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Photo of the Day Sep 2019
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 Hill of Witches in Juodkrante Located in the charming village of Juodkrante, on the Curonian Spit, the Hill of Witches (Raganu Kalnas in Lithuanian) is a natural forested area filled with nearly 100 carved wooden sculptures. The original sculptures were mostly carved by Samogitian folk artists (further sculptures have been added since) and illustrate Lithuanian folk tales. Juodkrante . Luthuania | 2019 23 Sep 2019  Parnidis Dune of Curonian Spit, Lithuania The 52m-high Parnidis Dune, near Nida in Curonian Spit National Park in Lithuania, is an impressive 7km long golden sand dune stretching across into Russia. The Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage, is a 98 km long curved sandy strip of land that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea, 52 km of which belong to Lithuania and the rest to Kaliningrad in Russia. Nida . Luthuania | 2019 22 Sep 2019  Kaliningrad - Baltic Enclave of Russia Sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania, Kaliningrad is the Baltic outpost of Russia. It was formerly German (1255 - 1946) Konigsberg. The Look and feel is more European than Russian. Kaliningrad . Russia | 2019 21 Sep 2019  Bird's-eye View of Gdansk The Hanseatic port of Gdansk grew wealthy during the Middle Ages, linking inland cities with seaports around Europe. It is now a bustling city with mammoth red-brick churches, colourful townhouses and lively central streets. The Germans fired the first shots of WWII at Gdansk on 1 September 1939. In August 1980, Lech Walesa established the Solidarity trade union here and the city became the centre of Poland's anti-communist movement. Gdansk . Poland | 2019 20 Sep 2019  Royal Castle of Warsaw Originally a medieval residence of the Mazovian Princes, the Royal Castle in Warsaw had a number of occupants across the ages: the Polish kings from 1526 to 1795 to the President of the Polish Republic from 1926. Restored and furnished with repossessed furniture and works of art after being destroyed by the Nazi in 1944. It was rebuilt in 1971-84, and named a Monument of National History and Culture. Warsaw . Poland | 2019 19 Sep 2019  Market Square of Wroclaw The Market Square (Rynek in Polish) is a medieval market square in Wroclaw (pronounced Vrots-wahf), in southwestern Poland. The Old Town Hall (Stary Ratusz) is a grand edifice that took almost two centuries (1327-1504) to complete, with Gothic and Renaissance style architecture. The Square is lined with elegant and colourful townhouses. Wroclaw . Poland | 2019 18 Sep 2019  Wawel Royal Castle of Krakow Towering over Wawel Hill in Krakow, the Royal Castle, including the Wawel Cathsdral, is the iconic symbol of Poland and its political and cultural heart. Krakow is the royal capital of Poland until 1596 and miraculously escaped destruction in WWII. Its old town is well preserved. Krakow . Poland | 2019 17 Sep 2019  Tulips of Amsterdam Bright bunches of tulips may be the definitive symbol of the Netherlands and as soon as you step out of Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, you are greeted with picturesque circles of the blooming flower with the 'I Amsterdam' art installation as the background. Tulips originally came from the Ottoman Empire, and their name literally means turban. Tulips first gained popularity in Holland in 1593 when Carolus Clusius became the Head Botanist at the University of Leiden. Amsterdam . The Netherlands | 2015 16 Sep 2019  Hong Kong Island Flooded with Protesters as March Banned Again The Civil Human Rights Front's application for a march on Hong Kong Island was opposed by the police and the appeal was dismissed. However, in the recent rallies that was banned by the police, the public refused to compromise and took to the streets anyway. According to Chan Ka-hang, the government attorney of the Department of Justice representing the police, if the march on 15 September again has 2 million people participating, the police may not be able to maintain order. The police finally admitted that the number of protesters on 16 June was 2 million. Yesterday, pro-government people went to various districts to demolish the Lennon walls and attacked citizens. The police selectively enforced the law and arrested only young people. It agitated public opinion and emotion. Netizens called on Hong Kong people to come out more against the dark forces. Starting at 2 pm, the streets near Sogo Department Store at East Point Road in Causeway Bay, were flooded with crowds and overflowed to Wan Chai, Admiralty and Central. Streets of Hong Kong Island is jam-packed with protesters once again, chanting "5 demands, not one less" and "Hong Kong people, Add oil! (Bravo)" Causeway Bay . Hong Kong | 2019 15 Sep 2019  Victoria Peak Glows with Mid-Autumn Fest Human Chain Echoing with Songs Protests continued as the Government does not respond to the 5 major demands of the people. After 'The Hong Kong Way' of 23 August when 210,000 built a 60-km human chain on the Lion Rock, downtown and many MTR stations, a second wave is launched on Mid-Autumn Festival to build human chains in all districts of Hong Kong. Once again on top of Lion Rock, which symbolizes the spirit of Hong Kong, human chains are also formed at Victoria Peak for the first time. Numerous people responded to the online