Society desires peaceful end to HK protests

Source:Global Times Published: 2014-11-14 0:28:01

Sources have said that Hong Kong has 7,000 police on standby, ready to clear obstructions from the streets that protesters have occupied for weeks. Although the Hong Kong government has made it clear that this is different from clearing the protest sites entirely, the news has been widely viewed as a signal that authorities will take action to end the Occupy Central movement.

Actually, the political influence on Hong Kong from the illegal movement has almost dissipated. It has lost momentum, and its slogans have proven to be unrealistic.

The protesters made a scene in Hong Kong, but really cared about Beijing's attitude. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting has been a success, with China gaining abundant diplomatic achievements. Occupy Central has had no impact on the event. Such indifference must help the protesters realize the position they are in.

Hong Kong society has no other choice but to endure the farce. But the country cannot waste time on those protesters. It has to move forward.

US President Barack Obama said nothing to encourage the protesters when he attended the APEC meeting in Beijing. Instead, he stressed that his country had no involvement in fostering the Occupy protest. This perhaps serves as a heavy blow to the protesters.  Everybody is able to see that the movement is ruining the rule of law in Hong Kong and hurting the competitiveness of Hong Kong as a financial center.

Interestingly, some protesters have claimed they will occupy the British consulate in Hong Kong. They should also occupy the American one, as simply occupying the former will not create enough waves in the West.

Of course, the best choice for the protesters is to end this farce as soon as possible. But they are unlikely to do so.

Hong Kong police may act to clear the obstructions. Confrontation may occur. It is expected that some protesters will resist strongly, if only to put on a show.

Clearing the streets will test the professionalism of the Hong Kong police as well as the responsibilities of the Hong Kong opposition. Hong Kong police hope for a peaceful clearance, but a few radicals will expect violence so they can initiate another round of political lobbying.

We need to create the conditions for a peaceful clearance of the streets. We should let Hong Kong residents understand the restraint of Hong Kong police and risks the activists may bring to the region. If Occupy Central cannot end peacefully, Hong Kong's advantages will be further weakened.

Posted in: Editorial, Commentary

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