During the 25 years since the handover, the pro-democracy faction has played a pivotal role in Hong Kong's political arena, accounting for nearly half of the seats in the Legislative Council and dominating the atmosphere of Hong Kong's civil society and public opinion.
However, since the National Security Law for Hong Kong came into effect and the new electoral system was implemented, the pro-democracy faction not only disappeared from the Legislative Council, but core figures have also been imprisoned, left Hong Kong or tended to keep a low profile, and their influence plummeted.
Former Democratic Party Chairman Yang Sen was interviewed by "Hong Kong 01" and on the 25-year history of China's return democratization and give full play to the real advantages of "one country, two systems".
Yang Sen is also fortunate that the yearning for democracy, human rights, freedom and a mature sense of citizenship have been rooted in the hearts of the younger generation. This belief is very important.
Taking the story of Sisyphus repeatedly pushing stones up a mountain in Greek mythology as an example, he sent a message to young people to keep their faith in harsh environments and continue to strive for the goal of democracy.
The 25th Anniversary of China's Return - Interview with Political Veterans Part 2
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Describing the first 22 years of his return as "not too bad", he has become unfamiliar after 2019
The gray-haired Yang Sen has faded out of the public eye since he retired from the Legislative Council in 2008, and is less involved in Democratic Party affairs.
With the changes in the political environment in recent years, the contemporaries of the Democratic Party, Lee Chu-ming, Lee Wing-tat, Ho Jun-yan, etc., are currently in prison for their own reasons, are not in Hong Kong or keep a low profile.
Yang Sen, who was released from prison after serving his sentence for the unapproved assembly case just in April this year, is considered the only person who is willing to speak up, but he smiled and pointed to the reporter: "It's too heavy."
"'One country, two systems' is indeed a relatively complicated matter. It takes time to explore and practice." Yang Sen said at the beginning of the interview.
He believes that Hong Kong has experienced ups and downs in the 25 years since its return. The mainland and Hong Kong are very different in terms of system, society and culture. There are two completely different systems under Chinese sovereignty, and it takes time to explore and practice.
Yang Sen was just released from prison in April 2022.
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Political ideas enhance the identity cohesion of Hong Kong people
Yang Sen recalled that after the handover in 1997, the political system was gradually democratized. Half of the seats were directly elected, which is why political scholars called it a "semi-democratic system." Civil society was also established at that time, including student organizations, trade unions, etc., and because citizens were concerned about politics, the voter turnout in the Legislative Council election gradually increased, showing that everyone has a stronger sense of social identity in Hong Kong. Stronger”; the economy is also booming, becoming one of the three major financial centers in the world, but at the same time, the gap between the rich and the poor has not been resolved for a long time, and the Gini coefficient is the highest in all developed regions.
Yang Sen described the practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong in the first 22 years as "unsatisfactory development, but not too bad." Political events, but ultimately some of the most important core values remain.
However, after the turmoil of the amendment bill in 2019, there were great ups and downs, and the change was very urgent. "Even Hong Kong people feel that this society is beginning to become unfamiliar, and many people choose to immigrate."
In the 2021 Legislative Council election, the first voter turnout rate is only 6.6%.
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The violence is unfortunately 'impossible to stop by the democrats'
The tipping point that Yang Sen refers to is that after millions of people took to the streets on June 9, 2019 to protest against the government's revision of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance, the government resolutely submitted the bill to the Legislative Council.
Yang Sen, who was a member of the Legislative Council before the handover, recalled that both China and the UK had foreseen as early as the 1990s that the political and legal systems of the Mainland and Hong Kong were very different, so the deportation arrangement with the Mainland was not dealt with for the time being.
He pointed out that a large number of authoritative academic studies in the past have pointed out that when the economy develops to a certain point, people's demands for democratization, participation in public affairs, and protection of civil rights will naturally arise. The revision of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance is threatening this firewall. Especially for a generation of young people born and raised, it is an extremely important value.
Yang Sen emphasized that he has always advocated peace and rationality, and never advocated violence, but asked: "Many young people participate in demonstrations, so we must understand why they participate? Hong Kong has experienced two generations of citizens' awakening. Everyone attaches importance to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Identify yourself as a Hong Konger." He also did not expect the social unrest that followed, and thought that many violent incidents were quite unfortunate, but admitted that it was impossible for the democrats to prevent these incidents.
Since the central government took action to formulate the "National Security Law" and introduce a new electoral system, the society has stabilized on the surface, but Yang Sen questioned: "The society is very quiet, but have the deep-seated contradictions really been resolved?" The problem also involves political contradictions and the return of people's hearts.
For example, he pointed out that the voter turnout rate in the 2021 Legislative Council election hit a new low of 30.2%, the first-time voter turnout rate of 18 to 20-year-olds was only 6.6%, and pro-democracy supporters were reluctant to vote; the United Nations' 2022 "Global Happiness Index" ranking Among them, Hong Kong dropped from 77 last year to 81, ranking lower than mainland China.
Yang Sen hopes that the authorities can carefully evaluate and judge, "For the citizens of Hong Kong, the freedoms guaranteed by the constitution are very important."
Yang Sen said he was still not in despair about "one country, two systems".
