June 20, 2010
by P H Yang Photography (phyang.org)

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A group of post-80's youth (born after 1980) is demonstrating their displeasure of the current impasse of the political situation in Hong Kong by doing "walk and chalk" protests in various neighbourhoods throughout the territory.

Democratic development in Hong Kong has been a major issue since the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997. Under the principle of "one country, two systems", Hong Kong runs on economic and political systems different from those of mainland China. Hong Kong is one of the world's leading international financial centres, with a major capitalist service economy.

However, unlike its neighbours -- Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea -- and peers in terms of economic development, Hong Kong still does not have democratic elections and universal suffrage.

A team of eight walked blind-folded (to show that they will not be blinded by lies and cannot see the roadmap or endgame of the political reform), bare-foot (will not be shaped by un-fit shoes or bad reform proposals) into 5 neighourhoods.

After walking every 22 steps (for the previous 22 meandering years), they kneeled and wrote “Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong, with a high degree of autonomy” in Chinese (港人治港、 高度自治), as promised by the Basic Law (the governing constitutional document ratified in 1990), with white chalk on the pavement, to the accompanied drum beat.

The walk covered Sheung Shui to Tai Po in New Territories East; Tsuen Wan in New Territories West; Mongkok to Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon West; Wong Tai Sin in Kowloon East as well as Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island during the weekend.

The reactions from the communities were generally understated with lots of curious stares, reading the distributed flyers, the occasional questions and a few showing their approval. A young man held up a card written with “a high degree of autonomy” (高度自治) he wrote on the spot to echo his support.

On the other hand, the police response was disproportionate. Over a dozen police including at least 2 Inspectors, almost matching the number of protesters, were deployed and questioned the organizer, Chan King Fai, multiple times. The peaceful protests were more a performance art than a threat to public security.

A clear sign of over-reaction and a waste of police resources and our money as tax-payers.

The event, organized by the Post-80s Youth Against Special Interests and the Federation of University Students, mirrored “Neighbour Chalk”, convened by NeighborsForNeighbors.org, an international public art project that encourages people to create sidewalk chalk art in front of their homes and around their neighbourhood or town to create a welcoming environment for their neighbours and passers by.

Locals and passers-by noted and chatted with their friends on seeing the many chalk markings left on the pavements.

"Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong, with a high degree of autonomy.” Are we there yet?

港人治港、 高度自治 --   水中月、 鏡中花?

(Illusive as moon in the water or flower in the mirror?)