At one point in her operatic career, Maria Callas became so portly that in a performance where she sang next to live elephants on stage - they were there as props - a critic joked he couldn’t distinguish her legs from those of the gigantic beasts’. Stung by these harsh words, Callas announced - to the consternation of many - she would strive to attain the physique of Audrey Hepburn (“Roman Holiday” had just hit the cinemas and the Hepburn look was all the rage). Callas affixed an autographed photo of the actress to her dressing room mirror, and got on with her mission. Eventually, she succeeded in shedding almost half of her poundage. She never became as svelte as Hepburn, but still she managed to (in the words of Callas expert Bruno Tosi) “turn into a beautiful swan.”

This Callas story has never failed to uplift my writing self. Using exceptional writers as benchmarks is one of the best ways to learn writing, yet, intimidated by their out-of-leagueness, I don’t take this route often enough. But just as Callas in all likelihood wouldn’t have been able to transform herself into a swan had she not set her sights so high, so, even if I end up remaining far behind the writers I seek to imitate, I would still be writing far better than if I had never bothered trying to aspire to their level.

All the time I get confirmation that I’m on the right track when I keep my grubby hands on good writers. The other day, one of my writing students composed a piece on the government’s COVID-fighting measures. This was the introduction she wrote:

At the quarantine camps, the Hong Kong government served food that looked grotesque in look and texture. Some of those who ate the camp meals got food poisoning. We later learned the meals were very cheap, at around $17 per head. If I were under quarantine I would definitely order takeout instead.

This bland copy needs some spicing up. I came up with this rewrite:

Pork and corn meatloaf that resembled a brick of matter extracted from a can of expired dog food. Porridge that looked - and tasted - like vomit. Fried porkchop that exhibited the texture and color of soft stool. Even the plastic spoon that came with the meal was crooked. These are some of the foodstuffs the Hong Kong government expects people under mandatory quarantine to shove down their throats. A third-world airliner would have served better fare.

As I wrote the above, the model I had in mind was the British restaurant critic A. A. Gill’s famous comment on the foie gras served at L’Ami Louis, a storied Parisian bistro:

“The liver crumbles under the knife like plumber’s putty and tastes faintly of gut-scented butter or pressed liposuction.”

To be sure, my Gill-inspired copy lacks the same degree of ickiness, but I doubt I would have been able to write even that had I not used Gill as my reference point.

Another example. I’ve long admired Willa Cather’s portrayal of her protagonist Thea Kronborg’s mental growth from small-town girl to world-renowned soprano in “The Song of the Lark.” A few months ago, while working on a piece on the spiritual high one can get out of the act of artistic creation, I remembered a passage from Cather’s novel on the theme and decided to pattern a paragraph after it, going as far as copying the structure of one of its sentences (I’ve highlighted the Cather original and my copy in bold):

“Many a night that summer (the teenaged Thea) left Dr. Archie’s office with a desire to run and run about those quiet streets until she wore out her shoes, or wore out the streets themselves; when her chest ached and it seemed as if her heart were spreading all over the desert. When she went home, it was not to go to sleep. She used to drag her mattress beside her low window and lie awake for a long while, vibrating with excitement, as a machine vibrates from speed. Life rushed in upon her through that window—or so it seemed. In reality, of course, life rushes from within, not from without. There is no work of art so big or so beautiful that it was not onc bve all contained in some youthful body, like this one which lay on the floor in the moonlight, pulsing with ardor and anticipation. It was on such nights that Thea Kronborg learned the thing that old Dumas meant when he told the Romanticists that to make a drama he needed but one passion and four walls.”

“I sometimes kick off a column by trying to experiment with a technique I’ve seen other writers use. In the process of applying that trick, other ideas will occur to me. Granted, I’ll run into an impasse here and there, but gradually, my piece will take on a life of its own and complete itself on its own accord. It is at such times that I understand E B White’s remark upon learning a fellow author has written a biography on him - “how hard it is to write about a fellow who spends most of his time crouched over a typewriter.” Only those who are on intimate terms with the joys of making writing work can tell White was actually expressing appreciation at his good fortune of having been able to live his life stationed behind a typewriter.

Again, while it is true that my copy lacks Cather’s fluency and flair - even now, as I re-read my last sentence, I’m still not sure whether it works - I think overall, my version nonetheless manages to mirror enough of Cather’s sensibilities for it to qualify as (borderline) “good.”

