IS SOMETHING HAPPENING IN HONG KONG???

 I am not Chinese, I do not speak the language, and I have never been to Hong Kong.  But something unexpected may be occurring. Beginning in 2019 there were protests about a proposed law that would return mainlanders to the mainland to face trial.  After the Opium War in the 19th century, the British took Hong Kong and under the British it flourished into a major financial center, and a prosperous city state.  In the 1990s, the treaty that provided separation for HK, came to an end, and Britain and the People's Republic of China (PRC) negotiated a turn-over of the colony to the PRC; however, for 50 more years the city would be under the PRC, but maintain most of the rights that they had obtained under the British, like free speech, a free press, alternative radio, etc.  For about 2 decades, things went well.  Hong Kong, and Macao (formerly Portuguese) continued under the umbrela: one country, two systems.

The opposition to the new law in HK increased, with increased demands for even more democratic control in the city.  Some demos grew larger, AND MORE VIOLENT.  Meanwhile, the opposition now had new demands complaining about the violence of the police and the authorities.  Supporters of the mainland alleged that the CIA and MI6 were behind the protests.  On one video I saw a protestor pour gas (petrol) on to a pro-Beijing counter protestor and set the man ablaze.  Major damage was done to business whose homes offices were on the mainland.  The HK government cracked down hard, and with Covid virus madness sweeping the world, protests were harder to maintain.  By the end of 2020, it seemed that anti-Beijing newspapers, bookstores, organizations were closed by the new, hard-nose policy of HK.  Was there any significant difference between HK and the mainland any more?  One country, 2 systems, had seemed to evolve into one country, one system.

Then I noticed that the 2023 Gay Games (a sports event begun in San Francisco in 1982)  will hold there competitive events in 2 cities - Guadalajara. Mexico, and Hong Kong.  It will be the first split games event, and the first time the games are scheduled in Asia or in Central America,  The Games are usually held every 4 years, with track and field, football (soccer), volley ball, swimming, etc.  I notice that 2 events scheduled for HK are new - dragon boat racing and ma jong.  The HK GG are set for 3 November 2023.

I doubt if this kind of event could be held in Beijing or on the mainland of the PRC.  Does this NK schedule indicate a softening of HK policies toward minority voices???  If there is a last-minute cancellation of the HK games, we will know the answer.  On the other hand, it might be a first step toward restoring a freer society.     Hugh Murray

I should add something on a personal note.  In spring 1980 a small ad appeared in the NYC Village Voice about forming a gay soccer team.  A small number of us met for the first time and began the effort to form such a club.  I was a charter member.  We played in an area of New York's Central Park, the Rambles, and we voted to become the Ramblers.  I was not among the best players, but I did ok.  I also pushed to allow straights in our group, and then I pushed to have women too.  A few did not like opening up, and there were never many women because they had women's teams where they might accomplish more.  Overall, the open policy worked well.

  Meanwhile in San Francisco, former Olympic athletes who were gay were starting the Gay Olympic Games.  The US Olympic sued, so they could not use the word Olympic, and thus became the Gay Games.  I suspect most of the original Olympic Games, especially those that were all male, nude, and pagan, may have been the original Gay Games.  But when the Christians took over the Roman Empire, they eventually closed the ancient Olympics.

For GG I in summer 1982, the Ramblers were too new to organize, and I was the only NY soccer player to attend GG I. and fewer than a dozen from NYC in the other sports.  I was lucky to be allowed to play for about 15 minutes with the Denver team in the huge Keezar Stadium, to about 20 spectators.  For GG II in 1986 SF, the NY Ramblers had about 20 of us, and more than 100 from NY to participate.  The SF Strikers defeated NY Ramblers and the other football teams to win gold.  We won silver. For the closing ceremony, Tina Turner performed.  A great time.  From 1982 to 2023, about every 4 years, the GG will be 41 years old.  I am proud to have been among the first, in the creation of the Ramblers and partaking in Gay Games.

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