HK pro-democracy rally attracts 20,000

Financial Times (UK) ^ | 7/13/03 | Angela Mackay

[Sparta]

Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement scored another victory on Sunday when more than 20,000 protesters braved searing temperatures to rally in the territory's third mass demonstration in less than two weeks.

About 10,000 people had been expected to attend Sunday's rally in the central business district but the higher turnout appears to reflect widespread dissatisfaction with the performance of Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's leader, over the stagnant economy, Sars and other local issues.

Organised by the Democratic Development Network, the rally was originally scheduled for April, but the onset of Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) meant the date was postponed. The rally's purpose had been to call for democratic elections for the chief executive of Hong Kong by 2007 and for the Legislative Council (LegCo) in 2008.

The recent unrest over unwelcome proposed national security legislation, however, broadened this scope considerably.

Mr Tung was forced to postpone the bill's passage through the legislature early last Monday, six days after 500,000 people marched through Hong Kong to show their disaffection with the new law. The resignation of a senior member of his cabinet over the issue eventually triggered the back-down.

"This is my second protest in as many weeks," Paul Lau, a businessman, said at the rally yesterday. "It is quite satisfying to be able to show my unhappiness about Hong Kong's bad economy in this way."

The collective show of frustration about Hong Kong's leadership has led the central government in Beijing to take soundings in the local community. The mass protests appear to have increased mainland concern about potential civil unrest.

Albert Ho, deputy chairman of the Democratic party, as well as an unnamed Democratic LegCo member plus two senior members of the party, have been interviewed informally, according to Yeung Sum, the party chairman.

"Clearly Beijing is disturbed and puzzled by the numbers of people turning up to the rallies when the government kept saying that the numbers would be much, much smaller," Mr Yeung said on Sunday night.

"Beijing wants to know whether these demonstrations are against, or related to, the mainland government, which is not the case. People are against the process and content of the anti-subversion bill and the pace of democratic reform, not the leadership in Beijing."

Indeed, when China's new premier, Wen Jiabao, made his maiden visit to Hong Kong to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the territory's return to mainland control on July 1, he was given a warm reception.

Mr Yeung said the Democrats' talks with the Beijing representatives had not led to a breakthrough with the Tung administration. Mr Tung had scheduled a meeting with Democratic party leaders a week ago but cancelled it after he made his historic U-turn on the national security legislation.

"Mr Tung must meet us and other groups such as the Bar Association to discuss the national security legislation," Mr Yeung said. "He must look outside his cronies to seek new opinions. At the very least, people are expecting a reshuffle of his cabinet and ministers but nothing has happened yet."

[Cathryn Crawford]

This is a very important topic, yet one that gets little or no press.

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[William McKinley]

There was a good piece in the WSJ on it.

"We have just witnessed Hong Kong's finest hour. To defend their freedoms, half a million people marched peacefully through the streets on July 1, and forced the handpicked satrap of the People's Republic of China, Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa, to blink. At the last minute Mr. Tung indefinitely delayed passage of his 'antisubversion' law, which threatens Hong Kong's liberties. And while Mr. Tung and his communist backers in Beijing ponder their next move in this showdown between freedom and tyranny, the debate has reopened in Hong Kong on political reform that might finally permit Hong Kong's people to directly elect their own governor...

What we are seeing in Hong Kong is simply the most visible piece of a crisis centered not in Hong Kong, but deep in China itself. In a crucially important article, "The Chinese Sickness," published in the current issue of Commentary, sinologist Arthur Waldron argues eloquently that for the brutal, unloved and corruption-fostering regime in Beijing, the moment of truth may be approaching sooner than we think. Especially in the nations of the free world, now banking on democracy as the road to peace, we must stand ready not only to applaud Hong Kong, but to choose, when the chips are down in China itself, which side we are on."

[knighthawk]

I saw they were expecting 15.000 people.

I really hope they will succeed fencing of the commies.

[shaggy eel]

,,, China is worried a second Taiwan is in the making.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Mr Tung was forced to postpone the bill's passage through the legislature early last Monday, six days after 500,000 people marched through Hong Kong to show their disaffection with the new law. The resignation of a senior member of his cabinet over the issue eventually triggered the back-down.

I saw quite a bit about it on FOX today. Not to contradict you cause I only watch FOX.

[tpaine]

Ping me when the shooting starts.

[Dan from Michigan]

The PRC scares the hell out of me on this one.

[Quix]

THANKS. I AGREE THIS GETS FAR TOO LITTLE PRESS.

[freeangel]

May God bless them and keep them safe.

[UnklGene]

Thanks for the heads up, Cathryn. BTW, who was that "masked-man?"

