This is the place where random thoughts and observations are posted. Usually I don't have enough material to expand what are written here into articles. (In most cases, it is probably a good thing that I don't). Usually I make a post whenever some interesting notions hit my head.
Be warned! This may (and probably does) look like an on-line confessional and the things I post here may be even more confusing than my articles and can be quite depressing. So for the sake of your mental health, please set aside your faith in others and optimism before reading these posts.
Enjoy these "short" musings. Hopefully they won't make your head spin or drive you sleepless or confused.
July 7, 2026
American footballer Folarin Balogun received a red card in a World Cup round of 32 match, meaning he would be banned (as a starter or substitute) from this morning's match with Belgium, which the US lost. Before that match, FIFA suspended (not overturned) the ban. (He would have to serve the suspension in this World Cup anyways the US won the match he was supposed to miss and he received another card during that match, but it's a moot point now.) FIFA has suspended match bans of star players before (late last year Cristiano Ronaldo had a ban effectively reduced from three matches to one, after FIFA suspended the ban after his first suspended match), the timing is suspicious. Moreover, Donald Trump stated that he "asked" FIFA to "review" the punishment. (He might have asked for something more than a review, but given FIFA's president eagerness to please the US president, there is no doubt the punishment would have been reconsidered even if the US president did just ask for a review.) On the day before an English defender was sent off (and thus suspended) in a match against Mexico. Perhaps Prime Minister Starmer should ask FIFA to ask for a similar review. (On second thought, FIFA's president would ignore him as he will soon be former Prime Minister Starmer. King Charles or, better yet, Prince William, the patron of the English FA, should be the one doing the asking.)
June 26, 2026
The security chief released a trailer of TV documentary series named National Security Files Decoded to commemorate ("celebrate") the 6-year anniversary of the "National Security Law's" enactment. In the trailer he walked into a room, dressed liked a character from the movie Cold War 1994, received a file folder from one of his deputies, opened a file folder containing 5 cases that has been tried under "National Security" charges before passing it to the show's host. While Hong Kongers' opinion of him differ (depending on one's political leanings), there is no dispute that he, a film extra in his youth, loves acting. With about one year remaining in his term (there is no way he leaves the post unless his health deteriorates badly), he should consider starting a film studio if he isn't promoted (to be the city's Chief Secretary or Executive). With his charisma, there will be no shortage of investors. Filmmakers would not have to worry about receiving permission to film and release movies (once the script is reviewed and approved, of course) while working under him (especially if he decides to insert himself for a cameo or something more). The security chief can now be filled by any senior-level disciplinary official, but only he (among government officials) can be the saviour of Hong Kong's struggling film industry.
June 16, 2026
World Cup debutant Capo Verde held football powerhouse Spain to a scoreless draw and its goalkeeper, Vozinha, has become an overnight sensation. After the match, a Chinese news broadcast claimed that Capo Verde's president thanked China for helping the country to reach the tournament — it clinched qualification at the country's national stadium, which was constructed by Chinese companies (and probably with Chinese funds). While this sounds like fabrication or exaggeration by Chinese state media, fans of guozu (國足) — short for Chinese national football team — may ask "Great. Perhaps they can help their home country's national team return to the World Cup someday" upon hearing this.
June 10, 2026
The government has introduced a legislation to give the city’s leader the power to certify criminal acts as national security offences. Like most legislations of its kind, it is gazetted before being debated in the legislature — its (unanimous) passage would be expedited anyways. This mean that any criminal case can now be "upgraded" into a national security case at any time — the government can then hold the defendant indefinitely without bail to "build" its case and have the case overseen by pre-selected panel of judges without a jury. Officials claimed that the legislation would not give the mayor any additional powers — there is no need to lie now that no one dares to question you. One may wonder what happens to the the judges and jurors overseeing a criminal case after the city's leader "upgrade" it into a "national security" case. Would they be transported to a location without any outside communication so that they can't reveal anything about the case or defendant(s)? (Would they be in the company of Chan Tong-Kai?)
