Hong Kong's Largest and Last "Resistance" Opportunity July 28, 18:42

Hong Kong has been protesting by many citizens seeking democracy since last summer. With the implementation of the “Hong Kong National Security Maintenance Law” introduced by China, the situation changed completely, and its goal was further out. Meanwhile, the parliamentary election scheduled for September is the greatest opportunity for citizens to show resistance. But this may be the last opportunity. (Masaki Wakatsuki, Director of Hong Kong Bureau)

Town that has changed completely due to law enforcement

A young man who speaks while being surrounded by a large number of security guards. The voice also becomes smaller.

A lunchtime demo at a commercial facility that will be called out from last summer to coincide with lunch breaks. Thousands of people gathered and sometimes filled the streets around the area.

When the call for "Regain Hong Kong" was heard, the people who gathered said, "It's time for a revolution." Raise a flag with the slogan. There is no such scene anymore.

Hong Kong changed after the midnight of June 30, when the "Hong Kong National Security Maintenance Act" came into effect. In order to crack down on anti-governmental movements, the four crimes of "state division", "overthrow of government", "terrorist activity", and "collusion with foreign powers and harming the security of the state" are stipulated, but what kind of acts It is not clear if he is guilty.

Crimes against the Chinese and Hong Kong governments, which may lead to criminal offenses, have begun to firmly bind citizens' behavior.

Message disappeared, book disappeared

It's not just slogans that have disappeared. Countless memo papers were pasted on the walls of restaurants in the center. Citizens spell out their assertions and protests such as "Freedom in Hong Kong."

On the morning of July 1st, all of these notes were removed.

The book has disappeared from the library. I was unable to read or rent books for democratic activists and lawmakers. This is because the new law may be subject to crackdowns.

The loss of freedom of speech “is leading to the decline of culture,” said President Shishi Mei, a publisher.

Mr. Shishi Ming,
"Hong Kong was the most liberal place in the world for publishing. It is the greatest tragedy that we cannot announce our knowledge and issues, and that we cannot say what we should say." ..

Activists leaving Hong Kong

Activists who have called on foreign countries to support the democratization movement have left Hong Kong.

Satoshi Urakan, who has given testimony to the US Congress, announced on SNS that he has traveled to England. This is because the demand for sanctions on China, which strengthens control over Hong Kong, is regarded as "collusion with foreign powers" and feared that it would be prosecuted.

It was said that it was a tough choice for ensuring personal safety and continuing activities in the future.

"35+" strategy that gives hope

The hunted-down democracy hopes for a congressional legislative election in Hong Kong scheduled for September.

A democracy that won 80% of seats in the ward assembly election held in November last year. Taking advantage of that momentum, this time it is a perfect opportunity to aim for more than 35 seats, which is a majority of 70.

Associate professors at the University of Hong Kong, who have led the democratization movement, advocate that the majority of the legislative bodies should reject the government's budget proposal and resign the top administrative director of the Hong Kong government. We call it the "35+" strategy.

Associate professor says the ultimate goal is to bring concessions to democratize Hong Kong by putting political pressure on the Chinese government.

Mr. Daiya
"If the majority of the budget proposals are rejected and the Secretary-General resigns, the government function will cease. The central government will not control Hong Kong in a high-pressure manner and realize democratization. I want you to understand that in the end, it will cause a collapse."

But getting the majority is not easy. For China, this is a “should not happen”, and it is certain to try to prevent it.

Election system advantageous to pro-Chinese

In the first place, the legislative assembly system is so complicated that it seems to have been designed so that a democratic majority will not occur.

In Hong Kong, it was traditionally said that the ratio of democratic and pro-Chinese support was 6 to 4, but the democracy has never been the majority. Unlike legislative assemblies, where most seats are chosen by direct citizen voting, the legislative assembly is elected in two ways: "direct election (35 seats)" and "functional election (35 seats)."

