Hong Kong II - Ragnarök

[Nazariles]

God knows what more moves Xi will undertake from now on. And the more scarier fact of it is that it seems like China, with its tentacles spread throughout vast continents (with its gullible minions stuck to the tentacles, with its seductive promise of free trade and prosperity), is just accumulating more and more power on the international stage. And it seems like that a radical break from the pragmatic, non-ideological "market first" approach to the PRC will not take place in the first, as long as the global civil capitalist class will still find it attractive to maintain strong financial relations with Xi`s Paradise.
I simply think that "condemnations" do not carry the desired effect.

I also wonder how the US-China relationship will develop in the case of an eventual Joe Biden presidency in 2021. But I cannot deny that from now on, things will get more confrontational. Detente with the PRC will be less espoused (can also be applied to the entire global geopolitical situation currently).

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

And we already have our Stasi-chief appointed. A Stasi-chief last known from dropping the "People's Armed Police" down on disaffected villagers on the Mainland.

[Hrythingland]

My red line here is that Britons are set to be demographically replaced by 2066 (not a concern for this thread), and that's even if we shut our borders now. Hong Kongers are more assimilatory to the UK than say, a Bangladeshi but the point remains. I do not support the large scale influx of any demographic into Britain other than those of our own heritage. Britain should offer HKers as much help as it can but I cannot support them being sent here and then potentially staying.

Oh joy, a peddler of the 'Great Replacement' myth.

Not a topic for this thread, but it’s not a myth. That is the set trajectory for white Britons in the UK: to be a minority in 2066 and that is what the statistics predict and has been reported as such by many ‘reputable’ news sources. Whether it’s a god or a bad thing is left to your opinion and world view. But due to levels of migration and different birth rates between ethnicities that is the case.

[Tuthina]

Some updates on the controvery over the scrapping of a controversial question in history exam over Japan's role in Chinese history between 1900 and 1945.

The Bad: The High Court has ruled against HKSSAP over the judicial review, stating that it's not the role of the court to determine whether a question in exam should be scrapped. HKSSAP also has to pay for the cost of the hearing.

The Good?: The Judgement (linked .doc) also provides some choice words towards the Secretary of Education, who can be said as the leading figure in favour of scrapping the question.

44. That way, the Question will have served its obvious intended purpose. Indeed, it might be thought insulting to the better candidates for it to be suggested they might in some way be “misled” by the Question. It might also be thought overly paternalistic or patronising to the poorer candidates to think that they should not be marked down if they fail to exercise and demonstrate the very abilities and knowledge which the Question seeks to test.

[...]

67. With respect, the irony in many of these comments seems to have been lost on the Secretary. For example, the statement that “there is no room for discussion” is completely at odds with the whole purpose of the Question, which is precisely to provoke or elicit a discussion and to test the candidates’ ability to deploy objective facts and argument in support of and/or against the particular proposition. The Secretary’s apparent refusal or inability to brook even discussion of any contrary or even a more nuanced view or the balancing of views is, at best, disappointing.

68. It is also inconsistent to suggest there is only one answer, and at the same time to suggest that the materials in the Sources identify reasons which might point to a different answer. What the Secretary seems to be saying is that there is only one acceptable answer.

69. Similarly, I think the criticism of the Question that it “deviated from objective facts” is misplaced, as the question did not purport to state any objective facts; it simply identified a proposition and asked whether the student agreed and why or why not. As the curriculum and assessment requirements show (see below), it was for the student to apply objectivity to the Sources. Further, the criticism that the Question “could not reflect students’ knowledge” overlooks the obvious fact that it is not the purpose of any question to reflect the students’ knowledge; that is the purpose of the students’ answer. Once a student has demonstrated the extent of his or her knowledge, and the other abilities tested by the Question, the student will be marked accordingly.

