Yearly Archives: 2024

Judges ‘no longer protecting subjects’ liberty’

Jonathan Sumption, one of the UK judges to recently resign from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, writes in the FT about his reasons for quitting… The Basic Law … expressly authorises Legco to reject the budget, and provides … Continue reading

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HK government panics at sight of Roach

Former Morgan Stanley boss Stephen Roach came back to Hong Kong a few weeks ago after a previous spat… “There ain’t gonna be any resilience here if China continues to underperform, period,” he said, pointing to the parallel slowdown in … Continue reading

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Dumb chatbots

So intercepting US 8964 – a sort of Alfa Romeo-ish sports car – is an annual thing. China Media Monitor tries asking Mainland AI chatbots some awkward questions about a historical event… My most candid query about June Fourth was … Continue reading

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Huge turnout for cops’ Tiananmen vigil

It was impossible for anyone in Hong Kong to forget that yesterday was the anniversary of the 1989 Beijing massacre: thousands of cops plus their ‘Sabretooth’ armoured vehicle were on the streets to provide a high-profile reminder. They kept an … Continue reading

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Mourn behind closed doors

It’s ‘police overtime’ day. Ronny advises that you remember Tiananmen privately. What’s going on elsewhere. Some random recommended reading… From Asian Crime Century – picking up from the UK arrests of three men for conducting illegal activities for ‘Hong Kong intelligence’, … Continue reading

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More overseas coverage of the HK47 trial

The Guardian… The panel of Hong Kong national security judges had set down two days for the hearing but dispensed with the core business in about 15 minutes. In the city’s largest ever national security trial – involving the prosecution … Continue reading

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14 found guilty

Fourteen pan-democrats of the HK47 are found guilty of conspiracy to subversion. Chief Superintendent Steve Li gives his NatSec Police section a pat on the head for a job well done. Does the phrase ‘like shooting fish in a barrel’ … Continue reading

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‘Glory to Hong Kong’ not going away

While some government officials expressed satisfaction when Glory to Hong Kong disappeared from certain online platforms, there wasn’t much overt gloating. Which was just as well, since the subversive song is back. The news last week was that the UK-based … Continue reading

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Basically – keep away from June 4

Chow Hang-tung – already in jail – and five others, including her mother, become the first people to be arrested under the Article 23 NatSec Law passed in March… …police said five men and one woman had been detained on … Continue reading

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We’ve found a place that still isn’t overrun with millions of tourists!

After abandoning the ill-fated waste-charging plan, the government moves on to propose development of South Lantau as an ‘Eco-Recreation Corridor’… …establishing a landmark visitor center with dining, retail, and viewing facilities. The center will also host a variety of year-round … Continue reading

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