How the charming Regina Ip we know and love today overcame (it says here) her antisocial personality in the 1970s. (Note that she had already been recruited to the civil service at the time.)
A 70-year-old man jailed for playing Glory to Hong Kong faces another six charges of ‘performing a musical instrument without a permit’…
Li was sentenced to 30 days in prison last October for unlicensed performance and fundraising after playing the protest anthem Glory to Hong Kong in public, with Magistrate Amy Chan saying that his offences amounted to “soft resistance”.
Between September 27 and October 4, Li allegedly played the erhu, a traditional Chinese two-stringed instrument, in public without lawful authority or excuse and without a permit issued by the Commissioner of Police.
On September 27, he played in pedestrian subways in Kwun Tong and Kwai Chung. On September 30, he played on a footbridge outside Fanling MTR station, a subway outside Tai Po Hui station, and outside Yuen Long station.
He played at the pedestrian subway in Kwun Tong again on October 4.
How does a magistrate know what ‘soft resistance’ is, when no-one else can define it? And, leaving aside the apparent injustice of it all and the reputational damage to Hong Kong – is this a good use of taxpayers’ money?
Literally walked past an erhu player about 10 minutes ago in Causeway Bay. Seemed like he knew his stuff as he turned out a very plaintive melody. Several people standing around, some taking pictures. Just the kind of ‘organic’ street activity that tourists like. Tipped him 20 bucks.
Or we could just jail him.
There are buskers performing almost every day in the mentioned subway outside Tai Po Market station, which is an ideal spot for them – lots of passers-by, out of the rain, decent acoustics. I very much doubt that any of them has a public entertainment permit, but they don’t usually get arrested – though a few of them should be charged with murdering the music they play!
Far more offensive was the Dancing Granny Hookers we had making a catastrophic noise and spectacle.
I can just imagine the insane frenzy of overreacting popo, beatdowns and tear gassing that would occur in HK should U2, Green Day or Yo Yo Ma do one of those impromptu mini concerts in the MTR like those that are done in London, NYC or Brussels transportation hubs.
Under the footbridges along Shing Mun River is a thriving entertainment zone, erhu one of the attractions.
Magistrates are tasked with implementing existing laws not promulgating undefined offences.
@Chinese Netizen
“Pretty huh chief”
“It sure is Lu, it sure is, get the tear gas”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgFTkWrFhvM
The magistrate knows what soft resistance is because it’s whatever they think it is. Some catch, that Catch 22.
Ha!! I see what you did, BigCAD: You made popo “Lou” into Chinaman popo “Lu” ;-D
Simpsons are always great for a socially relevant video clip.