“China Democratic League” Statement on July 1 Opposing the Implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law

 

　　In May this year, the National People’s Congress of the Communist Party of China bypassed the Hong Kong Legislative Council and passed Hong Kong’s national security law directly in Beijing, and forcibly implemented it in Hong Kong on the anniversary of Hong Kong’s return. This means that the promise of “one country, two systems, Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong” that the CCP solemnly declared to the world is completely bankrupt. Hong Kong, the Oriental Pearl, has completely fallen into the clutches of the CCP, and the people of Hong Kong have completely become lambs for the slaughter of the CCP. This is the darkest moment in Hong Kong’s history!

　　In fact, since July 1, 1997, Hong Kong’s sovereignty fell to a dictatorial, autocratic, and brutal regime. Hong Kong’s gradually improved rule of law and free system under the British rule of Hong Kong have been increasingly suppressed and undermined by the CCP. One country, two systems has long existed in name only. However, kind-hearted people never imagined that the CCP would even tear off the fig leaf of “one country, two systems” for Hong Kong people to govern Hong Kong. This is an insult to the whole world! The Hong Kong National Security Law, promulgated and implemented directly by the CCP, has caused Hong Kong people to lose not only their right to freedom of speech, but also put their lives and safety at serious risk.

　　The vitality of Hong Kong’s development is restricted by the Chinese Communist regime, and is eventually strangled by the Chinese Communist regime. This is not only a tragedy for Hong Kong, but also a tragedy for the free world. Today, it has become a crucial choice for Hong Kong people to make a crucial choice whether they should sit back and wait for death and suffer the loss of freedom and live an ignoble existence, or whether they should “die loudly and live silently” and fight. We hope that Hong Kong people will continue to fight, because only by persisting in fighting can we have hope of regaining freedom.

　　The people of Hong Kong are brave. Although they have failed in their fight against the country’s authoritarian regime, they have never succumbed to failure. As a result, we have achieved seemingly impossible victories. We remember that in 2003, the protests of 500,000 Hong Kong people forced Beijing and the Hong Kong government to withdraw the “Article 23” legislation aimed at suppressing freedom of thought and implementing political persecution; in 2012, Hong Kong parents and students jointly resisted the SAR government’s attempt to forcibly implement the so-called national education of “advocating communism” in schools. The continued “anti-extradition” demonstrations by Hong Kong citizens in the second half of 2019 demonstrated the wisdom, perseverance and indomitable spirit of Hong Kong people, and told us that the Hong Kong people have not stopped resisting autocracy, nor will they give up their defense of freedom and the rule of law.

　　In addition, we once again urge the international community to establish an anti-CCP coalition as soon as possible and severely punish the CCP’s dishonest and treacherous hooligan behavior. Otherwise, the free world will have no peace.

　　We know that after “Su Dongpo” in 1989, Western countries led by the United States, from academic circles to political circles, had a fierce debate for several years about whether the China/CCP policy should be engagement or containment. In the end, the exchange camp prevailed. This was also what we later often referred to as the new appeasement policy. After the 1989 Democracy Movement and the “Soviet (Soviet) Eastern Slope”, the reason why the CCP not only refused to die, but also achieved the so-called “rise of a great power”,

　　They chose to “die loudly and live silently” and fulfilled Hu Shi’s motto with their actions.

　　As the first overseas democracy movement organization initiated by overseas students and scholars, the “China Democratic League” has been committed to China’s democratic movement since its establishment in 1983, and has been fighting for this sacred cause for decades. Over the years, it has been our consistent position to support the Hong Kong people in their struggles in various ways. Let Hong Kong become the beacon of freedom in China, let Hong Kong forever become the Pearl of the Orient, and let every enslaved Chinese citizen finally be liberated from the yoke of autocracy. This is not only our expectation, but also the mission of us “People of the League of Democracy”.

　　Finally, let us join hands and work together for a free Hong Kong today and a free China tomorrow!

　　Today, the people of Hong Kong will once again take to the streets to demand that the Hong Kong government respond to the five major demands made previously. This is another large-scale protest gathering by the Hong Kong people since the millions of people protesting against the extradition bill on June 9, 12 and 16. In the past 30 years, millions of Hong Kong people have taken to the streets to support the mainland. From the 1989 pro-democracy movement and the subsequent annual candlelight rallies in Victoria Park to commemorate June 4th, to the 500,000 people protesting the Hong Kong government’s intention to implement Article 23 in 2003, to the “Occupy Central” movement in 2014, and then to the recent “anti-extradition” march of two million people, successive waves of peaceful and non-violent protests have formed a dazzling landscape in Hong Kong. Defending freedom has become the sacred mission of Hong Kong people. The brave, tenacious and rational fighting spirit of Hong Kong people continues to shock and move the entire world.

　　Compared with the recent demonstrations, saying “no” to the Hong Kong government under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party on July 1, the day of Hong Kong’s return, is of greater significance. We know that on July 1, 1997, Hong Kong’s sovereignty fell to a dictatorial, autocratic, and brutal regime. Since then, Hong Kong’s gradually improved rule of law and free system under the British rule of Hong Kong have been increasingly suppressed and undermined by the Chinese government. One country, two systems exist in name only. It is a historical tragedy that Hong Kong is controlled by the Chinese Communist regime. In the face of this tragedy, whether to sit back and die, lose freedom and live in silence, or to rise up and fight has become a crucial choice for Hong Kong people. What is gratifying and even more proud is that Hong Kong people, especially young people, have not bowed to their fate. They have chosen to “die loudly and live silently”, fulfilling Hu Shi’s motto with actions.

　　The people of Hong Kong are brave. Although they have failed in their fight against the country’s authoritarian regime, they have never succumbed to failure. This is why we achieved a seemingly impossible victory. We remember that in 2003, the protests of 500,000 Hong Kong people forced Beijing and the Hong Kong government to withdraw the “Article 23” legislation designed to suppress freedom of thought and implement political persecution; in 2012, Hong Kong parents and students jointly resisted the SAR government’s attempt to forcibly implement the so-called national education that “advocates communism” in schools. The Hong Kong people’s victory in the “anti-extradition” movement was not due to the Beijing government’s gift, but because the Hong Kong people have never stopped resisting autocracy and have never given up on defending freedom and the rule of law.

　　The July 1st Parade in Hong Kong is not only a resistance to the authoritarian regime but is never willing to be manipulated by it, but it also symbolizes the inheritance of China’s democratic movement. The persistent resistance of the Hong Kong people over the years has not only inspired the mainland people who strive for freedom and democracy, but their accumulated resistance experience will also serve as a reference and guide for the surging democratic movement in the mainland.

　　As the first overseas democracy movement organization initiated by overseas students and scholars, the “China Democratic League” has been committed to China’s democratic movement since its establishment in 1983, and has been fighting for this sacred cause for decades. Over the years, it has been our consistent position to support the Hong Kong people in their struggles in various ways. Let Hong Kong become the beacon of freedom in China, let Hong Kong forever become the Pearl of the Orient, and let every enslaved Chinese citizen finally be liberated from the yoke of autocracy. This is not only our expectation, but also the mission of us “People of the League of Democracy”.

　　Finally, let us join hands and work together for a free Hong Kong today and a free China tomorrow!

China Democratic Solidarity Alliance
June 30, 2019