Atsuna: Hong Kong Is Experiencing a Cultural Revolution

Hong Kong Is Experiencing a Cultural Revolution

Translated by Chen-t'ang 鎮棠, edited by Gordon C., written by Atsuna
Original: www.passiontimes.hk/article/11-30-2015/27181 

A 15-vote distance: Teacher Jenny Leung Wing-sze lost to a DAB member in the District Council (DC) Election. Life as a secondary school teacher is already hard, especially when the education sector is so mainlandised. But to be so brave to contest in this election, it is only the love she possesses for her home that enabled her to make such a big sacrifice.

Yet, when the battle ended, in some restaurants, when some neighbours heard that she failed, their response was to exclaim, “Serves her right!” I can even imagine the joyous expressions they might have when they would sing “Congratulations and Celebrations”, filled with schadenfreude.

So you thought this must have been the rantings of some uneducated grumpy old fart? I do have some middle-aged colleagues, who might not have a high qualification, but still decent people. But once I heard them slamming, “That is right! Arrest those who mess around! Occupying the streets and they shall all go to hell!” I am utterly shocked that a decent person like her could turn into such a dragon to a stranger. Those who are willing to sleep on streets and be arrested for Hong Kong are more sinned than criminals in their eyes.

Aleksandras Štromas, a Lithuanian dissident, once said, socialism is “a moral rather than an economic or social concept” (Štromas et al., 2003. Totalitarianism and the Prospects for World Order). The Chinese Communist Party has long given up socialism and become a thorough follower of national capitalism, but is still good at carrying out “thought reforms” and forcing their beliefs onto Hongkongers.

(Apple Daily)

Usually, those who think about politics deeply are the minority – especially in a society like Hong Kong (where people seldom read seriously). The majority of the people do have a conscience, but they are too gullible to propaganda. They might be angry once about the Tian'anmen Massacre, but they would also condemn the Occupy Movement, because their moral values are often skewed, thanks to TVB. When CCP has mainstream media in its grip, they form new “moral values”. They will whitewash the corruption and lies above, and smear those who dare to challenge the authority. Freedom fighters are seen as inexcusable rabble rousers in those elderly's eyes – as the hatred sowed on mice in cats' eyes. No wonder they are so angry about the Occupy Movement.

What they did in the Cultural Revolution was also based on moral concept. They claimed that what they criticised are evils and villains. In such a distorted value system, decent and honest people simply had no room to survive, as they had to either leave the country, or die. Lian Yizheng, a columnist on HKEJ, said there are different “rod-and-carrot” systems in the political and economic environment in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Whereas some might not survive if they cannot accommodate this, some might receive carrot when they know how to live well, like how hypocrites are the champion in Mainland Chinese politics. So Hong Kong, Taiwan and China are indeed three different peoples, each with their own cultural heritage.

Xi Jinping shows his preference to Mao, and some even said he is having a small

(nowTV News; Chan Ching-sum)

“Cultural Revolution”. But Hong Kong is under another cultural revolution too! HKSARG spares no efforts to promote “China-Hong Kong integration”. At the end, they want to assimilate the “rod-and-carrot” systems of Hong Kong and China. Gradually, Hong Kong becomes not so talent-oriented; it is those who are shameless enough who are receiving carrots. Lo Chung-mau, who had a thesis credibility crisis, was challenging the “academic standard” of Johannes Chan. Thugs and scoundrels like Chan Ching-sum, Leticia Lee and Man Shek are the ones who rise to fame/notoriety. People seem not to know how bastard those officials are,

(MemeHK)

but fire at those who dare to challenge the authority. This is the “new values” of Hong Kong. But how many people know that our very own “rod-and-carrot” system, the foundation upon which they made a life for themselves, is eroding?