Martin Lee urges friends of democracy to join fight
Hong Kong needs to end 'the chaos' that has plagued the democracy movement and stop relying on a few icons like the late Szeto Wah, his longtime political ally Martin Lee Chu-ming says.
'The democracy movement belongs to everyone,' said Lee, who along with Szeto, co-founded the Democratic Party. 'We have to get united but not rely on one or two people as pillars.
'Average citizens can participate in more public processions, while pan-democratic politicians should think about what can be done to fix the chaos.'
Lee was referring to the fracture within the camp after the constitutional reform saga in 2010. The Civic Party and League of Social Democrats triggered by-elections, held in May, in five Legislative Council districts when their lawmakers resigned en masse in January. The Democratic Party refused to join, but negotiated with Beijing and gave eight key votes to secure the passage of a government electoral reform, after securing its so-called one person, two votes proposal.
Legco under its proposal will be expanded from 60 to 70 seats, adding five directly elected seats and five district council functional constituency seats, for an electorate of 3.2 million voters who do not have a vote in existing functional constituencies.
Lee broke with Szeto, who supported the compromise with Beijing.
'That is the only disagreement between Uncle Wah and me throughout the years,' he said. 'I still do not understand why he would endorse the Democrats' negotiation with the Communist Party.'
The Civic Party and League of Social Democrats regained their five seats but the league withdrew from the pan-democrat camp to avoid competing with the Civic Party, and vowed to fight the Democrats in the coming district and Legco polls.
'That is the right of the league to uphold their plans,' said Lee. 'But in elections, whenever two pan-democratic candidates fight with each other, the pro-Beijing candidate gains.
'In the past, different viewpoints in the camp were willing to compromise for the greatest benefit of the camp in elections. But it seems like our people [in the camp] are not that nervous about the polls now.'
Lee said he missed his old comrade more and more.
'My sorrow on his leaving has been accumulating,' he said, recalling how he lost the final chance to speak with his old friend. 'When I arrived at the hospital, he had passed away.'
If he could speak to Uncle Wah, Lee said: 'I would say: 'Go peacefully. You have to look after us in heaven and fight for democracy'.'
Lee said: 'Uncle Wah preferred defence, thinking it was important to retain the Legco seats. But I preferred attack. I believe we could win back all the five seats.' The Democrats believed the compromise with Beijing was a step forward, but the league and Civic Party thought it could not lead to genuine democracy. 'I cannot say Uncle Wah was wrong. Let history decide,' Lee said.
