Interview｜Tai Zehong Tears for 27 Years of Serving Hong Kong’s Oldest Community

"This is the best time and the worst time." This banner hanging outside Cai Zehong's office may express the aspirations of many Hong Kong people.

The Hong Kong Airport recently staged parting scenes after scenes. District councillors' farewells in the community and neighbourhoods were equally sad.

Recently, news of DQ district councillors seeking millions of salaries in political circles has triggered a wave of resignation of a large number of district councillors.

Tsai Chak-hung, who has served as a Kwun Tong District Councillor for 27 years, decided to advance and retreat with his colleagues and resigned from his post as a district councilor. The chairman of the district meeting for one and a half years ended.

In an interview with "Hong Kong 01", Cai Zehong stated that the district councils have been suppressed by the government in recent years, and many district councillors have resigned, making him no longer nostalgic and determined to resign.

After 27 years of walking with the neighbourhood, Cai Zehong lamented that the most difficult thing to let go was the love with the neighbourhood. "I have shouted countless times in the past few days, and I have seen people shout countless times." In the future, he will still follow up with elderly cases. At the same time, it will settle down, and I hope everyone can retain their will and continue to tell the truth.

As a member of the Kwun Tong District Council, I have been working for 27 years. Tsai Chak-hung believes that the most success is that the government has not ignored this district.

(Photo by Li Zetong)

"Are you going to lower your mind?" The mother-in-law asked Cai Zehong, "I don't think it's too bad. When the weather is calm, I will go back and go on a trip. Isn't it okay to have a fast?" Cai Zehong replied immediately, and the neighbors said in unison Okay, mother-in-law embraced him with a smile.

This hug is full of a thousand words, "Don’t you think that you don’t know what to do, everyone knows what happened!"

Earlier, the government amended the law to require district councilors to take an oath. Tsai Chak-hung originally planned to take the oath to stay, but he described the situation taking a sharp turn last week. He left (after leaving the council) and didn't know it was starting to become a point." As the chairman of the district council, he decided to resign with other colleagues. "Even if you swear an oath, I won't stay here." Cai Zehong said, passing the letter and feeling for a moment. Calm, "I personally don't twitch, so I decided to do it, I won't turn my head back."

However, after the neighbours have been saying goodbye in the past few days, he, who looks serious, can't bear the tears of men. "I'm going straight back (after returning to the office), don't dare to go out." He doesn't know how to face the neighbours.

Cai Zehong said that resignation is a trivial matter for him. "On the contrary, I have to deal with the relationship between people in the next few days, and I am personally troubled."

Settled in Amway District 27 years ago, upset and beat the neighborhood to witness the ups and downs

In 1994, Tsai Chak-hung, who worked in the Trade Union, was invited by Situ Hua, founder of the Stake, to participate in the District Council election. He won the Kwun Tong Am Lee constituency by an upset by 50 votes.

It took 27 years to do this. The neighbourhood in the district witnessed his low rise in life, marriage, divorce, birth of a son... Cai Zehong contributed to the community nearly half of his life, and his relationship with the neighbourhood is indescribable.

There are many unforgettable things in the service area for 27 years, but for Cai Zehong, the most important thing is to keep walking with the neighbours. "No matter whether you succeed or be disappointed, the land will back up (support) you, and talk to you at most. Oh scum, let’s say two last words, I know it, it’s such a warm thing, and it will make you not discouraged. The relationship is the relationship between people, and I support you to continue. go."

The Amway constituency is the oldest constituency in Hong Kong with an average age of 55.5 years old. Cai Zehong believes that the most successful is that the government did not neglect this district. Most of the districts are twin elders and elders living alone. Apart from going upstairs to visit, Cai Zehong From time to time to travel with the neighbourhood and celebrate the New Year’s Grand Canal; the neighbourhood also takes good care of him, "When the election sees the opponent doing a good job, he will beat you up, you order? I didn’t even go to my house. I, do you want me a ticket?"

On the road to politics, Cai Zehong confessed that he had encountered a lot of setbacks. Looking back at these ups and downs, he smiled and said, "If you go there, there will be nothing wrong with you. It will make you feel worried." Cai Zehong choked with sobs. Said, "For a few days, I sometimes think about the case and die. I will count after I leave?"

After serving the area for 27 years, Cai Zehong said that he was most reluctant to be in the neighborhood.

(Photo by Li Zetong)

Music fountain incident refers to the government not listening to public opinion

Before the reunification, he tried to remove the scrap iron factories in the district. Tsai Tak-hung bluntly stated that the government was willing to listen and deal with it. After the reunification, he often saw the government departments and questioned the other party's political leadership. For example, the Kwun Tong District Council passed an immediate "stop" on the waterfront last year The musical fountain project, but the Civil Affairs Office stated that it would not stop, and finally the musical fountain was officially opened in April this year.

Cai Zehong believes that district councils have always been regarded as organizations with no real power, but their responsibility is to speak out social injustices and prevent the government from rationalizing incidents. Like musical fountains, "(the government) has done something to eat. , He just jumped off the fountain and rationalized the incident." But he thinks he is about to tell the public that the establishment of a musical fountain starts, passes, and is unreasonable. "Hong Kong is not a society of stupid people, even if it is finally pushed back. You have to be clear about everything. When the government is censored again, there will be people living in you.”

With the closure of the office, Cai Zehong's career as a district councilor came to an end.

(Photo by Li Zetong)

The District Council may be cancelled in the future

Cai Zehong believes that this may be the next elected assembly, and it is estimated that even the district boards will be abolished in the future.

He questioned that the government’s goal was to "annihilate the pan-people." For example, many district councils now only have three or four members remaining. The District Council Ordinance, the qualification review committee will be added, and no one will register at that time. Let’s play with it.”

In the face of a rapidly changing political environment, how will the democratic movement continue in the future?

Cai Zehong believes that personal persistence is very important. "It is important to be willing to speak the truth at the end, even if it is not about politics... It is important to keep the truth, and to be an honest person is important." He also hopes Everyone wants to be clear about their contribution and role, "Even if the democratic movement seems to be beaten to disintegration, it can disintegrate the movement and form, but it does not disintegrate my will."

What are your plans after you remove your status as a district councilor?

Cai Zehong said frankly that he has devoted a lot of time and effort to serving the community for many years. He has never thought about the path after leaving the post of district councilor. He hopes to settle down first. "Lying Ping" is not surprising, I really don’t understand it.” Although he removed his status as a member, he made it clear that he would continue to follow up cases of help from the elderly in the district as a friend. If the economy and environment permit, he would also travel in the neighborhood. Even though I am not a member of the council, I hope the love in the neighborhood will always be there.

The resignation wave of district councillors｜The resignation of Zhang Wenlong, the vice chairman of the Kwai Tsing District Council: change his position to perform better. District councillors resign wave｜Lam Cheng: There is no possibility of a by-election before June next year. Ren said that he was timid and retired at the beginning of the month. The tide of resignation of the Stake Standing Committee Member | Lam Cheng: The resignee has no confidence and swears that the District Councillor is not purely afraid of money loss to resign | Government Gazette: 214 elected seats vacant Wong Tai Sin 20 seats vacant

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