Today the Taipei Times had an article about "radicals" in Hong Kong who want a real democracy there.Leon Ng (
吳耀民 ), a legislative councilor with the Liberty Party, told the Taipei Times that the staging of a campaign rally was a copy of events from Taiwan's democratic system."I would say that if Taiwan's democracy has reached a college degree, then this rally has just about reached kindergarten," Ng said.
Ng, who has been to Taiwan to observe elections several times, said that Hong Kongers have no idea about how to show their passion and fervor for the candidate they support.
"What impressed me most was the passion and autonomy of Taiwanese voters when I joined in campaign rallies in Taipei," Ng said. "Although Taiwan holds elections nearly every year, I think it takes a step forward with each poll. I think Hong Kong could also have that one day."
Take that, Ming Pao. This article also offers a clue to another reason Beijing hates Taiwan so much: the effect democracy in a Chinese society has on other Chinese societies, including those under its rule.
[Taiwan] [Hong Kong] [democracy] [China]
Interesting perspective on democracy. His view of the dynamics of Taiwan's democratic experience are thoughtful and potentially hopeful for other Chinese states that pursue democracy.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, the democratic experience may embrace Chinese culture and have a positive effect for larger groups within the culture(s).
Wish I could say the same for Middle Eastern countries. Some would say democracy destroys the social fabric in those states.
Doing a google on "Liberty Party" leads me to suspect that it's normally rendered in English as the Liberal Party (though they aren't Liberal, but really the party of the local tycoons).
ReplyDeleteNg Yiu-man it seems isn't a Legislator, but a District Councillor who was appointed to his position by the Chief Executive. Didn't even win a local election to gain his seat.
Emily Lau is hardly radical. Principled, but hardly radical. Turned around at the march a week ago Sunday and she was standing right behind me and when I lifted my camera, she flashed a big smile and the Hong Kong two-finger V.
Why is democracy necessary when Hong Kong is listed at the top of two economic freedom indicies?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/countries.cfm
http://www.freetheworld.com/
Look, economic freedom is nice, but democracy is more than just about being able to open a tea shop in peace. It is also about publicly accountable government, public control of public policy, stability of government (democracies may be unstable, but autocracies by definition are unstable), independence of the judiciary, and many other things too numerous to list.
ReplyDeleteMichael