Laura Cha, a non-official member of the Executive Council, compared Hong Kong pro-democracy activists’ fight for democracy to the African-American civil rights struggle on Tuesday.
The Executive Council is the official body that advises the chief executive on policy-making and administrative matters. Cha is also the chairwoman of the Financial Services Development Council, which advises the government on the city’s finance sector, and is on the board of HSBC Holdings.
Speaking at a Trade Development Council meeting in Paris, she declared that Hong Kong protesters should accept Beijing’s decision on the 2017 chief executive elections for now, as it takes time for any country to develop democracy, reports Ming Pao.
“After the US started freeing their black slaves, it wasn’t until 100 years later that black people got equal voting rights. Even America had to go through such a long process. Of course I’m not saying Hong Kong should wait 100 years, but Hong Kong should take the first step and pocket it (Beijing’s decision on the 2017 elections).”
There is absolutely no good way to interpret that statement. But wait, there’s more! Cha is apparently an expert on comparative history and politics.
“My American Democrat friend said that he actually wanted to vote for Hillary [Clinton], but she lost in the preliminary elections, so he was forced to elect Barack Obama. So the democratic systems in the US, the UK, and other Western countries’ democracies all screen [their candidates].”
Yes, Cha, Americans voting for the candidate they want to represent their party in their presidential election (which they then vote in) is exactly the same thing as a one-party government giving Hongkongers two to three candidates to pick from.
In addition, Cha claimed that tear gas was the most “peaceful and simple way” to clear the protesters, and helpfully added that her “French friends” found it rather strange that Hong Kong people rallied behind the protesters after the police used tear gas on them.
“All foreigners know that Hong Kong has a lot of freedom, so they really don’t understand the students,” Cha also stated.
Thank God we have Cha to speak for all the foreigners of the world.
We really would love to spend an afternoon with Cha and her friends. It’d be the most entertaining time.
But at the end of the day, Cha thinks that regular non-protesting Hongkongers are the best people ever.
“Even more laughable is that Hong Kong students have been praised as world-class people, but it should be the other way around. Hong Kong people are the ones who are world-class as they have had no complaints in the face of blocked roads,” Cha said.
We don’t know about “no complaints”, but sure Cha, whatever you say. Just please stop talking.
Maybe this Change.org petition will convince her to shut up. The petittion – already signed by 5,000 people – denounces Cha’s remarks and demands that the HSBC Board of Directors make a statement.
Photo: Remy Steinegger via Wikimedia
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