July 1, 2020 marked not only the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, it was also a day when the territory's people woke up to news that a draconian, wide-sweeping National Security Act signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping had taken effect. Passed rapidly and without consultation, it criminalizes many acts which for decades Hong Kong people had taken for granted. Within hours of its promulgation, the local police began arresting people for carrying slogans deemed offensive to the motherland. In this episode we get into the ramifications. Later in the podcast we have an update on the coronavirus situation as well as the worrying developments in Ukraine which has set off alarm bells in various western capitals.

Read More