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Reflections on recent events, plus the occasional fact
free rant unfiltered by rational argument. |
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21/1/2021 1 Comment Perfidious Albion Are threats and intimidation against legal counsel the norm for British ministers? Is the UK seeking to disrupt and discredit Hong Kong's independent judicial system? It certainly looks like it. How else do you explain the actions of the UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab and others, who mounted a disgraceful and unwarranted attack on Barrister David Perry QC? Perry was to prosecute several people here under colonial-era laws. Following the cab-rank system operated by the UK and Hong Kong Bar, Perry agreed to undertake the job. This process aims at ensuring judicial independence. However, he was immediately threatened and vilified by misinformed people, who sought to conflate this assignment with the national security law. Raab then jumps in to accuse Perry of being a 'mercenary' in a scandalous twisting of the facts. Are threats and intimidation against legal counsel the norm for British ministers? It is no wonder that a recent survey by a Washington-based group found the UK's freedom levels substantially lower than Hong Kong's, despite our democratic deficit. Measuring human freedom across multiple dimensions, Hong Kong came third, while the UK dropped seven places to seventeenth place. Ouch! The nine defendants, including the high-profile Jimmy Lai and Martin Lee, will appear in District Court on February 16. They stand charged with organising an unauthorised assembly and participating in the said unauthorised assembly. The charges stem from the Public Order Ordinance; a colonial-era law left behind by the British. Following Raab's line of thinking, it's acceptable for the colonial Brits to charge people with this offence, but not the post-1997 SAR government. Perry has previously acted in Hong Kong to prosecute former Chief Executive Donald Tsang and milkshake murderer, Nancy Kissel. Many in our legal fraternity expressed shock at Raab's ill-informed intervention. They see it as imperative for the Hong Kong judiciary's future to have both overseas judges and practitioners, admitted for both the prosecution and the defence. (See the letter below to The Times). Thus, if the UK is seeking to shore up Hong Kong's judiciary's independence to ward off Beijing's influence, then it's pulling in the wrong direction. This latest episode appears to be part of a concerted campaign. Last summer, overseas judges in Hong Kong faced pressure to step aside to appease the UK's naysayers. In response, Beverley McLachlin, the former Chief Justice of Canada, who'd served in Hong Kong, responded with "it's a wonderful court". Anyway, a new prosecutor is appointed. So the case will go ahead against the defendants, who will enjoy all the rights conferred through a common law legal system. Fiat justitia! 
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15/1/2021 1 Comment Trump - a leader? "We should not confuse a desire to seek and hold power as competence to lead." Trump is entering his final days in the White House. Who'd believe that a serving US president would stand accused of inciting insurrection and terrorism? Well, except, of course, in other countries. You've got to give Trump his due; the man is a bold innovator for trying out US foreign policy on home soil. An exciting concept, which left five dead in one day.
Despite throwing his followers under the bus by decrying their actions, many remain loyal. A new poll found two-thirds of Republicans approve of his behaviour, with 43 per cent 'strongly' agreeing. Meanwhile, the FBI is warning of more violence. In response, Washington is now home to more US troops than war-torn Afghanistan. In 2019, the PLA deployed on the streets of Hong Kong. That was to clear up debris after a typhoon. With jaw-dropping audacity, the opposition decried this deployment as the 'end of Hong Kong'. Moreover, despite months of rioting, bombs and mayhem, the Hong Kong Police regained order without killing a single person. As veteran US diplomat Chas Freeman acknowledged "Our police are apparently not as well-trained and gentle as those that the British left behind in Hong Kong." Indeed. But I digress. Over the past four years, Trump's leadership style provided a great deal of fodder to chew on. He exhibits many of the attributes recognised in successful leaders from history. Applying the traits model of leadership qualities, we can see that Trump ticks many of the boxes. He's confident, outgoing, dominant, ambitious, bold, controlling, dauntless, engaging and able to communicate messages easily. All these features are well-recognised leadership strengths if moderated and applied with finesse. The paradox is that these traits are also potential weaknesses. When allied to a brash, selfish and boastful nature, such characteristics can run out of control. And it is the area of weaknesses that Trump also excels. He is impulsive, acts on his emotions, has a weak grasp of complex issues, indulges in hubris that goes off the scale, while he focuses on short-term gains. For most of the time, he appears to operate as a 'transactional' leader. By way of explanation, 'transactional' leaders give something as a reward for work or outcomes. Those rewards come through jobs, favours, praise or money. This approach can work, although it has limitations. We know from research that 'transactional' leadership is weaker than the 'transformational' approach. It can also lead to subordinates who are loyal but incompetent. 'Transactional' leadership needs constant reinforcement to maintain results. In short, keep giving the sweets, or your people wander off. With 'transformational' leadership, people buy into your brand and ideas, and you sustain loyalty by a sense of purpose. While Trump may enjoy some 'transformational' support from his core family team, his broader circle needs the 'sweets'. 