Hong Kong has nothing to fear but fear itself. Now that China's parliament, the NPC, has decided that they are the begining and end of the review of Hong Kong's basic law. The good news is

The National People's Congress Standing Committee will not be ``tyrannical'' when it begins interpreting the Basic Law later this week, SAR Basic Law Committee member Ng Hon-man said yesterday...``It won't give Hong Kong people a feeling that it is tyrannical or that [the NPC Standing Committee] is forcibly imposing the interpretations on Kong Kong people,'' he said.

Meanwhile in Taiwan the faux-crisis continues. President Chen remains entirely sensible in asking the opposition to follow the law and then he will order a recount. It really is extremely difficult to see what objections the pan-blue alliance can maintain to Chen's actions so far. Certainly he has come out of all this looking much the better choice.

Welcome to another week in the glorious Far East.