Unrest in Hong Kong

[yohy?!]

Have been following the protests closely over the last 2 days, the police action on sunday night was universally condemned globally and led to a huge back down the following day. Protests have been overwhelmingly peaceful with protesters even cleaning up the streets of rubbish and sorting for recycling!

The pressure is on now for the Chief Executive to stand down (something which protests have achieved successfully before) and the impending National Day holidays will see hordes of mainland visitors cross the border - something Beijing must also be very mindful of.

 

[Programme]

Well it's not passive defiance. News reports say teargas was deployed 87 times...someone's keeping tally.

The use of tear gas two nights ago was not repeated last night despite there probably being more people out last night. It would seem that the police are trying to prevent the situation escalating.

I have also been following the situation closely and all agree that the protests have been very peaceful. The most serious incident last night was probably someone in a Mercedes trying to drive down the occupied Nathan Road in Mong Kok.

 

[get me outta here]

The White House has made a public statement supporting the protestors. I'm not sure that is actually potentially helpful to the people on the ground.

 

[badseed]

Two of my HKG-born mates flew back on CX178 last night. Both wanted to get in on the action as they're passionate about political rights in HKG. They really don't see themselves as 'Chinese', and don't want it to become more like the mainland in terms of political / press restrictions.

I've had word from one that it's 'business as usual' at the airport, and that the protests are very calm and most people affected by the disruptions are being at minimum very polite, if not supportive. Many folks bringing in food and other supplies.

Best of luck to them all!

 

[Programme]

Two of my HKG-born mates flew back on CX178 last night. Both wanted to get in on the action as they're passionate about political rights in HKG. They really don't see themselves as 'Chinese', and don't want it to become more like the mainland in terms of political / press restrictions.

I know that there are many exceptions, but it's not at all unusual for non-mainland Chinese such as those from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or western nations not to identify as 'Chinese', and might be something that outsiders find perplexing. Most of these people are descendants of people who fled China over the last hundred years or so due to persecution, war, famine or all of the above - some of which could be attributed to the current regime in China. It doesn't take much action on behalf of any entity representative of mainland China to stir up some disquiet, although actually acting on it is rather unusual.

Best of luck to your buddies.

 

[yohy?!]

if anyone's interested there is a good live reddit thread here that is constantly being updated with content

[live] Occupy Central Civil Disobedience Movement

 

[Foreigner]

October 1 should be interesting day. The protesters have set themselves up in TST, Kowloon too. More here:

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSKCN0HN03Q20140930?irpc=932

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

To provide some further slightly off-topic but certainly related context, I highly suggest finding last night's Foreign Correspondent program from the ABC on iView. A journey in Uigher country to hear their stories. The inability to do so and interference from the central government was beyond alarming. This is certainly nothing close to a modern society. The Chinese were so worried about the report going to the air that apparently the Chinese ambassador himself visited the ABC and begged for it not to be screened - stating that their will be consequences for Australian-Chinese relations if it was.

As I say - not directly on Hong Kong but gives some eye-opening insights into how Beijing really operate and maybe offers a few clues into their likely desired handling of this crisis.

 

[Foreigner]

To provide some further slightly off-topic but certainly related context, I highly suggest finding last night's Foreign Correspondent program from the ABC on iView. A journey in Uigher country to hear their stories. The inability to do so and interference from the central government was beyond alarming. This is certainly nothing close to a modern society. The Chinese were so worried about the report going to the air that apparently the Chinese ambassador himself visited the ABC and begged for it not to be screened - stating that their will be consequences for Australian-Chinese relations if it was.

As I say - not directly on Hong Kong but gives some eye-opening insights into how Beijing really operate and maybe offers a few clues into their likely desired handling of this crisis.

ABC TV also had interview with Anson Chan, former chief secretary of HK. I just heard the interview on ABC News Radio. Link here:

Beijing's pre-screening of candidates not acceptable to HK - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[Anna]

Now that it has spread to TST, am I going to be able to go shopping at Harbour City or am I just going to have to make lots of spa appointments at my hotel? What about getting to the Ladies Market? DFAT isn't answering these important questions.

