a man who speaks his mind and stands by his decisions.

He was a member of the Executive Council for then chief executive Tung Chee-hwa. When half a million people came out to protest against Article 23, Tien quit Exco. 

In 2014, he faced expulsion from Beijing's top advisory body, the Chinese People's Consultative Conference, after calling on then leader Leung Chun-ying to step down over an impasse on political reform.

In 2014 Tien called on Leung to resign

Two years later he claimed Beijing's liaison office had instructed him to discourage party colleague Ken Chow Wing-kan from running in the Legislative Council election.

Then in 2017, the Liberal Party was divided between supporting two candidates in the chief executive race. Tien and others supported former financial secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, while Cheung and his cohorts rallied behind the eventual winner, Lam.

In addition, unlike many pro-Beijing politicians, Tien objected to the national security law in 2020, saying the legislation should only be used sparingly.

Hong Kong is going to miss people like Tien, giving the voice of reason among the crowd of pro-Beijing patriots.

From now on opinions are going to be more extreme and irrational... is this what Beijing wants for the city? Hardly seems like the best way to govern Hong Kong...

Lee's Popularity Starts on Low Point

Lee is tied for having the worst popularity rating as CE

Lucky for John Lee Ka-chiu that he was not voted in by the people. 

That's because the latest opinion polls have him ranked as one of the least popular Hong Kong leaders of all time.

Leung (above) and Lee both have 53.8 marks

In a Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute survey of 1,003 people between July 4-7, Lee had a popularity rating of 53.8 marks, while 12 percent of respondents gave him a rating of zero.

Guess that's what pulled his rating down?

He actually tied with Leung Chun-ying, who was chief executive from 2012 to 2017.

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was rated at 63.6 marks, but at the end of her term her popularity plunged to 36 marks.

Ouch.

Interestingly the polling had 45 percent of respondents who were confident in Lee, compared to 39 percent who had "no confidence".

Lam's popularity fell to 36 marks by end of June

The research institute pointed out in an Instagram post that with previous chief executives, "Pori had already conducted relevant popularity surveys. However, there was only one candidate in this year's election, and there was no extensive interaction between citizens and the candidate before he took office, Pori hence did not conduct any popularity surveys on the Chief-Executive-Elect. It was a loss in the field of public opinion research."

Indeed, not that Lee would have backed out of the one-man race if he knew his popularity ratings would be so low... 

The Truth is Out There

Last look at Jumbo before it capsized in the South China Sea

Just when we thought Jumbo Floating Restaurant had sunk 1,000 metres in the South China Sea on its way to Cambodia, there was word yesterday that the vessel capsized, but hadn't sunk.

It is apparently still afloat near the Xisha (Paracel) Islands.

You'd think the owner of the massive vessel, Aberdeen Restaurant Enterprises, owned by Melco Group, which is majority owned by Stanley Ho's son Lawrence, would want to see exactly what state the floating restaurant is in.

Jumbo in its former brilliant glory

There are no photographs or video of it to prove that it has capsized and not sunk so it's still really fishy.

People joked on Twitter that if Apple Daily was still around, they would have already sent a helicopter there to take photographs and video of the capsized restaurant.

But alas, Hongkongers are deprived of knowing what really happened to Jumbo Floating Restaurant...

This mystery continues along with if President Xi Jinping is physically coming to Hong Kong or an impersonator would show up.

Meanwhile Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, a former Hong Kong delegate to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, is saying 50 years of no change is will continue unchanged under the "one country, two systems" framework.

So the 2019 protests against the extradition bill, which lasted for months that set the wheels in motion for the implementation of the national security law, and led to the exodus of over 100,000 people and counting didn't happen?

Fan claims 50 years no change will continue

"The so-called '50 years unchanged' is not only written in the Basic Law, but in fact, if you look at the comments of previous state leaders. Fifty years is really not a deadline, it's the initial stage," she told reporters.

"In future [50 years unchanged] will surely continue, unless the one country, two systems [principle] is not done well. But right now, the [principle] can be implemented well."

Gaslighting at its best.

