Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s (林鄭月娥) address to business leaders in a closed-door meeting did not remain within the confines of the conference room. Reuters obtained a secret recording of her speech and publicly broadcast it on Sept. 2 and 12.
Her almost teary voice betrayed her true sentiments, disclosed the strain she has been under. Other than revealing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) bottom line, there were two points to take note of.
First, Lam admitted to being responsible for the political crisis that ignited into the unforgivable havoc engulfing the territory and, if given the choice, would have immediately resigned and apologized for her actions.
Second, she revealed that the crisis in Hong Kong had metamorphosed into questions of national security and sovereignty, and that there is a limit to what she can do, in view of rising US-China tensions.
Lam’s remarks revealed her impotence and lack of will to govern Hong Kong. This proved, not surprisingly, that Lam is not a chief executive truly capable of governing the territory, but is merely a puppet who does Beijing’s bidding.
However, in addressing the media the next day and in a television address a day later, Lam’s demeanor and tone took a 180-degree turn. She resumed her hardline stance, categorically refuted any attempts to resign, denied there was ever any conflict between her wanting and not being able to resign, and insisted that remaining in her post was her only option.
She insisted that, as chief executive, she was perfectly capable of leading Hong Kong out of the crisis, and she announced the withdrawal of the contentious extradition bill.
Comparing Lam’s two appearances within days, the secret recording appeared to have been her true thoughts and feelings, while the subsequent 180-degree turn was surely made under pressure to clarify the government’s stance on the crisis and show the world that she is still in control. This was surely all at the “request” of her CCP handlers.
Lam seemed to have been putting on a brave face and a show of force, and did not have the courage to step down. Her behavior over those few days revealed the two-faced person that she is, and her unpardonable crimes.
So who is governing Hong Kong at present? Political commentator Simon Lau (劉細良) put it succinctly: “Hong Kong is now being directly ruled by the CCP, albeit behind the scenes.”
This is an insightful comment. There exists in Hong Kong an underground (communist) party, and this is the CCP’s secret body in its Hong Kong operations.
In his memoirs, Xu Jiatun (許家屯) states that although his official title was head of Xinhua news agency’s Hong Kong branch, he was, in actuality, secretary of the Hong Kong-Macao Working Committee, Beijing’s de facto administrator of Hong Kong.
In title, Wang Zhimin (王志民) is director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, but, in actuality, he is secretary of the Central Hong Kong Working Committee.
The Central Hong Kong Working Committee is not a legally registered entity in Hong Kong. For obfuscation, Wang can only operate under his title as Liaison Office director. He still needs Lam as a public face to carry out policies.
Knowing the structure of the underground party in Hong Kong is vital. A dozen people so far have come forward, disclosing their true identities as underground party members and proving that such an entity does exist in Hong Kong.
This includes Szeto Wah (司徒華), Kenneth Ore (柯其毅), Song Shu-cai (宋樹材) and his wife, Kam Yu-jen (甘玉珍), Liu Wen-cheng (劉文成), Ho Ming-sze (何銘思), Chak Nuen-fai (習暖暉), Luo Fu (羅孚), Jin Yaoru (金堯如) and this author.
Considering the happenings in the past three months, I am pained to accept that the Central Hong Kong Working Committee is directing the actions of the Hong Kong Police Department.
Lam’s pronouncement to withdraw the extradition legislation is now meaningless. What is really telling is her refusal to form an independent committee to investigate the entire matter. In her remarks, Lam’s praise, support and condoning of the actions of the police, without raising the need for supervision and restraint, clearly betrayed that she has abandoned her authority over to the police force.
The broadcast of Lam’s remarks by Reuters on Sept. 12 made her position crystal clear: “Other than our 30,000 strong police force, the Hong Kong government has no other means of protection. We must consider granting the police extra authority, as they are only a few against the many, making it difficult in maintaining authority.”
Lam is turning a deaf ear to calls for the formation of an independent investigatory committee to look into actions by the police, and is following Beijing’s policy of “force against chaos.” She has turned over running Hong Kong’s police to Beijing — this is unforgivable.
During the past few months, police officers have increasingly escalated their use of force, by way of batons, tear gas, tear gas canisters, beanbag rounds, rubber bullets, water cannons and even real bullets.
Mercenaries from the underworld have been recruited to incite violence: at Yuen Long MTR station on July 21 and Prince MTR station on Aug. 31. They are only one step away from committing murder.
So far, nearly 2,000 people have been arrested, some as young as 12 years old. During their incarceration, many have been beaten or sexually harassed.
The nature of the Hong Kong Police Department has changed. They have lost any semblance of maintaining the rule of law, or of respecting humanity. The communists’ nature of defying and denying humanity, as well as divinity, is on display.
Quite early on, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security established within the territory an office to coordinate and communicate with the Police Liaison Department. Li Jiangzhou (李江舟), former director of the Ministry of Public Security’s National Security Bureau, is in charge of the Police Liaison Department of the Hong Kong Liaison Office.
The Central Coordination Group for Hong Kong and Macao Affairs expanded its administrative staff and Chinese Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi (趙克志) is acting vice chair of the group, some sources have said.
Obviously, the CCP is vigorously planning to carry out an increasingly significant role in Hong Kong and Macau affairs, confirming my long-held suspicion that the CCP is the entity that aims the weapon.
I sincerely hope that the many other infiltrators of Hong Kong’s underground party will see the errors of their ways, overcome their reticence and have the courage to come forward as witnesses. With the existence of this underground party, the so-called “one country, two systems” promise was and is a lie.
Hong Kongers can now see the true face of the government. The withdrawal of the extradition bill was not the solution to the original problem. Hong Kongers will accept no less than a true democratic election in restoring the original nature of “one country, two systems.” The impending District Council elections will be the next battleground.
I salute the courageous Hong Kongers.
Florence Mo Han Aw is a writer based in Canada.
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