(Michelle Ng (吳若琦) is an independent bilingual writer based in Hong Kong. Her blog is https://michellengwritings.com, and she can be reached at michelle.ng@gmail.com)

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港蘋國際-

Hitting the high notes｜Michelle Ng

On this June 4 night, Victoria Park was engulfed in darkness for the first time in 32 years. There was not a single flick of candlelight, nor a shadow of the gathering of citizens. There was not the tune of Bloodstained Glory, nor the singing of Flower of Freedom…; in their places were close to a thousand police in full gears and surly demeanors, along with their incessant announcements and reprimands of citizens to leave. In a sense, Carrie Lam’s government succeeded. Hers was the first government to silence June 4 in Victoria Park and snuff out the commemorative candlelight since the Handover.

Yet, to dig deeper, and especially those with a better understanding of history would know that extinguishing the Victoria Park June 4 candlelight by the Carrie Lam administration is no success, but rather the largest tactical blunder and failure since the Handover. As mentioned before, the June 4 candlelight vigil in Victoria Park was the best example of the most peaceful and rational way of expressing opinions, a mark for the international community to gauge whether the high-level autonomy of one country, two systems was still guaranteed, and proof of whether Hongkongers could continue to enjoy their freedom, rights, and unique way of life. The SAR government “succeeded” in killing a gathering that has always been peaceful and rational, “succeeded” in snuffing out the candlelight of Victoria Park, only to demonstrate to the foreigners residing in Hong Kong, international friends, and the governments of different countries that Hong Kong has lost its original luster, lost its original room for freedom, and lost its rights to express opinions peacefully and rationally. What else could be a bigger blow to the image of one country, two systems, than this action? What else could hurt the confidence of the people and international community in the approach of one country, two systems?

The darkened Victoria Park was no doubt more problematic than beneficial to Hong Kong and one country, two systems. At the same time, all the little tricks the government is using to turn June 4 into taboo are equally worrying. On the night of June 4, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Hong Kong Catholic Diocese and seven Catholic churches held masses to mourn, commemorate, and pray for the victims of the June 4 Massacre and others. This used to be a very ordinary gathering, one that is not only protected by the Basic Law and Human Rights Law, but also adheres to the epidemic-prevention measures put forth by the government by only allowing a 30% capacity and following all social-distancing measures. However, since the organizations made low-key announcements of the event, all sorts of pressure, and direct and indirect attacks, came from every direction. There are also rumors being spread that the masses might violate the national security law and would be forced to cancel. The organizers had to clarify repeatedly that the event was completely lawful.

On the eve of June 4, the churches hosting these masses all received threatening banners being hung outside the buildings. Cardinal Joseph Zen received personal threats, and there were criticisms made toward the diocese for “cult incitement” in the mourning of the victims in a mass. Moreover, believers were also threatened that they were violating the National Security Law if they attended the masses. No organizations or individuals have been identified for putting up the banners with threats at the moment, but to have the capacity to put up such slandering threats, it must be an organized and planned effort with the aim to warn churches, and believers and citizens who had planned to attend the mass.

Under threats of the unknown, the clergy and staff were all prepared for the worst, including the possibility of people barging into the church to make trouble, to disrupt the service, and to cause chaos. At the start of the mass, they reminded believers and citizens to keep calm no matter what happens, and follow the instructions of the staff to leave, etc.

To note that there are masses in Catholic churches almost every single day. During holidays such as Easter and Christmas, many would participate, but there has never been such fear and intimidation like this one. However, the Church and the clergy were not making a big deal out of nothing. Two years ago on July 21, wasn’t there the terrorist attack by the white-clad people on ordinary citizens and MTR passengers? Who could guarantee that there would be no white-clad people barging into churches to make trouble and even beat people up? Who would know, should similar attacks happen, if law enforcement officers would turn around to leave or take more than 30 minutes to arrive at the scene?

There is no doubt that the austerity surrounding this year’s June 4 was unprecedented. Not only was the Victoria Park vigil banned, even individuals who held candles to mourn in public places like other parks received warnings of disturbance. Even the most ordinary religious gatherings protected by the Basic Law were clouded by white terror and became very nervous; the prospect of freedom of assembly, of speech, and of religion is truly pessimistic.

Thankfully, the determination and resilience of Hongkongers are extraordinary. Despite the tangible and intangible threats, the participation of the June 4 commemoration massed for the victims exceeded their capacity. Other commemorations also flourished in every form everywhere. They cannot be stopped. Some believers asked the Father after the mass whether he worried that a June 4 commemoration mass would not be allowed the following year. The Father smiled and said, “Yes. Pray, and it will be there. People’s hearts are here.”

