bc magazine

Project 4th June, a 24-hour Online Dance Commemoration of Tiananmen

Singaporean artist Ming Poon, aka Ming Apur, likes as he puts it to use choreography as a “tool to interrogate, disrupt and re-organise the social and political relationality of the body in time and space.”

Poon’s latest work is Project June 4th a 24-hour online commemoration of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests that looks to use dance to speak out against state censorship of peaceful dissent, criticism and the erasure and rewriting of history. For as Poon says “Once we forget, history repeats itself and the oppressors become emboldened”.

On 4 June 1989 the peaceful mass student protests in Tiananmen Square were ended by military force. Although more than 30 years have passed, the Chinese government still suppresses any mention or acknowledgement of the incident.

On 5 June a single man stood against a column of tanks… Project 4th June commemorates those who were murdered, the movement and choreography of Tank Man represents as Poon puts it “the potential that lies within ordinary persons to stop the machines of violence and oppression. It is also a call-out to stand up against injustice, no matter how small we think we are and how insurmountable we think the task is.”

6 dancers will take turns performing Tank Man throughout the 24-hour commemoration. Each will attempt to interpret the choreography in a way that expresses their individual thoughts and relationship to the Tiananmen Square incident, state censorship and the fight for human rights and democracy.

The 6 dancers are:
1. Pink Tank: “Watch out, the world is not behind you.”
2. Tank Ghost: “Of Ghosts and Shells”
3. Tank Zheng: “No Tank On Rainbow”
4. Tank Sexy: “The Days Without Cigarettes / 沒有煙抽的日子“
5. Tank Plant: “Planting the Reality”
6. Tank Critique Critique: “Which Tanks Do You Need To Stand In Front Of?”

If you want to watch, join or participate (see the video above for the choreography) in the commemoration Poon has an event etiquette to help make it safe for everyone. Keep your identity, as well as others’ anonymous!

If you turn on your camera during the commemoration, put on a mask before doing so. Also, make sure that your background does not reveal any personal information, ideally sit with a blank wall as your background.
Microphones will be turned OFF by default throughout the commemoration, to avoid voice detection.
Before entering the commemoration room, replace your display name with an alias. Your alias should be written in the following manner: Tank ___ (e.g., Tank Person, Tank ABC, Tank 123, etc,). Do not include any personal information in it.

Project June 4th
Date: 4 June, 2022 (
Venue: live stream on Zoom and Youtube
Tickets: Free
More info: www.mingapur.com
live stream on Zoom and Youtube

Ghost Bikes Memorial

James Ockenden’s “ghost bikes” project remembers the nine cyclists who lost their lives on Hong Kong’s roads last year. White painted bikes with white silk flowers and a memorial card with details of the person who died were placed at each of the fatal accident spots.

Ockenden, who organised the ghost bike memorial after the annual Ride of Silence 2022 was made a virtual event, said of the people who died – I think it is important to remember that these accident victims were not racing, but just getting around in an easy and environmental-friendly way, and we should be supporting that as a community.

The Ride of Silence is an annual international bicycle ride that pays tribute those killed or injured when cycling on public roads. The ride had been held in Hong Kong on the third Wednesday of May for the last 16 years.

After the 2021 memorial ride organised by the Hong Kong Cycling Alliance, the police accused riders of violating Covid-19 social distancing rules and ticketed everyone.

The Ride of Silence 2022 livestream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NBihAt2Pao

Ride of Silence 2022
Date: 7pm, 18 May, 2022
Venue: Hong Kong
Tickets: Free

images: hkghostbikes

Press Freedom Plunges….

Hong Kong’s ‘press freedom’ has plunged 68 places to 148th (out of 180) since the implementation of the National Security Law as government critics are jailed and publications silenced.

The 20th World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reveals a large increase in polarisation amplified by information chaos – that is, media polarisation fuelling and feeding divisions within and between countries.

The spread of ‘opinion media’ and disinformation are amplified by the way social media functions and are creating extreme polarisation of views with an unrepresented and unlistened to middle ground.

“At the international level, democracies are being weakened by the asymmetry between open societies and despotic regimes that control their media and online platforms while waging propaganda wars against democracies.”

Reporters Without Borders defines press freedom as “the effective possibility for journalists, as individuals and as groups, to select, produce and disseminate news and information in the public interest, independently from political, economic, legal and social interference, and without threats to their physical and mental safety.”

In order to reflect press freedom’s complexity, five indicators are used to compile the Index: the political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and security.

image: The Korea Herald

Alternative Smoking Products Banned from 30 April, 2022

The amended Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap 371) which prohibits the import, promotion, manufacture, sale and possession for commercial purposes of alternative smoking products (ASPs) takes effect from 30 April 2022.

“The ban covers electronic smoking products, heated tobacco products, herbal cigarettes, and their accessories. Starting this Saturday, Tobacco and Alcohol Control Inspectors will conduct inspections, investigate complaints and carry out enforcement actions accordingly,” said a spokesman for the Department of Health (DH). Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.