'Transactional' leaders tend to buy loyalty. Conversely, the 'transformational' leader aims to build a personal commitment from their team. I'd argue that the high-turnover of White House staff is indicative of a failing 'transactional' approach. This state of affairs creates extreme risks for a leader, especially one who is not prepared to listen to advice. When complex issues arise, leaders need a team able to weigh the implications of actions. The opportunity to speak in candid terms is crucial. We've seen from Trump's public statements and the insights given by various insiders that he adopts a black and white world view. This lack of nuance led to his failed efforts to engage North Korea. Along the way, Trump accorded Kim Jong-un gravitas as his equal, although the 'Little Rocket-man' out-flanked him. In the end, Trump came away, empty-handed from two summits. While his vision of 'America First' had immediate resonance at home, it proved to have less utility in foreign relations. Trying to build coalitions and unify allies is problematic when you trample on their needs. Further, we should not confuse a desire to seek and hold power as competence to lead. Several pundits have observed that Trump has strong narcissistic tendencies. And while many leaders are on the narcissistic spectrum, there is compelling evidence Trump is high in the unhealthy aspects. Doctor Mary L Trump, his niece and psychologist, had this say of her uncle: "His deep-seated insecurities have created in him a black hole of need that constantly requires the light of compliments that disappears as soon as he's soaked it in. Nothing is ever enough. This is far beyond garden-variety narcissism; Donald is not simply weak, his ego is a fragile thing that must be bolstered every moment because he knows deep down that he is nothing of what he claims to be." These egotistical aspects include an inflated sense of self-importance (Greatest President ever! - many people saying it!), fantasies of success (I built the wall) and distortions about their abilities. (Sorry losers and haters, but my IQ is one of the highest!). As moderate voices exit Trump's entourage, who remains to feed his ego? Only those who pander to him. Given his known ability to construct false narratives, a 'bunker mentality' will make for an exciting lead-in to Biden's inauguration next Wednesday. I predicted some of this in 2017, although I have to admit that Trump exceeded my expectations with this dysfunctional ending. I feel Trump is bound to stage a significant gesture to mark his departure from the White House. If he has any decency, he'd shake Biden's hand (or bump elbows), wish him well and move on. Somehow, I doubt that will happen. 11/1/2021 0 Comments Crazy Town "China rigged the election using Italian satellites to cause ballots to switch on voting machines." Lt General Thomas McInerchy (Retired) As Trump’s presidency lurches towards the final act, I'm wondering what Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011) would make of the unfolding calamity. Hitchens had the unique gift of capturing the zeitgeist, as he exposed political fraudsters while spearing the pompous with his eloquence.
I suspect he'd be in his element deconstructing Trump. Particular vim would come reserved for Steve Bannon, who pseudo-intellectually framed Trump's agenda and gave it undue gravitas. Hitchens would likely attribute Trump's rise to Hillary Clinton's failures, her hubris and outright lies. He'd portray one as the reflection of the other. No fan of Hillary, Hitchens sought to expose her and her morally negligent husband. Let's pause to remember that Hillary summoned all the forces at her disposal to destroy the women who accused Bill of sexual assault and predation. She aimed to eviscerate her 'sisters' to save Bill's career. Her credentials as a feminist look rather threadbare against that background. Along the way, she propagated false stories of a 'right-wing' conspiracy. These claims helped lay the groundwork for adopting such tactics by all sides in the political realm. History will remember Hillary as the lady who blew it. The presidency was within her grasp until she characterised her opponent's supporters as evil. You have to conclude she set the tone, degrading the atmosphere, and that Trump took it to the next level. No side can profess a monopoly on bat-crazy conspiracies. The Democrats pursued Trump on flimsy evidence that he conspired with Russia. They then failed to produce the goods. All the above moulded the political discourse taking it to 'crazy town'. Ultimately, we land with retired Lt General Thomas McInerchy. Standing in the White House, he shares his insights. So you don't need to watch the clip, let me summarise. General McInerchy states that China rigged the election using Italian satellites to cause ballots to switch on voting machines. He cites the specific time when this happened. It gets better. US Special Forces, disguised as Antifa, took Nancy Pelosi's computer containing compromising material. Note, the implication that those storming the Capital Building are Antifa. Nancy is now in a panic because the material on the laptop exposes her. Dropped in, as an aside, is that Pakistan's intelligence service also had a role. Next up, the General tells his audience that Covid-19 is a biological attack on the USA coordinated with Trump's impeachment in early 2020. He states this is a distraction operation. Remarkably, the Democrats are in league with Beijing to bring down Trump. Lastly, the General asserts that Vice President Pence is guilty of treason. Remember, this man has access to the seat of power, he may have the president's ear. He certainly had an attentive and sympathetic audience in the clip. At this point, I become a hostage to my disbelief. I can only laugh. Is this a bad episode of Scooby-Doo? Will someone rip off the General's mask to reveal 'old Man Withers' from the fairground? "And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for the meddling facts!" 7/1/2021 1 Comment The horror, the horror! "Storming a legislative chamber is now an 'insurrection' and not a 'beautiful sight'. Who knew?" I woke up this morning to a strange sense of deja vu. A wild mob is rampaging through a legislative chamber, trashing institutional symbols, sending the police fleeing as control falters. Tear gas hangs in the air as hooligans brandishing US flags, scale the walls and occupy offices. Meanwhile, the US president eggs them on.