Truly, the most “illuminated” thing about the night of June 4, 2021, was the undying persistence in people’s hearts. As long as we never accept the distortion of right and wrong, never surrender our insistence toward freedom, never forget our persistence the truths of history, then we can be sure that there will still be all sorts of commemorations and events next year on June 4.

This article is translated from Chinese by Apple Daily.

Click <a href="https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210607/3OEJCW7NURA6XPGBP3HMN6S3DE/" target="_blank">here</a> for Chinese version

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Editorial: Long live the candlelight of June Fourth in our hearts. See you next year! | Apple Daily Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s financial industry, in particular the IPO sector, is one of the industries that have been spared the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic over the past two years. Last year, the Nasdaq stock market was the world’s biggest IPO market, raising US$55 billion in total, and Hong Kong was the second with US$50 billion. The trend continued in Hong Kong in the first five months of 2021, with a total of 27 IPOs (including second-time listings). Nearly HK$180 billion in total has been raised, once again putting the Hong Kong stock market in second place after Nasdaq. The company that has raised the most funds here so far this year is Kuaishou Tech (1024.HK). By far the world’s biggest in 2021, that IPO saw the Chinese company amass nearly $50 billion. The second biggest IPO is that of South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang.

Nearly one year since the National Security Law took effect in Hong Kong, IPOs in the city’s stock market has often been cited by local financial officials as proof that Hong Kong’s status as an international financial hub remains unchanged, and that foreign capital is not retreating. To be sure, nothing has changed if we only look at IPO-related figures. Hong Kong’s ability to attract capital is indeed still strong. However, we should note that at a time when the US is taking control over the world’s leading high-tech companies, the top 10 IPOs in Hong Kong are those of Chinese concept stocks. And in terms of the investment banks helping the Chinese companies with the IPOs, foreign banks are not able to get involved much even if they completely follow China’s rules because China will not allow the fertile water of its land to flow to foreign soil. This trend will only get more pronounced in the future.

Whenever a big company has an IPO, investment banks around the world will scramble to be sponsors and underwriters. This is not only because there is big money in playing these roles but also because investment banks hope they can get involved in ensuing placings, bond issuances or spin-offs. For years, European and US investment banks have been the leading underwriters in IPOs around the world. In 2010, Hong Kong’s IPO market raised a record high of HK$445 billion. According to Bloomberg, in terms of underwriting and account management for IPOs that year, Morgan Stanley accounted for 11 percent of the total share, and the top eight investment banks involved in the IPOs that year were European and US banks (see the chart). The only Chinese bank that ranked relatively high was Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which came ninth and accounted for less than five percent of the market share. The top 15 banks involved in the IPOs that year made up 88 percent of the total. Among them, 11 were foreign banks, which constituted

75 percent of the total, and four were Chinese banks, which constituted 13 percent. On the whole, the ratio of Chinese to foreign investment banks was 2:8.

Major foreign investment banks’ shrinking role in local IPOs

In recent years, Chinese capital has been accounting for an increasingly bigger share in the Hong Kong stock market. In the first five months of 2021, the ratio of Chinese to foreign investment banks was about 6:4. Among the top 20 investment banks involved in underwriting, 11 were Chinese banks, accounting for 58 percent of the total, while the remaining nine foreign banks accounted for 33 percent. The market share of big investment firms such as Goldman Sachs, UBS and JPMorgan Chase, which are long-time players in the local IPO market, has shrunk by more than half compared with a decade ago. Even Deutsche Bank and Barclays, which used to play a key role in IPOs, have not even managed to play the role of IPO co-organizer in Hong Kong in recent years.

When it comes to IPO, quality trumps quantity. One deal involving an industry giant is better than 10 IPOs of small companies. In the first five months this year, 27 IPOs raised nearly $180 billion in Hong Kong. Among them, the top 10 amassed $158.7 billion, accounting for 88 percent of the total, while the top five represent 72 percent with $130 billion. A total of 103 investment banks were involved in the top 10 IPOs, among which 33 were foreign banks and 70 Chinese banks.

A decade ago, the ratio of foreign to Chinese investment banks was 8:2. Today, it is 3:7. With Chinese concept stocks continuing to dominate Hong Kong’s IPO market, foreign investment banks in Hong Kong will play a less significant role, perhaps responsible for distributing products only.

Under the current political system, the IPO market, which Hong Kong takes pride in, will adhere to the principle of “patriots ruling Hong Kong”. Patriotic banks will be the sponsors while foreign forces have to step aside. This is what defines Hong Kong as an international financial center in the future, and this applies not only to IPOs but also other financial services.

