Small groups of pro-democracy demonstrators remained on Hong Kong’s streets yesterday, after protest leaders agreed to talks with the government and some students returned to school for exams.
Talks between the government and student leaders are progressing at a snail’s pace, although even protest leaders are now acutely worried that further disruption could alienate supporters.
The mass protests for fully free elections have brought parts of the territory to a standstill for more than a week and while many remain supportive of the movement, they also want to resume their daily lives.
Photo: Reuters
A second round of “preparatory talks” was held late on Monday night in a bid to set conditions for formal negotiations. Students had already agreed to talks with Hong Kong Chief Secretary Carrie Lam (林鄭月娥), but called them off on Friday after what they described as “organized attacks” on protesters at the Mong Kok demonstration site.
Yet a Hong Kong delegate to China’s National People’s Congress said the protests could not overturn Beijing’s August decision to vet candidates for the territory’s 2017 leadership elections.
“I don’t see why the National People’s Congress Standing Committee would change its decision... It was a nationwide decision and the decision has to face the country’s 1.3 billion people,” Rita Fan (范徐麗泰) told reporters.
Yesterday was another day of traffic mayhem, with diversions causing jams and commuter frustration, and the reopening of primary schools adding to the chaos.
The few protesters that remain are still determined to make their point, though unsure of the result.
“To be honest, I don’t have confidence that we can succeed, but whether we succeed or not, I am giving my best. I also learned that we can speak out when it is needed,” said Dickson Yeung, 20.
Demonstrator numbers grew throughout the day, but remained low at protest sites as well as outside the central government offices. Yet despite dwindling crowds, today’s opening of the Legislative Council was postponed to next week.
“I am not assured that there is a quiet and safe environment in the surroundings for a meeting to be held,” Legislative Council President Jasper Tsang (曾鈺成) said.
Pro-democracy lawmakers slammed the cancelation.
“You can’t dodge it forever. Even if you postpone it for three weeks, public anger will not go away,” Civic Party leader Alan Leong (梁家傑) told reporters.
The Taiwanese passport ranked 33rd in a global listing of passports by convenience this month, rising three places from last month’s ranking, but matching its position in January last year. The Henley Passport Index, an international ranking of passports by the number of designations its holder can travel to without a visa, showed that the Taiwan passport enables holders to travel to 139 countries and territories without a visa. Singapore’s passport was ranked the most powerful with visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227, according to the index published on Tuesday by UK-based migration investment consultancy firm Henley and Partners. Japan’s and
NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT: An official said that Guan Guan’s comments had gone beyond the threshold of free speech, as she advocated for the destruction of the ROC China-born media influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China content that threatens national security, the National Immigration Agency said yesterday. Guan Guan has said many controversial things in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” while expressing hope for expedited “reunification.” The agency received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification last year. After investigating, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and account for her actions. Guan Guan appeared as required,
Japan and the Philippines yesterday signed a defense pact that would allow the tax-free provision of ammunition, fuel, food and other necessities when their forces stage joint training to boost deterrence against China’s growing aggression in the region and to bolster their preparation for natural disasters. Japan has faced increasing political, trade and security tensions with China, which was angered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would be a survival-threatening situation for Japan, triggering a military response. Japan and the Philippines have also had separate territorial conflicts with Beijing in the East and South China
A strong cold air mass is expected to arrive tonight, bringing a change in weather and a drop in temperature, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The coldest time would be early on Thursday morning, with temperatures in some areas dipping as low as 8°C, it said. Daytime highs yesterday were 22°C to 24°C in northern and eastern Taiwan, and about 25°C to 28°C in the central and southern regions, it said. However, nighttime lows would dip to about 15°C to 16°C in central and northern Taiwan as well as the northeast, and 17°C to 19°C elsewhere, it said. Tropical Storm Nokaen, currently
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