| The following response issued by the HKFS, Scholarism, OCLP's to Leung Chun-ying's Television Interview Today
( October 12, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Today, Leung Chun-ying described the Occupy Movement as a mass movement that has spun out of control. In fact, it is our government that is out of control – a government that fires tear-gas at unarmed citizens and unilaterally terminated dialogue with the students.
Leung was ambiguous about whether it was his decision to fire the tear-gas. On the one hand, he said it was the decision of the commander on the scene, on the other hand he said he participated in the overall situation. What was his specific role? Could it be that he decided there should be a forceful crackdown, and then left it to the commanding officer to decide the specifics? How can he, as the leader of our accountable officials, try to muddle through without explaining the truth to the public, without punishing officials guilty of dereliction of duty? If the government refuses to account for its actions, we must assume Leung Chun-ying was solely responsible, and that he should take on the responsibility wholly, by stepping down.
We hope that our demands for Leung to step down will not be futile because he has failed to directly face the people and explain himself in the fifteen days since force was used against citizens who were exercising their freedom of assembly. He has merely responded by making four pre-recorded television speeches and one television interview, this is unacceptable.
The row over political reform has its roots in the consultation report submitted by the Hong Kong government to the central leadership. It misled the central leadership into making a decision that violates the spirit of the Basic Law. The pronouncement that there need be no change to the electoral method for the 2016 Legislative Council elections and that the threshold for nomination in the 2017 Chief Executive election be raised from one eighth of the nominating committee to one half, clearly violates the principles of “gradual change”. Looking at citizens’ strong desire for democracy as shown by their participation in the civil referendum, the class boycott and the occupy movement, it is clear that the NPCSC decision does not concur with the “actual situation” in Hong Kong. The responsibility for the erroneous decision rests with the Leung Chun-ying government.
Right now, Leung Chun-ying is beset with scandal. According to the standards of a civilized society, an official mired in such scandals would have resigned long ago, lest he damage the government’s credibility and ability to govern. If Leung really had the interests of the people at heart, he should also know he needs to depart. The fact is, as the Central Government strengthens its resolve to crack down on corruption, how can Leung crave to cling onto power and drag the central leadership through the mud? We urge Hong Kong’s law enforcement agencies and legislators to act fairly, and to immediately launch an investigation. We cannot allow one person, Leung Chun-ying, to destroy the Hong Kong core values we so cherish!
