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Complicating the nature of these protests is that the 5 overt demands put forth by protestors (all related to the Extradition Bill) do not reflect a large cause

Complicating the nature of these protests is that the 5 overt demands put forth by protestors (all related to the Extradition Bill) do not reflect a large cause of the latent / tacit discontent: the inability of youngsters to buy a home and raise a family due to collusion between property developers and government to restrict land supply. This author has stated the problem better than I can: https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3022107/midst-hong-kongs-turmoil-carrie-lam-must-prioritise-housing-crisis https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3022107/midst-h... Decades of this squeeze have placed youngsters in a position where they have nothing to lose: Hong Kong has so many shiny buildings and not a square foot to their name. I was once getting flowers for my wife and ended up talking to a couple planning for their wedding reception at the florist. I was shocked to learn that they had discussed it and will not be having children because it is unaffordable. In my opinion, the Extradition Bill is just the final straw that broke that camel's back.

baybal2 7y ago
I'm afraid that this argument is just a diversionary manoeuvre tying to shift the narrative. I do feel it is being planted by pro-BJ side, to allow Beijing to waltz in and say "Apartments for everyone, now go home" It feels manufactured — the ones rioting are the higher middle classes, who despite astronomical real estate prices can still survive somehow, not the homeless youth living in McDonaldses. To provide some context to outsiders: housing to HK is pretty much like the healthcare is to America. Patently broken, but is pretty much a part of the class identity. Higher ups on the social ladder don't mind much to continue to "bite the cactus," and some even think of it as something normal, even actively trying to subvert efforts to fix the situation.
pimmen 7y ago
South China Morning Post to me doesn't have the credibility to make claims about representing Hong Kong's actual sentiment or discontents. When they interview Gui Minhai between torture sessions and publish his forced confession, not even questioning Beijing why neither his daughter nor Swedish authorities hadn't been allowed any contact with him, they lose a lot of faith from me in their journalistic integrity. https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2018/04/daughter-confronts-scmp-editor-over-forced-confession-coverage/ https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2018/04/daughter-confronts-scm...

baybal2 7y ago

I'm afraid that this argument is just a diversionary manoeuvre tying to shift the narrative. I do feel it is being planted by pro-BJ side, to allow Beijing to waltz in and say "Apartments for everyone, now go home" It feels manufactured — the ones rioting are the higher middle classes, who despite astronomical real estate prices can still survive somehow, not the homeless youth living in McDonaldses. To provide some context to outsiders: housing to HK is pretty much like the healthcare is to America. Patently broken, but is pretty much a part of the class identity. Higher ups on the social ladder don't mind much to continue to "bite the cactus," and some even think of it as something normal, even actively trying to subvert efforts to fix the situation.

pimmen 7y ago

South China Morning Post to me doesn't have the credibility to make claims about representing Hong Kong's actual sentiment or discontents. When they interview Gui Minhai between torture sessions and publish his forced confession, not even questioning Beijing why neither his daughter nor Swedish authorities hadn't been allowed any contact with him, they lose a lot of faith from me in their journalistic integrity. https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2018/04/daughter-confronts-scmp-editor-over-forced-confession-coverage/ https://chinadigitaltimes.net/2018/04/daughter-confronts-scm...