Click <a href="https://hk.appledaily.com/finance/20210606/7KMKBZVZMNGBNKUFVC72YQ4TLM/" target="_blank">here</a> for Chinese version

Foreign investment banks will not benefit as much from Chinese capital｜Stock Wing

Thrown in jail for three years by the court on the mainland, Tang Kai-yin has written a letter home again saying that he fares well, and reads every day, and telling his mother and younger brother not to worry about him. He also says he is safe and intact, and has received the money transferred to him, and reminds his family members that if they encounter any difficulties in life, they should think about a story in the Holy Bible, and shouldn’t become dejected: “If we insist on rising to challenges in life unswervingly, perseverance will bring light into our lives.”   

Reading every day in jail on the mainland 

Tang Kai-yin says in the letter to his mother and younger brother that his life behind bars is fine, and he reads every day. He hopes his family members will live a peaceful and satisfying life, be healthy and jovial.  He also encourages his family members with the story of Elijah in the Holy Bible: “I hope you will muster up your courage, not be downhearted, and not give in easily. “If we insist on rising to challenges in life unswervingly, perseverance will bring light into our lives. Over the course of history, dark ages were all dispelled in the end.”       

He kindly reminds his mother, younger brother and friends to support and encourage one another, stay full alert, and persist in their belief. Feeling bored in prison, he asks his family to mail him a copy of Catan’s rule book to beguile the tedium.  

As far as the 2020 detainment of 12 Hong Kong residents caught at sea by China is concerned, 10 of them charged with illegal border crossing have been sent back to Hong Kong under escort, and Tang Kai-yin and Quinn Moon prosecuted for organizing others to cross the border illegally have been sentenced to jail for three and two years, respectively, and are currently serving the prison terms. Tang’s younger brother said the letter from him before this one was received three months ago, lamenting that he did not have to get to know his brother is still alive via the money transferred to him. 

Click <a href="https://hk.appledaily.com/local/20210606/6MDBZ7MDSJCEPAEIPJMPAXYFDA/" target="_blank">here </a>for Chinese version

A letter home from Tang Kai-yin：Perseverance will bring light into our lives

Hong Kong people’s lack of interest in vaccination is widely known. But the SAR government and some doctors and experts have no intention of finding out the underlying reasons. They only know to keep intimidating the public, saying “If Hong Kong residents do not get vaccinated, there may be no vaccines in the future even if they want to get them,” or “Since vaccines have expiration dates, many consulates are asking whether it is possible to resell, donate, or lend them.” One key opinion leader (KOL) even said, “There will be charges for the vaccine in the future.” The latest threat is that those who have not got the jab will not be allowed to enter restaurants, hospitals, schools, dorms, construction sites, libraries, museums, theaters, or performance venues. The restrictions will be revised only when 70% to 90% of all people in Hong Kong are vaccinated, i.e., when a wall of defense against the virus has been created.

Such indiscriminate use of threats is very irksome. The SAR government’s ineffective and inefficient airport screening is to blame for the fourth wave of COVID-19, which is related to imported cases. Hong Kong people have an extremely good sense of hygiene. Masks are worn universally. Hong Kong people wash their hands frequently, have sanitizers when they are out, and press the buttons in an elevator with a tissue or napkin. Hong Kong people’s cautiousness is second to none in the world. Take a look at how many people wear masks and maintain social distances properly after the opening of sports stadiums in the US and the UK, and one will know that Hong Kong people are very well self-disciplined. Hong Kong people’s own actions against the virus should be credited for preventing the fourth wave of the pandemic from resulting in a major outbreak.

So far, the vaccination rate in Hong Kong has not even reached 20 %. At its wits’ end, the SAR government has resorted to threats. But the business sector, focusing on the economic advantages of the resumption of business, has come up with creative ideas, offering an apartment in a prize draw, free airplane tickets, and free MTR tickets to those who get vaccinated (as I mentioned last Sunday). Even public sector employees are given one day’s leave to get the jab. With different tactics, the private and public sectors have joined hands to boost the inoculation rate. When it comes to Hong Kongers, only the carrot works, not the stick. The number of vaccine appointments surged after the prize draws were announced. But then a professor hurled insults at Hong Kongers in some very unhelpful way. Lam Tai-Hing, Chair Professor of the School of Public Health, the University of Hong Kong, said Hong Kong people should be ashamed of themselves for failing to contribute to herd immunity by getting vaccinated. What he meant was that it was irresponsible not to receive the shot. Lam has long championed the anti-smoking cause. So many years have passed, but what has he achieved apart from his incessant demands for tax hikes on cigarettes? Does he feel ashamed? The SAR government’s campaign for universal vaccination is ill-thought-out and poorly planned. It has failed to grasp public sentiments and published figures sooner to dispel public doubts. Despite its enormous power and ability to mobilize the business sector, the SAR government has no idea about how to promote the vaccination plan. All it can do is to blame the media for their stories. It only knows to criticize others but does not take a review of itself. The government should feel ashamed of itself. 

