Demonstrations In Hong Kong

Put that crowd into your pipe and smoke it, Beijing!

You can pretend that all is well in the former Crown Colony, but what happens to your game of pretend when, as BBC says,

Tens of thousands of people have taken part in a march in Hong Kong to demand a fully democratic political system.

Trade unions, activists and civic groups joined ordinary citizens, some carrying banners denouncing China.

They snaked round streets lined with sky-scrapers towards government offices chanting "now or never" and "do you want a clown or a chief executive?".

They want a chief executive, and they want full universal sufferage as the way to elect one. Currently a panel of 800 elects the new CO, and China has offered to expand the panel as a bone tossed to the masses.

The transcripts of a press conference held by Hong Kong's current Donald Tsang are located here and here. He talks of protocols, papers and timetables. He says the demonstrators can be counted on to remain peaceful. He says the Communist Chinese believe in universal sufferage.

And that is exactly why the people of Hong Kong are tired of: Clowns.