Okanagan: Road Trip to Osoyoos

Osoyoos is surrounded by hills and water, ideal for fruits, wine

Yesterday we drove east from Vancouver to Osoyoos for a few days before going on to Kelowna, both small towns in the Okanagan, a region best known for its wineries and orchards, as well as fruits like cherries, apricots, peaches, and apples. Only the cherries are for sale at the moment and they are delicious!

The drive takes about four hours but we broke it up into three sections: Vancouver to Hope, where we had a bite to eat at a well-known diner called Home Restaurant. I had the all-day breakfast of two eggs, a large German sausage, a giant heap of hash browns and rye toast. The pies on display looked amazing, but we were too full even for a bite. 

There are many colourful murals around

Then I took the wheel from Hope to Princeton, where the roads were quite winding and many hairpin turns that required slowing down and steady handling of the car. Luckily there weren't many cars on the road, and when there were passing lanes available, I was more than happy to let those speeders go past me!

Princeton to Osoyoos didn't have the hairpin turns, but many parts were single-lane traffic before arriving in the small town. There are big hotel chains like Holiday Inn and Best Western, while many others are private operations. I was surprised to see that they promoted having a "sandy beach" -- that meant Osoyoos Lake was at the back of the property, and while there was soft sand, it was only a few metres long, and no shells, just pebbles.

Nevertheless, the natural scenery is stunning, with Osoyoos in the bottom of a valley surrounded by hills. No wonder it's an ideal place for growing wine grapes, and the place is usually the hottest place in British Columbia in the summer.

Luckily for us temperatures haven't hit the peak yet, and instead the sun's rays are cooled by blustery winds. 

This legion stands out and very patriotic

Today I went for a walk around Osoyoos Lake, which looks like a slithering snake that is split in half almost in the middle by a small bridge. There's lots of green space around the lake, as well as the aforementioned "beach". People are either hanging out and sitting on benches enjoying the view, or out on the lake in their boats.

Walking into town there are several murals. One that caught my eye was the one for veterans, and pointed out they had served in both world wars, the Korean War as well as in Afghanistan, and as peacekeepers. By the lake there is also Veterans Park paying tribute to these soldiers.

Founded in 1946, Osoyoos is named after the Syilx (Okanagan Indian) word soo-yoos, meaning "narrowing of the waters". Fur traders first worked here in the 1800s, followed by miners. It wasn't until the early 1900s were commercial orchards established and then growing wine grapes in the 1960s.

The town has a few banks, national chain stores like Shopper's Drug Mart and Home Hardware, and the rest are independent shops from jewellery to books, nail salons and clothing. Oh yes and ice cream shops, and by the lake there's a trailer selling mini doughnuts and frozen lemonade.

A refreshing frozen lemonade

As I reached the trailer before lunchtime it was more prudent to just get the frozen lemonade, which was probably a ripoff at C$6, but what the heck, it was hot and lemonade flavoured shaved ice seemed like the ideal antidote after a warm day in the sun.

Ducking Away Already?

Gone too soon? The double ducks are ducking to the exits

The double duck show is over!

They were eagerly anticipated as Hongkongers flocked to them at Tamar on June 10, but just over a week later they're ducking away with a quickie tour around Victoria Harbour before leaving.

Before the launch, Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman said: "I hope it will bring as much pleasure as it did in the past and in a world where we suffered from a pandemic, wars, and political situation, I think it's the right moment to bring back the double luck."

One poor duckie deflated on the first day

However, on the first day one of them deflated -- organisers say they did it -- apparently because the hot temperatures stretched the duck's material too much.

And now with thunderstorms, and lots and lots of rain (red rain warning), perhaps saying, "like water off a duck's back" doesn't apply to rubber ducks?

Or maybe it was the person who was riding on a junk in the harbour and then jumped into the water to get up close and personal with the feathery friend that got organisers quacking up a fuss? 

In any event, so much for double the fun with double ducks...

