bc magazine

Full Lamma Ferry Disaster Report Released

Over two years after it was completed and at 7.30pm on the eve of a public holiday, the Government finally releases the full Lamma ferry disaster report. Conducted by Justice Michael Lunn and Benjamin Tang JP and completed in April 2013 the full report makes depressing reading. The levels of incompetence, negligence and lack of basic nautical common sense of both boat’s captains is staggering. Collision avoidance at sea is simple – both boats turn to starboard (right). It’s such a basic rule of the sea, so that boat captains even when not being able to communicate know what the other boat will do.

The part of the report that deals with the Marine Department, boat regulation and inspection matches the levels of incompetence of the boat captains. But, it’s also very Hong Kong. If no written records are kept or written instructions given then no-one can lose face and be blamed if things go wrong / rules broken etc. It becomes a case of he said/ she said as all parties clamour to avoid responsibility.

The negligence of the boat captains of the Sea Smooth and the Lamma IV who both to different degrees are culpable was tragically magnified by the lack of safety equipment, simple crew failures, the construction of the boat and the failure of the Marine Department to properly inspect and enforce the relevant regulations.

You can read/download the full report here.

The Battle for Hong Kong’s Cyberspace

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/OccupyHK-29-September-2014/44640815_wssnHW#!i=3572981998&k=7BcXHJj

A recent paper by Lokman Tsui, a professor at the School of Journalism and Communication of the Chinese University of Hong Kong offers a chilling look at how authorities in Hong Kong outdid their rivals during the 79-day Occupy Central movement that hit the city in late 2014.

The Occupy movement braved police violence as well as political pressure and intimidation on and offline from Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities before being driven out by police. Technology played an important role in the movement’s organization and coordination, becoming “a critical channel for communication with the public,” according to Tsui. He described this as “a fairly typical script” for how technology aids social movements.

In response, the government not only defended itself but, as Tsui states, went on the offensive. His paper describes the various tactics deployed by the government and its allies to dissuade and diminish the Occupy movement.

Abusing outdated online surveillance laws
The current surveillance regulation ordinance only refers to telephone, fax and postal mail, and makes no mention of Internet communications. By repeatedly refusing to confirm whether its protections extend online, the government is implying that there are none.

Twisting an online fraud protection law to arrest activists
“One of the more problematic arrests made under [Crimes Ordinance] Section 161 includes charging a 23-year-old from Mongkok with ‘access to computer with criminal or dishonest intent’ and ‘unlawful assembly’ for allegedly messaging folks on an online discussion forum to join him in a protest in Mongkok.”

De facto online censorship using content removal requests
“The number of requests for content removal in the four months of October 2014 until February 2015 exceeds the number of requests made in the previous four years combined.”

DDoS attacks on an unprecedented scale
“The pro-government side was able to hit a series of critical websites with an unprecedented amount of junk traffic (500 Gigabytes per second), including the website of the Apple Daily, a pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong, and PopVote, Hong Kong University’s online voting platform, leading Matthew Prince, the CEO of a hosting company that specializes in DDoS protection, to call it the ‘largest cyber attack in history.’”

Paid “50 cent” Internet commenters
Pro-government comments flooded online forums, blogs and social media networks similar to the paid online commentators working for the government elsewhere. It is generally believed that the pro-government commentators are hired by political groups sponsored by the Hong Kong government and Beijing.

Painting technology-related activities as a US conspiracy
In the case of Hong Kong, the government was “pushing a narrative of ‘foreign interference’, a xenophobic narrative that accuses civil society organizations of being inauthentic, that they are being used and funded by foreign governments, especially the United States government, who seek to undermine and weaken China by fomenting revolution in the name of ‘democracy.’”

Tsui ends the paper on a sobering note:
The Internet still has the potential to empower social movements; they might even allow temporary gaps of freedom. But the [Occupy Hong Kong] movement suggests that both the Internet and Hong Kong are at a crossroads, that both cannot take its freedoms for granted. This is not to say that spaces of autonomy and freedom no longer exist online or in Hong Kong; however, they are increasingly being marginalized and, at this point in time, are best understood as the exceptions rather than the norm.

