March for Democracy in Hong Kong, December 4th, 2005, by Wing Chan

From MemoryArchive

Who: Wing Chan
What: March for Democracy
When: December 4, 2005
Where: Hong Kong

On Sunday December 4, 20005, more than 100,000 Hong Kong people marched for democracy and requested the government to set a time table to start one person, one vote election for the Chief Executive and legislators of the Legislative Council for the SAR (Special Administrative Region) of Hong Kong. This is in contrast to the government’s proposal to expand its pool of “selected” voters to vote for the “qualified” candidates for these positions. I participated in this memorable march with my friends among people like lawyers, doctors, teachers, legislators, students, retirees as well as ordinary people of Hong Kong and tourists. And for the first time, the popular lady who symbolized the “Conscience of Hong Kong” – former Chief Secretary, Madame Anson Chan - also participated in a political march.

Under the British rule before 1997, Hong Kong did not enjoy much of political democracy that one could think of. The governor was appointed directly by the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The governor appointed members for the Executive Council and the Legislative Council. It was not until the last governor, Mr. Chris Patten who introduced the functional groups and increased the number of elected members for the Legislative Council, that Hong Kong people had more chance to participate in governmental affairs. The rapid push for democracy did not please the authorities of China but it did awaken Hong Kong people to begin to seek a higher degree of political freedom for themselves, e.g. to elect their Chief Executive and members for the Executive as well as the Legislative Councils.

To be fair to the Chinese government, the Basic Laws drawn up by the jointed efforts of the Chinese and the British governments for the SAR of Hong Kong do offer a degree of political freedom, e.g. limited election for Council members; which is not, for the most part, enjoyed by the people of China. This political freedom was a concession made by the then Chairman Deng Xiaoping who declared Hong Kong should be allowed to keep its capitalistic system for another 50 years after it was returned to China in July 1, 1997. Since then, Hong Kong has been perceived as a model for the other Chinese cities to modernize themselves. In addition, Hong Kong businessmen have provided the major source of financial assistance to Chinese modernization programs. With more chances now to visit Hong Kong and western cities, it is only natural that the Chinese in the mainland should desire for more political freedom as well. That is the reason why the Chinese authorities do not wish to see the political movement in Hong Kong goes too fast.

The WTO meetings will be held in Hong Kong next week. There will be protestors coming from different parts of the world to voice and demonstrate their grievances on all kinds of matters. Hong Kong government will allow them to demonstrate, as it has been done on other major cities in the world. Demonstrations like these however, are not allowed in China. That is exactly why Hong Kong should be given a higher degree of political freedom. It will show China’s sincere desire to join the others as a democratic member of the modern world.