LettersHong Kong protests are providing hope to young people who need it
- Hong Kong is indeed a deeply divided society, because young Hongkongers want it to be distinct from the mainland and their leaders aren’t listening
I was personally present in the assembly at the night of July 1 and could not have been more moved by what I had seen. Regardless, I do understand that sentiments do not play a pivotal role when it comes to discussion of legal and lawful matters.
It is true that Hong Kong has descended into “a weaker, more divided society” upon the end of Occupy Central. However, it is important to bear in mind that the ultimate cause of the societal divisions would be Hong Kong people’s reluctance towards, and ardent desire to distinguish themselves from, the governance of China.
It is only because government officials, including Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, had decided to adamantly implement laws that do not respect the authenticity of Hong Kong, that the people decided this was the last opportunity for them to voice their opinions, regardless of the cost.
Mr Wan states that the violence and chaos seen on July 1 was “not what Hong Kong needs or what [his] city stands for”. Regretfully, I am afraid that Mr Wan did not share the anger and exasperation of nearly 2 million people in Hong Kong, after the chief executive decided not to offer any particular response towards the five appeals agreed upon by most of the protesters.
Mr Wan has also described the acts of protesters inside the Legislative Council, saying they “[reveal] the ignorance of those rioting” and suggested that such ignorance was due to their failure to recognise “the suspension of the extradition bill”. I hope Mr Wan would acknowledge that such suspension is temporary and conditional in nature, which means that Mrs Lam can always bring up the bill again if she intends to after the next Legco session in 2020.