Communism spills into Hong Kong
In 15 years of Chinese rule, the citizens in Hong Kong feel, Communism is gradually gripping the otherwise free and open Hong Kong society, as Chinese government install mainland loyal as chief administrator of the island.
Local human rights groups estimate the number of people flung to protest the sworn in ceremony of new leader
cross over 400,000 while police put the number to be around 65,000. Chinese president Hu Jintao swore new leader amidst spectacular ceremony, which is held on July 1 every five years.
One of the protestors interrupted Chinese president Hu while he delivers speech calling on the new leadership to resolve “deep disagreements” ranging from recent government scandals and political discord in the free-wheeling financial centre after a year of transition.
“While we recognise Hong Kong’s achievements 15 years after the handover, we must also be conscious of the deep disagreements and problems in Hong Kong society,” Hu said.
The local authorities had all arranged for tight security for sworn in ceremony, held at the same harbor-front venue where the British handed Hong Kong back to Communist Party-run China exactly 15 years ago, and Hu’s visit.
Hong Kong is the only area under China’s territory where yearly demonstrations are held against Beijing’s 1989 crackdown in Tiananmen Square. China has remained tight-lip over the incident. Hong Kong residents are also wary over increasing incidents of human rights violation in mainland China and silently spilling over to the island.
Media reports quote Hu expressing China’s confidence in Hong Kong’s role as a free, law-abiding society, though Beijing remains anxious over recent tensions.
Early last month Chinese dissident Li Wangyang died under suspicious circumstances in a hospital in Hunan. It made Hong Kong residents more furious.
“Hong Kong’s human rights record has backtracked,” one of the demonstrators, Theresa Cheng, a 20 year-old university student told Reuters. “Freedom of speech is shrinking and reporters are facing more obstacles.”
Despite opposition, Hong Kong continues to be ruled by Beijing loyalists, if not by the communist party members. The new leader Leung, 57, is Beijing-backed surveyor and son of a policeman, who made his fortune through real estate business.
He has championed grassroots causes such as poverty alleviation and building more public housing though he has been alleged of six illegal constructions in his $64 million hilltop villa.
“I believe that we can resolve the conflicts that exist in our society and the clashes that may arise from different values or political ideologies,” he said his inauguration speech. “With our concerted efforts, Hong Kong, this Pearl of the Orient, will shine even more brightly.”