High Tide (June 12th 2015) – Daily Political Round-up

Politics (Gov’t & LegCo)

Government urged to review financial policies in light of challenges.
– A motion moved by Finance lawmaker Ng Leung-sing to urge the Government to “formulate and implement comprehensive strategies” in face of new challenges in the financial market was endorsed in the LegCo general meeting
– Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury KC Chan stressed (ch) that the Government has already established a steering group on financial technology (fintech) and that more information concerning talks with mainland authorities on Shanghai/Shenzhen-HK stock exchanges would be unveiled

7,000-plus Police officers deployed for political reform protests starting from Sunday.
– It was reported (ch) that more than 7000 police officers would be on-call for potential disruptions starting from Sunday as pro-democracy groups would embark a series of marches and assemblies outside the LegCo complex
– DAB lawmakers have met (ch) with Chief Secretary Carrie Lam to discuss security arrangements as the reform package is dealt to be tabled at LegCo next week
– People Power’s Albert Chan worried (ch) that the voting process could be lengthened if violence erupted
– An appeal by the Civil Human Right Front to zone part of Tim Mei Avenue was blocked
– Meanwhile, discontent with the Police Force hit record-high since the handover as net satisfaction rate dropped from 29% to 21%

Diplomat

Russian CG announces his departure at National Day reception.
– Russian CG Mr Vladimir Kalinin led cocktail reception of the Russian National Day yesterday
– Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen was the guest of honour while Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing received special notes of gratitude from Mr Kalinin for his works in helping promote Russian events in the city
– Mr Kalinin also announced his departure later this month to hold a position in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Hong Kong and Romania sign MOU on cooperation in wine-related business.
– A Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Wine-Related Business was signedbetween the HK and Romania
– The two sides were represented by the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism), Mr Philip Yung and the visiting Romanian State Secretary for Economy, Trade and Tourism, Mr Florin Vodita
– The Government has struck similar deals with Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain and the United States since 2008

Politics (general)

Reversed tones as support for political reform outnumbered in poll results for the first time.
– The pro-establishment camp began (ch) to attack the joint-university rolling survey on the political reform package, of which the latest results showed the opposition (43%) outnumbering supporters (41.7%) for the first time
– Federation of Trade Unions’ Wong Kwok-hing went as far as to argue that the poll results – signatory campaign – organised by the Beijing-loyalist Alliance for Peace and Democracy was the one with the highest credibility
– Pro-Beijing groups also rushed (ch) to announce poll results conducted by themselves, of which support for the package still held the upper-hand
– The results did boost the morale of pan-dem lawmakers as Civic Party’s Claudia Moclaimed (ch) that whoever made a u-turn “should kill him-/herself”
– Meanwhile, CY Leung responded (ch) to rumours that Beijing had offered $300 billions each to induce pan-dem lawmakers to take a u-turn – verified (ch) by People Power’s Albert Chan – by saying that “people should judge the rumour with common sense”

Decision on Nelson Wong’s party membership yet to be revealed.
– Democratic Party’s chairwoman Emily Lau announced (ch) after the party’s Central Committee meeting that it would make a decision on Nelson Wong’s party membership on July 16
– Wong’s membership was earlier suspended for publicly supporting the political reform and called for a petition

Nine teachers dismissed in CDNIS row.
– Nine teachers of the Canadian International School were abruptly fired in the latest development of a governance row
– Those sacked, some were said to be fired in front of school kids, included three wives of former school chiefs who were either resigned or dismissed

Hong Kong victory over Bhutan a response to “racist” Chinese football poster.
– An (unusual) 7-0 victory of the Hong Kong football team over Bhutan carried a bit more as many saw the trashing as a response to controversial posters designed by the Chinese Football Association to ‘mock‘ its opponents, Hong Kong included, in the qualifying group
– In the one about Hong Kong, Chinese fans were warned to be cautious against a team that “have black-skinned, yellow-skinned, and white-skinned players” and “have so many (colour) layers”
– Hong Kong fans booed the Chinese nation anthem before the match was played