50 years on, Hong Kong protest pioneer has no regrets (but he’s got no time for today’s radicals)

Fifty years ago today, dressed in a turtleneck sweater, black jacket and dark sunglasses, a reedy 25-year-old staged a hunger strike outside the Star Ferry pier’s concourse in Central. So Sau-chung, a translator, was protesting at the fare increase for the boat ride between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, back then a vital link between the two areas. His defiance drew sympathy from some members of the public. But it was his arrest the following day that prompted thousands to take to the streets of Kowloon in violent protest. It sparked one of the biggest disturbances in Hong Kong’s recent history and led to an official inquiry, which admitted a chasm existed between the colonial government and the people. Fifty years on, the pioneer of social protest in Hong Kong has no regrets. “My actions have awakened many young people since then and to some extent what I did had inspired the social movements in the 1970s,” So told the South China Morning Post in an interview last week. But So, who became a Buddhist monk in 1996, slammed the activists involved in the Occupy Central protests and advocates of Hong Kong independence. “They oppose everything the government does. They only care about grandstanding, rather than the betterment of the society.” On the morning of April 4, 1966, So ambled into the Star Ferry Concourse ready to take matters into his own hands. On the back of his black jacket he had painted in white the words in English and Chinese words that read: “Hail Elsie! Join hunger strike to block fare increase”. He had been inspired by then urban councillor Elsie Tu who was the sole dissenter in the Transport Advisory Committee that had approved the fare rise for the cross- harbour ferry service. The route was then a vital link between Hong Kong and Tsim Sha Tsui. Tu had launched a petition against it and collected more than 150,000 protest signatures. But the overwhelming opposition failed to impress the committee and the government-appointed body recommended in March 1966 that the fare be increased by five cents. “The committee insisted on approving the application for the fare rise despite strong public opposition. Public opinion was not even worth a five-cent coin,” he said. Police power was unchecked at the time. I was then prepared for the worst-case scenario that I could die for my cause So Sau-chung “I feared other public utilities might follow suit after the Star Ferry raised its fares. I was determined to do something to stop the chain reaction. “My protest was inspired by the non-violent activism of Mahatma Gandhi in India,” So said. “Police power was unchecked at the time. I was then prepared for the worst-case scenario that I could die for my cause.” At that time, protests were unheard of in Hong Kong. When he was arrested on April 5, thousands took to the streets of Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, sparking several days of violent protests. The mayhem lasted for four days until April 9, as mobs threw stones at riot police, looted shops and set fire to buses and various public facilities, including fire stations. One person was killed in the disturbances and 26 injured. Tributes pour in for legendary Hong Kong activist and campaigner Elsie Tu, who died aged 102 So was charged with “causing an obstruction”. He was later found guilty but was let off with a notice to be on good behaviour for two years with a bond of HK$200. So, who was born in Guangzhou, migrated with his family to Hong Kong in 1949. He studied at Salesian English School in Shau Kei Wan. He married but later divorced and has no children. In the 1960s, he contributed articles to various newspapers and magazines and later in the 1970s taught English grammar at evening schools. So, now 75, became part of the history of the Star Ferry pier, which was demolished in the face of protests in December 2006. I regret that what I did half a century ago had little impact on young people nowadays So Sau-chung The colonial government appointed a commission of inquiry in May 1966 to look into the causes of the disturbances. The commission’s report said evidence relating to the outbreak of the disturbances suggested a gap between the government and the people. “Within the economic and social fields there are factors that need to be watched, lest they provide inflammable material which could erupt into disturbances should opportunities arise in the future,” it said. History repeated – Mong Kok riot similar to deadly Hong Kong unrest of 1966, says former top policeman So said that most of the people arrested over the 1966 riots were teenagers. “There was serious shortage of recreational facilities for young people at the time. We only had two public parks back then - Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens and Victoria Park.” He said the government attached more importance to youth work and provision of recreational facilities after the riots. “I regret that what I did half a century ago had little impact on young people nowadays. They barely know Hong Kong’s history,” So lamented.

50 years on, Hong Kong protest pioneer has no regrets (but he’s got no time for today’s radicals)

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}When So Sau-chung started a hunger strike on April 4, 1966, to oppose a Star Ferry fare rise he unleashed forces that reverberate to this today

When So Sau-chung started a hunger strike on April 4, 1966, to oppose a Star Ferry fare rise he unleashed forces that reverberate to this today