Shocking news out of Hong Kong this morning as “at least 50” pan-democrats are arrested, many for “subverting state power” under the NSL.

大批泛民遭警上門拘捕　疑與民主派初選有關　涉顛覆國家政權罪
hk01.com/article/570585…
接收最快疫情警報！立刻下載App：hk01.app.link/LG71h8MfUbb Their act of “subversion” was participating in primaries to determine democratic candidates for the 2020 Legislative Council elections, subsequently cancelled by Chief Executive Carrie Lam.

If convicted, they could face life in prison under the draconian National Security Law.

https://twitter.com/hkdemocrats/status/1346587436940365825

The turnout for District Council elections this morning is absolutely unprecedented. The queue at my local polling station does a complete lap around the housing estate. I didn’t have to line up *at all* to vote in the last election. Demographics are a cross-section of society. As promised, there are riot police here in militarised garb but they’re not masked, wielding shields, or pointing batons/other weapons anywhere so the equivalent of your neighbourhood bobby in today’s HK. In fact they’re on their phones—estate security are doing all the work.

In Central another spontaneous lunchtime march has kicked off to support the protesters trapped inside the Polytechnic University. They’re chanting, “Save PolyU! There are students [there]!” Tense stand-off with riot police outside Exchange Square. Protesters in suits and dresses and nothing more than simple surgical masks are shielding themselves with umbrellas and calling the police murderers and rapists. Intermediate weapons drawn and flags ready, advancing slowly

A lot of debate has been happening among protesters regarding their tactics today, particularly 「裝修」 (“refurbishment” of pro-Beijing businesses) and 「私了」(physically engaging people who confront or attack them on the street). This post has won close to 10,000 upvotes. In it, the author warns against becoming Yellow Vests or Red Guards in the eyes of the world: “Constantly stepping up the damage more will only aid our opponents’ propaganda” and jeopardise the passing of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in the United States Congress.

As everyone’s probably familiar now, the Emergency Regulations Ordinance invoked by Carrie Lam yesterday to ban masks at protests was born during the 1922 Seamen’s Strike. But the idea that Hong Kong people had unique values and interests separate from China’s was also born then. Many of the striking seaman went back across the border to Canton, where the cost of living was lower and Sun Yat-sen’s government offered lodging and food to support them. This was so crucial to the success of the strike that the Governor cancelled train services to Canton.

#AntiELAB protesters are filling up Central’s Chater Garden yet again today for a rally calling on US Congress to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, a proposed bill to freeze the assets of local officials working against civic feeedoms and to bar them from the US. The dress code for today is “smart casual.” Or in this case, black tie.

Police, many in full riot gear, were deployed to schools across the city today. Uniformed schoolchildren were stopped, searched and intimidated for staging peaceful protests or handing out flyers. A bleak glimpse of Hong Kong under martial law.

(Pics via AD, TG, HKUSU Campus TV) Sadly HKU’s Dr Sun is “geared up” no longer. Just as well, I’m sure he wouldn’t have approved of frontliners’ tactics. Kickboard shields? That would never have flown in the Huizhou Uprising or Whampoa Military Academy. The “Father of Modern China” was all in on armed rebellion.

Just 15 minutes into the “Stuck with You” pressure test protest at Hong Kong International Airport and there are already several hundred #antiELAB protesters gathered outside at the airport bus terminus. These things tend not to get serious until a few hours after the start time. Additional security measures put into place after protesters occupied the airport last month mean they can’t enter the terminal building. Access into the airport is constricted to a few chikepoints, but there is already a heavy police presence in and around HKIA. #HKprotests

Since Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation has again closed stations nearby today’s (authorised) protest march, protesters are sharing this map of the area’s pedestrian footbridge network and are warning each other to avoid Tai Wo Hau Station, since it’s next door to a police station. Like so many times before, Hongkongers are today making their resolve to 「風雨中抱緊自由」(“hold onto freedom in the wind and rain”) literal, defying rainstorm warnings and gale-force winds earlier in the day to take their struggle to the streets of Kwai Chung.

Tonight #antiELAB protestors are gathering at the Space Museum in TST for a unique form of protest: stargazing. After BUSU president Keith Fong was arrested yesterday for possessing laser pointers, it’s a jibe against police's insistence that these constitute “offensive weapons”. It also happens to be 七夕 today, a traditional time for stargazing. AKA Chinese Valentine’s, it’s the one night of the year when the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl—mythical lovers turned into stars and banished to opposite sides of the Milky Way—are reunited by a bridge of magpies.