One wonders how much the Hong Kong government, or rather its taxpayers shelled out for a publicity stunt that fowl-ed up so quickly...

Canada's New Milestone

As of today, Canada has a population of 40 million

Canada has reached a new milestone -- 40 million people as of today, June 16, 2023 according to Statistics Canada.

The country is now on par with Iraq (40.2 million), a dubious distinction...

The Canadian population made its single biggest jump in 2022 with just over 1 million people or 2.7 percent thanks largely in part to temporary and permanent migration. 

Migration has bumped up the population

A few thousand of those were from Hong Kong, taking advantage of Canada's pathways specifically designed for young people to come here to work and gain permanent residency.

"From an economic perspective, newcomers have been really important both to fill jobs that are here and to connect us with the economies out into the wider world," says Matti Siemiatycki, director of the Infrastructure Institute and a professor at the department of geography and planning at the University of Toronto.

If the current trend continues, Canada could see the number of residents jump to 50 million in 2043.

However, the population will not be able to grow if there is not enough housing -- and affordable housing at that. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, the average selling price of a home in April was C$716,000... and Vancouver is the most expensive city in the country followed by Toronto.

"We're in a housing crunch. We haven't been building enough units across the country, especially at the affordable levels," he says.

Governments at the municipal, provincial and federal levels have promised to hire more skilled labour in the construction sector, but the wait is excruciating for those anxious to have a place to call home.

Air Canada Flies to Singapore 2024

Flights to Singapore on Air Canada start in April 2024

A Singaporean friend posted on social media she was excited to discover Air Canada will be offering direct flights to Vancouver from April 2024.

The route will operate four times a week between Vancouver International Airport and Changi International Airport, marking Air Canada's return to Singapore after three decades.

Business class will have comfy seats for the flight

It will take almost 16 hours to get there (like flying Toronto to Hong Kong), and this flight will replace Singapore Airlines, as it will stop flying this route in October. 

That means there will be an almost six-month gap between services.

Nevertheless, surely this will be a popular (and profitable) route.

With Singapore emerging as the winner with its rivalry with Hong Kong post-Covid, the Lion City is fast becoming the Asian destination people want to travel to and do business in. 

Vice versa, Singaporeans don't have to fly to Hong Kong before transferring to another flight to their hometown. Win win.

Hopefully the ticket prices won't be as exorbitant as going to Hong Kong at the moment?

Baijiu-infused coffee, anyone?

China has baijiu-infused coffee drinks for the younger crowd

Looking for another way to spike your coffee instead of the usual splash of Bailey's?

How about adding baijiu?

There are some 14 baijiu-infused coffee drinks

Kweichow Moutai is now offering the fiery grain-based liquor in coffee drinks from lattes to Americanos in another bid to appeal to the younger generation.

Last summer the baijiu brand teamed up with China Mengniu Dairy to offer alcohol-infused ice cream and it was a hit -- at one point demand was so high it was sold out everywhere.

Perhaps Kweichow Moutai is hoping baijiu-infused coffee will be just as popular.

The coffee drinks using Moutai Flying Fairy at 43 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) were soft launched in Guangzhou last week with 14 different types of coffee beverages with prices ranging from 28 yuan to 42 yuan (US$4-US$6). Customers could also request a dose of higher grade baijiu called Moutai Flying Fairy which has 53 percent ABV.

The drinks are also available in Chongqing and Zhengzhou with varying menus and prices, but it's not clear where the coffee beans were sourced. Or does it matter as the taste might be overwhelmed by the baijiu fiery sensation down the throat?

Drinks range from 28 yuan to 48 yuan

Baijiu has always been synonymous with the Chinese ruling elite ever since Mao Zedong served it at state dinners for US President Richard Nixon during his historic visit in 1972. It is also the gift of choice to government officials, with the popular saying: "Those who buy Moutai never drink it, while those who drink it never buy it."