Tsui’s paper, titled The Coming Colonization of Hong Kong Cyberspace: Government Responses to the Use of New Technologies by the Umbrella Movement, was published in the Chinese Journal of Communication in July 2015. Read the full paper on Tsui’s blog.

Originally published on Global Voices, some edits made

Defamation and Lies from HK Rugby about Ethnic Quotas Rule

On the 25 September the Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU), Pieter Schats sent a letter to the world rugby community – you can read the letter here. Rather than admit they screwed up by imposing ethnic quotas in local rugby (read the unedited announcement here) the HKRU and Mr Schats decided to lie, and also to libel bc magazine. Here is the text of bc’s reply breaking down Mr Schat’s letter.

With regards to the letter sent by the Chairman of the HKRU Pieter Schats on the 25 September, 2015 to World Rugby, Asia Rugby, Hong Kong Rugby Union Past Chairmen and Vice Presidents, Board of Directors, Hong Kong Rugby Club Chairmen and the Hong Kong Rugby and Sporting Community and published on the HKRU’s website www.hkrugby.com

bc magazine finds the letter defamatory, libelous and factually inaccurate.

There is nothing ‘alleged’ about the HKRU’s desire to introduce racial quotas into rugby in Hong Kong – it was clearly stated in the HKRU’s news release that was published on the HKRU’s website that “The modified Championship Club structure sees that league now highly focused on serving as an entry point and breeding ground for Chinese players, with all teams required to include a minimum of 14 ethnic Chinese players in each match day squad.”

Mr Schats also confirms that the rule existed by admitting later in his letter that the rule has been amended to read “a minimum of 14 players in a match day squad of 22 who are Hong Kong permanent residents”.

The existence of a rule regarding ethnic quotas for match day squads is also confirmed in an email (see below) received by bc magazine from Aaron Bleasdale, Chairman, University Rugby Football Club.

Mr Schats then goes on to further disparage bc magazine’s reputation by saying “The article turns a positive development idea considered by HKRU”
The idea was not considered – ethnic quotas were implemented and published as a rule.

And he continues to further besmirch bc magazine by claiming that “a story that fails to capture the spirit and intent of our proposal”
bc’s article fully and accurately reflects the intention of the HKRU to implement quotas in match day squads soley based on skin colour (ethnicity).

bc magazine’s article also stated that ‘ethnic quotas’ were illegal in Hong Kong – something that Mr Schats confirmed later in his letter.

Mr Schats further uses his letter to disparage bc magazine in an attempt to deflect attention away from HKRU’s active implementation of racial discrimination – which would have taken place, without bc magazine’s article – by starting his letter “my apologies for having to send this note”.

The only reason the article exists is because of the intentions of the HKRU to implement ‘ethnic quotas’, and the only reason he (Mr Schats) has to write and apologise is because the HKRU chose to implement racial segregation.

Mr Schats then further tries to ‘blame’ bc magazine for his letter by claiming to be “deeply saddened by this and would like to clarify this issue” – but he isn’t seeking to clarify the issue, having already lied in the previous sentence by using the word “alleged” for something that he knows is true. He is looking to blame and defame bc magazine to save the HKRU’s reputation amongst the global rugby community and the big money sponsors that support the HKRU and the HK7s.

I as writer of the article and publisher of bc magazine will not have the HKRU and Mr Schats libel, defame and smear bc magazine and myself by factually misrepresenting and outright lying in his letter to World Rugby and Asia Rugby about HKRU’s incorporation of ethnic quotas for match day squads into the rules of HK Rugby for 2015/16.

The ‘ethnic quota’ rule would still there if bc hadn’t exposed the rule as being illegal and racial discrimination.

There is no place in sport for RACISM

28.9 – One Year On

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2015/558-Tear-Gas-First-Anniversary/52267934_DZTVgJ#!i=4389599244&k=qzVnMPH

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2015/558-Tear-Gas-First-Anniversary/52267934_DZTVgJ#!i=4389497201&k=PkhrdGX

The 28 September 2015 marked the first anniversary of the start of the Umbrella Movement. The earlier student protests bolstered as tens of thousands joined the streets in support of universal suffrage. Those numbers bolstered to over 200,000 after the police fired tear gas and aimed shotguns at peaceful HongKongers.

