WSCF-AP: Tell us briefly about the historical background of June 4, 1989 and the incident in the Tiananmen Square

protest well know n as 89 emocracy !o"ement#

Chan, Ka Timothy(CK): The June fourth Incident is actually a mass student protest against the Chinese
government since 1989 April. The protest ended with merciless bloodshed and ruthless suppression from the
government with tans and military! this is also why people call it the Tiananmen "#uare $assacre. %uring the
198&s! China was facing a series of economic problems because of its uni#ue socialist economic system. The
pressure for reformation pilled high! not 'ust to improve the livelihood of the people in China! but also yearn for a
democratic political system. (eneral "ecretary )u *aobang was the figure of reformation! but shortly after his
sudden death because of heart attac! the students react strongly. In April 1989! over +&&& students gathered in
Tiananmen maing their plea nown! these including the affirmation of the value of democracy and freedom!
urging the government to allow the freedom of press! prevent the senior official from corruption! increase funds
for education! etc. It slowly developed into a movement! and thousands of students gathered and urge to
government to have dialogue with the student and promise to reform. ,ot 'ust in the capital! students gathered in
over -&& cities in China echoing the student protest in .ei'ing. The Chinese government did not respond to their
appeal properly! and the students went on hunger strie and the protests escalate. /n 0& $ay! the Chinese
government declared martial law and troops and tans moved in to the Capital. %uring the midnight of + June!
the tans drove in! the troops fired their gun! 8&!&&& students were there fled with fear and tear. -&!&&& were
in'ured! and over 1&!&&& students died during that night. The Chinese government refused to tae the
responsibility of the $assacre and labeled it as turmoil legitimising the bloody suppression.
WSCF-AP: $hat is the ob%ecti"e or goal to commemorate the anni"ersary of &hina's bloody military suppression
of protests in (ei%ing's Tiananmen Square each year in )ong *ong+
CK: The main purpose of the memorial vigil is to witness the wicedness and brutality of the authority. Through
the vigil! people are once again being reminded of the plea made by the students in 1989! so we would be able
to continuing fighting for the freedom of press! human right and democracy in China. The anniversary is also
displaying the solidarity of people of )ong 1ong with all the activists! victims of June fourth Incident! and all the
people who yearn for reformation in China. It is also a wae2up2call for the consciousness of people to
understand what happened in 1989! and call them to care about the society.

WSCF-AP: )ow different was the ,-
th
.nni"ersary "igil then others+
CK: "ince the 0&
th
Anniversary! more than 1&&!&&& people gathered to commemorate in 3ictoria 4ar in )ong
1ong every year! the 05
th
Anniversary is no different. The number of people also reflects on whether the people
of )ong 1ong pleased with the current government or not. In recent years! more and more people participating
in the memorial vigil because of the increasing political intervention on )ong 1ong issue from the Chinese
government.
WSCF-AP: $hat do you think about democracy in &hina and )ong *ong+
CK6 The democracy of China is facing a huge downfall more and more activists are arrested! freedom of press is
tightened up! and the fund for 7stabili8ation of government9 has increased to :-; billion <$.. This fund is to
suppress the people for protesting and voicing out their opinion different to that of the government.
=or )ong 1ong! the >one country two systems9 cannot be fulfilled with the continuous intervention from the
Chinese government. The system is un'ust in the ?egislative Council! the government tried to minimi8e the effect
of people in all areas of the governing bodies. The <egional Council was disbanded in 1999! and it stopped the
citi8ens to participate in regional social issues and policy discussion. The ad'ustment of the ?egislative Council9s
rule maes the =unctional Constituency en'oys more power. 4eople of )ong 1ong have too little ways to
e@press their political opinions! for the direct election seats mae up half of the seats in the ?egislative Council.
"ince the election of the Chief A@ecutive only involves 1!0&& people! mostly pro2.ei'ing! )ong 1ong9s Chief
A@ecutive is actually chosen by the Chinese government! not by the people of )1. )ong 1ong people are
fighting for a true universal suffrage that the Chinese government must not control Binfluence the pre2selection of
candidates. %emocracy in )ong 1ong is facing a crucial challenge! whether we can elect our own ?egislative
Council and the Chief A@ecutive of )ong 1ong.
WSCF AP : $hat do you think democracy can bring to )ong *ong+
CK: %emocracy may not bring prosperity! but it brings 'ustice and accountability. It can also ensure the freedom
of speech and press! and protect our human right. %emocracy also brings a strong sense of belongingness to
this city if the citi8ens here can participate in the public affairs.

