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Tough choices ahead for HK protesters

HONG KONG — Student protesters galvanised Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement with their energy and ideological zeal, bringing tens of thousands of people on to the streets in a show of defiance against Beijing.

HONG KONG — Student protesters galvanised Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement with their energy and ideological zeal, bringing tens of thousands of people on to the streets in a show of defiance against Beijing.

People young and old speak of a new era of civil disobedience for an already well-established movement, with young and politically engaged activists more willing to stand up for what they believe to be right.

As events of the last 12 days prove, however, sustaining momentum is difficult and whatever success protesters had in pressuring the government by disrupting city life, they will always come up against a formidable foe — mainland China.

Protest numbers have dwindled markedly to a few hundred people at times and the focus for pro-democracy activists has switched to talks scheduled for tomorrow with key officials in the Hong Kong administration.

Already leaders among students and the Occupy movement, as well as tacticians in the city’s pro-democracy camp, say they are doubtful of an outcome that will pacify radical and moderate demonstrators, possibly paving the way for another crackdown.

Protesters’ core demands, namely full democracy in Hong Kong, including an open nomination process for electing the city’s next leader in 2017, are not even on the agenda.

“After the talks, there will likely be another crisis,” said pro-democracy lawmaker Lee Cheuk-yan. “You don’t know what each party will do and what will trigger a crackdown or a backdown. It’s very difficult to say.”

The sticking point is China, which has the final say on what concessions, if any, it might grant Hong Kong.

So far, all signs point to it not budging from an Aug 31 decision to restrict nominations for the 2017 poll to candidates who get majority backing from a committee stacked with pro-Beijing loyalists.

That begs the question of what next for a movement that has lost much of its popular support.

“Crisis resolution is important right now,” said Mr Kuan Hsin-chi, emeritus professor of politics at Hong Kong’s Chinese University.

“It’s not the time for getting concrete reform policies or principles.”

A forced police clearance carries the risk of stoking fresh clashes, while protest leaders have refused to withdraw, given that their demands for full democracy and for Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to quit have not been met.

“If the discussions do not yield the results we want, we will continue the occupation,” said Mr Lester Shum of the Hong Kong Federation of Students.

Meanwhile, Australian media outlets reported yesterday that Mr Leung had pocketed millions in secret fees from a listed Australian company in return for supporting its Asian business ambitions.

The arrangement was outlined in a contract dated Dec 2, 2011, before he was elected Chief Executive, in which Australian engineering company UGL agreed to pay the Beijing-backed politician S$7.8 million.

Mr Leung’s office in Hong Kong issued a statement after the reports were released and said the payments were for an agreed bonus and related to his departure from the Australian business and not made for any future service to be provided.

There was also no requirement for him to disclose the payments because they were all made prior to his being chosen as Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, the statement said. AGENCIES

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