Hong Kong’s students of all ages put the topic of universal suffrage in Hong Kong front and centre both locally and globally, so there was double sadness yesterday as the stage in front of the Lennon Wall was devoid of students and full of the same old politicians who expel a lot of hot-air but have achieved little; and who last year sat on coat-tails of a social movement for their own benefit.

The last twelve months have exposed China’s desire to destroy Hong Kong, to turn it into just another subjugated Chinese city with laws not worth the paper they’re printed on. Where the wealthy plunder, protected by politicised uniformed thugs masquerading as a police force.

Quite why they want to do this, when Hong Kong has provided such an effective way for rich mainlanders to squirrel their money out of China and stash it safely in countries where contracts and laws have real meaning. Currently Hong Kong is an expendable pawn in the factions battle in the mainland and until that battle is resolved, we’re going to suffer.

Some may say that last year’s street demonstrations achieved nothing – well you weren’t there… To those of us who were, it was a defining moment, a collective realisation that we must not let Hong Kong the place we love and call home slip quietly into the night. That we are HongKongers and proud of it and we will be heard.

Click on any photo to see the full gallery of images

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2015/558-Tear-Gas-First-Anniversary/52267934_DZTVgJ#!i=4389921818&k=Sfm8CZz

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2015/558-Tear-Gas-First-Anniversary/52267934_DZTVgJ#!i=4389887726&k=PNb5sb4

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2015/558-Tear-Gas-First-Anniversary/52267934_DZTVgJ#!i=4389149145&k=nJjJqjk

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2015/558-Tear-Gas-First-Anniversary/52267934_DZTVgJ#!i=4389326471&k=5Qv2jw8

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2015/558-Tear-Gas-First-Anniversary/52267934_DZTVgJ#!i=4389659657&k=DrncQn8

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2015/558-Tear-Gas-First-Anniversary/52267934_DZTVgJ#!i=4389265252&k=5q4sxBT

5:58, I am a HongKonger

http://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Student-Democracy-Protest/44617740_X2wFp2#!i=3570249460&k=NXDVrwd&lb=1&s=A

A year ago today at 5:58pm, police fired tear gas and pointed shotguns at HongKongers for expressing their right to free speech and demanding the right to choose and elect the people who represent and run Hong Kong.

Why do HongKongers have to stand up for these rights, because the people ‘picked’ to run Hong Kong are deliberately destroying the place we call home, while lining their own pockets.

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Student-Democracy-Protest/44617740_X2wFp2#!i=3571226440&k=fzFBQW4

Racist Rule Removed by HK Rugby

A smidgen of common sense – amidst pressure from World Ruby, Asia Rugby and the fact that racial discrimination is illegal in HK – has begrudgingly seen the HK Rugby Union remove the ‘ethnic quota’ rule from it’s 2015/16 rule book.

Let’s hope that ‘we know best’ attitude of the Union doesn’t see it become an ‘unwritten rule.

A letter from HKRU Chairman Pieter Schats announced the change while claiming the ‘ethnic quota’ rule was introduced for the ‘good’ of the game. Two other club chairman David Knights of SCAA Causeway Bay Rugby Football club and Aaron Bleasdale of University Rugby Football Club – read their opinions below – have emailed bc claiming the same, that racial profiling is good for the local game. If that’s the case then there’s something seriously wrong with men’s rugby in HK!

There is and never will be any time when a person’s skin colour should limit their participation in sport or any other aspect of life. Kick racism out of sport!

Emails received by bc magazine in response to the article Active Racial Discrimination in HK Men’s Rugby dated 24 September, 2015

Email from SCAA Causeway Bay Rugby Football Club
Dear BC magazine,
I just read your article on the above subject and am appalled by the misguided, misinformed and inaccurate nature of the report which amounts to nothing more than a pathetic piece of sensationalism.

If your reporter had bothered to check the facts with anyone involved in the sport in Hong Kong they would have quickly realised that far from this being any form of racial discrimination it was in fact an attempt to foster the widest possible participation in the sport by players of all races,ages and abilities which is central to the strategic aims of the Hong Kong Rugby Union.

