On Wednesday, October 1, pro-democracy protests in the streets of Hong Kong are expected to swell to new record numbers as part of continued opposition against the Chinese communist government’s recent move to screen all candidates for the city’s first free public elections.
Protesters say the decision reneges on a previous promise that universal suffrage would be practiced in the 2017 election.
It is also seen as a major affront to the “One Country, Two Systems” formula of governance, a system that provides Hong Kong citizens with western-styled civil liberties and a high degree of autonomy from the communist government in Beijing.
These freedoms were granted to the city as part of the terms of the 1997 handover of Hong Kong from British to Chinese sovereignty, but there are growing concerns that the institutions and laws that have made Hong Kong a global economic powerhouse will erode over time.
On the same day Hong Kong citizens are expected to take to the streets, Hong Kong citizens and supporters living around the world are encouraged to participate in the “Wear Yellow for Hong Kong” campaign to spread the word about what is happening.
The initiative is making its way through more than 50 universities and colleges across North America, including the University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, McGill and Harvard.
Throughout the day, leaders of UBC’s Hong Kong Students Association will be at the Student Union Building handing out yellow ribbons and asking students to share their thoughts and views on a giant poster.
The October 1 protests also coincide with National Day – a public holiday in China that celebrates the founding of the People’s Republic of China. In Hong Kong, the widespread protests have forced local government officials to cancel the annual National Day fireworks display in Victoria Harbour.
While major protests are scheduled for Wednesday, an extended period of civil disobedience is expected.