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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 wh at life was like living in colonial Hong Kong, this blog, WALTER'S BLOG, fits the bill." Hong Kong Blog Review

16/1/2023 1 Comment

開門 Open Door

"The narrative of this pandemic evolves over time, even flips in surprising ways"

The door to the mainland is open after three years. The sudden and unexpected reversal in China's zero Covid approach caught many by surprise. As recently as late October, the talk was of precautions remaining in place until mid-2023.

Hence a scramble is underway to crank up systems, facilities and people long held dormant or in stasis. The mainland boundary crossing points, high-speed rail, airport and sundry other places must emerge from complete or partial hibernation.

In time, I expect Hong Kong to again act as a node for international travellers to the mainland and elsewhere.

Such reactivation is not without challenges, not least because of staff shortages. For starters, people laid off during the pandemic are less than willing to return to industries that treated them poorly.

Being cast aside isn't forgotten with ease. Further, having found new careers, these people will need an attractive offer to get them back.

Covid also caused us to reflect on life's more essential aspects. In that process, many concluded that a relentless work schedule for mediocre pay is not attractive. As a result, the practice of quiet quitting (安靜地戒菸) or insisting on a proper work-life balance gained traction.

Poor management and weak leadership don't help. So, companies that only pay lip service to the concept of a work-life balance but don't deliver, will struggle to attract and retain staff.

Plus, overseas places are busy targeting our skilled workers with offers of jobs, a fast track to resident status, passports and a less hectic lifestyle. And yes, these emigrants face obstacles, as those who departed to the U.K. soon discovered rampant inflation, high energy costs and a struggle to access health care. Hence, there are risks in taking that route.

In its favour, Hong Kong has a remarkable track record for rebounding. There is no reason to believe this occasion will differ from the 1998 financial crisis, the 2003 SARS pandemic or other hurdles we've faced. Moreover, we can always draw upon the massive hinterland to the north to secure the talent for our industries.

On that score, the Quality Migrant Scheme is already attracting talent with 5,365 applications last year - 90% coming from the mainland.

Meanwhile, as expected, Covid-related deaths in China have jumped, with 60,000 reported between 8 December 2022 and 12 January 2023. And, again, as seen elsewhere, it is the elderly who take the hit, with the average age of those dying at 80.

Hong Kong data shows the same trend; 95% of the Covid-related deaths are over 60 years old. While some 93% of this group had pre-existing chronic illnesses, and 46% lived in care homes. Of note is that 60% were unvaccinated, and 13% had only received a first dose.

Still, a debate is developing around the long-term safety of mRNA vaccines. Early in the Covid crisis, the big play was that the new mRNA vaccines conferred an advantage over traditional products such as Sinovac.

All vaccines introduce a harmless piece of a particular bacteria or virus into the body, triggering an immune response. Until the mRNA came along, most vaccines contained a weakened or dead bacteria or virus. We've used this method of vaccine production for decades and understand the associated risks.

A Hong Kong University study found that both types of vaccine worked. Still, advice suggested that the new technology adopted in the mRNA vaccines offered advantages.

The mRNA vaccines use a molecule called messenger RNA rather than part of an actual bacteria or virus. This molecule's introduction raises questions explored here.

As a subject of discussion, vaccines can divide opinion. Currently those expressing doubts around mRNA vaccines are typically on the fringe or pushed there by partisan interests.

For laymen, it is difficult to navigate this debate, especially when the 'experts' express opinions that contradict each other. Besides, there appear to be a few who are providing misinformation. These pundits cloud the issue, either for profit, personal renown or the misguided belief they are doing a public service.

Thus, all we can do is await further deliberations. As more evidence emerges, the picture should be more precise. We can then decide which vaccines may best suit the individual in the future.

But, of course, if it emerges that any entity downplayed or misrepresented the risks of mRNA vaccines, then citizens have every right to demand answers. Further, those responsible must account for their actions.

As an aside, and as a demonstration of how fast our knowledge is advancing, even our Neanderthal heritage is a factor in Covid survival rates. Research has shown that people with a part of a specific Neanderthal chromosome variant are twice as likely to die of Covid if infected.

This variant predominates in southern Asia. Meanwhile, other variants of Neanderthal genes protect against Covid. That's the evolutionary luck of the draw.

It is worth noting that the narrative of this pandemic evolves over time, even flips in surprising ways. Until around early 2022, Hong Kong was doing well and cited as a model of effective Covid management. Then Omicron arrived. It soon took a brutal toll on the unvaccinated elderly, with Hong Kong topping the death league for a while.

Going further back, in early 2021, the pandemic narrative told us that Europe and the Americas performed worse than Asia. Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan all sat run the top 10.

