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Opinion | Passion for Hong Kong should guide protesters to initiate a way out of the deadlock
- Most would-be advisers look to the Hong Kong government to take the first step, but why not the protesters? A leadership council could be convened and a meeting called, inviting all stakeholders to commit to a way forward for Hong Kong’s future
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“Liberate Hong Kong; revolution of our times.” The slogan serves as a red flag to Hong Kong government loyalists and the central government alike. It was first used in 2016 by activist Edward Leung Tin-kei, now imprisoned for his part in the violent Mong Kok protests in February 2016, when democracy activists tore up paving stones to throw at police trying to break up street vendors assembled for Lunar New Year celebrations, an illegal but usually tolerated act.
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That one night of violence is now seen as a prelude to a month and a half of rage, as Hong Kong’s yellow-helmeted protesters began a cycle of violence, culminating in the group assault on two mainlanders at the Hong Kong International Airport late on the night of August 13.
The brutal actions upstairs in the departure hall, where protesters blocked check-in passengers for many hours, overshadowed the peaceful demonstration by hundreds of protesters in the arrival hall downstairs.
Rueful protesters later apologised to travellers, holding up signs saying they were “deeply sorry” and “made imperfect decisions” because they were desperate.
The rolling thunder of the avowedly leaderless protest movement has done far more damage than any observer expected, let alone the protesters. Those who believe the protesters are freedom fighters see a fight to the death as one that could change China; those who believe they are destroying Hong Kong are ready to throw them in jail and if police support from the mainland is helpful, so be it.
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