call for the Mid-Autumn Festival 'Victoria Peak Way'. People gathered at the Peak Galleria at 7:30 pm and then join hands to form a human chain at the Peak. They used their lanterns and mobile phones to illuminate and sing 'Glory to Hong Kong', the theme song for the protesters echoed through the Peak. Some people distributed paper lanterns printed with 'Free Hong Kong and the revolution of the times', '5 demands, not one less'. The crowds on Lion Rock and the Peak used laser pens and strong lights to illuminate each other. As for the Lion Rock human chain, people gathered at Lok Fu Station at 7:30 pm and climb up via the Lion Rock hiking trail, and illuminated the dark mountain peak with mobile phone. People said that Lion Rock represents the "Never Giveup" spirit of Hong Kong people, and hopes to build a human chain to make their demands. They sang 'Glorious Years' and "Under the Lion Rock" on the mountain. People erected a 'Free HK' light board and also hanged a huge banner reading 'Implement Genuine Universal Suffrage'. Others gathered at the parks or amusement facilities in various districts at 7:30 pm, and formed human chains at 8 pm and sang 'Glory to Hong Kong'. The Peak . Hong Kong | 2019 14 Sep 2019  My photo is the top story on the front page of Master-Insight.  Community Chorus Blossoms Everywhere. Over 1000 Jammed Times Square The anti-extradition protests continued unabated for over 3 months. A defiant protester theme song "Glory to Hong Kong" penned by a anonymous netizen has become the 'national anthem' to Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, sung by flashmobs in malls and on the streets all over the city. The original version has racked up more than 1.3 million views in less than 2 weeks, while multiple video versions were made — including one featuring a complete orchestra decked out in helmets, goggles and gas masks similar to the protesters. Last night, resounding chorus flashmobs with hundreds to over 1,000 people gathered at IFC in Central, Times Square in Causeway Bay, YOHO MALL in Yuen Long, Dragon Centre in Sham Shui Po, Maritime Square in Tsing Yi, APM and Laguna City in Kwun Tong, to express their persistence in the 5 major demands. All dispersed peacefully at the end. Starting at 7:40 pm, over 1,000 people flooded Times Square in Causeway Bay, chanting slogans and singing. Two huge banners 'Glory to Hong Kong' and 'We want democracy' were hung, and the artist Kacey Wong was present. Some people held yellow mini lanterns reading "no rioters, only tyranny". They gathered until 10:40 pm and dispersed peacefully. Causeway Bay . Hong Kong | 2019 13 Sep 2019  Press Con Fails to Ease Doubt on Fire Services 31 Aug Records Questions were raised whether people died during police actions at MTR Prince Edward Station on 31 August. Legislator Claudia Mo quoted a record of communications between Fire Services Control Centre and firemen on site on the night of the accident, saying that the incident remained unclear. Derek Chan, Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Headquarters), confirmed at the press conference this afternoon that the internal records of the Fire Services Department cited by Mo matched with the department's record of the operation. But misinterpretation of the technical terms used can cause misunderstanding. Chan admitted that the use of the MTR to transport the injured from Prince Edward Station to Lai Chi Kok Station and then to the hospital was 'undesirable from the perspective of rescue'. However, considering the police risk assessment and other circumstances, it was the "best choice" at that time. Mo questioned yesterday that when an ambulanceman handled an accident with a large number of injured persons, he should have a record card to record the injured person on the spot. She did not accept the Fire Department's explanation of mistake counting of the number of injured people due to chaotic situation and the injured person had moved. Tsang Man-ha, Deputy Chief Ambulance Officer, said the first ambulance scene commander arrived at Exit B1 of Prince Edward Station at 11.30 pm on 31 August and then entered the platform. At that time, he wanted to go to the scene as soon as possible to assess the situation and report to the command centre to arrange resources, and did not bring the injury classification cards. The Fire Services Department pointed out it was not ideal that additional firemen were only allowed to enter the station by the police 1 hour after the fire commander arrived at 11:30 pm and the police said that there were no casualties at the scene repeatedly thus barring the firemen from entering. The briefing failed to dispel doubts about how the number of injured was changed from 10 to 7 people. Tsimshatsui East . Hong Kong | 2019 12 Sep 2019  China Daily Slammed over Claim HK Protesters Planning 911 Terror Attack China Daily, a Chinese state-run newspaper, faced extensive criticisms after it claimed in a Facebook post that Hong Kong protesters were planning mass terrorist attacks on September 11. The Hong Kong edition of China Daily said 'anti-government fanatics' were planning the attacks, illustrating the post with a photograph of the al-Qaeda attack on the World Trade Centre in New York. When asked if the claim was factually accurate and whether it was ethical to publish it, the state-run outlet sent a screenshot – which it said came from a channel on the encrypted