From young to old , rich to poor, lawmaker to student to media mogul - democracy protests have united Hongkongers from all walks of life
STAFF REPORTERS
PUBLISHED : Monday, 29 September, 2014, 5:23am
UPDATED : Monday, 29 September, 2014, 8:44am
Riot police armed with tear gas confront protesters at Connaught Road Central in Admiralty. Protesters used goggles, masks and umbrellas as shields. Photo: Sam Tsang
Politicians, democracy advocates, lawmakers, senior citizens and young students – all converged on the harbourfront in Admiralty to defend a site where the city’s political landscape could be reshaped forever.
Many had rushed to the government headquarters after waking up to the news that Occupy Central had begun in the early hours of yesterday.
Among them was Mrs To, a silver-haired 92-year-old, who did not tell her civil servant son she was going to Tim Mei Avenue to be with the protesters. She would wait to be arrested, she said, and hoped someone like veteran Democrat Martin Lee Chu-ming could bail her out.
“When I heard [Benny] Tai say Occupy had started after I woke up, I immediately packed my backpack and came – ready to be jailed. The pursuit of democracy is worth my sacrifice,” said To, adding that the Communist Party could not be trusted.
Ng Tim, 82, was accompanied by her daughter.
“I came here to support the poor students. I came from the mainland when my land was seized by the communists. Years on, they are just as bad, forcing the younger generations to suffer to this extent. I support democracy.”
Also showing support to the students and the Occupy sit-in was 60-year-old Kim Yeung. “After learning that it had kicked-off, I felt obliged to come,” she said.
But youngsters were also keen to get involved. Among them was Andrew Wong Chun-hin, 14, who said: “There is no reason for adults to shoulder the responsibility alone.”
Wong said his family neither supported nor opposed his action.
Lee, co-founder of the Democratic Party, arrived at Tamar shortly after Occupy Central declared the start of its sit-in and he spent the rest of the night with the protesters.
Accompanying him was Next Media boss Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, who said it was time to choose “a silent or a free city”.
“That’s why we’re occupying Central. This is about making sacrifices. Without sacrifice, we cannot have civil disobedience,” he said.
Both left the site at around 5pm. The pair said they wanted to check on other protest groups.
Also at the occupied site were 18 lawmakers, including three from the Civic Party, six from the Democratic Party and three from the Labour Party, according to legislator Alan Leong Kah-kit. Former legislators Audrey Eu Yuet-mee and Yeung Sum were also there.
Police remove Albert Ho, Joseph Cheng and Emily Lau. Photo: David Wong
In a hastily formed alliance between the students and Occupy Central organisers, some students chose to stay to join the sit-in, but others were hesitant.
Thomas Lee, 19, an accounting student at Shue Yan University, said his participation in the class boycott had come to an end. “I’m tired. I’ve been here since Friday afternoon,” said Lee. “I will most probably not come back.”
He said the announcement that Occupy Central had started was one factor in his decision to leave, as he had not made up his mind to attend the “illegal” civil disobedience movement.
Samantha Tse, 26, a student at the Academy for Performing Arts, said she had to leave to go to work, but would return in the evening. “It may get more dangerous at night. I must be there for the [students],” she said. “I’m not going to abandon them just because people are saying the movement was hijacked. My core goal is to support the students and I will do so until the end.”
Tourists also showed their support for the protesters. Michael Lin, from Taiwan, said: “Hongkongers supported our ‘sunflower campaign’ and this time we stand by them.”
Stuart Lau, Samuel Chan, Chris Lau, and Joyce Ng
Key dates in Occupy Central campaign
January 16, 2013: Benny Tai Yiu-ting raises the idea of Occupy Central in commentary entitled "Civil disobedience is the most powerful weapon"
February 28: Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor comments on Occupy Central for the first time, saying she does not want it to happen
March 27: Tai, Reverend Chu Yiu-ming and Dr Chan Kin-man release Occupy's manifesto
June 9: Almost 700 supporters join Occupy's first "deliberation day" to set priorities; Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying warns there is "no possibility" Occupy could be peaceful
August 8: Former radio host Robert Chow Yung forms the Silent Majority for Hong Kong, vowing to rally 10,000 people to oppose Occupy
October to November: 3,000 people take part is a series of deliberation days to debate principles of universal suffrage
May 6, 2014: Third deliberation day shortlists three models backing public nomination for the 2017 chief executive election
May 28: Organisers say movement will be a failure if fewer than 100,000 people vote in their June referendum
June 7: Zhou Nan, former director of Xinhua's Hong Kong branch, says "anti-China forces" are using Occupy to try to seize control of Hong Kong, warns of PLA intervention
June 14: Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun leads seven-day march to promote referendum
June 20: Referendum begins in face of massive cyberattacks; almost 800,000 votes cast
July 1/2: Students stage a "dress rehearsal" for Occupy after annual pro-democracy march; 511 arrested after overnight sit-in in Chater Road
July 19: Robert Chow-led Alliance for Peace and Democracy begins anti-Occupy signature campaign, culminating in a march
August 31: Standing Committee of National People's Congress lays down restrictive framework for 2017poll. Occupy campaigners say "era of disobedience" has begun
September 22: Students start week-long class boycott
September 23: Occupy campaigners hint mass sit-in would start on National Day
Sunday: As student protesters refuse to leave government headquarters, Tai announces start of Occupy in 1.45am speech
Jeffie Lam
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1603521/united-they-stand-democracy-protests-bond-hongkongers-all-walks-life
