Demosisto drops call for Hong Kong self-determination: survival tactic, or real change of heart?
- Party hopes to stop officials banning its leaders from contesting polls, analysts say
- Manifesto tweak ‘a step towards ensuring its place in Hong Kong’s political landscape’
Hong Kong political party Demosisto began the new year with a change to its manifesto, which observers read as a sign that its youthful activist leaders are finally getting to grips with the reality of politics.
With that, it said, the party would focus on strengthening civil society, uniting the city’s pro-democracy forces, promoting progressive values and working to further consolidate the democratic movement.
Its original manifesto also pledged to call for a referendum in 10 years’ time to let Hongkongers decide their fate beyond 2047, when the “one country, two systems” principle expires.
Demosisto chairman Ivan Lam Long-yin said that in dropping its advocacy of self-determination, the party would no longer push for the referendum.
Political analysts believe the change reflects a number of issues, not least the party’s realisation that Beijing will not budge on the issue of self-determination or talk of independence for Hong Kong.