After Clogging The Streets, Hong Kong Protests Dwindle
Nixon Ma runs a small electronics shop in Hong Kong's Wanchai business district, and since the protests began late last month, he says, sales are down 30 percent.
Like the protesters, he wants to see genuine democracy in this former British colony. But he opposes the tactics of the demonstrators who filled the streets and disrupted businesses.
"I agree. I 100 percent support [the protesters], but not in this way," he says. "For example, taxi drivers, a lot of businesses are unhappy because it disturbs their normal lives," he says.
After generating huge crowds last week, street occupations in Hong Kong have dwindled. The government has agreed to talks, and the vast majority of student protesters have returned to class.
At a cafe across the harbor at Hong Kong Baptist University, history student Mandy Wang says she admires the protesters for speaking out.
"As a student in mainland, I think their behavior is very impressive," she says.
But as a resident of the city's working-class Mong Kok district — where protesters have blocked traffic and where there have been clashes — she has grown tired of the inconvenience.
"I have to say it influenced me a lot. The bank closed down and the people are always yelling at midnight," she adds. "It really troubles me a lot. I can't fall asleep well."
Back In School
Michael DeGolyer, a professor of government and international studies at Hong Kong Baptist, says the tide of students pouring off campus to protest last week has almost completely turned.
"We're getting 85 to 90 percent of people back in class now," he says, "because they're actually falling so far behind, it's going to be difficult to catch up."
DeGolyer, who has studied political opinion here for years, says the vast majority of Hong Kongers support electoral democracy.
He personally supports the protesters' aims, but says there's a growing backlash against civil disobedience.
When demonstrators went beyond an original plan to disrupt just the city's financial district and moved to other parts of town, they tried the patience of ordinary people.
"As long as it was the big tycoons who could take the damage, nobody complained, but when it's Ma Chen and Uncle Tong and the various folks who have those mom-and-pop businesses, they can't handle that, they can't take that kind of damage," he says.
Jacky Ip says the protests have cut revenue in half at the bar where he works.
But Tuesday, he was out protesting in the Mong Kok business district even though it hurts his employer.
Ip, 24, knows people have criticized the protesters' tactics, but says if they weren't disruptive, the government would ignore them.
"We don't want to affect all the people's lives, but we have no choice," he says. "I think Hong Kong people should persevere to the end, otherwise the government will never listen to us."
After a standoff, the Hong Kong government agreed Tuesday to meet with student leaders later this week. Jacky Ip says he intends to keep protesting.
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Transcript
MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:
After generating huge crowds last week, street occupations in Hong Kong have dwindled. The government has agreed to talks, and the vast majority of student protesters have returned to class. Even people who support the students' demand for democracy say the demonstrations have become too disruptive and they want the streets cleared. From Hong Kong, NPR's Frank Langfitt reports on why the protest's future is in doubt.
FRANK LANGFITT, BYLINE: Nixon Ma runs a small electronics shop in Hong Kong's Wanchai business district. Since the protests began late last month, he says sales are down 30 percent. Like the protesters, he wants to see genuine democracy in this former British colony, but he opposes their tactics.
NIXON MA: I agree - I 100 percent support, but not using this way. For example, taxi drivers - lots of businesses not happy because it disturbs their normal life.
LANGFITT: At a cafe across the harbor at Hong Kong Baptist University, history student Mandy Wang says she admires the protesters for speaking out.
MANDY WANG: As a student in mainland, I think their behavior is very impressive.
LANGFITT: But as a resident of the city's working-class Mongkok district where protesters have blocked traffic and where there have been clashes, she's grown tired of the inconvenience.
WANG: I have to say they influenced me a lot, you know? The bank closed down and they - the people always yelling at midnight. It really troubles me a lot, you know? I don't fall asleep well.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: (Singing) Oh, baby, give me one more chance to show you that I love you. Won't you please take me...
LANGFITT: As students come back to campus, protest songs have given way to regular outdoor open-mic nights, like this one. Michael DeGolyer is a professor of government and international studies at Hong Kong Baptist. He says the tide of students pouring off campus to protest last week has almost completely turned.
MICHAEL DEGOLYER: We're getting 85 - 90 percent of people back in class now because they're actually falling so far behind, it's going to be difficult to catch up.
LANGFITT: DeGolyer studied political opinion here for years. He says the vast majority of Hong Kongers support electoral democracy, and he personally supports the protesters' aims. But he says there's a growing backlash against civil disobedience. When demonstrators went beyond an original plan to disrupt just the city's financial district and move to other parts of town, they tried the patience of ordinary people.
DEGOLYER: As long as it was the big tycoons who could take the damage, nobody complained. But when it's a Ma Chen and Uncle Tong and, you know, the various folks who really have the mom-and-pop businesses, they can't handle that.
JACKY IP: I'm Jacky, and I'm a bartender.
LANGFITT: Jacky Ip says the protests have cut revenue in half at the bar where he works, but today he was out protesting in Mongkok business district, even though it hurts his employer. Ip, who's 24, knows people have criticized the protesters' tactics. But he says if they weren't disruptive, the government would ignore them.
IP: We do not want to affect other people's lives, but we have no choice. I think Hong Kong people should persevere to the end. Otherwise, if we give up our self, the government will never listen to us.
LANGFITT: After a standoff, the Hong Kong government agreed today to meet with student leaders later this week. Jacky Ip says he intends to keep protesting. Frank Langfitt, NPR News, Hong Kong. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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