Tens of Thousands Protest in Hong Kong

Tens of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators have taken to the streets in Hong Kong to protest Beijing's plan to vet candidates for the post of chief executive of Hong Kong in the 2017 elections. Since 1997, when Britain handed Hong Kong back to China, the chief executive has been selected by a 1,200-member election committee with pro-Beijing leanings. Last month, China agreed to allow direct elections in 2017, with the proviso that voters will only be able to choose from a list of pre-approved, almost undoubtedly pro-Beijing candidates. The protesters are demanding the freedom to choose their candidates. More...

Many countries today have oppressive and authoritarian governments but they put on a show of being democratic.

***** MY OPINION *****

Yes, China is a brutal dictatorship.

But -- to be fair -- it differs from other dictatorships in two ways:

1. It delivers the goods. That is, if you keep your mouth shut about politics, more and more Chinese can enjoy a very high standard of living. (Look at the misery in other dictatorships, such as Russia, Zimbabwe, etc.)

2. It does not have sham (dishonest) elections. In fact, it does NOT have elections!

a. Russia has "elections." And they are a farce. An insult!

b. At least the Chinese dictatorship does not insult the intelligence of its people by pretending to have elections.

3. The poor Hong Kongers. Did they think that China would ever let them have genuine democracy?
Well, at least Taiwan knows that it should NEVER, EVER believe what China says.

a. History is a funny thing. It can really astonish us.

i. It may take 100 years for China to become a democracy -- or it may happen tomorrow.



James

History under British rule has given Hong Kong a taste of the democratic process. They have prospered under this style of government. But I have to agree with others that democracy is sometimes/often hypocritical, a sham.

People thought they have democracy under British rule until they have really looked at Hong Kong history. Which governor of Hong Kong under British was elected? Sir Murray MacLehose? Sir David Wilson? or Chris Patten? (BTW, why Chris Pattern is not knighted? does British blame him or losing Hong Kong to China or what?)

Every Chief Executive under China was elected, albeit from a vetted group.

I find it funny this time line in the article:

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Hong Kong democracy timeline

1997: Hong Kong, a former British colony, is handed back to China under an 1984 agreement giving it "a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs" for 50 years
2004: China rules that its approval must be sought for changes to Hong Kong's election laws
June-July 2014: Pro-democracy activists hold an unofficial referendum on political reform and a large rally. This is followed by protests by pro-Beijing activists
31 August 2014: China says it will allow direct elections in 2017, but voters will only be able to choose from a list of pre-approved candidates. Activists stage protests
22 September 2014: Student groups launch a week-long boycott of classes in protest
2017: Direct elections for chief executive due to take place
2047: Expiry of current agreements
****

Yes, you can. Stalin was born in your country.

Robert, we can't undo history. Global connections have led people to view themselves, their communities with different eyes. Yes, mainland Chinese people enjoy a higher level of education, a higher standard of living but, they have to toe the line. And I have stated that living in a democratic world is not all that it professes to be. I lived in Hong Kong for two years prior to 1997, very much a 'colony' at that time, suffering acute anxiety at the thought of being re-integrated into China. The world continues to unfold...

I do believe that we have the internet to thank for the turmoil in Hong Kong and in other areas of the globe, thanks to the proliferation of knowledge and information circulating through the "air". It is obvious that all peoples would like, "a taste of the democratic process". Of course in America, the Supreme Court and the Republican party are attempting to do away with real Democracy in this country. Sad, very, very sad...

Ignorance is not usually defined by political viewpoints, James. I'm sure there are as many Republican idiots are there are Democrat idiots.

Oh, and as a sidenote, some Southern states as recently as the sixties were firmly convinced that black people should not have votes at all. Nor any other constitutional rights and protections.

Not the best example with which to make your case, my friend.

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Sanity is not statistical

The only weapons being brandished by the protesters are umbrellas, they are so passive and innocent, I cant get the scenes of Tienanmen Square out of my mind.

Its a holiday, commemorating beginning of communism in China, I think Pedro.

Ah, you mean ineligible rather than unqualified. On the plus side, at least they're committed enough to the democratic process to show up and cast a ballot, unlike so many eligible voters.

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Sanity is not statistical

Its not tens of thousands but hundreds of thousand of people, with families, little children and older people now.

s002wjh, welcome to the forum, its good to have you, yes that is one of the requests, to be able to nominate their own governor.

The theory goes:

After the People's Army slaughtered the people in Tiananmen Square in 1989, the government and the people reached an unspoken agreement:

The government will work hard to give the people a high standard of living and a lot of personal freedom.

The people will avoid politics and accept the Communist Party as their masters.

That's just how I roll. The glass is half full ( and there are four lights...)

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Sanity is not statistical

Meanwhile, a billion mainlanders say " 10,000 ? We lost that many in statistical errors last year. Who gives a ..."

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Sanity is not statistical

True, but they're rather in the position of the occupy movement from last year ( or whenever that was - I've been busy ) - the people with the power to move change outgun them. Noble, magnificent, fascinating, polite ( that's cool ) but ultimately....

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Sanity is not statistical