Anti-China voices long for colonial past

Come back, colonial masters! A sizeable chunk of the protester contingent in Hong Kong was yesterday celebrating the day 180 years ago that glorious White Saviors (probably sunburned lobster pink) first landed on what is now Sheung Wan.

"British rule began with the occupation of the island on January 26 at 8:15am," said a popular Twitter account named Antielabhk, one of many anti-government campaigners marking the wonderful day this part of China was subjugated by friendly Western imperialists.

One supporter described himself as "a native of the city of Victoria," using the ancient British name for Central district. Another, Janne Low, called for this once-great city to be "restored."

Just think. If their campaign to Make Hong Kong Great Britain Again succeeds, our fight against Covid would henceforth be led by Boris Johnson and his team. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

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Reader Mike Cheung, referring to overblown media complaints over the provision of lockdown food in Jordan, said: "Next, they'll report the food was stolen from Uyghurs."

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SK Boz tried to predict the next headline in that story: "RTHK reports Jordan residents are outraged that the government did not screw in the lightbulb provided."

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The row between two of Hong Kong's Western protest leaders turned nastier as Hong Kong Hermit doxxed his accuser by publishing photographs revealing his face and describing him as "a serial liar and vengeful fantasist" who lied about a family member having cancer.

Hermit also showed his own face in a picture, confirming his identity as Adrian Champion, who worked as a teacher before leaving Hong Kong.

The accuser, meanwhile, made another allegation about Hermit's worrying behavior with children.

It's sad to watch a friendship crash and die, but many people are finding the dirt they're dishing out on each other to be fascinating.

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Meanwhile, Wilfred Chan of New York was furious that this column quoted him referring to the abovementioned Hermit as the "leader of the Hong Kong protest movement."

"I never said such a ridiculous thing and I demand you correct this immediately," he thundered.

This columnist replied with a screenshot showing that he'd written the exact words attributed to him.

Did he retract his complaint? Nope. He replied that he DID say that, but intended it to be taken sarcastically.

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While signs saying "No ball games" are common in urban areas, it's a sad sign of the times that they can now be seen in places designed for ball games. (Spotted in Sheung Wan by reader Semirah Darwin.)

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A Hong Kong-born reader sent me a video she filmed driving through Beijing, showing what happened in Daxing district after Covid was found there last week. "You can see the whole area is sealed off after just six cases were found," she said. "That's how you do it." I felt like forwarding the video to Boris Johnson.

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In Hong Kong in January last year, demonstrators burned down a Covid facility. They and others doing similar antics were eventually arrested, and several countries, including the Netherlands, punished Hong Kong with export sanctions.

Guess what happened this week in the Netherlands? Yes, demonstrators burned down a Covid facility. The authorities in that country yesterday were horrified, describing it as "criminal violence" and arrested the perpetrators.

Karma? Who said anything about karma?

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