https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Democracy-Protest-March-1-July-2017/i-sNLSnm9
Someone spent a massive amount of money to stage a 3 day Chinese space exploration exhibition in Victoria Park, even bringing an actual rocket. On the first day it was only open to select Mainlanders. For the last two it was seldom busy, mainly perhaps because it was patriotic first and foremost, informative a distant second.
Why is that relevant to the annual 1 July protest march – because it’s exactly that an annual march… And a big deal was made across local media about the march being cancelled because access to the park had been denied to the organisers. Not true, the gathering point was simply moved to the lawn, with massive police barricades ensuring that march and indoctrination could not meet.
A big deal is made over numbers, and they are important. But Hong Kong has never really had a political or protest culture. That one has properly evolved over the last few years is a true indication of the depth of Hong Kongers frustrations with incompetence, nepotism and increasing corruption. Most people are lazy and it needs something like tear gas – or in the case of pro-China groups cold hard cash and a free meal – to stir them. That so many do still turn out should be statement enough.
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Democracy-Protest-March-1-July-2017/i-2bjMQXS
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Democracy-Protest-March-1-July-2017/i-dfXp6gk
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Democracy-Protest-March-1-July-2017/i-jG49vzn
https://bcmagazine.smugmug.com/Bcene-photos/2017/Democracy-Protest-March-1-July-2017/i-2knnzFz