The British embassy in Beijing has confirmed to HKFP that it did not remove a tribute to the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown dead from Weibo on Thursday. Rather, it was quickly removed by the Chinese social media platform. "This also happened to other posts by other foreign missions," a spokesperson said.
I didn’t expect whistleblowing on patient privacy issues in Hong Kong to quietly close so many doors, including my startup Coglix Labs’ funding being stopped in Hong Kong despite strong traction and external validation.
After I raised concerns around possible misuse of patient data, and fairness issues in STEM competitions as a "whistleblower", I started seeing a series of funding and support changes that I still struggle to fully explain:
> Sponsors withdrew support from a Google Developer Group in Hong Kong I helped organize (I stepped down)
> My stroke detection & speech rehab research was rejected at its second milestone non-dilutive funding stage (~US$5,000 from Science Park), with the stated reason that “market validation is yet to be convincing”
> In my university accelerator, at the final milestone review stage for the ~US$5000 non-dilutive funding, my project (Coglix Labs) was rejected despite traction, partners, all the documents and external signals, with no clear reason provided
> I was advised to apply with Coglix Labs under my friend’s name. That worked. Using my own name didn’t.
At the same time, I’ve been:
> In Founders Inc
> Backed by a YC founder angel investor
> was in YC P26 waitlist / top ~5%
> Working with NGOs, featured on local media (full traction: https://t.co/9NPHaWODo9)
I don’t have a neat explanation for the gap between traction and outcomes. But I do know the pattern of what I experienced.
I’m still building Coglix Labs, fixing recovery for stroke patients at scale.
But I think people should know what it can cost to speak up.
(1/3) Regarding the Hong Kong fire: CNN quoted PolyU’s Prof. Huang saying bamboo is flammable, implying the bamboo scaffold was the main driver.
But multiple clips show the netting and wrap igniting, not the scaffold; most bamboo poles remained intact.
😲Brave bus driver today.... a 2-metre metal scaffold bar flew through a 967 bus windshield pinning the driver against his seat.
The 66-year-old bus driver calmly slowed, stopped and asked passengers for assistance. Luckily the bar hadn't pierced him and he is recovering well in hospital.
Passengers praised the driver for not panicking and keeping them safe 😍
2 ex-HSBC Premier staff and 2 insurance agents charged with bribery over account opening: According to the ICAC, the husband-and-wife insurance agents referred over 270 clients to the 3 co-defendants for bank account opening at the HSBC North Point… https://t.co/dqRq1JybnP
"I assume … I hope … there is no question of CCTV in the cubicles at Hong Kong China City, where the deplorable deed is alleged to have taken place. I realise we are on camera a lot these days. " https://t.co/Kwfcr2XJOK
Many thanks to @UKinHongKong for their generous hospitality this afternoon when I received the Insignia of a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
A tourist approached, he asked what was happening, he couldn't fathom how flowers could cause such a reaction from the police.
"Even without protestors, there'd still be police around Tiananmen on June 4, would there not?"
He paused, "I think I understand now." and walked away.
1/ One of Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy groups, the League of Social Democrats, announced its disbandment on Sunday after 19 years.
In Pictures: https://t.co/598PJvgov0 Photos: Kyle Lam/HKFP.