What about Hong Kong?

You wonder why I'm writing about Hong Kong? Because I care. Why? Because I lived there, but more important, something extremely damaging to Hong Kong's autonomy and culture could happen soon and while the 'West' is focusing on Beijing, no one seems to realize what's happening behind the Southern curtains.

Eleven years ago Hong Kong was handed over to the Chinese, after 165 years of British colonisation. Both parties (Hong Kong itself had fairly nothing to say) agreed that a judicial system similar to the existing would rule the Special Administrative Region (SAR) and that the interests of Hong Kong itself had to be maintained.

The Basic Law (a local mini-constitution), an independent judiciary and a Hong Kong government were meant to be a safeguard. Interventions by the National People’s Congress could take place, but these situations were restricted. Therefore, when the Proposal with regard to Article 23 of the Basic Law was presented, it was received with suspicion. The provision as formulated emphasized the autonomy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by stating that Hong Kong ‘shall enact laws on its own’. The content, however, seemed to deal with definitions that were no longer appropriate, only served the national Chinese interest and could be in contradiction with the guaranteed fundamental rights. Research started within the region as well as internationally and after heated debates and one of the biggest Hong Kong demonstration ever, the HKSAR government decided to postpone the implementation.
Article 23, however, which penalizes sedition, treason, subversion, secession and theft of state secrets, still needs to be implemented. No one knows exactly when, but everyone knows that the Basic Law can only be officially valid when Article 23 is fully implemented.

And now, all of a sudden, that day seems to have gotten closer. Last week Macau, the other southern SAR, made a crucial decision: the former portuguese colony has decided to enact the security bill. Compared to the HKSAR, Macau has always dealt with more stringent criminal laws. Therefore their intentions to implement caused less consternation on Asian Las Vegas than it did five years ago on Hong Kong. Even though the SARs differ as day and night, the decision made by Macau Chief Executive will put pressure on Chief Executive Donald Tsang. The regional leader has a constitutional duty to legislate the controversial law before the end of his term in 2012.

So now were reminded once again, what Hong Kongs position is within the People's Republic of China. We, back in the West, had almost forgotten that this hypermodern and prosperous city in the middle of Asia is still being watched by the Biggest Brother in the World. And now that the Door to Restriction is opening again, I truly hope to see the same strong Hong Kong as in 2003 unite and stand up for its fundamental freedoms. Will the city manage to maintain its unique position or will it be swallowed by its ? I believe it's worth to keep an eye on....

Berlin Bulb

Just a week after this year had begun, almost all happiness of the Christmas and NewYears atmosphere seemed to have disappeared. Berlin turned to be as dark as I feared she could be. I had just moved to Germany's Capital and had heard a lot about it. Loneliness sprinkled throughout the city. Unappealing abandoned contructionsites. Grey skies filled with crying clouds above me and their tears on the streets beneath. I felt weird and maybe a bit betrayed. I had left Hong 'canto-pop' Kong in order to be somewhere surrounded by alikes. People that couldn't get enough of the soundtrack of life. But was this really the city of endless tunes? A place where no-one ever stopped? The still running afterparties of Sylvester didn't appeal to my taste at that point. Was't the musical creativity suppose to keep this place pumping as blood through veins? If that was so, why couldn't I find it?

But then a small hint. Just two simply formulated sentences on the net: ‘Die Tanzguerilla trifft sich, um im Kaufhaus tanzen zu gehen. Bringt Walkman und MP3-Player mit’. Danceguerilla? The idea of dancing in a shoppingmall made my heart do a Charleston through my chest.

A silent disco amongst hundreds of necessary shoppers, turning a smile on most of their faces. Bodymovement. Excitement. Flirting. For some it's not just plain entertainment, it's a protest. Against capitalism. Against globalisation. Against boredom. Against dark days.

Berlin, known for its rebellion, has always encouraged this way of expression after the fall of the Wall. With dialy demonstrations, these meetings, however, seems to focus on the funfactor. No rules. Just dancing on spots where you always wanted to dance. Supermarkets, subway stations, cashmachinespaces, conferencenters, even the Reichstag received a welldeserved visit.

And then I found out that this was just the innocent beginning. What followed was the introduced to the world of Rave. Through friends, acquaintances and people I didn't know at all, I got informed about the most amazing gatherings. Old factories, parks and forests, bunkers, rooftops. Morning, night, midday. Dressed-up, naked, come as you like. Friday, Sunday, Tuesday. No boundaries. No end. Just dance until the police comes.... and even that is no guarantee.

I knew Berlin had it. Something growing under the ground, waiting to be revealed. But actually discovering and experiencing all these amazing features felt like a bonus, a durable lightbulb for the dark winterdays. So this time, with winter starting, I'm ready and anxious to see what Berlin is preparing to keep us warm.