Sunday 16th June 2019
Dear Reader,
What a momentous week!
NEW ARTICLE
Why
Carrie Lam must go
The "suspension" of the Extradition
Bill, which will likely lapse in July 2020, is not the end of an increasing
erosion of HK's autonomy. With a rubber-stamp legislature, the only thing that
now prevents draconian legislation is massive public pressure. Mrs Lam has
irrevocably lost the public trust. Beijing will hold her accountable for the
loss of control last week, after a suitable interval to disconnect the issues,
but this will not prevent the increasing erosion of HK's autonomy. (16-Jun-2019)
RECENTLY ON WEBB-SITE
The
Trump Dump: war-gaming the next move against China
The US
Administration has so far focused entirely on the trade account, but when the
potential for tariffs is exhausted, if not sooner, Trump may start to wonder why
US funds have hundreds of billions of dollars invested in stocks and bonds of
Chinese state-backed companies, and use OFAC powers to order them to
divest. (2-Jun-2019)
IN OTHER NEWS
Judge warned by Chief Justice after signing petition against extradition bill
South China Morning Post, 8-Jun-2019
We
note that the HK Law Reform Commission includes the Chief Justice and another
permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal - so judges do indeed express views
on proposed changes to laws - but the fast-track Extradition Bill never went
through the LRC. The Chief Executive should now withdraw the bill and refer the
issue to the LRC.
Leung Chun Kwong v Civil Service & Inland Revenue
HK Court of Final Appeal, 6-Jun-2019
In a
victory for common sense, Mr Leung, a gay man legally married overseas, wins.
The CFA unanimously overturns the Court of Appeal, which found that the
"prevailing views of the community on marriage" was relevant. In a nutshell, the
whole point of prohibiting discrimination against minorities is to prevent the
majority view (if there is one) from trampling over their rights. The CFA also
held that there was no rational connection between denying Leung his employment
benefits and joint taxation and protecting the institution of heterosexual
marriage (if that is a legitimate aim).
Concentration warning in Best Mart (2360)
SFC,
5-Jun-2019
The top 20 holders have 95.77%.
And much more besides...
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David M. Webb
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