Meanwhile, the global south benefited from a younger population, thus proving less affected by the virus. Yet, by mid-2022, the distinction between these areas is less evident. Moreover, Europe and North America are proving better at protecting the elderly. Even now, the Covid death rate in Hong Kong (per million of the population) is climbing - data is below.

How the narrative develops from here with China opening up remains unclear. But for sure, the final script is unwritten. All we can say is that all nations struggled, and no perfect response emerged.

1 Comment

14/1/2023 0 Comments

Achtung Achtung, Ratzinger is dead!

"No amount of spin will change the fact that Pell, like Ratzinger, allegedly covered up sex crimes against minors."

Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, former Hitler youth and anti-aircraft gunner in the Nazi war machine, recently died. He also went by the name Pope Benedict XVI, a job he held between 2005 and 2013 before he resigned.

I'm not Catholic, nor a follower of the book for that matter, but I thought the Pope couldn't quit because they had the job until the big man called them upstairs. My mistake.

Ratzinger is the first resignation in 600 years. The record shows four popes stood down, including another Benedict, who departed in 1045. He opted to marry and inherit some money.

Before examining why Ratzinger handed in his notice, let's consider how he got the job. The whole procedure could come from the pen of J.K. Rowling. The idea is that the holy spirit — a kind of divine sorting hat — helps a roomful of cardinals select the infallible one. As things stand, there are 224 cardinals, 125 of whom are eligible to vote in Papal elections because those over 80 years of age are ineligible.

Note these are all men, and the ladies don't get as look-in. Today women can vote in every country where men can vote but one, Vatican City.

Also, the ordinary members of the Church have no say. This exclusion strikes me as odd when you consider that some of the loudest critics of Hong Kong's pace towards democracy are leading Catholics. I'm sure the bible has something to say about such hypocrisy.

White smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney tells the world when a two-thirds majority from this very small-circle election has chosen their man. And from this absurd process emerges the Pope to run the multinational corporation that calls itself the Roman Catholic Church.

I wonder if Ratzinger's CV mentioned his wartime role. Then again, the Catholic Church proved a willing accomplice to Hitler, much as they've participated in various other nastiness throughout history. "The Pope at War" by historian David I Kertzer paints a damning picture of Pope Pius XII, who chose to remain silent about the mass destruction of European Jewry.
Instead, he was more interested in protecting the Vatican. Lest it's forgotten, even as Soviet tanks rolled into Berlin, the local Catholic diocese offered prayers for Hitler and sought divine intervention.

And like any business, the Catholic Church has a distinct structure, with rank conferring powers and much internal intrigue. In addition, surveys reveal that senior clergy score high on psychopathic traits; as a profession, they sit in the top ten, along with ruthless CEOs. This should be no surprise because you need certain relentless qualities to get to the top, including being good at the 'God' stuff.

In 2013, Ratzinger put in his papers. But why? While his resignation statement spoke of him being "no longer suited to the role", this message hid a host of crises at the very core of the Catholic Church.

For starters, Ratzinger's former butler leaked allegations of corruption at the highest levels to the media. Meanwhile, the Vatican bank faced criticism over its dodgy dealings, leading foreign financial institutions to suspend credit transactions temporarily. I thought Jesus had kicked that lot out of the temple — my mistake again.

And above everything else are the ongoing revelations of rampant sexual abuse by Catholic priests and a decades-long effort by the church hierarchy to cover up. In this regard, Ratzinger faced some difficult questions about his role, specifically the failure to report alleged crimes to the police and the swift transfer of an accused priest to another parish.

Then you have many other issues related to the Catholic Church. For example, the unmarked mass graves on Catholic property in Ireland speak to the horrors women and babies suffered at the hands of the Church.

Yet the most significant stain on the Catholic Church remains that it harboured and covered up the appalling sexual offences committed against hundreds of thousands of victims. And this is not even a complex moral issue once you remove the blinkers of religious doctrine. So why not take the cases to the police, hand over the evidence and let justice work? That is something Ratzinger couldn't see.

Des Spiegel documented Ratzinger's actions in Germany during the 1980s when he purportedly covered up sexual abuse. In 2001, as another sexual abuse scandal rocked the Catholic Church in the US, the then Cardinal Ratzinger decreed that the local churches now had to report all suspected cases to his office. The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith received the reports in Rome under strict secrecy. What happened next is unclear.

Ratzinger will now avoid defending himself in a legal action brought in Germany. He stands accused of ignoring complaints about a convicted paedophile, Father Peter Hullermann. The priest was found guilty of showing a 11-year-old boy pornography and forcing him to have oral sex.

