The Odyssey - Democracy in Hong Kong

[Randy W]

Xi's speech in Hong Kong - in the SCMP

 

Xi Jinping: Challenging Chinese sovereignty in Hong Kong crosses a ‘red line’

Speaking to a crowd of more than 2,000 officials following Carrie Lam’s inauguration as chief executive, Xi warned young Hongkongers to have a ‘full understanding’ of China’s constitution

 

 

Alluding to Hong Kong’s lack of a law on national security, Xi said: “Hong Kong needs to improve its systems to uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests

.

“Now that Hong Kong has returned to China, it is all the more important for us to firmly uphold China’s sovereignty, security and development interests,” Xi said.

Any attempt to endanger China’s sovereignty and security, challenge the power of the central government and the authority of the Basic Law, “or use Hong Kong to carry out infiltration and sabotage activities against the mainland is an act that crosses the red line, and is absolutely impermissible”, he said.

 

. . .

 

Xi also made it clear that too much political bickering was dragging the development on the economy, adding: “Harmony brings good fortune, while discord leads to misfortune”.

 

[Randy W]

https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/10155413570874820/

 South China Morning Post

1 hr · 

 

 

Quote

Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour is lit up by the largest and most expensive fireworks display since 1997.

 

Edited June 25, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

"Checks and Balances" - Chinese style, in Hong Kong - in the SCMP. A fiarly long article, longer than my attention span, anyway

 

Can Beijing’s power to interpret Hong Kong’s Basic Law ever be questioned?

Cliff Buddle says in light of the Court of Final Appeal’s recent refusal to allow two lawmakers disqualified for improper oath-taking to even make their case before the top court, it is worth revisiting its stirring first judgment involving interpretation of the Basic Law, in 1999

 

 

 

Hong Kong’s legal system is separate from that which exists on the mainland. But the two meet when there is a need for an interpretation of the Basic Law. The power of the National People’s Congress to issue interpretations which bind the courts provides Beijing with a means of asserting its power in Hong Kong. The question of whether there are any limits on that power is, therefore, an important one.

 

. . .

 

They said the Standing Committee’s power to interpret the Basic Law is unqualified, can be used to clarify and supplement laws, works retrospectively and is binding on Hong Kong’s courts.

Put simply, the Standing Committee can interpret any part of the Basic Law at any time and in any way it likes. And when it does so, the courts must follow that interpretation.

. . .

But questions about the nature of Hong Kong’s autonomy and the role that might be played by the courts remain. Will the Court of Final Appeal ever be willing to revisit the question of whether there are restrictions on what the Standing Committee can do in an interpretation? What might it take to prompt the judges to embark on such a sensitive exercise? An interpretation which flagrantly breaches human rights protected by the Basic Law, or one which dramatically reduces Hong Kong’s autonomy?

Hopefully, restraint will be exercised by the Standing Committee and such situations will not arise. But with the city remaining politically divided and sensitive issues likely to end up in the courts, it may be that the judges will not be able to avoid reconsidering questions relating to Standing Committee interpretations.

 

[Randy W]

The handwriting is on the wall - and in their Constitution! from the SCMP

 

After China makes insulting national anthem illegal, Hong Kong takes steps to enact similar law

 

Mainland scholars have called for Hong Kong soccer fans to be punished for booing the Chinese national anthem at football matches, which has been happening in the last few years. The most recent incident took place last week at an Asian Cup qualifying match between Hong Kong and Malaysia, when fans, mostly youngsters, jeered and turned their backs when March of the Volunteers was played.

The government’s work is in keeping with a recent law passed by China’s top legislature that makes insulting the national anthem a criminal offence, punishable by up to 15 days in jail. It bans people from playing the anthem at events such as funerals, bars its use in commercial advertisements and states that “attendees at events where the anthem is played are required to stand straight and remain solemn for the song”.

 

 

[Greg.D.]

I think meant to diffuse the situation:

 

Hong Kong Court Throws Out Protest Leaders’ Prison Sentences

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/06/world/asia/hong-kong-joshua-wong-appeal.html

 

The laws stand, the court says they will enforce it vigorously next time, etc

 

The ruling meant the three protest leaders walked free on Tuesday. But the court affirmed tougher sentencing guidelines that would lead to imprisonment in the future for similar offenses.