In addition, Moutai is the dominant player in the market with a market capitalisation of 2.12 trillion yuan (US$296 billion), almost three times more than its nearest competitor, Wuliangye.

Coffee purists will probably shun this latest creative collaboration, but China's coffee drinking market is still young and will probably be willing to try the baijiu-infused coffee at least once.

Will the Moutai overpower the taste of the coffee? And will the caffeine cancel out the alcoholic effects on the body? Too many questions.

Picture of the Day: Salmonberries

Salmonberries almost ripe in the forest

It's berry season in Vancouver! Summer is just about here. First up are strawberries that are available for picking in local farms. It's back-breaking work crouching down to pick the luscious red edible gems, but surely they are too good to pass up.

Even ripe ones have a tart taste

In the forest are wild salmonberries. They look like raspberries, but have a more jewel-tone colour and are more on the tart side than sweet.

Salmonberries are native to the west coast of North America and are grown on bushes with fine prickles.

Picture of the Day: Nordstrom's Closing

Just the fixtures and furniture left for sale at Nordstrom's

The chain of Nordstrom's across Canada is closing on Tuesday June 13.

When the high-end department store announced it would close all of its six locations and seven Nordstrom Rack stores, people flocked to them, hoping to find some deals.

But the discounts were a joke at 10 percent off and customer were annoyed.

Anyone need size 18 men's shoes?!

However, the patient ones who waited it out in the last few weeks probably got some good bargains because yesterday I checked out Nordstrom's in downtown Vancouver and it was practically cleared out, with furniture and fixtures from clothing racks to mirrors, tables, couches and mannequins left to be sold.

On the ground floor still available were tiny baby clothes, very large sized brassieres, and even single men's shoes, in case you lost one and were hoping to replace it.

But there were a few pairs of men's shoes available -- if you were size 18!

June 12 Rally Marred by Indigenous Protest

Hong Kong protesters showed up with flags and in black

In Hong Kong it's already June 12, the fourth anniversary of the peaceful protests against the extradition bill that successfully stalled the second reading of the bill at the Legislative Council, but the police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the 40,000 people.

The police described the incident as a riot, which led to the protesters to chant, "Five demands, not one less". They were: Demand the police retract the "riot" characterisation; withdrawal of the extradition bill; release and exonerate arrested protesters; hold a public inquiry into police brutality; and implement universal suffrage.

Four years on the Hong Kong diaspora continue to call for these demands to be met, on Sunday afternoon in Vancouver at an event organised by the Vancouver Activists of Hong Kong.

"Glory to Hong Kong" written in chalk

A crowd of about 50-60 people gathered at the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery, many wearing black, masks, hats and sunglasses. Several people waved flags of colonial Hong Kong, of East Turkestan, and the protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times".

The 2pm event began several minutes late due to technical problems, but finally got off the ground, with the singing of the Canadian anthem and a minute of silence for the victims of the 2019 protests. The protest anthem "Glory to Hong Kong" -- a song the authorities are trying to ban -- was played, while many in the crowd shouted slogans.

Then a few people made speeches, such as a member of parliament, a long time activist who organises events around June 4, and some protesters, one of whom became very emotional, pleading for passersby to pay attention to what the Hongkongers' grievances were about.

An artistic statement

However, the area is a public space where people are free to walk through, and when parts of the event are in Cantonese, there is even less interest. Many walking by carried shopping bags, as the art gallery is near a shopping street, others walked their dogs.

Just as the emcee was about to introduce radio host Edmund Wan, known as Giggs, who has now made his home in Vancouver, a First Nations woman who stood near the front began shouting that this land was theirs and how dare we, the attendees take it away from them.

She insisted on disrupting the event, and Wan tried to tell her that he had met some indigenous people recently and respected them, but the woman refused to listen. She was with two other First Nations woman, one of whom also began shouting, the other more interested in munching on her bag of chips.

A friend remarked perhaps this was the "infiltration" the protesters were worried about...

