Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/cnforbiddennews Like us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/chinaforbiddennews Scholarism convener Joshua Wong and two other members announced an indefinite hunger strike to fight for universal suffrage. Up to Dec. 2, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying gave no positive response. Many were reminded of the hunger strike in Tiananmen Square in the 1989 students movement. While it worries many if the hunger strike will receive a response from the HK government, the Occupy Central is faced with clearing at Admiralty. On Monday night rally by the Federation of Students and Scholarism at the Admiralty, the Secretary-General of the Federation Alex Chow paid tribute to his comrades who joined the event of surrounding the government buildings. He apologized to those who were injured. Six representatives from both organizations took the stage and bowed to apologize. They reiterated their insistence on peace and non-violent principles. Joshua Wong announced the start of an indefinite hunger strike that day along with two female members of Scholarism, a college student Isabella Lo and a high school girl Prince Wong on Tim Mei Avenue. Joshua Wong: "We want the central government to withdraw the National People's Congress decision. We want Leung Chun-ying to immediately terminate his consultative work, and restart political reform. From this moment, we will launch an indefinite hunger strike until Leung Chun-ying government restarts the dialogue on political reform." On Dec. 2 morning prior to the meeting at the Executive Council, Leung Chun-ying, did not respond to the question of whether to meet with the students, according to Apple Daily. Leung only expressed the weather is cold and the students should take care of themselves. He also indicated that he's not unsympathetic but universal suffrage can't be achieved by protest. He stressed any protest is futile. Meanwhile, the three students on hunger strike stayed in three blue tents at the Admiralty. Hunger strike student, Isabelle Lo: "We know it is civil disobedience and we know what we are doing and we have this hunger strike because we believe that we have carried out a series of actions but we think it has been proven that those actions may not be sufficient to urge the government to do more." The Hong Kong students' hunger strike leaves very mixed feelings for Zheng Cunzhu, the 1989 student movement participant. Zheng Cunzhu: "How to say it…it suddenly reminded us of the hunger strike in Tiananmen Square more than 20 years ago for the fight against corruption. The simple and pure pursuit of the students showed in their hunger strike manifesto. They believe it's their responsibility as the youngsters. The future of Hong Kong is theirs. They can't give up the heavy duty on their shoulders." Since the beginning of the Umbrella Movement, it has been compared to the 1989 student movement. In the free and democratic environment, along with advanced communications, Hong Kong's protest has been seen to exceed the approach back in 1989. But, what made the Hong Kong students decide to take the same final resort, hunger strike? Zheng Cunzhu: "I think the main reason is that the HK government itself is not in a position to decide, even though it is said to be one country, two systems, and Hong Kong people running Hong Kong. In fact, it is not so. This large scale protest in any democratic country would have tumbled down the government and the Chief Executive would have resigned. With the CCP's instruction from behind, it has no control. So, I believe the students are one step at a time taking the humble approach towards….sigh…… the hunger strike like the old days." Liu Shui, also a 1989 student protest participant, wrote on Twitter: "The students have taken all the gentle approaches 25 years ago in China; dialogue, kneel, and finally they were forced to take to hunger strike, but only met a bloody crackdown. Today in Hong Kong, the students took the same and all possible gentle approaches; the dialogue, arrest, non-violence, and still finally they are forced to take to hunger strikes. What will be the end result? What's changed is the time, what's not changed is the innocence and sincerity of the students and the cold-blooded authoritarian." Will the hunger strikes receive any response from the HK government? Not just the activists who experienced the 1989 democracy movement but also many Hong Kongers are not optimistic. Pro-democracy activist, Lau San Ching: "Anyways, it is a gesture, but I don't think it's so effective because what we need now is a possible outcome for democracy of the universal suffrage, that is what we are fighting for, 《神韵》2014世界巡演新亮点 http://www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org/

• published: 03 Dec 2014
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