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Veteran journalist Robert Chow Yung on Tuesday played down the idea of occupying Central, which would cause uncontrollable unrest to Hong Kong as he said.
Both proposers and opponents of the Occupy Central campaign attended a public forum. Chow said at the forum that he fully understands the need for universal suffrage, but Hong Kong is soon reaching “the dawn, there is no reason to create darkness before dawn.
"We will soon become the pioneer of democracy of the country after decades of waiting," Chow said, "Why should we return to darkness on our way to dawn?"
He also shrugged off one of the proposers of the campaign Benny Tai’s claim, that the rationale behind Occupy Central is “love and hope.
“Love, hope and civil disobedience have no correlation. Who can guarantee there will be no blood and violence in the course of Occupy Central? said Chow.
Tai, who sat next to Chow at the forum, said Occupy Central will not go on show next year, “If the Central government cash the cheque" i.e put through genuine universal suffrage, which is what he sincerely hopes.
He cited the example of renowned U.S. revolutionist Martin Luther King. King staged a massive protest 50 years ago, because the then American government did not implement the law properly by granting equal social status to every citizen, with severe racial discrimination widespread across the States. With his series of acts of disobedience, King created historical breakthrough in racial equality for the country, if not the world.
He stressed that he in fact puts trust in the incumbent national leaders, who have fresh minds to rule and make judgment.
“I firmly believe in the new generation of the Chinese political leaders, that they will learn from the mistakes in our history, said Tai.
The campaign was triggered off by an article of Tai in June this year. He wrote that in pursuit of real democracy and universal suffrage, people should start off a civil disobedience campaign, in a peaceful but illegal way. The aftermath of the campaign must be far-reaching like a nuclear bomb, such as paralysing the traffic system of Hong Kong’s financial hub.
Tai, a legal scholar, said based on Article 39 of the Basic Law, requirements in International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights should be complied with in stipulating methods of elections of the lawmakers and the territory's chief.
“Requirements stated in the covenants are not complicated, nor are the thresholds high. We just have to make sure the methods are fair enough, so that citizens can concretely make their choices, Tai said. “Lack of nomination rights amongst public may not definitely violate the covenants, but what we seek is procedural justice.
Senior media worker Leung Lap-yan echoed Chow, saying that large scale revolutions, including King’s March to Lincoln Memorial aforementioned by Tai, Indian hero Ghandi’s fight for independence and ex- South African leader Nelson Mandela’s efforts to extinguish racial disparity treatments, were due to “grave injustice.
“We’ve already had a universal suffrage timetable, said Leung, “But if you just find it ‘not enough’, I don’t think this is a justifiable reason to kick off such a destructive action.
Leung further quoted the stories of the revolutionary politicians. “Mandela was put into prison, and Ghandi was assassinated after their actions, he said, “Now let’s look at Arabian Spring and Jasmine revolution. I don’t think Occupy Central will end in a peaceful manner.
Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, another organizer of Occupy Central, roundly rebutted Chow and Leung’s prosection. He said he had been taking part in rallies in the city for more than 30 years. Every single one was well disciplined.
“Even a rally with mountains of participants left no rubbish on the street; we all tidy the mess afterwards. How could there be any unrest at all? said Chu.
Both Tai and Chow expressed willingness to listen to different voices about views to democracy. But Chow stressed that he was reluctant to talk “under threat.
“If you negotiate me with a threat to throw a 'civil disobedience bomb' on the table, I don’t think it’s gonna work, said Chow.
He said Tai and his partners’ intention deep down is to make Occupy Central as a bargaining chip, and force the Central government to do as they wish, regardless of law and order.
But Tai once again denied the claim. In the contrary, he said if the Chinese mainland government lifts up to its promise before the action, he will stage a parade to celebrate the achievement of genuine universal suffrage, which will be a milestone to the entire Hong Kong.