After a few minutes the emcee said she was angry that their items were taken away. Perhaps she was referring to the impromptu display of 215 pairs of shoes on the steps of the art gallery to represent the graves of 215 children that were discovered at a residential school in northern British Columbia. Toys were later added to the makeshift memorial.

It stood there from May 2021 until last month, when the city said it would remove the items, but then most of them disappeared before the city's cleaning crew arrived. No one knows where they are.

Woman in green disrupted the rally, pal eats chips

Why the woman was disrupting the Hong Kong protest was annoying since this clean-up happened almost a month ago and her complaints should be directed at City Hall.

Later the emcee explained in Cantonese again that she had had too much to drink, and that everyone should move away from her and ignore her. But she caught wind of what was going on and began shouting again.

Apparently the police were called, but no one came right away.

It was disappointing to see the event -- a peaceful one at that! -- being hijacked. The woman disrupting the rally distracted the attendees and the significance of the gathering.

Another is scheduled tomorrow evening (June 12 Vancouver time) at Metrotown Skytrain Station in Burnaby. It is possible there will be a greater turnout there...

PetroChina Official's Affair Spawns Fashion Critiques

Hu and Dong as they walked down "Douyin Street"

There's a street in Chengdu that's nicknamed "Douyin Street" or "TikTok Street", a main pedestrian area where street photographers hang out to catch wannabe models strutting their stuff -- or maybe a Chinese official holding hands with his alleged mistress.

That was what happened to Hu Jiyong, now a former Party Committee Secretary and executive director and general manager of Beijing Huanqiu Construction Co, a subsidiary of PetroChina.

He was summarily fired from his posts and faces an investigation from a disciplinary committee after a video of him and a younger woman was posted on Douyin by a street photographer.

Hu looks much younger in these manga versions

It was after the clip of the couple was posted did some viewers recognised Hu and his supposed mistress, Dong Sijin, who was also a PetroChina employee (also sacked).

In the video they turn heads because Hu wears a pink polo shirt that matches Dong's pink and lime green dress that netizens have described as "a mistress dress" -- now nicknamed "dismissal dress". Not only that, but she was holding a limited edition mini hibiscus Lady Dior handbag that costs around US$6,100.

Perhaps what was even more intriguing about the whole incident was that the couple knew they were being photographed and filmed and didn't act like they had anything to hide.

So Hu has lost his job, probably his girlfriend and his wife too, but he and Dong are forever immortalised in a series of memes from manga to Lego, to a guy in a dress holding hands with another man in a pink polo.

And here's the Lego version

Oh and yes that "mistress dress" is doing a hot trade on Taobao, with some 4,000 orders for the dress. Overwhelmed by the demand, the online store even asked customers to "shop rationally".

There probably isn't the same demand for the designer handbag though.

Nevertheless, some netizens could not understand why someone would want to dress like Dong, while others lamented how it was difficult to pull of wearing pink. One person even defended the dress, writing: "Every dress is probably worn by a mistress at one point. The dress is innocent!"

Asian Supermarket Chain Goes South

T&T is opening its first store near Seattle next summer

People in Bellevue, Washington State who like to eat Asian food are excited to hear that T&T Supermarket will be opening its first American outlet next summer. 

The Vancouver-based supermarket was started by Taiwanese businesswoman Cindy Lee in 1993 -- 30 years ago -- and it's the largest Asian supermarket chain in Canada with locations in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Ontario.

Now it's opening its first store near Seattle.

Lots of fresh produce at good prices at T&T

"It feels like a big step because it's a new country," said Lee's daughter Tina, who is the CEO. She added they have noticed a significant number of shoppers from the US at their Richmond stores, particularly during American long weekends.

What's not to like about T&T? It stocks fresh vegetables and fruits at lower prices compared to other supermarkets, and has every kind of Asian chips, candies, drinks and other snacks you can think of, as well as fresh meats and seafood, cooked food, household items and even skincare products.

