Crowds of protesters who filled Hong Kong’s streets with demands for more democracy thinned dramatically after student leaders and the government agreed to hold talks on Oct. 10 in the increasingly frustrated city, reported the Associated Press.With the protests going on in Hong Kong, students at BYU-Hawaii are voicing their own opinions about the state of their homeland.“I think people in Hong Kong are divided into a few groups. Some are passive about the unfairness, some support the government, and some are taking the initiative to voice their desire of democracy,” said Yee Hang Wu, a senior majoring in TESOL from Hong Kong.Protesters began occupying the streets of downtown Hong Kong on Sept. 26, and have remained relatively peaceful, with sit-ins being the main form of protest, the majority being college-aged students.“Many younger Hong Kong residents, raised in an era of plenty and with no experience of past political turmoil in mainland China, have higher expectations,” the Associated Press reported. Just a few days after tens of thousands of demonstrators thronged the city’s streets, only a couple thousand protesters were scattered across the three main protest areas on night of Oct. 7. But the six-lane highway that cuts through the heart of Hong Kong’s business district remained blocked. “I hope that the protesters gathering on the roads, especially students and young people, could think this over: While fighting for a better future and democracy for Hong Kong by way of civil disobedience, should you also consider the prolonged disruption caused to the general public?” said Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun Ying in a television broadcast. Leung has refused to heed resignation demands made by the pro-democracy protesters, reported AP. An agreement made in 1984 between Beijing and Hong Kong promised to give Hong Kong residents the right to civil liberties. China took control of the 7.1 million population of Hong Kong in 1997.Hong Kong Chief Secretary Carrie Lam has been appointed by Leung to organize talks between demonstration leaders. “I hope both sides will be satisfied,” Lam said. Wu continued, “I think the government is definitely not keeping their promises and they made the deal of direct electionvery sour.”Chiang Shun Chow, a sophomore majoring in business management from Hong Kong, said he is doing all he can to help the student protesters in Hong Kong. “I really want all the people from other countries to know what is happening in Hong Kong. I share the pictures from the protests on Facebook. I know that some students at BYUH are making videos to send to the HongKong students.” Chow continued, “I support the students to have a protest because the way that they do it is very peaceful. It is our right to fight for freedom and democracy. I felt very angry when I saw the police use tear gas and arrest the students.”
Writer: Jared Roberts ~ Multimedia Journalist
