Hong Kong (AFP) – 07:38 GMT – ‘We are not Tibet or Xinjiang’ – Edward Chin, a financier and prominent Occupy organiser, is in bullish mood today. He’s been speaking to AFP reporter Annabel Symington and believes the police know violence would lead to a backlash from the Hong Kong public.
“I don’t think there will be anymore tear gas. That’s over. That was a big mistake,” he tells us.
“I think this civil disobedience movement will continue unless CY Leung comes out and has a really serious dialogue with the Hong Kong people. Of course the Hong Kong people need to work with Beijing but they can’t force a fake democracy on Hong Kong. This is not Tibet. This is not Xinjiang.”
07:24 GMT – ‘A movement, not a revolution’ – Wong Hung, an associate professor of social work at Chinese University has been speaking to the South China Morning Post. Although the term “umbrella revolution” has become a popular slogan in recent days, he’s concerned about the second half of that phrase.
“I don’t think this should be called a revolution, it’s a democratic movement calling for change,” he told the newspaper. “The difference between a revolution and movement is the former wants to displace a government and has associations with violence. We don’t want to push away the government. We are demanding change including free and fair elections. Even western models of democracy are not perfect. They don’t really understand the situation in Hong Kong.”
06:48 GMT – Older generations out – For much of the last two days the crowds have been overwhelmingly young. Today, likely because of the public holiday, older Hong Kongers are also out in force.
“We want to fight for our freedom and for everyone to have a vote,” said a Mr Leung, 65, who had come down to the protest for the first time with his wife and would only give his last name.
“I wanted to show support for the students. It is for their future,” added S Lam, 58.
Another elderly lady with grey hair said: “I wanted to see for myself what is the real situation.”
06:18 GMT – Wedding pose – My colleague Agnes Bun reports that a newly married couple have taken advantage of the chance for some once in a lifetime pictures by posing in wedding dress and suit next to some protestors in Tsim Sha Tsui