messaging app Telegram – in which a post said protesters should start killing people if their demands were not met. Tom Grundy, Founder of Hong Kong Free Press twitted that 'China's state media are officially losing their minds'. The claim was incredulous to netizens, as they flooded the post with comments, accusing China Daily of making up a story to smear the protesters and stoke fear among pro-government faction. In the evening, the Hong Kong protesters issued a statement to clarify the rumours, saying that the protesters in the past 3 months has never made unreasonable acts of force against other innocent or unrelated citizens. After the incidents of 21 July and 31 August, the protesters are aligned with the victims and will never use indiscriminate attacks, terrorist attacks and other means to rebel against the government. They also said that if there are rumors alleging indiscriminate attacks, it is a smear or planned script by the Hong Kong government and its allies as a vicious means of sabotage and divisive act. The Hong Kong protesters will not be stupid enough to sacrifice Hong Kong and international support in the past 3 months, and condemned all terrorist attacks and attack not directed against the Hong Kong establishment. Central . Hong Kong | 2019 11 Sep 2019  Fans Seek World Attention with Iran Soccer Match The Iranian men's soccer team will be playing at the Hong Kong Stadium on September 10 in the first match of the joint 2022 World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup game. Hong Kong fans are bringing the protest of the anti-extradition movement to the stadium, hoping to attract international attention. The large crowd of fans is chanting 'Hong Kong Add Oil!', 'Free Hong Kong, The Revolution of the Times' and '5 Key Demands, Not One Less'. Someone held up a towel reading 'Fight for Hong Kong'. The security for the stadium is quite high. There are dozens of police officers present. Before entering the stadium, the security check is carried out to screen personal belongings, and protest signs are not allowed. Causeway Bay . Hong Kong | 2019 10 Sep 2019  Queen's x Belilios x St Paul's Convent Joint Class Boycott Human Chain The anti-extradition law protests continues. has intensified. Today, there are secondary and college students boycotting class, among them, Queen's College, Belilios Public School and St Paul's Convent School on Hong Kong Island. Students of Ho Tung Technical School also joined. Students and alumni gathers at 7 am to form a human chain outside the schools, wearing full gear - masks, helmets, goggles and other equipment, from the end of the flyover at the junction of Lau Sin Street to the Central Library and the junction of Causeway Road and Causeway Bay Road. They chanted: 'Five demands, not one less' and 'No rioters, only tyranny'. Over 500 people participated. Alumni join hands outside the school to build a human chain and sing school songs. One of them said that they hoped that through the protest action, the younger students understand the current situation in Hong Kong more. Previously on the school start day on September 2, more than 200 Queen's College students and alumni lined up outside the school, some with full gear or dressed in black with masks. The chanted 'Free Hong Kong, the revolution of the times' and '5 demands, not one less'. There are large scale joint-school human chain protests in many district all over Hong Kong. The Secondary school students' class boycott preparation platform said that in the first week of September, over 16,000 students from 337 secondary schools boycotted class. 40% of over 2,700 students agree to boycott class one day per week. For the second wave, a student class boycott rally at the "Hundred Steps Stair" at Shatin on Friday, Septenber 13, and will apply for a police notice of no objection. Causeway Bay . Hong Kong | 2019 9 Sep 2019  "Human Rights and Democracy" Rally Floods Chater - Petition to US Consulate Netizens initiated the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Prayer Meeting" in Chater Garden at 1:30 pm on Sunday and at 2:30 pm marched to the US Consulate General for Hong Kong and Macao via Garden Road to submit a petition letter. The police issued a notice of no objection. The crowd flooded the entire Chater Garden space, spreaded to the court outside the Court of Final Appeal, Statue Square, Des Voeux Road Central and Chater Road. After the resumption of the US Congress, the Hong Kong Bill of Rights and Democracy is expected to be reviewed. Both the US Democratic and Republican Party support the bill. Many politicians also promote the early passage of the bill. Some believe that this bill may strengthen the protection of Hong Kong's autonomy, and an important step in rebuilding the confidence of the international community in Hong Kong. Central . Hong Kong | 2019 8 Sep 2019  My photo is the top story on the front page of Master-Insight.  