Source:
https://scmp.com/comment/letters/article/1900095/do-hongkongers-care-about-steady-erosion-two-systemsLetters
Do Hongkongers care about the steady erosion of ‘two systems’?
Placards shows some of the missing booksellers from Hong Kong's Mighty Current publishing house, known for books critical of Beijing, are piled up during a protest in Hong Kong on January 10, 2016. Thousands of protesters marched through central Hong Kong on January 10, demanding the release of five missing booksellers who are feared to have been detained by authorities in mainland China. AFP PHOTO / ISAAC LAWRENCE
On Sunday, I witnessed the protest march in Central relating to the missing booksellers and people’s concern over freedom of speech. It appeared to be well (if very heavily) policed, with the protesters somewhat solemn and well behaved.
What struck me most forcibly was the relatively modest attendance – 6,000 people, we are told, or less than 0.01 per cent of Hong Kong’s population. This apparent lack of interest over an issue so fundamental to Hong Kong’s future as freedom of speech and the maintenance of the Basic Law is, I believe, worthy of comment.