Hong Kong students brave government warnings to vote in strike referendum
蘋果日報 2020/06/21 08:45
Hong Kong students have defied government warnings by voting in an unofficial referendum on Saturday that could pave the way for a general strike in protest of the new national security law.
The referendum, held by 30 labor unions and the Hong Kong Secondary School Students Action Platform, saw 13 polling stations being set up across the city. For the general strike and class boycotts to go ahead, the referendum needed to have the participation of 60,000 workers and 10,000 students, with at least 60% voting in favor of the industrial action. The date of the industrial action has yet to be revealed.
A Form Four student surnamed Cheung said she had voted because she was worried about the stifling effect of the national security law — the details of which were released on Saturday.
“They could use any reason to accuse you of subversion of state powers,” she said.
Earlier, the Education Bureau said school campuses should be free from political influences, with the city’s Education Minister Kevin Yeung asking schools to punish any teachers or students who joined the strike.
Cheung said the law had sparked widespread concerns in the city and she felt the need to speak up despite the risk of repercussions, she said, adding that she participated in the referendum not only as a student but also as a Hong Konger. She said she would talk to her parents about joining the class boycott if the referendum was passed.
Another student, also surnamed Cheung, said the national security law would impact students’ freedom of speech and safety because of the abundance of grey areas in Chinese laws.
The Form Five student remained defiant and said he had participated in class boycotts before, without consequences. And even if his school changed its approach to dealing with participating students, he would be unfazed.
“There is nothing we can do if they decide to quash our actions,” he said. “But we need to right the wrongs of the government. We must resist no matter how bad the suppression is.”
Another Form Five student surnamed Law said he worried that he would be published by the school but had “no choice” but to vote. He explained that the new law would bring grave consequences to Hong Kong and the strike was something that “has to be done.”
An assistant to a pro-democracy lawmaker, who only gave his surname as Suen, said he joined the class boycott last year as a student to protest against the now-withdrawn extradition bill. He said the referendum was well-organized and hoped this could help move the democratic movement forward.
The referendum, held by 30 labor unions and the Hong Kong Secondary School Students Action Platform, saw 13 polling stations being set up across the city. For the general strike and class boycotts to go ahead, the referendum needed to have the participation of 60,000 workers and 10,000 students, with at least 60% voting in favor of the industrial action. The date of the industrial action has yet to be revealed.
A Form Four student surnamed Cheung said she had voted because she was worried about the stifling effect of the national security law — the details of which were released on Saturday.
“They could use any reason to accuse you of subversion of state powers,” she said.
Earlier, the Education Bureau said school campuses should be free from political influences, with the city’s Education Minister Kevin Yeung asking schools to punish any teachers or students who joined the strike.
Cheung said the law had sparked widespread concerns in the city and she felt the need to speak up despite the risk of repercussions, she said, adding that she participated in the referendum not only as a student but also as a Hong Konger. She said she would talk to her parents about joining the class boycott if the referendum was passed.
Another student, also surnamed Cheung, said the national security law would impact students’ freedom of speech and safety because of the abundance of grey areas in Chinese laws.
The Form Five student remained defiant and said he had participated in class boycotts before, without consequences. And even if his school changed its approach to dealing with participating students, he would be unfazed.
“There is nothing we can do if they decide to quash our actions,” he said. “But we need to right the wrongs of the government. We must resist no matter how bad the suppression is.”
Another Form Five student surnamed Law said he worried that he would be published by the school but had “no choice” but to vote. He explained that the new law would bring grave consequences to Hong Kong and the strike was something that “has to be done.”
An assistant to a pro-democracy lawmaker, who only gave his surname as Suen, said he joined the class boycott last year as a student to protest against the now-withdrawn extradition bill. He said the referendum was well-organized and hoped this could help move the democratic movement forward.
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