Letters | Hong Kong protesters have a far greater stake in the city than its global elite

It is disingenuous of Carrie Lam to suggest that protesting Hongkongers have no stake in the city. Not only are they affected by government policies, unlike the rich with their multiple passports, many protesters have no get-out option

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Protesters leave Hong Kong airport where a demonstration was held on August 12. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 6:50am, 16 Aug 2019Updated: 6:50am, 16 Aug 2019

Much as been written in recent weeks about the failings of Hong Kong’s leadership. It is therefore difficult to know what additional points may constitute constructive input. However, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s recent characterisation of the protesters as not having a stake in Hong Kong was – whether through now typical tone-deaf clumsiness or more insidious design – both ill-informed and offensive, and must be exposed for the nonsense that it is.

Mrs Lam’s statement appears to imply that to have a stake in Hong Kong, one must own property, be a leader of a large business or perhaps be wealthy enough to own significant shares in such companies. Certainly her continued consultations with the business sector – even quoting their consensus decision – and the Hong Kong elite, and not with the wider public whom she is supposed to serve, are demonstrative of a leader who either does not understand the concept of stakeholders or is making a deliberate attempt at disenfranchisement.

According to the World Bank, a stakeholder is “any entity with a declared or conceivable interest or stake in a policy concern”.

Like all Hongkongers, the protesters would be affected by the passing of the extradition bill, as they have been affected by all policies. Their lack of personal wealth, property ownership or business leadership in no way reduces that.

Unlike many of the elite whom the Hong Kong government has historically served and continues to serve to the detriment of the majority, however, most of these protesters do not possess second passports. Nor have they squirrelled away much of their wealth in various properties in Vancouver, Toronto or Sydney.