Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leaders yesterday called on Hong Kong and Chinese authorities to squarely face Hong Kong residents’ demand for democracy.
The call came one day after Hong Kong media magnate Jimmy Lai’s (黎智英) home was raided by officers from the territory’s Independent Commission Against Corruption and two days ahead of Beijing’s scheduled announcement about the nomination procedures for the 2017 election for the territory’s chief executive and and a planned rally by the pro-democracy Occupy Central group.
Lai has long been a harsh critic of Beijing and a supporter of pro-democracy activists and groups in the territory. His media empire has frequently suffered as a result.
Photo: Wang Yi-sung, Taipei Times
DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) was asked about the raid on Lai’s Kowloon home when she was in Greater Taichung attending the party’s civic economics conference.
Hong Kong’s rule of law has always been highly regarded in the region and the people have trust in the judicial system, especially the anti-graft agency, Tsai said.
However, she refrained from commenting specifically on Lai’s case, saying that she needed more details before she could do so, but added that the agency’s actions come at a sensitive time.
Tsai urged the Hong Kong government to uphold its traditional judicial system, free from political interference, and called on both Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to take residents’ demand for democracy seriously.
Separately, former DPP chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said Beijing needed to make good on its promise to Hong Kong about respecting the territory’s democracy and freedom, and said he believed that Hong Kongers’ pursuit would one day be as successful as Taiwan’s.
On Facebook, Su said the political situation in Hong Kong has everyone who cares about democratic values worried.
“The raid on Mr Lai’s home should not be viewed lightly or be ignored. Taiwanese are not unfamiliar with similar tactics that are used to oppress democracy and freedom,” Su wrote.
“There should be no boundary to support for democracy. Taiwan should voice its support for Hong Kong’s democratic movement. President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) should not remain silent on this,” he wrote.
“Maybe it can be blocked for a moment, but democracy cannot be thwarted forever. Taiwan has been through this in the past; Hong Kong will [one day go through it] as well,” he added.
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