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Hong Kong Protests & The Umbrella Movement

Election day today! Here's a claim of vote-rigging, screenshotted from Reddit:

Screen Shot 2019-11-24 at 4.30.11 PM.png
 
James,

What's the situation now ?
I've just got back. There are no protests today because it's election day and the protestors want people to be able to get to the polls, I guess. It seems that at the PolyU campus there are just a few students still in there - less than ten. The education board have declared schools open again from tomorrow.

Another concern in Hong Kong and Taiwan is the claim from a self-proclaimed Chinese spy that China is interfering directly with elections here and there. The validity of these claims remains to be seen.
 
I've just got back. There are no protests today because it's election day and the protestors want people to be able to get to the polls, I guess. It seems that at the PolyU campus there are just a few students still in there - less than ten. The education board have declared schools open again from tomorrow.

Another concern in Hong Kong and Taiwan is the claim from a self-proclaimed Chinese spy that China is interfering directly with elections here and there. The validity of these claims remains to be seen.

I would not be surprised if the Beijing regime interfered with the election.
Given the CCP's track record, I cannot see them permitting a pro-democracy result to be declared.
 
I would not be surprised if the Beijing regime interfered with the election.
Given the CCP's track record, I cannot see them permitting a pro-democracy result to be declared.

I would not be remotely surprised. The president of Taiwan has been claiming interference already. It remains to be seen if this guy (Wang Liqiang) is legit or not. China say he's an 'unemployed fugitive' who has never been a spy.

Election day today! Here's a claim of vote-rigging, screenshotted from Reddit:

View attachment 21190
This video claims to show a group of people bribing elderly voters in Wong Tai Sin. When confronted the middle-aged ladies become quite aggressive.
https://www.facebook.com/standnewshk/videos/vb.710476795704610/573721690029924/?type=2&theater

EDIT: more videos appearing to show bribery outside polling centres.
 
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Another concern in Hong Kong and Taiwan is the claim from a self-proclaimed Chinese spy that China is interfering directly with elections here and there. The validity of these claims remains to be seen.

I posted a piece about him on the News from China Thread. He might be a fantasist or a spy. Or a spy who fell from favour.
 
Well, the district council elections have passed. They're symbolic insofar as district councillors have no real power but they're being seen as a barometer of sentiment among the electorate.

Two takeaways:

1) if Beijing was trying to rig votes, they failed spectacularly

2) the huge turnout combined with pro-democracy landslide well and truly puts paid to the idea that there's a 'silent majority' who side with Beijing

Some Beijing-backed papers allege intimidation on the pro democracy side: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/11/...dslide-victory-covered-local-intl-newspapers/
 
The point is, in the end Beijing will just walk in when the hand back happens and say 'Ok, you've had your party. Now the only party that matters is in control.' so, it's shape - up time.'.
 
Just heard on the 07:00 news that Trump has publicly praised the pro-democracy activists and has placed an embargo on the export of all riot-control goods to China.
Beijing not happy!

I really don't understand Trump (who does ?). He bleats on about his great deal with China, respect for Chairman Xi etc, then slaps him in the face with this stupid stunt.

Is he totally dumb ?

I feel his Great Deal suddenly got reduced.
 
I really don't understand Trump (who does ?). He bleats on about his great deal with China, respect for Chairman Xi etc, then slaps him in the face with this stupid stunt. Is he totally dumb ? I feel his Great Deal suddenly got reduced.
When something flops this way and that, apparently gasping for air, eventually it becomes apparent it is a fish out of water.
 
This makes me say hmmmm. Fifty bottles of corrosive acid found in a park, police looking for links to protestors. Parks are of course wonderful places if you're a fan of plants.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong...micals-found-park-sparking-police-probe-links

The police use agents provocateur to infiltrate and start violence, giving the uniforms an excuse to use force. I doubt planting evidence of chemicals and petrol bombs would give them any moral quandries.
 
The police use agents provocateur to infiltrate and start violence, giving the uniforms an excuse to use force. I doubt planting evidence of chemicals and petrol bombs would give them any moral quandries.
If it has been done here by police, you can bet it is being done in China.
 
Well known Russian propaganda rag accuses US of collusion in HK

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/dip...duction-echoes-chinas-line-hong-kong-protests

I have to say I had an interesting conversation with an old colleague of mine. Another Brit in HK, stand up guy but well given to anti-vaxx, ancient aliens, you name it. Anyway he's fairly convinced that the whole thing is a CIA operation and that China also don't do any of the bad things others accuse them of (ethnic cleansing, concentration camps). He has a fair bit of personal experience because he lives close to the hku and said he had run ins with people he believed to be 'professional protestors' due to them being built like bouncers and barking orders to others.
 
A pro-democracy lawmaker has been arrested after identifying a police officer who shot a journalist in the eye.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/27/hong-kong-dubious-arrest-pro-democracy-politician

Backstory: for some legal reason, the time to prosecute was running out so people attempted to identify the officer so he could be prosecuted.

Indah has been trying to pursue a private prosecution against the officer but has been unable to do so because he was masked and not displaying his police unique identification (UI) number at the time. The police have not released the officer’s information despite Indah’s requests and a lawsuit she filed in December pressing for such information.

Upon learning that Indah might soon miss the deadline for the private prosecution, netizens mobilized and on March 24 posted the alleged officer’s information on a Telegram group.
 
There were widespread allegations that a 'triad' attack on commuters last year involved collusion from the Hong Kong police force (evidence at the time was fairly compelling, including footage of police officers chatting with gangsters before the attacks and letting them go their cars unchallenged afterwards). Anyway, the police have just admitted to using plainclothes officers on that day - in what capacity is unknown.

https://hongkongfp.com/2020/07/16/h...-were-present-in-yuen-long-before-mob-attack/

Edit: this part is pertinent -

The force issued a statement on Facebook on Wednesday, admitting that they had sent plainclothes police to Yuen Long to survey the situation, conduct risk assessments and plan their actions. Police said they understood public concern over the incident and said the relevant department has “persistently” and “ceaselessly” investigated the case.

At the time the police shut up the local station and stopped taking calls, later claiming they were unaware of the incident until it was over. Now they're claiming of course that they were aware and even sent plainclothes officers in before the crime to 'investigate'.
 
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A couple of items today:

Item 1: The owner of leading Pro democracy paper 'Apple Daily' has been arrested, and his paper's offices raided by upwards of 100 police this morning. What's the conspiracy angle? He's charged with 'colluding with foreign powers'.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong...g-national-security-law-media-mogul-jimmy-lai

In my analysis it's a heavy-handed message to the press to watch what they write and he's been doing nothing of the sort but time will tell. I wouldn't be surprised if foreign powers did put at least some money into the struggle for democracy in HK.

Item 2: the chief executive Carrie Lam's son has apparently gone missing from Harvard university where he studies, leaving suddenly citing a 'family emergency' and not answering calls, texts or emails since. https://hongkongfp.com/2020/08/09/f...hief-exec-carrie-lams-son-studying-in-the-us/
 
I think it's the same as the leading actress in the forthcoming Mulan film:

View attachment 19630

"I support the Hong Kong police. You can all attack me now. What a shame for Hong Kong."

Source
:
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/16/asia/china-mulan-actor-protests-intl-hnk-trnd/index.html

What was it Bill Hicks said?

...you're off the artistic roll call. Every word you say is suspect. You're a corporate whore - end of story."

Boycott of the Mulan movie seems to be gathering pace:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...sneys-mulan-builds-online-via-milkteaalliance
 
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