With Ratzinger passing, we've heard much eulogising and praise. Yet, it deserves to be said that some honest reflection would better serve the Church. If the men in the Vatican hope to restore a battered reputation, they must face the hard truth and clear out the filth they harbour. Until that happens, they and their defenders have no credibility.

Even after resigning, Ratzinger continued to wear the all-white habit of a pontiff and styled himself "Pope Emeritus". In 2020 he co-wrote a book defending priestly celibacy just as Francis seemed to be edging towards easing the ban on married priests.

Almost as controversially, Benedict's personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gäns wein, suggested in 2016 that the two popes represented a new kind of expanded ministry, with one "active member" and another "contemplative" one. Thus, at times it looked like Ratzinger wanted to retain control of doctrine by expounding his deeply unprogressive views.

Joining Ratzinger in the afterlife is the former Cardinal Pell, who died last week. Pell is the most senior Catholic convicted of sexual offences, although he was subsequently found not guilty on appeal. Still, Pell came in for considerable criticism from an Australian commissioner of inquiry, finding he'd covered up reports of sexual abuse.

The report noted that Cardinal Pell was aware of child abuse allegations against paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale as far back as the 1970s but took no action. The report said Cardinal Pell was told explicitly about Ridsdale's behaviour at a meeting in 1982. The inquiry rejected Pell's claim he was kept in the dark.

There is a Hong Kong connection to all this; Lord Patten, the last governor, was Pell's spin doctor around the time Patten was also embroiled in the Jimmy Savile sex scandal at the BBC. This was before Pell’s arrest and not everyone welcomed Patten’s appointment. However, no amount of spin will change the fact that Pell, like Ratzinger, allegedly covered up sexual crime against minors.

For observers like me, it would be easy to treat all devotional matters as the raw material of farce, dismissing it as no better than snake oil. However, this stance would be unfair to the many folks who find genuine solace, restfulness and meaning in religion. Who am I to question them? So my protestations are in no way aimed in that direction.

Instead, I target the vainglory leadership, who wrap themselves in pomp, and strict dogma to hide behind the Vatican's walls. All they seek is to protect the institution while they ignore, rebut or cover up crimes.

At this time, it's appropriate to remember the thousands of abuse victims. In Catholic doctrine, one is supposed to hate the sin and the not sinner—a fine idea if the sinner comes to account for their actions. But, unfortunately, the Vatican appears to have taken that creed to the extreme by allowing the sinners to walk free.

Ordinary Catholics and the victims of abuse deserve better.

0 Comments

8/1/2023 1 Comment

The Clown Prince

"...you know you've gone and screwed up when the Taliban and a former British Army Colonel can issue a joint statement essentially saying you're a bell-end!"

By now, we all probably realise that Prince Harry is not the brightest button in the box, and indeed he may well be a few sandwiches short of a picnic. Nonetheless, for clarity and to help this young man resolve some of his trouble, I have set a quick test that even he should be able to complete. Readers are welcome to try their luck.

Question 1: You want privacy and to receive less attention from the media. Do you:

(a) Keep your mouth shut.

(b) Go on the TV to slag off your family, attack the media and then write a book spelling out all your gripes while admitting to losing your virginity in a field behind a pub to an older lady. ( I hear all the blokes shouting, "Fair play, lad!") Let's not forget the frost-bitten penis and talking to a rubbish bin while on drugs.

Question 2: You are concerned about your family's safety now that royal protection is withdrawn, given that you no longer do any hand waving, ribbon cutting or other arduous royal stuff. Do you:

(a) Keep your mouth shut.

(b) Write a book admitting blasting a load of Taliban to bits, thereby painting a target on your back and on that of your wife and kids.

Question 3: You want to reunite with your brother and father. Do you:

(a) Keep your mouth shut and tiptoe behind the scenes for a rapprochement. (Somebody get Harry a dictionary.)

(b) Reveal to the world that you and your brother had a minor scuffle, which you lost and he broke your favorite necklace, and he didn't want you as his best man; while at the same time you slag off Dad.

Question 4: You want to be taken seriously. Do you:

(a) Keep your mouth shut.

(b) Admit that you've been in contact with your dead Mum in the spirit world.

Question 5; You want to be a stand-up bloke, one of the team and a leader. So when the military police turn up to drug test everyone at your base. Do you:

(a) Stay and follow their request for a urine sample.

(b) Jump in your car, flee to London and avoid the test.

So, how did you do? Answering (a) is good. All I'll say is that the first rule of holes is that when in one, stop digging.

Of course, in a world of traditional moralities, the Pretender Harry would raise a small army of foreign mercenaries, land on the Norfolk coast, and march on London to try and usurp King Charles. William would sally forth to deal with him.

