Martin Lee and Anson Chan meet US Veep, Mall Says Domestic Helpers Are “Things," and June 4th Museum Runs Into Trouble
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Martin Lee and Anson Chan meet US Veep
Founding chairman of the Democratic Party Martin Lee and former Chief Secretary Anson Chan met US Vice President Joe Biden last Friday. The duo is on a two-week visit to North America, updating legislators, senators and representatives of different sectors on Hong Kong’s democratic progress. The White House released a statement shortly after, iterating its support for democracy and a high level of autonomy in Hong Kong. Beijing didn’t like it, and accused the United States of “meddling” in the city’s internal affairs. Some said the high-profile meeting—compared to CY Leung’s earlier visit to the US and his meeting with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg—underscored Washington’s commitment to democracy.
Our take: It’s just entertaining to see Beijing upset and whining.
Mall Says Domestic Helpers Are “Things”
In a survey studying Hong Kong families’ travelling habits, Tsuen Wan’s Discovery Park mall categorized foreign domestic helpers as “things.” One question asked primary school students to pick three must-have items for overseas travels, listing foreign domestic helpers alongside toys, electronic products, snacks and books. Close to 10 percent of the participants chose foreign domestic helpers. Sringatin, chairperson of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, said that helpers work 24 hours a day for their employers, and it’s unfair to be treated as objects. A Discovery Park representative says they only simplified the question so it was easy enough for primary school students to understand.
Our take: It’s disturbing how domestic helpers are considered potential travelling essentials.
June 4th Museum Runs Into Trouble
Building owners have filed a complaint against the June 4th Memorial Museum, just weeks before its launch on April 20. The owners’ corporation of the Tsim Sha Tsui commercial building warned that the permanent museum could violate property guidelines for using the space as more than an office, and visitors may lead to disturbances on the premises. Lee Cheuk-yan, chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China, the organization setting up the museum, said that they have looked into similar cases where churches and charities also use office space as exhibition areas. Ming Pao has discovered that the chairman of the owners’ corporation is a board member of a garment factory in China. This will be the world’s first museum dedicated to the June 4th incident.
Our take: A June 4th museum is bound to attract some controversy. Please work it out!