Experts say bringing T&T across the border near Seattle is a good strategic move to see if it can expand even further.

"They are moving into a new market. However, Seattle is fairly low risk for them, the cultures are fairly similar to Vancouver and the demographic makeup is fairly similar," said Jarrett Vaughan, adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business.

CEO Lee, daughter of the founder

"What they've done really well is they've understood their customers extremely well," he said. "They know who their target customer is and they've been able to cater to them really well."

The company is also setting up a regional office in the greater Los Angeles area, home to the biggest port in the United States, as CEO Lee says there are plans to open more stores south of the border.

Ever wondered what T&T stands for? Tina and Tiffany, Cindy Lee's two daughters, and the initials of two early investors.

Picture of the Day: Yellow Distraction

Two giant ducks that duck a significant anniversary

Today is the fourth anniversary of the first massive anti-extradition march, where some 1 million people came out to protest. They dressed in white, mourning the end of Hong Kong if the extradition bill was passed, while walking in the humid heat from Victoria Park in Causeway Bay to Central.

But today there are no protests in the city, where the rules changed overnight with the national security law in place in 2020 and as a result no dissent is allowed.

When 1M people wore white to protest in 2019

To distract people from the anniversary, there are not one, but two cute giant ducks bobbing in Victoria Harbour.

The pair of ducks at 18 metres tall are bigger than the one that came 10 years ago at 16.5 metres.

Whooweeeee.

As if to rub it in further, in a press release, Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman gushed, "Double duck is double luck", in a nod to the Hong Kong government's bid to invite people to the city with its "Happy Hong Kong" campaign.

However are people really happy?

If they were, they wouldn't be leaving in droves, as evidenced by the increasing numbers of Hongkongers migrating elsewhere and the birthrate has dropped.

It's gotten so bad that five schools are facing closure because they don't have enough students or teachers. 

In any event, as Hong Kong celebrates the arrival of the ducks, may we point out their bright yellow colour has significance for some people?

Fact of the Day: Saving Forever for a Home

The takes about 38 years to save up for a down payment

Vancouver continues to have the reputation for being the least affordable urban area in Canada when it comes to buying a home, where home buyers pay an 89.9 percent premium compared to the national urban composite.

The price of a house in Vancouver is on average C$1.59 million (HK$9.3 million) in the first quarter of 2023.

And the average household income needed to afford a home at that price is C$322,245.

Condos aren't much cheaper than homes per sq/f

Based on that income, the number of months needed to save for a down payment, at a saving rate of 10 percent is 454 months, or just under 38 years.

Condos are cheaper of course, but still relatively expensive. An average price is around C$721,230, and an annual household income of C$171,052 is needed to afford it, and will take 67 months, or just over five and a half years to save enough for a down payment.

Is it any wonder young people who don't have parents who can help with the down payment, have given up completely on home ownership and instead focused on travel or other priorities instead of being indentured mortgage slaves?

Picture of the Day: Eerie Yellow Skies

New York City blanketed with smog from wildfires in Canada

The wildfires that suddenly ravaged Nova Scotia last week are coming under control thanks to lots of rain over the weekend. However there are some 150 wildfires in Quebec, and the the result has led to smoke drifting south to the eastern United States.

The skies in New York for example were particularly hazy and smoky, which has resulted in the city's air quality index to be 218, or "very unhealthy" at one point, according to the IQ World Air Quality Index.

Beijing dust storm in 2010

It is currently at 173, which is still "unhealthy", though it is on par with Kuwait at 165 and Baghdad at 155.

The pictures of the yellow skies in the Big Apple remind me of the time I woke up one weekend in Beijing to see the sky was yellow.

Everything outside looked yellow. I wondered if there was something wrong with my eyes, or aliens had landed.

Then after a while, the wind blew the dust away and gradually the skies became blue again.

It was the most bizarre experience. 

