Hong Kong Feelings
FADE IN:
INT. CHA CHAAN TENG - DAY
Few souls. PETER orders at the CASHIER.
PETER
Char Kway Teow, not so
hot, and a cup of hot
Ovaltine.
Peter puts his Octopus card at the sensor. Doop! We see: $35.
A beat.
Getting his afternoon tea set, Peter feels for the Chinese words printed on an old cup.
PETER (V.O.)
Do I have Hong Kong
feelings? Yes! Of course!
But when I was in my
teens, I resented Hong
Kong as a British colony.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
During Hong Kong's 1967 urban riots, I had a lone
naive idea. But I didn't take any action as a
village boy though.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
But my family felt the riots'
negative impact right away.
My Dad lost his job. We're
a family of seven.
Peter picks up his chopsticks.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Joining any riots away
from home could help
release the suppressed
emotions and repetitive
frustration.
Peter begins to eat his Kway Teow.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
But it was all peace on
my village front. For
years, I didn't leave my
Tin Sum San Tsuen.
There was travel cost.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Now, Hong Kong is
affluent and is very well
connected, physically
and digitally.
Peter checks his chat groups' messages and images.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
They went for no
particular reason - been
there - done that - got a selfie
mind-set. They're proud as
part of the people's power.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Who would care about
justice if they don't have
opportunities? Exploit
the opportunities first.
Then play the game of
catch-me-if-you-will.
There's some inherent
anonymity in the crowd.
Peter tries a bit of a red chili.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Law and order protect
vested interests - the
civilized high society.
Civil disobedience
and disorder disrupt the
status quo; and some
changes are inevitable.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
For lowlifes, they've no
opportunity cost and
nothing to lose. But if
they've their way in riots,
the odds might be anything,
at least some self-
actualization.
Peter consumes a shrimp.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
That I believe is the social
psychology in Hong Kong
now. There's no way the
Government can address
the rioters' emotions with
reason.
Peter finishes his Kway Teow.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I learnt it from my experience
in pushing the Copyright
(Amendment) Bill 2006.
The Bill wasn't passed
when I retired in 2014 and
was subsequently shelved.
Government was right not bowing
to opportunists' demands
to make the law unjust
to creators.
Peter stirs a bit his cup of Ovaltine.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Prior to that, I had a Copyright
(Amendment) law suspended.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Yes, suspended. It means
that even when a Bill is passed
and becomes law's operation
can be suspended by another
law if the public want it. The
emergency happened in 2000.
and it didn't develop into a crisis.
I was to blame as I was
answerable and responsible
for pushing the Bill, although
the Bill was passed by the
legislature.
Peter sips his cup of Ovaltine.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Who is more experienced
than me to face and
resolve such challenges?
Peter drinks half a cup.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
In the heat of the moment,
the Government has to create
conditions for the Hong Kong
feelings to stay cool.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
To thank every Hongkonger
for their support or lack of
support of the Extradition
Amendment Bill, I believe
a cash allowance of $10,000
each can be persuasive.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
And equally persuasive
would be for those who
sign up to listen to the Bill's
rationale, they might get
a nano flat paid by the
Government in a lucky
draw when the Extradition
Amendment Bill is passed
and in force.
DAYDREAM SEQUENCE
A. Peter makes an electronic application and then finds that HK$10,000 has been debited to his bank account.
B. At a lucky draw, one of the free nano-flats goes to Peter's DAUGHTER (23).
RETURN TO PRESENT
Finishing his Ovaltine, Peter takes another look of the cup with Hong Kong Feelings.
FADE OUT. The End