Speech About Democracy

Speech by “Sir David Tang” to members of the “Foreign Correspondents Club” on the issues of democracy.

I stand before you, as a representative of Hong Kong’s democracy, as a honorary Knight Commander, but first and foremost, as a local and proud Hong Kong citizen, to address the recent controversial issues regarding protests held in opposition to political change initiated by the Central Chinese Government.

In light of recent announcements made by the Hong Kong government, obviously on the behalf of the Central Communist Chinese Government, our freedom and very way of life we have safeguarded for the past century comes under threat. In the streets of Central and Mong Kok, our youth, our future, are rising up and challenging the oppressive

We must retaliate against the barbaric, cruel and unacceptable police brutality in a peaceful manner. When an organization established for the protection and wellbeing of the citizenry turn upon us, fire ammunition at us and savagely beat down the protesters. The time has come for us to rise up and make our argument heard across the whole of Hong Kong.

Don’t get me wrong, democracy and freedom is, or at least should be, the fundamental and central goal of the Hong Kong people. But the anger displayed by the protestors and councilmen truly shock me to the core. Born and bred in a city of love and tolerance, I urge you, I urge the Hong Kong populace to not turn upon oneself. We need not resort to violence and anger, and we must not fight among ourselves, lest stoop to the level of the communist regime in the mainland.

To quote Gandhi; “If fighting for the legislatures meant a sacrifice of truth and nonviolence, democracy would not be worth a moment’s purchase.” We must not achieve our aims through a coup d'etat, not through ravaging the streets of the city we love and definitely not through refusing