Liberals Converge in Hong Kong, Support Umbrella Movement

Around 200 liberals from all over the world convened in Hong Kong for the international conference “Liberalism: Promoting Growth, Reducing Inequality”.

Organized by the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), Liberal International (LI) and the Economic Freedom Network Asia (EFN Asia), the event took place on 7-9 November 2014 with the support of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF).  It brought together government officials, political party leaders, businessmen, academics, policy advisors, among others, to discuss how the liberal economy relates to wealth creation and inequality.

The international conference commenced with a joint session between CALD and EFN on 7 November.  Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) Secretary General and former CALD Chairperson Chee Soon Juan started the debate by drawing on the experiences of Singapore and Hong Kong. “Democratization is essential in Singapore and Hong Kong to overcome income inequality.  To reduce income inequality, we have to have an opposition voice”, he said.

Emily Lau, Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Hong Kong, delivered the keynote address in the joint session.  In her speech, she also highlighted the interplay between economics and politics, and told the audience that the international community should not wait for signals from the Hong Kong people on what to do as regards the current political situation. She said: “As liberals and democrats, I think you already know what to do.  So do what you think is right for the cause of freedom and democracy.”

The discussion continued in the official opening of the CALD-LI Conference on 8 November. LI President Juli Mioves-Triquell and CALD Chairperson Oyun Sanjaasuren shared the stage with Democratic Party of Hong Kong Founder Martin Lee, who is also an individual member of both CALD and LI.  In his keynote address, Mr. Lee noted that the timing of the conference could not have been more appropriate – now that Hong Kong is in cusp of democratic development.  He also came up with a concrete proposal to the delegates, “Nominate the people of Hong Kong for the Nobel Peace Prize as a way to support democracy in Asia.”

A world café session then followed on the conference theme, focusing in particular on how to promote liberal policies (rule of law, property rights, market economy) that address inequality and foster development.  In the afternoon, key officials of CALD and LI had an in-depth discussion of the current political situation with Jasper Tsang, President of the Hong Kong Legislative Council.  In the evening, a spontaneous decision was made by CALD and LI delegates to go to Admiralty and show support to the youth of Hong Kong, the prime movers of the so-called “umbrella movement”.

Other highlights of the event included the following: CALD Seminar on the Liberal Climate Change Agenda (7 November); Joint Session of International Network of Liberal Women (INLW) and CALD Women’s Caucus (9 November); and CALD Women’s Caucus Seminar on Migrant Workers (9 November).  CALD and LI Executive Committee meetings also took place on 9 November.

Commenting on the current political situation in Hong Kong, CALD Chairperson Sanjaasuren said: “The unfolding story of Hong Kong is the story of all of us.  At one point in our development as a democratic nation – we too have struggled for free and fair elections, we too have called for universal suffrage, we too have demanded our right to chart our own destiny as a people.  That is why what is happening here in Hong Kong resonates with all of us.  The call for genuine, universal suffrage goes with our very nature as human beings – we all desire to have a free choice.”