Harry would be defeated somewhere in the East Midlands, hacked to death and buried under a car park near RAF Wittering. With Megan exiled to a convent in the Yorkshire Dales, she spends the rest of her days writing letters to her supposed supporters, who hand them over to MI6.

Having defeated Harry in battle, William would spend several days in sincere mourning, then move on. To settle the affair, the Archbishop of Canterbury declares the Pretender the bastard offspring of a common cavalryman. So we all lived happily ever after, and the Daily Mail has nothing to write about. Now, that's the Netflix series I'd pay to see!

But instead, these days, Harry is more likely to arrive with a multitude of therapists, woke advisors and Oprah giving a running commentary. That shouldn't be too hard to defeat; call them by the wrong pronouns, remove their safe spaces, and they'll meltdown. Then, while they undergo group therapy, overrun the lot.

Anyway, you know you've gone and screwed up when the Taliban and a former British Army Colonel can issue a joint statement essentially saying you're a bell-end! Maybe someone can have a word with the lad, preferably without his wife present.

I'm sure there is position for a court jester, now that Uncle Andrew is sidelined. Harry should be a perfect fit.

1 Comment

29/12/2022 2 Comments

Podcasts and Videos

"These Hong Kong true crime stories, occurred during my era. Yet, some of the detail is new to me."

Having addressed my reading choices, it's probably fair that I give an insight into my regular favourites for podcasts and video channels. I take most of my podcasts from Spotify, although several of my choices are available on other outlets. Here are some recommendations.

The Infinite Monkey Cage. (BBC Podcast) Professor Brain Cox and comedian Robin Ince take a lighthearted look at science. You will be entertained but also learn stuff. Now in the 12th series, it has asked: what is death, what happened before the big bang, is philosophy dead, and are pandas overrated? However, they are struggling with the big question; are strawberries alive?

Fast Jet Performance. (YouTube). This ex-RAF pilot covers issues of the day, leadership, people development and Britain's defences. Tim Davies delivers the blows as fast as he used to fly, frequently dropping 'truth bombs' that hit home to rattle the establishment.

Triggernometry. (Spotify Podcast and Youtube) Billed as a free-speech podcast, two comedians, a London lad and a Russian exile front this show. This odd couple have great chemistry as they and their guests explore the culture wars and other tricky issues. Raw and robust debate ensues. If you take offence at the truth, then avoid this podcast and crawl into your nearest safe space.

The Rest is Politics. (Spotify Podcast). Another odd couple. Rory Stewart is a Hong Kong-born ex-Conservative MP and former soldier. Joining him is Alastair Campbell, former Labour Party spin doctor and a controversial figure for his role in the Iraq war. The pair discuss politics and events while picking over their respective careers.

Stewart comes across as a thoroughly decent bloke who is probably ill-suited to the nasty world of politics. While Campbell affirms he is as thin-skinned as ever and willfully blind. He is often critical of others for precisely what he did when in power. Nonetheless, the dynamic between these two makes for fun listening, providing fascinating insights into the dysfunction of British politics.

Battleground - Ukraine. (Spotify Podcast) This podcast started by reviewing the Falklands War and has moved on to Ukraine. With their guests, military historians Patrick Bishop and Saul David examine the latest developments from an Anglo-Saxon disposition. At times they are less than balanced in their coverage, as both openly advocate for the Ukrainians, which colours their discussions and judgments. Still, worth a listen.

Catching Worms. (Spotify Podcast) These Hong Kong true crime stories occurred during my era. Yet, some of the detail is new to me. The podcast is gritty, with narration by the involved police officers, journalists and others who witnessed the cases first-hand.

The Alexei Sayle Podcast. (Spotify Podcast and Youtube) Everybody's favourite Marxist teddy bear is ageing and not mellowing much. Episodes are an eclectic mix, some excellent and others dull. His unusual interest in guns and Chinese martial arts, coupled with his delusions about how Jeremy Corbyn could lead the U.K. to the promised land, are amusing. Like many old Marxists, Alexei remains comfortable in his London bubble without facing the reality of a world his ideals would create. But he's still funny.

The Coming Storm. (BBC Podcast) QAnon and the plot to break reality are the focus of this podcast. Here you get a detailed account of how a conspiracy derailed U.S. politics and contributed to the storming of the Capital. It is a must-listen if you wish to comprehend how the internet works as a nexus that feeds a lunatic fringe and stokes unrest.

The Fall of Civilisations. (Spotify Podcast) Paul Copper provides a detailed account of why civilisations collapse. There are months of listening to work through here.

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