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Walter's Blog

"But how can you live and have no story to tell?" Fyodor Dostoevsky

Reflections on recent events, plus the occasional fact free rant unfiltered by rational argument.

"If you want to read a blog to get a sense of what is going on in Hong Kong these days or a blog that would tell you what life was like living in colonial Hong Kong, this blog, WALTER'S BLOG, fits the bill." Hong Kong Blog Review

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11/10/2023 0 Comments

Another BBC Whitewash!

"I’d be more interested to see the BBC explore how, when and why it gave Savile refuge for decades."

The BBC docudrama “The Reckoning” is nothing of the sort. If this BBC sleight of hand sought to distract us with a ‘look over there’ — it failed. Sold to us as the broadcaster exploring how prolific paedophile sex offender Jimmy Savile managed to “groom” the nation, I reckon they’ve produced a shameful whitewash.

We learn nothing new. The storyline steers around crucial events and notable players; these include the role of senior BBC management and their cover-up.

Much of the story we are presented is an edited rehash of old material in the public domain. Others have done it better. The Netflix documentary “Savile — A British Horror Story” proved more compelling. At the same time, this version by Underground Films is effective in telling the tale of Savile’s infiltration of institutions.

I’d be more interested to see the BBC explore how, when and why it gave Savile refuge for decades. Exploring those people in the BBC who facilitated, paid no heed to his crimes and then covered up would be a courageous endeavour. Instead, we get a diluted version of events that skips over the BBC’s culpability.

For example, the cancellation of the BBC Newsnight documentary that would expose Savile, is brushed over in seconds. The job finally fell to the rival ITV channel because the BBC, under Lord Chris Patten (the Hong Kong connection here), wouldn’t do the job. At the time Patten commented, in a stunning understatement, that the evidence of events at the BBC revealed an “unhappy picture”.

Patten later faced calls to resign and left the BBC with his reputation in tatters after it emerged he'd allegedly threatened an MP, who wished to push for the investigation to be reopened into the killing of the Newsnight documentary.

The basic story of how Savile gained and held his power rests in the power dynamic illustrated in the following Venn diagram.

In essence he courted and then manipulated prominent figures who opted to ignore the warnings of others. These include the then Prince Charles, PM Margaret Thatcher, the police and senior Catholics, including The Pope. Although, in fairness, given what we know about sex crimes in the Catholic Church, I suspect he’d hardly struggle to keep them on his side.

This BBC program downplays many aspects of how Savile operated, and instead, we get a repetition of awful incidents without the context of those helping in the background. Watching “The Reckoning”, you’d believe that the NHS was his primary enabler as he had access to wards at various hospitals. Nonetheless, we know that the BBC did much of the heavy work of shielding this monster and others.

A quick acknowledgement to actor Steve Coogan. He delivers a disturbingly realistic and nuanced performance as Savile. The voice and mannerisms are spot on, and he can easily manifest Savile’s sinister side. He is brave to tackle the role, although the script is not as noteworthy as Coogan claims in his many media interviews.

I note the BBC labelled “The Reckoning” as ‘Series 1’, suggesting a follow-up of the four episodes. If so, the BBC must summon some real intrepidness to examine its pivotal role in allowing Savile to flourish.

That would be a true reckoning.

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10/10/2023 0 Comments

Another Typhoon & Another Muddle

"While the planes kept coming, the Airport Express line— the main mass transit route into town — stopped running."

For the second time in a matter of weeks, a typhoon has tested Hong Kong's preparedness and exposed gaps in our readiness. Whereas Super Typhoon Saola barreled towards us at speed in September, Typhoon Koinu proved to be a coy beast. It moved slowly across the South China Sea, didn’t dissipate as expected, and brushed south as if teasing us.

Initial predictions had it arriving on Thursday, 5th October. Instead, it lingered and jinked about, making a final threatening move on Sunday. These deviations proved the point I’ve repeatedly made that forecasting is an art as much as a science.

The Nos 8 signal went up at midday on Sunday, although the winds didn’t appear to impact the airport as flights arrived and departed with ease. Then, when the Nos 9 signal went up at 7 p.m., this set in motion an unwelcome but predictable set of circumstances.

