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Letters

Current unrest is struggle for decency
When will Hong Kong officials awake to reality and serve the people? The Occupy Central action and related recent street protests are merely the culmination of years of frustration with officials who are not doing their job.
Politicians receive large salaries to serve us, not some ideologues in remote northern palaces. "One country, two systems" means that the Hong Kong system has lawful demands which should be strongly upheld by our officials. Any politician who serves outsiders rather than us is unsuitable and should resign.
In the past few years, our economy has become unbalanced, depending too heavily on land speculation, brand name tourism, and a financial sector manipulated by international bankers.
Many youths face an uncertain future and our elderly face destitution, with little dignity, cooped up in marginal housing while they see luxury flats being touted as safe havens for mainland hot money.
Our government squanders [more than]HK$60 billion on a railroad to save an hour going to Guangzhou and enormous sums on a bridge to Macau to speed gamblers there, but cannot devise a modern, equitable retirement scheme for our citizens.
Officials criticise protesters for breaking laws, but everyone knows laws are man-made devices, contrived by the wealthy and powerful to maintain their status. Even young policemen are being made supporters of an unjust social order, ordered to fire tear gas at other young people struggling for reforms.
The current unrest is not primarily about voting reform; it's primarily a struggle for decency, for equality, for justice and for sharing.
It reflects the moral struggle that Chinese society and each one of us must engage in; that is, whether to pursue our selfish desires, such as greed and lust for power, versus a deeper yearning for a more just social order.
The best statesmen in China's history - those whom we admire and honour - are those who struggled for the higher good and for the benefit of the many, as opposed to private advantage or personal glory.
Politicians in Beijing and Hong Kong should learn from our winter of discontent to drop their outdated and damaging political views and move to a fairer, more just and all-inclusive society with dignity for all.
If Confucius were alive today, I believe he would say, "Serve the many; stop kowtowing to the few."
J. Garner, Sham Shui Po
 
Protesters thumbing noses at law
In their quest for democracy, the protesters have neglected to give any consideration to the rule of law, which is a key element in democracy and one of the pillars of Hong Kong's strength.
They have caused chaos illegally and ignored a High Court injunction to clear the streets. This is shocking, especially since Benny Tai Yiu-ting is an associate professor of law at the University of Hong Kong. What kind of law is he teaching?
The Hong Kong legal system is based on common law in which precedence is important. Given the actions of the protesters, what kind of precedent are they setting for the future? Are they saying that anybody with a grievance, justified or not, can flout the rule of law and demonstrate illegally?
The rule of law is weak, at best, on the mainland. Are the protesters not weakening the law here by their actions?
C. Elizabeth Wong, Mid-Levels
 
Admiration for police and students
I refer to the letter by David Tolliday-Wright ("Commissioner of police must act to reopen our city", October 21). Few police forces would have been able to keep the degree of patience as our force, especially its frontline policemen and women
Befitting its reputation as Asia's finest, the force's subsequent restraint shows it did learn from the September 28 tear gas fiasco.
Our student protesters have also shown themselves to be like few in the West.
They have not burned a single vehicle or vandalised one shop, winning admiration around the globe for their civility. We can be glad, and proud, that our police force and student protesters are unlike many in the West.
W. L. Chang, Discovery Bay
 
Officials not elected in ancient Greece
I am delighted that an intelligent article has finally been published in your pages (by Dabing Li), questioning the premise that democracy is automatically a "good thing" ("On its last legs", October 24).
He points out the obvious truth that elected politicians engage in popularity contests by bribing the electorate with financial gifts the state (the hard-working taxpayers) cannot afford.
He refers to "one man, one vote" in ancient Greece.
What I guess many people do not understand is firstly this really meant "man" (not women) and excluded the majority of residents who were foreigners or slaves.
More interestingly, of the three institutions, only one was an open "parliament" where any attending eligible citizen could indeed vote on policy.
However, the other two day-to-day managing bodies had their officials appointed for a fixed term by lot.
So they had no reason to pander to the "people" because they were never up for "election".
So under Greek democracy, no one was elected to power.
This system survived admirably for two centuries.
Dallas Reid, Mid-Levels
 
Free press one of Hong Kong's core values
The blockade of the offices of Apple Daily by opponents of the Occupy Central movement was wrong.
The protesters were trying to deprive the public of its right to learn about what was happening.
Press freedom is one of the core values of Hong Kong. It allows us to have up-to-date information about what is happening in the city.
Some may claim that the protesters were supporting core values, but they were not because they were attempting to deprive others of basic freedom.
I do not know how the Occupy Central movement will end. However, when it comes to coverage of the events, there has to be a high level of transparency.
This is essential if we are to protect one of Hong Kong's core values.
Renee Fung Hoi-kiu, Tsing Yi
 
Stop sitting on fence over use of tear gas
Lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee ought to use her recently acquired American education to teach her staff to draft coherent letters on her behalf.
Her letter ("Many police forces opt for tear gas", October 22) is a composition of contradictions and avoiding the issue.
She refers to my letter ("Define rules concerning use of tear gas", October 17) and then totally fails to address the point I raised.
Mrs Ip quotes two case studies with opposing conclusions but fails to state any conclusion about what she believes. She says that the use of CS gas in warfare is banned but, because of US pressure, not in domestic situations. Mrs Ip, which is the correct view?
That its use in war is highly injurious to soldiers but acceptable for use on civilians? Saying that CS gas is used by "large numbers of law enforcement agencies" is no justification that it should be used at all because it is not necessarily always an alternative to other forms of force but an easy option to proper policing.
Mrs Ip, stop sitting on the fence. Is CS gas acceptable for use on civilian populations at all, and, if so, why?
David Chappell, Lamma 
 
Constructive talks needed with leaders
I hold a neutral standpoint towards the Occupy Central movement. I find some of the political issues too complicated to fully understand.
However, like the protesting students, I am in favour of Hong Kong having democracy.
I urge the Hong Kong public to show tolerance towards the protesters. I think it has been little more than a nuisance to citizens in terms of the effect it has had on their daily lives.
Surely, it is worth the inconvenience if it brings improvements to our lives.
Occupy Central protesters have urged the government to listen to public opinion. I am sorry for people who have been affected, but if we do not voice our opinions today, no one can be sure that our political system will not be exploited.
However, the protesters must behave in a rational manner in their dealings with police officers. I agree that some officers have gone too far on the front line of the protests, with protesters attacked in Mong Kok and tear gas used at Admiralty on September 28.
I was disappointed by what I saw as unprofessional conduct by police. However, despite this kind of behaviour, the protesters must stay calm.
The government should be taking the initiative. It needs to calm down a tense situation by holding more talks with the student leaders and not reject their proposals out of hand.
Constructive talks need to be held as soon as possible.
Shirley Sham Wing-yin, Yau Yat Chuen


Letters to the Editor, October 28, 2014

The high-speed rail link will cost billions. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Commissioner of police must act to reopen our city

Police officers guard in Mong Kok during "Occupy Central" Movement.

Democracy is on its last legs

Democracy seems to have failed in many places, both socially and economically, and often in glaring fashion. 

Letters to the Editor, October 22, 2014

Police fire tear gas in Admiralty. Photo: Sam Tsang

Letters to the Editor, October 17, 2014

Protesters in Guangdong rally over incinerator plan. Photo: AP

Opinion

When will Hong Kong officials awake to reality and serve the people? The Occupy Central action and related recent street protests are merely the culmination of years of frustration with officials who are not doing their job.
