A resolution on the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong has been adopted.


I would like to express my opinion in favor of Motion No. 20 on passing a resolution asking the Hong Kong authorities to take action to improve the situation there and ensure the safety of Japanese nationals.

 In 1989, pro-democracy demonstrations demanding political reforms erupted in Beijing, China. These protests gradually grew in scale, resulting in the Chinese government ordering the People’s Liberation Party to shoot at the demonstrators to suppress them. This is known as the June 4 Tiananmen Incident.

 
According to the British government’s classified diplomatic documents, there were more than 10,000 casualties.

It is the common desire of people all over the world that the Tiananmen tragedy must not be repeated.

 Thirty years have passed since then.

 

This time, the Hong Kong citizens demonstrated to demand democratization. The protest was triggered by the Hong Kong government’s announcement in April of an extradition bill authorizing the transfer of fugitives to Mainland China. Demonstrations led mostly by students increased in magnitude.

 

The G7 Summit in August agreed that China must keep its promise to allow a high level of autonomy in Hong Kong and must not suppress the mass demonstrations by its citizens with force.

 

Yet, the Hong Kong police started to suppress the demonstrations with live ammunition, reflecting the wishes of the Chinese government.

 

The US, the UK, France, and other free nations protested vehemently, voicing their strong support for the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong.

 

The Japanese government and Diet should convey the same message in order to fulfill Japan’s responsibility as a member of the community of free nations.

 

Freedom is a supreme value attained by mankind over a great many years. At a time when the freedom of the citizens of our neighbor Hong Kong is being crushed, our city should also take a similar stand.

 

It goes without saying that there are many Japanese nationals living in Hong Kong and their safety must also be ensured.

 

I fully support Motion No. 20, which aims at:

 

1.     Voicing grave concern at the large number of people killed and injured as a result of clashes between the demonstrators and the police in the protest actions in Hong Kong;

 

2.     Expressing expectations for the maintenance of a free and open system and the development of a democratic and dynamic Hong Kong under the “one country, two systems” arrangement;

 

3.     Demanding the safeguarding of Japanese companies and nationals; and

 

4.     Calling for efforts to urge the government to take advantage of all appropriate opportunities to campaign for the maintenance and development of a free and open Hong Kong and respect for human rights and rule of law there, not only at the leader level in Japan, Hong Kong, and China, but also at all other levels.

 

A free and open Hong Kong.

 

The adoption of this proposed resolution by the Chiba City Assembly will definitely represent the voice of the 980,000 Chiba citizens who uphold the value of freedom. It will be the first message to the Hong Kong authorities from a government-designated city in Japan following an assembly resolution.

 

I strongly seek the unanimous adoption of this resolution.

 

 (The Chiba City Assembly passed the resolution unanimously on December 17, 2019, becoming the second city in the country after Tama to adopt a resolution on the situation in Hong Kong. At this point, neither the government nor the Diet have given any indication at all of their will as determined by resolution.)