HK Government to Ban Protest Anthem

The song was the unofficial anthem of the 2019 protests

Just to make sure no one will every play the wrong Hong Kong anthem again, the government is seeing a court order to permanently bar anyone from trying to using music related to the song that became the unofficial anthem for the 2019 protests.

On Monday the justice secretary filed an unprecedented application to the High Court for an injunction against Glory to Hong Kong. The writ asked the court to restrain those harbouring criminal intent from "broadcasting, performing, printing, publishing, selling, offering for sale, distributing, disseminating, displaying or reproducing in any way" the protest song.

March of the Volunteers is HK's official anthem

The injunction targets anyone who intends to incite others to separate Hong Kong from China, commit a seditious act, or insult the national anthem, March of the Volunteers.

The court order, if granted, would also prohibit anyone from playing the song in a manner that would cause it "to be mistaken as the national anthem insofar as the [Hong Kong Special Administrative Region] is concerned", or suggest that Hong Kong "is an independent state and has a national anthem of her own."

In addition the thorough court filing listed YouTube videos of 32 versions of the song, from instrumentals to it sung in Mandarin, English, German, Dutch, Japanese and Korean.

This move comes just before the fourth anniversary of the large-scale anti-extradition protests that saw 1 million and then 2 million people out on the streets on June 9 and 16, 2019 respectively.

The wrong song has been played many times

So just to make sure no one will ever mistake Glory to Hong Kong for the official Hong Kong anthem, it will make it seditious to play it in any form.

From now on, any country hosting a Hong Kong team for a sporting tournament will be terrified of playing the wrong song.

How does that inspire anyone to visit the city?

The Day After June 4

A Porsche escorted by police as its plates have "8964" on them

This weekend in Hong Kong saw many arrests (and releases) of people testing what they could and couldn't do to commemorate June 4.

They could not hold up candles -- even unlit ones -- nor books or flowers. Not even a license plate that happens to be 8964.

Punters trying "8964" combination bets

But they can gamble.

Punters at the Sha Tin Racecourse yesterday made quartet bets using various combinations of 4, 6, 8, 9. That said there is no word on if they won or not.

But we'll take it as a win.

The other big win was today, June 5 in Hong Kong.

Bao Choy Yuk-ling, the freelance producer for RTHK's Hong Kong Connection, where she did investigative reporting on the July 21, 2019 attacks on commuters at Yuen Long Station by men in white shirts armed with long sticks. 

There was video footage of the men being transported by vans and showed the license plates. So she went to the Transport Department to trace the license plates to the owners. However, the form did not have an option for journalism or investigative purposes.

As a result the magistrate found Choy guilty of misstating her intention in obtaining the license plate information and was fined HK$6,000 (US$770). 

She appealed all the way to the Court of Final Appeal which today ruled journalism was a valid reason for her to access the official records.

Choy all smiles outside Court of Final Appeal

"The issues of falsity and knowledge were wrongly decided against the appellant because her journalistic investigation into the use of the vehicle on the dates in question did fall into the wide catchall category of 'other traffic and transport related matters'," the judgment read.

Even if it did not, it was 'not an irresistible inference that she knew that to be false," the judgment said. There was no reason that "bona fide journalism" should be excluded from the phrase," it added.

Choy had big smiles outside of the Court of Final Appeal, a stark contrast to when she was convicted in April 2021.

Before the judgment she said: "Over the last few years, we might have found that many things have disappeared quietly," Choy said. "But I believe our beliefs in our hearts can't be taken away that easily. No matter I win or lose today, the persistence [demonstrated]... is already a meaningful thing."

There to celebrate the win was former Hong Kong Journalists Association chair Sham Yee-lan who hugged Choy. 

"This is real happy Hong Kong," Sham said, referring to the current tourism campaign. 

Indeed. The courts are still defending press freedom.

It's a good day.

