Showing posts with label hong kong bay area. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hong kong bay area. Show all posts

Sunday, November 17, 2019

I Am Worried For Hong Kong

I am worried about Hong Kong. This is too much violence. The solution is dialogue. The solution is Carrie Lam inviting the protest leaders to sit down and talk.

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Saturday, November 16, 2019

Chinese Troops Invade Hong Kong (NOT)

The prevailing opinion, at least in the western media, has been, it is only a matter of time before the Chinese troops invade Hong Kong and start emptying their machine guns. In short, Chinese are animals. But look what they are doing instead. I am touched.




I believe the two sides should talk and desescalate the situation.

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Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Is Hong Kong Moving Towards A Showdown?

‘Sliding into an abyss’: Beijing’s top office in Hong Kong urges stronger crackdown against unrest Agency calls for city’s administration and police to use all necessary measures to restore order ...... It calls on the Hong Kong government to do everything in its power to end the turmoil and ‘arrest the criminals and severely punish their violent acts’ ....... The warning comes as the financial hub reels from some of the worst violence since massive anti-government protests started five months ago, with the number of protesters arrested since Monday surpassing the total for the whole previous week.......... This week, a protester was shot by police, a man was set on fire, roads were blocked and university campuses turned into battlegrounds............. Beijing has again thrown its weight behind the city’s administration and police force, urging them to take tougher action...... It called on the Hong Kong government, police and judiciary to “decisively adopt all necessary means to forcefully crack down on various acts of violence and terrorism”. ....... “If the government and citizens cannot work together to end the unrest, Hong Kong’s ability to govern itself will be questioned, and the central government will consider interfering in its own way.”



Blood spilled over political differences in Hong Kong, with six hurt as knife-wielding man attacks family after argument Tensions flare after hundreds of Hongkongers heed online call to take to the streets on Sunday afternoon in unauthorised citywide protest

Tensions flare after hundreds of Hongkongers heed online call to take to the streets on Sunday afternoon in unauthorised citywide protest Mainland Chinese internet users pounce on singer after she posts an image of herself wearing a face mask on Facebook ....... ‘I never thought that a lyric and a selfie … would attract this storm. I am extremely sorry,’ she says

Police shooting exposes deep divide online between mainland China and Hong Kong Mainland social media users come out in strong support for the officer, compounding extensive coverage of vandalism of businesses with ties across the border

China accuses US and Britain of hypocrisy over violence in Hong Kong Foreign ministry says London and Washington did not ‘sternly condemn’ torching of man in the city........ Both Western countries express deep concerns over confrontations and the use of force

Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen urges Hong Kong’s leaders to pull city ‘back from the brink’ ‘People’s aspirations should not be responded to with violence, and you should not sacrifice Hong Kong youth’s blood for the sake of decorating Beijing’s face,’ leader says on Facebook...... Comments come after clashes at Chinese University of Hong Kong, which Tsai likened to the ‘white terror’ that gripped Taiwan for almost four decades

Protest chaos leads to the most bank branch closings in Hong Kong’s history other than during typhoons 250 bank branches, 19 per cent of the city’s outlets, were closed the whole day while another 100 closed earlier than usual....... ATMs, online banking remain open

Hong Kong protesters throw petrol bombs into several Cross-Harbour Tunnel tollbooths Protesters continue 'blossom everywhere' approach, popping up across city with police a step or two behind ........ Education Bureau suspends classes on Thursday and all universities in the city announce cancellations
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Hong Kong Police Losing Its Mind



The Hong Kong Shenzen Political Song And Dance Could Benefit The World
Hong Kong: The Situation Escalates
China Has Already Started Political Reforms: In Shenzen
Formula For Peace Between Israel And Palestine
The Stupidity Of The Ayodhya Dispute
Hong Kong: Endgame Scenarios
Carrie Lam Should Invite Protest Leaders For Talks
Gangster Words Spoken By Xi Jinping: Shattered Bones
The Nation State In Peril
And Now Iraq Erupts
Hong Kong: The Mask Ban Can Not Be Implemented
Hong Kong: Downturn?
Raising The Stakes On Non Political Solution In Hong Kong
The Dubai Sheikh Is A Business School Case Study
The Impeachment Drama

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Tuesday, November 12, 2019

The Hong Kong Shenzen Political Song And Dance Could Benefit The World

Beijing should accept the five demands of the Hong Kong protests. It has no choice. That is what one country, two systems means. At the same time Beijing should get on with its political experiment in Shenzen. The idea is that it is possible to create an "orderly political participation" of ordinary people in the political process without ditching one party rule.

