Dispatches From Hong Kong: My Experience as the City Speaks!

If you’ve seen the news the last couple days you know then that Hong Kong has come alive.  On Sunday evening  tens of thousands of students took to the streets in Central Hong Kong in response to an announcement that although Hong Kong would be able to vote for its Chief Executive for the first time ever, the candidate pool would be culled to two or three people approved by Beijing. (For the record, China has never been against democracy per se… they simply want to know the result before hand)

Many of us then watched in shock and despair as the news depicted the peaceful demonstrators being repelled by the police with tear gas and pepper spray.  The normally safe and quiet streets of Hong Kong had transformed in an instant.

The video of the police reaction fueled a massive response by the people of Hong Kong to come out and support the young students who had been on the front lines of the demonstration.

So after work some friends and I decided to go out in the evening to see what we could do to offer help.  We had planned to bring supplies of bottled water but then heard instead that the demonstrators needed supplies of large garbage bags for the trash that was accumulating.

Our “team” picking up trash

Armed with garbage bags we started in Wan Chai and slowly waded into the thicker crowds gathered closer to the government buildings in Admiralty.

First, let me say this has to be one of the most peaceful political protests in human history.  50,000 people on the streets and no

* violence

* looted stores

* vandalism

And the atmosphere is festive.  There are drink and food stations with tons of donated supplies.  I can’t tell you how many times I was offered a bottle of water, a towel, or even a pair of goggles. (In case of a tear gas being employed again)

Bottled water and supplies station

The camaraderie among the people at the demonstration, and what was extended to me and my friends, was a wonderful experience.

There was something startling, and then encouraging, for the demonstrators to see me, a “white guy in a tie” who was moving through the crowd with a garbage bag asking if I could take away their trash.

People were patting me on the back, thanking me, and giving me the thumbs up.  When I responded to one group in a little Cantonese they asked me how long I had been in Hong Kong.

“First moved here in 1990” I responded.

Armed with my garbage bag!

There was a collective gasp among the group as they realised something that just dawned on me.

I was living in Hong Kong before most of these demonstrators were born!

* I met my wife in Hong Kong

* We’ve lived most of our life together in Hong Kong

* Our two sons were both born in Hong Kong

I wasn’t just down here picking up trash as a kind gesture from an “expat” or “outsider”.

I am also “Hong Konger”

and yes, I will also get to vote for the Chief Executive in 2017…

Proud to see my son down here as well!

As I moved through the crowd with my garbage bags in tow the smiles and the gestures of goodwill increased.

I don’t know how this will all end…but I do know I have never been more proud to identify with this city or its people.

Lord, let your peace rest on Hong Kong

…amen…and amen!