The Hong Kong Observatory could save the taxpayer money by closing for the summer and posting the following forecast: Showers with sunny periods. 28 - 32 degrees. 90% humidity. Granted some days will hit 33 degrees instead but we can live with such inaccuracies as part of the campaign to tighten belts. If a civil servant or expat policeman has to give up their retirement cruise allowance, it's the least the rest of us can do. Especially now the HK Jockey Club has reported another fall in racing turnover. It's like the sky is falling in.

At least some things remain the same. In the not-so-veiled threats department Beijing has told Hong Kong the July 1st marches better be celebrations rather than protests, or else. The Standard reports:

If the July 1 demonstration means Hong Kong people are demonstrating ``people power'' in the face of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, that ``would not be beneficial to Hong Kong''...``Do they want China's top legislative panel to rescind its decision on 2007 and 2008 elections? This is really trying to be combative and standoffish,'' said Wang, calling on people instead to arrange celebratory events to commemorate the reunification of Hong Kong with the motherland.