Hong Kong Protests Persist

The protest is being led by students and youth groups

       As they did a week ago, thousands crammed into the streets of Hong Kong's business district as pro-democracy protests stretched to one week.  An order has finally arrived: Clear out before Monday, or else.  Many swarmed in the Admiralty district to hear the evening speeches.  Many also barrelled into a secondary protesting area in the Mong Kok.   Chief Executive of the city C.Y. Leung is under pressure from protesters demanding his resignation.  "The government will take all necessary actions to restore social order" echoed Leung in a TV appearance.  The protesters blocked a 3000 group of government employees from entering government buildings on Friday.  At least 19 people have been arrested, 150 injured and 12 still hospitalized due to the protests.  

       The US Consulate in Hong Kong has warned all US citizens to avoid the protest areas due to the risk of escalating violence.  Many are not opposed to the cause that the protesters are fighting for, it is the violence that they are opposed to.  Peter Bentley, a retiree said "It's anarchy.  These are ours streets.  What I oppose is anarchy.".  What the demonstrators are upset about is the recently enacted policy giving Beijing power on who can run as a candidate for the chief executive (CE) roll in the 2017 election.  While this may sound like an improvement from the previous 1200-member committee comprised of Beijing loyalists choosing the CE many argue that it is not.  They argue that the right to vote is useless if the candidates are hand-picked by the capital.

       I believe that the Chinese government is encroaching too much on the affairs of Hong Kong.  Ever since the "one country, two systems" policy was enacted in 1997 when Hong Kong was handed over to China from Great Britain, I think that this problem was eminent.  I don't think that one capital can successfully rule two essentially different situations without corruption.  This seems to be growingly apparent with every turn we seen in this case.  Basically Beijing has tried to change the people of Hong Kong's perspectives by allowing them to vote for their chief executive.  However, the fact is that all of the candidates must be approved by the capital.  I think that the situation needs to be one of two things.  Either, Beijing allows Hong Kong to select their own candidates for chief executive or, the Hong Kong people are absorbed into China, and there are no more two systems.  I do not think China can continue to operate smoothly with the existing one country, two systems mentality.  

 William Deo

Adapted from:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/04/world/asia/china-hong-kong-protests/index.html?hpt=hp_t2