At the mention of Hong Kong, people elsewhere typically think of skyscrapers, crowded sidewalks, polluted skies and tasty Chinese cuisine. Realistically, they should add another trait – cowardice in the corridors of power.
Forbidden from exercising universal suffrage by the authorities in Beijing, most Hong Kong people cling to their fading hopes for meaningful political reforms. In November, the Legislative Council twice defeated motions that demanded universal suffrage and legitimate democracy by 2012.
“From now until 2012, we have six years to achieve the target,” said the pro-democracy Civic Party legislator Ronny Tong. “If some people still see this as an impossible goal, they should be ashamed of facing the public and their own consciences.”
Democratic Party stalwart Martin Lee expressed the obvious. “Must those students now sitting in the balcony and listening to this debate have to wait until their hair turns gray before the government says we are ready for universal suffrage?”
Only a few Hong Kong legislators consistently promote people power. The cowardly ones, the lickspittles, constantly betray the public.
Government officials egged on the “nay-sayers” with feeble excuses about seeking a consensus on the “best model” of universal suffrage. This chatter remains code-talk for finding ways to satisfy Beijing while stroking the privileged.
Starting with chief executive Donald Tsang, most of the Hong Kong individuals paid for “public service” suffer from trembling hands and knocking knees at any hints of displeasure among powerful people, notably in Beijing.
Of course, courage fails in China’s capital too. There, the leaders and officials quake needlessly at thoughts of what results political freedoms might bring.
Hong Kong representatives need to abandon the spineless approach of constantly asking permission and instead “inform” the Central Government of plans to stage “real” elections. That’s the ticket – taking control of one’s own destiny.
Meaningful democracy can’t arrive in Hong Kong until its “leaders” stop cowering and choose to stand up for what’s right, for the people’s rights.
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Unlike many others, Ronny Tong
dares to speak for the majority.
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