PROTESTS GET COVERAGES, BUT THE ISSUES AREN’T NEW
Finding its place: The uncertainty of Hong Kong’s democratic and economic future is at the strife’s core
In the few weeks since I last wrote about Hong Kong protesters, much has changed — and yet much has stayed the same.
The world’s media is focused on the pro-democracy protesters occupying and paralyzing the city’s central business district. This obscures the fact that the economic and emotional factors underlying the protests have been brewing for some time; the protests are a visual manifestation of this.
While the protests represent a more intense visual representation, the cause of the unrest is unchanged — Beijing’s ruling that Hong Kong’s chief executive candidates for the next election must be approved by a local committee considered stacked with pro-Beijing members.
Hong Kong is trying to find its place as a Chinese Special Administrative region. Its economic clout within the country has steadily diminished. And as wealth builds in China, Hong Kong residents have seen increasing income imbalance — which has lowered affordability for locals and clouded the employment outlook for youth under the age of 25.
Many in the city want a voice to ensure Hong Kong’s special status. As other advantages are lost, protesters want to ensure the factors that make the city special remain unchanged: the independent judiciary, personal and press freedoms, a more Western way of social administration. Beijing is offering some degree of democracy, but it is unwilling to risk “destabilization” to give more ground.
The stakes are high. Hong Kong’s reputation as a stable and prosperous international economic powerhouse could be left in shambles. Beijing may face new, significant public-relations blowbacks.
The warming relationships between Beijing and Taiwan’s government may be damaged. The leadership in Taipei has already expressed concern and called for a peaceful resolution, preferably one with universal suffrage for Hong Kong.
All of this is a repeat of what was said a few weeks ago. The difference is that there are now people in the streets, carrying umbrellas in their show of discontent. What’s next? I had a brief chat recently with a former media colleague in Hong Kong. He pointed out that a movement of this type takes thought and dedication — and cannot be sustained on emotion alone.
So far, the protests are peaceful (first-day police tear gas notwithstanding), but as the situation drags on, both sides will have patience tested. It is human nature that tempers will eventually wear thin.
In the meantime, the peaceful nature of current protests allows for the most valuable asset on both sides: The ability to wait and think rationally.
The situation as it is now affords everyone time to think about what they envision for Hong Kong’s future, how to get there — and whether a protracted protest is the best way.
The answer will be different for different people. But it is of crucial importance to take this time to think, because once the thinking part is over, the next steps may be pivotal ones.