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12/22/2024 03:44:11 pm

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Hong Kong’s Youngest Activist Prepares For Democracy Battle

Joshua Wong

(Photo : WIKIMEDIA)

A 17-year-old student from Hong Kong made headlines in China, for being the youngest "extremist" fighting for democracy.

Joshua Wong built a pro-democracy group in Hong Kong within the past two years and involved himself in numerous demonstrations for a Democratic Hong Kong.

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Following in the footsteps of students who marched at Beijing's central square in 1989, Wong's aim is to initiate another mass student demonstration, in order for China to grant "universal suffrage" to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong was once colonized by the United Kingdom before it was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Upon its return, a deal was made guaranteeing that Hong Kong will be under a "one country, two systems rule," which gave Hong Kong autonomy and enabled its citizens to vote their own leader, called the Chief Executive.

However, after 17 years, China is imposing its rule on Hong Kong and stated that the residents can vote for their next leader, provided that China will choose the candidates.

In an interview with  CNN, Wong said that he is fighting to take back Hong Kong's right to democratic elections, and he believes that it won't take long before it happens.

In addition, he said that people who are quick to give up on the fight for democracy and thinks that it's a battle that will be hard to win "will never achieve it." 

When Wong was about 15, he disagreed with China's proposal to implement a "National and Moral Education" and pro-communist teaching in schools in Hong Kong.

As a result, he started "Scolarism" with his friends, a student protest group which aimed to fight the proposal.

The group was able to gain a number of followers, and in 2012, 120,000 demonstrators led by the group marched to the headquarters of the Hong Kong government and demanded the leaders to withdraw the proposal.

Following the student protest, Wong realized that the voice of the youth can be heard.

According to Wong, students became involved  with politics after the curriculum proposal happened. "It was an awakening," he said.

In addition, Wong said that the Chinese government's monopoly on news outlets and the decline in freedom of the press are two main problems that the city is facing.

Because of the recent intensity of the issue of democracy in Hong Kong, Wong, along more than 300 members of his group, is planning another wave of mass demonstration.

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