Hong Kong used to be the showcase of success, financial and otherwise, in Asia. Its mention evoked images of prosperity and dynamism in this part of the world.
These days, however, the mere idea of going to Hong Kong is met with concern because of the increasingly unruly protests that have been going on for months, and the impending government response to it.
It began when the people protested the amendment of a law that would allow Chinese nationals to be extradited to and face trial in the Chinese mainland. That law has been suspended, but the protesters want it permanently scrapped.
Worldwide, these protests were seen not just a fight against the extradition bill and an expression of doubt that transparent investigations and speedy justice would ever be possible in the mainland. It was also seen as a plea for democracy in Hong Kong, a Special Administrative Region of China.
In earlier weeks, protesters have scored high in global public opinion. There was sympathy because democracy was a global concern, because of Hong Kong police dispersed protests violently, and a video that showed the crowd parting peacefully to let an ambulance pass became viral online.
More recently, however, there have been concerns about the radicalization of the protest movement. The young people have stormed government buildings, disrupted transport services and showed disrespect to those who don’t quite share their views or their intensity.
Writing for the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong resident Audrey Jiajia Li warned protesters they must not lose moral legitimacy and become the monsters they are fighting. She cited examples of young protesters swearing at an elderly man at the airport, and besieging the residence of a university professor who had condemned the vandalism they had done to the Legislative Building. The protesters have also blocked train doors, causing inconvenience to people on their way to their jobs or appointments.
“For the movement to succeed, it is most important for participants to respect their fellow citizens’ rights and agree to disagree with those who do not share their vision. Also, it is a moral and practical matter that Hong Kong protesters refrain from vilifying mainlanders.….It is lazy, counterproductive and plain wrong to write off people because of where they are from,” Li wrote.
As a result of these developments, China’s People’s Liberation Army, after weeks of silence, this week issued a statement condemning the protests because these had “seriously threatened the life and safety of Hong Kong citizens, and violated the bottom line of 'one country, two systems'.” The army has also released a three-minute video showing troops during their “anti-riot” exercises, with a soldier shouting “All consequences are at your own risk,” reported the BBC.
Such a threat does not bode well for the protesters, whose gripes are legitimate and are being listened to but who now run the risk of squandering the attention they have earned from the world.
Whether to push hard enough to make a dent, or to push too hard risking the alienation of potential allies and supporters, is always a dilemma among those who champion causes. Let’s hope the people of Hong Kong, angry and resentful and uncertain of their future, will eventually find the most effective way to advance their agenda and maintain their ascendancy over the regime whose practices they decry.