JULY 1 PROTEST MARCH

Protest March, 1st. July 2014

Hong Kong

Tuesday 1 July 2014 will go down in the history as the day the people of Hong Kong spoke for Democracy.

Whichever way we look at it, whether half a million or a quarter million that turned out on the protest march, the number is huge.

Photo credit:
Brandon Cheung

The logistics of organising such a gathering is enormously mind-boggling. The march portrays tremendous stamina and patience and focus of the thousands that waited and marched for hours on a summer’s day of sun and downpours. Humidity was high and temperatures topped 33c. There were an array of small demands but two key points are what got our protest going: universal suffrage and one country two systems. We will not take this lightly.

Hong Kong has flourished for 17 years with no misunderstanding about the basic law: One Country, Two Systems. Hong Kong has vastly contributed to China in the way of trade and charity. And now Beijing warns that it holds the ultimate authority over our financial centre. The call for democracy by the majority for the seven million of Hong Kong is causing stirrings of great fear in the giant heart of the mainland, the Central Government.

Beijing feels that the high autonomy of jurisdiction enjoyed by Hong Kong has been due to an ‘oversight’ on its part and in trying to set us straight the Central Government came out with a White Paper explaining to us what our separate system is. In doing so the Central Government has shot itself in the foot. Hong Kongers are horrified, justifiably so and more determined for democracy.

The White Paper projects Hong Kong’s future in a different light. Hong Kongers realize they have to stand firmer. We will accept no new jurisdiction over us. The call for democracy is nothing new. Our determination is clear, 800,000 voted in the referendum, we want to elect our chief executive.

Since 1997 Hong Kong, the miniscule dot on the vast China continent, has contributed to the mainland’s economy. We are the largest offshore renminbi market. We have no desire not to prosper and when we do so does China. There is no doubt about co-operation. Love and loyalty come naturally.

The world is watching.

Listen to the people; it’s the people that make the country.

Hong Kong belongs to the Hong Kong people.