i just told a bunch of china-men off for they were smoking in the communal living room, and I am outraged, because there is a restaurant right next door where they can bring their smoking and drinking to, but they decided it'd be a good idea to just open the window and smoke, while getting drunk among their own.
just this afternoon, in the same living room, around the same table, an mature traveller from London inquire with me on the situation in Hong Kong. He said, for his eyes, student protest of such resemblance as the Tiannamen Square incident.
And I beg him to pause there.
"social movement is inevitable for every era, and I beg my friends' to treat it with delicacy to look at both as a separate issue, instead of linking them up, and why?
we are not asking Beijing to change her state policy for us, we are merely requesting changes to take place within our space - the "special administrative region", which will by no way nor stand no chance to interfere Chinese Internal Politics of any kind: we are under completely different juridical system.
and sometimes we are angry and upset, because the message of One China is repeatedly sent. For us, Hong Kongers, we are not of any fools, we know very precisely and throughly what is the exact differences between Hong Kong and China. Yet how about for the Chinese? Our literacy to this date is 100%, or at least, general education is provided and guaranteed to each and all children that inherits Hong Kong citizenship.
and who is fooling whom, if it is said that Hong Kong is now part of China, and there will be of no differences?"
We both took a moment to paused there, trying to digest the information. And then a Chinese guy walked in, sitting around us, while our conversation resumed.
"Yet this protests is still leaded by students, it strikes their insecurity about public order, isn't it?"
"Yes and no. If you understand it any better, our discussion of general election started as early as 2003, and for 10 years, we have politicians, intellectuals, law makers and government representatives discussing over and over again. The student movement surfaced in the past two and three years, and why? because people who are more senior than they are, who holds a more important roles in our society simply ran out of ways to communicate their message across. and who do we go with? when it has become more than apparent to every one that our state leaders are appointed, when the tendency is these crucial positions that holds the key to our city and society functions are being "given", if not offered, by the Chinese government?
It is a results of Hong Kongers being pushed away, if not separated, from their own society."
And there is another pause.
"If you'd allow me, I'd like to wrap it up: for me, this protest, or any previous movements of the past two years, has NOTHING to do with China. It's not a me versus you situation, it's not a war, it's simply the city trying to send out a message, to Hong Kongers, and if not the world, then Hong Kong issues will remains in the hands of Hong Kong, and we are not CHINESE CITIZENS."
Just a matter of hours, I ran into Chinaman who smoke in a share communal living room, that is shared by at least 20+ people. At times I really really want to ask, who doesn't want China as a country? Who doesn't want to pride their country and government here? Because I actually have no problem telling other people I am Chinese, I never would be shy to say so. It is your countryman who is acting selfishly, incapable to show basic considerations, less alone basic respect to the host and the staff at a foreign country.
And if there is one thing that this protest has show, China, maybe you want to come to senses and realize, that Hong Kongers are the best-ever citizens in world standard, one that are remotely tied up with you in this whole wide world.
We are always an asset.