WSCF-AP: Tell us briefly about the /ni"ersal Suffrage in )* and do you think that )ong *ong is ready to
establish the new system by ,011+
CK: )1 is ready! as more and more students involve in different social movements! citi8ens no longer get
involved through political parties! it means the civil society is ready and is able to monitor the government. )ong
1ong has been promised for this new system since 198-! and we have waited for it to happen from 199: Cthe
handover to ChinaD. )ong 1ong is a developed city! with well2established legal system and a healthy financial
base! )ong 1ong is ready for the new system to flourish.
WSCF-AP: $hat are some e2pectations for the future 3$hat kind of )ong *ong you want see4 and how do you
see young people's role in a democratic )ong *ong+
CK: )ong 1ong as a financial center! is also been considered as a place to mae money. At the same time!
more and more people see )ong 1ong as their home! the bonding between neighborhood and small stores is
strength. I wish to see more compassion and love in )ong 1ong! that the development of )ong 1ong is not
driven by opportunists for ma@imising profit! but for the welfare of )ong 1ong people. I wish to see )ong 1ong
as a torch for China! to witness democracy is possible in the land of China! and light up hope for people who
yearn for 'ustice and freedom in China. I wish )ong 1ong can be a place where citi8ens would care about the
city they are living in.
*oung people have been important for the awaening of )ong 1ong civil society. They are the pioneer of recent
social movements. I believe they will be leaders of )ong 1ong in the future! since the future belongs to the
young people. )ong 1ong is their home! and I hope more young people would voice out for their own future and
develop a mature civil society in a democratic )ong 1ong.
In order to fight for a true universal suffrage Cright to vote irrespective of any discriminationD! )ong 1ong has stepped
into a stage of civil disobedience. /ccupy Central has a very clear plea! and it maes it clear how they would react if
the government ignore the plea of people once again. Thus! many citi8ens have little idea on what is civil
disobedience.
In 0&1- July 1! after a grand protest against the )ong 1ong government! a group of students decided to escalate the
protest by occupying a road in Central till the ne@t morning. Thousands of students were there! in the midnight!
around + am! the police started to remove the protestors. 511 students and citi8ens who sat on the road were
arrested. I was one of them. I had been thining whether I should participate! but the calling for 'ustice has persuaded
me to do so. After 1: years of handover to China! )ong 1ong has tried many ways to voice out for universal suffrage!
but the government chose to ignore the will of people of )ong 1ong . The society needs more people who are
willing to sacrifice for a greater common good. Ee have violated the law! but we are not guilty or sinful because of it.
The calling of non2violence has influenced a lot of citi8ens to participate! we do not want to see riot in )ong 1ong! at
the same time! and we do not want to see the continuation and 'ustification of e@ploitation on freedom and poor
people. I believe if one remains silent over oppression and e@ploitation! one is actually an accomplice. Therefore! I do
hope that by doing so! it can strengthen )ong 1ong people9s faith on civil disobedience. /n the other hand to show
the Chinese and )ong 1ong government that we are ready to pay the price for reformation and universal suffrage.
,on2violence has given me an unspeaable 'oy and peace even we are facing the violence of our police force. I
believe that the power of 'ustice and righteous is much powerful than fear and cowardice. There were si@ ministers!
pastor! and theology students among the arrested protestors. Ee witness the presence of (od among the protestors!
and when we are fighting for 'ustice and freedom! we believe (od is with us also. (od is on the street! he is among!
with the poor and oppressed. I hope )ong 1ong would not need another civil disobedience! because I hope the
government would listen to the plea of people and do what is good for the common good of the society. /ccupy
Central is a movement! a movement of awaening! to awae people from separation! ignorance and indifference.
(od calls us to love our neighbor! and it is time for Christian and churches to tae it seriously and react in )ong 1ong
today! a crucial moment for democratic movement.
*Mr. Chan Ka, Timothy, is studying the Bahe!or o" #i$inity in Chung Chi Co!!ege, the Chinese %ni$ersity o"
&ong Kong. &e in$o!$es in di""erent soia! mo$ements in reent years, organi'ing and a!!ing Christians to
are a(out di""erent soia! issues. &e is "ond o" onte)tua! theo!ogies and eumenism. &e *as one o" the
de!egates o" the AS+, -./01 Asia Pai"i Students and +outh ,athering2 organi'ed (y the 3umenia! Asia
Pai"i Students and +outh 4et*or5 13asy 4et2 in the Phi!i66ines.
5pinions e2pressed in this inter"iew do not necessarily reflect "iews of the $S&67.8#