Hong Kong will change for the better – but only when the protest violence comes to an end

There is no way the Hong Kong and Beijing governments can yield to the violence that threatens the constitutional order
However, once order is restored, the SAR government will not be able to proceed without making serious reforms

Bernard Chan

Published: 6:15am, 16 Aug 2019

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I am constantly being asked how Hong Kong is going to recover and move on from its current crisis – this cycle of increasingly violent demonstrations throughout the city. Frankly, it is a question everyone in Hong Kong, whatever their political views, must now be asking.

The best answer I can give is that the disorder and violence must stop first. Once that happens, I believe the community can engage in some serious – and productive – dialogue about how to solve our serious underlying problems.

But this cannot happen while we are experiencing significant disruption to transport – now even closure of the airport. Or while demonstrations result in damage to public buildings, including the Legislative Council and numerous police stations.

This unrest is the worst in decades. It is affecting day-to-day life for residents, and some experts believe it is putting additional stress on people’s mental health. It is reducing visitor arrivals and causing serious concern among the international and local business community.

Tragically, it has got to the stage where we are seeing injuries – some of them serious. If this goes on, there could be fatalities.

Hong Kong’s protesters aroused anger in Beijing when footage circulated of them tying up Fu Guohao, a reporter for China’s Global Times newspaper, during their mass demonstration at the Hong Kong International Airport on August 13. Photo: Reuters

It is so serious that the central government’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office has held unprecedented press conferences on the situation in Beijing. Beijing’s officials also held a day-long meeting in Shenzhen for around 500 members of national and local political bodies and the business community.

My own feeling – partly based on Beijing officials’ very clear announcements – is that everyone in Hong Kong should now accept two things. Whether you like them or not, these are, I believe, basically certain.

Hong Kong must be pragmatic if it is to remain the Pearl of the Orient

The first is that neither the Hong Kong or national government can or will “back down” in some way in the face of violent unrest arising from unauthorised street protests.

The second is that once we have a calmer situation, especially an end to violence on the streets, we are going to see some real changes for the better in Hong Kong.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam and members of her Executive Council meet with the press in Tamar on August 9, where they urged an end to the protests over the damage done to Hong Kong’s economy. Photo: May Tse

This first statement – I would call it a certain fact – is a simple response to the demonstrators’ various demands over the last couple of months.

The government did make some concessions when the first big marches against the extradition bill took place in early to mid-June. It announced that it was abandoning the proposed bill. It also accepted that it had not performed well in listening to public opinion and in policymaking generally.

Here’s how Carrie Lam could end the protest chaos in a single speech

Protesters have made a number of demands, including for the official withdrawal of the bill, for an amnesty for people who have been arrested, for an independent investigation into what has happened and for political reform.

Put simply, it is not practical or even possible for the administration to meet this set of demands. An amnesty sounds simple but raises all sorts of legal issues. Political reform, as we all know, requires Beijing’s consent.

More important, the central government has made it clear as a matter of principle that no administration can make concessions in the face of violent street demonstrations. This is a matter of constitutional order, and there cannot be any flexibility on this. Beijing’s officials have made it clear that the disorder is a challenge to “one country, two systems”.

They have also expressed total confidence in the local authorities to handle the situation – but they could take more action if things get worse.

What does this all mean? Simply that disruptive action on the streets will not succeed in accomplishing anything. There is really no purpose to these protests – they just cause chaos and damage.

This brings me to my second statement.

Just as I am sure violence will get us nowhere, I am also sure that when calm returns, Hong Kong will be able to make genuine progress in key areas. Beijing’s official statements leave scope for various approaches to expand dialogue and work on reconciliation – when we have order.

To be blunt, there is no way the local administration can or will go back to business as usual after this

There is plenty for the community to discuss. In practical terms, I would expect some serious rethinking of government policy on livelihood issues, including land and housing but also other areas. This also points to a more open approach to policymaking.

To be blunt, there is no way the local administration can or will go back to business as usual after this.

But we have to start by getting back to law and order on our streets. Further violence and risk of injury is pointless. Once we do that, there is a lot to be gained from peace and stability.

Bernard Chan is convenor of Hong Kong’s Executive Council

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