What does that mean? Does that mean voting? Whatever it means, it is unfolding.

These two cities could be like a live experiment for the whole world to watch.

I don't think America has a political system that every other country needs to copy. And if copy, why not start with England? Let's abolish the monarchy. The Brits have a quickie one month long election. Let's spread that over an entire year. Let's elect a president in England. Let's write a proper constitution.

You see where I am going?

I believe every country will tread a unique political path. And I can't think of a better place than the Hong Kong Bay Area for a live political experiment on as to what might be the best possible political system.

The whole world is watching.

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Hong Kong: The Situation Escalates

After Xi Jinping recently met with Carrie Lam, he drew a line in the sand. He stands with Carrie Lam as Carrie Lam makes it sound like Hong Kong is a problem for the Hong Kong Police to handle. The more enlightened position would be that this is a political problem with a political solution, not a police solution.

And the situation keeps escalating. Every line that the Hong Kong Police crosses seems to add fuel to the fire. The hurricane keeps gathering momentum.

It is unwise of Xi Jinping and Carrie Lam to not seek a rapid political solution.



I have a feeling Hong Kong might be moving towards a general strike. So far it has been young people and students. Now the general population might step in and shut the city down.

The Chinese economic miracle would not have been possible without Hong Kong. China should not try to kill the hen that lays the golden egg.

All Hong Kong is asking for is one country, two systems. They were promised that by Deng Xiaoping.

Xi Jinping is trying to pass the buck. And this buck can not be passed.


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Friday, October 04, 2019

Hong Kong: The Mask Ban Can Not Be Implemented

It is not possible to implement the mask ban that Carrie Lam has just imposed upon Hong Kong. And thus this will lead to further erosion of credibility for the Hong Kong leadership. This is a bad political move. There is no police solution to the situation. There is only a political solution.

Enhanced repression will downgrade Hong Kong as a business destination.





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Raising The Stakes On Non Political Solution In Hong Kong



Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam invokes emergency powers, announces face mask ban

Beijing and Carrie Lam are obviously nowhere near looking at the other four demands. They seem to think there is a police soltion to the whole situation. They want to tire out the protestors. They want to wait it out.

Your opponent will do what your opponent will do. But you have to chalk out your own strategy.

Leaderless is not a movement. Disorganized is not a movement. It bothers me that the Hong Kong protestors choose not to be politically organized.

The mask is a human reaction to the surveillance cameras. People don't want Big Brother to know where they are all the time. That invasion of privacy is so total. This is a global issue.
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Sunday, September 29, 2019

Hong Kong Protests Need Political Leadership

At it happened: more than 100 arrests after march descends into violence and chaos on Hong Kong Island Online group Stand With Hong Kong has called on people to march on Sunday. It said people in at least 72 cities in more than 20 countries would demonstrate against totalitarianism over the weekend, in support of Hong Kong. .......



Having political leadership does not mean a top-down arrangement. It could mean two million Hong Kongers rapidly joining one political party or another and those parties holding internal elections to create leaders at all levels, from local to central. It definitely means party members getting together, discussing issues in person, and voting. It means the parties coming together to form a coalition. The party leaders could be the members of a council that oversees the movement with active near real-time feedback and negotiates with the authorities from Hong Kong to Beijing, and puts out periodic statements as necessary, not only externally but also internally. For example, it is important to say, let's not engage in violence and vandalism. That takes away our moral authority.



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Saturday, September 28, 2019

Hong Kong: The Protest Looking For A Safe Landing?

Of course, I can’t say that in five years later Hong Kong will have free elections suddenly, and that [a member of] the pro-democracy camp can be the leader of Hong Kong. But at least freedom from fear is what we hope for.
--- Joshua Wong, Hong Kong democracy leader

Look at what the most visible face of the movement is saying. The guy is already resigned to the fact that the fifth demand will not be met. And that posture matters.



