Tonight, five representatives from the Hong Kong Foundation of Students (HKFS) are meeting with five representatives from the local government to discuss the terms of release for the occupied areas of Hong Kong. Talks, which have been scheduled and cancelled twice before, are currently taking place in a bid to shape a solution to the Umbrella Movement.
Universal suffrage, the right of everyone to elect their own leaders, is a concept that many argue was promised when the agreement was signed at the British handover in 1997. With universal suffrage loosely promised within twenty years of the treaty, a recent decision by CCP to limit the choice of nominees to “no more than three”, all of whom have to be handpicked by Beijing, has not been well received by all.
Student activist groups, which previously called for the resignation of Chief Executive CY Leung for the mismanagement of the protest, hope tonight to gain some ground in their push towards a “true democracy”. If the talks go well, the protesters could essentially leave their posts and cease the city’s occupation.
Luke Tong, a local office worker, is unsure what to expect. “It’s difficult to say because we still don’t know what the result will be”. He was in favor of a retreat from the Mong Kok site saying, “Central and Admiralty are the main offices but here, it depends. A few days ago the police cleared [the roads]. I think it’s okay if they clear [Mong Kok].”
Vicky Lam, a student at Hong Kong Design Institute, was more optimistic on some points, but hopelessly resigned on others. “Actually, I have a hope that they will have some really positive results.” She added, however, that the protesters should only leave Mong Kok, “when we get what we’re striving for”, despite admitting that full universal suffrage was unlikely to be granted. “To see the reality, I would say there’s never going to be an end to this.”
Tony, a retiree from Yau Ma Tei, was equally doubtful of a positive outcome. Although he claims to be a strong supporter of the protesters’ cause, he says “enough is enough.” His message to the HKFS delegates is: “You can’t do anything because your opponent is a communist.”
Given the weight of power behind the Hong Kong government and the importance of their relationship with China, it seems unlikely that they would revoke the recent decision. Now in it’s 28th day, the student protests and Occupy movements have stirred up local and international debate. Whether anything is granted to those out on the streets tonight, the events that have taken place over the course of the movement has undoubtedly changed the future of Hong Kong forever.
Photos: Laurel Chor/Coconuts Media and Adrian O’Sullivan
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