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Not despairing about "one country, two systems": a diverse and open Hong Kong is best for the country
Yang Sen pointed out that according to the logical development of "one country, two systems", the relationship between Hong Kong and the mainland has only three directions: first, complete integration, the economic, political and cultural differences will be reduced, and it will become an ordinary mainland city, and the legal system, press freedom and other areas will be completely changed; The third is to balance the two, so as not to affect the authorities under China's sovereignty to understand the difference between the two systems, and understand that Hong Kong must maintain diversity and openness in order to achieve stability, bring together talents, and provide complementary resources for the country. Advantage, this is the most ideal direction.
He said frankly that, looking at what has happened in the past three years, it seems that Hong Kong has been pulled into the first model, that is, gradually reverting to the mainland, and the original differences have narrowed considerably.
He pointed out that there is no need to avoid it. Hong Kong has now entered an "authoritarian society". For example, the "Reporters Without Borders" press freedom index has plummeted from 80 to 148 this year; various demonstrations or national security-related cases, legal issues It's just an appearance, and the bottom line is politics.
Despite this, Yang Sen showed that he was not in despair about "One Country, Two Systems". "I can't say 'very promising'. I can only say that there are twists and turns in 'One Country, Two Systems', but it does not mean that we have to give up." He said that he still believes that " "One Country, Two Systems" is the most effective way to deal with issues left over from the history of China and the UK and to reconcile the differences between the two systems in Hong Kong and the Mainland.
Janssen talks about the future path of the Democratic Party's candidacy.
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Whether or not to run for election in the future will not be dominated by the Democratic Party
Speaking of the Democratic Party, in the Legislative Council election under the new system last year, the Democratic Party was absent due to the low political atmosphere. The party also showed various discomforts in the new political situation, and the future of the largest pan-democratic party in the past was doubtful.
However, Yang Sen believes that whether or not the Democratic Party will participate in the future elections will not be dominated by them, but by the external political environment. Whether the supporters of the democratic parties are still willing to vote, the central government and the SAR government play the most important role.
Yang Sen pointed out that since the government has already achieved what the government needs to quell the chaos and patriots to rule Hong Kong, the next question to ask is, where do you want the political situation and the degree of tolerance of the electoral system to go in the future: "Will you follow the Basic Law? "Re-step toward universal suffrage, rather than completely letting go of political reform? At least on the agenda, so that citizens feel less closed than imagined. Can attitudes toward civil society reopen? When citizens see that the political environment has improved If they can participate, they will naturally be willing to stand up and vote again, but if they feel powerless, we cannot persuade them to come out (vote) again.” He believes that the people of Hong Kong are very smart and are very aware of what is happening in society. What happened, a large number of voters did not vote, and the political indifference for a while must be related to the political atmosphere. This cannot be changed by the Democratic Party alone.
Yang Sen stated that the original intention of the political party is to serve and speak for the citizens. Even if there is no seat, it can continue to speak out through pressure groups and other means, and provide regional services to find suitable livelihood issues.
He admits that there is no seat in the Legislative Council, and it is very difficult to turn the issue into a policy discussion. However, the Democratic Party has not been as smooth as it has always been. Under the current adversity, it is even more necessary to encourage party members not to give up. The Democratic Party held a brainstorming meeting, and Yang Sen, who had not appeared in public for a long time, attended the speech to encourage the younger generation in the party.
Democrats.
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I will gladly go down the mountain and push the stones from the foot of the mountain to the top again, like fighting for democracy, the rule of law, human rights and freedom.
I will insist on peace, rationality, non-violence, stick to my post, and will not give up.
If you keep fighting for it with perseverance, the day of democracy and freedom will come.
Your Excellency, I plead guilty but not guilty, nor do I plead, nor do I appeal.
——The content of Yang Sen's court petition in April last year
Taking Sisyphus as an example: Fighting for democracy without fear of difficulties
Yang Sen was one of the earliest participants in the local democratic movement. He founded the meeting point in the 1980s and fought for direct elections in 1988. He was elected to the first Legislative Council election in 1991. He has witnessed the prosperity of Hong Kong's pro-democracy faction, splitting, and the rise of radical forces. Completely purged; the Democratic Party also broke with the CCP in the 1990s, opened the door to communication in the 2010 political reform, and was affected by political waves in the past two years.
He pointed out that there is no "if" in history, and he is not sure whether Hong Kong will be democratized in his lifetime.
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished for repeatedly pushing the stone up the hill, but each time the stone rolled back down the hill, repeating endlessly, for endless pain.
Yang Sen used this as his court statement last year in the unauthorised assembly case on Hong Kong Island on August 31, 2019, describing his struggle for democracy.
At the end of his interview, he made a sincere message to the young people: "Democracy, human rights and freedom are not only a system, but also a kind of cultural accomplishment and humanistic spirit. As long as everyone values personal political rights and freedoms, and respects the opinions of different people, Hong Kong is a great place to be. A democratic society, this is our belief. Pushing stones up the mountain seems to be fruitless, but in the process, society will gradually change." Yang Sen tightly grasped the reporter's arm with his left hand while he was speaking. Sincerely, I very much hope to convey this belief to the next generation, "I will use my method to face future challenges in a peaceful, positive and pragmatic manner, stick to my post, and hope that everyone will not give up because of the turning point."
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