All "direct elections" are voted by the citizens, but in "elections by function", 30 seats are allocated for each industry such as "finance" and "industry", except for 5 seats selected from the candidates for ward members. Citizens cannot vote. It is easy to reflect the intentions of the business world, which has a close relationship with the government, and is overwhelmingly advantageous to the pro-Chinese group.

In the last 2016 election, the pro-Chinese group held 40 seats and the democratic group held 30 seats out of a fixed 70. Among them, in the "direct election", the democracy had 19 seats, surpassing the pro-Chinese 16 seats. However, in the "professional elections", the pro-Chinese group had 24 seats, making a huge difference over the democratic 11 seats.

Capture "Efforts by Function"

Even under unfavorable conditions, the majority will be difficult without increasing the number of seats in the “professional election”. For the first time, the democracy is working on the capture of the “professional elections” in earnest. The goal is to "add one to three seats" from the last time.

Mizuka Hayashi, who aims to be a seat in the “food and drink industry” that has been called the “reserved seat” of the pro-Chinese group, has actively participated in protests while managing a hot pot shop and bar. Of the 25,000 people who were eligible to vote in the "food and drink industry" in the last election, more than 3,000 voted and voted in advance.

Mr. Hayashi believes that if more people participate in the election, he will have a chance, and he is turning around privately owned stores and calling for support.

Mizuka Hayashi
“Before the democrats won the politician's election last year, I couldn't think of trying a job-specific election. But I don't think it's possible anymore.”

Is it possible to run in the first place?

However, standing in front of the democracy is the question of "candidates are admitted?"

Since 2016, candidates who have been deemed "insisting on Hong Kong's independence" have been canceled in Hong Kong one after another. It may not even be possible to stand at the starting line of the election. In fact, several democratic candidates who have completed the candidacy process have received a question from the authorities regarding their political position.

Of particular note is the decision against candidates who call themselves "conflicts" among democrats. Most of them are in their twenties and are actively involved in protests, making clear their opposition to the Chinese Communist Party.

While strongly supported by the citizens participating in the protests, their strong attitude is likely to cancel their candidacy.

``I don't know how many people can participate in the election, but don't forget what the world is seeing,'' said democratic activist Huang Yui, and if many candidates, including myself, can no longer run for the international community, Warn that it will increase pressure.

End when you run

A candidate for "conflict", Kohei Liang, is 23 years old and graduates from college this summer. Born in 1997, when Hong Kong was returned to China, it belongs to a generation with a strong sense of thinking that it is "Hong Kong" rather than "Chinese." He says his dream is to be involved in the development of medicines.

When asked why he chose to be a politician, he said in a strong tone, "Unless someone bravely stands up, this crackdown cannot be stopped."

Mr. Kou Liang
"Hong Kong may be the only place for people of the previous generation to make money, but we are different. We were born and raised here and live here. There was also a desire to continue studying. But I don't want to see more confusing Hong Kong, so I decided to devote my youth to Hong Kong.''

More than 9000 people have been arrested for rioting in a series of protests that lasted over a year. Of these, young people in their teens and 20s account for more than 70%.

Mr. Ryo says with all his might for these fellows.

Mr. Liang
"I have no choice but to fight. If I escape, it's over."

Will it be the "last opportunity of resistance"?

It seems that China hastily enforced the "Hong Kong National Security Act" to prevent democrats from expanding their power in the elections. The extent to which a democratic candidacy is allowed will be a measure of how far China will step up its intervention in Hong Kong.

On the other hand, there is a strong sense of crisis that this may be the last opportunity for resistance for the seized democracy.

The election day, which will be the decisive battle for the future of Hong Kong, is September 6. There is also a view that the Hong Kong government will postpone the election due to the spread of the new coronavirus, which is an unfortunate situation.

Hong Kong bureau chief
Machi Wakatsuki
International Department, Seoul bureau,
through the Toyamahosokyoku
Hong Kong bureau from 2018