Former Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung drags out the old ‘economic city, not political city’ argument. Politics is the means by which a society decides how it should be run, notably as an economy (fairness of competition, prioritization of taxes and spending, etc). If you have an economy, by definition you have politics. The ‘not a political city’ phrase is code for ‘the population have no input into how their community is run’. In other words, a small group of unelected insiders make all the decisions, and the role of the people is essentially that of sheep.
He also says Hong Kong must win back Beijing’s trust. The government has lost confidence in Hong Kong, and will abolish the city and appoint a new one.
Incidentally, no CE was more focused on politicking – specifically belittling and fighting opposition – than CY himself. So far.
An HKFP op-ed on the elaborate but vague preparations being made for the possible visit of a ‘state leader’ on July 1. Two things seem pretty obvious. First, the big uncertainty is whether Xi Jinping feels personally safe outside whatever closed loop/bubble normally surrounds him – the recent Covid cases over the border and in Macau can’t have helped. And second, Hong Kong officials will be the last to find out if he’ll definitely show up.
Assuming he does come, at least for a few hours, it will be interesting to see what sort of distancing measures, physical anti-infection barriers and other precautions are in place. Wouldn’t the ambience be great if everyone in the Great Hall of the Wanchai except Xi has to wear a hazmat suit?
From the HK Landscape Photography Society – photos of flags hung inside the wells in public housing blocks – looking like the entrance to the July 1 underworld. And someone’s found a deathly lookalike.
Despite the compulsory patriotic view, the tenants at least have a halfway decent home. Also in HKFP – families living in HK$7,000-per-month 180 sq ft subdivided apartments don’t expect the new (unelected) administration to make (the political decisions required for) a difference to the housing situation. Sensible people.
“Former Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung drags out the old ‘economic city, not political city’ argument.”
Local media are forced to keep that nasty piece of shit-on-your-shoe relevant? Would rather read about his mental daughter’s latest adventure.
CY continues to interfere in order to remain relevant.
It is about time the Central Government mandates that ex-CEs, all of whom contributed to and are responsible for our current dire conditions, be seen and not heard.
It should not tolerate interference in any form that would affect or dilute the focus of the incoming administration and inflame divisions in society.
They should be reminded that their role is flower vases not power bases.
The problem for CY Leung is that the new patriots have overtaken him in nastiness and crazy talk. He should start to wear his wife’s uniform.
I feel like the arguments from CY, when taken to their logical conclusion, would turn HK into the Cayman Islands with a slightly larger workforce.
@justsayin: Or Dubai with booze.
I did once hear a very posh expat say, without irony, that Hong Kong’s future is becoming the Monaco of Asia.
“I did once hear a very posh expat say, without irony, that Hong Kong’s future is becoming the Monaco of Asia.”
Maybe that would have been possible before the NSL, but certainly not post NSL. You have to compare it to money laundering dumps like Panama or Belize.
It is about time the Central Government mandates that ex-CEs, all of whom contributed to and are responsible for our current dire conditions, be seen and not heard.
NOT seen and NOT heard
“NOT seen and NOT heard”
Bowtie has this part pretty much nailed