A Criticism Of The Hong Kong Protestors
I Worry For The Hong Kong Protestors
The Hong Kong Protest Lacks Political Sophistication

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Friday, September 27, 2019

A Criticism Of The Hong Kong Protestors

I attempt a criticism of the Hong Kong protestors because they are fighting for democracy, and it is a democratic act to criticize. I hope this is considered constructive criticism.

First of all, let me make it clear. Mahatma Gandhi said at one point, if it is a choice between protesting injustice violently and nonviolently, I'd prefer you protest nonviolently. But if it is a choice between protesting violently and not protesting at all, I'd prefer you protest. What are a few blocked roads or burnt railings between friends!

But having said that, I'd like to emphasize, if there are even only a few acts of vandalism, a few acts of property damage, a few acts of violence, that shows the movement lacks internal discipline of the highest degree. That internal discipline is what gives you moral authority.

It does not matter what the police do. The Hong Kong police have crossed the line a few times, true. The Hong Kong police protected vigilantes have crossed the line many times, true. But if you respond in kind, you lose some of your moral authority. The right political thing to do is to not react, to maintain internal discipline. And to create and maintain that internal discipline, you need internal political organization, internal dialogue.

"If we burn, you burn" is not a political program. I have been hearing more and more of that lately. That line of thought has to be consciously abandoned. Beijing is trying hard to tell the world, this is like the yellow vest protests in France or the forest fires in California. It will burn and die out on its own.

Unless the Hong Kong protest movement makes the extra effort towards that internal discipline and away from the "if we burn you burn" mantra, the movement might break all records in terms of how long it might last, but it might not see the success it seeks.

That is one thing I have to say about the method.

Another thing is dialogue. The Hong Kong protest movement needs to engage Carrie Lam and Beijing in an intense dialogue. Beijing has put out comment after comment on the protests in the global media. Those comments have gone unanswered. They need to be answered. Every such utterance needs to be answered.

You can not be fighting for democracy and say, Carrie Lam, we don't want to talk to you. Dialogue is basic to democracy.

Why do you want to talk to Carrie Lam?

The top of the five demands has already been met. The final demand, that of a directly elected Chief Executive, and a fully directly elected legislature is most important to me.

But there is room for compromise on some of the other demands. I agree that all protesters who have been detained should be released and their charges dropped. But when you ask for an independent inquiry of the police behavior, one has to ask, to what end? So the police officers might face disciplinary action? The room for compromise is to forgive and be forgiven.

A good outcome of a direct dialogue with Carrie Lam will also be to get her to say that it is simply not in her powers to meet the final demand. It is above her paygrade level. And that is true.

So, she has met one demand. I think she can meet another, that of releasing the 1,000 plus protestors that have been detained. But the protest movement has to be willing to compromise on two others. And the final demand has to be taken to Beijing. How do you do that?

There is a protest path. And there is a dialogue path.

If you only partially shut the city, you might have to do it a long time. But if you shut the city down 100%, the movement might win in a few short weeks. But the risk is those tanks in Shenzen might roll.

The dialogue path is, is Beijing even talking? It is not even at the table. Beijing big, Hong Kong tiny. That is the Beijing thinking. You already have Carrie Lam. That is what they say.

Creating a credible threat to independence might be the only way to get Beijing to budge. That is one thing Beijing does care about. On the other hand, if you can not build that credible threat, you perhaps should be willing to compromise.

Carrie Lam was basically appointed by Beijing. That makes an administrator. I hear a few years ago Beijing offered an arrangement whereby it would offer two candidates and Hong Kongers will get to pick one through direct vote. I wish that is how they elected the president of China every five years. The CCP offered two candidates to the billion-plus Chinese.

A compromise position between what Beijing was willing to give a few years ago and what Hong Kong wants today might be, okay, so Beijing gets to offer two candidates, but Hong Kong will also offer two candidates. There would at first be a primary. And the top two vote-getters will go into the final round. And the four candidates would contest.

Even that Beijing might not go for. But the beauty of being in constant dialogue mode is you force them to take positions. Dialogue is not just sitting across the table, or Xi Jinping giving one of you a call. Dialogue is already happening. Beijing has been issuing statement after statement. The movement has not been responding.

That is a political slam dunk for Beijing.

For example, when Joshua Wong showed up in Berlin, Beijing said, the west can not solve its own problems, how is it going to solve your problems? What did Joshua Wong say in response? Crickets.



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