Hong Kong `` wall '' symbolizing division January 21 16:14

The city of Hong Kong has changed completely since last June. "Walls" appeared everywhere, including shops and universities in the city. It has been more than seven months since a series of protests against the Chinese, Hong Kong governments and police began. Intense clashes with teardrops and fire bottles are on the decline, but protests are ongoing in pursuit of a democratic direct election. As we walked around the city, we saw a variety of "walls", and we saw the reality of social fragmentation. (Guangzhou branch reporter Takeo Baba)

"I can't see where" hotel owners grief

Tsim Sha Tsui, one of Hong Kong's most popular tourist destinations, with shopping malls and hotels. Last month, it was decorated with brilliant Christmas illuminations, but the tourists who came and go were sparse.

In Hong Kong, the number of tourists from mainland China and overseas has dropped sharply due to the effects of protests, and sales in the retail and food and beverage industries have fallen. Last year's GDP growth is expected to turn negative for the first time in 10 years.

Mr. Liu Yan Mei (77) who runs a hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. Every year, Christmas and New Year's holidays are almost fully booked with tourists, but even if the hotel charge is reduced to one third, only 20% of the room is occupied. I talked about giving up.

Hotel Management Liu Yan Mei "The worst in the last 40 years. In 2003, when the new type of pneumonia" SARS "became popular in Hong Kong and other countries, the number of tourists decreased, but Hong Kong's society was united. Now, society is fragmented and there is no telling when peace will return. ''

"Yellow economy" has become a social phenomenon

“Division” of society that Liu is concerned about. The iconic smartphone app that has become popular among young people. At first glance, it looks like a gourmet app, but the companies and restaurants on the map are colored yellow for stores that support protests and blue for those that are close to government or police.

When I used the app to visit a noodle restaurant classified as a yellow store, a row of young people had been formed before the store opened. It is said that people who want to show protest in everyday life besides the march gather. During the interview, a young male customer shouted the protest slogan, “Regain Hong Kong! (Gwangbok Hong Kong)”, and watched other customers respond to “Revolution!” I did it.

Shopkeeper Lee Shira (45). Originally indifferent to politics, he now offers students free meals and donates a portion of their sales to protests. The slogan "Fight for Freedom" was printed on the receipt.

Mr. Lee Shiran, owner of a noodle restaurant “The police are violently violent. I do not want to see bloodshed or injured. I thought I had to raise my voice to see if there could be something the store could do.”

Lee's shop has seen 80% more visitors since the app was introduced in yellow. Such a movement is called the "yellow economy" and has become a social phenomenon.

"Blue" exposed to headwind

Meanwhile, stores marked “blue” in favor of government and police are facing headwinds. Destruction was succumbing to a group of youngsters who appeared to be radical demonstrators.

In addition to the capital in mainland China, foreign brands were also targeted if local businesses operating stores in Hong Kong were considered blue, and Japanese beef bowls, sushi chains and American coffee chains were also damaged.

In order to prevent further damage at these stores, the streets of Hong Kong have been completely changed, with a series of places covered with “walls” made of wood or iron boards. I visited a coffee shop colored blue.

Shopkeeper Lee Gaiko (51). Originally, in Hong Kong, police were so popular that many movies were made with police officers as the main character, and Mr. Lee was also fond of it. He said he did not want to see any further confusion in his native Hong Kong.

However, since the app turned it blue, the number of visitors dropped dramatically for a time. Friends and patrons also left. In addition to the harassing phone calls, a slew of slanderous comments such as "cockroaches" and "selling people" were posted online. Lee asks himself why this has happened.

"I support the police because it's only the police who protect security. I'm afraid that writing on the net is aggressive and I think that the store may be destroyed. I want you to come back. "

Hong Kong society at risk

Protesters are starting to ring their alarm bells in the rapidly dividing society. We visited experts who have contributed to Hong Kong newspapers and others who called for tolerance for different opinions.

Associate Professor Huang Wei, 49, specializing in public policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Huang, a 31-year-old student at the university, attended a protest rally against the Chinese government in Hong Kong following the Tiananmen incident in Beijing.

We have been consistently supporting the protests of young people since the beginning of last June. When the students stood up in college last November, the police stayed on campus and watched the situation to the end, with many tear bombs firing. When I walked with the burnt campus with Huang, I was guided to a large concrete “wall”.

It is said that the Hong Kong government has set up the road leading to the university so that it will not be occupied again. Huang criticized the response of the government and the police as creating the division.

Huang Wei, Associate Professor of Chinese University of Hong Kong “It seems as if a 'new Berlin wall' has been created. It is the government, not the protesters, that is responsible for the social turmoil. I'm worried that I'm getting stronger and my freedom of learning and speech may be threatened. ''

On the other hand, Mr. Huang was concerned that some young people would sometimes go for exclusive measures.

"If you disagree, your store will be destroyed and your Hong Kong freedom and democratic values ​​will be compromised. The yellow economy should be tolerant."

The protests and the division

In Hong Kong, there is a difference in position between pro-China and pro-China, who are in tune with the Chinese government's policy before protests, and those who are critical and demand freedom and democracy. did.

The difference is deepening as a division of society, as China is becoming more vigilant. During the election of the parliamentary members, which democrats overwhelmed in November last year, there were cases in which "pro-Chinese" and "democratic" candidates were attacked by anyone. I feel that this division has become a "wall" and is appearing everywhere in society.

With the Chinese government taking a tough stance and the Hong Kong government not accepting the demands of its citizens, there are no signs of converging protests. It is expected that the election of the legislative body, which is the legislature, will be even longer in anticipation of the September election.

I hope that the ongoing protests for liberty and democracy in Hong Kong will not adversely affect the diversity and forgiveness of Hong Kong society, and I will continue to look to the future.

Guangzhou Branch Reporter Takeo Baba Joined in 2007 Joined Akita Bureau, Nagoya Bureau and International Department
Guangzhou since July 2017