The 82,000 people who turned out for the June 4 candle-light vigil called for the 'vindication of the June 4 massacre' and 'power to the people'. This, the highest turnout in the special administrative region's short history, was a response to Beijing's ruling against universal suffrage, and a sign of protest against diminishing freedoms.
Beijing's furious assault on Hong Kong's aspirations for democracy can be traced to last July 1, when 500,000 people took to the streets. The democratic aspirations of the people were grossly misconceived by the central government to be a quest for independence.
Driven by the fear of losing control over political development in Hong Kong, Beijing responded by ruling out universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008. With the tacit permission if not the express consent of Beijing, officials, senior ex-officials and late-night callers alike began to exert political pressure on talk-show hosts. Now, even the sanctity of the ballot box is at stake.
The Tung administration's response has been frustrating. It neither stands by its people, nor tells Beijing that no one in Hong Kong wants independence. Above all, it fails to defend the core values and interests of Hong Kong.
To add fuel to the flames, pro-Beijing critics have smeared the intentions of peaceful and rational protesters. This will only deepen misunderstandings. Protesters and democrats are using the most peaceful means conceivable to convey their democratic aspirations, and our clamour for direct elections is a quest for better governance, not independence.
The core values that we cherish so much, and which make Hong Kong tick, are being eroded as a result of Beijing's hardline policy. This will undermine Hong Kong's survival as a free and vibrant city. For Hong Kong to continue to thrive, it is imperative to bridge the mistrust and misunderstanding through genuine and sincere dialogue. The democrats have never opposed the central government, or the Tung administration, for the sake of it. Our actions are driven by a commitment to better and more accountable governance. Above all, no one in Hong Kong has ever sought to usurp power, nor have they called for independence.