There is no barrier to participation in rugby in Hong Kong, players of any race can aspire to play at the elite level of the sport or simply enjoy a game with their (multinational) mates on a Saturday afternoon.

As Chairman of one of the largest rugby clubs in Hong Kong and also quite possibly the one with the most racially diverse playing membership of any club I think I know what I am talking about.

Rugby is making a huge effort to get Hong Kong kids of all races and backgrounds away from their X-boxes and into something more healthy. Why don’t you write about that, particularly during the Rugby World Cup rather than the ill conceived garbage contained in your article.

Yours sincerely
David Knights
Chairman, SCAA Causeway Bay Rugby Football Club

Email from University Rugby Football Club
Dear bc
Your accusation of “racism” by the HKRFU against non-Chinese players is based on a misunderstanding of the structure of Hong Kong’s domestic rugby leagues.

The men’s “Championship” division for which this ethnicity requirement would be implemented is a solitary division of play operating alongside the five graded “National” league divisions (NL1 – NL5). Players from both the Championship and National divisions are free to progress up to the Premiership, which is the primary feeder league for the Hong Kong National Team. An ethnicity requirement in the Championship division alone would not create a so-called “selection discrimination” against non-Chinese players because they would still be free to progress up through the National and Premiership leagues.

You should also consider the very good reason for which the Championship division’s ethnicity requirement has been implemented – to create a division that best fosters the development of local Chinese rugby talent. The HKRFU is extraordinarily committed to this goal, and should be applauded for their attempts to achieve it.

Further, to refer to the people driving the HKRFU as “white leaders” is, in addition to being insulting to the many non-caucasians that run the HKRFU, totally nonsensical in the context of an article complaining about racism against non-Chinese players, many of whom themselves are caucasian. A curious form of racism indeed!

Next time, check your facts before throwing around accusations and polarizing language.

Kind regards,
Aaron Bleasdale, Chairman, University Rugby Football Club

Image – please note the letter from Pieter Schats was two pages long – bc magazine combined the pages to create a single image for ease of reading the original is here.

KINO/15

This year’s KINO/15 film festival features 10 recently released German films. Organised by the Goethe Institut the festival takes place from 22 October to 2 November.

A major issue currently facing Germany as well as other European countries is the tide of refugees. ‘Rescuing’ refugees is the humanitarian thing to do, but doing so can cause social pressures and anti-refugee sentiment in existing communities. KINO/15’s opening film We are Young. We are Strong looks at this controversial issue by recounting the violent xenophobic riots in Rostock in 1992, a time when hundreds of thousands of refugees arrived in Germany from the Balkans. Taking the helm is Burhan Qurbani, who’s family fled Afghanistan in 1979 to seek political asylum in Germany.

In October this year Germany celebrates the 25th anniversary of its reunification. Christian Schwochow’s film Bornholmer Straße (director of KINO/14’s Opening Film Westen) recounts the moment the Berlin Wall falls on 9 November 1989 when officers at the border checkpoint in Bornholm Street were absolutely clueless on how to handle the situation.

Germany in the 80s is also in the focus of the documentary film B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West Berlin. To quote The Hollywood Reporter, “B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West-Berlin is a clumsily titled but highly engaging documentary about Berlin’s vibrant post-punk underground scene, as filtered through the personal story of British-born Berliner Mark Reeder.”

KINO/15 also includes Christian Zübert’s Tour de Force which gracefully combines a road movie with an incurable disease as an example of how to embrace and celebrate the fullness of life. Uwe Janson’s To Life! sees Jonas, a young man on the run, and Ruth, an ageing Jewish cabaret singer tortured by her past, helping each other to stand on their own feet again.