70. The Secretary’s comments also contain language consistent with a threat. Whilst on one hand supposedly recognising that question setting is an internal matter for the HKEAA, the Secretary nevertheless makes plain that the most effective solution to the perceived problem or controversy is to invalidate the Question. Whilst it is suggested that that solution is merely a “request”, that “request” is immediately reinforced by the statement that the problem with the question is obvious and that the EDB will decide what further action to take in the light of how the HKEAA responds to that “request”. The impression left is that there is also “no room for discussion” as to whether there was a problem, and if so what is the best way to deal with it. If that was not the intended impression, it was an unfortunate choice of words.

(emphasis mine)

Overall, I suppose despite the unfavourable ruling, the details of the Judgement nonetheless provides yet another example of the government's proclivity towards heavy-handed approach just like Xi himself. Granted, it has become really obvious for quite a while, but it's nonetheless good to have someone with high social standing, like a judge, to reaffirm it. Not to mention court rulings generally have some good writing worthy of reading by themselves.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

67. With respect, the irony in many of these comments seems to have been lost on the Secretary. For example, the statement that “there is no room for discussion” is completely at odds with the whole purpose of the Question, which is precisely to provoke or elicit a discussion and to test the candidates’ ability to deploy objective facts and argument in support of and/or against the particular proposition. The Secretary’s apparent refusal or inability to brook even discussion of any contrary or even a more nuanced view or the balancing of views is, at best, disappointing.

Of course, for fascists, there is only one history and it's their approved one.

[Tuthina]

67. With respect, the irony in many of these comments seems to have been lost on the Secretary. For example, the statement that “there is no room for discussion” is completely at odds with the whole purpose of the Question, which is precisely to provoke or elicit a discussion and to test the candidates’ ability to deploy objective facts and argument in support of and/or against the particular proposition. The Secretary’s apparent refusal or inability to brook even discussion of any contrary or even a more nuanced view or the balancing of views is, at best, disappointing.

Of course, for fascists, there is only one history and it's their approved one.

Indeed, that's what the Judgement seems to imply in the following line (and 70., I suppose) (added in the original post).

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Further, the criticism that the Question “could not reflect students’ knowledge” overlooks the obvious fact that it is not the purpose of any question to reflect the students’ knowledge; that is the purpose of the students’ answer.

This is symptomatic of PRC'ian style rote-memorisation of propaganda instead of actual education really...

Of course, having people start questioning things and thinking independently is bad for a fascist slaver reich after all.

[New Bremerton]

The protest slogan in my nation's flag has now been officially declared illegal.

HONG KONG, July 3 (Reuters) - The popular protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" connotes separatism or subversion, the city's government said, pointing to crimes that are covered under the new national security law imposed by Beijing.

The rallying cry appears on placards at rallies, is printed on clothes and accessories and scribbled on post-it notes on walls across the Chinese-ruled city.

The government statement on the slogan will exacerbate fears about an abrupt crushing of the global finance hub's freedoms.

"The slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times" nowadays connotes "Hong Kong independence", or separating the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) from the People's Republic of China, altering the legal status of the HKSAR, or subverting the state power," the government said in a statement late on Thursday.

It was unclear whether independent courts would uphold the government's view on the slogan.

In one tweet on the subject, public broadcaster RTHK censored the wording as "L*******#HongKong." One Twitter user ridiculed it, replying "People L********* Army," in a reference to the Chinese army, which has a garrison in the city.

[New Rogernomics]

Keep thinking that if Thatcher wasn't only obsessed about getting profits in China, HK could have had a plebiscite vote over having independence or being controlled by a communist dictatorship.

Hong Kong was after-all controlled by the Qing Dynasty, and the agreement was with them and not the CCP or the Republic of China.

Though that possibility is over. So the best we can do now is sanction China for their human rights abuses in HK, offer HKers safe harbor in other countries, and give public support for the local resistance in HK - even if we are unable to send them weapons or money to resist, we can at least stand with their ideals of human rights and democracy.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

Keep thinking that if Thatcher wasn't only obsessed about getting profits in China, HK could have had a plebiscite vote over having independence or being controlled by a communist dictatorship.

