After failing to achieve his political agenda with the illegal “Occupy Central” movement in 2014, Benny Tai Yiu-ting has kept churning out plots, one after another, to advance his agenda. He has recently unveiled his new pet “Project Lazarus”, which he claims will engage the public in a citywide “consultation process” to discuss the “blueprint for rebirth” for Hong Kong. Obviously, in designing his new project, Tai chose to continue ignoring the constitutional status of Hong Kong as a special administrative region of China, as well as the central government’s overall jurisdiction over Hong Kong. His new maneuver to “build a democratic Hong Kong through discussion” is actually self-determination in disguise with an agenda to turn Hong Kong into an independent political entity. Should “Project Lazarus” go ahead as planned, it will surely become another version of “Occupy Central” that would tear the city apart with another wave of violence and vandalism. Tai’s “Occupy Central” movement has wreaked havoc on Hong Kong; there is no way Hong Kong people will sit on their hands and let him have his way.
Still coping with the lingering trauma of the “Occupy Central” campaign and the violent “black revolution”, the people of Hong Kong must be on high alert for another disruptive campaign put forward by political demagogues such as Tai. Discerning the true motives behind his sweet talk will help prevent lawlessness from taking over our city again
“Project Lazarus” alludes to a biblical story about the resurrection of Lazarus. Its name unambiguously insinuates Tai’s new attempt to revive his political campaign. In an effort to promote his new project, Tai published an article in a local newspaper in which he said Hong Kong “had been buried in a dark tomb”. He went on to encourage readers to “prepare themselves for the democratic elections that have yet to come”. He called on at least 4,000 people to participate in “Project Lazarus” to discuss “the future of Hong Kong with any option”. Thus, “Project Lazarus” is clearly another self-determination, or Hong Kong independence, plot under the guise of a democratic process.
The National Security Law has facilitated the restoration of the rule of law in Hong Kong by bringing the persistent, violent campaign to an end. This is an indisputable fact that Tai cannot twist, however hard he tries to vilify the law.
More importantly, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress set up the framework for the implementation of universal suffrage for the selection of the chief executive and the election of members of the Legislative Council in a resolution it passed on Aug 31, 2014. As a special administrative region of China under the “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong’s electoral reform can be carried out only within the framework prescribed in accordance with the Constitution, the Basic Law and other relevant laws.
Tai’s “Project Lazarus” emphasizes the need to discuss the road map for implementing universal suffrage in Hong Kong. However, never has he mentioned that electoral reform in the SAR must conform to the nation’s Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, nor has he mentioned the central authorities’ leading role in Hong Kong’s constitutional order. Instead of acknowledging these determining factors, “Project Lazarus” emphasizes only the need for a citywide “grand democratic debate” on unrestricted options. Obviously, the new plot is playing the same old tune; that is, to turn the SAR’s high degree of autonomy into full autonomy, or to establish a constitutional order that does not conform to the nation’s Constitution and the HKSAR Basic Law, through a self-determination process. In short, it is a new plot to separate Hong Kong from China.
In 2013, when Tai was advocating his “Occupy Central with Love and Peace” campaign, he organized three so-called Deliberation Days, and called for strikes and class boycotts. His campaign eventually led to major road blockages and the paralysis of core business districts, plunging Hong Kong into a state of lawlessness for 79 days. “Occupy Central” also planted a seed for the anti-extradition-law amendment-bill movement last year, which, needless to say, brought division and rampant violence to the city. “Project Lazarus” is of a similar nature as “Occupy Central”. By initiating “a grand debate” on the future of Hong Kong to gather “public opinion”, “Project Lazarus” attempts to concoct a new wave of separatist maneuvers that include inciting illegal and violent protests in pursuit of “dual universal suffrage” and inviting more foreign intervention into Hong Kong’s internal affairs. Determined to sacrifice the interests of Hong Kong and the entire country, Tai will do whatever it takes to achieve Hong Kong independence through self-determination.
The National Security Law, intended to put an end to chaos, has been successfully implemented. Effective law enforcement under the new law has gradually put Hong Kong back on track. Tai claims his “Project Lazarus” is intended to engage the community and promote “a grand debate” on the “rebirth of Hong Kong”, but we all know that his new campaign is nothing more than a plot to divide society for the sake of his political persuasions. Still coping with the lingering trauma of the “Occupy Central” campaign and the violent “black revolution”, the people of Hong Kong must be on high alert for another disruptive campaign put forward by political demagogues such as Tai. Discerning the true motives behind his sweet talk will help prevent lawlessness from taking over our city again.
The author is a current affairs commentator.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
