Around 1,000 pro-democracy supporters gathered outside government offices in Admiralty tonight to mark the anniversary of the beginning of the Umbrella Movement that brought the city’s political heart and other key areas to a standstill for 79 days last year.
A minute’s silence had been planned for 5:58pm – the time the first of 87 tear gas canisters were fired into the crowd in an unsuccessful attempt to disperse protesters on Sept. 28 2014. However, the commemorative silence failed to materialise as people began hurling abuse at police shortly after the onset and the blue and yellow throngs faced off either side of the barriers.
Many of those who came out to Admiralty tonight were holding yellow umbrellas, the symbol of last year’s movement, and waving banners displaying “689” – a cheeky reference to the number of votes that elected the city’s chief executive CY Leung in 2012.
At their peak, last year’s protests saw more than 100,000 people take to the streets to demand genuine universal suffrage in the 2017 elections of the city’s chief executive. But despite the prolonged occupations, the mass protests and the global attention it garnered, Beijing remains unmoved.
Though the protests failed to change anything politically, those on the streets today insisted change was achieved within the Hong Kong mindset.
“This is my city; I want to contribute and make things better,” said Grace from Admiralty. “I was here last year and I think we educated a lot of people. Before people just focused on their work so had no time to think about the government policies.”
Demonstrators acknowledged that universal suffrage is a long way off, but the mood on the holiday Monday remained upbeat, with chants ringing out about how they will not give up until their demands are answered.
“The movement was significant and historical,” said Jimmy from Sai Kung. “I’m optimistic for the future because you can’t fight the masses forever. This is the people… eventually the government will become tired and some other political wing will take over.”
