The protest march on the annual handover day in the
Central Business District of Hong Kong was an expected success and that is the
big news about it, this beautiful banner photograph from the South China
Morning Post coverage tells us.
There were clashes with police and over 500 were arrested,
that is the big news about it.
The protesters sounded motivated by the outcome and warned
of more intense protests later this year demanding democratic reforms and that
is the big news about it.
Over half-a-million turnout was expected and it did happen
and it tells people are becoming more and more vocal and determined about their
struggle.
And the slogan of this year’s July 1 handover day protest
march, “defending Hong Kong Authority: No fear of Beijing
Two protest marches with largest turnouts in the recent
history of Hong Kong, the June 4 Tiananmen protests vigil night and the July 1 handover
day march, that has changed its character from being a ceremonial day to a day
of protest, within a month, and that, too, against the might of a manipulative
and oppressive government, give us inspiring shots for pro-democracy resistance
movements.
Residents of Hong Kong who migrated from the mainland to have
a life away from the Chinese wars during the imperial period and subsequently
from the Communist rule are fighting to reclaim the life they had during the
colonial years especially in the later half of the 20th Century that
saw rapid economic growth making its per-capita-income among the highest in the
world.
The 17 years of Beijing
efforts have undermined much and are working to crush whatever is left in the
name of the democratic spirit of Hong Kong .
And the surging protests and the rising people tell the
spirit is well alive and kicking now. Protests led by students and youngsters
are drawing people from every segment of the city-state. Reports say Hong Kong ’s chief executive Leung Chun-ying was heckled
by politicians in the legislative council for the police action against the
protesters.
But these don’t matter until there is personal freedom and
civil liberties to choose your own government and decide on your days and your
future.
The global residents of Hong Kong know a sweeping mainland
governance with its in-built autocratic culture if implemented in Hong Kong, something
China is trying for years, will change this all, as is the case in the
mainland.
And they are protesting this – to preserve what Hong Kong was.
They are fighting to remain the free global citizens of
the third most important global business centre of the world.