According to the amended Ordinance, import of an ASP by way of parcels, cargoes or bringing in by incoming travellers is prohibited. Travellers bringing ASPs into Hong Kong, regardless of the quantity or whether they are for personal use, must declare them to the Customs and Excise Department.

The amendment also makes it an offence to smoke or carry an activated ASP in a statutory no-smoking area. Offenders will face a $1,500 fixed penalty notice.

The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) has published a pamphlet to assist the public, incoming travellers and traders in complying with the new legislative requirements.

If you wish to quit smoking you can call the DH’s Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline on 1833 183 which offers professional counselling services on smoking cessation. Information on quitting smoking can also be obtained from www.livetobaccofree.hk.

46th Hong Kong International Film Festival

Originally scheduled for March, the postponed 46th Hong Kong International Film Festival will now run from 15-31 August 2022.

Similar to last year’s HKIFF45, the festival will feature a mix of in-person and online screenings and events. The Hong Kong International Film Festival Society will announce the HKIFF46 programme in July.

Aaron Kwok returns as festival ambassador for the fourth consecutive year saying that “There is no better platform for the Hong Kong public to reconnect with the best cinema offers.”

46th Hong Kong International Film Festival
Date: 15-31 August, 2022
Venue: various
Tickets: tbc

Duck & Waffle in IFC Closes

Duck & Waffle in IFC has closed its doors this month, another victim of the government’s dining restrictions where restaurants have hours and capacity limits – but landlords are still allowed to charge full rent.

It was tasty while it lasted…

Duck & Waffle
Shop 1081, 1/F, ifc mall, 8 Finance Street, Central – CLOSED
Tel: 2267 6338

Image: Duck & Waffle

Amendments to CAP599 Make Refusal to Surrender Pet a Criminal Offence

On 31 March 2022 new amendments to The Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance and Regulation (Cap 599 and 599A) took effect that make the refusal, obstruction or failure to surrender a pet that “a health officer reasonably believes has been infected with a specific disease”, a criminal offence – punishable on conviction by a fine and imprisonment.

A question concerning the obstruction of members of the public from complying with the order of surrendering high-risk animals arose in the Legislative Council on 6 April 2022.

Question: In January this year, samples of hamsters collected from a pet shop were tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 virus. To minimise the risks of spreading the epidemic, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) strongly advised members of the public to surrender their hamsters purchased from local pet shops which involved two import consignments to the AFCD for humane dispatch. However, some people stopped members of the public from surrendering hamsters to the AFCD outside the New Territories South Animal Management Centre of the AFCD, and took over the hamsters concerned. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether the existing legislation (including the Public Health (Animals and Birds) Ordinance (Cap. 139) and the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), as well as the related subsidiary legislation) expressly empowers the AFCD, the Department of Health or other government departments to (i) order members of the public to surrender a particular type of animals kept by them on the ground that there is a risk of virus transmission from such type of animals to humans, and (ii) impose penalties on those persons who obstruct members of the public from complying with such an order; if so, of the reasons why the relevant government departments did not exercise such powers in the aforesaid incident…

A written response from Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan confirmed that existing legislation under Cap. 599 and Cap 599A, provide that if a health officer has reason to believe that an article (including an animal), is, or may have been, infected with a specified infectious disease, the health officer may order a disease control measure to be carried out in respect of the article or destroy the article.

Obstructing, or assisting to obstruct a health officer from performing their function is a criminal offence and offenders are liable on conviction to a fine of HK$5,000 and to imprisonment for 2 months.

The recent amendments provide clear regulations requiring the owner of an article (including an animal) to surrender the article upon a health officer’s direction. The maximum penalty for non-compliance is HK$10,000 and imprisonment of 6 months upon conviction (see section 3 and section 7 of Cap. 599).

The implications are that in future the public or animal welfare groups may face serious penalties if they are found to obstruct or not comply with the directions of health officers in relation to the seizure of pets.

Additional reporting images: www.hkalpo.com

Immigration Department To Accept Extension of Stay Applications from Outside Hong Kong

With effect from 8 April, eligible non-permanent residents who are admitted into Hong Kong under the following immigration policies/schemes and whose limit of stay is about to expire – but are presently outside Hong Kong may apply for an extension of stay under the new measure:

General Employment Policy (including both employment and investment as entrepreneurs);
Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals;
Quality Migrant Admission Scheme;
Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates;
Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents;
Technology Talent Admission Scheme;
Capital Investment Entrant Scheme;
residence as dependants; and
students enrolled in full-time study programmes.

Eligible applicants may submit the applications online (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/evisaonline.html) in accordance with the prevailing application procedures for an extension of stay. If the applicant continues to meet the eligibility criteria under the relevant visa the ImmD may approve his/her application for an extension of stay. Successful applicants can then download the “e-Visa” after having paid the relevant fee.

Applicants will be able to complete the whole process and activate the “e-Visa” for an extension of stay from outside Hong Kong. The new measure will replace the temporary measure announced by the ImmD on 31 December, 2020.