Sun worshippers send message to Beijing
More than 1,000 people crowded into a tiny park in Tuen Mun yesterday to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China and called for the mainland to enjoy the same freedom and democracy as Taiwan during its second century.
It was on January 1, 1912, that Sun Yat-sen was proclaimed the first president of the republic in Nanjing. Yet the country starts its history from 1911, when troops in the central city of Wuhan mutinied, starting a rebellion that overthrew the Qing dynasty.
The celebration was held in Dr Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park next to a two-storey Red Mansion, one of many houses used by Sun during his revolutionary days. In 1968, his supporters erected a statue and tower in his memory next to the mansion.
The park was covered with ROC flags and placards of the groups taking part, including associations of alumni of Taiwan universities, trade unions and other pro-Taiwan groups. Many supporters arrived in chartered buses and crowded the narrow path leading to the statue.
The boisterous event began with a lion dance, the singing of the ROC national anthem, the raising of its flag and a march by three soldiers in ROC military uniforms with fake rifles who laid a wreath in front of the statue.
'The sovereignty of the Republic of China rests with its people, who choose its government,' said Albert Chan Wai-yip, a member of the League of Social Democrats in Hong Kong's Legislative Council.
'It is the pride of Chinese. We hope all Chinese can have the same freedom and democracy. This is the century of democratic China. We must begin a new Xinhai Revolution, peaceful and non-violent, to bring freedom and democracy to the PRC.'
Beijing does not recognise the Republic of China and says it ceased to exist in 1949; it regards Taipei as a provincial government, which has made impossible the holding of joint celebrations this year; the use of the ROC flag in the mainland is illegal.
Jeff Yang, director-general of the bureau of Hong Kong Affairs of the Mainland Affairs Council (of Taiwan), said the Republic of China had always existed. 'We hope Greater China can have more freedom and democracy, more universal education and its wealth spread more equally,' he said.
'We are very happy and honoured to hold this celebration. Sun and the other revolutionaries made great sacrifices to enable us to enjoy our good fortune today. We do not have to make the same sacrifices. The mainland wants change and cannot depend on Japan and the United States. It must depend on its friends in Hong Kong and Taiwan. It depends on us to change China.'
Hong Kong had an important role as a platform for dialogue between Taiwan and China, he said. 'But there is no market in Taiwan for 'one country, two systems'.'
Liu Da-pei, a member of the Standing Committee of the ruling Kuomintang, said he had brought to the event the good wishes of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou. 'Since President Ma took power we have made great progress in cross-straits relations. This is a time of peace.
'Last year Taiwan's GDP [gross domestic product] grew by over 10 per cent. By 2013 we will have the fastest growth of the four little dragons [that also include Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea].'
Organisers said it was the largest turnout for this annual event since 1997; a handful of police stayed for a few minutes, but then left.
