- by Margaret Ng

I remember the night of the handover, how shortly after midnight I rose quietly from the celebration banquet and found my way to the awaiting small van to speed me and my fellow democrat legislators back to the LegCo building.

I remember it was still drizzling; we went up the darkened stairs and corridors to the balcony of this building which has grown so familiar to us and yet felt so strange at that hour. Below in the streets all around crowds had gathered expectantly. And we made our farewell to them then. We pledged to continue to fight for democracy and defend the rule of law, and to return when legitimate election returned for the Legislative Council.

It was a poignant moment. I could not discern the faces in the crowd, but their cheers and applause warmed our hearts. And so, in innumerable poignant moments all over the territory, Hong Kong’s sovereignty reverted to China.

Ten years have gone by in a flash. Yet how bitter our toils as one looks back on those years!

Democracy has hardly advanced. All we managed to achieve was to hold the fort: the candlelight vigil still lights up Victoria Park every June 4 anniversary; freedom of expression hangs on stubbornly; the march on July 1 goes on, and the fight for democracy lives; the rule of law, battle-scarred, still keeps a brave face.

But these undeniable achievements are achieved by the millions of ordinary people. The democratic leadership they so strongly desire, we have failed to deliver. We may not be entirely to blame, but the fact remains that we have not delivered, at least not in the measure expected of us. Not all criticisms of us are unfair. We did not apply our minds sufficiently to the cause. We were not united enough. We were lacking in strategy. We were disorganized and internal discipline could be better. All these had made us less effective.

Meanwhile, the forces against democrats have been amassing and improving their tactics. The speech of Wu Bangguo blared out the tune of austerity for the next ten years. If we do not unite and pull ourselves together, we will soon be routed in the new decade. The recalcitrance of individual resistance, however noble, will not get democracy for Hong Kong, or save the rule of law from molestation.

This June 30, as night falls, my democrat colleagues plan to revisit the scene of our last farewell. I am in trepidations: how am I to face the multitudes whom I have failed? But July 1 belongs to the people. People of Hong Kong, give us your strength!

This is the last issue of A45 Newspaper. Since our first issue in October 2005, Civic Party has come into being. A new age requires a new voice. We are exploring what that voice should be, and hopefully we will meet again soon.