The View | No revolution, but let's hope youth protests are a catalyst for change
It's now time for all sides to give some ground and begin constructive dialogue on political reform
The overseas media has dubbed the youth protests the "Umbrella Revolution". Nothing could be further from the truth. Their political aspiration is not to overthrow the government, but to urge greater democracy in a society that is already extremely free. Nonetheless, the movement is at risk of spinning out of control.
By all accounts the youths on the streets are good-natured and peaceful. They have come to join a carnival, not a battlefield.
Hong Kong displays none of the characteristics of "people revolutions" seen elsewhere. Unemployment is low, economic and civil liberties are well respected, the rule of law is upheld, and the government, though not popularly elected, cannot be described as oppressive and unaccountable.
The only problem is that our politics are deadlocked and politicians quarrel incessantly. This is not unique to Hong Kong. It happens in many other mature democracies. In Hong Kong, political deadlock is the result of the inability to find a common narrative on Hong Kong's future development that is morally defensible and politically acceptable to the various interests in Hong Kong and to Beijing.
The Basic Law settled this political question in principle when it was promulgated in 1990. But since then, the deepening economic and social contradictions in Hong Kong society brought about by China's opening and economic globalisation have not been addressed. This has created new political problems and unfortunately also revived older ones.
The events of the past week are the unfortunate culmination of new and old local political conflicts, which have reached a tipping point after no visible progress in almost two decades. Those in power and those in opposition have not been able to bridge the gap separating them.
Young people have lost patience with quarrelling adult politicians obsessed with their own agendas. They are assuming the political and moral high ground that has been vacated by their elders. Their innocence and idealism is a breath of fresh air, but these qualities alone do not produce a common political narrative for Hong Kong's future.