Police Set Roadblocks for Airport Bus Thus Blocking Airport Unwittingly Netizens launched the "Airport Stress Test 3.0" to disrupt traffic to the airport. The police obviously stepped up their alert, set up roadblocks on many roads leading to the airport and intercepted airport bus passengers. At 11 am, police started intercepting bus to the airport at the Kowloon side of Western cross-harbour tunnel and Tsing Ma toll plaza. Police boards the bus to check the identity card of the passengers. Some passengers were asked to open their baggage for inspection. As observed, police intercepted mostly young people at the bus stop and on buses passing Tsing Ma Toll Plaza at Lantau Link. They ask the young people for their reasons for going to the airport and copying the identity card information for record. There are also tow-trucks and barricades nearby, which are ready to tow away suspicious vehicles. At Disneyland Sunny Bay station, 5 police cars areparked. The police mainly intercepted the airport buses, while other vehicles such as private cars were spot-checked. On Saturday morning, MTR shut down the Airport Express except for direct trains from Hong Kong Station to the Airport. The Free Shuttle Bus from Kowloon Station was also suspended. Some train and bus services to the airport were running a more restricted service in a bid to reduce the likelihood of large numbers of protesters getting to the airport. The police roadblocks and reduced train and bus services to the airport are helping the protesters in blocking airport access inadvertently. West Kowloon . Hong Kong | 2019 7 Sep 2019  My photo is the top story on the front page of Master-Insight.  'No Indiscriminate Arrests No Authoritarianism' Rally Floods Chater Garden The Social and Political Organizations Employees' Association rally today with the theme of 'No Indiscriminate Arrests No Authoritarianism'. The rally was issued a notice of no objection by the police. The rally is held in Chater Garden between 7 and 10 pm. The organizers pointed out that during the anti-extradition protests, the police brutally attacked members of social and political organisations, including assistants of legislators, and violently arrest them for reasons such as impeding police work. They said that they only try to help people at the scene of the conflict. They do not necessarily participate in the protest. Instead, they were performing their duties. For example, they help to mediate between the police and protesters and provide support to those arrested. However, the police have repeatedly treated them brutally or even arrested them. Cheng Hin-ki, chairman of the Assiciation, said that there are currently 3 legislators, 6 District Councillors and 5 assistants to Councillors, a total of 13 people, arrested, with charges of illegal assembly, obstructing police work, and misconduct in public places. The organisers also said that the government is ignoring public opinion. However, even if the government increases police force to disperse, arrest and beat thise arrested, it is impossible to drive away the people's determination to pursue freedom, democracy and equality. Thousands gathered at Chater Garden on Friday night (Sep 6), in the latest mass protest in the city. The participants flooded Chater Garden. Some chose to stand in the pavement outside the Court of Final Appeal. The crowds overflowed to Chater Road and Statue Square and shouted 'No Indiscriminate Arrest. No Authoritianism.' A statue of the new Goddess of Democracy in full gear is erected next to the stage. Central . Hong Kong | 2019 6 Sep 2019  'Too Little, Too Late': All Sides Respond to Extradition Bill Withdrawal Both pro-democracy and pro-Beijing legislators characterised Chief Executive Carrie Lam's withdrawal of the controversial extradition bill as 'too little, too late.' Protesters at the Citizens' Press Conference said applying 'band-aid on rotting flesh' months later will not cut it. Carrie Lam conceded to one of the five key demands of the protest movement which has roiled Hong Kong since June. But protesters are still demanding a fully independent commission of inquiry, amnesty for the arrested, stopping characterisation of protests as riots and universal suffrage. Claudia Mo, legislator and convenor of the pro-democracy camp said, "It took her three months to officially use the word ‘withdraw.’ This is too little, too late. Hong Kong's wounds and scars are still bleeding." Before her video announcement, Lam briefed all 43 pro-establishment legislators, Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at Government House. Pro-democracy lawmakers were not invited. After the meeting, pro-Beijing legislator Paul Tse said the measures are 'too little, too late. Why didn’t Lam withdraw it earlier?' adding that the crux of the political crisis was no longer the bill, but tensions between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Demonstrators on social-media channels argued that public concern had shifted towards police brutality or excessive use of force on protesters and ordinary citizens, indiscriminate arrests and prosecution. Lam had to address these issues squarely or risk continuing the turmoil. Admiralty . Hong Kong | 2019 5 Sep 2019  Lawyers Groups Condemn Indiscriminate Attacks by Police & Power Abuse The Bar Association and Law Society were united in their condemnation today of police actions at Prince Edward MTR Station at the weekend, when riot police beat cowering train passengers with batons and pepper sprayed them, RTHK reported. The Law Society called on the relevant law enforcement agencies to look into what it described as the 'unnecessary force' used by the police at the station on Saturday night. The Bar Association, meanwhile, said video footage showed 'riot police launching indiscriminate attacks without any apparent lawful excuse,' flagging up that police did not even make any arrests following the beatings. The association also complained that its members have been obstructed from assisting those arrested during protests and that 'beatings upon arrests are apparent and have been widespread.' 