There was much laughter in Hong Kong after US senator Tom Cotton proposed renaming the Washington DC address of the Chinese Embassy "Dr Li Wenliang Street."

The story that Dr Li was a virus whistleblower silenced by Chinese authorities has long been discredited. Two other doctors got there first.

Dr Li's message came later, and told people NOT to share the information. And anyway, he was a Communist Party member who loved his country's flag.

Li was also a strong supporter of the Hong Kong police, and believed a nation's emblems should be respected, not desecrated by protesters.

"So, yes, PLEASE use his name for as many street names in America as you like," laughed reader Anna Wan.

"Thanks, Senator Tom!" said Carl Zha.

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Incidentally, the ill-informed Senator Cotton frequently declares himself proud to be the most ferociously anti-China politician in America - and also calls himself a personal friend of Joshua Wong Chi-fung, which will come as a great surprise to no one.

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Suggestions have started to pour in for new names for the street hosting the US embassy in Beijing. "Captain Crozier Avenue" was one.

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The pictured sign, unfortunately, can be read as "Work Safe. Don't risk it." or "Don't work safe. Risk it." Guess it depends what kind of mood you're in.

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Way back on March 16, this newspaper said that if we put Covid-19 deaths in context with flu deaths, we find that Hong Kong will see not more, but FEWER deaths from respiratory infections overall this year.

We also suggested other countries try the same exercise.

Well, this week's New Scientist journal reports that Australian scientists put Covid-19 deaths in context with flu deaths. Result? The data suggests the country will "see fewer deaths from respiratory infections overall this year," said a delighted scientist.

You're welcome.

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Twitter users were yesterday passing around shaky phone video of police arriving at a Hong Kong MTR station - and receiving spontaneous cheers from members of the public.

"There are many people in Hong Kong who support the police and know the tough situation they're in, but a lot of them dare not speak up," said Daniel Dumbrill. "Especially if they own businesses."

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Typical Facebook post this weekend: "Our family decided to go to the beach and we were shocked at what we saw. All these families had decided to go to the beach. What were they thinking?"

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The bad news: the government has now given permission for karaoke clubs to reopen. The good news: they can sell food and drink, but all singing is strictly forbidden "until further notice." Don't stop the prayer vigils.

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Reader Simon Hannaford was approached by someone who said he "knew for a fact" that Hong Kong police had dumped 2,000 protesters bodies in the harbor.

"I'm no mathematician," said Simon, "but after about week 10, you could have skipped the Star Ferry and just walked from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central on a raft of decomposing bodies."

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Before you moan about how bad your life is, think how bad social distancing is for people in other professions, such as kidnapping. And what about serial killers? "Please wrap this rope around you and jump in the back of my white van. Thank you."

Talk to me: Send ideas and comments to the Facebook pages of this author or The Standard

Idea for Dr Li street liked by both sides