Re: Give me Liberty or Give me Death! Giordano Tycoon joins Occupy Central!
Champagne and jeers mark National Day as protesters show first sign of split
Protesters argue over best way to demonstrate at flag-raising ceremony attended by politicians from Hong Kong and the mainland
Chief executive Leung Chun-ying raised a glass of champagne to toast National Day on Wednesday morning – as thousands of protesters booed outside the traditional flag-raising ceremony and Occupy Central entered a fourth day.
As the main roads in the city’s commercial districts continue to be occupied by tens of thousands of Occupy Central supporters, key officials arrived at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai by ferry to attend National Day celebrations.
Leung and predecessor Tung Chee-hwa did not respond to questions about the mass protests that have crippled Hong Kong and spread to further parts of the city, including Sheung Shui in the New Territories and the busy shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui.
Protesters argued over the best way to make their presence felt at the ceremony before politicians from the city and the mainland clinked glasses to mark the 65th anniversary of Communist China.
Members of student activist group Scholarism, who advocate peaceful protest, erected metal barricades [very kindly supplied by the Polis who left thousands of them at the war memorial in Central before withdrawing] at the entrance of the Golden Bauhinia Square overnight to prevent other protesters from storming the flag-raising ceremony venue.
However, a split among the demonstrators become apparent before dawn when about 20 protesters arrived, who appeared to favour a more confrontational approach.
This group argued that Scholarism members did not have the right to stop them from protesting in a more radical way. The two sides argued for about an hour, without physical friction. Both groups booed when the Chinese flag and the Hong Kong flag were raised and when two helicopters carrying the banners flew overhead.
Leung, who admitted yesterday that the protests would not end soon, failed to mention the mass protests or the Occupy movement directly in his opening remarks, but called for “peaceful, lawful, rational and pragmatic” manners in pushing forward universal suffrage.
However, Zhang Xiaoming, director of the central government’s liaison office, said that “the sun rises as usual”, when asked about the protests.
Leung insisted that a popular vote that would allow Hong Kong’s 5 million eligible voters to cast ballots for the city’s leader would be an improvement from the current electoral system, which only allows 1,200 members of the election committee to vote.
He said that the development of Hong Kong and the mainland are closely linked and urged the public to “build up the Chinese dream hand in hand”.
The Chinese dream is a phrase popularised by President Xi Jinping.
Social Democrat lawmaker “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung, the only pan-democrat lawmaker to attend the event, was escorted out of the ceremony by security after chanting for Leung’s resignation and universal suffrage for Hong Kong.
District councillor Paul Zimmerman, a former Civic Party member, raised a yellow umbrella – the accidental symbol of the civil disobedience movement that has grabbed worldwide attention after fending off riot police’s pepper spray – in support of the protests.
“CY [Leung] and the police commissioner owe Hong Kong an apology – nothing less than an apology – for what they have done,” Zimmerman said.
Meanwhile, Occupy organiser Dr Chan Kin-man did indeed offer an apology to citizens living near the rallies in Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok.
“We apologise to [these residents],” said a teary Chan, his voice trembling. “We know the Occupy movement will bring inconvenience to citizens’ lives but we hope people can understand us. We know there will be short-term disruption but we are fighting for long-term harmony in society.”
Chan said “humanitarian corridors” had been set up at each rally location with portable barriers that could be removed in seconds. He said ambulances could drive through such corridors in shorter time than if there was a traffic jam.
Chan said he understood people wanted to expand the protests to more areas because of the “indifference of the government” but he said
they should first fortify protest sites areas [with metal barricades very kindly supplied by the HK Polis who intentionally left thousands at the war memorial when they withdrew] in Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok so they would not be cleared by police. He also called for protesters to stay away from residential areas.
Chan again called for Leung to resign as soon as possible so the stand-off between protesters and the government could have a “turning point”.
He said he believed the central government would not be an immovable “iron board”, or else there would not be a “one country, two systems” policy, adding that Leung had been the blockage between Hong Kong and Beijing.
Chan said organisers had not kept record of the number of people joining the Occupy movement but he was amazed at how civilised protesters had been.
“It’s like the best and worst things happening at the same time,” he said. “The government has shown its worst face but Hong Kong protesters have brought us the most beautiful side.”
Big crowds continued to gather in the city’s commercial districts last night despite a sudden downpour. Roads in Admiralty, Wan Chai, Causeway Bay, Central and Mong Kok were transformed into seas of umbrellas as protesters sang songs and chanted slogans in the rain.
The protesters continue to demand Leung’s resignation and that Beijing retract its decision on the city’s 2017 chief executive poll, which would restrict the number of candidates to two or three approved by a 1,200-strong nominating committee.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...rk-national-day-celebrations-first-sign-split