 

Courts will take a stricter view if offenders “cross the line of acceptability, including acts of incitement, particularly so if violence is involved,” said Geoffrey Ma, chief justice of the Court of Final Appeal.

 

The Hong Kong Department of Justice said it welcomed the message that future violations may receive prison terms, and that little weight would be given to whether such acts were committed “in the exercise of constitutional rights or acts of civil disobedience.”

[Randy W]

from the SCMP

 

Hong Kong military garrison mounts its ‘biggest’ anti-terror drill

 

Exercise meant to send a message to pro-independence forces in the city, analyst says

Quote

Military analysts said the drill was aimed both at improving security in the city and sending a message to pro-independence forces.

 

Hong Kong-based military expert Song Zhongping said Hong Kong was an open financial and economic hub and as such was vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

 

“The Hong Kong garrison can help protect Hong Kong’s key assets during an emergency,” he said.

 

But Adam Ni, a researcher in Chinese foreign and security policy at the Australian National University, said the drill was aimed more at potential mass protest movements.

 

The risk of terrorism in Hong Kong was low, he said, so the drill was more a signal of Chinese military power in Hong Kong, including suppression of dissent.

 

 

Edited June 25, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

On 3/15/2017 at 4:57 PM, Randy W said:

 

An issue resulting from the Basic Law - typically, the Chinese customs is on one side of the river, while Hong Kong customs is on the other. You must walk across the bridge between the checkpoints.

 

All you need to know about the Hong Kong-mainland rail link, co-located checkpoints and law enforcement issues

 

Time is running out for both governments to agree on a plan that satisfies the Basic Law and “one country two systems”

 

 

Quote

What is the co-location arrangement?

 

The co-location of customs, immigration and quarantine (CIQ) facilities at the West Kowloon terminus would see passengers complete clearance procedures of Hong Kong and mainland authorities both prior to boarding and after disembarking the train.

 

For mainland-bound travellers, this would allow passengers to disembark the train at any station on the mainland’s rail network without having to go through clearance processes. Without a co-location arrangement at the West Kowloon terminus, passengers would be required to complete clearance procedures after reaching their destination, thus greatly reducing the efficiency and convenience of the high-speed rail link.

 

Why is it controversial?

 

The proposed arrangement means part of the West Kowloon terminus will be surrendered to mainland customs, immigration and quarantine personnel. This means they would be authorised to enforce mainland laws and regulations.

 

 

 

 

 

Opening in Sept! - from the SCMP

 

Hong Kong high-speed rail link to become regional growth engine

 

After a series of troubles the railway will finally open in September, linking the city with the national express network and bringing benefits for tourism and commerce

 

 

 

Quote

Although the Hong Kong section only accounts for 0.1 per cent of the network in length, the significance is symbolic. For the first time, the city has direct high-speed train services to 44 mainland destinations.

 

. . .

 

Concern has been raised that direct trains to Guangzhou, which will only take 48 minutes, will only be available three times a day initially, and there will be only one service each day to Beijing. Therefore, authorities should try to adjust service frequencies according to passenger demands.

 

Equally worthy of concern is the unprecedented arrangement for mainland authorities to exercise full law enforcement at a designated area inside the West Kowloon rail terminus. Until a city court has ruled on the legality of the co-location arrangement raised in a judicial review, uncertainties prevail.

 

Edited June 25, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

[Randy W]

From the other side if you're following along - from the SCMP

 

Like I've said, I think Great Britain pretty well sold Hong Kong down the river without ever having established a legacy of liberties and privileges that they are now demanding that China's Communist Party provide.

 

If Hong Kong encroaches on ‘one country’, don’t cry when China erodes ‘two systems’

Philip Yeung says free speech in Hong Kong universities must have limits, if the city is to maintain the delicate balance of ‘one country, two systems’. It is one thing to have students fighting for universal suffrage, quite another for them to advocate separation

 

 

 

Remember that, though it irks Beijing, Hongkongers are still free to stage street protests over human rights issues. That’s nothing to be sneezed at, considering that we are now part of China. Would Britain, for all its vaunted respect for political rights, have tolerated open revolt for Hong Kong independence and hostility towards the sovereign during its rule? I think not.

