Money politics must be stamped out

 

倘若香港真的淪落為一個黑金政治的地方；這是香港人的悲哀。港人現在真的要反問自己，到底我們想要一個怎麼樣的社會呢？是團結、和諧？還是整天都是在吵吵鬧鬧的呢？

(The Standard P6  04 Jan 2013) Rent-a-protester (出租示威者) - that was the latest unsavory tactic (不光彩的手法) seen in the pro-Leung Chun-ying rally (遊行) on New Year's Day.

Obviously, the organizers are now in denial (否認). But photographs and videos don't lie, with the footage (影片) uploaded to YouTube clearly showing not only the youngsters being paid, but also the stamp on the back of their hands which the organizers arranged to ensure payment (確保付了款).

This tactic (策略) is the latest to emerge (出現) on the political front(政界現狀), following vastly exaggerated (接著的極大地誇張的) numbers of participants and the hooligan (不良少年) attitude of radicals (激進份子) who deliberately (蓄意地) blocked the roads in Central.

Yes, "money politics" is becoming a reality (現實) in Hong Kong - just like in Taiwan and even the United States.

But are we willing (願意的) to see the SAR's traditional (傳統的) culture of rational (有理性的) and peaceful protests (和平示威) being eroded (被腐蝕)?

What use are such tactics when they give the public the perception that our protests are no longer staged (不發動) with purity (純粹) of intentions (目的) and the best interests (關注) of the public at heart?

If we allow such a situation to continue, it will surely weaken the cohesion (團結力) of the protests and their demands. It's not for me to say what organizers and protesters should do, but I hope that those who truly love Hong Kong will behave and allow rallies to remain platforms on which to air genuine grievances (發表真的不滿).

The protest atmosphere has changed so much that even one of the biggest organizers - the Society for Community Organisation , better known as SoCO - did not take part in the New Year rallies (元旦大遊行).

It's attitude apparently (顯然地) changed following a HK$12 million donation from New World Development to establish (設立) a social services center last October. SoCO flatly denies (斷然地否定) any link to the donation.

Granted (就算), it's no criminal offense (犯法行為) to hand cash to those willing to march, but it's certainly not ethical (不道德的) and shouldn't be encouraged. For if this were to be tolerated, then it's only a matter of time before the rich control even the protests.

There's no denying (否認) that youths were paid to take part in the pro-Leung rally, as online journalists infiltrated (滲入) and exposed (揭發) the offers of HK$250 each. Police should investigate since the organizers claim (聲稱) to have been smeared (誹謗).

What's bizarre (異乎尋常的) is why organizers feel the need to exaggerate (誇大) the number of people attending such rallies.

The anti-Leung organizers - the Civil Human Rights Front (民間人權陣線) - claimed a turnout(聚集人數) of 130,000, while the pro-Leung group - the Hong Kong Celebrations Association - claimed 60,000. Police put the numbers at 26,000 and 8,000, respectively. It's generally believed that police figures are more accurate (準確的).

If the anti-Leung people keep exaggerating turnout figures, it does them no good. And pro-establishment organizers(建制主辦機構) will find it harder to win over (說服) citizens if they too embellish figures (修飾數字).

As for the radicals (激進派成員), it's intolerable (無法容忍的) for them to block roads whenever they feel like it. In recent years, they have become more boisterous (吵鬧的) and obnoxious (討厭的), and on New Year's Day they not only inconvenienced citizens by blocking the roads, but also indulged in放縱 the ridiculous (荒謬的) by cooking food on the streets.

It's pure nonsense for them to claim they're exercising their right to stage protests (發動示威). Ignoring (不顧) the rights of others to live peacefully will only bring chaos (混亂).

Mary Ma