The two sides – the HK government and its supporters, and the opposition, that is the Pan-Democrats and so on – are not budging, so there is no dialogue. The government side is doing its best to persuade the people of Hong Kong that they should support the proposal for electoral reform and that not doing so will damage relations with the Chinese government, while the Pan-Dems are equally adamant in insisting that the proposal is unacceptable and that they will stop it passing through Legco (the Legislative Council). Maybe both sides should stop being so stubborn and start talking.
One feature of the debate is the public announcements on television. In fact, they are indistinguishable from adverts for the government point of view and have pretty much the same tone as other public announcements telling us how to avoid dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis – well-meaning but somewhat condescending as if the authorities do not quite trust their citizens to behave with common sense; they need to be told what is good for them. Nowhere else have I seen so many notices and signs telling me what to do and what not to do.
One feature of the debate is the public announcements on television. In fact, they are indistinguishable from adverts for the government point of view and have pretty much the same tone as other public announcements telling us how to avoid dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis – well-meaning but somewhat condescending as if the authorities do not quite trust their citizens to behave with common sense; they need to be told what is good for them. Nowhere else have I seen so many notices and signs telling me what to do and what not to do.