A Crime to Remember June 4

The last candlelight vigil in Victoria Park on June 4, 2019

In Hong Kong it is the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, a tragic anniversary that used to be marked with tens of thousands of people descending on Victoria Park for the candlelight vigil.

Upon entering the Causeway Bay park, attendees passed by a small statue of the Goddess of Democracy and received a white candle and a conical paper cup with a small hole cut at the bottom as a candle holder, and a program.

The Goddess of Democracy statue

People sat on football pitches and quietly waited for the event to start, where every year the same songs were played, the same kind of speeches made, calling for the Chinese government to be accountable for the deaths of Beijing residents in and around Tiananmen Square. 

There would be a voice recording from one of the Tiananmen Mothers, whose son or daughter died during the bloody crackdown, continuing to mourn their loss without recognition from the government, and a survivor or witness would also give a speech, telling the assembled crowd what they had heard and seen.

Songs were sung, slogans chanted, and candles lit -- with people in awe of the magical sight of these small lights that shone so brightly in the dark. The candles were a powerful reminder of why it was important to gather and remember.

This ritual happened for 30 consecutive years until suddenly overnight it has become a crime to remember June 4 after the national security law was implemented in July 2020.

Some of the organisers of the vigil, the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, including Chow Hang-tung, Albert Ho Chun-yan, and Lee Cheuk-yan were arrested and charged with violating the national security law. They are now remanded in custody.

Kwan and Lau (middle) surrounded by police

The subsequent anniversaries were "cancelled" due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and this year is the first one free of restrictions.

However, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu refused to clearly state if people could commemorate June 4, saying they should obey the law.

But some people were undeterred yesterday and there are reports that up to eight people were arrested for publicly marking the anniversary of the crackdown.

Two people, Kwan Chun-pong and Lau Ka-yee wore black T-shirts and a red cross painted on their mouths, stood by Victoria Park and planned to stage a 24-hour hunger strike. But they were taken away by the police.

Meanwhile two artists outside the Sogo Department Store in Causeway Bay were taken away by the police too. One of them, Sanmu Chan shouted, "Do not forget June 4! Don't be afraid of them, Hongkongers!" as two police held each arm and escorted him away. He was even verbally warned by another officer to shut up, but the artist continued chanting.

Chan (middle) told Hongkongers not to forget 6/4

Another couple in white who held chrysanthemum flowers were taken away. When asked if they were being arrested, the young man said he didn't know why.

After people could not go to Victoria Park, the Tiananmen Square Museum in Mong Kok became the next pilgrimage spot, but then it too was unceremoniously shut down just before June 4, 2021. Police raided the museum and took away all of the artefacts that had been collected over the years.

Now Hongkongers can only remember the anniversary in their hearts, and also reflect on how much the city has changed in such a short period of time.

While the authorities are trying very hard to make people forget June 4, they cannot succeed. And the diaspora outside of Hong Kong are even more determined to keep the memory alive, ensuring the candles continue to shine brightly.

Picture of the Day: Roasted Pig Eyes

The roast pig with hearts over its eyelids for the emoji age

When you order a whole roast pig at Chinese restaurants, there is this uncomfortable tension of what to do with its eyes.

As per Chinese custom, the whole animal is presented, and even though it's dead, the chef wants to make it seem lively...

Decades ago it started with the bright red maraschino cherries held in place with toothpicks where each eye ball would have been.

Then it was upgraded to flashing red lights! The pig seemed possessed.

Fast forward to 2023, and at a Chinese restaurant in Richmond, the roast pig presentation climbed up a notch with plastic red hearts on its eyelids. 

It's reminiscent of the emoji with the smiling face and two hearts for its eyes.

A roast pig for the emoji age...

Chinese Police Stations Shut Down in Canada

One of the alleged police stations in Markham, Ontario

Canadians can breathe a sigh of relief now that the RCMP has shut down the Chinese police stations that were in British Colombia, Quebec and Ontario -- but did not make any arrests.

