(Translated by Chapman Chen)
Prince Wong, Isabella Lo, and Joshua Wong, three fasting students from Scholarism, have issued a public letter demanding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Government to re-open the platform of dialogue with the public. It states that stalling the time will not work, and thousands of people will reappear in the plaza as a result of the fasting. It urges the CY Leung, the Hong Kong Chief Executive, to re-open the door of dialogue. But the statement no longer mentions bottom lines such as “civil nomination of the Chief Executive candidates”, “genuine universal suffrage”, and overthrowing the decision of the National People’s Congress. The wordings and attitude are rather mild compared with the previous ones.
Joshua Wong and two members of Scholarism started fasting on 1st December. It is said that Scholarism had not discussed this with the pan-democrats. Earlier on, CY Leung said that resistance was futile.
A Public Letter addressed to the Chief Executive, Leung Chun-ying (絕食者給予特首梁振英的公開信)
Dear Mr. Leung Chun-ying,
The occupiers are feeding on wind and dew, and we are fasting. Presumably you are still aloof and indifferent, still enjoying all the privileges which power has brought you. But we believe that we, though suffering for righteousness, still lead a better life than you, who feast everyday. You rely on a dictatorial and exploitative political system and a violent police force to defend your privileged castle. What warms our heart is just boundless hope for freedom and an ideal shared with our comrades.
We are writing to you in order to demand the Government to immediately re-open the platform of public dialogue concerning the restarting of the constitutional reform. Mr. Leung, do not blindly believe in clearance by force and do not think that stalling for time will work. The people have already heard the clarion of fasting and thousands of people will return to the plaza. The HKSAR Government cannot afford the price of losing of any single young person.
For years, the undemocratic SAR Government has already seriously damaged Hong Kong’s freedom and has even threatened the survival of the poor and the powerless. Now the insanely violent suppression is step by step pushing our society to the edge of eternal perdition. As the head of a city, you are supposed to respond to the demands of the public and to actively seek to resolve political problems. But you have proceeded in the opposite direction, shunning long piled up civil grievances and treating the legitimate demands of the occupiers with contempt and indifference. You even say that any resistance is futile. You are so arrogant, oppressive and abusive.
Now we have started fasting at all costs for the sake of dialogue. Please conscientiously correct your unpopular attitude and respond to the sincere and humble demands of the students and citizens.
Camping in the chilly wind is in itself no easy job; fasting in low temperate is an even greater challenge. But we believe that the touching vividness of our fasting will cut through all doubts and distrust of the public. Our society will see who is the real atrocious abuser and who is the relentless dream seeker. Let us repeat: Restarting the constitutional reform is within the power and responsibility of the SAR Government. As the Chief Executive, you must not shirk your responsibility.
Would you please carry out dialogue with the public in relation to the restarting of the constitutional reform? Do not try to persuade us to relieve ourselves from the pain of fasting. Please first relieve Hongkongers from the pain of oppression and lack of freedom.
Prince Wong, Isabella Lo, Joshua Wong,
Fasting students
3rd December 2014
