The Cadre uses soft power of patriots in Hong Kong, where it dominates the government. But the negative of the Tibet protesters get equal time and lenty of live action photos. Ten thousand waving red flags, fourteen protesters, are seen as equal in the web eye. The Cadre studies and learns little. It cannot see. It argues. What is this thing, liberty? Can we own it? Is it patriotis? What is its origins?
Torch Arrives in Hong Kong
After Officials Deport Protestors
Associated Press
April 30, 2008 11:39 a.m.
HONG KONG -- The Olympic torch returned to Chinese soil Wednesday after a turbulent 20-nation tour, landing in the bustling financial center of Hong Kong, where officials deported at least seven protesters before the flame's arrival.
Associated Press
Police officers stopped protester Leung Kwok-hung, center, at an Olympic flame welcoming ceremony in Hong Kong, Wednesday.
A marching band and flag-waving children in red and white tracksuits greeted the torch at the airport, where it arrived from Vietnam. The flame was driven to a welcoming ceremony at a cultural center, where five pro-democracy activists tried to disrupt the event. Holding a banner that said, "Human rights are universal rights," the protesters were blocked in the street far from the venue by a dozen police with their arms linked together.
"We demand that the Chinese communist regime lives up to the promise it made in 2002 [when it was awarded the Olympics] to improve human rights in China," said lawmaker Leung Kwok-hung, the protest's leader. He was heckled by a few elderly onlookers who accused him of stirring up trouble. One asked him, "Do you consider yourself Chinese?"
BEIJING 2008
Read complete coverage of the Olympics and China's efforts to prepare for the Games, and track the torch's route.
• Protests Over Relay Cause Rift Between Beijing, Seoul
About 3,000 police planned to guard the torch Friday during its relay through this former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule 11 years ago.
The relay, which follows a global tour marred by protests against Beijing's human rights record and its recent crackdown on protests in Tibet, is a high-stakes event for the local government. Officials have asked everyone to wear red to show their support.
Henry Tang, the city's No. 2 ranking leader, said in a speech that Hong Kong, which will host the Olympic equestrian events, has a great responsibility to ensure the "dignified, smooth and orderly progress" of the flame. "It has been 44 years since we last welcomed the Olympic flame to our city," he said.
Even before the torch arrived, authorities were busy deporting at least seven protesters who were considered a threat to the relay. It wasn't the first time Hong Kong has blacklisted and deported activists when they arrived for major events. The city used the same tactic when it hosted a World Trade Organization meeting in 2005.
Associated Press
Students in Hong Kong greet the Olympic flame with cheers and red flags.
Human-rights groups accused the government of squashing free speech to avoid the political embarrassment of any demonstrations involving the torch. Although Hong Kong is part of China, it is supposed to enjoy a wide degree of autonomy and greater freedom under a "one country, two systems" model of governance.
The deported activists included three pro-Tibet protesters who were kicked out of the city as they arrived at the airport Tuesday. A fourth activist, an organizer for an independent Chinese writers' group, also was turned away on Tuesday. Three Danish activists were deported over the weekend.
Copyright © 2008 Associated Press
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