Violent protests are clearly not 'non-cooperation movement’

The MTR Corp issued a notice last Tuesday morning about receiving numerous reports of protesters obstructing train doors from closing and abusing emergency buttons on platforms. This brought much inconvenience to commuters due to disruption of train services. In particular, services along the Island line and Kwun Tong line, which runs across the city’s important industrial and commercial districts, were temporarily suspended. In recent weeks, radical protesters have repeatedly disrupted the operation of elevators in public buildings and obstructed MTR train doors from closing in what they called a “non-cooperation movement”. Such unlawful actions that seriously affect the daily lives of citizens must be severely condemned.

The so-called “non-cooperation movement”, originated from Mahatma Gandhi’s approach to combat Britain’s unjust colonial rule in India, is a non-violent campaign against an unjust political regime. It is preposterous that Hong Kong protesters call their destructive actions a non-cooperation movement. To start with, what the radicals have been doing since last month are mostly violent acts that have contravened the law and destabilized society — which goes totally against the spirit of a non-cooperation movement. Secondly, Gandhi’s resistance movement was launched because the country was unjustly ruled and exploited by a colonial power with many citizens living in poverty. As an Indian who suffered discrimination and humiliation in his own country, Gandhi was compelled to rally all Indians behind his non-cooperation campaign in order to fight British colonial rule. In contrast, the participants of Hong Kong’s so-called non-cooperation campaign relentlessly disrupted the daily lives of citizens.

The radicals self-righteously and wantonly indulged in acts that disrupted the normal lives of citizens, against the public interests. Non-cooperation movements in the past were aimed at boycotting foreign products, promoting local industries and national education. In contrast, Hong Kong’s radical protesters are sabotaging the city’s stability and prosperity in collusion with external anti-China forces — under the pretext of opposing proposed amendments to the extradition laws. Their ill intentions are appalling.

China-bashers in the West claim that democracy in Hong Kong is being undermined. They are lying through their teeth. Under British rule, the governor was directly appointed by the British monarch, and many positions in the British Hong Kong government were held by British people. Since Hong Kong’s return to China, the central government has, in accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law, implemented the principles of “one country, two systems” and “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong” to ensure a high degree of autonomy for the HKSAR, so Hong Kong residents now enjoy unprecedented civil rights and freedom — a fact that is obvious to all. The truth stands the test of time. The radicals would better bear Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying’s remarks at mind: “Hong Kong is part of China; the Chinese government will not tolerate any foreign intervention in Hong Kong’s affairs, nor will it allow any external forces to destabilize Hong Kong.” Those involved in these protests should brush up on history. They would then realize that no traitor escapes unscathed after hurting the nation and its people.

The author is a current affairs commentator and a member of Hua Jing Society. This is an excerpt translation of his Chinese article published earlier in Hong Kong Commercial Daily.