Did I suffer a time slip? Is karma real? But hang on, there is a difference. During the storming of Hong Kong's parliament by rioters, no one died. The police didn't open fire, plus we had no tear gas inside the building. Amazing how quickly things change. Storming a legislative chamber is now an 'insurrection' and not a 'beautiful sight'. Who knew? In 2019, Nancy Pelosi salivated with pleasure at scenes of mayhem in Hong Kong. Now I know it's a cheap shot to gloat given that the two scenarios are slightly different, so I've restrained myself. Nancy P, you are a gorbellied common-kissing, flap-dragon and a hypocrite of the highest order! The tartness of your face sours ripe grapes. There, I feel much better. By blatant interference in Hong Kong's political development, with the 'you too can be like us' mantra, you've invited an unwelcome and avoidable outcome. It's cognitive narcissism that only your model of democracy works, and the route for getting there. Yesterday in Washington, your words echoed forlorn and tarnished, while blood spills on Capital Hill. And yes, Trump is a law unto himself. He is a bully, a buffoon, and a whiner. He inhabits a self-made world in which he is the sole arbiter. He has no appetite for argument and seeks only to browbeat those he regards as his inferiors, namely everyone. Nonetheless, he secured over 70 million votes in what was a close-run election. From this, I can only deduce the US is a deeply polarised place. What happens over the next two weeks is anyone's guess. But I'm confident Trump isn't going away. After a tantrum or two, he may be gone from the White House, then settle into his new role of disruptor general. Think Colonel Kurtz operating with his private army, up the river, alone, with a heart of darkness. On a more positive note, Mexico has decided they will pay for the wall and Canada wants one too. 5/1/2021 1 Comment Bugger Off 2020!! "Covid-19 is far from the deadliest disease to strike humanity, yet it exposed the deep fissures in many societies." Covid-19 dominated everything in 2020. As the virus took hold, people here, well-versed after SARS 2002, opted to self-initiate precautions. That included mask-wearing. Throughout the year public vigilance ebbed and flowed with each cluster. Most of the time, our government got it right, although it was behind the curve and wilfully blind to certain risks.
None of this matched the sheer incompetence seen elsewhere or the refusal to face facts exemplified by Trump and Boris. Consider that the US has only four per cent of the world's population, yet it accounts for twenty per cent of all Covid deaths. Hong Kong is recording 17 deaths per million people against the US's 955. The high US death rate is partly attributed to poor underlying community health: obesity is a co-morbidity factor. Nonetheless, shambolic policies, denial and ineptness must account of the lion's share of the deaths. Unfortunately, in post-Brexit Britain, another national lock-down heralds more misery. The UK dodged a bullet by securing a last-minute Brexit deal, yet is far from out of the woods. Covid has emboldened Nicola Sturgeon as she outshone Boris in the PR game with Scotland clamouring for independence. With grim proficiency, Bloomberg tabulated national performance data with the 'Covid resilience rankings'. Many so-called first world countries, including Belgium, the US and Italy, proved wanting. Meanwhile, New Zealand sits atop the list. It's remoteness, island status and low-population density favour the fight against Covid. Allied to that, vigilance by its border agents proved useful. Well done, Colin! All this data brought home some stark truths. Covid-19 is far from the deadliest disease to strike humanity, yet it exposed the deep fissures in many societies. Fortunately, science provides a solution. With unprecedented speed, the boffins produced vaccines of remarkable efficacy. All groundbreaking stuff. Although I expect we will need to live with Covid-19 as an endemic ailment like seasonal flu. Above I mentioned Carrie Lam's willful blindness? How else do you explain the dance club saga, which set off a cluster of Covid cases that continues to haunt us? Rich older ladies dancing with young 'instructors' has a salacious sizzle. The Internet soon pounced to shame the culprits, including the wives of prominent citizens. I'm sure none of this was pleasant for those on the receiving end, yet it served a purpose. People who flaunted the rules, even influential people, faced exposure and ridicule. Our tourism industry, already battered by the protests, collapsed. The airport emptied of passengers, although cargo traffic boomed. Hotels scrambled to provide stay-vacations and then offered themselves as quarantine sites — anything to keep the business going. Of course, the bar and restaurant owners complained about restrictions, pressuring officials to relax the rules or give handouts. The same people then scrambled for cover when Covid cases reemerged. Yes, we all understand the need to strike a balance between the economy and curtailing the disease. That's why I favoured a short, sharp lock-down instead of flip-flopping measures. At times Carrie Lam couldn't steer a straight course as she sought to pander to all sides, pleasing