'In the past few months, there has been a great deal of television and video footage showing police officers using excessive force to disperse protesters and in making arrests. Excessive crowd dispersal techniques have included the indiscriminate use of tear gas, including inside an MTR station, and the shooting of crowd control projectiles at shoulder height level or above at close range.' 24 pan-Democrat Legislators also wrote to the Commissioner of Police, condemning indiscriminate bloody beating of the public by the police on 31 August. They said that Commissioner Lo never responded to their repeated request for a meeting to discuss the abuse of power by the police and the lack of guidelines for law enforcement. Mongkok . Hong Kong | 2019 4 Sep 2019  General Strike Rally Floods Tamar Park The protests against amendment of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance continued. On September 2 and 3, practitioners from at least 21 professions, including medical, aviation, finance and social welfare, joined forces in Tamar Park for a general strike rally and asked the government to respond to the 5 major demands of the people. A notice of no objection was issued by the police at the gathering of the Tamar Park in Admiralty. The Tsim Sha Tsui Salisbury Garden rally was opposed by the police. Tang Kin-wah, one of the organisers, regretted that the appeal was rejected. He said that work strikes, marches and gatherings are the rights granted to Hong Kong people under the Basic Law. Prohibiting rallies is a violation of the civil rights of Hong Kong people. They also applied for a change to a rally in Wong Tai Sin, which was also opposed by the police. In essence, the police's decision is "declaring a martial law area in Kowloon", and no rally is allowed in Kowloon. A recent rally application in Tsuen Wan Park were also opposed by the police and the appeal rejected. At Tamar Park outside Admiralty Government Headquarters was full of people with umbrellas. The crowds are endless, with an estimated 15,000 people. Admiralty. Hong Kong | 2019 3 Sep 2019  Class Boycott Rally Floods Chinese Univ Quad, Undaunted by Wind & Rain Students from 10 Hong Kong universities and more than 100 secondary schools join a class boycott on Monday, with warning that they will escalate the action if the government fails to meet protesters’ demands related to the extradition bill by September 13. The 10 colleges and universities include The University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University, Polytechnic University, Baptist University, Lingnan University, The Education University, Shu Yan University and Hang Seng University. They demand that the Carrie Lam government respond to the "5 major demands" of Hong Kong people. At 3:30 pm, the main quad at Chinese University was flooded with students, undaunted by No. 1 strong wind, yellow thunderstorm warning and occasional heavy rain. Numerous people are arriving with an estimated over 30,000 in attendence. Ma Liu Shui . Hong Kong | 2019 2 Sep 2019  How Will Carrie Lam Break Deadlock as National Day Deadline Closing? The protests triggered by the amendments of the Fugitive Offenders laws are still unabated entering the 12th week. Pro-Beijng legislator Michael Tien said on 20 August that according to his sources, the central government has set early September as the "deadline," to calm the situation in Hong Kong before the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1. Speaking on an RTHK radio program, Tien said he believes the march planned on August 31 is a "golden opportunity," and the government should respond to parts of people's demands, including the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry and the withdrawal of the amendments, so that the society can return to calm one month before October 1. He said the central government would like the world to focus attention on Beijing and not Hong Kong as National Day draws nearer, and it cannot accept hundreds of thousands of people protesting in Hong Kong. On the eve of 31 August, a number of activists were attacked. The police conducted mass arrests of activists and legislative/district councillors. March and rally were banned and the occasional heavy rains did not prevent hundreds of thousands of people from hitting the streets to protest. Carrie Lam's hard-line policies appeared to be non-effective. Will Lam change to use a dove approach to reverse the situation? 24 pan-Democrat legislators issued a joint letter to President Xi Jinping asking Beijing to restart Hong Kong's political reform as soon as possible. They described the withdrawal of amendments and the implementation of elections with genuine suffrage are strong and clear demands of the people of Hong Kong. Central . Hong Kong | 2019 1 Sep 2019 Archive: Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2019 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2018 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2017 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2016 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 2015 Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb 2014 |
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