The ****trait of a Petty and Boring "Olympic Host" -- Hong Kong greets
the torch
-- Micky's humble opinion: The Chinese government has turned the Olympic
games into a purely political and Chinese nationalistic event, what a
mockery to the Olympic spirit ! --
Bowring: Hong Kong greets the torch
By Philip Bowring
Thursday, May 1, 2008
HONG KONG: Hopes that China would not rise to the bait of politically
motivated Olympics protests have come to nothing - at least to judge by
this supposedly autonomous city.
The Olympic torch arrival is being marked by feverish efforts to raise
patriotic zeal, with a massively publicized torch relay on May 2 and
bans on the entry of several foreign critics of China. Both run contrary
to the territory's liberal and internationalist traditions. So much too
for the protestations by Beijing - and International Olympic Committee
President Jacques Rogge - that s****ts should not be mixed with politics.
The Hong Kong government's hand can be seen in the member****p of the
Committee for Welcoming the Torch, which includes the heads of several
major quasi-governmental entities, a member of the government's
policy-making Executive Council as well as assorted business and
professional figures.
Not content with cheering the torch and the Olympic spirit, the
committee has urged Hong Kong people to dress in red on the day, or wear
one of two million special red stickers being prepared, as a sign of
patriotic identification with the government.
It urged schools and employers to sup****t the effort, a move seen by
critics as a way of separating the "patriotic" from the "unpatriotic."
The local authorities also did their bit for patriotic politics by
appointing various pro-administration politicians, as well as property
tycoons and their employees to take part in the torch relay. S****ts
people were conspicuous by their minority status in the relay list.
Seemingly unaware of the irony, the Torch Welcoming Committee spokesman,
Jack So, who is the head of the government-funded Trade Development
Council, was quoted as saying, "We are only concerned about s****ts,
peace and harmony. We don't want to talk about politics."
Meanwhile So's council, which is supposed to help all business in Hong
Kong - Chinese or not - has remained silent on a crucial issue facing
thousands of foreign businessmen based in Hong Kong: the pre-Olympic
refusal of Beijing to issue multiple reentry visas. This issue is of
major concern to the foreign chambers of commerce whose members must
cross the border frequently to meet suppliers and visit factories.
Hong Kong's liberal reputation has also been undermined by refusal to
allow the entry of a group of human-rights activists headed by the
Danish sculptor Jens Galschiot, who was planning to join the small group
of local activists eager to use the occasion to wave the Tibetan flag.
No such ban appears set for actress Mia Farrow, due to speak on Darfur,
though there are fears that "patriotic" demonstrators could be
disruptive. But in another example of politically inspired patriotism
trumping liberalism, the local Law Society journal has declined to
publish an article setting out a legal case for Tibetan independence.
It is clear that Olympics-related anti-China protests have stirred up
nationalism throughout China, including among many who are otherwise
critical of the government. Protesters have often failed to distinguish
between criticism of the government and attacks on China's pride in
hosting what they hope will be the biggest and best Olympics.
As events in Hong Kong are now demonstrating, that can be
counter-productive and make it easier for the government to wrap itself
in the flag of patriotism. But it is equally clear that governments in
Hong Kong and Beijing have been as determined as the demonstrators to
use the games for political ends.
Adding to it in Hong Kong's case is the fact that the city is spending a
huge sums to host the equestrian events, which could not be held on the
mainland for quarantine reasons.
These events have underlined the exclusionary character of Hong Kong's
Olympic selection process and the nationalist, patriotic agenda which
the games represent.
By excluding anyone not holding Chinese nationality - and there are tens
of thousands of locally born non-Chinese residents, mostly of south and
southeast Asian ancestry - some of the best local equestrians as well as
other athletes are unable to compete for Hong Kong even though it has
separate Olympics participation from China.
The Olympics should be open to those who meet residence qualifications,
as is generally the case with most other s****ts and with other dependent
territories with teams at the Olympics.
But officials seem to fear they would compete for the territory of Hong
Kong, and not for the red flag or Han ethnic pride.
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