June 4, 2026
The government aims to wipe away the commemoration of the Tiananmen Massacre by holding a "Hometown Market Carnival" at the football pitches where the candlelight vigil used to be held. (Surely the timing of the carnival is coincidental.) However, the frontline officers may not have received the notice (as usual), after they approached people who held flowers and electric candles, showing hand gestures of the numbers 6 and 4, writing man in the Chinese on his arm. In the few years prior to the candlelight vigil was deemed illegal, a few have set up booths displaying the "truth" about June 4 — claiming that the protesters at the square was supported by "foreign adversarial forces" — near the entrances to Victoria Park. Interestingly, such displays have disappeared now that the vigil is effectively banned. (Perhaps they have went online, but most of the organizers have withdrawn from the public.) I'm sure I have wrote this before, but there would have been an official ceremony commemorating the successful crackdown of the "colour revolution" if the official version is the truth.
May 28, 2026
While returning to their former homes to gather valuables, a number of displaced residents of Wang Fuk Court have posted signs on the windows to express their love of their home and the desire to have the estate rebuilt. Soon after the signs were torn down. That shows there were people entering the flats while the buildings were supposedly cordoned off. It also appears that drones have been deployed (presumably by the police) to check if any messages have been posted on windows of the fire-ravaged flats. One may wonder if those who post the messages (as well as those who have similar messages printed/written on their clothing) would receive "friendly reminders" to stop or risk being arrested. (Officials can easily identify the specific flats through the windows' location — the layout plans of the buildings are public information.) Worse, a few pro-government columnists have claimed that the residents are in fact trying to incite hatred of the government. (With the way the government is handling the fire's aftermath, who is the one inciting hatred?)
May 23, 2026
A police officer will be the first Hong Konger to be member of a space crew. Perhaps I have become jaded, but spaces launches have become so frequent that being the first astronaut from a specific place means little nowadays — my reaction to a Canadian being part of the crew in the recent Artemis II mission was "great" in a nonchalant tune. The most interesting part of the astronaut's profile is that she is a police superintendent. Since astronauts have access to highly sensitive information (especially given Hong Kong government's fixation on "national security"), her selection is unsurprising. Given that the mayor, his deputy and a number of cabinet ministers/department heads are former police officers, one may wonder if having a background in disciplinary forces is an express ticket for advancement. With the public examination results releasing soon, would we see any top students declare their desire to enter the police force (immediately or after they complete their degree(s)) when they are interviewed on TV on the day public examination results are released?
May 14, 2026
The government started sending offers to owners of Wang Fuk Court, ravaged by a fire which killed 168, to buy their flats back. (The buildings were built with the government funds.) The owners have to option to keep the cash or use it to purchase another government-subsidized flat. Only one tower was left unaffected and the buyback plan would apply to owners of this tower if over 75% of the tower's homeowners would accept the buyback. A percentage of owners have expressed their preference to rebuilt the estate, which has fell on deaf ears at government offices. It is clear by now that the government desires to tear the entire estate down as soon as possible. To government officials, the estate has become an eyesore (when one travels from the city centre to Tai Po on the highway or by bike, the estate is the first group of buildings when entering the town) and a reminder to Hong Kongers of their negligence and incompetence.
May 8, 2026
A British jury has convicted a former police officer (now office manager of Hong Kong External Trade Office in London) and a border security officer on assisting a foreign intelligence service under Britain’s national security laws. After the conviction, the Hong Kong government released a statement in an attempt to dissociate itself from the two men, even though it pays for the former's legal fees and has previously delegated security detail of officials visiting Britain to the latter's security company. There has been little coverage of the case by the city's mainstream media until now. (People may not know what the government is responding to without mentioning the case and the verdict first.) This is understandable considering that it would draw comparisons between the national security laws in Hong Kong and Britian — you mean the accused can be released on bail instead of being detained for years while awaiting trial? The verdict is determined by a jury and not a panel of loyalist judges? The law cannot be applied retroactively? They can only consider acts committed after the law's enactment (and not those before) to determine whether to convict the defendants? And the defendants can learn the identity of the foreign agents they are accused of "colluding with" during the trial?
