GARY CHEUNGgary.cheung@scmp.com
PUBLISHED : Friday, 24 October, 2014, 1:58pm
UPDATED : Friday, 24 October, 2014, 7:38pm
Former Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa meets the media at the Office of Former Chief Executives in Central. Photo: Felix Wong
Beijing will not use military force to disperse Occupy Central protesters as it is adamant that the Hong Kong police is capable of handling the pro-democracy protests, the city’s first chief executive said on Friday.
But Tung Chee-hwa called on protesters to end the occupation as it had caused a very negative impact on Hong Kong’s economy, people’s livelihood, the rule of law and had torn the community apart.
“The occupation is approaching one month and now it’s the time to end it,” he said, adding that he was worried that the civil disobedience movement was spinning out of control.
“The rule of law is the cornerstone of Hong Kong’s success. We can’t violate the rule of law while pursuing democracy,” Tung said.
It was the first time he met the media since the Occupy Central began on September 28, and the second press conference he held since early last month.
Tung issued a statement on October 5 urging students to leave protest sites, but he did not meet the media. The pro-democracy demonstrations have lasted for 27 days.
“I met Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying recently and I know he want a peaceful solution to the Occupy Central,” said Tung, who is also vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Asked whether the central government had issued any instruction to the Hong Kong government on how to handle the protests, he said: “The [People's Liberation Army] won’t be sent to streets in Hong Kong. I have full confidence in Hong Kong police to handle the protests and he continues to do so.”
Asked whether it was the central government’s position, he said: “yes”.
“I want to say some words to students taking part in Occupy Central: your aspirations have been heard and I fully understand what you are fighting for,” Tung said.
“But you should understand that the public nomination of candidates for the 2017 chief executive election goes against the Basic Law and the decision of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. It can’t be achieved.”
The former shipping tycoon said he understood that bookings at local hotels had plunged by 20 to 30 per cent in recent weeks while overall credit-card spending had also dropped by similar proportion.
“It’s the fourth quarter when companies start deliberating pay rises and hiring. In the light of uncertainty arising from the Occupy Central, they may wait and see. Foreign companies may also hold back their decisions to set up offices and make investments in Hong Kong,” Tung said.
“The negative impact of the Occupy Central will go beyond our imagination,” he said.
He added that the protests had unavoidably adversely affected relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland.
He said he was glad that student leaders and government officials started the talk on Tuesday and hope the dialogue would continue.
“In civilised societies, conflicts are resolved through dialogue, not in streets. Students should not use the occupation as bargaining chips for negotiation with the government,” Tung said.
Lee Yu-hin, a 54-year-old man who has been taking part in the protests on and off since late September, said Tung was just repeating the official line. "People won’t listen to what he said. CY Leung is the only person who can end this by stepping down," Lee said.
Tam Yiu-chung, chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the largest pro-Beijing party in the city, said he believed James Tien's call was a result of his poor relationship with Leung.
"Everyone knows James Tien does not like Leung Chun-ying all along. It is not surprising for him to make such a call when there is an opportunity," Tam said.
James Tien was a supporter of Leung's rival Henry Tang Ying-yen in the chief executive race two years ago.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1623704/former-hong-kong-leader-tung-chee-hwa-urges-end-occupy-protests
