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

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

The Hong Kong Bill

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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

Hong Kong: What Would Dialogue Look Like?

I want the two sides in Hong Kong to talk: the protestors out in the streets, and the Carrie Lam side. That dialogue is not going to be a grand ideological debate about the two warring ideologies of the past century: capitalism and communism.

America does not have capitalism. Capitalism is a market economy where there is near perfect competition. In the American economy, you can find large pockets of monopoly power. Why do you think Americans pay so much more for their internet access and mobile data? Because there is not enough competition. That is only one example of many.

China has relentlessly injected the market into its economy since 1990. China has been the biggest beneficiary of the collapse of communism in the former Soviet Union. It allowed them to gradually ditch the command economy. China is not communism the way Leonid Brezhnev understood communism to be.


I believe the two ideologies are moving towards a fusion. And it does not have to be bloody fusion. There need not be war, only civil debate, and discussion. I look at the 2020 election campaign in the US and I look at what China has already started in Shenzen in the form a political experiment, and I see we are moving towards a fusion. And the protestors in the streets of Hong Kong are hardly best equipped to lead that conversation. They can be part of the conversation, but they are not in any position to lead. For one, they have not been talking much.

Chinese Troops Invade Hong Kong (NOT)
Is Hong Kong Moving Towards A Showdown?
Hong Kong Police Losing Its Mind
I Read Don Junior's Book
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
Thoughts On The Middle East

I read somewhere, in response to the last protests, Beijing reportedly said, okay, you can elect your own Chief Executive as long we get to decide who those two will be. It is said in America about 50,000 people participate in the "money primary." And once somebody passes that hurdle then the race is opened to the ordinary American voters. What Beijing wants in Hong Kong, the 50,000 money people already seem to have in America.

In recent weeks I have taken great interest in the Middle East as a region, and in the UAE in particular, for business reasons. And being a political person that I am, I have also taken much interest in the politics. I knew the UAE was a monarchy, but there was a lot that I did not know.

But I have also had intimate knowledge at another level: people from my home village, for instance.

When I was attending high school in Kathmandu, at a school founded and run by the British, the best school in Nepal, we were taught there are rich countries and there are poor countries, but thank God for all the aid the rich countries give, the poor are catching up. Then I attended college in America. And the talk gradually shifted to, aid will not do it, we need trade, not aid. And we ended up with Donald Trump, who thinks the entire world is being unfair to America. But remittance from the Gulf countries is the only thing that has really mattered to the people in my home village. Aid and trade have been close to zero as factors.

And that makes me think. I open-mindedly ask questions.
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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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Sunday, November 10, 2019

China Has Already Started Political Reforms: In Shenzen

The Hong Kong Bay Area is known globally as the Silicon Valley of hardware. You show up there with 20,000 dollars and a basic whiff of an idea, and in no time you will have a prototype. You can choose to mass produce after that right there. Whether or not you can push the finished product into the market would be up to you. That is quite a bargain. That is innovation at bullet-train speed.

We have all been talking about how China is thick in the brain, how it simply does not get it. Ends up maybe not. They have started their political reforms the exact same way they started their economic reforms. Deng Xiaoping picked one place across the waters from Hong Kong. And once economic reforms were shown to work there they were then taken all over China.

Looks like Xi has picked that same spot for his political reforms.

China’s Shenzhen is using big data to become a smart ‘socialist model city’ Beijing tells southern technology centre to use ‘best modern governance practices that promote high quality and sustainable development’ ......... China will be the ‘world’s first modern powerhouse not built on the road of capitalism’, head of national economic planning agency says ....... Shenzhen is experimenting with a “party and technology” development model as it aims to become a “socialist model city”...... The city, which is known for its technology industry, was told by Beijing in August to find “the best modern governance practices that promote high quality and sustainable development so it can be held up as an example of civilised society of law and order where people enjoy a high degree of satisfaction”. ........

