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Manifesto: Safeguarding democratic rule in Hong Kong March.
China has
Hong Kong is now at a historical turning point. Hong Kong's future political design and democratic development depend upon the position of both
both the Chinese and British governments and the preference of the citizens of Hong Kong. The Chinese government has tried to intimidate Britain and Hong Kong. threatened to take a non-cooperative stand in regards to Hong Kong affairs in the transitional period in an attempt to force the citizens of Hong Kong to end their support of democracy and the British proposals. Britain has obviously bowed to the Chinese government during the Sino-British talks. This leads an already very conservative political arrangement into nothing. We have to wait and see whether the British Government will make more concessions in the future.
The citizens of Hong Kong are ambivalent towards the political talks. On the one hand, most citizens want democracy, on the other hand, we are afraid that the Chinese government will harm the stability and the livelihood of our society. Furthermore, the continual threats by the Chinese government increase the worry that the Chinese government will destroy the economic prosperity of Hong Kong in order to achieve the aim of suppressing democracy in Hong Kong. With these mixed feelings, Hong Kong people feel pessimistic and powerless about the future.
In Facing this important point of history, we should not be so pessimistic and powerless. Rather, we should define our aims, take positive action, and seek a better understanding of the existing situation. We firmly believe that democratic institutions are needed to protect freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. Only democracy can ensure that Hong Kong people, in the long term, are able to lead a life of security and happiness. If Hong Kong people give up their fight for democracy and yield to the Chinese government, it will destroy the spirit of "one country, two systems" and "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong. As a result, this will cloud the rule of law and the freedoms and lifestyle of Hong Kong people which we treasure so much. Do we want to pay this price for a superficial stability?
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If we treasure the Hong Kong which we built, and hope that it will be far better in the future, the only way forwards is democracy. We hereby call on all people in Hong Kong to stand up to tell the truth, to state clearly that we want full democracy in Hong Kong.