Black day: Hongkongers gather on National Day to protest against mainland China's hand in city
Around a hundred Hongkongers clad in black and holding yellow umbrellas gathered at Tsim Sha Tsui’s Clock Tower this morning, vowing to defend the city’s core values from being further eroded under the mainland’s rule.
Citing the University of Hong Kong governing council’s rejection this week of Johannes Chan Man-mun’s pro-vice-chancellor appointment as but one example, organisers said the city’s rule of law and other pillars of society like academic freedom are under threat at a faster rate than expected.
Civic Party lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki, one of the organisers, said: “This is the first National Day after the 79-day Umbrella Movement and many of us don’t know how to celebrate as the core values of Hong Kong have been attacked a lot over the past year.”
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Another organiser, Dr Stephen Ng Kam-cheung, said Beijing is tightening its control over Hong Kong like “cooking a frog in boiling water”.
“If we don’t stand up to speak out now, we won’t have the chance anymore,” Ng added. “We can’t allow our core values and conscience to be twisted by others.”
“We can’t let the governing council off the hook. I suggest a class boycott by teachers and students - we need to occupy Hong Kong University!” Hon said to cheers and applause.
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After representatives of various professional groups spoke, participants concluded the one-hour event by singing “Do You Hear The People Sing” from the musical Les Miserables.
Although many in attendance noted that gathering and singing would not bring any actual change, they believed it was still important to come out and voice concerns for the city’s future.