Or accession to ROC.

[Pilipinas and Malaya]

The protest slogan in my nation's flag has now been officially declared illegal.

HONG KONG, July 3 (Reuters) - The popular protest slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times" connotes separatism or subversion, the city's government said, pointing to crimes that are covered under the new national security law imposed by Beijing.

The rallying cry appears on placards at rallies, is printed on clothes and accessories and scribbled on post-it notes on walls across the Chinese-ruled city.

The government statement on the slogan will exacerbate fears about an abrupt crushing of the global finance hub's freedoms.

"The slogan "Liberate Hong Kong, the revolution of our times" nowadays connotes "Hong Kong independence", or separating the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) from the People's Republic of China, altering the legal status of the HKSAR, or subverting the state power," the government said in a statement late on Thursday.

It was unclear whether independent courts would uphold the government's view on the slogan.

In one tweet on the subject, public broadcaster RTHK censored the wording as "L*******#HongKong." One Twitter user ridiculed it, replying "People L********* Army," in a reference to the Chinese army, which has a garrison in the city.

I mean, when has the PLA ever liberated something for the people? Or even liberated anything at all?

[-Astoria-]

I mean, when has the PLA ever liberated something for the people? Or even liberated anything at all?

Methinks that's the joke.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

At least, if you believe in Chinese traditional religion then the Heavens must be very angry with the current crop of rulers.
Plagues? Check
Floodings? Check
Earthquakes? Coming soon?
Almost all the usual signs of an Imperial government losing the Mandate of Heaven really.
<.< >.>

[Rusozak]

At least, if you believe in Chinese traditional religion then the Heavens must be very angry with the current crop of rulers.
Plagues? Check
Floodings? Check
Earthquakes? Coming soon?
Almost all the usual signs of an Imperial government losing the Mandate of Heaven really.
<.< >.>

Wasn't that way of thinking purged with the cultural revolution?

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

At least, if you believe in Chinese traditional religion then the Heavens must be very angry with the current crop of rulers.
Plagues? Check
Floodings? Check
Earthquakes? Coming soon?
Almost all the usual signs of an Imperial government losing the Mandate of Heaven really.
<.< >.>

Wasn't that way of thinking purged with the cultural revolution?

Fortunately not everybody ate education a la CPC for the last fifty odd years... like me.

[Bombadil]

Even a news channel, reporting on the ban on 'Liberate Hong Kong', does so like this..

Basic Law Committee vice chairwoman Maria Tam says the government is right to warn people not to commit secession by using the L*******#HongKong protest slogan.

How farcical.

[The New California Republic]

Even a news channel, reporting on the ban on 'Liberate Hong Kong', does so like this..

Basic Law Committee vice chairwoman Maria Tam says the government is right to warn people not to commit secession by using the L*******#HongKong protest slogan.

How farcical.

When even words like "Liberate" get thrown into the Memory Hole then you know shit has got fucking bad.

[Bombadil]

Even a news channel, reporting on the ban on 'Liberate Hong Kong', does so like this..

Basic Law Committee vice chairwoman Maria Tam says the government is right to warn people not to commit secession by using the L*******#HongKong protest slogan.

How farcical.

When even words like "Liberate" get thrown into the Memory Hole then you know shit has got fucking bad.

The close-up shows the back view of a young woman in a white tank top. Her hair tied up in a bun as she raises one arm to brandish a placard. The placard is blank.

Her gesture, she told a reporter, was inspired by a joke she once heard about the Soviet Union: someone begins to distribute pamphlets at the Red Square; a policemen accosts her, only to discover she is handing out blank papers. The policeman arrests her all the same. “You think I didn’t know what you wanted to say?” he bellows at her.

[The Free Joy State]

Even a news channel, reporting on the ban on 'Liberate Hong Kong', does so like this..

Basic Law Committee vice chairwoman Maria Tam says the government is right to warn people not to commit secession by using the L*******#HongKong protest slogan.