While the planes kept coming, the Airport Express line — the main mass transit route into town — stopped running. Simultaneously, buses and taxi services reduced their service, as is the norm under such circumstances.

According to the Airport Authority, 83 flights landed between 7 p.m. and midnight, with an estimated 16,000 passengers stranded. In fairness, the Observatory had warned of higher signals for several hours. And yet, it appears plans to deal with a transport shutdown were inadequate or poorly coordinated.

I can understand the reluctance of taxi drivers and bus operators because driving in a Nos 9 signal may invalidate their insurance. Comprehensive insurance usually covers typhoon damage but not third-party insurance. Hence, the unwillingness of some drivers to venture out of a typhoon especially when you tell them conditions are dangerous. Yet, a good number did come out to demand inflated payments.

Images of stranded passengers negotiating with taxi drivers for a ride downtown did nothing to enhance Hong Kong’s image. TV host Wong Yue-si claimed a taxi driver charged an outrageous HK$3,000 for a trip from the airport to downtown.

Nos 9 came down at 11.50 p.m., and the Airport Express resumed running to 3 a.m. to clear the backlog. But the Airport Express doesn’t serve all areas of Hong Kong, and with interconnecting MTR lines closed, people opted to wait hours in the taxi queue.

The whole saga raises many questions about coordination and contingency plans. Also, if planes can land, why can’t the trains run? I’m unaware that the Airport Express line suffered any damage or disruptions to service. Thus, a complete shutdown appeared unnecessary.

While short portions of the Airport Express are underground, most of the track is at ground level, making it vulnerable. Also, a suggestion to enclose the line to protect it from the wind and the impact of flying debris isn’t an immediate solution.

On a positive note, praise must go to JoJoBus. Owner Roy Tsang sought volunteer drivers to help move people stuck at the Tsuen Wan West station. He gathered eight buses to ferry people home for free. Besides, private motorists offered to help.

Still, Lawmaker Doreen Kong was right to ask, “I heard the SAR has already set up a typhoon response team. How come such a situation still happened?” It’s a fair question that Chief Executive John Lee acknowledged as he called for a review.

I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat it — a bit of “Red Teaming” is needed.

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7/10/2023 1 Comment

Mr Fox and Mr Packham - spot the difference.

"Breaking the law — as long as it doesn't endanger or harm anyone — is no big deal." Chris Packham

In the movie "Minority Report", the Pre-cogs — humans with extra sensory perception — can predict murder. A squad of officers then deploys to detain the future culprit before the crime occurs. It's an intriguing idea that creates a complex premise for an entertaining film. The original idea came from sci-fi writer Phillip K Dick, who gave us "Blade Runner" and many other classics.

In a bizarre set of circumstances, this links into events in London this week, confirming that reality and fiction come intertwined in hyper-reality.

The raid on UK politician Lawrence Fox's home and later arrest drew immediate conjecture that Mr Fox faced an investigation for his ill-considered remarks on TV. He’d stated that he wouldn't shag journalist Ava Evans after she'd engaged in a discussion dismissing male suicide as an issue. Mr Fox lost his temper at her callous opinions and paid a price for his outburst as GBNews fired him.

Ms Evan's purported distress at Mr Fox's remarks didn't stand up. It soon emerged that she'd frequently discussed who she would and wouldn't shag on her Twitter feed.

In truth, the police action against Mr Fox followed his support of the "Blade Runner" vigilantes — who are busy damaging and taking down the "Ultra Low Emission Zone" cameras that Labour Mayor Khan has installed across London. If a vehicle doesn't meet the ULEZ emission standards and isn't exempt, the owner must pay £12.50 a day to drive in London.

The ULEZ cameras catch offenders, most of whom are poorer citizens operating older cars they cannot afford to change. This discriminatory policy cost the Labour Party the Uxbridge by-election, a seat they should have won relatively easily.