This latest news follows the expulsion of Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei for allegedly targeting at least two federal politicians for intimidation because of their pro-democracy stance on China.

Mendicino said the RCMP shut down the stations

In April, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told a parliamentary committee the federal police force had taken decisive action to close down the alleged stations.

According to Spain-based human rights watchdog group Safeguard Defenders, these police stations monitor Chinese nationals and persuade those who have been suspected of committing crimes to return to China to face charges.

However, the Chinese embassy denies this claim, saying the stations provide Chinese nationals with assistance to things like renewing driver's licenses. 

Last fall the RCMP began probing the alleged police stations in the Greater Toronto Area, and then by mid-March it announced it was also looking into reports of stations in Vancouver and Montreal.

The RCMP later told a Canadian news outlet that some of the activity it's investigating "is occurring at locations where other legitimate services to the Chinese Canadian Community are being offered."

An alleged station in Montreal, no arrests made

In other words, the stations were irrelevant.

The RCMP says it continues to investigate "transnational repression activity, and those responsible for transnational repression, to ensure Chinese and other Canadians are safe from foreign influence."

Now if only the Canadian government finally get its act together and hold some kind of inquiry into foreign interference to really clear the air...

Controversial Development Yet to be Decided

The condo project is right next to Chinatown Memorial Plaza

The fate of the plot of plot of land in Vancouver's Chinatown that has divided the neighbourhood, will not be known until June 12.

On Monday evening, 70 people signed up to speak for or against the proposal on 105 Keefer Street to build 111 luxury condos on nine floors right next to the Chinatown Memorial Plaza. Some 20 still have yet to give their say.

Most of the people who spoke in the City of Vancouver development permit board hearing that lasted almost two hours beyond the scheduled time, were against the project.

Seniors want affordable housing on that land

Beedie Holdings bought the property, currently a parking lot, 10 years ago. Twice it went to the permit board hearing, the first time its plans for the building were criticised for being too tall, and then in 2017 it was shorter, but was resoundingly rejected.

Now it is back to the permit hearing board again -- with no changes to the plans. 

Seven Chinatown groups are for the project including the Chinatown Business Improvement Association, saying post-Covid it is time to get any kind of economic stimulation in the neighbourhood. They believe having these condos will bring at least 111 more people into the area and patronising the businesses in the area.

However, those against complained the condos should not be for the wealthy but social housing for the elderly, as inflation has made it harder for them to afford rent and food. Meanwhile others claimed the design was not culturally appropriate for the area, as it is near the Chinese Cultural Centre and Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

Lily Tang, 80, arrived in Chinatown in 1968, and has lived in her social housing building for about 25 years. She says life in Canada is becoming more unaffordable.

The fate of the land to be decided on June 12

"We are not against constructing this building, but it's looking at our needs," Tang said days before the hearing. "The last several years the government hasn't built much housing for us. There used to be a bit, but now governments just give lip service."

Russell Chiong, president of Chinatown Today agrees. 

"There is no affordable or seniors housing and no safeguards against gentrification. It would just do irreversible damage to the sense of place and community vibrancy of Chinatown," he said of the proposal.

Even people who lived in neighbourhood who are not Chinese also told the hearing they did not want to see luxury condos built there, and felt strongly for the unique character of the area to remain.

Meanwhile, Rob Fiorvento, managing partner at Beedie, said last week that the development will bring much needed mixed-use housing to the area, which is aligned with the city's goal of making the historic community prosperous again.

However, Fred Mah, founder of the Chinese Community Centre and an elder activist for Chinatown, said at the hearing he met with Beedie, but they agreed to disagree. They could not come to any compromise and so he does not support the proposal, saying it is not culturally appropriate nor does it cater to seniors.

But now that the City of Vancouver is pushing for market housing as a priority, it may be that the Beedie plan will be given the green light. It's also interesting that people who were against the project in 2017 have changed their minds even though the plan hasn't been modified in the last five years...