How farcical.

When even words like "Liberate" get thrown into the Memory Hole then you know shit has got fucking bad.

True. As 1984 said, if you want to get rid of an idea, first get rid of the words by which an idea is expressed.

It could be a module in 'Dictatorship 101'.

[Tuthina]

The PRC's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee inserted the "National Security Law" into the Hong Kong Basic Law on June 30, 2020 and was put into effect at 11 pm on that very same day.

A restaurant, "One Plate One Bowl", located in Shau Kei Wan, was informed by the police that the Lennon wall and pro-democracy posters which were on display inside the restaurant is a violation against the national security law. As a result, the restaurant had to remove every single pro-democracy poster. They also had to tear down the Lennon Wall.

"One plate one bowl" released a post on its Facebook page, announcing that their Shau Kei Wan branch would be closed until further notice.

The shutters of the store were pulled down halfway, and staff were seen moving goods out of the store. They rejected the media and reporters for interviews, and rejected requests by them to come into the restaurant for photographs.

Posters like with content and words such as "full gear" and "resist" on the Lennon Wall were removed.

Gordon Lam, the convenor of the Small and Medium Restaurant Federation and member of Civic Party, helped to clear out the Pro-democracy posters insides the restaurant. He said that four Patrol Sub Unit (PSU) came at 10 am, responding to a complaint from citizens who requested for materials with "sensitive content" to be removed. Since the restaurant was a public area, the owners risk being prosecuted. He said that the police did not pinpoint which slogans were illegal, neither did they refer to the exact article of the "National Security Law" of which these posters are breaching.

Gordon Lam criticised the Government attacked the freedom of doing business, attempted to eliminate the power from citizens, and created white terror. "Hong Kong is still Hong Kong?" Referring to a famous restaurant of Lung Mun Cafe exited a yellow circle economy, Gordon Lam supported fellow's decision and shouldn't distinguish inside or outside. He urged Hongkongers not to be scared to speak out. He also mentioned if shops in catering industry would like to protect themselves by removing some sensitive wording, it was feasible.

Source: InMedia (https://bit.ly/3eRTnLj)

[-Astoria-]

When even words like "Liberate" get thrown into the Memory Hole then you know shit has got fucking bad.

Then again, this is the same place that once banned the letter N.

[Pilipinas and Malaya]

When even words like "Liberate" get thrown into the Memory Hole then you know shit has got fucking bad.

True. As 1984 said, if you want to get rid of an idea, first get rid of the words by which an idea is expressed.

It could be a module in 'Dictatorship 101'.

Double-plus-ungood crimethinkers. The thinkpol are coming for you.

[Tuthina]

Tommy Cheung, members of the Liberal Party, suggested installing Closed-circuit television (CCTV) to scrutinize the classroom anytime if the teachers are following the teaching guideline or not.

Ann Chiang, members of the pro-Beijing DAB, claimed that regarding the National Security Law "China doesn't want to do so" and 1.4 billion people were facing hard times together. She stressed that installing CCTVs "is good for the kids". Eunice Yung of the pro-Beijing camp claimed that Hongkongers were sending their children to international schools because teaching materials are bad and politicized.

Source: InMedia (https://bit.ly/38ofOW4)

You know someone's desperately trying to get some political score from the impending abysmal election performance when they start proposing things that even PRC has not been doing in most of its schools. Maybe they're at least aware that unlike in the mainland, most students and teachers are not too keen on ratting out others here.

[Austria-Bohemia-Hungary]

>Liberal Party
>"Let's install a Stasi-Reich!"
I dunno whether to laugh, sigh or despair.

[Tuthina]

>Liberal Party
>"Let's install a Stasi-Reich!"
I dunno whether to laugh, sigh or despair.

Hong Kong's Liberal Party is first and foremost a party of businessmen (so I guess it's more on the economic liberal side of things), and let's just say that influx of RMB is quite sweet for them.