Hong Kong protesters have created a self-sustaining village within a month of taking their call for democracy to the streets, setting up changing rooms, tents for hire, a study area, first-aid stations and even their own security patrols as they ready for the long haul.
What started out as hastily built barricades against police pepper spray and tear gas, relying mainly on cling film and umbrellas, has evolved into a fully fledged campus with carpeted stairs, water coolers, WiFi and gas-fuelled generators supporting mobile phones, desk lamps and amplifiers.
And when rain pounds the village, which straddles a major thoroughfare in the heart of Hong Kong, dozens set to work. “It’s instant architecture. We are just improvising,” said 31-year-old artist George Wong. “When it started to rain, over a dozen people made a cover over the study area within 15 minutes.”
Hong Kong returned from British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula that allows it wide-ranging autonomy and freedoms and specifies universal suffrage for choosing its leader as an ultimate goal.
But Communist Party leaders in Beijing have insisted on screening candidates for the job first, prompting the popular, and in the most part courteous, dissent.
The student-led protesters now appear to be settling in indefinitely, even though the government is powerless to change the financial hub’s “Basic Law” mini-constitution and go against Beijing rule.
The protesters have blocked major arteries on both sides of the picture-postcard harbour, with police sporadically clearing barricades in places. The camp at Admiralty, home to government offices and next to the Central business district, is the best organised and most settled.
Supporters say the site has developed organically, without a main organizer, but there are distinct teams in charge of areas like security, medical care, recycling and art work. Team members break into three shifts, morning, afternoon and night.
Alvin L, a snowboard coach in Vancouver who grew up in Hong Kong, is a member of the defence team, equipped with a walkie-talkie and whistle.
“There are several teams who share information. We have a defence line checking how many cops there are. If someone whistles, we can help direct people where to go.”
