Yesterday we volunteers, juniors and seniors, went downtown to view the sit-in. As you have almost certainly gathered from the news, the week of student demonstrations ended dramatically. The turnout was impressive and the students were joined by secondary school pupils boycotting classes in protest at Beijing´s restrictive line on Chief Executive nominations. It was such a success that Occupy Central decided to bring forward its protest from Wednesday to Sunday in support of the students. Some students though were less enthusiastic about this, feeling Occupy had jumped their bandwagon, whereas others appreciated the support
Police closed off certain areas so that incoming protesters decided to demonstrate elsewhere and the movement spread to several locations. When the police closed off the forecourt to government offices and the Legislative Council, demonstrators rushed the barricades and the public were shocked to see the police, wielding shields and batons, use pepper spray (illegal for civilian use here) and tear gas. Police spokesmen claimed they had not used unnecessary force but the general public reaction was sympathy for the students.
The movement got the nickname the Umbrella Revolution as demonstrators used brollies to protect themselves from pepper spray and tear gas. Members of the public brought cellophane and plastic to protect demonstrators and water bottles for washing the eyes. Some demonstrators, police officers and officials were injured and many demonstrators were arrested, among them 17 year-old Joshua Wong, high profile student leader of Scholarism . After 40 hours a judge ordered his release.
The negative reaction caused the police to change their tactics completely. We took the MTR (Mass Transit Railway, alias the metro) to Admiralty, which had earlier been closed, and walked for a couple of hours among the crowd. We were impressed. Had this been in Oslo, Copenhagen or London, there would have been drinking, fighting and outbreaks of violence. Here there were tens of thousands occupying the area around the government offices and the Legislative Council. Young people were picnicking in the middle of the road. Service groups were supplying masks, bottles of water and bread to those in need and yet others were collecting rubbish in bin bags. Masses were being addressed over loudspeakers. Crowds were shining their torches. A demonstrator held up a giant head of CY, the present Chief Executive, wearing fangs for the occasion, while the audience roared for his resignation and police officers (without helmets or riot gear) stood around relaxedly watching the whole proceedings.
You can see many wearing a yellow ribbon around their wrists, among them some of my colleagues at LTS. The handrail of the ramp up to the MTR station at Sha Tin has ribbons tied along it all the way. This is another public expression of sympathy for the cause of Democracy in HK movement.
Naturally, many parents are worried for children taking part. Moreover, economically it has been bad for both the HK stock exchange and trade in Central. The demonstrations have been disruptive: blocking roads and causing businesses and schools to close. But then demonstrations and strikes do not work if they do not disrupt. A poll done for The South Chona Morning Post showed that 70% did not think support for Occupy would swing against them if the disruptions proved long term.
Whether the demonstrators will win in the long run is another matter. I regret to say that the protests are hardly likely to cause Beijing to move an inch. On the other hand, Beijing will probably be reluctant to bring in the Peopleś Liberation Army while it is trying to persuade Taiwan that «one country two systems» would work there, too. Taiwan has been saying, «Look at what is going on in HK. It does not work there either.» Bringing in the army would be decisive proof that it does not. On the other hand, Xinjiang, Tibet and Tiananman Square show that when it comes to the pinch, the Chinese government are willing to do just that. This is what, understandably, makes many Hong Kongers nervous.
Police closed off certain areas so that incoming protesters decided to demonstrate elsewhere and the movement spread to several locations. When the police closed off the forecourt to government offices and the Legislative Council, demonstrators rushed the barricades and the public were shocked to see the police, wielding shields and batons, use pepper spray (illegal for civilian use here) and tear gas. Police spokesmen claimed they had not used unnecessary force but the general public reaction was sympathy for the students.
The movement got the nickname the Umbrella Revolution as demonstrators used brollies to protect themselves from pepper spray and tear gas. Members of the public brought cellophane and plastic to protect demonstrators and water bottles for washing the eyes. Some demonstrators, police officers and officials were injured and many demonstrators were arrested, among them 17 year-old Joshua Wong, high profile student leader of Scholarism . After 40 hours a judge ordered his release.
The negative reaction caused the police to change their tactics completely. We took the MTR (Mass Transit Railway, alias the metro) to Admiralty, which had earlier been closed, and walked for a couple of hours among the crowd. We were impressed. Had this been in Oslo, Copenhagen or London, there would have been drinking, fighting and outbreaks of violence. Here there were tens of thousands occupying the area around the government offices and the Legislative Council. Young people were picnicking in the middle of the road. Service groups were supplying masks, bottles of water and bread to those in need and yet others were collecting rubbish in bin bags. Masses were being addressed over loudspeakers. Crowds were shining their torches. A demonstrator held up a giant head of CY, the present Chief Executive, wearing fangs for the occasion, while the audience roared for his resignation and police officers (without helmets or riot gear) stood around relaxedly watching the whole proceedings.
You can see many wearing a yellow ribbon around their wrists, among them some of my colleagues at LTS. The handrail of the ramp up to the MTR station at Sha Tin has ribbons tied along it all the way. This is another public expression of sympathy for the cause of Democracy in HK movement.
Naturally, many parents are worried for children taking part. Moreover, economically it has been bad for both the HK stock exchange and trade in Central. The demonstrations have been disruptive: blocking roads and causing businesses and schools to close. But then demonstrations and strikes do not work if they do not disrupt. A poll done for The South Chona Morning Post showed that 70% did not think support for Occupy would swing against them if the disruptions proved long term.
Whether the demonstrators will win in the long run is another matter. I regret to say that the protests are hardly likely to cause Beijing to move an inch. On the other hand, Beijing will probably be reluctant to bring in the Peopleś Liberation Army while it is trying to persuade Taiwan that «one country two systems» would work there, too. Taiwan has been saying, «Look at what is going on in HK. It does not work there either.» Bringing in the army would be decisive proof that it does not. On the other hand, Xinjiang, Tibet and Tiananman Square show that when it comes to the pinch, the Chinese government are willing to do just that. This is what, understandably, makes many Hong Kongers nervous.