Activists hit Hong Kong’s streets

  • Published on 12/05/2008
  • by: KimB
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Asia Pacific youth activists meet in Hong Kong©AI

Less than 100 days before the Beijing Games, leading youth activists from the Asia Pacific region hit the streets of Hong Kong with their hopes for a positive Olympic human rights legacy.

The activists, who were mostly from Amnesty International, staged a protest in Hong Kong’s downtown hub of Tsim Sha Tsui on 9 May, at the end of a three day meeting about youth human rights activism.

They collected almost 100 signatures on petitions calling for China to stop Internet censorship, to end executions, ensure fair trials for all and to respect human rights defenders.

Most of the people passing by responded positively to the event, with both tourists and locals stopping to look and to listen to statements which were being read out in Cantonese, Mandarin and English.

Camera flashes, belonging to passersby, lit up the event and it seemed like it was the most photographed space in the city for a while.

The group were joined by Amnesty International Australia’s national director Claire Mallinson, as well as representatives from Amnesty International sections from around Asia Pacific including Korea, Thailand and of course, Hong Kong.

This blog entry was created by KimB and does not necessarily represent the position or opinion of Amnesty International Australia.

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Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact the web editor.

China is undergoing what is probably one of the greatest periods of industrial expansion and growth ever seen on this planet. As is often the case in such circumstances, human welfare and rights tend to be either supressed or forgot in the rush. It is up to the rest of the world, us, to keep China to its word to introduce human rights and safeguard freedoms. China is still vulnerable to international pressure in its exports, search for raw materials, and relations with friendly governments such as Australia. We need to apply pressure to our politicians to increase the pressur on China.

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BRUNO ILLARI
15/05/2008
11:19 AM

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