Today, 14th March 2020, Professor Chan Kinman completes his 326 days in Pik Uk prison and reclaims his freedom.
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The night before the exam, each steps repeat themselves on my mind: shaving, nailing, sawing, chiseling... For the past 20 years, I have been assessing students’ learning, but never taken an exam. My carpentry master tried to reassure me that out of his 300 students--only one has ever failed the exam. Yet, I got worried I might be the second one.
The exam supervisor is a kind old master from the Vocational Training Council. He opened up the examination by announcing the requirements for the mid-level woodcraft exam to the few candidates: Create a cabinet door with a lock, and the gaps between the door and its frame must not exceed 2 mm.
I messed up on the very first step. When I was shaping the wood, I realized the cutting depth of my hand plane was too shallow, producing only bits of wood dust even after some time of work. Anxious and nervous, I hammered hard on the knob to adjust the angle of the blade, which then chipped away way too much wood. I wanted to restart, and did not know how. There’s a saying, “Sharp tools make good work,” but I had been too dependent on my master to prepare us tools. Looking at the uneven piece, I felt helpless and full of sweat. Our supervisor was puzzled at me who paused at the beginning of work.
When one is panic, one returns to instincts. I became like a CE student in the old days who took the exams in prayers. I then calmed down, tried to recall how master usually prepares the tools, and I finally succeed at adjusting the blade. In a sense of relief, I continued the steps in great caution, fearful to blunder twice. Two hours passed, the last step awaited me to chisel a hole for the lock piece. It was the step that failed the only one who did not pass. Carefully fixing the lock, I didn’t trust it fit perfectly into the door. Meanwhile, our supervisor reminded us the time was almost up, so I fixed the lock anyway, and to my surprise--it fitted. All was my thought of fear.
After the exam, our master and supervisor inspected each of our work. Both of them agreed about my cabinet, said the door was well shaped, even-sided, and opened smoothly. “For a person who works with a pen between his fingers all his life, this is not bad!” I had always been a person clumsy with tools. During daily practices, both of my hands were injured by the hammer and wood saw. The reason I was receiving their compliment was mostly because they witnessed how a down-to-earth scholar, tried to learn and work with hand tools, and wanted to acknowledge and encourage my efforts. I could only respond them with, “it all came down to ongoing practices,” and “thank you master for your patience and tolerance.” Deep in my heart, there was something I didn’t share, “There is room for improvement.”
Gang Rule Continues Wreaking Havoc
I earlier saw the scene on television: a driver for Now TV proceeded to the company vehicle outside police station, when he was struck with a bean bag round in the head and a group of police surrounded and arrested him. His team tried to clarify his identity, but the police threatened them with pepper spray. It was reported the driver was detained for 2 hours, receiving no medical treatment, but further bodily assaults. I couldn’t review the clip of police brutality online, yet for a press member to receive such treatment is sufficient to give me chills.
Moreover, during the daily police press release, the police’s response was, “there is room for improvement.” What do they mean? So they did an excellent job, but will restrain from pride, and improve to reach perfection? When I imagine an innocent victim was beaten up by the police, and countless protesters humiliated, sexually assaulted and abused, I want to demand the reorganization of the police force, instead of listening to their “commitment to excellence”.
Carrie Lam gave a shameless response to the open letter from the President of Chinese University, reiterated we should trust the existing Independent Police Complaints Council. This reminded me during the Umbrella Movement, I had a phone call with her demanding for an independent investigative committee on the use of tear gas on Sept 28th, 2014, and the thugs attack on pro-democracy protesters in Mong Kok. When I proposed the same request to some go-between person, one prominent figure in society commented, “These gangsters are closely related to the local associations in the New Territories, and these associations have all kinds of intricate relationships with the Chinese Communist Party. How could there possibly be an investigation?”
This highlights the core of the problem. Five years have passed, and it remains the same. I’m just curious to know whether there is room for improvement for a China that upholds gang rule？
Chan Kin-man
October 20, 2019