My Take | Carrie Lam should heed the lessons of deadly riots that took place 50 years ago
Hong Kong is celebrating 20 years of liberation from colonial rule, but societal problems that led to unrest in the 1960s are still very much in focus
I hate to be a party pooper. But given the gloomy mood in Hong Kong these days, the lessons of deadly riots 50 years ago seem more relevant than the 20th anniversary celebration of China’s resumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong.
It’s rather disturbing that there are profound parallels between what happened then and what is taking place now. The social discontents, corruption, inequalities and poverty are all there. It just needs a trigger to erupt to the surface. Then, the excuse was against British colonial rule. Today, it’s against Chinese rule (or the absence of “real” democracy). But the underlying causes are similar.
Back then, in 1966, a Star Ferry fare rise triggered a hunger strike, which struck a chord among many ordinary Hong Kong people. But the more violent bombing, murders and riots that took place in the following year were primarily the work of leftist agitators and communist provocateurs inspired by the Cultural Revolution across the border.
