Beijing should lead by example on political reform
Feng Chi-shun says when mainland China has improved its governance, Hongkongers may be more willing to listen to it on political development
Commenting on the recent street protests in Hong Kong, a senior mainland cadre pontificated that the people of Hong Kong need to be re-enlightened about the "one country, two systems" concept.
This, of course, came from someone who has toed the party line all his life, and probably has never had true freedom.
But we Hongkongers are different. We are used to all kinds of freedoms. We think independently and we prefer to be in control of our own destiny. We are unwilling to comply with policies which we play no part in formulating, especially those forced upon us by our Beijing masters, who are much disliked by generations of Hong Kong people because of the Communist Party's disastrous past.
Disregarding mainland China's own poor record on human rights, a fair society and good governance, cadres continue to have the father-knows-best attitude when addressing Hong Kong's "problems".
However, a father who drinks, gambles and abuses his wife should be ready to deal with defiance from his children when dishing out codes of conduct for them to follow.
Hong Kong will never be the same again. It has transformed from a money-oriented shoppers' paradise and China's window to the outside world into a city of protests and a thorn in Beijing's side.
Occupy has touched the life of everyone in the city. Who can forget the images at the numerous climatic stages? A young man holding up two umbrellas when police launched tear gas into the crowds in Admiralty; the rows of colorful tents in the middle of a busy thoroughfare; the Lennon wall with hundreds of glued-on handwritten messages; the face of student leader Joshua Wong Chi-fung on the cover of magazine; and the huge yellow banner hung on the Lion Rock with the words "I want real universal suffrage" written on it.
Looking back, there were isolated ugly and shameful incidents of violence and showboating. Many people had their 15 minutes of fame, and many more claimed to have tasted martyrdom.
But the dedication and sacrifice of the thousands of quiet, peaceful and persevering protesters, including those who manned the supply tents and medical aid stations, the tutors at the study area and the people who brought in food, cannot be ignored. Their altruism in a city known for political apathy and self-centredness is an indicator of their deep discontent of the local government and the Beijing masters.
No one knows what the future holds, but if the Communist Party decides to issue another edict which infringes Hongkongers' high degree of autonomy, it shouldn't surprise anyone if there is another massive act of defiance, maybe on a larger scale.
The mainland official who believes Hong Kong people need to be re-enlightened could do with some enlightenment himself. He should hope that, in time, China will become a kinder, gentler nation with good governance, a fair society, and tolerance for dissenting voices. Maybe then Hong Kong people will gladly embrace policies handed down from a mother country that leads by example.
