From college activism to the democracy front line

The young leader of the group which organises the annual July 1 democracy rally says his is a job that no one else would want.

Civil Human Rights Front convenor Johnson Yeung Ching-yin's latest battle is to get the police and government departments to agree to a starting venue for an October 1 march. Its application to use Victoria Park in Causeway Bay was turned down.

As well as organising such events, Yeung is also busy keeping in touch with the front's member organisations - of which there are more than 50, including pan-democratic parties, gay rights groups and labour rights activists.

"What I do is all tough groundwork - liaising with government, politicians and NGOs," Yeung said. "It is not easy to balance all the different voices because some are mild and some are more radical. [But] I'm not here for any political capital."

The Chinese University politics graduate got involved in activism in his student days and used to lead the Federation of Students. Last year, he took charge of the front, uncontested.

Now working as a research assistant, Yeung said his studies had been useful for his role with the front. "You got to know the nature of political parties, which are most concerned about how to woo voters," he said. "Also, as an activist, especially fighting for democracy, you cannot just chant slogans. You must back your cause with theories."

Student activism has been a strong force in the fight for genuine universal suffrage, but Yeung said all the parties had reservations about being too radical. He said persuading pan-democratic lawmakers to join forces with the federation was an achievement.