Remember, too, that China has been fighting American encirclement. Hence, its determined effort to protect the vital sea lanes in the South China Sea to ensure the free flow of commerce for its booming economy. Hong Kong activists who openly fraternise with Taiwan separatists are treasonably playing with fire. Intoxicated by their 15 minutes of fame, courtesy of the international media, they are provocatively calling China a “neighbouring country”.

 

 

[Randy W]

Opening Sept 23 - tickets already on sale

https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/767209656943962/

Edited June 25, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Some interesting history about Hong Kong. I still believe there is no love lost between Great Britain and native Hong Kong, but it has played more of a role in China's history than you may be aware. From the SCMP

 

WHO GAINED THE MOST FROM HONG KONG’S COLONIAL ERA: BRITAIN, CHINA OR THE CITY?

A brief history of the British Empire’s control shows many inside – and outside – the city benefited from its rule

These loyalists also assume that learning more about Chinese history will help Hong Kong’s young people associate more closely with China. But surely this would only make youngsters even more aware of the fact that, without colonial Hong Kong, modern China might have turned out very differently. They would learn how, from this small colony, patriotic Chinese were able to play a central role in Chinese history: ousting the Manchus in the 1911 Republican Revolution, supporting nationalist and labour movements in the 1920s, and contributing to the Chinese war effort after the Japanese invasion in 1937.

 

They would also learn how colonialism saved Hong Kong from the tragedies of the “anti” campaigns of the 1950s, the Great Leap Forward and the Great Famine, and the Cultural Revolution. So, too, would they learn that emigrants who returned to China from Australia, North America, or Southeast Asia almost always came through Hong Kong, as did remittances from overseas Chinese. And that Hong Kong investors were greatly responsible for China’s dramatic economic transformation in the late 1970s.

 

[Randy W]

from the SCMP on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/491268491349553/

National Day march in Hong Kong

South China Morning Post

Quote

Activists took to the streets on Oct 1, China's National Day, with pro-independence and pro-Beijing supporters clashing on the streets.

 

Edited June 25, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Like I've said, the handwriting is not only on the wall, it's in their constitution - from the SCMP on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/1469370473207261/

South China Morning Post

 

4 hrs ·

Quote

Carrie Lam accused reporters of "pure speculation" as they asked about the Hong Kong government's decision to deny a visa to a British journalist

 

Edited June 25, 2021 by Randy W (see edit history)

[True Blue]

Freedom is something the Communist Party leaders don't (and won't) ever fully understand. When people disappear like rabbits in a magician's hat, its got to give pause to anyone who dares to speak freely or offer an opinion that does not strictly follow the party line. And that my friends is why true free thinkers and innovators will always look to leave the land rather than to stay and try to change/build/rebuild it. This talent drain is the one single factor that will prevent China from passing the USA economy during the 21st century and will likely be lapped by up and coming economy in India as well,

[Randy W]

Reduced almost to a comedy act - from the SCMP

 

Pro-independence students gather at US consulate in bid to have Hong Kong officials punished for ‘betrayal of city’ over lack of democracy

Members of Students Independence Union and dozens of their supporters urge United States to take punitive measures against officials

 

 

Waving placards with slogans such as “Free Hong Kong” and “Hong Kong is not China,” the group of about 100 marchers, led by Wayne Chan Ka-kui, convenor of the Students Independence Union, made their way to the consulate in downtown Hong Kong after having taken part in a separate protest at the nearby government headquarters over land reclamation.

 

. . .

 

Most of the protesters left as officers started searching them and asking them for their identity cards and residential addresses. No formal arrests were made.

 

. . .

 

Earlier on Sunday, thousands joined a rally from Causeway Bay to the government headquarters to protest against a proposal unveiled by Lam last week to build a residential and business hub on 1,700 hectares of reclaimed land, which could house 1.1 million people, to the east of Lantau Island.

Critics of the scheme say it is too costly and environmentally damaging.