Hong Kong’s Scholarism suspends its work ahead of the formation of a new ‘less politicised’ student group
Some of the Scholarism leaders including Joshua Wong will form a political party to contest the Legislative Council elections in September
Student activist group Scholarism, which played a leading role in the 2014 Occupy protests, suspended work yesterday before completely disbanding to form a new, “less politicised” group.
The end was announced a month before the formation of the new political party to be led by the group’s convenor, Joshua Wong Chi-fung, alongside a few core members.
From Occupy to ballot box: new Scholarism party could end up clashing with old guard democrats in Legco elections
The party is preparing to field at least two candidates in the Legislative Council elections in September, setting the stage for younger players to enter an arena dominated by ageing veterans.
It is also planning a referendum in 10 years’ time for Hongkongers to decide their own future beyond 2047, the expiry date for Beijing’s 50-year promise to run the city under the “one country, two systems” formula.
Wong said the group he formed five years ago was now too heavily politicised in the wake of the 79-day pro-democracy sit-ins in 2014, making it difficult for them to reach out to schools.
“I managed to conduct sharing in some 30 schools after I finished the public exams, but after the umbrella movement I have been [invited] by only one or two schools, with one being besieged by Beijing-friendly protesters and the other cancelling the sharing session after the incident,” Wong said on Sunday. “That’s my first-hand experience.”
Describing the break-up of Scholarism as a tough decision, Wong said it would help the group to reposition itself, with a new student body – to be formed in six months – focusing on student issues and civic education, while the party concentrated on elections and greater democracy.