Shenzhen faced “unprecedented new tasks” which bore great significance for the rest of the country.

.......... The problems encountered in the modernisation of our country are likely to appear in Shenzhen first ...... it was Shenzhen’s pioneering role that had made such a pilot experiment important........ “Being a socialist pilot demonstration zone, the governance models that have proven successful in Shenzhen will be replicated in other Chinese cities” ....... the city began its big data and smart city plan in 2013....... As well as data sets covering populations and the economy, the official said Shenzhen had also built “thematic databases” that could empower officials who handled social disputes and public grievances......... As part of the city’s plan, Shenzhen also launched its “Weaving Net Project” in 2013 under which it divided the city into thousands of data zones and designated an “information collector” to each zone. ........ The system also uses 2 million surveillance cameras dotted about the city. ....... “About 80 per cent of criminal cases are solved with the help of video surveillance.

Almost all criminal cases can be solved in 24 or 48 hours with the help of these technologies”

....... the city had taken a much bolder data strategy than Hong Kong in using big data to enhance governance........ “The biggest difference between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is the mindset,” he said. “We are constantly looking for more efficient and advanced ways to run and govern the city, while Hong Kong believes in its ‘small government, non-interventionist’ approach.”......... Shenzhen could benefit from smart governance as it had a large population but only a small number of civil servants.......... the government’s data platforms had accumulated more than 22.1 billion pieces of data about

20 million people, 3.6 million companies and 14 million properties........ there were only about 40,000 civil servants in Shenzhen, of which about 25,000 were police officers

..... in 2013, Shenzhen was able to carry out predictive analysis of the public demand for education and health care services........ “The process of simplifying government approvals was a trigger for the government to carry out the restructuring reform



I think the Chinese have this attitude that, well, everyone in China is free to join the party. And once they join the party it is a meritocratic process. You can rise up the ranks based on your ability and work ethic. So it is a very democratic process. They also take great pride in having bureaucracies that actually work. They try to teach African countries the best practices from their own bureaucracies.

To that I say, that is all fine and dandy. Why not go one step further? Let the party offer two candidates for president every five years. And let ordinary Chinese pick one through a secret ballot. Let there be a universal franchise. Maybe that is where this Shenzen experiment will end up.

Shenzhen, Beijing lose out to Chengdu as China’s best performing city economy, says report Chengdu has for the third time scooped top spot among Chinese cities for economic performance........ As the provincial capital of Sichuan province, Chengdu – along with Chongqing – is one of the twin growth engines in China’s western region, having cemented its place as a manufacturing hub specialising in defence-related production....... “The city’s geographic location inside the Diamond Economic Zone makes it an important gateway for the southwest region. Investments in a 10,000km Chengdu-Europe Express Rail will help improve China’s logistical connection with the western world supporting the [Belt and Road] Initiative,” the report said........ Shenzhen, home to China’s version of Silicon Valley where technology giants Huawei and Tencent are based, dropped from first to second place............. President Xi Jinping’s endorsement of Shenzhen as a “key pilot zone for socialism” will allow the city to carry out bolder reforms and may mean it snaps up some of crisis-hit Hong Kong’s financial services.



Shenzhen turning its back on Hong Kong property model in favor of affordable public housing
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Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Hong Kong: Endgame Scenarios

Endgame 1: The Protestors Get Tired

One weekend they simply don't show up. Because they got tired. I don't see this happening. If anything, like a hurricane in the Bahamas, this thing seems to only gather further momentum.

Endgame 2: Beijing Sends In The Force

The PLA crosses the border and marches in. I don't see this happening. Beijing is smart enough to realize it will face major international sanctions. The tariffs that only the US has imposed, many major countries will impose. This act should be the least palatable to Beijing. This route chosen leads to a collapse of the communist party inside China because it starts a chain reaction.

Endgame 3: Inaction

Which is what is happening right now. Carrie Lam will not move the needle. Beijing will not move the needle. They basically hope for endgame 1, even though they do not so spell it out.

