There’s
something eerie about the Hong Kong protests. Walking back last night, the
students were out in force, convincingly blocking the city’s surprisingly few
traffic arteries. The typical age is early twenties – 22, 23… The lack of
variance is striking. From a leisurely walkthrough, 98% would be below 25.
Good
natured, relaxed and frighteningly young, these early 20s Hong Kong students
lack the hubris that characterizes their UK counterparts from the early teens
onwards. Sweet would be the word.
Stretched-out
with iPads, law books and sketchpads open, the whole sit-down is almost surreally
silent. With the roadways stripped off vehicles, the scene has a somewhat post-apocalyptic
feel, with aimless milling around the underpasses.
There is no
chanting. No music. No singing and – perhaps most staggering of all for anyone
with even the most fleeting experience of UK protests – no booze. Nearly
midnight on a Saturday night, 7,000 students sat down and the only alcohol in sight
comes courtesy of two strolling middle-aged expats, Tsing-Taos in hand, checking-out
the undergrad totty.
Despite the
casual, almost focus-less, feel of the occupation, there are clearly protocols
in place here. The homogeneity
of the protestors, the “rules” that can all too easily be reverse-engineered…somebody
is clearly writing a script.
A Tiananmen
meme is being evoked. These kids have more the feel of a human shield or bait
than protestors. Hopefully, both sides are equally aware of the game that is actually
afoot, with the authorities canny enough to duck the photo op that is clearly
being set up.
I can’t help
but thinking it’s being set up by someone far away from the teetotal teepees of
Occupy Admiralty.
Not matter
what your feelings are towards this particular cause – and mine are unashamedly
mixed – I defy anyone to wander through this encampment and not feel protective
towards these adult-children.
While they make think they are playing their part
in shaping history, I fear they are more a pawn in a far bigger game, one where
pawns are, as ever, tactically disposable.
