Exclusive report on WS's Press Conference

I apologize for the delay reporting back to AOHK. My trip to HK and Dumaguete had been planned with the tightest possible schedule, and the suddenness of WS's news required quite some juggling to allow me to attend the occasion without upsetting other parties of my rendezvous.

By this time, most of what I witnessed is already old news that you can get from other sources, which I will not duplicate. I will focus only on what role I have played as a representative of AOHK, and a somewhat personal perspective from an angle (physically & ideologically) distinct from the press/media present for that occasion.

The press conference to update the public about WS's condition was scheduled as the keynote event of the Lunar Year-end Flower Market at the Victoria Park, in which the Alliance and other political organizations and parties have participated every year. The Alliance, just like every other organization, has a stand for thematic displays, souveniers and fund raising activities. It is almost expected that their corner of the Victoria Park would be much less visited than, for instance, those that sell flowers and year-end commodities needed for the Spring Festivial. Moreover, there are other political stands competing for the same audience who happened to be browsing that corner of the Park.

The press conference was expected to begin at 3 pm on Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010. At that time of the day, the crowd at Causeway Bay was actually lighter than most other times, and I was surprised to see very little mobilization of crowd control forces at the usual strategic locations taken up on other occasions -- and believe me, I have attended enough of those prior occasions since the midnight of June 30, 1997 to know the HK Police's tactics AND strategies by heart. Right off, I kind of know this will be eyed as a routine exercise than a real rally in the eyes of the HK Police. This assessment is fascinating because, merely a few weeks ago, the Police had to handle confrontations that did lead to violence, mostly among the younger generations dissatisfied with the current political system (the "post-80's"). You can draw your own conclusions from this report, about the current status of HK and the Alliance.

After a quick surveillence, I rejoined our comrades within the stand of the Alliance, which was routinely sealed off from the press and the public. Although I had expected to give a helping hand, the anticipated "shortage" of workers was NOT obvious, at least by the time they face the public. All positions were adequately and efficiently staffed, and all of our contacts were there to greet those of us "returning from abroad". Yes, I did run into a few other parties, representing various localities such as Vancouver. I have always been a bad diplomat, and I must apologize for not being able to report more about these visitors who obviously were there for the same reasons as ours -- to show our respect, to pledge our support, and if needed, to give a helping hand to the Alliance workers. Since Alliance workers seemed more than capable of handling the situation despite a gathering crowd -- growing so big that I had a hard time approaching the stand myself upon rejoining -- representatives from these overseas organziations were essentially assigned, quite appropriately, to a "guest" position on the left side of the stand. Because of this unique/honored position, we were able to see and possibly reach WS's passage on arrival. Also from this position, the press and the public would be directly facing us, allowing us to hear their questions and watch facial expressions. Because of my longstanding preference to avoid lime lights, I must admit that I am for the first time looking at the media from this physical angle.

As always, WS arrived on time. Approaching the stand from the Tin Hau entrance of the Park, he and his "guardian party" walked in the middle of thundering applause from the gathering crowd, including most members of the press. His head held high with glimmering eyes showing above his surgical mask. Despite all of our briefings beforehand, that we should NOT shake the hand of WS (see next paragraph), his guardian party still had to stop some of us who were within easy reach to him from shaking his hands -- I guess there are always those few who are either forgetful, or habitually ignoring the doctor's advice.....

Yes... advices from the good doctor and a footnote may help. WS had completed chemotherapy barely weeks ago, and his immunity was still at a minimum despite his looks. In our trade lingo, the immunodeficiency following chemotherapy makes this a very vulnerable period in his recovery (if there ever would really be a recovery). His physicians must have apparently emphasized multiple times that he should NOT attend any public functions. WS nonetheless feels that this occasion is important enough that he decided to attend. Judged by the slogans WS has led for the occasion, WS must have valued the Alliance's efforts to call for the release of Liao, which is also the theme of the Alliance's stand for the year-end Flower market). WS must have also insisted on other things against the doctors' advice based on my observations, but at least he had complied with the need to wear a mask, and to forego public transportation to get to this occasion. The first thing he said to the public upon arrival was almost apologetic -- that he had to come in private car instead of using MTR, the public mass transit system!

