Carrie Lam must read the hidden message in Occupy amnesty call by Democratic Party chair

Mike Rowse says Wu Chi-wai’s call to move on from Occupy was less than practical, but it captured a strong desire in the community for reconciliation and for the incoming administration to address the issues that divided the city

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Then chief executive hopeful Carrie Lam with lawmaker Wu Chi-wai (left) and other members of the Democratic Party, in Tamar on February 19. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 12:02pm, 23 Apr 2017Updated: 6:19pm, 23 Apr 2017

The idea of a pardon for everyone connected with the Occupy movement – both demonstrators and police – did not survive very long. The originator, Democratic Party chair Wu Chi-wai, was briefly supported by his Civic party counterpart Alvin Yeung Ngok-iu, but within less than 24 hours both had recanted and apologised to the public and their parties.

They accepted that the proposal had not been weighed thoroughly enough before it was aired. There was therefore barely time for others to criticise. The kindest comment was that Wu had “good intentions”, which as we all know is how the road to hell is paved.

What missteps on both sides at the political level caused us to suddenly start seeing each other as enemies?

But looking at the idea in context, what it did capture was a very strong desire in the community for reconciliation. Indeed, Wu’s call was not the first. Immediately after the conviction of seven police officers for assaulting a handcuffed protester, there were calls from self-described patriotic forces for them to be excused in the interests of “harmony”. Although that particular call was rightly dismissed, we should not allow the underlying desire for unity to be neglected.

Nor should we listen to the siren voices pushing the idea that we must choose between greater democracy and an orderly society. We are Hong Kong people and we can and should arrange to have both.

Last week, I attended the wedding banquet of a police chief inspector (son of a family friend), and his bride, who was from the media world. No doubt many present were strong supporters of political reform. But we all admired the bridegroom and his police colleagues in their dress uniform. The latter formed an archway of ceremonial swords above the aisle as the happy couple stepped away from the altar, and we all cooed in admiration when the video was played that evening.

Is that so surprising? After all, these are our police officers, our friends, the sons and daughters of people we know and love. They have our respect for the job they do keeping our community safe, but more than that, they have our affection. So at the human, personal, level – we are already way past reconciliation, we have remembered and resumed the warm and intimate embrace we all shared before.

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