Deeper divisions or greater unity in Hong Kong society? Ultimately, it’s in the hands of young voters
Bernard Chan says Sunday’s legislative election will herald a new era in local politics, with much resting on which political camp finds favour with our politically aware and increasingly activist youth
On Sunday, Hong Kong will elect a new Legislative Council. It will not be just a new term for our lawmaking assembly – it will reflect a new era in Hong Kong politics. Some veterans from both the pro-government and opposition camps are leaving the scene. They are familiar faces, with long experience. We will probably look back on them as moderate compared with some of the younger generation. I was a legislator from 1998 to 2008, and it is clear to me that there is a very different mood today.
When Zhang Dejiang (張德江) of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee visited Hong Kong in May, he reached out to some pro-democrats. He had met them before. I remember when all lawmakers went to Guangzhou in 2005, and Zhang was party secretary of Guangdong. He was fairly formal with them at that time. Last May, he was very open. At a reception, he talked with a few veteran pan-democrats, two of whom are giving way to younger colleagues at this election. They told him bluntly that they thought Leung Chung-ying (who was also present) should not stay in office as chief executive. He heard them out.
Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau, seen here campaigning for party candidates Lam Cheuk-ting (left) and Roy Kwong (right), is leaving the legislature she has served since 1991. Photo: David Wong
He and Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office director Wang Guangya (王光亞) both remarked during that time that the pro-democrats had a role to play under the “one country, two systems” principle.
There is obviously a shift here. When the pan-democrats at the reception mentioned that they did not have home return permits – so they could not visit the mainland – Zhang replied that he would look into it. I wonder, however, if they are rather nervous that they might actually get the permits, and thus might appear to be getting friendlier with Beijing.
The background to this is the rise of a new generation of far more radical political activists and groupings, and the need for pro-government parties to win over younger voters. The young so-called “localists” did not just appear out of nowhere as soon as the Occupy protests ended. Anyone following local heritage, environmental and similar issues over the past decade has noticed young people becoming far more aware and involved. The national education controversy in 2012 turned students into activists and even public figures. The influx of mainland mothers and shoppers created a backlash among mostly young protesters claiming to be defending local interests. Even the use of simplified Chinese characters on restaurant menus attracts criticism.
