When the first canister of tear gas was fired Prof. Chow Po-chung Arrived home a while ago, I was hungry and tired. Yet, I fear that when I wake up tomorrow, my memory will have faded. So I want to tell what I truly experienced yesterday, as a record of history. I really hope that other Hongkongers and our children can remember what peaceful and courageous Hongkongers have done on this day-- 28th September, 2014-- to contribute to the justice and democracy of our city and to the dignity of our homeland. I got out of the Wan Chai MTR at around 3 pm, following Gloucester Road past the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts on my way to the governments headquarters. Our journey to Tim Mei Avenue, where police had already set up metal barriers separating us from the occupants of government HQ, went smoothly. Soon, citizens from Wan Chai filled Connaught Road, and even the overpass, for as far as the eye could see. It was dusk at that moment and as the final rays of sunshine beamed down, tens of thousands chanted together Release Joshua Wong and Democracy Now in full voices, resulting in a scene that was solemn and moving beyond description. I sat down in the first few rows, not far from the polices metal barriers. Facing the riot squad in front of me, I was furious without knowing why. I yelled at the police, saying, You are Hongkongers as well. Were fighting for democracy. In the future, you will also be able to enjoy universal suffrage. Why do you have to suppress us? Several policemen didnt know how to react and turned their faces away. More people gathered again after an overnight sit-in. They were worried that a swift clearance by the police would soon take place. Yet, as all the passages leading into the Civic Square were blocked, we wanted to push away the barriers and let the masses return to the location we stood yesterday. With the experience in the past two days, we all knew that once we starting pushing the barriers, we would end up being pepper-sprayed. Therefore, citizens at the front line were equipped with goggles, masks and raincoats, and started putting up their umbrellas. Once the pushing started, pepper-spray was unleashed like floodgates. The citizens, being unarmed, could only defend passively with umbrellas, let alone any aggression. After a few minutes, everyone was injured. Stood at the back, I joined the first-aid team, helping the injured by wiping their eyes and rinsing with water, as well as passing on water and umbrellas from outside. The injured looked in pain, but nobody moaned loudly, nor did anyone shouted curses at the police. Everyone bore the pain almost in silence. Ten minutes later, another group of citizens tried to push the barriers again, causing another round of injuries. If you watch from afar, you would not notice anything peculiar except colourful umbrellas undulating under the sunlight, but underneath them are people getting injured then fell. By the third round, I saw that this is not going to work. With disparate forces between the protesters and the police, we were inflicting pain on ourselves without being able to move the barriers. Thus, I went over to the nearby speaker Lee Wing-tat, asking him to persuade the crowd to stop pushing and sit down. If we all sit down, people would gather and the police would be unable to disperse us. Unfortunately these words couldnt help much at that moment. I believe many, and so do I, was the first time to directly face the violence imposed by Police in their lives. Strangely, there was no panic or fear, but mutual trust and assistance among us. Some helped the injured, some maintained order, some replenished supplies, some prepared for the next round (of pushing). Everyone was so gentle and united, without a thought of fighting back. What impressed me the most is when a man about 50 years of age, enraged after being pepper-sprayed; he picked up a plastic bottle and threw it at the police. Citizens beside him immediately stopped him and persuaded him to leave the scene. Hongkongers are just as beautiful and peaceful as that. I dont know these citizens but I feel desolate when their faces cross my mind. The pain they suffered will go unsung, not even earn the sympathy of others, but they indeed took the fall with their ordinary, feeble bodies for this city, in the struggle for the deserved rights of everyone. They are people in resistance, not rioters. At around 6 pm, Martin Lee came to the centre of the crowd, and as he started to speak, another round of clashing started. Equipped with a bottle of water in my hand, I was prepared to treat the injured. Suddenly, an object exploded above our heads and smoke was propagating towards us. People screamed tear gas!, and started to retreat backwards, while reminding each other to keep a slow pace and prevent a stampede. In less than 10 seconds, the second and third canisters were fired and landed not far from my feet. Agony overwhelmed my eyes and breathing became difficult, so I had to pour water onto my eyes and mouth whilst running away desperately. Some fell to the ground due to the pain and were then helped up by the others; some immediately offered their water to those in need. If I got it right, it was the first of the about 90 tear gas canisters fired by the Hong Kong police yesterday, against unarmed Hong Kong citizens. Having retreated several hundred metres, upon realizing the lack of further action from the police, citizens assembled again in protest. Around half an hour later, another round of tear gas was fired on Connaught Road Central, producing huge smog. People bolted and jolted in pain. After all the suffering, I started to worry as I retreated. I did not know how much violence would be employed by the police to clear the scene. I feared they would open fire and re-enact Tiananmen Square in Hong Kong. I decided to walk towards Central, because internet wasnt working at all in Admiralty. I ran all the way to Chater Garden, and spread on Facebook the following message: Students and friends, I was at the frontline just now, witnessing our companions suffering from tear gas. Tomorrow is another day, there is really no need for us to suffer so much. On behalf of myself, I urge everyone to leave, leave with your companions, please. After finished sending the message, I retraced my steps and saw some students still heading for Admiralty. I convinced those who looked particularly young to leave from Central. Back in the huge crowds in Admiralty, I knew I was unable to convince people to leave, and I did not have a reason to do so. So I went through the crowd and shouted out for CUHK schoolmates and some responded. In a whisper, I told them that a violence clearance might be expected and implored them to think twice about the risk of staying, and to stay safe. Later, I repeated myself to the nearby protesters using Bull (Tsang Kin-shing)s megaphone. A mother approached me and said that my speech was good but a lot of people behind could not hear it, and asked me to repeat myself again there. The sight of the endless crowds made me feel very powerless. I thought the only way is to let the friends of those at the scene tell them, in order to have any effect. So again I ran towards Central, and before I got to Chater Garden, I heard people screaming the police have used tear gas!! while running away. Then, a lot of policemen were deployed near Cheung Kong Centre. When I arrived at Chater Garden I found out that the road leading to the Former Legislative Council Building had also been blocked off. At Chater road stood riot police in full armour. I began to understand that a full clearance was likely to start anytime, from both Central and Wan Chai towards Admiralty. So I posted on Facebook the following message: Guys, Central is full of police force in readiness, the violent clearance is imminent. Our youthful friends, I call to you again not to stretch our luck. Tomorrows another day, if you are not well prepared, please leave. This is not cowardice. By then, I was too exhausted and lacked the courage to run back to Admiralty. I sat at Chater Garden, almost spent, and watched 10 or so brave youths holding hands and standing in a row at the middle of Chater Road, facing the fully armoured policemen, determined to block their advance with their blood and flesh. I could not hold back my tears. So much did I not wish them suffer like so, so much did I want to pull them away. However, for a reason I do not know, I couldnt. It was their choice. Of course they were afraid. Of course they know the physical pain they would suffer when tear gas came. They knew perfectly in their minds, that they were powerless against the advance. Yet they chose to stood there, chanting slogans, waiting for all that we knew would happen. I find in these young people an indescribable strength. I know that after this night, Hong Kong will never be the same. We will walk on. 5 am, 29th September, 2014 Prof. Chow Po-chung is the assistant professor of the Government and Public Administration Department at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Original text: https://facebook/notes/%E5%91%A8%E4%BF%9D%E6%9D%BE/%E7%95%B6%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%80%E6%9E%9A%E5%82%AC%E6%B7%9A%E5%BD%88%E6%93%B2%E4%B8%8B%E4%BE%86/907907879237880 #hkclassboycott #OccupyCentral #UmbrellaMovement
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:09:14 +0000
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