[GladesGuru]

Once the internet spread, a world wide economy was inevitable. GATT & NAFTA asside (no, that's not a typo, just a nasty), when I can order a pair of batteries for my camcorder for $90 and the same one from a discount dealer here was $119, I am dealing in a world economy.

And how would I know the batteries are comparable? I bought the Canon battery before reading about the other source (Sabah Oceanic) at the CreativeCow forum. Only difference is the Canon label.

Why a world economy? 'Cause the pair of batteries came via second day air (postage included in the $90) -FROM MALAYSIA. And it was the good ol' American physical distribution system at its finest - as the second day air was an American firm.

Just as socialism couldn't adjust to the complexities of the market in places like the old USSR, China will sooner or later join the modern world of free markets.

Socialists are looking at the end of the line, be they enviro-socialists here or Commies in China. Central planning is not something the human mind or human society is capable of.

[Enemy Of The State]

Bump for the people of HK~

[dfwgator]

I don't see another repeat of the Tien an Men massacre occuring here. The world has changed much since then, and the powers in Beijing know that this time there would be tremendous cost internationally should they crackdown again. More likely, what happens in Hong Kong will spread to the rest of the country. Democracy is coming to China, it is just a matter of not if, but when.

[af_vet_rr]

How long do you think it is, before China cracks down on them? I'm guessing they'll be patient and wait. I doubt anybody in the west will lift a finger to help them.

[Cacique]

If you would like to be removed from my job export ping list FReepmail me. If you'd like to be on it FReepmail me too.

The world has changed much since then, and the powers in Beijing know that this time there would be tremendous cost internationally should they crackdown again.

Do you really think the corporate interests that bankroll the DNC and RNC and have billions tied up in factoriesw and investments in China give a damm?

The same line was harped twenty years ago. Whe Kissinger landed in Beijing under Nixon, the argument was that engagement would bring about democracy in China. It didn't work out that way.

Money and power blinds people. China's influence in Washington is bigger than you think and not just via the PRC apparatus. Our transnational corporations aren't enamored with democracy. They want a pliant labor force they can pay coolie wages to.

[cartoonistx]

Socialism is an economic venereal desease that nations get by screwing around with government-control prostitutes. But one good shot of Capitalism, square in the butt, and even the most stubborn case eventually clears up. The world will applaud when this Chinese Commie-Clap is over!

[FreepForever]

Article 23 is only one the spark that triggers the current crisis. The evil is in HK’s political system. Lawmakers elected by the majority of the population is only a minority in the Legislative Council. And, 2/3 of the lawmakers are either pro-Beijing and/or represent certain sectors (industries and professional groups). That means the Council is an instrument of the government instead of a watch dog of the government. Check and balance fails to function.

This undemocratic and corrupt system which does not represent the interest of the general HK people must be restructured to cure the problem. That’s why I am trying very hard to refocus HK people’s attention on a system change. Under the present system, Beijing can always install another puppet and nothing will change. And there will be more Articles 24, 25, 26,... supported by lawmakers who betray HK people’s interest.

In yesterday's rally, I have got a breakthrough in pushing through a consensus among the general public to form a solidarity to push for democratic system reform. I hope that with enough voting power and public pressure, we can at least force the government to allow more people’s voice to be represented in the Council. We are making our last stand: No democratic reform, No Article 23. Even if Beijing doesn’t stand in our way, this is still a long road and our most optimistic goal to build a fully democratic system is 2008. Fortunately, Beijing doesn’t see us as their enemies, they even bypass the official HK government channels to listen to our pleas. The best Beijing can do is to drag on endless to allow us full democracy.

If you wish to obtain more background information about HK’s plight and our struggle, please Freepmail me. Thanks for your continuous support!

[Cacique]

Speaking as someone who has lived under a dictatorship and through my family wide experience in "underground" activism. I can only suggest that you guard your back and that you prepare an "out" should things turn for the worse. The opponents you are dealing with are ruthless men who have a monopoly hold on the instruments of power and will stop at nothing to stamp out anything that challenges their power. They lead their system because they were more ruthless and Machiavellian than their competitors.

Tienanmen happened, because unlike in Russia the troops used by the regime were ethnically different from those in beijing. They had no connection to the people in the square. In Moscow during the coup against Gorbachev the KGB troops were Muscovites and they refused to fire on their fellow Muscovites.

The first sign of state repression will be when the mainland starts importing troops into HK in preparation of a repressive move.

Leaders of the opposition must prepare safe houses in advance and a network of people they can trust should the worst happen.

People who have power are unlikely to ever give it up peacefully. It has never happened in history and it is unlikely that ill ever change.