And then there's former chief executive Leung Chun-ying who likes to provoke with interesting statements.

His latest? 

That Hong Kong is not a "show flat" for western-style democracy for China.

Leung doesn't seem to know his HK history

"Our place isn't a 'political show flat' for the country to demonstrate how so-called western-style democracy operates," Leung said. "No. Our country knows very well about these things. On political issues, many taxi drivers on the mainland know more about Hong Kong lawmakers."

What? Where does he even get this idea that taxi drivers in China are more knowledgable and what does this have to do with Hong Kong not being a "show flat" for western-style democracy for China?

So while Leung thinks he's created a clever catch-phrase, it's not even correct. Hong Kong didn't have democracy, but it did have lots of freedoms before 1997.

Perhaps he's been reading those updated textbooks that claim Hong Kong was never a British colony?

CY Leung Wants to Cultivate Young Patriots

Leung wants to instil patriotism in university students, media

Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying continues to make himself newsworthy, this time saying patriotic groups need to be stronger in universities and the media.

He said even though Hong Kong has the national security law, and what he says is an improved electoral system, patriots need to continue working hard and suggested patriotism needed to be instilled among young people.

"We have to build up the ideological and organising powers of patriotic groups, those who govern have to break barriers with these groups, make them stronger. This includes the grooming of such political groups in universities," said Leung, who is vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

2015 football match HKers booed China anthem

"In education, in media, we have to raise the ability of patriotic groups in these important aspects in society. Of course we also need to form a consensus and widely promote the One Country, Two Systems principle."

He added it was a basic requirement that Hong Kong students become proud Chinese patriots.

To prove his point, he cited the example in 2015 when some Hong Kong students booed the Chinese national anthem during a football World Cup qualifying group match between China and Hong Kong at Chinese University.

Leung said he met with the university's management over the matter, but nothing was done.

Perhaps it was after that incident that he made sure every other vice chancellor was replaced with someone with a pro-Beijing bent?

Sounds like someone is still sore about the incident, or has been told to bring it up.

Leung Chai-yan has openly rebelled her parents

Either way demanding that young people become proud Chinese will be harder these days if he hasn't noticed what has happened in the last few years. 

Perhaps his fixation on indoctrinating young people comes from his inability to control his children, in particular daughter Leung Chai-yan who has had public spats with him?

Doesn't he know by now that the more you force kids to do something, the more they want to do the opposite?

New HK Leader a Forgone Conclusion

Newly anointed Chief Executive-elect Lee with wife Janet

Well what do you know -- John Lee Ka-chiu is going to be the next Chief Executive of Hong Kong!

What a surprise.

Of the 1,428 votes cast, he received 1,416 of them -- 99.15 percent of the votes. It's not hard if you are the only candidate.

How can this even be called an election, despite the charade of having people voting for him. He even greeted voters before they cast their ballot which in a real election would have been a no-no.

Lee earlier greeted voters as they arrived

Nevertheless this is the result Beijing wants -- Hong Kong style democracy with Chinese characteristics, where you have a one-horse race where only 0.0002 percent of the population are eligible to vote.

For the record it only took 23 minutes to count all the votes.

"Lee was nominated by 796 Election Committee members and won 1,416 votes. this showed that he was supported by the majority of the committee members, and faces the expectations of the vast majority of Hong Kong residents," said Xinhua of the result. 

While Lee was showered with praise in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the rest of the people not allowed to cast a ballot were resigned, angry or shrugged.

Just before the vote, three activists from the League of Social Democrats staged a mini protest. "Power to the people, universal suffrage now" they chanted as they marched towards the voting venue, though they were stopped by police.

Three lone protesters before the election

When asked by a reporter for his response that his performance will face challenges because of the lack of an electoral mandate, Lee replied:

"My election has been run according to the laws of Hong Kong. The election was conducted in a very transparent and fair manner. Anybody who is legally qualified can take part and run for election. I received a total of 1,416 votes and with that number of support, of course, it encourages me and gives me the strong confidence that my direction is agreed upon and shared by lots of Election Committee members."