no one in the process. Militant medical staff took every opportunity to put the boot in, by feeding the media with stories of PPE shortfalls. Much of this chatter proved opportunists grandstanding. The other big story is the lingering aftermath of the protests, which already waned by late 2019. The majority of citizens grew tired of the violence that accompanied each march, as radicals hung onto their destructive ways. Having used a 'be as water' strategy to some effect throughout much of 2019, going static and holing-up on college campuses proved a tactical disaster. The Police put in cordons and waited. Occasional protests flared in the first half of 2020, but fatigue was evident. Guileless elements of the movement hung onto Mike Pompeo's words, expecting a direct US intervention. Then when the National Security Law arrived, a switch flipped. Everything stopped. It's now doubtful that the US will grant Hong Kongers special refugee status. Ted Cruz asserted they could be Chinese spies amongst those fleeing. Well, yes, because it's so unlikely that somebody from one of the freest places in the world could be a "refugee". These guys must be spies. That makes sense Ted, right? Then again, Ted has a habit of doing the most audacious u-turns. Plus, you've got to laugh at the descriptions of Hong Kong as a vast prison. At least the UK had the decency to offer a path to citizenship, restoring a right it took away in 1981. But, there is a price to pay. The application and set-up costs in the UK are high. Then you have to consider taking a risk on post-Brexit Britain. One of my friends, a moderate protester, is in despair. 'We went too far, inviting the worst possible outcome', he laments. Indeed, the police brutality narrative took a nosedive after the BLM protests in the US. People realised what real police brutality looks like. After all, the protesters haven't been able to pin a single death on the Hong Kong Police, despite many attempts to fake stories. Most agree the five demands are looking passé. Whether Hong Kong can move to a more democratic system, now some rationality has returned, is an unsettled point. Indeed, the sentiment for change is there. But if local politics is again hijacked by groups seeking to topple the CCP, we are going nowhere. On top of that, many protest leaders who before said they'll fight till the death retired, disengaged or fled Hong Kong. And the national security law is not going away. Never forget, Hong Kong had over two decades to craft and enact an NSL as part of the deal between the UK and China. Yet, the opposition delayed, blocked and disrupted every effort to bring forward laws shaped by Hong Kong's legislative process. Then faced with increasing calls for independence, the vulgar realism of politics intervened. Beijing acted and acted swiftly. Dominic Raab, the British Foreign Secretary, is confecting outrage as Hong Kong brings violent protesters to court. That Hong Kong applies colonial-era law and common-law procedures given to us by the UK is beyond Raab's comprehension. Plus, I don't recall Britain rushing to grant Hong Kong democracy. Raab would do well to reflect on how Britain reacted to social disorder here in 1967, by operating secret prisons and arbitrary detention. So cut the hand-wringing, the lectures and the sanctimonious drivel. For now, the arc of China's economic supremacy comes boosted by its quick containment of Covid-19. The indicators suggest China well ahead of the USA by 2028. Strangely, most Western media failed to pick up on the November 15th signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. This pact binds Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the Philippines into a low tariff trade zone with China. The agreement shifts the focus of world trade to the Asia-Pacific Region, further undermining US influence. How Joe Biden navigates the mess left behind by Trump's 'America-first' mantra remains unclear. The Germans have awoken to this new reality by positioning themselves as interlocutors between the EU and China. As the tectonic plates of geopolitical influence shift, watching how this unfolds will be interesting. Back in Hong Kong, one person deserves our unflinching praise. Doctor Chuang Shuk-Kwan, from the Centre for Health Protection is the public face of the government's response to Covid-19. Each day she fronts the daily press conference, fielding questions and offering advice—a demanding job at the best of times. We didn't know until November that her husband was dying of a brain tumour. Every day, Doctor Chuang would rush to care for him and then conduct the daily briefing. On November 6th, he succumbed. Within days, Doctor Chuang was back at work. A few opposition figures took the opportunity to summons up false 'karma' prescriptions on Doctor Chuang in a mark of callousness. Words fail me. I know it's trite to say it, but 2020 brought out the best in many people; unfortunately, the darkness in other souls came to the fore. Let's trust 2021 proves a kinder year. |
AuthorWalter De Havilland was one of the last of the colonial coppers. He served 35 years in the Royal Hong Kong Police and Hong Kong Police Force. He's long retired. Archives
January 2021
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