BEIJING, China — China’s tightly choreographed 70th birthday bash next week risks being upstaged by pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, which offer a starkly different take on the strength and power of the Communist Party being feted in Beijing. With tanks and military aircraft to parade in Beijing on October 1, Hong Kong protest organisers have promised their own major rallies. “It’s safe to say that the Hong Kong protests have already wrecked the (Communist) Party’s party even before it’s begun,” said author and activist Kong Tsung-gan. ADVERTISEMENTBy rallying on October 1, Hong Kong protesters will attempt to “underscore the difference between dictatorial China and free Hong Kong”, said Willy Lam, a professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong. But attempts to insulate mainland audiences from being “infected by the virulent ideas” of freedom coming from Hong Kong hasn’t been totally successful, said Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a political science professor at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer September 29, 2019 02:48 UTC