He also said that the chief executive is accountable to both Hong Kong and Beijing, and that the two are connected. Lee added what Beijing wants to see in the city and what Hong Kong people want to see should be similar.

If only it were that simple...

A joke going around Twitter: 689 (Leung Chun-ying) + 777 (Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor) - 50 Years of no change = 1,416.

Vote for the Only Candidate

Lee reveals his softer side during an election rally yesterday

Yesterday the sole candidate running for chief executive, John Lee Ka-chiu, made a last push for votes at a highly choreographed rally at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Sort of modelled on the US presidential elections, several people came up on stage to endorse Lee, including his campaign director Tam Yiu-chung, the sole Hong Kong representative of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and former chief executive Leung Chun-ying, who is the chief convenor of the Election Committee with his peer, Tung Chee-hwa.

Leung made a pitch to endorse Lee

Interesting Leung made a pitch for Lee when Leung himself had expressed interest in becoming CE again. But perhaps this was the instruction from above, to play nice and support the only person running...

Meanwhile journalists were totally baffled by the slogan for Lee's rally: We and Us A New Chapter Together.

"We and Us"? 

In Chinese it literally says "Me and We", but that's also grammatically weird too, and besides his copywriting team has made many mistakes throughout his entire campaign that is basically a slam dunk.

Finally the man of the hour (if elected), arrived on stage. The emcee even asked people to turn on the lights on their phones and wave them in the air as if Lee were a rockstar about to sing a ballad.

He talked about his humble beginnings, living in Sham Shui Po, and how his family was poor, but his father managed to scrape together enough money to buy a television set. 

"We and Us"? What does that mean exactly?

After dinner they gathered around the TV and opened the wooden door, but closed the iron gate to allow the breeze in, and neighbours would stand nearby to watch the TV behind them. Lee said they later turned up the volume so they could listen and then eventually invited neighbours to come in to watch TV with them.

Then he quickly went over his four or five items on his election platform, including housing, security for stability, and develop the economy among them, and then that was it.

So this is the man Beijing wants to lead Hong Kong, from one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the city to becoming one of the highest paid leaders in the world at over HK$400,000 (US$51,000) a month -- apparently in cash.

What a rags-to-riches story.

He told about when he was robbed by older classmates once and was punched in the chest for not having any money to offer them, and felt angry he didn't dare speak up and decided to become a law enforcer instead, entering the police force at the age of 19. 

That's the reason why the almost 1,500 people on the Election Committee should vote for him.

Do they have any other choice?

ICAC insists on Getting Wanted Man

Peh says ICAC is "working hard" to extradite Ted Hui

Former lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung is wanted by the ICAC, the Independent Commission Against Corruption. His alleged crime? Calling for people to cast blank votes before the 2021 Legislative Council election.

Hui is currently in exile in Australia

He had already left Hong Kong in November 2020 and eventually settled in Australia, and the government has even frozen his bank accounts as well as those of his wife and parents.

But the ICAC have named Hui a wanted man and most recently commissioner Simon Peh Yun-lu reiterated the organisation was "working hard" to extradite the former pro-democratic lawmaker who is now in exile.

The snag is that Australia suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong after the implementation of the national security law in June 2020. And besides extradition usually requires dual criminality and Hui calling for blank votes on social media is not considered a crime in Australia.

Tsui was forced to resign after "partygate" scandal

So Peh is insisting in flogging a dead horse to show he means business, but in the end it's a dead end really. Why bother?

Or is he trying to demonstrate he is diligently doing his job after he attended Witman Hung Wai-man's birthday party a few months back that resulted in a spate of infections and snagged a few officials including then Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui Ying-wai?

Nevertheless, with the upcoming Chief Executive election fast approaching on May 8, Peh said there was yet any signs of anyone promoting the eligible voters to cast blank ballots.

There are only 1,454 people on this election committee who have been vetted by Beijing. Surely they are not going to waste their vote when there is one candidate running?

Hung belting out a tune during his birthday party

It seems like a sure slam dunk for that person, former Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu. How many votes will he get compared to Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor (777), and Leung Chung-ying (689)?