Iran protests spark Hong Kong protests agianst china. - Polidicks

[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8127829.stm[/url] [url]http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2009/06/iran_uprising_recalls_scenes_o.html[/url] [quote] Tens of thousands of people have marched in Hong Kong to push for more democracy on the 12th anniversary of the city's transfer to Chinese rule. Hong Kong residents cannot directly elect the territory's chief executive or half of the legislative members. Earlier, Chief Executive Donald Tsang led celebrations to mark the resumption of Chinese rule after 156 years of British colonial control. He said that Hong Kong had come through a "challenging year". In sweltering heat, a column of people marched from Victoria Park to the government's headquarters. Numbers fell short of the 100,000 anticipated by the organisers. Police estimated the crowd at about 26,000 people as the march began, although organisers said the crowd had swelled later to 76,000. [/quote] Read it, I've always been kind of worried that this was going to happen in Hong Kong, the reduction of civil rights in a free society and loss of media and personal control. They used to be in control by the British, so it makes sense. But the british handed it off to china in 1996(?). So ever since then, they've been worried about losing civil liberties, even though china has said it wasn't going to happen. But then this was like a slap in the face to me to me: [quote]The biggest contingent was calling for universal suffrage in the selection of the chief executive and legislature by 2012, says the BBC's Vaudine England in Hong Kong. [b] Beijing has said this will not happen before 2017 at the earliest.[/b] A 796-member Beijing-backed election committee currently chooses the chief executive. Half of the legislature is popularly elected, while the rest is chosen by interest groups. Some of the protesters were worried that Beijing's representatives in Hong Kong may be exerting undue influence over the territory at the expense of its government. [b]Under the principle of "one country, two systems", China agreed to give Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the handover. [/b][/quote] 2017? More democracy in china? It's hope at least, perhaps it means that the people in power want to instill some sort of democratic process by that time, if not Hong Kong then all of china! Most likely candidates will be appointed rather than chosen by primaries because of china's desire for it's officials to be technocratic rather than demagogic, but it's better than nothing. Hell, some qualifications for being president wouldn't even be that bad here, considering the number of inept presidents we've had, but then again it still could be abused. I honestly think they want to do it though, but they're playing it smart and doing it gradually, considering most quick transitions to democracy have been disastrous (french revolution, iraq, collapse of USSR, etc) Good for them, let's just hope they get rid of all the other totalitarian stuff like the porn blocker.

I think you should join the protests Billeh

It was handed over in 1997 actually. My family came from Hong Kong so I hope that it becomes fully independent of China.

I don't see where it mentions Iran.

[QUOTE=Conscript;15811507]I don't see where it mentions Iran.[/QUOTE] Second source.

[QUOTE=Xystus234;15811521]Second source.[/QUOTE] It's not saying it sparked these protests. Look again

Let's hope there won't be another Tienanmen square...

[QUOTE=Conscript;15811566]It's not saying it sparked these protests. Look again[/QUOTE] Oh. My bad.

Yes... Yes... Everything is going according to plan...

If you thought being a riot cop in Iran was scary, wait 'till you see a billion Chinese people walkin' down the road toward you.

...And in 2016 Hong Kong mysteriously burned to the ground.

Fuck yeah bring it all down

The Chinese government really needs to get on the democracy ball.

Bongoes command your soul

Global uprising

[QUOTE=PrismatexV2;15813483]The Chinese government really needs to get on the democracy ball.[/QUOTE] Are [i]you[/i] on the ball? [i]Get on the ball![/i]

[QUOTE=PrismatexV2;15813483]The Chinese government really needs to get on the democracy ball.[/QUOTE] They need to come out of the closet, everyone knows they are clinging onto communism while the rest of their country surges ahead in democratic ways.

China is only nominally a communist country.

[QUOTE=PrismatexV2;15813816]China is only nominally a communist country.[/QUOTE] I'm pretty sure everyone understands that, it is just easier to say it is communist than say it is "only partly communist but it's not communist really because...." You don't have to correct people every time that call it commie just because they don't feel like explaining it every time.

[QUOTE=lil_n00blett;15814070]I'm pretty sure everyone understands that, it is just easier to say it is communist than say it is "only partly communist but it's not communist really because...." You don't have to correct people every time that call it commie just because they don't feel like explaining it every time.[/QUOTE] k

[QUOTE=S.T.A.L.K.E.R.;15813811]They need to come out of the closet, everyone knows they are clinging onto communism while the rest of their country surges ahead in democratic ways.[/QUOTE] No not really, they're actually pretty pragmatic, governing with emphasis on economic progress. They need more civil rights though.

China is a role model. On how a nation can develop a conscience of self improvement towards betterment. They've got a long way to go though.

[QUOTE=NoDachi;15819678]China is a role model. On how a nation can develop a conscience of self improvement towards betterment. They've got a long way to go though.[/QUOTE] If "Self-improvement" leads to suppression of human rights, then I can't see how betterment comes into it.

Don't believe fox news. The average citizen in China has far more rights than they did 20 years ago. You can't say the same thing about America.

[QUOTE=NoDachi;15819724]Don't believe fox news. The average citizen in China has far more rights than they did 20 years ago. You can't say the same thing about America.[/QUOTE] This is true. But it's still pretty atrocious in censorship and free speech.

You can't expect a country to change overnight. And we all know revolutions don't work.

I'm glad to hear this. Good thing they're not all brainwashed.

Lol I don't understand, do they have like a plan that says, 2017: Possible universal suffrage in HK?

[QUOTE=NoDachi;15819724]Don't believe fox news. The average citizen in China has far more rights than they did 20 years ago. You can't say the same thing about America.[/QUOTE] Let's judge human rights on a scale from 1-100, kay? 20 years ago, China was close to say, 40. America was at 90. Today, China is close to say, 60. America is at 91.

[QUOTE=NoDachi;15819774]You can't expect a country to change overnight. And we all know revolutions don't work.[/QUOTE] Tell that to George Washington. And since we're on the topic of China, Mao Zedong too.