From: lau@auriga.rose.brandeis.edu (frankie t. k. lau)
Subject: CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: FULL PAGE AD TO HK (about Patten's reforms)
Organization: Brandeis University
Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1993 04:31:17 GMT



A CALL FOR PARTICIPATION -- FULL PAGE AD/LETTER TO HONG KONG PEOPLE

Original written in chinese, the following is the English translation.

This call for donation/participation towards the course
of posting an advertisement in Hong Kong about our collective
concern of democracy in Hong Kong is organized by 
a human rights organization in Toronto, Canada. 

-Frankie LAU
lau@tammy.harvard.edu
====================================================
A CALL FOR PARTICIPATION 

-- FULL PAGE AD/LETTER TO HONG KONG PEOPLE

/* 	Words about the petition   */

Dear Friends who are concerned about the future of China and HK:

The Legislative Council of HK will debate on whether to pass the political
reform plans proposed by Governor Chris Patten in his annual plan.  The
current situation is that the HK people are very much scared by the vicious
threats by the Chinese government.  Those politicians and businessmen who
only care for their own benefits change their direction to attack the reform
plans. They even teach China to batter firms that support the reforms and
intend to use economical aspect to pressure the HK people.

This is time that we support the HK people to strive for democracy.

We are planning to place a full page ad to display a letter to the HK
people.  500 names are hoped to be collected, with each name donating 10 to
20 Canadian dollars.  Those with financial difficulty may donate any
amount.

Kindly fax name list before coming weekend (Jan 30) to
 Fax# 416-260-1898.

Checks can be sent to:	27 Sheffley Cre.
 		        Etopicoke, Ont.
			Canada	M9R 2W5
Contact person:	Dick Chan
		416-241-0719

-----------------------------------------------------------------
(English translation of the ad's content)

LETTER TO THE HONG KONG PEOPLE -- 
	POLITICAL REFORMS IN HONG KONG

We are a group of Chinese now living in North America with concern about the
future of Hong Kong and China.  For the debates over the recent political
reforms, we have the following opinions.

1.	We understand that it is not right for the colonial government not
to have practiced democracy in the past.  However, we do not believe that we
should totally reject the reform plans now proposed by the British.  It is
just like the fact that we would not totally reject the present open-door
policy of China while it had a close-door policy in the past.  Similarly,
that Hong Kong did not have freedom and democracy does not mean that it
cannot be democratic now.  Furthermore, freedom in HK has been guaranteed by
the British democratic system.  Will HK still have this guarantee after
1997?

2.	We believe that the reform plans by the British basically reflect
the wishes of the HK people for democracy.  In fact, the plans are in
agreement with the principles and spirits of what the Chinese government
have repeatedly promised, namely "HK people governing HK", "high degree of
autonomy" and "no change in 50 years".  Such promises by China also reflect
the demand of the HK people for democracy and freedom.   We deeply hope that
China would not forget its promises.

3.	The recent evidents shown by the Chinese leaders and their numerous
threats to the people of HK make us remember what happened in the Cultural
Revolution when a whole generation of Chinese were wasted because of the
national policies led by the thoughts of leftist extremists.  If we do not
awaken our conscience to point out the mistakes of the leftist extremists
now so that China can stop the horse at the edge of the cliff, not only will
the prosperity and stability of HK suffer, the future of the open door reforms 
of China will also fall into pieces.

4.	We are gravely angered and saddened by the excuses of "for the well
being of the nation" and "British conspiracy" that the Chinese government
now uses. Is the Chinese communist party really nationalist?    We do not
need to go far back in history for an example.   For the economic benefits
to be brought along by the recent visit of the Japanese emperor to China,
which can strengthen its grip for power, communist China ignored the call by
Chinese inside China and overseas for the emperor to apologize for Japanese
atrocities during the war.  The government also used heavily armed forces to
guard against such protests.  Did this not totally crumble our national
integrity?  How could this convince us of the saying by the high ranking
Chinese officials feel no guilt for the well being of the nation?

5.	Being minorities in western societies, our experience makes us
always understand that democracy is not something to be given by somebody. 
Now that we can be treated with more equality is a result of the continuous
struggle by the previous generations of Chinese here.  It is also due to the
awakening of North American Chinese communities in the past decades, the
abandonment of a tradition of obedient citizens, the participation in local
political systems, the defend of human rights and protest of racial
discrimination.  We completely understand that the future of our children
rely on our participation in politics, and whether we continue to use our
rights to vot e, our rights to speak freely and other rights.  If we give
away our rights, we would no longer be able to enjoy the freedom and
democracy we have today.   The recent debates on the democratic reforms
actually reflect that Hong Kong is mature in its political and economical
developments.  The debates also reflect that democracy and freedom are not
those someone (the British nor Chinese governments) can grant to you.  Only
if you would stand up and take the attitude to be your own master, use your
(especially the Legislative Councilors) conscience to fight hard, you would
not lose this historical opportunity!!!  In this important moment of debates
for the political reforms in HK, we earnestly provide you our encouragement
and share with you our experience and words from the heart.

======end of content of ad.===================================
Xref: sparky soc.culture.hongkong:17342 soc.culture.china:34995 alt.chinese.text:1247