Endgame 4: The Protestors Get Better Organized, Locally As Well As Globally

Unless they want to also play the tire you out game, the protestors have no choice but to get better organized. Join this or that political party in the millions. Have elected leadership. Hold regular meetings. Pass resolutions after debate and discussion. Organize globally. Although the movement has been local to Hong Kong, it is only a matter of time before some questions will arise. Why are your demands good only for Hong Kong? What about the rest of China? In China, there might be fear. But what about the global Chinese diaspora? Why are you not winning the debate among the global Chinese diaspora? An interesting part of this development will be that the protest leaders will have to face the fact that they don't necessarily want a copycat political system to what America has. The political and economic system in the US is right now undergoing serious internal questioning. But unless the movement is capable of that debate and discussion, it is not a mature movement.

This last option seems to be the only available option.

Hurricane Hong Kong, will you hit Alabama?


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Carrie Lam Should Invite Protest Leaders For Talks

It is not realistic to think Xi Jinping will sit down for talks with the protest leaders. That might actually be a violation of one country, two systems. And I am not sure Beijing has instructed Carrie Lam to not talk to the protestors. I don't think she consulted Beijing before she decided on the mask ban, which was not a wise move.

Hong Kong Police is already doing the best it can. It is irresponsible of Carrie Lam to push it all onto a Hong Kong Police that used to be known as "Asia's Finest," but now has taken a beating in reputation. Hong Kong Police now has a major image problem.

The threats of "emergency powers," and "military crackdown" are empty and should not be issued, otherwise that will lead to a further erosion of her credibility and authority, worse than the one after the "mask ban."

The most important demand has already been met. Some of the demands can be negotiated. For example, three of the demands are about police conduct. A compromise position would be that the 2,000 plus who have been arrested are released, and although there is an investigation, it is more in the spirit of truth and reconciliation, not intended for punitive purposes. As to whether what has happened is "riot" or "protest," well for that you have free speech. You debate that part as much as you want.

The final demand is tricky. Carrie Lam could say, it is not in my power to accept or reject that demand. And so I can't discuss it. And that would be a fair thing to do. She truly does not have the power to accept the fifth demand.

The onus is on Carrie Lam as the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. She should simply invite the protest leaders for talks.




Hong Kong: Carrie Lam hints at further measures to suppress protests Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam has hinted at further measures to suppress the increasingly violent protests in the financial hub ahead of her annual policy speech, which will launch economic but not political measures in an attempt to douse widespread discontent....... the increasingly violent acts in recent weeks, which has seen activists hurling dozens of petrol bombs at police while others trashed metro stations as well as shops and banks seen as pro-Beijing. A home-made bomb was remotely detonated as a police car drove past on Sunday night and an officer also had his neck slashed by a protester. ........

Chinese president, Xi Jinping, warned during his trip to Nepal on Sunday that “anyone attempting to split China in any part of the country will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones”

....... the increasingly severe police beatings of protesters, media and bystanders in recent months have caused sweeping resentment. Ordinary people yell obscenities when riot police officers are seen on the streets........ Lam said her annual policy address, scheduled for Wednesday when the legislature resumes sessions, would launch economic measures to ease the land and housing situation. Mainland Chinese officials have repeatedly said unaffordable housing and employment issues are the “root cause” of Hong Kong’s social unrest, although political scientists say economic sweeteners alone will not solve the city’s political crisis........ She condemned the violent attacks on mainland Chinese businesses, shops seen as pro-Beijing, and pro-government politicians’ offices. “To say these were to fight for freedom and democracy could not be further from the truth,” she said. ....... she said her government remained committed to holding district council elections as scheduled on 24 November, despite the unstable social situation........ the Communist party mouthpiece Xinhua news agency said “Hong Kong has slipped into a dangerous abyss and a critical moment” and urged the business sector and civil servants to shun political neutrality, show their support for the police and refrain from “condoning the rioters” for ruining the city’s prosperity.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says she expects police to submit full report to coroner on death of 15-year-old girl, that has triggered violence and conspiracy theories The chief executive also said more than 10 police officers were injured, as the force came under attack from hard-core protesters over the weekend.