 

[yohy?!]

Now that it has spread to TST, am I going to be able to go shopping at Harbour City or am I just going to have to make lots of spa appointments at my hotel? What about getting to the Ladies Market? DFAT isn't answering these important questions.

I wouldnt bother with Ladies Market as it will be chaos getting in there with the protest site right near by - its full of tat anyway

Harbour City should be fine as the TST protest is quite small (all of the protest sites are very well behaved sit ins so really security is not an issue unless the police decide to get heavy again which they haven't for days)

check my reddit link above for regular updates on protest size and current status

 

[ctrunfree]

Thanks for the reddit link - very helpful.

 

[JohnK]

Not looking good.

 

[ctrunfree]

What's not looking good JohnK? - the reddit feed situation looks pretty good to me.

 

[Isochronous]

Two of my HKG-born mates flew back on CX178 last night. Both wanted to get in on the action as they're passionate about political rights in HKG. They really don't see themselves as 'Chinese', and don't want it to become more like the mainland in terms of political / press restrictions.

I've had word from one that it's 'business as usual' at the airport, and that the protests are very calm and most people affected by the disruptions are being at minimum very polite, if not supportive. Many folks bringing in food and other supplies.

Best of luck to them all!

A Hongkonger is not the same as a Chinese or a Singaporean or a Taiwanese or a Malaysian. People make the mistake of thinking China is one homogenous country when in reality it has the same amount of cultural and linguistic diversity as Europe. It is much harder for communist propaganda to brainwash the broader diaspora when most are not Mandarin speakers but instead Cantonese, Hokkien, Shanghainese, Hakka, Teochew, etc speakers.

Visit China and then you will see the profound cultural differences for yourselves.

Now that it has spread to TST, am I going to be able to go shopping at Harbour City or am I just going to have to make lots of spa appointments at my hotel? What about getting to the Ladies Market? DFAT isn't answering these important questions.

How about you come join the protest with me?

 

[get me outta here]

I am getting about just fine. The main points of difference are that there are more people on the MTR as the streets sit ins have affected some bus routes. Your main issue will be that that it's the China National Day hols starting today if you are going to be here before Monday, as people will make a it a 4 day break.

That means more people on hols to join in with the protestors, and that has included families with young children today. There are more people in the shops in general. Also, plenty of suited up security type people being helpful to all the visitors with directions and keeping an eagle eye on things.

It all feels and looks very benign, but I don't know how it can possibly be resolved with a compromise that will save face and satisfy most.

EDIT, just heard that the protestors will up the ante by taking over Govt buildings if the HKG Chief Executive does not resign by Thursday.

 

[Melburnian1]

Shamefully, the four large accounting firms were previously urging against any protests in Hong Kong:

Big Four Accounting Firms Oppose HK

Making money comes first, not religious freedom, free speech or other decadent 'Western' ideas.

 

[Foreigner]

Shamefully, the four large accounting firms were previously urging against any protests in Hong Kong:

Big Four Accounting Firms Oppose HK

Making money comes first, not religious freedom, free speech or other decadent 'Western' ideas.

Freedom of expression seems to be foreign to Beijing.

Time mag has article by Anson Chan:

Hong Kong Is Ready for Democracy, Says Anson Chan

 

[Anna]

I've rescheduled my trip for dates in 2015.

It was doing my head in worrying that some peanut would decide to escalate things to occupy the airport before my flight back home, and I would get stuck. My travel insurance doesn't cover any claims arising from "rebellion, revolution, insurrection or military action".

I probably will lose the money for the first night's hotel stay, but by Monday I may be thinking that is a small price to pay. Who knows. There was no cost to change the flight dates, but also no refund on the fare difference as the fare is actually lower for the new dates.

I'm disappointed but I just wouldn't have enjoyed myself knowing that the situation could become volatile if the authorities decide to get harsh.

 

[amaroo]

All is well at the Four Seasons.

Apparently most hotels on the Island are doing it tough. Our driver last night said the Mandarin Oriental has to walk its guests in from blocks away