By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
HONG KONG– While cheering crowds with red flags took the streets in celebration of its National Day and 60 years of Communist rule in China, protesters dressed in black lined the streets of Hong Kong denouncing China’s human rights record.
Hong Kong, a former British colony, did not participate in China’s nationwide celebration because Hong Kong is allowed to enjoy “Western-style civil liberties as part of its special semiautonomous status.” Accordingly, Hong Kong is where Chinese frequently hold events that highlight China’s human rights abuses and other issues that cannot be discussed in mainland China.
Hong Kong protesters. Courtesy of AP.
Emily Lau Wai-hing of Hong Kong’s Democratic Party said, “If China wants to emerge as a strong, big power[,] it should respect the human rights of its people. Just having economic development is not enough.”
Residents of Hong Kong marched through the downtown financial district holding placards with reminders of China’s 1989 military crackdown on pro-democracy march in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. The marchers also chanted, “We want human rights. We don’t want a sanitized National Day.”
Followers of Falun Gong also marched in silence, holding signs that read, “Dissolve the Chinese Community Party” and “Get rid of the red menace.”
Hong Kong protesters criticized China’s slow progress on human rights and democracy. Pro-democracy activist Szeto Wah said, “[W]e can serve as a window – information about China can reach the outside world and information from the outside can flow in,” referring to Hong Kong’s role in shedding light on China’s problems since Hong Kong respects freedom of press and speech.
Lee Cheuk-yan, legislative council of Hong Kong, said, “After 60 years of communist rule[,] we see a regression in human rights and we can see that the Community Party has stepped up the effort in squeezing and suppressing human rights in China.”
The protesters also carried a fake coffin, which symbolized victims who were persecuted by China’s authoritarian and communist regime, to the Central Liaison Office, which is the Chinese government’s liaison office in Hong Kong.
For more information, please see:
AP – Hong Kongers protest on China’s National Day – 1 October 2009
New Tang Dynasty Television – Hong Kong Residents March for Human Rights in China – 2 October 2009
Tibetan Review – Protests dominate China’s National Day in Hong Kong – 3 October 2009
VOA – Protesters Denounce China’s Human Rights Record – 1 October 2009