April 30, 2026
A recent Auditor General's report revealed that an NGO spent exorbitant amounts purchasing items for its hostels — it spent $10K, $3K and $2K for a single bathroom heater, toilet paper holder and soap dispenser (including delivery and installation) respectively. (One should be able to buy one of the former item in Taiwan and each of the latter two in Japan for the same amount in the local currency.) Worse, some of the items are not suitable for use at the hostels. The NGO defended the high price by blaming, among others, variance caused by "black violence" in 2019. (As far as I know, there were no reported instance of supply chain interuptions, even by Beijing mouthpieces, anytime during the 2019 protest.) Last week, senior fire officials claimed the implementation of the department's upgraded deployment system was delayed by "black violence". After reading the news, one has to wonder if officials are living in 2020, 2021 at the latest, instead of 2026. It is certain officials would continue to place the blame on the 2019 protests when remotely plausible. (The only reason officials did not associate the drinking water procurement scandal or the seatbeat controversy to the 2019 protests is that even they find it impossible to make the connection without bursting into laughter.)
April 13, 2026
I first voluntarily ran in a long-distance race 28 years ago. (I had ran in races before that, but those were school events where participation was necessary.) Would I still be running (or even able to do so) when I turn 80, or even 28 years from now? That was the first thought that hit me after meeting an 80-year-old in a race this past weekend. Even though he was on crutches, he completed the 5K course in about 80 minutes. Sure, he was a ultramarathoner at my age, but being able to complete a race at 80 remains impressive. Perhaps I would run a race to celebrate my 80th birthday (assuming, of course, I am still around and mostly able). (Maybe someone will send me a reminder to fulfill this resolution when I turn 80 some time in the 2060s.)
April 8, 2026
An anonymous online petition demanding an university to expel a student who exposed a high-schooler's plagiarism and use of patients' data in creating an award-winning science project has been posted in the Hong Kong Programming Society's social media page. (Not sure if it is a professional organization.) The petition also stated that they would escalate the matter if she isn't expelled by writing complaints to the Liaison Office, demanding employers not to interview/employ students attending the same university as the whistleblower, and distributing pamphlets at her university. In another post, the petition's convenor stated that they would ask various authorities, including those in charge of "national security", to "handle" her. The post claimed that the petition was signed by tens of CIOs and IT managers, a dozen university professors and one legislator. Naturally, one has wonder which legislator is so concerned by this matter to sign the petition and doing so without revealing the name. After all, the legislator believes what the student did was so heinous that her future has to be destroyed. Likewise, the CIOs and IT managers should reveal where they work, so that students can decide which companies to avoid in their job search — would something similar happen to me if I work there and discover the company's wrongdoing? Unless, of course, the signees were all fabricated. The poster, while vile, is smart to "recruit" the IT managment and legislators, as the "signees" would not want to expose themselves by complaining.
March 29, 2026
Hong Kong's government has implemented a new rule that gives police the power to demand anyone to reveal passwords to their electronic devices — phones, tablets, laptops, among others. (The rule was implemented without going through the legislative process, but legislators would probably pass it in a single day, perhaps amending it to give the police even more power.) Anyone who refuses to comply may be subject to up to $100K in fines and a 1-year jail term. If one makes a false claim (such as "forgetting" the password), the maximum punishment becomes $500K and 3-year imprisonment. In response the US consulate issued an alert warning that the police has the power to demand passwords even from those stopping for a layover (such as transiting at the airport). Since one can access sensitive data such as bank records, personal and work email (which may contain confidential information), conversation records, the police essential can gain access to everything by looking at one's phone. Officials tried to calm the public by stating that such searches has to be approved by someone ranked assistant police commissioner or higher, but they would probably rubberstamp the request. One may wonder if sales of "dumb phones" would skyrocket.