Hong Kong's "Umbrella Revolution" Slowly Folds. Part 2

After almost 2 weeks of protests, Hong Kong students and democracy supporters are weary and doubtful of any compromise from Beijing.  Clearly, supreme leader Xi Jinping and the ruling elite fear that freedom in Hong Kong will only encourage mainlanders to demand their own rights.  So far, the Communist masters have successfully suppressed all reform attempts in China - supporters of democratic freedoms are branded "political agitators"  and jailed;  journalists, television and radio are tightly muzzled;  hundreds of thousands of government censors block Twitter, Facebook, You Tube and other social media;  Instagram was closed down after mainlanders shared photos of Hong Kong protesters using umbrellas against tear gas and pepper spray, and on and on it goes.

Some hardline protesters in the island city are determined to carry on but new, underhanded tactics used by Beijing are making their civil disobedience very difficult.  For example, thugs and goons, probably brought in by the government, beat up and sexually assaulted students - many in plain view of police who stood idly by.   Some businesses have been terrorized by these criminal gangs.  Yesterday, one student said:  "We are not afraid of the government and we are not afraid of the police.  We just don't want any more violent acts against residents".  Many students have apologized to nearby shop owners for disrupting business.

In my opinion, the students should continue their peaceful protests even if it is on a smaller scale.  Two major factors give them legal and moral support.  First, the Chinese government is in clear breech of international law.  It signed an agreement for "one country, two systems"  17 years ago.  If they break that deal, how many other trade and political agreements with foreign companies and countries might they break in future?  The eyes of the world are on Xi Jinping.  Second, Hong Kong is still the country's leading financial centre and the gateway for trade and foreign capital investment.  The city still has a free press and an independent legal system.  If China harms or destroys the prosperity of Hong Kong, it really only achieves a black eye on its international reputation and further exposes the ugly face of Communist rule. 

Civil disobedience can work.  Witness Mahatma Gandhi in India, Martin Luther King in America and many other social reformers.  It just takes time, patience, control and commitment.