I was a little nervous about going back to Hong Kong for my birthday treat owing to the last few months of unrest they have suffered. Not because we were overly concerned about the threat of any violence during the student protest – it was clear from the outset that this was to be an idealistic peaceful revolution if at all possible and with the world watching China were going to be treading very carefully. Especially after the first round of tear gas and pepper spray, defended simply by the umbrella, which was to become the symbol when the reaction prompted thousands more locals to support the protest. Certainly the general feeling on the ground is that the initial concerns of an aggressive crackdown, seem a lot less likely two months down the line. The protest started in September when tens of thousands of students transformed the streets of Hong Kong and stormed the government headquarters with familiar streets in Admiralty district (which we didn’t go and see so I don’t know how many people are still there) and Causeway Bay blocked by barricades.
Our concern was more because it seemed inappropriate to go back to my former home, where I spent my most formative years and simply frolic about being a tourist. That didn’t feel right. So instead of staying in a hotel, we decided to rent a flat in the heart of Causeway Bay and try to further understand the key issues at stake. Idealistic young students from a city of seven million people pitting themselves against the might of a Communist party that rules a nation of nearly 1.4 billion was no mean feat and we felt it wasn’t right to just turn up and swan around checking out the sights without any regard for what they are trying to achieve.
The Umbrella Revolution:-
So instead, we incorporated several visits to one of their occupation locations to talk to them about their hopes and dreams for the future of Hong Kong. We knew it was all about the demand for a democratic vote, but not a lot more than that. HK is a Chinese city and faith in the “one country, two systems” instigated by Margaret Thatcher and Deng Xiaoping has not surprisingly been waning year on year. They are hoping that a democratic voting system will be put in place in 2017 for a new Chief Executive and don’t want their choices of candidate to be made exclusively by Beijing. Not sure it was any better when the British simply appointed governors with no discussion was it? Understandably, many people born and bred in Hong Kong, who have only known a freedom not yet afforded to their fellow counterparts on the mainland feel their way of life and freedom is under threat and certainly the students we talked to wanted to get the message out to the world that what they want is “stability and Harmony”. In other words, justice, freedom and peace. We tried to find the T-shirt that said “Not Made In China” to support them – they would rather the world stops buying products from China so that they can be heard. Easier said than done.
It has been described as the “politest revolution in history – putting “civil back into civil disobedience” and that certainly seemed to be the case, although whilst we were there we did witness a very distressed girl being strapped to a stretcher by at least 8 policemen – according to the students however, she had been causing a lot of trouble so there was no fuss from the crowd as she got carried away.
But we did ask the students whether they think it is still working for then now? Police stand around jovially supporting the group, but I’m quite sure they are not to be underestimated. Some locals shout abuse as they walk past, but others stop and chat. There are many photographers around filing their story and social media doesn’t seem to be affected so far. What has been lost and gained in the struggle?
Has the general population lost interest and support now that the roads are clogged and it’s all gone a little cold. The locals we talked to are fed up with the hassle – taxis won’t take you as easily as before owing to the wide diversions they are having to do. Are they going to stay there forever? I believe the Admiralty protest will be the ones who have to move at some point soon owing to the disruption – and the Mongkok area sounds like a more aggressive group. The ones in Causeway bay, locally known as “Occupy” seemed more appropriately “Unoccupy” every time we walked by. Lots of tents and desks for them to work at, but not too many actual bodies in any of the tents as far as we could see. Is this going to lose them the much needed initial support?
There is still a tangible feel of uncertainty in the air. I wonder what will happen next. Which way it will go. I suspect they will be forcibly removed over a period of time and then everything will go back to normal. It would be better for the students now to regroup and re plan their strategy. The world is now aware of the situation and there are many supporters (that said, not sure why a group of MP’s from the UK are expecting a warm welcome from China when they go in to examine the situation). But nobody needs to get hurt (she says, hopefully and no doubt naively)…
