January, 2006

A Victory of the People to Defend Democracy and Social Justice

Rose Wu

In December 2005, the streets of Hong Kong Island were filled with a series of marches which truly expressed the victory of people's power in Hong Kong as well as by people from all over the world.

The first march was organised on Dec. 4 by the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), of which the Hong Kong Christian Institute (HKCI) is a member, and 25 pro-democracy lawmakers. Despite repeated reminders by mainland and local officials that the government would not give a timetable for universal suffrage, the protesters persisted in participating in the march that included young people, parents with their children, people in wheelchairs and the elderly—the latter asserting that they deserved the right to elect their leaders before they died.

The next day legislator Ronny Tong Ka-wah of the Article 45 Concern Group said that the huge turnout of 250,000 people gave pro-democracy legislators the mandate to oppose the Hong Kong government's constitutional reform bill and to continue fighting for universal suffrage. Lee Wing-tat, Democratic Party chairman, added that Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen should rethink the reform package and should travel to Beijing to discuss it with state leaders, explaining to them that the constitutional reform proposal is not acceptable to the people of Hong Kong. Legislator Margaret Ng of the Article 45 Concern Group noted that Hong Kong is undeniably ready for universal suffrage. Unfortunately, under the Basic Law and rules laid down by Beijing in April 2004, proposals for altering the political structure can only be made by the government, not legislators. Thus, the only support the 25 pro-democracy legislators can attain for change is through a strong civil movement and the direct participation of the people.

On Dec. 21, the government's constitutional reform proposal was defeated in the Legislative Council (Legco) by the pro-democracy lawmakers in spite of pressure many of them felt directly from the Hong Kong government and indirectly from Chinese officials. Because of the strong views of the people who marched, however, the lawmakers were encouraged to stand firm in support of a better blueprint for democracy in Hong Kong.

In addition to the victory of Hong Kong's people above, Hong Kong also witnessed a powerful people's movement from all over the world that expressed its opposition to the unjust policies of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). In Victoria Park, most of the protesters gathered and attended forums of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) set up under the umbrella of the Hong Kong People's Alliance on WTO (HKPA) of which the Hong Kong Christian Institute (HKCI) is also a member. Activists included farmers, migrant workers, labour unionists, sex workers and demonstrators from a variety of groups—human rights and environmental organisations, coalitions against trafficking in women and faith-based organisations advocating peace and justice.

Among the protesters, farmer Sung Seung-ki from South Korea described how five generations of his family were farmers who grew up learning about the soil, weather and crops instead of learning English and mathematics. He took over the family business from his parents, he said. Life was simple, and he could support his parents, wife and two children from the three hectares of land he owned. But his livelihood, along with that of others in his village, was shattered in the late 1990s, he sadly recalled, when South Korea joined the WTO. Most South Korean farmers were in debt, he explained, and some committed suicide because they could not repay the money they owed.

Initially, the majority of Hong Kong's people were apathetic about the WTO ministerial conference. However, many of them became more sympathetic and supportive of the protesters because of their dignified, creative and strong statements presented during the demonstrations, especially those of the Korean farmers.

During the various WTO activities, people from many countries analysed from both a faith and feminist perspective the consequences of devastating WTO rules and the practices of rich countries, such as policies that strengthen corporations against people through the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) and their pressure for a drastic reduction of agricultural tariffs in the South. The discussions made it clear once more that churches and faith communities cannot tolerate the current situation. It was emphasised that trade should respect and be built on fundamental values of justice and equality. Churches and civil society were called to strive for creating alternative models of economy that are fair and based on care and sharing, for an economy of compassion and not of profit.

While I was saddened and angered by the arrest and abuse of the detainees by the Hong Kong police, I also feel very grateful that, because of these meaningful events, the people's movement in Hong Kong has grown much stronger and mature. I am proud to see a strong commitment and witness of the Christian communities of Hong Kong and the support of local churches for the arrested protestors by offering them shelter and assistance in obtaining legal aid.