Letters | Who must Hong Kong thank as the flower of democracy blooms in the city? It’s Carrie Lam
- The pan-democrats could have not scored a landslide victory if the chief executive had not set anti-extradition protests in motion. But the newly elected district councillors must serve the people or be cast out. This is the beauty of democracy
But, after the euphoria of the election results, we have to face the harsh realities of life in a divided, battered city. There are trails of visible damage and destruction around the city, but also deep invisible wounds that can’t be easily closed and healed.
The results of the district council election clearly reflect how misguided were the policies of the established parties, who have been too arrogant. They should blame themselves for their blind, relentless support of the chief executive.
The repercussions for the established parties are tumultuous. So we see the beauty of democracy. The election has reshaped the political contour of Hong Kong. The newly elected pro-democrats are products of these times.
Without the social uprisings of the past months, these newly elected district councillors would perhaps have just been ordinary office workers in Central or elsewhere. Society as a whole created an environment conducive to their changes in status.
Why won’t Carrie Lam allow an independent inquiry?
But, if they don’t work hard for the people they serve, they, too, will be discarded by the electorate one day, like the established parties. This is, again, the beauty of democracy.
As US president Ronald Reagan once said: “ … democracy’s enemies have refined their instruments of repression. Yet optimism is in order because, day by day, democracy is proving itself to be a not-at-all fragile flower.”
But he added: “No, democracy is not a fragile flower; still it needs cultivating.”
I don’t mean to say democracy is a perfect system. But without the freedom to choose, we can’t replace the political system with a better one. Glory to Hong Kong.
Lo Wai Kong, Lai Chi Kok
