By Adrian O'Sullivan November 18, 2014 / 15:57 HKT
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Fernando Cheung at the Mong Kok protest site on Nov 13. Photo: Adrian O’Sullivan
After performing a mock-police announcement under the banner, “We Serve with Pride and Care Too!” in Mong Kok last week – and as bailiffs move in today to clear the Admiralty protest site – Hong Kong legislator Fernando Cheung (AKA the "Long Hair of the social service sector") spoke to Coconuts Hong Kong about the continued importance of the protests.
While some might suggest that the appearance of politicians at Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests are rooted in ulterior motives, Labour Party vice-chairman Fernando Cheung always receives a warm welcome from the crowds. Having stayed at the Mong Kok site for several nights while attempting to mediate between the police and protesters, Cheung's official but famously rebellious standing in society encourages those on the frontline to stay defiant but calm.
The protests are indeed close to his heart. Cheung introduced a motion for a referendum on universal suffrage for the 2007 chief executive elections, and refused to visit Beijing in 2004, choosing instead to protest with fellow Hongkongers.
Speaking to Coconuts HK while back at the Mong Kok protest site last Thursday, Cheung highlighted some of the problems he believes continue to plague the territory. “There are a lot of things that have accumulated over the years: how the government is mistreating its people, how the society is unjust, the huge income disparity, the huge housing problem and, of course, nowadays the younger generation encounters a lot of difficulties even making ends meet.”
Cheung noted that despite the country being hugely prosperous, “about 20 percent” still live in poverty. Laying blame at the feet of the government, he added, “They don't want to confront the very core problem that we don't have a political structure that represents the peoples' will in this modern society. It cannot go on like that anymore.”
The UC Berkeley graduate was dismissive of political involvement in the protests and defended his choice to attend. “As a legislator, I have the mandate to represent the people in promoting democracy but, in this campaign, the Pan-Democrats are not very visible.” He added that he is partaking in the protests as a “facilitator” and “supporter”, clarifying that the movement itself still has an “uncoordinated leadership”.
While some have argued that such internal fractures have seen the demonstrations continuing without direction or control, Cheung sees it as a “utopia”.
“People are very self-disciplined: they clean their own places, they recycle, they engage in all sorts of cooperation to make the occupy districts more habitable”, he said. “You look at what's happening in Admiralty... it's almost like a society of people taking according to their needs and giving according to their abilities.”
Cheung's desire is for this picture ofself-reliance to create a ripple effect in Hong Kong as a whole, thereby providing an example to the further community. “It's a sort of baptism”, he exclaims. “By sustaining these districts it will serve as a model, or a place for people to go through this baptism. They come through the districts and talk to people and learn what they want, appreciate the exhibits.”
Young demonstrators offering free screen printing. Photo: Adrian O'Sullivan
However, while Cheung was quick to note the benefits of the seemingly utopic autonomy of the protest, he also suggested that the demonstrators themselves would resist moderation. “In this campaign, a lot of participants do not like the idea of being led by whomever because they come out on their own will and they are putting themselves at risk of being beaten up by the police, triad people and all sorts”.
He admitted that some Hongkongers have found the inconvenience of the occupation “intolerable” and that “to some extent some peoples' lives and traffic are being adversely affected”. However, he stressed that the current situation is due to governmental negligence. “It is really the government's responsibility in responding to this request instead of the occupiers leaving the areas without receiving any positive response.”
Protesters in Mong Kok on Oct 3. Photo: Alex Hotz, Coconuts Media
As a recent poll shows a decline in public support for the protests, Cheung acknowledges that his party's popularity could similarly be affected. He claims, however, that it's a price worth paying.
“This is not a one-sided issue. It is controversial and of course the means of achieving the end is even more controversial,” he argued. “This campaign is really not about anybody's private gain. It is about the future of Hong Kong, in which everybody has a stake and therefore it is important that everybody gets involved.”
http://hongkong.coconuts.co/2014/11/18/coconuts-chats-legislator-fernando-cheung-about-uncoordinated-leadership-hong-kong