In a series of clips online, Fox has shown support for and encouraged the actions of the "Blade Runners". This support prompted the conversation around Pre-cog crime because Mr Fox hadn't taken any action, although he stated he was in contact with the "Blade Runners." That was silly.

Further, his statements may have crossed a line to "conspiring to commit criminal damage and encouraging or assisting offences to be committed". These well-established common law principles are now nestled in the Serious Crimes Act of 2007.

Hong Kong has similar laws under section 159A of the Crime Ordinance, a fact that protesters and their keyboard cheerleaders could have noticed in 2019. Also, ignorance of the law is no defence.

Much of the outrage around the actions of the UK Police is a misunderstanding of the law and how "conspiracy" works. A "conspiracy" occurs when two or more people agree to commit a criminal act; the offence is complete once the agreement is made.

Thus, the comparison to Pre-cog crime is hardly relevant because "conspiracy" involves two or more people, whereas precognition is reading an individual's mind.

Moreover, it is not even necessary for a crime to occur to achieve a "conspiracy" offence. There are some exceptions and riders, as explained by a barrister here.

If the UK police action is questionable in any way, grounds worthy of examination are the proportionality and fairness of their actions.

For example, TV presenter and avowed environmental campaigner Chris Packham has discussed in interviews and a passionate documentary, "Is It Time To Break The Law?". He supports the aims of radical groups like "Just Stop Oil" and "Extinction Rebellion". Mr Packham concluded, "Breaking the law — as long as it doesn't endanger or harm anyone — is no big deal."

And with that, it could be argued he has, in effect, encouraged crime. In one recorded instance, he accompanied two culprits as they prepared to damage property, expressing sympathy. In another example, he allegedly applauded intimidation by a convicted man of a woman and her children. Still, whether these actions constitute "conspiracy" is a matter for the courts.

Under section 44 or 45 of the Serious Crime Act 2007, "encouraging" others is an offence. Yet, as Mr Packham hasn't faced an investigation, it is impossible to conclude any guilt. Although a layperson may feel his actions are not that different from Mr Fox's.

Mr Packham undoubtedly believes he has substantial grounds to fight for his beliefs — saving humanity and the planet is his mantra. Likewise, Mr Fox could claim the same privilege because he deems his cause right-minded. It is worth noting that the law should be blind to these moral aspects of crimes.

However, these motivation factors influence court decisions, usually in mitigation after conviction. Plus, juries may be more open to a not-guilty finding if they perceive the criminal actions as righteous.

Mr Packham and Mr Fox are not alone; many celebrities and others call for "action" over various causes, and their statements may prompt criminal acts. There are even instances of online videos teaching citizens how to defraud banks and the council to avoid tax. Thus, it is a fair question to ask why none of these instances have attracted the attention of the Police.

Still, it is not the Police's role to decide guilt, although they de facto act as the gatekeepers to who faces investigation. So, why go after Mr Fox when Mr Packham and others appear to get a free pass?

In the absence of other evidence, people will, of course, speculate. The general thrust of the discourse is that Mr Fox has challenged the authority of Mayor Khan and is now facing the consequences. To make that position tenable assumes that the Metropolitan Police acted on the Mayor's orders. And there is no evidence of that; indeed, the Police are supposed to be independent of such influence — I heard that somewhere.

Or maybe frustrated with their inability to catch all the "Blade Runners", Mr Fox is a valuable target to show they are doing something. Indeed, his careless comments have given the Police reason to believe he knows who is responsible for the damage to the ULEZ cameras.

Meanwhile, Pre-crime isn't real; criminal damage is criminal damage, no matter the motivation while “conspiracy” and “encouraging” crime are nothing new. For sure, critics of that position will argue that all genuine change has come through breaking conventions and the law, sometimes with violence — that's a more complex discussion for another day.

With Mr Fox out on bail, it will be interesting to see how this case develops.

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3/10/2023 0 Comments

High Speed Rail - Putting Old Oak Common on the map!

"... the sad truth is the UK rail system looks like a relic."

I don't know about you, but I'm looking at the shenanigans over England's high-speed rail saga and yelling, "WTF"! I say England because the scheme now doesn't consider Wales or Scotland. Indeed, much of northern England that trains were supposed to serve is about to be cut be from the plan.