Click <a href="https://hk.appledaily.com/columnist/20210606/HQNCKDO54RBKZA6FBF4J63G4HM/" target="_blank">here</a> for Chinese version

Who should feel ashamed｜Zuo Ding-shan

In my letter, I drew a very childish flower as a greeting. In your letter, you drew five. Not a bad deal! Imagine that Pablo Picasso had been trapped by the walls and he had painted a small picture in every letter. Wouldn’t those receiving his letter become billionaires over time? Wouldn’t those letters make a priceless collection of art?

Did you know that, when the 47 people in the case of the democratic primaries were arraigned last week, there were some new arrangements? Previously, the defendants remanded in custody would be taken to court, and the court police would shout “Court!” Everyone would stay silent, and the judge would appear. The family, friends and supporters of a defendant sitting in the public gallery would use the small window of opportunity, i.e., the short period of time before the judge’s appearance, to greet the defendant in the prisoner column loudly and encourage each other. But it was different last week. First, the court police shouted “Court!” Then the silence. The judge appeared in court, sat down, and then the defendants were taken into court amid a solemn atmosphere. There were no chances for any casual exchanges.

All of a sudden, the trial of Nelson Mandela in a South African court sprang to mind. It just so happened that I had begun rereading The Rivonia Story, written by Joel Joffe, just a few days previously. According to Joffe, the Pretoria High Court had the prison cell located underground, which was led by a steep stairway to an exit that opened at the center of the court. The prisoner’s bar was behind the lawyer’s bench and in front of the public gallery. On the day of the trial of Mandela and others, the public gallery was full. A large number of police had already been deployed, heavily guarding the court building to prevent the long queues of people from entering it. In the court, there was also a huge police presence on standby. When the trial was about to begin, Mandela was the first to appear from the underground stairs. A stir of excitement swept through the public gallery when Mandela’s head and shoulders emerged. He turned to face the public and made an ANC gesture: his right fist clenched and his thumb up. With his sonorous voice, he shouted subduedly, “Amandla (power)!” The crowd immediately responded “Nga wethu (to the people)!”

That impromptu demonstration caught the court police off their guard. They did not know how to react. The defendants appeared in court one by one, each repeating the slogan and the interaction with the crowd. The court police hastily shouted: “Observe court order!” At last, the judge appeared in court amidst the clamor.

In the next court session, a new, unusual arrangement was adopted. The court was opened first, with the judge in the seat and everyone in silence. Only after that were the defendants led to court one by one to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment last time.

So, when I saw the new arrangement for Court 1 at the West Kowloon Law Courts Building, I could not help but think of the trial in South Africa. There are two other similarities. First, to deal with intensifying ANC operations, the South African government passed an amendment to give the police the power to detain anyone suspected of violent actions for 90 days without trial. After 90 days, they could reset the timer, imprisoning the same person for another 90 days on the pretext of another charge. In Hong Kong, the National Security Law adds another procedure to this practice: the person must be taken to court first. In reality, however, there is no hope of bail unless the prosecution agrees, so the outcome is not very different from that in South Africa back then. Second, as soon as one has one’s charge cleared by the court, one faces a new charge that comes out of nowhere. Before one regains one’s freedom, one has to be taken into custody again. 

To be honest, I really do not understand how the court can “have no sufficient reasons” to believe that the defendants will not “continue to endanger the country”. The prosecution’s justification is that the defendants are still very capable of doing the things that the prosecution argues have “endangered the country”, though ordinary people (including the defendants) used to think that they were completely legal.  An example is presenting opinions to the international media that the prosecution claims to be “fake news”. But there is an important difference now. In the past, not even in their dreams would they have thought that their actions would “endanger the country”. Now that they have realized that such actions would mean imprisonment, that is exactly the best reason to believe that they will not engage in such actions again. It strains credulity to believe that the defendants will keep doing those things despite the threat of imprisonment. #May Lady Justice open her eyes. Wish you a safe return soon!

(Margaret Ng Ngoi-yee is a barrister, writer and columnist in Hong Kong. She was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong from 1995-1997; 1998-2012.)

Click <a href="https://hk.appledaily.com/columnist/20210606/KEQNTJWOFJGPZIYNE3SQXMRVK4/" target="_blank">here </a>for Chinese version

當年今日