People Power in HKong: Impact on the Philippines
The whole world is in trouble. While there is a volcanic eruption in Japan, and perhaps another in Bicol, and while bombings continue in ISIS-occupied territories in the Middle East, the brewing 'TEMPESTS IN THE TEAPOT" in Hong Kong can escalate into a reenactment of the bloody Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989. This is an eventful development that spells a lot of far-reaching implications to us, Filipinos. And while, there seems to be calm at these very moments, these are the dangerous lulls before the storms. Between now and October 1, the National Holiday to commemorate the founding of Communist China, something draconian will most probably erupt. And it can be very, very bloody.
This is not just about students protesting against tuition fee hikes, or workers demanding for higher wages. This is the whole "colony" demanding for no less than full democracy. Hong Kong was a colony of Britain for more than 150 years, until 1997 when the United Kingdom handed over Hong Kong to Communist China. In order to assuage the deep anxieties and many insecurities that seemed to linger in every Hongkonger's mind and psyche, Beijing promised them that they will be granted full autonomy and that in due time they would be allowed to democratically elect their leaders. One Country, two systems. Promises that appeared this time to have all the appearances of having to be broken.
Sometime last month, the central government issued a white paper declaring that Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy is not an inherent power of the Hong Kong government nor an inherent right of any Hong Kong resident. It was, Beijing stressed, a privilege that rests solely within the powers and prerogatives of the central government. Accordingly, Beijing issued the rules that shall govern the Hong Kong elections in 2017. It was postulated that, while Hong Kong resident can elect their officials, the candidates have to be screened and approved by a Committee loyal to Beijing. Thus, not anybody can just be voted upon. They have to kneel before the imperial lords of the Communist Party.
In a survey conducted, only 37% of the HK residents accepted the edict from Beijing. 48% or almost one half vehemently opposed the measure. The rest are leaning towards the opposition. It took the students, led by a 17-year-old Joshua Wong and another teenager, Yvonne Leung, the spokesperson, to start the mass protests abetted and inspired by one Cardinal Joseph Zen of the Hong Kong Catholic Church to rally the people in what they called OCCUPY CENTRAL movement. "Central" refers to the open square in the heart of the Hong Kong business district. Today, traffic is stalled, business is almost at a halt, and people are in the streets. Not only the youth but the whole colony is on protest.
How does this impact on us? Well, we have no less than 300,000 OFWs in that colony, both the documented and undocumented. More than a half of these are domestic helpers but they earn a lot and are remitting foreign exchange almost every other week. Much more than economic, there is a political implication of this emerging turbulence. This will show to China that they cannot just bully our country now. Even the very people in their own territory are now standing up to them. They cannot bomb Hong Kong. CNN is recording every second of the protests and the whole world is watching. And so, let us watch and see how Beijing shall calm down the tempests in their own teapot. This is going to be very exciting and dangerous too. I shudder to think of the possibilities.
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