It seems Britain, which gave the world trains, can't plan and build a modern rail system. Plus, in an era of the global warming panic, you'd think the Brits would be scrambling to invest in the greenest form of mass transport.

Let us not forget that Britain once had the most environmentally friendly rural transport system imaginable. A dense network of railway branch lines crisscrossed the country. These disappeared in the 1960s, as some 6000 miles of track was axed by Doctor Beeching’s “reforms”. This cull forced pastoral communities to travel by car and it looks like the UK is making the same mistake as we witness an omnishambles — the death of high-speed rail by a thousand cuts.

With spades in the ground and construction underway, a shortened high speed line will run from Birmingham to Old Oak Common in West London. Where is Old Oak Common you ask? Exactly.

The original plan was to link London Euston with Manchester and then into Scotland. That is not going to happen. And never mind connecting the economic centres of Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds with an east-west high-speed train. And god forbid that long neglected Hull, at the eastern end of this corridor, facing Europe, should get a look in.

Having spent decades travelling in Japan and China on their modern, super efficient bullet trains, the sad truth is the UK rail system looks like a relic.

The distance between Leeds and Manchester is 45 miles, a trip that takes over an hour by train — if the service runs. I took the high-speed train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou, covering 87 miles in 45 minutes. Having had a meeting and lunch, I was back in Hong Kong by 4 p.m.

Sure, these projects are costly and go through people's backyards, but the benefits never arrive unless you take a long-term view, invest, and get on with it. For sure, the arrival of steam locomotives in the 1830s boosted the British economy, with the return on investment a thousandfold.

In 2008, the Labour government set up HS2 Ltd after evaluating proposals on the cost and benefits on new high speed rail system. The plan called for the first section to connect London and Birmingham by 2020, costing an estimated £7 billion. Didn't happen.

Consider what China has done in the same period — the map below tells a story.

China opened its first high-speed rail line to connect Beijing and Tianjin in 2008. Since then, China has built 13,670 miles of high-speed rail and will add another 9,321 miles by 2025. This ambitious effort transformed how Chinese people travel with massive economic and environmental benefits.

The reasons why Britain can't move forward on high-speed rail are many. For starters, democracy hampers everything. The political system makes expensive, forward-thinking investment projects hard to sell to voters. Elections aren't won by promising improved transport links for the next decades.

Then, you have planning laws in the UK that restrict developments. Even in Europe, less strident laws and a rational approach allow high-speed rail projects to advance. And, of course, the Chinese and the Japanese got on with the job, recognising the needs of many outweigh the complaints of a few. Landowners received compensation or relocation as necessary.

Recently, the UK government announced the HS2 project cost shot up past £100 billion. So, having already spent £40 billion, they propose a line to nowhere, creating a white elephant. Then again, the UK threw nearly 7 billion at an aircraft carrier with an aversion to the sea.

Sure, it's pretty reasonable to question the cost. But that begs the question: how did the planners get their sums so wrong, and why can the French build high-speed lines at a third of the cost?

This week the Indonesians inaugurated their first high-speed railway with Chinese help. Yes, the project was delayed a year by Covid and it went over budget to cost £5.9 billion for 91 miles of track, but its done and at a cost considerable less than the UK can manage.

Indonesia faced similar criticisms that the project cost too much, and it would prove a waste. Now with that out of the way they are considering extending the line.

It is inescapable that high-speed rail is the infrastructure the UK needs to renew its ailing transportation system. Plus, a commitment to the project will affirm the country means business. After all, there's no use in strutting on the international stage, pretending to be a world power with ailing infrastructure. Also, spending £100 billion to put Old Oak Common on the map is a high price.

Joking aside, Britons needs to ask several questions. Do we want to be a modern dynamic united nation or continue on a path of managed decline? What is the vision? Where is the commitment to the union when such massive projects only benefit a small portion of the UK? Until these questions are resolved, the tough decisions won’t be made.

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Another BBC Whitewash!

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