20 minutes of speech, interspersed with rallying slogans, WS has managed without any sign of fatigue. He fielded questions from the press with as much substance as his usual wits on the spot. For example, when the question came up about his "successor" in the Alliance leadership (with the implication that someone will need to succeed after his demise), WS responded by pointing out that this is a question that should only be asked of the CCP, not the Alliance. The obvious reason, as he explained, was that in a democratic organization, no one can possibly predict who the "successor" would be. On a deeper level, I thought to myself, WS was probably also saying that the Alliance may not even need to exist any more, should the CCP transform itself to be a democratic organization and acknowledge the wrongs of the June 4 Massacre of 1989.

I also observed the much deserved respect of WS by the press and the people from my angle. Chanting and rallying were spontaneous, and those who are present have been respectful. Sadly, however, I did not see anyone younger than 30 or 40 years of age among them.

In prior years, it has been customary for WS to be present at the stand and write the celebratory red banners for the Spring Festival (Fai Chun) as a fundraising function. It was also obvious that he had insisted on doing so again over the objection of his physicians, as the ink grinder and brushes had been brought to the stand and witnessed by myself. Nonetheless, in fielding questions the planned time of his stay was clearly exceeded, and his guardians were so eager to escort him out in consideration of his health, that they literally got nervous when WS turned around and started looking for those gadgets so that he could write "perhaps just 1 banner for the occasion". From my position, I knew where the gadgets were - within my arm's reach - and was hesitating whether to hand those over when, anxiously, one of the guardians whispered "please hide it, don't hand over to him". You will be relieved to know, my friends, that eventually, WS was NOT allowed to write the banners to the potential jeopardy of his health.

Again among rounds and rounds of applauses and spontaneous chanting: "WS step on the gas", "Build a democratic China", "End One Party rule", "Investigate June 4 Massacre", WS was escorted out in good spirit and sturdy strides, without need for assistance. He stood tall as he always had.

It is also obvious that our comrades of the Alliance are in upbeat mood and maintained their usual professionalism and enthusiasm despite these hard times. They have handled the situation admirably.

Now about the hand shaking... yes there are a few violators of the "no hand shaking" reminders even as he left, and WS was too polite not to extend his hand in return despite the attempt by his guardian party to stop it. You will be happy to know, my fellow AOHK members, that your delegate was NOT among one of them. You would also be interested to know that we had followed all of the advice from our Alliance contacts NOT to rely on a face-to-face or hand-to-hand delivery of our best wishes, cards, or gifts. Therefore, the day prior to the occasion, I tried my best to put down our collective thoughts what to say to WS on this sad but yet need-to-be upbeat occasion, in a tone befitting someone of WS's scholarship and stature. This is what I wrote on a small card purchased in my old neighborhood of To Kwa Wan, near the former site of New Asia College of CU:

香海繞名山，友及波城，共濟和衷，
問我輩何愁風雨 ?
古賢如今哲，笑對北辰，和平奮鬥，
願中華不愧先生 !

(translation with literary expansion)
To the diligent workers on the land of Victoria Peak and the Harbor of Incense Makers, we send you our best wishes from Boston. We appreciated your stance, your friendship and comradeship. With our firm stand together for a just cause, why should any of us, at this moment, worry about looming storms? You as a leader, WS, just like Dr. Sun before you, have always pledged and practised peaceful struggle for democracy to save China. We long for a China that will not shame your teachings, nor the teachings of Dr. Sun. Like him, you are now facing your destiny with the immortal smile, which is so bright that it becomes threatening to those in power. That spirit, along with your teachings, we will continue to admire, and we will smile with you, laughing at and eventually outshining, that dim light of the so-called northern star. From AOHKCDHR of Boston