Hong Kong has gone mad? Students are being manipulated? Things
are getting uncontrollable here in Hong Kong?
No. That’s not the picture that I have seen these days in
Hong Kong.
At first, I don’t quite agree with the Occupy Central
movement as I still have some hope on using other possible and legal channels to
fight for democracy in Hong Kong. There have been a lot of grievance escalating
in Hong Kong recently and people are quite used to going on street and protest
against the poor management of the Hong Kong government.
The problems we are facing right now. (not an exhaustive
list)
- Pseudo-democracy. This is the major reason of the big protest today. Under the policy of one country two systems, Hong Kong government still needs to follow the orders given by the Chinese Government and the basic law limits the exercise of real democracy. A proposal was given by the Chinese Government on the 2017 universal suffrage which allows the citizens to choose from three candidates approved by the Chinese government as the Chief Executive. What kind of choice do we have if the general public don't approve of the three candidates? According to the current practice, the Chief Executive now was elected by 1200 representatives of which 601 must agree on the decision. However, those 1200 representatives are not selected proportionally from different sectors of the general public. The majority of the representatives have business background so the policy the Chief Executive proposes would be in their favour.(this article in The Economist helps explain the problem.)
- The Gradual Invasion
of National Ideology from China. Early on this year, the
government was trying to put national education into the regular curriculum
for primary school students, age 6-13. The content includes the moral value of
communalism and the ideology of supporting the Chinese government, etc.
Immediately, it drew revolting responses and repulsion from the general
public and paved the way for student movement to fight against this policy.
The result was a pause to the policy execution.
- Rocket high
housing price. You can either be a slave for your entire life
to pay for a 2 square feet fight or end up homeless. Hong Kong’s property
price was in overdrive, winning the name as the most unaffordable in the
world. On the other hand, the government fell short of providing a helping
hand in giving low-interest loan or building sufficient public housing for
ordinary families. According to the Government document, the average
household income is $22k while the average estate price for a 30 square
meter apartment is 12210k. With interest to be paid and others, the total
would be around $18315K. Even if
you don’t spend a dime on anything, you need to use over 65 years to pay
for an apartment with such income. (Source: Global Property Guide, Asia, HK)
- Resources fighting
with Mainland visitors. As practical as infant milk powder or as
vast as public facilities, we are always fighting with other people to get
what the citizen deserves to have. It was not difficult to see parents
complaining not being able to buy infant milk powder for their newly born because
the Mainland visitors stocked up every time they came to Hong Kong. The
message is obvious, Mainlanders don’t believe in the quality of the milk
powder in China. I sympathized both parties. All parents want their child
to be safe but could the government did something for the citizen to, at
least, recognize our citizenship and our basic right? The good news is the
government did set a limit for milk powder export which has solved this
problem in short term. However, other problems like the pregnant fighting
for a bed in a hospital, kids fighting for a place in the nearby
kindergarten, or adults fighting for social welfare supports are all
directly or indirectly brought by the Individual Visit Scheme.
- Falling on
deaf ears to public opinions. Around April, 2013, the
government turned down the application of a free-to-air license to the most
well-prepared and the most supported television company, Hong Kong TV. The
reasons for such decision were yet to be told as the government released
limited information on their decision. More surprisingly, two others neither
famous nor publicly supported television channels received the licenses. Many citizens went on street to protest
about their anger towards the government decision and to reveal their urge
to have HKTV as the third free-to-air channel for the general public.
However, all the hard work has fallen on deaf ears and turned out to be futile.
- Accelerating
inflation rate. The few Real Estate tycoons dominating the property market, controlling the housing price, rental price of shops, accelerates the
inflation rate and intensifies the income gaps between the rich and the
poor. (can’t go into detail due to space limit)
The major purpose of the Occupy Central movement is to
address problem one as mentioned above. Nevertheless, ever since the students
joining it by boycotting classes, the dynamic of this movement has changed. On 28
and 29 September, I saw images of police using tear gas and pepper spray to
disperse the occupations, who have nothing but umbrellas on their hands,
standing or sitting peacefully to reveal their demand. There were also police
holding riffles standing by to help disperse the protesters. Was the force
necessary? There was no damage reported, no injury, no fight, nothing, before the tear gas and pepper spray.
The violence of the police added fuel to the already alarming
situation and pushing those hesitate to show their stance to go out on street. Voices from both sides are loud, supporting
the Occupy Central or rejecting it. However, most of the voices from the
negative parties seem thin and shortsighted. Open your eyes and open your heart
to listen to what the people are really fighting for before your judge or take
side.
It’s easy to fall prey
to the status quo which tempts you to take the benefit ahead that blinds you
from looking at a bigger picture. The truth is always inconvenient.