US senator Ted Cruz accuses Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam of cancelling meeting with him out of ‘weakness’ and ‘fear’ of anti-government protesters Ted Cruz said he had been looking forward to talks with chief executive but was told when he landed in the city that the meeting had been cancelled ....... Republican senator also said he had met ‘non-violent protest leaders’ and impressed upon them the need to shun violence .......

“Prior to the meeting being cancelled, Ms Lam’s office asked that I agree to keep everything said in the meeting secret and not inform the press of anything she had to say,” Cruz said.

......... Cruz’s anti-Beijing campaign has seen him introduce a bill to amend the US-Hong Kong Policy Act, which would require the State Department to certify the city’s autonomy if it is to continue enjoying special trade and economic benefits under the existing arrangement....... Cruz and other China hawks in the US Congress are also pushing for the bipartisan Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which would require Washington to assess whether the city should still be afforded its special status in light of political developments........ A couple of protesters were at Hong Kong’s airport to greet him upon arrival and thank him for his support for their cause – they had reportedly bought flight tickets so they would be allowed into the terminal building, which is off-limits to protesters after the chaos they caused during previous demonstrations at the arrival and departure halls. ....... “I recognise that some of the protests have turned violent. There is considerable concern that the protests are being infiltrated by agents of the Chinese government precisely to cause that violence, to turn the protests violent. I don’t know if that is happening or not; I can tell you the protest leaders with whom I spoke today believe it is happening,” he said. ......

“What I have encouraged the protest leaders with whom I have spoken is to embrace non-violent protest, to follow the tradition of Gandhi in India and Dr Martin Luther King in the United States

........ “That can be difficult to carry out, it can be particularly difficult in the face of violent oppression by government forces, of police beatings and shootings.” ....... “There is a reason the Communist Party in China wants the Hong Kong protests to turn violent because the Chinese Communist Party very much wants to characterise these protests as violent acts of terrorism rather than democracy protesters standing up for human rights,” he said. ..... “But my strong encouragement to the protesters here in Hong Kong is resist the urge to respond to brutality in like kind, but instead stand with dignity.”

‘Not feasible to relaunch a debate on universal suffrage now,’ Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam tells EU, according to internal report Chief executive said she expected a heavy defeat for pro-establishment camp in upcoming district council elections....... Lam reportedly said this year’s policy address will be focused on land and housing, and ‘reiterating confidence in one country, two systems’ ....... it was not feasible to relaunch a debate on universal suffrage now, as that would require constitutional steps by the National People’s Congress and society was too polarised ....... Lam reportedly stated there was nothing to be gained by opening a discussion on something that could not be delivered at present. Universal suffrage is one of five core demands of anti-government protesters......... The chief executive, who “seemed to be in an upbeat mood”, said she had every intention of ensuring the district council elections, scheduled for November 24, would proceed as planned. But she noted it was “up to protesters”......

she said “you can’t negotiate with the mob”

....... “She asserted that the unrest had now descended into ‘sheer and blatant violence’. It was no longer possible to envisage an end to violence being secured by meeting any of the four demands of protesters, given the activity of hard-core elements – who may have ‘organisations behind them’,” the report read........ Lam stood by the new anti-mask law, which took effect on October 5, arguing it had contributed to a decrease in protest numbers and in the use of petrol bombs. She added that at the moment there was no plan to enact further emergency powers.........Thousands of protesters have defied the ban and more than 70 people have been detained over the new law...... Lam did not share a possible time frame for future dialogues with the public, in spite of having confirmed that large-scale encounters were still planned, as smaller group meetings were continuing. While Lam emphasised her determination to “‘put Hong Kong back in business’”
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