Other films: A Godsend, Jack, Who am I –No System is safe, Sanctuary, Concrete Love – The Böhm Family

Kino/15
Date: 22 October – 2 November, 2015
Venue: HK Arts Centre, HK Science Museum, the Grand Cinema, the University of Hong Kong and Comix Home Base.
Tickets: variou$
More info: screening schedule www.goethe.de/ins/cn/en/hon/ver/hon15.html

Umbrella Movement First Anniversary Events

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Student-Democracy-Protest/44617740_X2wFp2#!i=3570296547&k=gFdD4Jt

https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2014/Student-Democracy-Protest/44617740_X2wFp2#!i=3570257961&k=4qGhMzt

Umbrella Movement First Anniversary Activities

September 26 (Saturday)

HKFS & Scholarism talks
Time: 1 – 9 pm (7 – 9 pm Chan Kin-man and Nathan Law)
Location: Tamar Park & LegCo
More info: https://www.facebook.com/hkfs1958/photos/a.433111302871.207569.269056797871/10153272698257872/?type=3

9WU March & Rally
Time: 6:30 – 10:30 pm
Location: Mong Kok Sai Yeung Choi Street South to Admiralty Civic Square
Contact: Ah Wai 9520 6046

http://i.imgur.com/RVnoCB8.jpg

September 27 (Sunday)

HKFS & Scholarism Talks
Time: 1 – 5:30pm (4-5:30 pm Agnes Chow)
Location: Tamar Park & LegCo
More info: https://www.facebook.com/hkfs1958/photos/a.433111302871.207569.269056797871/10153272698257872/?type=3

Christian Group Camp Out
Time: Evening till September 28 noon
Location: LegCo
More info: https://www.thestandnews.com/politics/%E4%BD%94%E9%A0%98%E9%81%8B%E5%8B%95%E4%B8%80%E5%91%A8%E5%B9%B4%E5%B0%87%E8%87%B3-%E5%9C%98%E9%AB%94%E9%80%A3%E6%97%A5%E8%88%89%E8%BE%A6%E7%B4%80%E5%BF%B5%E6%B4%BB%E5%8B%95/

September 28 (Monday)

People Power returns to Admiralty
Time: 12pm
Location: Lennon Wall
More info:
https://www.facebook.com/peoplespower/posts/959745417420946

Civil Human Rights Front Rally
Time: 3 – 8pm (5:58 pm silent stand for tear gas memorial)
Location: Lennon Wall
More info: http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/news/art/20150923/19305999

Mass by Father Franco Mella
Time: 4 – 5:45pm
Location: Lennon Wall
More info: http://www.police.gov.hk/info/doc/nono/CRN15046509E.pdf

Prayer & Film Screening
Time: 4-8pm
Location: LegCo
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/721477591312188/

Prayer session by Cardinal Zen, Catholic Justice & Peace Commission
Time: 8-10pm
Location: LegCo
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1488805408113134/

Bible Reading at Wanchai Methodist Church for Occupy Anniversary
Time: 10:30am – 12pm
Location: Wanchai Methodist Church
More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/428896173983596/

CUHK Student Union Talks
Time: 12-10 pm (12 – 1 pm Chan Kin-man)
Location: CUHK main library
More info: https://www.facebook.com/CUHK.SU/photos/a.416078851787863.103438.416069858455429/987348491327560/?type=3

Blue Ribbon March & Rally (Defend HK Campaign = Fu Chun-chung 保衛香港聯盟=傳振中)
Time: 1:30 – 5:30 pm
Location: Causeway Bay Hang Lung Centre to Wan Chai Canal Road bridge
More info: http://www.police.gov.hk/info/doc/nono/WCHRN15047906E.pdf

Blue Ribbon March & Rally (Occupy Central Not Represent Me, Man Shek 佔中不代表我，忠義民團石房有)
Time: 2-6pm
Location: Chater Garden to Police HQ to Tamar Park
More info: https://www.facebook.com/TANGTAKTAK/posts/1493584797602452:0

September 29 (Tuesday)

CUHK Student Union Talks
Time: 12 pm – 12 am (12 – 2pm Long Hair)
Location: CUHK main library
More info: https://www.facebook.com/CUHK.SU/photos/a.416078851787863.103438.416069858455429/987348491327560/?type=3

September 30 (Wednesday)

CUHK Student Union Talks
Time: 12 – 4pm
Location: CUHK main library
More info: https://www.facebook.com/CUHK.SU/photos/a.416078851787863.103438.416069858455429/987348491327560/?type=3